Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Whatcha Mean What's a Zine?

Watson, Esther Pearl. Illustrated by Todd, Mark. Whatcha Mean What's a Zine? Houghton Mifflin: 2006. ISBN: 9780618563159 Ages 15-23.

This book is about the creation of zines. It has all that you need to know about zines from how to publish them to the different styles that you can make them. It also gives you some creative ideas about what to write them about. It will catch you and pull you in if you are interested about comics. It is very interesting that there are faded pictures on every page. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in writing zines or comics.

Reviewed by S.B., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Squirt!

Romanek, Trudee. Squirt! Illustrated by Rose Cowles. Kids Can Press: 2006. ISBN: 1553377761 Ages 10 and up.

Squirt is a book about blood. It may sound gross but it is quite interesting. Not only is it about blood, but other important organs in your body. The story is non-fiction. Trudee Romanek, the author, makes the book interesting by adding fun little activities and facts to parts of the book. She makes reading about blood interesting by explaining things very easily. The book does have some big words but Romanek gives you a pronunciation right by the words. Rose Cowles adds great illustrations and gives you a good description of what Romanek is writing about. I really enjoyed this book. The vibrant illustrations and choice of words kept me reading. I would recommend this book to people the ages of 10 and up.

Reviewed by H.L., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

The Scarab's Secret

Would, Nick. The Scarab's Secret. Illustrated by Christine Balit. Walker: 2006. ISBN: 0-8027-9561-7 Ages 5 and up.

The Scarab's Secret is a story about a beetle being found by a prince and later saving his life. The pictures really relate to the Egyptian art and follow the storyline very well. The author really aimed this at younger ages. Overall it was a very good short story for some Egyptian history on how the Scarab was scared and how even a beetle can make a difference.

Reviewed by 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Hydrogen: Running on Water

Walker, Niki. Hydrogen: Running on Water. Crabtree: 2007. ISBN: 978-0-7787-2915-0 Ages 12 and up.

This book was about using hydrogen rather than gasoline. It would get rid of some of the pollution. The author used very good details and tried to make the book entertaining. She also made it sound like the topic was a really good idea. I think that the pictures help explain what the book was talking about. I would recommend this book for people doing research reports or persuasive essays.

Reviewed by L.K., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Sweet Rides

Bailey, Katharine. Sweet Rides. Crabtree: 2007. ISBN: 0778730085. Ages 8 and up.


This story told about luxurious cars like the Lamborghini, Porsche, Hummer, Escalade, and more. The author tells about the car's features, when they were popular, and a brief description of the car. The writing style that was used had many adjectives and was in an easy to ready font. The pictures were photos of cars. The photos were clear and easy to see. They had great color and perspectives. I thought this was a great book with great information that kept me reading.


Reviewed by A. K., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

1001 Stories

Prap, Lila. 1001 Stories. Illustrated by author. Kane/Miller Book Publishers, Inc.: 2006. ISBN: Ages 6 and up.


This story is about a bunch of stories that were mixed up together, but YOU get to choose what happens. This story was confusing because you can not read it straight through, you skip pages so see what happens in different stories. There is not a lot of dialogue in this book. The art in this book is very bright and the drawings are boldly outlined. The drawings are very big and all of the creatures have expressions. My opinion of this book is that it was confusing. It was fun to skip through the pages and choose how the story goes. I would recommend this book to kids 6 and up.


Reviewed by K. R., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Honky-Tonk Heroes and Hillbilly Angels : The Pioneers of Country and Western Music

George-Warren, Holly. Honky-Tonk Heroes and Hillbilly Angels : The Pioneers of Country and Western Music. Illustrated by Laura Levine. Houghton Mifflin: 2006. ISBN: 0-618-19100-3. Ages 7 and up.


Honky-Tonk Heroes and Hillbilly Angels is a book about country music and it's founders. I learned about many song writers and their struggles to become successful in this music. The author really keeps you interested. Some of these stars had a really rough time getting started in country music. For example, Loretta Lynn wrote "Don't Come Home a Drinkin'." She had four chidlren by the time she was eighteen. Now if that does not make things difficult, I don't know what will. The picture style of this book is really helpful to me because I have a hard time picturing what they look like. It describes them as the story does and is a little exagerated but still interesting. I loved this book. I would recommend this book to country music lovers and anyone who is thirsty to learn more about these singers and their success.


reviewed by M. C., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Enigmatic Events

Blackwood, Gary L. Enigmatic Events. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2006. ISBN: 2-0040-2375-5. Ages 12 and up.


Gary Blackwood gave facts about seven unsolved historical mysteries such as Mary Celeste and the Roanoke Colony. Through the use of interesting pictures and drawings, the author's point was strengthened and illustrated. After giving all of the facts and theories, he moved on to the next mystery. If you become especially interested in any of the mysteries, there is a list of books with more information in the index. The author tends to use complicated and elaborate words, so I would recommend this book for 12 year olds and up.


Reviewed by C. K., 6th grade, Van Burn Middle School.

Saving the Buffalo

Marrin, Albert. Saving the Buffalo. Scholastic Nonfiction: 2006. ISBN: 0-4397-1854-6. Ages 10 and up.


It is a non-fiction book about the buffalo's past with the Indians and pioneers, as well as, where they are now. It is made up of mostly facts with interesting events involving buffalo. It is told by trappers and Indians. The author used many comparisons to help the reader understand all the aspects of buffalo. The images are both photographs and drawings from various sources. The pictures give interesting views of how the pages are actually true. This book is suitable for anyone who likes animals, Indians, or the old west.


Reviewed by D. S., 6th grade, Van Buren Elementary.

The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin

Rubin, Susan Goldman and Weissberger, Ela. The Cat with the Yellow Star : Coming of Age in Terezin. Holiday House: 2006 ISBN: 0-8234-1831-6. Ages 9 to 15.


The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin was about how Jews were treated badly and all about their religion. Some Jews got bad diseases and died from it. They stuck it out and passed the time away by singing and doing art. They used a lot of adjectives to describe how they felt. Ela Weissberger was one of many people who experienced this, so she used a lot of adjectives. The pictures were from back then so they did not create them for the book. She decided to put these in because they are what it was like back then. I recommend this book to people who are bad to others of different religions. I also recommend this book to young adults. It is very interesting and you can learn a lot.


