PUBLISHER: Spotlight Books, 2011 PRICE: $
ISBN: 978-1-59961-945-3 INTEREST LEVEL: 3-8
ILLUSTRATOR: Scot Eaton PAGES: UNP
This is a book written for boys in comic book style. It is a story about some bad guys wanting to make a godlike creature out of technical and divine
qualities. They want to use Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man, as the vessel for his creation but wind up using the High Evolutionary, a big guy
in the bad people world, as the vessel for the new god. The story is about the battle that ensues.
REVIEWER: Holly James, Barnes Elementary School, Kelso, WA
Achebe, Chinua TITLE: How the leopard got his claws RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press, 2011 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4805-3 INTEREST LEVEL: 3rd-5th
ILLUSTRATOR: Mary Grandpre PAGES: 36
Many lessons are to be learned from “How the Leopard Got His Claws.” In a classic fable format, this text tales of how the animals at one time all lived in peace, but although they were at one time loyal to their leader, the leopard, they quickly turn on him because they were cowards. Leopard then sets out to gain claws, fierce teeth and a growl that would sound like thunder and return to his animals. When he returns they wonder why he has changed. This tale demonstrates reasoning for liberation and justice but within the confines of the animal world. This would make a great topic of discussion for why beings make the choices they make and why some people might appear mean when in reality they are just leveling the playing field. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful and dramatic and a great companion with the text. I would highly recommend this book.
Reviewer: Angie Boyer-Blum, Carrolls Elementary School
Aitken, Stephen TITLE: Fever in the Oceans RATING: A
PUBLISHER: Magic Wagon, 2012 PRICE: ?
ISBN: 978-1-61641-672-0 INTERET LEVEL: Gr. 2-5
ILLUSTRATOR: Stephen Aitken PAGES: 32
This is one book of five in a series called Climate Change. It deals with the temperature changes rising all around the world due to climate change. It discusses the effects on plants and animals alike and also includes Cool and Hot Facts of what we can do as a people to help solve the problem. I like the information that is presented as it is in simple text and straight forward. But I am not sure if the illustrations will catch the attention of most readers. I almost feel like having some authentic photographs of the situations presented versus the drawings included might actually help young readers become believers easier. I would be interested in seeing the rest of the series.
Reviewer: Ginny Flegel, Beacon Hill Elementary
Alko, Selina TITLE: Every-Day Dress-Up RATING: AD
PUBLISHER: Alfred A Knopf; 2011 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 978-375-86092-8 INTEREST LEVEL: 1st-4th
ILLUSTRATOR: Selina Alko PAGES:
This is a nice story about a little girl who use to only dress up like a princess until her mother began showing her pictures and reading her stories about great historical women. Each day of the week the little girl dresses up as a different woman and we learn a little about each woman. As I was reading I was wishing that the story about each woman was a little more informative, but then I saw that the last two pages of the book contain simple biographies. This is a good book to spark interest about famous women or so use as a biography lesson, even though the book is not considered nonfiction. The illustrations are colorful and provide a kid friendly accurate portrayal of each woman.
REVIEWER: Holly James, Barnes Elementary School, Kelso, WA
Allen, Kathy TITLE: Giant Pandas in a Shrinking Forest RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Fact Finders/Capstone Press ã 2011 PRICE: $ NA
ISBN: 978-1-4296-5401-2 INTEREST LEVEL: 4th – 6th
PHOTOGRAPHER: Various PAGES: 32
As part of Fact Finders’ ‘Animals on the Edge’ series, this book delves into the danger of extinction that the Giant Panda faces and why. The chapter titles themselves reveal much: Disappearing Giant Pandas, A Human Threat, Saving the Giant Panda and The Giant Panda’s Future. With maps, informational bubbles and sidebars on many pages, the reader gains a multitude of information about the Giant Panda and their fight for survival. The many full-color photos are a great portrait into their struggles. A ‘Life in the Bamboo Forests’ chart, Resources to Help Pandas page, Glossary, Read More/Internet Sites page and an Index are included at the back.
