Early Elementary – Page 20 – Sneak Peek Books

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

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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

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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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

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Drugs and Alcohol

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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

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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

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.”

City Dog, Country Frog

In spring, when City Dog runs free in the country for the first time, he spots Country Frog sitting on a rock, waiting for a friend. “You’ll do,” Frog says, and together they play Country Frog games. In summer, they meet again and play City Dog games. Through the seasons, whenever City Dog visits the country he runs straight for Country Frog’s rock. In winter, things change for City Dog and Country Frog. Come spring, friendship blooms again, a little different this time.

City Dog, Country Frog explores the beautiful concept of friendship by focusing on two unexpected friends. When City Dog meets Country Frog, the two teach each other games. Their friendship is beautifully portrayed through watercolor illustrations that use muted colors. The illustrations enhance the concept of friendship by showing the two spending time together. For example, one illustration shows the two friends relaxing; Country Dog is floating in a pond and Country Frog is sitting on the dog’s head. Another illustration shows the wise frog protecting Country Dog from a summer shower by holding a large leaf over Country Dog’s head.

The story goes through the four seasons. But in winter, Country Frog is missing from the scenes. The story implies that the frog has died, and City Dog’s sadness is evident. However, when spring arrives City Dog meets a chipmunk. At this point, City Dog repeats Country Frog’s words: He says he is “waiting for a friend, but you’ll do.” And then City Dog “smiled a froggy smile.”

Even though City Dog, Country Frog is a picture book, the story 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 3 sentences and some of the sentences are complex. City Dog, Country Frog is a touching story that both young and older readers will enjoy. It’s a perfect book to put in your reading library because children will begin to understand the underlying themes as they grow.

The story has several underlying themes such as the rhythm of the seasons, the loss of a friend, and learning from each other. While younger readers may not understand the deeper themes, they will still fall in love with the two unusual friends. The captivating illustrations perfectly blend with the text’s words to create a lovely vision of friendship.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Lily to the Rescue #1

Lily lives with her girl, Maggie Rose. Once a stray, Lily was rescued by the kind people at the animal shelter run by Maggie Rose’s mom. Now she has a very important purpose: to rescue other animals.

Lily helps other animals in the shelter and even helps a kitten who is stuck in a tree. When Lily meets a crow with a broken wing, she and Maggie Rose take the crow home to Mom. But when the crow, named Casey, starts to become too tame, some unexpected problems arise. Soon, Maggie is surrounded by crows who want to exchange pieces of shiny metal for peanuts!

Lily to the Rescue is told from Lily’s point of view, which allows the reader to see the world from a dog’s perspective. However, the story has some long paragraphs that focus on Lily’s thought process. While this may appeal to some readers, others may find Lily’s musing to be a bit boring. Lily’s thoughts are occasionally funny, but they always focus on being kind to other animals. This first installment of the series revolves around Casey, an injured crow, who learns how to open his cage, ride on Lily’s back, and bring trinkets in exchange for peanuts.

Readers also get a peek inside Maggie Rose’s home life, which shows a healthy family unit. Like most siblings, she doesn’t always agree with her brothers and they occasionally bicker. However, when Maggie Rose’s brother calls her a “runt,” he is appropriately punished and reminded of the importance of being kind.

Animal lovers ready for chapter books will enjoy Lily to the Rescue. Realistic black and white illustrations that have splashes of blue appear every 1 to 3 pages. The short chapters and illustrations of the animals will appeal to a wide range of readers. The story has many crow facts throughout and the end of the book has more interesting information about crows

Lily is admirable because of her kind nature and willingness to help other animals. There are several tender moments between Lily and other animals that will warm readers’ hearts. Another positive attribute of the story is that it teaches the importance of not feeding wild animals. Lily to the Rescue doesn’t have action, adventure, or magic, but Lily’s story has enough interesting events to entertain readers.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

A murder of crows attacks a hawk. “They were swooping down and trying to grab the hawk with their beaks. . . The hawk swooped and dove and changed directions, but there were so many crows pestering it, it finally gave up and flew away!”

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

Maggie’s brothers call her a “runt” a few times.

Supernatural

“A group of crows is called a murder of crows. No one’s sure why. Maybe because they’ll surround a dead animal to eat it. But there are people who think that crows are evil and bring death.”

Spiritual Content

None

The Messy Meerkat

Zoe loves living at her uncle’s rescue zoo because there’s always something exciting going on. And Zoe also has an amazing secret…she can actually TALK to the animals!

Max the meerkat loves to dig tunnels and go exploring, and so do his baby brothers and sisters. With the big treasure hunt coming up, can Zoe find a way to keep the messy meerkat family out of trouble?

The story focuses on Zoe and her family’s zoo. Zoe is a likable character who isn’t afraid of hard work. When Zoe takes Max the meerkat to her house, Max rips up her mother’s flowerbed. Instead of complaining, Zoe and her friend replant the flowers and clean up Max’s mess. As Zoe gets to know Max, she also learns interesting facts about meerkats.

Cute black and white illustrations show Zoe’s adventures. The large illustrations appear every 2 to 4 pages and show many of the animals in the zoo. The illustrated picture book uses some difficult vocabulary that will be hard for emerging readers. However, the story would be a fun choice to read aloud to a child.

