A 2014 Caldecott Honor Books

Becker, Aaron. Journey. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2013. 978-0763660536. 40p. $15.99. Pre-K – Gr. 3.
Even though this book would be traditionally thought of as an early childhood choice, the older kids all the way through 6^th grade at my school LOVE this book. Becker tells the story through this wordless picture book of a girl who is lonely, as her family is too busy to play with her. She discovers a red crayon on her bedroom floor and her drab, monochromatic life opens up into a world where Japanese lanterns glow where they hang in a forest, she boats on an aqueduct around a spectacular castle, and frees a whimsical purple bird. The approach and story elements very much remind the reader of the classic and wonderful Harold and the Purple crayon, but with a more sophisticated, exotic, and fine-art sensibility. If I was on the Caldelcott committee I may have voted for this to be the gold rather than the silver winner!
Wordless Picture Book     Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Wiesner, David. Mr. Wuffles! New York: Clarion, 2013. 978-0618756612. 32p. $17.99. Pre-K – Gr. 3.
Wiesner brings us another whimsical, creative, and beautifully drawn wordless picture book that is full of imagination! Mr. Wuffles is a cat who is very fussy about his toys; his home is littered with his cast-aways, many still bearing the price tag. But suddenly the reader realizes that what looks to be a spaceship cat toy actually has small green alien beings inside. They’re gesturing: is it safe to venture out? What are those huge eyes staring in at us? Why are we being shook and tumbled upside down? When the aliens decide the large furry aggressor is asleep, and it’s safe to make a run for it, they scamper beneath the radiator and discover the hidden lair of the insects who have also been tortured by kitty, as evidenced by their “cave paintings.” The insects and aliens break bread, find a way to communicate, and team up to come up with a plan to get the aliens back on their ship and on the way home. Funny and mesmerizing, Wiesner employs a completely different illustration style than we are used to seeing; more cartoon-like but still beautiful. As with the other silver medalist, my older students LOVE this book! Highly recommended.
Wordless Picture Book     Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

2014 Caldecott  Medalist:

Floca, Brian. Locomotive. New York: Atheneum, 2013. 978-1416994152. 64p. $17.99. Pre-K – Gr. 5.
Floca details the importance of the railroad to the westward expansion of our country and the monumental impact on citizen’s everyday lives. The beautiful illustrations transport us to the 1850s and we can almost see the towering “iron horses” thundering through the unspoiled landscape and hear the ear-splitting train whistle and hiss of the steam engine. We get a glimpse inside and see the jobs needed to build the rails, and run the trains, and watch as towns spring up from station to station. While children as young as 4, especially our little train lovers, may enjoy the visuals, the amount of text suggests that this book would be more popular with early grade children. This book would make an ideal in-class or at-home read aloud for 2^nd and 3^rd graders.
Picture Book     Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

DiCamillo, Kate. Flora & Ulysses. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2013. 978-0763660406. 240p. $17.99. Gr. 3+
Kate DiCamillo has done it again: written a can’t-put-it down, funny, and heartwarming tale of love and acceptance, and again she won the Newbery Medal. Flora is an eccentric, 10-year-old “natural born cynic.” Her mom is a romance novelist who disdains Flora’s love of comic books, specifically Incandesto! which has taught Flora just about anything she could possibly ever need to know about life. This wealth of knowledge comes in handy when her neighbor’s super-powered vacuum sucks up and almost kills a squirrel. Said squirrel – who Flora dubs Ulysses – survives the brush with death and becomes a superhero, able to fly, type poetry, and communicate with nods and facial expressions. But most importantly he loves Flora dearly and their adventures change everyone around them. This book is sweet, quirky, and laugh-out-loud funny. While those as young as 8 will enjoy it, DiCamillo’s nuanced characters and situations will appeal to all ages through adults. Highly recommended!
Fiction, Magical Realism              Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Shaughnessy, Mara. LEGO Man in Space: A True Story. New York: Sky Pony Press, 2013.                                             978-1-62087-544-5. 32 p.       $14.95. Gr. K-3.

This book tells the true story of two children, Mat and Asad, who launched a LEGO figure into space. The LEGO man traveled 80,000 feet into the air in a spaceship made of a weather balloon and a homemade parachute, and the boys included a cell phone with GPS so that they could track the spaceship when it landed.  The title is “narrated” by the LEGO man who made the trip, blurring the lines between strict fiction and nonfiction, but lending a fun gimmick to attract young readers. The illustrations are colorful and help show the different steps in LEGO man’s journey.

This would be a great book to preview with younger kids—show them the YouTube video and there will surely be tons of LEGO fans ready to read!

621                              Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School

Owen, Ruth. Werewolves and Other Shape-Shifters (Not Near Normal: The Paranormal). New York: Bearport Publishing, 2013.    978-1-61772-695-8. 32 p.          $20.00. Gr. 3-6.

This series is sure to be popular with the older elementary crowd. It includes Aliens and Other Visitors, Ghosts and Other Spirits of the Dead, Half-Human Monsters and Other Fiends, Vampires and Other Bloodsuckers, Werewolves and Other Shape-Shifters, and Zombies and Other Walking Dead.

Werewolves and Other Shape-Shifters explores werewolf folklore from different countries, such as France’s Beast of Gévaudan and Myanmar’s Taw creature, and combines it with interesting stories and pop culture references (like werewolf Jacob Black from Twilight).  There’s also a two-page spread showing werewolves and other shape-shifters around the world.

The spooky, colorful illustrations will definitely thrill your students. I know this one will fly off the shelf!

This title includes a table of contents, glossary, index, bibliography, and “Read More” section.

398.24                                  Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School

Lee, Adrienne.  Aztec Warriors (Legendary Warriors series). North Mankato: Capstone Press, 2014.  978-1-4765-3117-5. 32 p.       $25.99. Gr. 3-6.

This interesting, attractive hi/lo series includes Aztec Warriors, Gladiators, Knights, Ninja, Samurai, and Vikings.

Aztec Warriors contains a few sentences of information with lots of illustrations on each two-page spread. The facts are stated succinctly and glossary words are included in sidebars at the bottom of the page, making this book a good choice for a reluctant reader. It’s certainly interesting—did you know that Aztec warriors were either Eagle or Jaguar warriors, wearing suits of animal skins or cloth covered with feathers?  

This title includes a table of contents, glossary, index, “Read More” section, and internet sites. One note: this series is a reworking of Capstone’s “Warriors of History” series, so I wouldn’t recommend these books if your library owns that set.

972                                 Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School

Easy Reader:

Fliess, Sue. A Gluten-Free Birthday for Me!.  Parkridge, IL: Albert Whitman & Company, 2013. 32 p. col. ill. $16.99. 978-0-8075-2955-3. Gr: Pre-K-2.
This book’s title caught my eye right away. Since my building houses the only full time elementary nurse, we have varied health issues in the building and one of the growing issues is severe allergies and food intolerance.  While the story line is what the reader would expect, it is to the point but worded in rhyme which makes it appealing to the audience. The illustrations are bright and what one would expect of a birthday type book. Although it is cataloged as an Easy, the book contains recipes, dietary suggestions and selected online resources.
Easy.       Lourie Stewart, Dunbar Township/ Dunbar Borough Elementary Schools

Non-Fiction:

Animal Abilities (series). Chicago: Raintree, 2013. 32 p. $13.00. Grade 3-5.
Clayborne, Anna. Animal abilities : Octopuses. 978-1406259124.
Guillain, Charlotte. Bats. 978-1410952431.
Guillain, Charlotte. Dogs. 978-1410952370.
Guillain, Charlotte. Elephants. 978-1406259100.
Clayborne, Anna. Orcas. 978-1410952462.
Clayborne, Anna. Rats.978-1410952486.
Did you know that Octopuses can change color? that dogs can count or bats use magnetism to navigate?
The animals in this series have amazing powers: moving faster than 30 miles per hour, using their tails for incredible balancing acts. Scientists explain these unbelievable facts using colorful photos, diagrams, charts text boxes and illustrations to engage young readers.
590; Animals     Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

