Reading Level: Early Elementary

The Desert Challenge

Sophie loves camp – except for all the creepy crawlies. Getting trapped in the tent with a Daddy Long Legs is terrifying, and spiders make her scream. It’s so embarrassing. But then a mysterious compass transports her to a fiercely hot desert, where Bear Grylls, her guide, is waiting. The sun is beating down, and together they must trek to find water and overcome the dangers of lurking in the dunes.

Sophie’s fear of all bugs is extreme. When she sees a bug in her tent, she thinks, “Insects just made her feel sick, and there was nothing she could do about it. She hated them all. Spiders, wasps, bees, beetles, caterpillars, earwigs. . .” While readers may not relate to her fear of bugs, she remains a likable character because she openly admits to her fear and never complains about it. When Sophie is transported to the desert, she eagerly learns about the dangers lurking in the desert as well as how to survive.

During her adventure, Bear shows her how to survive, including how the desert provides food. Sophie discovers that eating a scorpion isn’t as disgusting as expected, and she overcomes her fear when she sees “an enormous snake, coiled, and staring right at her.” Instead of panicking, she is “strangely calm. [The desert] was changing her for the better, making her tougher. She was learning to deal with shock and trauma like someone who could handle the pressure of the desert.”

The Desert Challenge has large text and illustrations that will appeal to readers and help readers visualize the story’s events. Because the book is written in the UK, some of the terms will be unfamiliar. For example, the zipline is referred to as a zipwire, and a flashlight is called a torch. Additionally, some of the desert terms may be new to readers, but the context clues make it easy to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words. For example, Bear explains that a wadi is “a dry riverbed.”

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

The story’s conclusion is abrupt, making it feel as if Sophie’s journey was cut off too quickly. However, readers familiar with the Bear Grylls Adventure Series will enjoy the familiar format and the easy-to-understand plot. The Desert Challenge teaches important lessons about overcoming your fears. The engaging format, the simple plot, and the encouraging message make The Desert Challenge a good choice for readers who aren’t ready to tackle longer, more complex books.

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Bear kills a scorpion in order to eat it. “He pulled out his knife and killed it calmly and quickly, then cut off the stinger on its tail and put the scorpion in his pocket.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • When Sophie falls off a zipline, she thinks, “What kind of idiot can’t even sit on a zipwire?” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Elvis & Romeo

Elvis & Romeo is a lighthearted story about two dogs who couldn’t be more different, yet they still manage to form an unexpected friendship. Elvis is a serious, older bulldog that shows little interest in games. Romeo is an energetic, young golden retriever. When the two meet at the dog park, Romeo attempts to play games such as tag and hide-and-seek with Elvis. Despite Elvis wanting nothing to do with him, Romeo continues his attempt to bond with the grumpy dog. The contrast in their personalities is both amusing and relatable for children, especially those who have had to learn how to get along with someone very different from themselves. 

The dogs shine as the only characters in the book, with only brief illustrations of other dogs and humans present. Romeo’s enthusiasm is contagious and will entertain readers as he attempts to win Elvis’s friendship. What finally brings them together is not a game, but something much simpler: a shared love of sandwiches. The moment is simple, silly, and powerful. The dogs connect over something they both enjoy, showing young readers that friendship can begin with the smallest common ground. The rest of the story shows the two new friends dreaming of the world’s best sandwich, getting excited over treats, and leaving the park having had a great day.  

Elvis & Romeo is a funny, sweet, and emotionally intelligent story. It explores themes of patience, respect, and friendship in a way that young readers can easily understand. The colorful illustrations are warm and expressive, capturing the personality of each dog. There is no huge conflict or high stakes in this story; instead, it follows a slow progression from frustration to friendship. Elvis & Romeo is a thoughtful and playful story that encourages empathy and finding joy in each other’s differences. 

Elvis & Romeo uses varied text placement and page design to enhance the story’s humor and pacing. The spacing and rhythm reflect the emotional beats, especially in moments of chaos, such as when treats are brought up. The illustrations are full of life, featuring a warm and inviting color palette. The story also employs onomatopoeia to add energy and humor. Fun word sounds, such as “chomp” and “crinkle,” make it perfect for a read-aloud experience. Each two-page spread has one to five short sentences and funny illustrations that will keep readers engaged.  

Children who are learning to share space, build friendships, and understand different personalities will relate to Elvis and Romeo’s conflict. The book uses humor to show that meaningful connections can form in the most unexpected ways. Through a silly yet powerful story, it encourages readers to slow down, stay open-minded, and remember that sometimes all it takes is a sandwich to bring two hearts together.  

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • None

Language 

  • OMG is used once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Gravity Falls: Lost Legends

Four new short, illustrated stories from the Gravity Falls universe explode from the page in this exciting graphic novel! Shmebulock, the gnome who is cursed to only speak his name—except for one night every 1,000 years—spills the beans on four thrilling new stories! After each story, he presents a witty joke or a brief epilogue, concluding each story in a satisfying manner. 

In Face It, Pacifica Northwest comes to her friends, Mabel and Dipper Pines, hoping for some magic to make her ageless. Against their wishes, she summons the monster Mr. What’s-His-Face, who steals Mabel’s face! Dipper and Pacifica must travel to an underground monster market to get it back. Pacifica overcomes her vanity when she realizes that beauty is not the most important aspect of a person. 

In Comix Up!, Stanley Pines (Dipper and Mabel’s grand-uncle) accidently curses a comic book and then gets sucked into it. Dipper, Mabel, their friends Soos and Wendy, and their other grand-uncle Stanford, all must travel through various comic book styles to save him. Stanley Pines initially makes fun of comic books but later reveals that he actually loves comic books and is jealous because his comic book series never took off. 

In Don’t Dimension It, Mabel gets transported to an alternate dimension where everyone is another version of her! As her grand-uncles try to save her, she must work together with her other selves and learn a valuable lesson about the dangers of selfishness.  

Finally, in The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanley and Stanford Pines flashback to when they were kids, solving the mystery of who stole their dad’s gold chain. They encounter a rival set of mystery-solving twins, as well as the Jersey Devil itself. Then they confront their relationship difficulties with their father and each other.  

The graphic novel format of this book will appeal to many readers because of how bright and vibrant the illustrations are. Each story has a new illustrator, meaning the styles slightly change depending on the story—for example, Don’t Dimension It, which is about Mabel, is drawn in a slightly more cutesy style. Furthermore, Comix Up! uses comic book illustration style in an incredibly fun way—the style of illustration regularly changes from manga to Peanuts-influenced to superhero-esque! Each page of each story has numerous speech and thought bubbles, so readers get lots of chances to read real dialogue rather than only looking at pictures. 

The main characters of each story are humorous and entertaining, but also often overcome a flaw in an admirable fashion. Because the characters learn more about themselves and how to be kinder people, their journeys are truly charming, and it is easy to fall in love with them. Furthermore, highlighting each characters’ flaws portrays them as realistic, three-dimensional characters rather than perfect heroes.  

Despite the light-hearted tone of the book, the stories deal with serious topics such as vanity, self-esteem, selfishness, and more. Pacifica’s aforementioned issues with vanity are one, but Stanley Pines’ self-consciousness as the “dumb twin” is also addressed in The Jersey Devil’s in the Details. Furthermore, Mabel must confront how, despite her intentions, she can be unwittingly self-centered and not think about what anyone else wants. She learns a valuable lesson about being more aware of others. These lessons are articulated quite gracefully, without feeling out-of-place or preachy. 

The graphic novel is a lot of fun, but it might not be very fulfilling for readers who have not seen the original show Gravity Falls. Gravity Falls is a cartoon on Disney Channel about twins Dipper and Mabel moving to the supernatural town of Gravity Falls and discovering its mysteries. There are numerous references to the show, and readers unfamiliar with it will likely be confused. However, for readers who are familiar with the show, this book is a fantastic addition because it further develops the characters’ traits while maintaining the same tone as the source material. 

Gravity Falls: Lost Legends is a fantastic addition to the original show Gravity Falls, and a truly entertaining comic book in its own right. The illustrations are vibrant and entertaining, and the book boasts a surprising depth, as it develops the characters into full-fledged individuals and empathetically addresses their flaws. The quality of this book and the richness of its storytelling raise the bar for TV show novelizations. You can find more humorous, action-packed fun by reading the Hilo Series by Judd Winick and the InvestiGators Series by John Patrick Green. 

Sexual Content  

  • In Face It, it is revealed that Stanford Pines dated a siren.  
  • Pacific insults Dipper by saying, “Just like how you care about kissing aliens or whatever!” Dipper responds, “I’ve never kissed an alien! I’ve never kissed anyone!” 
  • Pacifica gives Dipper a hug. Later, she texts him, claiming that the hug wasn’t on purpose and that Dipper shouldn’t “get the wrong idea or anything.” Unfortunately, she accidentally texts Mabel, who gets excited and thinks Pacifica likes Dipper romantically. Mabel asks, “WHEN’S THE WEDDING LOLLLLLL” and sends kissy emojis.  
  • In Comix Up, there’s a brief visual gag where the characters are illustrated in a romantic manga style. Mabel is attracted to many of the characters, including an attractively-drawn sink, and a boy named Gideon, who tells Mabel, “Help me collect the seven crystal sailor angel capture cards, and then we can finally kiss!” Mabel refuses. 

