Animal Life Stories (Series). North Mankato,: Capstone, 2014. 32p. $19.99ea. Gr. 1-3.
Guillain, Charlotte. Life story of a Butterfly. 978-1-4846-0487-8.
Guillain, Charlotte. Life story of a Frog. 978-1-4846-0488-2.
Guillain, Charlotte. Life story of a Ladybug. 978-1-4846-0493-9.
Guillain, Charlotte. Life story of a Salamander. 978-1-4846-0490-8.
Follow the amazing transformations of these fascinating insects and amphibians. Beautiful up-close full color photographs, along with diagrams and clear labels take the reader through the life cycles from egg and larvae to full grown adults! The photographs were absolutely mesmerizing for young readers.  This collection is perfect for primary grades learning about life cycles or as an extension to a Kindergarten butterfly unit.
500; Animals                    Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary School

DePrince, Michaela and Elaine, Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer. New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-385-75515-3. 43 pages. $3.99.  Grades 1-3.
Little girls often dream of being a ballerina.  For little Michaela, that dream was next to impossible. She was an orphan living in war torn Sierra Leon.  When a scrap of paper blew into the yard of the orphanage, Michaela saw the beautiful girl in the fluffy skirt and pink shoes with ribbons.  When her teacher explained that this was a dancer, Michaela a dreamed of someday becoming a dancer and promised herself that if she ever got the chance, she would work very hard to realize her dream. When she and her best friend were adopted by a woman from America, her new mother promises that she would take lessons and have the opportunity to make her dream come true.  Years later, she is now a professional dancer. The timeless message of working hard to achieve your dreams is inspiring to any young girl or boy who dreams big. This biography reader is a great addition to any non- fiction collection!
Biography         Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

McCully, Emily Arnold. Strongheart: The World’s First Movie Star Dog. New York: Henry Holt and          Company, 2014. 978-0-8050-9448-0. 32 p. $17.99. Gr. K-3.McCully’s charming work in historical fiction (Wonder Horse and The Secret Cave) continues with Strongheart: The World’s First Movie Star Dog. Strongheart was born Etzel von Oeringen, a trained German police dog who was sent to America after World War I. He ended up at a kennel in New York and was discovered by movie director Larry Trimble who was looking for a dog to star in a new movie. Larry and wife Jane adopted Etzel and taught him how to be a “normal” dog that enjoyed playtime, toys, and animal companions, and not just work. Etzel was wonderful at recognizing human emotions and mimicking them in his own behavior, making him perfect for work in a movie. He was renamed Strongheart and his first movie, The Silent Call, was a great success; he went on to star in several other movies with Lady Jule, his mate.

This book will appeal to any dog-lover, young or old. Strongheart was clearly a highly intelligent, remarkable dog who lived an extraordinary life. McCully includes an Author’s Note in the back of the book that clarifies the origins of some parts of the story and provides extra information. The illustrations are beautiful with lush colors and lots of white space. This book is sure to be a popular addition!
Picture book/Nonfiction          Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

Hanson, Anders. Everyone is Equal (What We Stand For). North Mankato: ABDO, 2015. 978-1-62403-293-6. 24 p. $17.95. Gr. K-3.
Hanson, Anders. No Bullies Allowed! (What We Stand For). North Mankato: ABDO, 2015. 978-1-62403-296-7. 24 p. $17.95. Gr. K-3.
This series has six titles that teach children about diversity and overcoming challenges (Do Something for Others, Everyone is Equal, Keeping the Peace, Land of the Free, No Bullies Allowed!, Stand Up For Yourself). These titles provide very basic information on each topic along with how children can be involved (such as how kids can be tolerant of others) or take control (such as how children can stand up for themselves). These titles are written for young students with basic vocabulary and attractive photographs. Each title contains a table of contents and glossary.

This series is a serviceable introduction to each topic; I reviewed two of the six titles and No Bullies Allowed! is a stronger title than Everyone is Equal. No Bullies Allowed! introduces the concept of bullying in many forms including cyber bullying. Children are encouraged to stick up for themselves, stay true to what they believe, share their feelings, and help others in similar situations. Purchase if your collection is in need of character development books for younger students.
305; Groups of people                     Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

Thompson, Ben. Guts and Glory: The American Civil War. New York: Little, Brown, 2014. 978-0-316-32050-4. $17.00 Gr. 3-6.Key battles, events and individuals from the American Civil War are detailed in the novel accompanied with illustrations. The novel is fast paced detailing history while incorporating in pop-culture to the retellings. Examples of the pop-culture infusion would be the comparison of upgrading I-phones compared to the change to the USS Merrimack or simply referring to the Emancipation Proclamation as a doc rather than a document. Figures including Clara Barton, Stonewall Jackson, Burnside, Lee, Grant, Tubman, Custer, and Sherman are brought to life with not only the detail of their roles but the qualities that made them unique humans with primary quotations provided as well. The battles are broken down to show the number of troops, the number of casualties and the result. A detailed bibliography is available to the close of the novel. NOTE: I reviewed the ARC (advanced reader copy, a publisher’s proof), and not the final published version of this book.
973.7 Nonfiction, American History            Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Seaver, Barton. National Geographic Kids Cookbook: A Year-Round FUN Food Adventure. National Geographic: Washington DC. 2014. 9781426317187. 160 pages. $28.90. Gr. 3-6.
This month-by-month informational cookbook provides recipes based on the seasons, family challenges, and a ‘green scene’ section, which includes eco-friendly activities for the entire family or classroom. This cookbook would be best for older students due to the amount of information provided, detailed vocabulary, and instructions. This book could be used in conjunction with a social studies project that involves different cultures and holidays.
Cookbook 641.5          Krista Goodzinksi/Mars Centennial

Osborne, Mary Pope . Ninjas and Samurai (Magic Tree House Fact Tracker series). New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-385-386326. 123p. $5.99. Gr. K-3.
I always wondered about the relationship was between the legendary Samurai warriors of Japan and the secretive, daring Ninja fighters, and thanks to the Osborne sisters, I now know! Companion to Magic Tree House book #5, Night of the Ninjas, this well-written and informative little book explains all about the history of ancient feudal Japan, its Shogun land barons, their Samurai “knights,” and the shadowy Ninja hill people who could spy, steal and kill seemingly without a trace. Packed with lots of fun photos and illustrations, Jack and Annie lead us through this history lesson in short, easy and fun to read chapters. The book is wrapped up with lots of helpful places kids can go to learn more on the topics as well as a helpful index. Your nonfiction and history buffs will love this!
952 Japan history    Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School         

 

Osborne, Mary Pope . Magic Tree House Survival Guide, (companion to Magic Tree House fiction series). New York: Random House, 2014.  978-0-553-497373. 144p.  $12.99. Gr. 2-5.
Mary Pope Osborne has again teamed up with her sister and co-author of the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers to bring us this beautiful hardcover contains a compass set into the book cover, sure to entice all your Jack and Annie fans to crack open the book to find out more! Magic Tree House fans know that Jack and Annie have survived a mind-boggling number of threats and disasters, and they’re here to tell us all how to survive some of the worst. The book is divided into four sections: Wilderness Skills, Surviving Wild Animal attacks, Extreme Weather, and Natural Disasters. Each of the four sections contains 2-3 page chapters on a specific skill or threat – how to find water or how to survive a bear attack for example – jam-packed with photos and illustrations. Very informative and lots of fun for kids who love nonfiction, danger and disaster survival stories.
796 Outdoor Sports/Skills      Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

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 3^rd 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 2^nd or 3^rd 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 3^rd and 4^th 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

