Why Do Tigers Have Stripes?

Mickey Wonders Why: Why Do Tigers Have Stripes?

By Alexandra Parsons

Published by Disney Books By Mail (1992)

Reading Level: Ages 7-10 years

Pages: 28

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: Polar Bears are really tall and live in cold climates. Their fur keeps them warm. Stick plants can hold very still so they won't be seen by predators and their eggs look like seeds. A tiger's stripes go up and down so it can blend in with the plants. Crocodiles look like logs, and their tails are strong enough that they ca rear up and propel through the water. Many eggs are speckled so they are harder to spot. Chameleons have different colored spot all over their bodies that grow and shrink to make the different colors, they also turn colors when they are mad. Some fish are flat so they don't look like fish. Snakes are camouflaged so that they can wait for food without being seen. Some butterflies look like leaves. Baby deer can walk hours after they are born and they hide in the grasses. Some insects look like other animals to scare off predators. Sloths fur has green scum on it that bugs live in.

My Reaction: It was interesting. it had Mickey Mouse in it and that always makes me happy.

Potential Problems: some of the animals could be scary to sensitive children.

Recommendations: I think this would be great to read to curious children. I would also recommend this to any child with lots of interest in animals.

Safari

National Geographic Kids Safari

By Gail Tuchman

Published by Scholastic Inc. (2010)

Reading Level: Ages 4-6 years

Pages: 24

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: I go on a safari and see elephants spray. I see lions playing and running rhinos. I also see giraffes and zebras eating. Finally, I see a hippo in the water. It is all just for me. There are animals everywhere when I am on a safari.

My Reaction: This book is super simple and short, I was a little shocked. When I got it I thought there would be a little more info in it, even words.

Potential Problems: No

Recommendations: It would be a good one to read to young children and it would be good for new readers as well.

Three Cheers for Tacky

Three Cheers for Tacky

By Helen Lester

Published by Scholastic Inc. (1994)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 32

Genre: Picture Book

Summary: In an icy land there were many perfect penguins and one that was really weird, his name was Tacky. A cheering contest was announced and the winners got blue bow ties. Their team comes up with a cheer, but Tacky doesn't fit the look and he doesn't do the cheer right, he does his own cheer. The other penguins tell him he has to be like them. so he works really hard to do things like them and finally gets it right before the competition. At the competition all of the cheers were very similar and boring and they put everyone asleep. When it's Tacky's team's turn he trips and makes lots of noise that get's everyone's attention. The team does the routine over Tacky and the crowd goes wild. They have Tacky give encore performances and his team wins and get's the ribbons.

My Reaction: I like stories where it is okay to be different and break the status quo. I think we need to be more tolerant of people that are different and see what good things we can gain from them. I thought the story was cute.

Potential Problems: No

Recommendations: I would give this to first graders to read and I would read it with kids that haven't yet learned to read. I think yunger children would love the repetition in this story.

Knots on a Counting Rope

Knots on a Counting Rope

By Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Published by Turtleback (1997)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 32

Genre: Picture book, Historical fiction

Summary: This is a story about a grand father telling a story to his grandson and the grandson knows the story pretty well. The story is about the grandson. The grandson was born on a stormy night, but the storm stopped when he was born. He was blessed by his grandma but was very sick through the night. Grandpa took him out to see the morning, but the child never open his eyes put reached out to touch two blue horses. He was named Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses. When he was a little older his own horse was born and grandpa named it rainbow and it was the boy's eyes because the boy was blind. The boy taught the horse to race and entered in an official race and didn't win, but beat expectations by finishings. It made him closer to going through the dark mountains. He puts another not in his counting rope and when his counting rope is full he will know the story, even when grandpa is gone.

My Reaction: I thought this book was very sweat and had a nice meaning. It reminded my about a book I read in fourth grade about a mute Nez Peirce boy that had a horse. I also loved the illustrations and some of the story was told by the pictures.

Potential Problems: I don't see any.

Recommendations: I think it would be great to read to children around three or four, but it think I would recommend it to second graders to read. It would be great to read in the classroom when the class learns around Native Americans.

Smoke Jumpers

Smoke Jumpers (Choose Your Own Adventure #29)

By R.A. Montgomery

Published by Chooseco (2009)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 144

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: In this book you get to choose your own pathway. This is the story I chose. I am an environmentalist training to fight forest fires. I am scheduled for my first jump test, or a test involving jumping from a plane. That is sometimes required when fighting forest fires. During breakfast I notice smoke from a nearby forest fire. A man named Henry comes to tell us to prepare for our jump. We go up in the plane and reach the drop zone. I jump from the plane and focus on landing which I do well. When an instructor get a call to help with a couple small fires I volunteer even though it will delay my training for a couple days. We get to the site and they need help immediately, I decide to help fight the fire immediately. We check our gear and get necessary supplies and walk along an unfamiliar trail. I see a man far off waving and decide to get the experienced fighter, Stamos, for help about what to do and leave Finn there. I tell him then go back to Finn, we are surrounded by smoke and Finn retreats. We see the helicopter and get in to help find a family that got lost shooting a documentary. We spot them and make successful jumps and save the family. We become famous because that family makes a documentary based on our work as firefighters and I have to appear on talk shows, but I claim that I would rather fighting fires.

