Happy Holidays! Groundhog Day

By Rebecca Sabelko

Groundhog Day is a fun holiday that helps our country decide when the Spring season begins. This title is a good introduction to what the day means with basic concepts for better understanding. The graphics are vibrant and colorful. Each page has one to three simple sentences. What I appreciated about this title is that there are many illustrations of the official location of the event that happens on February 2nd. This book explains the history behind the day and how a groundhog is used to guess what the weather will be. It shows what students do in school to appreciate and better understand this celebration welcoming Spring. It introduces Phil, the famous groundhog who sees his shadow or not. This book would be a good supplement to support the variety of holidays celebrated as it is extremely simplified and allows for readers to get the basic information they need in order to broaden understanding and appreciation in the future. It is recommended for libraries where there is a need for lower reading level books about holidays such as this one.

The Blastoff! Beginners Happy Holidays! series contains informational chapters including but not limited to: simple information about what individuals do for the holiday, when the holiday is and what it is about, the importance of the holiday and facts. These books also include a glossary with terms and definitions that are in bold throughout the book as well as an index and a section with links and books to learn more about the country. These books are recommended for grades Pre-K to 3rd. They are at “Level 1″ which offers early readers information through simplified sentences for better understanding.

Happy Holidays! Holi

By Betsy Rathburn

Holi is a little know holiday to the average American student. This title is a good introduction to what the day means with basic concepts for better understanding. The graphics are vibrant and colorful. Each page has one to three simple sentences. What I appreciated about this title is that there are many illustrations representing a diverse population at the age of the recommended readers. This book explains the history behind the day and where Holi is mostly celebrated in the world, when it is celebrated annually and why it is an important holiday. It shows what students do in school to appreciate and better understand this celebration welcoming Spring and how people celebrate using colored powder, bonfires and what is traditionally cooked. This book would be a good supplement to support the variety of holidays celebrated throughout the world as it is extremely simplified and allows for readers to get the basic information they need in order to broaden understanding and appreciation in the future. It is recommended for libraries where there is a need for lower reading level books about holidays such as this one.

The Blastoff! Beginners Happy Holidays! series contains informational chapters including but not limited to: simple information about what individuals do for the holiday, when the holiday is and what it is about, the importance of the holiday and facts. These books also include a glossary with terms and definitions that are in bold throughout the book as well as an index and a section with links and books to learn more about the country. These books are recommended for grades Pre-K to 3rd. They are at “Level 1″ which offers early readers information through simplified sentences for better understanding.

Happy Holidays! Memorial Day

By Rebecca Sabelko

Memorial Day is recognized as a national holiday in all public schools. This title is a good introduction to what the day means with basic concepts for better understanding. The graphics are vibrant and colorful. Each page has one to three simple sentences. What I appreciated about this title is that there are many illustrations representing a diverse population at the age of the recommended readers. This book explains the history behind the day, when it is celebrated annually and why it is an important holiday. It shows what students do in school to appreciate and better understand this celebration honoring our fallen soldiers and what people do to commemorate the day. This book would be a good supplement to support the variety of holidays in the United States as it is extremely simplified and allows for readers to get the basic information they need in order to broaden understanding and appreciation in the future. Being that many of my students are children of active servicemen/women and veterans this book was a wonderful addition to my library. It is recommended for libraries where there is a need for lower reading level books about holidays such as this one.

The Blastoff! Beginners Happy Holidays! series contains informational chapters including but not limited to: simple information about what individuals do for the holiday, when the holiday is and what it is about, the importance of the holiday and facts. These books also include a glossary with terms and definitions that are in bold throughout the book as well as an index and a section with links and books to learn more about the country. These books are recommended for grades Pre-K to 3rd. They are at “Level 1″ which offers early readers information through simplified sentences for better understanding.

Happy Holidays! Presidents’ Day

By Rebecca Sabelko

Presidents’ Day is a valuable and historical holiday in our country. This title is a good introduction to what the day means with basic concepts for better understanding. The graphics are vibrant and colorful. Each page has one to three simple sentences. What I appreciated about this title is that there are many illustrations representing a diverse population at the age of the recommended readers. This book explains the history behind the day, when it is celebrated annually and why it is celebrated in February. It shows what students do in school to appreciate and better understand this celebration of our past U.S. leaders and what people do to commemorate the day. This book would be a good supplement to support the variety of holidays in the United States as it is extremely simplified and allows for readers to get the basic information they need in order to broaden understanding and appreciation in the future. It is recommended for libraries where there is a need for lower reading level books about holidays such as this one.

The Blastoff! Beginners Happy Holidays! series contains informational chapters including but not limited to: simple information about what individuals do for the holiday, when the holiday is and what it is about, the importance of the holiday and facts. These books also include a glossary with terms and definitions that are in bold throughout the book as well as an index and a section with links and books to learn more about the country. These books are recommended for grades Pre-K to 3rd. They are at “Level 1″ which offers early readers information through simplified sentences for better understanding.

Happy Holidays! Valentine’s Day

By Betsy Rathburn

Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday in our country. This title is a good introduction to what the day means with basic concepts for better understanding. The graphics are vibrant and colorful. Each page has one to three simple sentences. What I appreciated about this title is that there are many illustrations representing a diverse population. This book explains what children can do on this day. It gives the date the holiday is celebrated on annually and a basic history and what people do on the day to show others they love. This book would be a good supplement to support the variety of holidays in the United States as it is extremely simplified and allows for readers to get the basic information they need in order to broaden understanding and appreciation in the future. It is recommended for libraries where there is a need for lower reading level books about holidays such as this one.