Violence  

  • In Face It, a vendor in the underground monster market, called the Crawlspace, sells, “Severed hands! Straight from a wet cave!” 
  • When Dipper and Pacifica trespass, monsters capture them in a net, sell them, and then put them in a sack. “Sold! Hope you like burlap!” declares a monster vendor. 
  • To protect Dipper and Mabel, Pacifica sets Mr. What’s-His-Face on fire using some magic pills. Mr. What’s-His-Face yells, “Aughh!! My face! My beautiful flesh-tornado of a face!”  
  • Mr. What’s-His-Face threatens to kill Pacifica, Dipper, and Mabel. Mr. What’s-His-Face yells, “When I get my hands on you, they’ll never find your faceless bodies!” 
  • Dipper and Mabel’s grand-uncle Stanford uses a sci-fi ray gun to freeze Mr. What’s-His-Face in a block of ice. “Prepare to be destroy—ack!” 
  • In Comix Up, there is an extensive amount of humorous, comic violence. The characters dodge obstacles such as anvils, dynamite, and swinging logs, which make comedic sounds like “Zoip!” “Poomp!” or “Brak!”  
  • There is a zombie who rises from the grave. He has an eyeball hanging out of his skull. He is only in one panel. There is no dialogue about his decomposed state, but the zombie says, “Nyaaaaaargh.”  
  • Mabel breaks the fourth wall, grabbing the speech bubble and attacking a superhero with it. When she does, the comic superhero cries, “Augh!! My one weakness!”  
  • The characters all gain comic superpowers and defeat the superheroes—their powers include “Telekinervousness,” “Cutting blades and cutting sarcasm,” “Growing bigger every time [Soos] says ‘dude,’” and using a rainbow as a weapon. 
  • Out of frustration and resentment, Stanley Pines threatens to poison a character’s food. Stanley Pines says, “I’ll poison your lasagna, Sarcasti-pup!” after Sarcasti-pup makes fun of him. 
  • In Don’t Dimension It, Mabel travels to the Nightmare Realm and a giant hand with a mouth in the palm tries to eat her but fails. She cries, “This can’t be happening! I’m too adorable to die!”  
  • A Cthulhu-esque monster tries to eat Stanley’s head. Stanley emerges from another dimension with the monster on top of him. Stanley says, “Keep looking.”  
  • All of the Mabel versions wield grappling hooks.  
  • An evil version of Mabel sticks Stanley and Stanford to the floor with a sticky gun and attempts to throw them out of the spaceship they’re in. The evil Mabel says, “Sounds like you two need some space. Endless space!” 
  • The good versions of Mabel have a comical fight with the evil version of Mabel. Evil Mabel glues a bunch of Mabels to the ground and severely wounds Military Mabel (who ultimately survives). Good Mabel punches Evil Mabel and sends her into space. “This is for Military Mabel,” declares Good Mabel. 
  • In The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanley ties a knife to a possum in hopes of turning him into a violent, protective pet. Stanley tells his brother, “Say hello to my associate . . . Shanklin the Stab Possum!”  
  • Stanley pushes two rival twins off a small hill after they make fun of him and his brother. Stanley shouts, “Oh my god! We killed the Sibling Brothers!” They are fine and just passed out. 
  • The Jersey Devil, some sort of dinosaur-esque monster, attempts to eat all of the twins, and also breathes fire. It does not harm anyone. Stanford yells, “I think this is the end!”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • In Face It, Pacifica purchases pills “guaranteed to cure your wrinkles and make you a stunning queen, girl.” 

Language    

  • In Face It, Pacifica refers to homeless people as hobos.  
  • Pacifica refers to the monster Mr. What’s-His-Face as a “freak show.” 
  • In Comix Up, it is revealed that, as a kid, Stanley wrote a comic book with swear words in it. Later, a boy picks it up and says, “A book for kids that has swears in it! Cool!” 
  • In Don’t Dimension It, Evil Mabel calls Good Mabel an idiot. When Stanley and Stanford discover Evil Mabel is pretending to be Good Mabel, Stanford exclaims, “Dang it, Stan! You got the wrong one!” 
  • Evil Mabel calls Good Mabel a “giggling punch line” as an insult.  
  • In The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanford and Stanley debate the existence of ghosts’ crotches. Stanford says, “I’m not sure ghosts have crotches.” 
  • After being accused of stealing, Stanley exclaims, “Darn, Pa!”  
  • The circus performers insult Stanford and Stanley for being normal. “Yeah, we ain’t got time for average jacks in freak-town!” says a heavily-tattooed circus player.

Supernatural  

  • This book is almost entirely supernatural. Each story involves the main characters interacting with a supernatural world or element. 
  • In Face It, Pacifica, Dipper, and Mabel encounter a monster called Mr. What’s-His-Face who steals people’s faces. Mr. What’s-His-Face refers to himself in the third-person, declaring, “Mr. What’s-His-Face can fix anything you don’t like about your face for a price.” 
  • Pacifica and Dipper travel to the Crawlspace, an underground paranormal market for monster vendors. Humans are not allowed. Dipper exclaims, “It’s a paranormal black market under the town!”  
  • In Comix Up, Stanley puts a bunch of comic books in a treasure chest, which turns out to be cursed and sentient. “Stan, that chest is cursed!” Stanford cries in horror. 
  • The characters jump into the comic book world, often breaking the fourth wall and experiencing different styles of comic illustration. Stanford warns the group about the dangers of the world, saying, “This world is subjective and unstable and could change styles at any moment!”  
  • In Don’t Dimension It, Dipper, Mabel, Stanford, and Stanley are in the woods trying to clean up damage from a past event that was almost apocalyptic. “We’re searching for leftover multidimensional rips from Weirdmaggedon to patch with aliens adhesive,” explains Stanford. 
  • Mabel gets transported to the Mabel dimension. “Razzle my dazzle, it’s a Mabel bonanza! There’s every possible version of me…” Mabel says in wonder. 
  • In The Jersey Devil’s in the Details, Stanley and Stanford encounter the Jersey Devil, a flying dragon-dinosaur type monster that breathes fire. “Legend has it that this cloven-hooved weirdo of the night hides by the boardwalk and pilfers gold and jewels to add to its collection,” Stanford informs Stanley. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Football Fumble

The flag football season is in full swing for Franklin Elementary School, and the MVP Club, which comprises five best friends, is preparing for a major showdown against their rival school, Hamilton Elementary School. For the past several years, Hamilton has dominated Franklin’s flag football team, and it always seems like “their players are bigger and better.” However, the MVP Club is determined to change their school’s fortune, and its members have dedicated themselves to practice, teamwork, and super-secret football plays. Will they finally bring home a resounding victory? 

The Football Fumble is an action-packed book about the power of teamwork in the face of difficult challenges. Told from a third-person perspective, the story focuses on the five members of the MVP Club—Max, Alice, Nico, Luke, and Kat—and their roles on their elementary football team. While the book attempts to give each member of the club adequate attention and development, much of the conflict and difficulty revolves around Max, who struggles to complete football plays. Max also faces opposition from Hamilton football team’s bully, Logan, who makes his life more difficult with constant teasing and taunting. Nonetheless, each of the five kids displays exemplary character and fortitude in their ability to work as a team. In addition, their optimistic attitude despite tough times will be inspiring for many readers. Add in the charm of flag football and fun rivalries, and the book and its characters become relatable for readers who have competed in team-dependent sports. 

The book presents a positive outlook on the themes of teamwork and self-belief. Early on in the big game against Hamilton, the MVP Club struggles to execute plays and work well together. However, after leaning into each other’s strengths, such as Kat’s football intelligence and Max’s speed, they turn a disappointing start into an unbelievable victory—something that Kat reiterates after the final whistle: “We didn’t give up when we were down, and we believed in ourselves enough to come back and win the game!” The story reminds readers of the importance of working towards a goal and demonstrates that teamwork and the right mindset can accomplish mighty tasks. 

The book also wraps up Max’s struggle with Logan by having the two characters admit their shortcomings to each other after the game. For example, Logan recognizes his unkind behavior by telling Max that he “should have focused on football instead of teasing you. Sorry. Sometimes I try so hard to be tough.” Through Max and Logan’s repaired relationship, the story teaches readers that bullying can be solved through honest conversations and acknowledgment. 

