Country Guides with Benjamin Blog & his Inquisitive Dog (Series). North Mankato: Capstone, 2014. 32p. $21.99ea. Gr. 1-3.
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: India. 978-1-4109-6662-9
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Brazil. 978-1-4109-6665-0
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: China. 978-1-4109-6661-2
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Egypt. 978-1-4109-6663-6
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: France. 978-1-4109-6667-4
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Japan. 978-1-4109-6666-7
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: Mexico. 978-1-4109-6664-3
Ganeri, Anita. Benjamin Blog: South Africa. 978-1-4109-6668-1
This is a high interest series which focuses on some of the most fascinating countries in the world. It uses a bold and colorful blog style layout that will attract even the most reluctant readers. While it is primarily a recreational read, it contains beautiful photos, facts, an index, glossary, critical thinking questions and a “Read More” bibliography.  This is an excellent pick for high interest needs but low level readers.
900; Countries                  Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary School

Titanic Perspectives (Series).North Mankato: Capstone, 2014. 48p. $23.49ea. Gr. 3-5.
McCollum, Sean. Building the Titanic: The Making of a Doomed Ship. 978-1-4914-0419-5.
                McCollum, Sean. Passengers of the Titanic: Traveling on an Ill-Fated Ship. 978-1-4914-0421-8.
                McCollum, Sean. Searching for the Titanic: Finding the Ship’s Watery Grave. 978-1-4914-0418-8.             McCollum, Sean. The Titanic’s Crew: Working Aboard the Great Ship. 978-1-4914-0420-1.
This series investigates the different perspectives of the timeless tragedy from the building of the ship and its crew to the passengers and their fate. Some of the features include: callout definitions, sidebars, fact boxes and quotes. It includes an index, glossary and “Read More” section with Critical Thinking questions for the Common Core.
910; Titanic                      Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary School                

Rabinowitz, Alan. A Boy and a Jaguar. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. 978-0-547-87507-1. 32 p. $16.99. Gr. 1-5.
In this autobiographical account of author Alan Rabinowitz’s life, from to his childhood to his later work in wildlife and jaguar conservation, we are presented with a true hero. Rabinowitz is a hero for the work that he has done to study and save jaguars and other types of wildlife, however the obstacles and challenges that he had to overcome along the way are what truly make this a story worth reading and sharing. Rabinowitz is a stutterer and has dealt with speech challenges his entire life. He often felt misunderstood, alienated, and even “broken” at times. While communicating was always hard for him, he discovered that being around and talking to animals was comfortable and easy. He found that he could talk to animals without stuttering. This connection to animals and nature eventually led him to Belize where he would become the first person to study jaguars. This is also where he would convince the prime minister, in a 15 minute speech, to set up the world’s first jaguar preserve.

This book provides so many poignant moments and will have an impact on anyone who may be facing a challenge. Rabinowitz has such a positive message to share and while the heart of this story is about persevering, believing in yourself, and following your dream, other important points include making connections to the natural world and being aware of worldwide environmental concerns.
333.95 Autobiography, Wildlife Conservation      Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary

Macken, JoAnn Early. Read, Recite, and Write Narrative Poems. (Poet’s Workshop series: Narrative      Poems, Limericks, Free Verse Poems, Nursery Rhymes) New York: Crabtee Publishing, 2014.            978-0-7787-0410-2. 32 p. $21. Gr. 3-6.
Macken, JoAnn Early. Read, Recite, and Write Limericks. (Poet’s Workshop series: Narrative Poems,      Limericks, Free Verse Poems, Nursery Rhymes) New York: Crabtee Publishing, 2014.                      978-0-7787-0409-6. 32 p. $21. Gr. 3-6.This series offers introductory information on different kinds of poems and instructions on how to write your own poetry. Chapters are titled “What is a Narrative Poem?” or “What is a Limerick?” along with chapters on writing different kinds of narratives or limericks, revising them, and performing these poems. Read, Recite, and Write Narrative Poems includes excellent, famous examples of narratives such as the story of John Henry as an example of a biographical narrative or Edward Lear’s “The Table and the Chair” to exemplify a fantasy narrative. Read, Recite, and Write Limericks includes especially effective writing tools and brainstorming techniques. The books are bright and attractive, though perhaps a bit busy for some readers who are easily distracted.

