Reading Level: Early Elementary

Caramel Moon

Melli the Caramel Fairy can’t wait for the Caramel Moon Festival—the candy corn crops are picked in the moonlight and there’s a big celebration. When Melli notices that there is something wrong in the fields, she needs her friends to help figure out who—or what—is trying to ruin their treats.

One of the fairies tells Melli a story about Lupa the Sugar Fairy. “She was sure that a troll was stealing her sugar fruit chews and wanted to protect her candy. Lupa caught the troll in the middle of the night and sent him back over the Frosted Mountains. She was very brave.” Melli and her friends use the Lupa story to come up with a way to catch the candy stealing culprit. The story allows Melli to be brave and save the candy corn.

The third installment of the Candy Fairies Series focuses on Melli’s dilemma—she must find out why the candy corn isn’t growing properly. In order to trick the Chuchies, the fairies work together and come up with a plan to defeat them. Like the first two books in the series, the Chuchies are the predictable villain. This time around, the Chuchies are defeated when they eat too much candy.

Caramel Moon is a super sweet story about friendship. The fairies use candy language such as saying “sure as sugar” and “you can bet your sugar fruit chews.” The story begins with a map of the Candy Kingdom. The Peppermint Grove and other elements will remind readers of the game Candy Land. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 3 pages, and show the fairies wearing pretty dresses. Although most of the fairies look similar, one fairy is African American. The story is best suited for proficient readers who are ready for chapter books.

The friends emulate positive traits and are always willing to help each other. Part of Caramel Moon revolves around a favorite band, Sugar Pops, coming to sing. This element gives the story a more mature tone. In the end, Melli gets permission for her sister to enjoy the Sugar Pop’s show.

Even though the book is a series, readers do not have to read them in order. Caramel Moon is a sweet story that highlights the importance of asking for help and being kind to others, including your younger sisters. Young readers will enjoy spending time in Sugar Valley with the fairies. Readers looking for more fairy fun should also read Rainbow Magic: The Pet Fairies Series by Daisy Meadows.

Sexual Content

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Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • “Hot caramel,” “holy peppermint,” “licking lollipops,” and “choc-Caramel” are used as an exclamation.

Supernatural

  • The fairies have magical powers. For example, Melli spreads fine sugar dust over crops to help them grow quickly.

Spiritual Content

  • None

What Do You Do With A Problem?

What do you do with a problem? Especially one that follows you around and doesn’t seem to be going away? Do you worry about it? Ignore it? Do you run and hide from it?

This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn’t so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than expected.

This picture book gives a problem the form of a black cloud that grows larger and stormier as the story progresses. The beginning of the book uses dark shades that are predominantly dark and gloomy. The unnamed boy’s worry is apparent because of his facial expression and body language. At one point, the boy wonders, “What if it takes away all of my things?” The illustration shows the boy trying to protect his toys and stuffed animals.

Everyone can relate to the boy, who tries to run from a problem. What Do You Do With A Problem shows the importance of tackling problems by coming up with a plan to overcome them. Eventually, the boy jumps into the dark cloud and discovers that the problem “had something beautiful inside. My problem held an opportunity! It was an opportunity for me to learn and to grow. To be brave. To do something.”

While What Do You Do With A Problem has a positive message about overcoming obstacles, the problem and the solution are vague and illustrated with abstract ideas that show the boy’s emotion, rather than an actual solution. Despite this, the story would make an excellent conversation starter about different ways to approach a problem.

Even though What Do You Do With A Problem is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each two-page spread has 1 to 4 sentences. Detailed, interesting illustrations and a conflict that everyone can relate to make What Do You Do With A Problem a wonderful book to read with children. The story’s conclusion leaves the reader with this thought: “Every problem has an opportunity for something good. You just have to look for it.”

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Maggie and the Wish Fish

Eight-year-old Maggie isn’t like other girls who live in the Enchanted Forest. She notices magical animals around her that no one else does – like flying pigs and geese that lay golden eggs.

Maggie hasn’t been getting along with her stepmother and stepbrother. It doesn’t help that flying pigs keep messing up her chores and getting her into trouble! One day while she’s near a lake, she catches a magical fish who promises to make her wish come true, but only if she frees him. Maggie wants a new family more than anything, but can she really trust a talking fish?

Even though Maggie works hard, her stepmother keeps punishing her. Every time Maggie gets into trouble, her stepmother withholds food. It’s a good thing there are wild berry bushes in the Enchanted Forest! Maggie’s stepmother is convinced that Maggie is a liar and a thief, so she throws Maggie out into the cold. Like a Disney fairytale, Maggie and the Wish Fish concludes with a happy ending where Maggie has a new home and a new friend.

Maggie and the creatures who live in the Enchanted Forest appear in black and white illustrations. The cute illustrations appear every 2 to 7 pages. Even though the trolls and the goblins are dangerous, they look cartoonish instead of frighteningly scary. One of the characters shares his journal with Maggie. The illustrated journal gives information about the magical animals and their habits. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, large text, and a simple plot, Maggie and the Wish Fish is accessible to readers ready for chapter books.

Young readers will enjoy the fairytale elements of Maggie and the Wish Fish. A mean step-family, arguing goblins, and talking animals combine to make a sweet story. The story contains enough suspense to keep readers interested and a satisfying ending that will leave readers with a smile. Readers who enjoy fairytales should add the Once Upon a Fairy Tale Series by Anna Staniszewski to their reading list.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

  • Maggie meets a girl who has a goose that lays golden eggs.
  • When goblins see Maggie, she chases them away with a piece of unicorn horn. “Unicorn horns destroyed poison. There was poison in goblins’ blood. Any goblin that even touched a unicorn horn would go poof! and vanish.”