Reviewed by A. S., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Noah's Mittens

Lunge-Larsen, Lise. Noah's Mittens. Illustrated by Matthew Trueman. Houghton Mifflin: 2006. ISBN: 0-618-32950-1. Ages 3 to 7.


This story is about Noah, a biblical character, and his story of the ark. This story also talks about the suffering sheep whose wool turned into thick, hard cloth. Noah used the wool to make winter clothing for his family. The author really did not use onomatopoeia. His interjections were like, "my goodness" or "there soft wool had disappeared!". The artist's style is 3-D. The illustrations are made by pencil, acrylic, and collage with an over glaze of paint. I think this book is a very good book for ages 3 to 7.


Reviewed by J. G., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions, and Ancient Mysteries

Allen, Judy. Unexplained: An Encyclopedia of Curious Phenomena, Strange Superstitions, and Ancient Mysteries. Kingfisher: 2006. ISBN: 0-7534-5950-7. Ages 8 and up.


Unexplained is a good, scary book that kept me on the edge of my seat. It mentions Stonehenge, UFO sightings, hauntings and much more. This is a non-fiction book that talks about things that are, well, unexplained. The writing focuses on things that people have always wondered about using creepy adjectives and a rhyme or two. In this book, there are photographs and painting alike, contributed by different sources. In the end, I would recommend this book. I would not recommend it to someone who does not believe in ghosts or mysteries because they would not enjoy this book as much.


Reviewed by A. C., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

The Monster Health Book : A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Active, & Feeling Great for Monsters & Kids!

Miller, Edward. The Monster Health Book : A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Active, & Feeling Great for Monsters & Kids! Illustrated by author. Holiday House: 2006. ISBN:0-8234-1956-8. Ages 6 and up.


The Monster Health Book is a guide to eating healthy and being healthy. It tells children how to eat right and stay healthy, just like monsters should! It informs you on the five main food groups, healthy eating habits, and health problems to be aware of. The interesting cartoon pictures go along with the information on the page and with the "fun facts" that are also listed.


Reviewed by S. J., 6th grade, Van Buren Middle School.

Feet Man and Mr. Tiny

Freschet, Gina. Feet Man and Mr. Tiny. Illustrated by author. Farrar Straus Giroux: 2006. Ages 6 to 10.


There is a boy named Feet Man and he hates his feet. He hates his feet because people make fun of him. So, one day, he found a little man called Mr. Tiny. He helped Feet Man find an advantage for his feet. The next day, they got the newspaper and found an article about a prize if a shoe will not fit. Feet Man won, and the prize was a vacation to the beach. Finally, Feet Man went in the water, did a dance, and he was admired. The art in this book was bright. There were very good illustrations. I recommend this book to smaller children, ages 6 to 10. I think the title is too simple though, for kids 6 to 10, that is a fine title.


Reviewed by A. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Ceratosaurus and Other Fierce Dinosaurs

Dixon, Dougal. Ceratosaurus and Other Fierce Dinosaurs. Illustrated by Steve Weston and James Field. Picture Window Books: 2006. Ages 11 to 35.


It is about fierce dinosaurs. Some are Apatosaurus, Baryonyx, Ceratoaurus, Utakraptor, and so on. The pictures appeal to me and it was interesting. I recommend this book to people that like dinosaurs or scientists. This is not for kids 5 years or younger. Some of the story made me sad, like killing a baby.


Reviewed by A. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Trollerella

Bourgeois, Karen M. Trollerella. Illustrated by Ethan Long. Holiday House: 2006. Ages 1 to 11.


My story is about a troll who wanted to become beautiful but she never could. One day she met a tooth fairy who made her pretty for just one night so she could go to the ball. The art was very light. Some of the art was dark. I think this would be a good book for kids. I recommend this book for kids who are at least 7 years old.


reviewed by S. K, 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

Fradin B., Dennis. The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Illustrated by author. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. Ages 10 to 12.


This story is about Abraham Lincoln's life between when he was born in 1809 and when he died in 1865. It told about who killed him. I think the art really fits this book because it was really long ago when he lived. I thought it was artistic. I think this is a very informational book. I recommend this book to anyone doing a research project on Abraham Lincoln.


Reviewed by H. Y., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Extreme Skiing

MacAulay, Kelley and Kalman, Bobbie. Extreme Skiing. Crabtree Pub. Co.: 2006. Ages 10 to 12.


My book is about skiing and what kinds of skiing there are. The photos are very exciting. There are people flying in the air everywhere. The pictures show the basics of skiing, ramps and rails. The book was very informational, but was a little boring after a while. I recommend this book to 10 or 11 year olds trying to learn to ski.


Reviewed by A. C., 5th grade. Hilfiker Elementary.

Can You Greet the Whole Wide World? : 12 Common Phrases in 12 Different languages

Evans, Lezlie. Can You Greet the Whole Wide World? : 12 Common Phrases in 12 Different Languages. Illustrated by Denis Roche. Houghton Mifflin: 2006. Ages 3 to 6.

My story is about saying words in different languages in different countries. It is handy because if you go to a different country, you know how to say "good morning" or "thank you". There were many fabulous pictures. They gave me a clue what was going on if someone like me skims this book. I would definitely recommend this book to other kids. I think grades 3 to 6 would enjoy this book because of the words and pictures.

Reviewed by L. A., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

NASCAR

Eagen, Rachel. NASCAR. Crabtree Pub. Co: 2007. Ages 7 and up.


NASCAR was a very interesting book because it was very informational about NASCAR. I think people who like NASCAR will like this book a lot. The pictures in this book are very good, especially the one with Jeff Bagwell in 1999 on page 24. I think that people who like NASCAR or are going to like NASCAR should read this book.


Reviewed by J. A., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Flamingos on the Roof: Poems and Paintings

Brown, Calef. Flamingos on the roof : Poems and Paintings. Illustrated by author. Houghton Mifflin: 2006. Ages 8 to 12.