Overall, this series is a welcome addition. The author is a poet and writing professor in Wisconsin and frequently speaks to teachers and students about poetry and writing, so she has a good tone and writes about this difficult topic in kid-friendly language. I don’t see these books flying off the shelves on their own, but they could be great instructional tools; give them to teachers during April or to students who enjoy writing.
808.1; Poetry Writing                                     Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

Miller, Regan. Engineering in our Everyday Lives (Engineering Close-Up series). 9780778700920. New York: Crabree, 2014. $18.76. 24p. Gr. 3 – 5.
— Engineers Build Models. 978-0778700937.
Miller, Regan & Crystal Sikkens. Engineers Solve Problems. 978-0778700944.
Johnson, Robin. How Engineers Find Solutions. 978-0778700951.
Crabtree created a fun, nicely illustrated, and easy-to-read way for kids to explore this world of career options. Each book begins by explaining that engineers design solutions to problems using technology and give examples from the simple – hammers and umbrellas – to the complex – computers and the Golden Gate Bridge. Engineering in our Everyday Lives gives an overview of the types of life problems engineers help solve and a brief explanation of the design process that includes brainstorming, building a model, documenting the process and communicating solutions with others. Then each of the subsequent title in the series drills down on each of these parts of the engineering process, as well as highlighting different engineering marvels, and what different categories of engineers do. This series would be fun for guided reading with your budding engineers, or as a companion to career discussions. In my school our 3^rd graders hold an “Invention Convention” and I could see these books being used as an introduction to this process.
629.1 Engineering   Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Cultural Traditions (series). New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014. 32 p. $26.60. Gr. 2-3.
            Aloian, Molly. Canada. 978-0-7787-0297-9.
            Aloian, Molly. Israel. 978-0-7787-0303-7.
            Aloian, Molly. South Africa. 978-0-7787-0304-4.
            Aloian, Molly. United States. 978-0-7787-0305-1.
            Peppas, Lynn. France. 978-0-7787-0302-0.
            Peppas, Lynn. United Kingdom. 978-0-7787-0301-3.
Each book in the series highlights the major holidays in the designated country. The books start with a “Welcome to..” that gives a brief highlight on how many people live in the country, languages spoken, and a map. Each holiday or festival in the book receives two pages of information with colored photographs. There is always a “Did you know” caption that emphasizes one fact from the holiday or tradition. Included in each book is a table of contents, glossary, and index.

There will be high interest in the series from students considering the books are talking about the different holidays from other countries. Though United States is part of the series I would not recommend purchasing it since it provides nothing new or original to the holiday information realm (since the schools are based in the USA). However the other countries could be a boon to a collection, especially around the holiday time where you can add multiculturalism to the library or classroom. Some other countries in the series that I did not receive are Brazil, Egypt, China, India, and Japan.I would also use this series to teach “Parts of the books” since the table of contents, glossary, and index are consistent across the series and easy to manipulate and use.
394.26941 Holiday                                         Kelsey DeStevens 

Goldsmith, Mike.  Eureka! The Most Amazing Scientific Discoveries of All Time.  New York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2014.  978-0-500-65025-7.  95 pages.  $19.95.  Grades 3-8.
Students looking for a basic overview of scientific discoveries through time can quickly absorb this interesting book.  Eureka! takes 19 discoveries in 5 branches of science and breaks them down into understandable text and key moments that shaped our view of the world and beyond.  The layout here is a successful concoction of the scientific method, engaging sidebars, visual information with captions, informative timelines, and a consistent format which draws in the reader.  In fact, this is a prime example of a non fiction text to share with students.  With all the elements of an informational text combined with captivating stories and discoveries, I’d say that Archimedes was right to proclaim, “Eureka!”  They’ve got it!
509; Scientific Discoveries    Dustin Brackbill, State College Area School District 

Rhatigan, Joe.  People You Gotta Meet Before You Grow Up.  Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014.  978-1-62354-004-3.  $14.95.  Grades 3-6.
Movers and Shakers are all around us – not just famous celebrities, but local heroes and workers.  This guide highlights 35 of them, including not only standard jobs and professions, but also people with key traits and experiences worth learning about.  These include a traveler, an entrepreneur, a volunteer, an immigrant, an athlete, an activist, a senior, and more.  Help broaden a child’s perspective (and your own) to not just learn about them, but to meet and talk with these valuable community members.  There are specific strategies for introducing yourself and interviewing each person.  The hands on interaction and examples including help take this book to the next level as a teaching tool.  This book is a fun, eye-opening, and inspiring addition to your career lessons.
307; Careers              Dustin Brackbill, State College Area School District

Just as a side-note for when you are planning your purchases and lessons for this school year: One of our PSLA Model Curriculum Stage 3 lessons for grades 3-5 involves writing interview questions for different careers following some short research.  (More information is hopefully coming out by September.)  I look forward to using this text as an ideal companion in our research project!

