This was a really interesting book. It looked at 3 zoo scientists who take their knowledge of science and the their experiences with animals in the field to better helped endangered species. The specific animals in the book were orangutans, ferrets, and rhinos and there was a chapter about the efforts being made to help each. In addition, there was information on how zoos in general are working more toward preservation. Nicely done.
This was such a cool time travel, scavenger hunt book.
Henry has lost his father and now his mother is so overprotective that he never gets to have any adventures. But on Christmas Eve his grandfather tells him of an old scavenger hunt that was never solved. In just a few hours Henry stumbles upon an old ledger and is transported back in time to that scavenger hunt and the only way back to his own time is to solve the clues and meet the famous Skavenger.
Along the way he meets a few friends and some famous people as well. He also learns more about adventure and living life to the fullest.
I really enjoyed the puzzles and the friendship. There were a few surprises and twists as well that I didn't see coming.
This was an interesting text about some of the founding fathers and their feuds. From the most famous - Hamilton and Burr to Ben Franklin and his son this book gave brief accounts of the history behind the feuds and how they turned out. Unfortunately I think the brevity of the text made things a bit unclear. In some cases too much time was spent on the history of the person (Washington and Hamilton) and not enough time on the actual disagreement (Hamilton and Burr). For a student studying any one of these feuds the text is a good introduction but they will need and want more.
This one really didn't work for me at all. I am not a huge fan of fantasy and I just had a hard time even figuring out what was going on with this. Last night I had about 30 pages left, maybe 20 minutes of reading at the most, and meh - couldn't build up the umph to even finish it. I feel bad about it - there are probably some readers who will love it but not for me.
This was a really cool look into the early lives of famous authors and illustrators and how they got their start. Included in the book are samples of their early writing and/or drawings. I did find some of the early writings hard to read and a bit long. Other than that it was cool to read about their beginnings and will hopefully inspire future authors and illustrators.
This is another book in the Scientists in the Field series which I find very interesting. I like how real scientists and real problems of the world are highlighted. I hope this series is encouraging young scientists.
I did like this book - the Amazon is fascinating and beautiful. As someone who lives close to Boston and has been to the Aquarium I also had a connection to the book.
Now... what I didn't like. I found the title to be a bit misleading. I don't think the case was made that these tiny fish "are saving the world's largest rainforest". I think it could have been said that they could save the rainforest if they themselves can be handled correctly and regain their popularity among fish enthusiasts.
This will go in my library with the other books in the series. The photographs are beautiful and the idea behind it is worthy.
This was a very accessible account of the Apollo 13 mission and accident. I really liked the perspective of Jim Lovell's daughter Barbara and almost wish there had been more of that. But, as nonfiction it is dependent on the sources of information. There was some jargon but for those interested in this event the jargon will be expected and not a deterrent.
Ooh, I liked this!!! When I take the time to describe a book to my husband and daughter then you know it was good. I read so many books and quite honestly some are duds but I am so afraid of the Maine Student Book Award missing some hidden jewel that I really try to find things that others may have missed. And no one else has read this yet....
The Polaris is on a scientific expedition to South America in the late 1800s. An expedition has gone ashore - captain, first mate, botanist, and some others. But only half come back - the botanist and first mate are gone and one of the crew is really sick. What happened? Then a few days later the ships boys are told there is a meeting and they are locked into a room during that meeting. But it turns into a mutiny. But why do the mutineers then abandon ship and try to blow it up.
The kids have no idea but manage to escape and prevent the ship from blowing up. Now all they have to do it get back to land. But it is the creature in the hold that is their biggest worry...
I love the historical, sci fi, zombie feel to this. So thrilling! Loved it.
I liked the format of this - simple 1 page biographies of influential women from different time periods and nationalities. Most of the women I was familiar with but there were a few new ones. In the last year or so I have read many similar collections of famous women but I think I have liked this one the best.
