Tag Archives: U.S. Government

YA – Challenges for Democracy (Series NF)

Posted on by
Reply

Challenges for Democracy. ReferencePoint Press, 2023. $33.05 each or $165.25 Set of 5. Grades 7-12.

Loonin, Meryl. Clash of Powers: The President Versus Congress. 978-1-678-20302-3.
Hulick, Kathryn. Media Literacy: Information and Disinformation. 978-1-678-20304-7.
Castillo, Kristina C. Political Parties: A Division and Distrust. 978-1-678-20306-1.
Allen, John. The Supreme Court: Activism Versus Restraint. 978-1-678-20308-5.
Kallen, Stuart A. Voting: Rights and Suppression. 978-1-678-20310-8.

This reviewer had the opportunity to read Clash of Powers: The President Versus Congress and The Supreme Court: Activism Versus Restraint. Each title has an introduction and five chapters followed by source notes, for further research, and an index. Clash of Powers begins with background and discussion on the events of January 6, 2021. Chapters that follow discuss separate but overlapping powers; legislating in polarized times; waging war; appointments, removals, and impeachments; and restoring balance between the branches. While some historical times are discussed (The Hard Lessons of the Vietnam War), the primary focus of the text is on the most recent several presidents and controversies during and after their terms. The Supreme Court presents information on recently appointed justices, historical cases during the Civil Rights Era, abortion laws, and voting rights and shows how the Court strives to have balance and maintain integrity. While recommended for grades 7-12, some basic background or vocabulary would be helpful for readers to comprehend the complexity of each title’s topic.

THOUGHTS: This series is a recommended purchase for secondary libraries, especially high schools. It will be most utilized when students study (or have an interest in) government and its branches and structures.

300s Social Sciences

Elementary NF – Origami; U.S. Landmarks; Kids Can Cook; Top Sports Tips

Posted on by
Reply

George, Anna. Super Simple Origami. Super Sandcastle, 2017. $19.00 each, $114.00 set of 6. Gr. K-3.

Origami Birds. 978-1-68078-446-6.

Origami Dinosaurs. 978-1-68078-447-3.

Origami Farm Animals. 978-1-68078-448-0.

Origami Insects. 978-1-68078-449-7.

Origami Pets. 978-1-68078-450-3.

Origami Zoo Animals. 978-1-68078-451-0.

This series is a must-have for all school libraries where origami is popular! Each title presents several projects from easy to more complex (although none are tremendously difficult). One great strength of this series is its design: clean page layout, brightly colored lettering, and well organized directions. Beginning matter reviews basic folds, origami symbols, and special folds; back matter includes a glossary. Each animal is presented using a different color paper, so it’s very easy to see where one project finishes and a new one begins. Projects in Origami Zoo Animals include basic 6 step Friendly Fox, Slithering Snake, Trumpeting Elephant, Silly Seal, Diving Dolphin, and Striped Tiger, which is the most complicated with 24 steps and two colors of paper. This series is a great choice to refresh your origami section. THOUGHTS: Purchase where origami is popular or needs an update–highly enjoyable and well designed.

736; Origami          Lindsey Long, Lower Dauphin School District

 

Murray, Julie. US Landmarks. ABDO, 2017. 24 p. $19.00 ea., $114.00 set of 6. Gr. K-3.

Lincoln Memorial. 978-1-68080-911-4 .

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. 978-1-68080-912-1.

Mount Rushmore. 978-1-68080-913-8.

The Statue of Liberty. 978-1-68080-914-5.

United States Capitol. 978-1-68080-915-2.

The White House. 978-1-68080-916-9.

This basic series is solid but somewhat basic. The White House gives basic facts about the landmark, including location, basic history, and function (“The president lives in the White House,” and “It is in Washington, D.C.”). The photographs are colorful and the text includes a map showing the landmark’s location. Each book includes a Table of Contents, Index, and Glossary. This set would be excellent for use with beginning readers since there is spare text. One note: President Obama is shown as the president in many of the photographs, making the book seem a little dated for a 2017 publication date. THOUGHTS: A solid purchase.

970s, U.S. Government/History          Lindsey Long, Lower Dauphin School District

 

Kids Can Cook! Capstone Press, 2017. 32 p. $21.04 ea., $84.16 set of 4. Gr. 3-6.

Ventura, Marne. Bacon Artist: Savory Bacon Recipes. 978-1-51573-814-5.