VanVoorst, Jenny F. We Work! Animals With Jobs: Pig Detectives. New York: Bearport, 2014. 978-1-61772-0. 24 p. $21.00. Gr. K-3.
This non-fiction book does not portray your average pet pig or farm pig; instead it portrays the life of a pig detective. It illustrates and defines the aspects of a pig detective and the jobs they have. First it starts by sharing facts about the important physical features a pig detective must have to lastly, the importance of their job in society to keep us safe. The text structures are simple and perfect for emerging readers. The illustrations are vivid and full of life. I highly recommend this book among others in the series to any elementary school.
636.4; Pigs Jenn Roth, Lincoln Elementary, Gettysburg Areas School District

Cool USA Cooking (series). Minneapolis: ABDO, 2014. 32 p. $19.95 ea. Gr. 3-5             Kuskowski, Alex. Cool Gulf Coast Cooking: Easy and Fun Regional Recipes.  978-1-61783-829-3
  Kuskowski, Alex. Cool Western Cooking: Easy and Fun Regional Recipes. 978-1-61783-833-0
Both Cool Gulf Coast Cooking and Cool Western Cooking: Easy and Fun Regional Recipes celebrate cuisine representative of cultures from their geographic regions. Beginning with an attractive kid friendly colorful format, geographic regions are described including the cultural backgrounds of their states in their region. These are matched with recipes using unique natural resources from their states. For example in Nevada, a state with many ranchers, Huevos Rancheros “ranchers’ eggs” is the featured dish. Important cooking terms are introduced in each volume, “Basics” give health and safety tips, “Cool Cooking Terms” defines cooking vocabulary, “Tool Box” shows the tools required, “The Ingredients” display labels and photos of the ingredients. These are followed by eight enticing regional recipes in each book. The layout for each recipe is effectively organized in 5 simple yet comprehensive steps, accompanied by photos of preparation as well as the completed dish, attractively served. Readers will find success making the tasty “Smooth and Spicy Chile con Queso” dip from New Mexico.  In Cool Gulf Coast Cooking: Easy and Fun Recipes, written in the same format, there are colorful tangy treats reflecting foods unique to their tropical climates. Readers will find the Tang-a-licious Key Lime Pie especially delicious and easy to make. Both titles include a glossary, websites from the ABDO Book Links page, and a comprehensive index. These titles bring informational texts alive, connecting historic cultures, how-to-do-it texts, and critical thinking, with the challenge of creating delicious meals. The titles above in the Cool USA Cooking series provide a perfect Common Core learning opportunity allowing students to make effective use of informational texts for real world connections in their own lives by creating dishes, inspired from the Gulf Coast and the American West.
641.597 Cooking, Food              Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Core Library: Continents. (series) North Mankato: ABDO, 2014. 48 p. $22.95 each. Gr. 3-6
     Brown, Rita. South America.  978-1-61783-934-4.
     Francis, Suzanne. Europe. 978-1-61783-932-0.
     Hinds, Maurene J. Antarctica. 978-1-61783-929-0.
     Klepeis, Alicia. Africa. 978-1-61783-928-3.
     Koenig, Emily. North America. 978-1-61783-933-7.
     Onsgard, Bethany. Asia. 978-1-61783-930-6.
     Weil, Ann. Australia. 978-1-61783-931-3.
Explore the geography, weather, animals, plants, cultures, and quick facts of the continents. Each book is divided into five chapters. Suggestions for research topics can be found and fact boxes encourage additional research on a variety of different paths. For example a source from July 18, 1896 is shared about the Mount Erebus volcano to encourage critical thinking skills and the common core.
Antarctica (990), Africa (960); Geography    Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Football Stars Up Close (series). New York New York: Bearport, 2013. 24p. $18.00 each. Gr. K-3
   Allen, Kathy. Drew Brees. 978-1-61772-716-0.
   —. Tom Brady. 978-1-61772-717-7.
   —. Tony Romo. 978-1-61772-719-1.
   Schuh, Mari. Aaron Rodgers. 978-1-61772-714-6.
   —. Adrian Peterson. 978-1-61772-718-4.
   —. Troy Polamalu. 978-1-61772-715-3.
The book has fact captions printed inside a football. Terms are placed in bold font. Children will learn that while Adrian grew up with a family that didn’t have a lot of money but did not let that get in the way of his goals. The book has a time line, glossary, index, bibliography, read more and learn more online sections. [Andrew Luck, Robert Griffith III, and Colin Kaepernick are part of the 2014 edition]
796.332; Football players/biography            Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Earth’s Treasures (series). Minneaopolis, MN: ABDO Publishing Company, 2014. 32 p. $18.95 ea., $113.70  set of 6, library binding, available in ebook form. Grades 3-6.
   Petersen, Christine. Diamonds  978-1-61783-870-5
    —. Gold  978-1-61783-871-2
    —. Jade   978-1-61783-872-9
    —. Pearls  978-1-61783-873-6
    —. Silver  978-1-61783-874-3
    —. Turquoise  978-1-61783-875-0
All books are formatted the same: 32 page, color photographs, glossary, other resources (books and websites) about the subject, and a phonetic “saying it” list of words and index in the back. All books start with a Table of Contents giving a short list of material covered. Each book is common core and state standard aligned and contains an Accelerated Reader test.  Readers will discover how these treasures form, where they are located, and how to find some treasure on the reader’s own. Along the way, they will learn how each treasure is used, from art to industry. The entire series can be viewed at:
http://www.abdopub.com/shop/pc/configureprd.asp?idproduct=34976
553 Gems, Mineralogy
Lourie Stewart Dunbar, Township/Dunbar Borough Elementary Schools

Forest, Christopher.  Present what you know : sharing information (Research Tool Kit series).  North Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2013.  978-1-4296-9949-5. 32p.  $26.65.  RL: grades 3-4.  IL: grades 3-6.
This short instructional book is filled with an array of tips, tools, and types of presentations.  It is divided into writing methods geared toward research, presentation, persuasive, and narrative writing.  The layout is simple yet helpful, with Steps to Success and Info boxes along the way.  The information reaffirms most strategies that librarians would teach, and connects with the classroom and technology through tips on podcasts, speeches, blogs, newsletters, and internet research.  I would be interested to see the whole series.  Recommended.
372: Research                      Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District

Graphic Novels:

Lee, Stan. (Thor, tales of Asgard series) Minneapolis: Spotlight, 2013. 24p. $24.21. Gr. 3+.
—.The challenge! 978-1-61479-171-3.
—.The quest for Mystic Mountain! 978-1-61479-172-0.
Marvel legends Stan Lee and illustrator partner Jack Kirby are back to bring a new generation of comic fans these origin stories of Thor, god of thunder. Each of these small graphic novels contain action-packed episodes unfolding the back story of the Norse Gods and Thor from his childhood through teenage years, before he came to Earth as Don Blake. Additional features at the end include character bios and enlightening details about the Asgard world. The artwork is brilliant and the dialog contains some challenging vocabulary. Your young graphic novel and classic comic book lovers will eat these up; I can’t keep them on the shelf!
741.5 Graphic Novel               Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School 

Caramagna, Joe. Iron Man and the Armor Wars (series). Minneapolis: Spotlight, 2014. 24p. $24.21. Gr. 3+.
   —. Part 3, How I learned to love the bomb.  978-1-61479-166-9.
   —. Part 4, The Golden Avenger strikes back. 978-1-61479-167-6.
Iron man creators Joe Caramagna and artist Craig Rousseau give us a slick and colorful storytelling package that is sure to please your action hero and comic fans. In this Armor wars series, the defense industry mogul and snarky playboy Tony Stark is captured by the Red Barbarian and his Neo-Soviets who use the toughest suit of Iron Man armor–the Hulkbuster–against him. Each slim volume contains action-packed episodes that will keep your readers of all ages coming back for more. The 24 page format will entice younger readers but the challenging vocabulary and beautiful artwork will entice your older students as well.
741.5 Graphic Novel               Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Fiction: 

Gleason, Colleen. The Clockwork Scarab: A Stoker & Holmes Novel. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2013. 9781452110707. $17.99. Gr 7 and up.
Stoker and Holmes are two well known families in Victorian London. Mina Holmes and Evaline Stoker are the young women who are attempting to fill the legendary shoes of their families’ legacy. Drawn together in a serial murder mystery they are forced to recognize each other’s strengths and weaknesses so that they may work together to stop the forces that are harming the women of London.

