Daphne’s diary begins on the first day of fourth grade.  Her teacher mispronounces her name and so begins a whole list of disasters which commonly befall fourth graders.  Daphne soon learns mistakes happen and anyone can make them.  Resorting to teasing is not a good solution.  Marissa Moss is known for her Amelia books which are in a notebook, handwritten style.  Daphne’s diary is written on pink pages and contains many drawings and doodles.  The plot is simple and The Name Game is a good transition from picture to beginning chapter books.

This ABC book is filled with colorful, lively paintings of animals paired with the collective noun associated with them, as suggested by the title.  Many of the featured animals can be found mixed in the illustrations for each letter, and at least one duck is on each two-page spread.  Joseph Kelly’s oil and acrylic art work is festive, entertaining, and appealing to kids of all ages.  Astute readers may find connections with other animals or objects beginning with the same letter; for example a mob of kangaroos watching a koala soccer game or one of the sloth of bears with a red balloon.  This book is delightful and would make an excellent addition to any library.

Fairies can be found in myths and legends world wide.  Some pages contain maps showing countries with fairy myths.  Names for fairy-like creatures vary around the world.  One excellent feature of this book is the pronunciation included next to each name.  “Did You Know” boxes contain additional facts or information.  Short chapters with colorful illustrations are sure to engage reluctant readers.  The text is large and pages are filled with colorful photos and illustrations to hold attention.  Enough information is provided to encourage further investigation.  Each book in the series concludes with pages discussing “Reality versus Myth” along with a glossary, index, and books for further reading.

In a fun twist, Dog wants a boy for a pet, even though warned that boys are hard to train.  All week long, Dog makes preparations for the day he gets a boy.  When Dog went looking for a suitable boy, he kept running into places where dogs were not allowed.  Dog was caught by the dogcatcher and taken to a kennel.  The next day, Saturday, Dog was taken to the “Meet ‘n’ Greet” room, where he met the perfect boy.  Instead of going home, Dog went to the boy’s house where he proceeded to teach the boy how to play fetch, go on walks, and share food.  On Sunday, Dog wrote to his mom telling her he found a boy to keep but was going to live at the boy’s house for a while.  Ashley Spires’ illustrations are cartoon-like in muted blues, greens, and browns.  There are some plot inconsistencies but enjoyable all the same.

High school senior Daniel True wants to be a journalist.  Through a series of events, Daniel stumbles upon a mystery that could provide him his big break into the news world.

The writing in this novel is very descriptive and unique; told from the perspective of Daniel, the reader is placed in the middle of this action-packed mystery which takes place in Seattle.  The author handles the moral dilemma that Daniel faces by  depicting the internal strife that all humans face in one way or another with realism.  I recommend this book  to high school students, especially seniors, because it is story that they can relate to and have even experienced.

— Mike S.

Here is a ‘how-to’ guide for new zombies. Author, John Austin, has written this manual in a serious tone which comes across as being very thought provoking: including cross-references, charts, graphs, diagrams, and maps in black, white, gray and with profuse amounts of ‘blood’ red. The nine chapters:(1) What the Hell Am I?, (2) Your Zombie Body, (3) Know Your Enemy, (4) Hunting for Brains, (5) Transportation, (6) Attacking, (7) Human Buffet, (8) Infecting, and (9) In the End, cover the zombie subject matter thoroughly to the point of tedium at times. BUT will a ‘zed’ actually ever read this self-help manual? Probably not, since Austin admits in the final chapter zombies don’t have a brain capable reading /comprehending.

I had moments while reading, where I thought the book’s premise could easily have been improved by changing the subject from zombies to any other predator; examples- lions, alligators, wolves, or even space aliens.

The word usage ( screw responsibility, F responsibility, pissed off, dammit, bastards, S.O.B., hell…) leaves much to be desired when being considered for purchase for the school library market.

The publisher does have this book cataloged for HUMOR.

Straight forward facts are presented under 9 headings: dog-faced bats, where they’re found, where they live, sizes, shapes, senses, defense, food, and babies.

Dog-faced bats are also called short-nosed bats, and Old World fruit bats. Personally, I think their faces resemble that of a chihuahua.

These helpful creatures are an important part of Earth’s ecosystem. They eat insects, scatter seeds from the fruit they eat, and pollinate plants- such as bananas and vanilla.

I found the information fascinating about how the weight of the bat’s body helps the tendons in their lags to tighten causing their claws to form a tighter grip when hanging upside down. Also, while some bats use echolocation, dog-faced bats do not.

The photographic image on page 13 shows arm and finger bones inside the wing’s membrane.

During the time of the Vikings, the chief’s three children are sent to a remote steading because a rival chief.  As winter falls and the fjord begins freezing over, the chief’s personal guards arrive to protect the children through the winter.  A disastrous event occurs at the steading  leaving the children with little protection.  Of the three children, young teen Solveig, finds her place in the family by surviving a harsh winter and an even worse spring bringing the rival chief’s havoc.

Mystery! Action! Intrigue!  — All are in this novel with a Viking flair.  Readers will be left at the edge of their seat wanting more of this exciting book.  Told from the perspective of Solveig, the writing is emotional and descriptive.  Readers will see the growth of Solveig and connect to this  story of historical times.

— Michael S.

I enjoyed reading this book.  There are facts that I hadn’t read before.   The pictures are very good and show the power and strength of the  great white shark. The descriptions of the shark are very vivid.

I think kids will want to read this book and can use it as reference for a report on great whites.

What does the life of a boy look like, who, as a man created 1,093 inventions, many of which profoundly impacted and improved our world.  This picture book biography with charming watercolor and ink illustrations, follows young Tom’s life, presenting little episodes that illuminates his personality, full of mischief, boundless energy, and an insatiable thirst for knowledge.  The author’s note, the back matter, includes some not-so-glowing examples of his competitive nature.  To prove a point with another inventor, Tom held public electrocutions of animals…including a film of the death of a circus elephant named Topsy!  I’m glad this tidbit was saved for the author’s note!  A wonderfully accessible read-aloud to add to your biography collection.