Review: Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve

Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780385387880

Review: Oliver And The Seawigs, by Philip Reeves and Sarah McIntyre, is such an amazing book. It's an adorable book that will keep you entertained all the way through reading it.

In Oliver and the Seawigs, the Crisp family loves to explore. They are explorers and have been around the world to unknown places. When they decide to settle down at their home in Deepwater Bay, they notice something new. They find islands that were never there before. They go to explore the island and a few hours later, Oliver notices his parents have been lost at sea and plans to find them. In his search, he meets Iris the mermaid, Cliff and Thurlstone the Rambling Isles and goes on the biggest adventure with them.

Oliver and the Seawigs is a great book for anyone who loves to read fantasy. It seems to be a book for young readers. Oliver and the Seawigs is funny and written in a style that makes you feel what the characters are feeling. It was a short book with a fun story jam packed inside. Oliver and the Seawigs is definitely a book I recommend for any reader age 7 and up.

Review written by Faith (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Oliver and the Seawigs for this review.

Have you read Oliver and the Seawigs? How would you rate it?

Review: I'm Going to Catch My Tail by Jimbo Matison

I'm Going to Catch My Tail by Jimbo Matison.

Abrams Books
Publication Date: October 2014
List Price: $14.95
ISBN-13: 9781419713828

Review: Have you ever seen you cat run around and try to catch his tail? Then you will love I'm Going to Catch My Tail. I'm Going to Catch My Tail by Jimbo Matison is a hilarious picture book about a cat that wants to catch his tail.

The cat has a bad dream and so his tail wakes him up. Then the cat wants to catch his tail, he goes under the blankets, through mountains of toilet paper, and into a laundry basket but cat still can't catch his tail. What will this poor cat need to do to catch his tail?

I'm Going to Catch My Tail is a great book for 3-7 year olds. Little kids will love this book and they may even want to have their own cat. In I'm Going to Catch my Tail Jimbo Matison has written a great has engaging illustrations and a fun story line that preschool kids will want to read them over and over again.

Review written by Max (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Abrams Books for providing a copy of I'm Going to Catch My Tail for this review.

Have you read I'm Going to Catch My Tail? How would you rate it?

Review: Watch the Cookie by Nancy Cote

Watch the Cookie by Nancy Cote.

Sky Pony Press
Publication Date: October 2014
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781629146300

Review: Have you ever just done everything with your best friend? You feel as if you guys are almost connected. There is a very similar situation in the book Watch the Cookie by Nancy Cote except in Watch the Cookie something happens and tears them apart.

In Watch the Cookie, a boy named Sam and a mouse named Mousey are very close. But then Sammy has to go somewhere and they get separated. And something happens to Mousey. What is Mousey going to do?

Watch the Cookie is a wonderful picture book for a five or six year old. The writing isn't very hard to read and there very few words on the pages so they could read it and it won't take them a long time. The illustrations help the book and make you understand the book better. A boy or girl would enjoy this book. It is a good book for early readers and for parents to read to younger children.

Review written by Isabella (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Sky Pony Press for providing a copy of Watch the Cookie for this review.

Have you read Watch the Cookie? How would you rate it?

Review: FRAIDYZOO by Thyra Heder

FRAIDYZOO by Thyra Heder.

Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: November 2013
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781419707766

Review: If your looking for a book that little kids would enjoy then the book Fraidyzoo by Thyra Heder is a perfect choice. In this book there is a little girl named Little T and there is an older girl.

In Fraidyzoo Little T is scared to go to the zoo but the older girl REALLY wants to go to. When they do go, it's not the little girl that's afraid; it's the older girl.

