This is a “you choose” book set during World War I. There are three story paths including resisting the Germans in Belgium, joining the British military, or enlisting in the American forces. With 41 choices the reader can enjoy this book with a new story ending 21 unique ways. This book should appeal to boys as well as girls as the Belgian storyline is a female nurse, the British and American ones are male soldiers. I enjoyed the many and various battles and settings which kept me interested and wanting to keep reading the various pathways. Between a several source bibliography and author consult with a university history professor, the historical facts were well researched, making the stories believable. There are also several illustrations and actual war time photographs sprinkled in to bring the story alive. There are several other books in this interactive history adventure series which I would like to purchase for our library.
Author Archives: SSBRC Former Member
The Missing Coin
The characters from DISNEY”S movie Aladdin are off on an adventure.
Jasmine wants to purchase the only missing coin from Aladdin’s rare desert coin collection and give it to him for his birthday. To do this, Jasmine and Rajah fly off over the desert to Zagrabah on Magic Carpet only have it crash leaving them alone in the desert. With time running out on Jasmine to get the coin and get it back to Aladdin for his birthday party, Jasmine learns the secret to keeping Magic Carpet health. The party is a huge success.
The story and dialogue flow nicely and everyone will be able to visualize the characters and events, whether or not they have seen the movie.
RRRALPH
Ralph is a dog who can answer questions, such as, “How’s the path feel on your paws…” and ” What’s on that tree?”
Ralph’s responses are 1.5 inches tall, in this 12″ X 8.25″ book where large creatively adorable multimedia creatures inhabit the pages. Ralph has two buttons for eyes, a pop top nose, a zipper for a mouth, a tin heart dog tag on a woven rainbow braided collar, and rough textured paper constitutes his body.
Mouse and Mole, A Perfect Halloween
Young independent readers will enjoy this four chapter book about friends, Mouse and Mole, preparing for Halloween. Yee’s illustrations are scattered throughout the text often three per page just like the falling leaves of autumn.
As Mouse hangs up a plastic skeleton, Mole is having a nightmare about being chased by a skeleton. Then Mouse and Mole find the perfect pumpkin for the pumpkin carving contest. Mole carves his right away, but Mole waits until the last minute to carve hers. Mouse’s jack-o’-lantern wins for silliest and Mole’s wins for ‘sc-scariest’. Later, Mouse shares a story book with Mole to help him realize Halloween “is scary, YES– but exciting too!”
A Brand-New DAy with Mouse and Mole
This beginning chapter book of four chapters is a fast moving, realistic story of friendship with illustrations interspersed throughout the text, sometimes three per page.
After moths made holes in Moles clothes Mouse tries something “new” at the diner for lunch. Followed by Mole buying a “new” style of shirt. Then the friends go fishing together. Mole uses a worm for bait because he likes to eat worms himself and Mouse uses cheese for the same reason. When they don’t catch anything but an old tire, they play in the pond. In the end, Mouse fixes Mole’s old holey clothes making them “new” and Mole uses the old tire to make a “new” swing.
Albert’s Amazing Snail
Albert, the mouse, tries to train his newly found pet snail, Flash, tricks, but finds patience instead. Young readers are exposed to the concept of ‘position’ when Albert demonstrates all the tricks he’d like Flash to learn. A cute surprise ending when Albert discovers Flash has done all of the tricks during the night by following Flash’s slime trail. Delightful illustrations!
‘Positions’ included in bold type: in/out, on top of/ at the bottom of, on/off, under/ over, behind/ in front of, far/near, and next to / beside.
“Fun Activities’ parent and/ or teacher will enjoy doing with their young reader to reinforce the position concept are included at the end of the story.
The Word Collector by Sonja Wimmer
Synopsis: Luna is girl who lives in the sky and collects words. One day she notices all the good, sweet words she collected have disappeared from the world. She can’t sleep and makes a decision to spread her healing words throughout the world.
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: Artistically drawn with text incorporated into each picture, “The Word Collector,’’ as a story is difficult to follow. The author/illustrator tries to convey the power of words to heal, but the art work is dark and busy, and just plain odd. Translated from the Spanish with a European sensibility, something may have gotten lost in the translation! Sonja Wimmer is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in books, posters, and magazines. Her illustrations for “The Word Collector” won the Gold Award for Best Illustrator at the 2011 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. (Ages 4 – 7)
Catty Jane who hated the rain by Valeri Gorbachev
Synopsis: Poor little Catty Jane hates the rain and is afraid of thunder and lightning. Nothing her mother does can console her – not even an offer of a cookie! But when her friends Froggy, Piggy and Goose arrive they cajole Catty into a rainy day party and a different attitude! Gorbachev’s illustrations are bright and enjoyable, but still convey the gloominess of a rainy day and the moodiness of Catty Jane.
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: This is a sweet, old fashioned story that many young children may enjoy. I recommend it as an additional purchase for picture book collections. (Preschool – grade one.) Gorbachev is author of many picture books, including “Chicken Chickens,” and “Where is the apple pie?”
One Sheep, Blue Sheep by Thom Wiley /illustrated by Ben Mantle
Synopsis: With clever rhymed text, five sheep stumble into buckets of different color paints left around the farm. Die cuts cut into each page reveal the “new” color of each sheep and the chaos continues as sheep bump each other, paint cans go flying and one sheep falls into a puddle. To the rescue comes the farmer with some shears and all is well.
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: Adults will quickly pick up on the “nursery rhyme” references in the text, such as “The farmer laughed to see such sport,” or “There were five sheep with fleece as white as snow.” Young children will enjoy the board book format and enjoy a fun way to learn about colors. Age 1 – 3.
My name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunkee and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
Synopsis: Young Elizabeth likes her name. She likes that it is nine letters long and that there was a queen named Elizabeth. She has no patience when people call her Lizzy, Beth or Betsy! She shouts at them rudely: MY NAME IS ELIZABETH! Everyone respects her wish, but Elizabeth learns a little patience when her younger sibling calls her Wizabef? “Close enough,” says Elizabeth. Illustrations are pale blue, orange and black and have an old fashioned feel.
What I liked about it and who would enjoy it: The story serves as a reminder to ask small children what they prefer to be called, but also a reminder for respectful communication. It would be a good edition to any picture book collection. Preschool – grade one.