Even though Max is a meerkat, readers will relate to his desire to have fun instead of watching his younger siblings. In the end, Max learns the importance of being more responsible. With a cheerful protagonist and funny meerkat mischief, The Messy Meerkat will delight animal lovers. And parents will appreciate a book that has a positive protagonist who works hard without complaining. With 20 books in the series, Zoe’s Rescue Zoo will keep readers entertained for a long time. However, animal-loving readers may also want to check out The Rescue Princesses Series by Paula Harrison and The Critter Club Series by Callie Barkley.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

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Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Arctic Freeze

Dev knows his dad wanted him to spend his summer at science camp. His dad’s disappointment hampers Dev’s enjoyment of competing in The Wild Life. But on the third leg of the competition, Dev can’t let his team down. The red team must work together as they race through Alaska’s wilderness. Both the animals and nature are dangerous and the red team needs to focus if they are going to win. After all, they are now in second place!

Artic Freeze uses the same format as the first two books in the series. While the story is fast-paced, the plot and characters are underdeveloped. Dev and his team easily find the required artic animals; however, much of the action takes place from an airplane. In addition, the red team is able to solve the clues and get pictures of the animals without much effort. Even though the story lacks suspense, readers will learn interesting animal facts.

The story focuses on Dev’s conflict with his father, who wanted Dev to spend his summer at science camp. During the race, Dev wants to hide the fact that he’s knowledgeable about science. “His whole goal for the summer—his goal for the race—was to be normal, to be someone other than the nerdy science kid.” This conflict doesn’t add much to the story, especially because his teammates are all exceptionally smart in different areas.

The story begins with Dev’s dream about dogsledding and his father. As the team completes their task, Dev uses the dream to make decisions. While several of the events match his dream, in the end “no part of Dev’s dream made sense to him anymore.” Since the story spends so much time on the dream, the ending seems rushed and incomplete. While Dev doesn’t understand the significance of his dream, he does learn the value of science. The team’s adult supervisor tells Dev, “Races prompt hasty decisions. That’s their nature. But the quick thinking you did here was far more essential. You have an engineer’s mind and it saved this dog.”

The Race the Wild Series would interest younger readers who are interested in animals. However, readers may struggle with the advanced vocabulary. More advanced readers will realize that many of the events are unrealistic, such as when the team dogsleds a glacier even though they had no previous experiences. Unfortunately, the third installment in the Race the Wild Series is disappointing. Despite this, Arctic Freeze teaches about animals and highlights the importance of respecting and protecting the wild world.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

A sled dog falls into a crack in the glacier. “Just ahead of the sled, the ground had opened up. Dev crawled on hands and knees to look over the edge of the ice. There, dangling from his harness, was the gray and white husky. When the dog saw him, he whimpered.” Dev is able to save the husky.
Dev read a book about “early science expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctic. When the dogs had been sick or injured, the explorers had to shoot them.”

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Zen Shorts

When Stillwater, a giant panda, moves into Addy, Michael, and Karl’s neighborhood, he tells them the most amazing stories.

He tells Addy the tale of a poor man who gives gifts to a robber. He tells Michael of a farmer who knows that luck can be neither predicted nor judged. And to Karl, he tells the tale of a monk who carries the weight of a burden long past. Stillwater imaginatively presents three classic Zen stories that abound with enlightenment and love.

Using watercolors, the full-page illustrations beautifully bring Stillwater and the three children to life. The illustrations capture the huge size of Stillwater, but still portray him as a kind and cuddly panda. Stillwater’s patience is shown through his willingness to let Michael climb on his head and jump from his stomach, and when he ignores Michael’s complaining.

Each time one of the children arrives at Stillwater’s house, he tells them a story. The story pages are delineated by using a solid background color with black-and-white illustrations. When Stillwater tells the stories, some of the pages become text-heavy, which may make it difficult for squirmy children to sit through the entire book. Stillwater shows that spending time with someone and telling them a story is a gift.

Zen Shorts connects classic Zen Stories to the children that visit Stillwater, which allows readers to understand how Zen stories apply to modern life. The author’s goal is to help children realize that, “When you look into a pool of water, if the water is still, you can see the moon reflected. If the water is agitated, the moon is fragmented and scattered. It is harder to see the true moon. Our minds are like that. When our minds are agitated, we cannot see the true world.”

Even though Zen Shorts 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 10 complex sentences. Younger readers may not understand the meaning of Stillwater’s stories. However, much like Aesop’s Fables, Zen Shorts would be an excellent book to use as a conversation starter. Even though younger readers may not understand all of the stories’ messages, the book will still spark readers’ imagination. After reading Zen Shorts, readers will want a panda of their own.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

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Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

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Maggie and the Flying Horse

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 unicorns, griffins, and even talking horses.

One day, Maggie stumbles upon a tiny, injured flying horse. The only way to help the horse is to take it to a kindly stableman her grandmother once told her about. But in order to do so, Maggie must journey through the forest, which is full of dangerous trolls and goblins. Will Maggie reach the stable in time to save her new friend?

Fans of fairytales will fall in love with Maggie and the magical animals that live in the Enchanted Forest. Similar to Cinderella, Maggie has a mean stepmother who makes her do all of the work. She also has a mean stepbrother, who blames her for everything. Despite this, Maggie is always cheerful and kind to others. In addition, she is willing to help the injured horse even though she knows it will displease her stepmother.

