A Wombat's World

Arnold, Caroline. A Wombat's World. Minneapolis, Minn.: Picture Window Books, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4048-3986-1

This book called Wombat's World is a good book to read. This book tells about how much wombats weigh how big they are and where they live. Wombats live in Australia, their habitat is cool wet forests they eat grasses, root bark, and moss. These wombats weigh 44 to 77 pounds. They are 2.9 to 3.8 feet long. They are also mammals. The photographs are very creative, they would be great for little kids. This book tells how wombats live. This book give lots of info and it was great. I would recommend this book to kids in grades 1-5. Being that young you could understand the pictures more than I could being a teenager, because I really didn't get the pictures. The kids would really enjoy this book though, because I did. I enjoyed this because the pictures were great and the facts were awesome. now I know what wombats are and where they come from.


Reviewed by J.S. 7th Grade, VanBuren School

Swans

Stewart, Melissa. Swan. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-7614-2530-4

This book is about kinds of swans and their bodies, what the swans do during the day, where they live, and when people first saw swans. It shows what the swans look like inside and out. It talks about migrating and molting and when the feathers are replaced, their cycle of life, and how big their nest is. Baby swans are called youngsters. This book has a lot of information for any one that needs to do a report on swans.

Reviewed by A.N. 7th Grade, Van Buren

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Isadora, Rachel. The Twelve Dancing Princesses. New York: Putnam, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-399-24744-6.

There were 12 beautiful princesses. The princesses were locked into a room. The Princesses' father, the king, wanted to know why their shoes looked like they danced all night. A prince came along to figure out why. So the prince went to an older woman and she gave him advice about what not to do. When he found out what was going on he told the king. I think that it was a good story because the pictures went along with the story and it had good use of words. The age I recommend this story for is a 2nd-3rd grader.

Reviewed by A.R. 7th Grade, Van Buren Middle School

Coral Reefs

Gibbons, Gail. Coral Reefs. Holiday House: 2007. ISBN: 9780823420803.

This nonfiction book is about coral reef history, birth, life, growth, and facts. Vivid watercolor pictures give detail to the different kinds of fish and coral living in the reef. It describes three kinds of coral reefs, three reef zones, the extinction and return of coral reefs, and many other facts, all with great realism. I would recommend this book to 5-10 year olds interested in marine life or science in general.

Reviewed by D.S., Van Buren 7th grade

Other Goose Rhymes: Recycled Rhymes for Our Fragile Times

Klunder, Barbara Wyn. Other Goose Rhymes: Recycled Rhymes for our Fragile Times. Groundwood Books: 2007. ISBN: 9780888998293.

This book consists of Old Mother Goose nursery rhymes that were turned into nursery rhymes that have to do with all kinds of problems today. Political, environmental, and even some sales problems are found in this book. I though this book had funny metaphors and gave us a "hint" about why this is wrong. I think this book could be for kids in their teens and up because little kids don't really care about all of the problems of today. But they will hopefully in the future. Also, environmentalists and people who believe in fixing the problems would enjoy this book as well.

Reviewed by M.B., Van Buren 7th grade

Moses

Hodges, Margaret. Moses. Harcourt: 2007. ISBN:9780152009465.

Long ago, there was a baby named Moses. His mother had put him in a basket and put the basket in the Nile River. The Pharaoh's daughter found him and adopted him. Moses grew up as a prince, but one day he killed a guard because the guard was hurting a Hebrew, who were slaves in that day. Moses was sentenced to death, but he ran away. One day, while tending to the sheep, he saw a burning bush and God talked to him. God said to rescue his people. So Moses and Aaron went back to Egypt and told the new Pharaoh to let the Hebrew's go. Pharaoh said no and God put ten plagues on Egypt. Pharaoh then let the Hebrews go. As Moses and the Hebrews went to the promised land, the Pharaoh went to kill them all. So Moses parted the ocean and led the people through and closed it when they were all out. Moses then brought back the Ten Commandments, and Moses's journey was over. God was with him all the way.
I thought this book was ok, and had a lot of things I already knew. Plus, I am a Christian, so I liked it. I would recommend it to 1st to 2nd graders who are religious.

Reviewed by B.S., Van Buren 7th Grade

Return to the Moon

Irvine, Mat and David Jefferis. Return to the Moon. Crabtree Publishing: 2007. ISBN: 9780778731030.

This book is about man traveling to the moon. Starting in the 1960s, man started to develop new discoveries about the moon. On July 20, 1969, the U.S. finally set first steps on the moon. When man returns to the moon, they want to explore it, and live on it for weeks or longer. Man plans to explore more moons of other planets, but for right now, we don't have the equipment for it. Some day, we hope to support life on the moon, but that is a mystery that the future will uncover.
I think this book was very interesting. I learned a little bit more about the moon than I knew. I loved the pictures; they were very cool to look at. I think this book would be very good for 4th grade through 6th grade.

Reviewed by Z.S., Van Buren 7th Grade

Sea Horses

Otfinoski, Steven. Sea Horses. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2008. ISBN: 9780761425298.

This non-fiction, children's book is about sea horses. Sea Horses is a book that gives you an in-depth but somewhat simple description of the life of sea horses. It talks about their mating season, how they hunt for food, and how the father is like a mother to the baby sea horses. This book also talks about the dangers of being a sea horse and how people are endangering them. The pictures in Sea Horses are very bright and colorful. They also relate to what the story is talking about. Also, the glossary in the back of the book is very helpful.
Sea Horses is a book that has tons of information but is kind of boring. I would recommend this book to 5th through 8th graders.

Reviewed by E.L., Van Buren 7th Grade

Batter Up Baseball

Kalman, Bobbie and Trevor Morgan. Batter Up Baseball. Crabtree Publishing Co.: 2007. ISBN: 9780778731368.


This book is about the rules and different types of baseball. There are real photos of kids and major league baseball players. There are also names of the best baseball players from the past and present, and what the different positions the players play, like shortstop and umpire. My opinion of this book is that it's sort of boring because I already know about baseball, but I recommend this book for 3rd through 7th grade.

A. J. W., 5th grade, Arcadia Elementary

Alaska

Gill, Shelly. Alaska. Photographs by: Patrick J. Endres. Charlesbridge: 2007. ISBN: 9780881062922.