Flamingos on the Roof is about different poems with a different story to each one. Each poem has a hilarious beginning, middle, and end. The artwork was very nice and neat. I liked it very much because it was easy to understand by looking at the pictures if you could not read it. I would recommend this book to anyone between 8 and 12. I liked this book because it was fantastic, hilarious, and spectacular. My favorite was Weatherbee's Diner.


Reviewed by R. M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Moose

Author Estigarribia, Diana. Moose. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2006. Ages 5 to 30.


This book is about Moose. It tells about what they eat, where they live, and what they do to escape from predators. The photographs are good and are dark colors. This book is awesome because I thought I knew a lot about Moose, now I know a lot more. I would recommend the book to anyone between the ages of 5 and 30. This book is very interesting.


Reviewed by A. C., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Children of Alcatraz : Growing Up on the Rock

Murphy, Claire Rudolf. Children of Alcatraz: Growing Up on the Rock. Walker & Co: 2006. Ages 11 to 36.


Alcatraz is an island that is on the coast of California. This book is about the children of the people that worked on Alcatraz. The book describes what the children would do to have fun on the island. There were many photos that really captured my eye. I like how the author put the photos where they were described in the reading. I loved the photo of the whole island. I really think that this was an amazing book. I never knew about Alcatraz until I read this book. I really recommend it to older kids because I think it would interest them. This book really made me understand Alcatraz. You should write more books like this!


Reviewed by H. L., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Humpty Dumpty

Delessert, Etienne. Humpty Dumpty. Illustrated by the author. Houghton Mifflin: 2006. Ages 6 to 12.


This story is about Humpty Dumpty having everything he wanted and not sharing it with the people on the other side of the fence. The people on the other side of the fence only had a dim light to see with and they lived in dirty living quarters. The people on the other side of the fence wanted to see what was on Humpty's side. When Humpty saw them, he made a wall but fell off before he finished it. The art is spectacular, colorful, and dramatic. I loved this book because it had a lot of color. I would recommend this book to kids ages 6 to 12.


Reviewed by B. M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Formula One

Morganelli, Adrianna. Formula One. Crabtree Publishing: 2007. Ages 8 and up.


The book is about where the Formula One racing started and how it has improved over the years. The pictures looked like they would be in that time. The old pictures look black and dark and the new photos look very colorful. I really liked the book but some times I did not understand what the author was trying to say. Yes, I would recommend it for 8 years and up.



Reviewed by C. B., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Planet Earth

Chancellor, Deborah. Planet Earth. Kingfisher: 2006. Ages 8-13.

Planet Earth was mainly about our planet, climate and disasters. The book has many pictures of world attractions. The photos in this book were broad, beautiful, five star photographs. This book is great for 10-11 year olds that are looking for basic facts. If you are looking for detail this is not the best book.

Reviewed by G.H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Amelia's School Survival Guide

Moss, Marissa. Amelia's School Survival Guide. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Children: 2006. Ages 8-10.

This story is about getting over fears of reports and teachers to get through school without all the worries. I like how you put the way you want to be and don't want to be. The guide to teachers is so awesome. The quizzes are a total bomb and the stickers are fabulous. I thought the book was really cool. I would recommend the book to kids who have trouble with teachers, reports, or even lunch. I think kids 8-12 would like this book maybe over 13, this book was very interesting too!!

Reviewed by A.E., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

The Princess and the Pea

Child, Lauren. The Princess and the Pea. Illustrated by Polly Borland. Hyperion Books for Children: 2006. Ages 5 and up.

My story is about a Prince who can not find a "real princess." He looks for many princesses but can not find one until the real princess finds him. I just think the art is miraculous. I just love the illustrations. The colors brighten up the minds of people! I love the way the pictures are shown, I really understand them. I love the book, but I would add a little more to the story. I bet girls who love to read a princess story would choose this type of book. I would choose ages 3 and up because this book is so interesting and beautiful.

Reviewed by A.J.R., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Just Like Sisters

McAllister, Angela. Just Like Sisters. Illustrated by Sophie Fatus. Atheneum Books for Young Readers: 2006. Ages 8-12.



The story is about two girls that are pen pals and best friends that act like sisters. I thought the art was magnificent! My favorite drawing was when they were shopping and Ally said "I bet people think we are twins." All the art was so beautiful! I just loved it! I thought this book was fantastic! I would recommend it to all girls that love a great story.



Reviewed by A. H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor

McCully, Emily Arnold. Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight became an Inventor. Farrar Straus Giroux: 2006. Ages 9-13.

This book was about how Margaret E. Knight became an inventor. It was very fascinating when they told about Margaret being an inventor even as a child. It also shows that Margaret went through many struggles being a women inventor. I think many people would enjoy this intriguing book. There were many fabulous and colorful illustrations in this book. The artwork is very detailed and interesting. They are the kind of drawings you could study and look at for a very long time. I would definitely recommend this book to other children. I think kids ages 11-14 would really enjoy this book. Children who are interested in reading about history would love this book.

Reviewed by C.S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Gorilla! Gorilla

Willis, Jeanne. Gorilla! Gorilla! Illustrated by Tony Ross. Athenium Books for Young Readers: 2006. Ages 4 and up.

Gorilla! Gorilla! is about a little mouse who lost her baby so she went to find the baby. On her way a gorilla was chasing her. The gorilla was chasing her because she found the baby but she mouse did not know why she was being chased. At the end the mother got her baby and the gorilla took the mouse home. The art was very creative because it made me feel like I was in the book. My opinion of this book was it was a great book. I would recommend this book to Adam because he loves monkeys and gorillas.

Reviewed by E.D., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

My Father's Shop

Ichikawa, Satomi. My Father's Shop. Kane/Miller Book Publishers: 2006. Ages 5-10.

This book is about a boy who wanted a carpet he found at his dad's shop and the carpet had a hole in it. At the end a lot of people came to his father's shop. The art was wonderful the carpet's were pretty. The outfits were great. I loved the art work. I enjoyed this book it was fantastic. I do recommend it to other kids. The best ages would be 5-10.