Holm, Jennifer L.  The Fourteenth Goldfish.  New York: Random House Publishing, 2014.  978-0-375-87064-4. 194p.  $16.99. Gr. 5-8.
What if your grandfather is a scientist searching for the fountain of youth? What if he comes to live at your house and he is now your age?  This chapter book is a page-turner with endearing characters.  Not only is there a twist of science but also the difficult dynamics of families, friends and balancing difficult relationships.  The chapters are short and provide space breaks through out the text that is clear and easy to read.  This excellent novel can be a transition to more difficult science fiction books for those that love science and observation and experiments.  It is a great example of how fiction can cause you to think and make you believe that dreams, perseverance and difficult events can turn into good results.
Science Fiction                   Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Roland, Timothy.  Monkey and Me and the New Neighbor.  New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014.  978-0-545-55986-7. 90p.  $15.99. Gr. 1-2.
A great series for getting emerging readers transitioning to chapter books, a hybrid between graphic novel and chapter book.  The black line illustrations break up the text to make manageable chunks for readers that struggle with complex pages of text. It is one book in a series created by scholastic in an effort to transition readers.  The characters are hysterical and at times outrageous.  Students laugh out loud at the hysterics between the transition from boy to monkey.   An impressive new series to help struggling and transitioning readers make the jump to chapter books.
Other books in this series include:
Roland, Timothy.  Monkey and Me and the Golden Monkey.  New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014.  978-0-545-55976-8. 96p.  $15.99. Gr. 1-2
Roland, Timothy.  Monkey and Me and the Pet Show.  New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014.  978-0-545-55980-5. 96p.  $15.99. Gr. 1-2
Roland, Timothy.  Monkey and Me and the School Ghost.  New York: Branches, Scholastic Inc., 2014.  978-0-545-55989-8. 96p.  $15.99. Gr. 1-2
Realistic/Science Fiction                         Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Johnson, Jaleigh. The Mark of the Dragonfly.  New York: Delacorte, 2014. 978-0-385-37615-0. 386 p.     $16.99. Gr. 5 and up.
Life in Scrap Town Number Sixteen is bleak.  The town exists to scavenge the items that fall regularly during meteor showers. For young Piper, an orphan whose father died in the factories to the south, life is lonely and hard. Piper has a talent for fixing even the most stubborn machines which provides her with extra money to survive. Piper finds an injured girl whose caravan has been devastated in a meteor storm.  Though she is confused, the young girl Anna bears the Dragonfly tattoo on her arm, a sign of the King’s protection. Shortly after her arrival, a terrifying stranger comes looking for the girl and Piper and Anna must flee this man they call “the wolf”. Stowing away on a train to the capital, a dangerous enemy after them, unexpected friendships, and an intriguing girl who isn’t all that she seems bring danger and adventure to Piper’s life, if she can survive the trip.

The Mark of the Dragonfly is a great adventure that kept me reading.  I love fantasy worlds and so do my students and this one didn’t disappoint.  The character of Piper was developed so well that I was invested in her from the very beginning.  Her loyalty and friendship, as well as a tough side and a stubborn refusal to give up made her a great protagonist.  Piper markedly evolves throughout the story making this a great example for a lesson on character evolution.  When the story begins, she is taking Anna to the capital to keep her safe, but also hoping for a reward that would keep her from the life of poverty she has known, and allow her to start a new life.  As the story progresses, Piper’s hatred of the capital and desire for money is eclipsed by her love for her new found family and her need to protect them.  I would recommend this book to those who love fantasy worlds, and this might be a great introduction to the Steampunk genre, since the other worldliness is peppered with machines and technology giving it a Steampunk feel.
Science Fiction/Fantasy   Donna Fernandez, Calvary Christian Academy

