Goldsmith, Connie TITLE: Traumatic brain injury, from concussion to coma RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Twenty-First Century Books, 2014 PRICE: Not given
ISBN: 978146771348 INTEREST LEVEL: 5-12
ILLUSTRATOR: NA PAGES: 88
As I’ve said before, I love Lerner books. This is no exception. As more is learned about the neuroscience of head injury, this is great resource to have in the library. Small and accessible, this book contains graphics, textboxes and insets, captions and bolded terms which all help to convey the seriousness of even simple bumps to the head. There are source notes at the end for the person who wants to know more, great photographs for the casual reader and glossary and “Further Information” sections for the student researcher. This book covers the science of traumatic brain injury on a neuron and synapse level, with personal narrative interspersed throughout to make them real. This is an interesting read for players or soldiers, bike riders or helmet wearers, of any kind. I enjoyed reading it and will be watching my head a little closer from no on! Reviewer: Lisa Sudar, Mark Morris High School
Goldsmith, Connie TITLE: Bombs Over Bikini RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Twenty-First Century Books 2014 PRICE: $29.58
ISBN: 9780467716123 INTEREST LEVEL: 9-12
ILLUSTRATOR: NA PAGES: 88
In a race to make and test nuclear arms, the United States detonated sixty-seven bombs near Bikini and Enewetak Atolls. One of the bombs caused immense damage to the land and people due to a cloud that spread the toxic radiation over the land. The testing was suppose to help the United States advance their understanding and knowledge of nuclear bombs and the effects they would have on the areas surrounding the bomb sites.
Instead, there were many residents that suffered various cancers, radiation burns and birth defects. The United States provided relocation for all of the island people and gave them some compensation. In return they agreed to not seek more money for any further damage.
First hand accounts tell of the horror and damage they faced and are still facing from a period in history they had no control over. Was it worth the pain and suffering to test the bombs to further science? The author presents all the facts and asks the reader to decide.
REVIEWER: Tina Campbell, Toutle Lake JR/SR High School
Hayes, Geoffrey TITLE: Benny & Penny in Just Pretend RATING: R PUBLISHER: CW Press, 2008 PRICE: $4.99
ISBN: 9781935179269 INTEREST LEVEL: Pre-K-2nd ILLUSTRATOR: NA PAGES: 32
This is from Toon in Reading. This is rated at a level 2 in complexity. These comics are filled with short sentences and repetition. There are 1 to 4 panels per page. Benny wants to be a pirate, and his little sister wants to play too. Benny doesn’t want her to play, however when Penny saves him from a bug and Benny learns her worth. Hug this cartoon story like Benny and Penny and enjoy.
REVIEWER: Tyra K~Smith, LCC Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Hayes, Geoffrey TITLE: Benny & Penny in the Toy Breaker RATING: R PUBLISHER: CW Press, 2010 PRICE: $4.99
ISBN: 9781935179283 INTEREST LEVEL: Pre-K-2nd ILLUSTRATOR: NA PAGES: 32
These books are cartoon books that are created to introduce little children to cartoon literacy. This book is rated as a level 2 in complexity. Bo is a problem, he is a toy breaker. How do you solve this problem? Do you hide every toy in the house, or do you come up with a solution? Follow the two cousins to a solution on what do you do with a toy breaker.
REVIEWER: Tyra K~Smith, LCC Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Hayes, Geoffrey TITLE: Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! RATING: A PUBLISHER: Toon book (Candlewick), 2009 PRICE: $4.99
This Toon into reading! Level 2 title is designed using easy comics of one to four panels per page to attract and encourage emerging readers with a limited numbers of words, short sentences, frequent repetition, and few characters. Two young mouse siblings imagine a scary new neighbor beyond their backyard fence, and sneak into the neighbor’s yard believing the young mole is a pail thief, before they realize they have mistakenly grabbed her pail and started a mud fight that made her cry. Apologies and more mud figure in their new friendship. A fairly slight story is nicely illustrated, but reinforces that girls cry and like flowers, (ok, and boys cry, too).