My Reaction: I liked the end result far better than the Titanic choose your own adventure story. I don't mind reaching celebrity status. It was fun. Not as thoroughly involving as regular books, but I still enjoyed it.

Potential Problems: The danger expressed could be scary.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to second grade boys. I think second grade was when I first heard about these books and I think boys would enjoy them more than girls. Firefighting is usually something boys like to learn about.

Hello, Red Fox

Hello, Red Fox

By Eric Carle

Published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (1998)

Reading Level: Baby-Preschool

Pages: 32

Genre: Picture Book

Summary: This book is based on Goethe wheel of primary and complimentary colors. Little frog is having a birthday. His mom asks who he wants to come. The guests start to arrive one by one. As each arrives mother frog is concerned that they are being called the wrong thing for example a green fox is called red fox. Little frog tells his mom to look longer, then the reader looks at the green colored fox for a long time then to look at the blank page opposite and we see a red fox in the blank spot. This happens with each of the guests that arrive. Then little frog is given a flower that looks green with red leaves. Mother frog tells little frog to look at it longer and it does look like a red flower with green leaves. Then everyone tells little frog happy birthday.

My Reaction: I thought Eric Carle's use of the color wheel was really cool. I have always loved optical illusions so I had fun reading this book. The story was cute as well.

Potential Problems: No

Recommendations: I would recommend this to kindergarten and first graders. I would also recommend this to people that love optical illusions as I do.

The Very Lonely Firefly

The Very Lonely Firefly

By Eric Carle

Published by Philomel (1999)

Reading Level: Baby-Preschool

Pages: 14

Genre: Picture book

Summary: A firefly is born and he is lonely so he goes in search of other fireflies. He sees a light bulb, a flashlight, a lantern, several sets of eyes, car headlights, and fireworks. But he can't find other fireflies. After everything is dark he sees flashing lights and finds other fireflies and isn't lonely anymore.

My Reaction: It was a delightful book! The pictures were amazing and i loved the flashing lights on the last page.

Potential Problems: None

Recommendations: I would recommend reading this to infants on up. I think elementary kids would love reading this themselves because of the flashing lights at the end.

Night Creatures

Night Creatures (Scholastic First Discovery)

By Gallimard Jeunesse and Sylvaine Peyrols

Published by Scholastic Reference (2007)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 24

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: This book talks about animals that come out at night, mainly owls and bats. Owls are silent when they fly. They have amazing vision and hearing. They can kill their prey instantly and swallow it without chewing. The fur, feathers, and bones of the animals are spit out in pellets. Owls mate for life and lay eggs on debris. Mother owls stay with the owlets until they open their eyes. Bats are the only flying mammals. They are covered in fur and most eat things like fruit. Most bats live in caves where they have nurseries to take care of the young and the mothers find their offspring through scent. There are many night time birds, the only one that can't fly is the kiwi.

My Reaction: I thought the book was interesting. I loved the clear pages with a different illustrations. I thought that was so cool. I also learned a lot from the book about these two night creatures. I never knew bats had nurseries, pretty neat.

Potential Problems: None

Recommendations: I would recommend this to first and second graders. I know I would have loved a book like this when I was that age.

The Magic Kitchen Cookbook

Disney The Magic Kitchen Cookbook

By Stephanie Karpinske

Published by Disney (2007)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 128

Genre: Informational, Nonfiction

Summary: This book starts out giving basic information about cooking. It gives safety precautions, directions about how to measure ingredients, and what to do before you start cooking and after. They define basic terms used in cooking and identify the different utensils. We learn about good nutrition and exercise. The cookbook is separated into seven sections, the first I already described, the others go as follows: Breakfasts, lunch, dinner, deserts, and party foods. All of the recipes and instructions have the help of a Disney character. There are recipes for things like salads, muffins, fruit foods, sandwiches, healthy deserts. They tried to make all the recipes healthy and well balanced. The book ends with space to keep a food and exercise journal.

My Reaction: I love nearly everything Disney. I loved all the information and how easy it was to understand. I also think the recipes looked easy to follow and make. I can't wait to try some.

Potential Problems: None

Recommendations: I think anyone that love to cook and try new recipes would like this. I would also recommend this to parents that want ideas for activities to do with children and to children in second grade to fifth.

Tentacles!

Tentacles!: Tales of the Giant Squid (Step into Reading)

By Shirley Raye Redmond

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers (2003)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 48

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: Sailors used to tell stories of giant squids attacking ships. Then in the 1930's a squid supposedly attacked an oil ship but was killed by the propellers, and during WW2 some sailors said a man disappeared when he was pulled out of the boat by a giant squid. in The 60's a light house person watched a wale and a quid fight. There are giant squids, but scientists know much because the only come to the surface of the ocean to die. and they could bite a wooden oar in half and they have suction cups on their tentacles. Imprints are sometimes found in whales. Giant squids are super long and have eyes bigger than the human head. Scientists are trying to find a live squid by using under water cameras and by following sperm whales also by using submarines.

My reaction; Deep sea talk usually give me the heebee-jeebies, but over all I thought the book was good and covered a lot of information simply and well.

Potential problems: The stories about the giant squid are kind of scary.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to early elementary students interested in the ocean.