Fraidyzoo is a good book for children ages 4-6. They would like this book because of how the words are written the words are written like a little kid would write it so it would be easy for them to read. There is not much characterization so kids can better understand what is going on. There are only a few words per page so it is a short and easy book to read for little kids. Most of the sentences are questions and they are short. For example WAKE UP, LITTLE T! The lesson taught is that to never be afraid of something before you try it. A girl or boy would enjoy Fraidyzoo because it is not completely girly or boyish. There are things boys and girls would both like. Because the book is about a zoo little kids would be interested because little kids love animals. So if you have a little kid at home you should buy this book.

Review written by Kerstin (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Abrams Books for providing a copy of FRAIDYZOO for this review.

Have you read FRAIDYZOO? How would you rate it?

Review: The Day the Stones Walked by T. A. Barron

The Day the Stones Walked by T. A. Barron.

Philomel Books
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780399242632

Review: Can you imagine rocks that could walk or even move? Do you like short and entertaining stories? Then The Day the Stones Walked by T.A Barron is a book for you! The day the Stones Walked is a book about a young a young Native American boy in Hawaii. His name is Pico. His father has told him stories about stones walking but Pico doesn't believe his father. One day a great wave comes by and wipes out Pico. Will he ever get back to shore? Are there really rocks that can walk?

I recommend this to readers who are around the age of 8-10 years old. The Day The Stones Walked is an entertaining story. T.A Barron is one of my personal favorite authors for this type of genre. I'd say my favorite part is when the stone saves Pico from drowning after being wiped out by the ÒGreat WaveÓ. The overall plot of the story is well developed along with the characters they are well described. T.A Barron has made a lot of other books for example the Merlin series, The Hero's Trail, and Child of the Dark Prophecy to name just a few. I personally give this book a rating of 7 out of 10. Overall this book is great! The story is very entertaining. I really enjoyed it, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Review written by Aaron (6th grade student).

We would like to thank T. A. Barron for providing a copy of The Day the Stones Walked for this review.

Have you read The Day the Stones Walked? How would you rate it?

Review: Oliver and His Egg by Paul Schmid

Oliver and His Egg by Paul Schmid. An Oliver Book.

Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: July 2014
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9781423175735

Review: Have you ever wished for a friend who would go on adventures with you? If so then you can relate to the book Oliver and His Egg by Paul Shmid. It's a good book to read to a child who is six or seven years old.

Oliver imagines this egg will hatch and grow into his best friend. He believes that they will go on adventures to places. But then, he realizes he needs his other friends too. So he adds them in his imagination and they all go on exciting adventures together.

This is a great book for kids six or seven because it's not very hard to read. It uses basic words that a six or seven year old can read. Even a boy or girl can enjoy this book. They'll love the fact that this boy has an active imagination.

Review written by Isabella (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing a copy of Oliver and His Egg for this review.

Have you read Oliver and His Egg? How would you rate it?

Review: Alphabetabum: An Album of Rare Photographs and Medium Verses by Vladimir Radunsky & Chris Raschka

Alphabetabum: An Album of Rare Photographs and Medium Verses by Vladimir Radunsky & Chris Raschka.

The New York Review Children's Collection
Publication Date: October 2014
List Price: $19.95
ISBN-13: 9781590178171

Review: Alphabetabum? I know what your thinking, 'What kind of title is that?' However, as soon as you open the first page in this unusual book you'll see why!

The book Alphabetabum by (Vladimir Radunsky and Chris Raskaca) create a book full of historical photographs with poems to follow how the child appears in the photo. Through the use of poetic of techniques, they both find a fun and creative why to amuse readers. This book is also a great way to learn about the fashion of the 19th century, so not only are you giggling at the rhymes, but also you are getting a history lesson. What a plus! I recommend this book for the ages of 12-13 since the sophisticated wording throughout this book may be challenging for younger children.

Review written by Arsima (6th grade student).

We would like to thank The New York Review Children's Collection for providing a copy of Alphabetabum: An Album of Rare Photographs and Medium Verses for this review.

Have you read Alphabetabum: An Album of Rare Photographs and Medium Verses? How would you rate it?