Reviewed by M. E., 5th grade Hilfiker Elementary.

The King's Chorus

Hayward, Linda. The King's Chorus. Illustrated by Jennifer P. Goldfinger. Clarion Books: 2006. Ages 5-12.

Kadoodle was a rooster who thought he was king of the barnyard. So he crowed whenever he felt like it. Honketta is fed up with it so she tells him about the Kings Chorus, who crow at daybreak. The illustrations were fantastic!! They were bright which fits very well with the story. I loved the paintings. I think children in around 3rd grade would like this book. It is a wonderful story with a fantastic plot.

Reviewed by J.J., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Mr. Pusskins

Lloyd, Sam. Mr. Pusskins. Atheneum Books for Young Readers: 2006. Ages 7-12.

My story is about a cat who doesn't like his owner. So one night he left and realized he wanted attention. I though it was OK because I don't really like or love stories, but I like animals. At first the illustrations were OK then they got better because Mr. Pusskins was smiling. I thought the story was hilarious! I liked the pictures because I like cats. I would recommend this book to cat lovers. The ages a person would like this book is probably 9 or so.

Reviewed by M.A., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Insectos útiles y dañinos

Kalman, Bobbie. Insectos útiles y dañinos. Crabtree Publishing: 2006. Ages 8-13.



This book is mostly about how insects live and what they eat. The pictures in this book were really colorful, some of the best I have ever seen. It was marvelous, and fantastic. I couldn't read it but the illustrations were really good and also the pictures. I would recommend this book for other kids who know how to read it. The ages would be 8-13 because you might need to know this.



Reviewed by A.M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Extreme Wakeboarding

Kalman, Bobbie. Extreme Wakeboarding. Crabtree Publishing: 2006. Ages 10-15.



This book is about wakeboarding. All through the book it was explaining what wakeboarding is. It showed the equipment that you need. It talked about how to get in a wake and do tricks. The photographs were really cool. They showed pictures of pros doing tricks. It also shows pictures of the courses they have to go through. I think the book was very exciting. I would recommend it to other kids that liked to play extreme sports. I would give the book to 11 to 15 year olds.



Reviewed by J.B., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese

Look, Lenore. Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese. Illustrated by Yumi Heo. Simon and Schuster: 2006. Ages 6 and up.

Uncle Peter is getting married to Stella, and everyone except Jenny is happy. At the end they start to get along as a family. The book's pictures are eye-catching. Also the way he puts them together just makes it flow. It was very bright and welcoming. I recommend this book to those who are looking for a nice short attention seeking book. It is also an exciting book for all whom love cute and bright and exciting pictures.

Reviewed by A.R., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Human Body

Walker, Richard. The Human Body. Kingfisher: 2006. Ages 9 - 84.

The story Human Body is mostly about our ancestors and how they used to be a different type of body. Other things it is about how to take care of your body. Human Body had photographs and some were drawn about things we couldn't see in the past. I liked this book a little, it was fun reading it. The best part I think is about our ancestors about 20 million years ago. I think other kids may enjoy this book. I think it would be for ages 9 to 84.

Reviewed by A. P., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Dalmatians

MacAulay, Kelley and Kalman, Bobbie. Dalmatians. Crabtree Publishers: 2007. Ages 6 to 12.


My story is about dalmatians. It has facts about how to treat one if you get one. You would know what to feed it from this book. It is a very interesting book. The photographs are awesome. They had to of taken a lot of time. My favorite picture was when the dalmatian was smiling. That was cute! I definitely recommend it for other kids that like dalmatians. It is interesting. I would read it to my brother and sister.


Reviewed by N. H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Bees

Jango-Cohen, Judith. Bees. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. Ages 8 to 30.


My story is about how bees hatch out from an egg. It also tells you how bees suck the pollen out of the dandelions. It tells how they design a nest to live and where they make them. My book had photos and I liked them because they were good. I think little kids would like it because they might want to learn about bees.


Reviewed by D. T., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Pop's Bridge

Bunting, Eve. Pop's Bridge. Illustrated by C. F. Payne. Harcourt Publishing: 2006. Ages 3 to 12.

There is a boy whose dad works on a bridge. The boy is always scared his dad will fall off the bridge. One day the safety net fell down and a lot of men fell off the bridge. The boy was so worried, but his pop was safe. Only one person survived the fall off. That night the boy thought about what if his dad had fallen off the bridge. When the bridge was done, they had a party to celebrate. I think the illustrator did a wonderful job. I think a lot of people would like this book.


Reviewed by T. L., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Whoopi Goldberg’s Nobody Wants to See Your Finger in Your Nose: A Big Book of Manners

Goldberg, Whoopi. Whoopi Goldberg’s Nobody Wants to See Your Finger in Your Nose: A Big Book of Manners. Illustrated by OLO. Hyperion Books for Children: 2006. Ages 4 to 6.


The story is mainly about manners. It teaches kids how to clean up after themselves and to stop picking their nose! Also, this book is teaching kids how to learn their manners. I would like to see kids reading this book of manners. The pictures go with the words. They do not have very dull colors. The pictures are bright and give bad examples of what you do not want kids doing. I do not really like the book. It is really boring. What kid really likes manners? Yes, I do recommend it to other kids, but a little smaller. I would say preschool to first grade. Certain ages I would say are 4 to 6 years.


reviewed by B. H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Messages from Mars

Leedy, Loreen and Schuerger, Andrew. Messages from Mars. Illustrated by Loreen Leedy. Holiday House: 2006. Ages 8 to 14.


The story, Messages from Mars, is about kids going to Mars. Also, it tells you fun facts along the way. I liked the way Loreen Leedy and the photographers put together illustrations and photographs. I think that most kids 8 to 13 would be entertained by this book. It is not just facts, but a fun read as well.


Reviewed by A. G., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Composting: Nature's Recyclers

Koontz, Robin Michal. Composting : Nature's Recyclers. Illustrated by Matthew Harrad. Picture Window Books: 2007. Ages 10 to 16.