Munoz Ryan, Pam & Edwin Fotheringham. Tony Baloney Buddy Trouble. (Tony Baloney series). 9780545481694. New York: Scholastic, 2014. $6.99. 38p. Pre-K – Gr. 2.
Munoz Ryan, author of Esperanza Rising, When Marion Sang, and other beautiful books, has embarked on a new series for young readers. This 3^rd in the new series will delight your kindergarteners and first graders with tales of Tony Baloney the Macaroni Penguin, his friends, siblings, and mischief. Written in 4 chapters and similar in format and layout to “I Can Read” books, this book is beautifully illustrated by Fotheringham with fun, added features like an aerial map of Tony Baloney’s house while he and Poppa search for his beloved missing stuffed buddy Dandelion, and pages of dialog with his other stuffed animal friends. Some vocabulary may be too hard for the target audience for this book as emerging readers (“ooze politeness” and “Bothersome Babies Baloney” for instance), so I’d recommend it as a read aloud.
Easy Reader Chapter Book                  Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Maihack, Mike. Cleopatra in Space, Target Practice. New York: Graphic, 2014. 978-0-545-52843-6. 176 p. $12.99. Gr. 6-8.
Cleo is an impulsive fun loving teen who enjoys slinging shots more than sitting through Algebra lessons. She is also Cleopatra, young princess to the ancient Egyptian society. One day after skipping lessons with her friend, Gozi, they discover a mysterious door that holds treasures. Cleo stumbles upon a strange object and is sent into the future where she discovers that she is a hero in a prophecy meant to defeat an evil overlord. The story follows her as she enrolls in space school and tries to assimilate to her new surroundings. This is book one in a new graphic novel series.

This science fiction adventure will appeal to fans of the graphic novel Zita Spacegirl. The art is similar in the bright colors and humorous actions. There are multiple time jumps that readers may miss if they are not reading closely (which can happen in graphic novels). Cleo is a relatable protagonist and likable in her relationships with others. I would not hesitate to add this to any middle grade graphic novel collection, all art and dialogue are appropriate.
741.5 Graphic Novel/ Science Fiction           Kelsey DeStevens

Foxlee, Karen. Ophelia and the marvelous boy. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. 978-0385-75354-8. 228 p. $16.99. Grades 3-5.
Take one ordinary Ophelia, one mysterious, Marvelous Boy, a wicked snow queen and roughly three days to save wizards and mostly… the world, a lovely fantasy is born.  Ophelia has just lost her mother. Her father has been hired to present a collection of rare swords for a museum in a city where strangely enough it snows continually. Her sister Alice is content listening to her music and blocking the world out. Ophelia explores the museum and finds a boy locked away in a remote part of the museum. Through a series of events she finds incredible bravery she did not know she possessed. Most of all she finds the truest of friends and family she could ever want.  Reviews: Good Reads, Booklist and Kirkus
Lourie Stewart                  Dunbar/Connellsville Township  Elementaries

Spinelli, Eileen. Another Day as Emily. New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-449-80987-7. 242 p. $7.99. Gr. 4-6.
When her little brother finds fame after a life-saving 911 call, Suzy has trouble with her own identity and self-worth. She begins emulating the life of Emily Dickinson, the subject of her school library project. Will Suzy become lost as her own personality fades into increasingly reclusive behaviors or will she rediscover her true tomboy nature? This novel, written in verse, reads like a diary and is an excellent offering for reluctant readers.
Realistic Fiction                                                Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Stower, Adam. Naughty Kitty! New York: Orchard Books, 2014. 978-0-545-57604-8. 40 p. $16.99. Gr. K-2.
All Lily wants is her own puppy, but her mom decides that dogs are too messy so instead Lily can adopt a kitty. Thus the trouble begins. Kitty manages to wreck the kitchen, living room, kitty door, and the whole household. However the truth may be a little more complicated than a naughty kitty and the readers have the chance to watch the story unfold through whimsical illustrations.