Larson, M.A..  Pennyroyal Academy.  New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 2014.  978-0-399-16324-1. 314p.  $16.99. Gr. 4-8.
A fantastic leap for readers who enjoy fairytales, magic and adventure.  The author has created a fantastic world that combines a variety of fairytales and a school for princesses and knights where they must learn to fight witches and slay dragons.  The princess to be must complete their training and must conquer their own fears and dilemmas on the way.    It is an entertaining read for leisure reading and will delight those readers that still love princess stories and the classic fairy tales with a new twist.  The dialogue flows and there is adventure and action.  The princess characters are depicted as strong warriors to be, not the typical princess character which is a dynamic difference for readers.
Fiction: Fantasy                           Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Nordling, Lee.  Bird Cat Dog.  Minneapolis: Graphic Universe, 2014.  978-1-4677-4522-2. 32p.  $125.99. Gr. K-3.
Told in panels, three separate stories develop depending on the perspective of the bird, the cat or the dog.  All three of the characters interact with each other in their own panels and create a bridge between stories.  The bright colors and engaging graphics encourage readers to move forward.  Wordless, it is an excellent creative writing experiment to allow students to develop their own characterization and dialogue.  Each character gets to ne the “hero” of their story in their own way.  A dynamic and fun book that has potential to be used in unlimited ways.
Fiction: Graphic Novel                          Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Kiss Goodbye. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 978-0-3758-87055-2. 236p. $16.99. Gr.5. In this powerful final chapter of the 18 book series, Sammy lies in the hospital after being pushed from a third story fire escape. Wendelin answers many long pondered questions…who is the Nightie Napper? What is the real story with her absentee mom and newly discovered dad? What happens to her friends, her enemies? And most importantly: Who would try to kill Sammy? As Officer Borsch and Sammy’s friends try to figure it out, we find out what an impact this spirited gumshoe has had on the entire community.
Mystery               Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Hills, Tad.  Drop It, Rocket! New York:  Schwartz and Wade Books, 2014. 978-0-385-37248-0. $12.99. Gr. PK-1.
 For every parent, teacher and child who loved How Rocket Learned to Read and Rocket Writes a Story, get ready to shout  “Hooray!” Rocket returns in this beginning reader that will have early readers building their confidence with the great repetition and of course the adorable Rocket and his friends.  This time, Rocket is finding items for the new word tree.  As he brings them to the yellow bird, she tells him to “Drop it, Rocket!” Until he finds an item that is just too good to let go…  This adorable addition to the Rocket books will delight young readers.  Here’s hoping that there are lots more to come!
Beginning Reader/Animals                         Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

Blakemore, Megan Frazer. The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill. New York: Bloomsbury, 2014. 978-1-61963-348-3. 310p, Gr. 3-6.
Twelve year old Hazel Kaplansky isn’t fitting in.  Her best friend Becky has moved away, her music teacher continues to give her the triangle instead of the glamorous glockenspiel, and now a new boy has joined their class and he is smarter than her!  Maple Hill is a quiet town, but mysteries are everywhere. Hazel spends lots of time alone and has a great imagination.  As a result, she observes some events that she feels are just not right.  Senator McCarthy is questioning union members at the local factory who are suspected to be Communists.  She suspects the new gravedigger of being a communist spy as well.  As Hazel watches and takes notes in her journal strange things begin to happen.  When she befriends the new boy, Samuel, he tries to get her to see that some of these strange events may just be innocent after all.  But Samuel himself is a bit of a mystery . 

Hazel and Samuel’s quirky personalities will resonate with any child who has ever felt as though they don’t fit in.  She worries about world events, as well as the Russians bombing their town (a real fear in that time period).  Readers will learn about the Cold War era and the time after the war, when people tried to get back to living their lives in the midst of the losses of the war, fear and suspicion.
Mystery             Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

Macauley, Jo.  Inferno (Secrets and Spies Book #3), North Mankato, 2014. 978-1-4342-9595-8. 220 p. Gr 4+.
In this third book of the series, young Beth Johnson, a rising star in the London theater continues to spy for the infamous Alan Strange.  The young spy and her friends are to report any suspicious behavior and protect the king at all costs.  When a friend’s sister is kidnapped, the evil Groby returns and tells John, a fellow spy, that he will not see his sister again unless he helps to kill the king.  Beth, John and their friend Ralph  must find the young girl, trick the villains into believing that they are going along with the plot against the king, and avoid a fire that is now raging through London. 

These books are well written, action packed and very believable.  Readers will love the action, suspense and quick thinking of this cast of characters, all while learning about London during that time.  A great series to hook those reluctant readers!
Mystery/Historical Fiction                                          Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

Klimo, Kate. Dog Diaries: Dash (Dog Diaries series). 978-0385373388. New York: Random House, 2014. $6.99. 150p. Gr. 2+.
Klimo brings us another delightful story, told by the dog in the title of actual events in history. Dash was aboard the Mayflower and brings the experience home to young readers. Klimo’s stories fill the reader with the story with the sounds, smells, senses and emotions of the period in history the book describes, while building empathy for the animal, reminiscent of Black Beauty. In the back of each volume is an appendix with actual photographs pertaining to the story, in this case more in depth information about the English Springer Spaniel. As soon as new Dog Diaries and Horse Diaries volumes are released I buy them and my eager readers snap them up.
Historical Fiction, Dogs   Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Palacio, RJ. 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts. 978-0553499049. New York: Random House, 2014.  $14.99. 432p.  Gr. 5+.
For all your readers who loved Wonder, RJ Palacio has assembled this wonderful book of precepts – words to live by. Ostensibly by Mr. Browne, Auggie’s favorite teacher, this book has a nugget a day – from everyone from the Dalai Lama to John Lennon and over 100 fans of the book who sent in their own inspiring words, some with illustrations. We hear from Mr. Browne and other favorite Wonder characters in brief passages that precede each month. This would be a fun companion book for a literature circle and discussion group.  Recommended for all those who treasured Wonder and want that feeling to linger.
Realistic Fiction     Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Lloyd, Natalie. A Snicker of Magic. Scholastic, Inc. 2014. 9780545552707. 320 pages. $16.99. Ages 8-12.
Felicity is able to see words! And she sees them everywhere, especially around the people she knows. She writes these words down in a journal so that she always has them. When her ‘wandering’ mother finally decides to head back to her hometown of Midnight Gulch, Felicity’s words begin to provide the hope that she has longed for, a home of her own. She finds out that Midnight Gulch use to have a magical history and is hoping that with her new friends, she is able to bring that magic back to life and that her mother will find the happiness she once had.
Fiction           Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School

Holub, Joan, and James Dean. Mighty Dads. New York: Scholastic, 2014. 978-0-545-6098-5. 34p.    $16.99. Gr PK-1.
A cute picture book for young boys who want to grow up and be just like their dad. The illustrations and colorful images bring out the fun playfulness of the book. Each page introduces a big and small truck. The big truck (Dad) is in the front doing its job while the small truck (son) is behind imitating. The Dad and son work together side by side in a construction site. The end is heartwarming as the Dads tell their sons how proud of them they are and the sons respond with, “I Love You Dad.”
Picture Book                          Jenn Roth, Lincoln Elementary (Gettysburg Area School District)
This book would be a great read of Father’s Day or for those reader who can’t get enough of trucks. I read this to my Kindergarten students and they loved it. This would be helpful when teaching Kindergarten about vehicles around the community.

Richards, Dan. The Problem With Not Being Scared of Monsters. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mill Press, 2014. 978-1-62091-024-5. $15.95. Gr. K-3.
While many books about monsters deal with the fear of them, this charming story takes readers on a different sort of journey. Instead of being unable to sleep at night because of shadows, noises, and of course, the possibility of finding a horrific monster under the bed, a young boy cannot sleep because the monsters in his life just won’t leave him alone! Because he is NOT afraid of monsters, they think he is one of them. Throughout a normal day, the boy has trouble getting anything accomplished because the monsters always want to play. At the end of the story, the boy’s younger brother seeks help because he fears there might be something scary hiding in his room. Lucky for him, his older brother is there to help him see that while there are monsters hiding in his room, they aren’t in the least bit scary!