The book that I read was good. Also, it was interesting. I learned a lot about composting. It is about composting. I learned about amazing facts. The art was good and bright. I liked the drawings. I think other kids will like it too. Ages 10 to 16 will probably be interested in it.

Reviewed by E. E., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Spiders

Zabludoff, Marc. Spiders. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2006. Ages 11 to 19.


This story is about spiders and their lives. Also, about what they eat and if they spin webs. The photographs go perfect with the text. On pages 46 and 47, it is talking about hairs and it shows two spiders and what their hairs look like. My opinion is, this book is excellent. I recommend this book for ages 11 to 19.


Reviewed by J. K., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Daniel Boone: Woodsman of Kentucky

Zronik, John. Daniel Boone: Woodsman of Kentucky. Crabtree Publishing: 2006. Ages 9 to 21.


My story is about Daniel Boone and his family on their way to Kentucky. Part of Daniel Boone's family dies from war and loss of food and water. The artwork and photos go well with the words on the pages. The artwork is pretty good. I think the book is a fictional book about his family and friends. I do recommend it to other kids in 4th grade to adulthood.


Reviewed by J. R., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Great Big Guinea Pigs

Roth, L. Susan. Great Big Guinea Pigs. Illustrated by author. Bloomsbury Children's Books: 2006. Ages 4 to 6.


My story is about great big guinea pigs. A mom is telling a story about a long time ago and how they use to eat grass and live by a swamp. The art is bright, colorful, and has nice colors. it really looks like how it used to be in the past. Yes, I do recommend this book because it is a nice colorful book about guinea pigs and how they use to live along time ago. I think it will be good for 4 to 6 year olds.


Reviewed by M. K., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Racing: the Ultimate Motorsports Encyclopedia

Gifford, Clive. Racing: the Ultimate Motorsports Encyclopedia. Illustrated by author. Kingfisher: 2006. Ages 12 to 14.


This story is about racing information on different kinds of cars. It tells you what kind of cars there are and what the drivers go through. My book's photographs are awesome. They are really cool. Yes, I would recommend this book because kids like racing. They want to know more about racing or more about their vehicles.


Reviewed by J. B., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.



Poodles

MacAulay, Kelley and Kalman, Bobbie. Poodles. Photographs by Marc Crabtree. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2007. Ages 5 to 13.


This story was about the history and facts about poodles. This book also tells about how to take care of poodles. The photographs went perfect with the book. The photos showed what you need to do. This book was informational, factual, and entertaining. I recommend this book to kids 5 to 13 years old.


Reviewed by M. B., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Theodore

Keating, Frank. Theodore. Illustrated by Mike Wimmer. Simon and Schuster: 2006. Ages 9 to 15.


My story is the life of Theodore Roosevelt. It starts with his birth and ends with his death. It has informational pages that are packed full of events throughout his life, even when Mount Rushmore was built. His thoughts, beliefs, and even dreams are mentioned in this book. I think anyone would enjoy it because it is informational and entertaining! This book has paintings. The paintings go right along with the words on the page. These spectacular paintings are beautifully done and very understandable. My favorite picture is when he is a young kid reading in bed with the war going on in the background. That picture is very interesting! I loved this book. I usually do not like any kind of biography/informational books, but this one was amazing! I would recommend it for ages 9 to 15 and anyone who loves spectacular and entertaining books, while learning new facts! I really enjoyed reading this book!


Reviewed by D. F., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

How Do Birds Fly?

Stewart, Melissa. How Do Birds Fly?. Illustrated by the author. Marshall Cavendish: 2007. Ages 5 to 20.


It is about how birds fly and how to land. This book is also about how bird's feathers and everything stay on the body. The photographs go with the book because it is talking about birds and how they fly. They write and draw about it on each page. I think this is a pretty good book because it is about birds and I like birds a lot. I would recommend this book for my cousin because he likes birds a lot.


Reviewed by L. H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Skunks

Mason, Adrienne. Skunks. Illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle. Kids Can Press: 2006. Ages 9 and up.


The story Skunks is about where they live and how they react to predators and people. Skunks is a book that also tells how they grow up and have babies. Also, it shows different kinds of skunks and what country or continent they live on. It also talk about what skunks live where. In the book, Skunks, the art is spectacular. It shows skunks doing terrific stuff. Skunks is a tremendous book. I think kids would like it and would laugh. I think people 9 and up would enjoy it because skunks smell and people will laugh a lot.


Reviewed by A. C., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Hawaii

Gill, Shelly. Hawaii. Illustrated by Scott Goto. Charlesbridges: 2006. Ages 11 to 20.


The book, Hawaii, is a fantastic book. This book tells about ancient history of Hawaii. This book is very informational. The art in this book is interesting. I think this book is great. I recommend this book for other kids ages 11 to 20.


Reviewed by L. O., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Not Afraid of Dogs

Pitzer, Susanna. Not Afraid of Dogs. Illustrated by Larry Day. Walker and Company: 2006. Ages 5-11.

Not Afraid of Dogs, is about a boy named Daniel. He says he's not afraid of anything not even dogs. His sister Jenny knows he is. When Daniel gets home his mom is holding a dog. He says he will be in his room. Then during the night he has to go to the restroom. So he goes and the dog is there. He figures out that the dog isn't harmful. The art work was excellent. The pictures were brightened up. The colors were bright not dull. The pictures were great. I do recommend this book to other kids. I recommend this book because it's hilarious. I also know a lot of kids could relate to this book. This book was superb.

Reviewed by D. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Inventions

Robinson, James. Inventions. Illustrated by James Dyson. Kingfisher: 2006. Ages 10-40.

My book is about technology and how it has advanced over the years. This book has very amazing photographs that go with the print. I think that this book is a million times better and more than adequate. It was one of the most amazing and informational books that I have ever read.

Reviewed by T. K., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Weather

Harris, Caroline. Weather. Kingfisher: 2006. Ages 8 to 15.

My story is about weather and different kinds of weather. It also tells what season it is in other countries when it is summer in the North then it is winter in the south. When it is spring in the north it is fall in the south. The photographs are great because it really describes what the author is saying. The art is also very colorful. I thought this book was intresting because I learned more about weather. I recommend it to other kids. For ages 8 to 15 because they can learn more about weather and if they are studying weather in science it would be a great study book.

