Saturday, December 19, 2020

Illustrated Versions of Beloved Classics

Emma: Illustrations by Marjolein Bastin (Marjolein Bastin Classics Series) Hardcover -- March 2, 2021
by Jane Austen (Author), Marjolein Bastin (Illustrator)
Hardcover : 360 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524863076
ISBN-13 : 978-1524863074
Reading age : 7 - 10 years
Lexile measure : 10L
Grade level : 4 - 6



Pride and Prejudice (Marjolein Bastin Classics Series) Hardcover – March 2, 2021

by Jane Austen (Author), Marjolein Bastin (Illustrator)
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524861758
ISBN-13 : 978-1524861759
Reading age : 7 - 10 years
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 1524861758
ISBN-13 : 978-1524861759
Reading age : 7 - 10 years 

Jane Eyre: Illustrations by Marjolein Bastin (Marjolein Bastin Classics Series) Hardcover – March 2, 2021

by Charlotte Brontë (Author), Marjolein Bastin (Illustrator)

Publisher : Andrews McMeel Publishing (March 2, 2021)

Hardcover : 408 pages

ISBN-10 : 1524861723

ISBN-13 : 978-1524861728

Reading age : 12 years and up


Publisher’s Blurb:

The Marjolein Bastin Classics Series is a chance to rediscover classic literature in collectible, luxuriously illustrated volumes. For the first time ever, the internationally celebrated artwork of Marjolein Bastin graces the pages of timeless classicsBeyond bringing these stories to life, Bastin’s series adds elaborately designed ephemera, such as letters, invitations, and more. Whether an ideal gift for an Austen or Brontë devotee or a treat for yourself, the Marjolein Bastin Classics Series, as a set or individually purchasedis perfect for anyone who feels a connection to these enduring literary gems.

My Thoughts:

Marjolein Bastin’s beautiful illustrations of botanicals and nature have long been a favorite. Combine them with some of my favorite literature? Yes, please!

That said…the illustrations are incidental to the story. They are not illustrations of scenes from the books. The publisher’s blurb says there are facsimiles of sheet music, family trees, etc., but the eARCs I was provided did not include these, so I cannot comment on them.

Story wise, these are as they have ever been. Pride and Prejudice is one of my “desert island” books; I can read it over and over, and not tire of it. Emma is still my least favorite of Austen’s works, and she still bugs me.

But there is a reason these classics have been made and remade as movies, whether set in their original timeframe or updated. They are charming and witty, and Austen’s observations on human nature, like Shakespeare’s, hold up to the test of time.

Bronte's work is a little moodier and a little more tragic, but, like Austen, her story has permeated film and literature in the decades and centuries since its publication.

I definitely disagree with the publisher’s details on the reading level of these books. They are not for 7-10-year-olds, or 4th- to 6th-graders. I was a pretty advanced reader and didn’t read P&P until my sophomore year in high school. My college prep reading class struggled with the language and long sentences of these books.

If you’re looking to collect beautiful copies of favorite books, these fill the bill. I couldn’t find specific information, but I imagine them in a larger trim size, on beautiful glossy 100 lb. paper, as with our fancy editions of Tolkein or Rowling. As they will not be released for three more months, this is only speculation. However, that would definitely do Bastein’s beautiful, delicate work justice!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARCs.


Thursday, December 10, 2020

I Spy...Some Great Books for Tweens and Teens!

 

City Spies

By James Ponti

Publisher : Aladdin (March 10, 2020)

Hardcover : 384 pages

ISBN-10 : 1534414916

ISBN-13 : 978-1534414914

Reading level : 8 - 12 years

Lexile measure : 750L

Grade level : 3 - 7


Publisher’s Blurb:

Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.

Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.

Before she knows what she’s doing, Sara is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team.

No one said saving the world was easy…

My Thoughts:

Short version: Get this book.

Longer version: I first became aware of Ponti through his TOAST series. My then-seventh-grader resists everything I suggest, but her love of John Grisham’s Theodore Boone books prompted me to nudge her a little. When the pandemic closed our schools, I got her a box set of the TOAST books and she loved them. So City Spies was a natural next step.

Reader, she has read the book at least 10 times. She loves it. This is an epic win.

Reader, I have read it too. I also love it.

