Duck for President

Cronin, Doreen. Duck for President. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008. ISBN: 9781416958000.

This book is about a duck who runs for President, Governor, and a farmer. Duck finds out that all of these jobs are hard, so he just does easy things for a change. And he lived a better life because of it. The art was not photographs, they were painted in a kindergarden fashion. I like the painting because it's easy to illustrate. I really liked this book because it teaches children that they have to do chores sometime in their life.

A. R., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Seeing Red: The Planet Mars

Loewen, Nancy. Seeing Red: The Planet Mars. Picture Window Books, 2008. ISBN: 9781404839533.

This book has facts about Mars, such as the location and the temperature on Mars. It also explains what the planet looks like, the people who studied the planet, and how it looks in the sky. The book had no photographs but it had amazing art and drawings. It kind of looked like a paper cut out. I think this book was so good, I would like to take it home. My favorite part of the book was the whole thing. I think it is good for ages 8 and up.

A.P., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

When Rain Falls

Stewart, Melissa. When Rain Falls. Peachtree, 2008. ISBN: 9781561454389.

When Rain Falls is about how animals keep themselves from getting wet when it rains and how they stay warm in the rain. The artwork is beautiful. There are pictures of squirrels, red foxes, hawks, chickadees, doe, fawn, catapillars, lady bugs, spiders, ducks, and frogs. I think this is a good book because I love animals and nature. Also, it is such an interesting book.

A.H., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Duel!

Brindell Fradin, Dennis. Duel!. Walker & Co., 2008. ISBN: 0-8027-9583-8.


This book is about Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton's duel. Burr and Hamiliton were ready to fight to the death because they were through fighting and then Burr had enough and called a duel. The art is made using ink with water colors. I liked the book but I think the authors could have thrown more facts into the book.


C.H., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Balloon on the Moon

McCann, Dan. Balloon on the Moon. Walker & Co., 2008. ISBN: 0-8027-8092-X.

Balloon on the Moon is about a little boy named Jake and his little brother Will. Will had a red balloon, and when he let go of it his dad said "It looks like it's going to the moon." That made will sad, so Jake wanted to get the balloon, so he goes to the moon. This book has very colorful drawings that I like. I really would like to have this book, because I love it. I think kids of all ages would like to read this book.

Reviewed by E.C., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Greater Estimations

Goldstone,Bruce. Greater Estimations. Henry Holt, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-8050-8315-6

Greater Estimations is about figuring out how many things there are. The photographs in this book make the book fun. I think this is a great book. My favorite part is when the rubber duckies are coming at you. I think other kids would like this book. I think this books would be good for 1st through 6th grade.

M.W., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

The Race of the Century

Downard, Barry. The Race of the Century, Simon and Schuster, 2008. ISBN: 1-416-92509-0.

The Race of the Century is about a tortoise racing againts a hare. This story is meant to teach you a lesson. The artwork in this book is done by computers, and the drawings were awesome. They were dark and bright. I would probably give this book three or four stars. A lot of kids would like this book because it is funny. My favorite part was when the tortoise was working out and the hare was dancing. I recommend this book for ages 6 to 12.

L.H., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Giant John

Lobel, Arnold. Giant John. Henry Holt: 1964. ISBN: 978-0-8050-8295-1.

My story is about a giant named John. His mother only had two chips and John was trying to get a job. His job was to keep a royal family's house dry. There were no photographs in this book, but the pictures were great. I recommend this book to second graders.

K.H., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Please Don't Wake the Animals

Batten, Mary. Please Don't Wake the Animals. Peachtree, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-56145-393-1.

Please Don't Wake the Animals is about animals. It's also about how they sleep. If you want to look something up in this book you would read it all because it has a lot of stuff in it. When I read this book I looked at the pictures and I loved to look at them. I liked them because they were drawings and they were cool and funny. I like this book because it tells about animals and I like animals. My favorite part is the part about the lions. If we were allowed to keep this book I would keep it. I like this book and I think you will like it too.

I recommend this book for ages 4 to 16.