This was a cleverly structured story. While Lily thinks her kitty is causing all the trouble, really you begin to see hints of an on the run tiger. The illustrations hint to to tiger through the colored sides seen over a fence, a newspaper article, and it’s tail. Students will enjoy how the protagonists is unaware to the truth while they have full knowledge.
Picture Book                                                 Kelsey DeStevens

Cox, Lynne. Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas. New York: Schwartz& Wade, 2014. 978-0375858888. 48 p. $12.95. Gr. K-3.
This story is based on Elizabeth, a real elephant seal who chose the unlikely city of Christchurch, New Zealand as her home. Despite efforts to relocate Elizabeth, to a safer area in the open ocean with her own kind, she continues to return to the community who grows to love her. Michael, a local boy calls out to her as she swims along the shore and often crawls up onto land to wallow in the sun amid the bustling people and traffic. Illustrated by Caldecott medal winner, Brian Floca, students will love the heart -warming story, as well as discovering and delighting in its real-life roots.
Picture Book                      Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Jacobs, Paul Dubois. Count 1 2 3 on the Subway. 978-0307979230. New York: Knopf, 2014. $14.99. 32p. Gr. PK – 2.
This colorful and beautifully illustrated counting book uses the backdrop of Manhattan, the subway, and many famous landmarks like Times Square, to teach counting. Every time a number is used on a page it is shown as a white number within a colored circle, just like the stops on the NYC subway. This would be a very fun read aloud for either city-dwellers or kids who’ve recently visited Manhattan. Those kids will probably immediately recognize the numbers within a colored circle scheme; kids who are not familiar with NYC will immediately recognize this graphic treatment when they do visit and relate it to the book I’m sure!
Picture Book                Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Bragg, Georgia.  How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous.  New York, NY: Walker Books for Young Readers, 2014.  978-0-8027-3489-1 (library).  200 pages.  $17.99.  Grades 5-8.
Failures and mistakes can make for engaging reading, beginning with Bragg’s opening warning of  “Nobody’s Perfect; Get Used to It.”  What follows are fourteen tales of the famous (Marco Polo to Amelia Earhart) and infamous (Benedict Arnold to General Custer) which covers both familiar names (Isaac Newton, Thomas Edison) and unfamiliar names (Anne Boleyn, Bruce Ismay) for middle school readers.  The wry writing has a snarky, humorous style which may seen persuasive as much to prove the authors point as to entertain the reader.  Each picked-on person gets the “human side of history” treatment by describing their background and motivations which often lead to their mistakes and disasters, or luck and successes.  There is a moral to each story for connection and growth that furthers the goal of learning from past mistakes.  The clever illustrations by Kevin O’Malley are a perfect match, and the follow up facts pages, plus further reading and surfing, provide a solid start to exploring these fascinating flawed lives.  This title compliments the You Wouldn’t Want to series by Franklin Watts and Bragg’s own How They Croaked for some historical fun.
920; Biography Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Rubin, Susan Goldman.  Everybody Paints: The Lives and Art of the Wyeth Family.  San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2014.  978-0-8118-6984-3.  105 pages.  $16.99.  Grades 5+.
Enter a museum exhibit of the Wyeth family with this gorgeous biography covering three generations of artists.  This keepsake book has a lush, warm colored design and layout to compliment the engaging text and many pieces of Wyeth artwork on display.  The story covers the lives of breakout illustrator N.C., dedicated painter Andrew, and exploring portrait artist Jamie, but there is much more to them than just a simple label or single piece of artwork.  We learn about the wrinkles and curves in each artist’s life and the rest of the family’s role in their development.  The motivations and honest insights into their work make this a fascinating text for aspiring artists and art historians alike.  Susan Goldman Rubin has created an accessible and enjoyable masterpiece, which feels like a trip to the Brandywine Art Museum that hosts much of the family’s collection.
Dewey 759 or 920;  Art Biography            Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Having spent many afternoons wandering the galleries of Brandywine, this story was an instant attraction for me.  Rubin conveys the Wyeths’ travels and work in a manner that brings it to life for middle aged readers and older.  Each piece of famous art has a story behind it, and I was delighted to learn several new examples.  I will look at Jamie’s Portrait of Pig, Andrew’s famous Christina’s World, and N.C.’s Treasure Island and Robin Hood illustrations with a new appreciation.  This family biography is accessible for newcomers as well as long time devotees to the Wyeth galleries.

