The primary school dinosaurs are all getting ready for their school’s class picture day by wearing their favorite outfits. Teddy- Tyrannosaurus is in his favorite shirt with the circle of stars on it. As the class lines up, in rushes Tina Triceratops, who spills her juice all over Teddy’s shirt. “Teddy is mad. Teddy is sad. He starts to roar and cry at the same time.” Quick thinking Tina makes a large paper star to cover the stain on Teddy’s shirt saving the day!

There are two or three large font sentences on each page. The smiling little dinosaurs in their t-shirts, shorts, tennis shoes and pinafores with their expressive eyes will win you over just like proud grandparents at a elementary school play performance.

Haley and her pony, Wings, enter a prestigious competition in this seventh book in a contemporary middle grade series in the tradition of Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague.
Haley has been focused on one goal with her pony Wings: entering an upcoming competition in the fall and winning. She’s so busy trying to make that happen that her grades drop and her family is worried. And then, when the big day finally arrives, Haley falls off Wings and is eliminated! It’s the worst thing she can imagine after all her hard work and sacrifice. Can she get back on her horse and regain her self-confidence? An easy read that will entertain young girls who enjoy horse stories.

Mark of the Plague is physicist-turned-author Kevin Sands’ follow-up to the much-honored The Blackthorn Key, with its teen protagonists facing new dangers and struggling to solve new mysteries in 1665 London. The Black Death has returned to London, spreading disease and fear through town. A mysterious prophet predicts the city’s ultimate doom—until an unknown apothecary arrives with a cure that actually works. Christopher’s Blackthorn shop is chosen to prepare the remedy. But when an assassin threatens the apothecary’s life, Christopher and his faithful friend Tom are back to hunting down the truth, risking their lives to untangle the heart of a dark conspiracy. Who is this stranger who seems to be able to cure the bubonic plague that’s ravaging the city — and what’s in his medicine? As the plot unfolds against a backdrop of the black plague’s devastation, the teens suffer beatings, stabbings, poisonings, and more in their efforts to discover and unmask a murderer. Mark of the Plague delivers swashbuckling adventure, brain-teasing puzzles, several explosions, and assorted gun-brandishing and sword-wielding. Some characters die, and there are brief gory descriptions of injuries and plague symptoms as well as dead bodies. This installment has a strong moral compass, with frequent but non-preachy messages about friendship, loyalty, kindness, using your brain, and doing the right thing even when you’re being strongly pressured to do the wrong one.

It’s the middle of the 19th century, and Stephen and Josephine are accompanying their families on the Oregon Trail. During their 2000 mile trek, they see new landscapes and experience peaceful encounters with Native American tribes like the Shoshone. Their journey by horse and wagon lasts six months. Upon reaching their destination, the children promise to keep in touch—Josephine’s family will stay in town while Stephen’s plans to claim farmland.

Gregory uses accessible language to explain what life was like during this point in American history. The inclusion of historical snapshots effectively blends fact and fiction. At the back of the book, a simple illustration of the Oregon Trail provides readers a visual reference of Stephen and Josephine’s journey. There is also a timeline, a glossary of 5 key terms, and an index. Lluis Farre’s cartoonish illustrations add a playful touch.

A little fish is swimming through the ocean when he is spotted by an octopus. The octopus catches the little fish and plays catch with him, fishket ball, lost in a maze, and other games. Finally the octopus says that he looks so cute and probably tastes cute. He puts the little fish in his mouth only to discover that the little fish is a pufferfish and is left with a tongue full of spines.

With very few words on a page, this illustrations carry the story. The expression on the animals convey their feelings and the surprise ending will appeal to readers.

A young boy is so excited to go to the beach the next day, but that afternoon a storm blows in. His family prepares for the storm, but all the boy can think about is how upset he is to not go to the beach. That night he dreams that he sails on a ship with big propellers to blow away the storm. When he wakes the next morning, the sun is shining.

The charcoal drawings emphasize the feeling of darkness in he storm. The beginning of the book, the illustrations are lighter and as the storm approaches the pages are darker until the boy wakes up to sunlight streaming through his window. The last pages of the story have the only color, blue sky!

This book was originally published in Japan in 2009. English translation published in 2016.

Sam would like to earn twenty bucks a pop just like his older sister, but Sam is too young to mow lawns. How can Sam earn some money? He starts out by caring for his neighbor’s chickens while she is away and taking another neighbor for a walk to see the chickens. All of this leads to his desire to own his own chicken. Sam learns some financial lessons along the way.

This beginning chapter book includes sketches of his diverse classmates and neighbors throughout the story. It is a light-hearted story and the first in the Sam the Man series.

This fantasy book takes place is pseudo-New Orleans. It follows the story of teenager Yonie Watereye as she tries to find out the truth of her parents’ mysterious death. The magic in this novel is called Guile: Yonie’s cat, LaRue, has Guile along with other objects, i. e., a locket or a shield. Yonie revisits old and new family members and acquires friends along the way.

The character Yonie felt too much like a stereotyped teenage bookworm. However, LaRue was portrayed as an exciting cat that the reader would like to travel with. The mystery of the the novel was intriguing and the ending of the story was very satisfying. All in all, this book was a good read that would appeal to those who enjoy fantasy and mystery stories.

— Faith E.

Twelve year old Maisie’s grandmother owns a boarding house in Victorian London.  Maisie helps clean and views herself as an amateur detective.  In this 4th book of her adventures, a rare, feathered mask has disappeared from the collection of tenant Professor Tobin.  As Maisie begins to piece together clues, the astute reader can also identify the likely thief.  An interesting twist at the end tells why the mask is so valued.  These mystery stories contain enough twists and turns to captivate budding detectives and problem solvers.  These books do not need to be read in order.

Loula loves her Great Dane, Mister.  Mister is large, unruly, clumsy, messy, energetic, and always hungry.  One day, Loula overhears Mama saying, “I can’t live with that… that Monster any more!”  Loula believes she is talking about Mister and attempts to teach Mister some good manners before Mama “will throw you out like an old pair of shoes!”  Her efforts fall far short so she enlists the aid of Gilbert, the family chauffeur.  Not surprisingly, Mister happily continues being boisterous.  After a disasterous adventure with a squirrel and a museum, they reluctantly return home.  Mama wondered where they had been.  She then asked Loula to hold the door so she could throw out a plant – a monsterous Venus Fly Trap!  Terrific ink and watercolor illustrations are humorous and provide many comic details to the story.  This would make a great read-aloud.  There are many opportunities for discussions about manners and predictions.