Review: My Big Fast Car Book by Ticktock

My Big Fast Car Book by Ticktock.

Ticktock Publishing
Publication Date: April 2014
List Price: $9.99
ISBN-13: 9781783250462

Review: Do you like looking at fast cars and envy the people who have them? If so this is the book for you. It shows a couple of the fastest cars in the world. You see muscle cars, hot rods, and sport cars all made by top of the line retailers.

My Big Fast Car Book has a lot of interesting facts; did you know that a Bugatti Veyron goes 267mph and costs 2 million dollars, and that the most expensive car sold for 35 million dollars? These are some of the things that I liked about My Big Fast Car Book. This is one of my favorite picture books I have ever read; this book shows the price of fancy cars, how fast they go, and what they look like.

I recommend My Big Fast Car Bookto preschoolers and nearly anybody under the age of 10 who loves cars because it is filled with cool cars and a lot of details.

Review written by Patrick (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Ticktock Publishing for providing a copy of My Big Fast Car Book for this review.

Have you read My Big Fast Car Book? How would you rate it?

Review: Burton's Friendship Garden by V. A. Boeholt and Nathaniel Jensen

Burton's Friendship Garden by V. A. Boeholt and Nathaniel Jensen. A Burton the Scarecrow - Friendship Tales from the Farm Book.

Little Five Star
Publication Date: April 2013
List Price: $11.95
ISBN-13: 9781589852105

Review: Have you ever needed a little help from a friend? If you have, you will be able to relate to Farmer Green in Burton's Friendship Garden, a remarkable book written by V.A. Boeholt and illustrated by Nathaniel P. Jensen. Two scarecrows, a farmer and some animals are the main characters in Burton's Friendship Garden, the second book in the Friendship Tales from the Farm series.

One day Famer Green is getting prepared to plant his crops, but he decides to plant the seeds the following day and tells Burton the scarecrow as they say goodbye to each other .The next day Burton waits all day for Farmer Green, but he never come. The following day Burton sees a crow who says that he saw Farmer Green in bed with both of his legs wrapped in white stuff. Burton knows he must have gotten hurt. The scarecrows and the animals talk together to come up with a plan for helping Farmer Green. Will he ever be able to plant his seeds and be ready for the harvest?

Someone should read Burton's Friendship Garden to young children because it will help them learn to work together. Burton's Friendship Garden is appropriate for both boys and girls who are ready for slightly more advanced reading. The book is a bit long which might allow children to lose focus. It is nice that there is a glossary in the back of the book so younger readers can learn about the more difficult words. The talking animals are adorable, and the valuable lessons about teamwork, keeping your word, and friendship make this a perfect book for younger children.

Review written by Danessa (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Five Star Publishing for providing a copy of Burton's Friendship Garden for this review.

Have you read Burton's Friendship Garden? How would you rate it?

Review: Pluto's Secret: An Icy World's Tale of Discovery by Margaret Weitekamp with David DeVorkin

Pluto's Secret: An Icy World's Tale of Discovery by Margaret Weitekamp with David DeVorkin.

Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 2013
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781419704239

Review: Have you ever heard about the interesting journey of the dwarf planet Pluto? Well, Pluto's Secret is an incredible and interesting book for kids! This informational story is written by Margaret A. Whitecap and David Devorkin and illustrated by Diane Kidd. Experience the tremendous adventure of amazing, icy world Pluto is told.

In this fantastic story, readers learn about the incredible journey of Pluto. Percival Lowell announced him as a ninth planet but Pluto wasn't very pleased with that idea, though he rather likes his name. He already knows he is different from the other planets; he just likes being recognized with his friends in the Kuiper's Belt. Read Pluto's Secret to find out if Pluto will become an official planet, or if he will become just another object that orbits the sun.