Science Slam; Green World, Clean World (series). New York: Bearport Publishing, 2104. 24 p. Gr. 3-6.
Lawrence, Ellen. Dirty Air.  978-1-62724-103-8.
Lawrence, Ellen. Poisoned Rivers & Lakes. 978-1627241052.
Covering the very contemporary hot topic of pollution, these titles explain the processes contaminating and destroying our natural enivoronment as well as the health effects, acid Rain, possible solutions to improve the situation and specific suggestions of what the reader can do. Text includes photos, captions, bolded vocabulary, a Science Lab for hands on explorations, a glossary, index, and additional resources for further investigation.
628.4; Pollution, Environmental Protection  Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Hall, Brianna. Freedom from Slavery: Causes and Effects of the Emancipation Proclamation. North Mankato: Capstone, 2014. 978-1-4765-3930-0. 32 p. Gr. 4-6.
The contents of this book include: Slavery, Emancipation, AND its Effects. Some of the features I liked most about this text were the Fast Facts boxes throughout, the definitions and vocab listed on both the relevant page and in the glossary, the causes were numbered and spelled out, and it included a critical thinking guide and further resources. The appealing layout featured photos, graphs, documents, maps, as well as quotes a nice combination which will hold a student’s attention.
973.71; Slavery, Emancipation         Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

What every child need to know about Cancer. Snyder, R. Bradley and Engelsgjerd, Marc. New York: Need to Know Publishing, Inc. 2014. 978-1-940705-01-9. 22 p. $8.95. Grades 3+
A simple board book can sometimes say just what is needed to say. This book is it. Nothing scary, nothing scientific, just words and photos…..words that explain photos that show. Non-fiction but non-threatening. I wish this book had come a few months earlier. I purchased it from Amazon as a memorial for a former student who just passed away at 15 with leukemia. Her siblings are still in my school  and earlier this spring there were some problems with other students misunderstanding the situation. This would have been a very good book to use in class.
Lourie Stewart                                                         Dunbar Township Elementary 

Wallace, Rich. Babe Conquers the World: The Legendary Life of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. 978-1590789810. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek, 2014. $16.95. 272p.  Grade 4+.
Husband and wife team Rich and Sandra Neil Wallace have written a fabulous, photo-packed book about one of my childhood heroes, athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Babe was an athletic wonder at a time when several national groups and movements were afoot to ban girls competing in sports at all ages and levels. As the authors state, “Babe wasn’t a feminist and she wasn’t considered feminine. Babe wanted to be the world’s greatest athlete.  Her unstoppable drive changed sports for women.” I enjoyed this breezy book containing fun stories I remember reading about Babe as a girl. Each page contains quote “call outs,” photos, news clippings and other features that make this book a quick and fun read. As the authors chronical Babe’s rise from home town phenom to world class athlete and Olympian, even the chapter titles are clever: “Babe vs. the Boys,” “Babe vs. the Girls,” “Babe vs. the World,” etc. At the end the book contains a timeline, FAQs, and further reading. Highly recommended for your sports, history, and biography fans.
Biography                           Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Aloian, Molly. Ellis Island. Crabtree Chrome (Series). New York: Crabtree, 2104. 978-0-7787-1168-1.  47 p. $25.87. Gr. 3-6.
This well organized and visually pleasing series contains Table of Contents, time period photos, text boxes, and applicable quotes. Vocabulary and definitions are located on the relevant page as well as in the glossary. An index, additional resources (paper and electronic) are included at the end. Other titles (28 total) in series include: Navy Seals, King Tut, Alcatraz, Extinction, Gettysburg, Plague, Pompeii, Titanic and more.
304.87; Immigration, Ellis Island     Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Polacco, Patricia. Clara and Davie: The True Story of Young Clara Barton, Founder of the Red Cross. New York: Scholastic Press, 2014. 978-545-35477-6. 32 p. $17.99. Gr. 2+.
Patricia Polacco often writes stories based on her childhood and the happy memories or struggles that she faced as a child. In this book, Polacco writes about the childhood of her distant relative Clara Barton. Clara was mostly raised by her older siblings and was particularly close to her older brother, Davie. He recognized Clara’s amazing talents in healing and helped home school her as she was extremely shy and often teased for her lisp. After a terrible accident, Clara nursed Davie back to health over a period of several years, and the two remained close to the end of their lives. Endnotes provide more information on Clara’s life and accomplishments as “The Angel of the Battlefield” during the Civil War and how she founded the Red Cross. Polacco has created another beautiful book about the ups and downs of childhood, complete with her signature illustrations. Clara was deeply gifted at healing from an early age when she nursed a runt puppy to health. Not only was she called upon by neighbors to help birth and heal animals, she was also a talented gardener who knew the names of all the local flowers and plants and raised a garden that was the envy of the town. Seeing Clara as a child makes it easy to envision her rising to greatness and making such a profound impact upon the medical community during her time. While the book provides brief biographical information, don’t expect it to be used as a research tool. It could, however, be an excellent starting point for students who are looking for an interesting biography research topic.
Biography/Picture Book                          Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools

Happy summer!  It seems like this past school year flew by, and its hard to believe it’s already summer and PSLA was over a month ago.  Thanks to all PSLA librarians who attended our two sessions: Best of the Best in Children’s Literature and YA Top 40.  We’ve received your session feedback and are looking forward to next year’s sessions and adjusting them to fit your needs and the conference theme (which will be unveiled at Leadership in July).  Thanks to all who attended.