The Football Fumble is divided into eight small chapters, with each chapter typically comprising eight to twelve pages and containing a couple of hand-drawn illustrations. Although the story doesn’t use advanced diction, its paragraph-oriented structure and longer sentences might be challenging for emerging readers. At the end of the book, a small section provides real-life facts and definitions for key football terms and plays. It also includes a sneak peek of the next MVP book to keep readers interested. Overall, The Football Fumble is a fabulous book that utilizes the sport of football to highlight the importance of teamwork, friendship, and self-belief. Although the characters and plot can be enjoyed by a broader audience, this book will appeal more to football and sports fans alike. 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • Logan, a mean bully from Hamilton’s football team, makes fun of the opposing teammates. Kat, the kid coach of Franklin’s football team and one of the MVP kids, gets angry and “Kat smooshed her cone right into Logan’s forehead! The cone stuck to Logan’s head for a moment. It made Logan look a little bit like a unicorn.”  

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • After Max, one of the main characters in the story, fumbles the football during practice, his friend Alice teases him by shouting, “Butterfingers! Max has butterfingers!” 
  • Logan bullies one of his smaller teammates because he doesn’t run fast enough. Logan says, “My grandmother runs faster than that! You’re out for the next five plays.” 
  • Logan makes fun of Max, calling him names and comparing his small stature and personality to a bunny. Logan says, “Look at this one! He’s small and has big ears, just like a rabbit.” This teasing scene lasts for four pages.  
  • During the coin flip, Logan teases Max, referencing his earlier bunny joke. Logan says, “‘Aww, its Hopper! The wittle bunny came to play football.’ Then, Logan stuck out his upper teeth and made rabbit sounds at Max. ‘Tuc-tuc-tuc!’” 
  • After Logan stops Max from reaching the end zone, he teases Max and references his bunny joke again, saying, “Oh, wook at the poor wittle bunny wabbit. He slipped and messed up. Why don’t you get up and hop along back to the other baby bunnies?” 
  • When Max approaches Logan with the football during a play, Logan mocks Max by pretending to cry and again calling Max a bunny. Logan says, “Aw, wook at the wittle bunny. He can’t go weft and he can’t go wight. Poor wittle bunny is going to cry!” 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You

A house was once built in the “shade of ancient redwood trees, by a creek, not far from the ocean.” It was a place of comfort and protection for a young girl, filled with games, laughter, and memories. It was a place of discovery for the girl, where she learned and experienced life’s most precious moments: her first steps, her first sleepover, and her first holiday gathering. However, when a strong thunderstorm sends her beloved home into flames, it raises an important question: what makes a home when one’s home is gone? 

Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You is an emotionally gripping tale about a young girl’s relationship with her cherished home in northern California. Told by an omniscient narrator, the book follows the life of a nameless, young girl and her coming of age inside her family’s house. The girl is depicted as a typical youth, enjoying both the woodsy outdoors and the comfortable confines of her house with excitement and joy. Although the readers aren’t given any dialogue or exposition about the girl, they can deduce the girl’s bubbly personality through her activities and expressions. And many of her activities, such as swinging off tree branches in the forest, can be relatable for many readers, connecting them with experiences that characterized their own childhood. 

The heart of Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You lies within its heartwarming message about home and family. Although not overly explicit, the book teaches readers that one’s home doesn’t necessarily mean one’s physical place of residence. In the case of this young girl, her home was her family and the experiences that characterized her life. For example, the narrator quotes, “You are made of hardwood and stone, bright stars, and the wind’s song,” suggesting that these aspects of her time in California comprise who she is just as much as her home. The book challenges readers to reflect on their own lives and the moments and things that made their home and childhood so special.  

The short story features colorful, full-page illustrations that reflect the wonder and imagination of a young child. Although the art style is simplistic, it complements the text by depicting the true meaning and emotions of the story. While the illustrations don’t actually depict the wildfire, the topic of losing a home to a natural disaster can be stressful for some kids. However, the book’s positive view of the disaster can spark uplifting and profitable conversations. Alongside this message, each page typically contains three to four simple sentences in small paragraph form, and at the end of the book, an author’s note explains the true-life events that served as inspiration for the story. Overall, Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You is a beautiful and compelling children’s book whose message will warm the hearts of many readers. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Language 

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content 

  • None 

Dodsworth in Paris

Dodsworth, a distinguished mouse, and his hilarious friend — a white duck known only as “the duck”—are visiting Paris for the first time. Join this charming duo as they explore the city streets and familiar landmarks of a fictional early 20th-century France, bustling with a menagerie of impeccably dressed animal characters going about their days. 

There is never a dull moment as they dine in a café and visit the Eiffel Tower, bicycling through town, admire the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and sail over Paris in a hot air balloon. A few days in the City of Light provide a charming backdrop for a series of comical missteps and surprising twists for these two complementary characters. After losing their money due to the duck’s whimsy, getting caught up in a chance mishap, and crashing their bicycle—only to end up penniless on a park bench—will these two friends find a way to recover their funds? 

In this chapter book, Egan presents themes of humor, friendship, and resilience through a simple narrative that is sure to delight young readers. Dodsworth and the duck arrive in Paris by sea. Immediately after disembarking the ship, the duck comically picks up an acorn cap and wears it on his head to resemble a beret. Dodsworth is constantly trying to ensure his friend behaves appropriately, while the duck — driven by earnest curiosity — seems to seek mischief at every turn.  On their first morning, a spontaneous desire to scale the towering clock tower leads the duck to climb out of his hotel window and make his way “all the way up” the structure, while Dodsworth is still fast asleep. 

Young readers will relate to the lighthearted setbacks and moments of serendipity that unfold throughout this Parisian holiday. One scene that highlights forgiveness between friends occurs when the duck accidentally loses all their money, leaving Dodsworth furious. Sensing his friend’s anger, a tear “fell onto the duck’s beak.” Dodsworth instantly feels remorseful and reassures him, saying, “Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t cry.” Comically, Egan reveals that the duck wasn’t really crying. “He just had something in his eye for a second.” Readers are left to interpret the moment themselves, knowing the duck’s mischievous nature. Similarly, after a bicycle crash, Dodsworth fears the worst, but after a tense pause, the duck dramatically opens one eye and declares, “Bonjour.” 

The story is suitable for fluent readers who are ready for a book with multiple plotlines. Cheerful watercolor and ink illustrations appear on every page. Many of the illustrations depict the characters’ facial expressions, which will help readers understand their emotions more clearly. For example, after losing all their money, Dodsworth and the duck are seen bicycling down the street, with Dodsworth wearing a furrowed brow of frustration and the duck shedding a tear from his downcast eyes. Another positive aspect of the story is that most of the French words are explained within the text. Additionally, readers can use context clues and illustrations to understand the meanings of unfamiliar words, such as Monsieur and magnifique. Although Dodsworth is a series, the books do not need to be read in order, as each focuses on a distinct storyline. 

Resilience in the face of misfortune, along with the deep bond of friendship between these two characters, brings the story full circle. A chance visit to the Louvre sparked a creative idea that ultimately fell flat, but the characters never gave up. “The duck did not like his friend to be sad. He had an idea.” The idea was a well-intentioned effort to earn money, although it initially failed. What followed was a final twist that will charm young readers and parents alike. Animal-loving readers who are always ready for a little mischief should also read The Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

Mary Blair’s Unique Flair: The Girl Who Became One of the Disney Legends

As a visionary artist for Walt Disney Studios in the 1940s and ’50s, Mary Blair created artwork for some of the most iconic animated film masterpieces and attractions in history, including Dumbo, Cinderella, and It’s a Small World. A college-educated woman in the 1930s, Mary was ambitious and independent, defying the expectations society placed on women at the time. In the male-dominated field of animation, she forged her own path and ultimately became one of Walt Disney’s most celebrated artists. 

Mary Blair’s Unique Flair is a picture book that inspires readers to learn more about the origins of beloved Disney animated films. Mary Blair introduced inventive color palettes to Walt Disney after a pivotal visit to South America in 1941, where “she had never seen such bright and happy colors before.” Her concept art dazzled with vivid colors, swirling shapes, and childlike imagination. Working with cut paper, she created whimsical forms that felt fresh and magical. Walt Disney couldn’t deny her extraordinary talent. 

Long before she became a legendary talent, Mary Blair was Mary Brown Robinson, a little girl growing up in Texas with grand aspirations. “Mary was a dreamer . . . she dreamed of being an artist.” Mary’s path wasn’t easy. Her parents, both creative but with limited means, often went without necessities so she could have art supplies. Even as a child, her imagination and talent stood out. 

Eventually, the family relocated to California, setting the stage for her future. Recognized early for her talent, she pursued a bachelor’s in art and advanced studies, challenging the norms of her era. “She later married another artist, named Lee, and became Mary Blair. They vowed to make art. But it was hard to make a living as an artist.” Still, Mary never gave up on her dream! 

In 1940, she secured a rare art position at Walt Disney Studios and created artwork for major animation projects, including Dumbo and Lady and the Tramp. These projects showcased Mary’s unmistakable talent. Seeking more artistic freedom, Mary briefly left Walt Disney Studios to work from her home studio and focus on fine art.