In this informational book about Alaska you will find that it is not all about people living in igloos and outdoor potties. Alaska is beautiful. In a place called Barrow, Alaska the sun never rises from November to the middle of January. On March 30, 1867 they struck gold in Alaska. A sport that is played in Alaska is dog sledding, and you will be surprised how long the races go on. In the summer it gets 100 degrees F. There was also an oil spill in Alaska, and they have earthquakes and volcanoes. The photographs are tremendous and the poems are awesome. I recommend this book to 4th grade through 10th grade.

Reviewed by: D.W., 5th grade, Arcadia

The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr

Debon, Nicholas. The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr. Groundwood Books: 2007. ISBN: 9780888997319.

In this non-fiction book, old and ailing Louis Cyr tells his daughter the work, hardships, and feats that he accomplished throughout his life to get where he is. Eventually, he comes to the conclusion that great strength isn't all it's cracked up to be.
I would recommend this book to 2nd-5th graders. It is well written and illustrated, easy to read, and the art is orginal, but a bit blurry.

Reviewed by C.K., Van Buren 7th grade

Walt Disney's Cinderella

Rylant, Cynthia. Blair, Mary. Walt Disney's Cinderella. Disney Press: 2007. ISBN: 9781423104216.

This is a retold story of Cinderella, a girl who's life is changed by the help of her fairy god-mother. She starts out as a poor servant girl for her evil step-mother and step-sisters. when the prince wants to find a wife, he holds a ball for every girl in the kingdom. When Cinderella isn't allowed to go, her fairy godmother helps her. Cinderella and the prince fall in love at the ball but their fun is cut short at midnight when Cinderella turns back from a beautiful princess to a servant.
This was a very good retelling. The illustrations were very soft and nice to look at. I recommend this book for all ages (who doesn't love Cinderella?).

Reviewed by T.G., Van Buren 7th grade

Explore South Africa

Aloian, Molly and Bobbie Kalman. Explore South Africa. Crabtree Publishing Company: 2007. ISBN: 9780778730767.

This book is about different oceans, from small to large. It talks about the 7 different continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia/Oceania. It tells you about the countries and also the government in South Africa. Explore South Africa talks about the 4 directions: North, South, East, and West; and about the North and South Poles. It tells you about the different climates in South Africa. It also talks about mountains and different islands, and other bodies of water. It talks about tropical rain forests and the animals that live there. It shows grassland areas, and dry deserts. It talks a little about towns and cities. It also talks about the people, and life, growing food, and nature, culture, games, carnivals, and postcards.

I am not really excited about the book very much. It is kind of childish. It has good pictures and descriptions. I would recommend this to somebody doing a report on South Africa.

Reviewed by B.S., Van Buren 7th Grade

Walker Evans: Photographer of America

Nau, Thomas. Walker Evans: Photographer of America. Roaring Brook Press: 2007. ISBN: 159643225X.

This book is about Walker Evans III, who was born on November 3, 1903. Walker Evans always loved literature since a young age and just loved words. It all began in Keniworth, Missouri. He changed schools a lot and applied to Williams College and was accepted, but his lifelong dream was to go to Yale with his upper-class friends. He moved to New York City and went to a library and said he would work for free. He got a job in a map-room delivering requested materials. Walker made a friend named Hanns Skolle. Hanns was a German painter and was the same age as Walker. Walker quit his job in the library and took a steamship, called Cherbourg, to head to Paris, France. He vowed he was going to be a writer. He also met new friends, like Hart Crane, Ben Shahn, and Berenice Abbott. Some of them talked him into being a photographer because they said he wasn't very good at writing. He loved the straight-forward snapshots filled with the detail of life. He took many pictures. He met a girl named Jane Ninas and loved her, but he moved back to New York. He took many more pictures and was called the photographer of America. He died at the age of 72. He also finally got accepted into Yale.

My opinion is that this was a very good book. I liked how he followed his dream and he took pictures that he loved to take and not in the way that other people took pictures. I give this book 2 thumbs up and five stars. The age I recommend this book to is about seventh grade, or someone who loves to take pictures. I just really like this book.

Reviewed by B.M.S., Van Buren 7th Grade

Turtles and Tortoises

Rebman, Renee C. Turtles and Tortoises. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. ISBN: 9780761422396.

Turtles and Tortoises is about not only turtles and tortoises, but where they came from and how they came to be. Turtles and Tortoises puts its information through stories, making it easier to understand. I think that this book would be good for elementary and middle school kids, alike. Turtles and Tortoises gives you a better understanding of how they live and why you wouldn't want them to be endangered. This book also gives you a glossary to help you understand difficult words. I would definitely read this book if I wanted to find out about turtles and tortoises. I would recommend 4th-8th graders to read this.

Reviewed by A.H., Van Buren 7th Grade

How Monkeys Make Chocolate: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Rainforest

Forsyth, Adrian. How Monkeys Make Chocolate: Unlocking the Mysteries of the Rainforest. Maple Tree Press Inc: 2006. ISBN: 9781897066775.

This book is about all the different kinds of food and plants that people in the rainforest use; such as the sweet pulp in the cocoa beans. That is the monkey's favorite food, and us humans use it to make chocolate. Another appetizing meal is a bowl of fresh fruit, such as ripe cherries. The colors and oily gloss attract monkeys and birds. Another odd thing the rainforest produces is a tree called the chicle tree. There are many more foods that come from the rainforest but the last one I am going to mention is the nuts. They are very hard and only special animals, like the parrot and agoutis, eat them.
I really enjoyed this book. I also learned a lot. The pictures are great and my favorite one is on page 17 and it is a monkey. I also learned about many new foods, like the cupuacu. I would recommend this book to ages 10 to 15 because it has a lot of text and complex words.

Reviewed by A.B., Van Buren 7th Grade

Princess Grace

Hoffman, Mary. Van Wright, Cornelius & Hu, Ying-Hwa. Princess Grace. Dial Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 9780803732605.