Ponti has a great grasp of tween and tween behavior. The characters feel real, even if their situations (consultants to the FBI, MI6 agents) are a stretch for the imagination. The cover story for their presence in the organization is clever, and these characters function so well in their circumstances that it becomes easy to suspend your disbelief.

My daughter (and I) also enjoy Ponti’s sense of humor and sneaky allusions. We loved the Matilda references in Chapter 2.

The plot itself is fun, with teen themes of fitting in and adapting to new situations, as well as a fast-paced spy story.

Possible objectionable material:

Sara is a hacker and we meet her in juvie because of her illegal activities. Some violence. People have died, but offscreen. Perilous situations. Tweens and teens running around unsupervised. Deception.

Who might like this book:

People who love spy stories. People who enjoy humor. Those who like stories about teens. Either gender—both are well represented in this book. This book was very readable for me as an adult, with strong adult characters.

Thank you to Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

City Spies 2: Golden Gate

By James Ponti

Publisher : Aladdin (March 16, 2021)

Hardcover : 432 pages

ISBN-13 : 978-1534414945

ISBN-10 : 1534414940

Reading level : 8 - 12 years

Grade level : 3 - 7

 Publisher’s Blurb:

After thwarting a notorious villain at an eco-summit in Paris, the City Spies are gearing up for their next mission. Operating out of a base in Scotland, this secret team of young agents working for the British Secret Intelligence Service’s MI6 division have honed their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.


Fourteen-year-old Sydney is a surfer and a rebel from Bondi Beach, Australia. She’s also a field ops specialist for the City Spies. Sydney is excited to learn that she’ll be going undercover on the marine research vessel the Sylvia Earle. But things don’t go exactly as planned, and while Sydney does find herself in the spotlight, it’s not in the way she was hoping.

Meanwhile, there’s been some new intel regarding a potential mole within the organization, offering the spies a lead that takes them to San Francisco, California. But as they investigate a spy who died at the Botanical Gardens, they discover that they are also being investigated. And soon, they’re caught up in an exciting adventure filled with rogue missions and double agents!

This mission is hot! The City Spies are a go!

My Thoughts:

The characters we loved in City Spies are back, and Ponti wastes no time bringing us into the middle of an operation.

Where the first book focused most on Sara/Brooklyn, this one gives us more from Sydney, without neglecting the other characters. We get to know more backstories of the various City Spies, as well as of Mother and Monty. Clues also trickle in about the disappearance of Mother’s wife and children.

The mystery plot is just intricate enough, with some good surprises that I didn’t see coming. Ponti’s screenwriting past is apparent with the quick cuts in the climactic scenes.

Once again, my 13-year-old is raving about this book. She’s read it three times and it won’t even be released until March. It’s a good thing Ponti is working on the next one already!

From my...slightly older...perspective, Ponti is writing good spy fiction. Forget that the spies are kids and just enjoy it as a good read.

There’s also a surprise appearance by the “Prince of Wales”—not the one we know, but an imaginary one!

Go ahead. Preorder it now. And then start your countdown!

Possible Objectionable Material:

Perilous situations. Breaking and entering. Tweens unaccompanied in a big city. Some violence, but what is shown is minimal. Deception.

Who might like this book:

People who love spy stories. People who enjoy humor. Those who like stories about teens. Either gender—both are well represented in this book. This book was very readable for me as an adult, with strong adult characters.

Thank you to Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.


Thursday, July 16, 2020

Worlds upon worlds

The Ten Thousand Doors of January

Friday, July 10, 2020

Children's nonfiction keeps the learning going all summer!

Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World? 

by Helaine Becker (Author), Phil McAndrew (Illustrator)
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press 
ISBN-10: 1771380543
ISBN-13: 978-1771380546

Publisher’s Blurb:
"What if the terrifying creatures of your nightmares were indeed prowling the big, wide world beyond your blankie?" begins the intriguing premise of this book. "Could they really exist? And if so, how?" In a completely original approach to exploring science, award-winning author Helaine Becker places six different kinds of monsters --- Frankenstein, vampires, bigfoot, zombies, werewolves and sea monsters --- under her microscope to expose the proven scientific principles behind the legends. For example, the chapter on Frankenstein delves into how electricity and organ transplants work in the human body, and whether they could really bring someone back to life --- all presented in short, readable sections. There's also historical background on each monster, as well as trivia and jokes in sidebars, and fun quizzes at the end of every chapter for readers to test their knowledge. Becker uses the never-ending appetite for all things monster to engage the imaginations of children and get them excited about science. The just-ghoulish-and-icky-enough illustrations by Phil McAndrew are pitch-perfect, drenched with child-friendly humor. This is a book with tremendous cross-curricular applications in life, earth and physical sciences, as well as in literature (myths and legends), history and literacy skills. With its playful spirit, this is also a book children will happily pick up and devour on their own.
Age Range: 8 - 11 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Lexile Measure: 980

