This is an amazing true story.  I enjoyed the beautiful pictures, and the way the story helps you feel the emotions of Emily.  what a beautiful,  comforting story.  It would be fun not only to read, but to have it read to you.

Simple informative read for young readers. I liked how it told about flying and planes as they are now, and then included some of the history of airplanes and flying.  There is a fun experiment to demonstrate a jets thrust at the end of the book, and a great glossary.

Beautiful rendition of The Owl and the Pussycat.  Lovely illustrations by Robert Ingpen, sketching and paint.  This would make a beautiful updated copy of an old classic tale.

“The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole fighter jet. It Is flown by the United States Air Force and Air National Guard.”(page 5) So begins this 32 page, 13 chapter book by John Hamilton. The photography will amaze the reader with every turn of the page. Photos taken of the F-16 flying in formation and solo, photos taken from inside the cockpit – both looking towards the pilot and giving the pilot’s view, and photos taken from below and from above the jet while in flight. The text speaks in generalities for the first few chapters and becomes more specific as it goes into its origins, pilots, cockpit, Fire-by-Wire, engine, and weapons.

Includes an eight term glossary with longer than usual definitions, and an index.

Boys will want to look through this book of action packed close-up photographs of military helicopters set in front of graphic navigation/ targeting  backgrounds. The three short chapters include: Apache Helicopters; Crew, Parts, and Weapons; and Apache Missions. Each page turn has from 3 – 5 sentences.  The jest being “Apaches are mainly used to destroy enemy vehicles. They also escort other aircraft and give air support to ground units.” (page 17)

Glossary, www.factsurfer.com, and index are included.

In this cross between a Dr. Seuss and George Jetson world where numerous diversified multiple body part (eyes, ears, mouths, arms, noses) beings live and work together, a young boy(?) receives his first flyary (diary) from his oldpop (grandfather) for his dropday (birthday). He is to use his flyary to scrib (write) about his first spaceship. The plot then revolves around his four trips to “Wurpitz Hoolo’s Spaceship Repair, Wash and Fillerup Station”.

The reader must decipher the space-age talk, often derived from synonyms we use today, but sometimes only by context clues, before the reader is off to discover the plot. I found the space-talk, though clever, makes this a slow read. How many young readers will be willing to read it several times to get to the actual story?

Mountain lions are known under many names, most common are cougar and puma.  This big cat lives in a large range from western North America to most of South America.  Readers learn about hunting techniques and characteristics which distinguish this cat from other large cats.  Details about mountain lions cover physical features, habitat, diet, and raising their young.  Although not endangered, these wild cats still face risks.  Living in proximity to people cause most deaths.  Disease is rare.  Colorful, detailed photographs taken in the mountain lion’s natural habitat are well balanced with well-written, descriptive text.  Words to know are in color and bold font.  The definition is at the bottom of the page as well as in the glossary.  Many fact boxes offer interesting asides.  Recommended books for further reading and the facthound internet site are similar in reading level and information provided.  Index included.  Great choice for reports.

Colonial Traditions is one of the books in a series about colonial life from the 1600s to 1776.  Beginning with a labeled map of the 13 original colonies, each chapter is focused on one aspect of life.  Because all work, farming, building, cooking, and sewing, had to be done by hand, this book lends a variety of perspectives of the work needed to be successful in a new land.  It touches on slavery and Native Americans but does not go into much detail.  Bolded words are defined on the page as well as in the glossary.  Many “Did You Know” bubbles provide additional interesting facts.  Simple and colorful illustrations are well-placed within the text.  Two companion books, one by Verna Fisher, provide projects and activities that can be paired with the whole series on Colonial America.  These books provide a realistic look at life of a colonist in the 1600-1700s.  Other books in the Colonial series include: Clothes, Food, Homes, Jobs, Families, Farms, and Towns.  Recommended for elementary school libraries.

Beasts are described as wild animals and are divided into chapters depending on features.  Aimed toward reluctant readers, the photographs are large and the text minimal.  Most photos show only the head so all animals appear to be the same size.  The page layout and muted background color choices are pleasing.  Basic information may lead to further investigations.  Some words are in bold font but not all are found in the glossary.  The word “bounce” is defined but “crustacean” is not.  There is a short true/false quiz at the back.  No index or recommended books or websites for further information are included.

If you live in the United States, you probably know that Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese military in 1941, an act which triggered America’s involvement in World War II.  You probably DON’T know, however, that the Japanese invaded Alaska’s Aleutian Islands six months later.  This meticulously researched book tells that story.

The packaging here is masterful.  The cover is enticing and edgy, the book is shaped like most novels, primary source photos pop up on many of the pages, and the font size is large and readable.  Seiple, who has worked as a competitive intelligence specialist for a Fortune 100 company (according to the flap), includes fourteen pages of source notes and image credits.  She also gives the reader wonderful finding aids, including both a table of contents, and an eight page index.  In between, she tells the story more-or-less chronologically, from the perspectives of a wide variety of participants in the events.  The information is based not only on formerly confidential documents from the United States government, but on interviews with some of the witnesses of the events who are still alive.

The only downside to this title is that the narrative is not always as engrossing it could be.  Seiple sticks to the facts and primary testimony, and that can at times make this a dry read.  The unique strengths of this title, however, outweigh the weaknesses, and those strengths make this an essential purchase for any library, particularly libraries serving a military population.