Review: I Love People by Francoize Boucher

I Love People by Francoize Boucher.

Kane Miller
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9781610670128

Review: Who are people? Who are not? After crossing out all the phrases that are not people, the reader is left with "You, bored to death; a dead house plant; and a huge dead rat" epitomizing the disadvantage of isolation. This fun activity along with nearly 100 more is from I Love People - an activity book by Francoize Boucher that teaches readers how to love all people - including those that might be from another planet!

According to the author, in order to read I Love People, every reader needs to have the following on hand: "a very big heart, a full pencil case, and a taste for adventure." Readers embark on a journey "with twists and turns - to the land of love and friendship." This activity book is filled with eye-appealing activities written with kids in mind that focus on friendship, stress, valuing yourself, etiquette, and looking for the best in people. The activities would not only be great fun for any 8-12 year old child, but they would also be an excellent resource for teachers and counselors of that age group.

One example of how I Love People could be used in a classroom setting is the "Who would you like to be friends with?" section. Six characters are presented with varying appearance, interests, intelligence and attitudes. The ultimate goal is to teach readers how appearances can be deceptive and that friends should be picked for who they are instead of what they look like. Countless other pages can yield thought-provoking discussions as well. But most importantly, I Love People is a fun book filled with wisdom under the disguise of humor. Only on a few occasions did I find myself questioning the value of a few pages. For example, on the page, "What about You? What do you do for other people?" kids are instructed to make a list following some of the given examples. One example is "I punched . . . ." The moral at the end of the page is, "You see! All these people would be really sad if you weren't around." It seems unlikely that someone you punched would miss you. Certainly this was intended as humor, but developmentally, some children may not understand the humor. Nonetheless, I Love People does exactly what it sets out to do - it stimulates thinking, creates a few laughs, jumpstarts imagination, and helps kids to become the best person they can be. Kids will read and write . . . . and ultimate learn a great deal about themselves and the people all around them.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of I Love People for this review.

Have you read I Love People? How would you rate it?

Review: Little Lucy by Ilene Cooper

Little Lucy by Ilene Cooper. A Step Into Reading Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 2011
List Price: $3.99
ISBN-13: 9780375867606

Review: Everyone loves a cute little puppy - especially one as cute as Lucy in Little Lucy by Ilene Cooper. Little Lucy is a Step Into Reading book Step 3. Little Lucy is an adorable story about the adventures of a beagle as she travels with her family to the lake. Lucy experiences new sights, sounds, and sensations! She loves spending time with Bobby, but when he finds that she doesn't like the lake, Lucy gets tied up so that Bobby can swim. However, being tied up doesn't stop Lucy. She is able to unhook her leash and go off to explore on her own. She finds interesting bugs, hopping frogs, and rolling hills. But, eventually Lucy wanders too far. How will she be able to find her way back home?

Little Lucy is a perfect book for early readers. Any reader would be able to build an emotional tie with Lucy. She is simply charming. She's the puppy every child hopes to have. Filled with sensory imagery, the adventure in the story will certainly appeal to young children. Plus, the fear of a dog running away is real - and Little Lucy ties everything together bringing the readers to a happy ending. The writing is developmentally appropriate, with just enough challenging words, and the superb illustrations by John Kranzler help to round out the story and assist students in reading the text. The Step Into Reading books have been quality early reader books for generations, and Little Lucy is no exception.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Little Lucy for this review.

Have you read Little Lucy? How would you rate it?