This fictional book is about Grace who loves princesses and has always dreamed of being one. She was told that two people from her class were going to be chosen to be a princess for a parade. She wants to be in it, but she isn't sure what kind of dress she wants to wear. She asks her teacher and her teacher tells her about princesses who led warriors, started armies, became scientists, artists, and even spies. Grace learned that princesses weren't only pretty, pink, and frilly and she wanted something exotic.

I thought Princess Grace was a cute childrens book for ages 4 to 8. It teaches you that there are more choices to life than what you think.

Reviewed by A.E., Van Buren, 7th grade

Home Now

Beake, Lesley. Littlewood, Karin. Home Now. Charlesbridge: 2007. ISBN: 9781580891622.

This fictional book is about a little girl named Sieta who is taken far away from her parents, who are sick, to live with her Aunty. She has so many memories of her old home, but she lives in a new place which she calls home now. One day her teacher takes her to an elephant park and Sieta meets a baby elephant who she befriends and relates to. Sieta's mind isn't filled with sad memories anymore and she begins to get used to home now.
I recommend this book for first through third graders because the book is about a younger girl and it is a cute story that shows how Sieta develops and gets through a rough time.

Reviewed by S.J., Van Buren 7th grade

How the Ladies Stopped the Wind

McMillan, Bruce. How the Ladies Stopped the Wind. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-618-77330-5.

How the Ladies Stopped the Wind is about the ladies of one village in Iceland trying to make it less windy. The ladies planted trees that would grow tall and stop the wind. The ladies had to figure out ways to prevent the sheep from eating the trees while they tried to encourage chickens to make fertilizer for the trees. This book was very had for me to focus on, I always got sidetracked. Some pictures and statements did not need to be in; (page 16) the cake and doughnuts did not have anything to do with the storyline. I do not think a kid could focus on it, they have short attention spans. I would recommend this for soemone who is 3rd grade and up with a long attention span.

Reviewed by B.M. 7th Grade, Van Buren Middle School

All Kinds of Feet

Miller, Sara Swan. All Kinds of Feet. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-7614-2520-5.


This book is telling you about feet of all animals. I think this is a good book because it gives you facts about all kinds of animals' feet. It also tells little facts about smaller animals. I think the appropriate age recommendation for this book would be for a 4th or 5th grader.

Reviewed by C.R. 7th Grade, Van Buren Middle School

Satchel Paige: Don't Look Back

Adler, David A. Satchel Paige: Don't Look Back. Orlando: Harcourt, 2007.



Satchel Paige: Don't Look Back is an unblievable book. It's about a boy named Satchel that is very poor. He was an awesome baseball player. Even so, he was an African American and couldn't get into the majors until he was 42. African Americans were not allowed to play baseball in the majors. This book's pictures are creative, bright, and very colorful. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes baseball.



Reviewed by M.G. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Seeing the Elephant: A Story of the Civil War

Hughes, Pat. Seeing the Elephant: A Story of the Civil War. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2007.



Seeing the Elephant is about a boy named Izzie who has two brothers, Cal and Ario who went to battle in the Civil War as a Yankee. Then his brother Cal got very sick he had to come home to get better. To make life easier, Izzie's aunt wants to take him to Washington D.C. where the injured soldiers go to get cared for. Izzie wants to go with his aunt to see the injured soldiers, but will his parents let him? This book is a true story with amazing pictures that help tell the story. If you like history and the civil war this book is for you.



Reviewed by A.F. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Capoeira: Game! Dance! Martial Art!

Ancona, George. Capoeira: Game! Dance! Martial Art!. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2007.



Capoeira is about a Brazilian martial art that you play music to! This book is informational because it shows you some moves and doesn't overdo it. The book has realistic kinds of pictures because they are photographs of the moves and the culture. The words in the text are easy to read. One thing that makes this martial art different from the rest of the martial arts that require touching each other, is that in Capoeira you don't! I think anyone would like this book.


Reviewed by A.N. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

The Snack Smasher and Other Reasons Why It's Not My Fault

Perry, Andrea. Snow, Alan. The Snack Smasher and Other Reasons Why It's Not My Fault. Atheneum Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 9780689854699.

The snack smashers was a collection of poems about the sneaky villains that cause life's little annoyances. Andrea Perry had great poems to go along with each of the little stories. It was a funny and enjoyable fictional book. The artwork was cartoonish and goofy and really caught your eye. I really enjoyed The snack smashers. It was a cute book and really "explained" a lot! I would recommend this for second to fourth or fifth graders because its really enjoyable, funny, and it has super great artwork.

Reviewed by H.L., Van Buren, 7th grade

Sugar Cane: a Caribbean Rapunzel

Storace, Patricia. Colon, Raul. Sugar Cane: a Caribbean Rapunzel. Hyperion Books for Children: 2007. ISBN: 9780786807918.

Sugar Cane: a Caribbean Rapunzel, is a non-fiction book about a women who is pregnant and craves sugar cane. Her husband then searches for sugar cane and finds some in an empty yard. When he comes back to take more, Madame Fate catches him and demands punishment. The punishment was that on his newborn daughter's first birthday, she would be taken away and placed in a tower. The babies name was Sugar Cane and her hair grew long while she was in the tower. The King hears Sugar Cane singing and falls in love with her, hoping to climb up the tower by her long hair that she let down. Madame Fate cuts off all her hair though, and leaves Sugar Cane stuck in the tower.

I really liked that this was a story of Rapunzel, but in a different culture. The pictures had tons of swirls that made it really accented. I would recommend this book to kids from the ages of 6 to 10.

Reviewed by S.B., Van Buren 7th grade

We are the Ship: the Story of Negro League Baseball

Kadir, Nelson. We are the Ship: the Story of Negro League Baseball. Hyperion Books for Children: 2007. ISBN: 9780786808328.

The book We are the Ship told the stories of Negro League Baseball players and how they were discriminated but never gave up and kept playing the game they loved. This book tells you about all the great players in the Negro Leagues and what they dealt with.
Ages: 11-14. I recommend this book because you learn a lot about what baseball was like for the Negro League players. You are not only informed but you are entertained and will be amazed by the interesting stories you hear.

Reviewed by Z.K., Van Buren 8th Grade

The Escape of Oney Judge

McCully, Emily Arnold. The Escape of Oney Judge. Farrar, Straus & Giroux: 2007. ISBN: 9780374322250.

