The raving reviews on the back book jacket got me to pick this book up, and I cannot adequately express my disappointment.  In much of the beginning of the book, Kingsley repetitiously goes over, again and again, the previous two books, neither of which I have read.  But it doesn’t usually take me much to bring me up to speed, since I get the gist of what’s going on.  However, the action/plot was choppy, jumping all over the place.  I couldn’t care less about what happened to the main characters; there was nothing to make them at all endearing.  For example, they start out at a grocery store and Erec comes out of a fog sitting in a shambles–poof–they’re home–poof–he’s in a magical timetravel contraption his ‘mother’ conveniently has–poof–he ends up with the bad guy because he goofed in his wishing where to go–poof–he’s in a dentist’s chair waiting to have his eyes removed–poof–he’s being saved.  I really don’t care if he’s saved or not.  He, Erec, does nothing to prove his worthiness.  Ughhhh—halfway through the book I wanted to scream.  Contrary to what the reviews say on the book jacked, and I seriously think they were taken out of context, this is nowhere near Harry Potter quality.  So don’t worry J. K. Rowling, no one’s going to knock you off your throne!

This was a fun Batman story.  The pictures are bright and interesting.  The story moves along quickly, and is a light fun read for kids.    After an action packed read about Batman and Robin taking on the Mad Hatter, there are several thought provoking questions and reading prompts at the back of the book, along with an interesting biography about the author and cartoonist.  It is a nicely done book for kids.  There are typo’s on pages 11 and 33 in this book.

This is the same format and author of “If the World Were a Village”.  In this book the author condensed the world population to just 100 and gave us statistics based on numbers that are more fathomable than the billions and millions.  In this book, the same effect is achieved, but this time using statistics based on people living in the United States.  For example: for every 100 people living in the U.S., 75 are white, 12 are black, 4 are Asian, and 1 is Native American.  Remaining 8 consider themselves mixed or different race.  This large sized book with bright acrylic style illustrations would make for an interesting book to share with students. The facts and statistics are interesting enough to hold any adult’s attention as well.  I recommend this book for the elementary library and even the middle school library.

This is a crazy rhyming tale of a critter cafe for animals.  It’s fun, fast, has great illustrations and would entertain the audience with the great playful sounding words.  It’s a nice sized book with interesting pictures depicting the waiter and animals at the Cow’s Cafe.  This would make a great read aloud for primary aged children.  Nice addition to an elementary library!

Not all the Pilgrims were seeking religious freedom, some were just plain looking for adventure and weren’t really nice at all.  This engaging book, written in a child friendly graphic novel form, tells the story of the plymouth colony with a different twist.  The two rambunctious boys of the Billington family make sure their many troublemaking schemes  are represented as they banter back and forth with the narrator.  Although the layout of the book is a bit too choppy for a read aloud, it’s an exciting insight into a part of the story that is usually passed over.  Includes authors note.

Nothing brings to life the story of Rwanda’s genocide more than personal accounts.  There are plenty of great videos on Youtube what will create the spark students interest in this horrific history lesson.  Alexander Cruden has put together a strong collection of essays, mainly primary source in nature, that can supplement the classroom teacher, but this is not a stand alone history of the genocide.  Full color pictures and maps throughout will aid the student.  Divided into 3 chapters, Historical Background on the Rwandan Genocide, Controversies Surrounding the Rwandan Genocide, and Personal Narratives, with at least five essays in each, this book is for the student researcher who is looking for key quotations to support their position papers. Issues regarding women and children in particular come through the 2nd and 3rd chapter essays.  Chronology in the back serves as a great review/summary for students.  The $40.00 hardcover price is worth it.

Walter Diemer, an accountant for a chewing gum factory, decides to experiment and manages to invent “Dubble Bubble”.  His new creation changes the world’s chewing habits and kids will enjoy this simple nonfiction title as they learn the history of gum.  Includes references and an entertaining list of facts about our obsession with bubble gum

What does a baby wombat do when he is not sleeping?  This wombat finds a playmate who happens to be a human baby.  The illustrations are sweet and fun to enjoy, but there is very minimal writing involved with a majority of the journal entries being only one word.

One more for the Team Jake Maddox series, Playing Forward finds Isaac hoping to be a basketball star like his older brother.  Unfortunately, he is height-challenged, and he and his coach don’t see eye to eye on the best position.  Will he give up when he doesn’t get his way, or will Isaac learn to contribute to the team and make the most of circumstances?  The morals are delivered with no light touch, and the narrative arc is steep, but this high-low sports series is popular among struggling and/or early readers.

Miss Katherine (Kat) Stephenson is a 12-year-old girl, the youngest of four children, living in Regency England (early 1800’s).  Her mama died shortly after her birth, and her father, a poor village vicar, remarried a woman who is trying her hardest to bring up the girls properly.  The only son, Kat’s brother, is a lazy do-nothing who has gambled and lost and is threatened with going to debtor’s prison, unless he (or the family) can make restitution.  That would surely cause a scandal and the future would forever be cast in doom.  The only hope, according to Stepmama, is for the oldest girl, Elissa, aged 17, to marry a wealthy man who can pay the debt.  This part of the book is pretty much like reading an adult novel, but without the coarse language and sex.  Here’s the appealing twist, the children’s mama was a witch, actually a ‘Guardian’, who is more powerful than a witch.  The two younger girls, without each other’s knowledge, sneak into the locked cabinet and pilfer through the items looking for magical items to help them.  Angeline, the middle sister, finds two books of magic spells, and becomes quite adept at using them.  Kat unintentionally finds a golden hand mirror, actually it finds her, which she discovers is a portal to the Guardians’ secret lair.  In the meantime, the wealthy man Elissa is supposed to marry is also a witch, an evil one, who wants to steal the girls’ magical legacy.  With all the turns and twists, the characters are nicely developed and interesting, and the story line keeps you wanting more.  The book jackets states for ages 10 and up, however, I’m hard put to find a 10-year-old mature enough to read this book.  Also, the art on the book jacket will appeal to younger girls, not the middle-school age girls who are the true audience.