Reviewed by C. R., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Winston the Book Wolf

McGee, Marni. Winston the Book Wolf. Illustrated by Ian Beck. Walker and Company: 2006. Ages 3-12.

My short story was about Winston a wolf who loves to chew on books. The librarian yells at him a lot for coming to the library to chew on books. Then the librarian had to chase Winston because he went in the library. After that a girl came and took Winston away to teach him how to read. The art work was awesome, I loved the art work. All of the art went along with the entire book. It was the best art. I loved this book I think that this book will encourage the other kids to read. I am 11 and I thought it was a very good book.

Reviewed by S.H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Extreme Mountain Biking

MacAulay, Kelly, Kalman, Bobbie. Extreme Mountain Biking. Crabtree Company: 2006. Ages 10-30.

My story is where people ride bikes on mountains, dirt, hills, roads, and more. They do stunts like front flips and back can cans. There were photographs like going down a big hill doing back flips and can cans. They raced on dirt roads and trails, sand too. My opinion of this book is good. The book would probably go to my brother because he likes to do cool stunts on his bike. I like to do backflips on my dirt bike so I wanted to learn more.

Reviewed by J. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Ice Cream the Full Scoop

Gibbons, Gail. Ice Cream the Full Scoop. Holiday House: 2006. Ages 8 - 14.

This book is about how ice cream is made. The art looks tasty because of all the ice cream pictures. I think this book was informational and tasty because it explained about how it was made before our time. I would recommend this book to other kids. This book would be for kids only.

Reviewed by S. H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

The Extinct Files: My Science Project

Edwards, Wallace. The Extinct Files: My Science Project. Kids Can Press: 2006. Ages 6-10.

This boy named Wally writes a report that he says dinosaurs are not extinct. Wally uses pictures and words to say that they are not dead. He uses his imagination. The photographs feel like you can actually see them in real life. This was a good book because it is interesting. I would recommend it to other kids that like to learn about dinosaurs.

Reviewed by S. M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Transportation Disaster Alert

Walker, Niki. Transportation Disaster Alert. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2006. Ages 7 and up.

This book is about the most common transportation disasters. The photos in this book are pretty neat. I would like to recommend this book because of the detailed sentences and the neat photos. It would be good for the age 7 or 8 year old or maybe a little bit higher age.

Reviewed by A. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Street Cred

Zronk, John. Street Cred. Crabtree Publishing Company 2007. Ages 7 to any age.

My story is about cars and how they became Nascar's and drag racing cars. The photographs show things that people do to their cars, like rims and hydro lifts. I loved this book it was very good. I do recommend this book for other kids. I would recommend it for kids who like cars. I think kids 7 and up should read it, its the best book ever. It showed you good pictures and it told you about how people made the street cars and their low riders and their racing cars.

Reviewed by A. L., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Tsuname Alert!

Walker, Niki. Tsunami Alert. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2006. Ages 10-13.

This book is about tsunamis and their devastating effects. It is also very informational. The photographs are sad and informational. I recommend this book for someone who is doing a report on disasters.

Reviewed by A. W., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Jurassic Poop

Berkowitz, Jacob. Jurassic Poop. Illustrated by Steve Mack. Kids Can Press: 2006. Ages 12 and up.

This story is about what dinosaurs left behind. Like their urination that scientists have found. Both illustrations and photographs were pretty sickening. I really did not enjoy this book because it was gross. I like gross stuff but this is just too far for me. I would recommend it to kids who like stuff like this. It might not interest anyone but probably 15 year olds.

Reviewed by T. E., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind

O'Malley, Kevin. Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind Walker and Company: 2006. Ages 8-11.

A boy does not like to read but his school is doing the "Everybody Reads in America" program. His teacher finally finds a book that he likes and he reads the book. The photographs in this book are great. The colors are bright and the book is very colorful. I would recommend this book to others. The book was OK. It was not the best book and it was not the worst book. The age would probably be 8-10. The grade I would recommend would be third grade.

Reviewed by M. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Teammates

Barber, Tiki, and Barber, Ronde. Teammates. Illustrated by Barry Root. Simon and Schuster Publisher: 2006. Ages 6 to 10.


My story was about when Tiki fumbled a ball in a crushal game. They lost so he and Ronde practiced holding on to the ball and they ended up beating their teams arch rival. The art in this book went along with the book because the illustrator made the background look dusty or faded. Most of the story was on a football field and most football fields are dusty. I thought that Teammates was a good book. Also, I do recommend it to other kids who are interested in football or like playing it.


Reviewed by S.K., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

LeBron James

Wheeler C., Jill. LeBron James. ABDO Publishing Company: 2007. Ages 8 and up.


The story is about LeBron James and his younger life. It is about how he began to be a basketball player. It was a very interesting book. I would recommend it to everyone that reads this book. The book had photographs that were amazing. Whoever took them did a great job. I really enjoyed learning about this book. It had very nice photographs and good details about LeBron James when he was younger and now. I think this book would interest anyone, but I would say more of an 8 year old and up. I would recommend this book definitely.


Reviewed by A. M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Cocker Spaniels

MacAulay, Kelley, and Kalman, Bobbie. Cocker Spaniels. Photographs by Marc Crabtree. Crabtree Publishing: 2007. Ages 8 to 18.


My book was about Cocker Spaniels. They are dogs that come in many different colors. I thought the pictures were great! I felt like the dogs were actually there. It was very colorful, bright, and cheery! I think that many kids would like this book. The dog on Page 6 looks like my dog, Lady, but she is a Springer Spaniel. The pictures in this book were bright, cheery, and colorful. Yes, I would recommend it to people who like dogs! But, if you do not like dogs, do not read it.


Reviewed by A. R., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

The Life Cycle of a Crayfish

Kalman, Bobbie. The Life Cycle of a Crayfish. Crabtree: 2007. Ages 6 and up.