This is the third book in the Hero’s Guide series. Each book stands alone with a trailer to pull the reader into looking for the next book. Four princes are main characters of fairy tale kingdoms. They set out to prove their innocence in the muder of Briar Rose. Their pictures are on wanted posters all around the kingdoms. In come Snow White, Rapunzel and Cinderella to add to the suspense and humor to the tale. While trying to find out what has happened to Briar Rose, the princes discover a plot to take over all thirteen kingdoms. Young readers will enjoy the humor and misdeeds of the characters even though there are many pages to this book.
REVIEWER: Ginny Flegel, Beacon Hill Elementary
Henkes, Kevin TITLE: The year of Billy Miller RATING: A
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books, 2013 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 9780063368136 INT. LEV: gr3-4
ILLUSTRATOR: PAGES: 229
Billy is beginning second grade with concerns and fears wondering if he is smart enough. His teacher reassures him and his
year begins positively. Each situation of the book focuses on a member of his family; his father, sister, and his mother. Billy
tells how he relates to each member with life stories. His father saves his habitat project after his sister glitters his bat cave.
His annoyance with his 3-year old sister all changes when he becomes the hero when he goes to her room to quiet the activity
from a noisy event. His mom is his focus of a 2nd grade final poem project.
It seems all the events for Billy Miller are typical of an 8-year old and many second grader readers will relate.
REVIEWER: Debbie Johnson, Wallace Elementary School, Kelso, WA
ISBN: 9780547773575 INTEREST LEVEL: Pre-K-2nd ILLUSTRATOR: Joy Ang PAGES: 35
Is behavior all in the mustache? AHH the baby is born with a mustache! What are the parents going to do? Then the nurse and says that it depends on whether it is a good-guy or a bad-guy mustache. It seems as if the parents for a few months are lucky with a good-guy mustache. He is a ringleader a Spanish painter, a sword fighter, and a cowboy, but the day comes when they find out the truth the mustache has turned Billy to a life of crime. He became a cat burglar, and cereal criminal, and train robber even taking the tracks, but when he robs a bank a piggy bank and tries to make his get-away his mom throws him in Jail (ie. his bed.) After he has time to reflect on his behavior, his mother busts him out of jail, and there is a knock at the door it’s the neighbor boy...with a full beard! The illustrations are very comical and adorable. This is a great blend of text and illustration.
REVIEWER: Tyra K~Smith, LCC Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Hills, Tad TITLE: Duck & Goose go to the beach RATING: R
Duck wants to go away on an adventure, but Goose does not. He likes being close. Duck spotted the ocean and wanted
to go to the beach. At the beach Duck did not like the loudness nor the sand. But Goose wanted to go swimming. He wanted
to explore the sea creatures and meet new bird friends. Duck was reluctant. After their day of adventures they walked
back to their meadow and watch the sun set.
The characters are so adorable and simple they capture the reader.
REVIEWER: Debbie Johnson, Wallace Elementary School, Kelso, WA
Himmelman, John TITLE: Duck to the Rescue RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2014 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 9780805094855 INTEREST LEVEL: PreK-3rd
ILLUSTRATOR: Himmelman, John PAGES: 32
What a delightful book! Every elementary library needs to add this to their collection! Duck is always there to help as best he can, however, in his attempts he is usually the one that ends up needing rescued. In the end, little lamb has “lost” his two cupcakes. (He has made it very easy for Duck to be the hero as lamb has placed signs leading to the cupcakes and holds the rest of the animals back from helping.) When Duck finds the lost treasure he and little lamb enjoy some time together eating their cupcakes. This is a very simple, but sweet, sweet story! The empathy which little lamb demonstrates can’t be confused even by the youngest children. The book also uses days of the week as the story progresses and could be used as a nice learning tool. The pictures are great! I especially loved when Duck was irritated by the crow and his response. You can feel Duck’s many emotions through the illustrations! Wonderful book! Himmelman is also the author/illustrator of other such books with Chickens, Cows and Pigs as the main characters!