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 Flying Horse is accessible to readers ready for chapter books.

Maggie and the Flying Horse is the first in the Magic Animal Rescue Series and sets up the background for many adventures to come. With plenty of suspense, magical animals, and a hungry troll, Maggie and the Flying Horse will keep young readers entertained until the very end. Parents will appreciate Maggie, who is a kind protagonist and doesn’t complain despite her stepmother’s harsh treatment. The story is perfect for readers who love animals and fairytales. Readers will be eager to read the next book in the series, Maggie and the Wish Fish.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

A griffin tries to peck Maggie. “Maggie picked up a small stone and threw it. . . The next stone grazed its wing. Startled, the griffin flew back into the forest.”
Maggie is hiding from goblins when a flying horse lands on her. “Soon, an entire herd of little horses landed on Maggie. Some nipped her with their tiny teeth. Others kicked her with their tiny hooves.” When a horsefly begins tickling her, Maggie “moved her hand just enough to brush it off. The tiny horse fell to the ground and looked up at her with terrified eyes.” Maggie takes the horse to someone who can fix its wing.
A troll chases Maggie in the hopes of eating her. Maggie climbs up a tree and the troll follows. “And then he was there, drooling as he stretched his arm toward her.” When sunlight touches the troll, he turns to stone.

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

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Supernatural

Maggie lives near an enchanted forest that has magical creatures. One day she talks to a frog, who tells her, “I’m a human prince. A wicked witch turned me into a frog, and I need a human princess to kiss me so I can become my old self again.”
Maggie sees a cabbit. Maggie’s friend says, “A witch combined a cat and a rabbit. She thought they’d be extra cuddly. She was right.”

Spiritual Content

None

The Sound of Danger

Mac heads to England on a special mission for the Queen of England. Someone has been stealing the famous Stradivarius violins. In order to discover the culprit, Mac will have to go into a deserted museum in the middle of the night where he meets a mummy. With the Queen’s corgi, Freddie, Mac also travels to Italy where he scales the walls of the Tower of Cremona. A guard imprisons Mac so the President of Italy can question him.

After escaping Italy, Mac travels to Russia where he faces a dangerous showdown with the Russian Red Army Choir. In the end, Mac is able to return the violins to their rightful owners. However, the KGB man tries to get even with the Queen of England by playing the Tetris song. Unbeknownst to him, Mac had changed the boom box’s tape and the KGB man blasts a New Kids on the Block song instead. (Once you read the book, you will understand the ending’s humor.)

Whether you have read all of the books in the Mac B Kid Spy Series or are a first-time reader, The Sound of Danger is sure to tickle your silly bone. When Mac goes on another mission for the Queen of England, the interplay between Mac and the Queen is laugh-out-loud funny. While the villain—the KGB man—is the same in all of the books, readers will still have fun guessing when the KGB man will show up and try to thwart Max.

The Sound of Danger is humorous, and it is also packed full of history. For example, the Queen of England says, “The Cold War is called a cold war because it was not fought with bullets. . . It is about which side has better spies. Which side has better stories. Which side has better ideas.” The story also teaches readers about the different parts of an orchestra, the Stradivarius, the Tetris game, and the ’80s. Some of the facts seem far-fetched, which Mac acknowledges when he writes, “It’s true. You can look it up.” Readers can trust Mac’s facts because they are true — but it’s still fun to look them up.

The Sound of Danger uses short chapters, easy vocabulary, and interesting characters to appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Every page has large illustrations that have pops of turquoise and yellow. Many of the illustrations are funny, especially the ones with the Queen of England and her “not amused” facial expressions. The illustrations also show different musical instruments, geographical locations, and historical people.

The Sound of Danger uses a humorous story and interesting characters to teach about history. Both the text and the illustrations work together to create humor and explain the historical facts. Even though The Sound of Danger is a really quick read, all of the mystery’s threads are explained. Readers looking for more humorous mystery books will also enjoy the Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Series by Julie Falatko.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

The Queen of England tells Mac about Marie Antoinette. “But in 1789 things in France began to go wild. There was a revolution! And in 1793 they cut off the queen’s head.”
A Russian soldier tries to capture Mac. “He swung a balalaika at my head—at my head!—but I ducked. The instrument made an awful song as it shattered against a stone pillar. Freddie (the Queen’s corgi) hopped out of the front of my shirt. He tugged at the man’s pant cuff with his teeth, which gave me the chance to escape.”
Mac gets thrown into a USSR prison.

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

The Queen of England says poppycock, balderdash, and rubbish.

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Great Reef Games

Round two of the race takes the teams to the Great Barrier Reef. In order to answer the clues, the teams must become underwater explorers. Sage is determined for her team to stay in first place. The team will meet dangerous sea creatures—scorpion fish, a blue-ringed octopus, and other sea dangers. As Sage bosses her team around, she becomes pushy and argumentative.

The second installment of the Race to the Wild Series focuses on Sage. The story continues to hint that Sage has a secret that motivates her to win and to be protective of Mari. Throughout the adventure, Mari is ill, which reminds Sage of her sister’s accident. When Mari helps Sage, Sage gets defensive and says, “You don’t look out for me. That’s not your job. I can take care of myself.” The conclusion never explains why Mari was sluggist, and Sage’s big secret is anticlimactic. However, Sage does realize that it isn’t her job to always look after everyone. Instead, each team member has their own special talent and all of them need to have each other’s backs.