The novel alternates between both perspectives for chapters. Since Mina and Evaline are polar opposites this allows teens more opportunities to identify with one of the lead characters. The mystery plot is well written and tightly paced. There are sufficient amount of clues so that one does not become overburdened and can try to solve the murders along with Mina and Evaline. This new series could be a way to introduce the Sherlock Holmes and Dracula classics by encouraging reader curiosity on the legendary characters that are mentioned but rarely seen.
Fantasy/Steam Punk     Kelsey DeStevens, Jewish Day School of Lehigh Valley

Bacon, Lee. Joshua Dread (series). New York: Yearling, 2013. 217 p. $14.00ea. Grades 4-6. 
 —.   Joshua Dread. 978-0307929983.
 —.   Joshua Dread: The Nameless Hero. 978-0385741866. 
Josh is in middle school. Besides being bullied for being different, Josh must keep a big secret. His parents are the super-villains known as Dread Duo whom Captain Justice is chasing down. Not only must he try to hide his identity but his newly discovered powers of his own. Will he use them for good or evil, like his parents? The series is light hearted, action packed and fun, but also poses questions about real life topics such as good vs evil, family loyalty, fame and friendship.
Fantasy     Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

O’Brien, Annamarie. Lara’s Gift. New York: Knopf Publishing, 2013. 978-0307931740.  $17.00. Grade 5-8
Lara’s family breeds borzoi dogs for the Tsar. She is being groomed to be Count Voronstov’s next kennel steward until her baby brother is born and her father decides that he should be next in line. Lara must save her favorite dog, Zar, the one she raised from birth, from a pack of wolves. Sure of her connection to the dogs, Lara reveals the truth about her visions and discovers her true destiny. . . . This compelling story flows with beautiful imagery creating the perfect setting for this powerful, moving story about the bonds of love and family.
History (Russia 1904-1914)      Robin Bartley, Davis Elementary

Peters, Chris. Girls’ Hockey (Girls’ SportsZone series). North Mankato: ABDO Publishing, 2014. 978-1-61783-987-0. 48 p. $21.95. Gr. 3-6.

Williams, Doug. Girls’ Basketball (Girls’ SportsZone series). North Mankato: ABDO Publishing, 2014. 978-1-61783-984-9. 48 p. $21.95. Gr. 3-6.

             

There’s certainly no shortage on nonfiction sports books for kids but this series has something special to offer: books for girls about sports with a focus on female athletes.

These titles focus on the basics of each sport by profiling a skilled player and how she developed that particular skill, for example “Skating with Hilary Knight” and “Rebounding with Tina Charles.” Each chapter is divided equally between covering the profiled player’s life and her skill area, so this series will undoubtedly be interesting to any girl who closely follows a sport and knows the players, but may not be the best choice for a girl looking to learn the basics of the sport (rules, player positions, etc.).

My schools are in the Hershey area where hockey is very popular, so I’m sure that “Girls’ Hockey” in particular will fly off the shelves!

Each title includes a table of contents, glossary, index, “For More Information” section, and a diagram of the playing area (court or rink).

796.962: Hockey, 796.323: Basketball               Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School

 

Happy New Year everyone!

Biography:

Superstars! (series). New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2014. 32 p. $26.60 ea.  Gr.3-6.
          Burns, Kylie. Sidney Crosby. 978-0-7787-0038-8.
Dann, Sarah. Beyonce. 978-0-7787-0019-7.
Morganelli, Adrianna. Bruno Mars. 978-0-7787-0020-3
An annually updated series of sport and art superstars. The three listed are the latest part of a series that numbers thirty at this review. All books are formatted the same: 32 page, color photographs, glossary, other resources (books and websites) about the subject, and index in the back. With that formatting in mind, this would make a good class unit in current biographies.

Being from the western part of the state, I naturally chose Sidney Crosby, to look at and read through. For the schools that I represent I would say while the interest level is grade 3-6, many of my students would find some of the information challenging. On the flip side, the photographs, including family pictures, make the book enjoyable. As far as I researched, the reading tests are not available for the newest series yet. The entire series can be viewed at:
http://www.crabtreebooks.com/products/books/biographies/superstars-biographies
Biographies   Lourie Stewart, Dunbar Township/Dunbar Borough Elementary Schools

Fiction:

Bass, Guy. Stitch Head. Illustrated by Pete Williamson. North Mankato: Capstone, 2013. 978-1-62370-007-2. 190 p. $10.95. Gr. 3-6.
Meet Stich Head, the professor’s first creation. Stitch Head makes potions to calm down the dangerous creations made by his professor who has forgotten their friendship. Missing his friend, Stich Head is tempted to leave the castle and try to become a star. The ending is optimistic and the series continues with The Pirate’s Eye (Capstone, 2014).
Fiction (monster)                      Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Nonfiction:

   

Aloian, Molly.  Life Cycles of Insects (Insects Close-Up series).  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1278-7. 24p.  $22.60. Gr. 1-3
This book is part of a series about insects.  The photographs are well labeled and engaging.  Although only twenty-four pages it has an incredible amount of information.    Key terms are in bold and labels include arrows so the reader is able to identify exactly what the text is relating to.  The “What do you think” questions assist the reader in analyzing the information they are being provided. The balance of text and illustration and charts is perfect. This is an excellent addition to a beginning science curriculum regarding insects.  The Words to Know section and Index at the end of the book are accurate and helpful.  This book and others in this series are guided reading level M. Other books in this series are also of high quality and equally engaging:
Aloian, Molly.  How Are Insects Helpful?  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1269-5. 24p.  $22.60. Gr. 1-3
Aloian, Molly.  Where Do Insects Live?  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1280-0. 24p.  $22.60. Gr. 1-3
Aloian, Molly.  What Is an Insect?  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1279-4. 24p.  $22.60. Gr. 1-3
595.7: Insects                                   Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Bailey, Gerry.  Adventure Homes (Young Architect Series).  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-0287-0. 32p.  $27.60. Gr. 2-4
This book is part of the Young Architect Series, they are all guided reading level Q.  The book is a mix of designing and use of tree houses and a variety of nontraditional homes.  The author discusses the planning and rooms necessary in the plans.  The author incorporates building design and architecture vocabulary.  The text sparks the imagination of young readers to think about the design and use of the space.   It delves further into the history of adventure homes and people who lived in them.  The illustrations are a combination of line drawing with labels and photographs of actual adventure homes.   The end of the book includes a glossary, web links and other books in the Learning more section and an index.  For those beginning to show an interest in architecture and design this is an excellent series to provide.  The series also includes:
Bailey, Gerry.  Towering Homes.  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-0289-4. 32p.  $27.60. Gr. 2-4
Bailey, Gerry.  Storybook Homes.  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-0288-7. 32p.  $27.60. Gr. 2-4
Bailey, Gerry.  Working Homes.  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-0290-0. 32p.  $27.60. Gr. 2-4
728: Architecture/Domestic                 Denise Naumann, Eisenhower