Oney Judge, a slave in the house of Martha and George Washington, risks everything to escape from being sold after her owners pass away, in a home of a free and safe life. I thought that the book followed a good story and helped explain how the black people felt about slavery. Ages 6-10, grades 3-5.

Reviewed by S.S., Van Buren 8th Grade

Uncle Sam

Hicks, Terry Allan. Uncle Sam. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. ISBN: 9780761421375.
This book is great for someone writing a report or just the curious young mind. This book is great for kids in grades 2-5 that are interested in history. Uncle Sam is both historic and educational. It gives the reason that Uncle Sam came about. It gives you more that you expected, giving you all sorts of facts about the exciting world of America's Uncle Sam. Though he was created as a joke, Uncle Sam became so much more.

Reviewed by L.K., Van Buren 8th Grade

Mazeways: A to Z

Munro, Roxie. Mazeways: A to Z. New York: Sterling, 2007.


I like Mazeways because it was a book just to pass the time and relax, not necessarily to read for meaning for content. Mazeways is a book full of riddles and mazes. The pictures were very colorful and easy to read. I would recommend this book to 2nd - 5th graders because it is similar to an I Spy book.


Reviewed by B.S. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Eli Remembers

Vander Zee, Ruth, and Marian Sneider. Eli Remembers. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007

Eli Remembers is about a boy, Eli, who's Jewish. Every year at Rosh Hashanah Eve his Great-grandmother, Gussie, always lit seven candles and sighed. Eli always wondered why. He then went to Lithuania, he there found out why his grandmother and Great-grandmother always cried or sighed during Rosh Hashanah Eve. This story is an exciting book that I think if you like to read about the Holocaust you'll enjoy this. I really liked this because it was so suspenseful and kepy you guessing. I think grades 2-5 will like this book. I hope a lot of people will enjoy this book.

Reviewed by K.T. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Super Swimmers: Whales, Dolphins, and Other Mammals of the Sea

Arnold, Caroline. Super Swimmers: Whales, Dolphins, and Other Mammals of the Sea. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2007.
Super Swimmers is about mammals of the sea. I really liked the pictures because they were very colorful. It gives accurate information. If you like whales, dolphins, manatees, sea otters, or seals this is the book for you. This book is great for a beginning marine biologist or people who like sea mammals.

Reviewed by B.D.K. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

The Whale Scientists

Hodgkins, Fran. The Whale Scientists: Solving the Mystery of Whale Strandings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.


This book tells you all about whales and how they get stranded on beaches. They use detailed photographs that are taken on land and even underwater. They use some real photographs and also they use drawings that help you tell what is happening in the book. I liked this book because it really gets the deep facts about whales and it is fun to read. I think anyone from 8 and up would like this book.


Reviewed by C.H. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun

Bateman, Teresa. Traveling Tom and the Leprechaun. Illustrated by Melisande Potter. Holiday House Inc.: 2007. ISBN: 9780823419760.

This fictional book is about a princess who does not want to get married, but rumors go around that she is going to. Finally she says she will marry a man who can out-wit a leprechaun and steal his pot of gold. Traveling Tom comes along and hears of this and falls in love with the princess, so Tom sets out for the pot of gold. He gets the pot of gold by "tricking" the leprechaun by making him think gold just weighs you down.

I thought this was a good book, but it had a weird story. I liked it though, because of how traveling Tom tricks the leprechaun. The pictures are very chippy and funny by how each character is portrayed, especially the leprechaun. I would say the age range for this book would be kindergarden through 3rd grade.

Reviewed by C.A., Van Buren 7th grade

The Buffalo Storm

Applegate, Katherine. The Buffalo Storm. Illustrated by Jan Omerod. Clarion Books: 2007. ISBN: 9780618535972.

This fictional book is about Hallie who is a young girl that is afraid of storms just like her grandmother. Hallie is very close to her grandma, but her family has to leave her and move on the wagon train. Her grandmother makes Hallie a blanket to cuddle in when a storm comes since she won't have her grandma there to comfort her. Before she leaves though, her grandma tells her about the buffalo storms. When the buffalo run in packs, it sounds like a storm. When Hallie hears and expieriences her first buffalo storm, she's afraid at first, but then learns that they are moving just like her. They're not harmful and it's okay. She connects that to any other kind of storm and remembers it's okay and she doesn't have to be afraid.

I would recommend this book to kids around the age levels of first or second grade to fourth grade. I would recommend those age groups because they would enjoy the painted pictures and the short stroy of a young girl around their age who overcomes a fear. It reminded me of the Laura Ingalls Wilder series I read when I was little.

Reviewed by K.S., Van Buren 7th grade

A Book About Design

Gonyea, Mark. A Book About Design. Henry Holt & Company: 2007. ISBN: 9780805075755.


This non fiction book is about not making art too complicated. This book walked you through the importance of size, shape, and color. First, it talks about "All or Nothing" which is about balance. Next is the box, which is very important to art. The third thing it talks about is 1:3:9. This is about most ratios of art. Then there is contrast and another is using letters in art. The next one is about color shades and when to use them. Finally is the important things in your artwork and how to make things stand out.

I didn't really enjoy this book. I thought that it could have gotten the point across faster than it did and it bored me in the first chapter. The illustrations got the point across, but the art had nothing interesting about it. I would recommend this book to kids aged from 7 to 11.



Reviewed by M. G., Van Buren 7th Grade

Roald Amundsen: The Conquest of the South Pole

Karner, Julie. Roald Amundsen: The Conquest of the South Pole. Crabtree Publishing: 2007. ISBN: 9780778724322.

This non-fiction book is about Roald Amundsen's dream to explore the South Pole. Amundsen had always dreamed of going to the South Pole ever since her was young. He joined the Norweigian military at the age of 21. He was in a race with Robert Scott in 1910 to be the first one to the South Pole. At the same time, people were fighting to be the first to explore the Northwest passage. Roald made it to the South Pole before Scott. Scott finished soon after, but did not make it back alive. The Amundsen Gulf was named after him as well as the Amundsen Sea, Glacier and a crater on the moon. An observation and research center sits in the middle of the South Pole.