Soon after, she asked Walt Disney if she could join the art department’s research tour to South America—and he agreed. “Walt believed in magic, and he believed in Mary.” Her return from abroad marked a turning point in her career, as she rejoined Disney and created artwork for films like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. 

Mary’s belief in herself embodied true empowerment, and what followed was a legendary career. One of her most meaningful projects was It’s a Small World, a Disneyland attraction inspired by her South American travels and featuring animatronic dolls in traditional dress from cultures around the world. Her endearing artwork celebrated unity, goodwill, and global peace. 

Mary Blair’s Unique Flair uses vibrant illustrations and a playful font to bring the story to life. Young readers will enjoy the cheerful sequence of events and the large, colorful artwork on each page. With just one to seven short sentences per page, the text is easy to follow and accessible for early readers. An especially engaging page is dedicated to Spanish words for color names. Readers can use context clues and illustrations to infer the meanings of words like rosa and lavanda. 

The story offers adults an opportunity to discuss meaningful themes with children, such as boundless imagination, women’s empowerment, and appreciation for diverse cultures. Mary Blair was ahead of her time, and her perseverance and vision continue to encourage aspiring artists today. For Disney enthusiasts, learning about this pioneering artist offers deeper insight into the artistry behind classic animation. 

The book includes informative supplementary material at the end, featuring a note from illustrator Brittney Lee, a message from Mary Blair’s niece Maggie Richardson, a list of books Mary Blair wrote or illustrated, and a photograph of her with Walt Disney. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

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by Maureen Lowe 

Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret

Lucy Lancaster is a bright young student who loves her parents, her friends, and her school. She is always the first to enter her second-grade classroom, saying hello to her teacher, Mrs. Welli, and feeding the classroom fish. Her two best friends, Heidi Heckelbeck and Bruce Bickerson, sit next to her in class. 

One morning, Lucy’s teacher announces that the class will be raising caterpillars and watching them turn into butterflies. To Lucy’s dismay, she gets paired with Bryce Beltran instead of Heidi or Bruce. Bryce calls Lucy “boring” for wanting to name one of their caterpillars Tony, and then something strange happens. Lucy’s toes start tingling, and she hiccups! Suddenly, Bryce is no longer opposed to naming the caterpillar Tony. What changed? 

Lucy’s hiccups persist, and strange things continue to happen. One day, Lucy hiccups after seeing her caterpillars become butterflies, and the rest of the class’s caterpillars suddenly transform and escape from their containers. The class erupts into chaos, so Lucy hiccups again, and all of the butterflies gather to safely land on Lucy. Ms. Egli, the visiting librarian, takes Lucy aside and tells her to come see her at the library. Lucy is very nervous. Is Lucy in trouble for the butterflies? 

As it turns out, Ms. Egli is a witch, and Lucy is one too! Lucy’s hiccups show the beginnings of her powers. Ms. Egli leads Lucy to a magical part of the library where Lucy can learn spells to control her powers. Lucy returns to school the next day feeling different but excited for her future as a young witch. 

Told in the third person, Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret follows the magical mishaps of a young girl as she learns that magic does exist. Since readers follow Lucy’s point of view exclusively, their understanding of magic evolves alongside hers as she gradually discovers who she is. Small, strange occurrences become signs of a larger, magical power that will be expanded upon in later books, making for an immersive journey into the life of an almost ordinary second-grader. Even though Lucy must keep her magic a secret, there is no overarching moral or commentary provided on keeping secrets. 

Lucy herself is a relatable and realistic child. She is smart, eager, and friendly, enjoying school and diligently completing her homework. This makes Lucy a likable protagonist whom children can aspire to emulate. When faced with Bryce’s unkindness, Lucy does not respond with cruelty. Instead, she chooses to stand up for herself without putting him down. Parents and children can discuss Lucy and Bryce’s interactions as an introduction to the topic of early childhood bullying. 

Children interested in stories of everyday magic will appreciate the quick and humorous tricks that Lucy manifests with her hiccups. Despite the supernatural quality of her powers, the magic in the Lucy Lancaster Series is very grounded. Lucy’s spells are simple; the first entry in her spellbook is “The Call-It-Back Spell,” an incantation that reverses mistakes. 

Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret is a fun book suitable for independent readers. Large black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page. The illustrations are charming and highly expressive, effectively highlighting key details of every scene and visually conveying the characters’ emotions. Illustrator Priscilla Burris also drew the page of Lucy’s spellbook containing “The Call-It-Back Spell” in its entirety, adding to the story’s immersion. Other short pieces of text, like the words on Lucy’s magical library card, are included in the illustrations. Each chapter begins with a full-page illustration that seamlessly transitions readers into the next section, picking up where the previous chapter left off. The Lucy Lancaster books can be read as individual stories because each book focuses on a new adventure. 

Lucy Lancaster Has a Secret primarily serves as an introduction to Lucy Lancaster and her magical powers. Readers who enjoyed the Heidi Heckelbeck books will appreciate the familiar characters in Lucy Lancaster, including Heidi herself. The story’s end offers readers a comforting lesson: even if you change as a person, your friends will remain by your side. 

Sexual Content  

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Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language    

  • Lucy’s partner for the butterfly project, Bryce, calls Lucy boring for naming a caterpillar. Bryce says, “Only a BORING person would choose a BORING name like Tony.”
  • Lucy’s teacher, Mrs. Welli, exclaims, “Oh my!” when the butterflies are let loose in the classroom. 

Supernatural 

  • The first time Lucy uses her powers, Bryce magically changes her mind about naming a caterpillar. Lucy lets out “a big, loud hiccup,” and her toes start tingling. Immediately afterwards, Bryce calls the caterpillar Tony, signifying that he has suddenly agreed on the name.
  • Lucy wonders to herself if she should let her best friend, Heidi, win their game of Super Flag Tag. In that instant, she hiccups, and her toes tingle. The ensuing spell causes Heidi to find “EXACTLY where [Lucy] was hiding.” 
  • Lucy and Bryce’s two caterpillars become butterflies, and Lucy is so mesmerized by their beauty that she hiccups. Her magic causes all the butterflies in the classroom to hatch at once, their containers popping open. Lucy worried that they would never catch all of the butterflies, and she hiccups again. “One by one, the butterflies landed on Lucy’s arms, shoulders, and even the rim of her glasses, until she was covered from head to toe!” 
  • The librarian, Ms. Egli, takes Lucy to a corridor in the library that has a painting of a witch. Lucy holds up a “golden library card,” and the wall disappears to reveal a hidden entrance to “the magical library.” In this hidden room, books magically fly. 
  • Ms. Egli asks Lucy, “Have you ever thought you might be a witch?” Lucy is astonished by the question, causing her to hiccup and send “a whole shelf of books” flying around the room. One flying book turns into a cat, and Ms. Egli uses a magic key to turn it back into a book. 
  • In the library, a blank “Book of Spells” chooses Lucy to be its next reader. Lucy decides that the first spell she wants to learn is an undoing spell, and the incantation magically appears in the book. 
  • Ms. Egli uses her magic key to make many books fly around the library, and Lucy chants the words to the new “Call-It-Back Spell” in her spellbook to return the books to their piles. 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

by Gabrielle Barke 

One Day at a Time

Lily, a young girl, has to navigate the changing seasons and the swirl of emotions while in foster care. With her loyal friend, a yellow bird named Sparrow, by her side, she finds comfort, courage, and hope for each new day. Inspired by Matthew 6:25-34, One Day at a Time shows that just as God “cares for the sparrow in the sky and the lilies in the field, He cares for and deeply loves every child.” 

One Day at a Time chronicles the changes that Lily faces. From getting to know new foster parents to seeing a therapist, Lily learns ways to express her emotions. During dinner, Lily and her foster sibling begin to fight, and Lily “loses control, throws her drink, and bumps her bowl.” The next page shows Lily alone in her room, and an unknown speaker reminds her that, “You’re not bad.” Likewise, when Lily feels shame at being a foster child, her teacher tells her, “It’s not your fault, you’ve done nothing wrong.” Throughout the story, Lily’s biracial foster family treats her with kindness and love.  

The illustrations pop with beautiful, bright colors that radiate joy. Each two-page spread focuses on a single aspect of being a foster child, and Lily’s facial expressions are used to convey her various emotions. A little yellow bird appears on each spread to remind readers that “God provides for the birds and flowers. He is faithfully watching over and providing for each one of us.” The backmatter includes a chart of feelings that uses a cute, color-coded creature to represent the sixteen feelings, ranging from anxious to confused to loved. There is also an infographic with ten calming skills that readers can use. 

Even though One Day at a Time is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read independently for the first time. One phrase is on almost every page: “Place your hand on your beating heart, God’s been with you from the start. He gives hope, makes you precious and kind.” The repetition helps reinforce the message that God is always with you. Emotion words are printed in different colors, providing adults with a way to pause and discuss the word with a child. Adults should read the story alone before reading it to a child because the text jumps around the page, which sometimes makes it difficult to know where to start reading. In addition, the text-heavy pages will make it difficult for wiggly readers to follow along as an adult reads the book. 