ElementaryPeppas, Lynn.  Trail of Tears.  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1174-2. 48p.  $30.60. Gr. 3-4Peppas, Lynn.  Trail of Tears.  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1174-2. 48p.  $30.60. Gr. 3-4
Containing facts with brilliant illustrations this book provides a reluctant reader or struggling reader with a wonderful option for a non-fiction resource.  Each chapter is divided into manageable sections with fact boxes and highlighted words.  The illustrations are explained through straightforward captions.  Each two page spread has the highlighted word defined at the bottom for easy reference.  The Learning More section at the back of the book provides books and websites on the same reading level geared for children.  This author has done a fantastic job of providing facts in a straightforward, reader friendly way.  Other books in this series are set up in a similar way and have an appeal to young readers. Others in the series:
Hyde, Natalie.  King Tut.  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1172-8. 48p.  $30.60. Gr. 3-4
Johnson, Robert.  California Goldrush.  New York: Crabtree Publishing, 2014.  978-0-7787-1170-4. 48p.  $30.60. Gr. 3-4
975: Cherokee Indians/Relocation      Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Snowe, Olivia.  Cassie and the Woolf (Twicetold Tales series).  Wisconsin: Captstone Publishing, 2014.  978-1-4342-3786-6. 125p.  $17.99 Gr. 3-4
Another brilliant read for those that love fairy tales.  This “Twice Told Tale”  is a fun spin on Little Red Riding Hood.  The story is updated and modernized, including cell phones and cafeterias.  The print is large enough for early readers and there is plenty of white space to balance it out.  There are occasional illustrations done in black and white and occasional red when referencing Little Red Riding Hood.  It is an enjoyable new twist to an old tale.  There are four books in the series including, The Sealed-Up House, A Home in the Sky, and The Girl and the Seven Thieves.
398.2: Fairy tales, folk lore                 Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Hamilton, Sue L. Bugs. (A&D xtreme pets series). Minneapolis: ABDO, 2014. 978-1-61783-970-2. 32 p. $18.95 each. Gr. 3-6    
 —. Fish. 978-1-61783-973-3.
     —. Spiders. 978-1-61783-975-7.
With over 40,000 species of spiders, readers will learn many new facts and see numerous close up images of tarantulas, wolf, trapdoor, jumping, fishing and grass spiders in the book Spiders. As for the book Fish, topics include freshwater, saltwater and pond fish. The series includes full color and at times page illustrations. A glossary and index is included in each book. [Note, I used Follett Titlewave prices for all books. An individual book price at BN.com is $27.07. Also in this series:
        —. Cats. 978-1-61783-971-9.
        —. Dogs. 978-1-61783-972-6.
        —. Reptiles. 978-1-61783-974-0.
639 (Spiders) 639.34 (Fish);Pets          Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

  Tieck, Sarah. Adam Levine: famous singer and songwriter. Big Buddies books, (Buddy Bios series). Minneapolis: ABDO, 2014. 978-1-61783-859-0. 32 p. $19.95 each. Gr. 3-6.
      —. Chris Colfer. 978-1-61783-857-6.
Colorful images accompany the factual text. The background of the topic is presented in a chronological order. Readers view numerous star snap shots, important words, web sites, and direct links regarding the topic. Each book included an index. Children can learn about Colfer’s adventures in writing and Levine’s interest with yoga. Also in this series:
                —. Big Time Rush: popular boy band. 978-1-61783-856-9.
                —. Carly Rae Jepsen. 978-1-61783-858-3.
                —. Emma Stone. 978-1-61783-861-3.
                —. Psy:Gangnam Style rapper. 978-1-61783-860-6.
782.42164 (Levine)   791.4302 (Colfer) Biography/Nonfiction             Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Murray, Julie. Australia. Big Buddies books, (Explore the Countries series) North Mankato: ABDO, 2014. 978-1-61783-804-0. 40p. $20.95 each. Gr. 3-6.
—. Egypt. 978-1-61783-809-5.
—. Japan. 978-1-61783-815-6.
The books in this series provide students with all of the needed facts for a country research project but also encourage the students to learn more with the “Did you Know” boxes or how to pronounce new terms and locations with “Say it” boxes. The font is larger with terms in red color while the layout is consistent in each book showing the country up close, important words, timeline, symbols of the country and websites maintained by ABDO and an index. Also in this series:
—. Brazil. 978-1-61783-804-0.
—. Canada. 978-1-61783-806-4.
—. China. 978-1-61783-807-1.
—. Cuba.978-1-61783-808-8.
—. India.978-1-61783-812-5.
—. Israel. 978-1-61783-813-2.
—. Russia. 978-1-61783-817-0.
Tieck, Sarah. France.
—. Italy. 978-1-61783-814-9.
—. Mexico. 978-1-61783-816-3.
—. Spain. 978-1-61783-818-7.
—. United Kingdom. 978-1-61783-819-4.
952 (Japan) 916.2 (Egypt); World History/ Geography       Beth McGuire, Wendover Middle School

Picture Books:

Daywalt, Drew. The Day the Crayons Quit. New York: Philomel, 2013.  9780399255373. 40p. $17.99. Gr. PreK – 2.

“One day in class, Duncan went to take out his crayons and found a stack of letters with his name on them.” Turns out all of his crayon buddies have written him a note: some, like blue, Duncan’s favorite color, are happy that they’re used a lot. Others like red, feel overworked filling in all those fire trucks, apples, strawberries, and numerous holiday items. Some, like the orange and yellow, are in a dispute: which is the rightful color of the sun? In the end, Duncan makes all the crayons happy, and gets an A+, with a wonderfully creative scene where nothing is the color we are accustomed to seeing. This creative and funny book is a wonderful read-aloud, sure to bring a chuckle from your young audience. It’s already won numerous awards, and I’m betting there are more awards in store for The Day the Crayons Quit.
Picture Book              Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Martin, Emily Winfield. Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey. New York: Random House, 2013. 978-0-449-81080-4. 32 p. $17.99. Gr. PK and up.

Dream Animals is a beautiful children’s picture book. It features full-page illustrations that capture whimsical and lighthearted scenes. Animals range from tigers to narwhals that take the dreamers onto their dreamscapes.
Fantasy                         Kelsey DeStevens, Jewish Day School of Lehigh Valley

Dream Animals could be used many ways. It works well as a bedtime story for toddlers to first grade students. In the classroom it would be paired well with Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are to be used as discussion points of perspective. Dream Animals could also be read along with a nonfiction story about night and used a talking point for what happens at night (animals, jobs, dreaming).

Raschka, Chris. Daisy Gets Lost. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2013. 978-0-449-81741-4. 32 p. $17.99. Gr. Pk and up.

Daisy Gets Lost is a follow up story to the Caldecott winning story, A Ball for Daisy. With the line “Go get it Daisy!” the story is spun. Daisy races through the woods losing both her person and the ball she was sent to fetch. With a solemn cry Daisy’s person finds her and they are rejoined happily. The story’s highlights are the loose and colorful illustrations. The minimal words only highlight the expressions of the lost dog.
Realistic Fiction            Kelsey DeStevens, Jewish Day School of Lehigh Valley

MacLachlan, Patricia. Snowflakes Fall. New York: Random House, 2013. 978-0-385-37693-8. 32 p. $17.99. Gr. K and up.

