The British Museum is in trouble, it needs a donation right away to stay open. Lottie Lipton follows clues that lead her underneath the museum into the catacombs. She goes on an adventure that may lead her to treasure and saving the museum.

Remy, a raccoon, had his house broken into and his most prized possession a journal is missing. Remy and his friends the mice join forces to search for the journal. Remy and his friends must escape different perils while searching for the journal and discover new friends along the way. This book is part graphic novel, part illustrated chapter book. Students who are trying to move from graphic novel to chapter books may find this a decent transition.

Mia Tang moved to the US with her family in search of a better life. Instead they have faced many challenges. Mia’s mom thinks they have found the perfect new job managing a motel and it comes with free lodging. Unfortunately the owner of the motel is mean and managing the motel is a lot of work. Mia decides to help her family by running the front desk of the motel and in doing so makes new friends and overcomes many obstacles.

Written in verse, this book reads visually like skiing quickly down a snowy hill of moguls. The archival black and white photos are the frosting on the cake to this story. This is the biography of Peter Seibert of Massachusetts. Pete learned to ski at seven years of age, “there was nothing else like it in the world.”(13)

The first section “AMERICA” tells of Pete’s years of skiing on his high school’s ski team, being too young to enlist when World War II breaks outs, but enlisting when he turns eighteen in the 10th Light Division (Alpine), Army training in the snow of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, and Pete becoming an Army snow instructor in white camouflage.

“OCEAN” dwells on the anticipation of crossing the Atlantic Ocean before seeing action in World War II.

“ITALY” takes place in the Apennine Mountains in Northern Italy. The German Army is on top of peaks looking down on the Allies. The Allies need to dislodge the German Army before the Allies can advance. Pete was in the Allied platoon in snow mountain gear slowing working their way up the mountains before the 7:30 a.m. attack began. It was a remarkable feat “that so many Americans had climbed the impossible east side of Riva Ridge…Not one of his soldiers died in the climb to the top… the Germans fought back for four days but then surrendered.”(110)

In another battle, Pete was wounded from an artillery blast. Pete would be in the hospital for almost two months. During this time Germany surrenders.

Back in “AMERICA” Pete will undergo many surgeries, go through rehab, and wonder if he will ever ski again.

“THE PROMISE” finds Pete teaching in a ski school, qualifying for the U.S. Ski Team of 1950, and learning how to run a ski resort after injuring his ankle. In 1962, Pete opens the Vail Ski Resort.

Enjoy gliding through Pete’s story as if you yourself are on skis with him. This is a side of skiing and World War II that is often at told.

Jake struggles in school. In Jake’s frustration, he has turned to his school’s urban legend about the Wishing Well behind his school. It’s really a storm drain, but if he throws his most favorite item into the well, his wish will come true. Jake runs threw thunder and lightning to the well and throws in the gift from Aunt Margaret, a set of the Heroes of History figurines. “I really am a dummy, Jake thought angrily. Not even the Wishing Well can help a dummy like me. … ‘I wish someone could just do this for me!’ he cried. POP!” (14-15) So began The Tiny Geniuses series.

Now in book #2, Jake has the fourth grade Living History Night to prepare. Jake draws the name of Benjamin Franklin out of box for his project’s subject. Yikes, this means Jake will have to emcee the fourth grade program at Franklin Elementary School, too. When Jake wishes for extra help – POP! (19)

Ella Fitzgerald (three inches tall) materializes for Jake. Why Ella Fitzgerald? Jake’s best friend Emerson comes over to Jake house after school wearing a Benjamin Franklin bald cap, red tail coat, and half spectacles. Emerson takes Jake to the theater department where his mother works to see more props for his project. They take Ella along with them. Ella loves singing on stage again. Ella Fitzgerald introduces Jake to stage presence.

Jake still needs help with his script for the program. Ella has written a song for him, but Jake does not see this as a help. His singing is not good. ” ‘I wish I could sing and dance. I wish it could be that easy. But it’s not. And I wish that somebody else – anybody else– could help me’ –. POP!” (60)

A three inch tall Benjamin Franklin is now here to help Jake. Franklin is more interested in finding the perfect storm to test his lightning is electricity theory, than in helping Jake.

Along the way Jake figures out with to connect each of the historical characters in the program with one of Franklin’s inventions. The night of the program an electrical storm outside, knocks out the power at school. While the lights are out and before the emergency generator kicks-in, Ella encourages Jake to go on with the show. The show is a great success!

After the show, “A sizzling sound, like lightning tearing through velvet, filled Jake’s ears. He watched in astonishment as a section of the theater curtain burned away, creating a glittering hole. …Ms. Fitzgerald linked her arm through his[Franklin’s] , and together they disappeared through the enchanted rip in the curtain. With another burst of light, the hole sealed behind them. Just like that, there was no sign that Ms. Fitzgerald or Mr. Franklin had ever been there.” (114-115)

Each of the 12 chapters flies onto the page with the illustration of a skeleton key attached to a kite in flight.

“A Note from the Author” ends the book with added information about Ella Fitzgerald and Benjamin Franklin.

