From the Blastoff! Readers series, this book is from Learning About the Earth series and focuses on coral reefs. The book explains what coral reefs are, how they are built, the types of reefs and about them being alive. The book also has a glossary, learn more and index at the end. This book has bright, vibrant pictures. I really like these Blastoff! Readers books. I always feel they have high quality photos, nice thick pages and are written well. This is another good one.

Loxton is the editor of a children’s science magazine, The Skeptic. Although I’ve never heard of nor seen  this magazine, this book, Evolution, has caused me to want to search out this magazine and read more articles written by Loxton.  His writing style makes this book and this subject easy to understand.  Every adult whose gone through school is familiar with Charles Darwin and ‘the survival of the fittest’.  But Loxton not only explains how Darwin came up with this theory(or decided to borrow), but compares it side-by-side with everyday common, familiar creatures so that we can apply it to our lives.  With each turn of the page comes another clarifying bit of information, an answer to a question.  All schools should have this book in their library so that children can understand how things are always changing.

This story is almost pun-ishment to read. The characters are tempra painted punctuation marks:

Penny on the school safety patrol is a period, Elsie the cheerleader is an exclamation mark, and Quentin is a question mark.

Some schools have Spelling Bees, but this school has a punctuation bee/contest. The students who uses his own punctuation mark correctly the most times will be the winner.

Could be a fun book to share with a class using a document camera for an introduction or a review of end punctuation marks.

Multi-layered cut paper pictures help give examples of the various rules for making plural words, from singular words –

” One snake pushes a block.

Three snakes push three blocks.”  (‘s’ unlined)

Graphic examples of 8 plural forms:

singular noun plus the letter -s,

add -es when nouns end in -ch, -sh, -x, or -z…

vowel +y add -s,

consonant + y, change y to i and add -es,

words ending in -o,

words ending in -f or -fe,

rule breakers.

The children in Mrs. Feeny’s primary grade class are telling about their parents’ jobs for Career Day: astronomer, a jeweler, a NASCAR driver, and a dad who changes light bulbs.

“Anthony Swister said, ‘Booooooring!’ and laughed…” Then the student continues ( for 14 pages) describing how the light bulb is on top of the antenna on top of the Empire State Building.

This is a superb resource for students grades 7 – 12.  Excellent organization and layout makes for easy use.  Primary source text is in bold font and illustrations are outline in bold color.  Maps, charts, time line, glossary, bibliographic sources and index support the text.  For studens who seek additional information, they can also make use of the resources given in the chapter notes.  This book, or any lone chapter from it, would partner well with the novel or film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.  Both touch the soul in making individual victims come to life for today’s youth who are so distant from this historic period.  They will readily see that such horrible events could happen to them, to us, to all–even today.  This is perfect for any student who needs help to use primary sources in a paper or presentation.

A wonderful addition to her Young Royals series, Carolyn Meyer reveals a new tender side to Marie-Antoinette in The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie-Antoinette.  Once Austrian Princess Antonia Hapsberg, she was the 12th child of a commanding mother who arranged her marriage to Louis-Auguste Bourbon, the process of which changes her name.  Meyer presents the voice of a 12 year old child, forced to dental extractions, French lessons and rules of etiquette from her mother that become the foreshadow-laden chapter titles in the book.  France is already physically and mentally deteriorating when she arrives to marry the shy, fat Dauphin.  While she is given beautiful things to wear and attends outlandish parties, the marriage leaves Marie-Antoinette confused more than satisfied as neither Marie or Louis know how to make a baby — the purpose of the marriage.  Most readers will probably like how Meyers paints Marie as a true companion to Louis, as she works to build the relationship by learning how to ride horses so she can accompany him on hunting trips — the only passion in his life.  In this light, one sees that this loyalty to Louis is the shining jewel in her crown, even when she had the chance to love another man passionately and also escape France with her children and her life.  Instead the rules for Marie switch to “Instructions for Madame Royale”, as Marie gives instructions to her daughter and the voice switches to Marie-Therese-Charlotte de France to finish her mother’s story to the guillotine.   Historical references such as visits from Ben Franklin add to this more positive account of the French Queen, despite the title’s implications and her lavish lifestyle.  This is highly recommended for both public and high school libraries.

What’s to be worried about when you’re starting middle school?  Lots, according to Claudia, who volunteers to escort her readers as they begin the perilous journey.  Dress comfortably; don’t be afraid to ask teachers for help; go over your notes before tests; you don’t have to be “popular”…Claudia’s advice is good, and covers just about every situation.

It’s nice to see suggestions for kids who don’t make the team.  Claudia makes dog walks sound fun, or dancing to your favorite tunes, even when you’re all alone.  Considering how few kids are sports stars or cheerleaders, it’s smart to consider alternatives, like writing for the school newspaper.

Important words are highlighted, and small drawings bring attention to important people, like the principal, or things, like the ham and cheese sandwich you can bring for lunch.  And Claudia admits she’s lucky to have been in school with the same friends since first grade.  Lots of real-world kids would find that enviable.

So take it from Claudia, pay attention, be kind, try hard.  Her book also has a glossary to explain the big words, discussion questions, a writing activity, tips from other teens, and the names of some more good books.

Rhyming text tells kids about the chincoteague ponies and the firemen who caretake these wild animals.  The language is simple and is aimed at the younger set of picture book readers, though the illustrations can tend to be abstract and may be difficult for younger children to interpret.

Cat lovers, here is a book for you.  That is, if you’re a fancier of feral cats.  Naturalist Jean Craighead George’s interest in cats began years ago when her daughter’s cat presented her kittens, rather formally, to the family.  For years, Ms. George has read about and observed feral cats.  This book, about a boy’s efforts to befriend a feral cat, is the result.

With life-like illustrations to make the cats seem real, I was fascinated by this disparate group of cats who had gathered around a railroad station where an elderly lady fed them.  I spied on their sunning spots, their hunting grounds, and their uncanny ways of sensing where to find shelter and food.

However, when the cats gather in Mrs. Dibber’s basement to ride out a snowstorm, I was rooting for the cats, but couldn’t keep from thinking how terrible that poor woman’s basement must have smelled by the time the cats moved on.  That’s one detail Ms. Craighead George didn’t mention.