This book is really fun for learning because instead of reading some boring textbook about Pluto, readers go on a massive adventure. I personally loved this book because it is so entertaining. I mean Pluto is the name of the god in the underworld in mythology, which makes it even more interesting! The fact that this book is informational is even better because you can read it in school! I also loved how the authors made the planets people instead of objects because it adds emotions and character to them. Although some parts in the book are repetitive it is still a great story for! Read Pluto's Secret, gain some knowledge, and have a fun time!

Review written by Kenneth (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Abrams Books for providing a copy of Pluto's Secret: An Icy World's Tale of Discovery for this review.

Have you read Pluto's Secret: An Icy World's Tale of Discovery? How would you rate it?

Review: Junket is Nice by Dorothy Kunhardt

Junket is Nice by Dorothy Kunhardt.

The New York Review Children's Collection
Publication Date: July 2013
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781590176283

Review: One old huge man, with a giant red beard, wearing red slippers, and eating junket. One little boy riding a tricycle. What do they have in common? They are the main characters of Junket is Nice! Junket is Nice by Dorothy Kunhardt is intriguing to little children, and it makes the readers wonder what the old man is thinking about while he is eating his big bowl of junket.

Junket is Nice is about an old man eating junket in a big bowl while the whole world is trying to guess what he is thinking about. He offers to give something nice to anyone who guesses correctly. The old man gives a clue and names three things that he is not thinking about. While everyone is thinking, a little boy on his tricycle is also thinking how hilarious the people are because the people are guessing so many wrong answers. While the little boy is always thinking about what the right answer is. When the little boy guesses the right answer the whole world is jealous of that little boy.

Dorothy Kunhardt is an excellent children's book author. She has kids thinking that guessing is difficult and that you have to use your powers of observation to infer information. The book also tells the readers that sometimes the right answer is very simple and that we do not have to guess in order to find the correct answer. Finally Junket is Nice is an excellent book because even without the pictures you can really see what Dorothy Kunhardt is trying to imagine like the beard on the man's face, the magnitude of his size, and basically everything in the book. This is a good, short read, or a read aloud book. I recommended Junket is Nice for children ages 4-6 or for beginning readers.

Review written by Jarred (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy of Junket is Nice for this review.

Have you read Junket is Nice? How would you rate it?

Review: Now Open the Box by Dorothy Kunhardt

Now Open the Box by Dorothy Kunhardt.

The New York Review Children's Collection
Publication Date: September 2013
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781590177082

Review: My dearest little Peewee what will happen to you? Dorothy Kunhardt renowned as author of Pat the bunny wrote a new adventure Now Open The Box is about Peewee, the little joyful red dog and the circus! But what will happen when Peewee grows will it affect the whole circus?

Now Open The Box is a book about the littlest, cutest dog in the world Peewee and he stars in a circus. Even though Peewee doesn't know any tricks people still come to see the most, adorable little dog they'd ever seen. But when Peewee starts to grow does the ring master have to make a shocking choice and have Peewee be forced to leave the circus and say goodbye to all his friends the fat lady, the thin man the elephants and so many more of his friends? But what will happen to the circus will they be forced to close down the circus because they have no main attraction? Find out in Now Open The Box.

I liked that fact that Dorothy Kunhardt used age appropriate words for the readers because 2 year olds would love this. I also liked that they came up with some creative illustrations for the characters for the circus from the lady hanging in the air just by her nose tied to rope to the donkey with two head. They are colorful pictures that two year olds would love. The characters are also very creative like a strong little baby, a very tall but thin man and so much more! Now Open The Box is perfect for little toddlers in fact I read the book to my little sister and she loved it after I finished it she asked me to read it again. Then once I was finished the seconded time, done she got toys and pretended it was a circus. So toddlers would be the perfect audience for this book. So if you read this to toddlers I think they would love just like my little sister. Also if you are looking for a book that demonstrates that things can get better or to always look at the bright side of life, this is the book you are looking for.

Review written by Ian (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy of Now Open the Box for this review.

Have you read Now Open the Box? How would you rate it?