I would recommend this book to anyone in 5th-7th grade. The information is very useful but you would need to be able to get more specific if you were doing a high school research paper. The information is very accurate and the pictures and captions are very helpful. It would be useful to people interested in exploration of the world and arctic regions.

Reviewed by A.C., Van Buren 8th Grade

Cave Detectives: Unraveling the Mystery of an Ice Age Cave

Harrison, David L. Cave Detectives: Unraveling the Mystery of an Ice Age Cave. Chronicle Books: 2007. ISBN: 9780811850063.

This book gives a chronological list of what has happened at the Riverbluff Cave from when it was discovered in the present day. There is great detail in what has been found and the discoveries that have been made.
Recommendation: 4th-6th graders
The words are not very challenging and there are definitions for the words that are challenging. I recommend it to anyone interested in geology or caves.

Reviewed by B.D., Van Buren 8th Grade

Wind Flyers

Johnson, Angela. Wind Flyers. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 9780689848797.

This is a great hand-me-down story about a boy, his great-great uncle, and their shared love of airplanes. As the uncle retraces his steps, he tells his nephew how be became a Tuskegee Flyer. With great pictures and simple words, it is a great book for children.
Though this story was rather enjoyable, I would definitely recommend it for the younger ages. With simple words that everyone will understand and wonderful pictures to help tell the tale, this would be a great book to read to children, or even learn to read on.

Reviewed by K.G., Van Buren 8th Grade

Endangered Monkeys

Aloian, Molly and Bobbie Kalman. Endangered Monkeys. Crabtree Publishing: 2007. ISBN: 9780778718628.

There is so much that we don't know about other mammals that live with us on this earth. This book focuses on monkeys. The table of contents and index are full of subjects all about monkeys. The Glossary shows the meanings of important words throughout the book. Some topics are: where monkeys live, what they eat, and about their habitat loss. It was a fun book to read. I never realized how little I knew about monkeys! I would recommend this for a third grader (very easy vocab). I also recommend it to kids who are animal lovers.

Reviewed by C.B., Van Buren 8th Grade

Rosa Parks: The Courage To Make A Difference

Collard, Sneed B. III. Rosa Parks: The Courage To Make a Difference. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. ISBN: 9780761421634.

Rosa Parks: The Courage To Make a Difference by Sneed B. Collard III, is an informational, non-fiction book describing the segregation of blacks and whites during the 1950s and 60s. It explains the bravery and courage of Rosa Parks when she refused to move from her seat on the bus for a white person. The pictures are very realistic, giving a great visual to the reader. Rosa Parks inspires its readers to stand up for what they believe in. I would recommend this book for children ages 8-11. I think this book is a good way for kids 8-11 to understand segregation, and how people years ago were treated unfairly.

Reviewed by E.K., Van Buren 8th Grade

If: A Father's Advice to His Son

Kipling, Rudyard. If: A Father's Advice to His Son. Atheneum Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 9780689877995.

The book, If: A Father's Advice to His Son, was a classic poem with modern pictures that make it easy for almost anyone to understand. I would suggest this book to a reader of about 8-10 years, because although it may be a picture book with large print, I think to a kid of any lesser age, the inspirational poem would have no meaning to it. I would recommend this book to anyone because the classic words are meaningful in a way to help you succeed in life. Charles R. Smith did an excellent job matching the photos with the words.

I recommend this book to 8-10 year olds because I think kids of lesser age would probably not understand the inspirational value of the book. Also, it has large print and clear pictures.

Reviewed by T.F., Van Buren 8th Grade

All Kinds of Noses

Miller, Sara Swan. All Kinds of Noses. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. ISBN: 9780761425229.

This book is about the many different types of noses. There is information about all different types of noses and it is illustrated with magnified photos helping to explain information. The index and table of contents help guide the reader in finding more information.

Age Range: 5th and 6th graders. This book included great pictures that gave a lot of detail. I would recommend this book for research projects done by a middle school level and lower.

Reviewed by J.E., Van Buren 8th Grade

Paleo Sharks: Survival of the Strangest

Bradley, Timothy J. Paleo Sharks: Survival of the Strangest. Chronicle Books LCC: 2007. ISBN: 0811848787.

This book has short descriptions and drawings of prehistoric sharks. It shows what archeologists think the sharks looked like and what they ate. It also compared the prehistoric sharks to a great white shark and a man so you could figure out how big they were.

I think that it is a very interesting book with a lot of detail and interesting facts. I would recommend it for kids interested in prehistoric animals, mainly sharks, that are in the fourth or fifth grade.

Reviewed by D.R., Van Buren 8th Grade

Anne Hutchinson's Way

Atkins, Jeannine. Anne Hutchinson's Way. Farrar, Straus & Giroux: 2007. ISBN: 0374303657.
The Hutchinson family originated in England, but are moving to Massachusetts, in 1634, because they are Puritans and want the freedom of religion. When they arrive, the main character, Anne, finds her family that has moved there earlier. Later, her mother does not agree with what the minister is preaching, so she holds meetings with the townspeople and preaches what she believes is right. She gets punished for this, but what will the punishment be considering that only men can go to jail? Will she eventually get out of her punishment?

This book was a great story and had a good, factual story line. The illustrations were very detailed and interesting. This book also had a very good theme. I would recommend this book to third to fifth graders who are interested in history.



Reviewed by K.E., Van Buren 8th Grade

Sweet Land of Liberty

Hopkinson, Deborah. Sweet Land of Liberty. Peachtree Publishers: 2007. ISBN: 9781561453955.

Sweet Land of Liberty is a non-fictions book about a boy named Oscar. When Oscar is very young he is surrounded by injustice of equal rights and does not agree with even his own family's behavior. After being suspended from school for mounting a picture of Abraham Lincoln on his classroom wall, Oscar is determined to fight injustice. Later down the road, he becomes the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for the U.S. government. Oscar is in charge of helping to organize an African-American female singer's concert. They were rejected from Constitutional Hall, where it was supposed to be held. Could Abraham Lincoln somehow solve injustice once more?
It was an inspiring children's book, probably for about third grade.

Reviewed by A.B., Van Buren 8th Grade

Vinnie and Abraham

FitzGerald, Dawn. Vinne and Abraham. Charlesbridge: 2007. ISBN: 9781570916588.