Fans of “Sheep” will love the sequel “Wolf” just as much. Jack is an older Border Collie that loves his home on a farm where
he keeps a flock of sheep safe. A story within a story is told about an old wild wolf. In the adventure 2 sheep are lost and Jack
is unsure what happened. Also, Jack and Luke are competing in a fair for the herding ribbon. Jack earns the smaller ribbon and
not the biggest one, much to Luke’s disappointment. Jack and Luke go after the wolf. When they confront the old wolf Jack
fights him. He must protect Luke after he falls and breaks his leg. The book ends with the dying of the old wolf.
REVIEWER: Debbie Johnson, Wallace Elementary School, Kelso, WA
Holm, Jennifer TITLE: Happy Birthday Babymouse RATING: A PUBLISHER: Random House, 2014 PRICE: $6.99
ISBN: 9780307931610 pbk INTEREST LEVEL: Gr 2-5 ILLUSTRATOR: Matthew Holm PAGES: 95
Graphic story Babymouse #18, has our hero planning an over-the-top birthday party for herself to overcome the flops of recent years, but her nemesis Felicia is planning a party for the same day that surpasses hers in every detail. Some friends eventually make her feel better, but Babymouse’s self-centered meltdown isn’t particularly endearing.
REVIEWER: Carol Blix, Cathlamet Public Library
Holt, Kimberly Willis TITLE: Dinner with the Highbrows RATING: A
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Company 2014 PRICE: $17.99
ISBN: 9780805080889 INTEREST LEVEL: K-4th
ILLUSTRATOR: Brooker, Kyrsten PAGES: 30
When Bernard is invited to dinner by another family, his mother makes sure he will use all the right manners. His hosts take him out to a spaghetti dinner and surprise him when their manners are sadly lacking. The story uses humor to inform simple ideas of table manners. Many of our children need this carefully camouflaged instruction. I can see many uses for this book in our school.
Reviewer: Rhonda Lowe, Castle Rock Elementary
Holub, Joan TITLE: Mighty Dads RATING: A
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press, 2014 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 9780545609685 INTEREST LEVEL: Ages 2-5 ILLUSTRATOR: James Dean PAGES: UNP
This book may take some discussion to help the children understand the title. The author uses large pieces of equipment as the Dad and a smaller one for the child. Children will enjoy entering in as they learn about the different pieces of equipment and the job of each. This would find a better home in a preschool setting.
REVIEWER: Ginny Flegel, Beacon Hill Elementary
Horender, Phillip M. TITLE: A Brave New Mouse RATING: R PUBLISHER : Abdo PRICE: $NA ISBN: 978-1-61641-961-5 INTEREST LEVEL: 3rd-5th ILLUSTRATOR: Guy Wolek PAGES: 112
Maximilian P. Mouse used a time machine to go back in time. This time he went back to a ship in the year 1920. The ship is full of immigrants making their way to Ellis Island. He meets a little girl along the way and they help each other from being afraid. He is amazed at how beautiful Ellis Island is. He sees what process these immigrants must go through to be able to stay in America. He then prepares himself to travel home to the year 2013. There is a crack in his time machine; will he make it back home safely? This is book 5 in the series Maximilian P. Mouse, Time Traveler.
REVIEWER: Tracy Robinson, Robert Gray Elementary
Horning, Sandra TITLE: Chicks! RATING: R PUBLISHER: Random House, 2013 PRICE: $3.99
ISBN: 9780307932211 INTEREST LEVEL: Pre-K-1st ILLUSTRATOR: Jon Goodell PAGES: 32
This is from Step into Reading. This is rated at a Step 1 in complexity. This is a non-fiction book about raising chicks. The family brings the chicks home from the farm and they raise these chicks from childhood into young adulthood. Follow along in this easy read book; it will make any new reader feel successful.
