Murray, Julie. Sweden. Minnesota: Abdo Publishing, 2015. 978-1-62403-347-6. 40p. $20.00. Gr 2-4.
This book is one of many that are a part of the “Explore the Countries” Series. The book has a user friendly lay out, vivid illustrations, glossary and index. Each page has pictures of the country along with captions and fun facts for readers to read throughout. In the middle of the book, there is a timeline with the history of the country and a “Tour Book” which gives examples of things you could do while visiting the country. The text is leveled nicely and bold for all readers to enjoy.
Non Fiction (394.26) Jenn Roth, Lincoln Elementary (Gettysburg Area School District)
I use this book for our 3rd grade country projects. Students use the books with ease for the information is spaced out nicely and they don’t get over whelmed with too much information on the page. I would recommend this book to any library doing country projects in 2nd or 3rd grade.
Pets Up Close (Series). North Mankato: Capstone, 2014. $18.49ea. Gr. K-1.
Olson, Gillia. Pet Cats Up Close.978-1-4914-0582-6.
Shores, Erika. Pet Dogs Up Close. 978-1-4914-0583-3.
Dubke, Karon. Pet Parrots Up Close. 978-1-4914-0581-9.
Wittrock, Jeni. Pet Rabbits Up Close. 978-1-4914-0584-0.
Young readers love animals. These books take a CLOSE look at their closest animal friends from retractable claws to whiskers. Readers learn about all the fascinating body parts of these pets and their functions. Photographs are absolutely stunning! Perfect “go to” book for almost any Kindergarten or first grade student.
636; Pets Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary School
The Checkerboard Animal Series. Minneapolis, MN: ABDO, 2014. 24p. $17.95/ea. Gr. 6-8.
Example:
Cat Set (6 Titles) ISBN 9781616133962, 9781617872839
Individual Reinforced Library Bound Hardcovers: $17.95
Set of 6: $107.70
Abdo Digital Hosted e-book with unlimited access: $27.95
If you plan any investment in series books, The Checkerboard Animal Series from Abdo is the one. I was lucky enough to receive a couple of these books in my box to review. I am very familiar with the dog and cat series and they are tried and true and the students love them. The only time I see a full set of these is during the summer when the students are gone. Teaching in a rural school, many students will never see the more exotic breeds up close and personal, so this is the next best thing!
Abdo publishes sets of 6 new titles every year. The books can be purchased as a set or individually. The format is the same for the books which makes it nice if you are teaching research skills.
Please check this series out at: http://abdopublishing.com/
Lourie Stewart Dunbar and Connellsville Township Elementary Schools
McCarney, Rosemary. Dear Malala, We Stand with You. 978-0-553-521207. New York: Crown/Random House, 2014. $16.99. 32p. Gr . PK – 3.
What a breatakingly beautiful book! And perfect timing: Malala was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize the week I received this book. Author McCarney heads Plan, one of the oldest and largest international charities whose mission is to end global poverty. This nonfiction picture book begins with a 2-page “Who is Malala?” and proceeds with a powerful per page thereafter, of girls around the world each proclaiming the ways they stand with Malala, for example: “In many countries, bullets are not the only way to silence girls. Early marriage…poverty…discrimination…violence…all play a part. The images are haunting but yet suitable for young audiences.The book ends with the text of Malala’s 2013 speech to the UN Youth Assembly.
This book is the perfect read aloud for any number of social studies lessons. I will be using it to culminate a 3rd and 4th grade biography genre study. I plan to read the book and follow it with a clip of Malala giving the UN speech. Very moving book; highly recommended for the collection as well as for teachers’ classroom use.
Nonfiction Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Pham, Le Uyen. The Twelve Days of Christmas. New York: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2014. 978-0-385-37413-2. 34 p. $17.99. Gr. K-2.
Le Uyen Pham’s illustrations are the highlight of this version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The text is straightforward and provides the words to the classic holiday song. The illustrations show a young boy and girl who take turns giving each other gifts of four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and so on.
The illustrations are gorgeous. Pham’s style is reminiscent of olden days; children are dressed in holiday finery, the gifts are richly colored, and the early pages have lots of white space which highlights the pictures’ beauty. The animals of early gift numbers, such as the six geese a-laying, try to wander on to the pages before they are meant to the children must shoo them back to the pages where they belong. The people of higher numbers, such as the eight maids a-milking, are multi-cultural and appear to represent countries as far and wide as northern Europe and Asia. End material provides the sheet music for the song along with a history on the twelve days of Christmas. This is a book that will be enjoyed by young and old.
782.42, Folk songs Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools
Laidlaw, Rob. Cat Champions: Caring for our Feline Friends. Ontario Canada: Pajama Press, 2014. 978-1-927485-31-6. 63 p. $19.95 Gr. 3-7.
Numerous full color photos of cats and children with inspirational stories about their help for foster cats can be viewed in the book. Unique cats such as the descendants of Hemingway’s cat Snowball at his Kew West, Florida house, alley cats and shelter cats all have sections. Special information boxes titles “The Cat’s Meow” and “The Cat’s out of the bag” add additional facts and curiosity to the book. Further information about adoption and ways to raise funds for cat welfare is found throughout the book. Additional resources, glossary and index can be found at the end. In your library you could make a display of favorite books such as the Warrior Cats series with cats as main characters and display this book with other non-fiction cat and cat care titles.
Nonfiction/Cats 636.8 Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School
Travel with the Great Explorers (series). St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree 2014. 32 p. $20.75 each. Gr. 3-6 Cooke, Tim. Explore with Henry Hudson. 978-0-7787-1246-6.
O’Brien, Cynthia. Explore with Christopher Columbus. 978-0-7787-1245-9.
—.Explore with Samuel de Champlain. 978-0-7787-1256-5.
Stuckey, Rachel. Explore with Lewis and Clark. 978-0-7787-1247-3.
Chances are that your library has a book regarding these famous explorers, but do the books that you have for your students have a welcoming and fresh feel of a learning scrapbook combined with full color primary sources and maps? This set provides information in a very engaging way for students with clever headings. “Solve it with Science” looking at the latest forms of technology available and providing experiments for you such as using a ruler and string to map a room in the house. “This Isn’t What it Said in the Brochure” highlights difficulties that the explorers faced during their travels. Each book also has sections to encourage writing with explorer journal areas allowing students to reflect upon perspective and persuasive writing skills. A glossary, timeline, suggested websites, additional books and index is included in each book.
Biographies/ 970.01 Columbus/ 970 (de Champlain) 917.804 (Lewis) 910(Hudson)
Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School
Zappa, Marcia. The NFL’s Greatest Teams: Chicago Bears. ABDO Publishing. 2015. 9781624033599. 32 pages. Ages 7-10.
This non-fiction picture books provides the highlights and history of this famous football team. Students will be able to use this as a reference book to provide team milestones and the players that helped make the team successful. Key vocabulary words are provided and then defined in the glossary in the back of the book.
Non-Fiction/Football/796.3 ZAP Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School\
Zappa, Marcia. The NFL’s Greatest Teams: New England Patriots. ABDO Publishing. 2015. 9781624033636. 32 pages. Ages 7-10.
This non-fiction picture book provides the highlights and history of this famous football team. Students will be able to use this as a reference book to provide facts about the team and the history of how they started and where they got their name. Key vocabulary words are provided then defined in the glossary in the back of the book.
Non-Fiction/Football 796.3 ZAP Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School