This story give readers a fun and unique perspective on the theme of monsters and children. Instead of seeing a sinister relationship between the two, we see a sense of playfulness and lightheartedness. Kids will love to imagine a world in which they can have food fights and play games with giant, colorful, and gleeful monsters.
Picture Book            Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary

Wilson, N.D. Ninja Boy Goes to School. New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-375-86584-8. $16.99. Gr. K-3. 
Being a ninja is not easy. One must be strong, nimble, fast, patient, and tenacious. The young boy in this story understands what it takes to be a ninja. He dresses like one and practices the ways of the ninja throughout his day at school. While he understands what it takes, many others just don’t seem to get it. Including his teacher, who is not pleased when she finds the boy outside playing when he should be in the classroom. But then again, part of being a ninja is having the ability to disappear when the time is right, such as, in the middle of a tedious math lesson. Needless to say, the little ninja gets into trouble at school and at home with his parents for his sneaky behaviors. His parents put his ninja clothes in a box and we are led to assume that he will not be able to dress the part anymore, at least not for awhile. Luckily though, the young boy knows that part of being a ninja is pretending to be a normal old kid every once in awhile.

This story will be a hit with young readers, especially those with big imaginations and maybe even a slight knack for troublemaking.
Picture Book                Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary

Willems, Mo. The Pigeon Needs a Bath! New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2014.                                    978-142319087-5. 34 p. $16.99. Gr. K-2.My favorite pigeon book to date! Mo Willems’ pigeon is back in a tale about why he definitely doesn’t need a bath. After all, he just took one last month and “Y’know, in some places it is impolite to bathe.” When he’s finally convinced that he needs a bath, there are tons of excuses given in a multi-panel scene showing the pigeon changing the temperature, the water level, and so on, only for the pigeon to discover that taking a bath can be quite a good time.

This is a wonderful additional to Willems’ Pigeon series. He’s as charming and convincing as ever and Willems’ trademark illustrations only add to the fun. It’s a must-buy for your pigeon fans!
Picture book                        Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

 

Krull, Kathleen. What’s New? The Zoo!. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2014. 978-0-545-13571-9. 40p. $17.99. Gr. K- 3.
Fun filled facts about the history of zoos around the world. The book includes short facts about the zoos and artists renderings of the facts in watercolor. Good 5 minute filler at the end of class.
Picture Book, Nonfiction     Lourie Stewart,  Dunbar and Connellsville Township Elementary Schools

Verburg, Bonnie and Teague, Mark.  The Tree House that Jack Built.  New York: Orchard Books, 2014.  978-0-439-85338-5.  Unpaged.  $17.99.  Grades K – 2.
Following the familiar rhythm and cadence of the original House that Jack Built, this wonder-full twist takes a boy named Jack to a tropical treehouse that can’t be beat.  Jack built the place, but the ever-growing animal menagerie that inhabits the house make the story buzz.  Mark Teague’s superb illustrations also bring life to the rhyming text, with plenty of extra action to explore in repeated readings.  Jack spends his day moving among the animals and his inventions with a sense of calm wonder and developed routine.  Robinson Crusoe and Tarzan would both approve of his lifestyle, and there is also a sense of Goodnight Moon to the script.  Students will love to explore Jack’s place, and likely dream of their own tree house after this enjoyable story.
Fiction; Picture Book            Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Joyce, William and Ellis, Christina.  The Numberlys.  New York: Simon & Shuster, 2014.  978-1-4424-7343-0.  Unpaged.  $17.99.  Grades K-2.
In a world of order and systems and manufacturing, is there room for imagination and creativity?  This is the question at the heart of The Numberlys, when 5 friends sneak through a factory to turn parts of numbers into a brand new alphabet.  The new creations break the mold and invite a culture of fun foods, new names, colors and emotions.  William Joyce works this Numberly world playfully with clever wording, unique formatting and design, including neutral color tones and a factory setting paying homage to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis.  This book was inspired by the Moonbot app of the same name, but there are interesting differences between the book and app.  While personally the book was not as satisfactory as the app’s interactions and humor, those familiar with both will appreciate the comparisons and the book’s colorful ending.
Fiction; Picture Book               Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Barnett, Mac. Sam and Dave dig a hole. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2014. 978-0763662295. 40p. $16.99. Gr. PK-2.
 Sam and Dave are on a mission: this mission has to have something spectacular. They start to dig and dig and dig and… well you get the picture. Nothing…..nothing in their eyes, yet the day is pretty spectacular after all.  Just got this book in and tested it with my Kindergarteners. They laughed, the yelled at the boys to turn around and just loved it. So I guess it made the grade.
Picture Book      Lourie Stewart, Dunbar and Connellsville Township Elementary Schools

Buzzeo, Toni. My Bibi always remembers. New York: Hyperion Books, 2014. 978-142318385-3. 32 p. $16.99. Gr. PK – K.
Little Tembo, a baby elephant, is thirsty and her herd cannot find any water. But Bibi, grandma, “remembers the way to wet.” As Bibi leads them across the parched savannah, Tembo happily follows, every now and then getting distracted by her own memories of games she loves to play. This book is a wonderful reminder that age and experience is a sure way to find the leader.
Lourie Stewart                                            Dunbar and Connellsville Township Elementary Schools.

Campbell, Scott. Hug Machine.  978-1442459359. New York: Atheneum, 2014. $16.99. 40p. Gr. PK-2.
Campbell has previously illustrated If Dogs Ran Free by Bob Dylan, Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio, and East Dragon West Dragon by Robyn Eversole. In his author/illustrator debut Campbell brings us the delightful Hug Machine, a little dude who hugs EVERYTHING. He sets off to share his incredible hugging magic with joggers, the mailman, folks mowing the lawn, ice cream trucks, fire hydrants, bears, dog walkers and their dogs, trees, and even shows us how to successfully hug a porcupine and a whale. We learn what he eats to refuel and find out what happens when a mega-hugger gets tired from all that hugging. The colorful and engaging illustrations are kooky and so much fun and sure to be a big hit with the little hug machines in your life.

We were super lucky to have Scott Campbell visit our school on his Hug Machine tour thanks to our amazing local book store, Children’s Book World of Haverford! To prep the kids for his visit we used the activity sheet and watched Scott’s hilarious 2-minute hug workout video from the publisher’s page: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Scott-Campbell/48911045. Scott is a natural with the little ones, and showed us some of his childhood book creations, read aloud Hug Machine, and created Hug Machine masterpieces on the spot by audience request: Hugging the Empire State Building! A volcano! I highly recommend you catch one of his appearances if he swings by your area, and snatch up his other books, they are all high quality.
Picture Book   Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Becker, Aaron.  Quest.  Massachusetts: Candlewick Press,  2014.  978-0-7636-6595-1. 40p.  $15.99. Gr. K-3
The continuation of Journey, an epic fantasy adventure told completely with incredible illustrations.  This wordless picture book will provide every child with a completely different story.  With their markers each character draws their pieces of illustrations to move them further in their quest to rescue the king.  Aaron Becker not only is a detailed and talented artist he also provides educational pieces on his website to build understanding and use of his book.  Every time a child picks up this book they will find a different detail.  A great resource for writing prompts and discussions.
Wordless/Fantasy                Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Van Laan, Nancy. Forget Me Not. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2014. 978-0449815434. 40p. $15. Gr. K-3.
A beautiful book about a young girl named Julia whose grandmother is suffering the beginning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Julia’s describes the many warm experiences of visiting her grandmother: the family meals, joyful games and picking forget me nots from her garden to place on the table. She watches her slowly begin to forget names and memories until she must move out of her house. She vows to help her remember by bringing her forget me nots. It is a compassionate story that gently introduces the young reader to the concept of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease which they may be experiencing with their own elderly relatives.
Picture Book                                                                           Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Lynch, Jane. Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean. New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0385379083. 32p. $15. Gr.K-4.
Written in rhyme, this is the humorous story of a bully named Marlene who terrorizes her classmates until one boy sees through her. Freddy exposes her secret. Everyone watches as her anger disintegrates into fear and tears as Marlene loses her power. Since “Being a jerk, will no longer work” she decides to just be herself.  A perfect read aloud and discussion for Kindergarten or first grade or as an introduction to bullying unit for third or fourth grade.
Picture Book             Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Greenhut, Josh, Macky Pamintuan, and Jeff Brown. Escape to California. New York: Harper Collins, 2014.78-0-605-83120-9. 101p. $13.00. Gr 2-3.
Here we go again, another fun and humorous adventure for Flat Stanley lovers. Flat Stanley is now in the middle of San Francisco when he is kidnapped by a girl name Lily Fox. Lily Fox wants Stanley to help her escape Alcatraz prison, something no one has ever done before. Through the ups and downs of their wild adventures and crazy schemes, you as the reader will want to read more. Sit back and enjoy Stanley and another great adventure!
Fantasy                                   Jenn Roth, Lincoln Elementary (Gettysburg Area School District)

