Swift

Blake, Robert. Swift. New York: Philomel Books, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-399-23383-8

Johnnie and his father have a hunting dog named Swift. One day all three of them were out hunting. Swift started to smell something in the air. It was a bear! Johnnie's father said to stand back. Then he started to shoot the bear. The bear got mad and broke the father's leg. After that the bear left. Pa said to go get help, so Johnnie and Swift passed through Beaver Pond, the forest, and much more. Do they survive? Find out and read it! I really liked this book, I would apply it to grades 3-6th. I loved the pictures and the details.

Reviewed by O.R. 7th Grade, Van Buren

Owen and Mzee: The Language of Friendship

Hatkoff, Isabella . Owen and Mzee: The Language of Friendship. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN: 13: 978-0-0439-8995-9

This book is about a hippo and a 130 year old tortoise that were best friends. Owen, the hippo was separated from his mom and was taken to Haller Park. Owen was put in an enclosure with some monkeys and a few tortoises and that is how Owen met Mzee, the tortoise. I liked this book because I like animals and learning about animals. I learned that any animals can get along. I would recommend this for 3-6th graders.

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

Volcanoes

Claybourne, Anna. Volcanoes. New York : Kingfisher, a Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-7534-6137-2

This book shows many facts about all types of volcanoes. It also has a timeline showing eruptions over time. It shows how scientists predict the future and how they study the volcanoes and use them for energy. It was a very informative book and gave a lot of new information and I recommend it for ages 8 and up.

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

Apples

Farmer, Jacqueline . Apples. Watertown, Mass., : Charlesbridge, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-57091-694-6

Come learn about Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and a whole lot more. Learn tips on how to make apple cider, apple juice, and yummy apple pie. Also learn the history of the apple like where it found it's name and the story of Johnny Appleseed. I would recommend this book for kids 6 an up because they can learn about their yummy apples. How they grow, what kinds there are, and how you can make apple foods. It is also good for learning about farming apples so that you can make your yummy fruit. The pictures are also good for the kids.

Reviewed by P.W. 7th Grade, Van Buren

Dogs and Cats

Jenkins, Steve. Dogs and Cats. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. ISBN: 9780618507672.

This book is about cat facts and dog facts. For dogs it talks about man's best friend. They talk about big dogs, little dogs, how a dog breed is made, and where the first dogs came from. When you flip the book over it starts with cats. In cats they talk about that they have their own minds and that there are all different kinds of cats. I really like the front and back covers or back and front, because the cats and dogs switch in the middle of the book. I really like the pictures, it looks like they are made from paper. I recommend this book to kids preschool and up.

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

Playing to Win: The Story of Althea Gibson

Deans, Karen. Playing to Win: The Story of Althea Gibson. New York: Holiday House, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-8234-1926-5.

Althea Gibson was born in North Carolina where she lived a hard life as an African American. Althea had to move around a lot and was a tough girl. Althea loved any kind of ball especially paddle tennis. Finally, Buddy Walker recognized how good she was so he got her started playing tennis and she was very good at it. She began entering tournaments and winning a lot of them. Finally, she wanted to go to the biggest tournament and she lost a couple of times, but she followed her dream and won. I recommended Playing to Win to 8 year olds and over because it shows to never give up no matter what obstacles get in the way. Overall this was a good book and I enjoyed learning about this history. The illustrations in this book were good, but sometimes the people didn't have eyes and sometimes they did so I thought that was a little different.

Reviewed by G.H. 7th Grade, Van Buren Middle School

Street Bikes

Eagen, Rachel. Street Bikes. New York: Crabtree, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-7787-3014-9.



The book is about the way bikers (bike riders) ride and stay safe and what they do to their bikes. It also tells about early and current bike riders. It tells you what gear there is like helmets, gloves, pants, jackets, and boots. It describes what rallies are and what 'born to be wild" is. The book was good for learning about early bikes, American bikes, and custom bikes. It also explains the engine and the mechanics. The age I would recommend this book to is 6 and up.



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

The Tale of Sir Dragon

Pendziwol, Jean. The Tale of Sir Dragon. Illustrated by Martine Gourbault. Kids Can Press: 2007. ISBN: 978-1-55453-135-6.

This fiction book is about a child and dragon going to a medieval camp for a day. The two find trouble with three elder children in camp Camelot and try to find a non-violent way to solve their problems. This book shows young children the non-violent way to solve problems. This is why I would recommend it for children in grades one and two.

Reviewed by: a 6th Grader, Arcadia Elementary.

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College

Lithgow, John. Mahalia Mouse Goes to College. Illustrated by: Igor Oleynikow. Simon and Schuster: 2007. ISBN: 978-1-4169-2715-0.

In this novel, Mahalia Mouse and her family are very, very poor. Her mother is afraid that her babies may starve to death. Mahalia is sent off to go fetch food for her family at this college. When she finally arrives at the college she decides to take classes. One day a classmate spotted her. They told their professor and he noticed Mahalia's notes. The professor decided Mahalia could stay. The only question is what about the rest of her family? I believe that this novel should be recommended for grades four and up. I also believe that this novel is very satisfying to readers. When I first saw it I thought I would not enjoy it. Well, you know what they say... Never judge a book by its cover.