A Single Shard

A Single Shard

By Linda Sue Park

Published by Yearling (2003)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 192

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: This story takes place in the twelfth century. Tree-ear is an orphan that was raised by a man with only one good leg named Crane-man in a pottery village called Ch'ulp'o. Tree-ear and Craneman barely survive with the little bit of food they get and they live under a bridge. Tree-ear wants to learn pottery and he watches a man named Min, a potter known for his skill, do his work. Tree-ear decides to go into his shop and accidentally breaks a piece. To pay Min back, Tree-ear work for him for nine days chopping wood, gathering clay, and preparing the clay. Tree-ear eventually becomes Min's apprentice and Min's wife feeds him and Crane-man and gives them clothes. A court representative is coming to the village and everyone is preparing for the visit. Tree-ear discovers one of the potters, Kang, is using a new technique, but can't tell because it would be dishonest. When the representative comes he likes the new technique, but is also impressed with Min's careful work. He tells Min if he can bring a piece to the King's court he will probably get a commission. Tree-ear volunteers to take the pots that use Kang's new technique to the court. He is ambushed on the way there and the pots are broken. He is only able to take a shard from one of the pots for the official to see, but the official is still impressed. He gives Min a commission and sent Tree-ear home with the news. When he gets home he learns the Crane-man is dead, but Min and his wife want to take him in and call him a family name. Min was impressed with a pottery monkey he found that Tree-ear had made and decides to teach him his trade.

My Reaction: This book completely surprised me in a good way. I had no idea that I would like this story or that I would be able to relate to it. I spent some time telling people how that native Americans do their pottery and I've done some myself so I was able to relate a little to the time and work involved. I also loved the ethical questions that Crane-man and Tree-ear talked about. I really like how all of them main characters changed in some way. I thought the book was great.

Potential Problems: Tree-ear is robbed.

Recommendations: I think I would recommend this to fifth graders on up. I think it would be a great story for boys because it shows values that I think young men could gain from reading with out them feeling preached at.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

By Gary D. Schmidt

Published by Clarion Books (2004)

Reading Level: Ages 12-14 years

Pages: 224

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Turner Buckminster's father is the new minister of Phippsburg, Main. Turner hates it because they dont play baseball correctly and he gets in trouble for circumstances. He hits away by going to a certain spot on the coast where he meets an African American girl named Lizzie Bright from Malaga Island. Phippsburg wants to get rid of the inhabitants of Malaga Island to generate better tourism. minister Buckminster was being used by the town Turner was forbidden from seeing Lizzie and from going to Malaga, but he saw her anyway and she taught him to hit. She gets injured and Turner tries to row her back to Malaga, but it is hard and he looks a whale in the eye. Then he only sees Lizzie when she comes to hear him play the organ to Mrs. Cobb. Mrs. Hurd is sent to an asylum so the town could use her property. When Mrs. cobb dies she leaves her home to Turner who refused to give it to the town, but wants to give it to Lizzie. The inhabitants of Malaga start floating with their houses. The remainder are sent to an asylum including Lizzie. The remaining houses are burned. The sheriff drops the minister off a cliff and he eventually dies. Turner and his mom move into Mrs. Cobb's house and stop going to church. The town hates them turner tries to retrieve Lizzie, but she died. The town doesn't build the hotels and the Hurd family ends up poor. The Buckminster's take them in and turner and the Hurd boy Willis work together with lobsters. Turner rose out past Malaga Island and touches a whale.

My reaction: Gary Schmidt is now one of my favorite authors. the first book by him that I read is The Wednesday wars. and that immediately went on my list of favorites. this book was beautiful. and it impacted how I feel about conformity and racism (even though I have never liked racism, now I dislike it even more). I thought it was a story beautifully told.

Potential Problems: Violence, racism, some language

Recommendations: I would recommended this to anyone over the age of 8.

Love That Dog

Love That Dog

By Sharon Creech

Published by HarperCollins (2001)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Pages: 128

Genre: Poetry, Modern Realism

Summary: Love that Dog is about a boy named Jack that doesn't like poetry. This whole book is written in poetry. The poems are letters to his teacher. At first Jack doesn't think he is writing poems, then his teacher types them up different and it looks like a poem. He is asked to write a poem about a pet but he doesn't have a pet. He did have a pet be he is reticent to talk about him. Jack really likes the poet Walter Dean Myers and his poem "Love That Boy", it makes Jack want to write about his dog Sky that is called Love That Dog. Slowly over the course of the book we learn more about Sky. He was a yellow dog and Jack always Sky was grateful do have been picked, one day while Sky was out in the yard he chased a ball into the road and got hit by a blue car. Another part of the story is Jack writing to his favorite poet and the poet coming to visit his school and Jack send him a thank you letter and his poem "Love That Dog".

My Reaction: I thought the book was alright. I like how easy it was to read and I thought it was cool how the story of Sky came out through the whole book. I also loved that Jack came to love poetry and started to use it as an outlet. it actually inspired me to write a poem myself, outside of the one required for class. It let out some frustration I had and so I want to write more in the future. I'll probably start like Jack, not wanting anyone to see my work until I've gained a little more experience, but writing poetry is something I want to continue with and I don't think I would have ever thought about that unless I had read this book because I don't think I'm a poet, but neither did Jack.

Potential Problems: Death of a pet.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to 11 and 12 years olds. I think i would also recommend this to animal lovers.