According to the author, “One Day at a Time is more than a book, it’s a trauma-informed faith-based tool designed to help children process big feelings, navigate foster care, and find hope.” Although One Day at a Time focuses on a foster child, all children will be able to relate to Lily’s emotions. Reading Lily’s story will help children develop empathy for others and learn valuable coping skills for themselves.  

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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Hurricane Rescue

Meet the Disaster Squad! Leela, Jaden, and the rest of the Jackson family travel the country and respond to natural disasters, helping people in need and rescuing animals along the way. 

In this second adventure, the Jacksons are called to Texas, where a hurricane is heading down the coast. Stormy skies, flooding streets, and crowded storm shelters… there are people and animals in danger! Will the Disaster Squad be able to weather the storm and lend a helping hand? 

Hurricane Rescue educates readers on the different aspects of hurricanes, including how they are named, how to evacuate safely, and the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. The plot of Hurricane Rescue is broken up into small sections showing how the Jackson family helps many people. 

The Jackson family goes to a shelter to help where needed, and Leela and Jaden jump in and help when it is safe. The reason the Jackson family goes to the shelter is unclear. However, they still find ways to help during the storm. While there, they meet Mayor Garcia, who shows them emergency dos and don’ts. While at the hurricane shelter, the lights go out, so Leela and Jaden use a flashlight to make shadow puppets to entertain the little kids. They also help rescue a baby dolphin that was beached during the storm. Interspersed throughout the book are short animal interactions that will appeal to animal-loving readers. 

The kids see a rattlesnake and wonder if they should help the snake find shelter from the hurricane. Their mom tells them, “Never touch a rattlesnake in the wild. They are very aggressive. . . Your aunt Maya often finds rattlesnakes in her backyard in Arizona. She calls a trained professional who captures the snake and puts it back in the wild.” Even though the Jackson family helps animals in need, they always use procedures that keep them and the animals safe. 

For young readers who live in an area affected by hurricanes, Hurricane Rescue can help them understand how to prepare for a hurricane and the importance of going to a shelter. The story begins while the Jacksons are traveling to Florida. While there, the family helps at two different shelters. The Jacksons change locations often, making the plot a little choppy. Even though the book uses kid-friendly descriptions, younger readers may need help understanding the cause and effects of the hurricane.  

Hurricane Rescue focuses on the Jackson family—a biracial family with two professional parents. The book also features a Hispanic female mayor who plays a significant role at the shelter. The Disaster Squad Series is part of Scholastic‘s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. The easy-to-read text and illustrations on every page will appeal to readers ready for chapter books.  

Hurricane Rescue reminds readers that “It’s important that people see how natural disasters and climate change are affecting the planet.” However, the book doesn’t give any information about how to help stop climate change. Still, the increasing number of natural disasters worldwide makes Disaster Squad a relevant series that will help readers understand the complexities of natural disasters. Readers interested in helping animals in need can find another action-packed adventure by reading  Storm Rescue by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Storm Dragon by Paula Harrison and Lucky Leopards by Aline Alexander Newman. 

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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Pup and Hound Catch a Thief

A broken bank, a missing locket — there seems to be a thief about! Who could it be? Hound has no doubt. It must be Cat! Only she sneaks and slinks like that. But where will the trail of clues lead the doggy detectives?  

Readers will be eager to follow the clues along with Pup and Hound. When the farmer’s locket, earrings, and hairpins go missing, the two dogs are convinced that Cat is the culprit. But when they follow the clues, they find a surprise. In the end, Pup and Hound learn that Cat is a friend who can help them guard the farmer’s house. 

As a Level 1 Reader, Pup and Hound Catch a Thief uses easy vocabulary, simple sentences, and lots of repetition and rhyme. The playful illustrations provide visual clues to unfamiliar words. Each page has two to four simple sentences, making the book perfect for beginning readers learning sentences and word recognition. Plus, the use of rhyme and onomatopoeia makes Pup and Hound Catch a Thief a good book to read out loud.  

Pup and Hound Catch a Thief is a suspenseful mystery that will have readers guessing if Cat is indeed a thief. The basic plot is easy to follow, and readers will be eager to follow Cat as he sneaks around the farm. The conclusion has a fun surprise, and readers will be glad to discover that “Cat was no thief!”   

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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Good Night Thoughts

With their mind racing with visions of tarantula-filled toilet bowls, giant robot sharks and the dentist, a child struggles to find the quiet mindset they need to fall asleep. They remember the time they envisioned the world popping into a piece of popcorn or pictured themself falling off a cloud and flying towards the sun. With these scary thoughts bouncing around in their mind, the narrator wonders how they will ever fall asleep. Though they attempt to think of happier things, such as a baby panda and singing donuts, they cannot convince their minds to settle down. 

However, they begin to feel less anxious when they remember that their thoughts are just in their head, and that all those scary ideas are not reality. After reminding themselves that they are okay, the child finds the peace they need to say goodnight to their thoughts and go to sleep.  

Told from the first-person perspective, the main character experiences a common struggle as they attempt to navigate their racing thoughts. Although the young child is the only character in the book, the child’s imagination becomes a character of its own as it surrounds the narrator. The child’s facial expressions are exaggerated to show their emotions, which range from scared to completely at ease by the end of the book. Full-page illustrations appear on almost every page. The child and their surroundings are depicted in dark blue, while the things they imagine are drawn mainly in pink, blue, yellow, and green. The colors take away from the image’s realism. For example, a toilet filled with tarantulas is depicted fully in pink, making the drawing appear less lifelike and, as a result, less scary.  

Although Good Night Thoughts is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read independently for the first time. Each two-page spread features one to three sentences that occasionally employ complex sentence structures. For example, when the child can’t sleep, they say, “And if I really can’t fall asleep, if it feels like my brain won’t ever calm down, I try to think about all the people who love me holding hands and wearing every piece of clothing that they own.” The book is an excellent bedtime story because it conveys an essential message: anxious thoughts are not always a reflection of reality.  

Through the narrator’s struggles, readers will learn that nighttime can often be when the brain is at its noisiest, but the child’s ability to bravely tune out scary thoughts and peacefully fall asleep will encourage children to do the same. Readers will be drawn in by the imaginative illustrations and fall deeper in love with the story as they find themselves relating to the child’s struggles. The humorous images will engage children and reinforce the idea that thoughts are often just the imagination running wild. Good Night Thoughts is an essential and entertaining tool for helping children learn how to identify and manage their anxiety before bedtime. If you know a child who has a difficult time falling asleep, pair Good Night Thoughts with Pippa’s Night Parade by Lisa Robinson, Arlo, The Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep by Catherine Rayner, and The Pout-Pout Fish and the Can’t-Sleep Blues 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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Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away. . .  

On the remote desert planet Tatooine, a young slave named Anakin Skywalker dreams of freedom. One fateful day, two Jedi knights discover that Anakin is exceptionally strong in the Force. Anakin grows up to become a powerful Jedi and a hero of the Republic in the Clone Wars, but eventually is seduced by the dark side. Now, the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader, Anakin, betrays the Jedi Order and helps his master establish the first Galactic Empire. 

Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker, grows up on Tatooine, raised by his aunt and uncle and watched over by his father’s former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. When two droids with an important mission show up on his farm, Luke joins Obi-Wan to rescue Princess Leia, destroying the Empire’s feared Death Star in the process. Now a hero of the Rebellion, Luke trains to become a Jedi knight, learning the truth of his father’s identity. In a final confrontation with Darth Vader and the Emperor, Luke resists the temptation of the Dark Side and helps redeem his father from the evil he had been consumed by, saving the galaxy and restoring peace. 

Thirty years later, a girl named Rey has spent her entire life as a lonely scavenger on the planet Jakku, yearning for a sense of belonging in a harsh world. Drawn into the ongoing conflict between the Resistance and the First Order, Rey discovers her sensitivity to the Force. Upon uncovering the location of the missing Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, she is shocked to learn that Luke is not interested in returning to the fight. The older Jedi reluctantly agrees to train Rey as she tries to find her place in the galaxy while avoiding the temptation of the dark side. 

The Skywalker Saga is an entertaining retelling of the first eight films of the Star Wars saga, specifically told through the lens of each trilogy’s main protagonist—Anakin, Luke, and Rey. There are eight chapters, one for each film. The stories do not begin when the film starts, but with the introduction of each protagonist.  However, the overall plot is identical to the films. The Skywalker Saga is essentially an illustrated chapter book, with an average of seven to ten sentences per page, and features beautiful illustrations by artist Brian Rood that seem to have been taken directly from the movies, reminiscent of Drew Struzan’s iconic Star Wars poster art. The images are large; some take up entire pages. The combination of a concise, engaging retelling by author Delilah S. Dawson and Rood’s illustrations makes for a compelling combination.  