Spiritual Content

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Stowaway!

When Wally meets a band of puppy pirates, he wants more than anything to join them. He knows that puppy pirates are very tough and very brave. Even though he doesn’t always feel brave, Wally is determined to find out if he has what it takes to become a full-fledged puppy pirate. But when he stows away in a pirate ship, he finds out that he’s not the only one hiding. A friendly boy named Henry has also stowed away on the ship. The two promise to help each other. Will the two new friends be able to convince the ship’s captain that they are brave enough to be a pirate?

The front cover art shows an adorable picture of a pirate puppy, which will draw readers to the book. Nevertheless, the story’s plot is full of humor and suspense that will keep readers engaged until the very end. In a series of tests, both Wally and Henry prove that they can be useful to the ship’s crew. And with the help of Old Salt, an older pirate, Wally is able to be brave.

Younger readers will understand Wally’s desire to find a home and cheer for him as he makes friends with the boy and the pirates. Even though Wally is often scared, he still finds a way to complete difficult tasks. There are no other humans on the ship, but Wally stands up for Henry and the ship’s captain allows the boy to remain on the ship. The exciting conclusion has a riddle, kitten pirates, and a funny conflict.

Stowaway is pure pirate fun that will entertain readers who dream of adventure. The black and white illustrations are adorably cute and will also help readers understand the story’s plot. With short chapters, large text, and illustrations every 1 to 5 pages, Stowaway is the perfect book for readers ready for chapter books. Young landlubbers will be eager to read the swashbuckling tale of Wally and the Salty Bone’s crew. With 6+ books in the series, the Puppy Pirates Series has plenty of adventure to entertain readers.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • In order to get the kitten pirates to sail away, the dogs trick them. “The puppy pirates’ cannon blasted out a powerful shot of water. It arched up into the air between the two ships, and then it rained down on the kitten pirates. The kittens all shrieked and hissed and ran for cover.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

 

Language

  • There’s some infrequent pirate name-calling such as scallywag, landlubber, and lazy bum.
  • The kitten captain calls a dog pirate a fleabag.
  • When the captain finds a stowaway, he says, “This is unpoopitable!”

Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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She Persisted in Sports

Throughout history, in every sport and at all levels of play, women athletes have been told they were never going to be fast enough, strong enough, or good enough. This book introduces readers to women athletes who have excelled in their sports because of their passion, their skills, and their persistence.

She Persisted in Sports begins with Margaret Ives Abbot, who was the first American woman to become an Olympic champion in the 1800s, and ends with Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, who helped the U.S. Women’s Hockey team win their first gold medal in twenty years. The book introduces 16 women athletes across a 200-year time span. The women are of different races and abilities, including one woman who raced in a wheelchair.

She Persisted in Sports has a positive message that women can do anything with persistence. The can-do attitude of the women’s profiles is inspiring. The book covers women who overcame many obstacles including sexism, a club foot, loss of hearing, and other hardships. Each athlete is introduced in a two-page spread. One page includes a short introduction of the athlete and the other page has a beautiful watercolor illustration with a motivational quote. Throughout the book, the words “she persisted” appear in colored ink, highlighting the theme.

Even though She Persisted in Sports is a picture book, it uses advanced vocabulary and sentence structure. In addition, the text-heavy pages make the book better suited for elementary students. While She Persisted in Sports is an inspirational book, each profile is short and does not tell how the athletes overcame their circumstances. While many of the athletes competed in individual sports, many of the women, such as Mia Hamm of the 1996 Olympic soccer team, were able to help propel their teams to victory.

She Persisted in Sports would be an excellent conversation starter about persistence and overcoming obstacles. It will also springboard some reader’s interest in athletes, which will lead them to learn more about the women featured in the book. The wide variety of sports, the diverse women, and the unique obstacles make She Persisted in Sports an inspiring book for girls to read.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Yasmin The Writer

Ms. Alex has assigned Yasmin’s class to write about their heroes. Yasmin loves to write, but she can’t decide who her hero is. After tossing out lots of ideas, could it be that Yasmin’s hero has been right beside her all along?

 Yasmin is a relatable character who struggles with choosing a topic for her writing assignment. At first, Yasmin looks at famous athletes, music stars, queens, presidents, and other leaders. But it’s the day-to-day events that make her choose her topic—her mother. While her mother is not famous, she cooks dinner, helps Yasmin find her pajamas, and comforts her when she has a bad dream.

Even though the story’s plot is predictable, young readers will enjoy the story as it shows both Yasmin’s home life and her school life. The story has three short chapters and each page has large illustrations that will help readers understand the plot. The full-color illustrations use cheerful colors and Yasmin’s class has diverse students. Yasmin is Pakistani and her mother wears a hijab. Yasmin’s mother also uses Urdu words, which are defined in a glossary that appears at the back of the book.

Yasmin the Writer will help emerging readers feel confident with their reading. Each page has 1 to 4 short sentences which are printed with oversized text. The conclusion has an illustration of a piece of paper that shows Yasmin’s writing assignment. At the end of the book, there are questions that will help students connect to the text, some fun facts about Pakistani, and directions to make your own journal.

