Reading Level: Early Elementary

The Iron Giant

In the countryside, a strange being appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. A giant metal robot, taller than a house. Where he came from and who created him are a mystery. This being known as the Iron Giant has an insatiable hunger for scrap metal and begins stealing the material from local farmers. A local boy, Hogarth, set a trap to stop the Iron Giant, but he quickly discovers the robot is far from a threat.   

The Iron Giant, originally published in 1968 as The Iron Man, is a modern fairy tale. Author Ted Hughes presents the story in five chapters, each with a succinct title, such as “The Coming of the Iron Giant” and “The Return of the Iron Giant.” The text is large, and the language is written in such a way that younger children can understand. The book was adapted by director Brad Bird into a cult classic animated film in 1999 under the same name, though the film took many creative liberties compared to the original text.  

The only major similarities between the book and the movie are the characters of the Iron Giant and Hogarth. The book is far more fantastic in its approach than the film, which is grounded in Cold War atomic paranoia. The book is likely set in Hughes’ native England, while the movie is set in the fictional town of Rockwell, Maine. In the book, the Iron Giant’s origins are completely unexplained, giving him a more mythic status. In stark contrast, the film reveals that the Iron Giant was a weapon sent from space by alien beings, who, with the help of Hogarth, learns to reject his destructive purpose and become a hero in his own right—a development absent from the original text. In a similar vein, the relationship between Hogarth and the Iron Giant, a highlight of the film, is vastly inferior in the book. Their interactions are brief and sparse, and only serve to drive the plot forward. The book does not take the time to develop their relationship. 

Not long after the farmers realize the Iron Giant is harmless and provide him with a scrap yard to satisfy his hunger, the story takes a truly bizarre twist—an enormous space dragon crash-lands onto Australia and threatens to consume the entire world. Hogarth believes the only thing capable of stopping this threat is the Iron Giant, who agrees to challenge the dragon in a climactic battle of endurance, in which the Iron Giant ultimately prevails and becomes the unlikely savior of humanity. The Iron Giant’s heroism isn’t a conscious choice, as it is in the movie, and there is no moment of sacrifice driven by compassion because the book lacks the crucial narrative beats that make the film a cult classic. The confrontation between the two otherworldly beings is far more surreal and dreamlike than violent. Hughes’ writing focuses on the encounter’s pure bizarreness, giving the book a fairy-tale tone.   

While the characters are not as developed as in the film adaptation, Ted Hughes’ original story remains a classic modern fairy tale and a great short read. The themes of fear of the unknown, welcoming outsiders, and overcoming prejudices are as relevant now as they were when the book was first published in 1968. Learning The Iron Giant’s origin makes for a particularly interesting read for fans of the 1999 film, though this is a rare case in which the movie greatly outshines the book on which it was based, as the film tells a more emotionally resonant and narratively rich story with more defined and developed characters in both the Iron Giant and Hogarth. 

Sexual Content 

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Violence 

  • There is minimal violence in the final battle between the Iron Giant and the space dragon, though this is more of a battle of wits rather than a physical confrontation and is described through Hughes’ writings and shown through a few sparse illustrations. Though both beings are injured during this struggle, they survive without serious injury. 
  • The Iron Giant and dragon “battle” to see who can endure the heat of the sun the longest. While the heat is intense to the Iron Giant, it is the dragon’s ego that ultimately becomes his downfall. “‘It’s enough,’ cried the dragon. ‘It’s too much. I can’t stand another. The fires of the sun are too terrible for me. I submit.’ ‘Then I’ve won,’ shouted the Iron Giant. ‘Because I’m ready to roast myself red hot again. If you daren’t, then I’ve won.’” 

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by Nicholas Paragano

Out of the Woods: A True Story of an Unforgettable Event

Five-year-old Antonio Willie Giroux lives at his mother’s hotel in Ontario, Canada, where he spends his time watching and interacting with the business’s many workers and customers. On most days, he finds himself exploring the nearby woods, peeking into hunters’ rooms, and listening to the conversations and laughter of lumberjacks and silver miners, who “played cards and made music.” However, everything changes one day when the sight of smoke and flames in the trees forces everyone to run for their lives. With the situation growing dire, Antonio and the others wade into the safety of Gowganda Lake as the air grows thick with smoke and dust. Will he and his family survive this disaster? More importantly, will his life ever be normal again? 

Out of the Woods is a sentimental story that conveys the importance of reflecting on one’s life experiences. Told from a third-person perspective, the book follows young Antonio’s life at his mother’s hotel. Given the story’s emphasis on impactful experiences, it offers little character development for Antonio, but readers can infer that he’s a curious and reflective child from his actions and thoughts. However, readers gain a sense of relatability with Antonio by seeing terrifying circumstances through his eyes. This allows readers to experience the threat of fire and destruction as a child would. Although many readers may not relate to Antonio’s experience with a forest fire, they can connect with his sense of fear, confusion, and amazement. His sense of calm and reflectiveness in the face of danger serves as an inspiring example for others also in difficult situations. 

The story excels at conveying profound messages without explicitly stating them, showing how life-changing experiences can forever impact the rest of one’s life. For example, Antonio’s experience with the wildfire significantly changed his being. Although he remained near Gowganda for the next ten years of his life, he “never forgot the fire or the people up to their waists in water.” Readers can surmise that the situation altered his perspective on wildfires, the significance of home, and the fragility of life. It ultimately encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences and how those times affected and shaped their character.  

Out of the Woods features realistic illustrations in a mix of ink and watercolor, with most illustrations filling each page and depicting the book’s events in an informative and emotional manner. Alongside these pictures, one or two short paragraphs with simple diction are sprinkled across each page, and an author’s note at the end provides context on the story’s creation and its writing influences. Although the book uses a destructive force like a wildfire to create conflict, the fire doesn’t directly impact the characters or locations; in fact, very little damage is shown outside of burnt trees and red skies, which makes it more early reader friendly. Overall, Out of the Woods is an emotionally rich book, and its ability to elicit personal reflections from simple text and art makes it a must-read for young and old readers. Adults who want to help a child explore the issue of wildfires in a child-friendly manner can pair Out of the Woods with The Fox and the Forest Fire, Wildfire Rescue, and Dolores and the Big Fire. 

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by Caleb Kleinmann

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Edward Tulane is one of a kind. He is a china rabbit given to a ten-year-old girl named Abilene. One night, Abilene’s grandmother tells Abilene and Edward a story about a princess who never loved anyone and was turned into a warthog for her arrogance. The next day, Edward is taken on a ship with Abilene and thrown overboard. Thus begins his journey from home to home, as Edward learns how to love.  

He spends almost a year at the bottom of the sea before being rescued by a fisherman named Lawrence and given to his wife, Nellie. Renamed Susanna, Edward begins his journey of learning to care for others. Nellie tells him stories, and he actually listens to her. He finds that his time at the bottom of the sea has begun to change him. 

Next, Edward is taken from the comfort of this new home and found by Bull, a homeless man, and his dog Lucy. He travels with them, renamed Malone, and holds the secrets of the travelers that he meets. Once again, he finds value in listening to the people who care for him, and he misses them dearly when he is separated from them. 

Finally, he is found by Bryce, a young boy who gives him to his sick sister, Sarah Ruth, as a gift. Here, witnessing the love of Sarah Ruth before she dies, Edward truly learns the value of selfless love. He allows himself to be tossed to the floor and his ears to be sucked on because he knows that it brings Sarah Ruth comfort. 

A unique story told from the perspective of a toy, Edward’s narrative begins with despair. Edward is taken from the comfort of his home, and at times, he is forced to endure the cruelty of humans. However, he also experiences the care of humanity and learns that people are worth loving. He is able to let go of his obsession with his appearance, and he learns that to be loved is to be held, to be used. Edward’s perspective shifts from distant cruelty to a deep, abiding love for all the people he has met, and readers will follow Edward’s journey, becoming just as attached to him as all the people who have loved him. 

The story, which won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award in the Fiction category, is told in twenty-seven short chapters, each approximately three to six pages long. It also features illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. Through these images and DiCamillo’s words, readers will learn that even when life becomes difficult, there are always people worth loving and relationships worth nurturing. They will learn that even though something may be temporary, the love that was there will never go away. And they will learn that home exists in many forms, in many people. DiCamillo’s vivid writing and the timeless themes in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane make it a must-read. 

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Violence  

  • A dog named Rosie grabs Edward in its mouth and shakes him. “Before Edward even had time to consider the implications of being sniffed by a dog, he was in Rosie’s mouth and Rosie was shaking him back and forth vigorously, growling and drooling.” Abilene’s mother tells the dog to drop Edward.
  • Abilene’s grandmother tells a story about a princess who is turned into a warthog by a witch. The warthog is killed and butchered. “The men took the warthog back to the castle, and the cook slit open its belly.” 
  • Some boys toss Edward over the edge of a ship. “The rabbit hit the water with such tremendous force that his hat blew off his head. . . and then he began to sink.” 
  • Nellie tells Edward about her son Raymond, who died of pneumonia as a child. “He drowned inside of himself.”  
  • A policeman kicks Edward off a train. “With one swift kick, he sent Edward sailing out into the darkness. . . Edward landed with the most alarming thump, and then he tumbled and tumbled and tumbled down a long dirty hill.” 
  • To scare away birds, an old lady nails Edward to a pole. “She nailed his velvet ears to the wooden pole and spread his arms out as if he were flying and attached his paws to the pole by wrapping pieces of wire around them.” 
  • A man swings Edward against a counter. “And he swung Edward by his feet, swung him so that his head hit the edge of the counter hard. There was a loud crack. . . And the world, Edward’s world, went black.” His head is broken into 21 pieces, but he is repaired.  

