Category Archives: Recommendation

Belize

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Alicia Z. Klepeis explores the 8,867 square miles Central America’s Belize. Klepeis uses snapshots of Belize’s location, landscape, wildlife, people, school and work, play, and food. The 32 pages just give a quick overview of what this country has to offer with two or three paragraphs of text per topic accompanied by half a page-spread of color photos.

There is a problem with text boxes set on top of photos that do not match the picture in the photo, though the photos follow along with the information in the main paragraph on the page. On page 14 the photo is of a thatched house while the box talks about Mennonite communities. On page 17 the photo is of a painted mural, while the box talks about colorful clothing. On page 19 the photo is of a guided tour by horseback, while the box talks about Belizeans working in other countries. And on page 25 the photo is of a dance group on Garifuna Settlement Day, but the box talks about Maya Deer Dance. The photos are labeled correctly. It is the inset text boxes that are problematic and could cause confusion on the part of the reader.

I continue to find the TIMELINE in this “Country Profiles” series confusing to the eye with its segmented lines stating facts above and below the actual timeline leading to the events’ locations on the timeline. It might be better to print the statements on a slant with a single line segment drawing the eye to the timeline location.

The BELIZE FACTS on pages 28-29 provide good visual graphics to show the flag, where people live, their work, important cities, main exports, and unit of money.

Factsurfer.com provides more information with safe internet.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Panama

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Alicia Z. Klepeis explores the 29,120 square miles Central America’s Panama. Klepeis uses snapshots of Panama’s location, landscape, wildlife, people, school and work, play, and food. The 32 pages just give a quick overview of what this country has to offer with two or three paragraphs of text per topic accompanied by half a page-spread of color photos.

I continue to find the TIMELINE in this “Country Profiles” series confusing to the eye with its segmented lines stating facts above and below the actual timeline leading to the events’ locations on the timeline. It might be better to print the statements on a slant with a single line segment drawing the eye to the timeline location.

The PANAMA FACTS on pages 28-29 provide good visual graphics to show the flag, where people live, their work, important cities, main exports, and unit of money.

Factsurfer.com provides more information with safe internet.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Venezuela

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Nicole E. Rodriguez Mata explores the 352,144 square miles South America’s Venezuela. Rodriguez Mata uses snapshots of Venezuela’s location, landscape, wildlife, people, school and work, play, and food. The 32 pages just give a quick overview of what this country has to offer with two or three paragraphs of text per topic accompanied by half a page-spread of color photos.

I continue to find the TIMELINE in this “Country Profiles” series confusing to the eye with its segmented lines stating facts above and below the actual timeline leading to the events’ locations on the timeline. It might be better to print the statements on a slant with a single line segment drawing the eye to the timeline location.

The VENEZUELA FACTS on pages 28-29 provide good visual graphics to show the flag, where people live, their work, important cities, main exports, and unit of money.

Factsurfer.com provides more information with safe internet.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Singapore

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Nicole E. Rodriguez Mata explores the 278 square mile urban city-state of Singapore. Rodriguez Mata uses snapshots of Singapore’s location, landscape, wildlife, people, school and work, play, and food. The 32 pages just give a quick overview of what this city-state has to offer with two or three paragraphs of text per topic accompanied by half a page-spread of color photos.

I continue to find the TIMELINE in this “County Profiles” series confusing to the eye with its segmented lines stating facts above and below the actual timeline leading to the events’ locations on the timeline. It might be better to print the statements on a slant with a single line segment drawing the eye to the timeline location.

The SINGAPORE FACTS on pages 28-29 provide good visual graphics to show the flag, where people live, their work, main exports, religion, and unit of money.

Factsurfer.com provides more information with safe internet.

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

My Fade is Fresh

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In My Fade is Fresh, a young girl heads into the barbershop with a clear vision of what she wants. It seems like everyone has a suggestion for what she should have done – A PERM? A PRESS? A TRIM? A CHOP?. With fun rhyming text and dynamic, engaging illustrations, suggestion after suggestion is put forward and dismissed. The patience of both the barber and the little girl are increasingly strained as no one seems to be listening. Finally, after 3 hours, the young girl gets her fresh fade and proudly leaves the barbershop with a confident smile.