The Great Reef Games is crammed full of facts about the Great Barrier Reef and the animals that live there. In one scene, Mari finds a sea turtle that is wrapped in a net. Mari and her team stay with the turtle until someone from the animal rescue center comes to help. While most of the story focuses on the kids and the race, they still rely on adults when they need additional help.

In Rain Forest Relay, Russell discovers that his friends are cheating, but he doesn’t turn them in. The second book of the series doesn’t address this issue. Even though Race the Wild is a competition, the red team has no interaction with other teams. Despite this, readers will enjoy the fast-paced story that highlights the importance of teamwork. One positive aspect of the story is that several of the characters are “unusually intelligent,” which is a huge advantage for the team. However, as the red team learns more about each other, the boys team up and are often snarky.

Great Reef Games is very similar to the television show The Amazing Race. Because the characters are in a competition, the characters spend very little time in the same place. While the race is interesting, a lot of animal information is thrown at the reader. Occasionally, the story seems more like a textbook than an adventure story. Great Reef Games incorporates Sage’s secret into the story, but this part of the story seems forced. Despite this, readers will enjoy trying to solve the race’s clues as well as learning about sea life. With nine short chapters, black and white illustrations every 3-6 pages, and interesting facts about the Great Barrier Reef, proficient readers will enjoy the underwater adventure. Older readers who love sea life should add Dragged from Under: The Bull Shark by Joseph Monninger to their must-read list.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Cece Loves Science

Cece loves to ask questions which is one reason she is so excited when her teacher, Ms. Curie, assigns a science project. Cece and her best friend Isaac both love zoology, so they decide to find out if dogs eat vegetables, and Cece’s dog Einstein will be the perfect test subject.

Cece and Isaac give Einstein different vegetables, but he refuses to eat them, even when they are covered with ketchup and bacon. Then Cece gets a great idea! Einstein loves bananas. Would Einstein eat vegetables if she made a vegetable and banana smoothie?

Both Cece’s parents and teacher encourage Cece to ask questions and then investigate to discover the answer. While in school, Ms. Curie introduces four famous scientists as well as different types of science. When Ms. Curie assigns the science project, Cece and Isaac use the scientific method which includes brainstorming, observing, and experimenting with different variables. The two friends use Ms. Curie’s Science Project Worksheet to document their experiment. The project worksheet appears throughout the story, which helps readers understand Cece and Isaac’s process.

Cece Loves Science introduces young readers to the scientific method in an easy-to-understand format. The brightly colored, full-page illustrations show Cece and Isaac in action. The illustrations highlight the characters’ facial expressions which helps readers understand their emotions. Readers will laugh at Einstein’s antics as he tries to avoid eating vegetables. The story’s text and illustrations expertly combine into an engaging format that will capture readers’ attention.

Even though Cece Loves Science is educational, the information is integrated into the story’s plot and never feels like a school lesson. 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 interpret, investigate and guarantee. Even though Cece Loves Science has more text than the average picture book, the fun science project will keep readers interested until the very end.

The supportive adults, diverse characters, and fun experiments make Cece Loves Science a must-read book. A two-page glossary appears at the back of the book. The glossary explains the scientists introduced in the story as well as defines science words. Cece’s curiosity is contagious, and her story will spark readers’ interest in science. After reading Cece Loves Science readers will be eager to try an experiment of their own. For more science fun, readers should check out the Ada Twist Series by Andrea Beaty, which includes both picture books and chapter books.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

The Force Oversleeps

Victor cannot wait for his second year at the Jedi Academy! He’s ready to get back to school and see all his friends . . . only there’s a new kid in school who is on a mission to steal Victor’s thunder. As Victor deals with the jealousy of having a new kid steal so much attention, he also has to worry about his older sister Christina. For some reason, Christina’s old friends are bullying her and accusing her of going to the Dark Side. As Victor investigates, he begins to wonder if his sister is going to the Dark Side, and how he can stop her before it’s too late!

In the sixth installment of the Jedi Academy series, Victor seems to have forgotten many of the lessons he learned in the previous books. The story focuses on jealousy and not judging people based on their first impressions. Victor becomes jealous when the new student, Zavyer, gets a lot of attention from Victor’s friends. But when Zavyer is nice to Victor, even after Victor teases him, Victor begins to realize that Zavyer might be a good guy after all. The two boys learn they have a lot of things in common, and eventually become friends. Just in time, as Victor needs all the friends he can get as his sister appears to slip farther and farther to the Dark Side . . .

The Force Oversleeps is just as much fun as A New Class, but adds a mystery, sister-drama, and new-girl Elara. Elara is a positive addition to the story; she’s a little stalkerish, but also sweet and supportive of Victor. However, the story doesn’t just focus on school. Victor also has issues dealing with his step-father and he misses his dad. When Victor’s parents visit at the end, his mom says, “I must say, you were never this excited about school before.” His stepfather points out, “He just needed to find something he was passionate about.” Victor admits, he still has “some work to do in regards to my self-control,” but he continues to learn important lessons and he faces each obstacle with determination and optimism.

Told from Victor’s point of view, much of the story is written in an easy-to-read, diary format. The diary entries are frequently broken up by school newsletters, fun galaxy feeds, and space-themed comics. In addition, part of The Force Oversleeps is told in graphic-novel format. Large, often comical, black and white illustrations appear on every page. The illustrations show Victor’s range of emotions and bring the other human and alien characters to life. The illustrations break up the text, making each page accessible to most readers.