This was a serviceable biography of Jackie Robinson. I learned some new things about his childhood, his struggles for equality in the military and his early sports career, and his temper. I think the part about his temper was most intriguing because it makes his ability to ignore the taunting when he started in the major leagues even more impressive. In all though, probably because this is aimed at a younger audience, the book as a whole was too simple and I was left wanting more.
Shortly before his birthday Alfie discovers that he is going to inherit a castle. But why him? As he and his father move in Alfie starts to discover that he carries a secret magic given to him when he was born - over a hundred years ago. Not only that but he must use his magic to save his friends, family, and community from a dreadful secret that lies buried beneath the castle. But who can Artie trust? What do the mysterious disappearances of animals have to do with everything? And can he survive at school and the 2 terrible headmistresses that run the place?
This was a fun mystery, adventure, fantasy. It is the first in a series but this episode ended well and not on a cliff hanger.
This is a really nice biography of Tolkien that focuses in on his love of dragons and how that led to his writing of the Hobbit and other books. I liked how the illustrations tied in with Tolkien's most famous works. I can definitely see this is an elementary library.
This book really was a history of the automobile as it pertained to women in particular. I found the gender bias of the times very interesting and it was cool to see early women pioneers using cars. My favorite section was the discussion of motor girls and the right to vote.
The book was pretty short - only 96 pages - and I wish there had been more about some of the women and I wish it had gone farther than the 1920s and 1930s. I know even when I was growing up in the 1970s and early 80s we only had one car for a long time and my mom did not pump gas. It would have been interesting to see statistics and more of the changes over time.
I am all about kids learning how to code and I am all for balancing the divides that currently exist in the computer science fields. I also teach coding to my elementary students via code.org's code studio. This book was okay but would be above the heads of most of the students I work with - that's fine, I'll pass the book on to the junior high instead. The format and layout was pretty good - I wish it had a bit more about the how to - more nitty gritty.
This was a very simplified account of Benedict Arnold and his treasonous act with John Andre. I have read about Benedict Arnold before in much longer books and it is very interesting to learn the whys and hows of this tragic figure. That being said, I found this account too simple and therefore lacking in details, specifics, and too me there were gaps in information. I suppose for a younger reader it might whet their appetite for more information but by itself I found it actually a bit confusing.
This was a short account of how Caroline Pickersgill helped sew the Star Spangled Banner - the flag that flew over Fort McHenry.
What I liked was the history and acknowledgement of those who helped with this project. The author's note also shed light on how rare it was for women to own a business and the others who helped with the project who might not have been recognized.
Unfortunately I have used the history of this flag and primary sources from the Smithsonian so I was left wanting more... like the fact that they had to make the flag in a brewery and then the history of the flag after the battle and how it got to the Smithsonian. But maybe that is another book :)
The book was good but I wanted more...
Charlotte and her family have just moved to Walnut Grove so that her mom can feel Laura Ingalls Wilder's spirit and write her own children's book. But Charlotte knows it's just a matter of time before they move again. It is better to just blend in, not make any friends, and just wait it out with her twin Freddie. But things are different this time. Freddie is popular and stops hanging out with her as much, she starts spending more time with her little sister Rose, and she lets her guard down and makes some friends. But Charlotte has a habit of jumping to conclusions and believing the worst which gets her into a heap of trouble. Can Charlotte and her family settle down or is Walnut Grove just another stop on their crazy life?
This was a pretty decent book. For fans of Laura and Little House there were some obvious connections but it was also a story of rushing to judgement and fitting in that will appeal to other readers as well.
This was a narrative nonfiction about an event in Theodore Roosevelt's life after his terms as president. To be honest I did not know much about Roosevelt - Panama Canal, Rough and Ready, Night at the Museum (ha ha, but dang Robin Williams looked a lot like him) - so this was interesting from that angle. For those who are interested in adventure and exploration this will be a good read. The pacing is pretty good and the tale is full of danger.
So first off, I loved the heart of this book. Julian as a character was quirky and lovable. The family dynamics were believable but hopeful. I loved Julian's ability to sense things and his ability to help others. I will definitely want to purchase for the library but...