Yasmin the Writer uses an everyday situation that will make young readers think about the definition of a hero. The story will also remind readers that mothers are heroes because they care for their children. Readers who enjoy the Yasmin Series should put the Sofia Martinez Series by Jacqueline Jules on their reading list.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home uses cows and other animals to show that love has no bounds. However, the cows are not normal farm animals. Instead, these amazing cows take a “trip to Mars through skies unknown in a rocket ship made of glass and stone.” The story includes yaks, sheep, frogs, and other animals. Each refrain reminds readers that, “I’ll love you until . . .” and then refers to the animal in the picture.

Using hyperbole and humor, I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home wonderfully captures the idea that love knows no boundaries. Beautiful illustrations in muted natural colors depict whimsical animals. Young readers will enjoy looking at all of the pictures’ details. For example, one page shows four frogs “riding on big-wheeled bikes going superfast in a circus of sea horses, shrimp, and bass.” The dancing sea horses and shrimp in top hats will leave readers giggling. Even though the illustrations are silly, readers will easily understand the book’s message: love never ends.

Even though I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home is a picture book, it will resonate with readers of all ages. If you’re at a loss for words and don’t know how to express your love, then this picture book would make the perfect gift. After all, what better way to express your love than to say, “I’ll love you till the ants march in wearing tiny hats and tiny ant grins and birthday cake crumbs on their tiny ant chins. I will love you till the ants march in.”

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk. Some people told Temple’s mother that, “Her brain’s not quite right. You must send her away.” But Temple’s mother never gave up on her. A special teacher helped Temple learn to speak and encouraged her by saying that Temple was “different, not less.”

School was difficult for Temple, and her mother sent her to live on her aunt’s ranch. Temple loved the animals and finally felt like she was fitting in. “Fitting in on a farm was less stress since the pigs didn’t care if your hair was a mess.” Temple loved cows and she wanted to make farms better.

While many believed that Temple would “never be normal,” others saw Temple’s potential. One of her teachers told her, “When you find what your good at, like science—you’ll soar.” Because of the encouragement of others, Temple was able to go to college and became one of the most powerful voices in modern science.

Temple’s inspiring life story shows how Temple’s autism helped her connect with animals and find her life’s work. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures explains autism in a kid-friendly manner and shows how Temple’s thinking allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe. The book ends with a biography, fun facts, a timeline, and even a note from Temple herself.

Each page of the picture book has 2 to 4 rhyming lines. Some of the words have added emphasis and they appear in all capitals. Each page uses colorful illustrations that bring Temple’s world to life. In addition, some of the pictures contain thought bubbles so readers can understand Temple’s thinking process and her inventions. Even though The Girl Who Thought in Pictures is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures should be read by every child because it will help them become more empathetic towards others. For those who feel different, the story will help them realize that they are not alone and that they too can accomplish great things. In addition, the story will help children understand the behaviors of autistic children. But best of all, Temple’s story reinforces the idea that the things that make people different are the things that make them unique. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures shows that with hard work and dedication, everyone can make a positive impact on the world.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • At school, “Kids taunted and chased her [Temple] all over the yard.” Then one day, Temple “snapped” and “threw a book at a kid and was kicked out of school!”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Savanna Showdown

When the teams take on the African savanna, the competition heats up, and Mari starts to feel the pressure. She has never been the strongest or fastest racer. Sure, she knows almost everything about lions and rhinos and zebras. But facts can only get the team so far. She better keep up, or she might let her friends down because the finish line is in sight, and Team Red wants to win!

The fourth installment of the Race the Wild series brings back the conflict of Russel’s friends cheating. Even though all the members of the red team know the green team is cheating, none of the kids tell an adult. In the end, the green team loses the race, but there are no consequences for the team’s cheating ways.

Savanna Showdown uses the same format as the other books and includes information on the Savanna and the animals that live there. Even though the race is a competition, the other teams are rarely mentioned. The red team is able to win the race, but the events that led up to their win are anticlimactic and lack suspense. However, the story does highlight the importance of working as a team.

The Race the Wild Series would interest younger readers who are love in animals. However, many of the animal facts sound like a textbook. While the plot will be easy for proficient readers to understand, some readers may struggle with the advanced vocabulary. The repetitive plot, lack of suspense, and underdeveloped plot will leave readers disappointed. If you are looking for an exciting adventure that focuses on animals, readers should try the Rainbow Magic Series by Daisy Meadows, The Critter Club Series by Callie Barkley, or The Bad Guys Series by Aaron Blabe.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Yasmin The Superhero

Yasmin loves superheroes and wants to be like them. She’s got the cape. She’s got the mask. Now, she just needs a villain to defeat! While she’s looking for one, she meets lots of people who need her help, but no villains.

Instead of fighting villains, Yasmin helps a neighbor pick up groceries, helps a girl get a ball off of a roof, and helps someone solve a math problem. When at the end of the day Yasmin is upset that she didn’t meet any villains, Baba tells her, “Evil villains are only in storybooks. In real life, superheroes are the ones that go out of their way to be kind and helpful.” Yasmin discovers that she might not need a villain to use her superpowers after all!

The story has three short chapters. Each page has large illustrations that will help readers understand the plot. The full-color illustrations use cheerful colors. Yasmin is Pakistani and her mother wears a hijab. The people in Yasmin’s neighborhood are a diverse group. Yasmin’s mother also uses Urdu words, which are defined in a glossary that appears at the back of the book.

Yasmin The Superhero will help emerging readers feel confident with their reading. Each page has 1 to 4 short sentences which are printed with oversized text. At the end of the book, there are questions that will help students connect to the text, some fun facts about Pakistani, and directions to make a paper bag superhero.

