It’s got all the basics of fire safety covered in clear, concise, easily understood sentences: 2-3 sentences per page, in large font, opposite full-sized color photos that support the text on each page.  The size is appropriate for small hands, and the binding is sturdily constructed.  It could have been stronger if it offered children more “why”s to go with the dos & don’ts.

My biggest pet peeve with books for young children is when they try to simplify the information so much that they over-simplify it to the point of misinformation.  This book is all about how the scale on a map sets the distance represented on that map.  Then they draw the maps with giant sized icons that don’t fit the scale — one map makes it look like a road is half a mile across, and one makes it look like a bird cage is 20 feet tall.

Top quality photography in this non-fictional book with information about the smallest bats and the biggest bats.  Sandra Markle’s narration of information is also top quality.  This information book may be read successfully by students on about a 4th grade reading level.

This book come with additional captions, a map of where the species live (thank you, this is crucial to global awareness), vocabulary terms, additional information, and websites in the back.  Recommended.

Apparently mermaids are just like fairies, except they live in the sea.  Jasmine and her four friends hear the story of a lovestruck mermaid named Aroona who fell in love with a human.  Aroona made the decision to leave her mermaid life behind and become human in order to be with her true love.  On her way to meet him, she stopped to get her treasure chest full of jewels, and was caught in a terrible storm.  She was never seen again and her true love left with a broken heart.  The legend goes that there is a scale trail which leads to where Aroona left the chest.  The mermaid friends think it would be fun to try to find the treasure, and so off they go exploring.  They find a shiny scale trail which leads to a mermaid holding a chest.  However, it’s just Jasmine playing a trick on them.  They didn’t think it was funny and left.  However, Jasmine discovers some old scales and follows them and finds the real treasure chest.  Before she can get back home, a storm comes up and traps her.  Meanwhile her friends feel bad that they left her alone with a storm brewing, so they go to find her.  They do and everyone is safe and the jewels end up in the Underwater Garden.  Oriented towards young girls, they will enjoy reading about the mermaids.  Simple story, simple dialogue, simple pictures, but enjoyable.

I cannot figure out if I like this book because it is so well written or because of a parental point-of-view.  Like most typical third-graders, Zeke and his friends and classmates are addicted to monitors, be it TV or video games.    Much of their conversations and sayings stem from TV show characters or video game characters; not too many original thoughts swirling around.  Their teachers challenge the students to not watch TV nor play video games for one week–the most cruel punishment ever!  And what delighted me was that the parents supported it!  (I really think that’s the most unrealistic part of the story.)  Kids found that they actually enjoyed playing with friends, family interactions, and learning how to entertain themselves.  Behavior improved as well as grades, all because of no TV.  I’ve often tried this at my home with my three sons, but it was my husband who couldn’t tear himself away from ESPN.  And there it went–poof!  If he could do it, so could they.  This story is humorous as well as the illustrations.  I’m interested to see if kids read and like this book and actually take this message to heart.

This is a very up to date book about the state of Washington, and interesting facts about it’s people, places, and products.

It is easy to read, has nice pictures, and clearly written facts about the state.

Nice addition to our geography collection.

This is a simple interesting explanation of how we obtain the material for, and then make a car.  It has detailed actual photos of the processes taking place.  The font is easy to read, with a simple vocabulary young people can understand.

The book is interesting and informative.

This story is creative and fun.  It teaches a lot about the fun of using your imagination.  I liked the way the boy with t he box includes everyone, even the boy who was showing off.

The font changes when the characters are talking, however the choice of font style is somewhat hard to read and fairly small in places.

The pictures are interesting and unique.

This is a good read for children!

This story is lots of fun.  It would be a fun “read out loud” book with a group.  The pictures are colorful and cute.  The story has easy to read font in vocabulary young readers could read fairly easily.  I enjoyed this story.  The end is cute.

This would be a great book to read to a class of children.  The final word of each thought is extra large print; making it easy for a group that was being read to to read and say together.  The story is light and funny.  The story makes the best of a bad situation.  It’s a good lesson in not letting problems get you down but just getting up and doing your best.

I think the children would enjoy the rather slap-stick things that happen to the teacher in this story.