Monninger, Joseph. Stay Alive, Flood. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2014. 978-0-545-56359-8. 202p. $6.99. Gr. 2 and up.
This book was adventurous and suspenseful all at the same time. The characters were nicely developed which added to the scenario tastefully. The book shows the meaning of survival as a group of kids find ways to help each other during the flood. They are out of all items needed to survive such as housing, water, food, etc. The book is the fourth one in the Stay Alive series. It will keep you and your readers on their toes from the beginning to the end.
Historical Fiction                   Jenn Roth, Lincoln Elementary (Gettysburg Area School District) 

This series is wonderful to recommend to any students who have read the “I Survived Series” by Lauren Tarshis. It has the same level of suspense and adventure. My students enjoyed the entire series and are looking for more to come in the future.

 

Winters, Cat. The Cure for Dreaming. New York: Amulet Books, 2014. 978-1-4197-1216-6. 368 p. $17.99 Gr.  7 and up.

Olivia Mead is a young woman who rebels against her strict father by joining the woman’s suffrage movement.  In an attempt to control his daughter he hires a hypnotist to hypnotize her into a more docile and controllable woman. The handsome young hypnotist does as the father requests, in a way. Olivia now has the ability to see the world for what it really is, the beautiful people become into monsters as their selfish desires manifest, and the good people become even more beautiful as their kindness shines.
Historical Fiction                Kelsey DeStevens, Harris School

The Cure for Dreaming is a wonderful novel that truly shows the evils of conformity and how the traditional idea of what a woman should be only harms society. Readers will be attracted to the cover and the archival photos in the book. There is a romantic entanglement, but the story is more about Olivia and women’s rights. This could work for historical fiction fans but also fantasy fans as the hypnotism takes on a mystical approach.

Burns, Laura J. Bewitched in Oz. North Mankato: Stone Arch Books, 2015.  978-1-4342-9207-0. 255 p. $27.48. Gr. 4 and up.
Zerie Greenapple lives in Oz where Princess Ozma rules the land. When Zerie is young she discovers that she has the ability to move extremely fast, however magic is outlawed in Oz so her family discourages it. Their decision to ignore her magic does not sit well with Zerie and she continues to practice her magic with two of her friends from the village. During one of her magic practices one of her friends is kidnapped. This prompts a journey to try and save her and protect their families.
Fantasy         Kelsey DeStevens, Harris School

Freeman, Martha.  The Orphan and the Mouse.  New York: Holiday House, 2014.  978-0-8234-3167-0.  220 pages.  $17.99.  Grades 3-6.
Those with experience in children’s literature will understand that there are two major popular themes for children’s story classics merging together from the titular characters.  Orphans make great sympathetic characters for children, and a mouse can be just the plucky underdog for kids to appreciate.  The general plot splits time between an orphaned girl named Carolyn who lives in an orphanage with plenty of dirty secrets and a clever mouse named Mary who is about to be outcast from her society within the walls of the same building.  In parallel fashion, the reader hears and sees the greedy problems from authority that drive both of their worlds to peril, and eventually leads to the girl and mouse relying on one another for redemption.  Freeman has reinforced the value of friendship, dreams, reading, teamwork and other big ideas which are worth fighting for.  We see how reading changes the lives of two mice who think beyond the ordinary; and how a girl can only be held down by a false history for so long until her true value and nature shines through.  This pair meets several times, but their final meeting was perfect: “For a moment, mouse and human regarded one another with all of the kindness, goodwill, and curiosity available to their respective species.  Neither would ever understand the other.  Each believed it was worthwhile to try.”  Honestly, The Orphan and the Mouse is a worthwhile read in every way!  It has short, quick paced chapters with plenty of cliff-hangers to keep reluctant readers and read aloud listeners driven to keep going.  It is a classic serial story, harkening back to when comics, radio shows, and newspapers held the imagination of the populace with small doses.  That brevity also shows in illustrations by the great David McPhail at several key moments.  In short, it deserves a place in “mouse-book immortality,” as it emotes big ideas wrapped in a small treasure… waiting to be opened!
Fiction – Historical            Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Adler, Irene. The Soprano’s Last Song ( Book 2, Sherlock, Lupin and Me).  North Mankato:  Stone Arch Books, 2015. 978-1-4342-6522-7. Grades 4-9.
Irene Adler’s life in Paris is about to be disrupted by the advancing Prussian army.  As she and her father flee Paris for London, she writes to let her friends Sherlock Holmes and Arsene Lupin know that she is coming to their city.  While in London, Irene and her father attend the opera starring the great soprano Ophelia Merridew and the famous composer Barzini.   Irene and Sherlock meet, but Lupin does not meet them at first.  When he finally arrives, he tells his friends that his father has been arrested for the murder of Barzini’s assistant.   The three young friends set out across London to solve the murder and clear Lupin’s father ‘s name.  In the midst of the investigation, Ophelia Merridew is now missing.  Will the friends solve the mystery in time, or will Lupin’s father be put to death?

This was a great introduction to the world of Sherlock Homes for the young reader.  Much of Sherlock’s thinking and reasoning, as well as his quirky ways are portrayed well.  Young Irene is also spunky and very intelligent and keeps the two boys in line, while often solving a piece of the puzzle first.  Their friendship, and an underlying attraction keeps readers guessing. The spooky settings of some of the scenes will grab the reader without being too graphic.   My 4^th-9^th graders would enjoy this book for its readability, action and connection to the famous Sherlock Holmes.  I definitely want to read the rest of the series!
Fiction/Mystery               Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

Marko,Cydi. Kung Pow Chicken: Let’s Get Cracking! ( Kung Pow Chicken series book #1 ) New York,       Scholastic, Inc., 2014. 978-0-545-61061-2. Grades 1-3.
After falling in a vat of bubbling toxic sludge at his uncle’s lab, average second grade chicken, Gordon Blue and his baby brother Benedict emerge with super powers.   He makes a super suit and creates his super personae, Kung Pow Chicken! Together with his brother/sidekick, Egg Drop, they set out to fight bad guys.  When the boys take a school field trip to the Fowl Festival, Gordon’s tail feathers begin to tingle… a sure sign that something is wrong. Suddenly, feathers are dropping off of the chickens at the festival!  After a quick change in the porta-potty, Kung Pow Chicken emerges and follows a trail of glowing cookies and naked chickens to piece together the answers to the mystery!

