Intrigue, clandestine deals, spies…this marvelously written and documented story of the shenanigans involved with a life-or-death game of keep-away is riveting. It all started when Otto Hahn, a German chemist, was starting a new experiment and placed uranium too close to a radioactive element and the uranium split. He could not believe his eyes. And loose lips in the scientific world spread the discovery worldwide. Hitler wanted that power. Roosevelt wanted that power. Both sides were willing to sabotage for it. My cousin shared the part that the Hanford scientists and workers had with Little Boy, but each department had no idea what the others were doing. Those parts were delivered to Los Alamos Bomb is a National Book Award finalist. It is just what educators are looking for in literary informational books for use in the Common Core curriculum.
Reviewer: Joan Enders, Robert A. Long High School http://bookbevy.wordpress.com
Sherman, M. Zachary TITLE: Emergency Ops RATING: R
Bloodlines series. This chapter book follows character Capt. Anne Donovan as she heads to the front lines in the Vietnam War as a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps. Capt. Donovan must learn to control her emotions amongst the carnage in order to help the wounded soldiers. The doctor in charge orders her out of the triage area and into the group that provides medical assistance to the locals. Capt. Donovan is enjoying the work until a huge battle at Hamburger Hill develops and she volunteers with Dr. Wood to help at the battlefield. There she encounters Bobby, one of the first soldiers she’d helped after arriving, who is dying because of his new wounds. After his death she truly learns what it takes to be a nurse on the frontlines. This engaging story contains full color illustrations, photographs and true fact boxes about the Vietnam War. Even though the main character is a girl, this will hold wide appeal to elementary and middle school students interested in military stories.
Shores, Erika L. TITLE: Silly Classroom Jokes RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Capstone Press, 2012 PRICE: $15.99
ISBN: 978-1-4296-7563-5 INTEREST LEVEL: K-3rd
ILLUSTRATOR: PAGES: 24
A fun little book of jokes is sure to please our students! The layout of speech bubbles and a matching picture is fun, and the jokes are perfect for elementary age students.
Reviewer: Nikki Williams, Castle Rock Elementary
Siegel, Randy TITLE: My Snake Blake RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Roaring Brook @ 2012 PRICE: 16.99
ISBN: 9781596435841 INTEREST LEVEL: 1st-3rd
ILLUSTRATOR: Serge Bloch PAGES: UNP
The main character boy receives a snake from his father as an early birthday. The mother is not delighted but accepts Blake, the snake, when she realizes how helpful Blake can be. Blake communicates by twisting his body into cursive letters and words. It really is a blast as the friendship grows. The illustrations champion Blake’s endeavors. I am wondering if the author remembers Tomi Ungerer’s 1958 Crictor about Madame Bodot who receives a snake from her son for her birthday.
Reviewer: Carol Steen, Columbia Valley Gardens Elementary
Siminovich, Lorena TITLE: Monkey See, look at Me! RATING: R PUBLISHER: Dial Books ã 2012 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3737-2 INTEREST LEVEL: Toddlers-Pre-K ILLUSTRATOR: same PAGES: 30
Look at me… How much of what we do is what we are? While this young children’s book is not a philosophy book, it was interesting to ask young children what they thought. If I hop really high does that make me a bunny? This book is to celebrate your individuality. The artwork is created by using digital collage. It has great textures that define the animals. I loved this book. It was a great educational tool.
REVIEWER: Tyra K. Smith, Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Simon, Seymour TITLE: Seymour Simon’s Extreme Earth Records RATING: R PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books PRICE: $17.99
Imagine yourself living in the hottest or coldest place on Earth. Or maybe the most remote place on Earth is where you would like to live. Simon’s book draws in the reader with his facts and way of making the reader think. He gives the scientific circumstances for these different phenomena and several pictures for each one. This is a fun book full of facts.
Simpson, Lesley TITLE: A Song for My Sister RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Random House PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 978-1-58246-427-5 INTEREST LEVEL: PreK-2 ILLUSTRATOR: Tatjana Mai-Wyss PAGES: 24
Mira’s new baby sister will not stop crying! Mira has long been wishing for a sister, but when the baby arrives, she is not quite what Mira expected. This is a story about a family adjusting to a new baby and how it affects the family’s dynamic. This story incorporates the Jewish religion and describes the baby’s simchat bat, her Jewish naming ceremony, and shows how Mira provides inspiration for her baby sister’s special name. This is a sweet and funny story that many older siblings can relate to.
REVIEWER: Rachel Kerker, St. Helens Elementary
Singer, Marilyn TITLE: A Strange Place to Call Home RATING:
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 978-1-4521-0120-0 INTEREST LEVEL: 2-6
ILLUSTRATOR: Young, Ed PAGES: Unpaged
Renowned poet, Marily Singer and Caldecott Medalist, Ed Young collaborate on a poetry book about the unlikely habitats some animals live in. From tube worms, to blind fish, to Humboldt Penguins, learn how these animals defy the odds to thrive in harsh conditions. Their stories of survival inspire and evoke further study. The illustrations done in paper collage, portray each animal highlighted within. Teachers and librarians will appreciate the end notes which include an extension of information about each animal ,as well as rhyme patterns used by the poet. The fusion of aesthetics and science is well done, leaving the reader intrigued and curious about each creature. Teachers could use this at the start of an animal or poetry unit.
REVIEWER: Katy Olson
Skog, Jason TITLE: Taking the Shot RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Compass Point Books, 2012 PRICE: $21.49
ISBN: 978-0-7565-4490-4 INTEREST LEVEL: 5th-Adult
ILLUSTRATOR: PAGES:
A series of three books titled, Photography for Teens, this volume focuses on Taking the Shot. It describes different types of digital cameras, their lenses, settings, and extra equipment. Helpful hints regarding aperture settings, timers, and special modes are all included. I will be recommending this book to my aspiring photographers and my classes that do a photography project. The other titles in this series, including Setting Up the Shot and Displaying the Shot will undoubtedly be as interesting and educational as this one.
Reviewer: Nikki Williams, Castle Rock Elementary
Slade, Arthur TITLE: Island of Doom, Hunchback Assignments 4 RATING: R