Review: Sleeping Bootsie by Maribeth Boelts

Sleeping Bootsie by Maribeth Boelts. A Step Into Reading Book.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 2011
List Price: $3.99
ISBN-13: 9780375866784

Review: Fairies, magic, spells and . . . . kittens? Sleeping Bootsie by Maribeth Boelts is a charming book for early readers. It is part of the Step Into Reading series Step 3. Meg, a young maiden who works in a castle longs for a friend. One day, she finds the best friend in an unexpected place - her laundry basket! Sleeping Bootsie, an adorable kitten is welcomed into the castle by the Queen who makes Bootsie Meg's charge. She throws a ball, inviting all the fairies who cast wonderful spells on Bootsie. One fairie, however, is not invited - the evil fairie. The Silver Fairy comes anyway though and casts an evil spell on Bootsie. As the King & Queen do everything to avoid the Silver Fairy's spell - eternal sleep at the touch of water, it ends up affecting the entire land. However, despite all the precautions, when Bootsie finally falls victim to eternal sleep, will they ever be able to find a way to bring Bootsie back?

Sleeping Bootsie has everything that young readers enjoy - they love castles, fairies, and kittens! The story is charming and has enough depth to it to maintain the interest of stronger readers. Context clues are used throughout the book to assist readers in understanding challenging words. Plus, difficult words are repeated often, helping to increase vocabulary. Patricia Cantor also adds exceptional illustrations to assist students in understanding the plot. The Step Into Reading series is a wonderful series for young readers, and Sleeping Bootsie captures the attention of the readers through a loveable character, relatively familiar plot, and exciting castle life.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Sleeping Bootsie for this review.

Have you read Sleeping Bootsie? How would you rate it?

Review: Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis

Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 2011
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780375856327

Review: Lexie has spent every summer for as long as she can remember at her family's home at the shore. This summer is going to be different. There are so many things going on in ten-year-old Lexie's life. Her parents recently got divorced and she is going on the yearly family vacation without her mom this summer. This year her dad is bringing his new girlfriend Vicky and her two sons Ben and Harris along. Now, Lexie will have to put up with, Ben -a teenager and Harris (Mack) - a toddler, throughout her vacation. Lexie, by Audrey Coloumbis, is a great book and is a must read.

On her vacation Lexie ends up doing some fun things with everyone that she didn't expect. One time, Ben finds a sand shark in a pool that somebody made in the sand. Ben calls Lexie to help him and together they dig a canal so that the shark can get back in the water. Another time, Lexie takes Harris beachcombing with her. They set out to search for any interesting things along the shore. Harris finds a lot of different items and Lexie keeps him company. One thing they find is a sand dollar that is dead. They bury it and go home to show everyone their discoveries. These are just a few of the fun things that Lexie does on her vacation with Vicky, Ben, and Harris. What are some of the other adventures she has down by the shore? That's for you to find out!

I think that in this story Coloumbis is trying to show that you can have fun where it is least expected. I think that Lexie is a very heartfelt book and it is meant for all ages. It is an easy read and young children will enjoy it as well. This story would be especially enjoyed by children Lexie's age because it is told from Lexie's point of view. In my opinion, Lexie deserves a 5 out of 5 star rating. I loved the way the author made me feel as if I were there in the story. This was a very interesting book and it kept me reading until the end. I have a feeling that you will feel the same about it.

Review written by Yahvi (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Lexie for this review.

Have you read Lexie? How would you rate it?

Review: When Life Gives You O.J. by Erica S. Perl

When Life Gives You O.J. by Erica S. Perl.

Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 2011
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9780375859243

Review: Have you ever wanted a dog? Then just get a practice dog! When Life Gives You O.J. by Erica S. Perl, may be the best book of our time. It will keep you interested the whole way.

It is the story of a young girl named Zelda, who has always wanted a dog. So her grandpa, Ace gives her an orange juice carton and says it is a practice dog. Zelda must take care of the 'dog', feed the dog, help the dog go to the bathroom and so on. As her story goes on she meets a young boy named Jeremy. Jeremy is the only person that learns about her practice dog other than her family. Zelda eventually gets tired of O.J. and throws it away. Not so long afterwards Zelda's life takes a turn for the worst. Her grandpa has a heart attack. She blames herself, and since she has thrown O.J. away, she feels she has no one. What will happen to Ace? Will Zelda ever get her dog?