Jake Everdale struggles in school. The science fair is coming up. Jake needs to do well with his science fair project. Jake has made an agreement with his parents. If Jake does not do well in the science fair, he will have to give up the one thing he truly loves- BASEBALL!

In Jake’s frustration, he has turned to his school’s urban legend about the Wishing Well behind his school. It’s really a storm drain, but if he throws his most favorite item into the well, his wish will come true. Jake runs threw thunder and lightning to the well and throws in the gift from Aunt Margaret, a set of the Heroes of History figurines. “I really am a dummy, Jake thought angrily. Not even the Wishing Well can help a dummy like me. Jake threw his pencil onto the desk. ‘I wish someone could just do this for me!’ he cried. POP!” (14-15)

So begins the first book in this new series of Tiny Geniuses. Sir Isaac Newton pops in to help Jake. Sir Isaac Newton is more interested in figuring out how the light bulbs in Jake’s house work than in helping on Jake’s science fair project. Jake is running out of time. Jake wishes for a different helper. “POP!” (43) Amelia Earhart pops into the story.

Jake decides it is not safe to leave the two 3 inch tall geniuses at home while he goes to school, so he takes them with him in his backpack.Sir Isaac Newton and Amelia Earhart did not see eye to eye on much, especially on women being able to accomplish much.

Eventually the two geniuses come up with a project for Jake. Now the problem is the Jake did not do it on his own, so to turn it in would be cheating. “Suddenly, he remembered what Sir Isaac had said about not being curious. Jake was plenty curious about all sorts of stuff. And if curiosity was what he really needed to get started on his science project…” (88-89) Jake worked all night on his project dealing with paper airplanes and how they fly. Jake’s project earned 2nd place with a red ribbon.

Amelia Earhart and Sir Isaac Newton flew off in the airplane they created for Jake’s project.

Each of the 13 chapters flies onto the page with the illustration of a paper airplane in flight.

“A Note from the Author” ends the book with added information about Sir Isaac Newton and Amelia Earhart.

This is Miles and Niles final year at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy and the final book in this series.

Miles and Niles are still up to their fabulous pranks, but this year Principal Barkin wants to be a prankster, too. Principal Barkin’s pranks are very amateurish compared to Miles’ and Niles’. He wants to join their team of pranksters, but no. Then, Principal Barkin wants to repeatedly retain Miles and Niles so their pranks will continue.

Soon there is word the superintendent has past away, only to have Principal Barkin’s father , the former Principal Barkin, become the ‘acting superintendent’. Principal Barkin and Superintendent Barkin do not see eye to eye.

Superintendent Barkin purposely tells Miles he is moving away, even though his mother has asked Barkin to keep it from Miles. This puts a dark shadow over Miles when his mother says it’s true. Miles and Niles are both so discouraged by the news. They both secretly and individually pull off one last prank at Yawnee Valley Science and Letters Academy’s on the night of their graduation dance. Principal Barkin catches them in the prank, but applauds their prank against his father’s 1933 2nd place trophy. Only the three of them (Miles, Niles, and Principal Barkin) will probably ever know the trophy has been changed, and that is fine with them. ” ‘ A masterstroke,’ said Niles, ‘to our whole career.’ ” (205)

This book focuses on understanding social interactions between very young children.  It promotes positive social engagement and is divided into sections based upon age – infants, toddlers and older toddlers.  The book attempts to explain different types of “communication” in young children such as hitting or vocalizations. It also provides strategies for supporting peer relationships in how you step up the environment or what role the adult takes on during the play.  This book primarily contains theory and a few basic ideas about how to think about setting up positive interactions. Lots of good things to think about, but not a lot of day to day ideas to use with an individual child. (Written by Michele Neely, SpEd preschool teacher for the Olympia School District)

This book is an activity list of fun and simple things to do with little kids.  It is organized by a child’s age and has “lessons” that incorporate cognitive, motor, social-emotional, language and self-esteem elements of development.  The book stresses interaction with parents and hands-on learning rather than using devices or technology. Each activity is fully described, background information given as well as why it is important to development.  Each age range section also includes a list of basic developmental milestones for caregivers to reference and work toward. Most of the activities need only a few common materials found around the house. There are lots of good, engaging activities to keep little ones happy and learning. (Written by Michele Neely, SpEd preschool teacher for the Olympia School District)

This book provides a 30-item checklist that describes seven essential features of high-quality behavior-guidance policies for programs serving children birth to 8 years old (gleaned from many different research sources).  The book presents their philosophical approach to behavior guidance; how having a high-quality policy can support classroom activities; the research field on which the policy is based; 5-step process for putting the policies into action.  A big part of the book is the TAGPEC (which is a tool for rating the current behavior policies in a program and guides those that don’t yet have policies). The audience for this book appears to be for those interested in the theory of discipline policies and evaluating policies of a large site or school district program, rather than an individual teacher looking to make changes in her classroom (although, there are some applicable tidbits).  (Written by Michele Neely, SpEd preschool teacher for the Olympia School District)