Overall, Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga would be a good introduction to the saga for young readers and a key addition to any Star Wars fan’s book collection. Even if you’ve seen the movies a million times, Dawson still makes the story entertaining. The Skywalker Saga streamlines and simplifies complex plot points, making them understandable and engaging for readers of all ages. 

Sexual Content 

  • While enslaved by Jabba the Hutt, Princess Leia is forced to wear a metal bikini. “Leia was dressed in dancing clothes and forced to sit near Jabba’s throne.” 

Violence 

  • In The Phantom Menace, “Obi-Wan watched in horror as Qui-Gon sprang into action, only to be stopped forever by a swift slash of the dark warrior’s red saber.”  
  • Anakin watched in horror as “the blue electricity enrobed Master Windu and hurled him out the window to his death.”  
  • During Attack of the Clones, after Anakin discovers the Tusken Raiders have held his mother captive, Anakin “showed no mercy . . . he slaughtered the entire encampment.” 
  • In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin chops off Count Dooku’s hands in a lightsaber duel, before ultimately beheading him. “Finally, he found his Jedi calm, and with one swift stroke, he sliced off Count Dooku’s hands and caught the Sith’s lit red lightsaber midair.” 
  • In Revenge of the Sith, Darth Vader uses the Force to choke his pregnant wife Padme “to silence her, to punish her for hurting him so.” The Emperor later confirms that this led to her death. “The Emperor gave him a pitying look. ‘It seems, in your anger, you killed her.’” 
  • In A New Hope, Luke Skywalker “found smoke rising from their ravaged home. Luke’s aunt and uncle had been killed by the Empire.” 
  • In A New Hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi confronts his former apprentice, Darth Vader, on the Death Star. To buy Luke and his friends time to escape, “He held his blue lightsaber and closed his eyes. As Luke watched, helpless, Darth Vader struck the old man down with a fatal blow.” 
  • During the climactic final duel in Return of the Jedi, when Luke refuses to join the Dark side, “the Emperor snarled and began his final blast of Force lightning to kill the young Jedi, once and for all. Suddenly, Darth Vader picked up Emperor Palpatine and threw him down a shaft at the center of the Death Star!” On the next page, there is an illustration of the Emperor falling to his death. 
  • In Return of the Jedi, Leia, a captive of Jabba the Hutt, “wrapped her chain across Jabba’s neck and choked the powerful gangster who had dared to treat her as a slave, ending his cruel reign.” There is a two-page illustration of Leia choking Jabba.  
  • In The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren murders his father, Han Solo, during a tense confrontation on Starkiller Base, “just as the sky outside went dark, he ignited the red blade, driving it through his father.”  
  • In The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren shows Rey an altered vision of himself, with his former master (and uncle), Luke Skywalker, confronting the younger Kylo with a drawn lightsaber. Kylo “lit his lightsaber to block the killing stroke, then used the Force to pull the temple down on top of his master.”  
  • In The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren later betrays his master, Supreme Leader Snoke, by “slicing him in half” with a lightsaber. 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • In A New Hope, Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi visit a cantina on Tatooine. During an altercation between Luke and a pair of aliens, Obi-Wan offers to buy one of them a drink. 

Language 

  • The book contains examples of mild language throughout. For instance, in The Empire Strikes Back Princess Leia calls Han Solo a “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerf herder.” Generally, the profanity in Star Wars is toned down compared to its real-world counterparts.  

Supernatural Content 

  • In A New Hope, the Force itself can be interpreted as some form of supernatural entity. As Obi-Wan explains to Luke, “It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” 

Spiritual Content 

  • The Force is viewed as a form of religion by some characters, most notably Han Solo, who initially doubts the Force and its powers. As Han tells Luke in A New Hope, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” 

Goat on the Go: Scout’s Muddy Day

In the first book of the Goat on the Go Series, meet Scout—a spirited goat with a twinkle in his eye and a heart full of adventure. When he decides to explore the world beyond the goat pen, he finds himself in a whirlwind of fun and unexpected encounters. From muddy misadventures to curious critters on the farm, Scout’s day is anything but ordinary. But as the sun starts to set, one question remains. . . will Scout find his way back to his pen by sunset, or will his journey take an unexpected twist? 

Scout, the lovable protagonist, isn’t content to stay in his pen. As he wanders the farms, he meets the other animals, including Highland cows, pigs, and guinea hens. However, Scout gets so dirty that no one can recognize him. Young readers will want to shout out when the other animals ask, “What are you?” and they will cheer when an unexpected friend helps Scout when the other goats won’t let him back into the pen. 

Scout’s Muddy Day comes to life with cute illustrations that use bright primary colors. Readers will enjoy seeing all of the farm animals and laugh as Scout gets so dirty that no one can recognize him. For example, a Highland cow tells Scout, “You don’t look like any goat I’ve seen. You look like a tall pig with horns.”  

While Farmer Ray searches for Scout, the goat hides, making the book feel like a fun game of hide-and-seek. Scout’s big blue eyes express his emotions, and most readers will be able to identify Scout’s feelings of excitement, embarrassment, and sadness. 

Even though Scout’s Muddy Day is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read independently for the first time. The story uses complex sentences and advanced vocabulary. For example, one sentence reads “‘I’d better skedaddle before I get caught!’ Scout said, and trotted off towards a lush green pasture where the cows were grazing peacefully.” The book only has one to two sentences per page. However, the sentence length and vocabulary may be confusing to younger readers, and an adult may need to pause and explain some parts of the book, making it best suited for reading on a relaxing day with no plans. 

Scout’s Muddy Day allows readers to follow Scout’s playful antics and learn more about life on the farm. Scout’s adventure also shows the importance of being curious and trying new things. The book ends with Scout “dreaming of his next big adventure” and leaves readers wondering what Scout will do in the next book, Scout’s Delicious Day. 

If you’re looking for another animal-themed book, there are many options, including Biscuit and the Little Llamas by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Time for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, and Sloth at the Zoom by Helaine Becker. 

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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Digger Man

A little boy imagines driving a great big digger – scooping and pushing mud to make a playground for his baby brother. The boy scoops rocks, pushes mud, and honks the horn, and “sometimes my mom and dad can bring my brother to see me.”  

Any child who is fascinated by trucks will love Digger Man. Each page features bold colors that highlight various types of trucks used for digging. But this isn’t just a book about trucks; it’s a book about family. The boy’s family is depicted in some illustrations, and the narrator discusses teaching his brother. “As soon as my brother gets bigger, I will teach him so he can be a digger man, too.”  

Each two-page spread has a single sentence and an array of trucks. The end pages depict the park the boy created by digging a hole for the ducks, building a dirt mountain, and designing a playground. One of the best parts of the book is that the boy is creating something that he and his brother can enjoy together.  

Digger Man will leave readers dreaming about all of the things they can create. You don’t have to dig into a library shelf to find more transportation-related books. Instead, scoop up Bulldozer Helps Out by Candace Fleming, Go, Go, Trucks! by Jennifer Liberts, and Construction Site: Taking Flight! by Sherri Duskey. 

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 Cave Challenge

Harry likes to look his best – new white trainers for indoor games, designer jeans for the evening Camp barbecue. But when he meets Bear Grylls exploring an underground maze of caves and tunnels, Harry realizes that his clothes are going to be put to the test – and so is he, if they want to make it back to the surface. Will Harry discover that there’s more to the right kit than just keeping it clean?  

Readers will instantly connect with Harry, who is overly fashion-conscious but seems destined to get dirty. Harry “hated the idea of getting filthy. He would never usually sign up for anything that meant he would trash his clothes or look stupid.” When he’s magically transported into a cave system, Harry has no choice other than to belly crawl through bat guano, swim inside a tunnel, and complete other tasks that get him filthy. At first, Harry’s dislike of dirt is comical, which makes Harry’s transformation all the more satisfying for readers. 

With Bear Grylls as a guide, Harry faces his fears and gains confidence along the way. Throughout the adventure, Harry learns many important life lessons, such as the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. Bear also teaches him that, “Sometimes you just have to take things as they come. . . Some things, you just don’t worry about until you have to.” In the end, Harry no longer cares about keeping his clothes clean because “he had helped Bear get through the caves by being brave and working hard, not because of what style of outfit he was wearing.” 

The Cave Challenge’s large text and illustrations will appeal to readers. The illustrations help readers visualize the story’s events, while also adding humor and suspense. When cave terms are used, the story incorporates a definition, making it easier to read. Additionally, the book is printed “in a reader-friendly font and design” to help those with dyslexia. Two pages of additional information about caves are included at the end of the book. These facts discuss a soccer team in Thailand that got trapped in a cave. Readers who would like more information on the team’s experiences should read All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team by Christina Soontornvat. 

The Bear Grylls Adventure Series books can be read as a standalone and do not need to be read in order. Each book focuses on a different child at the outdoor activity camp. Once the camper is given the magical compass, they meet the adventurer, Bear, in an amazing place and learn new skills and facts they can take with them back to their real life. Each book aligns with Common Core Standards, making it suitable for educational purposes.  

