Eye-catching photos, detailed captions, and well-written text make this book on flowering plants exceptional.  Scientific terms are defined within the paragraphs and are continually used throughout the pages.  The reader quickly becomes knowledgeable about commonalities of flowering plants.  Each spread is its own chapter, focusing on one aspect of a plant’s life.  There is a good balance of text and illustrations.  Diagrams are well labeled.  The glossary and index are comprehensive and a list of books for further reading are also included in the back.  A Facthound internet site provides related information.

Who can resist the cute puppy faces gazing out of this book?  But is owning a dog the best choice for you and your family?  This book is jam-packed with all sorts of facts and specifics a potential owner should know.  Beginning with how to make the decision to get a dog and finding a breeder, bringing a puppy home, and making a knowledgeable commitment to owning a pet, this book provides comprehensive information on an extensive variety of essentials one should know.  Every page has several titled paragraphs about a specific topics, photos, and sidebars of information.  Best practices, advice, and checklists are sprinkled among the chapters telling how to feed, care for, play with, and train your pet.  Complete index, excellent internet sites, and books for further reading are at the back.  Extensive and well-organized, this book will be an awesome addition to any library, public or personal.

Here is a new way to think about arts and crafts – use ice!  These projects can be done outdoors when the temperature is below freezing, or anytime by using the freezer.  Most items needed can be found in the home or are inexpensive to purchase.  Each of the 8 projects includes clear, simple directions, photographs that illustrate the procedure, and a list of items needed.  Many projects include fun facts and tips.  The layout is pleasing and colorful.  Obviously, the projects will last longer in cold temperature, but many could be used as temporary extraordinary decorations in many settings.  Small glossary included.

The topic of UFOs is indeed a mystery for those who believe and those who do not.  Short chapters tell of reports by people who have seen some and, at this point, not satisfactorily explained events.  The font is large and the photos and artwork of the occasions are thought provoking.  Words to know are defined on the page as well as in the glossary, which also has the phonetic pronunciation.  Some pages contain additional facts in “!” boxes.  The book becomes confusing on the last pages of chapter 4.  Some of the statements are misleading when presented as true or false statements.  One statement under False reads, “Many things are mistaken for UFOs.  Mistaken objects include sunlight reflection off ice crystals, birds’ wings, mirages, and marsh gas.”  This statement bewilders me.   Without the last chapter, this book is  informative for those wanting to read about observations of unexplained flying objects.

The sheriff and his deputy have a special assignment to safely deliver a dozen donuts home.  The sheriff, a young boy, and his deputy, his dog, decide to check the package for quality.  Oh my!  One plump, powdery donut appeared a little smushed.  The only logical thing to do was to try to even it up.  Oh no!  Now it was missing!  Hoping no one would notice, the sheriff and his deputy hurried home.  Many citizens smiled and asked how he like the donut.  How did they know?!  Arriving home, his parents casually asked about the delivery minus one donut.  Confessing, the sheriff asked how they knew he had eaten one.  Readers will know the answer!  The sheriff has powdery sugar all around his mouth.  Case solved.  Digitally colored artwork is humorous and expressive.  Text is fun as it keeps the young boy in sheriff-mode while the illustrations tell the secret.  Could also be used to start discussions about honesty and responsibility.  Fun and recommended.

Olive’s perfect world involves doing anything and everything with her best friend Emily.  But things are not always perfect in the real world.  When Eva came, things were no longer perfect.  Emily and Eva began doing many things together: taking ballet classes, wearing the same clothes, and eating the same things – all without Olive.  Olive suggested doing things together but Emily and Eva did not want to.  As Olive’s perfect world dissolved, the real world became too much and her eyes filled with tears.  Eva and Emily realize that they have not been including Olive in any of their activities.  Olive realizes that a perfect world can involve more than one friend.  As they started talking, it didn’t take long for the world to become  perfect again as they started laughing and doing things together.  The pastel pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations show the girls as young cats spot-lighted on largely while pages.  Feeling left out is common.  This story lightly shows that a perfect world is possible with more than one best friend.

People have been ice fishing for thousands of years on frozen lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers.  Although not a dangerous sport, ice fishermen need to know how to be safe.  A variety of equipment measures ice thickness, drill holes, and attract fish.  Some people take tents or small houses out on the ice to protect them from cold wind.  Some even provide heat and other comforts.  Insulated clothing is a must, as well as rescue gear in case of an accident.  Ice anglers clean up after they leave and mark abandoned holes so others will be safe.  Minnesota is a popular ice fishing state because of its cold winters and thousands of lakes and streams.  This short book gives very basic information but does not go into much detail.  Photographs are large and a good match to the text.  Some photos also have labels.  Words to know are in bold, red font and are defined in the glossary.  The layout is pleasing.  Many pages have additional facts.

Beginning on a stormy afternoon, the Alden children take a shortcut through the Greenfield Cemetery.  A shadowy figure appears briefly and the children run to the local café.  They join Miss Wolfson who tells them about the legend of the LaFonte’s.  Madame LaFonte had a dress shop and was a benefactor to families with ailing children and to the hospital.  After her death,  according to legend, it is good luck to leave gifts at the cemetery once a year.  The Boxcar children decide to solve this mystery of the ghost, Madame LaFonte, and the gifts required to avoid bad luck.  Using local legend, newspaper reports, and interviews with friends of the historical society, the Aldens bravely push toward the truth.  What is the truth, what is just superstition?  Gertrude Chandler Warner wrote 19 stories before her death in 1979.  This story follows her formula.  The characters are not as developed as many of those in popular literature.  This is #133 in a series that has touched many readers.  Nothing new, but a comfortable new adventure in a reliable series.

Anna, Jose, and Henry are junior members of the secret Silver Jaguar Society and swear to protect important artifacts from around the world.  In this fast-paced adventure set in Costa Rica, a gold Jaguar Cup has been stolen and replaced with a copy.  All members of the Society try to discover the thief and regain the cup.  They travel to Costa Rica and meet Sophia and her family who own the lodge where they will be staying.  Their parents then fly to San Jose to check out the gold museum, where the cup went missing.  Sophia becomes their guide and fellow investigator.  The focus shifts from one suspect to another as the teens track down clues.  Messner’s description of the rainforest and its animals bring the reader right into the scene – sweating in the sultry humidity, stumbling upon biting ants, avoiding poisonous snakes, spotting incredible, yet camouflaged animals within the wilds, as well as running out of breath and energy during riveting chase scenes near the end.  An author’s note in the back includes photos of some of the animals and scenery mentioned in the book.  This is book two in the series, although they do not need to be read in order.  Great series for those who enjoy action adventures and mysteries.