Snowflakes Fall is a story about life’s continual struggles. Steven Kellogg’s illustrations paired with MacLachlan’s words convey a sense of joy in life’s natural beauty. With the purchase of each copy a donation is made to The Sandy Hook School Support Fund. Reading beneath the lines and looking closely at the illustrations you can see the references to those lost at Sandy Hook.
Realistic Fiction         Kelsey DeStevens, Jewish Day School of Lehigh Valley

The subtle ways that this book discusses loss and sorrow is a perfect way to introduce the topic to younger students. Snowflakes Fall recognizes the importance of loss but reminds the reader that it will not always be a winter storm and through time the ice will melt and “flowers will grow again” (29). The book could be used to open discussion about Sandy Hook or even as a simple winter tale.

Cunnane, Kelly. Deep in the Sahara. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2013. 978-0-375-87034-7. 40 p. $17.99. Gr. PK and up.

Deep in the Sahara takes place in Muslim West Africa where young Lalla wants to wear the malafa to be like the women in her life. Initially she wants to wear it to be beautiful, mysterious, royal like a queen, and to be just the same as the women she admires. It’s through her innocent conversations that Lalla understands the real purpose of the malafa, to pray and for faith. This is a great picture book to introduce the Muslim culture. It could be used at the beginning of a world culture class for any grade or simply a way to expose younger students to different ideas.
Realistic Fiction       Kelsey DeStevens, Jewish Day School of Lehigh Valley

Brown, Peter. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. New York: Little Brown, 2013. 9780316200639. 48p. $18.00. Gr. Pre-K-2.

The fabulous Caldecott-honor winning Peter Brown (Chowder, Flight of the Dodo), does it again! Mr. Tiger lives in a thoroughly proper, top-hat-wearing, “How do you do?” kind of world. But one day he decides he’s feeling a little wild. He starts to trot around on all fours, peels off his clothes, and it feels great! But his friends and neighbors are appalled and ask him to go to the wilderness if he’s going to behave like a wild animal. So that’s exactly what he does! And he has a blast, until…he starts to get lonely. So he trots back to town and finds he’s had a surprising influence on his formerly stuffy friends.  A very fun read illustrated in Brown’s signature style. My “take away” from this story: get outside and play! And: there’s a time and a place for everything. Highly recommended.
Picture Book              Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Nonfiction:

Hunter, Nick.  Julius Caesar. Chicago: Raintree, 2014. 978-1-4109-5356-8. 48p. $24.49.  Gr. 4-6.
Get a glimpse of historic Rome through the eyes of its most famous hero.  Thhis volume covers not only aspects of daily life but important figures, events and places.  This is good for a general introduction to the topic.  Students looking for in depth research material need to focus on individual topics.  While there is a timeline, glossary and index, there is no bibliography of information sources.
Biography                        Martha Trzepacz, Strath Haven Middle School

Adamson, Thomas.  The Technology of Baseball.  (Sports Illustrated Kids  High-Tech Sports series)  North Mankato: Capstone Press, 2013. 978-1-4296-9955-6. 48p. $23.49.  Gr. 4-9.
Packed with information, this slender volume is devoted to every aspect of baseball in the computer age, covering the effect of technology on the game, equipment, players and stadiums.  Baseball enthusiasts will love this book.  Computers have taken the sport to a new level. I would definitely buy others in this series.
796.3                      Martha Trzepacz   Strath Haven  Middle School

Hunter, Nick.  Women in World War l (Remembering World War l series). Chicago: Heinemann Press, 2014. 978-1-4329-8084-9. 48p.  $24.49. Gr. 4-6
A brief general analysis of the role of women in World War l and how it changed their social, economic, and political status in the 20^th century.  Complete with a glossary, timeline, primary and multimedia sources this slime volume is part of a series on various aspects the First World War.  While appropriate for middle/upper elementary students as a general introduction, it lacks the depth necessary for a research project.
940.1                          Martha Trzepacz    Strath Haven Middle School

Spilsbury, Richard.   Health and Disease: investigating a TB Outbreak.  Chicago: Heinemann, 2014. 978-1-4329-7603-3. 56p. $25.14  Gr.6-9.
The  who, what, where and why of tuberculosis as a world -wide disease.  Covering everything from diagnosis and treatment to prevention through education and research, this would be a wonderful addition to your 600 collection.  While the scientific content and vocabulary is middle or high school level it’s division into small digestible units makes it very readable.  A timeline, index, glossary and additional information resources adds to it’s authenticity. Despite the graphic style introduction which adds little to the subject, this book should be given serious consideration.
614.5                      Martha Trzepacz   Strath Haven Middle School 

Jackson, Tom. Green Sea Turtle (The Deep End Animal Life Underwater series). New York: Bearport, 2014. 978-1-61772-9201. 24p. $23.93. Gr. K-3.
Beautifully illustrated with large, full color photographs of sea turtles, this book discusses their habitat, anatomy, life cycle, diet and habits. Each page contains concise, easy-to-read text that would be great for your nature-enthusiast beginning readers or for a read-aloud. Each page’s photo captions and probing content questions appear in a bubble illustration that blends nicely with the nature photography. The book concludes with a clever “Science Lab” and “Science Word” spread that encourages readers to retell concepts and new vocabulary they’ve learned. Includes an index, recommended additional reading, and web links and an answer key to the “Science Lab” questions. My 3^rd graders each research an ocean animal and cannot wait to get their hands on books in this series!
597 Sea Turtles, Easy Reader  Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

 (hope you’re all enjoying a relaxing winter break!)

Non-Fiction:

