Bug Patrol

Who Stole the Veggies from the Veggie Patch?
By Precious McKenzie, Illustrated by Jenny Snape
Vero Beach, Florida: Rourke Educational Media, 2013

In this title, veggies go missing from the patch and the animals keep asking each other about it. In the end, the culprit is found out. The author uses repetitive phrases such as: "who, me? yes, you!" The illustrator uses quite cheerful and light colors such as green and light blue. Also, most of the pages are double spreads which help children see the full scene. The book is an easy read and would be best suited for introduction in a Kindergarten or first grade classroom.

A Smidgen of Sky

A Smidgen of Sky
By Dianna Dorisi Winget
Boston : Harcourt Children's Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012, Ages 9 to 13

Piper Lee's father disappeared in a plane that could not be found, and after five years, her mom is engaged to be married again. Feeling that her mother is being disloyal, she tries to stop the wedding as she deals with the loss of her father.

The author's style is very appealing to the intermediate level students. Winget used the idea of death of a loved and embraced it. She was able to turn a serious topic into something enjoyable to read.

The only illustrations of the book is the front cover. The cover is sky blue with sunflowers and a yellow plane to resemble her father.

I would recommend this book to not only kids who are dealing with the loss of a  loved one. I would recommend it to everyone because it gives incite to how to deal with losing a loved one in an appealing way. Although it is more of a girly book, I would recommend it to all third through sixth graders.

Reviewed by E.S.

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist
By Margarita Engle
Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013, Ages 10 to 13

The story is about a girl named Tula who loves stories, but her family is coming out of slavery in Cuba, where girls are not allowed to be educated. Tula is conflicted with mixed feeling as she is to be married off to the highest bidder, and he mother will use the money to buy slaves. She finds herself in a banned book of a rebel poet, and she begins to see the injustice around her.

The author's writing style is poetic. Each poems in the voice of a different character, telling what they have to say.

The book does not have very much art except for the cover. The cover looks of water and there is a hand with a black bird perched upon it.

This book was very confusing for me; therefore, I don't feel it would be a good book for some kids. It could be a book a teacher might use for an exceptional student with a high reading level. 

Reviewed by E.S.

The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy

The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy
By Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Israel Sanchez
New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013, Ages 4-8

The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy lives in the museum, where she polishes her giant tooth collection and reminisces about the past.  She is in desperate need for a new tooth.  A little girl with a loose tooth walks through the museum with her class.  The dinosaur Tooth Fairy spots her from afar and goes on a wild adventure to get the tooth.

Brockenbrough's writing style is fun and energetic.  The illustrations done by Israel Sanchez are bright, whimsical, and playful.

The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy is a must for parents of young children. Martha Brockenbrough teaches a lesson in friendship and sharing.

Reviewed by KP

Weather

Weather
By Penelope Arlon and Tory Gordon-Harris

New York: Scholastic, 2013

This book is about various elements of weather. The authors discuss some rare and interesting aspects of the weather, as well as every day forms of weather. Causes, observable aspects, and interesting facts about weather are all included. In addition, there is a page featuring a man who was struck by lightening seven times! The writing style is engaging. The tone shows excitement and energy about the material, while also conveying the information in an accessible way. The illustrations are some photographs and some computer-generated images. They contain a lot of detail and are engaging. Some are breathtaking and others convey much information. A few students may find some of the pages very busy, however, others may appreciate the wealth of information shown. My favorite page had a large picture of Aurora Borealis. I enjoyed this book and believe many kids would also find it interesting and enjoyable, particularly those fascinated by science or weather.

Reviewed by Mikayla Batt

It Wasn't My Fault

It Wasn't My Fault
By Helen Lester, Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013, Ages 7 to 10

Nothing went right for Murdley Gurdson, a very odd young boy. One day he went for a walk in his too big of shoes, and he stepped right out of one of his shoes, which seemed to cause a whole dilemma with the animals, including a bird laying an egg on Murdley Gurdson's head.

The author wrote this book with a cause and effect theme that appears on every page. Each animal the young boy met in the book said that what happened wan't their fault, blaming another for the actions that took place. 

The illustration look like cartoon-like drawings made with a pen and watercolors, which are very colorful.

I would recommend this book to children because it helps teach taking responsibility for your actions. Teachers can also use this book to teach cause and effect and order of events. All together it is a fun and interesting book. It is great for kids.

Reviewed by B.A.  

Hiding Phil

Hiding Phil
By Eric Barclay
New York : Scholastic Press, 2013, Ages 5-8

The story follows three children who find an elephant and the fun they have together.  They have to try to find a way to hide Phil, the elephant, before their parents see him.

The authors writing style has lots of humor and rhyme.  It is easy to read and goes at a fast pace.  My favorite line is when the little girl says, "mom and dad will LOVE Phil!" then on the next page she says, "Uh oh...." because he had some gas while in the bath tub.

The illustrations are free hand with pencils.  They do a great job at showing Phil, the kids, and their parents expressions.