The Force Oversleeps is an entertaining story that is perfect for middle-grade readers because it deals with the topics of cyberbullying, crushes, and typical middle school drama. While the story teaches positive lessons, the tone is never preachy. Victor is a relatable, imperfect character, who shows personal growth. His story will encourage readers to be kind and not judge others based on first impressions.

Sexual Content

In a comic Victor draws, he is leaning in to kiss his crush when “evil droids attacked” and interrupted them.

Violence

Victor is attacked by a man on the Dark Side. Victor and his friends battle the man with lightsabers. A teacher shows up and arrests the man.

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

Victor’s sister calls him a “nerf herder.”

Supernatural

Victor lives in a Star Wars-inspired time, with lightsabers, aliens, starships, and more. He goes to a school for future Jedi and learns to use the Force.

Spiritual Content

None

by Morgan Lynn

InvestiGators Take the Plunge

Investigators Brash and Mango go undercover in order to intercept a rocket that carries the stolen code for the Combinotron—a device that can stick any two things together. Instead of destroying the code, the investigators accidentally download the code into a robot that has been programmed to hug people. After a freak accident, the robot is able to travel through electricity. And every time the robot hugs someone, that person combines with whatever they are touching.

When Crackerdile learns about the Combinotron, he is determined to steal the code. In his current state—being part cracker and part alligator—Crackerdile is in danger of being dissolved or eaten. Crackerdile hopes to use the Combinotron to merge with metal. Will Crackerdile be able to steal the code, or can Brash and Mango thwart him off?

Investigators Take the Plunge is an imaginative graphic novel that is laugh-out-loud funny. The combination of human and animal characters blend to mix into a ridiculous story that uses wordplay to add humor. Even though some of the humor revolves around Brash’s need to go to the bathroom, the bathroom humor is never gross. As Brash and Mango work the case, they use fun spy gadgets, compete against a team of badger agents, flood the sewers, and are responsible for unleashing an evil villain.

The imaginative story comes alive in brightly colored artwork that shows the characters’ wide range of emotions. The text is large and uses different font sizes, which help emphasize the characters’ emotions as well as important aspects of the story. Similar to superhero comics, the story contains onomatopoeias such as crash, bwonk, and foosh. Another positive aspect is that the human scientists are a diverse group of characters who have a wide range of skin tones.

The illustrations and the unique storyline with Brash and Mango will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Each page has 3 to 11 sentences per page. The sentences range from one word to more complex sentences. The varied sentence lengths add to the humor while keeping the story accessible to all readers.

Investigators Take the Plunge will appeal to many readers because honestly, who doesn’t want to see two alligator investigators wreak havoc? The story is unique, full of slapstick humor, and contains a non-frightening villain. Readers who enjoy humorous graphic novels that border on the ridiculous should add Mac B. Kid Spy by Mac Barnett and Two Dogs in a Trench Coat by Julie Falatko to their reading list.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

A doctor is upset when “the robot ghosts! It came out of my TB and then lunged at me! There was a flash of light and I must have passed out. When I came to, the Robot Ghost was gone, but I discovered I had. . .banana hands!”
A doctor is “combined with the salad I was eating for dinner” when “the Robot Ghost came out of my lamp and attacked me!”
When two members of the S.U.I.T—who are badgers—try to stop the Robot Ghost, the ghost zaps them and the badgers are turned into “badger badges.”

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

The villain’s mission is “the Total Annihilation of Idiot Law-doers!”
A scientist yells, “Get ya butt in here!”
Drat is used as an exclamation once.

Supernatural

A scientist changes “from mild-mannered brain surgeon Dr. Jake Hardbones into the Action News Now helicopter in the sky.”
The Combinotron is a device that can “stick any two things together!” The Combinotron’s code accidentally gets downloaded into a robot that likes to hug. When the robot hugs someone, the person is combined with whatever they are touching. The robot can move through electrical outlets.
After being hugged by a robot, a plumber combines with a snake, making the anaconda his arm.
The Crackerdile is an alligator that has been combined with a saltine cracker.

Spiritual Content

None

Tooth Fairy’s Night

The Tooth Fairy wakes up and prepares for a night collecting teeth and leaving money under pillows. First, she enters a little girl’s room and gets the tooth but she has a hard time wiggling it free from under the pillow. Then, she flies to a little boy’s room, where she has to use fairy dust to put the dog to sleep. The Tooth Fairy takes a break for a cup of tea and some cake.

The Tooth Fairy goes to another house, where a cat takes a swipe at her. It’s a good thing that the fairy can fly so fast. At the last house, the Tooth Fairy has to squeeze between a zoo of stuffed animals. When the job is done, the Tooth Fairy flies home, brushes her teeth, and goes to bed.

Tooth Fairy’s Night is intended for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. With large text, easy words, and full-page pictures on every page, Tooth Fairy’s Night is a quick story to read. Each page has 2 to 7 words and many of the sentences only have one word.

Younger readers will enjoy both the story and the cute illustrations that fill every page. While the Tooth Fairy is magical, she is also very similar to every child—she packs a lunch, feeds her pet, and brushes her teeth before bed. Conflict is built when the fairy has to struggle to open a window, watch out for a pet, and stay out of a cat’s paws. The fairy is adorably cute, dances through her work, and when she takes her wings off, she looks just like other little girls.