Miles of Smiles

Miles of Smiles (Kids Pick the Funniest Poems)

By Bruce Lansky

Published by Meadowbrook (2004)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 128

Genre: Humor, Poetry

Summary: This is a book of Poetry that Lansky found children like. He said that he's noticed kids most like poems that are funny and tell some truth about life. He has the poems separated into several categories dealing with things like family, school, and crazy stories. My favorite is one about a short guy that had to look his tall girlfriend in the belly button. I also like the one about Veronica Blaire that put her hair a giant bun on her head and bees built a hive in there and Veronica is eaten by a bear.

My Reaction: I laughed. then I shard the poem with my roommates and they laughed too.

Potential Problems: some potty humor.

Recommendations: I would recommended this to all elementary school students, and probable most middle school and college students.

Dragonology Chronicles

The Dragonology Chronicles Volume 1: The Dragon's Eye

by Dugald A. Steer

Published By Candlewick (2006)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 221

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: Daniel and Beatrice Cook have to spend the summer with Dr. Earnest Drake. Daniel sees a dragon and gets curious and sees things he shouldn't. Dr. Drake waits to teach him about Dragons. After a while three more students join the dragon school. They have to keep journals about when they see dragons, where, what they look like and what they eat, and every thing they learn. They study the three dragons on Dr. Drake's property, one of them, a scorcher, randomly showed up on Dr. Drake's steps and was sick. When they study that dragon Daniel is hypnotized and has to do do math for a long time. A man named Ignatius is trying to find artifacts that would give them power over dragons and he steals Dr. Drakes journal. Dr. Drake and the Cook children race to the dragon Scramasax to warn her and stop Ignatius from finding out the secret of the dragon eye. Ignatius is stopped, and Scramasax give Drake a riddle to help him figure out where the dragon eye is located. The riddle is stolen and so Drake and the children have race to the location. They make it there first and find the old dragon but Drake comes and kills that dragon and tries to steal the the dragon eye. Drake stops him and before the old dragon dies burns Drake's image on the dragon eye, which makes Dr.Drake the new Dragon Master. Dr. Drake becomes a full time tutor for the Cook children.

My Reaction: The book wasn't earth-shatteringly good, but I had a hard time putting it down. I am curious about this world of dragons, I want to read the other books.

Potential Problems: Dragons

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to all fantasy lovers. I think I would recommend this book to kids around fourth grade.

The Titanic: An Interactive History Adventure

The Titanic: An Interactive History Adventure

By Bob Temple

Published by Capstone Press (2008)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 112

Genre: Nonfiction, choose your own adventure

Summary: This book teaches you about the Titanic by making the reader one of the passengers and letting us choose what we do. I started an aristocrat. I had a nice room. I mett up with a new acquaintance and met his family. After dinner i went to bed but was awakened and told to go on deck. I try to find my friend but I'm late to get a life boat and I listen to the Ship's band play a hymn and I got to my room to die in my luxurious room. My second time I was a crew member that works on the Deck with the third class passengers. I learn that we've hit an iceburg shortly after the incident happens and i have to warn the third class passengers. I let them out and help them find life jackets. I decide to helpin the wireless room. The captain comes in and tells everyone to go, even though he will go down with the ship. I try to swim to a life boat but I die. In my last story I travel third class on my way to start a new life in America. I enjoy the activities for the third class and when invited to go to a sing I consent. As I'm going to bed I hear the engines cut out but think nothing of it and go to sleep. I am awakened by screaming and the ship tilting. I try to hold on to a door frame but I loose my grip and and fall, hitting my head and loosing consciousness. I'm unconsous when I drown.

My Reaction: I'm sick of dying. I even tried to make choices that would keep me alive on my last time and I still died. I'm glad I wasn't on the Titanic because I would have died. Besides that i thought this was a great way to teach about the Titanic.

Potential Problems: Death, as sinking ship

Recommendations: I would recommend this to any who like choose-your-own-adventure stories and to those interested in the history of the Titanic. I recommended this to my thirteen year old siter because she is studying the Titanic for one fo her classes.

The Story of Ruby Bridges

The Story of Ruby Bridges

By Robert Coles

Published by Scholastic Press (1995)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 32

Genre: Picture Book, Biography

Summary: At age six Ruby Bridges was selected to be one of the first African American Children to be integrated into an all-white Elementry School. She had to be formally escorted by federal marshalls becasue the community really upset and it was the only way she got get there and home safely. Ruby was teh only child in her school and she seemed unaffected by the persecution. Once on her way throug the crowd she stopped to pray for the people who hated her because she forgot to earlier. She would pray for them every day on her way there and on the way home.

My Reaction: I thought it was a very sweet telling of this story. I loved the illustrations.

Potential Problems: It mentions that the crowd wanted to kill Ruby.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to all elemantry school children.

The Jewish Kids' Hebrew-English Wordbook

The Jewish Kids’ Hebrew-English Wordbook

By Chaya M. Burnstein

Published by The Jewish Publication Society (1993)

Reading Level:

Pages: 39

Genre: Non-Fiction, Reference Book

Summary: This book teaches children Hebrew words. On most pages it has picture in the middle of the page and then on the border it labels things in the scene. The border has a small picture from the scene, the English word, the Hebrew word, and the Hebrew pronunciation. The scenes display thing like family, things around the house, school, stories from the Torah, and things around town. On every page you can find a monkey. It also teaches conversational words, numbers, holidays, days of the week, and seasons.