The Life Cycle of a Crayfish is about the life and experiences of a crayfish. The photos in the book fit the main purpose of the book. They are great photographs. I, myself, give this book five stars because it gives a lot of information on crayfish and their lives. I do recommend this book for 6 and up.


Reviewed by K. F., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

A Drop of Water

Morrison, Gordon. A Drop of Water. Illustrated by author. Houghton Mifflin Company: 2006. Ages 8 to 11.


This story is about a little boy who got his finger wet by a brook. The clouds were drifting away because it had just rained. The art is beautiful, especially the pencil sketching. I think the book is relaxing. I recommend this book for 8 to 11 year olds.


Reviewed by J. W., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

The U.S. Constitution

Pearl, Norman. The U.S. Constitution. Illustrated by Matthew Skeens. Picture Window Books: 2007. Ages 6 to 9.


My story is about the Constitution and tells the readers about their rights. Some pictures show the White House, Supreme Court, and the Capitol. Another picture shows George Washington signing the Constitution. My book had art. The illustrator put dark spots on the paper for the book to look older than it is. I did not like that the author did not show more of the rights that we have. That was the only thing that I did not like. I liked the rest of the book.


Reviewed by J. M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Dancing with Katya

Chaconas, Dori. Dancing with Katya. Illustrated by Constance R. Bergum. Peachtree Publishers: 2006. Ages 9 to 12.


Dancing with Katya is about a young girl named Katya who loved to dance with her sister. When Katya gets sick, she becomes crippled. She has a struggle trying to walk. How will she ever learn to dance when she can not walk? Even though there are drawings, it feels like you are in the book. The art is done in water colors which makes it look beautiful. I loved the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to enjoy a good story. I would recommend this book for ages 9 to 12.


Reviewed by M. M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Penguins

Stefoff, Rebecca. Penguins. Benchmark Books: 2006. Ages 10 to 20.


The book, Penguins, is about all kids of penguins. It is about what they eat and how they care for their babies. There is a penguin called a Rock Hopper Penguin because it can hop and it lives in the rocky area. There were three pictures that I loved. One was a picture of an older penguin holding a fish in it's mouth. The other was a penguin blending in with tree bark. The last picture was a penguin that looks very evil and is found on a small island. They are called Fiordland Penguins. I think this book would be awesome for other kids because you learn so many great and wonderful things about penguins. I learned how they care for their babies, what they eat, and how good they can swim. Sometimes, penguins can swim very fast and do tricks.


Reviewed by S. F., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

No Room for Napoleon

Meserve, Adria. No Room for Napoleon. Illustrated by author. Farrar Straus Giroux: 2006. ages 6 to 11.


The story is about friendship and how you should not make your friends do things just because you tell them to. In the story, Napoleon does that to his new friends. Towards the end, Napoleon's friends go to a new island. Napoleon goes over there with his friends they do not let him on the island. So, that is why you do not want to boss your friends around. You will have no room on the island for them and they will do it to you. The art is amazing. I like how the art is colorful and bright. It really goes with the story. My opinion on this book is great. I really liked it. It was amazing what kind of things you can do to break a friendship up. Yes, I would recommend this book to other kids. I would recommend it to third graders. I really enjoyed the book.

Reviewed by F. M., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Robot Voyagers

Jefferis, David. Robot Voyagers. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2007. Ages 9 to 14.


Robot Voyagers was an okay book. It told me about what our robots today are capable of. It was a little boring but I liked the photos. The photos were fascinating pictures of robots. They look like photos from the future! This book was not as exciting as some books, but it had great photos and information. Robot Voyagers should be for older kids, instead of young children.


Reviewed by J. G., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Monsters are Afraid of the Moon

Satrapi, Marjane. Monsters are Afraid of the Moon. Illustrated by author. Bloomsbury Children's Books: 2006. Ages 3 to 8.


Marie brought the Moon into her room which scared away the monsters. It also caused many more problems for her. The art is very basic and plain because it did not go into any detail. There is also no background in the artwork. I would suggest that this book is for 3 to 8 year olds and would recommend it to any child in that age group.

Reviewed by D. B., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Steal Back the Mona Lisa

McCarthy, Meghan. Steal Back the Mona Lisa. Illustrated by the author. Harcourt Incorporated: 2006. Ages 4 to 12.


As Jack was lying in his bed, he knew something was wrong. After he got up and got ready, he got into his secret car. He drove until he got onto a plane. When he arrived, they told him that some crooked crooks were stealing the Mona Lisa. On his way to save it, he was kidnapped. Even though he was delayed, Jack still got the crooked crooks before they put a mustache on the Mona Lisa. The art was very kid like. At the same time, the pictures were still historical. I really enjoyed the art. I believe that it was a very funny, child-friendly book. This book is for ages 4 years to any age that can read an enjoyable book.



Reviewed by K. E., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs

Markle, Sandra. Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs. Walker and Company: 2006. Ages 8 to 20.


This story is about different types of frogs as tadpoles. Also, how they are as tadpoles and eggs. The story talks about the baby frogs and unique features about them. The photographs had great shots of the frogs. They had pictures of the eggs of frogs and them as tadpoles. I really enjoyed the story. I'd recommend it to children and adults if they would like to learn more about tadpoles, eggs, and baby frogs. I recommend the story for ages 8 and older.


Reviewed by G. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Robot Brains

Jefferis, David. Robot Brains. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2007. Ages 5 to 18.


This story is about robots from history to present day. The photographs fit the context very well and are very informational. I would be proud if I wrote this book. It appeals to me very much. I would recommend this book to other children because of its informational content and interesting photographs. He is a very great author.

Reviewed by M. L., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Guinea Pigs and Other Rodents

Kalman, Bobbie. Guinea Pigs and Other Rodents. Illustrated by Reagan Miller. Crabtree Publishing: 2006. Ages 6 to 11.


This story was about guinea pigs and other rodents. It is about where they live, what they eat, and if they hibernate or not. Also, about how to take care of rodents. The pictures are very cute and creative. The drawings are very good, neat, and different. I recommend this book for other kids because they can have information about guinea pigs and other rodents.