I did have a few issues...
First, I can't believe that a contractor, carpenter would have been able to build the addition to the house without a building permit which should have found the easement problem prior to it being built.
Second, Julian talks a lot about seeing Orion, the Orion Nebula and Sirius during the summer but they are winter constellations and not visible in the summer.
Kids won't pick up on those things (and many adults as well) but since I am fascinated by Orion (and it's my daughters middle name) and since I live on a lake in Maine those 2 things stood out to me.
Lorenzo's dad died before he was born. He was a hero. It's okay - he has a best friend, Pal, whose mom has also died and together they have a really strong bond and help to complete each other. Lorenzo also has Marty, a pig who thinks he's a dog. But Marty is in danger because he is so big and the money he could bring in would help his mom pay the bills. Then Pal leaves for a camp and a school and a future as a musician leaving Lorenzo to try to save Marty on his own. Then when he learns the truth about his father he worries that he may not be able to save anyone or anything.
This was a heart warming story which I really enjoyed.
This was a really nice adaptation of the fairy tale of Snow and Rose. It was one I was vaguely familiar with. I have a hard time getting my students to read fairy tales and adaptations lately but maybe some fresh books like this will breathe life back into that area of the collection.
Once upon a time Pablo was found drifting on the ocean in a small swimming pool with a bird. Ever since then Pablo has wondered where he came from and why Birdy doesn't talk or even fly like normal parrots. Meanwhile, legend says that there is a Seafarer Parrot that keeps all the sounds the world has ever heard. Is the legend true and what does it mean for Pablo and Birdy?
A quiet book but it has a lot of heart in a quirky way.
Told from multiple perspectives this book chronicles the year of several middle school children as they prepare for statewide testing and how they decide to take matters into their own hands in order to "ace the test".
I do think the test prep by the school was very extreme but in many students' minds that is probably how it feels and they won't mind. But there is more to the story than that - friendship, bullies, forgiveness, expectations, and a lot of heart. I could see a lot of good discussions around this book.
Brock and Zed are on the edge of a new life. At the guild culling they hope that they will be chosen for the guilds that they prefer and begin their adult lives. But things go terribly wrong when Zed is picked by the Adventurer's Guild and Brock volunteers to join as well to protect Zed.
But the Adventurer's Guild is dangerous. That guild is in charge of protecting the city by venturing out of the walled and protected city to face the Dangers - monsters that roam and have destroyed the rest of the world.
I was totally drawn in for the first half of the book but as the plot got thicker and the page numbers smaller I realized that the book would not end and was setting up for a sequel. Because of that I felt that some of the character development was lacking. For readers who don't mind the wait I think this is a promising series.
This was a pretty interesting story about a middle school dance told from seven different points of view and written by seven different authors.
The characters include a lead singer of a band who is missing the dance and the band's TV debut, a popular girl who is also missing the dance because she is grounded, a girl out for revenge, a boy with a crush on his best friend, a girl who is pranked into attending, a back up lead singer who is terrified, and the drummer who is angry that her nemesis is wearing the same dress as she is and who also has the same date as she does. There were some funny moments and middle school drama. I am sure middle school girls especially will eat this up.
This is the story of Welles Crowther who helped rescue people on 9/11 and to many of those people he was known and later remembered as the man in the red bandanna. The focus of the book is primarily his life before the attacks and then the aftermath. Only 2 chapters are about 9/11 specifically and of course because he died the events are really pieced together by those he rescued and where his body was found. The most powerful part of the book was the ending and the encouragement to help others.
Two winners in a row for me. I loved this so much. I laughed out loud which I don't normally do, I read several poems to me husband and laughed again, and I reread a few that I thought were so clever. I can't wait to get this into my library!
I had never heard of Dazzle Ships so I, as an adult, found this book very interesting. I am not sure an elementary reader, without direct input from a librarian or teacher would be drawn to this topic or appreciate it as much as I did. I found Victo Ngai's illustrations to be fascinating - but it was more of the imagery of the war itself rather than the dazzle ships that intrigued me. Interesting book for sure.