Yasmin The Superhero is a super cute story that encourages readers to be kind and helpful. Every superhero fan will relate to Yasmin’s desire to catch a villain and save someone. Nani and Nana help Yasmin create a brightly colored superhero costume, which includes a mask. In addition, both of Yasmin’s parents are supportive of her superhero activities. Yasmin The Superhero is a cute story that will encourage readers to make a cape and help someone in need.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

  • None

Grumpy Monkey

Jim Panzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends just can’t understand it—how can he be in a bad mood when it’s such a beautiful day?

They encourage him to stop hunching, to smile, and to do things that make him happy. But Jim can’t take all the advice. . . and has a bit of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?

Grumpy Monkey tackles the problem of having a down day with humor. His friends just don’t seem to understand why Jim is grumpy, and their advice leads to some silly situations. For example, when Jim puts on a smile, it doesn’t look happy. Instead, his smile looks more like a grimace. Soon the whole forest—a snake, a lemur, a frog, zebras, peacocks, birds, and even a lion—is talking about Jim’s grumpy mood.

The animals are illustrated using the muted browns and greens of the jungle. A gorilla named Norman appears in all of the illustrations as a fun contrast to Jim. The animals’ expressions add to the story’s humor and younger readers may enjoy counting all of the hidden insects and critters that appear on each page.

Anyone who has ever had a bad day will relate to Jim. The ending is endearing and humorous because Norman dances with Porcupine and gets a butt full of quills. The last page shows Norman and Jim sitting on a tree branch, and they both agree that “It’s a wonderful day to be grumpy.” The Band-Aids on Norman’s behind will have little readers giggling.

Each page of the picture book has 1 to 7 sentences. Even though the story is a picture book, the story is intended to be read to a child instead of a child reading it independently.

While Jim stays grumpy through the entire story, Grumpy Monkey will have readers giggling. Whether you are in a bad mood or a good mood, Grumpy Monkey will put a smile on your face. Readers who would like to meet another moody character should check out the Pout-Pout Fish Adventures by Deborah Diesen.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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The Doctor With An Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath

When Patricia Bath was little, she loved playing with boys and doing everything her big brother did. A girl coming of age during the Civil Rights Movement, Patricia, who was African American, was determined to be a doctor even though most were men. The only nearby high school was only for white kids, but this didn’t stop Patricia from graduating high school and going on to college.

While at college, Patricia meets unfair restrictions, but she is determined to help blind people. During her time as a doctor, she teaches others about the eye and starts an eye doctor training program. Patricia eventually develops a laser probe that “fixed the eyeballs of patients all over the globe.”

Patricia didn’t let racism, sexism, or poverty get in the way of her goal. Her story will inspire readers to reach for their dreams. The story ends with this thought: “So, if helping the world seems too hard, you are wrong. If some say you can’t do it, don’t listen. Be STRONG. Like Patricia, stay FOCUSED. Push FORWARD. Shine BRIGHT. . . And you’ll find all your dreams will be well within SIGHT!”

Each page of the picture book has 2 to 4 rhyming lines. Some of the words have added emphasis and appear in all caps. Each page uses colorful illustrations to bring Patricia’s world to life. Some illustrations show how Patricia faced discrimination. Even though The Doctor With An Eye for Eyes is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently.

The Doctor With An Eye for Eyes should be read by every child because it will help them understand the importance of perseverance and education. The story shows how Patricia used her knowledge to teach others and make a positive impact on the world. Because of Patricia, “those without sight for years (like fifteen or twenty or THIRTY more years), they could finally SEE!”

The Doctor With An Eye for Eyes shows how Patricia overcame many obstacles before she reached her goal. However, one of Patricia’s greatest accomplishments was to open the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. “She CREATED a place. . . A place to bring HOPE to the whole human race. Its motto is this: Rich or poor, black or white, healthy vision’s important. It’s everyone’s right.”

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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The Stolen Slipper

Prince Patrick’s only clue to finding the love of his life is the glass slipper she left behind. But the special shoe has been stolen! Without it, the prince will never see his true love again. Kara and Zed will have to help the prince find the glass slipper—and the woman it belongs to—before it’s too late.

Kara and her best friend Zed join together to solve the mystery of the missing shoe. Even though the story revolves around Cinderella, the majority of the story focuses on Kara and Zed solving the mystery. Kara and Zed are likable characters and Zed’s love of food and animals adds some humor to the story. Even though Kara helps her parents in the shoe shop, she still has enough time for sleuthing. Kara is kind, curious, and capable of using her powers of observation to solve the crime.

The Stolen Slipper is part of Scholastic Branches’ early chapter books, which have easy-to-read text and illustrations on every page. Readers will laugh at Zed’s hungry goat and the prince’s puppy. The book uses short descriptions and dialogue to keep the story moving at a fast pace. Black and white illustrations appear on every page and help break the text into manageable sections. The engaging pictures will help readers follow the plot. Even though The Stolen Slipper is part of a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone.

Fairy tale fans will enjoy the interplay between Kara and Zed as they try to solve the mystery. Even though the prince’s advisor, Barth, is a predictable villain, his niece doesn’t want to get in the way of the prince and his true love. The cute conclusion shows Cinderella and the prince together and also includes some cute animal scenes that will put a simile on readers’ faces. The fast-paced story includes a page of comprehension and critical thinking questions. Readers who are transitioning to chapter books will enjoy the fun adventure. Readers who want to meet another spunky female character should add the Princess Pulverizer Series by Nancy Krulik to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

  • Zed delivers messages; he has a magical bag that scrolls appear in.