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by Abigail Clark 

Mount Rushmore: Faces of Our History

More than just a random display of U.S. Presidents, this imposing monument honors the leaders of America’s founding, expansion, preservation, and unification. Discover how these faces ended up on a mountainside in South Dakota’s Black Hills. 

In 1923, Doane Robinson, South Dakota’s state historian, sought to attract tourists to his state by creating an extraordinary landmark. After sharing his vision with others, the group began searching for a sculptor capable of bringing this ambitious project to life. 

They found John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum, who was then sculpting Civil War heroes at Stone Mountain, Georgia. When Borglum became frustrated and abandoned the Georgia project, he traveled to South Dakota to explore this new opportunity. However, Borglum rejected the original plan to carve Western frontier heroes, instead proposing to honor “people who were heroes for the whole nation.” He believed United States presidents would create a more meaningful and nationally significant monument. Before construction could begin, Borglum and his supporters faced the daunting task of securing funding for this massive undertaking. 

Borglum dedicated himself to the project from 1925 until 1937, when declining health forced him to transfer leadership to his son, Lincoln Borglum. The monument was finally completed in 1941, and today approximately 393,000 visitors travel to Mount Rushmore annually. 

Readers interested in the construction of Mount Rushmore will appreciate the book’s detailed illustrations and vivid descriptions of the workers carving the monument. The text serves as an excellent resource for anyone researching this iconic landmark. While much of the book examines the preliminary steps—including the project’s origins and fundraising efforts—pages 16 through 25 focus specifically on the carving process. These sections feature awe-inspiring historical photographs that capture the monument’s impressive scale and the remarkable skill required for its creation. 

The book’s design effectively supports its content through thoughtful graphic elements that break the text into digestible sections. Large red titles announce each new chapter, while red-shaded fact boxes provide additional context, such as the mountain’s namesake. Black and white historical photographs showcase the key figures who made Mount Rushmore possible, but the most compelling images depict workers suspended by ropes as they carved into the mountainside—a testament to both their courage and craftsmanship. 

Mount Rushmore chronicles the creation of an enduring monument while explaining why four presidents—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt—deserve recognition for generations to come. As Borglum stated, “The purpose of the monument is to communicate the founding, expansion, preservation, and unification of the United States.” The book concludes with a one-page glossary, three recommended books for further reading, and one suggested website, providing readers with resources for deeper exploration of this remarkable achievement in American sculpture and history. 

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Spiritual Content  

  • A quote on Mount Rushmore reads: “A monument’s dimensions should be determined by the importance to civilization of the events commemorated. . . Let us place there, carved high, as close to heaven as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until the wind and the rain alone shall wear them away.”  

Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

From childhood to adulthood, Whoosh! explores the life of Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker. Lonnie spent his childhood in a small home in Mobile, Alabama, with his parents and five siblings. From an early age, his curious mind led him to take apart household objects and put them back together—a habit that fueled his creativity and love for inventing. This passion for innovation motivated Lonnie to pursue his dream of becoming an inventor. 

Lonnie is a determined and passionate character whose commitment to learning shines throughout. He studies during parties, experiments with new ideas, and turns mistakes into opportunities. “He learned how to make rocket fuel. When it caught fire in the kitchen, Lonnie’s mom didn’t make him stop. She just sent him to work outside.” Lonnie’s tenacity—and the encouragement he received from his family—motivated him to continue experimenting. His constant investigations led him to create an invention that would make him famous: the Super Soaker water gun. Readers will enjoy learning about Lonnie’s humble beginnings and how his success was built on resilience and dedication. 

Barton depicts Lonnie’s story in a way that is both engaging and accessible for young readers. Each page includes detailed images of Lonnie as he passionately conducts experiments in different settings. These images will help readers understand how Lonnie is feeling, as he faces both successes and hardships in his career. As a child, Lonnie dreamed of becoming an engineer. However, an exam claimed that he would not make a good one. “His dream had been challenged. Lonnie was discouraged.” Barton uses these moments to teach readers about resilience, showing that setbacks can lead to new opportunities. The book’s full-page illustrations bring Lonnie’s inventions to life, demonstrating how persistence transformed his early discouragement into creativity and success. 

At the same time, Barton combines this easy-to-follow narrative with more advanced scientific vocabulary. When describing Linex, a robot Lonnie built, Barton writes, “Compressed-air cylinders and valves allowed Linex’s body to turn and its arms to move.” The addition of these technical terms in an otherwise approachable story helps young readers expand their scientific vocabulary while still enjoying a picture book. Although it is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child rather than for the child to read it independently for the first time. While some pages only have one to two sentences, other pages are more text-heavy, with a maximum of nine sentences on one page.  

Barton also weaves important historical context throughout the story. The book briefly touches on segregation and discrimination, particularly when Lonnie attends the University of Alabama in 1968. Just five years earlier, African American students had not been allowed to attend this university. When Lonnie competed in the school’s science fair, he felt challenged by a space that felt unwelcoming. These moments teach young readers about prejudice while celebrating perseverance and inclusion. 

Whoosh! is an inspiring and educational read that celebrates invention, problem-solving, and perseverance. With its blend of science, history, and heart, this book is an excellent choice for classrooms and families looking to spark children’s interest in STEM and inspire them to embrace curiosity and creative thinking. 

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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by Madeline Hettrick 

Ty’s Travels: Super Ty!

Ty loves superheroes. He watches them on TV and reads books about them.  

When he puts on a cape and a mask, he becomes Super Ty! Super Ty flies around helping Momma and others. But even with his super skills, he can’t solve every problem by himself. That’s what Ty’s super friends are for—like his brother! 

One of the book’s highlights is how Ty acts like a superhero in everyday situations. At the grocery store, he helps a man struggling with a baby and groceries by “whooshing like the wind” to blow open the door. When a frightened boy hesitates at the top of a slide, “Ty rockets to the boy’s side” and they slide down together. These moments encourage children to practice kindness and help others. The story ends with a gentle reminder that everyone needs assistance sometimes. For example, when Ty can’t retrieve his plane from a tree, his superhero brother comes to the rescue. 

Part of the My First I Can Read Series, Super Ty! uses basic language, word repetition, and supportive illustrations designed for emergent readers. Each page features one to four simple sentences alongside large, brightly colored artwork that reinforces the text. The illustrations shift to a crayon-drawing style when Ty uses his imagination, helping young readers distinguish between reality and fantasy. 

Superhero-loving beginning readers will embrace Super Ty! The combination of short sentences, engaging visuals, and a heartwarming message about everyday heroism will appeal to both children and the adults reading with them. For more superhero fun with a positive message, pair Super Ty! with Yasmin the Superhero by Saadia Faruqi.  

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Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky

For centuries, the color blue was one of the rarest and most special in the world! People believed the color was sacred, even magical. Artists crushed shiny blue rocks called lapis lazuli from faraway Afghanistan to paint the sky and the sea. Merchants gathered tiny sea snails that made a few precious drops of blue dye for royal robes. Later, a plant called indigo became famous for its deep blue color. It was so popular that whole countries grew it just to make more dye. But it was very hard work for the people forced to grow indigo. Then one day, scientists invented a way to make blue in a lab, and suddenly blue was everywhere—easy to use for clothes, art, and even your favorite jeans! 

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky invites readers on a journey to discover the origins of the color blue, both as a dye and a pigment, and reveals how rare, mysterious, and complicated its history truly is. Through gracefully woven historical snapshots, young readers will be fascinated to learn surprising facts, like how blue dye can be extracted from tiny sea snails. Readers will gain a powerful understanding of the color’s ties to slavery and the harsh realities of indigo production. 

As early as 4500 BC, when miners began extracting lapis lazuli from the earth, people discovered just how rare it was to find the color blue in any form. Crushing these vivid blue stones was the earliest method of creating the pigment. “By 44 BC, many Egyptians, including Queen Cleopatra VII, were applying a bluish mixture around their eyes that looked like eye shadow.” About six centuries later, blue began appearing in sculptures and paintings—but it remained a color reserved for the wealthy and powerful. 

Before long, people discovered a new, though challenging, way to create blue dye. Author Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond invites young readers to marvel at the humble sea snail. Inside its tiny body, “dyers had different ways of releasing the color. In Mexico, they pressed the snail’s foot. In the Middle East, they cracked its shell. Then they waited for the blue to appear.” For those who attempted it, creating snail-blue was incredibly difficult. Each snail produced only one or two drops of dye. Imagine how many snails it would take to color a single royal robe! 

At last, a discovery transformed the difficult process of making blue dye from sea snails into a thing of the past. “In parts of Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, a group of plants in the pea family grew. . . There were a few different ways to get blue from these plants’ green leaves. Indian dyers soaked them in water, while West African dyers crushed and dried them.” The miracle of this discovery was that the blue from indigo plants was not only far less expensive to produce, but also equally vibrant and long-lasting. 