Lynette, Rachel. Capybaras (Jungle Babies of the Rainforest) series. New York: Bearport, 2013. 978-1-61772-753-5. 24 p. $15.99. Gr. K-3.
Capybaras  is an enticing book with its sharp clear photographs and effectively organized information about capybaras.  It has a perfect format for introducing students to beginning research. Each full color page has a photo and most have text boxes to identify the photos as well. This non-fiction resource has attractive headings, a table of contents, index, a map, and glossary for leading young students into successful research. Readers learn about the largest rodent in the world’s family life, physical appearance, habitat, young, enemies, and communication. Written in a comprehensive, yet easy to read text, with a “Read More” and “Learn more Online” page in the back, this title is highly recommended for all elementary libraries.
599.35 Capybara                         Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Meinking, Mary. Dingoes (Wild Canine Pups) series. New York: Bearport, 2014. 978-1-61772-930-0.  24 p. $ 15.99.  Gr. K-3.
Dingoes, from the Wild Canine Pups series, focus on the importance of family, from the very first page with an attractive double page spread of fluffy white dingo pups snuggling with their mother. This introductory non-fiction title is perfectly set up for teaching beginning research, with its table of contents, index, and glossary accompanied with pictures to clarify the text. Bold headings identify and organize the material effectively. Readers learn about their habitat, family life, hunting a complex skill often involving a pack of dingoes attacking larger animals such as kangaroos.  Although the text uses simple vocabulary, the information is comprehensive and appealing for readers with its bright clear photos on every page and fact boxes sprinkled throughout to enhance comprehension. This title has a “Read more” and “Learn more online” page in the back, it is highly recommended for all elementary libraries.
599.77 Dingoes Infancy       Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Oxlade, Chris. Explorer Travel Guides: Mountains. Chicago: Raintree, 2014.  978-1-4109-5430-5. 48 p. $21.75. Gr. 3-6.
Using a travel guide format, this attractive non-fiction title about mountains, with its colorful pictures and fact boxes sprinkled throughout, will inspire readers to explore mountains and view them through inquisitive eyes.  How mountains are formed, and the ways mountain people and animals live and adapt in high altitudes are clearly explained. Following the travel guide pattern, the reader learns how to pack depending on the location and season. Tips about planning for life threatening problems that can occur on an expedition such as; altitude sickness, avalanches, and falling into hidden crevices are covered too. The two interviews, with a volcanologist and a mountain explorer, make it come alive with real world connections. The organized, easy to follow format, and comprehensive exciting topics, including a map, fact file charts of highest mountains, longest mountain ranges, underwater mountains, and historic first ascents by famous mountaineers, will provide enough detailed information for satisfying research. A great choice for elementary libraries.
910.914; Mountains       Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Phillips, Dee. Flying Lemur (Science Slam: Treed-Animal Life in the Trees) series. New York: Bearport, 2014. 978-1-61772-911-0. 24 p.  Gr. K-3.
Flying Lemur introduces young readers to these peculiar exotic rain forest animals that spend their entire life in trees, through spectacular photos and interesting facts. Focusing on a scientific inquiry approach, each new concept is preceded by a question about flying lemurs in a red fact box such as; “Flying lemurs have huge eyes. How do you think having large eyes helps the animal?” The question is fully answered on the next page, in a vine decorated green fact circle. Using bold headings to introduce topics about, habitat, physical appearance, predators, mothers and babies, and growing up, readers learn how unique this endangered animal truly is. They will be amazed to find out how flying lemurs travel, spreading their arms and legs and using the skin flaps between them they can glide as far as 320 feet from tree to tree. All of the ingredients of a comprehensive informational text are included, table of contents, glossary of science words accompanied by images, and an index. A science lab poster activity about saving the rain forest is also included as well as “Read More” and “Learn more Online” resource lists on the last page. The clear, colorful photos of flying lemurs and engaging questions will attract young researchers. This title provides an engaging format for beginning scientific inquiry and animal research.
599.33 Flying Lemurs                Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Raum, Elizabeth, Expanding a Nation: Causes and Effects of the Louisiana Purchase (Cause and Effect series).   North Mankato: Capstone Press, 2014.  978-1-4765-0236-6.  32 p.  $19.99 ea.  Gr. 3-4.
Why did the purchase of the Louisiana Territory have such a profound effect on the history of the United States? By  organizing this colorful informational book chronologically, with clearly defined causes and effects of The Louisiana Purchase on the history of the U.S., young readers will be able to easily understand why Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory and Napoleon Bonaparte decided to sell France’s land to the US. To captivate visual learners, the book’s dynamic format has lots of fact boxes defining words, explaining pictures, or comparing a fact such as, the actual cost of  the purchase of the Louisiana Territory then and now. Illustrations, charts, and maps, are generously placed on every page adding interest without appearing too busy, making this title appropriate for a variety of learning styles. This title work well, as an introductory background resource for units on explorers, Native Americans, and regions of the United States. Glossary, more books, internet sites, critical thinking questions, and an index are all included.
973.46 ; Louisiana Purchase; United States History      Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford  Elementary School

Fiction:

Maddox, Jake. Jake Maddox Sports Stories (series). North Mankato: Stone Arch, 2013. 72 p. $17.99 ea. Gr. 3-6.
                Maddox, Jake. Rebound Time. 978-1-4342-4013-2.
                Maddox, Jake. Beach Bully.  978-1-4342-5973-8.
Facing challenging obstacles, such as moving to a new neighborhood or dealing with a divorce, integrated with positive experiences through bonding with friends while playing sports together, makes a dynamic format for the Jake Maddox Sports Stories series. In Rebound Time, twin sisters Allie and Sarit, who love to play basketball, find their lives drastically altered when their parents get divorced and their Dad moves across the country.  Allie uses her love of basketball to help her cope with the absence of her Dad, while Sarit gives up and begins to make poor choices. Readers will want to find out if the resilience taught through years of basketball training will give Sarit the inner strength required to enjoy her favorite sport once again? In Beach Bully, Isaac, who loves to snowboard, is faced with a big challenge when his parents move to the sunny beach where snowboarding isn’t an option. Surfing might be the perfect alternative Isaac ponders, while watching boys his age surf big waves. When he gives surfing a try, he is surrounded by jeering comments from the surfers, especially the best surfer, a nasty bully. Realizing he is outnumbered, Isaac gives up surfing and eventually makes a friend, who shares his passion for comic books. However, Isaac still wants to learn to surf, can he find the confidence to try again? Both of these Jake Maddox Sports Stories provide high interest plots with problems and activities which middle grade readers will relate to. These titles are just right for reluctant readers with a consuming interest in sports.
Realistic Fiction              Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford  Elementary School

The Never Girls (series). New York: Random House, 2013. 118, 120 p.  $5.99 ea.  (paperback) Gr. 3-6.
             Thorpe, Kiki. A Dandelion Wish (The Never Girls Book 3). 978-0-7364-2796-8.
             Thorpe, Kiki. From the Mist (The Never Girls Book 4). 978-0-7364-2797-5.
A magical place full of fairies and singing mermaids is the setting for the adventures of four girls; Kate, Lainey, Mia, and her little sister Gabby. Through their strong belief in magic and fairies, the friends accidently discover the magical island of Never Land. Each of The Disney Never Girls books focuses on one of the four friends, whose curiosity always brews trouble for them, and the fairies in Never Land. In the third book, A Dandelion Wish, Mia is assigned a day of babysitting her little sister alone, while her mother does errands.  Finding this chore boring, she escapes to Pixie Hollow, home of the fairies she’s previously visited in Never Land. When she returns home by climbing through a broken slat with a fairy Rosetta, her little sister Gabby bursts into her room and wreaks havoc. Angrily Mia banishes Gabby from her room.  Later she discovers Gabby is missing, and knows she went to Pixie Hollow alone. Finding the broken slat entrance to Never Land repaired, Mia is horrified as she realizes she is unable to return to Never Land and find her. How will Gabby ever return from Never Land?  In the fourth book, From the Mist, Kate and her trio make a quick trip to Never Land before their parents wake up. They find Pixie Hollow covered in fog and the fairies busy preparing for a storm. When the friends view a meadow, they discover it is full of horses.  A silvery mare attracts Kate’s attention, and she bravely mounts the huge horse. Ignoring her friends’ warnings, Kate rides off on the silver mare. Silvermist, a water-talent fairy senses danger, and researches the problem at the Home Tree Library. She discovers her sense of foreboding was correct. This title is full of suspense as the fairies and friends try to save Kate from the lure of the “mist horse.” These easy to read titles full of magic and adventure with black and white soft water color illustrations, will appeal to young fans of fairy books.
Fairies Fiction                   Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford  Elementary School

Non-Fiction:
Early, Chris. Caterpillars, Find, Identify, Raise Your Own. Buffalo: Firefly, 2013. 978-1-77085-182-5. 32p. $17.56. Gr. 2-4
An incredibly detailed text regarding caterpillars. The photographs are bright, clear and colorful, with labels and caption that are interesting and informative. The book covers, parts, types, life cycle, how to handle and raise them. It also covers laws and dangerous caterpillars. The facts and information provided is concise and straightforward, providing just the right amount of information for this age group. This excellent resource provides excellent material to support a science unit.
595.7: Insects, Caterpillars, Butterflies     Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Fiction:
Pavanello, Roberto. The Ghost and Dr. Mold. Minnesota: Stone Arch Books, 2013. 978-1-4342-3834-4. 120p. $15.83. Gr 2-4
An excellent beginning chapter book and fantastic for reluctant or struggling readers. This book is part of the Echo and the Bat Pack series and is full of adventure and suspense. The Bat Pack includes Becca, Michael and Tyler all set to help solve mysteries that occur in their town, can three kids and a bat pull it off? Definitely. For all that love scary stories this is a fun adventure. An old friend is in trouble, they have to help out, but they are not the only ones on the case, a ghost is following them the entire time. The white space and illustrations help to break up the text in a creative and entertaining way. At the end of the book are discussion questions, glossary and writing prompts to build comprehension and vocabulary in a guided reading session.
Fantasy (paranormal)                                Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Fiction:

O’Brien, Annemarie. Lara’s Gift. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.  978-0307931740. 193 p. Glossary and Bibliography. $16.99, Reading Level: 5.1 Interest Level: grades 5-8.
Russia 1914 with Czar Nicholas in power and old world traditions and values still stubbornly in place, Lara has been helping her father in Count Voronstov’s Borzoi kennel. She is determined that this will be her life’s work until her baby brother is born and her dreams are dashed – or so she thinks – by values and unwritten rules that only males can head the kennel as the steward.  Lara has a special gift of understanding her beloved Borzoi, especially when danger emanates in the form of a pack of wolves. Can she use this ability to protect the kennel that she so greatly loves?