My Thoughts:
All those classic horror story figures come out to play in a scientific way! Could they really exist? Science says yes! This is a fun way to engage with science. The quizzes were okay, but it's the explanations that make this book fun. The illustrations bring the whimsy!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Some people object to some of these horror story figures. 

Who Might Like This Book:
People who like horror stories, monsters, and science. Definitely appropriate to the suggested age range, but the lexile level could be a bit of a stretch.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 


Awesome America (A TIME for Kids Book): Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the History, People, and Culture

by Katy Steinmetz
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Time For Kids
ISBN-10: 1618931490
ISBN-13: 978-1618931498

Publisher’s Blurb:
Discover what makes America unique in this comprehensive timeline and photographic overview of American history--pre-Columbus through the present--highlighting the milestone events and important people that have made America awesome.

Perfect for both dip-in reference and longer-form reading, Awesome America is organized into thematic sections, each comprised of bite-sized articles, engaging factoid sidebars, colorful charts, graphics and interactive quizzes to help make learning about American history interesting, interactive, and fun. From America's early history all the way to present day, kids will learn about what it was like to grow up in the 1700's, 1800's, 1900's and today and discover the inventions, innovations, and important social movements great American's have created over the years
.
Age Range: 9 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7
Lexile Measure: 890

My Thoughts:
This is a reference book, so there's no linear narrative. However, for a reference book, it's bright and engaging.

Possible Objectionable Material:
It's history. However, some potentially problematic parts of history are kept to surface-level discussion. This is a shame, because kids at the upper end of the suggested range are definitely able to handle the fact that our history is not perfect.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone, child to adult, who is interested in United States History. Great as a classroom resource. A good starting point for examining deeper issues. Native American rights come to mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

If You Were the Moon

by Laura Purdie Salas (Author), Jaime Kim
Publisher: Millbrook Press
ISBN-10: 146778009X
ISBN-13: 978-1467780094

Publisher's Blurb:
What would you do if you were the moon? Do you think you would rest quietly in the night sky? Oh, no. The moon does so much more than you might imagine! It spins like a twilight ballerina, plays tug-of-war with the ocean, and lights a pathway for baby sea turtles. Discover the many other roles the moon plays in this whimsical and lyrical picture book.
Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3

Lexile Measure: 790

My Thoughts:
Beautiful illustrations as the moon tells a little girl about all the things it does. Science-based, but poetic as well.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Some might have concerns that the back-and-forth between science fact and symbolism/imagination are too confusing for a small child. With a 790 lexile, definitely one to read to children, though those at the high end of the age range should be okay.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone who is fascinated by the moon. This makes a great addition to your pile of bedtime stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 


Inside Your Insides: A Guide to the Microbes That Call You Home Hardcover

by Claire Eamer (Author), Marie-Eve Tremblay (Illustrator)
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1771383321
ISBN-13: 978-1771383325

"Wherever you go, tiny hitchhikers tag along for the ride," this intriguing illustrated nonfiction book begins. "The hitchhikers are actually microbes--tiny living things so small that you need a microscope to see them. And every person carries around trillions and trillions of these critters." Six of the most common "critters" that live in and on our bodies are introduced here: bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, protists and mites. Each one has its own preferred environment, and readers will be startled (and likely a little grossed out!) by the many places they live, including the hair follicles on our faces, the folds of our tongues and the lengths of our guts. Just as surprising, only some of them are "bad guys" that cause disease, and many of them are actually "good guys" that keep us healthy. There's even research currently being done on ways to improve or fix our collection of microbes as a way to make us healthier.

Author Claire Eamer's clear, well-organized and accessible writing, augmented throughout with fun facts and silly microbe jokes in sidebars,  keeps the book interesting and enjoyable. Marie-Ève Tremblay's bright and cheerfully funny illustrations bring the details to delightful life. With its cutting-edge information about a topic children will find fascinating, this book makes an excellent complement to a life science lesson on the human body. It would also work well for a class on healthy living. A table of contents, glossary and index are included.

Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Grade Level: 3 - 7

Lexile Measure: 1010

My Thoughts:
I'm all for fun facts and microbe puns! This was a suprisingly entertaining guide to the microbiomes that live in all of us and how they affect overall health. And no, it's not just your intestines! Accessible, scientific information leaves the reader feeling like they really understand. Plus--fun illustrations!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Again, some people are grossed out by discussion of bodily functions.

Who Might Like This Book:
If you like knowing more about how your body works and about the microscopic world, this book is for you. The high lexile means younger readers will likely need some help.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Ocean Animals from Head to Tail

by Stacey Roderick (Author), Kwanchai Moriya (Illustrator)
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 1771383453
ISBN-13: 978-1771383455

Publisher's Blurb:
This nonfiction picture book uses a playful guessing game to introduce eight different ocean animals and some unique aspects of their bodies. First, readers are shown a close-up illustration of an unusual part of an animal's body and asked to guess its owner: "What ocean animal has a head like this?" Then the following spread reveals the animal's name (e.g., "A hammerhead shark!"), along with an illustration of the whole animal in its habitat. There's also a brief description of the animal's traits with a special emphasis on the featured body part. For example, readers learn that a blue whale's mouth contains baleen, which help it capture krill to eat, and that the tail of a seahorse curls so it can hold on to sea plants for stability. Young children will recognize that every animal has its own distinctive features and body parts that help it survive. Author Stacey Roderick has created a perfect beginning exploration of the physical traits of ocean animals that's both engaging and informative. Paper collage illustrations by Kwanchai Moriya in bright, eye-catching colors bring the animals to vivid and appealing life. The fun, interactive nature of the guessing game makes this book ideal for a read-aloud. It would be a terrific addition to an early life-science class on the characteristics of living things or on types of ocean animals. A bonus spread includes information on eight more ocean animals.
Age Range: 4 - 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Lexile Measure: 1040

My Thoughts:
I really love the illustrations in this book. It's simple, yet engaging and presents interesting information about the various animals. I think the animals chosen for the book may be a little bit too common, but that's probably okay, given the age of the target audience.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Can't think of any

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone who loves sea creatures. Even the higher end of the target audience will probably need help reading it, however, given the high lexile level.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

All About Forests

by Christina Mia Gardeski (Author)
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Capstone Press
ISBN-10: 1515776468
ISBN-13: 978-1515776468

Publisher's blurb:
What can you find in a forest? From the treetops to the forest floor, a forest is full of life! Falling leaves, busy squirrels, and other secrets of the forest will delight beginning readers. All Little Pebble books have an Accelerated Reader ATOS level of 1.0 or below.

  • Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  • Grade Level: Preschool - 2
  • Lexile Measure: 0330

My Thoughts:
This is a perfect book for an early elementary classroom. Explanations and vocabulary are clear and the text is easy to read. The photographs of forests in various seasons are beautiful, although not particularly engaging. The glossary, further reading, and websites to visit are a great bonus.

Possible Objectionable Material:
None.

Who Might Like This Book:
Early readers who want to read independently. Children who like trees and woods.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Animals Do, Too!: How They Behave Just Like You
by Etta Kaner (Author), Marilyn Faucher (Illustrator)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 1771385693
ISBN-13: 978-1771385695

"Do you like to dance?" asks the first spread of this playful nonfiction picture book. "Honeybees do, too!" responds the next. Illustrating the simple text are joyful drawings that visually connect the children enjoying a dance party to the honeybees performing their own "dance" in the hive. A block of more in-depth text fleshes out what the honeybees are actually doing and why: their waggle dance tells other honeybees ?where to find a tasty meal.? Using this same rhythmic question-and-answer style throughout, the book compares a series of children's favorite activities to similar things that animals do. From playing tag and leapfrog (gazelles and cattle egrets) to blowing bubbles and getting piggyback rides (gray tree frogs and marmosets), there are seven activities/animals in all. And though the behaviors might look the same, while the children are playing, the animals are performing essential tasks such as finding food or caring for their young.