REVIEWER: Jill Buccola, Olympic Elementary School
Alvarez, Julia TITLE: How tia Lola ended up starting over RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knoph, 2011 PRICE: $15.99
ISBN: 978-0-375-86914-3 INTEREST LEVEL: 3RD-5TH
ILLUSTRATOR: PAGES: 145
The last in the Tia Lola series, this book is as delightful as the others. If there is a problem to solve Tia Lola will absolutely at the center of the solution. Victor’s family has moved to Vermont and needs a place to stay, and Victor needs a job. Tia Lola has an idea to open up a B&B at the Colonel’s house and that can help bring in income for Victor’s family. Everybody must pitch in to help to make it a success. What Tia Lola doesn’t know is that someone is out to sabotage the project. As with the other books, this one is full of excitement, suspense and of course, love. The characters have grown and continue to do so in this volume. This makes a great family read aloud. I would highly recommend it.
Reviewer: Angie Boyer-Blum, Carrolls Elementary School
Armstrong, Matthew TITLE: Jane & Mizmow RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Harper @ 2011 PRICE: 16.99
ISBN: 9780061177194 INTEREST LEVEL: Pkdg-2nd
ILLUSTRATOR: Matthew Armstrong PAGES: UNP
Matthew Armstrong has created with text and illustrations a most fabulous picture book at times with illustrations only. The brief text allows the reader to be drawn in when necessary. Jane discovers a hat while sitting under a tree in the autumn. As soon as she shakes the hat to find out the contents who should appear but Mizmow, a furry thingamajing with a very long tongue. It is love a first sight for both of them. Their fun together seems like it will never end. A disagreement briefly puts them at odds but all’s well that ends well.
Reviewer: Carol Steen, Columbia Valley Gardens Elementary
Ashman, Linda TITLE: Samantha on a Roll RATING: RPUBLISHER: Margaret Ferguson Books/Farrar Straus Giroux PRICE: $ 16.99
ISBN: 978-0-374-36399-4 INTEREST LEVEL: K- 3
ILLUSTRATOR: Christine Davenier PAGES: UNP
Samantha, Sammy, is not listening to her mother. In rhyme, Sammy decides to strap on her new skates and try them out in her home. After she
feels a bit comfortable, she decides to head outside and hit the streets…she thinks her mother would not mind. Of COURSE her mom would mind
but she is doing other things in the house and didn’t notice her absence. Sammy winds up at the top of Hawthorn Hill and what a destructive ride
ensues. Past the kids playing ball, a wedding and a parade she goes out of control the entire way until she lands in a tree and sneaks inside where
her mother finds her reading a book in the nick of time. This book could be read by a beginning reader or be used a picture book read by an adult.
This is silly, nicely illustrated book and has a lesson as well… LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER!
REVIEWER: Holly James, Barnes Elementary School, Kelso, WA
Auch, Alison TITLE: All About Temperatures RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Pebble Plus/Capstone Press ã 2011 PRICE: $ NA
ISBN: 978-1-4296-6608-4 INTEREST LEVEL: K – 2nd
PHOTOGRAPHER: Various PAGES: 24
Part of Pebble Plus’s ‘Physical Science’ series this book introduces facts about temperature with sections titled: What Is Temperature?, How a Thermometer Works, and Celsius and Fahrenheit. With easy-to-understand large-type text and big full-color photos, this book would be a great plus in lower grade level classrooms for temperature introduction. A double-page spread in the back gives directions on how to build your own thermometer at home. A Glossary page, Read More/Internet Sites page and an Index are at the back.
REVIEWER: Jill Buccola, Olympic Elementary School
Auxier, Jonathan TITLE: Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes RATING: R PUBLISHER: Amulet Books PRICE: 16.95
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0025-5 INTEREST LEVEL: 5-8 ILLUSTRATOR: Jonathan Auxier PAGES: 381
Boys are going to love this book! Peter is a blind orphan who was found floating in the ocean eyeless. His eyes were pecked out by a raven. He spends his life working as a thief for a man that treats him horribly. One day he steals a box that has three pairs of eyes from a mysterious traveler. After slipping on one pair into his empty eye sockets, Peter is instantly transported to an unknown island. This is where the adventure and quest begins. Peter goes from being a thief to the kingdom-rescuer. This is a book that children are going to want to read.
REVIEWER: Lonni Tegelberg, Cascade Middle School
Baltzer, Rochelle TITLE: Volcanoes RATING: R
PUBLISHER: ABDO Publishing, 2012 PRICE: ?
ISBN: 978-1-61783-035-8 INTERST LEVEL: Gr. 2-5
ILLUSTRATOR: PAGES: 32
This is a book in the 6-part series called Natural Disasters. The two-page layout of each section is easy to read with large text, bolded vocabulary words and photographs to accompany the facts. The natural flow of the book works well and keeps the readers attention throughout. There is also an index and glossary to use. This would be a great book to have on the shelf for those students who are just beginning research activities. I can see the whole series as a wonderful addition to the science section of a school’s library.