This non-fiction book is about Vinnie Ream and her dream to sculpt Abraham Lincoln. The book follows her path from when she was a child and learning to love sculpting to when she is a young woman and moves to Washington D.C. Her dream was to sculpt Abraham Lincoln and she would not take "no" for an answer. She tackles many hardships to get to her dream, such as people doubting her because she was a woman, but she never backed down.

I liked this book very much because it has historical facts but connects it to a story that is very interesting and more fun to follow. I would recommend this book to 2nd-4th graders because it has a lot of pictures but yet it has facts. It also has a very good message. I would also recommend it to kids who are interested in history or art.



Reviewed by M.M., Van Buren 8th Grade.

Ghost Ship: A Cape Cod Story

Clark, Mary Higgins. Ghost Ship: A Cape Cod Story. New York: Simone & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007.

Ghost Ship is about a boy named Thomas who is staying with his grandma in Cape Cod. He meets a ghost boy named Silas who was a cabin boy for Captain Hallet. Captain Hallet is the captain for a ship. The illustrations in this book are very realistic. the words make it easy to follow the story and they are easy to read too. If you like stories with ghosts this is the book for you.

Reviewed by C.G. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive

Weatherford, Carole. Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive. New York: Walker & Company, 2006.

The Fastest Man Alive is about Jesse Owens. The story tells a lot about him, although the pictures were not very descriptive. The words were very confusing. They skipped around from the beginning of a race to the end when he was a glorious winner. I think I would understand Jesse better if the book wouldn't have skipped around so much. I would not recommend this book to anyone. If I were to recommend this book to someone it would be 7th and 8th graders.

Reviewed by D.D. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Jazzy Jewelry

Brend, Dawn.[et al]. Jazzy Jewelry. New York: Kingfisher Publications, 2007.


Jazzy Jewelry is a book about making jewelry out of reusable materials. Each page has pictures that show you the steps in making the project. I liked some of the crafts in the book, but I thought a few of them were tacky. I recommend this book to crafty girls who are ages 9-12 because some of the crafts might be too complicated for younger girls.

Reviewed by E.L. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Mrs. Marlowe's Mice

Asch, Frank. Mrs. Marlowe's Mice. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2007.

Mrs. Marlowe's Mice is about Mrs. Marlowe harboring mice and keeping them a secret from cat land security. This picture book is the best picture book I have ever read because of the mysterious text and the fantastic pictures. I think the author could have told why it's illegal to harbor mice. I think first, second, and third graders will love this book.

Reviewed by J.F. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku

Crowe, Ellie. Surfer of the Century: The Life of Duke Kahanamoku. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2007.

Surfer of the Century is about a Hawaiian surfer/swimmer named Duke Kahanamoku. Duke is black and can't go to special restaurants and other places like a white person in America. He came to America by ship for the Olympics and almost missed it. I liked this book, but I definitely think the author could have given more detail to make the story seem like you were actually there. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in black history or likes water sports.

Reviewed by J.R. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Slam Dunk Basketball

Kalman, Bobbie, and John Crossingham. Slam Dunk Basketball. New York: Crabtree Pub., 2007.

In Slam Dunk Basketball the author explains the positions and tells you some important rules of the game. One of the things I liked about this book is it talks about star players playing that position. The photos in this book are real live photos from professional basketball games and show NBA stars in action. People who are 6-11 years old and are curious about how to play basketball should read this book.

Reviewed by J.L. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Cows Sweat Through Their Noses: And Other Freaky Facts About Animal Habits, Characteristics, and Homes

Seuling, Barbara. Cows Sweat Through Their Noses: And Other Freaky Facts About Animal Habits, Characteristics, and Homes. Minneapolis, Minn: Picture Window Books, 2008.

Did you know that cows sweat through their noses? I didn't either until I read Cows Sweat Through Their Noses. This book is full of engrossing and uncanny facts about animals. These are some of the reasons why I didn't like it. Some improvements that the author could make are: the art for instance could be more detailed instead of cartoons. This book is different from books because it's just stating facts about animals. I never knew some of the facts before. I'd say that Cows Sweat Through Their Noses would be a good book for boys from the grades 3-5. I think that because some boys like freaky facts and some like animals. Some girls would probably read this book, but just a few. Those are some reasons why Cows Sweat Through Their Noses was an interesting book, but there is room for improvement.


Reviewed by L.D. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Kick It Soccer

Kalman, Bobbie, and John Crossingham. Kick It Soccer. New York: Crabtree Publishers, 2007.

Kick It Soccer is all about how to play soccer. It has a lot of useful information. The pictures are helpful by showing you positions and kicks like far kick, hard kick, and pass kick. I recommend this to anyone that wants to play soccer and needs information about the sport. I liked this book because it taught me a lot about soccer I didn't know before.

Reviewed by M.R. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

How Big Is It?

Hillman, Ben. How Big Is It?: A Big Book All About Bigness. New York: Scholastic, 2007.

How Big Is It? is a very detailed book about out of the ordinary things that are humungous. I like the illustrations because they compare the humungous items to everyday items. I think anybody would like this and it would be ok for all ages. The text was easy to read and used descriptive words.

Reviewed by M.G. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Down the Colorado: The Story of John Wesley Powell, the one-armed explorer

Ray, Deborah Kogan. Down the Colorado: The Story of John Wesley Powell, the One-Armed Explorer. New York: Francis Foster Books, 2007.

Down the Colorado is about Wes Powell's life. Wes Powell was one of the first people to travel down the Colorado River. One of the things I liked about this book was the pictures. They look like they're done with watercolors and oil pastels. Most of the pictures are vivid and can tell more about the story than the words can. I would recommend this book to someone who likes biographies about people who go on dangerous journeys.

Reviewed by M.M. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Houdini the Handcuff King

Lutes, Jason, and Nick Bertozzi. Houdini the Handcuff King. New York: Hyperion, 2007.

ISBN: 978-0-7868-9025.