My Reaction: This book was the very first book I checked out with my own library card when I was eight years old. I enjoyed it then and now that I know a little Hebrew it is fun to see how far I have come. The words are fun and I like learning them.

Potential Problems: On one page it shows a picture of a man in a bathtub and on another is a picture of Adam and Eve, but none of the pictures show more than a bathing suit would.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to any child interested in languages.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

By J. K. Rowling

Published by Children's High Level Group (2008)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 128

Genre: Fantasy

Summary: There are five stories and each story is accompanied by a commentary by Dumbledore. The first story is called "The Wizard and the Hoping Pot". It is about a wizard that inherits a pot from his father. The wizard doesn't believe in helping muggles. The pot starts to hop and reflect the afflictions of everyone in the community until the wizard helps them all. Dumbledore said this story was changed so that it no longer reflected the same values. The next story, "The Fountain of Fair Fortune", was about three witches and a clumsy knight that are allowed into a garden to find a fountain with the hopes that drinking from it will cure their problems. They have to pass trials and at each one someone leaves their problems. The knight gets to drink form it, then the knight marries one of the witches and the fountain was not magic, they had solved their own problems. Dumbledore said they tried doing a stage production of this a Hogwarts and it ended in disaster. "The Warlock's Hairy Hart" was about a wizard that thought love was ridiculous so he took his out and hid it away. He decided to charm a girl and he offered to show it to the girl and when they came to it it was hairy, the wizard put it back in, but the heart had become warped and strong. It made the wizard kill the girl for her heart, then the wizard killed himself to stop the hairy heart. Dumbledore talked about the fact that we can't become invulnerable. "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump" is about a king that wants to do magic. He send out his hounds to find and kill all the magic folk. A slight of hand magician pretends to teach the king magic, but when the king wants to do magic on his own the magician goes to Babbitty, who is a witch, and makes her help him by hiding and then doing the spells he attempts. But when the king wants to bring someone back to life, Babbity is unable to do the spell and she is accused of stopping the kings magic. she runs away and is chased. They find a tree. Believing it is her they chop it down and the stump laughs and tells them to kill the magician which reveals he is false, and then tells the king he is cursed and if he kills any more witches or wizards he will feel intense pain like he is being chopped in half. They stop the killing and a rabbit hops off. Dumbledore said it is impossible to bring the dead back. The last story is "The Tale of the Three Brothers". It is about wizards that are met by death who offers each a wish. The first wants the most powerful wand ever, which he was given, he second wants to be able to bring others from death and he is given a stone with that power. The last brother wants to be able to hide from death and death gives him his own cloak. The first brother's wand was stolen and then he was killed, the second brother called the ghost of his dead love they weren't truly together so he killed himself to join her. The third brother hides from death for a very long time then passes the cloak on and then leaves life as death's equal. Dumbledore talks about the history of the items and that they may exist in his time.

My Reaction: The stories were fun, the one about the heart was disturbing but I enjoyed the rest. I also really enjoyed Dumbledore's commentary. I'm excited to read the Harry Potter series again with this new information.

Potential Problems: The hairy heart story is disturbing and a little scary. This is also death and fighting.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to all Harry Potter enthusiasts.

A Year Down Yonder

A Year Down Yonder

By Richard Peck

Published by Dial Books for Young Readers (2000)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Years

Pages: 130

Genre: Humor, Realistic Fiction

Summary: This is about a 15 year old girl named Mary Alice Dowder that is sent to live with her grandmother in a small town. Her grandma is big, mean, smart, and has a heart of gold. Everyone is afraid of her. After Mary Alice's first day of school Grandma gets rid of a bully by sending the girl's stolen horse back to the owner and making the girl walk home barefoot. On Halloween Mary Alice and Grandma steal pecans and pumpkins to make pie for the Halloween Party and helps Grandma prank the Halloween Vandals. For Christmas, Grandma gets he brother there and gets them tickets to see their parents. At the Christmas program there is a live baby in the manger. A new boy comes to the school and Mary Alice likes him. She invites him over to help her study and snake falls in the attic onto a a naked girl their tenant is painting. Grandma makes sure the whole town sees the girl. A tornado hits the town and afterwards Mary Alice and Grandma make sure the folks that old man Nyquist was alright and Effie Wilcox. At the end Mary Alice has to go home to Chicago, but several years later she marries that boy she liked.

My reaction: I laughed, I thought the book delightful. I laughed so hard at the snake part. I love Grandma and Mary Alice.

Potential Problems: The snake part could be a problem, there is talk about the great depression, and Grandma does do dome things that many could consider dishonest.

Recommendations: I would say this is a good book to read to younger kids, maybe first or second grade, but i would recommend it to children starting about third grade.

Encyclopedia Brown

Encyclopedia Brown Boy Detective

By Donald J. Sobol

Published by Scholastic Book Services (1967)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 75

Genre: Mystery

Summary: Encyclopedia Brown was called that because he is super smart and knows as much as an encyclopedia. He helped his father solve crimes over dinner. He decides to open his own detective agency. In the first case Encyclopedia helps his father figure out who robbed a store. The store owner claimed it was Natty Nat, but some of his story didn't fit with facts about Natty Nat so Encyclopedia knew that the store owner made up the story. In the next story Encyclopedia helped a boy get a tent that a group called the tigers had stolen from them by proving it wasn't theirs. Then he stops the tigers from selling a fake civil war sword. He then has a battle of wits with a girl named Sally that has beat the boys at nearly everything and wins. Then he helps identify a bank robber, and a bakeshop robber, and diamond necklace thief. He also figures out who broke into a store room and stole money, who stoles Sally's roller skates, and and finally why the egg spinner kept winning (it was a hard boiled egg).