The story reaches a remarkable turning point when a scientific breakthrough changes how blue is made forever. “From the time blue was found, scientists worked hard to make a blue that wasn’t so difficult or cruel to produce. In 1865, scientist Adolf von Baeyer began trying, and forty years later, in 1905, he won the Nobel Prize for creating a chemical blue.”

Each turn of the page reveals a sea of blue awash in complementary tones that dance across the paper. Three-dimensional realism meets flat pattern work, their layers softened by watercolor washes, flowing drips, and textures drawn from the natural world. Illustrator Daniel Minter, recipient of a Caldecott Honor and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, traces the remarkable journey of a single color as it travels across the world and through time. 

The book concludes with a captivating double-page spread of supplementary material, featuring an Author’s Note and additional fascinating facts about the color blue. These final pages are well worth exploring, as they uncover surprising pieces of history—especially about the United States. “South Carolina was an important part of the global indigo economy in the mid-1700s. . . For a time, until the Revolutionary War began in 1775, indigo was more profitable than rice to the American economy.” 

The book introduces fascinating new words, like Indigofera and tekhelet. These words might be unfamiliar at first, but they help tell the story of where the color blue comes from. For example, “Afghanistan’s Sar-e-Sang valley” is where people once mined the deep-blue stone called lapis lazuli. And there is “a group of plants in the pea family. . . called Indigofera.” Additionally, “tekhelet is blue made from the secretions of sea snails. . . part of the Jewish High Priest’s uniform was blue.” Each of these words shows how people all over the world have searched for and discovered different ways to create the color blue. 

Although Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky is a picture book, it is meant to be shared aloud rather than read independently. Its exploration of the color blue’s long and fascinating history adds depth and makes the story especially engaging when read aloud. 

Younger readers will be drawn to Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky again and again, not only for its compelling narrative but also for its vivid illustrations that bring moments in history to life. The image of a sea snail being squeezed to make blue dye is both amusing and memorable, while the story’s uplifting conclusion invites readers to reflect on the color’s meaning: “It’s become a symbol of possibility, as vast and deep as the bluest sea, and as wide open and high as the bluest sky.” 

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Violence  

  • The story reveals how the history of slavery is deeply connected to the production of indigo dye. It describes how farmers in India and Bangladesh were often tricked or forced into growing indigo plants instead of food crops.  
  • In the United States, “some made the African captives they had enslaved farm indigo, calling the plant a cash crop because it brought in a lot of money.”  
  • The book also draws a powerful link between this painful history and the birth of American blues music, showing how creative expression can emerge from deep suffering. “We feel ‘blue’ when we’re sad, perhaps because the people who had to dig, grind and grow passed down their painful memories of working the mines or slavery on indigo plantations.” 

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Spiritual Content  

  • The story explains that many cultures view the color blue as sacred because it is so rare. From Liberia to Italy, Indonesia to Israel, blue carries special meaning. In Israel, for example, “blue drapes hung in the temple King Solomon built. And many Jews still wear blue-dyed threads called tekhelet.“ 

by Maureen Lowe 

Unicorns and Germs

Zoey has come home to an exciting surprise: her mom is going to teach her how to make homemade yogurt! But when Zoey discovers that one of the main ingredients in yogurt is bacteria, she’s stunned. Her mom explains that some bacteria can be helpful because they keep the body safe and aid in creating delicious food! 

As Zoey and her mom cook the yogurt, their magic doorbell rings! Zoey opens the door to find an enormous rainbow unicorn named Tiny. Tiny is in pain from a large cut on his hoof. Zoey treats the wound with antibacterial ointment and wraps it up, but the unicorn comes back the next day with an infection. Now, it’s up to Zoey to conduct her own experiment—she must grow bacteria to find out which antibacterial will heal Tiny’s wound. With the help of her mom and her cat, Sassafras, can Zoey discover the perfect solution to heal the unicorn’s cut? 

Zoey is a kind and curious character who captures the hearts of young readers through her genuine compassion and scientific determination. When the unicorn shows up at her doorstep, Zoey is enamored by the large creature and wants to do everything she can to help him feel better. However, Zoey quickly realizes that healing Tiny’s wound will not be as straightforward as she originally expected. She utilizes problem-solving strategies to come up with another plan to help her new friend. “I need to get started on my research. I’ve got to make a list of things that I think will get rid of bacteria!” Young readers will love Zoey’s curiosity and feel inspired by her determination to help her magical new friend. 

The educational value shines through kid-friendly first aid lessons woven seamlessly into the adventure. Zoey explains to Tiny the steps that she takes when she gets a scrape. “The first thing my mom asks me to do is rinse it really well with water. Then she dries it and puts some antibacterial cream on it. After that she covers it with a bandage.” These simple explanations are repeated throughout the book as Zoey cares for Tiny and conducts her own experiments, making the story both engaging and educational. 

Citro enhances the educational experience by including a glossary at the end of her book. This glossary includes the definition of six scientific words, such as “agar” and “petri dish,” which are repeated frequently throughout the story. The book also includes black and white illustrations in every chapter, allowing readers to see Zoey’s experiments and Tiny the unicorn. These aspects add clarity and make the book more inclusive for any reader who wants to join Zoey on her journey to save her new unicorn friend. 

Unicorns and Germs is a perfect pick for kids who love science, animals, or magical adventures. Through Zoey’s curiosity and compassion, readers will learn about problem solving, helping others, and the fascinating world of bacteria—while enjoying a heartwarming story about friendship and discovery that demonstrates the power of child-led scientific inquiry. 

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Supernatural  

  • Only Zoey and her mom can see the magic animals that ring their doorbell.  
  • The unicorn has the power to heal other people with its touch, but it cannot heal itself or other unicorns.  

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by Madeline Hettrick 

Makeda Makes a Mountain

Makeda and her family are cleaning the house for a party! They make a huge pile of items they don’t use anymore, and soon it’s time to take them away. But Makeda is not ready to throw anything out. Can she find new ways to use her old things?  

Makeda Makes a Mountain is part of the Step into Reading Level Two series, which targets readers in preschool through first grade. Each page features one to eight sentences in large font, making it an easy read. The book uses basic vocabulary and familiar words with a simple plot. Many of the pages include full-page illustrations of Makeda and her family, who are African American. The illustrations use bright colors and focus on the characters’ facial expressions to help readers understand their emotions.   

Readers will empathize with Makeda, who doesn’t want to get rid of any of her things. As she looks through her things, she finds creative ways to repurpose items. Makeda uses old socks to make puppets and uses a sweater to make a fuzzy toy cat. Her family even agrees to keep their old puzzles with missing pieces to create a new game, but the reader doesn’t learn how the puzzles are recreated. Soon, Makeda’s school friends arrive with their own stuff. Through the story, Makeda is the only person to suggest new ways to use items. In the end, Makeda and her family don’t throw anything away.  

Makeda is a likable, kind, and creative character whom children can imitate. Her two parents and siblings make a small appearance and have healthy interactions. Makeda Makes a Mountain teaches readers the importance of repurposing. However, the story misses the opportunity to teach why reusing items is essential for reducing waste and conserving natural resources. Despite this, Makeda Makes a Mountain will entertain readers as well as teach a positive life lesson. Adults who want to teach children more about environmental causes can add these books to the reading list: PAW Patrol: The Clean, Green Rescue!, Saving Kate’s Flowers, and Rocket Says Clean Up!  

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The Basketball Blowout

Basketball season is underway at Franklin Elementary School, and the MVP club, comprising five best friends, is determined to represent their school in the weekend travel tournament. However, the school can only send one team to the tournament, forcing an intense winner-take-all playoff bracket between the MVP club and the school’s other teams. Although the MVP club is very talented, their lack of teamwork and inability to finish their shots threaten to disqualify them from the weekend tournament.  

Alongside the playoffs, the school challenges the basketball teams to sell popcorn for travel expenses, promising shirts to the winning team and a grand prize of the “coolest pair of sneakers” to the player who sells the most popcorn. With the playoff game and popcorn prize on their minds, the MVP club commits to practicing basketball and selling popcorn. However, difficulties quickly arise for the club, with low popcorn sales, a lackluster practice, and the introduction of a mysterious boy in their school. Can the MVP club pull it together and achieve its goals? 

The Basketball Blowout is the exciting fourth book in the MVP series, continuing the MVP club’s adventures in the realm of basketball and fundraising. Like the other books, the story focuses on the five young members of the MVP club—Max, Alice, Nico, Luke, and Kat—and their involvement in the school’s sports and community. While the story attempts to provide appropriate attention to each character, most of the character development revolves around Luke, who struggles to sell his popcorn and make his shots in the big moments. However, the kids display remarkable character and perseverance in the face of their challenges, and their ability to work as a team to overcome their problems will be inspirational for many readers. Adding in the childhood perspective of basketball tournaments and competitive school fundraisers, the book becomes a relatable and enjoyable story for all ages. 