Houdini the Handcuff King is a suspensful book because you never know what will happen next and it shows some of Houdini's secrets. The artist made the book in a cartoon style and used vivid details. The book tells about Houdini's jump over the Harvard Bridge in handcuffs and leg chains. I think anyone nine and up would love this book because it keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Reviewed by N.I.K 5th Grade, Bowling Green

The Snow baby : The Arctic Childhood of Admiral Robert E. Peary's Daring Daughter

Kirkpatrick, Katherine. The Snow baby : The Arctic Childhood of Admiral Robert E. Peary's Daring Daughter. New York: Holiday House, 2007.

The Snow Baby is about expeditionist Robert E. Peary's daring daughter and her experiences in Greenland, her birthplace, and the U.S. One specific thing I liked about the book was the pictures because they were not drawings, they were photographs. I was able to see real Inuits. Kids who love biographies and adventures will love this book.

Reviewed by N.K. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Cocker Spaniels

MacAulay, Kelley, and Bobbie Kalman. Cocker Spaniels. New York: Crabtree Publishing Co, 2007.

The book Cocker Spaniels teaches you about cocker spaniels and different types of them. The book also tells you if a cocker spaniel is right for you. The book gives information on cocker spaniels and what they need to have a great life. This book would be a great book for people who like dogs. I would give it a rating of 10/10 stars.

Reviewed by P.D. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Skyscraper

Curlee, Lynn. Skyscraper. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007.

One thing that I like about the book Skyscraper is that you learn many new skyscrapers you haven't heard of before. I think there could have been less pictures than there were. I think any architect will like this book because it talks about the most famous skyscrapers. The pictures look like a painting on a sculpture. The text uses very descriptive words. Some of the words were hard. For example, if they say the name of a company or an architect it might be hard to pronounce, but all the other words aren't that hard. This book is different from the other books I've read because the farther you get in the book the more popular the skyscrapers are.

Reviewed by R.M. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

The Dragon Drawing Book

Massilello, Ralph. The Dragon Drawing Book. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2007.

The Dragon Drawing Book is simply a book on how to draw dragons. Unlike other drawing books this book gives you information on the dragons you are drawing. I recommend this book to anyone who really likes dragons and would like to read and draw dragons. I like this book because of how it represents dragons from all cultures. Anyone who is captivated by dragons should read this book.

Reviewed by S.C.H. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

NASA

Elish, Dan. NASA. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2007.

NASA is about humans going into space and getting more advanced than ever. I liked NASA because it starts with the space race in the 1950s and ends with modern space travel. NASA also gives you lots of details like how and when something happened. The words were easy to read except for the Russian names. I would recommend this book to any one who likes adventure and space flight.


Reviewed by S.J. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Puff the Magic Dragon

Yarrow, Peter, and Leonard Lipton. Puff the Magic Dragon. New York: Sterling Publishers, 2007.

The story Puff the Magic Dragon is about a dragon that has a human kid, Little Jackie Paper as a friend. Little Jackie Paper is a boy. Puff and he are best friends until Little Jackie Paper grows up and leaves Puff. The art in the story was a very good sight for sore eyes because the art and the colors were very brittle and the colors looked like they were layered. One thing that I liked about this story was how the story line went from happy to sad to happy again. The text is very good for young readers, but anyone that likes dragons would like this book.

Reviewed by S.M. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

When Is a Planet Not a Planet?

Scott, Elaine. When Is a Planet Not a Planet?. New York: Clarion Books, 2007.

When Is a Planet Not a Planet? is the story of Pluto. The book is fairly easy to read and has a lot of information about Pluto and the solar system. It is about why Pluto is no longer a planet. The pictures helped explain about the book and they were really cool too. I think that people who like the planets and outer space will really like this book.

Reviewed by S.N.H. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Louis Sockalexis : Native American Baseball Pioneer

Wise, Bill. Louis Sockalexis : Native American Baseball Pioneer . New York: Lee & Low Books, 2007.

Louis Sockalexis is about a great Native American baseball player who got an opporunity to play on the Cleveland Spiders. His father and his village think that baseball is a waste of time though. The pictures in this book are bright at some parts and dark in other, which helps set the different moods. This is an easy read, but full of suspense to keep you guessing. If you like biographies, books about baseball, or books set back in time, this is the book for you.

Reviewed by T.A. 5th Grade, Bowling Green

Bear of My Heart

Ryder, Joanne and Margie Moore. Bear of My Heart. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 9780689859472.

This is a fictional book about bears and how they love each other. The pictures are drawings of a cub and it's mom. My favorite part was when they were swimming. I would recommend this book to second graders. I thought this was a good book.

Reviewed by C. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Pup and Hound Hatch an Egg

Hood, Susan. Pup and Hound Hatch an Egg. Illustrated by Linda Hendry. Kids Can Press: 2007. ISBN: 9781553379744.

This is a fictional book about two dogs who hatch an egg. The egg finally hatched and it was a baby turtle. The pictures are colorful. My favorite part was when the egg hatched. I would recommend this book to first graders. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by B. E. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Bobbie Dazzler

Wild, Margaret. Bobbie Dazzler. Kane/Miller Book: 2007. ISBN: 9781933605463.

This is a fictional book about a kangaroo who could not do the splits. The pictures are of a kangaroo doing wierd stuff. My favorite part is when she kept falling down. I would recommend this book to myself. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by K. J. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Wiggle and Waggle

Arnold, Caroline. Wiggle and Waggle. Illustrated by Mary Peterson. Charlesbridge: 2007. ISBN: 9781580893060.

This is a fictional book about two worms that make up a "digging song". One of the worms crashes into a rock and tries to push it out of the way. The other worm helps out and tries to push the rock out of the way. The pictures are funny cartoons of smiling worms. My favorite part was when the worm crashes into a rock. I would recommend this book to five year olds. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by B. C. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Firefly Summer

Hardy, Lorien Trover. Firefly Summer. Illustrated by Necdet Yilmaz. Picture Window Books: 2007. ISBN: 9781404823976.

This is a fictional book about a firefly. My favorite page is 17 because of the song. The pictures are drawings of the night. My favorite part was when the boy went out every evening. I would recommend this book to second graders. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by K. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

The Furry Caterpillar

Law, Felicia. The Furry Caterpillar. Picture Window Books: 2007. ISBN: 9781404825994.

