WE MARCH

  


Author (last name first): Evans, Shane W.

Publisher,Date of Publication:Roaring Book Press /January 03, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Kindergarten-Gr3
Classification: 
Non-Fiction 

On August 28, 1963, an extraordinary event took place--more than 250,000 people gathered in our nation's capital to participate in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march began at the Washington Monument and ended with a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, advocating racial harmony. Many words have been written about that day. The book follows a boy, a girl and their parents as they get up early, go to church to pray and make protest signs, take buses to Washington DC and march together. Then they stand with each other in a crowd of people and listen to a man talking about dreams.

The author Shane Evans did a wonderful job of taking you along the family's journey to Washington D.C. The story makes you feel like you are walking with them and protesting with them as they go to listen to Rev. Martin Luther King deliver his speech.  There are facts in the back of the book that are very interesting and help explain some of the real events that took place in 1963-1965. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to read about this part of American history and to those who are doing a lesson on civil rights or American History in 1963-1965.

 Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3^rd Grade/ Ages 4 and Up

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

COLD SNAP

Author (last name first): Spinelli, Eileen

Publisher,Date of Publication:Knopf Books for Young Readers /October 09, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr3
Classification: 
Fiction 

Cold Snap  is a magnificent story of the children of Toby Mills Town. They follow the days of the week, seeing how the icicle on General Toby's statue continues to grow from Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday. While the story is lovable, it is the illustrations that makes this book so wonderful. Marjorie Priceman creates a brilliant world wrapped up in colors that warms up the eyes as the town gets colder. It also tells about how the towns people work together to warm themselves up. I would recommend this book as a story time book. 

Interest Level: Preschool- 3rd Grade

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

UNSPOKEN: A STORY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Author (last name first): Cole, Henry

Publisher,Date of Publication:Scholastic Press /November 1, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Kindergarten-Gr3
Classification: 
Fiction 

There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. This book without text proves that. With breathtaking pencil illustrations the story is told of a young farm girl who discovers a runaway slave and helps in small ways. Knowing that things like this story have taken place makes the book even more touching. This book was written to honor the author's family's oral tradition of stories about the civil war and life in and around some of those events. The author Henry Cole states in the back that he hopes you can make up your own story to go with the pictures. Children can use their imagination and learn of things that happened in the past. I would recommend it for a lesson in writing or on life using the Underground Railroad period.

Interest Level: Kindergarten- 3rd Grades/Ages 4 and Up

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

RAILROAD HANK

Author (last name first): Moser, Lisa

Publisher,Date of Publication:Random House /2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr3
Classification: 
Fiction 

Railroad Hank is a story about a man who drives a train up the mountainto see Granny Bett to make her feel better. On the way he meets his friend and tells them about his sick friend. As a result they offer various things to take to her to make her feel better. While Railraod Hank is sweet he isn't the sharpest tool int he shed, furthermore, he misunderstands what his friends tell him to take and ends up taking things literally such as chickens instead of eggs, cows instead of milk, the pind of fish instead of a couple of fish, etc. Will Railroad Hank's friends ever catch up to him?
 The illustrations by Benji Davies are wonderfully colored and help visualize Lisa Moser's story. I would recommend this book to children of all ages for a laugh and fun or for a storytime book. 

Interest Level: Preschool-3rd Grade/Ages:3 and Up

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

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

Author (last name first): Emberley, Rebecca & ED

Publisher,Date of Publication:Dial /May 10, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr1/Ages:3 and Up
Classification: 
Fiction 

Rebecca and Ed Emberley point their attention to the brilliant tale of the grasshopper and the ant and put a spin on it. The hard working ant discovers that music can make any burden lighter when she stumbles upon a musician grasshopper and his buggy band. Inviting the jazzy bug band back to her underground colony, the group moves on to "Laissez les bon temps rouler!" with the foldout translating for children, " Let the good times roll!" The intensely colored, textured illustrations  are very eye catching and abstract which makes the story even better. I would recommend this book for storytime or just a good time with your young children. 

