Pond circle is a fiction picture book written about the ecology and food chain in a freshwater pond.  The illustrations are vibrant and colorful, rich and detailed.  So much so that the animals sometimes seem to be leaping off the page or staring right at the reader.  The text repeats and builds from page to page which would make it a fun read aloud with young children (K-3nd gr.).  At the back there are “facts to pond-er” which describes and gives more facts about each creature featured in the book.  I would recommend this book for early elementary age children.

This is a well-researched non-fiction picture book about a species of seabird called the marbled murrelet.  This little seabird migrates deep into the forest canopy of North America to nest,  lay its eggs and raise its chick.  The author’s sources as well as relevant web sites are listed at the back of the book.  The end pages provide facts about the marbled murrelet’s habitat using a watercolor illustration of old growth trees.  The rich illustrations are large, realistic and detailed.  The text is interesting and engaging.  I wanted to read to the end to learn more about this interesting seabird.  I highly recommend this book for an elementary school library.

The question-and-answer format used in this information books is remarkably thorough, interesting, and concise.  The major questions of how, where, when, why, and who are all answered in a direct manner, accompanied by an illustration.  The pros and cons of each question are also addressed.  Using this book to learn about insects should be a top priority in school libraries.

Wow!  The magnification and clarity of the photographs are amazing and is what makes this book a must-have for libraries.  The information and spider fact match what the photo is showing.  Especially remarkable is the fact/photo of a jumping spider using a dragline, as well as a jump in mid-air to show it pouncing on it’s prey.  Fascinating!!

I’m still not sure how this book got the title, A Cheeky Chiller.  I had to look up the adjective cheeky to see if I was missing something.  Of course, it’s British slang meaning impudent or impertinent.  And chiller refers to a spine-tingling mystery.  This book is neither.  On each even-numbered page is a clue as to what the animal is and on the opposite odd-numbered page is a photograph of a portion of the animal.  The last photo is a lovely shot of a chimpanze family.  However, the earlier photos are all rather blurry.  Includes a glossary and index.

This tender story of twelve-year-old Raine crawls right into your heart and settles there  from the very first page.  Raine’s mother mysteriously picks up and moves the two of them from Milwaukee to Sparrow Road for the summer, where they join the quirky artists who inhabit an old dilapidated house.  Instructed to keep quiet at all times so that the artists can work, Raine envisions a miserable summer ahead.  Yet, when Gray James, Raine’s estranged father, comes knocking at the door, wanting to become a part of her life, this quickly becomes a story of acceptance and forgiveness.  Although the main character is twelve-years old, the beautifully written, lyrical writing speaks of life lessons for any age.  Sheila O’Connor is a talented writer with advice for all readers.

Over eight hundred years have passed since Kubla Khan dominated Asia and the Middle East, and still his legend lives on.  Due to his focused concentration of improvement, many positive policies and practices were implemented; such as education for all boys regardless of wealth, help for farmers to farm better with irrigation and proper animals and equipment, a more efficient postal system for better communication over great distances, he was first to implement standardized paper money, blue and white porcelains, more arts and theater.  His respect for the sciences greated an academy of medicine, an observatory which led to a more accurate calendar, and his diplomacy with foreigners enabled to learn from the world’s best and brightest.  One of these foreigners was a young Marco Polo from Italy, who traveled to China with his father and uncle.  He was tremendously impressed over his 17 year visit.  Upon his return home to Europe, he wrote about the wonders he had seen in the book The Travels of Marco Polo. The book was a success and remained so for hundreds of years.  Because of it, Europeans couldn’t wait to see for themselves the wonders of Asia.  This is when the age of East meeting West began.

This is another terrific book of loving family relationships by Patricia Polacco.  The first of three adopted children tells of the love and special moments in their non-traditional family with two mothers.  Every page is filled with expressions of warmth and affection of the exceptional family as the moms plan activities to provide a well-rounded childhood for their brood.  The lively, colored pencil and marker illustrations are full of life and tenderness.  the families in the neighborhood willingly participate in block parties and activities arranged by the two moms.  Only one cranky parent refuses to have anything to do with this unconventional family.  This story avoids all the terms often used when describing a family with same-sex parents, and may be used to gently explain differences in some families.

Dave Crawley’s cheerful and lively poems focus on schools, cafeteria food, homework, new kids, rules, class pets, and finally, vacation!  They are lighthearted and many have interesting twists.  Liz Callen’s ink and watercolor illustrations are bright and a good match for the poems.  This is a delightful, up-beat collection of school poems and would make a good addition to an elementary school library.

Sibling rivalry is a universal theme.  Rubina is invited to a birthday party and her younger sister, Sana, wants to go, too.  Being new to America, her mother does not understand the custom and insists Rubina takes her.  Sana is a brat and disrupts the party.  both girls were given a treat bag to take  home and Rubina saves her big, red lollipop for later.  Sana eats everything in her bag – as well as most of Rubina’s lollipop.  Mother takes Sana’s side and insists Rubina be nice to her sister.  One day, Sana brings home an invitation to a birthday party and the youngest sister, Maryam, wants to go.   Although tempted not to, Rubina convinces her mother to let Sana go alone.  When Sana returns, she offers Rubina a big, green lollipop as thanks.  Artist Sophie Blackall introduces a multicultural air by illustrating mother in traditional Arab clothing and designs.  Rukhsana Khan balances Rubina’s emotions and empathy as the family adjusts to combining culture and sisterly relationships.  This is an engaging story and could initiate many discussions on traditions, sibling rivalry, or immigrants, to name a few.