Review: Lighting Our World With a Year of Celebrations by Lighting Our World With a Year of Celebrations

Lighting Our World With a Year of Celebrations by Lighting Our World With a Year of Celebrations.

Kids Can Press
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $17.95
ISBN-13: 9781554535941

Review: The holidays Las Fallas, Carnival, Holi and Walpurgis Night are just some of the holidays read about in Catherine Rondia's book Lighting Our World A Year of Celebrations.

Lighting Our World A Year of Celebrations has some interesting details about different holidays that countries celebrate. For example in India the Hindus celebrate a holiday called Diwali. The festival during Diwali honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, luck and happiness. They use special decorations to invite Lakshmi into their homes. They put candles around their shops and temples. Hindus believe that Lakshmi will visit the house with the brightest lights. A visit from her means good luck for the whole year.

Overall Lighting our World A Year of Celebrations is an engaging way to demonstrate holidays from countries around the world. Lighting our World A Year of Celebrations by Catherine Rondia and illustrated by Jacqui Oakley has great detail in the words and illustrations featured in the book. Rondia shares information, which is not boring, but instead in a way that is fun to read. Also she provides important details what she writes about the holidays. Oakley illustrations powerfully represent the holidays that are featured in Lighting our World A Year of Celebrations. Also her illustrations make the reader feel as if they are celebrating these holidays. This book is an easy read and is about 30 pages. It would not only be interesting for readers, but it would be a good resource book for students. In conclusion, I enjoyed Lighting Our World, which would also be appreciated by all ages.

Review written by Elizabeth (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of Lighting Our World With a Year of Celebrations for this review.

Have you read Lighting Our World With a Year of Celebrations? How would you rate it?

Review: Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times: From Dinosaurs to the Stone Age by Andrew Fox & John Skewes

Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times: From Dinosaurs to the Stone Age by Andrew Fox & John Skewes. A Larry Gets Lost Book.

Sasquatch Book
Publication Date: August 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9781570618628

Review: ROAR! What was that? Was it a dinosaur? Dinosaurs come to life in, Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times by Andrew Fox and John Skewes. The main character is Larry, the dog, who loves his owner, Pete. Larry loves when Pete reads him a book, and sometimes Larry dozes off into a new world.

On a sundrenched day, Pete is reading a book to Larry. While Pete reads, Larry snoozes off into a land bursting with dinosaurs! Larry runs around, trying to find his way home and finds all varieties of dinosaurs along his way, like small plant eating dinos to a big and scary Tyrannosaurus. Larry is terrified. To get home, he travels through different eras, too. From the amazing Mesozoic Era to the freezing Ice Age, each one is packed with adventure; but will Larry ever get home to Pete?

Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times is a very fun book. First of all, it is suitable for young children. It is an entertaining and calm book to read and young children will adore it. Another point is that it gives facts about dinosaurs, which makes it an educational book too. Each dinosaur that Larry comes across has facts to accompany the story. Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times is also an enjoyable read aloud book because both adults and children will enjoy reading the book together. It is best for young readers to have the story read aloud because of the difficult pronunciations. Overall, this is a very charming book for young children to read and I recommend any young child who adores dinosaurs to read Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times

.

Review written by Julia (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Sasquatch Books for providing a copy of Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times: From Dinosaurs to the Stone Age for this review.

Have you read Larry Gets Lost in Prehistoric Times: From Dinosaurs to the Stone Age? How would you rate it?

Review: The Poppy Lady by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh

The Poppy Lady by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh.

Calkins Creek Books
Publication Date: September 2012
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9781590787540

Review: In what ways do you honor veterans? Do you donate money to assist them? In the book The Poppy Lady by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh, it shares the amazing story of Moina Belle Michael, the giving main character, who can't find enough ways to honor the veterans. She does all she can for them, but always feels the need to do more. If you want to know how she honors the veterans, you will find out soon.

