Glow has page after page of stunning photographs of bioluminescence.  On a black backdrop, the large white text starts by introducing and defining the concept of bioluminescence.  While found on land and in the air, more than anywhere else, bioluminescence is found in the water.  The book continues with a simple explanation of the chemicals animals produce that creates the glow of bioluminescence.  Animals glow to hunt, to hide, to call for help, and lose an enemy, and so on.  The simple text is supplemented on each page with a more indepth scientific explanation of the animal pictured and the concept being highlighted.

End papers include an explanation of how the photographs were taken as well as a diagram of each creature featured in the book, highlighting where on the creature the bioluminescence occurs.  Scientific name, size, and location included.  Also contains a bibliography.

The combination of the large text with simple concepts and vocabulary and the small text with the indepth scientific explanations make this a wonderful choice for a mixed-age partner read.

Roland Smith takes us to a world we have no experience with, probably do not want any experience with,  and keeps us glued to the pages while he explores that world for us.

This time, Roland takes us into the underground caverns of New York City. Here there are not one but two separate groups of people living in chosen isolation from the world we know above ground. Each group has secret ties to the above ground world. Secret even to the members of their own groups.

Now enters a young man who was born during a lunar eclipse- Cooper. Cooper does not understand why all his life he has been drawn to the dark of night. His parents do not understand it either. Nor does his younger brother, Patrick. When Coop leaves home after finishing high school, his family does not hear from him for months. Then suddenly Coop secretly contacts his brother. Just before Christmas, Coop mysteriously breaks off communication with Pat again. Pat tries to get his parents involved in finding Coop. When that fails, Pat sets out on his own to track down Coop. Little by little the pieces fall into place. Pat finds himself being blindfolded and taken down beneath the streets of New York City. Pat finds where Coop has been, but too late. Coop has moved onto another group living beneath the city. Warnings of how dangerous this other group is does not detour Coop. And so, Pat continues his search for his brother.

Roland hits the emotions involved with being in the dark, your skin will crawl, but you will not be able to put this book down.

Any books about cars are hot ticket items for the k-2 crowd and this particular title will fly off the shelf. It is written is very clear short sentences, with additional boxes of text for added information. The photos are crisp, with a mixture of close ups and wider angle shots.

The necessary nonfiction pieces: table of contents, glossary, index and labeled diagrams are all there. Teachers will appreciate the nonfiction elements as they are teaching.

This book is highly recommended!

Bob and Flo and their friend, Sam, decide to play a rousing game of hide-and-seek. It took Bob a few tries to figure out what the ‘hiding’ part of the game entailed, but his friends were patient as he tried again and again.

This is a great book for the preschool/kindergarten crowds who are figuring out how to play together. They will recognize the kitchen area and blocks and relate to the penguins’ activities.

The illustrations are well done and the expressions (or lack of) on the penguins’ faces work well in the story.

Additional selection/

Uruguay is part of the Exploring Countries in the Blastoff! Readers Level 5 series by ‘children’s press’.

This is a great way for middle primary students to read for information.  Each page usually contains a photo or part of one from the preceding page and one or two paragraphs of information. Just enough information to grab the students attention without overwhelming them. The contents include: location of Uruguay, wildlife, daily life, going to school, working, playing, food, and holidays. Sprinkled throughout the book are ‘Fun Facts’ (trivia) and ‘Did You Know?’ The last two pages before the glossary and index are “Fast Facts About Uruguay”. Here the reader will find a flag illustration, area, capital city, population, official language, national holidays, religions, major industries, natural resources, manufactured products, and money. Short, sweet and to the point. Just right for third and fourth graders, as well as, fifth graders.

Ten Little Bluebirds is a board book meant for pre-school and kindergarten. The ten little bluebirds cleverly diminish in number from ten to one with each turn of the page. The ten little bluebirds, in fact, diminish because they are cut only once and are fit into holes in page.

“Ten little bluebirds, singing in a tree.

Bright eyes, bright wings, as happy as can be.

Except for one, who wants to stay,

to sing with Mom all through the day.”

AS the reader turns the page, a new and different animal invites the little birds “Hey! Come and play. And one little bird decides to stay.” All is fine until the proofreader missed the mistake on #2 , when “Two little birds decide to stay.” Oops, only one should have stayed to complete the math concept being presented and the stories predictablity factor.

Each verse has a sentence with rhyme, but without practice, on the part of the reader, it does not stand out.

All ten birds are back with their mother at the end of the book for the end of their day.

Preschoolers will enjoy the cut-outs and counting the little birds.

This book is part of the I See Ocean Animals series. it has all the necessary parts that make up a great nonfiction book – Table of contents, glossary, index and more. There is a large photo on one side of each two page spread with two to three simple sentences on the the other side. There is the occasional question for deeper thinking. All in all, this is a solid addition to the library. Recommended.

A delightful book about seventeen-year-old Rick Dresner who is spending the summer in Mexico working for friends helping to add to their home in a barrio.  He learns much about living in Mexico, improves his Spanish so he can have real-life conversations, experiences the cultural differences that create some tensions between him and the family, and becomes more understanding of poverty, people crossing the Mexican-U.S. border, how hard the work is, and the differences in hospitality and foods.   This book is excellent to go along with the study of the Spanish language and Mexican culture.