This book was a GREAT highly graphic early chapter book!  The visually fun pages are a mix of word bubbles and paragraphs that will keep the young reader entertained and coming back for the next book. Adults and teachers will enjoy the puns ( chicken )Gordon Blue, and (eggs) Benedict, the Empty Nest Old Yolks Home and more!  A super fun book that will fly off the library shelves!
Humor/Graphic Novel                                                  Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

Johnson, Varian. The Great Greene Heist. New York: Scholastic, 2014. 978-0-545-52552-7. 226 p.  $16.99. Gr. 5-8 .
Middle school student council elections are a big deal and strange things are happening in the election process. Keith suddenly will be running against Gaby for student council president, even though he missed the deadline. Gaby is a skilled basketball player and has many ideas to better the school community while Keith just steals her ideas because he thinks serving as student council president will help his favor of acceptance into a private fancy school. What Jackson learns is that Keith’s wealthy father was seen going into the principal’s office and the student helper thought he was offering a generous donation so Keith becomes the student council president. Sixth graders know about the legendary schemes of infamous Jackson that led to an interruption with his friendship to Gaby, but can Jackson build a group to help ensure that the right candidate wins due to a fair election? The novel contains many short sections serving as a great read aloud for a class novel. Different connections to Star Trek, Star Wars, Windows Vista, baseball relievers, and Transformers are included throughout the novel and are further explained at the conclusion of the novel. Student council representatives could read and discuss this novel as a group with advisors and take a closer look at their policies and the way money is allocated to various clubs and extent discussion to state and national elections.
Fiction, Middle School/Elections                              Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

Watson, Jude. Loot: How to Steal a Fortune. New York: Scholastic, 2014. 978-0-545-46802-2. 266 p.  $16.99. Gr. 4-8.
Twelve year old March has moved around a lot and his schooling is lacking, primarily due to his father’s heist schemes around the globe. In Amsterdam his father falls during a robbery and perishes. While March tries to flee the scene, he is eventually identified and flown to upper New York for foster care. A big surprise is that he learns he has a twin sister, Jules. While in the shady living situation, they watch a television show about the heists his father accomplished and learned their mother died as a result of one of the jobs. They were only two years old at that point. Shortly after, Jules escapes and March along with the Izzy and Darius, the other two young adults at the facility, dash away to find her. Their journey leads them to New York City and San Francisco in an attempt to find all seven moonstones for a seven million dollar payout from a wealthy socialite. As they continue their quest, the twins wonder if their father really fell off of the roof. Watson’s novel received a star review from Publisher’s Weekly.
Fiction, Mystery, Orphans                                       Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Engle, Margarita. Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2014. 9780544109414. 272 pages. $17.99. Ages 9-14.
This powerful historical fiction book that is written in verse chronicles the building of the Panama Canal and those that were willing to sacrifice everything for a better life. The author gives a voice to everything, including the trees and animals in the forest. Through their ‘voices’, the reader learns that not only were the workers mistreated, but everything around the building of the canal was affected. It is a very powerful read that teaches history and diversity, which would make great classroom discussion.
Historical Fiction/Diversity  Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School

Mora, Pat & Libby Martinez. I Pledge Allegiance. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 978-0-307-93181-8. 36 p. $16.99. Gr. K-3.
I Pledge Allegiance is the story of a Libby and her great-aunt Lobo, a Mexican-American immigrant, who are both learning the Pledge of Allegiance. Libby needs to practice because she has been asked to lead her school class in the pledge, while Lobo is practicing to say the pledge at her naturalization ceremony, having just passed the American citizenship test. This story explains a bit of the history surrounding the pledge, as well as some of the more complicated words and definitions. An author’s note in the back explains that Lobo was a real person and tells a bit about her story. This book would be a great introduction to the pledge for young students or an excellent book to read when studying America or immigration.

The illustrations are one of my favorite parts of the book. Libby Martinez has a warm and friendly style that easily shows the love of the family. This story would be an excellent read in schools with a large Spanish-speaking population as the family is Mexican-American and the book is peppered with Spanish words, but it will be easily enjoyed by all audiences.  A great choice!
Easy Fiction                     Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

Bracken, Beth. Hidden Things (Faerie Ground series). 978-1434291851. N. Mankato, MN: Capstone, 2014.  $22.65. 96p. Gr. 3+.
Bracken adds 4 more volumes to her popular Faerie Ground series. These appealing little low-level/high interest readers are perfect for middle grade struggling or reluctant readers as well as voracious readers who just want to gobble up some spooky fun.  Soli and Lucy are best friends who live at the edge of a mysterious and eerie woodland. In the first book they decide to go into the woods on an adventure and all sorts of family secrets emerge! These are episodic tales, best to be read in order. Beautiful, lifelike gothic-inspired haunting illustrations complement the parchment-like paper and fit-in-your-palm sized volumes. Girls in my middle grades LOVE this series, I can’t keep them on the shelf!
Fiction, Magic/Fantasy, Fairies   Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Bell, Cece.  El Deafo.  New York: Abrams, 2014.  978-1-4197-1020-9.  233 pages.  $21.95.  Grades 3-6.
Sometimes a graphic version of a novel can speak volumes.  In El Deafo, Cece Bell tells her story of going deaf as a four year old and growing up with this disability while trying to find her way.  She deftly illustrates the feelings and doubts of a child who wants to be accepted, while also amazingly demonstrating in graphic format the sounds and thoughts around her.  Eventually, she decides to embrace an alter-ego with heroic powers from her hearing device to cope with her peers.  Using rabbits as characters makes the story seem more imaginative and humorous for the readers, but there is plenty for the reader to relate to and learn from.  The 70’s references and the fact that El Deafo should really be called La Deafa (female) are the only minor complaints for this great story.  It will appeal to those looking for a cross between Wonder by RJ Palacio and Smile by Reina Telgemeier.
Biography – Graphic Novel           Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Hayes, Susan.  Scholastic Discovers more: Polar Animals.  New York, Scholastic Inc., 2014.  978-0-545-66777-7. 80p.  $12.99. Gr. 1-4.
A resourceful nonfiction book filled with bright photographs and easy to read text.  Each page draws your eye using captions, lists, bold print and incredible photographs.  The information provided is concise and clear to young readers.  Each spread of two pages covers a different topic and informs the reader of all the components of the polar world.  This book includes information concerning both the Arctic and Antarctic.  Including a well-defined glossary and an interview with an Artic Scientist.  Digital downloads and copies also provided with a code included in the book.

Other books in this series are just as well done and informative, although numerous I was able to look through two others.
Arlon, Penelope.  Scholastic Discovers more: ancient egypt.  New York, Scholastic Inc., 2014.  978-0-545-62739-9. 80p.  $12.99. Gr. 1-4.
Arlon, Penelope.  Scholastic Discovers more: birds.  New York, Scholastic Inc., 2014.  978-0-545-66777-7. 80p.  $12.99. Gr. 1-4.
591.7 Arctic Animals    Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Preus, Margie. West of the Moon. Amulet Books. 2014. 9781419708961. 224 pages. $16.95. Ages 10-14.
This myth/folktale tells the story of Astri, a young Norwegian girl that is determined to travel to America to be with her father. First, Astri must rescue her little sister from their mean relatives, which then allows them to set off on an adventure that involves a book of magic and curses, a troll treasure, and a goatman that is out to get them. Astri and her sister must travel ‘east of the sun and west of the moon’ to reach their destination.
398.2 Myth/Folktale  Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School

Daniel, P.K. IndyCar Racing. (Inside the Speedway series) Minneapolis: ABDO, 2015.   978-1-62403-404-6. 48 p. $21.95. Gr. 3-6.
Glave, Tom. Sprint Car Racing (Inside the Speedway series) Minneapolis: ABDO, 2015.  978-1-62403-407-7. 48 p. $21.95. Gr. 3-6.
This series has six titles about different kinds of auto racing (Drag Racing, Formula Racing, IndyCar Racing, Motocross Racing, NASCAR Racing, Sprint Car Racing). These titles provide lots of information on motor sports, from the history of the sports to facts about races, popular drivers, and the vehicles themselves. There are lots of colorful photographs and there’s even a photo diagram within each title that helps readers identify parts of the title vehicle. Each title contains a table of contents, glossary, index, and “For More Information” section.

