Category Archives: Reviewer’s Library Type

Who Meows? A Book of Animal Sounds by Robin Page

Posted on by

Who meows? A cat meows. Who gobbles? A turkey gobbles. Each spread features a full page illustration of the animal making that makes the noise while the next page includes a simple sentence stating the animal that makes the noise and a question for the next sound and animal. The pictures feature animals with open mouth as if they are making the noise. The animals featured would be familiar to young readers (cat, turkey, owl, bear). The back matter features a fact about each animal’s sound. This could be an interactive read aloud when read as call and response.

Natural Wonders

Posted on by

By Katie Chanez

This non-fiction series is one that will expose readers to a variety of natural wonders of the world. While some like the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef are more familiar, others are not. This series has many benefits. There are suggestions for parents/teachers on how one can read or support reading at the beginning of the book. They explain the science behind the creation of these wonders and also include any legends that local cultures may have about them. Where they are in the world is shown on clear maps that are understandable. There are questions throughout the books as well, encouraging more thought and curiosity to look further into the subjects. At the end of each book there is a glossary and index as well as quick facts and tools. There is also a “To Learn More” area giving online resources at an appropriate reading level to look into these unique areas of our world.

I would recommend these books for elementary library. They have stunning images, interesting maps and charts and encourage interest and further learning.

Extreme Sports Series

Posted on by

By Tracy Vonder Brink

Every library can use more books about sports and this set is full of unique activities that may be harder to find at a reading level for emerging readers. The photographs are appealing and vibrant and thus lower level readers will also improve their reading level with these titles. Each book is organized the same way with beginning chapters explaining different ways athletes do the sport and what equipment they use. Chapters also explain parts of the equipment and how one stays safe doing the activity. What makes these books more interesting is that there are scientific explanations on how one does the activity successfully including the use of: physics, gravity, absorbing of energy, momentum, etc. The final pages of the book also have a glossary and an index but in every book there is a science activity that can be easily done to better explain the science of the sport.

I would particularly recommend these for intermediate/elementary level but they could also become very popular at the lower middle school level as well.

Blastoff! Readers: Wild About Cats!

Posted on by

By Shannon Anderson

These wonderful non-fiction books about wildcats for intermediate readers will be a hit with cat lovers in your library. These titles are four of ten in the Bellwether Blastoff! Readers Level Three: Wild About Cats! Series. This series is at level three and thus second through fifth graders will enjoy the reading content most although many lower readers will enjoy the beautiful photography on each and every page. They all have a Table of Contents and Chapters that are consistently the same in each of the books and thus, are helpful for readers and teachers as they can create consistent research questions from all books in the series. There are some words are in bold. These are in a Glossary in the back of the book with helpful definitions. The end of the book also has basic facts, other book recommendations to read and learn more, an index, and web information on how to get more information at a simple reading level. Some interesting text features in these books are: maps of where they live, what the name of their babies is, images of their preferred habitats and if they are at risk of extinction.

I would highly recommend these books for any library that provides informational books for primary leveled readers.

Blastoff! Readers: Community Critters

Posted on by

By Clare Koll and Betsy Rathburn

These vibrant covered non-fiction animal books for early readers will be in high demand at the elementary library. These titles are six of ten in the Bellwether Blastoff! Readers Level One: City Critters Series. While these books are grade one level, many will enjoy the beautiful photography and clear writing contained within. They all have a Table of Contents and Chapters that are consistently the same in each of the books and thus, are helpful for emerging readers when reading many in the series. There are minimal words on each page. Some words are in bold. These are in a Glossary in the back of the book with helpful definitions. The end of the book also has basic facts, other book recommendations to read and learn more, an index, and web information on how to get more information at a simple reading level. Many will know these animals as they are common in many communities but these books give clear information on species and genus, where they choose to have their home and types of food they eat.

I would highly recommend these books for any library that provides informational books for primary leveled readers.