The Blastoff! Beginners Happy Holidays! series contains informational chapters including but not limited to: simple information about what individuals do for the holiday, when the holiday is and what it is about, the importance of the holiday and facts. These books also include a glossary with terms and definitions that are in bold throughout the book as well as an index and a section with links and books to learn more about the country. These books are recommended for grades Pre-K to 3rd. They are at “Level 1″ which offers early readers information through simplified sentences for better understanding.

The Shawnee

The Shawnee people are keeping their culture alive. The Shawnee originally lived in the Ohio Valley and today their reservations are in Oklahoma.

Sonneborn writes about the Shawnee’s contact with early Europeans. Sonneborn continues with their life today with their traditions seen especially during Pow Wows. The Shawnee are in a fight to keep their language alive. They have developed a language app and a website. This fight began during the days when native children where taken away to boarding schools.

The book ends with a glossary, index, and the child safe website – www.factsurfer.com where the official Shawnee websites are linked.

Submitted by Mary Pong

Happy Spark Day!

by Shane Richardson & Sarah Marino

It’s a special day in Ember City! Young dragons will learn what their “Spark” (special power) is at the Spark Day Ceremony. Among them are Li, Runa and Drake, who are three best friends. At the Ceremony, they see the beautiful disco ball that was created by dragons on the very first Spark Day. During the party after receiving their Sparks, Drake and another dragon, Fizz, get into a bit of tussle and break the special disco ball, ending the Spark Day festivities. Each of the young dragons tries to fix the broken disco ball with disastrous results. Suddenly, Drake remembers something that the mayor said, “Our Sparks shine their brightest when we use them to help one another”. They follow this advice and not only fix the broken disco ball but make it more special, alight with rainbow colors. They had learned a valuable lesson and saved Spark Day!

Brightly colored cartoon-like illustrations in a graphic novel/early chapter book style make this a nice introduction to the genre for young readers. It is not text-heavy and there is a lot of white space on the pages, which makes it even more accessible. The story moves along and the dragons are fun and a little silly. Kids will love it!

The Revenge of Magic

by James Riley

Monsters! Magic! Mystery!

While on a trip to the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., Forsythe Fitzgerald, known to his family and friends as Fort, watches as his father is snatched and pulled underground by a long clawed monster hand. Desperate to rescue his father, he is stopped by a voice in his head telling him to run. Six months later, a depressed Fort is invited to attend a special school to help him overcome the mysterious loss of his father. The school is out in the middle of no where, looks like an army camp and is heavily guarded by armed soldiers. Fort meets other students and instructors and learns that the school is not an ordinary one but one in which to learn magic to defend against the beings that control the monster hands that took his father. He also learns that several different types of magic books have been unearthed and only people no older than Fort can learn and work magic. Fort wants to learn “destructive” magic to get revenge for the taking of his father. Instead he is assigned to learn “healing” magic and has only three days to learn three spells to catch up with the other students or be sent home!  The other students took months to learn just one spell and adults can’t learn any, so how can he possibly learn three in three days? He gets help from an unexpected source…the voice he heard in his head so many months before. This mysterious voice enables Fort not only to learn his three spells but also to master several advanced ones as well. His sudden possession of arcane spells earns him the begrudging respect and the animosity of some of  the more accomplished students as somehow their skills are transferred into Fort. With the help of his new allies, he begins to search for the source of this strange voice despite foot dragging by some of them. Eventually his friends and he uncover the source not only of his mysterious voice but also to whom the books of magic originally belonged and why they want them back. Without revealing any spoilers, Fort discovers the true magic power of healing and that cooperation with others is the real strength of leadership. Does he rescue his father and thwart the aliens controlling the monster hands? Well, those answers and other adventures are in the sequels to The Revenge Of Magic. You’ll just have to read those to find out.

-guest reviewer, Bill Pfender

The Dos and Donuts of Love

The Dos and Donuts of Love

This sweet (pun intended) read is perfect for fans of the Great British Baking show. Shireen, the protagonist, is trying her best to save her family’s donut shop and navigate a love triangle between her ex girlfriend and her new crush. Shireen is Bangledeshi and living in Ireland, which adds an interesting perspective and point of view for young American readers.

Like Jiagirdar’s previous work, it involves queer relationships but is much more lighthearted and moves past acceptance to just pure love and fun; homophobia or intolerance does not have a central place in the story which is refreshingly hopeful.

This is light on romance, more heavily focused on teen drama, and would therefore might be more suitable for middle grade than high school readers who might find the wholesome narration a little childish. But, overall, a light and happy read with a unique perspective and a fun premise!

by Emma-Kate Schaake @hiketothelibrary

In Between by April Pulley Sayre

April Pulley Sayre uses poetic language to describe both the physical between, between as a description of time and motion, and between as symbol of change.

Sayre’s breathtaking photographs show change, movement, and the potential found in nature. Even for children who are not yet able to understand complexities of the at times abstract “in between” described in words, the photographs will elicit excitement and curiosity.