Moons

This journey of imagination explores some of the over 200 moons in our Solar System. The character’s curiosity while observing Earth’s moon leads to an imaginary trip to look closer at some of the moons of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The Blastoff! Missions series Moons title does a good job at reinforcing the concept of a moon as a scientific term rather than the name of the body that orbits Earth.

In the Blastoff! Missions: Journey Into Space series young readers can explore the wonders of our solar system. Each title begins with 3 mission goals; one focused on fluency, one on comprehension, and one on critical thinking. In addition to Jimmy who accompanies the reader on all the missions, each title has a different main character reflecting diversity in race and including a character with a physical disability. Through the conversational narrative, the reader is brought along on a mission of discovery. At the end of the informational text, there is a glossary, index, and To Learn More section which has three print suggestions and guidance to access suggested digital resources at factsurfer.com. Each title wraps up with three extension questions in the Beyond the Mission section.

The predictable format, easy to read text, and colorful supporting illustrations make the content accessible for developing early readers. Scientific details are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This, combined with’ exposure to various media interpretations of space travel may blur the lines between fact and fiction for young readers. 

Blastoff! Missions: Journey to Space series is a playful STEM introduction to astronomy for curious young scientists.

The Asteroid Belt

This Blastoff! Mission title begins in a science museum. The character’s imagined travel to the asteroid belt is filled with information. By describing objects in the asteroid belt using recognizable objects – smaller than a house or like a lumpy potato – the concepts become more comprehensible for young readers. By the end of the adventure, the reader has a glimpse at the diversity and continuous change of the donut shaped area of our solar system known as the asteroid belt.

In the Blastoff! Missions: Journey Into Space series young readers can explore the wonders of our solar system. Each title begins with 3 mission goals; one focused on fluency, one on comprehension, and one on critical thinking. In addition to Jimmy who accompanies the reader on all the missions, each title has a different main character reflecting diversity in race and including a character with a physical disability. Through the conversational narrative, the reader is brought along on a mission of discovery. At the end of the informational text, there is a glossary, index, and To Learn More section which has three print suggestions and guidance to access suggested digital resources at factsurfer.com. Each title wraps up with three extension questions in the Beyond the Mission section.

The predictable format, easy to read text, and colorful supporting illustrations make the content accessible for developing early readers. Scientific details are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This, combined with’ exposure to various media interpretations of space travel may blur the lines between fact and fiction for young readers. 

Blastoff! Missions: Journey to Space series is a playful STEM introduction to astronomy for curious young scientists.

The Dwarf Planets

Pluto and its reclassification as a Dwarf Planet intrigues children of all ages. The Dwarf Planets in the Blastoff! Missions series helps fan the reader’s curiosity while introducing five dwarf planets. While their size is an essential characteristic classifying dwarf planets, each of the dwarf planets in the book are noticeably unique. As the reader embarks on the journey of imagination with the characters in the book, questions are woven into the story to further engage young readers.

In the Blastoff! Missions: Journey Into Space series young readers can explore the wonders of our solar system. Each title begins with 3 mission goals; one focused on fluency, one on comprehension, and one on critical thinking. In addition to Jimmy who accompanies the reader on all the missions, each title has a different main character reflecting diversity in race and including a character with a physical disability. Through the conversational narrative, the reader is brought along on a mission of discovery. At the end of the informational text, there is a glossary, index, and To Learn More section which has three print suggestions and guidance to access suggested digital resources at factsurfer.com. Each title wraps up with three extension questions in the Beyond the Mission section.

The predictable format, easy to read text, and colorful supporting illustrations make the content accessible for developing early readers. Scientific details are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This, combined with’ exposure to various media interpretations of space travel may blur the lines between fact and fiction for young readers. 

Blastoff! Missions: Journey to Space series is a playful STEM introduction to astronomy for curious young scientists.

The Inner Planets

In The Inner Planets, the reader joins a boy on a plane as he daydreams about investigating the planets between the sun and the asteroid belt. The exploration of the inner planets begins by identifying Earth as a rocky planet and its place in our solar system. The book then jumps to Mercury and moves outward from the sun.

In the Blastoff! Missions: Journey Into Space series young readers can explore the wonders of our solar system. Each title begins with 3 mission goals; one focused on fluency, one on comprehension, and one on critical thinking. In addition to Jimmy who accompanies the reader on all the missions, each title has a different main character reflecting diversity in race and including a character with a physical disability. Through the conversational narrative, the reader is brought along on a mission of discovery. At the end of the informational text, there is a glossary, index, and To Learn More section which has three print suggestions and guidance to access suggested digital resources at factsurfer.com. Each title wraps up with three extension questions in the Beyond the Mission section.

The predictable format, easy to read text, and colorful supporting illustrations make the content accessible for developing early readers. Scientific details are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This, combined with’ exposure to various media interpretations of space travel may blur the lines between fact and fiction for young readers.