I know very little about auto racing but the authors of these titles are award-winning sports journalists, so it seems likely that they are a good source of information. They will be popular with any student who loves auto racing, not only for the information but for all the great photographs included.  Buy where auto sports are popular.
796.72; Automobile Racing               Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

Epic Sports Records(Series). North Mankato: Capstone, 2014. 32p. $19.49ea. Gr. 1-5.
                Storden, Thom. Amazing Baseball Records.  978-4914-0740-0.
Storden, Thom. Amazing Basketball Records.  978-4914-0740-0.
Storden, Thom. Amazing Football Records.  978-4914-0740-0.
Storden, Thom. Amazing Hockey Records.  978-4914-0740-0.
The best of the best of all time! Records, Photographs, and Statistics to thrill your avid sports fan. Includes full color photos, a table of contents, callout definitions, a glossary, read more and index. These would be a great interest starter for reluctant readers.
700; Sports                  Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary School

Hruby Powell, Patricia.  Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. Chronicle Books, LLC. 2014. 9781452103143. 104 pages. $17.99. Ages: 7-10.
Josephine Baker was a risk taker. She also loved to be the center of attention. From a very young age, Josephine loved to dance and perform in front of a crowd. And because of her love for music and adventure, Josephine Baker left home at an early age to follow her dreams of being a performer. This non-fiction picture book provides a wonderful background of this performer and all that she endured to gain the fame she wanted. It also provides the hardships she endured along the way. Children of all ages will enjoy the fantastic pictures and the flow of the writing.
Non-Fiction/Biographical          Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School

The Robotx Get Help from Simple Machines (series). New York:  Crabtree, 2014. 32 p. $20.75 ea. Gr. K-3.
            Bailey, Gerry. Pressing Down: The Lever. 978-0-7787-0416-4.
            Bailey, Gerry. Pulling Up: The Pulley. 978-07787-0417-1.
            Bailey, Gerry. Rolling Along: The Wheel and Axle. 978-0-7787-0418-8.
            Bailey, Gerry. Sloping Up and Down: The Inclined Plane. 978-0-7787-0419-5.
            Bailey, Gerry. Splitting Apart: The Wedge. 978-0-7787-0420-1.
            Bailey, Gerry. Winding Around: The Screw. 978-0-7787-0421-8.
RobbO and RobbEE, two robots, create simple machines in each of the books in this series. Each book highlights one simple machine. Explaining the machines and how they work is accomplished through the inventions created by the robots to help them complete their tasks. Real-life examples using photographs provide connections for students to their own lives. Text is large and easy to read. Each book contains a glossary, index and bibliography of additional reading and websites students can visit for more information on the topic presented in the book.
621.8; Simple Machines        Donna Bellerby, Lafayette & Maple Shade Elementary Schools

Hayes, Joe.  My pet rattlesnake. 9781935955627. El Paso, Texas: Cinco Puntos Press, 2014. $7.95. 32 p. Gr. K-3.One day little Joe is out in the desert, walking around, and he sees a rattlesnake in trouble. Joe saves the snake’s life! That’s when things get weird. The rattler follows Joe home. It’s only a rattlesnake, nothing new for a desert boy like Joe, so he keeps him for a pet. His dad is annoyed, the neighbors are terrified, but soon the friendly snake slithers his way into their hearts. The snake cuddles at the foot of Joe’s bed, plays in the yard, he even scares away a burglar and alarms the police. But is this tale too good to be true? You can find out by reading this rattling of a tail or tale.
Picture Book     Lourie Stewart,   Dunbar and Connellsville Township Elementary Schools

Rosenstock, Barb. Ben Franklin’s Big Splash: The mostly true story of his first invention.  978-1620914465.  Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek, 2014. $16.95. 32p.  Grade 2+.
Rosentstock has created an engaging illustrated bio-story of Ben Franklin’s first invention: swim fins! We all know Ben was a renaissance man: inventor, statesman, author and publisher, world traveler. But did you know his inventing began when he was a lad of 11? Turns out the young Ben, in one of the many examples of how unusual a person he was for his time, was a big fan of swimming. Few in the colonies went in the water at all in those days and certainly only for necessity, not for pleasure. But during his long and enjoyable hours in the water – “a delightful and wholesome exercise, one of the most healthy and agreeable in the world” – Ben’s keen powers of observation gave him ideas about how the human body could be adapted to be more fish-like, leading him to experiment with different wooden apparatus for the feet and hands, with varying degrees of success. Sprinkled throughout with quotes from Dr. Franklin, an author’s note at the end, plus timeline, illustrated list of some of Ben’s inventions, and bibliography, I highly recommend this for every elementary school collection. 

Just in time for my 3^rd and 4^th grade lessons on biography! I have always been a huge fan of Ben Franklin; can’t get enough of his life and his nuggets of wisdom and genius. I have no idea how he fit all that he accomplished into one lifetime, but he did. Rosenstock tells this story to kids with the takeaway: Ben Franklin got an idea, acted on it, and if he failed, tried something else. He was constantly observing, creating, failing, trying again. He wasn’t afraid of what others thought of him, he just did. Kids are sure to find this story of another kid, who was a little odd and not afraid to try weird things, appealing! Use this book to segue into other lessons about Ben’s life and inventions.
Picture Book, Biography   Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Raczka, Bob. Santa Clauses: Short Poems from the North Pole. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, 2014.    978-1-4677-1805-9. 32 p. $16.95. Gr. K-3.
Santa Clauses: Poems from the North Pole is a thoughtful collection of haiku written by none other than Santa Claus himself. There is one haiku for each day of December, and as readers move through the month there is a growing sense of urgency, excitement, and delight as Christmas approaches and Santa and the elves work tirelessly to prepare for the coming holiday. Some of the short poems describe Santa and Mrs. Claus doing usual holiday tasks (“I untie knots in/strings of lights while Mrs. Claus/ties bows on presents”) while others describe situations that are uniquely North Pole (“Workshop storm warning/in effect, heavy sawdust/accumulation”).  Like traditional haiku, some of the poems focus on the wonders of nature during wintertime. The illustrations by Chuck Groenink are gorgeous and have a very retro feel.  Overall, this is a great purchase to help celebrate the Christmas season or to use in a poetry unit.

I purchase a few new holiday books every year, and this might not have been a first choice—but it should be! You may know author Bob Raczka from books like Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boy, or Lemonade: and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word. This book is a really unique twist on haiku. I love the concept of writing a new haiku for every day of the month, especially when the author is Santa and the month is one so central to his life and livelihood. It’s thoughtful, creative, and lots of fun. This would be a really fun book to share with students during the month of December by reading one or two haiku a day, or a week’s worth during a weekly library class. Don’t be fooled by the cover art—the illustrations are lively and interesting, and students will love the book as a whole.
811.6, Poetry                     Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

 

Dash, Meredith. Calico Cats. (ABDO Kids Cats series) Minneapolis: ABDO, 2015. 978-1-62970-008-3.       24 p. $19.95.  Gr. K-3.
Dash, Meredith. Manx Cats. (ABDO Kids Cats series) Minneapolis: ABDO, 2015. 978-1-62970-010-6.        24 p.  $19.95. Gr. K-3.
This series has six titles that teach beginning readers about different kinds of cats (Calico cats, Maine Coon cats, Manx cats, Persian cats, Scottish Fold cats, Siamese cats). These books are written for early readers who want to read alone or with minimal help. Each two page spread has a few facts, usually a sentence or two, on the left page, alone with large, colorful photograph on the right page. The facts are basic and teach readers about each kind of cat’s appearance, personality, and habits. Each title contains a table of contents, glossary, and index. These titles serve as an attractive, if unoriginal, introduction to cats.

I have to admit—I’m not a cat person. These books, however, taught me a few new things about cats (most manx cats do not have tails and are called “rumpies”), and I can’t deny that they are attractive. The photos are large and beautiful and will be enjoyed by any reader, regardless of age. I’m sure that they will be very popular with my young cat-loving students!
636.8; Cats      Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

Phillips, Jennifer. Girls Research! Amazing Tales of Female Scientists. Minnesota: Capstone Press, 2014. 978-1-4765-4056-6. 62 p.  Grade 3 and up.
Girls Research: Amazing Tales of Female Scientists is a great non-fiction addition to any library.  Written in short paragraphs, the author highlights women throughout history who have made groundbreaking discoveries , often with little or no recognition for their significant discoveries.  Spanning several types of science, from nuclear particles to environmental discoveries, these women showed a dedication to their work and to science that was tenacious.  Along with familiar names like Marie Curie are perhaps more unfamiliar names like Frances Glessner Lee (the founder of forensic science).  Each section has easy to understand vocabulary and a simple explanation of what each woman contributed to the field of science.