The heart of the story lies in its lessons on teamwork and inclusion. Early on in the book, the MVP club struggles to win basketball games because they aren’t working together. To make matters worse, they allow the competitive spirit of the fundraiser to get in the way of their friendship. However, through the observation and advice of their new friend Jason, they realize that they’ve “been competing against each other” and need “to work together to beat Jenna’s team” and “win the sneakers.” Jason’s incorporation into the MVP club also highlights the theme of inclusion. When the kids learn that Jason comes from a financially challenging situation, they band together to raise awareness for his dog-walking job and help him earn more money for his family. These lessons remind readers of the importance of friendship and teamwork, demonstrating that the power of many can accomplish even the most difficult tasks. 

The book is divided into ten short chapters, with each chapter typically comprising eight to ten pages and containing several black and white illustrations. Although the writing doesn’t use large diction, its paragraph format and multiple story lines may make the book challenging for beginner readers. The story’s ending also includes additional material, featuring a small glossary of basketball terms and a sneak peek at the book Ballpark Mysteries: The World Series Curse by David A. Kelly. Much like its predecessors, The Basketball Blowout continues the MVP club’s sports adventures with its signature action scenes, lovable characters, and applicable lessons, making it a must-read for sports and early chapter book readers. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • Kat, one of the kids in the MVP Club, teases her brother Luke about his stinky feet. “My feet are smaller than your big clown feet! Plus, your feet stink like a skunk eating rotten eggs in a garbage bag! There’s no way I’d want to wear the sneakers after you’ve been wearing them.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

by Caleb Kleinmann

Saving Animals from Hurricanes

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast with heavy rain and winds that whipped at speeds of up to 140 miles per hour. Thousands of people had already evacuated the city, but many were not able to take their pets. Instead, they left extra food and water for the animals—thinking they would be back in just a few days. Unfortunately, that was not the case. As young readers relive the dramatic events surrounding the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, they will witness firsthand the dramatic and courageous rescue attempts that saved the lives of thousands of innocent animals that were trapped in the Gulf Coast region after Katrina. From rescue workers floating in boats down the flooded streets of New Orleans looking for stranded pets to marine biologists searching for dolphins that were washed out to sea. 

Hurricane Katrina’s devastating impact caught everyone off guard, especially the countless pets left behind when the city was evacuated. Hundreds of thousands of animals found themselves trapped in the flooded city, forced to survive on their own. Saving Animals from Hurricanes by Stephen Person tells the inspiring story of the people who risked everything to rescue these abandoned animals.  

The book reveals little-known dangers faced by major animal facilities like the Aquarium of the Americas. When the power failed, the electrical systems that cleaned water tanks and pumped oxygen to the fish stopped working. Without these life-support systems, nearly 10,000 fish died at the aquarium. However, one dedicated employee, Don Kinney, remained at the facility throughout the disaster, feeding the alligators, otters, and penguins. His heroic efforts saved many animals from starvation. 

The Aquarium of the Americas wasn’t the only facility that faced catastrophic challenges. At the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, Mississippi, eight Atlantic bottlenose dolphins were swept out to sea by the storm surge. Having lived their entire lives in captivity, these dolphins lacked the skills to hunt for food or protect themselves from predators like sharks. Fortunately, all eight dolphins were eventually rescued and relocated to a new home in the Bahamas. 

Saving Animals from Hurricanes engages readers through its compelling visual design. Each page combines striking photographs with text boxes featuring bold headlines and concise paragraphs. Red circles draw attention to fascinating facts, while detailed captions provide important context. The book balances heart-wrenching images of animals in peril—swimming through flooded streets or trapped in debris—with uplifting photographs of successful rescues. 

The book concludes with valuable reference materials, including a list of animals most vulnerable from hurricanes, accounts of famous hurricanes, and a helpful glossary. Important vocabulary terms appear in bold throughout the text, making complex concepts accessible to readers. Saving Animals from Hurricanes is an engaging and educational book that also teaches vocabulary words such as storm surge, tropical storm, and evacuate.  

The animal rescue operation following Hurricane Katrina became the largest in history. Through the combined efforts of volunteers and animal rescue organizations, more than 15,000 animals were saved from the disaster zone. While many animals tragically perished during the hurricane, the book concludes with an optimistic message that will resonate with readers: “Saving just one dog won’t change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog.” To learn more about hurricanes, read Carrie and The Great Storm: A Galveston Hurricane Survival Story and Hurricane Rescue. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

 Violence  

  • The book includes photographs of pets among the destruction following Hurricane Katrina. “No one knows how many animals were killed because of Hurricane Katrina. It is estimated that more than 100,000 pets died in the days and weeks after the hurricane.” 
  • A photograph shows a dead chicken. “Animals on farms all over the Gulf Coast region were killed because of Hurricane Katrina. Many cows and horses drowned, or were killed when barns collapsed.” 
  • The hurricane almost killed a pony named Molly. “Molly was left alone in a barn for more than two weeks.” Rescuers moved Molly to a farm. “However, dogs that had been rescued from the hurricane were also living on the farm. One of them attacked Molly, badly injuring her right leg.” Molly lost her leg and doctors “attached a replacement leg made out of plastic and metal.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Bakery Dragon

Ember has always been different from the other dragons. His fearsome roar sounds more like a polite sneeze, and when he breathes fire, the villagers just pat his head and say awwww.

Ember fears he’ll never collect a respectable hoard of gold until a chance encounter with a baker causes his fortunes to turn (and his stomach to grumble). As the little dragon soon discovers, the gold you make is way better than the gold you steal—and gold that is shared? That’s best of all. 

Young readers will relate to Ember, who is too small to shoot fire like the other dragons. When an unexpected storm catches the little dragon by surprise, the baker invites him into the shop and teaches him how to make bread. While preparing the dough, Ember realizes his hands are “perfectly suited” to making bread and his small flame can “light the wood stove.” 

But the best part of the book is the surprising conclusion. When the other dragons are envious of Ember’s golden bread, they march to the bakery and learn that “baking gold is better than taking it. And sharing it is best of all.” In the last scene, both dragons and humans are enjoying the golden bread and the golden coins. Like the dragons, the humans are diverse, and readers will want to hunt through the illustrations for all the little surprises, such as a man holding three goats, a little girl hugging a rabbit, and several dragons giving away their gold.  

Readers will be drawn into The Bakery Dragon because Ember is adorable, and he lives in a typical fairy-tale world that is awash in golden light, which is in almost every illustration. However, the golden glow doesn’t just come from the dragon’s treasures; it also comes from Ember’s small flame, the bakery’s windows, and the bread. When Ember piles his golden bread into his lair, readers will be able to imagine the warm, soft bed Ember creates out of his “gold.” One of the best parts of the illustrations is the dragon’s facial expressions, which are easy to understand and will pull at the reader’s heartstrings. Readers will empathize with Ember as he feels a range of emotions from sadness to fear to pride to contemplation. 

The picture book has zero to five sentences per page and uses simple vocabulary. When a character is speaking, the text appears in white quote bubbles, making it easy to distinguish between narration and dialogue. Even though The Bakery Dragon is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child rather than for the child to read it independently for the first time. However, younger readers will want to explore the detailed illustrations on their own.  

The Bakery Dragon is a must-read because it teaches many life lessons, such as the importance of sharing. The story and the illustrations highlight dragons’ and humans’ unique differences, which makes it even sweeter when Ember discovers that, while smaller than the other dragons, his body is perfectly suited to baking bread. The creative, magical book will capture readers’ hearts and should be on every reader’s bookshelf. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • To obtain more gold, the dragon, Blaze, throws fire at two villagers. No one is injured. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control

Young witch Lucy Lancaster is preparing for a super fun weekend with her favorite cousin, Skye Simmons-Young. Lucy plans to play a board game called “Snails and Letters” with Skye and make charm bracelets afterward. Lucy hopes her magical hiccups don’t cause any disasters. Finally, Lucy decides to stop her hiccups, once and for all. But how do you cure a case of magical hiccups? 

Lucy’s magical hiccups cause endless problems, so she performs “The No More Hiccups Spell.” To Lucy’s surprise, the spell transfers her magic hiccups to Skye! Skye’s hiccups make Lucy’s stuffed animals float. Lucy cannot hide this magical occurrence from her cousin, so she lies and says her friend Bruce created “stuffed robots” that read minds. Skye is thrilled at the silly magic that has taken over their playdate. Lucy quickly reverses her spell before their parents see the floating animals, causing her hiccups to return and the animals to lose their magic. Skye is disappointed, but the cousins spend the day happily pretending to be witches together. 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control follows Lucy as she tries in vain to keep her powers in check. Many young readers can relate to her desire to maintain control over her day despite outside forces that threaten to ruin her plans. Readers will learn more about Lucy’s life at home, where she eats a very nutritious breakfast before tidying up her room. Lucy is a very responsible protagonist who exhibits compassion and ingenuity. On the other hand, Lucy’s lying about Bruce is implied to be a necessary and useful tactic she employs to keep her magic a secret, and no commentary on the potential harmfulness of lying is offered. Lucy Lancaster Is Totally in Control offers adults the opportunity to discuss Lucy’s behavior with young readers and apply it to their own lives. 

Despite their differences, Lucy and Skye’s relationship demonstrates the joy of family connections. Lucy is determined to have a fun weekend with her cousin Skye, and many readers will find their bond relatable to their own family experiences. The story introduces Skye’s two mothers, which normalizes different family arrangements without making them the focus of the story. This allows children to see diverse families as part of everyday life. 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control is a fun book suitable for independent readers. Large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. The illustrations are charming and highly expressive, effectively highlighting the key details of every scene and visually conveying the emotions of various characters. Each chapter begins with a full-page illustration that seamlessly transitions readers into the next section, picking up where the previous chapter left off. The Lucy Lancaster Series can be read in any order because each book focuses on a new adventure. 

