Country Guides with Benjamin Blog & his Inquisitive Dog (Series). North Mankato: Capstone, 2014. 32p. $21.99ea. Gr. 1-3.
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: India. 978-1-4109-6662-9
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Brazil. 978-1-4109-6665-0
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: China. 978-1-4109-6661-2
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Egypt. 978-1-4109-6663-6
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: France. 978-1-4109-6667-4
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Japan. 978-1-4109-6666-7
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Mexico. 978-1-4109-6664-3
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: South Africa. 978-1-4109-6668-1
This is a high interest series which focuses on some of the most fascinating countries in the world. It uses a bold and colorful blog style layout that will attract even the most reluctant readers. While it is primarily a recreational read, it contains beautiful photos, facts, an index, glossary, critical thinking questions and a “Read More” bibliography. This is an excellent pick for high interest needs but low level readers.
900; Countries Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary School
Titanic Perspectives (Series).North Mankato: Capstone, 2014. 48p. $23.49ea. Gr. 3-5.
McCollum, Sean. Building the Titanic: The Making of a Doomed Ship. 978-1-4914-0419-5.
McCollum, Sean. Passengers of the Titanic: Traveling on an Ill-Fated Ship. 978-1-4914-0421-8.
McCollum, Sean. Searching for the Titanic: Finding the Ship’s Watery Grave. 978-1-4914-0418-8. McCollum, Sean. The Titanic’s Crew: Working Aboard the Great Ship. 978-1-4914-0420-1.
This series investigates the different perspectives of the timeless tragedy from the building of the ship and its crew to the passengers and their fate. Some of the features include: callout definitions, sidebars, fact boxes and quotes. It includes an index, glossary and “Read More” section with Critical Thinking questions for the Common Core.
910; Titanic Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary School
Rabinowitz, Alan. A Boy and a Jaguar. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. 978-0-547-87507-1. 32 p. $16.99. Gr. 1-5.
In this autobiographical account of author Alan Rabinowitz’s life, from to his childhood to his later work in wildlife and jaguar conservation, we are presented with a true hero. Rabinowitz is a hero for the work that he has done to study and save jaguars and other types of wildlife, however the obstacles and challenges that he had to overcome along the way are what truly make this a story worth reading and sharing. Rabinowitz is a stutterer and has dealt with speech challenges his entire life. He often felt misunderstood, alienated, and even “broken” at times. While communicating was always hard for him, he discovered that being around and talking to animals was comfortable and easy. He found that he could talk to animals without stuttering. This connection to animals and nature eventually led him to Belize where he would become the first person to study jaguars. This is also where he would convince the prime minister, in a 15 minute speech, to set up the world’s first jaguar preserve.
This book provides so many poignant moments and will have an impact on anyone who may be facing a challenge. Rabinowitz has such a positive message to share and while the heart of this story is about persevering, believing in yourself, and following your dream, other important points include making connections to the natural world and being aware of worldwide environmental concerns.
333.95 Autobiography, Wildlife Conservation Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary
Macken, JoAnn Early. Read, Recite, and Write Narrative Poems. (Poet’s Workshop series: Narrative Poems, Limericks, Free Verse Poems, Nursery Rhymes) New York: Crabtee Publishing, 2014. 978-0-7787-0410-2. 32 p. $21. Gr. 3-6.
Macken, JoAnn Early. Read, Recite, and Write Limericks. (Poet’s Workshop series: Narrative Poems, Limericks, Free Verse Poems, Nursery Rhymes) New York: Crabtee Publishing, 2014. 978-0-7787-0409-6. 32 p. $21. Gr. 3-6.This series offers introductory information on different kinds of poems and instructions on how to write your own poetry. Chapters are titled “What is a Narrative Poem?” or “What is a Limerick?” along with chapters on writing different kinds of narratives or limericks, revising them, and performing these poems. Read, Recite, and Write Narrative Poems includes excellent, famous examples of narratives such as the story of John Henry as an example of a biographical narrative or Edward Lear’s “The Table and the Chair” to exemplify a fantasy narrative. Read, Recite, and Write Limericks includes especially effective writing tools and brainstorming techniques. The books are bright and attractive, though perhaps a bit busy for some readers who are easily distracted.
Overall, this series is a welcome addition. The author is a poet and writing professor in Wisconsin and frequently speaks to teachers and students about poetry and writing, so she has a good tone and writes about this difficult topic in kid-friendly language. I don’t see these books flying off the shelves on their own, but they could be great instructional tools; give them to teachers during April or to students who enjoy writing.