Blastoff! Missions: Journey to Space series is a playful STEM introduction to astronomy for curious young scientists.

The Outer Planets

After passing the asteroid belt, Blastoff Jimmy helps the reader learn about the outer planets of our solar system. The book divides the outer planets into gas giants and ice giants. Dwarf planets are not includes in this title.

In the Blastoff! Missions: Journey Into Space series young readers can explore the wonders of our solar system. Each title begins with 3 mission goals; one focused on fluency, one on comprehension, and one on critical thinking. In addition to Jimmy who accompanies the reader on all the missions, each title has a different main character reflecting diversity in race and including a character with a physical disability. Through the conversational narrative, the reader is brought along on a mission of discovery. At the end of the informational text, there is a glossary, index, and To Learn More section which has three print suggestions and guidance to access suggested digital resources at factsurfer.com. Each title wraps up with three extension questions in the Beyond the Mission section.

The predictable format, easy to read text, and colorful supporting illustrations make the content accessible for developing early readers. Scientific details are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. This, combined with’ exposure to various media interpretations of space travel may blur the lines between fact and fiction for young readers. With The Outer Planet title, it would be helpful if scientific information was communicated in relation to aspects of living on earth that a young child could understand.

Blastoff! Missions: Journey to Space series is a playful STEM introduction to astronomy for curious young scientists.

Linty: A Pocketful of Adventure

Pocket lint is a common experience for children and adults alike. Linty is a humorous story of a piece of pocket lint in graphic novel format. With a low reading level and some repetitive text, this is good introduction to graphic novels for young readers working on reading independently.

Linty is content with the narrow confines of his life and his repetitive days living in the pocket of neatly folded jeans.. He’s a bit disconcerted when a boy puts on the jeans and his world starts to move. His new adventures include meeting new friends added to his pocket home and a ride through the wash. He finally recognizes the value of both his pocket home and the friends he’s made.

Can Clam Go?

Looking for sharks? Friendship? Humor? Can Clam Go? has it all. In this pre-level 1 Ready to Read title, Adam Lehrhaupt has created a fun little story with only a few words per page. In addition to sight words, the text is made up of repetitive, rhyming, and easily decodable words. The colorful illustrations add to the humorous appeal of this title.

Currently there are two books in the Shark Chums series.

A Blue Kind of Day

When Coen is having a blue kind of day, the feelings are murky, prickly and tense. When the feelings just won’t go away, he curls up in a ball on his bed and refuses to get up. His Mom, Dad, and sister all try to convince him to get up, then try to distract him from his feelings, and finally they snuggle close and wait. With their waiting, they validate Coen’s feelings and show they’ll be there for him.

A Blue Kind of Day describes the miasma of depression from the perspective of a young child. In words and pictures, the book offers a supportive and accepting narrative to remind children that they are not alone in their big feelings.

Her Epic Adventure: 25 Daring Women Who Inspire a Life Less Ordinary

Her Epic Adventures is divided into five sections; sky, peaks, ice, land, and water. Each section starts with a two paragraph explanation of some of the challenges associated with exploring that area of earth – especially for women. The book then highlights the perseverance and bravery of four women. From Charlotte Small around the turn of the 19th century to the Black Mambas founded in 2013, the women highlighted in the book span both time and geographical location. Each illustrated two page spread provides biographical information about the featured woman as well as appropriate supporting details, such as a map, tip, quote, or fact.

Endpapers include a paragraph and illustration each of about five additional women adventurers and an interview with Lois Pryce, an adventurer who rode her motorcycle from Alaska to Argentina. Also included is a world map showing the locations of the women’s adventures, resources, and an index.

Her Epic Adventure is an inspiring read for any would-be adventurer, especially for those who’s spirit leads them outside society’s traditional path.

Hands

Torrey Maldonado

A short, quick read in an authentic voice, this book really packs a punch – all while wondering how hands CAN be a powerful force in the world without them getting him into trouble. Trev faces a number of challenges in this story, but the central problem is how to keep all the promises he’s made to people he loves. This comes down to how he’s going to use his hands – to fight off his stepfather’s potential abuse of his mom once he’s out of jail for hitting her OR trust the adults around him to protect his family and use his hands for their other promise & potential, drawing. He trains to become strong, but using his hands to fight will have consequences that will limit his other strengths. I really liked the dialogue in the book. It sounds real. It’s the short, choppy sentences of Trev’s real language that give the book so much authenticity. Every chapter is extremely short (1-3 pages) which should help get this book read by students who may not love to read but will love Trev’s story. The end feels incomplete-ish, but I think that’s deliberate. We know what Trev decides he’s going to do at the end, but the events that will put him to the test have not happened yet. We must trust, like he must, in the people around him. Perhaps there will be a sequel, but I think it’s okay if there is not. I highly recommend this book!