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: In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe

In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe. A Never Girls Novel.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 2013
List Price: $5.99
ISBN-13: 9780736427944

Review: Anything can happen with faith, trust, and a little pixie dust! The Never Girls, In a Blink is a magical book and is the first book in a new series, The Never Girls, by Nikki Thorpe. The main characters of In a Blink are Kate and her friends. Kate is an adventurist who wants to be the first to come back to Never Land. They are all in the next book of the series.

One day, the girls find a fairy named Prilla and she takes them to Never Land by accident. Once they're there, a weather fairy tells the girls they can go home between the next sunrise and the next sunset. With pixie dust everyone can fly, everyone that is, except Kate, who can't seem to get off the ground. Kate meets a fairy named Vidia for a flying lesson. Vidia gives her a sock and says to fill it with pixie dust all the way up to the top. Kate knows that each fairy is only able to get one fairy-sized cup a day but does it anyway. Kate starts to fly when she puts some of the pixie dust on, and all of a sudden, Vidia disappears, along with the other pixie dust. When the other girls wake up they find that Kate is gone. All the fairies go and look for her. Will the fairies find Kate? Will the girls get home before they are stuck on Never Land Forever?

Never Girls, In a Blink is a must read for all young girls who love fairies and a story that is not only has mysterious fairies, but also has adventure and magic! The author's writing is interesting and although it begins slowly until they reached Never Land. It is intended for early chapter-book readers and is around 100 pages. In a Blink has a character that young girls can relate to and enjoy! Plus it also has fairies that, that may be familiar such as Tinker Bell, Queen Clarion, Terence and Vidia. Anyone who likes Peter Pan and Never Land you will love In a Blink, too! It doesn't have too many pictures in it like most beginner books do, but are not needed for comprehension. It is not a good book for boys of any age though, because, it is clearly geared towards girls. In a Blink has a cliffhanger at the end and starts back up in the next book, The Space Between. You should read it and enjoy it. You have to read the books to find out what happens next!

Review written by Katlyn (6th grade student).

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

Have you read In a Blink? 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: Gifts for Kids to Make by Cheryl Owen

Gifts for Kids to Make by Cheryl Owen. A Craft Library Book.

Hamlyn
Publication Date: August 2005
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780600615026

Review: Fridge magnets, beeswax candles, white chocolate truffles! Gifts for Kids to Make by Cheryl Owen, is a perfect book to spend a Sunday at grandma's house creating and expanding the possibilities of your own imagination. The book has six chapters of enjoyable crafts and gifts that will pleasure anyone that receives one. The chapters in the book range from bric-a-brac starting on page 8 to edible treats ending on page 119. This book is just one of the innovative and witty creations that The Craft Library has shaped over time.

Gifts for Kids to Make has an extensive variety of projects that will suite a child's interests or personality. The crafts range from clay figures to sewing to making your own recipe. The book comes with useful tips for each craft to make things easier. It also comes with vibrant photographs that show the step-by-step process of making the craft through the beginning, middle, and end stages. A unique feature of this book is that it comes with examples of variations of the same craft. This encourages the child to make it their own. For each project there is a helpful side bar listing all the items required. Additionally, in the back of the book there are some handy templates that you can use for your project. For example, there are cut outs for anything from frogs and pig's heads to leaves and butterflies.

There are some great qualities of this book but there are some things I would have changed. I liked the crafts; anyone would enjoy receiving one as a gift. Kids would love to make these crafts because they are colorful, fun, and pretty easy. The pictures are attractive and helpful. The price per project is reasonable. This Gifts for Kids to Make is unique in that an adult would actually love to receive one of these crafts as a gift. The layout is simple and easy to follow even a four year old could understand it. Even though that is true a twelve year old would enjoy this book too. Although the Gifts for Kids to Make is better then most there are a few errors that need improvement. Several crafts might be confusing and would require adult guidance. Also, when the on every craft page it says a age grope that would apply to that particular craft can be a little to restrict. Like one craft could say that the appropriate age is 4-6 but I think that the craft could be for older ages too. Another potential flaw is that the crafts are most appealing to girls then boys. Some of the materials that are needed are difficult to find. Some materials are specialty store items such as baking clay, dried lavender, and red cosmetic coloring. All in all this is an excellent craft book and I would recommend buying it. It is both fun for kids to make and parents to enjoy. You will just have to read Gifts for Kids to Make to find out more incredible crafts that Cheryl Owen has created.

Review written by Jamie (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Media Masters Publicity for providing a copy of Gifts for Kids to Make for this review.

Have you read Gifts for Kids to Make? 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: Wild Horse Scientists by Kay Frydenborg

Wild Horse Scientists by Kay Frydenborg. A Scientists in the Field Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: November 2012
List Price: $18.99
ISBN-13: 9780547518312

Review: Opening a book, with such knowledge and details was surely at first, a great surprise. Kay Frydenborg, author of Wild Horse Scientists, has reopened minds to the world of wild horses. Learning about what they eat, how to tell them apart, and describing their lifestyle and the dangers they face, truly catches the reader's eye. This book is one of the Scientists in the Field Books.

Going into the adventurous life of Dr. Ron Keiper, an ethologist, and Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick, wildlife reproductive physiologist, helping horses everywhere. Through the unfathomable summers, and bone- chilling winters, and the stress of creating the now miraculous medicine that has saves thousands of valuable horse lives. Digging for fossils and mining through old caves, searching old decaying bones and miraculous births, a story of untold adventure awaits any reader who picks up this book.

Wild Horse Scientists is intended for fourth grade readers and above, due to large words, it is best for stronger readers. As long as you love horses, you will love this exciting book. Going through the life of horses, standing side by side with their packs, anyone can definitely count on reading this book a couple hundred times. In the book you will be learning about the handsome boy colt that will grow to be even more beautiful adult, and the two young female colts and how they survive the hardships of life. Learning how to differentiate a pony from a horse, to learning how to tell the same color animals apart by bands. Wild Horse Scientists is an amazing book, one which I will definitely read again! The world of horses and adventure awaits go grab it.

Review written by Emily (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Wild Horse Scientists for this review.

Have you read Wild Horse Scientists? 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?