Lucy Lancaster is Totally in Control continues the themes of self-reliance and problem-solving present in the previous Lucy Lancaster books. Lucy must quickly figure out how to handle the situations caused by her hiccups without revealing her magic. Lucy also learns that, even if her plans do not turn out the way she wanted, she can still have a fun day. What may have seemed like a disaster at first could turn out to be an opportunity.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When Lucy and her cousin Skye lose the game “Twisted Tower,” their make-believe characters fall off the tall wizard tower. Skye exclaims, “I fall to my doom!” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • Lucy’s magic manifests in two ways: her spontaneous and uncontrollable hiccups (accompanied by her toes tingling) and the spells she recites from her spell book. 
  • Lucy hiccups while eating breakfast, causing the orange in her hand to explode, “spraying juice and pulp everywhere.” She later reflects on how “her magic seemed to have a mind of its own.” 
  • Despite having cleaned her room, Lucy’s hiccups cause “an avalanche of games, dress-up clothes, and stuffed animals” to come out of her closet. Her cousin Skye assumes that Lucy had shoved everything into her closet before having guests over, and Lucy is unable to prove otherwise. 
  • Lucy and Skye play a board game called “Twisted Tower” in which they must scale a wizard’s tower to receive his blessing. Lucy hiccups while rolling the dice, and it flies into the air, around the room, and back to her. Skye remarks that the path of the dice was “like magic,” and Lucy denies it. 
  • In secret, Lucy makes her charm bracelet spell the word “COUSINS” as a surprise for Skye. However, she hiccups while completing it, and the letter beads become “regular old beads.” 
  • Skye hides in Lucy’s room, preparing to scare Lucy and make her hiccups go away. Lucy sits on the other side of the door with her stuffed dog named Boris. She hiccups, causing Boris to come to life. He starts to move and talk, telling Lucy, “I am the guardian of this room . . . None shall pass.” Boris floats, and Lucy worries that Skye will open the door and see him in the air. 
  • Lucy’s spell book magically appears while she is trying to catch the floating Boris. She opens the Book of Spells and sees “The No More Hiccups Spell” has appeared in the pages. 
  • When Lucy recites “The No More Hiccups Spell,” she sees a swirl of magic sparkles leave the animated Boris and fly through her bedroom door. The magic seemingly transfers to Skye, who immediately begins hiccupping. 
  • Skye’s new magic hiccups cause all of Lucy’s stuffed animals to “rise into the air. Boris is flying, too, and returns to life.” Skye wonders if the stuffed animals are magic, and Lucy hurriedly lies that they are robotic. Skye hiccups again, and the stuffed animals begin “cleaning up [Lucy’s] messy room.” 
  • To keep the magic hiccups a secret and prevent Skye from hiccupping, Lucy decides to “reverse her last spell.” She uses her spell book and follows the directions for “How to Catch the Hiccups,” a new piece of text that has appeared in the book. The spell succeeds, and the stuffed animals all fall to the ground. 
  • Lucy’s hiccups return to her, and she makes Boris fly without Skye knowing. 
  • Lucy and Skye end the day playing make-believe. They pretend to be witches with magic wands, casting spells on everything around them. Both Lucy and Skye fall asleep dreaming that they are flying on broomsticks. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Gabrielle Barke 

Ride It! Patch It!

Ace, a clever and fearless girl, rides her bike through the neighborhood on her way to a race at the fair. During the race, she faces two major challenges: her bike chain slips off, and her tire goes flat. Rather than giving up, Ace uses her tools and problem-solving skills to fix each issue. These moments highlight her calm, confident approach to problems, showing readers that quick thinking and perseverance can help turn setbacks into success. 

The story has a simple and engaging plot without complicated conflicts. Ace is on a mission, hits a few bumps, and works through them with determination. The pacing is smooth with clear steps that young readers can follow. When her chain slips, she fixes it and continues the race. When her tire goes flat, she patches it and gets right back in the race. Though she does not win, she is proud of her accomplishment. 

There are no major supporting characters in the story, but the illustrations include background people, such as children who are also participating in the race. This visual detail helps situate Ace’s world and adds context to the story. Still, the main focus remains on Ace and her experience. 

Ace models resilience and good sportsmanship when the story closes with her smiling alongside the other racers. This ending reminds readers that success isn’t always about winning — it’s about doing your best and enjoying the ride. Ace’s inventive thinking and determined spirit make her a strong role model, and the focus on problem-solving and resilience gives the story a clear educational and emotional payoff. 

The Racing Ace series employs short sentences with bold fonts and varied text placement to maintain a quick pace throughout the story. This approach makes the language accessible and easy to follow, perfect for readers who are just beginning to build their reading stamina. The text features repetition of words and phrases to build rhythm and emphasize Ace’s determination. Phrases like “And slower, and slower, and slower” highlight the tension Ace feels as her bike starts to fail, creating anticipation for what will happen next. This subtle shift in rhythm mirrors the struggle, drawing readers into the action. 

The full-color illustrations are bright and dynamic, reflecting Ace’s energetic personality. Each page is designed to keep readers engaged, matching the thrilling speed and resilience of Ace’s journey. The illustrations add clarity to the process, which helps readers understand how the race ultimately unfolds. 

Racing Ace: Ride It! Patch It! is a safe and enriching read for young audiences. It’s a great choice for children interested in bikes, tools, or stories about brave and capable characters. It offers a powerful reminder that even when the outcome isn’t what you hoped for, persistence and a good attitude can still lead to a win. Readers can go on more adventures by reading Ty’s Travels: Zip Zoom by Kelly Starling Lyons and Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Rayna Burlison

Saving Animals After Tornadoes

The Super Outbreak of 2011 was a series of more than 300 powerful tornadoes that struck in 15 different states over several days in April of 2011. One of the most destructive natural disasters in U.S. history, the tornado outbreak killed more than 340 people and flattened thousands of buildings. Many pets, farm animals, and wild animals were injured or left stranded without food or water. Could rescue workers save the animals and reunite pets with their owners? In Saving Animals After Tornadoes, kids will discover the inspiring stories of rescue organizations like the Alabama Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, whose volunteers brought injured pets to animal shelters for veterinary care, and the Alabama Wildlife Center, whose rescue teams saved baby birds with broken wings and damaged feathers. 

When tornadoes tear through communities, the devastation extends far beyond damaged buildings and uprooted trees. Saving Animals After Tornadoes opens readers’ eyes to a crucial but often overlooked aspect of natural disasters: the countless animals that suffer injuries and displacement when these powerful storms strike. 

While most people understand that tornadoes destroy homes and property, this book reveals how wildlife and pets become casualties too. Dogs, cats, baby birds, deer, horses, and even ferrets face serious injuries during these catastrophic events. The book emphasizes that these vulnerable animals require immediate assistance, and fortunately, dedicated volunteers, rescue organizations, and veterinarians step up to provide life-saving care. 

Saving Animals After Tornadoes captivates readers through its thoughtful design. Each page features a striking photograph paired with a text box containing a bold headline and one concise paragraph. Blue circles highlight fascinating facts, while descriptive captions provide additional context. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of injured animals alongside heartwarming rescue stories, creating a balanced perspective on disaster response. 

The book concludes with valuable reference materials, including a list of animals most vulnerable to tornadoes, accounts of famous tornado events and rescues, and a helpful glossary. Important vocabulary terms appear in bold throughout the text, making complex concepts accessible to readers. 

The book presents a startling statistic: scientists cannot fully explain why the United States experiences most of the world’s tornadoes, with approximately 1,300 striking the country annually. However, when disaster strikes, people and search-and-rescue dogs work together to help find survivors. Despite this sobering reality, Saving Animals After Tornadoes maintains an optimistic tone by celebrating the countless individuals who dedicate themselves to helping both animals and people affected by natural disasters. Older readers who want to learn more about how search-and-rescue dogs help people should read Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and Their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • The book includes photographs and descriptions of the destruction caused by tornadoes. For example, in the Super Outbreak of 2011, “more than 340 people were killed by the storm.” 
  • Baby birds are often injured during a tornado because “most types of birds cannot fly until they are a few weeks old. As a result, baby birds are not able to move to safety if they see tornadoes coming.” 
  • A huge tornado hit Joplin, Missouri. “The storm flattened entire neighborhoods, killing more than 100 people.” 
  • A tornado destroyed a barn. A couple learned the barn “had been turned into a heap of cracked lumber. . . They soon found one of their horses, Cajun, but he was bleeding badly.” The horse had an operation to remove wood splinters from its leg. 
  • Mason, a dog, was lost during a tornado. When he finally made it back home, he had to have an operation. Doctors “had to put two metal plates and 17 screws in Mason’s legs to help them heal.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Snowy Day

After breakfast, he puts on all of his warm snow gear and heads outside. As Peter explores the snowy city, he realizes that he can leave patterns in the snow with his feet. He draws lines and shapes before finding a stick to help him draw in the snow. As Peter continues his adventure, he sees the older kids having a snowball fight. While Peter would like to play with them, he knows that he is not old enough to do so. Instead, Peter learns to build a snowman and make snow angels. 