Any dog lover regardless of age should read this one. The Russian history is woven into the plot so that the reader is learning without knowing it. Having the privilege of meeting the Borzoi breed once (the numbers are small in the US), Annemarie O’Brien reminded me of the beauty of the breed and also showed me the hunter instinct for which the breed is known.

Like the Kirkus star review, I too would recommend it for fiction reading. Annemarie O’Brien has an author website, with all sorts of information about dog reads: http://annemarieobrienauthor.com
Historical Fiction
Lourie Stewart, Dunbar Township/Dunbar Borough Elementary Schools

Nonfiction:

Ollhoff, Jim. Christopher Columbus (Great Explorers series). North Mankato: ABDO Publishing, 2014.   978-1-61783-964-1. 32 p. $18.95. Gr. 5-8.
Ollhoff, Jim. Neil Armstrong (Great Explorers series). North Mankato: ABDO Publishing, 2014.  978-1-61783-963-4. 32 p.  $18.95. Gr. 5-8.
These biographies offer a brief overview of the life and career of each titled explorer. Christopher Columbus is profiled as an expert, if arrogant, sailor and explorer who had tremendous vision. His youth is covered well considering many facts about his early life are vague. Most of this title is dedicated to his voyages sponsored by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain and his poor management of the Caribbean settlements that were established during his travels.

Neil Armstrong’s life and career are covered admirably but much of this title is spent reviewing the Apollo space program; students researching Neil Armstrong will receive a basic education on the space race in addition to learning about Armstrong’s many achievements as a Navy pilot and NASA astronaut. Each title includes a timeline, glossary, and index.
Biography                                      Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School

Murphy, Julie. Whale Sharks (Exploring Our Oceans series). Ann Arbor: Cherry Lake, 2014. 978-1624314117. 32p. $28.50. Gr. 3 – 6.
Thomas, Elizabeth. Great White Sharks (Exploring Our Oceans series). Ann Arbor: Cherry Lake, 2014. 978-1624314117. 32p. $28.50. Gr. 3 – 6.
Kennington, Tammy. Bull Sharks (Exploring Our Oceans series). Ann Arbor: Cherry Lake, 2014. 978-1624314056. 32p. $28.50. Gr. 3 – 6.
Beautiful layout/design and illustration, this engaging nonfiction series will appeal to your shark fans and junior researchers alike. Broken down into chapters that detail general information about the specific shark and its food and habits, a chapter focusing on anatomy with a Body Diagram, a section describing its hunting methods, a chapter on its growth from pup to adult, and a section discussing threats to the species. Includes “Think About It” discussion questions, book and web links to learn more, a glossary and index. One of my students caught a glimpse of these books and I have to process them quickly to get them into his hands! Highly recommended.
597.3    Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Nonfiction:
Peterson, Scott. Meet the Marvel Super Heroes. New York: Marvel, 2013. 978-1-4231-6142-4. 144p. $12.99. Gr. 1-4
An excellent beginner guide to all the Marvel Super Heroes. Full of vivid and bright illustrations that book instantly grabs the interest of all those that love super heroes. The text is concise and to the point and perfect for reluctant and young readers. Each page depicts a different character, with a full color illustration and text that bolds, and changes color emphasizing the heroes specials skills and talents. The dust cover to the book open up as a poster of all the characters inside the book, on gloss heavy paper and perfect for display.
741.5: Cartoons, comics               Denise Naumann, Eisenhower Elementary

Rau, Dana Meachen. How-To Library: Creating Thanksgiving Crafts. Ann Arbor: Cherry Lake, 2014. 978-1624311482. 32p. $28.50. Gr. 3 – 6.
This wonderful little book begins with a brief history lesson of this national holiday including a who’s who and typical foods consumed on this 3-day feast.  An illustrated list of basic supplies needed follows along with basic painting and sewing tips. The book then uses beautifully illustrated spreads to gibve step-by-step instructions for making a turkey puppet, cornucopia, a thank you banner, Pilgrim place cards, a corn husk doll and an arrowhead beanbag toss game. Highly recommended.
394             Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School

Burgan, Michael. John F. Kennedy. Chicago: Raintree, 2013. 978-432980962. 56p. $32.65. Gr. 4-8.
A broad-based, in-depth analysis of John F. Kennedy against a backdrop of important people and events in his administration. Added background on historical topics stimulates further interest .A list of resources not only includes a glossary. index, books and websites, but also suggests places to visit. The author has added a “What if “ page speculating on the turn of events had Kennedy lived. The format and extensive contents of this book make it a wonderful source for reports covering the time period. A good purchase.
Biography             Martha Trzepacz, Strath Haven Middle School

Senker, Cath. Days of Decision: Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2014. 978-1432976378. 56p. $26.25. Gr. 7-8.
Even for those who remember it, the Cuban Missile Crisis and it’s implications on international relations has always been difficult to explain. While building a foundation of background material, the author has succeeded in giving the reader a big picture of the events and people of the period. Well placed photos, information boxes, timelines, source notes, glossary, bibliography and media resources contribute to the authenticity of the material. If a student ever asks about Kennedy, Castro and the Missile Crisis, grab this book first. I was impressed by this book and intend to look into purchasing others in the series.
973.9                          Martha Trzepacz, Strath Haven Middle School