Reviewed by Laura Gould

Diva Duck Dreams

Diva Duck Dreams
By Janice Levy, Illustrated by Colleen Madden
Minneapolis, Minn. : Magic Wagon, 2013, Ages 6 to 9

This book is about a duck that is a diva that dreams of being famous. All she wants is a life outside the farm, though all the other farm animals give her a hard time. Will she become a star and prove them wrong?

The author uses a lot of verbs, highlighting the verbs and other important words in the book.

The illustrations look almost like paint. They are colorful and cartoon-like.

I would recommend this book. I thought it was a cute story, and it could teach kids to never give up on their dreams. 

Reviewed by A.S. 

Buff Ducks

Buff Ducks
By Precious McKenzie, illustrated by John Reasoner
Vero Beach, Florida:  Rourke Educational Media, 2013, Ages 6-9

Buff Ducks is a brief story about ducks doing a variety of physical activities. The book starts off by saying, "Ducks get in shape," and ends with, "Buff ducks!"

This is a repetitive book with lots of two word sentences. Examples are:

• "Ducks run."
• "Ducks walk."
• "Ducks waddle."

The illustrations are cartoon-like and colorful.

This book may be interesting for young kids or beginning readers. The illustrations are captivating and kids would probably like them. I would recommend this book for struggling readers because the text is large and there are only a couple of sentences per page.

--Reviewed by A. S.

The Year of the Baby

The Year of the Baby
By Andrea Cheng, Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013, Ages 9 to 12


This story is about three young girls who create a science fair project based on one of their adopted sisters/ The girls are trying to find out why the adopted baby sister from China is not eating. They create a project that actually helps the baby start eating, and they record their findings.

The author's writing style is that of a chapter book format. The writing is very straight forward and easy to follow.

There are brief illustrations throughout the book that are drawn in pencil. The pictures are used randomly in the story, and they help bring the story to life. Pictures are placed to help show what was written on the pages.

This book offers a great story about family and love while also exhibiting some struggles. Children are able to relate to these characters because it is an ordinary story about family, friends, and school. 

Reviewed by K.T.

Good Manners with Your Teachers

Good Manners with Your Teachers
by Rebecca Felix, illustrated by Gary Lacoste
Minneapolis:  Magic Wagon, 2014

The story follows Mia and Nate throughout their day in school. It shows the two making decisions on how to show good manners towards their teachers. Throughout the story, they give tips to students about manners.

The author's writing style is very professional and uses verbs to show how the students should behave. On certain pages there are helpful tips for the reader.

There are illustrations on every page. They are computer generated cartoons that students will like because they resemble shows they watch on television.

As a future special education teacher, I would recommend it for students in my class. It would be a great social story for students who may be having trouble behaving in class.

--Reviewed by L. G.

Helen Keller's Best Friend Belle

Helen Keller's Best Friend Belle
By Holly Barry, Illustrated by Jennifer Thermes
Chicago, Illinois : Albert Whitman & Company, 2013, Ages 8 to 11

This is a nonfiction book. The author's purpose is to educate people on how Helen Keller's life changed suddenly, but it didn't stop her from achieving her dreams. The author also is educating people on how Helen Keller didn't let a disability hinder her potential. I thought the topic was very entertaining by incorporating the love Helen had for dogs and how their friendship was important.

The author's writing style in this book is very straight forward. It is easy to understand and doesn't offer any confusion to readers. Some strong verbs in the story are flowing and squirm.

The illustrations in this book are in great detail and offer a great image of Helen Keller. The images are very stimulating and bring the words o life and give the words meaning.

I feel like this books is great for young children in 3rd and 4th grade. Children are able to relate to Helen Keller based on a love for dogs, as well as children with disabilities can relate to Helen. The long passage at the end that offers more information about Helen Keller would appeal to older children. I really enjoyed this book!

Reviewed by K.T., BGSU Student

Horrors of History: City of the Dead

Horrors of History:City of the Dead
By T. Neill Anderson, illustrated by Richard Garratt
Watertown, Mass. : MTM Publishing, Charlesbridge, 2013, Ages 9-13

This is a historical fiction about a hurricane that destroyed much of Galveston, Texas, in 1900.  This focuses on kids in an orphanage and also others that lived in Galveston and the struggles that they faced during the storm.

This story was written in a very serious manner and shows the perspectives of a few different people.  Narrative first hand accounts are used throughout the story and it makes it very interesting to read.

The illustrations are mainly historical pictures that have to with the storm itself.  Also there is a map that shows the path of the storm.  The pictures really do help the reader make connections with the story.

I thought that this was a very well written book and it really grabbed my attention.  The way that the characters are portrayed in the book really makes it exciting.  I would recommend it to any middle childhood student that is interested in the subject.  This is a great example of a historical fiction.