Reviewer: Ginny Flegel, Beacon Hill Elementary
Banks, Kate TITLE: This Baby RATING: A
PUBLISHER: Francis Foster Books 2011 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 978-0-374-37514-0 INTEREST LEVEL: PreK – 4
ILLUSTRATOR: Gabi Swiatkowska PAGES: 16
I was not too sure if I liked this book. As Mama is knitting clothes for her soon-to-be-born baby, her young daughter has many questions: will this baby like red boots, the stars, the sea, will the baby like me? The story line was good and the illustrations are warm and friendly but I did not like the font used on the page and the pages seemed crowded. It would be a good book for toddlers with a sibling on the way. The book did not answer any of the child’s questions, or offer reassurance to the toddler.
Reviewer: Jaime Meadows, Lower Columbia College
Barrett, Tracy TITLE: The Missing Heir RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Parachute Publishing/Henry Holt ã 2011 PRICE: $ 15.99
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8047-6 INTEREST LEVEL: 4th – 6th
ILLUSTRATOR: Richard Carbajal PAGES: 172
Xena and Xander get wrapped up in another investigation when a girl at their school, who is a princess of a foreign country and soon to be crowned, goes missing. The days leading up to her disappearance are mysterious as the girl, Alice, had just recently sought the Holmes’ help in figuring out the meaning of some old letters she found hidden in a dresser. A note left leads the police to believe she ran away, but Xena and Xander think differently – they think she’s been kidnapped! She’s to be crowned on her thirteenth birthday, so they only have 4 days to figure out if she’s truly been kidnapped and what that might mean for her country. The police don’t seem to be thinking along those lines, so the Holmes’ turn to the Society for the Preservation of Famous Detectives (SPFD) and to their ancestor, Sherlock Holmes, for help. Sherlock worked on a similar kidnapping case for the Queen of that country and was never able to solve the case, but left notes in his cold case notebook. Will they be able to find Alice with the help of the notebook and the SPFD? Fans of the first three installments in this series will speed read through this enjoyable fourth book.
REVIEWER: Jill Buccola, Olympic Elementary School
Bass, Guy TITLE: Dinkin Dings RATING: A
PUBLISHER: Grosset & Dunlap PRICE: 4.99
ISBN: 9780448454337 INTEREST LEVEL: 2nd-5th
ILLUSTRATOR: Pete Williamson PAGES: 128
Dinkin Dings is indescribably frightened of tidal waves, tornadoes and dinosaurs. He locks himself to his bed so he won’t be able to leave the house. His parents are in a panic over Dinkin’s behavior. Dinkin agrees to go to the park with his parents. Dinkin’s dad lets Dinkin wear his new glasses which makes Dinkin feel safe because everything is blurred. When they arrive home, Dinkin’s worst fears are realized. His twin walks through a mirror into his bedroom from Dimension 9. Monster, Ghost, and Skeleton try to help but they only come out at night. In paperback with lots of font changes, illustrations and energy, this will appeal to reluctant readers.
Reviewer: Carol Steen, Columbia Valley Gardens Elementary
Bates, Sonja TITLE: Smuggler’s Cave RATING: R PUBLISHER: Ocra Book PRICE: $6.95ISBN: 978-1-55469-308-5 INTEREST LEVEL: 2nd-3rd ILLUSTRATOR: Charko, Kasia PAGES: 57
Jake and his cousin Lexie were always competing in one race or another. Lexie challenged Jake to a race in their boats to Smuggler’s Cave. They both got sucked into the cave and the tide was coming back in and soon they would be submerged in water. They do find another way out though. Quick read, with quite a lot of action.
REVIEWER: Tracy Robinson, Kessler Elementary
Becker, Bonny TITLE: Sniffles for bear RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press, 2011 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 9780763647568 INT. LEVEL: 2
ILLUSTRATOR: Kady MacDonald PAGES: <2>
Bear had a terrible cold. He claimed to his friend Mouse that he was dying. Mouse tried to cure him by reading a
story and singing a song. Mouse made soup, still bear claimed he was deathly ill. Ear had mouse write his will. So
after bear fell asleep, resting and snoring for a long while he felt better. Beat, alas, mouse was then ill. Bear put him to bed, brought him soup until mouse fell asleep.