Stolen Secrets is a contemporary story of a teen girl, Livvy, and her alcoholic mother who has that has kept a Holocaust secret from Livvy. What is the family secret? Is grandmother a Holocaust survivor? Is she from a Nazi family? This book has multiple plot lines and themes, and switches point of view repeatedly from the memory of grandmother as a young girl decades ago in Nazi controlled Germany, to Livvy in current day San Francisco. Topics addressed are what it’s like for Livvy to be a new girl at school; homesickness for friends; alcoholism; family secrets, neo-Nazis; predatory elder care; armed robbery; and a romance.
This novel is a page turner. You won’t be able to put it down.

Ranger Red Fox takes the reader on a tour of the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming.  Information includes the basic history of the park, including the geology of how the areas were formed, as well as Native American original inhabitants and early explorers. Ranger Red Fox then describes the scenic sites and activities, and flora and fauna in the parks.  At the end of the text, there is a field guide of animals, wildlife by the numbers, a map and map challenge, wildflower tracker, glossary and index.

Stunning photographs support the text.  Animated Ranger Red Fox livens up the telling. A fun engaging read.

This title in the Strange and Wonderful series is a VERY detailed nonfiction book about spiders.  Information includes species classification, anatomy, different habitats, webs, reproduction, hunting techniques.  Specific details are provided about different species, highlighting the diversity of spiders.  The tone comes across as somewhat conversational, including suggestions on overcoming arachnophobia. While using scientific terms and detailed illustrations, the lack of a table of contents or index makes it less useful for research.  Recommendations in the “To Learn More” section include materials that range in interest level from preschool to adult.

A sure hit with kids interested in spiders and other creepy crawlies.

An in depth history of the Cassini satellite launched in 1997 to study Saturn and its moons. Begins with the basics of the planet, then describes the satellites long 7 year journey.  Cassini satellite provided the most detailed images of Saturn ever seen.  It then  observed Saturn’s rings and moons for more than a decade. Includes details on the Titan Huygens Probe, the first landing on a moon in the outer solar system.  In 2017, as its nuclear fuel was running out, scientists gave it Cassini one last mission; send as much data as possible as it plunged into Saturn’s atmosphere. 

Highlighted ‘extreme facts’ on each page are high interest. Colorful photographs and diagrams

Memorial Day is explained in simple text with both historical and current photographs. The book focuses on the origins and traditions associated with the celebration of Memorial Day. Concepts are covered at a developmental level that corresponds with the target audience.  Vocabulary words found in the glossary are in bold.

Included are directions on how to make a tissue paper poppy to honor fallen soldiers.

With simple text and colorful pictures, this title provides young readers an introduction to President’s Day.  The book starts by describing President’s Day and who celebrates it.  Also included is information on the origins and traditions of President’s Day as well as directions on how to make George Washington’s wig.

Dry, sparse information and complex concepts without adequate explanation makes this title less appealing for young readers.

Introducing the season of spring through the colors of plants, animals and weather.  Color words in the text appear as that color.  The descriptions of spring are interrupted 3 times to explain coloring techniques; texture, shading, and symmetry.  Text is supported by colorful photographs and drawings.  End-papers includes names of the colors used in the text, glossary, Learn More, and Index.

Crayons are part of every child’s early years of school.  Using crayons and color to describe the characteristic features of spring make this a child friendly title on the subject.

Strawberry Shortcake’s friend, Orange Blossom has a problem – her store is packed with fans no one will buy because the weather is still cool.  Raisin Cane offers to use her expertise to help promote the store through social media. Orange Blossom’s performances become increasingly complex and time consuming and her followers on social media keep asking for more.  Unfortunately none of her efforts actually sell any fans, it just keeps her out the store.  Bosley Bookworm tracks Orange Blossom down looking for some olive oil from her store. Orange Blossom realizes that her fixation on selling fans has hurt her business.  Giving up on her social media campaign is a relief – and the arrival of warmer weather is good for the fan business.

In graphic novel format.  Includes an additional story, “A Haunting in Berry City.”  Sure to be a hit with Strawberry Shortcake fans.

Miss Mallard and her companions face many dangers on their trek to the lost city of Kimbu Tacka.  Disasters follow them from a collapsing bridge to a leaky canoe.  The greatest danger is the headless demon that protects the ancient site.  The frightened expedition members are willing to turn back without exploring Kimbu Tacka until Miss Mallard discovers that the headless demon is one of their party disguised to frighten everyone so he can steal the Kimbu Tacka treasures.

Large type and short simple sentences make this a readable choice for students transitioning to chapter books.  The start of the story is rather abrupt and hard to follow.  Bold text throughout the story is used either to identify vocabulary found in the glossary or to show emphasis.  Sometimes both purposes are found on the same page.