Omoth, Tyler. Campfire Chef: Mouthwatering Campfire Recipes. 978-1-51573-813-8.

Ventura, Marne. Disgusting Eats: Nasty, but Tasty Recipes. 978-1-51573-812-1.

Omoth, Tyler. Grill Master: Finger-Licking Grilled Recipes. 978-1-51573-815-2.

Kids Can Cook! just may fill a void on your cookbook shelf–after all, who doesn’t love bacon? This series features several interesting titles for budding chefs. Bacon Artist has 12 mouth-watering recipes filled with bacon, from bacon cheddar dip to bacon quiche. There are snacks, side dishes, and main courses, along with information on different kinds of bacon, bacon cooking methods, and additional resources. The recipes are fairly straightforward but would definitely be most appropriate for upper-elementary level students with some cooking experience since some of them call for chopping or using the stove and oven. Large photographs show off the finished product opposite one page of directions. THOUGHTS: A fun series for experienced kid cooks.

641.5; Cooking     Lindsey Long, Lower Dauphin School District

 

Top Sports Tips. Capstone, 2017. $20.99ea. $125.94 set of 6. 32p. Gr. 3-8.

Rissman, Rebecca. Top Basketball Tips. 978-1-5157-4719-2.

Jones, Jen. Top Dance Tips. 978-1-5157-4724-6.

Schwartz, Heather E. Top Ice Hockey Tips. 978-1-5157-4723-9.

Hammelef, Danielle S. Top Soccer Tips. 978-1-5157-4722-2.

Rissman, Rebecca. Top Softball Tips. 978-1-5157-4721-5.

Schwartz, Heather E. Top Volleyball Tips. 978-1-5157-4720-8.

Some of today’s most popular sports are examined in Capstone’s new series Top Sports Tips. Each volume presents basic information on individual sports as well as tips designed to help competitors improve their skills. This reviewer had the opportunity to examine the Top Softball Tips volume.  After reviewing the basic rules of the game, the author presented training step-by-step stretching and strength training tips, illustrated with photos. Hitting tips, as well as fielding tips (with separate chapters on infielding and outfielding) were also included. Numerous drills that athletes could use to improve their play were also included throughout the text.  THOUGHTS: Each slim volume (only 32 pages) contains a lot of valuable training information appropriate for upper elementary and middle grade readers. The training tips presented were clearly explained and the drills presented were useful and only  required basic equipment and in some cases, a partner. The text was enhanced by the presence of photos that illustrated stretches and drills. Recommend to athletes looking to improve their play.

796; Sports      Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg School District

Nonfiction Grades 7 & up…Most Dangerous

Posted on by
Reply

mostdangerous

Sheinkin, Steve. Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsburg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War. Roaring Brook Press, 2015. 978-159643-9528 370p. $19.99. Gr. 7 and up.

How does an attitude shift? In the early 1960s, Daniel Ellsburg was a “cold warrior” dutifully working for the U.S. government as a data analyst and committed to defeating communism. Sheinkin shows how Ellsburg changed his point of view to become the leak of the Pentagon Papers, spearheaded by Henry Kissinger, “seven thousand pages of documentary evidence of lying, by four presidents and their administrations, over twenty years.” Ellsburg spent nearly two years in Vietnam collecting data to build the government’s case for war, but the hopelessness of the American position there, combined with the misrepresentation of the war’s “success”, gradually led Ellsburg to realize that the war was absolutely wrong on every level. The history is perfectly told in this new text.  Readers can understand the differing viewpoints and feel the explosion that is to come. THOUGHTS: Expertly researched and expertly told from start to finish this is a must have for all junior high and high school libraries.   

Fantastic, enthralling nonfiction that once again proves Sheinkin one of the best writers of YA nonfiction today, this story will help students to understand the background behind decades of complicated governmental actions. It will also push them to consider the current role of whistleblowers (Edward Snowden) and the support and backlash they receive. Students aren’t likely to know the name Daniel Ellsburg, but a solid push from librarians and teachers will get this into the right hands. This could be used in American History, AP Government, or Civics courses to explain the inner workings of government agencies and the “fall” of U.S. government’s trustworthiness in the eyes of the general public. An added bonus is that students can interview an older generation about their remembrances of the Vietnam era, Daniel Ellsburg, and/or the Pentagon Papers. This book has earned seven starred reviews, was a National Book Award finalist, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book, and a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year.  It is an excellent, eye-opening text on many levels.

959.7; Vietnam War    Melissa Scott, Shenango High School