Award-winning author Etta Kaner has created a fun, engaging exploration of some ways animals behave just like people. By highlighting connections between human and animal behaviors, she encourages children to develop compassion for other creatures and to recognize their place within the natural world. This book would make an excellent resource for early life science lessons on the characteristics of living things, especially with the expanded information in the back matter about each of the animals found in the book. The question-and-answer pattern of the text together with Marilyn Faucher's inviting, detailed illustrations work as an entertaining, interactive read-aloud as well.
Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Lexile Measure: 630

My Thoughts:
The energetic illustrations help to show the comparisons between human and animal behavior. Explanations of how animals behave are clear and interesting. I just feel like it's been done before. I've seen books since I was a kid that show us how animals are not that different from us. This one does have more depth to those explanations, however. The animals are not anthropomorphized at all, which is nice.

Possible Objectionable Material:
None

Who Might Like This Book:
People who like animals.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Birthdays Around the World

by Margriet Ruurs (Author), Ashley Barron (Illustrator)
Publisher: Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 177138624X
ISBN-13: 978-1771386241

Publisher's Blurb:
Everyone in the world has a birthday. But birthdays are not celebrated in the same way everywhere. Meet Mercedes in Peru, who eats a cake and a purple pudding called mazamorra morada. Ieva in Latvia is raised in the birthday chair, one lift for each year. And rather than celebrating his own birthday, Phúc Khang in Vietnam joins in the festivities during Tet, when everyone in the country turns one year older. Based on interviews with real people, award-winning author Margriet Ruurs tells the unique stories of how seventeen children from all around the globe celebrate a birthday, including how they each say happy birthday in their native language. Following the memorable stories, children are invited to compare their own birthday traditions with the ones they've learned about in the book.

Birthdays can be a yearly highlight and a shared experience for children, which make them a perfect subject for introducing different customs around the world. As with all the titles in the bestselling Around the World series, this fascinating book provides cross-curricular applications in language arts, global studies and geography. Ashley Barron's beautiful cut-paper collage artwork adds a contemporary, stylized feel to the pages. Enriching the reading experience are a world map that pinpoints all the locations of the children in the book; a two-page spread containing six activities that facilitate a closer reading of the text; and a glossary containing translations, pronunciations and foreign scripts for the foreign words and phrases in the book.

Age Range: 4 - 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Lexile Measure: 780

My Thoughts:
Bright and cheerful illustrations make this a book to look at as well as listen to. There is a nice range of peoples and cultures. It's always great to find out about traditions that are different from our own.

Possible Objectionable Material:
This is another one with a higher lexile, so children in the target age range will definitely need some help.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone who likes birthdays and learning about other traditions. Another one to add to your pile of bedtime stories.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Ranger Rick: National Parks!

by Stacy Tornio (Author), Ken Keffer (Author)
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Muddy Boots
ISBN-10: 163076230X
ISBN-13: 978-1630762308

Publisher's Blurb:
From the “crown jewels” such as Yellowstone, Sequoia, and the Grand Canyon, to the many lesser-known – but still stunning – areas dotting the country, the National Parks have provided generations with enjoyment and wonder. Now, Ranger Rick: National Parks! takes readers on a tour of America’s most beautiful protected landscapes. Join Ranger Rick as he leads this cross-country adventure and provides his favorite facts, animals, and plants along the way. Page after page of beautiful photography and fascinating information bring the most unique features of the National Parks to life. Inside you’ll also find Ranger Rick’s favorite things to do in each park, like sledding down the mighty sand dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park or exploring the bat-filled caves of Carlsbad Caverns. With Ranger Rick as your trusted guide, there is no better way to experience the National Parks – other than being there!

Expertly researched, chock full of fun facts, and filled with gorgeous, full-color photography, Ranger Rick: National Parks! is sure to delight and inspire any young explorer!

Age Range: 7 - 12 years

Grade Level: 2 - 6

My Thoughts:
Photography and easy-to-navigate bullet lists give a nice taste of each park. The map at the beginning breaks things into regions and shows where each park is. It's nice to see coverage of many lesser-known, but deserving of attention, parks.

Possible Objectionable Material:
None.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone who is deciding what parks to visit, whether near home or far away. This could be a good classroom resource as well..


