DC Comics Tiny Titans are grade school aged super heroes: Super Girl, Aqua Lad, Robin and Barbara Gordon, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl to name a few. Third graders, who watch TV, are very familiar with these characters from their daily television show. In this graphic novel’s first episode, villainous Principal Slade is  handing out the tiny titans’ reports to their guardians/parents one by one and making verbal comments (inside conversation bubbles) describing each tiny titan’s strong suits, such as, ““KID FLASH NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN AND PAY MORE ATTENTION.” ( next bubble) “HE SEEMS TO BREEZE THROUGH HIS HOMEWORK!”

Two of the other four episodes include: ‘Happy Feeling Blue’ about the Blue Beetle being painted pink* and ‘Joke’s on You‘ where Robin confuses a birthday party clown with the Joker.

The book includes what they call a “BONUS PIN-UP!” which consists of a two-page spread of tiny titan head shots plus mini bios of 17 of the tiny titans.

There is a  half-page  glossary and half-page of tiny titan ‘action accessories’. These are followed by a two-page spread of “Visual Questions & Prompts“. Here the reader is given a chance to look deeper into four of the graphics in this book. For example, “1. WHAT DO YOU THINK BLUE BEETLE’S BACKPACK SAID TO HIM IN THE PANEL BELOW? WHAT CLUES DOES THE ILLUSTRATION OFFER*?”

Hades is the narrator of this book who takes the reader on a tour of the many levels of the Underworld that is filled with monsters, furies, giants, and vampire demons. He also tells very intense stories of the Gods and heroes associated with the many different locations of his underworld. Greek myth lovers will find this book quite intriguing!

This book is a collection of riddle style of puzzles. The puzzles are presented in the conversation of Watson and Holmes. Illustrations from the world of Sherlock Holmes accompany most puzzles.  These puzzles will test the readers’ intellect as well as their patience. Over 50 puzzles are included. Solutions to each puzzle are in the back of the book. Many puzzles are very challenging!

This Titanic book is a great book for most for readers of most ages. Although the content does not cover much of the ship’s construction, the passengers, or the tragedy, it does cover the facts around locating the Titanic and the recovery of artifacts. It is displayed in a simple context that covers the most basic information. The simple but informative text is accompanied with amazing photos, charts, illustrations and maps on each page.  This is a very intriguing read that is the third in a set of four books.

Ten-year-old Max Monroe discovers the house behind his grandpa’s home used to be the office of the Monroe Detective Agency. Max finds out that his grandfather had a brother, Larry, that ran the agency, but Larry died years earlier. However, Larry’s ghost still exists in the agency house, yet he is sad because he never solved a case. When a magician calls with a problem, Larry gets another opportunity to solve a crime. Because Larry is a ghost, he relies on Max to help him finally crack a case.

This is book one of “The Ghost and Max Monroe” series. With occasional black and white illustrations, this is a good early chapter book.

If your youngest readers are into Mexican wrestling, Lucha Libre, this easy reader might be the book for them.

“HOLA AMIGOS! WELCOME TO LUCHAVILLE, THE TINY TOWN OF WRESTLING LIZARDS!“(p. 4) the announcer says into his microphone as this graphic novel for young readers begins. The wrestlers are wearing their colorful masks has they ‘rumble’. After the first matches there’s an argument about ” ‘SALAMANDERS AREN’T LIZARDS!’… ‘NO… YOU’RE NEWT!  ‘  ” (p. 6). This is followed by a cartoon diagram explaining the difference between ‘lizard vs amphibian‘(p. 7). Little Leon chameleon is afraid of wrestling, but he can change colors when around danger. Soon King Komodo comes to Luchaville and states there will not be anymore wrestling. “WHATEVER WILL THE LUCHA LIZARDS DO?!” (P. 17) Slowly, slowly, one by one, first Flying Dragon, then Gila Monster, and finally Thorny Devil each try to defeat King Komodo to restore wrestling, but they each fail. Then, seven other lizards come forward, in separate wordless cartoon frames, to try their luck. They, also, fail. Little Leon comes forward to wrestle. Leon tricks Komodo by disappearing at key times to successfully win the match and restore wrestling to Luchaville.  “ADIOS.”