Peter loves playing in the snow so much that when he has to go home, he collects a snowball and puts it in his pocket. As Peter warms up inside, he tells his mom all about his adventures. Peter cannot stop thinking about how much fun he had. However, when Peter goes to bed, he discovers his snowball has melted. He becomes sad as he dreams that the sun has melted all the snow. Luckily, Peter wakes up to new snow, and this time, he takes his friend on his adventures. 

The Snowy Day is told from a third-person point of view, focusing on Peter, a young boy who lives with his mom in the city. While Peter has a few silly experiences, like having snow plop on his head and not being able to play with the older kids, he makes the best of his day. Young readers will relate to Peter, who is having fun and shows that anything can be turned into an adventure. 

The Snowy Day is a colorful and fun read for children of all ages. Peter’s bright orange snow suit is easy to spot among the winter wonderland Keats has created. From bright whites to cool blues, The Snowy Day is told through both its pictures and its words. This story reveals the magic behind a child’s eyes when they are given the chance to explore the world, and Peter’s fascination with the many things he can make with the snow. 

This beloved children’s book is great for anyone ready for adventure. Ezra Jack Keats shows the reader that every day is a fresh start. Peter gets to go on another adventure with his friend because “the snow was still everywhere. New snow was falling!” Even though this book is both written and illustrated quite simply, The Snowy Day teaches that if you use your imagination, you can find joy every day. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Allison Penski 

The Pod and The Bog

Zoey has a special doorbell. Whenever it rings, a magical animal is waiting for help! This time, the visitor is Pip, a friendly frog who was saved by Zoey’s mom when she was Zoey’s age. Pip brings a mysterious, colorful seedpod, which comes from a magical, endangered plant. Pip needs Zoey’s help in identifying the plant from which the seedpod comes and the conditions that allow the plant to thrive. With the help of her mom, her cat Sassafras, and Pip, Zoey uses science —and plenty of trial and error—to learn more about the seeds and help them grow.   

Zoey is a curious character with constant questions. When she first sees the seedpod, she immediately asks, “What is it? Where did you find it?” She writes these questions and her other ideas in her science journal. When Zoey writes in her journal, the words appear on the page in a font resembling a young kid’s writing. This detail will help draw readers into Zoey’s world, as they will feel as though they are watching her jot down the questions and notes. Young readers will be inspired by Zoey’s eagerness to experiment and feel encouraged to ask questions when they don’t know the answer.  

While Zoey’s curiosity helps drive the plot, her mom’s encouraging nature allows Zoey to thrive. As the only other person who can see the magical creatures that arrive at Zoey’s door, she guides Zoey by nudging her towards solutions, rather than solving problems for her. Additionally, when experiments go wrong, Zoey’s mom is the first character to offer Zoey a hug and remind her that mistakes are just chances to learn. This warm, supportive dynamic will remind young audiences that it is okay to falter when experimenting with something new.  

The Pod and The Bog is an excellent choice for young readers interested in science. Zoey conducts experiments with the seeds. At one point, she gives each seed a different amount of water to determine which amount of water helps the plants grow the fastest. Zoey speaks through her thought process as she partakes in these experiments. When she writes notes in her journal, she tells Pip, “Next is our hypothesis. So here is where we make a guess.” Vocabulary words, such as “hypothesis,” are featured throughout the story and presented in a way that allows young readers to understand their meanings. 

Though the majority of the pages only include words, many pages also feature black and white illustrations that break up larger blocks of text. The illustrations add another level of engagement by showing Zoey conducting experiments alongside her magical friends. These drawings make this book perfect for children transitioning from picture books to chapter books, offering visual support while introducing them to longer sentences and more complex storytelling. 

The book also includes a helpful glossary that defines six key terms used throughout the story, such as “bog” and “pollinator.” This feature encourages children to look up unfamiliar words, making the content accessible to readers with varying vocabulary levels. 

The Pod and The Bog blends magic, science, and encouragement to remind young readers that persistence pays off, even when things don’t go as planned. Through Zoey’s curiosity and resilience, children learn that every mistake offers an opportunity for discovery. Her journey inspires young readers to ask questions, embrace experimentation, and find joy in the learning process. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None 

Supernatural  

  • Only Zoey and her mom can see the magic animals that ring their doorbell.  

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Madeline Hettrick 

The Blizzard Challenge

Olly isn’t enjoying camp. His rucksack is trying to kill him, and building a shelter gives him splinters. Why should he bother building shelters or foraging for food with his teammates? He’d rather be at home playing video games. 

But that night, a mysterious compass transports him to a high mountain range, where he must learn to survive on a glacier. There, he meets survival expert Bear Grylls. The only way home is to trek across frozen lakes and through deep snow drifts—and Bear can see a blizzard coming. Will Olly learn that trying your best can make all the difference, or will the challenge be too much? 

When Olly is first transported to the Arctic, he doesn’t want help, but he has no choice. Bear says, “We divide the effort, and we work hard. Together we will be stronger, and that gives us the best chance at staying alive.” Initially, Olly reluctantly helps and doesn’t always listen to Bear’s advice. However, Olly becomes more confident in his abilities, and eventually his attitude changes. For example, while making a shelter, Olly thinks, “His feet were still cold, but he would soon change his socks. At first, his arms ached more and more as they dug, but then suddenly they felt fine. . . And for the first time in his life, Olly felt proud of what he was making. Really proud.” 

Many readers will relate to Olly, who would rather play video games than build shelters. However, Olly’s change from a selfish, lazy boy to someone willing to work hard and care about others is admirable. Since the change is gradual and Olly makes mistakes along the way, his transformation is realistic and encouraging. With Bear’s help, Olly learns the importance of teamwork and perseverance. He also discovers that doing things properly matters. The story’s conclusion suggests that Olly will utilize his newfound skills at camp and throughout his life. 

The Blizzard Challenge has large text and illustrations that will appeal to readers and help them visualize the story’s events. Because the book is written in the UK, some terms will be unfamiliar. For example, instead of wasting time, Olly is “gassing.” Measurements are also expressed in kilometers, and some glacier-related terms may be new to readers. However, context clues make it easy to understand unfamiliar words. 

The Bear Grylls Adventure Series books can be read as standalones and do not need to be read in order. Each book focuses on a different child at the outdoor activity camp. Once the camper receives the magical compass, they meet the adventurer, Bear, in an amazing place and learn new skills and facts they can take back to their real life. Each book aligns with Common Core Standards, making it suitable for educational purposes. The book is also printed “in a reader-friendly font and design” to help those with dyslexia. Three pages of additional information about glaciers are included at the end of the book. 

The Blizzard Challenge is an entertaining book with a relatable protagonist, useful life lessons, and a positive message about teamwork. With Bear’s help, Olly realizes that “a strong team, good preparation, and a bit of effort, and you can manage almost anything.” During the adventure, Bear discusses Ernest Shackleton’s expedition to the South Pole, which may spark readers’ interest in the explorer. Readers can learn more about Shackleton’s expedition by reading Race to the South Pole by Kate Messner, Ice Wreck by Lucille Recht Penner, and Survival Tails: Endurance in Antarctica by Katrina Charman. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Olly overhears another camper call him a loser. 

Supernatural 

  • Olly is in his tent, looking at the compass, when a fifth direction suddenly appears. When Olly leaves the tent, he isn’t at camp. Instead, he is “standing on rocky ground covered with bright white snow, surrounded by giant mountains.” 
  • When Olly returns to camp, no one misses him because “everything with Bear had happened all in one night. Without the other two [tent mates] noticing.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker

Before Steven made films, he watched them. Naturally inventive with a vivid imagination, he was known for creating stories inspired by the world around him. But his passion wasn’t driven just by entertainment—as the only Jewish boy in his neighborhood, he was often bullied and felt the sting of antisemitism. Life also felt off-balance as his parents’ marriage wasn’t stable. Films, and the magic they contained, became a necessary escape. From his early childhood to his first days on a movie set, this biography captures the unique ways Steve’s memories influenced his career and helped him to become the celebrated filmmaker that he is today. 

Like all of us, as a child, Spielberg wanted to fit in with his peers. This was made difficult because of his parents’ unstable marriage, which caused the family to move frequently. “Wherever he lived, he felt like an outsider, like an alien from another planet.” He was also bullied because he was Jewish, but he didn’t let this get in the way of his dream. People were surprised “when he gave the role of squadron leader to a tough school kid who taunted him for being Jewish. The boy’s face was perfect for the part, and that’s what mattered most to Spielberg.” 

Steven Spielberg made some of the most influential films, including Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker explains how Steven Spielberg’s childhood experiences were integrated into his movies. For example, Steven “loved playing pranks—especially on his three sisters. He told them stories about a twenty-foot-tall bogeyman who peered into windows.” Eventually, he put this story into his movie Poltergeist.   

Learning about Steven Spielberg will be inspiring for readers of all ages. As a child and teen, Steven made movies and studied the effect it had on the audience. “As neighbors watch the screen, Steven watches the neighbors. Why did they laugh? When did they scream? What made the characters interesting?” This allowed Steven to learn and grow as an artist. 