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Sea Creatures #2: "Armed & Dangerous"

by Christophe Cazenove (Author), Nanette Cooper-McGuinness (Translator)
Hardcover: 56 pages
Publisher: Papercutz 
ISBN-10: 1629917435
ISBN-13: 978-1629917436

Publisher's Blurb:
Dive in to the deep-end with this new series and hear from Sea Creatures, great and small, in their own words! Clown around with clownfish, float around with a puffer fish, and soar with flying fish! This fun exploration of the deep blue sea and all the marine life in it is perfect for any budding marine biologist!
Age Range: 8 - 14 years

Grade Level: 3 - 9

My Thoughts:
This graphic novel-style book introduces both well-known and more obscure creatures of the deep. Factual, but not boring!

Possible Objectionable Material:
Some might object to the animals "speaking"/being anthropomorphized.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fans of undersea life. Those who enjoy the graphic novel format. I think it comes off as a bit "young" for the top end of the age range, but for those struggling readers who enjoy the format and are interested in the topic, this could be a good resource.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem

by Patricia Newman (Author)
Library Binding: 56 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Press
ISBN-10: 1512426318
ISBN-13: 978-1512426311

Publisher's Blurb:
Marine biologist Brent Hughes didn't think sea otters and sea grass had much in common. But his research at Elkhorn Slough, an estuary on Monterey Bay in northern California, revealed a new and surprising connection between the two. The scientist expected this estuary to be overrun with algae due to the fertilizer runoff from surrounding fields. But it wasn't. Why?
Age Range: 9 - 12 years
Grade Level: 4 - 7
Lexile Measure: 1060

My Thoughts:
Full disclosure: I adore sea otters, so I was predisposed to like this book. It is absolutely packed with information. The way each organism coexists in an ecosystem is fascinating, and I found the explanations easily accessible

Possible Objectionable Material:
Once again, the lexile level is high for the suggested age range. 

Who Might Like This Book:
Sea otter fans, science fans, anyone fascinated by the symbiosis of different organisms.



Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

To Burp or Not to Burp: A Guide to Your Body in Space

by Dave Williams (Author), Loredana Cunti (Author), Theo Krynauw (Illustrator)
Paperback: 56 pages
Publisher: Annick Press
ISBN-10: 1554518539
ISBN-13: 978-1554518531

Publisher's Blurb:
Of all the questions astronauts are asked by kids, the most frequent one is “How do you go to the toilet in space?”

This book not only answers that question, but many others about the effect of zero gravity on the human body: How do you brush your hair in space? What happens when you sweat? What does food taste like? The best thing is that the answers are provided by Dr. Dave Williams, a NASA astronaut who speaks from first-hand experience. Written for kids ages 7 to 10, this book uses age-appropriate language to explain the different phenomena that astronauts encounter during a mission. The bright, colorful pages, short blocks of text accompanied by photos and humorous illustrations make this a very attractive choice for young readers. The opening message from Dr. Dave empowers kids to follow his example by believing in themselves and following their dreams.

Age Range: 7 - 10 years
Grade Level: 1 - 5

Lexile Measure: 940

My Thoughts:
Admit it. You've wondered some of those things, too. Isn't it nice that a real astronaut is here to answer those questions? The combination of comic book-like illustrations and photography add some levity. Dr. Dave's explanations are accessible and understandable.

Possible Objectionable Material:
If you dislike honest discussion of bodily functions, this might be a bit uncomfortable.

Who Might Like This Book:
Future astronauts, future doctors, anyone fascinated by space and by how our bodies work.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. 

Want to Know: Going To the Theater

by Florence Ducatteau (Author), Chantal Peten (Illustrator)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Clavis
ISBN-10: 1605372536
ISBN-13: 978-1605372532

Publisher's Blurb:
Do you want to know everything about theater and what you can do there? What did theater look like in Ancient Greece? Who else works at the theater besides actors? Is theater the same everywhere in the world? What is a shadow show? These and many other questions will be answered in this book. You’ll also find a fun comic, a crafts page, a big foldout page, and a mini-quiz, so you’ll become a real expert.

An informative picture book for children aged 5 and up about the wonderful experience that is going to the theater.
Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten and up

My Thoughts:
Honestly, I think every child should experience live theatre just as soon as they are able to be a respectful audience. This book is a good way to start them on that path, by helping them to understand just what goes on. The addition of activities, and even a monologue to perform, are fun ways to extend the learning.

Possible Objectionable Material:
If you don't like theatre, and there are people who don't, for a variety of reasons, then pass this by.

Who Might Like This Book:
Theatre fans and fellow drama-nerds.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.