WHAT COLOR IS CAESAR?

Author (last name first):
Kunin,Maxine

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

First Candlewick Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

3rd

Classification: Fiction 

Caesar  is a dog who sets out to find out if he is a black dog with white spots or a white dog with black dog with white spots. He meets several other black and white animals to ask them their opinion. The cow says she is the color of milk and the horse says he is green. Caesar to talk to the circus guru. The guru helps Caesar discover he is all the colors of the rainbow.

Reviewed By: Stephanie Offield (Teacher/City View Elementary)  

CAN'T WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS

Author (last name first):
Huckabee, Mike

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

G.P. Putnam's Sons/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Pre-K- 5th

Classification: Fiction 

Can't Wait Till Christmas! is a Christmas story recommended for children Pre-K- 5th grade. Young Mike and his sister give in to the temptation of secretly opening their Christmas presents while their parents are at work. Their delight fades one Christmas morning when they realize they have ruined Christmas and disappointed their parents. The children learn their lesson. This candid story can help inspire patience int he face of temptation. 
This book has an AR test available.

Reviewed By: Tara Kirkland (City View Elementary Teacher) 

ALPHA OOPS! H IS FOR HALLOWEEN

Author (last name first):
Kontis, Alethea

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Candlewick Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

 Head Start -Kindergarten

Classification: Non-Fiction 

This is a Halloween alphabet book. The illustrations are really good and content truly catches your eye. The only problem there might be is the author did not go through the alphabet in order so for the younger students it might be a little confusing.

Reviewed By: Nikki Gillen (Second Grade Teacher)  

VACATION'S OVER! RETURN OF THE DINOSAURS

Author (last name first):
Kulka, Joe

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Learner Pub. Group/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Kindergarten- 2nd

Classification: Fiction 

This is a good book to use for Science! It gives another reason why the dino's were thought to be extinct. It also names some planets and makes learning about dinosaurs cool. The pictures are great and age appropriate. The kids loved the rhyming aspect of the book.

Reviewed By: Vicki Dawkins (Teacher/Wichita Falls Texas/City View Elementary) 

THREE LITTLE BEARS PLAY ALL DAY

Author (last name first):
  Martin, David

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Candlewick Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Head Start - Pre- K and Kindergarten

Classification: Non- Fiction 

This book would be for Head Start children or younger kids. 
It shows what you can do if you make a mistake just keep on going.

Reviewed By: Susie Cain (Library Aid)  

PIGS TO THE RESCUE

Author (last name first):
Himmelman, John

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Henry Holt & Co./2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Pre- K- 2nd

Classification: Fiction 

The cover is attractive  to kids. The pictures are colorful and fun. There were no typos or editing problems. Photos are clear and print quality is good. My class loved shouting "Pigs to the Rescue" every time the pigs tried to "help" someone. They had good intentions but bad outcomes. The test comes at the end when the cows take over for the pigs when the milk is spilled. 
This book has an AR test available.

Reviewed By: Vicki Dawkins (Teacher/City View Elementary)

HOW YOU GOT SO SMART

Author (last name first):
Milgrim, David

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

G.P. Putnam's Sons/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Kindergarten-3rd

Classification: Fiction 

I read this book to my group of Head Start Kids who are a mix of 3, 4, 5 year olds. What they loved the most was the silliness of the pictures and the rhyming that has throughout the book. This would be a great book to give a student graduating from kindergarten. My students became bored with the storyline of the book because there really wasn't one. It would not fit into any theme in my curriculum, so if it was in my personal library, it probably wouldn't be read very much. It's a great book to do a "book walk" through. The illustrations were very child-friendly, and my students were more attentive when I made up my own words to go with the pictures.

Reviewed By: Sara Rodriguez (Teacher/City View Elementary) 

I'M A TRUCK DRIVER

 Author (last name first):
London, Jonathan

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Henry Holt & Co./2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Pre-K - Kindergarten

Classification: Non-Fiction 

The author of this book uses trucks as his main focus. He describes the trucks and tells the children what they do and what sounds they make. This is an informational book for 2-6 year olds. The descriptions are clear and interesting for the children. The pictures are realistic and keep the children glued to the book. This book would be great for little boys.
This book has a AR Test available.
 

MAKING THE MOOSE OUT OF LIFE

Author (last name first):
 Oldland,Nicholas 

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Kids Can Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

3rd- 5th

Classification: Fiction 

Making the moose out of Life is a creatively illustrated inspirational book recommended for grades 3-5. Moose often watched his friends do exciting things like puddle-jumping and snow-skiing, but he never participated. He started to feel like something was missing in his life. Moose began to search for the answer and took a risk by jumping into a sail boat one day. He was swept away in a storm. He woke up alone on an island and began working to take control of his life. He learned to be happy on the island and adjusted to the resources that were available. He was rescued and returned home to a new Moose who vowed to never forget the island.This book is an excellent resource when counseling students on attitude and character- building.
This book has a AR test available.

