Wild about Monster Trucks
by Jamie Poolos
Published 2007 by PowerKids Press

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9781404237919

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Jacket Notes:

Young fans of fast cars will be wild about the colorful, exciting photos while they learn all about monster trucks through engaging and informative text. A handy glossary and index are included.

05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 2-6-Young readers will want to rev up their reading with these books. Each title focuses on a single-horsepowered topic that's sure to be a hit with automobile aficionados. The first book covers the development of the ATV as a sport vehicle and its increase in usage as an emergency vehicle and a professional sport. Hot Rods explains what makes these vehicles different from sports cars and their features and functions. Finally, Poolos gives the history of monster trucks and discusses racing and various types and features. Bright, full-color photographs on every page will grab readers' attention. Bold headings on single topics; logical organization; and large font, straightforward, high-interest texts will appeal to beginning and hi/lo readers. These titles are not comprehensive enough for reports but they're accessible enough to pique interest.-H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL

Dazzling Dragonflies: A Life Cycle Story
by Linda Glaser
Published 2008 by Millbrook Press

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780822567530

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Mama dragonfly lays her clutch of eggs and when they hatch the nymphs look more like little worms than beautiful double-winged dragonflies. The nymphs shed their skinbut no wings. They shed again, and againbut still no wings. When at last the wings appear, the lovely artwork of Mia Posada allows us to watch the adult dragonfly race through the air, able to move like an acrobat in every direction. And, eventually, a new mama dragonfly lays a new clutch of eggs

08/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Clearly written text and bright-hued watercolor collage illustrations introduce the life cycle of that zip-a-dipping aerialist, the dragonfly, from newly laid eggs, through months of aquatic life as a nymph, to the final metamorphosis into a glitter-winged creature. Aspects of each stage of life are briefly highlighted in the storylike narrative ("Hello, hungry dragonfly nymph! You jut out your long toothy lip and grab small bugs and fish"). The word "mating" is never used, but an illustration of copulating pondhawks is described as "dragonfly partners sparking new life." Several final pages identify the species in the illustrations, and, in question-and-answer format, present frequently requested information. Simpler than Patrick Merrick's photo-filled Dragonflies (The Child's World, 2006), Glaser's offering is basic, attractive, and easy to read.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

Everything You Need to Know: An Encyclopedia for Inquiring Young Minds
by Kingfisher Books
Published 2007 by Kingfisher

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780753460894

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This wonderful first encyclopedia is the perfect one-volume book of knowledge for young readers. Arranged thematically in ten fascinating core topics, this book will interest knowledge-hungry young minds, with subjects such as dinosaurs, the human body, machines, and space. The lively text is clear, simple, engaging, and enhanced by more than 2,000 illustrations. Every page is filled with story boxes, glossary words, Web links, and illustrated activities to keep young readers turning the pages.

Plus, children will feel a sense of achievement with the full-page "Now You Know!" summary at the end of each chapter, making them feel that they have really learned "everything they need to know"!

05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-This unbiased browsing encyclopedia covers a wide range of subjects under headings such as "Plants," "Animals," "People through Time," "Science," and "Space," with the suitability of the entries varying by age. Some, such as "Clothes," will be accessible to second and third graders, whereas others, for example "South America," may be more suitable for students who have already had some global studies. The visually rich work presents inset blocks of facts, vocabulary, related stories, questions, and ideas for crafts. The story boxes will assist in creating literature connections to topics (though some, such as a summary of "The Three Little Pigs" in the chapter on materials, will not appeal to the older end of the grade range). The vocabulary "notepads" throughout are helpful, but there is no comprehensive glossary or pronunciation guide. "Can You Find?" questions will engage younger readers. Web sites are listed as footers without titles or annotations, limiting their utility. The use of bright colors, small blocks of dark text, an adequately sized typeface, and numerous illustrations make the book easy to read, and a comprehensive index allows for the access of specific bits of information.-Sara Rofofsky Marcus, Yeshiva Har Torah, Little Neck, NY

Predators
by John Seidensticker
Published 2008 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781416938637

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Track Down PredatorsINsiders brings predators to life, with the most up-to-date information and state-of-the-art 3-D illustrations that practically leap off every page, stimulating minds and imaginations in a whole new way.

