This 24 page book contains very basic facts about our earth and the pollution that plagues it. Each page has 1-2 sentences of information with a color photograph to enhance the message. This book is written so simply that it does not report information beyond common knowledge. This would be appropriate for preschool through kindergarten.

Dave Wencel takes a look at unidentified flying objects and reports  from those who claim to have seen them.  This 24 page book defines UFOs and provides data about accounts of sightings.  Other books in the Unexplained series are: The Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot, ESP, Ghosts, Haunted Houses, The Loch Ness Monster, and Near-Death Experiences.  A glossary and index are included along with books to read and a website to visit for more information.

Miss Smith returns with her Incredible Storybook in this ocean-based adventure.  he class goes on a field trip to an aquarium.  The high-seas voyage comes to life as Miss Smith and the class are transported with the Owl and the Pussycat in the pea-green boat.  Their action-packed day continues as she reads Moby Dick, The Little Mermaid, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, and Gulliver’s Travels.  The characters from each story join Miss Smith and the children in the pea-green boat until the final adventure with Captain Nemo and the Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  Michael Garland’s computer generated illustrations are brightly colored and are well-matched with this quick introduction to seven well-loved classic stories.

Laurie Halse Anderson is a well-known author of award winning chapter book.  This story of Zoe’s wild hair is one of her picture books.  Zoe’s beautiful red hair has a mind of its own.  It opens cookie jars, plays with the cat, and even learns how to fly!  In kindergarten, it helped out around the classroom, but in first grade, Ms. Trisk had rules!  No wild hair!  It wasn’t until a disastrous science lesson about the planets, did Zoe’s hair finally win Ms. Trisk’s approval.  Ard Hoyt’s energetic ink and watercolor illustrations are a terrific match with Zoe’s rambunctious hair.

This book contains an interesting mix of jokes, tongue twisters, riddles, limericks, knock-knock jokes, and non-fiction fun facts – all with a focus on science.  Other books in the series are Animal Jokes, Ha-Ha Holiday Jokes, and Sports Jokes to Tickle Your Funny Bone.  Most of the artwork is from clipart.com.

Emma the dog’s perfect life is upset when she believes her owner, George, is being kidnapped by a woman.  She emails Queenie, an advice columnist, for recommendations.  After several attempts to rid the house of Loretta, Emma discovers Loretta is a pizza chef and decides a compromise might be the best plan.  This story may help others adjusting to a blended family while dealing with feelings of jealousy and the need to belong.  Eileen Christelow’s humorous illustrations are drawn in a comic book style and are engaging from the first page to the last.

Muskrat cork lives in the middle of a pond.  His friend Fuzz, a possum, never visits because he is afraid to swim.  Cork is encouraging and gives him some on-the-ground lessons.  Fuzz decides instead to crawl out on a tree branch that extends toward Cork’s house.  Fuzz fall into the water, but after a moment of panic, uses cork’s instructions and paddles to Cork’s house.  Chaconas portrays a supportive friendship as well as the satisfaction of compromise.  Lisa McCue’s ink and watercolor illustrations are expressive and endearing.

Cork, a muskrat, is babysitting a baby porcupine.  He needs his friend Fuzz, a possum, to help but Fuzz is too busy.  Only when Fuzz gets in trouble and the baby porcupine is the one to rescue him, does Fuzz relent.  This book is a level 3 in Viking’s Ready-to-Read program and is directed toward young, independent readers.  Lisa McCue’s ink and watercolor illustrations are colorful and expressive.  This book is a good beginning chapter book for those ready to move away from picture books.

When I first picked this book up, I thought it would show you an inkblot and you were to try to figure out what it looked like.  Then the book would profile you based on your answers.  Boy, was I wrong!  This book has beautiful examples of seeing ‘things’ in random shapes created by an inkblot.  Think of it as trying to decide what cloud shapes resemble.  The book gives a list of supplies plus directions of how to create the blots and then SEE the shapes within them and begin to draw from that.  The results are amazing.  Kids will love to give this a try and I’m hoping teachers will, too!  I know I will.

Organized in chronological order, this is a brief introduction to 13 famous people in American history, and famous quotations uttered by each along the theme of courage.  Each beautifully illustrated two-page spread is dedicated to a different individual, beginning with their name, one of their famous quotes, and the date it was given; then it gives one paragraph of introduction giving the context for when and where the quotation comes from.  Two more pages in the back give extra blurbs on all the individuals, providing further background.  It’s a good introduction to spur student interest, but there’s not enough meat to make it an R*. One question left unanswered in both information paragraphs is why Rosa Parks’s quote came from 1990.