Girls Research: Amazing Tales of Female Scientists is part of a series of books published by Capstone  called “Girls Rock!”  This book blew me away with the number of women who have won Noble Prizes for their work and others who made HUGE contributions to our world today and were and still are virtually unknown to the general public!   My favorites were Francis Glessner Lee, the founder of forensic science who used her love of doll houses to create crime scene dioramas used to train law enforcement professionals for years.   Another favorite was the inventor Stephanie Kwolek.  She had one small paragraph dedicated to her, but she invented a synthetic fiber that now is used in Kevlar, Spandex and Lycra.  WOW!  Talk about changing our world!  This book was simply formatted with easy to read vocabulary , so it was not intimidating to read, but it really made me want more details about these amazing, tenacious women!  This would make a great non-fiction selection for a research project source or just a great way to introduce women in science.  I can see myself sharing this bit by bit at the beginning of a science lesson to inspire my students, particularly the girls, to follow their dreams and choose careers in science.
Non-fiction        Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

De Lint, Charles. Seven Wild Sisters: A Modern Fairy Tale.  Illustrated by Charles Vess. New York: Little, Brown, 2014. 978-0-16-05356-3. 260 p. $18.00. Gr. 3-7 .
Sarah Jane has six other sisters with lovely red hair, but she is the only one who ventures to the old woman’s house known as Aunt Lillian. While there she learns to take joy in doing things the old fashion way and listening to Aunt Lillian’s tales about the Father of Cats, The Apple Tree Man or even fairies. Later when Sarah Jane is walking she decides to help a ‘sangman and heads back for Aunt Lillian’s advice. They find themselves in the middle of the feud between the ‘sangman and the bee fairies which places that places Aunt Lillian and Sarah Jane in addition to her sisters in great peril. Will they be able to end the enchanted feud and find their way back to their mother? Will they learn more about Aunt Lillian and her past or what the future may have in store? Throughout the novel there are colored illustrated for each section, an illustration to begin the chapters, and several page and full page spread illustrations throughout to provide the reader with a look into the vivid imagination of the story. The novel has received star reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews and is a companion novel to The Cats of Tanglewood (Little, Brown, 2013).
Fiction, Fantasy, Sisters, Fairies                              Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

 

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. The Red Pencil. Illustrated by Shane W. Evans. New York: Little, Brown, 2014. 978-0-316-24780-1. 324 p.  $17.00. Gr. 5-7.
Turing twelve years old is a big milestone for Amira as she now can wear a toob, now if she can only attend school. She learns to care for her lambs, but nothing can prepare her for the violent attack from the Janjaweed and the loss her family and community suffer. A Sudan relief worker gives her a red pencil and yellow table which reminds her a little bit of the gift branch from her father. She wonders how her mother carries on and continues to pray but notices that her strength is wavering. Numerous illustrations add to the emotion of the novel told in free verse poetry. The novel is inspired from actual events and the author and illustrator have a note in the book to readers. The novel has received star reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews and Publisher Weekly.
Fiction, Free Verse, Social Issues                             Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Brown, Jennifer.  Life on Mars.  New York: Scholastic, Inc.,  2014.  978-0-545-77669-1. 229p.  $5.99, paperback. Gr. 3-6.

A moving story, filled with humor and family dynamics for middle grade students.  The novel has both boys and girls taking on more and breaking stereotypes, space, Morse code, entwined with a lot of humor.  The text moves quickly and it is hard to put down.  The main character, who is named after a star, is on a mission to find out if  there is life on Mars, his plan is ruined when his father looses his job and they have to move to LA, a new neighbor helps him get right back on track.  An endearing book about a relationship between an adult and a child that the reader will enjoy and remember.
Science Fiction               Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Scieszka, Jon.  Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor.  New York: Amulet Books,  2014.  978-1-4197-1218-0. 180p.  $15.95. Gr. 2-5.
An incredible combination of science, laughter and robots that are in control.  This book contains an extremely entertaining story, mixed with science experiment, hypothesis and observations.  The black, white and red illustrations are phenomenal using labels, charts and maps to build nonfiction text feature reading.  A boy is trying to win a science fair to win the money to pay off his grandpa’s bills.  Not only is he good hearted he really uses his imagination.  This is the first book in an exciting series, with  Frank Einstein 2, being released in the Spring of 2015.  A great read aloud and a great read alone., one that is sure to be reread and explored further.
Science Fiction              Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Alexander, Kwame. The Crossover. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2014. 9780544107717. 240 pages. Ages 9-12.
This realistic fiction book, that is written in verse, tells the story of twin brothers who are dealing with the popularity of being the best athletes on their basketball team and their search for individuality. One brother is a talented rapper and contributes to the story through his lyrics, which express his feelings and emotions about his brother who has a girlfriend and his once famous father that is ill.
Realistic Fiction/Sports  Krista Goodzinski, Mars Area Centennial School

Verburg, Bonnie. The Tree House That Jack Built. New York: Orchard Books, 2014.  978-0-439-85338-5. 32 p. $17.99. K-3.
A young boy, Jack, has built a magical tree house by the sea filled with animals running and playing all around. The vibrant acrylic paint illustrations by Mark Teague bring the rhyming text to life as the animals romp across the pages. The story closes with the ringing of a bell and Jack and his friends settling in for a story then, to sleep for the night under a moonlit sky.
Easy Fiction                           Donna Bellerby, Lafayette & Maple Shade Elementary Schools

Giff, Patricia Reilly. The garden monster.  New York: Orchard Books, 2014. 9780545244602. 40p. color illustrations, includes index. $16.99. Reading interest level Gr. 1-3. Accelerated Reader.
Jilli and Jim are best friends and gardening partners. Along with a dog named Fiercely they plan, plant and harvest a garden to participate in the local Vegetable Parade. The only way they can be stopped is if the garden monster chooses to attack their garden.  This is a timely book about the rewards of growing a garden. A great way to plan for next year.
Junior Fiction             Lourie Stewart    Dunbar and Connellsville Township Elementaries

Mann, Jennifer Ann. Sunny Sweet is SO Dead Meat. New York: Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2014. 978-1-59990-978-3. 198p. $15.99. Gr. 3 and up.
Masha Sweet  is dealing with a lot.  She has a genius younger sister, she is coping with her parent’s recent divorce, and now, her younger sister Sunny has made her into a walking science experiment for her Science Fair.  Masha is furious with Sunny, and attempts to leave the Science Fair, but things go from bad to worse when they accidentally take the wrong bus.  Lost in the city and covered with red dye, Masha must get her younger sister home without calling their mom, who is taking a much needed day to herself.   The relationship that the girls have is strong, but Sunny’s behavior is challenging even Masha’s love for her sister.  Along the way, they meet Masha’s best friend Alice, who is confined to a wheelchair due to spina bifida.  The girls deal with looking and feeling different and how others treat them when they are.   Along the way, they overcome several challenges and find the courage to be who they are despite the reactions of those around them. 