REVIEWER: Tyra K~Smith, LCC Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Horvath, Polly TITLE: Lord & Lady Bunny – Almost Royalty! RATING: A
This is the adventure of a human named Madeline who knows how to speak bunny and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. Mr. and Mrs. Bunny decide they want to go to England to have tea with the queen. Madeline’s mad-cap parents come into lots of money and also decide to go to England. Madeline wished to put some of the money in her college fund but finds it was all spent on the cruise. Her parents inherit a candy shop and with the bunnies, they earn money to get back home. I struggle while reading this book and I think that young readers will, too. It really did not have enough to hook me and I wasn’t thrilled with the bunnies and their attitudes. Not keeping for my library.
REVIEWER: Ginny Flegel, Beacon Hill Elementary
Jackson, Alison TITLE: When the wind blew RATING: R PUBLISHER: Christy Ottaviano Books, 2014 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 9780805086881 INTEREST LEVEL: K - 3
ILLUSTRATOR: Doris Barrette PAGES: 32
An unruly wind provides the opportunity for the old woman who lived in a shoe and her children to help set the woes of babies in broken boughs and other characters aright in this delightful nursery-rhyme mash-up. It starts with the baby in the treetop and ends Old King Cole in a moral tale about the importance of family over things that can be broken or lost. The illustrations are beautiful as is the message. Children who may have learned the nursery rhymes will enjoy predicting which nursery rhyme character the old woman and her children will help next. The prose is lyrical and the kindergartners who heard this story were instantly engaged.
REVIEWER: Jodi Kruse, R. A. Long High School, http://krusereviews.wordpress.com
Jarrow, Gail TITLE: Red madness RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Calkins Creek, 2014 PRICE: $16.95
ISBN: 9781590787328 INTEREST LEVEL: 8-12
ILLUSTRATOR: NA PAGES: 192
Although there is no illustrator listed, this book does not lack for pictures! The entire book is set in red, white and black and the many black and white photographs are striking and disturbing. Pellagra, also known as the “four D’s” for diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia and death” was unknown in the US at the beginning of the 20th century, but by 1902 it made its insidious appearance and by 1913 it was considered a “plague.” Germ theory was “new” and there was no system in place for finding cures. Because it was more prevalent where people ate corn, it was thought to be “caught” from fermenting or moldy corn. Poor people were especially susceptible and springtime was worse for initial outbreak of symptoms, but it took until 1914 for a certain Dr. Goldberger to head to the South and begin experiments in improved diet that would change the way we look at diet and disease. This book is a medical mystery, dealing with a problem we find amazing in a time of vitamin pills and stores filled with varieties of food. But this book reminds us of how we learned of these issues, often at the expense of the poor who suffered most, and became educated and overcome prejudice and ignorance. It is also interesting to note that native peoples who subsisted on a corn diet used preparation methods that released the niacin which is missing nutrient that causes pellagra. This treatment shows the use of scientific inquiry to solve a problem, as well as how prejudice can hinder finding solutions. Chapter notes in the back of the book are helpful and give good source notes. Fascinating and sobering; this is a good medical mystery book. Reviewer: Lisa Sudar, Mark Morris High School
Jenkins, Steven TITLE: Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World RATING: R
Another book by Jenkins and his perspective using small bits about how many animals see the world. Sometimes the information can be hard to relate to the picture, however, and I can see this book as sharing in parts if students are working on animals or relating to other studies like humans. His illustrations using collage are again interesting and I like that there is extra information (if only a little) in the back of the book.