Spiritual Content

  • None

When Your Llama Needs a Haircut

It’s picture day and a boy’s llama needs a haircut. Before the llama has a haircut, however, his hair needs to be washed and brushed. Once that’s done, the boy decides what style of haircut to give the llama. Once that’s decided, the boy gives the llama “a simple trim from nose to tail.” The llama is wiggly and the boy accidentally cuts too much hair. To make sure they have matching haircuts, the boy cuts his own hair too.

When Your Llama Needs a Haircut will engage readers as it uses humorous illustrations to show the boy’s conflict. Young readers will laugh at the llama’s different hairstyles, which range from a bowl cut to a green mohawk. When the boy and his llama finally get their picture taken, they have very little hair left.

Even though When Your Llama Needs a Haircut is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each page has 1 to 2 lines of text. The simple vocabulary and short sentences make the story a quick read. The story’s simple plot and funny illustrations will engage young readers and leave them with a smile.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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The Dinosaur Expert

Mr. Tiffin and his students are back in another picture book; this time the focus is on dinosaur-loving Kimmy. During a field trip to the natural history museum, Kimmy is thrilled to share what she knows about the Stegosaurus, the Archaeopteryx, and even the ginormous Titanosaurus. But that all changes when one of her classmates questions whether girls can be paleontologists, and Kimmy starts to feel shy. What if girls can’t be paleontologists? What if no one wants to hear what she has to say? It will take some help from Mr. Tiffin—and from a famous scientist—for Kimmy to find her voice again.

The Dinosaur Expert has many positive aspects, including Mr. Tiffin, who encourages Kimmy to share her dinosaur knowledge. Mr. Tiffin shows her an exhibit of Dr. Brandoni de Gasparini’s hunting fossils. Seeing a woman paleontologist gives Kimmy the courage to tell her classmates about dinosaurs. The end of the book includes a short biography of seven of Kimmy’s favorite women paleontologists.

Every dinosaur-loving kid should read The Dinosaur Expert, which has many fascinating facts as well as detailed illustrations of dinosaurs. Readers will enjoy seeing Kimmy’s character grow from a timid girl who doesn’t want to talk, to a confident girl who shares her knowledge.

Each page has large illustrations that show a diverse group of children. Almost every page shows an illustration of a dinosaur as well as many dinosaur facts. Each page has 1 to 5 sentences. However, readers will need help with some of the dinosaur names and advanced vocabulary.

Young readers will enjoy going on a field trip with Mr. Tiffin’s class and will relate to Kimmy’s fear of speaking up. The story blends Kimmy’s conflict and dinosaur facts, which will keep readers interested in the story. Plus, girls will love seeing real women scientists who have made contributions to the study of dinosaurs. One of the best parts of The Dinosaur Expert is that it shows that anyone can become a scientist. Readers who can’t get enough of dinosaurs should add The Dino Files Series by Stacy McAnulty to their reading list.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Cece Loves Science and Adventure

Cece and her Adventure Girl group are going on a camping trip. Cece has packed everything including the marshmallows. Her friends, Caroline and Daisy, help set up a tent. Once that is complete, Cece’s mom and the three friends go on a nature hike. They see all sorts of interesting things like a twisty oak tree and a fork in the path. Cece uses her camera to take lots of pictures.

A sudden rainstorm surprises the girls, but they’re prepared. They make a shelter out of their rain ponchos. When Cece’s mom loses her cellphone signal, the girls use the pictures that Cece took to make a map. Soon they are back at camp! The Adventure Girls are excited that they earned their camping pin.

Cece wants to make sure she is extra prepared for the camping trip, so she uses two lists—Adventure Girls Camping Checklist and Cece’s Camping Checklist. As the girls go on their adventure, they also use a list to make sure they are able to earn their camping pin. While on the camping trip, the girls have fun and have to use math to build a tent, figure out how far away a storm is, and find out how far they are from their camp.

Several times, Cece thinks about what her teacher, Ms. Curie, has taught her in class. While the story has some scientific facts, the lessons seem rushed and have little detail. For example, when a storm approaches, Cece thinks about the different types of clouds, which are identified in a thought bubble. The story quickly moves on, without teaching more about clouds. In addition, Cece and her friends are able to use pictures to create a map back to their campsite, which is unrealistic.

While the story’s plot is not as well developed as the first book in the series, younger readers will enjoy seeing Cece and her friends work together to solve problems. While the science is kid-friendly, younger readers will need help reading the text-heavy pages because of the complex sentence structure and difficult vocabulary such as Mississippi, cumulus, and gnome.

Cece Loves Science and Adventure uses an easy-to-understand format and brightly colored, full-page illustrations to engage students. Several of the illustrations show the math problems that the girls are trying to figure out. The illustrations highlight the characters’ facial expressions which helps readers understand their emotions. The story ends with a STEM Pin Worksheet that shows how the camping trip meet the requirements to earn a STEM Adventure Girl pin. A two-page glossary appears at the back of the book.

The Cece Loves Science Series introduces young readers to science in a fun and educational way. Each story makes science fun and shows the importance of working together. With supportive adults, a diverse group of characters, and an adorable dog, Cece Loves Science and Adventure will entertain and educate readers.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Rainbow Swirl

Candy Fair is one of the biggest candy events in Sugar Valley. Raina the Gummy Fairy is serious about winning first prize. She follows all the rules to make the perfect new candy. Raina wants her friends to be excited about entering the contest as well. But Berry is more interested in making jewelry and Dash is busy making a new sled for the Marshmallow Slopes.