A fun celebration of black hair and creative ways to shine one’s personality through self expression.

When Your Daddy’s a Soldier

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Children with parents in the military do face unique challenges. In When Your Daddy’s a Soldier, the feelings and experiences of a young boy with an active duty father are portrayed in an age appropriate way. The strong connection between a soldier and his young son is clearly shown in both the text and illustrations. The additional emotional burdens that fall on all members of a military family are also addressed. This book belongs in collections that serve children of military families.

While about 80% of active duty service members are male, the way this story is told excludes both the female service members as well as the daughters of service members. Female characters (in particular mothers) in the book are portrayed as not coping well.

Acadia National Park

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Christina Leaf takes on an impressive undertaking of providing elementary age readers with the who, what, where, when, and why of the Acadia National Park in 32 pages of color photos and text.

Leaf gives basic facts and visuals on Acadia National Park while not being a vacation travel advertisement. Acadia National Park was the 6th most visited national park in 2021.

Leaf includes: plants and animals (p 12-15), history of peoples in the area (p 16-21), how ice breaks down granite (p 8-9), top sites (p 22-23), and perhaps most importantly protecting the park (p24-27) from too many visitors and climate change.

Leaf also includes graphics of 6 Acadia National Park facts, food web, and a timeline (p28-29).

More information on the Acadia National Park can be gotten safely through Factsurfer.com..

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Grand Canyon National Park

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Christina Leaf takes on an impressive undertaking of providing elementary age readers with the who, what, where, when, and why of the Grand Canyon National Park in 32 pages of color photos and text.

Leaf gives interesting basic facts and visuals on Grand Canyon National Park while not being a vacation travel advertisement. Grand Canyon National Park was the 4th most visited national park in 2021.

Leaf includes: plants and animals (p 12-15), history of peoples in the area (p 16-21), how river erosion happens (p 8-9), top sites (p 22-23), and perhaps most importantly protecting the park (p24-27) from too many visitors and climate change.

Leaf also includes graphics of 6 Grand Canyon National Park facts, food web, and a timeline (p28-29).

More information on the Grand Canyon National Park can be gotten safely through Factsurfer.com..

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Yosemite National Park

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Christina Leaf takes on an impressive undertaking of providing elementary age readers with the who, what, where, when, and why of the Yosemite National Park in 32 pages of color photos and text.

Leaf gives interesting basic facts and visuals on Yosemite National Park while not being a vacation travel advertisement. Yosemite National Park was the 8th most visited national park in 2021.

Leaf includes: plants and animals (p 12-15), history of peoples in the area (p 16-21), how geologic intrusions formed (p 8-9), top sites (p 22-23), and perhaps most importantly protecting the park (p24-27) from too many visitors and climate change.

Leaf also includes graphics of 6 Yosemite National Park facts, food web, and a timeline (p28-29).

More information on the Yosemite National Park can be gotten safely through Factsurfer.com..

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong

Rocky Mountain National Park

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Christina Leaf takes on an impressive undertaking of providing elementary age readers with the who, what, where, when, and why of the Rocky Mountain National Park in 32 pages of color photos and text.

Leaf gives basic facts and visuals on Rocky Mountain National Park while not being a vacation travel advertisement. Rocky Mountain National Park was the 5th most visited national park in 2021.

Leaf includes: plants and animals (p 12-15), history of peoples in the area (p 16-21), how geologic uplift happens (p 8-9), top sites (p 22-23), and perhaps most importantly protecting the park (p24-27) from too many visitors and climate change.

Leaf also includes graphics of 6 Rocky Mountain National Park facts, food web, and a timeline (p28-29).

More information on the Rocky Mountain National Park can be gotten safely through Factsurfer.com..

Submitted for Annette McQueen by Mary Pong