Fiction:
Soderberg, Erin. The Quirks: Welcome to Normal. New York: Bloomsbury, 2013. 978-1-59990-789-5. 225p. $13.99. Gr. 3-6.
For the magical Quirks, the move to Normal Michigan a town where every house is identical, blending in proves to be a tough challenge. Each member of the Quirk family has their own special power: Grandma a miniature fairy prefers living outdoors, Grandpa shifts time, Mom performs mind control, nine-year-old Penelope has a wild imagination, and Finn the feisty troublemaking  little brother appears invisible to everyone except the one “normal” member of the family,  Penelope’s twin sister, Molly. After living in 26 different towns, forced to move each time by mishaps involving her family’s magical powers, nine-year-old Molly is determined to help them stay in Normal. This proves problematic after many unfortunate incidents, especially when their trip to her mother’s restaurant turns into chaos because invisible little brother Finn wreaks havoc by invading the glass case, and helping himself to a bite of each dessert. The cartoonlike humorous black and white illustrations, and outrageous accidents caused by the family’s quirks keeps the reader routing for a happy ending. Through it all the bond of support and love the family shares, and Molly’s discovery that she has the most helpful special power of all, make this a satisfying tale. Give this one to fans of Ingrid Law’s Savvy, with characters who also have powers they can’t always control.
Family life-Fiction              Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Abdel-Fattah, Randa. The Friendship Matchmaker: Goes Undercover. New York: Walker Books, 2013. 978-0-8027-3485-3. $16.99. 208p. Gr. 4-7.
In The Friendship Matchmaker: Goes Undercover, seventh grader Lara formerly Potts County Middle School’s Official Matchmaker, decides that kids at her school can make their own friends this year, now that she has a best friend, Tanya. Told through instant messages, friend profiles, handwritten lists, and prose, readers will have no trouble relating to Lara social media filled world. Her old customers from her BFF agency, eager for advice continue to request her friendship help. The temptation is too great to resist and Lara finds herself going “undercover,” continuing to match up and help classmates. The stakes get higher when Chris, the best athlete and also the meanest bully, demands that she find him a friend. Chris’ bullying effectiveness has diminished with the arrival of Majur, an orphan   refugee from Sudan, who turns out to be outstanding at soccer, outplaying Chris on the soccer field. This story covers relevant issues for tweens such as, loneliness, social insecurities, and refraining from managing social relationship for others. Despite her obvious weaknesses, Lara is kind and helpful to others.  This sequel to The Friendship Matchmaker, can be enjoyed as a series or on its own, especially for girls who prefer realistic school fiction with lots of social drama.
School Stories-Fiction             Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Non-Fiction:
Lassieur, Allison. You Choose: Survival (series). Can You Survive Being Lost at Sea? : An Interactive Survival Adventure. North Mankato: Capstone, 2013. 978-1-4296-6861-3. 112 p.  $23.49. Gr. 3-6.
What happens if  you’re relaxing on vacation at sea, and something goes wrong? In three realistic scenarios Can You Survive Being Lost at Sea? takes the reader through only part of  life threatening adventures, leaving it up to them to make the decisions that will seal their fate. The three adventures, Crash Landing, Adrift in Paradise, and Alone in the Ocean all have a series of endings based on the reader’s choices leading to life or death. Full of facts and nonstop action each escapade is a real page turner. All of the plentiful color photos include small fact boxes containing  facts such as, “Some species of porcupine puffer fish are deadly to eat.” At the end of the book there are four mini accounts of “Real Survivor” stories, as well as a survivor quiz, glossary, index, and a “Read More” list of books and web site. This extreme survival title will have great appeal for boys and reluctant readers.
 613.6; Survival at Sea              Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Fiction:
Chew, Ruth. A Matter of Fact Magic Book (series). No Such Thing as a Witch. New York: Random House, 2013. 978-0-449-81559-5.  115 p. $15.99. Gr. 2-4.
Nora and Tad are shocked to see a squirrel reading a tiny newspaper on their fence. Could it have anything to do with the strange new neighbor who is attracting the interest of their dog, neighborhood cats, and other animals? After deciding she must be a witch, their curiosity lures them next door to meet her. This kind old lady, Maggie Brown offers them delicious fudge they can’t resist; with a warning to only eat one piece a day. After devouring a piece of fudge and feeling strange, Tad can’t help but eat another, that’s when he finds himself able to talk to animals. No Such Thing as a Witch contains just enough magic to ignite readers’ imagination. Reminiscent of Mrs. Piggle Wiggle stories and Daniel Pinkwater’s  new Mrs. Noodlekugel series, this easy to read magical story with spare black and white illustrations, will be a sure hit with early chapter book Magic Tree House fans.
Witches -Fiction                           Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Jonell, Lynne. Magical Mixups (series). Grasshopper Magic. New York: Random House, 2013. 978-0-375-87084-2. 114 p. $12.99. Gr. 2-4.
Abner Willow, during his parents’ party, finds himself cornered and convinced by Mrs. Gofish, from the Historical Society, to make a speech before the whole town during the Willow Day Festival. Obviously regretting his promise, his brother and sister begin to make clucking, chicken noises, suggesting Abner practice with bravery lessons. The perfect opportunity occurs when dressmaker Mrs. Delgado, while preparing his costume, notices a jar of grasshoppers caught by the Willow children. She eagerly roasts and serves them up as a tasty treat. To prove his bravery, oldest brother Abner pops one into his mouth. His sister joins him and before long, both siblings go BOING, bouncing in the air fueled with “grasshopper magic.” The suspense intensifies as the Willow children anticipate the “grasshopper magic” dangers awaiting Mrs. Delgado’s toddler when she gives him some of the roasted grasshoppers. With lively animated black and white illustrations, this exciting easy to read magic adventure will appeal to young chapter book readers, who will soon demand the other titles in this clever series.
Courage-Fiction                         Martha Lambertsen, Wallingford Elementary School

Nonfiction:
Porter, Esther. What’s Sprouting in my Trash?: A Book about Composting. North Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2013. 978-1-6206-5047-9. $19.99. 32 p. Gr. Pre-K-2.
A perfect book to help celebrate Spring and Ecology. A photo album and text shows students exactly what happens in a compost bin. Be prepared for “yucks” and “yeahs” when you reach the worm page. The colors in the photos are bright and clear and there is a recipe for creating compost in a jar, which would be a great science project for Earth Week. Teaching the cycle of life and earth science is important to all of us.  The book includes Glossary, Index, reading suggestions, and Internet suggestions.  On Capstone’s website, the book is a part of a series entitled Earth Matters.
631.8: Fertilizers, soil conditioners, growth regulators
Lourie Stewart, Dunbar Township/Dunbar Borough Elementary Schools

Water Babies (series). New York: Bearport Publishing Company, Inc., 2013. 24 p. (each book). $127.92 set, $15.99 ea., Reading Level: 2.0, Interest Level: preK-3, Common Core: Reading Standards for Informational Text. 
Owen, Ruth. Manatee Calves. 978-1-61772-599-9.
Owen, Ruth. Orca Calves. 978-1-61772-600-2.
Owen, Ruth. Penguin Chicks. 978-1-61772-602-6.
Owen, Ruth. Sea Otter Pups. 978-1-61772-601-9.
Owen, Ruth. Seahorse Fry. 978-1-61772-604-0.
Owen, Ruth. Seal Pups. 978-1-61772-605-7.
Owen, Ruth. Sea Turtle Hatchlings. 978-1-61772-603-3.
Oldfield, Dawn Bluemel. Water Frog Polliwogs. 978-1-61772-606-4.
*This series was not listed on the original BOB list but with Bearport Publishing on that list, this series is something worth noting. “Everybody loves babies.” This series takes that phase and presents 8 wonderful very easy to read books about water babies. Not only do the books have many up close and personal color photos, the information is laid out in a left to right manner, making reading easier for the most reluctant reader. Small graphics show sizes of the animals in relation to items children are familiar with. The individual books are of the same format making for ease of read. A Glossary and Index is included in each book, and there are online resources at the Bearport website. This series has been “kid tested” in my k-6 library and is one of the library’s most popular series. More information at the Bearport Publishing website.
597-599 Animals
Lourie Stewart, Dunbar Township/Dunbar Borough Elementary Schools

Hile, Lori.  Mermaids (Solving Mysteries with Science series).  North Mankato, MN: Heinemann/Raintree, 2013.  978-1-410949899. $31.43. Gr. 3 -6.
Beginning with the oldest tales of mermaid and merman sightings in the Dark Ages to relatively modern accounts of these encounters, the author does a good job building the intrigue about these creates that have fascinated us through time. The scientific method is then used to help the reader deconstruct myth and compare the stories with the facts. Beautifully illustrated, it contains photographs of sea creatures like manatees and walruses (could they be mistaken for merfolk?) as well as hoaxes, and a description of the rare birth defect which results in a baby’s legs being fused together. The book wraps it all up with a timeline and a “Summing Up the Science” hypotheses vs. science graphic. Contains  glossary, sources for further research and an index. Very well done, highly recommended for your mermaid fans!
398.21: Mermaids                 Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School