When Life Gives You O.J. is a FANTASTIC book. Zelda grows from to hating O.J to loving him. Zelda is easy to relate to because she wants a dog like a lot of people. It can be funny, suspenseful, and just plain great. It deserves 5 out of 5 stars. It will interest any age group. It will interest any age group, not just kids but even adults to. This is an important sign in a book when it can be enjoyed by several generations. This is also a great book for dog lovers. Everyone should read this book. When Life Gives You O.J. is a great book to read on lazy days, car trips, at the beach and, just for fun.

Review written by Max (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of When Life Gives You O.J. for this review.

Have you read When Life Gives You O.J.? How would you rate it?

Review: Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow by Katy Towell

Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow by Katy Towell.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375868597

Review: When they cross the room, the watching girls' index fingers follow them. Maggie, Adelaide, and Beatrice have suffered endless teasing and name calling, and they are known as "Scary Children" by their classmates. The book, ! Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow by Katy Towell, centers around three girls and their unnatural talents. When the citizens of Widowsbury start vanishing, the outcasts must unite and with the help of Steffen, try to find out what has happened to them, and how to bring them back. Will these unlikely heroines be able to find the lost citizens and bring them back, or will they be sucked up in the abductions too?

Adelaide has the startling characteristics of a werewolf. She can scent people from about ½ a mile away, distinguish substances clearly from about a ¼ mile away, and hear people from over a mile away. Maggie, on the other hand is uncomfortably strong. I'm talking strong as in she can carry a whole mantelpiece jam-packed of enormous heavy dictionaries in one hand, and without breaking a sweat either. Beatrice, claims to see ghosts, and oddly enough, has befriended some dead animal spirits. If they are to find out where their beloved librarian has gone, they're going to have to unite and travel the path in which many have taken before their death. Will they be able to find out what has happened to their librarian, and will they be able to rescue here before it's too late? How much longer will they have until their taken away too?

Katy Towell, is a great writer, and if she can accomplish this mind-blowing book, I can guarantee that she's able to create another one just as marvelous. Skary Childrin is something I'd like to keep reading. This book, ! Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow , is an amazing, book, and I'm hoping that Katy Towell will write a sequel. I loved her descriptive words and I'm pretty sure that she loved every page, because I did. In the book the page I kept flipping back to was the page that had the song, "Scar-y chil-dren, Scar-y chil-dren, Where are they? Where are they? You can't run from Maggie! Adelaide will smell thee! Beatrice cries! Then you die!!" It is sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques". My favorite character is Adelaide, because I thought she is most like me, no, not with the werewolf stuff, or the teasing, or saving the world. But the temper, the screaming, and the crying are all behaviors I possess on weekly biases. Well, maybe not the screaming and crying, mostly just the temper. If I become a librarian, I would put at least 4-5 copies of this book in the library. Anyhow, I rate Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow 5 stars, because of how well the girls work together and how this is a gripping modern-day mystery.

Review written by Tam (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow for this review.

Have you read Skary Childrin and the Carousel of Sorrow? How would you rate it?

Review: First Pitch: How Baseball Began by John Thorn

First Pitch: How Baseball Began by John Thorn.

Beach Ball Books
Publication Date: May 2011
List Price: $19.99
ISBN-13: 9781936310050

Review: The crowd goes wild in the bottom of the 9th inning when the home-team favorite is up to bat and a crack resonates throughout the park. As the heroes of young and old run around the bases, the crowd rises to their feet applauding the hit that won the game. It's difficult to not be affected by the fever in a ballpark. It's nearly impossible to ignore the excitement when a home team heads to the World Series. But, does anyone know how it all began? Unlike basketball, baseball "was not invented in a day, a week . . . . or a decade. It was not created by one person or even on small group. In fact, it was not invented at all; it changed, just like children do, in tiny, barely noticeable bits, along the way to being all grown up." Fortunately John Thorn decided that baseball fans needed to know the history behind the sport, so he wrote First Pitch: How Baseball Began .