Now that summer is in full swing our “May Vacation” is over, so new YA and Children’s reviews will be posted weekly.  Please check out all of the wonderful fiction and nonfiction for students published in 2014 (and a few 2013 follow-ups).

Happy reading!

Bacon, Lee. Joshua Dread: Dominion Key (Book 3, Joshua Dread series). New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-385-74382-2. 256 p. $19.99. Gr. 4-7.
This is the third book in the series about Joshua Dread, a boy born with super powers, the son of the supervillain Dread Duo.  Josh is away at Alabaster Camp for the “gyfted” when it is attacked by nFinity. Josh and his friends must beat Phineas Vex to the mysterious key which promises its possessor world domination. Readers who enjoyed Lightening Thief, Harry Potter and similar fantasy adventures will love the Joshua Dread series.  This fun read is full of humor and pithy one-liners while addressing themes of Good vs Evil and family loyalty, as well as vigilance.
Fantasy                                Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

The Julian chapter: A wonder story. Palacio, R.J. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014. eBook ISBN: 978-0-553-49908-7. [85 p.], $8.99, Reading/ Interest Level: Grades 3-7.

From the first meeting between Julian and Auggie in Wonder, it was quite clear it was not a going to be a friendship by any stretch of the word. The question remained how far would Julian go to be mean to Auggie. It became very easy to dislike Julian for his mean tricks and lack of remorse towards Auggie.  In The Julian Chapter, things become clear as the story is retold from the Julian bully standpoint. Julian tells the story but still doesn’t think what he does is wrong and with his parents by his side defending his every move, one gets the feeling that Julian will never change. It is only through the summer, Paris, and his Grandmere, Julian finds the remorse he so desperately needs. Only available in ebook form at this time, the only reviews available were on Goodreads and it was rated 4.5 of 5 stars.
Realistic Fiction                    Lourie Stewart, Dunbar Township Elementary School 

Acampora, Paul.  I Kill the Mockingbird.  New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2014.  978-1-59643-742-5. 166p.  $16.99. Gr. 4-6.
A book that inspires, a book that makes you think not only about books but about life.  A great alternative read to be paired with To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee.   Their goal was to make people excited about reading the book, they figured if they made the book disappear people would want it.  It started out small and thanks to the World Wide Web it grew huge.  It is amazing what a little inspiration can create.  The author has created strong characters, which are smart, funny and still just kids.  Their personalities and strengths and weaknesses will be remembered long after the book is over and the discussions end.  It is a great book that is a fight over books and is sure to inspire many discussions.
Realistic Fiction                                                             Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Osborne, Mary Pope. Soccer on Sunday (Magic Tree House series #52). 978-0307980533. New York: Random House, 2014. $12.99. 115p. Gr. K-3.
Just in time for the World Cup! Osborne does it again with another engaging mystery involving the world’s favorite sport, soccer. Parents reading this aloud to emerging readers will enjoy the story too as it’s set in 1970 Mexico City for the World Cup contest featuring one of history’s best players, Pele. For those new to this series: no need to start at the beginning. Osborne does a great job bringing kids up to speed quickly about the Magic Tree House backstory. Just start reading anywhere and enjoy the ride!
Magic, Mystery              Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Nonfiction companion:

Osborne, Mary Pope and Natalie Pope Boyce. Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Soccer. 978-0385386296. New York: Random House, 2014. $5.99. 125p. Gr. K-3.
Mary Pope Osborne has teamed up with her sister Natalie to deliver a wonderful collection of paperback nonfiction companions to dozens of the Magic Tree House series titles, with more to come. This wonderful little book shows readers rules of the game with illustrations, photos and diagrams; gives history including discussing some of the game’s greatest players; and a motherlode of resources for additional research at the end of the book. This is a fun way to draw your nonfiction-only early readers into fiction stories, or another great use would be to discuss all the research that goes into writing fiction!
796.334 Soccer              Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School