This book was reviewed by a Spanish language teacher at River Ridge High School. She shared it with her seven year old daughter. This book is about a little boy who saves a doll and takes such good care of her as if she were a real baby that he was rescuing. The story is cute, the illustration is lovely and the Spanish is great-accurate and useful for learning the language. She recommends this book.

This book was reviewed by a Spanish language teachers here at River Ridge HS. She read it with her seven year old daughter, and she states that this was her favorite book of the four she reviewed. She notes that it has beautiful pictures. The book containing both languages is so helpful. Some expressions do not translate directly. So to see how they are done is a very good learning experience. The book is based on the pretty well-know song as the title states, and celebrates diversity.

Top Elf is a fun holiday story. Santa is ready to retire and he decides there should be a competition for his replacement. The competition is open to anyone and any creature. A variety of characters, a pixie, a brownie, an elf, Santa’s children, and many more join the race to earn the title, Santa. Competitors must pass each challenge in order to remain in the competition. In the end, the competitors have an unexpected chance to save Christmas from an unlikely villain. Students who enjoy humorous holiday stories will enjoy this read. T

Some of the first wheel rides appeared in the early 1600s. In this informational text about Ferris Wheels, readers learn a little about the history of the Ferris wheel and some of the largest Ferris wheels around today. Each two page spread has 3-4 sentences and a photograph. The end of the book has a few more facts, a glossary, an index, and a code to access more information and crafts on abdokids.

This nonfiction book about otters from the series Awesome Animal Powers provides a general overview about otters. Each two page spread has 1-2 paragraphs of text and then a full page picture. Even though the cover says tool users, this was only briefly covered. The other topics covered in the book are where they live, what they look like, what they eat and their future. There are many informational text features used including text boxes, diagrams, captions, color words, glossary and index. An online resource from abdobooklinks offers more information on the topic.

A picture book about all the things that make us want to say thank you. Thank you is for morning and for blooms. Thank you is for hats and mittens and hands to hold. A sweet look at everyday things for which we might want to say thank you. The soft illustrations match the lyrical text and make this a very sweet book about being thankful.

A level 3 Blastoff Reader from Scholastic about long-tailed weasels. The text includes 2-3 sentences per page with an illustration, map, diagram or chart. These informational text features assist the reader in understanding the text. The end of the book includes a glossary, index, and books and websites where readers can learn more information.

A unique look at how some insects may be a little more like us than we think.

The author starts out with bugs aren’t like us. They don’t give kisses or hugs, they don’t make scrambled eggs and toast. But then turn the page and it goes on to give facts about an insect and how it is like us. “A mother short-tailed cricket lays extra, tiny eggs. Once her babies hatch, the special eggs will be her little ones’ first breakfast.” And it continues through the book stating different everyday activities that bugs don’t do, but when the reader turns the page it describes an insect that does a similar activity. The end of the book comes to the conclusion that bugs are like us.

The author includes further information about the different insects referenced in the book as well as a few books for more information. She also mentions the difference between the playful language that she used in the book and scientific language.

A fun look at the similarities between ourselves and bugs. It also introduces the reader to insects they may not be familiar with.

Flamingo is sad and worried that he will always feel sad or his friends won’t like him if he is sad. His friends, a girl and a potato, say that everyone feels sad sometimes. They try to cheer up the flamingo, but he is just sad. Finally a close to mean joke from Potato gets everyone laughing and although Flamingo is a still a little bit sad, he is okay with that.

A great book about it being okay to be sad. The friendship between the three is a comfort as they explore sadness and try to cheer up their friend.

A little boy opens a box at night and night slips out to brings with it shadows and nighttime things. When the night is tired and the boy opens the box, night goes back in and day slips out.

The text is descriptive and soothing. Darkness tumbles into the air. It dances and whirls around the room. It goes under the bed, under the chair – everywhere! Hello, Night! Max laughs. 

The illustrations complement the text with their calming colors.

The book is described as a reassuring bedtime book, but I can see it being used for descriptive language and visualization lessons.