Reviewed by: V.W., Grade 6, Arcadia Elementary.

Seeing the Elephant; a Story of the Civil War

Hughes, Pat. Seeing the Elephant; a Story of the Civil War. Illustrated by Ken Stark. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux: 2007. ISBN: 978-0-374-38024-3.

Cal and Ario are going off to see the elephant. Izzy is left at home with Annie, Bartie, Frank, and baby Bessie. Cal gets typhoid, a sickness, but he does not want to leave the army. Izzy and his brothers write each other frequently, but what will happen to Cal? I thought that this book was okay, but it was not the best book I have ever read. I would recommend this book to people who like history and are in the 6th grade or higher. The pictures were terrific, because you could see how much Cal had changed when he came home.

Reviewed by: S.K., Grade 6, Arcadia Elementary.

Four Legs Bad, Two Legs Good!

Johnson, D.B. Four Legs Bad, Two Legs Good! Houghton Mifflin: 2007. ISBN: 13-978-0-618-80909-7.

While th farm animals work all day, Farmer Orvie sits in a chair and sleeps while he tries to convince the animals he is hold up the barn. Will someone else take over? I believe that this book should be recommended for ages five through ten, because I thought it was a very good book.

Reviewed by: H.C., Grade 6, Arcadia Elementary.

Eli Remembers

Vander Zee, Ruth and Marian Sneider. Eli Remembers. Illustrated by: Bill Farnsworth. Eerdmans: 2007. ISBN: 978-0-8028-5309-7.

Every year Eli celebrates Rosh Hashanah Eve and his family always cries. Eli asks his mother why his family cries on a happy day and she said that some things are hard to talk about. Eli and his family go to Lithuania. What do you think happens where they are there? Read the book to find out. I recommend this book for grades six and above. I really loved the elaborate illustrations, and I think it is an appropriated book for older kids to young adults.

Reviewed by: A.J.B., Grade 6, Arcadia Elementary.

Huddle Up Football

Kalman, Bobbie and John Crossingham. Huddle Up Football. Crabtree: 2007. ISBN: 13:978-0-7787-3137-5.

The book Huddle Up Football is a book that teaches you how to play the game of football. It also teaches you about all the positions, leagues, and the rules which are also known as penalties. In addition it tells you about the special teams and how many tries, or downs, you have to reach a first down. In my opinion the book was great. Once I started reading it I could not stop. Also, after I was done reading it i wanted to go outside and play football. I would recommend this book for 2nd to 4th grades, and ages 8 to 10.

Reviewed by: J.R., Grade 6, Arcadia Elementary.

Inventing the Computer

Groves, Marsha. Inventing the Computer. Crabtree: 2007. ISBN: 13:978-0-7787-2816-0.

This book called Inventing the Computer is about how the computer was made and how it was developed. The book tells you how to work the computer, information on who invented it, and the names of the inventors. This book has very descriptive pictures and words. This book will take you through a wonderful world of how the computer was invented. The scientists think that when technology grows that doctors will be able to cure cancers one by one. I recommend this book to people who love to learn about history, love science, or want to learn more about computers. I also recommend this book to children ages 12 and up. I really liked this book it taught me a lot on how the computer was made and how it works. In conclusion that is my summary, opinion, and age recommendation for the book Inventing the Computer.

Reviewed by: A.A., Grade 6, Arcadia Elementary.

Dino-Dinners

Manning, Mick. Dino-Dinners. New York: Holiday House, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-8234-2089-2.

This book tells facts about many different dinosaurs, like what they eat and how big they get. They even tell facts about what kind of defence mechanisms they had. I liked this book. What I mainly liked was the illustrations. I recommend this book for children grades 2 and up.

Reviewed by P.P. 7th Grade, Van Buren Middle School

Pennies in a Jar

Chaconas, Dori. Pennies in a Jar. Atlanta: Peachtree, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-36145-422-8

Pennies in a Jar is about a boy's father who goes off to war and the boy wants to give his father the best birthday present. This boy saves up money for the present. The boy is very afraid of horses and everyday he watches the horses go by his house. Then one day the little boy finds the perfect present. Pennies in a Jar is a good book for kids in the grades 3-6. The illustrations are wonderful and attracted me more to the book. Some thing that caught me off guard is when he saw the ragman and his horse walk by and when the ragman asked him to feed the horse a carrot he didn't, but then at the end on the letter it said the boy fed him a carrot, so I was confused.

Reviwed by M.F. 7th Grade, Van Buren

Galaxies, Galaxies

Gibbons, Gail. Galaxies, Galaxies!. New York: Holiday House, 2007. ISBN:09780823420025.

The book was overall good. I liked that it included facts about galaxies and other things. Some of the facts in the book I didn't know about, which made it interesting to me. But some of the facts were kind of too much. Like facts little kids won't like or think are interesting. Then the book also got off topic. It's supposed to be about galaxies, but it was talking about telescopes, ancient Romans, and a couple other things that were off topic. The pictures did go along great with what he was saying. The pictures were a variety of paints which made it look unique and pretty. Overall it was good. I would say that this book should be recommended for 3rd graders through 4th or 5th graders. The pictures were a variety of paints you wouldn't normally see in a book.

Reviewed by K.F. 7th Grade, Van Buren Middle School

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