Four girls dream up a wonderful surprise for their moms, but first they have to prepare…and hats are a big part of the plan! Emily, Ashley, Kaitlyn and Claire visit the local street fair to see the hats at Chez Chapeaux and have the most wonderful time trying on hats, hats and more hats. They finally choose rather plain ones to take with them and we wonder why…The end of the story shows their wonderful creations that they have made to present to their mothers at their mother-daughter tea. Fans of Fancy Nancy will love this book. And, it may just encourage some creative play along the way.
Recommended.

Who doesn’t love duct tape? And, who doesn’t long to make a duct tape top hat or a knight’s shield with it? Well, look no further for the directions. They are right here in this book! It begins with an introduction and history of this versatile material and gives directions for nine different costume pieces. Pictures are clear and numbered to correspond to the steps of the directions. There are also additional books and websites listed for more fun. The activities are age appropriate and may encourage some great creativity along the way. Recommended.

Readers will love the information in this book, because the ‘gross-out factor’ is extremely high. Read about the various uses for poop and pee (animal and human) in the attempted cure of many ailments in history. The beauty of this book, though, is that the reader learns some really relevant and interesting medical stuff along the way. Medicines in different cultures used over hundreds of years have a great impact today to scientists and doctors in their study. Great stuff mixed in with the gross tidbits.

Simple introduction to the lives and work of Lewis and Clark with a few sentences per page and associated illustrations. Bright, clean mixture of text, artwork and photos present the points necessary to give the reader a foundation of information. “Quick Stats” and “Key Dates” are great for report writing. A good starting point for young readers.

A basic introduction to temperature with a sentence or two on each page with accompanying photos arranged between two bright lines that travel through the pages. Boys and girls of different ethnicities illustrate the concepts presented. the book begins and ends with a question and gives the reader some history about temperature measurement. This is a solid, basic book that will introduce temperature to the younger crowd.

Car enthusiasts will enjoy the information in this book, part of a series about fourteen high powered autos. the history of the car, explanation of its name, design and cool technology. An information box with Shelby GT350 specifications is a nice addition. Nonfiction features include a table of contents, index and glossary. Add this to your collection if you want to update your transportation section.

One book in a series of six about important women and their contributions. Jane Goodall details her life in simple text with accompanying photos, many in color. There are two pages of “Quick Stats” and “Key Dates” as well as a link to a publisher’s webpage with more details. This is a very nice beginning biography about a female leader in science, which might lead to further study. Recommended.

This book starts with a high energy anecdote about the player’s prowess on the court. It then goes back to the beginning of his life and career, moving through the years. A timeline and ‘Fast Facts’ throughout the book add to the information presented in just 32 pages. Nonfiction elements such as table of contents, index and glossary are included.
This will be a hit with the avid sports fans in your library.

Kids can learn about farms, their residents and their ‘food chain’. Dr. Temple Grandin, an important farm animal advocate is highlighted and one of the six projects showcases one of her important contributions (Cow Hug Machine) to animal welfare.
Materials lists and clear directions with photos make this a fun and educational book for children wishing to know more about farms. A great addition to your library!

Significant, but overlooked, pilots of World War II are showcased in this important book by Shannon Baker Moore. We learn about women who were ahead of their times, wanting to do more than society was ready for them to do. American women fought battles here on our soil to gain acceptance for their passion for flying and their relevance to the war effort. In addition to American pilots, the author describes Soviet and British females who took to the sky. Their work was hard and they fought prejudice along the way, but these strong women wanted nothing more than to be in the air with the ground below them, doing their part for their countries. A chapter on female pioneers before the war years gives the reader a starting point for the women that followed.
Historical photos, a timeline and additional resources enrich the material presented in the book. My only complaint is the that the sidebars and text boxes scattered throughout are in a pale color and the white text tends to blend in too much. They also make the pages rather drab, since most of the photos are black and white. A more colorful choice might have enlivened the appearance of the pages. A recommended choice.