When a terrible storm blows through Gummy Forest, all of Raina’s dreams are washed away. Despite this, she gathers her friends and helps clean the forest so animals can find their homes. After Raina takes care of the animals, she goes back to check on her candy berries. She thinks they are ruined because all of the colors and flavors have blended together. Her friends still encourage her to enter her candy into the contest, but is there anyway her imperfect candy can win the contest?

Many readers will relate to Raina, who isn’t afraid to show that she is smart. Raina loves research and knows the entire Fairy Code Book by heart, but sometimes her “fairy friends made fun of her for following the rules so closely.” However, in the story, all of Raina’s friends are supportive even though they have different interests.

Rainbow Swirl doesn’t have a villain because the conflict comes from Raina’s conflicting emotions about her friends not wanting to make candy for the Berry Fair. Readers will relate to Raina’s conflict and understand her fears. In the end, the friendship between the fairies will keep readers engaged.

Even though Raina’s friends don’t want to participate in the Berry Fair, they still support Raina’s efforts. Raina’s friends help her because they gave her “the courage to see that something not perfect might be better than planned.” Raina doesn’t win the contest, but she is recognized for her acts of kindness.

Rainbow Swirl begins with a map of the Candy Kingdom. The Peppermint Grove and other elements will remind readers of the game Candy Land. The book is crammed full of candy references such as “sure as sugar” and “whoever heard of such a gummy thing.” Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 3 pages and show the fairies wearing pretty dresses. Although most of the fairies look similar, one fairy is African American.

Rainbow Swirl is a sweet, engaging story that proficient readers will enjoy. The story focuses on friendship and teaches important lessons. For example, Raina learns that “sometimes the greatest surprises come from the most unlikely places.” In a world where perfection is often glorified, parents will appreciate Rainbow Swirl’s message that something doesn’t have to be perfect in order to be great.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

The fairies say exclamations such as “chocolate sprinkles,” “holy peppermint,” and “sour sticks”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Star Wolf

Emma lives in a forest full of magical creatures, including star wolves! The wolves’ special song makes the stars appear in the sky every night. When Emma rescues a baby star wolf from a trap, she knows she must return the pup to his family. Will she be brave enough to go on a nighttime adventure and help keep the stars shining?

The Star Wolf brings back Lord Hector, who is determined to silence the star wolves’ song. This time, Lord Hector’s servants make failed attempts to catch Teo, the baby star wolf. The servants add non-scary suspense to the story.

Unlike previous books, Sophy plays a large role in the story. Sophy and Emma work together to defeat Lord Hector’s schemes. Both girls are sweet, helpful, and kind to others. Despite being frightened, the girls help Teo find his wolf family. The girls also put others’ needs before their own. For example, when the star wolves invite the girls to listen to their magical song, Emma says, “Lord Hector’s still out there. And his servants still have that little bottle of potion. We’d love to stay and listen to the Sky Song, but there’s one more thing we have to do.”

A diamond owl named Kellan adds another wonderful element to the story. This skeptical, magical owl helps Sophy and Emma. Despite being reluctant to help the girls, he discovers that “silly humans” can be brave. Keelan also adds some humor when he scares Lord Hector’s servants.

The Star Wolf will entertain readers with a fast-paced plot and non-scary suspense. The adorable animals and sweet characters will appeal to both readers and parents. Both girls are polite, helpful, and brave. When Emma makes desserts for her family’s booth, she doesn’t complain. Instead, she happily helps and cleans up the kitchen when she is finished.

The first book in the series, The Sky Unicorn, introduces Sophy and the magical stones. Even though Sophy makes an appearance in all of the books, readers do not need to read the stories in order. Each book focuses on a new main character, which adds interest to the series. The story uses easy vocabulary, simple sentence structure, and black and white illustrations to make The Star Wolf accessible to readers. Illustrations appear every 2-4 pages and help readers understand the plot.

The Star Wolf is an engaging story that shows the importance of kindness and bravery. Readers who enjoy magical animals should check out The Enchanted Pony Academy series by Lisa Ann Scott.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A star wolf gets stuck in a trap, but Emma saves the animal.
  • A man and a woman chase Emma while trying to get the star wolf. A huge dragon appears. “Landing with a thump that shook the ground, the leathery-skinned creature swung to face the trappers. . . The woman shrieked and ran away. The man bolted after her.”
  • A man “darted forward, grabbed hold of Teo [the star wolf], and stuffed him under her arm. The wolf pup gave a terrified whimper.”
  • As Emma tries to find the star wolf, “there was a snap as her foot hit the ground and something closed around her ankle. She lost her balance and fell over.” Someone helps Emma out of the trap.
  • A man and a woman accidentally start a fire in the forest. “The candle flame spread, burning the twigs and dead leaves on the ground. A tiny fire began to grow.” Sophy and Emma are able to put the fire out.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • Lord Hector has a potion that will take away the sky wolves’ voices. Emma accidentally spills a drop into the juice that Lord Hector and his servants are drinking. When they lose their voices, “Lord Hector turned bright red. Shaking his fist, he chased his servants out of the clearing.”

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • The sky wolves’ music “brought out the evening stars. Without them the night sky would be dark with no starlight at all.”
  • Sophy gives Emma a speaking stone. “Slowly, the rock grew warmer. Emma’s hand tingled as the stone changed from dull gray to bright orange, like a flame springing to life. . . The stone split in half.” The stone gives Emma the ability to talk to animals.
  • A diamond owl helps find the missing star wolf. The owl has “magical eyes that can see right through things—branches, tree trunks, anything! We also have the speed of the wind!”