Reviewed by G. C., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin

Kalman, Bobbie and Robin Johnson. The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2007. Ages 7-18.


The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin is about how a baby penguin grows up and how it has to find it's own food when it gets to be 1 or two years old. The book is also about how penguins are warm blooded. The art was really great. Basically, the photos were a little big compared to the paragraphs. The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin is a book that 7 to 18 year olds would like read. The book tells all about Emperor Penguins.


Reviewed by S. H., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Moi and Marie Antoinette

Cullen, Lynn. Moi and Marie Antoinette. Illustrated by Amy Young. Bloomsbury Children's Books: 2006. Ages 8-16.

This story is about a young girl who discovers what life is like to be a queen. When she asks her daughter the same question her mother asked her. She says no because she has Moi!! The pictures are outstanding and beautiful! Lynn, I think you went for glamor for this story. My opinion for this book is, it is wonderful! I really recommend this book to glamor girls or girls who need to learn true beauty of being a child and not growing up too fast!

Reviewed by S. R., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

What Athletes are Made of

Piven, Hanoch. What Athletes are Made of. Atheneum Books for Young Readers: 2006. Ages 8-20.

This is a very intresting story for me because it is about a lot of intresting athletes and facts I never knew about. I thought the art was very artistic. Since I like to draw myself, I thought they were original. I think anybody who is a sports lover would love this book because I like sports.

Reviewed by C. F., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary.

Of Numbers and Stars

Loue, D. Anne. Of Numbers and Stars. Illustrated by Pam Pararone. Holiday House: 2006. Ages 12 and up.

This is a story about a girl named Hypatia who lived in Alexandria. Her father wanted to teach Hypatia everything he knew because in Alexandria women weren't educated so thats why Hypatia's father taught her everything he knew. Hypatia's father was a professor at a University. I loved the art in the story because the art was very detailed. I thought the art made the story intresting to read. I would recommend this story to kids that are older because the story had some higher words for kids younger than ten years old. I thought the story was very educational about the life of Hypatia and how she learned from her father and became very smart.

Reviewed by A. W., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Labrador Retrievers

MacAulay, Kelley and Bobbie Kalman. Labrador Retrievers. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2007. Ages 6 and up.

This story is about labrador retrievers. It tells you how to take care and how to train your lab. The photographs showed what the paragraph or sentence was talking about or explaning. The pictures always had a caption or two so I knew what it was or what it was showing. I would recommend this book to people seven and up who like labs or any other kind of dog. It was a very informational and detailed book. I enjoyed it very much.

Reviewed by M. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Jackie's Bat

Lorbiecki, Marybeth. Jackie's Bat. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers: 2006. Ages 7 - 12.

My story is about a baseball team named the Brooklyn Dodgers. Their team has all white players until one day a black man came to play for the Dodgers. The other men didn't like him. Their bat boy's dad was the owner of the team. His dad said to stay away from Jackie. Until one day a kid gave the bat boy a bat and card to give to Jackie. The boy gave it to Jackie but no card. He lied about the gift, it was a bat. Then he was scared, then he gave him the card. Jackie made black history. The illustrations were very good, creative. This book was very informational and I would recommend it for other kids because it is about black history. I think ages seven to twelve would like it.

Reviewed by B. A., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Rock, Brock, and Saving Shock

Bair, Sheila. Rock, Brock, and Savings Shock. Illustrated by Barry Gott. Albert Whitman and Company: 2006. Ages 5 to 5th grade.

My book is about a tale about Rock and Brock. Rock was clean and Brock was messy. Rock studies, Brock watched t.v. Rock woke up at dawn and Brock woke up at 3:00! Rock was perfect but he loved to buy. Brock lived like a slob but saved his money for a long time. Everyday if they did a chore his grandpa would give them money. When he did Rock went and bought something Brock saved his. The illustrations are very colorful. Ages seven to fifteen would like it. It shows pictures when they were very young. I think this book is awesome. I would recommend this book for a lot of other kids, everyone in school.

Reviewed by K. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Maggie's Amerikay

Russell, Barbara Timberlake. Maggie's Amerikay. Illustrated by Jim Burke. Farrar, Straus and Giroux: 2006. Ages 11 to 15.

Maggie and Da set sail for America heading for New Orleans. Some people would laugh at her. Black people would sometimes stare at her because she was white. Some people made their money gambling. At the end they are free to choose who they will be! The illustrations for this book were good. The clothing was old fashioned. On some pages the colors were a little brighter. The lights they used were old. I would recommend this book to other kids because this book is very good. It taught me how important freedom was back then.

Reviewed by D. S., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

Muscle Cars

Bailey, Katharine. Muscle Cars. Crabtree: 2007. Ages 6 and up.



My story was about muscle cars. The main muscle car in this book is Mustangs. It was also about what some parts of cars have. One of the main parts is the Hemi engine. This book has photographs on every page. Most of the photographs showed Mustangs and some of their main parts. The pictures also showed other muscle cars. My opinion about this book is that it is a very great book. The book gave me a lot of information I did not know. I would recommend this book to my eight year old brother because he really likes muscle cars.



Reviewed by B. V., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary

The President and Mom's Apple Pie

Garland, Michael. The President and Mom's Apple Pie. Illustrated by the Author. Dutton Children's Books: 2002. Ages 7 and up.

This story is about a president coming to town and that president is William Howard Taft. President Taft comes to town on a train. When he got there, there was a good smell in the air. Then a boy named Michael lead the way down the street to the Italian Villa, but that wasn't what he smelled. Then he went down to a ribs place that's not it either. After that he went to Mrs. Wong's but that wasn't it either. Then he followed his nose. They ended up at the boy's place and that is what he smelled, his mom's apple pie. The art in this book looked bold, colorful, and funny. The way it looked funny was because the way the people looked. They had red cheeks, big heads, small hands, feet and bodies. Overall I thought this book was funny. I would recommend this book to other kids. I would recommend it to younger kids and maybe to older kids too. I think seven year olds to any age might like this book, but I know one thing is that I do like this book!

Reviewed by M. B., 5th grade, Hilfiker Elementary