Reviewer: Carol Steen, Columbia Valley Gardens Elementary
Covell, David TITLE: Rat and Roach RATING: M
PUBLISHER: Viking @ 2012 PRICE: 12.99
ISBN: 9780670014095 INTEREST LEVEL: 3rd-6th
ILLUSTRATOR: PAGES: UNP
Rat and Roach are best friends until Rat lets a stink bomb or Roach makes their home too pretty. Then they give each other the silent treatment. A little too creepy for the primary grades and too brief for upper elementary; I am not sure of the intended audience. The illustrations are great but I don’t think Mr. Covell has found his niche. Perhaps, a cartoon strip with Rat and Roach as the main characters displaying their daily antics, would be more productive and profitable.
Reviewer: Carol Steen, Columbia Valley Gardens Elementary
Crockett, S. D. TITLE: After The Snow RATING: M
PUBLISHER: Macmillan 2012 PRICE: $16.99
ISBN: 9780312641696 INTEREST: 9-12
ILLUSTRATOR: NA PAGES: 288
Ice and snow is the only world Willo has ever known. His family moved out of the city to avoid total government control. Willo has learned to live off the land, hunting and trapping. He loves his life, until he returns home to find his family gone. Leaving all he knows, Willo loads supplies and heads deep in the hills to try and figure out what to do next. “After the Snow” is a story of the struggle to survive, when the government and ruthless bands of gangs are determined to destroy your life and make you dependent on them, or worse yet, kill you.
This was the most difficult book to read. It is written from Willo’s perspective, making him seem illiterate and unlearned.
REVIEWER: Tina Campbell, Toutle Lake JR/SR High School
Dahl, Michael TITLE: Frio, Mas Frio, Muy Frio/Cold, Colder, Coldest RATING: R PUBLISHER: Capstone 2012 PRICE:
ISBN: 978-1-4048-7316-2 INTEREST LEVEL: Pre-K-2nd ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Jensen PAGES: 24
This book is part of series books that introduce students to the different extremes that animals can live in. In this book, we are shown the extreme from cold to the coldest temperatures. This is book has been translated into Spanish making this book bi-lingual. I like the idea for cold to coldest language for very young children and the temperature information for older children. In a classroom with very young children the thermometer would have to be pre-taught. This would be a great addition to a temperature project or study. The illustrations are simple, great for young children.
REVIEWER: Tyra K. Smith, Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Dashner, John TITLE: The Kill Order RATING: R+
PUBLISHER: Delacorte, 2012 PRICE: $17.99
ISBN: 978-0-385-74288-7 INTEREST LEVEL: Gr. 9-adult
ILLUSTRATOR: same PAGES: 329
Finally we have the answer to: How did Thomas get to The Glade? Like the rest of the series, no happy tale. It has been four years since The Maze Runner was published, and to this day, all 12 of my library’s copies are checked out with “holds” on the book. The two sequels, The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure, are going home with students whose purchase of antacids are leaving store owners perplexed. Such tension-filled books! There is no relief in the prequel to the trilogy. Sun flares have scorched the earth and melted people. Our teen hero and heroine, Mark and Trina, are surviving as best they can. They join forces with a no-nonsense military man, Alec, who saves their hides so many times that they will never repay him. There are horrors everywhere in New York City, and they finally find a way to escape to the Appalachian Mountains hoping that the countryside is cooler and calmer. Instead they land in the middle of the kill order that makes no sense, and that goes extremely wrong. Another nail biter, and all my library’s copies are, ahem, checked out.
Reviewer: Joan Enders, Robert A. Long High School http://bookbevy.wordpress.com
Deen, Marilyn TITLE: Taking Shape RATING: A+
PUBLISHER: Capstone Press, 2012 PRICE: $15.99
ISBN: 978-1-4296-8631-0 INTEREST LEVEL: K-2nd
ILLUSTRATOR: PAGES: 18
Using items found in everyday life, this book discusses many different shapes. Pictures help to further the reader’s knowledge on the subject. A glossary, extension activity and internet sites are also included in the back of the book. This book would be a great starting point in discussing shapes with young children, and encourage them to look for shapes in their everyday lives also!
A perfect informational read for those who love winter and the snow! Colorful photographs and diagrams describe how the earth’s path around the sun influences the seasons and creates the wonder of winter. Interesting facts about what the earth looks like in winter are written under bold headings and teaches readers about why certain things happen in the winter. This book is a great non-fiction read to teach youngsters about the season of winter.
REVIEWER: Rachel Kerker, St. Helens Elementary
Delaney, M.C. TITLE: Obi: Gerbil on a Mission! RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Dial/Penguin ã 2012 PRICE: $ 16.99
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3727-3 INTEREST LEVEL: 3rd – 5th
ILLUSTRATOR: Same PAGES: 199
In Obi’s second book, she has some new competition for her human mother’s (Rachel) affections. It’s Rachel’s birthday and the present from her parents is a…PUPPY! When Rachel spends more time with the new addition than with Obi, Obi devises a plan to rid the room of the pesky critter. But her plan sets the puppy loose outside the house and he runs off. Rachel is miserable and sad, and Obi is too. She feels so bad for being the cause of Rachel’s unhappiness and she is actually worried about pup Kenobi. But how can a little gerbil venture into the great outdoors and find a slobbery lost puppy? Will Obi be able to survive her adventure, and will she be able to make things right for Rachel and Kenobi? This is a fun story from the perspective of a gerbil. Fans of Delaney’s first book about Obi will enjoy revisiting her world.
There is a lot of information packed into this little book. It takes the reader throughout the year, using the Sonoran Desert as the example. There is a nice follow-up activity which encourages the reader to go back and utilize the information in the book again. A glossary located in the back of the book compliments the information and defines the bold-faced words from the book. Brightly colored pictures on each page give the reader a visual of the information.
Believe it or not fruit needs a definition for young children. They need to be able to recognize their different shapes, colors, and their ways of growing. This book could be a great addition to a nutrition unit for the pre-schoolers or the kindergartener. The photos were well done and easy to see. The size of this book is great for little hands, however a little small for a group read aloud.
REVIEWER: Tyra K. Smith, Head Start/EHS/ECEAP
Doeden, Matt TITLE: Kevin Durant, Basketball Superstar RATING: R
This easy biography about Kevin Durant will please our younger sports fans. The text is 1st to 2nd grade reading level although I can recommend this book to our older reluctant readers. The large glossy pictures lend action and excitement to the book. It is a great addition to our shelves.
Rhonda Lowe, Castle Rock Elementary
Donaldson, Julia TITLE: A Gold Star For Zog RATING: R
PUBLISHER: Arthur Levine @ 2010 PRICE: 16.99
ISBN: 9780545417242 INTEREST LEVEL: 1st-3rd
ILLUSTRATOR: Axel Scheffler PAGES: UNP
Whenever I see Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s names on a picture I know I am ready for a delightful story and awesome illustrations. Zog is an energetic student in dragon school. Zog wants to excel at every lesson taught by Madam Dragon. Fortunately, he has the help of a mysterious girl. The ending has a philanthropic ending. From the British Isles, Ms. Donaldson and Mr. Scheffler have successfully created their magic again.