Thorn takes readers through baseball's murky past and highlights the remarkable developments and alterations that have shaped baseball today. As a perfect way to engage readers, Thorn begins with a story - the tale of two Abners in Cooperstown, New York 1839. Thorn then takes readers through a historical look at the major events that shaped baseball today. He highlights the effect of cholera on athletics, as well as delving deeper into history - all the way back to the ancient world! But he then continues sharing fable and fact to finally uncover the best known history of baseball.

First Pitch: How Baseball Began is an enthralling look at baseball. Kids (and adults alike) will love to read Thorn's book because it is written in a youth-friendly style and is complimented by engaging pictures and artifacts. True baseball fans will love the depth of research and suggestions for further reading and research, but all readers will have a greater respect for baseball and its place as America's National Pastime. It is fascinating to see how so much of what people believed to be true about baseball's history is indeed fiction, but fortunately Thorn does an excellent job setting the record straight. Thorn was named the Official Historian, Major League Baseball - and after reading his work, it's clear that he has earned his title.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of First Pitch: How Baseball Began for this review.

Have you read First Pitch: How Baseball Began? How would you rate it?

Review: Passion by Lauren Kate

Passion by Lauren Kate. A Fallen Novel.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 2011
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385739160

Review: Luce and Daniel - destined to love one another no matter what, but cursed so that their love can never evolve. Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross, they had lived many lives - always falling in love only to have Luce ignite in flames when their love grew too strong. In the third book in the Fallen series, Passion by Lauren Kate, Luce embarks on a quest back in time to see once and for all if there is any hope of her unlocking the curse that condemns their love.

Luce would die for Daniel, and since the dawn of time, Luce has continued to die over and over again. But, Daniel, a fallen angel, lives on and on only to relive the romance, love and ultimate pain once she's gone. Luce knows there is a curse, but its origins are a mystery to her. But something seems different in this lifetime, and Luce is determined to find a way to break the curse. Unfortunately, the only way to do that is to go back in time and see for herself how it all began. Luce travels via Announcers from one life to another - spanning thousands of years and across the globe - reliving the passion and the death over and over again. As she travels back in time, Daniel, along with Cam and the other angels, frantically race after her hoping to stop her from altering the past. How far will she have to go before she finds the truth? And what will happen if she is able to rewrite history? It could be far worse than anyone imagined.

Lauren Kate has hit a goldmine with the Fallen series, and Passion is certainly no disappointment. The overall premise of the novel is fascinating - visiting past lives and having the opportunity to see yourself in a different time and place. Passion takes readers to pivotal periods in history spanning civilizations across the globe. The cultural lessons alone are captivating! Readers are given an inside look at who Luce and Daniel were before they met them at Sword & Cross. Plus, some of the questions that have plagued readers are finally answered. However, new questions will arise, and readers will yearn for the next book to end the confusion. That being said, it is essential that readers begin with Fallen and read the series in order in order to fully appreciate Passion. However, it will certainly be worth the effort! The exciting conclusion to the series, Rapture, is expected to be released summer 2012.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Passion for this review.

Have you read Passion? How would you rate it?

Review: Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes by Amber Kizer

Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes by Amber Kizer. A Gert Garibaldi book.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385734325

Review: Well, I guess everyone's life is full of ordinary catastrophes. These are mine. Hi I'm Gert Garibaldi. Welcome to my crazy life. The life of a teenager can sometimes be summed up as a compilation of catastrophes - ordinary catastrophes, and Gert's life is no different. In Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes , Amber Kizer's sequel to Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time , Gert faces one catastrophe after another as she navigates herself through the nucleus of catastrophes - high school.