REVIEWER: Ginny Flegel, Beacon Hill Elementary
Johnson, Florence TITLE: The Christmas ABC RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Golden Book, 1962 PRICE: $3.99
ISBN: 9780307978912 INT. LEV: Gr2-3
ILLUSTRATOR: Eloise Wilkin PAGES: <22>
I think Eloise Wilkin’s illustration of children melt my heart. These Golden Book stories take me back to my childhood
when these filled my bookshelves. The Christmas ABC is filled with poems for each letter about Christmas and adorable,
colorful illustrations enhance the rich text.
$3.99 is the price, buy two and give them as gifts.
REVIEWER: Debbie Johnson, Wallace Elementary School, Kelso, WA
Jones, Gareth P. TITLE: The Ultimate Dragon Warrior, Outback Attack RATING: R
Our four intrepid Meerkats are at it again in the 7th and 8th installments of the Ninja Meerkats series. In The Ultimate Dragon Warrior, the Clan of the Scorpion is invited to mysterious Dragon Island to compete in the Ultimate Dragon Warrior Contest. Action involves a volcano, a special flower that causes disorientation and of course, a plan to take over the world by their arch-enemy, the “Ringleader”. In Outback Attack our ninja friends go to Australia where they team up with Bruce’s sister to find a kidnapped professor. Naturally, the “Ringleader” makes an appearance. I love the Ninja Meercat series. They are fast, funny and full of heart. They set a good example for kids by modeling honesty and honorable actions. Most of all, they are fun to read and perfect for our struggling and reluctant readers.
Reiewer: Rhonda Lowe, Castle Rock Elementary
Jordan, Mary Ellen TITLE: Lazy Daisy, Cranky Frankie RATING: R PUBLISHER: Albert Whitman & Com., 2013 PRICE: $15.99
ISBN: 9780807544006 INTEREST LEVEL: Pre-K-2nd ILLUSTRATOR: Andrew Weldon PAGES: 21
Life on the farm is not what you might expect. The cow called Daisy is to lazy, the pig called Nancy is too fancy, and the chicken called Lizzie is too busy, but they are all good at sleeping. I loved this book and it is a great rea-aloud. This perfect book to encourage children to go to sleep at night, but also to read to a classroom! The illustrations are dynamic and the facial features of the carton really fit the characters personality.
REVIEWER: Tyra K~Smith, LCC Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Kallen, Stuart TITLE: K-POP: Korea'smusical explosion RATING: A
PUBLISHER: Lerner Publishing, 2014 PRICE: $15.99
ISBN: 9781467720427 INTEREST LEVEL: 6-12
ILLUSTRATOR : NA PAGES: 64
For anyone who is interested in "current" music history, this is a good read. It follows the emergence of "K-Pop" in the summer of 2012. There are many color photographs that accompany the facts of each section. It traces the roots of rock and roll in Korea in the 80's to the present.phenom which is K-POP. In the Lerner style there are many inset boxes, captions and bolded headings to make the facts more accessible to the casual reader or the student researcher. It highlights individuals who were players in this musical development, and it also highlights what was going on the world while this music evolved. This is NOT my style of music, but it is wildly popular in its own right and this is a good resource if you have any interest in this style of music. Once again, Lerner non-fiction does not disappoint. Reviewer: Lisa Sudar, Mark Morris High School
Kelly, David A. TITLE: The Missing Marlin – Ballpark Mysteries #8 RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Random House, 2014 PRICE: $4.99
ISBN: 9780307977823 INTEREST LEVEL: 2nd-4th
ILLUSTRATOR: Meyers, Mark PAGES: 105
I absolutely love Kelly’s Ballpark Mysteries series! They are interesting, make the reader think and give enlightening information about some of the great ballparks in our country. This one finds cousins, Kate and Mike, helping solve the mystery of fish tanks at the Miami Marlin’s ballpark. Of course, they put their super sleuthing skills to work and help their Uncle Oliver figure out what is going on with the fish tanks he cares for behind home plate. Grayscale images throughout the book help the emerging reader’s imagination as they try and solve the mystery themselves.