The story is perfect for preschool and kindergarten readers who are ready to learn to read. Parents will enjoy reading the story aloud, especially because it’s such a quick read. Readers will enjoy looking at the pictures that are packed with fun details such as a child’s drawings hanging on the wall and the pretty flowers outside of the window. After reading Tooth Fairy’s Night, younger readers just might want to put on their own wings and pretend to fly around the house.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

When the tooth fairy enters a house with a dog, she uses “sleep dust” and soon the dog is “out like a log.”

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Brown: The Many Shades of Love

The narrator, an unnamed boy, describes the varied skin tones of his immediate and extended family. The boy starts with his mama whose brown “is chocolate. It’s clear, dark, and sweet.” The book ends with the boy explaining that “I love to paint our shades of skin, and give each one a name. I love my family.”

Each page has two short lines. The lines describe a family member’s skin. For example, “Sister’s brown like polished pine—fragrant, tall and strong.” The boy describes eleven members of his family and uses nature and food to describe each person’s skin tone. Even though each person is a different shade of brown, the boy acknowledges, “We’re different and the same.”

The picture book’s illustrations look similar to watercolors. One side of the page is shaded brown, like the person’s skin. The illustrations celebrate the unique skin color of each person. For example, “Uncle’s brown like coffee beans, a dark and fragrant blend.”

Brown: The Many Shades of Love uses child-friendly language to show how each person in a family looks different, but they all share one thing—love. Even though Brown: The Many Shades of Love 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. The poem uses easy vocabulary and each page has two lines of text. Readers who enjoy Brown: The Many Shades of Love, should also read Love by Matt De La Peña which also shows the importance of a family’s love.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Chocolate Dreams

Life in Sugar Valley is deliciously fun! Cocoa the chocolate fairy is so excited. The fairy princess picked her to watch over the special chocolate eggs for the spring Egg Parade. But right before the parade, the eggs are missing from the nest!

Cocoa and her friends discover that the troll under the bridge ordered the Chuchies to bring the eggs to him. With the help of her friends, Cocoa finds the courage to tell Princess Lolli that the eggs are missing. Princess Lolli and Cocoa devise a trick to get the chocolate eggs back.

Chocolate Dreams is a super sweet story that has many candy references that readers will find cute. For example, one fairy has a “huge chocolate mess” and the troll who lives under a bridge is “a salty old troll” who lives in the Black Licorice Swamp. Readers will wish that they could visit Sugar Valley and enjoy some of the sugary snacks.

When the chocolate eggs disappear, Cocoa’s desire to find the eggs provides enough suspense to keep readers entertained. The predictable villain and his minions aren’t scary. His minions are “Chuchies” who are “sneaky creatures” who live in the swamp. Chuchies have “pom-pom bodies” and “short, thin legs.”

Chocolate Dreams 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 fairies’ friendship is super sweet and they emulate positive traits. For example, when the chocolate eggs are stolen, Cocoa’s friends encourage her to tell the truth. In addition, when Cocoa is in trouble her friends “dropped everything” to help her. Chocolate Dreams takes readers into an imaginative world that will engage readers as it teaches important lessons about honesty and friendship.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

The fairies say exclamations such as “peppermint sticks,” “Holy peppermint” and “bittersweet chocolate.”

Supernatural

The fairies have magic. “Chocolate Fairies had chocolate magic. They could create chocolate candy with a simple touch.”

Spiritual Content

None

Valentine’s Day Disaster

Geronimo Stilton was excited to have all of his friends over for a Valentine’s Day party. He sent valentines to all of his friends and family members. But when he opened his mailbox on February 14^th, it was empty! Have his friends forgotten about him? Is he destined to spend the year alone in his mouse hole, sobbing into a box of chocolate cheesy chews?

Even though Geronimo didn’t receive any valentine cards, he prepares for his party. But the clumsy mouse has a string of bad luck. Thankfully, he meets Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout, a rodeo gal, who has a solution to every problem. Geronimo’s new friend reminds him that, “Life is beautiful, the world is marvelous, and I love everyone!” Can Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout help save the Valentine’s Day party?

As Geronimo prepares for his party, he has accident after accident. While Geronimo’s bad luck is funny, Valentine’s Day Disaster doesn’t have the adventure of the other books in the series. However, readers will still enjoy seeing Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout save the day over and over. In the end, Geronimo realizes that “friendship really is a treasure.”

Valentine’s Day Disaster’s layout will draw the reader in with large, full-color illustrations that appear on every page. In addition to the often humorous illustrations, the large text has a graphic element that makes the words look fun. Some of the keywords are printed in a larger, colored print. For readers who still struggle with reading, Valentine’s Day Disaster would make a great book to read aloud while letting the child read the words that are in the colored print.

Whether you are a Geronimo Stilton fan or a first-time reader, Valentine’s Day Disaster is a fun book. The beginning of the book has a two-page, illustrated list of Geronimo’s friends and the back of the book has a map of Mouse Island. There is also a short introduction of Geronimo’s enemy, Sally Ratmousen, and Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout. While some of the characters appear in different books in the series, the series does not need to be read in order.