Gert is just like any other high school student. She must tackle complex homework assignments, deal with boys, family, a job, her friends and as if that's not enough, Gert must plan for her future! Gert has a boyfriend. This should make her lucky, right? Not if he kisses like a vacuum cleaner! And what does that say about Gert if she doesn't like kissing her boyfriend? And how sad is it that "said boyfriend" dumps Gert? Then, while Gert is dealing with this boy crisis, her father ends up hospitalized giving her far more responsibility at home than she might be ready to handle. Getting fired from her barely-minimum-wage, grease-infested job doesn't help the situation either. Fortunately, Gert has wonderful friends who divert her attention from her personal catastrophes to engage her in wacky schemes that ultimately involve her in more drama. And seriously, how is a girl who is putting one fire out after another even supposed to think about her future?? Well, Gert somehow finds a way - though she leaves a few bumps and bruises along the way.

Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes is a hysterical look at adolescence that teenage girls will stay up all night reading. Most of the novel is written from the frantic perspective of Gert. Readers are drawn in on the first line when Gert says, "Oh, Holy-Mother-of-High-Heels-and-Dropping-Balls, what does a girl wear to a New Year's Eve party?" The candid prose engages readers throughout the novel and keeps them chuckling along the way. Then interspersed between chapters are Gert's "Rants". For example, her first rant is about the word "orchard" (which is really an analysis about the etymology of the word "date" and how a "wizened piece of fruit" has become associated with boys and girls). These are somewhat random, and oftentimes humorous, rants that are presented in a handwritten form to take on the appearance of a diary of sorts. The reader feels as if Gert is talking (or ranting) to her - -making readers want to respond and carry on the conversation! Readers will fall in love with Gert and her sarcastic outlook towards life. Although it is not essential to read Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: One Butt Cheek at a Time before reading Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes, if it is even half as entertaining as this book, it is certainly recommended. Gert Garibaldi is a little bit of every high-school girl out there, and she'll touch the hearts of readers everywhere. Hopefully Amber Kizer won't stop here, but will instead continue sharing Gert's world with teenage readers far and wide.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes for this review.

Have you read Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes? How would you rate it?

Review: Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang

Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang.

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2011
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780385739238

Review: Do like historical fiction books? If you do, then Daughter of Xanadu is the book for you. Written by Dori Jones Yang, this book is about a Mongolian girl who wants to win honor for her royal family. Can she do it? If it is possible, will she?

15-year-old Emmajin Beki wants one thing above all others: she wants to be in the military. For hundreds of years, the fierce Mongol soldiers have been feared. Emmajin longs to be riding along with all of the strong and loyal soldiers. The emperor, Khubilai Khan, is Emmajin's grandfather, and he places her in the military. Among the other soldiers, there is a merchant named Marco Polo. Emmajin adores this foreigner and falls in love with him. Everyone warns her to stay away from this strange man. The Great Khan asks Emmajin to listen to Marco and uncover the weaknesses of Marco's homeland, Venezia because the Mongols plan to take over Venezia. Emmajin faithfully does this for the Khan, but Marco realizes her deception. She explains this to him and they eventually trust each other again, but Emmajin has a choice to make. Will she stay loyal to her people or help the merchant that she loves?

Dori Jones Yang does an excellent job writing Daughter of Xanadu. It is based off of history and is quite accurate. Chinggis Khan, Tolui Khan, Mongke Khan, Khubilai Khan, Dorji Khan, Chimkin Khan, and Temur Khan are all real people that did live in the Mongolian Empire and did serve as emperors. Three of the Khan's grandchildren are fictional characters. Emmajin, her sister Drolma, and her cousin Suren, are all false. In the story, only Chinggis Khan, Tolui Khan, and Khubilai Khan have been emperors so far. Yang writes with enthusiasm and makes this book very interesting. I would highly recommend it for middle school and high school readers. This is probably one of the best books I've ever read. I rate Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang 5 out of 5 stars.

Review written by Colleen (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Daughter of Xanadu for this review.

Have you read Daughter of Xanadu? How would you rate it?