My Reaction: I enjoyed trying to solve the mysteries before the end of the story and I was successful half the time, it was fun.

Potential Problems: I don't see any.

Recommendations: I would start recommending this to third graders through maybe fifth to sixth graders. Especially ones that like mysteries or problem solving. Although I think the problem solving would be fun for some adults too.

Lincoln: A Photobiography

Lincoln: A Photobiography

By Russell Freedman

Published by Clarion Books (1987)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 160

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: Abraham Lincoln had simple beginnings as a kid, he was tall and skinny and his father would hire him out to chop wood because he was also really strong. He didn't have much time for formal education, but he was an avid reader. As an adult he got involved in politics and studied law. He eventually opened his own law office with a partner and he was a very popular lawyer because he would defend anybody. Lincoln married a lady named Mary Ann Todd, even though her parents didn't like him. They had four children. Abraham Lincoln eventually ran for president. he was open about how he felt about slavery, that he was opposed to it, but he didn't plan on setting the slaves free. He was elected president and the South part of the United States decided to separate from the rest of the union. Lincoln wanted to save the states and they went to war. He had a hard time finding a general that would do what he wanted he finally found one they one the war. during the war Lincoln signed the agreement that freed the slaves throughout the union. Lincoln was murdered when he was at the theater by John Wilkes Booth. Thousands came to see the deceased president.

My Reaction: I didn't think I would like it, when I first looked at the book i thought it looked boring. It wasn't. I actually enjoyed it and it kept me engaged. The pictures were interesting as well.

Potential Problems: It does talk a lot about the war. Some of the photographs show the battlefields and the corpses could look a little scary.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to children around fourth grade on up. Also to anyone with an interest in American history.

Ender's Shadow

Ender's Shaddow (Audio Book)

By Orson Scott Card

Published by Macmillan Audio (2005)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Length: 15 hours 41 Minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

Summary: Bean spends his first few years on the streets of Rotterdam a very cut-throat, survival of the fittest place. He is smart and helps a crew get a bully to watch over them and get them into the soup kitchen. They are called a family and the bully, Achille, is called papa. They catch the eye of the nun and they start being tested by Sister Carlotta because they think everything was Achilles idea. Achilles kills Poke and Bean knows and tells Sister Carlotta, so sister Carlotta takes Bean off the street and tests him for battle school. He has the highest test scores ever. At battle school Bean scores the highest in everyhting again and selects a roster for Ender Wiggins battle crew. Everyone believes Ender will help defeat an alien race called the Buggers. They win every battle against all odds and unfair disadvantages. Ender kills someone in self defense and is sent to command school. Bean get his own army and Achilles is in it. Bean knows Achilles wants to kill him and captures him in an out of the way place and forces him to confess everything (there were many murders) so that he will be taken away. shortly after that Bean and several others that were close to Ender are taken to command school and then told to play a game that simulates a war against the Buggers, but Bean knows that they really are fighting the Buggers. Ender leads them to victory. The world is almost plunged into war over the kids from battle school and Ender has to live in space. Bean learns that his genes were changed to make him ultra smart, but his parents, or the closest thing he has to parents, are his best friend's (technically his twin's) parents also.

My Reaction: At first I thought what have I gotten myself into because the first part of the book is very much like Lord of the Flies, but as Bean grows and matures I grew to love the story more. I can't wait to read the next one.

Potential Problems: Swearing, Murder, Fighting, Violence, Infanticide, there is also some mention of pedophiles and prostitutes.

Recommendations: I wouldn't recommend it to children. I read Ender's Game when I was in high school and I didn't like it. I would probably only recommend this to adults because I feel it is better suited for older audiences.

The Great Gilly Hopkins

The Great Gilly Hopkins

By Katherine Paterson

Published by HarperCollins Publishers (1987)

Reading Level: ages 9-12 years

Pages: 148

Genre: Modern Realism

Summary: Gilly is a foster child that has been moved to several foster homes. She is very smart and refuses to be good. She is sent to the home of Maime Trotter. Trotter is also taking care of a little boy named William Earnest Teague, and Gilly thinks he is stupid. A blind African American gentleman, named Mr. Randolf, comes over every night for dinner and Gilly doesn't like to touch him. Gilly is also upset that her teacher is also African American. Tries all of her tried and tested methods of the past to drive people crazy, but it doesn't work. She tries writing a letter to her mother and also she steals money and tries to run off to California to live with her mom, but the station master turns her in and she decides she likes living with Trotter. She helps around the house and helps William Earnest with his words and teaches him to fight. But when everyone gets sick her biological grandmother comes by because of the letter Gilly sent to her mother and decides to take Gilly with her. Gilly has to leave Trotter and lives with her grandmother, who she likes, but she still misses Trotter. Her mom comes to visit for Christmas and she isn't anything like what Gilly had envisioned and doesn't love her and only came because Grandma paid her to come. Gilly wants to run away and calls Trotter, but Trotter talks her out of it and Gilly tells Trotter she loves he and then Gilly decides to stay with her grandmother and brave things out.