This is a fictional book about a caterpillar, bear, zebra, and bird. The pictures are painted. My favorite part is when the butterfly flies out of the shell. I would recommend this book to first graders. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by P. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Daffodil, Crocodile

Jenkins, Emily. Daffodil, Crocodile. Illustrated by Tomek Bogacki. Farrar Straus & Giroux: 2007. ISBN: 9780374399443.

This is a fictional book about a mask of a crocodile that a girl found. But at the end when she took a bath, the mask got all wet and she had to throw it away. The pictures are paintings and are very colorful. My favorite part was during dinner and they ate spaghetti. The girl ate with the mask on and then said "I ate her". I would recommend this book to Natalie because we pretend that we're twins. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by G. B. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain

Emmett, Jonathan. She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain. Illustrated by Deborah Allwright. Atheneum Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 9781416936527.

This is a non-fiction book about a little girl riding six white horses and going to visit other people. She wears pink pajamas and whistles like a train. She taps on roof tops and paints the whole town purple. The pictures are really good. My favorite part is when she wears her pink pajamas. I would recommend this book to my friends Levi, Trevor, and Connor. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by C. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Angels Watching Over Me

Durango, Julia. Angels Watching Over Me. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 9780689862526.

This is a fictional book about angels and dreams. There are a lot of pretty colors and animals in the book. The sun and the moon are very bright. The pictures are colorful and pretty. My favorite part is the pretty animals and colors and all of the pretty trees. I would recommend this book to first graders. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by K. W. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Counting Your Way: Number Nursery Rhymes

Pierce, Terry. Counting Your Way: Number Nursery Rhymes. Illustrated by Andrea petrlik Huseinovic. Picture Window Books: 2006. ISBN: 9781404823464.

This is a non-fiction book about counting how you like it as mother goose rhymes. The pictures are cartoon drawings. My favorite part was Baa Baa Black Sheep and St. Ives and Mrs. Hen. I would recommend this book to second graders. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by Z. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Franklin and the Stopwatch

Jennings, Sharon. Franklin and the Stopwatch. Illustrated by Sean Jeffrey. Kids Can Press: 2007. ISBN: 9781553378914.

This is a fictional book about Franklin and his friends. The pictures are cartoons. My favorite part was when he was laughing. I would recommend this book to kindergardners. I thought this book was okay, but not that great.

Reviewed by E. G. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Lickety-Split

Heidbreder, Robert. Lickety-Split. Illustrated by Duscan Petricic. Kids Can Press: 2007. ISBN: 9781553377108.

This is a non-fiction book about lots of sounds. The pictures are mostly in pencil. My favorite part was reading about the sound Flippity-flop. I would recommend this book to someone who likes sounds. I thought this was a good book.

Reviewed by S. G. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

My Friend is Sad

Willems, Mo. My Friend is Sad. Hyperion Books for Children: 2007. ISBN: 9781423102977.

This is a fictional book about an elephant who is sad because his friend is not there. Once he is dressed as a cowboy, and then a clown, he becomes happy. The pictures are funny because he dresses like a clown. My favorite part is when he was dressed like a cowboy and a clown. I would recommend this book to first graders. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by N. N. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Max Learns Sign Language

Klein, Adria Fay. Gallagher-Cole, Mernie. Max Learns Sign Language. Picture Window Books: 2007. ISBN: 9781404831483.

This is a fictional book about Susan, who can't hear. Max has to learn how to sign language to talk to her. He has to understand her so he takes a book home to read. The pictures are bright and pretty, they have daisies on them. My favorite part is the playground on the first page. I would recommend this book to myself. I thought this was a great book.


Reviewed by L. M. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Octopus's Garden

Kompelien, Tracy. Nobens, Cheryl Ann. Octopus's Garden. Abdo Pub.: 2007. ISBN: 9781599284569.

This is a fictional book about octopuses. When they are frightened, they secrete ink. They also live in caves. The pictures are good, they are photographs. My favorite part is the smelly sardines. I would recommend this book to second graders. I thought this was a great book.


Reviewed by D. J. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories. Roaring Brook Press: 2007. ISBN: 9781596430532.

This is a fictional book about two friends. All they want to do is play with each other all of the time because they are best friends. Some times they do different things. The pictures are very beautiful and colorful in the book. I like the colors a lot. My favorite part is when dog wanted to play with bear and then he wanted to read a book. I would recommend this book to first graders. I thought this was a great book.

Reviewed by A. S. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

Who Likes the Rain?

Kaner, Etta. Lafrance, Marie. Who Likes the Rain? Kids Can Press: 2007. ISBN: 9781553378419.

This is a non-fiction book about rain. Sometimes it thunders when it rains. When it rains, bees do not come out. The pictures are good, they are colorful. My favorite part is the thunder, it is loud. I would recommend this book to first graders. I thought this was a great book.


Reviewed by M. L. Bluffton Elementary, 2nd grade

How do Birds Fly?

Stewart, Melissa. How do Birds Fly? Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. ISBN: 9780761421108. Ages: 6 to 18.

This story is about how birds fly. Birds fly by using their wings. The feathers help them soar through the sky. The vane and shaft help them fly, too. The book had more artwork than photographs. I think they put more artwork in the book because they wanted to spend more time on it than less time. My favorite part in the book is the two long-eared owl chicks. I recommend it for other kids, boys and girls. I think kids should start reading at about 6 years old. It is about all different kinds of birds, such as owls, blue jays, and geese.

Reviewed by A.S., Bluffton 4th Grade

Tornadoes

Thoron, Joe. Tornadoes. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark: 2007. ISBN: 9780761421047. Ages: 10 to adult.

The book Tornadoes tells a lot of facts about tornadoes. It tells about the life cycle of tornadoes, the tornado intensity scale, how to forecast tornadoes, and a lot more! I love the photographs! My favorite two photos are the ones on page 13 and 23. The photo on page 13 is a photo of a tornado forming. The photo on page 23 is a decaying tornado. It might remind you of a tornado but it doesn't look a lot like a tornado. I think the book was very easy to understand. It was very descriptive about everything. It didn't use very long words at all. I loved the book Tornadoes.

Reviewed by S.B., Bluffton 4th Grade