Sunny Sweet is SO Dead Meat is the second of the Sunny Sweet books by Jennifer Ann Mann.  Sunny is a genius whose curious mind and lack of experience with people put her and her older sister Masha into awkward circumstances all throughout the book.  While Masha gets frustrated and angry with her sister, she always takes care of her and helps her. There were several times where I felt upset with Sunny too and marveled at her sister’s love for her that always came through in the end.   This book was a funny and real look at a child who has a sibling who is different, while struggling to fit in as a twelve year old in a new town.  The author also introduces a disabled character who shares her struggles to fit in and her desire to be treated just like everyone else.  This book would be a great read aloud and conversation starter for a unit on diversity or disabilities.  It really connects how everyone feels like they don’t fit in sometimes, but when you have a physical difference, that feeling is constantly with you.   There are lots of things to discuss and lots of ties to Science as Sunny is constantly sharing scientific facts and gathering things for her experiments. I could definitely see this as a book that could be used for writing prompts about many subjects and a tie in to science lessons.
Realistic Fiction                                                                Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

Rockliff, Mara. The Grudge Keeper. Atlanta: Peachtree, 2014. 978-1-56145-729-8. 32 p. $16.95. Gr. K-2.
Bonnyripple is a town where no one holds grudges, that is no one except for the Grudgekeeper, Cornelius. Each instance of bad taste is reported to Cornelius where he keeps them organized and sorted in his home, until one day a rather large wind arrives in town. With the grudges scattered by the wind, how will the town report their grievances?
Picture Book                        Kelsey DeStevens, Harris School

The Grudgekeeper is a charming book about forgiveness. It uses the silliness of having a grudgekeeper to reinforce the idea that for you to have a good life, you need to move on from the past. The illustrations are breezy and fit well with the tone of the story. This would make a good read aloud for classroom lessons on how to be good friends or making good choices.

Martin, Emily Winfield. Day Dreamers: A Journey of Imagination. New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-385-37670-9. 32 p. $17.99. Gr. K-2.
This is a companion book to Martin’s picture book Dream Animals. Like it’s predecessor Day Dreamers features different mystical animals and adventures that young children can meet and take. The only requirement is for the readers and children to open their mind to the possibility.
Picture Book                        Kelsey DeStevens, Harris School

Day Dreamers is a joy to read and look at. The illustrations enhance the minimal words with a feeling being drawn into the magical scenarios.  This could be used as introduction to creative writing or even an opening to a book talk, noting that books can take you on adventures before highlighting the books chosen for the talk.

Bhadra, Sangeeta. Sam’s Pet Temper. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2014. 978-1771380256. 32p. $18. Gr. K-2.
One day Sam gets madder than he has ever felt and meets this terrible thing called a temper that storms around causing havoc by pinching, kicking and terrorizing the other kids and his family. At first having a pet temper was kind of fun but then Sam realizes that a temper is something we need to control. He tries strategies his has seen his father and teacher employ: counting to ten and saying the alphabet backwards. Finally he is able to put his “temper” in its place. It moves on to someone new. An adorable story for teaching young readers about anger and consequences, as well as strategies to deal with it. One of my favorites this year!
Picture Book                    Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Price, Ben Joel. Earth Space Moon Base. New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-385-37311-1. $16.99. Gr. K-3.
The title of this book, “Earth, space, moon, base”, also happens to be the first few lines of text, and while extremely simplistic, it is really all that is needed to set the scene. We are leaving earth, moving into space, traveling to the moon, and eventually ending at a small, secret base on the moon. Using rhyming text, the story takes readers deep into the moon base where we find “a spaceman, a robot, and a cheeky monkey”. This motley crew has a special mission of shooting banana peels into a dark crater. At first it isn’t clear why this seemingly silly mission is so important, but we quickly come to discover that the banana peels are alien food. The story tell us that, “feeding time is important, you see/it stops them from eating you and me!”. Of course, “them” being the slimy, tentacled, hairy, and huge aliens who inhabit the now banana peel filled crater. Thanks to our spaceman, robot, monkey, and of course, all of those banana peels, mankind can breathe easy once again!

Anyone who loves adventure, especially those intergalactic in nature, will find this story fun and engaging. The rhyming text keeps it simple for the youngest of readers, while the sense of anticipation and excitement that the story entices should keep readers at a variety of levels interested. One of the highlights of the book is on the very last page where a list of all of the aliens from the story is provided, names included. Kids will love seeing seeing these pictures and will find the names very amusing (Snoolab, Kroblit, and Voog to list a few).
Picture Book                   Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary

Brown, Peter. My Teacher is a Monster! (No I’m Not). New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2014. 978-0-316-07029-4. $18.00. Gr. K-3.
The focus of this story is on Bobby and his teacher Ms. Kirby, who also happens to be a “big problem” for Bobby at school. As we get to know Bobby a little better, we find that he has a propensity for paper airplane throwing in class, which tends to get him into trouble with his monster of a teacher, Ms. Kirby. From Bobby’s perspective, Ms. Kirby really is a monster! She is big and green with pointy teeth and sharp claws. According to Bobby, she stomps, roars, and worst of all, takes recess away from paper airplane throwing students. Bobby does not seem to understand or really like his teacher. One day, much to Bobby’s dismay, he stumbles upon Ms. Kirby in the park. At first Bobby does not know how to act around her in this out of school setting. There is some small talk which eventually leads to the pair finding out that maybe they have more in common than they realized. As Bobby gets to know Ms. Kirby as more of a person rather than a teacher, her gruesome features begin to disappear, showing us that Bobby is seeing her in a different, more positive light. By the end of the story, it is apparent that Bobby still thinks Ms. Kirby can be a bit of a monster at times, but he has gained a sense of respect for her that was not there in the beginning.

Young readers will love this, finding the illustrations and descriptions of the monstrous teacher hilarious. While this story is certainly silly and fun, there is also a special and more serious message that shines through. It is easy to perceive people in a negative light when we don’t take time to really get to know and understand them. This story reminds us how important it is to take that time and even our youngest readers will get the message.
Picture Book         Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary

Staake, Bob.  My Pet Book.  New York: Random House, 2014.  978-0-385-37312-8.  Unpaged.  $17.99.  Grades K-2.
“A book would make a perfect pet!” / He heard his mother say. / And Dad had read that no pet book / Had ever run away.”  Such a simple, sweet logic in this unique book continues to justify the boy’s decision to pick a pet book and love it as one might care for a puppy or cat.  There are many other animals running amok in Staake’s amusing illustration, but the little red book is indeed the star.  Best of all, this pet can open up the boy’s imagination as he reads the tales inside.  Just when all seems perfect, however, there is a crisis: the book is gone!  Will they find a solution?  Only My Pet Book will tell!  Enjoy the rhymes, the vocabulary, and the humor in this charming picture book for those looking for a different kind of pet.
Fiction: picture book, humor        Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Ward, Jennifer.  Mama Built a Little Nest.  New York: Beach Lane Books, 2014.  978-1-4424-2116-5.  unpaged.  $17.99.  Grades K-1.
Nature lovers should flock to this exquisite book playfully showing amazing nests and the variety of bird life which creates them.  It offers cute poems on one side for read-aloud and younger readers, and then short fact based paragraphs on the opposing pages for deeper reading.  The nests range from the huge eagle’s to the minute hummingbird’s, with less common varieties in between.  Of course, the worldwide habitats show how they survive and thrive in almost all ecosystems.  Steve Jenkins’ wonderful illustrations are always a draw for me, and he once again strikes his balance of simple paper collage with detailed realism.  Extra rationale for the book and suggested websites arrive at the end.  This is a pleasing addition to your animal habitats collection.
598; Birds           Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Powers, J.L. Colors of the Wind: The story of Blind Artist and Champion Runner George Mendoza. 978-1-930900-738. Cynthiana, KY: Purple House Press, 2014. $18.95. 32p. Gr. 3+.
This is the biography of George Mendoza, who lost 90% of his eyesight at age 15 from a rare disorder called fundus flavimaculatus. George was a terrific athlete and very active kid, so it was a shock when he started seeing bright flashing colors and losing parts of his vision. He discovered running, and in 1980 won the world record for the fastest mile by a blind runner, 4:28, and a US record for the half mile. George subsequently took up painting and has become an accomplished artist; his work is currently traveling with the National Smithsonian Affiliates.

Beautifully illustrated with Mendoza’s own incredibly colorful paintings, this picture book biography can be used in so many ways. I plan to use it with my 3^rd graders during biography lessons, and will also use it during Hispanic History month. Additionally, few people ever excel to Mendoza’s extent in any one area, let alone two! This book provides a natural segue to discuss hidden talents, overcoming adversity, and in fact using adversity to discover talents and opportunities you never knew existed.
Picture Book, Biography   Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School