Could Sasquatch be real?  Halls explores the history and theories behind the belief in a species of giant primates which haunt a variety of terrains all over the world.  She describes many recent sightings and provides a window into the world of Sasquatch tracking.  This topic will seize the attention of many children (and adults) and the information is presented clearly, openly, and attractively.  Photos and illustrations pepper the pages, demonstrating the elements Halls discusses.  Halls gets much of her information by interviewing actual cryptozoologists and other primary experts in the field.  Although generally this is a plus, there is one unfortunate inclusion: On pages 13-14, Halls includes a partial transcription of a 9-1-1 call regarding a potential Sasquatch sighting.  In the introduction, she instructs readers to ask parents before listening to a YouTube video of the call because there is strong language featured on the tape.  In the abridged transcription, however, she includes three instances of potentially offensive language, even though the implication in the introduction was that those portions would be left out of the account because of the book’s young target demographic.  This inclusion will offend some audiences.  However, the rest of the book is illuminating and engaging and demands its place on library shelves, particularly in libraries which appreciate its Pacific Northwest focus.

Joe is working for the Peace Corps.  His country assignment?  Turkmenistan.  Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Turkmenistan is a tiny country with very little power.  While there, Joe meets a man named Azat.  Azat adopts Joe as a friend and invites Joe into his world.  Soon Joe finds himself in the middle of ill-begotten adventures, exploring some of the dark sides of this small kingdom.  What stands out here is Lonergan’s way of presenting what it is like to be from a small, relatively powerless country like Turkmenistan.  There’s a scene in the book where one of the characters asks Joe to take him to America. When Joe says that the man will need a visa, the man tells Joe he should call the president of America and tell him what a nice person this man is, so that he will get a visa.  In countries like Turkmenistan, the populace has much more access to the people in power than they do in the United States.  Using the framework of Joe’s experience in Turkmenistan, Lonergan contrasts what it’s like to live in a country like this and how it’s different than living in the United States.     

In Sorghaghtani of Mongolia, the reader learns about the large amounts of power wielded by one woman during the most famous period in the history of the Mongolian empire.  Sorghaghtani was the daughter-in-law of Genghis Khan, and the mother of Kublai Khan.  During key shifts in power, she used her considerable influence over the Khans to change history.  This title includes information about Mongolian culture alongside the narrative telling Sorghaghtani’s story.

Unfortunately, this title has two major drawbacks.  First and foremost, the book does not include any kind of finding aids or reference information.  There is no index or help for finding more information about Mongolia or Sorghaghtani.  Worse, there is not even any information about where the author got her information.  The second problem is that after one reading, the hardback binding was already splitting in a few places.  This does not bode well for library use.

This story needs to be told.  Unfortunately, the weaknesses of this title overwhelm that strength and make this an additional purchase for libraries.

Stickman Odyssey is not Homer’s epic in sequential doodle form.  Instead, it’s a whole new story, rife with monsters, characters, and settings that would be no surprise in an actual ancient tale.  The hero, Zozimos, is silly and flawed, in the company of many modern children’s book characters.  The story ricochets from setting to setting, never letting up on the action.  It is a story which will captivate readers with its effective mix of modern humor and ancient mood.

DC Comics author, Paul Weissburg, weaves a story without using the graphic novel format in five short chapters. Weissburg’s story does team up with DC Comics, Luciano Vecchio, to include ten full-color comic illustrations intermingled throughout the story. These illustrations will NOT disappoint comic officiandoes.

In disguise, Batman has been tailing villain Matches Malone on the subway of Gotham City. BUT before Batman can apprehend Matches, he and Robin save two children from a burning building. Then, Batman captures Matches and disguises himself as Matches so he can infiltrate the First Annual Super-Villain Crime Convention.

Batman’s disguise is working, but he forgets to make Match Malone’s annoying small talk as he circulates through the villains at the convention. Batman pushes the Penguin out of harms way from a falling display blowing his cover. Batman is catch and placed inside the Death Trap with water bubbling up to his head as the crowd of convention villains watch. Robin helps save the day by turning off the city’s power grid, thus releasing Batman from the Death Trap. In the dark Batman was able to out smart the super villains and leave “with the Cosmic Annihilator in Tow.” Mission accomplished.

With Adios Nirvana, Conrad Wesselhoeft takes readers into the chiaroscuro world of high school Junior Jonathan, writer/guitarist/seeker/mourner, whose twin brother has died after a skateboard accident. Deep grief and uncertainty about his own life and future places this lovable, warm, talented yet troubled youth on the path to either failure or success, and the unfolding of his journey captures, with a cast of interesting characters, the healing process that loving friends and music can provide when one deals with big themes like life and death. And there’s the Eddie Vedder Rickenbacker guitar, too.

Wesselhoeft paints Seattle perfectly from the weather to the streets, casting a mood that every Northwest inhabitant knows, moving Jonathan into the lives of people who need him, astound him, teach him, and ultimately lead him to find affirmation, a writing career, and the perfect musical moment.

It’s a great first book mixing music and magic with the everyday life of a kid seeing that every moment of light and dark is a miracle, despite evidence to the contrary.Life throws us curves.  To live through them, “The secret is to close your hand on jagged glass, then open it and find a butterfly.” Recommended.

This design of this book is an encyclopedia format, with pictures and captions about different categories of outer space.  This includes our sun, planets, earth, moon, space rocks, snowballs in space, our Milky Way Galaxy, and other galaxies.  There are small, condensed pieces of information while offering additional websites in the back, and other book recommendations.  This would make a nice additional book for a collection.

Tony Baloney is an animated penguin with human characteristics.  He is new to school and excited to be away from his bossy, older sister and mother and prove himself in the classroom.  Unfortunetly, Tony doesn’t understand the rules at school and makes many mistakes.  Luckily for him, he has his favorite stuffed animal friend with him.  It’s always good to have someone to talk to.

Recommended for primary readers and beginning chapter book readers.  Great illustrations, color, and formatting make this a charming book for students who have begun their school career!

Wonderful, larger sized picture book which will handle well when sharing with students!  Real photographs of the people, food, landforms and the great wall.  Three sentences per page/topic make this a great book to use with PrK-2 graders.  Facts. a glossary, intenet sites and an index are located in the back.  This review checked the websites and found a quality selection of the History Channel, National Geographic for Kids, and Fact Monster.  Although the history channel may be higher than the intended K-2 audience, it would give the teacher or parent background information about the book before sharing it.  Recommended for primary.

I was quite surprised to learn how far back actual stamped coins dated back.  I would not have thought that ancient civilizations would have had the ability to mine and melt precious metals, and then mint coins with words, dates, and images.  I am also amazed at how recently paper money has existed.  This book is full of interesting history about currency.  We all use money so it makes it relevant.