Laurie Halse Anderson is a well-known author of award winning chapter book.  This story of Zoe’s wild hair is one of her picture books.  Zoe’s beautiful red hair has a mind of its own.  It opens cookie jars, plays with the cat, and even learns how to fly!  In kindergarten, it helped out around the classroom, but in first grade, Ms. Trisk had rules!  No wild hair!  It wasn’t until a disastrous science lesson about the planets, did Zoe’s hair finally win Ms. Trisk’s approval.  Ard Hoyt’s energetic ink and watercolor illustrations are a terrific match with Zoe’s rambunctious hair.

This book contains an interesting mix of jokes, tongue twisters, riddles, limericks, knock-knock jokes, and non-fiction fun facts – all with a focus on science.  Other books in the series are Animal Jokes, Ha-Ha Holiday Jokes, and Sports Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone.  Most of the artwork is from clipart.com.

Emma the dog’s perfect life is upset when she believes her owner, George, is being kidnapped by a woman.  She emails Queenie, an advice columnist, for recommendations.  After several attempts to rid the house of Loretta, Emma discovers Loretta is a pizza chef and decides a compromise might be the best plan.  This story may help others adjusting to a blended family while dealing with feelings of jealousy and the need to belong.  Eileen Christelow’s humorous illustrations are drawn in a comic book style and are engaging from the first page to the last.

Muskrat cork lives in the middle of a pond.  His friend Fuzz, a possum, never visits because he is afraid to swim.  Cork is encouraging and gives him some on-the-ground lessons.  Fuzz decides instead to crawl out on a tree branch that extends toward Cork’s house.  Fuzz fall into the water, but after a moment of panic, uses cork’s instructions and paddles to Cork’s house.  Chaconas portrays a supportive friendship as well as the satisfaction of compromise.  Lisa McCue’s ink and watercolor illustrations are expressive and endearing.

Cork, a muskrat, is babysitting a baby porcupine.  He needs his friend Fuzz, a possum, to help but Fuzz is too busy.  Only when Fuzz gets in trouble and the baby porcupine is the one to rescue him, does Fuzz relent.  This book is a level 3 in Viking’s Ready-to-Read program and is directed toward young, independent readers.  Lisa McCue’s ink and watercolor illustrations are colorful and expressive.  This book is a good beginning chapter book for those ready to move away from picture books.

When I first picked this book up, I thought it would show you an inkblot and you were to try to figure out what it looked like.  Then the book would profile you based on your answers.  Boy, was I wrong!  This book has beautiful examples of seeing ‘things’ in random shapes created by an inkblot.  Think of it as trying to decide what cloud shapes resemble.  The book gives a list of supplies plus directions of how to create the blots and then SEE the shapes within them and begin to draw from that.  The results are amazing.  Kids will love to give this a try and I’m hoping teachers will, too!  I know I will.

Humorous author Robin Palmer doesn’t disappoint in this third book in the “Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker” series.  “Vote for Me” has Lucy running for class president, pushing to make a name for herself.  (Lucy’s step-sister is a teen superstar, to whom popularity comes easily.)  Lucy’s attempt to be out-going battles her insecurities in a charming sort of way.

The only down-side to the book for young readers is that Lucy’s father’s girlfriend is pregnant.  While this takes away from the wholesomeness of the story, it just adds to the drama (the baby shower falls on the same day as the election.)  Everything is always a struggle for Lucy, which makes her even more enduring.

Seventeen-year-old Willow and her mom move back to Georgia from Las Vegas.  Willow, like her mother, is a hypnotist.  Right before Willow departed from Georgia to Las Vegas, she hypnotized Max, her best friend into believing that they would be best friends forever.  While she is in Las Vegas, Willow realizes that her feelings for Max have grown into more than just friends. When she goes back to Georgia, expecting to start a relationship with Max, she finds out that he has a girlfriend.  Will Willow and Max ever find each other?

The author creates a real-life drama amongst the teens.  Readers will be able to relate to the “feeling something more for your best friend” relationship.  Although the plot was entertaining and engaging, the story’s ending lacked imagination; very unrealistic even with the hypnotist story-line.  Fans of Jabaley’s Lipstick Apology will not be disappointed with her witty writing style and creative plot.

Christina D.

Up and Down is a funny little story about friendship.  The story deals with two friends and how their choices effect each other.  There are lessons showing the consequences that follow choices.  The story is cute, light, and filled with great pictures.  I like this short story.

This book is a great resource for young readers to learn about avalanches.  The pictures are big and clear.  The information is simple and easy to understand.  This book is a quick read, and will hold the attention of young readers as well as older ones with the interesting details.  The glossary is an excellent resource at the end to increase vocabulary and comprehension.