My Reaction: I don't know how many required books in this class that I wasn't looking forward to reading I ended up loving. This is one of them. I didn't think the story looked like one I would enjoy, but I absolutely loved the book! I think Gilly is a very real girl and I loved Trotter. I think that this book was profound and beautiful.

Potential Problems: Gilly swears a lot.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to older children or foster parents.

Children Just Like Me

Children Just Like Me: A Unique Celebration of Childre Around the World

By Barnabus and Anabel Kindersley

Published by DK Publishing, Inc (1995)

Reading Level: ages 9-12 years

Pages: 80

Genre: Nonfiction

Summary: This book is about children from all over the world. They introduce the child, give quotes, tell us what they like, favorite foods, hobbies, school, families, and what clothes they wear. The childen I most enjoyed learning about were Celina from Brazil and Tadesse from Ethiopia. Celina is nine years old and has four sisters and a brother. She has to collect water from a well and she swims in a river that has alligators. She only recently started going to school and she likes to make body paint. Tadesse is also nine years old and lives in an orphenage with three of his four sisters because his mom can't take care of them. He is christian. He eats food that they grow on the orphange's farm. He goes to school and studies his country's native language, among other subjects. His favorite subject is math.

My Reaction: I tought it was really interesting. A great reference book, in fact I think I remeber using this book when I was younger.

Potential Problems: None

Recommendations: I would recommend it as a reference if someone is studyinf different countries.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

By Beverly Cleary

Published by George J. Mclead Limited (1995)

Reading Level: Ages 7-12 years

Pages: 176

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Summary: The story takes place at the Mountain View Inn in the California foothills. Kieth and his parents stop there for the fourth of July holiday on thier way to San Francisco. Kieth has a toy motorcycle. A mouse name Ralph watches the boy play with his motorcycle and when the boy leaves he tries to ride it but falls into a trash can. Kieth gets him out and lets Ralph ride his motercycle and brings food to Ralph's family. Ralph loses the motorcycle in the laundry and has to chew his way out and it endangers his family. Kieth gets sick so Ralph uses the toy ambulance to bring him an aspirin. Matt, one of the employees, finds the motorcycle and Keith gives it to Ralph.

My Reaction: Ralph is just like a little boy, but he grows up and becomes more mature. I liek that. I enjoyed it the book alot.

Potential Problems: Not that I can see.

Recommendations: I would recommend this, mostly, to imaginative little boys, but I think girls would enjoy it too.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Al Capone Does My Shirts

By Gennifer Choldenko

Published by Puffin (2006)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 240

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: Moose's father gets a job working on Alcatraz Island as a guard and electrician and he moves his family there. He takes the job so that Moose's older sister Natalie can get into a special school for children with disabilities like Natalie's. Lots of other families live on Alcatraz as well. The Warden's daughter, Piper is always getting him in trouble and comes up with schemes that get them in trouble, most of them deal with talking about Alcatraz's most notorious criminal, Al Capone. Natalie doesn't get into the school and their mom gets really upset and hires a private tutor to help her get ready for the school. The tutor recommends that Moose take her everywhere with him. Moose would take her with him and leave her alone for a few minutes while he looked for a ball that was used by the inmates. He discovered that when he left her alone another inmate would talk to her and Moose didn't know what happened between them so he refused to take her out anymore. Natalie didn't get in to the school again so Moose writes a letter to Al Capone and asks for his help. Al Capone gets Natalie into the school.

My Reaction: I thought it was good. I didn't think it was out of this world fantastic, but I thought it was good enough to buy the sequel.

Potential Problems: Moose thinks that his sister might have been abused, there is some violence.

Recommendations: I recommended it to my thirteen year old sister.

The Valentine That Ate My Teacher

The Valentine That Ate My Teacher

By Dean Marney

Published by Scholastic Inc. (1998)

Reading Level: Ages 8-11 years

Pages: 100

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Summary: Lizzie hates Valentines Day. And she hates the new girl, Sybil. And every time a guy named Gus shows up weird things happen, but she never remembers that she has seen him she sees him again. Lizzie also thinks her teacher, Mr. Bernstein, is cute and also a few other boys. Lizzie starts seeing Ralph. In class she passes out because as the class is watching a documentary on a heart surgery she sees herself being operated on. Another day she sees a crack in the back of the class and green stuff oozing out of it until it fills the class room. Lizzie tries to warn the class and gets sent to the hall and the loud speaker tells her to go to the basement but she hates basements so she tries to go to the office but everywhere she turns and runs leads her to a door marked basement even though the school has none. She finally opens the basement door and finds herself in the office and she gets in trouble for being in the bathroom to long. On Valentines day she sees the green ooze again and falls into a valentine mailbox with Sybil, one of the boys from her class, and her teacher. The valentine box eats them and they wind up in a haunted carnival. They have to find each other and find the center of the carnival before dark to get out. Lizzie learns to like Sybil and they all have to go through a tunnel of love ride because that is the center. They appear in the valentine mailbox and push their way out and no one but Lizzie remembers anything, but she learns love is at the center.

My Reaction: This book is weird, and a little confusing. Not my favorite in the slightest.

Potential Problems: The Carnival is a little scary because it has a very haunted feel to it. Rides work on their own.

Recommendations: I don't think I would stop anyone from reading this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, unless I know they like really bizarre stuff.

