Bibi Degn describes how to establish a respectful relationship with one’s horse using the TTouch way developed by Linda Tellington-Jones.  The touch was developed to create a safe and meaningful friendship for both the horse and the rider.  Degn relates the information with the help of her children, Joran, an Arabian gelding, and Angie, the “guardian angel” of animals.  Photographs by Horst Streitferdt clearly illustrate touches, use of equipment, and training procedures.  Pages tell of many aspects of horsemanship before and after riding – greeting, leading, grooming, mounting (both bareback and with a saddle), learning to “read” a horse’s mood, and using some equipment (halters, ropes).

When people are thinking about pets to own, there are many things to consider.  The differences between reptiles and amphibians and how they have evolved from ancient times are presented first.  General facts are given about snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises, frogs and toads, salamanders and newts, to help prospective buyers to make an informed decision.  Questions to think about (time, space, feeding, handling) and daily care to keep a pet healthy are presented for consideration before one buys a pet.  Some potential problems and challenges are listed.  Because many animals can live 10 to 50+ years, owning a pet can be a huge commitment.  Regular vet visits are encouraged as well.  Included in the back is a glossary, index, three books for further reading are written at a similar reading level, and three internet sites, one from the American Humane Association and two from National Geographic.  This book is an excellent resource and would be a good addition to an elementary library.

For those who already enjoy football and for those just learning the game, this book is for you.  Skills for each aspect of the sport are detailed.  Almost every sentence tells how to do or how to improve plays in the game.  Colorful photographs feature individual moves or positions and many are labeled to point out specifics.  Football requires players to be in top physical condition.  Many tips are included for strength and agility training.  Tips and tricks from professional ball players provide additional hints on how to improve one’s skills.  Boxed insets offer even more information.  This book is jam-packed with useful facts, hints, and history of the game.  Books for further reading are written at a similar level.  FYI: one book, “Touchdown: The Power and Precision of Football’s Perfect Play”, is written by Mark Stewart, not Mike.  Internet addresses provide instructive information and videos.  Also included are a glossary and an index.  This book is highly recommended for libraries and personal collections.

For those who already enjoy baseball and for those just learning the game, this book is a must-read.  Skills for each aspect of the sport are detailed.  Almost every sentence tells how to do or how to improve plays in the game.  Colorful photographs feature individual moves or positions and many are labeled to point out specifics.  Tips and tricks from professional ball players provide additional hints on how to improve one’s skills.  Boxed insets offer even more information.  This book is jam-packed with useful facts, hints, and history of the game.  Books for further reading are written at a similar level.  Internet addresses provide instructive information and videos.  Also included are a glossary and an index.  This book is highly recommended for libraries and personal collections.

For those wanting to learn basic information about the Czech Republic, this book contain facts about the geography, wildlife, and people.  The Czech Republic has only been an official country since 1993, but history of the area goes back to the 1400s.  There are many interesting photographs accompanying the text.  Pronunciation of a few basic words are found on one page, yet pronunciation clues for the Czech terms of landmarks or traditional foods are not included.  The information in this book is current and accurate and provides good information for written reports.  A student would have difficulty speaking knowledgeably not knowing how to pronounce particular words.  Almost every page contains a “Did You Know” fact.  The layout is pleasing and colorful.  This book contains enough statistics to encourage questions and additional research.  Good introduction to an interesting country.

Eight influential people are showcased in this Civil War book.  Brief snapshots of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, General  Robert E. Lee, General Ulysses S. Grant, General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, General George McClellan, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass tell of their views and decisions at this pivotal time in history.  Colorful photographs and artwork portray each person or event involving the person.  Glossary and index are included.  This is a good beginning resource for those wanting to know more about people who had significant impact during the time of the Civil War.

Cute little WodneyWat has trouble saying words with Rs.  On his birthday, he received a robot that repeats what he whispers – and corrects his pronunciation!  One day, obnoxious Camilla Capybara, the World’s Meanest Rodent, returned to school with her loud, bullying ways.  When Wodney’s robot malfunctions with growls, Camilla becomes frightened. Ironically, Camilla is the one to fix the robot.  When she announces she’s decided to stay, Wodney whispers one last command which scares Camilla off once again.  Lynn Munsinger’s delightful illustrations humorously show how the quiet, little underdog can win the day.  This is a fun story on its own, yet also provides many “teachable moments”.

All bike riders will find this book a treasure.  Beginning with a description of types of bikes and basic tools needed for most repairs, this book is jam-packed with information for maintaining or modifying almost anything on a bike.  There are step-by-step instructions along with accompanying photographs.  Frequent insets provide additional information of tools needed or explanations of technical terms.  FYI ovals include general tidbits of useful facts or history of biking.  Knowing how to repair or adjust one’s bike inspires confidence for successful riding.  A troubleshooting section gives clues where to look for solving a problem.  The glossary includes terms highlighted within the text.  A timeline and index are also included.  Titles of other books for maintaining or riding are in the back of the book along with a facthound internet site that also provides online how-to videos on maintenance and repair.  This is an awesome resource for all bike riders.

The Arabian horse is one of the oldest and most popular of horse breeds.  This book describes their physical features and provides a brief history from the Ancient Egyptians 4500 years ago, to the nomads in the deserts in the Middle East 2000 years ago, to the present.  There are more than 600,000 pure-bred Arabians registered with the Arabian Horse Association.  Today, there are many competitions that test the horse’s stamina as well as the rider’s horsemanship.  This breed is popular because of its intelligence, beauty, temperament,and endurance.  Two individual Arabians, Merango and Cass Ole, are briefly mentioned.  Included in the back is a glossary, index, a factsurfer website, and three other books written at a similar level to read to learn more.

This amazing, yet dangerous, crocodile is one of the largest reptiles in the world.  Their bodies are built to make them one of the most deadly of predators.  One learns about physical characteristics, habitats, and behaviors in this fascinating book about an animal that has changed little since the dinosaur age.  Photos, well-written text, and a map help describe this ferocious animal.  Many pages have additional fact boxes.  Also included are a glossary, a factsurfer website, and three book written at a similar reading level for additional information.  Each page is visually interesting making this a real page-turner.