Reviewed by Ryan Pivcevich

Buff Ducks

Buff Ducks
By Precious McKenzie, illustrated by John Reasoner
Vero Beach, Florida: Rourke Educational Media, 2013

This book is about a variety of activities that the ducks do in order to keep in shape. The writing style is very simple with only a few words per page. The words are also repetitive. When you look at the illustrations you can see that the ducks are having a lot of fun doing their activities. The pictures are very cute and fun-loving and the ducks all have smiles on their faces. I thought this book was lighthearted and enjoyable. I would recommend this to young kids with the goal of encouraging them to be more active. This would be a good book for any child regardless of what they might be interested in.

Reviewed by Gretta McMillen

Beyoncé

Beyoncé
By Sarah Dann
New York: Crabtree, 2014

This is a biography about Beyoncé from her youth and early career to her stardom and the present. The author talks about all of the great things Beyoncé has done, such as founding charities. She explains Beyoncé's depth as a singer, actress, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. Each topic has its own section so the reader can easily understand what each part is about. The pictures are photographs of Beyoncé and her family which fans will enjoy! I recommend this book to kids who want to learn about pop culture. The book would be enjoyed by students in grades 3 and up. The student should be interested in pop culture, music, and Beyoncé in particular.

Reviewed by Gretta McMillen

The Very Beary Tooth Fairy

The Very Beary Tooth Fairy
By Arthur A. Levine; Illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen
New York : Scholastic Press, 2013, Ages 7 to 10

The story is about Zach the bear and his journey on losing this tooth and finding out who the tooth fairy is. He wonders if the toothy fairy is just for bears.

"Well, the only one of those guys I know is the Easter Bunny: definitely a rabbit." The author is very basic in explanation but creative.

The art in this book was done with water color and graphite. This pictures in this story are what would keep the audience interested in the story. 

I would recommend this story for students to read on free-time. It would allow them to use their imagination. I would say ages 7 to 10 because of the words used.

Reviewed by S.S., BGSU Student

The Favorite Daughter

The Favorite Daughter
By Allen Say
New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013, Ages 6 to 11


The main characters are Yuriko and her father. Yuriko's name is unique and one of a kind. A teacher calls her by the wrong name, and it bring Yuriko down. After this, her father shows her how special she really is.

"A lovely name, The child of the Lily ..." The author is very down to earth and caring with his writing style.

The pictures are the most effective in developing the story as a whole. The art for this book was done using water colors, pen and ink, and two real photos. 

Yes, I would recommend this story for students. This story can teach them to believe in themselves and not to let others tear you down. I would say 4th through 6th grade level.

Reviewed by S.S., BGSU Student

Fly Guy and the Frankenfly

Fly Guy and the Frankenfly
By Tedd Arnold
New York, N.Y. : Cartwheel Books, 2013, Age 7-11

This story is about a boy named buzz who becomes friends with a fly named Fly Guy.  Buzz has a dream that Fly Guy creates a monster named "Frankenfly" but will it become a reality?

The author uses a very simplistic writing style that would be great for kids anywhere from second to fifth graders.  It also incorporates chapters in it as well.

The illustrations in this story are all drawn by hand.  They are cartoon drawings but really go along with the book.  The illustrations that I thought were most effective was the one when his is shown falling asleep and dreaming.

I thought that this story was very interesting.  It was a very simple story but written very well.  I would recommend this story to kids that are just starting to read chapter books.

Reviewed by Ryan Pivcevich

A Very Witchy Spelling Bee

A Very Witchy Spelling Bee
By George Shannon, Illustrated by Mark Fearing

New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013

Cordelia, a young witch, is entering her first spelling bee. She must use her knowledge of spelling and similar words to defeat the fiendish witch Beulah Divine and win the spelling bee. The author uses simple language with an emphasis on the key spelling words in a story. He also uses a lot of rhyming text to show connections between words and how they are spelled. The illustrations are vibrant depictions of the scene described in the story. They provide a great visual to help beginning readers follow along. This is a fun story that can help students become engaged in reading and spelling. I would recommend this book for beginning readers and spellers to help them learn about language and to spark their curiosity about patterns between words. Due to the low level word usage I would recommend this for younger readers. Older readers could breeze through this story rather quickly and it may not engage them as much

The Wendigo

The Wendigo
By Vincent Goodwin, illustrated by Rod Espinosa
Minneapolis:  Magic Wagon, 2014

Mr. Simpson joins a seasoned hunter named Joseph Defago for his first moose hunt. While in the forest, Defago goes missing and Simpson must track him. However, the tracks mysteriously change and begin to resemble the tracks of a creature from native folklore--the Wendigo. Simpson and company must try to find Defago, hoping it is not too late.

The author writes this story as a comic book. All the writing is short. There is simple dialogue.

The illustrations are colorful, detailed, comic-like depictions of the setting of the story. They help the reader follow along with the scene.

This story was difficult to follow along. It was challenging to distinguish which character was which. The story was also very broken and there felt like there was a lot of information missing. I would not recommend this book to many readers unless they really wished to read a comic book, for it is a tough storyline to follow.

--Reviewed by A. G.