The Cave Challenge takes readers into the depths of a natural cave system, where they’ll discover many fascinating facts about the formation of caves. When Harry is uncertain or afraid, Bear’s voice is kind and gentle, which allows Harry to overcome his fears. While Harry’s antics are often funny, Bear never rebukes or teases him. Instead, Bear helps Harry view crawling through caves as a fun adventure, and that tone is infectious. While the plot isn’t unique, young readers looking for adventure will find the story engaging, and it will encourage them to try new things. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • A magical compass transports Harry to an extensive cave system. One minute, Harry is at camp, and the next, “Camp had vanished.”  
  • Without any explanation, Harry is transported back to camp.

Spiritual Content  

  • Deep in the cave, Harry finds a statue of a person. Bear says, “The ancient peoples who used to live in this part of the world thought the caverns were entrances to the Underworld, so they would throw offerings in for their gods.” Out of respect, Harry leaves the statue where he found it. 

The Story of the Wright Brothers

The Wright brothers were one of the most famous inventors in history, and their hard work, intelligence, and perseverance helped them create one of the greatest inventions of all time: the airplane. These brothers forever transformed the world of transportation and turned the skies into a valuable method of travel. Today, their legacy is seen in the millions of airplanes flying across the globe, and their desire to conquer the sky led to the growing reliance and importance of air travel in our society. However, the Wright brothers’ journey wasn’t easy, and the construction of the airplane didn’t come without failure. 

Wilbur and Orville Wright were intelligent and curious children born shortly after the American Civil War. They were avid readers and inventors, especially intrigued by the prospect of flight. With technology progressing rapidly during these years, the brothers decided to do the impossible: build a flying machine! However, after many failed attempts and broken prototypes, the future looked bleak for the aspiring innovators. Could they overcome the challenges and successfully build an airplane? 

The Story of the Wright Brothers tells the biographical story of Wilbur and Orville’s journey as the inventors of the airplane. Told from the perspective of an outside narrator, the book follows the brothers’ lives, beginning with their childhood curiosity for gadgets and ending with their lasting impact on the world of air travel. While other characters, such as friends and family, briefly appear in the story to encourage the brothers, the chapters primarily focus on the Wright brothers’ work on the airplane. Thus, they are portrayed as inspirational figures whose perseverance through numerous failed attempts can serve as an exemplary and influential model for readers. The difficulties and challenges that arose from the airplane’s creation also lend the story an authentic and genuine feel.  

The biography presents a positive outlook on the themes of hard work and perseverance. Although the Wright brothers endured numerous failures with their prototype airplanes, their passion for inventing a functional aircraft highlights the book’s message about never giving up. The Wright brothers’ story inspires readers to pursue their dreams and overcome adversity. The brothers “didn’t give up, even when flight looked impossible. These smart men persevered when things got tough—and they succeeded!” 

As part of the A Biography for New Readers Series, The Story of the Wright Brothers is educationally oriented and includes additional supplementary materials, such as fun facts, discussion questions, a reading quiz, and a glossary. Colorful, hand-drawn illustrations are sprinkled every one to three pages, and the end of the book contains real-life photographs that highlight key moments of the Wright brothers’ lives. While some text features advanced vocabulary that may be challenging for younger readers, The Story of the Wright Brothers delivers an exciting tale about two of history’s most famous inventors. The biography is an engaging story that will inspire readers to create the next big invention. Curious readers who want to learn more about the flight should also read The Wright Brothers: Nose-Diving into History by Erik Slader & Ben Thompson, Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten W. Larson, and Ada Twist Scientist Exploring Flight by Andrea Beaty & Dr. Theanne Griffith. 

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When the Stars Came Home

When Ojiig moves to the city with his family, he misses everything they left behind. Most of all, he misses the sparkling night sky. Without the stars watching over him, he feels lost.

His parents try to help, but nothing seems to work. Not glow-in-the-dark sticker stars, not a star-shaped nightlight. But then they have a new idea for how to make Ojiig feel better — a special quilt stitched through with family stories that will wrap Ojiig in the warmth of knowing who he is and where he came from. Join this irresistible family as they discover the power of story and tradition to make a new place feel like home. 

Despite his parents’ attempts to help Ojiig adjust to city life, Ojiig’s depression worsens, and soon “Ojiig didn’t know how to wish anymore.” Then Ojiig’s mother, who is Anishinaabe, begins to sew a quilt. As she sews, she narrates stories about her ancestors and their challenges, such as hiding from the government agents who wanted to take the children to Boarding School. When his mother presents the quilt to Ojiig, he “thought about all the stories his mama had stitched into the quilt. He thought about how all his ancestors’ stories lived inside him. And he wondered what kinds of stories future generations might tell about him.” 

The last page shows Ojiig wrapped in the quilt, surrounded by family, and he realizes, “Home is where you learn who came before you. Home is where you discover who you are. Home is where you imagine who you might become.” The back of the book gives more information about the Indigenous Boarding Schools and the Anishinaabe quilting tradition. 

When the Stars Came Home is beautifully illustrated using deep purples and blues to imitate the night sky and includes illustrations of Ojiig’s ancestors. The natural tones in the pictures of Ojiig’s ancestors emphasize Indigenous peoples’ connection with nature. Each page features one to five complex sentences, making it essential for an adult to read the book to their child instead of having a child read it independently. 

While When the Stars Came Home focuses on the Indigenous experience, any reader who has moved to a new place will understand Ojiig’s emotions. The illustrations and story are a beautiful reminder that home is where the heart is. To reinforce the importance of storytelling, pair When the Stars Came Home with Octopus Stew by Eric Velasquez. However, if you’d like to read more stories that show the Indigenous experience, read Remember by Joy Harjo, Dragonfly’s Tale by Kristina Rodanas, and Berry Song by Michaela Goade.  

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Jingle Dancer

Jenna loves the tradition of jingle dancing that has been shared over generations in her family and intertribal community. She hopes to dance at the next powwow. But with the day quickly approaching, she has a problem—how will her dress sing if it has no jingles? 

Jenna turns to her Indigenous community to help her prepare for the powwow. First, she watches a videotape of her Grandma Wolfe to learn the bounce step of the jingle dance. To get her dress ready, Great-Aunt Sis gives Jenna a row of her jingles and tells her a story. Then, Jenna asks three other women to borrow a row of jingles, making sure that she didn’t take so many that the others “dresses would lose their voice.” With her Grandma Wolfe’s help, Jenna helps sew the jingles onto her dress and practices her bounce-steps. 

Jingle Dancer focuses on Jenna’s community and traditions. When Jenna dances, she doesn’t just represent herself; she dances for the women who helped her get enough jingles to make her dress sing. The story illustrates how Indigenous women support one another and the significance of preserving and passing down traditions. 

The watercolor illustrations show Jenna in a typical suburban community. Many illustrations focus on the traditional jingle dancer, and the conclusion shows Jenna dancing at the powwow. Jingle Dancer helps readers understand traditional Native American customs and highlights the importance of storytelling in these cultures. The author’s note includes information about the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the traditions behind jingle dresses. It also includes a glossary that explains the following terms: fry bread, Indian taco, powwow, and regalia. 

Jingle Dancer is a beautifully written story about Native American traditions. While the story is heartwarming and encouraging, wiggly readers may struggle to follow along with a reading of the book due to the text-heavy pages. However, the story focuses on community and storytelling, and it will appeal to many children and adults. Jingle Dancer encourages readers to learn about their culture and traditions, reminding them of the importance of remembering their ancestors.   

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The Broken Bees’ Nest

The Broken Bees’ Nest is part of the Makers Make it Work Series. Tying into the popular Makers Movement, Makers Make it Work is a series of fun, easy-to-read stories that focus on problem-solving and hands-on action. It features bright, eye-catching art and explanatory sidebars with additional information on the topic. 

Arun and Keya find the perfect tree for a tree house. Too bad it comes with a battered bees’ nest! These bees need a new home—right away! But Keya is afraid and unsure if she wants to help the bees. The kids’ neighbor, Dr. Chen, helps them dress in a beekeeper’s suit to keep them safe. Then, Dr. Chen shows them how to use smoke to calm the bees. Once the bees have a new home, Dr. Chen and the kids prepare the honey to be eaten. In the end, Keya is no longer afraid of bees and is excited to help take care of the new hive. 

The Broken Bees’ Nest is a fun, easy-to-read story that teaches readers about bees. Each page has five to seven simple sentences and a large picture. Readers will relate to Keya, who is afraid of bees. With the help of her brother and an adult, Keya learns that bees are fascinating. Each two-page spread features a sidebar that provides additional information about bees, beekeepers, and safety precautions when working around bees. Bee facts are integrated into an engaging story, so The Broken Bees’ Nest never feels like a textbook.   