Blastoff! Beginner’s: Community Workers

Posted on by

By Amy McDonald

Having the opportunity to receive quality non-fiction books for early readers is always appreciated in the elementary library. These titles are six of sixteen in the Bellwether Blastoff! Beginners: Community Workers Series. Since primary (kindergarten-1st Grade) students focus on community members and their professions, these books can be a benefit for the classroom as well. Each of these books start with sight words that students will need in order to clearly understand the content. The Table of Contents/Chapters are clear, concise and consistently the same in each of the books and thus, are helpful for basic research questions to be answered by students. There are a minimal words on each page as well as vibrant images for clearer understanding and higher interest. The end of the book also has basic facts and a glossary for further comprehension. The final page also has an index as well as web information on how to get more information at a lower reading level.

I would highly recommend these books for any library that provides informational books for primary leveled readers.

The Biker Girls

Posted on by

Shehzil Malik – Author

Shehzil Malik is a Pakistani artist and activist for women’s rights. This title introduces readers to the facts that not all areas of the world allow for women/girls to do everything that their counterparts do. Our main character, Zoey, has never ridden a bike and finds solidarity in the group of girls she sees who ride bikes throughout their area of the city. It talks about how when she comes home from biking her father questions her as to why she is on a bike. One of her friend’s mother explains how much she enjoyed cycling as a child and the parents both discuss how they can bike safely throughout the busy city as a larger group and create a club of “Biker Girls” to enjoy cycling together.

I would recommend this book as an extra purchase. The crisp and bright illustrations are in comic bubbles at times but this is a solid picture book and not graphic novel. This book would benefit either a library that needs more books about how rights are limited in different areas of the world, a community with many from other areas of the world that can relate to the topic or a place this either promotes bike riding or plans to.

The Everything Trail

Posted on by

Meg Fleming – Author, Chuck Groenink – Illustrator

What a wonderful addition this book would be for a Pacific Northwest library! While the author is from the San Francisco Bay area, the illustrations will remind any reader of traveling through a forest on the way to an ocean shore. It follows a small group of kids walking on a path from the top of a mountain/hill to the view of the water and then back through tall trees. This book needs to be turned vertically to read and allows for a different view of the trail as it is tall and not wide. Each page has four lines that rhyme and thus will be fun for an adult to read to younger kids.

I highly recommend this book for us libraries in Western Washington. Readers will feel and understand the love of the forest after seeing this book. It will encourage all to go out and enjoy a hike!

The High-Flying, Deep-Diving Adventures of Kathy Sullivan-Astronaut and Oceanographer

Posted on by

Diane Stanley – Author, Jessie Hartland – Illustrator

Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space is the focus of this biographical picture book. It explains her interest in maps and places around the world as a child and her introduction of Sputnik traveling across the sky that inspired her to eventually become an astronaut. Prior to being in space, Ms. Sullivan studied marine biology and became an well known oceanographer as N.A.S.A. was not hiring women to go to space at the time. She the applied and successfully became one of six women who had a chance to become part of a space mission.

This book is a wonderful and inspirational biography about the drive and resilience one can have to achieve their goals. I would highly recommend this book to libraries that need more books about women in STEM. The illustrations are bright and colorful but it is this librarian’s opinion that this book will be more readable for 2nd – 6th graders. At the end of the book there is a list of Ms. Sullivan’s world records, a glossary, and a time line. There are also two lists of resources, one for younger readers as well.

What Will I Be from A to Z

Posted on by

Laura W. Carter – Author, Anna Doherty – Illustrator

With fun and clear illustrations, this book will be interesting for our primary readers. Each page starts with the words, “I want to be” and gives very short, general information on each career discussing where or what each job focuses on. Many professions in the book are not the average ones that you would see such as: neurologist or screenwriter which makes it more interesting for younger readers to learn more about fields they may not be aware of yet.

Teachers at kindergarten/first grade levels would enjoy this book as many could use it as an introduction to career research projects. There are some great career research questions on the final page as well that could be helpful. I would recommend this book for libraries who may need more A to Z books or books about professions as an extra purchase.