Mixed into the story are short passages about the history behind Valentine’s Day and how pizza was invented. There is also information about cupid and instructions on how to line dance. Readers who want to host a Valentine’s Day party can use Cheesy Lou Sweetsnout’s How to Organize a Valentine’s Day Party Guide. You can make your guests laugh by telling the jokes that appear at the end of the book.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Mango Moon

One day Maricela’s father doesn’t come home. With her father in a detention center awaiting deportation, Maricela’s whole life changes. Her mother has to work two jobs, her family had to move in with Maricela’s aunt, and she has to change schools.

Maricela misses her father so much that it makes her stomach hurt. And everywhere she looks, she’s reminded that her father is gone. She misses him pushing her on the swings. She misses him coaching her soccer team. And she misses him whenever she sees the moon, the bright orange moon that is just like the mango Maricela was eating the last time she and her father looked at the night sky together from their porch.

Mango Moon tackles the difficult topic of deportation by focusing on one girl’s struggle. Maricela and her brother were born in the United States, and her mother has a visa. But Maricela doesn’t understand how her father can be sent to a dangerous county because “Papi never did anything wrong; he just didn’t have papers.”

Beautiful illustrations show Maricela’s range of emotions—confusion, loneliness, fear, and sadness. Her father’s absence is felt in every picture. On one page, Maricela hugs her father’s picture, and on another, she reads her father’s letters. The most touching picture is when both Maricela and her father are looking up at the same moon, but Maricela is in her backyard and her father is in a detention center. In the illustration, her father is holding a card that Maricela made for him. The illustrations highlight Maricela’s emotions, which often contrast with the bright illustrations. Most of the illustrations have mango color, which helps remind the reader of Maricela’s last night with her father.

While Mango Moon doesn’t talk about the political aspect of immigration, the story does show the devastating effects of families being separated. Unlike many stories, Mango Moon doesn’t end on a happy note. Instead, Maricela expects her father to be sent to another country, alone. Like many children of undocumented immigrants, Maricela is teased at school which only adds to her worries. Maricela’s story is heartbreaking because it shows how Maricela’s life is shattered.

Any parent who wants to broach the subject of immigration should read Mango Moon with their child. Even though the story is a picture book, young readers will need help understanding the difficult subject. De Anda writes about immigration’s hardships in a child-friendly manner that shows it is “all right for us to cry.” Many children may face similar hardships to Maricela, and Mango Moon can help them process the confusing emotions of having a parent deported. Even if you are not in a similar situation, Mango Moon can help kids grow empathy and understand the pain of losing a parent.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Caterflies and Ice

Zoey is excited when an unexpected spring snowstorm covers the ground in snow. Then Zoey learns that the snow is causing trouble for some of the magical creatures of the forest. Zoey and Sassafras come to their rescue. But their first attempt to save trapped caterflies eggs results in a big mistake. Can they figure out a way to fix things before the baby caterflies hatch?

Like the previous book in the series, Zoey uses science to solve problems. Her mom gives a demonstration showing what salt does to plants. This demonstration would be easy for readers to recreate. When Zoey tries, and accidentally hurts the plants that the caterflies babies will need to eat, Zoey’s mother doesn’t scold her. Instead, she says, “We all make mistakes.” Then her mother helps Zoey find a workable solution. Zoey documents her experiences in her science journal, and when Zoey writes in the journal, the font changes to large, kid-like font. Instead of telling Zoey what to do, her mom asks Zoey questions in order to guide her to a workable solution.

Younger readers will love the cute caterflies that look similar to kittens with wings and will love when Sassafras jumps in and helps keep the caterflies safe and warm. As Zoey helps the caterflies, the reader will learn about plants, caterpillars, and how they change into butterflies. Zoey’s adventure is shown through large black and white illustrations that appear on almost every page. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, plenty of dialogue, and a simple plot, Dragons and Marshmallows is accessible to most readers.

Caterflies and Ice will appeal to younger readers as well as parents. With her mom’s help, Zoey is able to come up with creative solutions to problems. For example, when Sassafras doesn’t like the wet snow, Zoey makes protective feet covers. In addition, Zoey is a relatable character who loves exploring, bugs, and using science to solve problems. Her cat Sassafras adds some humor to the story. In addition, her parents are portrayed in a positive manner and encourage Zoey to continue trying new things, even when she makes a mistake.

Zoey and Sassafras show the fun of science and the importance of taking care of the environment. The story ends with a glossary. Even though Zoey and Sassafras is a series, the books do not need to be read in order. Caterflies and Ice is an entertaining story that has a little bit of magic and a whole lot of important lessons. Readers who love science should also add The Data Set Series by Ada Hopper to their must-read list.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

Zoey and her mom are the only people that can see and talk to the magical creatures that live in the forest.
When Zoey takes a picture of a magical creature, “every photo saves a bit of magic with it.”

Spiritual Content

None

The Baby Firebird

Talia lives in a tropical rain forest that is home to a flock of magical firebirds. She meets a baby firebird, Riki. The firebird is curious about the human world. As Riki explores Talia’s house, Lord Fortescue appears. He’s determined to imprison all of the firebirds. When Lord Fortescue finds out about the Cave of Wonders, he’s convinced he can capture the birds and find treasure. Riki, Talia, and her friend Lucas go into the rainforest so they can warn the firebirds to hide.

