This early reader story follows May and her large family as they decide to make homemade pizza together. With so many siblings helping out, their simple plan quickly turns into a funny and chaotic situation. As the pizza gets more complicated, May and her family must work together to solve the problem. The story shows the humor and teamwork that comes with being part of a big family.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a fun, easy-to-read book that highlights teamwork and family life in a way that will appeal to early elementary students. It is also a good addition to early readers or Ready-to-Read collections.
Written in a variety of verse forms, this is an interesting biography of the mother of climate science who was overshadowed in the history of science by men who claimed their spots after her, but in her limelight. Eunice Newton Foote was a scientist, inventor, mother, and political activist in a time when women rarely got to claim their acknowledgements. This verse biography spans her lifetime from 1819 to her death in 1888. It covers women’s role in science education, membership in scientific organizations, the history of early patents (& who was allowed to claim them), women’s civil rights, the Civil war and the subsequent Reconstruction era. The book ends with one final poem about 2010 when a retired petroleum geologist comes upon an old book with her paper on climate science from 1856, predating the one by John Tyndall in 1859.
I learned a lot of history in this book, including the life of one pretty amazing woman. I enjoyed they variety of poetic forms. Most are free verse, but some are long, some short, some are more concrete in form. I hope this fascinating book finds readers who will enjoy it as much as I did!
This story follows Ellie, an elevator who works in a busy apartment building and loves helping the people who ride her every day. She especially cares about Thea, a girl who used to be happy and full of energy. But after her best friend moves away, Thea stops smiling, and Ellie wants to help her feel better. Even though Ellie is just an elevator, she finds a special way to bring joy back into Thea’s life. The story shows kindness, friendship, and how small acts can make a big difference.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a sweet and creative story with a strong message about caring for others and helping friends through hard times.
This picture book follows Bea as she visits her great aunt Portia and discovers a hidden attic full of records. Portia shows her that there is a song for every feeling, and together they listen, dance, and explore how music can match different emotions. Based on the song “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae, the story is warm and uplifting. It shows how music can help people express feelings and connect with others.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a good read-aloud that helps students understand emotions through music.
I read this book in approximately four hours. It was very hard to put down. The story follows Ara, a girl who is growing up in a cult, and her older brother Leo, who has just enough memories of the outside to start to question everything that they have been made to believe in Jupiter Station— the neopagan, planet worshiping cult they have been brought to.
It’s really hard to talk about this book without revealing too many spoilers, but I found it very hard to put this book down because I was so invested in the characters uncovering the truth of their situation. As a reader, you very quickly understand that they are in a cult, and it is so jarring to be reading from their point of view as they navigate the world beyond what they have been made to believe it is.
And at a very slim 200 pages, I think that this would be a great book for any reader, but especially reluctant readers. Short chapters keep it engaging.
There are moments in the book where characters reflect upon real world cults, which introduces a little bit of history, which I appreciated.
Honestly, the only thing I did not like about this book was the cover. It makes the book seem like more of a tragedy or an emotional book rather than an extremely high stakes suspenseful book.
Reviewed by Komachin Middle School Staff, D. Moulton
A bright, bold graphic non-fiction title that starts with the Earth and then zooms back in time to the start of the universe as we understand it. Each section then focuses on how the solar system and the earth have changed over the eons of their lifetimes. I found the graphics and the clear time markers helpful in placing each mind bogglingly-long chunks of time in their place in the larger timeline. Not only is space vast, but so is time. Hard for a mere human brain to take it all in. The way this book is organized helps. Besides a table of content at the beginning, the book includes a glossary and an index for easy reference at the end. I think space science enthusiasts will really enjoy this book.
This picture book, Take Me Out to the Ball Game! by Jack Norworth, brings the classic baseball song to life with colorful, cartoon-style illustrations. A boy tries to convince his father to take a break from work and join him at the ballpark to cheer for the home team. The story captures the excitement, sounds, and energy of a baseball game. The artwork and familiar lyrics make it a fun and engaging read-aloud for young readers and families, especially those who enjoy sports and music.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a joyful, easy read that works well for read-alouds and helps share the classic spirit of baseball with young students.
This fun picture book, Can You Grow a Striped Banana?, uses bright illustrations and a sweet story about a mother and her daughter. The daughter asks for silly and impossible things, like growing a striped banana or stretching like a giraffe. Her mom kindly explains that she can’t do those things. The requests keep getting sillier, which makes the story funny and engaging. In the end, the mom shows that even though she can’t do everything, she will always find ways to show love and care for her child. The message is simple and easy for young readers to understand.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It would make a fun read-aloud for kindergarten students because of its humor, bright illustrations, and sweet message about love and acceptance.
This story follows Piet the squirrel as he moves into a large beech tree with help from Peter the forester. As Piet explores his new home, he learns interesting facts about how trees work and change through the seasons. The book also includes sidebars and additional information about forests and animals.
While the science content is interesting, the story feels a bit forced and does not flow smoothly. There are other books that present tree facts in a more engaging way for elementary students. I would not recommend this title for purchase in an elementary library because the story feels uneven and there are stronger, more engaging books available on trees and forest science.
This lighthearted picture book by Carrie Finison follows Steven, a boy who loves sharing things by making everything perfectly even. He thinks the best way to share is always to split things in half because it feels fair and balanced. But Steven soon learns that not everything can be split evenly, like a nickel, a book, or a playground slide. He begins to explore other ways to share, such as taking turns or giving one to each person. As the story continues, Steven starts to wonder if something can be fair even when it isn’t perfectly even. The playful story helps readers think about sharing, fairness, and problem-solving in real life.
I recommend this book as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a fun and engaging way to introduce the concepts of fairness and sharing, and it encourages class discussion. The humor and simple explanations make it a good fit for primary students learning social skills and cooperation.
