By Jessica Kim

Twins, Phoebe and Dexter, are fierce competitors on the ice. When Phoebe’s partner is injured and Dex is cut from the star hockey team neither knows what to do. Dexter agrees to pair up with his sister so she can still compete but is there enough time for him to learn the routine? Let alone be successful? While these two and their mother are still reeling from their dad’s death from cancer, they have become further apart from each other and their friends. Will they reconnect? Will their mother be okay? This middle grade fiction will be enjoyed by many who are interested in sports, school stories as well as family tales.

I would strongly recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school. There is a light crush in this book as Phoebe gets to know her brother’s replacement on the team but nothing that would be concerning for younger readers.

By Shannon Anderson

These wonderful non-fiction books about wildcats for intermediate readers will be a hit with cat lovers in your library. These titles are four of ten in the Bellwether Blastoff! Readers Level Three: Wild About Cats! Series. This series is at level three and thus second through fifth graders will enjoy the reading content most although many lower readers will enjoy the beautiful photography on each and every page. They all have a Table of Contents and Chapters that are consistently the same in each of the books and thus, are helpful for readers and teachers as they can create consistent research questions from all books in the series. There are some words are in bold. These are in a Glossary in the back of the book with helpful definitions. The end of the book also has basic facts, other book recommendations to read and learn more, an index, and web information on how to get more information at a simple reading level. Some interesting text features in these books are: maps of where they live, what the name of their babies is, images of their preferred habitats and if they are at risk of extinction.

I would highly recommend these books for any library that provides informational books for primary leveled readers.

By Clare Koll and Betsy Rathburn

These vibrant covered non-fiction animal books for early readers will be in high demand at the elementary library. These titles are six of ten in the Bellwether Blastoff! Readers Level One: City Critters Series. While these books are grade one level, many will enjoy the beautiful photography and clear writing contained within. They all have a Table of Contents and Chapters that are consistently the same in each of the books and thus, are helpful for emerging readers when reading many in the series. There are minimal words on each page. Some words are in bold. These are in a Glossary in the back of the book with helpful definitions. The end of the book also has basic facts, other book recommendations to read and learn more, an index, and web information on how to get more information at a simple reading level. Many will know these animals as they are common in many communities but these books give clear information on species and genus, where they choose to have their home and types of food they eat.

I would highly recommend these books for any library that provides informational books for primary leveled readers.

By Amy McDonald

Having the opportunity to receive quality non-fiction books for early readers is always appreciated in the elementary library. These titles are six of sixteen in the Bellwether Blastoff! Beginners: Community Workers Series. Since primary (kindergarten-1st Grade) students focus on community members and their professions, these books can be a benefit for the classroom as well. Each of these books start with sight words that students will need in order to clearly understand the content. The Table of Contents/Chapters are clear, concise and consistently the same in each of the books and thus, are helpful for basic research questions to be answered by students. There are a minimal words on each page as well as vibrant images for clearer understanding and higher interest. The end of the book also has basic facts and a glossary for further comprehension. The final page also has an index as well as web information on how to get more information at a lower reading level.

I would highly recommend these books for any library that provides informational books for primary leveled readers.

Diane Stanley – Author, Jessie Hartland – Illustrator

Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space is the focus of this biographical picture book. It explains her interest in maps and places around the world as a child and her introduction of Sputnik traveling across the sky that inspired her to eventually become an astronaut. Prior to being in space, Ms. Sullivan studied marine biology and became an well known oceanographer as N.A.S.A. was not hiring women to go to space at the time. She the applied and successfully became one of six women who had a chance to become part of a space mission.

This book is a wonderful and inspirational biography about the drive and resilience one can have to achieve their goals. I would highly recommend this book to libraries that need more books about women in STEM. The illustrations are bright and colorful but it is this librarian’s opinion that this book will be more readable for 2nd – 6th graders. At the end of the book there is a list of Ms. Sullivan’s world records, a glossary, and a time line. There are also two lists of resources, one for younger readers as well.