How can it get any better than dinosaur facts and origami? How about both of them in a single book! We begin with a little introduction to origami – history, paper and typical folds. This book, geared toward the 3rd-6th grade crowd, then gives illustrated directions for six different dinosaurs (and facts) and a prehistoric tree. Most pieces are eight to nine steps and the iguuanodon is a whopping 16 steps. The directions and illustrations are clear, but this book is better suited to the experienced origami aficionado. Beginners might get a bit frustrated. All in all, a nice addition to the library.
Plumbers
Plumbers, part of the Community Helper series, is a nice introduction to this very important career option. A plumber’s job, necessary skills and tools are discussed and the photos are a great mix of genders and ethnicity. Sentences are simple (this is marked a Level 1 book) and unfamiliar words are highlighted and available in the glossary. At the end, there are additional resources listed,both books and web links. At 24 pages, it is very accessible to the primary target audience. Buy this book and the rest of the series to update your career/community section.
Chevrolet Silverado
This book is part of the Tough Truck series and, as such, describes one make/model of vehicle. The reading level is 5.7 and the book is targeting the 3-6 grade reader. Chevrolet Silverados are described – including their history, distinctive parts (bow tie shaped logo, square grill and tailgate spoiler),lots of color photos and specifications for the model. Typical nonfiction aspects include table of contents, glossary, index and extra resources list.
While this is a great book for the target audience, it isn’t really a stand-alone book, because truck aficionados are loyal to their brand, even at an early age. Therefore, there might be limited circulation. Because it is part of a six book set of different makes/models, one should buy the entire set or none of them. The entire set would be fun to have in the library, because one can just imagine the heated arguments in the 600’s section over the best truck out there!
Dragsters
Dragsters, part of the Full Throttle series, is full of color, action and facts that will make your readers’ hearts race. This book describes a drag race, the history of drag racing and parts of a dragster. Color photos, a timeline, index, glossary, short paragraphs and a list of further informative resources make this a good choice for its target audience – the high/low reader. This is an adrenaline rush of a book that is very accessible and it will have your auto junkies begging for the rest of the series.
International Space station
Space and astronauts are popular subjects, given the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. It is not often that K-3 crowd gets a good nonfiction book on those topics. This book should fit the bill. It discusses the origin of the space station, life on the space station today and more. Each two page spread has a full photo with a short paragraph describing the picture. Highlighted words are in the glossary. Other nonfiction elements include a table of contents, index and extra resources listed.
This book is considered a level “3” and deemed a transitional text for those students that are becoming more independent in their reading. It will also work well for the those higher grade/lower level readers, who will enjoy the great illustrations. Pick up this book for your library – it will be checked out often!
How I Learned to Fall out of Trees
Edward and Adelia have been friends for a very long time and now she has to move. So, they gather many of their favorite things as Adelia explains to Edwin that she is going to teach him to climb a tree and fall. As she is explaining the steps to climbing (and falling from) a tree, she is also teaching Edwin to say goodbye. And, at the end, he does fall out of the tree onto all the things they used and collected and he has a smile on his face, because “Adelia made certain that falling was the easiest part of all” and saying goodbye wasn’t too painful.
This is a very sweet book that gently moves along to the day Adelia leaves and Edwin climbs her tree and let’s go (in more ways than one). Pictures are bright and the characters are sweet. While the underlying message of letting go of one’s friend might be missed by readers, the books is still a very sweet friendship story and will open up discussions about friendships.
The Adventures of Samuel Oliver: The Iron Island by Taylor Zajonc
The physical dimensions of this book will give the reader the appearance of reading an average intermediate grade book. The story itself appears to be for a hi-lo reader, short and sweet, with more illustrations and less text than an average intermediate grade book. Four quick chapters that will satisfy the need for a World War II adventure story.
One or two key words per page have each been printed in different texts adding to the reader’s comprehension and enjoyment.
Young Samuel , his father, and uncle have been dropped off onto a damaged ship that needs repairing below the water line. All of the crew are gone.
Samuel falls into the flooded cargo compartment when he goes looking for a ship’s map. There Samuel discovers the ship has been torpedoed by the Germans.”The Germans planned to S I N K the Maiden before Samuel’s father could repair the ship and return it to service.” (35)
Samuel must go tell his father and uncle. The Germans are back aboard the ship. The Germans have captured his father and uncle.
The suspense mounts as Samuel swims to place the Germans’ own scuttling charge on their own submarine and save his father and uncle.
Odd Jobs: Spooky Spots by Brigitte Henry Cooper
The physical dimensions of this book will give the reader the appearance of reading an average intermediate grade book. The story itself appears to be for a hi-lo reader, short and sweet, with more illustrations and less text than an average intermediate grade book. Four quick chapters that will satisfy the need for something a little bit creepy.
A young girl recounts, “I am painting in the garden when Great Aunt Raven finds me. ‘Put your things away, Ella,’ she says. ‘It is time for another odd job.’ ” (4) Great Aunt Raven leads Ella through the boarded-up town and leaves her outside a seamstress shop where someone is waiting for her. Madame Pintuck takes Ella down a hall and asks her to wash everything that is dirty. There are mounds and mounds of clothes. In a cedar armoire hangs a white lace dress. The lace dress is the only one that won’t come clean. Suddenly someone, perhaps a ghost, asks Ella, ” ‘Haven’t you heard of the widowed bride?’ ” (35) She recounted the tale of how long ago on the day of the wedding, the groom “died tragically of fever”. (43) Then she disappears. Shortly after, Madame Pintuck returns telling Ella the girl died of a broken heart.
Farmers
Farmers, part of the Community Helpers series, informs students about the work of farmers, including text boxes labeled “Farmer gear” and “farmer skills”. Sentences are short and highlighted words are identified in the glossary. There are numerous color photos showing farmers that are a mixture of gender, ethnicity and ages. Farmers are working with their hands and using equipment.
This is a nice introduction to farmers and farming. The photos of the many types of people that farm is realistic and timely. There is one part of the book that will need some discussion. It describes where farms are located – in the countryside (obviously), but also in cities and towns. Hmmmm….young students will wonder what that means, given the rural nature of the photographs included. This will be a good discussion point for classes – what defines a farm? Can we all be farmers?
Add this book to your collection for those grades that study community helpers. This series includes fourteen different community helper profiles. If this book and the cover art of the others are indicative of the helpers highlighted (age, race, gender), then this is a series that will resonate with most children, who will see themselves (no matter who they are) in those roles.
Surviving a Shipwreck: the Titanic
Surviving a Shipwreck: the Titanic is a narrative nonfiction following the timeline of the sinking of the Titanic, from its launch and sinking in 1912 to its discovery in 1985. The book begins with a hook on the first page – a single paragraph detailing the moments after the ship struck the iceberg. Text is interspersed with historical captioned photos to move the reader through the maiden voyage and sinking as well as the rescue and eventual changes in law (United States and Great Britain) concerning safety measures so that this type of disaster would never occur again.
Typical nonfiction features – table of contents, index, glossary, source notes and so forth are present in this book. An interesting diagram of the sinking itself, from hitting the iceberg to the ship breaking in half and sinking in two pieces is included. Another interesting addition is the short biography of Margaret Brown, who tirelessly aided her fellow passengers as they loaded lifeboats, went on board the Carpathia and later when they got to New York. One last page of note is the guide to surviving disasters with steps to take to keep safe in the unlikely event of a ship sinking.
Pair this book with some of the newer fictional stories about the Titanic to give students more history about the event. Surviving a Shipwreck: the Titanic will be a riveting read for your upper elementary readers and a nice addition to the nonfiction about the event.