“Beautiful” and “dung beetles” may seem like an oxymoron, but dung beetles are considered “ancient symbols of life and renewal”.  Found on every continent except Antarctica, these beetles are nature’s clean-up crew.  Waste of other animals mean life to the dung beetle.  They rely on dung for nutrients and water and use it to complete their life cycle.  There are three types of dung beetles: dwellers, rollers, and tunnelers.  Dwellers eat before it dries out, rollers push balls of dung away from the pat to use later, and tunnelers dig tunnels under the pat to store the dung.  Competitions can be tough, mates are chosen, and eggs are laid.  Plants also benefit from nutrients as dung is buried in the soil.  Young beetles (grubs) feast on dung.  Grubs evolve to pupa, which eventually grown into adult beetles.  Pages contain a simple narrative as well as a more detailed paragraph.  Watercolor and pencil artwork is stunning – a great match to the intriguing facts of this fascinating insect.  Additional facts, glossary, and bibliography are also included.

When one thinks of war heroes, one rarely thinks of a horse.  In 1952, during the Korean War, Lieutenant Eric Pedersen thought his platoon could use a packhorse to help transport munitions and equipment to soldiers.  He bought a reddish-brown filly from a racetrack in Seoul and named her Reckless after the recoilless guns.  Until the Marines bought horse feed, she ate whatever they ate.  She was trained to step over wires and kneel or lie down under enemy fire.  She trusted her handlers.  At the first blast of the recoilless rifle, she jumped high in the air, but didn’t bolt.  With each blast, she shook less.  For months, she delivered ammo to gun crews, sometimes by herself following the sound of the guns.  She followed her handlers even when wounded by shrapnel.  At the end of the War in 1953, she helped string communication wire.  In honor of her bravery and service, Reckless was promoted to staff sergeant.  In 1954, she was shipped to California to live at the Marine base in Camp Pendleton, near San Diego.  Artwork is large and colorful.  Although the horse and settings are realistic, the soldiers’ faces are cartoonish with button eyes.  Also included are a glossary, bibliography, website and 3 Common Core critical thinking questions.

Tucker MacBean, a promising 7th grade artist, takes on the school bully and the girls’ basketball team in order to secure a bulletin board for the Art Club.  One thing leads to another and culminates in an exciting and crucial dodge ball game.  Art Club members are few and not at all athletic.  The outcome appears to be a foregone conclusion.  However, the Art Club, with Tucker’s comic cartoon Beanboy, have a few ideas to try first.  Frequent illustrations, sketches, and handwritten notes are interspersed throughout the text.  This is a fun read with a satisfying conclusion.  The illustrations are digital.  Sequel to The Adventures of Beanboy.

Just Grace gets invited to Grace F’s sleepover birthday party, which will be outdoors with sleeping bags and tents in her backyard.  Grace worries about bugs, bears, and mean older sisters.  Forgetting to make Grace F. a birthday card, Just Grace invents a ghost inside a recycling bin to deflect attention.  The small lie snowballs and soon the whole school begins lining up to “see” the ghost.  Grace doesn’t know how to let people know there is no ghost without admitting she made it up.  Just Grace has a practice sleepover with her dad in their own backyard and realizes there is nothing to worry about.  She also finds a way to solve the ghost problem.  Just Grace books are told in the first person narrative.  The books are filled with list and drawings to explain and illustrate Grace’s view of things.

Little Chick hops into the farmer’s house one night and uses his computer.  At first, she browses and purchases a few items.  The second night she buys more.  The farmer and his wife don’t know what to think when packages start to arrive.  Little Chick gets more comfortable and continues to order even more expensive and outrageous items.  When she orders a boat, all the other chickens take off on a trip.  All alone, Little Chick goes online again to find a friend.  She takes photos of herself to post online with her name and age.  Soon she finds a perfect friend.  Little Chick rushes off to meet her, without telling her mom and dad.  All dressed up, she waits at the appointed spot in the woods for her friend.  The last page shows a huge, cunning fox sitting next to a picnic blanket.  The contrast to the naive chick is startling.  What a perfect book for showing how easily one can feel comfortable using the internet, yet how important it is to stay safe online!  Large, colorful, full-page illustrations portray the fun and innocence of Little Chick, right up to the disquieting ending.  Targeted towards younger students, this is a great message for all ages.