808.1; Poetry Writing Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools
Miller, Regan. Engineering in our Everyday Lives (Engineering Close-Up series). 9780778700920. New York: Crabree, 2014. $18.76. 24p. Gr. 3 – 5.
— Engineers Build Models. 978-0778700937.
Miller, Regan & Crystal Sikkens. Engineers Solve Problems. 978-0778700944.
Johnson, Robin. How Engineers Find Solutions. 978-0778700951.
Crabtree created a fun, nicely illustrated, and easy-to-read way for kids to explore this world of career options. Each book begins by explaining that engineers design solutions to problems using technology and give examples from the simple – hammers and umbrellas – to the complex – computers and the Golden Gate Bridge. Engineering in our Everyday Lives gives an overview of the types of life problems engineers help solve and a brief explanation of the design process that includes brainstorming, building a model, documenting the process and communicating solutions with others. Then each of the subsequent title in the series drills down on each of these parts of the engineering process, as well as highlighting different engineering marvels, and what different categories of engineers do. This series would be fun for guided reading with your budding engineers, or as a companion to career discussions. In my school our 3rd graders hold an “Invention Convention” and I could see these books being used as an introduction to this process.
629.1 Engineering Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Cultural Traditions (series). New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014. 32 p. $26.60. Gr. 2-3.
Aloian, Molly. Canada. 978-0-7787-0297-9.
Aloian, Molly. Israel. 978-0-7787-0303-7.
Aloian, Molly. South Africa. 978-0-7787-0304-4.
Aloian, Molly. United States. 978-0-7787-0305-1.
Peppas, Lynn. France. 978-0-7787-0302-0.
Peppas, Lynn. United Kingdom. 978-0-7787-0301-3.
Each book in the series highlights the major holidays in the designated country. The books start with a “Welcome to..” that gives a brief highlight on how many people live in the country, languages spoken, and a map. Each holiday or festival in the book receives two pages of information with colored photographs. There is always a “Did you know” caption that emphasizes one fact from the holiday or tradition. Included in each book is a table of contents, glossary, and index.
There will be high interest in the series from students considering the books are talking about the different holidays from other countries. Though United States is part of the series I would not recommend purchasing it since it provides nothing new or original to the holiday information realm (since the schools are based in the USA). However the other countries could be a boon to a collection, especially around the holiday time where you can add multiculturalism to the library or classroom. Some other countries in the series that I did not receive are Brazil, Egypt, China, India, and Japan.I would also use this series to teach “Parts of the books” since the table of contents, glossary, and index are consistent across the series and easy to manipulate and use.
394.26941 Holiday Kelsey DeStevens
Goldsmith, Mike. Eureka! The Most Amazing Scientific Discoveries of All Time. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2014. 978-0-500-65025-7. 95 pages. $19.95. Grades 3-8.
Students looking for a basic overview of scientific discoveries through time can quickly absorb this interesting book. Eureka! takes 19 discoveries in 5 branches of science and breaks them down into understandable text and key moments that shaped our view of the world and beyond. The layout here is a successful concoction of the scientific method, engaging sidebars, visual information with captions, informative timelines, and a consistent format which draws in the reader. In fact, this is a prime example of a non fiction text to share with students. With all the elements of an informational text combined with captivating stories and discoveries, I’d say that Archimedes was right to proclaim, “Eureka!” They’ve got it!
509; Scientific Discoveries Dustin Brackbill, State College Area School District
Rhatigan, Joe. People You Gotta Meet Before You Grow Up. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014. 978-1-62354-004-3. $14.95. Grades 3-6.
Movers and Shakers are all around us – not just famous celebrities, but local heroes and workers. This guide highlights 35 of them, including not only standard jobs and professions, but also people with key traits and experiences worth learning about. These include a traveler, an entrepreneur, a volunteer, an immigrant, an athlete, an activist, a senior, and more. Help broaden a child’s perspective (and your own) to not just learn about them, but to meet and talk with these valuable community members. There are specific strategies for introducing yourself and interviewing each person. The hands on interaction and examples including help take this book to the next level as a teaching tool. This book is a fun, eye-opening, and inspiring addition to your career lessons.
307; Careers Dustin Brackbill, State College Area School District
Just as a side-note for when you are planning your purchases and lessons for this school year: One of our PSLA Model Curriculum Stage 3 lessons for grades 3-5 involves writing interview questions for different careers following some short research. (More information is hopefully coming out by September.) I look forward to using this text as an ideal companion in our research project!