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Garden That We Grew

Two kids decide to plant a garden. They have everything that they need: a patch of soil, a bunch of seeds, and a warm sunny sky. They make sure their plants can grow by watering and weeding. As the days go by, their plants peek out of the soil and eventually turn into large pumpkins. The kids harvest the pumpkins and use them to make pie and cookies. They also make jack-o-lanterns! The kids have so much fun that they decide to save the seeds so they can grow pumpkins next year.

The Garden That We Grow is perfect for early readers. Each page has large, cartoon-like illustrations that show the kids working in their garden. Most of the pages have one simple sentence that uses rhyming, familiar words, and visual clues to help readers. Almost every page begins with “these are the. . .” The repetition will help young readers feel confident in their ability to read.

With a simple plot and colorful illustrations, The Garden That We Grow will entertain readers as well as teach them the steps of growing a garden. After reading the story, readers will want to plant a garden of their own. More advanced readers will be bored by the story’s repetition and simple sentences. Young readers who want to learn more about gardening should add We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Mortimer’s First Garden

Winter is just ending, the sky is gray, and the ground is brown. Little Mortimer Mouse munches on sunflower seeds and longs to see some green.

Upon overhearing the story of how springtime rain and sunshine nurtures little seeds to grow into great big green plants, Mortimer is skeptical, but decides to plant one of his seeds just to see if such a miracle really can happen. Mortimer finds a perfect spot to plant the seed, and then. . . he waits. And waits. And waits.

Impatient, Mortimer thinks nothing is ever going to happen to the little seed. But then something does happen. Something wonderful. Something divine. Something green! Mortimer discovers the miracle of springtime.

Mortimer’s First Garden is a wonderful story about discovering the wonders of gardening. As he waits for his sunflower to appear, Mortimer weeds, waters and cares for his growing plant. Through Mortimer’s experiences, readers will discover the joy of planting and caring for seeds and the excitement of growing a garden.

Mortimer’s environment comes to life in colorful, full-page illustrations. The illustrations are colored with muted spring colors and show the beauty of spring. Readers will fall in love with the little mouse, as he waits for his flower to grow. Readers will relate to Mortimer’s impatience, and smile when Mortimer tells God, “I wouldn’t mind a friend to help me eat these [seeds].” Just when Mortimer needs it, a friendly spider appears and the two friends snuggle down to sleep. Some readers may wonder why a spider would make a good friend for Mortimer. However, this would be an excellent opportunity to discuss the beneficial qualities of spiders.

Each page of Mortimer’s First Garden has 1-6 simple sentences that use repetition, onomatopoeia, and alliteration. The simple story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Both the text and the pictures combine into an engaging story that highlights the miracle of a seed. Parents who are looking for more books that encourage children to plant a garden should also read We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • Mortimer hears a voice whisper, “Wait.” At first, Mortimer doesn’t know who spoke. But then, “Mortimer felt warm and protected. Then Mortimer knew the voice. Mortimer bowed his head. ‘I will wait, God. But please, make my seed grow.’”
  • When Mortimer’s seed begins to grow, he says, “Thank you, God!”
  • When Mortimer sees the sunflower, he says, “It is a miracle! Thank you, God!”
  • After all the seeds have been harvested, Mortimer prays, “And please, God, I wouldn’t mind a friend to help me eat these.”

Start Now! You Can Make a Difference

What can I do to help save endangered animals? How do I know if my food is healthy? What can I do to stop bullies?

There are so many questions! And so many ways to make a difference. With facts, drawings, action lists, and stories of kids who’ve made a positive change in their world Start Now! answers questions about health, hunger, climate change, endangered species, and bullying.

Each chapter is broken down into small parts that cover an array of topics including historical facts. For example, the book covers early water systems and John Snow’s 1854 discovery of cholera. Each section includes examples of young people making a change in their world. The end of each section includes a bullet-pointed list of ways the reader can help, such as, “you can support tree-planting efforts and even plant trees yourself.”

Act Now’s text is broken up into small sections and includes black and white illustrations. Some of the illustrations are funny, such as dinosaurs playing beach ball. The book also has pictures of the young people who are making an impact. Even though the text is broken into manageable sections, young readers may have difficulty with the advanced vocabulary.

Start Now! gives practical ideas to help readers make an impact in their world. This book will appeal to readers who want to make a difference in their world and will leave them with ways they can make a difference in their community. Even though the book contains good information, the text reads like a history book, which might bore readers. Start Now! would make an excellent book to read with a parent or use as a jumping-off point for research. However, the difficult vocabulary and dry text may make it difficult for young readers to wade through.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Newton’s Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist

Famed for his supposed encounter with a falling apple that inspired his theory of gravity, Isaac Newton (1642–1727) grew from a quiet and curious boy into one of the most influential scientists of all time. Newton’s Rainbow tells the story of young Isaac—always reading, questioning, observing, and inventing—and how he eventually made his way to Cambridge University, where he studied the work of earlier scientists and began building on their accomplishments.

When a bubonic plague outbreak interrupted his formal schooling in 1665, he made discoveries that illuminated the mysteries of gravity, motion, and even rainbows—giving mankind a new understanding of the natural world that changed science forever.