Reviewed By: Tara Kirkland (City View Elementary Teacher)
 

SUMMER BIRDS

Author (last name first):
Engle, Margarita

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Henry Holt & Company/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

1st - 3rd

Classification: Non-Fiction 

 This book gave good information about the life cycles of a butterfly and a frog. The pictures also showed details of each part of the cycles. I also liked how the girl in the story was young and the students could relate to her. I wasn't clear on why the author wrote about dragons in the mud. The students did not understand this very well either.
This book is a AR test available.

Reviewed By: Jennifer Brandt (Teacher/City View Elementary)

MAGNUS MAXIMUS, A MARVELOUS MEASURER

Author (last name first):
Pelley, Kathleen

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

SNP Leefung Printers, Ltd./2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

3rd- 4th

Classification: Fiction 

Magnus Maximus measured extraordinary things. He was a marvelous measurer. People marveled at his measuring. The mayor declared him the town's official measurer. He lived alone and all he did was measure things until one day his glasses were broken. The next day Magnus got his glasses repaired and measured a few things. He went to his garden, and took off his glasses, and sang as the sun set. This was new to him and he enjoyed it. He realized what he was missing in life. This book is well written. The illustration includes a lot of details. I would recommend this book.
This book is AR available.

Reviewed By: Debra Stone (Teachers Aide/ City View) 

MY MOTHER IS SO SMART!

Author (last name first):
Depaola,Tomie

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

The Penguin Group/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Pre-Kindergarten-1st

Classification: Non-Fiction  

This book talks about all the things a mom does for her son. I don't really see where this would work in the classroom without hurting students who don't have moms. It would be good for students to get a better understanding/ appreciation of everything their parents do. This book has a AR Test available 

Reviewed By: Amanda Dorsey (City View Elementary) 

ALLIGATOR WEDDING

Author (last name first):
Jewell, Nancy

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Henry Holt & Co./2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Kindergarten-2nd

Classification: Fiction 

This book has very nice illustration that are attractive to children. The pictures are clear and the layout is attractive. There are words like "bayou", "marshy", "crayfish" that are good vocabulary words for older kids. There are a lot of good adjectives to use in an English lesson. The rhythm was a little hard to read even though it was a rhyming book. 
This book has a AR Test available.
Reviewed By: Vicki Dawkins (Teacher/City View Elementary/ City View I.S.D) 

WE PLANTED A TREE

Author (last name first):
Muldrow, Diane

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Golden Books, Random House /2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Kindergarten-3nd

Classification: Fiction 

Through the story of various families planting trees, the author relates the benefit of trees to the earth ecologically, esthetically, and socially. In simple language and bright, cheerful illustrations, the book shows trees as a source of food, of cleaner air and water, and of beauty, as well as serving as a remedy for soil erosion, a source of soil enrichment, and an attraction for humans, birds, and other animals to create a rich habitat.
This book has a AR Test available.
Reviewed By: Carol Janecka (City View Elementary)

 

UGLY PIE

 Author (last name first):
Wheeler, Lisa

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co./2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Kindergarten-2nd

Classification: Fiction 

The lower grades will love this book. You could use it to teach sequence because of the repetition of the ingredients. It is well organized and clear. Ol' Bear needs ingredients for an ugly pie. It goes through the steps he takes to collect all the ingredients and then shows the pie with the people who contributed. Every thing about this book is fun.
This book has a AR Test available.
Reviewed By: Vicki Dawkins (Teacher/City View Elementary/ CVISD    

JEKEL LOVES HYDE

 Author (last name first):
Fantaskey, Beth

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Harcourt/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

9th and

Classification: Fiction 

JEKEL LOVES HYDE is a sensational romance based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE with a modern twist. Jill Jekel has always followed the rules and never gets in trouble. When her father is suddenly murdered, her college savings disappear and her mother suffers a nervous breakdown. She is left with the realization that she has no where to turn and no way to pay for her college tuition. Her chemistry teacher tells her about a contest that would help her take care of all her worries. To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of a talented pianist and classmate Tristen Hyde who has his own deep dark secrets. To win the contest Jill has to disobey her parents cardinal rule not to touch a mysterious box in her father's office. Jill faces lots of hurdles, but one of the most intriguing is her attraction to Tristen Hyde. Their attraction towards eachother was not only dangerous but deadly. 
The author really captures the essence of modern Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde and how he is represented in a gentlemanly fashion as well as hideous. This would be a good book to have students study historical fiction of a certain time period.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Assistant Manager over Circulation Dept.)

THE OTHER HALF OF MY HEART

 Author (last name first):
Frazier, Sundee T.

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Delacorte Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

8th and Up

Classification: Fiction 

When Minerva (Minni) and Keira King were born they made the news around the world. They were born in the back of an airplane and they didn't look like most twins. Minni was white after her father and Keira was black after her mother. When the girls turned eleven they were invited to their Grandmother Johnson to enter the Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America pageant.  For Keira it was her chance to shine. Growing up in Washington State  the girls were used to odd looks and backward glances. Minni knew there was something different about them, but her parents acted as though they were average young ladies.
The author shows how two places can be so different and how Minni and Keira deal with the racism that goes on around them. She also shows the struggle inside Minni to feel like she belongs. Keira and Minni are true sisters and hold steadfast to each other when every one else is so cruel. The girls also learn about their Grandmother Johnson's life and her struggles back when she was a young lady.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Assistant Manager over Circulation Dept.)