Reviewed by J.Y., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Looking Closely inside the Garden

Serafini, Frank. Looking Closely Inside the Garden. Kids Can Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-55453-210-0.

My book is about looking closely inside a garden. the illustrations are photographs of plants and bugs. My favorite part was the picture of a lot of earthworms crawling on top of each other. I would recommend Looking Closely Inside the Garden to boys and girls in third grade because it is an interesting book.

Reviewed by C.C., 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Angling to Zorbing: Sports from A to Z

Saltzmann, Mary Elizabeth. Angling to Zorbing: Sports from A to Z. Sandcastle Books, 2007. ISBN 978-1-59928-881-9.

Angling to Zorbing is a book about different sports for each letter. The pictures are photographs and my favorite part is when it talked about angling. I thought this was a good book and I gave it three stars.

Reviewed by A.J, 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Baby Brains and RoboMom

James, Simon. Baby Brains and RoboMom. New York: Random House, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-7636-3463-6.

Baby Brains and RoboMom is about a baby who builds a Robomom for his parents so they can relax. The illustrations are watercolors and cartoonish. It was a really great book and I recommend it to first graders because it was easy to read.

Reviewed by T., 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Amelia Makes a Movie

Milgrim, David. Amelia Makes a Movie. New York: Putnam, 2008. ISBN: 9780399246708.

Amelia Makes a Movie is a story about a boy and a girl who makes a movie about magic. The artist uses colorful pictures and bright colors. My favorite part was when the boy flies in and says, "Have no fear, Superkid is here!" I would recommend this book to other 3rd graders because it's very funny and colorful. It is a great book!

Reviewed by J.T., 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Steel Town

Winter, Jonah. Steel Town. New York: Atheneum, 2008. Illustrated by Terry Widener. ISBN: 978-1-4169-4081-4.

Steel Town is about what happens in a steel town and what the workers do. The illustrations are really dark paintings, and I liked the page with a lot of yellow. I would not recommend this book to anybody because the pictures are dark and gloomy and it doesn't have a plot. Also it is about men.

Reviewed by K.K.S., 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Belinda Begins Ballet

Young, Amy. Belinda Begins Ballet. New York: Viking, 2008. ISBN: 9780670062447.

Belinda Begins Ballet is about a girl that had a tiny nose, tiny hands, a tiny tummy and tiny knees but big feet. The drama teacher named Mrs. Rhino asks Belinda to be a clown, but Belinda wants to be a ballerina. The illustrations are colorful pictures with lots of pink. My favorite part is when Belinda begins ballet and can spin many times in a row without stopping. I would recommend this book to first and second graders because it is really good.

Reviewed by K. C., 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Looking Closely Through the Forest

Serafini, Frank. Looking Closely Through the Forest. Kids Can Press (2008). ISBN: 978-1-55453-212-4.

Looking Closely Through the Forest is a story about a forest. It tells about some frogs. If you look really closely at the rock you can see a turtle. The pictures are photographs and my favorite one is of the frog. I recommend this book to all third graders who like the quiet of nature. I give this book 300 stars.

Reviewed by J., 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

My Friend the Starfinder

Lyon, George Ella. My Friend the Starfinder. (2008)Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. $14.99. ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-2738-9

My Friend the Starfinder is about a grandpa and child who followed a star. When he got the star he kept it. Then he got a rainbow and couldn't keep it. The illustrations are colorful and with gray, black and white pictures. My favorite part is when the grandpa is in the rainbow. I would recommend this book to third graders because it has a third grader in the book.

Reviewed by A.G., 3rd grade, Elmhurst Elementary

Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw

Zemach, Kaethe. Mrs. McCaw Learns to Draw. Scholastic: 2008. ISBN:

Mrs. McCaw Learns to Draw is about a boy who doesn't do a very good job in school but his teacher helps him understand. The students thought that Ms. McCaw could do anything. One day Ms. McCaw tries to draw a face from the side and she couldn't.

I think 2nd graders would enjoy this book. I think a person who likes to draw and wants to learn more should read this book.

Reviewed by A. G., 4th grade, Elmhurst Elementary