The firebirds are able to hide from Lord Fortescue, but the evil man and his soldiers put huge boulders in front of the Cave of Wonders. Without the heat from the magical waters, the firebirds become weak. The stones are too large for Talia and Lucas to move. Even though it may be dangerous, the two friends go to wake up a sleeping dragon, who reluctantly agrees to help the firebirds.

The Baby Firebird quickly draws readers into the story and keeps them in suspense until the very end. Even though Lord Fortescue and his soldiers are dangerous, the kids only have one interaction with them. For the rest of the story, they are either spying on Lord Fortescue or hiding from him. However, the evil man adds a non-fighting villain to the plot.

Talia and Lucas are likable, brave characters. Even though humans are not allowed into the forest, Talia and Lucas break the rule because it was the only way to warn the firebirds about Lord Fortescue. Later, the dragon agrees to help the firebirds, but only if Talia gives him her sparkly rock. Even though the Speaking Stone is special, Talia puts the firebirds’ needs first and gives the stone to the dragon. In the end, Talia recognizes that Lord Fortescue and his soldiers, “wanted to find gold, but they missed the real treasure that’s already here—the animals!”

The first book in the series, The Sky Unicorn, introduced 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 Baby Firebird accessible to readers. Illustrations appear every 2-4 pages and help readers understand the plot.

The Baby Firebird is a fast-paced, suspenseful chapter book that has wide appeal. Young readers will admire Talia for her kindness, bravery, and selflessness. Talia’s behavior shows the importance of protecting animals, including staying out of animals’ habitats. Readers who enjoy animal stories should also add Rainbow Magic Series by Daisy Meadows and the Enchanted Pony Academy Series by Lisa Ann Scot to their reading list.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

Talia meets a baby firebird. “Talia knew the flames must be magical, as they never scorched the flowers or leaves.”
Firebirds get their magic from the Cave of Wonders, which is a “magical fire pool.” Talia “touched the golden surface with her fingers and drew back her hand immediately, surprised by the tickly feeling in her fingers.”
Talia is given a magical Speaking Stone that allows her to talk to magical creatures.

Spiritual Content

None

All Are Welcome

Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms no matter their race, religion, or background. The picture book begins with families being welcomed to school. The story shows events that happen during a typical school day such as playing at recess, making music, having lunch, and presenting science projects. Each page repeats the refrain, “All are welcome here.”

The end of the book transitions to the children’s home life. Two pages show some of the kids sleeping, but in their dreams, they are playing with a special friend. Even though everyone is different, “we’re part of a community. Our strength is our diversity. A shelter from adversity. All are welcome here.” The picture book shows the importance of accepting others despite differences.

The picture book’s illustrations are bursting with colorful details. The book includes a diverse group of children including a girl in a wheelchair and a blind boy. One page includes a Muslim girl praying. The children’s clothes are bright, colorful, and full of patterns. Parents may want to point out the two girls who seem to be special friends and are playing in most of the pictures. The children’s hair is messy, and many of them have missing teeth which adds charm to the pictures.

All Are Welcome is a quick read since each two-page spread contains 2 to 4 rhyming lines of text. The end of the book has folded pages that can be removed and used as a poster. Both the words and the illustrations celebrate a group of diverse people that make up a community. A world map appears in several of the pictures which reinforces the idea that “No matter how you start your day. What you wear when you play. Or if you come from far away. All are welcome here.”

All Are Welcome would be a wonderful read-aloud book that will introduce readers to the concept of being accepting of everyone despite their differences. In a world filled with division, All Are Welcome will help young readers understand the importance of being kind, inclusive, and accepting others. Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith is another wonderful book about accepting people’s differences.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Valentine’s Day Secret

It’s Valentine’s Day, but things are not all hearts and flowers for Nancy! While she and her best friends, Bess and George, are making their own stuffed animals at Farmer Fan’s Barnyard Buddies, someone slips a mean valentine into Bess’s animal’s pocket. What’s worse than a mean valentine? Even worse, Bess thinks it came from George! Now the two are in the worst fight ever—and Nancy’s caught in the middle! How can she sew Bess and George’s friendship—not to mention the Clue Crew—back together?

Pink hot chocolate, dressed-up stuffed animals, and sharing cards all combine to make an interesting mystery. The friendship drama is integrated into the mystery, and the two topics combine to highlight the importance of forgiveness. While looking for clues, Nancy’s dog chews Colette’s new cow slippers. Nancy offers to save her allowance to buy Colette another pair. Even though Colette is upset, she forgives Nancy and says, “Dogs will be dogs. That’s why I like cows.” The story concludes when the culprit is discovered, and the three friends quickly forgive the valentine writer and each other.

Valentine’s Day Secret has many positive aspects that parents will appreciate. Like all children, Nancy and her two best friends squabble but eventually resolve their problems and remain best friends. In addition to using the powers of observation, the three friends are polite, ask permission before they jump into action, and show kindness to others.

Young mystery fans will not only enjoy the mystery but also the wordplay that appears in Valentine’s Day Secret. Readers will relate to Nancy, who is caught in the middle of her friends’ fight. Even though the three main characters are friends, they are unique individuals who have different interests. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 5 pages, which break up the text and help readers visualize the events in the plot. The last page of the book gives directions for making a charming Valentine pencil. This modern version of Nancy Drew will entertain today’s readers who will want to analyze the clues to see if they can determine who wrote the mean valentine.

Sexual Content