Tortoise was so worried about his first day of school. What if he falls down? What if he doesn’t like lunch? What if he doesn’t make any friends? But he gets up the courage to go inside the building to announce, “Good Morning,” to everyone. They all respond back, “Good Morning Mr. Tortoise!” to their teacher.  Readers will love the twist at the end! The illustrations are full page, soft and cute.

This book covers very general information about St. Patrick’s Day, such as: Saint Patrick’s Life, celebration activities, and symbols that represent the day. It has a table of contents, glossary, reference books, web sites and an index.

This cute story discusses the ways to hug many different animals, but repeatedly questions, “How do you hug a porcupine?” Finally, in the end, the answer is given, “Carefully!”

Soon after 3 puppies were left on the side of the road in a cardboard box, they were picked up and dropped off at a shelter. An older dog has told them it is Christmas Eve and people will want to adopt puppies this time of year. Ruff and Tuff decide to misbehave so their sister, Penny, will be picked to go to a good home. However, they are surprised when they all go to a home together. This story has a great “Disney” style ending! Illustrations are bright and sweet.

Rhine Ellery is a 16-year-old girl growing up in the dangerous world that the old generations have left for her.  In this world, women only grow to be twenty and men only twenty-five due to a genetic life-shortening pandemic.  In this first book of the Chemical Garden Trilogy, we experience what it is like for Rhine to be forced into the life of materialism and unwanted polygamy.

This novel will help readers understand the value of time and the years of life one is given.  The author writes in a matter-of-fact tone which adds to the seriousness of the way the reader interprets the story.  This story will compel the reader to go out and try new and different things in order to take advantage of the privilege we call life.  Sci-fi readers and those who just enjoy a good read will be satisfied with this profound novel.

— Tyler Z.

This offers a thorough look at the Civil Rights movement through the opposing eyes of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth and the Commissioner of Public Safety “Bull” Connor.  These giants of the 1950 and 60’s came head-to-head in the multiple conflicts such as the Bethel Baptist Church bombing, the Woolworth department-store lunch counter sit-in, attacks by the Ku Klux Klan, and other segregation issues.  The picture-book size, laden with photographs is kid-friendly for that student ready to find quick research.

Dolphins is 45 pages of interesting facts accompanied by stunning photographs of various species of dolphins in captivity and the wild.  The book is well-written and interesting, perfect for a student report.  The index and glossaries are helpful features.  I would have liked to see a page that showed a photograph of each of the 37 species of dolphins along with a few basic facts.  A world map that indicates the range of each species would also compliment this book well.

Frankie like to keep his bedroom messy. When his mother gives his permission to not clean his room, Frankie is on cloud nine (or cloud swine). His toys get stepped on, he runs out of clean clothes, he has nightmares about his mess, and his family complains about his aroma which makes him realize that he needs cleaning up as much as his room does. In the night, Frankie uses his imagination when cleaning his room, fighting off lava monsters, snakes, and other hazards. By morning, everything is back in its place, and Frankie sleeps soundly that night. This story is quite fun when Frankie uses his imagination because the story switches to a graphic novel.

Frankie has trouble with his math and is quite concerned about the test he has to retake on Monday. He runs out of time all weekend long when his friend comes over to play several games of Yugimon, and he helps his mom shop for groceries. Then his sister plays football with him and he helps his dad with baking. Suddenly he realizes that his weekend is over and he hadn’t studied!! However, his parents make him realize he has been doing math all weekend long, every day math, and that he is perfectly ready for the test now. This story is quite fun when Frankie’s imagination takes off in comic book form!!

Danny the dragon and his best friend Wendell the Iguana have quite the problem on their hands when Wendell is bitten from a school cafeteria hot dog, and suddenly starts growing back-hair. When the two sneak into the cafeteria to investigate, they find out that the hot dog labels are marked, “Were-Wieners, Product of Transylvania.” They call the 1-800 number on the package and are informed that there is an alpha wurst in the cafeteria, and all students who have been bitten by hot dogs will become its minions. With the help from the potato salad and rats from the sewer, the two arm themselves with silver skewers and slay the alpha wurst! This book is a chapter book that is mixed with illustrations and character voice bubbles, giving it a style that is a cross with a graphic novel that will entice reluctant readers.