An informative book about animal behavior that provides various levels of accessibility:  for the youngest students, a rhyming couplet (in large font), supported by illustrations, provides the basic information on each type of tool-using animals; for interested audiences, a paragraph in smaller print goes into more depth to describe the tools mentioned in the couplet; for particularly curious students, the end-pages at the back of the book provide even more details.  On the opening page, as well as in the end notes, it does say that there is no agreed-upon definition within the scientific community as to what constitutes tools and tool usage, and states that for purposes of this book the author was including any object an animal uses to accomplish a goal.  This is a pretty broad definition, which allows the inclusion of several animal behaviors that would be open to debate as to whether or not they really count as tools, but I think it’s good to engage children in the debates of the wider academic community, so that they know science is not completely cut and dried.

It’s cute.  Small children will relate to Tiny Rabbit’s wish to grow as big and powerful as all the things around him.  But as time passes he only grows a little bit, but he does grow two powerful ears, which he comes to appreciate (along with his small size) when they help him hear the approach of the huge hungry lion and escape down his tiny hidden den.  A good tool for opening a discussion about learning to appreciate ourselves just as we are.

With the text limited to a few words per page in voice bubbles, the story is mostly told through the illustrations:  three small children meet a hat-wearing elephant named Phil at the bus-stop and invite him to come home with them.  When they realize that their parents are not likely to approve, they try to hide Phil, but to no avail.  As soon as mom & dad see Phil, Dad insists they need to take Phil back where they found him, but  when they get to the bus stop Mom whispers to Dad, and then Dad announces Phil can stay.  It’s kinda sweet, and the pictures are cute, but there’s not much to it.  I guess it would be good for pre-readers and early emergent readers, but I’m not sure I would invest limited funds on it

The non-fiction books now available are a visual treat.  The digital photography can capture a bird in flight with a crystal-clear image.  This book is a good example of this current technology.  The information is written for primary age children with text corresponding to images.  A picture glossary and index are included at the back.  This book would be a good addition to a library collection.

A variety of idioms related to money and numbers, are explored and explained…such as “on cloud nine”…”at sixes and sevens”…”the whole nine yards”.  Each chapter covers a two page spread discussing the possible origin and/or explanations of the idiom.  Thirteen idioms are included, in all.  “The whole nine yards”  (meaning all of something) has an unclear origin.  It may have been related to an order for a large wedding veil…or maybe it relates to a concrete truck which can hold approximately 9 cubic yards.  The design of the page layouts are visually appealing with a peppering of illustrations mixed with photographs.  I have two concerns for this well, put together book.  First of all, the font size is too small, which is not friendly on young eyes.  I have seen kids open a book, and close it quickly, if the font is too small.  Secondly, the phrases chosen to be included, are somewhat outdated for the targeted audience.  Back Matter includes Glossary, Further Reading and Index.

This is the fourth, and maybe favored book in the Theodosia Thockmorten series.  The setting is Egypt, where Theodosia, a strong, witty girl, discovers more about her birth and history…and how she is connected to the fight between the Brotherhood and the Serpent of Battle.  Filled with mystery, adventure, twists, and turns, periodic comic relief is welcomed, in order to give your nerves a break from the races against time, encounters with evil people and dark, dark magic.  Young and old, alike, would enjoy this romp of a tale.

Biographies for the primary level are becoming more prevalent.  I was impressed by the Table of Contents in this series which appeared to cover a wide range of interesting aspects in the life of Maurice Sendak.  Each “Chapter” (actually a two-page spread) answered a question…”Who Is Maurice Sendak?…Where Did He Grow Up?…What Did He Do Before He Was a Writer?”…and so forth.  However, after a closer look, I was disappointed in how very little information was actually included in the text…or how some, not so interesting information, was taking up prime real estate on the page.  (“He worked and studied hard for four years.”)  Where the Wild Things Are was mentioned in five of the nine “Chapters”!  Authors sometimes don’t realize that primary students can absorb a little more “meaty” information than what is being presented.  Timeline, Glossary, Find Out More and Index are all included in the Back Matter.

Life is full of times when everything does not go as planned.  Tallulah knows that she is an excellent ballerina.  She is attentive in class, following her teacher’s exact instructions.  Her younger brother, on the other hand, goofs off a lot and  has to sit in the time-out chair.  When she and her brother audition for The Frog Prince ballet, to her horror, her brother is chosen for a major part at being the frog and she is NOT the princess, but a lady-in waiting.      Eventually she accepts the situaltion and helps her brother with improving his part in the ballet.  This does not go unnoticed…and the story has a happy ending with she and her brother playing the leads in the next ballet, Hansel and Gretel.  This story rivets children who can identify with such difficult, real-life situations that build character.  The numerous water color illustrations are charmingly soft and beautifully support the flow of the story.  Reading this title makes me want to add more Tallulah  books to my collection.

The text grabs the reader from page one.  “Find the Truth!”  You are given a challenge, as you read along, to discover which of two statements about the solar system are true or false.  Immediately the mind is engaged.  Packed full of interesting informational text and  exquisite photos, this True Book series is a winner for all of the elementary levels.  The page layouts have wonderful visual appeal.  I can see students returning to this book again, and again, to explore all that is there.  Back Matter includes Resources (Books), Organizations and Web Sites, Places to Visit, Important Words, and Index.

This Natural Wonders series is designed to support primary and early readers with non-fiction, landform topics.   Each two-page spread presents a big, colorful and quite amazing photo on the right…with a simple three sentence text on the left.  Students learn the basics of how glaciers are formed and how they move.  Two famous glaciers are featured such as the one at Canada’s Banff National Park and Malaspina Glacier in Alaska.  How people are affected by glaciers is at the conclusion.  Having a three-year-old granddaughter, I appreciate less wordy non-fiction texts, however, I felt that this title errored on the side of too little information.  The book is over in a heartbeat…and she is wondering…is that all?  The biggest asset to this title is the photographs, which are spectacular for visual literacy.  Back Matter includes Glossary, Read More, Internet Sites, and Index.