Moina is very dependable and always helps anyone in anyway she can, and because war is announced she knows she has to help the young men going to fight. She does all she can, she makes them socks, sweaters, lets them stay with her but she doesn't feel like she has helped enough. She is there when they leave for war. She opens a place for soldiers to stay; she fills that room with flowers. One day, a soldier who is staying with her leaves a poem one of the lieutenants has written honoring the soldiers who died on the battlefield. At last Moina knows the one act of kindness she should do that would top all the other ways she helped! Moina has helped honor the veterans in many ways, but with the help of the poem she does the most honorable action she could. To find out that humble actions have a significant impact, look for the book The Poppy Lady.

The Poppy Lady is an incredibly meaningful book. Reading the title, The Poppy Lady seems like a picture book for younger kids. However this book is fairly long picture book and is better for older children. However, at some level, anyone would enjoy The Poppy Lady. Everyone can enjoy the wonderful paintings by Layne Johnson the illustrator of The Poppy Lady. Plus this book is very inspiring for some readers and it will make them want to do good deeds now and when they are older. The book The Poppy Lady was written to honor the veterans so the author choose a wonderful way to do so. The Poppy Lady has incredible details. Some people may skip the prologue, but it is important to at least read the last paragraph. If a parent reads this book to their younger child, they may enjoy the lesson from the book the kids are getting and they themselves may enjoy the touching story of Moina Belle Michael.

So the next time you are looking for an inspiring heart warming book to read, make sure you check to see if they have The Poppy Lady.

Review written by Ashley (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of The Poppy Lady for this review.

Have you read The Poppy Lady? How would you rate it?

Review: Ambition's Not An Awful Word by Zack Zage

Ambition's Not An Awful Word by Zack Zage.

Ivy Court Press
Publication Date: March 2012
List Price: $16.95
ISBN-13: 9780983607823

Review: "Oh, the moon left you this message 'It's ok to dream.'" This is a quote from the book I will be reviewing today which is Ambition's Not an Awful Word written by Zack Zage. It is a relatively short poetry book, and although I honestly didn't really like this book, I respect it and love this book's moral.

Ambition's Not an Awful Word starts with a boy in class , Zack Zage, who has just been asked the question; "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The boy loves this subject and had answers various answers in a speech. Here are two pages from the book Ambition's Not an Awful Word. "If I were an artist, the critics all would flip. The bigs at New York's MOMA would cry, 'This guy's really hip.' From musicians by Picasso and the night skies of Van Gogh, to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and ME, a one man show. 'Oh your canvas is no Pollock. It is just a muddy mess.' Our teacher, Mrs. Grundy, thinks it's awful, more or less. 'You had better stick with finger paint, rubber stamps, and glue. 'Cause all that junk that you call are is really double doo.'" Now you're probably thinking, "Hey! What just happened? It just went completely from ambition to putdowns!" Well, yeah, that's what just happened. I can't really explain why, but he just puts himself down in all of his ambitious thoughts. This happens on every page. He'll be all excited about a career and on the next page thinks of every single possible letdown there is to that job. This is one of the main reasons I don't really love this book. In another page, he says he could be a banker; and a very successful one too. But then, on the next page, he says he'll go to jail because he would be so bad. Again, I think that is a big letdown. However, the end does make up for the rest of the book. The boy's mother does in the end teach the boy a lesson - and it's a very valuable lesson too.

I recommend Ambition's Not an Awful Wordto parents reading this book as a story to younger kids anytime. It is not as interesting to older kids, but it does have a more sophisticated vocabulary. That is why I recommend it to parents reading to their kids. It also teaches a great lesson, which that is thinking you will be successful later on in life is very good for you. It encourages you to do better. In the end, although I did not particularly love the book, it does have a valuable lesson.

Review written by Dylan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Ivy Court Press for providing a copy of Ambition's Not An Awful Word for this review.

Have you read Ambition's Not An Awful Word? How would you rate it?