Love, love, love!!!
I didn't know much about this book going into it so honestly the title and cover made me think it would just be a silly, middle grade fiction. WRONG! While there are some typical bully, friend issues this book is so much more.
Maddie is struggling with typical middle grade issues but nothing compares to the monster she has to fight. There is a tumor in her brain that is causing her to lose mobility on her left side and is impacting her vision. This leads to a major surgery and helps her find out who her true friends are.
In reading it you quickly realize that more is going to happen after the initial surgery because there is quite a bit left of the book. To me that is where things got more powerful. And the ending... it was a great place to end the book - but I will I liked having the author's note and I think readers will like that aspect as well.
To me this ranks up there with Wonder for middle grade readers!
It's 1942 in India and there are struggles both external and internal. On the one hand there is resistance against the British who control their land. With World War II going on, many feel that it is the best time to make a change. But there are also issues within the country both between Muslims and Hindus and as a result of the caste system.
Anjali is stuck in the middle of all of it. At first she is resentful of her mother's decision to join the freedom fighters and follow Ghandi's teaching. But she soon starts to realize the depth of injustice and seeks to use ahimsa, non violent protests, to be the change.
A good historical fiction about a time period many middle school readers will not be familiar with.
1954. The war is over but there are repercussions... a cold war and distrust of Russians, a fear of Communism and book banning, and lingering tensions of those who were the "enemy".
When a new girl moves to town, Marjorie thinks about being her friend. But Inga is a DP from Germany and Marjorie's other friends don't like her and even have a "slam book" about her. But when Marjorie's dad shows her about forgiveness and peace by befriending Inga's dad, Marjorie knows she needs to also take a stand.
I liked the book pretty well. There are not a lot of children's books about the 1950s and the tensions are ones we still experience today. I felt it wrapped up pretty quickly and neatly but overall well done.
As a reader of children's books, both in my childhood and now I found this book to be very interesting. Each author had a few pages that talked about their childhood and what inspired them to become an author. Thinking from a child's perspective - the readers who come into my library though...
- biography is not a big seller in my library, unless it is a current musician, sports hero, or assigned for a report and collective biographies are worse
- most of the authors in this book were popular when I was a kid, while I do have some who check out Blume or Cleary it isn't much, having more modern authors would have been better
I have always had a fascination with the Underground Railroad especially since my childhood home was possibly a station in upstate New York. This book had its moments and for students who are interested in the topic it will be a decent read. When the 2 main characters ended up in NY I had hopes that there might be more detail but by that point things were winding down.
I think my biggest issue with the book was that it seemed to jam every classic escape scheme - especially some notable ones into these character's journeys. Then they also met with 3 well known figures of the time - Harriet Tubman, William Still, and Frederick Douglas. I would think that would be highly unlikely.
Henry has a very vivid imagination which often gets him into trouble at school. One day he draws a chalk dragon on his door and when the dragon gets worried that it will be erased it runs away, taking some of Henry's other drawings with it. Thus begins a madcap adventure as Henry tries to get his dragon back before it destroys his school and even the whole town.
This was actually pretty cute and funny. I don't often laugh out loud but I did during one of the scenes in the classroom during a simile lesson.
This was one interesting mash up of the three little pigs and little red riding hood. I think the page count might deter some readers but I found it quite intriguing and engaging and even a bit on the scary, edgy side.
Zig loves electronics and discovering new things. But the thing he wants to discover the most is why his dad keeps canceling his visits and why his mom won't tell him anything or why she won't ask him for help. Because the fact is - his mom is struggling to pay the bills. When their landlady dies the end up being kicked out of their apartment and when living with Zig's aunt doesn't work they are homeless. Meanwhile, Zig thinks he is onto his dad's location via a geocaching username and clues he has found. Can Zig discover the truth?
I really like Kate Messner's works and her approach to tough topics. This deals with homelessness very respectfully that will make it relatable to many students I work with.