Loula is tired of her rowdy, triplet brothers so she asks her parents to make her a sister.  They hesitate saying making a sister is like making a cake – it takes special ingredients.  As they reminisce,  they tell her she needs a mama and a papa, butterflies in the stomach, a full moon, hugs and kisses, a candlelit dinner, and chocolates.  Loula resolves to make herself a sister!  With the help of Gilbert, the family chauffeur, she sets about gathering the ingredients.  First on the list is chocolate and Gilbert knows just the place.  Then they go for butterflies.  That evening, under a full moon, they prepare the dinner, including Loula’s favorite cheese tartines (French open-faced sandwiches).  Loula gives her cat hugs and kisses and releases the butterflies.  When the recipe doesn’t seem to be working, Loula remembers the mama and papa and rushes off to get them.  When she returns, she discovers an enormous dog devouring the cheese tartines.  Loula sees the dog loves everything she does and decides this is her new sister.  Her parents point out that the sister is a mister.  But as Loula plays with, teaches, and picks up after her new “sibling”, she determines that mister is the best sister!  Ink and watercolor artwork beautifully illustrate this adventure.  I enjoyed the fun twist.

In previous stories, Tallulah has learned much about ballet.  Now she is excited because she and her brother are going to dance camp.  Once there, she finds she is also going to take the dreaded tap class.  She loves the grace of ballet and hates the clickety-clack noise of tap.  Her roommate, Kacie, loves tap and hates ballet.  Both like being skilled in their dance choice and dislike being corrected.  It’s Tallulah’s brother, Beckett, who helps them realize that although they both have their favorite styles, trying something new involves coaching.  It takes patience and a willingness to try.  The watercolor illustrations are a good complement to the text showing action and dance moves.

This another of Natasha Wing’s “The Night Before…” books.  Following the format of The Night Before Christmas by C. Clement Moore, the rhyming text shares the hopes and fears of a preschool boy.  On his first day, Billy mostly hangs back and watches.  The others enjoy singing, dancing, dressing up, playing outside, and eating snacks.  At nap time he can’t relax until one girl shares her plush bunny.  When his mom arrives at the end of the day with his teddy, Billy decides preschool is fun and he would be back!  Colorful, pleasant illustrations portray Billy’s worries and all the fun to be had at preschool.  Originally published in 2011, this delightful story is a re-issue.

After enduring all kinds of hugs from all kinds of friends and family members, Little Hog has had enough.  He posts a sign stating “Hogs Hate Hugs” and signs it Little Hog.  The others are shocked.  Mouse has an idea and she shares it with Mommy Hog.  Late one day, Little Hog is walking through the forest feeling a bit lonely.  When he hears strange sounds behind him, he glances around and sees a scary “monster” getting close!  Panicked, he starts to run.  Then the monster trips and his mother and all his friends tumble out.  Little Hog is so relieved he decides he loves hugs after all.  Colorful and expressive watercolor illustrations add humor and details to the story.

“Spy Guy was a spy.  But not a very good one.”  Spy Guy needs help so he goes to the Chief, his dad.  In short rhymes, the Chief gives advice.  To sneak, don’t speak or squeak.  Spy Guy’s attempts fall short.  Finally the Chief offers Spy Guy a challenge – to sneak up on him.  After several tries, Spy Guy gets a hint from a spider and surprises his Chief.  Mission accomplished!  One last rhyme provides a closing rule, “The secret to spying is to never stop trying.”  Illustrations are large and expressive with plenty of white space to showcase details.  There is a spider on every page, watching the trials of Spy Guy.  Its inclusion in the artwork adds detail and interest to the story without using words.