Despite Steven’s efforts, every film school he applied to rejected him. However, not even this could stop him from achieving his dreams. Steven’s ability to experiment with a camera, write scripts, and constantly learn showcases the importance of dedication and perseverance. Despite difficulties, Steven became “a producer, cofounded a movie company, worked with celebrated actors, won major awards, and influenced a new generation of filmmakers.” 

Although Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than the child reading it independently for the first time. The full-color illustrations are realistic and may scare younger children. For instance, when Steven was a child, he imagined “tree shadows on the bedroom wall became giant claws. He thought demons were calling him from the TV static.” The illustrations bring this scene to life, including the “claws” on the wall. The book’s length and vocabulary make it best suited for older readers. Some pages feature up to nine complex sentences that utilize advanced vocabulary, including terms such as vaudeville, spine-tingling, antisemitism, and brotherhood. Reading the book may spark readers’ curiosity about Steven’s films. However, they may not be mature enough to watch some of his movies, such as Schindler’s List, Poltergeist, and Saving Private Ryan. 

Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker is an entertaining and educational book that encourages readers to live life with passion. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in the movie industry. However, anyone who has watched one of Steven’s films will see how pieces of Steven’s life are incorporated into his films, and this gives both the real-life stories and the films more depth. Any adult seeking a book to inspire children to dream big should add Starring Steven Spielberg: The Making of a Young Filmmaker to their reading list. People interested in Steven’s life will find more motivational content in the book Hispanic Star: Selena Gomez. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • “Steven tackled antisemitism on a larger scale when he made Schindler’s List, about a Nazi who saved the lives of 1,200 Jewish people during the Holocaust.” 
  • While a child living in Arizona, “some neighbors were not neighborly toward Jewish families. The Spielberg family was singled out with antisemitic slurs and threats. It became so stressful that Steven began to deny his Jewish heritage.” 
  • While at school, “Bullies circled him like hungry sharks. School became more about survival and less about learning.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Because the Spielberg family was Jewish, they were “singled out with antisemitic slurs and threats.”  
  • Kids teased Steven at school. “Kids made fun of his skinny frame and awkward features. They called him Spielberg, and it hurt.” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Even though Steven was Jewish, he “began to deny his Jewish heritage” because he wanted to fit in. 

Dodsworth in Tokyo

Dodsworth, a distinguished mouse, and his witty and rascally friend — a white duck known only as “the duck”—are visiting Tokyo. Join this charming duo as they tour the Land of the Rising Sun, learn about cultural customs, and explore the city landmarks of a fictional, early 20th-century Japan. Along the way, they encounter a bustling city filled with a menagerie of impeccably dressed animal characters. 

From the moment their plane glides over Mount Fuji, Dodsworth begins to worry that the duck will cause trouble. Ever the cautious one, Dodsworth tries to keep his curious friend in line. “We should be on our best behavior here,” he reminds the duck. On their first evening walking in the park, they come across a child playing with a wooden toy. Later, the duck finds the toy abandoned and makes it his mission to return it to the owner. 

At first, things seem uneventful as the pair shares a sushi dinner, visits a museum, and takes a bus tour. But after a rickshaw mishap, a koi pond misadventure, and an outrageous display at a local festival, Dodsworth finds his patience wearing thin. In a moment of exasperation, Dodsworth sighs, “This won’t end well.” Will they manage to keep the trip on track—or will a surprising twist remind them what makes their friendship so special? 

In this charming early reader, a lighthearted story unfolds, featuring themes of humor, friendship, and staying calm in the face of adversity.  Readers also learn more about the endearing duck, including the ironic fact that he can’t swim. Comically, the duck adores sushi and is uncharacteristically polite while enjoying it. Readers will chuckle at the duck’s love for Japanese desserts, his clumsy attempts at bowing, polite conversation, his surprisingly impressive kendama skills (a traditional toy with a handle and ball connected by a string), and his perfectly executed sumi-e painting technique. Dodsworth even uses the duck’s love of sweets—specifically wagashi—as a bargaining tool for good behavior. “If you’re good, wagashi. If you’re not, no wagashi,” he says. The strategy almost works . . . until it doesn’t! 

Dodsworth in Tokyo is ideal for readers with a strong interest in Japanese customs and culture. While the inclusion of Japanese words and advanced vocabulary may present a challenge for younger readers, Egan’s cheerful watercolor and ink illustrations featured on every page offer helpful context clues to support comprehension. Character expressions in the illustrations also enhance emotional understanding. For example, when Dodsworth wades waist-deep into a pond to retrieve the duck, who had ignored the tour guide and fallen in, his furrowed brow says it all: “Dodsworth was soaked, and he was not happy.“ A helpful feature of the story is that most Japanese terms are explained within the text. Some visuals help decode unfamiliar terms, such as arigato and Asakusa. Although Dodsworth is a series, the books can be read independently, as each one follows a unique storyline. The story is well-suited for fluent readers who are ready to follow multiple plotlines.  

Young readers and their parents will relate to Dodsworth’s constant apprehension and the duck’s well-meaning mischief, which seems to follow them throughout their journey in a city defined by “customs and manners and order.” The traditional wooden toy kendama serves as a recurring motif in the story, reappearing in the final scene as a symbol of restitution, helping the duck win the hearts of both Dodsworth and the locals. No matter what chaos unfolds, readers can’t help but root for this lovable character! 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Faraway Things

In Faraway Things, beachcombing—the search for treasures along the shore—serves as the gateway to a story rich with wonder, adventure, loss, and discovery. The protagonist, a boy named Lucian, stumbles upon a cutlass, a type of sword with a curved blade, famously linked to sailors and pirate tales. He eagerly claims it as his own. It is the most magnificent faraway thing he has ever found! “That’s what his father had called whatever washed up from across the sea: faraway things.” 

Before long, a ship captain appears on the beach, looking for none other than his lost cutlass. Lucian must choose between returning the sword to its rightful owner and accepting a gift in exchange. In a surprising twist, his act of letting go of the cutlass opens the door to an unexpected, joyful discovery. 

Faraway Things is a picture book, and Dave Eggers’s delicate writing style invites the reader into a story where fragments of Lucian’s past are gradually unveiled throughout the narrative. This encourages critical thinking and delivers a new depth of understanding. There is a sense of wonder in the simple plot of a boy finding a lost sailor’s sword and immediately feeling attached and protective of it. “The next day, Lucian spent his time in the tide pools, on the bluff and in the coves, always with his cutlass in his hand or fastened to his side.” 

But this faraway thing has more to reveal—most importantly, the identity of its rightful owner. “It was silver and gold and copper and was finely etched all around. It was the kind of sword he’d seen in books…” The moment the ship captain appears on the beach, the mystery begins to unravel, and the story takes an adventurous turn. 

Dave Eggers’s writing style relies on subtext, where parts of the story are implied rather than stated outright. This technique invites readers to make discoveries on their own. For example, there is an implied loss. Lucian often thinks about his father even in his sleep: “…and when he dreamed, he dreamed of his father.” There is also an implied reason the ship ran aground. Upon meeting Lucian on the beach, the captain asks, “What happened to the lighthouse?” The implication is that the lighthouse, set against this windswept shore, is no longer functioning. 

Like drawing a circle and returning to the starting point, the story’s narrative connects two seemingly unrelated facts into a purposeful revelation. Lucian’s adventure includes a visit to the ship and a delightful tour of the ship’s stateroom. In exchange for returning the cutlass to its rightful owner, Lucian accepts a gift of his choosing that proves deeply symbolic. Though it is hard for him to part with his spectacular faraway thing, the lantern he receives in exchange reveals broader significance. Readers come to understand that Lucian’s late father was a lighthouse keeper, and the extinguished light symbolized his loss. Relighting the lamp renews that legacy, allowing Lucian to honor his father and embrace a brighter path forward. Share another heartwarming story with a young reader by checking out Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry and City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language   

  • None

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Maureen Lowe 

Lucy Lancaster and the Stormy Day

Inquisitive second-grader Lucy Lancaster is bursting with excitement. Today is the day that she and her two best friends, Heidi and Bruce, are visiting the Discovery Museum. All three of them received mysterious invitations to the museum, and all three were elated to participate in its hands-on science activities. But just when Lucy is planning to leave to pick up her friends, Heidi calls Lucy’s house with awful news. She has the sniffles, and she cannot join Lucy on her museum trip. 

Overcome with sadness, Lucy lets out a magical hiccup. Suddenly, it begins to rain outside. Lucy isn’t surprised. Her magical witch hiccups have been occurring for some time. She hiccups again, and the rainstorm turns into a thunderstorm. Lucy decides to go to the museum despite the bad weather, but when she arrives at Bruce’s house, he tells her that he cannot leave his frightened dog, Frankie, who is afraid of thunder. Lucy must go to the Discovery Museum alone. 

The museum has many wonders, but Lucy cannot help but be in a bad mood. She misses her friends. Nothing feels as fun without them. The museum has a three-person bicycle that can power an ice cream maker, but Lucy is unable to power it alone. Her parents try to cheer her up, telling her that she has the power to brighten her own day. Then Lucy remembers—she’s a witch! In secret, she asks her spellbook for a spell that can bring Heidi and Bruce to the museum, but the book only gives her an incantation to improve the weather. Lucy is disheartened once again. 