With the story over, wrestling lizard trading card information is given on the next few pages. The factual  information includes: real name (scientific name), weight, length, habitat followed by a silly bio and special moves. “Blue-tongued skinks

Real name: tiliqua scincoides

Weight: 15 ounces

Length: 23 inches

Habitat: grassland, rainforest, desert

Bio: These awesome Aussies are friends, not fighters. But they’re not afraid to give competitors a good (blue) tongue lashing.

Special move: the tongue twister!” (p. 39)  [ The first four lines are factual, before the silliness begins.]

Larger than life close-up photos ( 9 X 11in. ) of guinea pigs are on every right hand page throughout this Early Intervention reading non fiction book. The book is presented in nine parts: Purr-fect Piggies, Eyes, Nose, Whiskers, Ears, Teeth, Legs, Feet , and Fur. Text on the left hand hand page is factually presented in three or four sentences. “Cavies’ big eyes see in color, but they don’t see very well. ” ( p. 6) Guinea pigs or cavies ( “another name for a guinea pig” (p. 22 [glossary] ) possess a good sense of smell, hearing and touch- through their whiskers.

Nice addition to a library’s 636 pet section.

208 word count.

Includes:www. facthound

In a blend of fiction and non-fiction, this book follows a family for 175 years over two continents.  Starting in Germany in the 1850s, the Peters family makes the difficult choice to emigrate to the United States.  The book describes the forces behind the decision to emigrate, the departure, the sea voyage, the Mississippi River, the wagon train, and establishing a farm with both historical information and fictionalized characters.  Skimming forward five generations, the story quickly reaches the present day when the interracial Peters family investigates their family’s past through pictures, family artifacts and online research.  This American family then travels full circle as they discover and explore their ancestral roots in Germany.  An engaging story, this book effectively communicates the magnitude of the historical journey to a farm in the central United States.  The establishment of farm, however, lacks the depth of detail and accuracy found in the description of the journey.  The encounter with Native Americans in the first year on the farm fails to recognize that the Peters were part of the influx that displaced the Native populations.  The hardship of establishing a homestead are also minimalized when the sod house of the first year is replaced within a year with a wooden house, barns, orchard and garden.

Originally published in German and translated by Susi Woofter.  All and all, good choice for young children to inspire them to investigate their family heritage and genealogy.

When their family moves to a farm, Luke, Ellie, and Joey find an old car in the shed.  Too busy to take it to the dump, their dad moves it out under a tree and tells the kids they can play with it “for the time being.”  The car is transformed through imagination and creative play into a sailing ship, vehicle for the queen in a parade, a Mount Everest basecamp and more.  When the farm’s previous owner comes to visit, the children are concerned about the car’s deteriorating condition, but Mrs. Crosby just “smiled and smiled.”  Over tea she shares stories and pictures of all that the car had been for her.  To the children, her stories are just as amazing as the ones their imaginations had created.  Told in first person, this lovely book shows that stories and imagination transcend generations.

Pom Pom wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and nothing seems to go right.  He can’t find his blanket, his brother is playing with his favorite toy, his cereal is soggy and it goes on and on with Pom Pom responding with “Harrumph!” to everything and everyone around him.  Finally Pom Pom yells at his friends on the school playground to, “Go, away!” and is surprised when they do. Pom Pom realized that isn’t really what he wants.  Finally the acceptance of his apology turns Pom Pom’s day around, that is until he’s tagged by his friend Buddy in a game of tag. “Harrumph.”

Pom Pom’s scowl and posture clearly reinforce his grumps.  This is a good choice for young children learning to recognize their feelings and the consequences of their behaviors.