THE SLEEPLESS LITTLE VAMPIRE

Author (last name first):
Egielski, Richard
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Arthur A. Levine Books/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
Kindergarten -2nd Grades
Classification:  
Fiction  
What could possibly be keeping a little vampire up tonight? Could it be the creatures of the night and their noises? This read- aloud book gathers all the favorite things that children would be afraid of together for a book that's a constant pleasure. The author and illustrator Egielski masterfully lets the pictures tell the story until the Little Vampire reveals why he can't sleep. The words are very easy to read and would be a great for beginning readers or for a Halloween story for a class. I read the story to my little ones and they had a fun time making the noises that the monsters of the night were supposed to make. 

Reviewed By: Lila Davis(Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library)

THE LOST AND FOUND PONY

Author (last name first):
Dockray, Tracy
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Feiwel and Friends/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
Kindergarten - 2nd Grades
Classification:   
Fiction  
This is a story of a little pony that has had a tough road in life. His first owner, a little girl, loves him and they win many horse shows together. One day she outgrows him and he is sold to the circus. He has a good life there as well but soon the circus owner is forced to sell him. The pony goes to auction and is worried about where he is going to end up. Meanwhile he never forgets about his first owner and the love he saw in her eyes the day he was given to her. Will the lost and found pony ever find his best friend?
This book was very charming. The illustrations add to the delivery of the story. The story is written in the first person i.e the pony and the tone is very sad throughout most of the book. This would be a good book for children who lost a pet or who love horses a lot. The back of the book tells about the author who wandered where her little pony's life had started and what happened in his long life. There is an AR test available for this book as well. I read this with my youngest daughter who loves horses and she was a little saddened by the story, but in the end she was very captivated by the pictures.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library) 

ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES (GRAPHIC NOVEL)

Author (last name first):
Manning, Matthew K.
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Stone Arch Books/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
2nd - 6th Grades
Classification: Fiction  
In this variation of the classic story; Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Ali Baba is a poor young man who stumbles upon a hidden cave where a band of thieves hides its loot. When he brings some of the treasure home, his greedy brother, Kasim, finds out and forces Ali Baba to tell him were the treasure is.  When Kasim is suddenly interrogated and killed by the thieves, they hunt for Ali Baba. The servant girl Marjana uses all her cunning and courage to save Ali Baba and his family. Will Marjana, Ali  Baba and his family make it out alive?
Richardo Osnaya's elegant art and Matthew Manning's story combine to make an action packed comic book. The back pages include information about the Arabian Nights, real hidden treasures, a glossary, discussion and writing prompts. The book will appeal to most young readers because of the adventure and the graphic novel style in which it is written. There is an AR test as well for this book.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library)

BUS RIDE BULLY (GRAPHIC NOVEL)

 Author (last name first):
Meister, Cari
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Stone Arch Books/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
Kindergarten- 3rd Grades
Classification:  Fiction  


Bus Ride Bully is a very good book to start young readers on. Most children like graphic novels and this is one to start them with. The beginning of the book includes instructions on how to read a graphic novel. A young boy named Gavin didn't like to ride the school bus because the school bully Max would always pick on him and eat his snacks too. One day Max didn't show up on the bus because he had a bike accident.  When Max didn't show up for three days Gavin thought Max didn't have very many friends and he decided that he would go and visit him at home. Gavin soon learns that Max isn't so scary after all and he only did the mean things to get attention. Will Gavin and Max learn to get along?
There is a glossary of key words with pronunciations and definitions along with discussion questions and writing prompts intended for teachers, parents, and caregivers. The bright illustrations help to tell the story and will draw a young reader's attention. This would be a great book to do a lesson about bullying. There is an AR test available for this book as well. 

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library)

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA

Author (last name first):
Shaw, Murray and Cosson, M.J.
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Graphic Universe/ 2010
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
4th- 6th Grades
Classification:
Fiction  


The king of Bohemia hires the famous detective Sherlock Holmes to locate a photograph of himself with the actress Irene Adler. He fears she will use it to ruin his upcoming marriage. Holmes and his trusted companion Dr. John H. Watson set up a sting. As they stage a dramatic fight and Miss Adler falls for the bait, Holmes finds the photo but also finds a rare instance in which he gets truly outmaneuvered.  
This mystery book is set up as a graphic novel. Boys and girls would like the action and suspense throughout the book. Clues at the back of the book help reveal Holmes's process of reasoning and how he solved the crime. There is a section in the back that gives websites and other information for further reading. The last page of the book tells a little about the author and illustrator. There is a AR test available for this book as well.


Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library)

MIGHTY MIGHTY MONSTERS: HIDE AND SHRIEK! (GRAPHIC NOVEL)

Author (last name first):
O'Reilly, Sean
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Stone Arch Books/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
2nd - 4th Grades
Classification:  Fiction  


This book is a sixth title in the Mighty Mighty Adventure series. In a strange corner of the world known as Transylmania, legendary monsters were born. But before their frightful fame, these classic creatures faced fears of their own. Vlad the vampire is the leader and a tad bit bossy. Talbalt the werewolf fusses over his hair a lot. Frankie Frankenstein solves problems by bashing through them, Claude the invisible boy frets over his pimple before he relizes that no one can see it. Wichita the witch is asked not to use her magic as they play their weekly game of hide and seek and she agreed. As Vlad seeks out his friends some in obvious places, like Poto little phantom of the opera boy in a piano. Will Frankie be able to get free with the help of his friends? 
The book is written like a graphic novel with squares and bubble talking. The story is very cute and interesting for young and old. There is a glossary, a little biography about Vlad before he became famous and where the friends are now. There is also a bio about the author and illustrator, discussion questions, writing prompts, titles of the books in the series, and a website to look up more books like this one. There is an AR test available for this test as well.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis( Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library) 

PRINCESS CANDY AND THE EVIL ECHO

Author (last name first):
Dahl, Michael and Nickle, Scott
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Stone Arch Books/ 2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
 2nd-4th Grades
Classification: 
Fiction  

In another adventure with Halo Nightly (aka Princess Candy) we return to face Echo Repeater(aka The Evil Echo) who is infatuated with the school's most famous basketball star Cody Phinn. When Cody shows Halo attention Echo gets jealous and threatens to make Halo sorry if she doesn't stop talking to Cody. When Halo gets accused of giving answers to a test she doesn't understand what is happening. When she  arrives home, her grandmother sends her to her room where she finds out that her magic candy is missing and a note is left to meet the culprit who is impersonating her. Soon Halo arrives at the school to find Echo telling Cody that she never wants to see him again. When Halo confronts Echo and they begin to fight, in the process almost killing Cody with falling concrete. Will Halo defeat Echo with her powers or will she finally meet her match.

There is a section in the back that explains Evil Echo's abilities, about the author and illustrator, glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, and a website that has more of the characters along with games. There is an AR test available for this book as well.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis ( Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library)