Lucy makes her way through the museum’s laser maze, determined to get a good score despite her loneliness. There, she meets a boy named Jackson, and the two quickly become friends after participating in more museum activities together. Jackson tells Lucy that he cannot help her with the ice cream bicycle because he only eats ice cream on sunny days. Luckily for him, Lucy has her secret spellbook! She casts the weather-changing spell, and the two successfully make strawberry ice cream. 

After the museum trip, Lucy visits Bruce and Heidi. Frankie the dog is feeling much better. Realizing that Heidi had a worse day, Lucy gifts Heidi the butterfly keychain from the museum. Lucy’s stormy day ended up being fun after all. 

This third-person story follows a day in the life of young witch Lucy Lancaster as she navigates a series of disappointments. The narration is written in the voice of an eight-year-old, using simple words and descriptions. Lucy’s thought processes are consistent with someone her age, and her worries will be relatable to young readers. She struggles with disappointment, loneliness, and frustration, and her magical mishaps parallel her feelings. In the end, Lucy makes her day better through determination and unwavering kindness, and she manages to make new friends while missing her old ones. Lucy learns that she has the power to turn even the stormiest days into sunny ones. Since this lesson was first imparted by Lucy’s parents, Lucy Lancaster and the Stormy Day teaches that a combination of parental guidance and self-reliance leads to good problem-solving. 

Lucy Lancaster and the Stormy Day is a fun book suitable for independent readers. Large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. The illustrations are charming and highly expressive, effectively highlighting the key details of every scene and visually conveying the emotions of various characters. The instructions and incantation for Lucy’s “Sunny-Day Spell” are included in their entirety as they would appear in Lucy’s spellbook. Each chapter begins with a full-page illustration that seamlessly transitions readers into the next section, picking up where the previous chapter left off. The Lucy Lancaster Series can be read in any order because each book focuses on a new adventure. 

Stormy Day mixes interesting real-life science with fantastical magic. Young readers interested in STEM studies will enjoy Lucy’s enthusiasm toward the museum and the various exhibits she sees. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language    

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • After learning that Heidi is too sick to visit the museum, Lucy starts to hiccup. Lucy’s magic hiccups cause it to start raining outside. “The sky darkened outside the kitchen window. Raindrops began pelting against the window, and a strong wind whooshed through the branches.” 
  • Lucy reflects on the other magical things that her hiccups have caused in the past, “like magically tidying up her room. Or totally turning her room upside down.” 
  • Running into the coat closet, Lucy’s toes begin tingling, and she lets out another hiccup. This time, she sees “sparks of magic” in the air that cause the rain to turn into a thunderstorm. She also notices that her magic hiccup caused her raincoat and rain boots to appear on her body. 
  • In the museum, as soon as Lucy remembers that she has a magic spellbook, it appears in her hands. 
  • Lucy wants her spell book to give her a spell that will bring Heidi and Bruce to the museum. Lucy opens to a random page in the book, and she sees that “The Sunny-Day Spell” has magically appeared, an incantation that would stop the rainstorm. Angry with the book, Lucy hiccups again, and her Book of Spells suddenly flies out of her hands in a gust of wind. The wind also blows Lucy into the museum’s laser maze. 
  • When Lucy’s new museum friend Jackson tells her that he cannot eat ice cream on a rainy day, Lucy once again summons the spellbook (in secret). She chants The Sunny-Day Spell. More sparks of magic emerge and fly away in the wind, and the thunderstorm turns into a perfectly sunny day. “The clouds parted, and the sun started shining. It was incredible!” 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Gabrielle Barke 

What Do You See When You Look at a Tree?

Have you ever climbed a tree trunk, your hands gripping the bark, or curled up beneath its leafy shade on a sunny afternoon? Can you imagine who else might have gazed at its branches long ago—or how many birthdays it has celebrated standing in that very spot? This sweet picture book invites children on a journey of discovery, uncovering their unique connection to the natural world and fostering a lifelong love for trees. 

What Do You See When You Look at a Tree invites readers to engage with the world around them, with trees taking center stage as the main characters. Through thoughtful questions and gentle commentary, the author encourages reflection and critical thinking, guiding readers toward a deeper appreciation of the environment and their place within it. 

A walk in nature is a perfect way to slow down and be mindful, and author Emma Carlisle invites young readers on a stroll through familiar places: around home, down a main street, into parks, and across the countryside of an English village. “Pause and notice the trees all around you. Look closer and you’ll see so much more. Trees are all different, special, unique . . . just like the trees long before.” Each page offers reminders that trees are living organisms, enduring through time, each with its own character—much like the reader. The story remains grounded in the present moment, encouraging awareness of thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.  

For parents, this story’s portrayal of the incredible lifespan of trees may spark quiet reflections on their place in time. To young readers, the reality of a tree’s age is both surprising and enchanting. Some trees can live for hundreds, even thousands of years! The shapes of their branches, the texture of their bark, and the way they live in harmony with sun, wind, and rain draw readers closer, helping them feel connected to these towering giants. Then comes the magic—hidden clues show that trees are busy homes, sheltering life above, within, and below the ground. “Let’s take a peek under the roots. Can you see babies curled up with their mothers?” 

With every page turn, the illustrations whisper little secrets about the weather—sunbeams dancing through leaves, a playful gust of wind, raindrops pattering softly to the ground. Seasons drift by in color and texture, from the golden crunch of autumn leaves to the quiet sparkle of a snowy winter’s day. Even the time of day is hinted at, with one especially magical scene showing a tree through a cozy window, where a child and caregiver glow in the soft, golden light. “Have you read till the moon and stars filled the sky, as you sat in a cosy old nook?” Pause for a moment, and the smallest details begin to shine, reminding us how the ordinary can feel extraordinary. 

What Do You See When You Look at a Tree features charming watercolor and hand-finished illustrations. Young readers will enjoy a journey through village streets and open countryside. With just one to four sentences per page, including engaging questions, the text is easy to follow and accessible for early readers. 

The book concludes with two double-page spreads of supplementary material, followed by a final page titled “A Note from Emma Carlisle.” A standout moment comes in the supplemental section, How to Be More Like a Tree, which offers original and insightful ideas such as, “Be authentic . . . Trees can teach us to be proud of our uniqueness and stand tall. Celebrate what makes you you.” The book gives adults an opportunity to spark meaningful conversations with children about mindfulness, empathy, and environmental awareness.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None

by Maureen Lowe

The Soccer Surprise

The culmination of the soccer season is upon Franklin Elementary School, and the MVP club, which comprises five best friends, is helping the girls’ soccer team prepare for their big game against the Wilton Warriors. However, Kat, one of the members of the MVP Club, is struggling to nail down her soccer shots, and she fears that she’ll cost the team a chance at victory. To make matters worse, the town is threatening to demolish the field house, a community center for the sports fields, to build new offices. Can the MVP club save both the field house and win the big game? 

The Soccer Surprise is an exciting story packed with energy, mystery, and teamwork. Told from a third-person perspective, the tale centers on five members of the MVP Club—Max, Alice, Nico, Luke, and Kat—and their involvement in their school’s sports and community activities. While the book attempts to provide each member of the club with appropriate attention, most of the character development revolves around Kat, who struggles to handle the big moments in her soccer games. However, the five characters display exemplary character and fortitude in the face of struggle, and their ability to work as a team to solve problems is admirable. Add in the childhood joy of elementary school students, and the tale takes on a very jovial and relatable tone. 

The book gives a positive perspective on the lessons of hard work and self-belief. Early in the book, Kat continually misses game-winning shots and sees herself as a bad soccer player. However, with the help of soccer superstar Alex and her shooting tips, Kat manages to improve her skills and change her self-perception, allowing her to score the winning goal at the end of the book. These lessons are exemplified when Kat exclaims that she couldn’t have done it without Alex, and Alex responds by saying, “I only showed you the shot. You’re the one who did it. Keep working on your skills like that and maybe you’ll be able to play on the Breakers when you get older!” This story reminds readers of the power of self-image, demonstrating that even the most challenging tasks can be made easy with practice and the right mindset. 

Alongside these lessons, The Soccer Surprise’s fieldhouse plotline also teaches the power of advocacy and voice. When the MVP kids learn that their beloved fieldhouse is slated for demolition to make way for new offices, they decide to launch a fundraiser to transform it into a new community activity center. Through their determination and combined voices, they convince the building’s owner to keep the site, demonstrating the importance of fighting for what matters in life. It’s a lesson that can encourage readers to take a stand for what they believe is right. 

The Soccer Surprise is divided into ten small chapters, with each chapter typically comprising eight to ten pages and containing a couple of hand-drawn illustrations. Although the story doesn’t present difficult vocabulary, its paragraphs and sentences are longer and more complex, making it a little challenging for newer readers. At the end of the story, a brief section offers real-life facts about soccer and showcases some cool soccer skills. It also includes a sneak peek of the next MVP book to keep readers interested. Like its predecessor, The Soccer Surprise continues the MVP’s adventures in sports with action-packed scenes and important lessons, making it a fabulous addition for early chapter book lovers. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • The fieldhouse mysteriously catches on fire while the MVP Club is practicing soccer, and forces Max, one of the MVP Club members, to call 911. “Everyone turned to look. Bright and yellow flames were shooting out of the right side of the field house!” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

by Caleb Kleinmann

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