While most people recognize Isaac Newton’s name, they do not know how extraordinary his discoveries were. Newton’s Rainbow details many of Newton’s experiments, including when he made a mouse-powered mill. “Isaac attached a string to a mouse’s tail and put the mouse on a treadmill. When he tugged on the string, the mouse ran.” Readers who love science will be intrigued by Newton’s experiments.

Newton studied many great men who came before him including Aristotle, Plato, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei. The book includes a one-paragraph biography of both Galileo and Kepler. As Newton studied these great men, he also conducted experiments to prove or disprove a hypothesis. While the story of an apple falling on Newton’s head was not true, Newton was able to develop the theory of gravitation. He also developed calculus and his theories became the basics for modern physics.

Newton’s Rainbow is a picture book that has large full-colored illustrations that show Newton’s activities and experiments. However, the book will need to be read by an adult because of the text-heavy pages and the difficult vocabulary. Some difficult words, such as philosophy and chamber pot, are defined in the text. While the book does an excellent job of explaining Newton’s impact on today’s world, Newton’s Rainbow may not appeal to young readers. However, the book would be an excellent resource for a research paper.

Newton’s Rainbow will help readers understand Newton’s contributions to math and science. Readers who love science should add Newton’s Rainbow to their must-read list. However, highly active children may find it difficult to sit through a reading of the book. To introduce young readers to science, parents should read these books to their children: Questioneers Collection by Andrea Beaty and the Zoey and Sassafras series by Asia Citro.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • At school, Newton was often bullied. But then, “he beat up the school bully in a fight—even though the bully was much bigger.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • Newton lived with an apothecary, who made medicines. “One required the patient to drink a mixture of mint, the bitter herb wormwood, and three hundred headless millipedes ‘well beaten with ale.’”
  • While at Cambridge, Isaac’s first roommate “liked to go to pubs and parties throughout the night.”

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Skunked!

When softhearted Travis discovers an abandoned baby skunk, he can’t help but bring it home and take care of it. Stinky, as Travis names him, settles in pretty well. But when Travis discovers Stinky’s littermate, Winky, who is in need of some help, things get complicated around the Tate house. One skunk might skate by under the radar, but two is just asking for trouble. Will Travis and Callie be able to keep the critters away from their mother’s careful eyes and nose?

Travis has a kind heart and wants to help animals, and Callie just can’t say no to her younger brother. As the two siblings take care of two orphaned skunks, they have to deceive their parents, who wouldn’t approve of caring for skunks because they are a pest. Callie seeks out help from the local veterinarian who tells her how to nurse a “kitten” back to health. Having a hidden skunk causes some silly scenes. Since Skunked! is set in 1901, it has an old-fashioned feel in both the language and the illustrations.

Skunked! has black and white illustrations that show the siblings and many farm animals. The large illustrations appear every 1 to 4 pages and will help readers understand the story’s plot. The surprising conclusion will leave readers with a smile and a lesson on why skunks should not be treated as pets.

Skunked! is told from Callie’s point of view. Callie’s scientific mind, curiosity, and caring nature make her an extremely likable character. Even though she is not completely honest, her deception is to help her brother care for the two skunks. Because of the advanced vocabulary, younger readers will need help. However, the large text and short chapters make Skunked! a good book to read aloud to younger readers. Proficient readers will enjoy the animal action, the sibling relationship, and the surprising conclusion.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Several times Callie thinks her brother Travis is an idiot. Callie thinks, “If Travis was an idiot to adopt two skunks, I, being one year older and so much wiser, was an even bigger idiot for going along with him, right?”
  • Drat is used once.
  • At one point, Callie wonders if her brother is insane.

Supernatural

  • Callie sees a heron and she “froze in place and prayed that Travis would stay still.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Sisters First

A young girl’s wish is granted when a new sister arrives. However, the baby can’t do much. When the little girl’s sister finally arrives, she’s surprised that “you cried and you ate, but not much more. (My baby sister was a bit of a snore.)”

Over time the big and little siblings become inseparable, playing and dancing, imagining and laughing. By each other’s side, they are smarter, kinder, and braver than they ever thought they could be. And they are forever sisters first.

This exquisite celebration of the bond between sisters is inspired by the spirited childhood of Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush, authors of Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life.

 Sisters First uses beautiful, imaginative illustrations to show the bond between three sets of sisters. The illustrations have some fun details, such as two sisters and their dog wearing masks while they “break” into the cookie jar. The illustrations perfectly match the text’s words which help bring the sisters’ imaginations into focus. For example, as two sisters pretend to be “cat pirates sailing across the rough sea,” the sisters are dressed in cat pajamas sailing on a pirate ship with a purple and white sail.

Whether the sisters are pretending to be mermaids riding alligators or wearing high heels to become president and VP, the sister are always kind and support each other. The girls’ adventures are shown in full-page illustrations that use bright colors and fun details that younger readers will want to look at again and again. Each two-page spread has one to five sentences. Even though Sisters First is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently.

Sisters First is a must-read because it will empower little girls to be kind and supportive. It doesn’t matter if you’re flying through space with your stuffed animals or baking cookies, it is important to remember this prayer: “Please make us kind, with enormous hearts, clever too, and very smart. With soft hands to hold and warm arms to hug, and gentle eyes that show deep love. Accepting and patient, yet strong in our views, hopeful and joyful in all that we do. And through many days, the best and the worst, help us remember we are sisters first.”

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • When a little girl is lonely and wants a sister, she “said a prayer as I pictured your face. Please make her kind, with an enormous heart, clever too, and very smart. With soft hands to hold and warm arms to hug and gentle eyes that show deep love.”
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