In this book, the author does a fine job of consolidating information to produce a biography on the fascinating and complicated life of American writer John Steinbeck.  The book is well-organized and well-documented; a sound and comprehensive source of information from a well-designed series.  Fans of Steinbeck’s writings will walk away from reading this book with a deeper understanding of 20th century America, as well as, the man himself.  This biography is a welcome addition to any collection.  The book includes black-and-white photos, a bibliography and an index.

Elvis!  Elvis!  Who better to write a an engaging biography of the King of Rock-and-Roll than Wilborn Hampton, obviously a true fan.  Hampton offers his readers a look at the life of Elvis from his childhood in Mississippi, his stardom and his tragic death.  The author hits the right tone in this biography with his well-rounded portrait of the man whose music made a major lasting impact on culture.  This book is suitable for reports and for the casual reader.  And…it is a welcome read for any true young adult rocker!  The book includes black-and-white photos, a bibliography and an index.

Nelle Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird,  was published in 1960.  Today, it is a cherished conscious-raising American classic.  But who is Harper Lee?  And how does one write a biography on Lee who does not give interviews.  Kerry Madden, through extensive research, has managed to write a well-rounded portrait of this down-to-earth Southern woman.  This book is a valuable resource for students; it is well-documented and clearly presented.  Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird will definitely put this on their “Must Read” list.  The book includes several black-and-white photos, a bibliography and an index.

This is the first book in the series, The Buddy Files. It introduces the main character, a dog named King. King has a big problem. His family is missing and he has been sent to the pound. The first mystery King tackles is finding out where Kayla and her family have gone and why he is in the dreaded pound. Luckily, he gets adopted by Connor and his mom (who rename him Buddy). After Connor goes missing, Buddy has yet another mystery to solve. Where is his new best friend, Connor? I read this book to my first grader and our whole family really liked it. It is funny! It is about the same level as Junie B. and the Magic Treehouse series. The only thing I didn’t really like is it had a lot going on. I found myself confused at times. I am excited to see a new series for those emerging readers.

This nonfiction book introduces salmon to young readers. The book discusses what salmon are and the different stages of their life. This book is written simply enough to engage young readers. I feel it gives just the right amount of information. The book teaches students that salmon can live in salt and freshwater and about their stages of life. It introduces terms such as alvien (the babies that grow in the eggs), fry (the next stage in which they grow teeth, skin and begin to hunt for insects) and smolt (the stage right before adult when their bodies are becoming adjusted to being in salt and freshwater). The book has wonderful photographs to accompany the text. There is also a glossary, learn more and index at the end of the book.

Fawn Braun was so worried that there would be no snow for Christmas, and no snow meant no Christmas in Pfeffernut County! She had the townspeople gather to try to create snow out of chalk dust, cotton balls, marshmallows, bubbles and pop corn, but it just wasn’t quite right. Before she could announce to the townspeople that there would be no snow or Christmas, the townspeople started singing carols and making merry.  Christmas had come after all!  This story comes with a Pfeffernuesse cookie recipe, follow-up questions encouraging higher level thinking, and fun snow facts.

Farmer Gruff is quite tired from chasing the crows out of his corn. Unfortunately, hip, music loving Donkey shows up playing multiple instruments creating LOUD music which disturbs Farmer Gruff’s sleep.  Farmer Gruff sends Donkey away until he figures out that Donkey’s music scares the crows away. Donkey is invited back to play as loudly as he can!

A wolf is gobbling every creature across the land and the animals cannot find a way to stop him.  However, a few cats come up with a plan, using three pigs as bait.  The first house made of straw…with an escape route; the second house made of logs…with an escape route, and the third horse made of bricks.  Well, once the wolf went down the chimney and hit the hot coals, he flew into the sky and is still flying around the earth as a comet.

Millie in the Snow  Steffensmeier, Alexander… Walker and Company … 2007 978-0-8027-9800-8

Millie is a mail cow who delivers mail and packages with a mail carrier. When all the delivering was complete one Christmas Eve, the mail carrier sent Millie back to the farm with gifts for the farmer and the farm animals. Well, Millie had quite a time finding her way through the snow, slipping, sliding, and falling so much that the packages lost their tags. The mail carrier was quite surprised during his next visit to see that everyone had received the wrong gifts but made great use of them. This is a fun Christmas story that the reader must use the illustrations to assist with comprehension.       Ad

Farmer Chuck buys a new banjo and all the farm animals want to join in:  goat on the mandolin, cow on the washtub, pig on the fiddle, horse on the bass violin, etc…  They have quite a time playing music!