Star Girl

Star Girl

By Jerry Spinelli

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers (2002)

Reading Level: Age 14-16 years old

Pages: 208

Genre: Modern Realism

Summary: Mica High is a place of conformity. For the most part everyone acts, dresses, and speaks the same until a new student comes. She calls herself Stargirl and dresses in costumes, bruings her pet rat to school, and plays the ukelele and sings to people on their birthdays. Everyone kind of shunned her until she cheered at a football game and then she was invited to be a cheerleader and everyone loves her. They got annoyed that she cheered for everyone, even those not on her team. Leo starts dating her and teaches him to listen. When Stargirl helps a player from an opposing team the whole school hates and shuns her and partially shuns Leo. Leo learns how Stargirl does service and tries to help her conform. Stargirl hopes that if she wins a speach competition everyone will like her again. She wins and no one cares and nothing changes. Stargirl goes back to being herself and Leo avoids her. Stargirl comes to a dance looking georgeous and leads everyone in the bunny hop and everyone likes her again accept Hillari. Hillari slaps Stargirl and in response Stargirl kisses her cheek and leaves the dance and is never seen again. Leo regrets losing her. The school starts a Stargirl club dedicated to daily service. In the end Leo gets a porcupine tie for his birthday.

My Reaction: I didn't think I would like this book because I thought it would be just another popularity story about someone incredibly talented being like everone else. It wasn't like that at all. It inspired me to be better for the of doing good and not to care about what others think.

Potential Problems: It shows teens being cruel to each other.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to tweens or teenagers. Maybe fourth or fifth graders.

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

By Chris Van Allsburg

Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (1984)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 32

Genre: Picture Book

Summary: Mr. Wenders, who worked for a publishing company got pictures from a man, Harris Burdick. Each picture came from a story Mr. Burdick wrote and each picture was accompanied by a title and caption. Mr. Burdick promised to come back

with the full stories but he never did. He disappeared. This book has all the pictures, story titles, and captions that Harris Burdick left. They encourage the reader to finish the stories.

My Reaction: Ahhhhhhhh! This book is so cool! Every time I read it my imagination goes crazy with ideas! I've shared it with each of my roommates and they really liked it to. I want to use one of the pictures to write my own story.

Potential Problems: A couple of the pictures might be scary for small children.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to parents, teachers, and any child with an active imagination or to ones without, they will have one by the time their done with this book.

Other Books by Chris Van Allsburg:

• Jumanji
• The Polar Express
• Zathura
• The Garden of Abdul Gasazi

Learn about the Mysteries of Harris Burdick writing contest by checking out the author website: www.chrisvanallsburg.com

Mother Goose

Walt Disney's Mother Goose

By RH Disney

Published by Golden Books (2004)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 24

Genre: Nursery Rhymes

Summary: This book has several Mother Goose nursery rhymes like "Jack and Jill", "Bye, Baby Bunting", and "This is the Way the Ladies Ride". The illustrations are of Disney characters.

My Reaction: I love the nursery rhymes! The are so fun, and I loved the Disney illustrations because they fit so well! The rhyme about a girl in blue losing her shoe had a picture of Cinderella losing her shoe.

Potential Problems: In one rhyme a nave is beaten for stealing.

Recommendations: I recommend this as a read aloud for little children, boys and girls.

The Paper Bag Princess

The Paper Bag Princess

By Robert Munsch

Published by Annick Press (1992)

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 years

Pages: 32

Genre: Picture Book Fantasy

Summary: A princess has nice clothes and is going to marry a prince but a dragon burns down her castle and all her clothes so she has to wear a paper bag. She finds the dragon and tricks him so that he falls asleep and doesn't wake up. She saves the prince, but he won't marry her until she looks like a princess again, so she dumps him.

My Reaction: I thought this was a great story about qualities that are really important. Go girl power!

Potential Problems: The princess loses all her clothes, but the picture is tastefully done.

Recommendations: I think little girls would love this story. It would be a great read aloud book for little girls that are pre-kindergarten.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

By Madeleine L'Engle

Published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers (1973)

Reading Level: Ages 9-12 years

Pages: 211

Genre: Science Fiction

Summary: Meg and Charles father went missing a while before. Three ladies, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Who, want them, and another boy named Calvin, to help them get him back and save a world from the darkness that took over. They tesser there, tesser means to fold time and space to get to distant places quickly, they find their father, but in the process Charles's mind is taken by the darkness and he is controlled by a giant brain called IT. Meg's father get her and Calvin out by tessering, before they can be taken over by the darkness and IT as well. Meg is frozen in the process and her heart is overcome a little by the darkness. She is nursed to health by strange creatures on a strange planet and she overcomes the darkness in her heart. She returns alone to the dark planet and because of her love, she is able to save Charles from the darkness and IT. They are all tessered home, where the whole family is reunited.

My Reaction: I remember that I loved this book when I was younger. I enjoyed it again reading it this time. IT fascinates me and I find L'Engle's use of science really interesting. I also really like the three old ladies.

Potential Problems: The darkness is scary, and the man in the dark world is a little scary too. IT can be frightening.

Recommendations: I would recommend it to girls around 12 years and up.

The Time Quartet:

• A Wrinkle in Time
• A Wind in the Door
• A Swiftly Tilting Planet
• Many Waters