As part of the Makers Make it Work Series, The Broken Bees’ Nest “focuses on problem-solving and hands-on action.” The brightly colored illustrations show a traditional family and a caring adult neighbor, who teach the children how to help the bees. The story features diverse characters, as Arun and Keya are of Indian descent, and Dr. Chen is Asian. According to the publisher, Kane Press, “these books show kids how to use their hands, their heads, their creativity, and their problem-solving skills to overcome every challenge facing them.” 

The Broken Bees’ Nest uses simple sentences, likable characters, and relatable conflict. The brother and sister are kind to each other, and the adults are shown in a positive light. In addition, after reading the book, readers will have a new understanding of bees and how to keep safe around them. Additionally, the book guides how to be a friend to bees by creating a bee-friendly garden. These elements make it the perfect book for young readers interested in the natural world. To learn more about insects, fly to the nearest library and check out Invasion of the Insects by Ada Hopper and On Beyond Bugs! by Trish Rabe. 

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The Urban Owls

Lifelong birder Christian Cooper introduces us to the majestic owls that have made New York City their home, beginning with Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo. When Flaco escaped, “some people worried that he might not survive. But Flaco surprised everyone—he could do just fine on his own.”  

Another owl that makes its home in Central Park is Barry the Barred Owl, who likes to roost in the same spot along a path in the park. Barry captivated “curious people” who liked to go see her. Geraldine, the Great Horned Owl, also made Central Park her own, “even though she hurt her foot and it never healed right. Geraldine doesn’t let that stop her.”  

But not all owls want to make Central Park their home. Rockey the Saw-whet Owl lived in the quiet woods until she fell asleep and woke up in the big city. Her tree ended up in Rockefeller Center, “where it would soon be decorated with lights for everyone to see.” Luckily, “kind people helped Rocky get far away from the city and back to the woods.”  

The Urban Owls introduces readers to New York City’s owls while including many interesting facts about each type. The beautiful digital spreads focus on the owls by using light from the moon, neon signs, and the glow of windows. While all readers will find the owls beautiful, older readers may want to try to identify the owls’ differences, which are explained in the back matter. The backmatter also includes information about how to spot an owl and how to be a good owl neighbor. 

Throughout the book, Cooper draws parallels between the owls and people. For example, Flaco “worked the night shift, like most owls do (and like some people do too).” The illustrations also feature other animals, including a lightning bug, mice, a squirrel, and a dog in the window of an apartment. Plus, readers can learn about perseverance through Geraldine, who survives despite an injury: “A body that’s different doesn’t mean you’re not able to do great things.” 

Younger readers will enjoy examining the illustrations in The Urban Owls; however, the text-heavy pages and the inclusion of numerous facts make the book more suitable for older readers. Although The Urban Owls is a picture book, the story must be read aloud to young children, rather than read independently by the child. Readers may need help with some of the more advanced vocabulary, such as roost, perch, and fiercer. The Urban Owls is worth reading because it educates readers about owls and helps them become interested in protecting wildlife. Readers who want to learn more about animals should also read Polar Oceans by Bobbie Kalman and One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies. The Rocket Series by Nathan Bryon will also encourage a child to care for our world.   

Pinkalicious

Pinkalicious begins on a rainy day, when Pinkalicious’ mother suggests that the family bake cupcakes. Pinkalicious adamantly requests that they make the treats pink, and when they are finished, she finds them delicious. After waking up from her nap, Pinkalicious continues to ask for more treats, and she eats more cupcakes after dinner. This prompts a sugar high that prevents her from sleeping for some time. The next morning, Pinkalicious awakens to find that her skin and hair have turned pink, the color of the cupcakes.

Pinkalicious is delighted at her new look, calling herself “Pinkerbelle.” After discovering that their daughter’s pink hue cannot be removed, her parents take her to the doctor. He diagnoses her with “Pinkitis” and prescribes a new diet of only green food. Pinkalicious, her little brother Peter, and her mother stop by the park on their way home from the doctor, and Pinkalicious’ skin causes her to attract a terrifying swarm of insects and birds. Despite this, when they get home, Pinkalicious asks for another pink cupcake. Her parents instead give her a dinner of green vegetables, but after they go to sleep, Pinkalicious sneaks one more cupcake. To her shock, she wakes up bright red the next day. Understanding the necessity of the doctor’s orders, she eats piles of green food to reverse the effects of the cupcakes. The trick works, and Pinkalicious returns to her normal color. The story ends with her little brother Peter appearing with pink skin and a partially eaten treat in his hand, signifying that he has eaten the rest of the cupcakes.

Pinkalicious teaches the importance of restraint and appreciating good things in moderation. The main character’s refusal to limit her cupcake consumption is initially of no concern to her, but she eventually faces the startling consequences. She learns that, although the cupcakes are delicious, she should not eat too many. She also learns to listen to the adults in her life, including her parents and her doctor, when they advise her on what to do. It is only by doing so that she cures herself.

The story’s plot conveys the central message through the logical progression of Pinkalicious’ actions; the lesson she learns is directly tied to her decisions and character arc. However, despite the story’s insistence that pink sugary foods are best in moderation, Pinkalicious does little to convince readers that green, healthy foods are good. They are the catalyst for the main character’s recovery, yet she describes them as icky and gag-worthy.

Pinkalicious features full-size illustrations on every page that mimic collages, with characters and objects that appear almost glued onto the background, rather than being drawn. The text is in a large font that is easy for children to read themselves, and each page may contain anywhere from zero words (in which case, the adjacent page may have a few paragraphs) to several lines.

Pinkalicious is a must-read story suitable for all ages, thanks to its simple yet timeless message. Young and old readers can understand the moral about self-restraint, and its unique aesthetic makes for an engaging experience that readers will not soon forget.

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Violence

  • The main character, Pinkalicious, is “surrounded by bees, butterflies, and birds” at the park due to her pink skin, and the illustration shows her fearful expression as she is circled by a whirlwind of creatures.

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Language

  • In response to her doctor’s recommendation that she eat healthy and green food, Pinkalicious narrates “BOO!” and “YUCK!”

Supernatural

  • The story revolves around a young girl who contracts “Pinkititis” after eating too many pink cupcakes.
  • Pinkalicious later turns red after eating one more cupcake: “I was a deeper pink than I had ever seen. In fact, I was no longer pink. I was red!”

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by Gabrielle Barke

Three Bees: The Sound of Ee

Three Bees teaches readers simple facts about bees and how to detect word patterns using the vowel blend “ee”. For example, the book reads, “The three bees fly to the flowers, sip nectar, and return home.” The simple text is easy to understand, allowing readers to build reading confidence. 

Each two-page spread has a full-page picture that focuses on bees or flowers. Each sentence contains five to seven simple words, with repetition of the vowel blend ‘ee’, which helps readers learn how to produce this sound. The words are printed in large font, making them easier to read.  

Beginning readers will practice and apply knowledge of the “ee” sound when reading Three Bees. The photographs and colorful pages will help engage students. The book ends with a word list for review. Three Bees will help children learn to read by focusing on spelling patterns used in a simple story. 

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My Friend Maggie

Paula and Maggie have been friends forever. Paula thinks Maggie is the best—until mean girl Veronica says otherwise. Suddenly, Paula starts to notice that Maggie is big and clumsy, and her clothes are sort of snuggish. Rather than sticking up for Maggie, Paula ignores her old friend and plays with Veronica instead. Luckily, when Veronica turns on Paula, Maggie’s true colors shine through.  

Paula, a groundhog, enjoys spending time with Maggie, an elephant. The two are completely different, but they still have fun together. Maggie helps Paula “reach the reddest apples,” and “lifts me up when I can’t see.” But that all changes when Veronica starts whispering in Paula’s ear. Suddenly, Paula is embarrassed to be seen with Maggie because she’s “too big,” “clumsy,” and her clothes are “a little snuggish.” Soon, Paula spends all her time with Veronica and purposely ignores Maggie.   

When Veronica starts teasing Paula, saying her “teeth stick out too far,” Maggie steps in and defends Paula. Even though Paula’s behavior had hurt Maggie, she forgives her friend, proving that “she’s the best.” The heart-warming story will resonate with young readers who have felt left out. Just like Paula, readers will learn the value of friendship as well as the dangers of trying to fit in.   

My Friend Maggie uses brightly colored illustrations to bring the story to life. The illustrations magnify the difference between Paula and Maggie, showing that you can be friends with people who are different from you. The other characters include a polar bear, a pig, a panda, and more adorable animals. The animal characters add interest and humor to the story. For example, readers might giggle when the animals are having a pool party because the pig is wearing a snorkel, and the rabbit has floaties on its arms. On another page, Maggie “hides” behind a small tree, and is clearly visible.   

Each page features large illustrations, and most pages contain only a single sentence, making My Friend Maggie the perfect book to read to a child when time is short. However, the book also gives adults an opportunity to discuss bullying, fitting in, and friendship with young readers. Preschool and kindergarten students learning how to navigate friendships will also benefit from reading the following books: Clovis Keeps His Cool by Katelyn Aronson, Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley, and Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith.  

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