Interest Group: Preschool-1st Grade/Ages 3 and Up

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

DOG IN CHARGE

Author (last name first): Going, K.L.

Publisher,Date of Publication:Dial /May 10, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr2
Classification: 
Fiction  

When Dog is left to take care of the family cats, he finds out that it is easier said than done. He tries to keep them on the couch but the cats are more rambunctious then he anticipated.  The cats destroy the house . He then tries to feed the cats to keep them out of trouble but temptation from the cat food smell entices him to eat all the food and fall asleep. Just then he hears the family car pull up. He is scared that the hous is a mess. Dog finds that the cats clean up their mess and discovers cats and dogs can be one happy family. 
The illustrator Dan Santat did a wonderful job of making the pictures colorful as well as eye catching to go along with the wonderful story K.L. Going has written. I would recommend it to teacher as a story to read during story time or families to read together as family time.

Interest Level: Preschool- Gr.2/Ages 3 and Up

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

I HAIKU YOU

Author (last name first): Snyder, Betsy

Publisher,Date of Publication:Random House /2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr2
Classification: 
Fiction 

I Haiku You is a series of short poems of affection and admiration. Betsy Snyder did a wonderful job of illustrating colorful pictures for children to look at,as well as easy to read poems. All the pictures show some sort of heart shape in them which would be a great read for Valentine's Day in the classroom or on your own.

Interest Level:Preschool- 2nd Grade/Ages: 4-8

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Midwestern State University Night Circulation Manager) 

AVA AND THE REAL LUCILLE

Author (last name first): Best, Cari

Publisher,Date of Publication:Farrar, Straus and Giroux / September 4, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr2
Classification: 
Fiction 

Ava and her sister enter a contest in hopes of winning a pet dog. Ava especially is distressed to win instead unusual pet, a bird. This engaging warm hearted book shows Ava;s evolution from grudging new pet owner to and owner who accepts her unusual prize with real affection. This book will appeal to children who either have pets or want to be pet owners. 

Interest Level: Preschool-Gr.2/Ages 4-8

Reviewed By: Andrea Williams (Midwestern State University  Associate Univ. Librarian for Public Services/CML)   

BON APPETIT! THE DELICIOUS LIFE OF JULIA CHILD

Author (last name first): Hartland, Jessie

Publisher,Date of Publication: Schwartz & Wade/ May 22, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

5th Grade and up
Classification: 
Non-Fiction 

This book may appeal to both older kids, gr. 5 and up as well as adults who remember Julia with fondness. It is a quick biography of Julia and reveals a woman who seemed to find her own path from early adulthood on. It includs a recipe or two and lots of references in language and drawings to Julia's time in France.While it may not appeal to many readers, those who both like to cook and/or liked Julia Child may find this a special if not wildly popular read. 

Interest Level: Gr.5 and up/ Ages 12-Adult

Reviewed By: Andrea Williams (Midwestern State University  Associate Univ. Librarian for Public Services/CML)  

BAD KITTY FOR PRESIDENT

Author (last name first): Bruel, Nick

Publisher,Date of Publication: Square Fish / August 21, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Ages 7 and up
Classification: 
Fiction 

Bad Kitty the beloved series of picture books has now expanded into chapter books uneasily. This time the Bad Kitty tries to run for president against another nneighborhood cat. If there are children who are familiar with the kitty with and attitude this look at the ins and outs of running for office may appeal. Otherwise the author attempts to pile too much useful information into the kitty series and the result is not as funny as the kitty was without a useful agenda. Still, the useful information  becomes a somewhat painless way to get information on the facts associated with running for office. It may be a means to an end that normally kids would accept without some sugarcoating. This is not an essential purchase for libraries unless you have an audience that wants all Bad Kitty titles. 

Reviewed By: Andrea Williams (Midwestern State University  Associate Univ. Librarian for Public Services/CML)