05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-The pages of these striking volumes offer bits and pieces of information rather than running textual paragraphs. The language is straightforward and easy to understand, but the use of clever heads and subheads throughout may be lost on or misconstrued by many readers. For instance, beside a micrograph depicting mitosis, the heading is "Divide and conquer"; near a brief explanation of blocked arteries is the subhead, "Broken hearted." In Predators, a brief discussion of the pitcher plant is titled, "False promise pitfall," and "River of no return" is the heading for a caption of one of the Amazon River's tributaries. Not intended to be textbooks, these vividly illustrated titles are supplemental materials through which students can be introduced to terms and concepts. On the pages that depict, for instance, the bionic body, a cornea transplant is described in this way: "This is when a damaged cornea is replaced with one from another human." The format and style of the books are outstanding. For reproduction, both male and female organs are presented as entities unto themselves. "Life begins" depicts the progressive formation of a human embryo in a clear and sensitive way. Given the craftsmanship in design and illustration, plus the controlled presentation of information, these titles are worthwhile choices for most collections.-Sheila Fiscus, Our Lady of Peace School, Erie, PA

Douggie: The Playful Pup Who Became a Sled Dog Hero
by Pam Flowers
Published 2008 by Alaska Northwest Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780882406541

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From the beginning one puppy was different from the rest. He was big and black, his brother and sisters small and gray. While the others lay quietly snuggled against their mother, this puppy squirmed and wiggled constantly. So begins the inspiring story of a puppy whose boundless energy almost got the best of him. Douggie: The Playful Puppy Who Became a Sled Dog Hero is Pam Flowers's tribute to the pup who seemed destined to remain the class clown. But Pam saw potential in this exuberant youngster, and Douggie's intelligence and persistence ultimately earned him the position of lead dog for a dangerous 325-mile expedition to the Magnetic North Pole.

05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Flowers and her dog teams have run the Iditarod and made numerous other expeditions in Alaska. In this book, she tells the story of a particular sled dog, Douggie. Because of his independence and high spirits, she initially wondered if he would ever be able to work as part of a team. Only after three years of training did she consider him ready to make a 325-mile journey to the Magnetic North Pole. Douggie proved his worth, acting as lead dog on the difficult expedition, and even facing off with a polar bear. While the story will be of interest to dog lovers and dogsled enthusiasts, the narrative is not exciting enough to pull in general readers. The visually striking but calm illustrations never convey a sense of danger or real fear that the team will not succeed. In fact, although Douggie's energy is repeatedly referred to in the text, the majority of the illustrations depict him in a static manner. Van Zyle's vibrant acrylic paintings beautifully render the light and expanse of the Alaskan landscape but the dogs and people never come to life. Children will be intrigued by the route map, which shows how dogsleds travel between islands on the ice.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Ikenna Goes to Nigeria
by Ifeoma Onyefulu
Published 2007 by Frances Lincoln

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781845075859

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In stunning photographs and bright, informative prose, award-winning author Ifeoma Onyefulu recounts an unusual and rewarding journey. Young Ikenna lives in rainy London. He takes a trip far away to his ancestral home in sunny Nigeria. In Lagos he plays with his cousins. Then the rain starts! But there's still lots to do. Ikenna meets great-uncle Hillary, who drove the royal train across Nigeria in 1956. After that he and his Mum attend the Oshun Festival, and Ikenna sees age-old ceremonies and colorful traditions. Told in the first-person, this charming photographic book shows young readers the pleasures that await in other countries and cultures.

05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Onyefulu delivers another photo-essay filled with vivid, colorful photographs, accompanied by brief, clear text about the land, people, and culture of her native Nigeria. The text is narrated by the author's son. "I can't wait to go to Nigeria in July. I have lots of cousins there and I'm going to play football with them and eat delicious food...." An outline map of the country shows the location of the cities/towns/villages that Ikenna will visit during the course of his trip. His first stop is Lagos and the boy describes all that he sees and does as it relates to each photograph. The next stop is Ikeja where he takes a swim in the pool and meets up with his aunt and cousins. While following him on the road to Onitsha, readers get a sense of the country's terrain, roads, bus transportation, and roadside market. In Onitsha, he meets his grandparents and more cousins, and photos and text feature children playing, going off to school, a Nigerian meal, and the rainy weather. Toward the end of his journey, he has the opportunity to attend the traditional Osun Festival in Oshogbo. At the end of his trip, Ikenna and his Nigerian family gather around for one final photograph. The clear images contain a wealth of detail and provide valuable visual insight into the people and culture.-Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Show & Tell: Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration
by Dilys Evans
Published 2008 by Chronicle Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780811849715

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Jacket Notes:

For over 30 years, Dilys Evans has been deeply involved in the fine art of children's book illustration. In 1980 she founded The Original Art, an annual exhibition in New York featuring the best children's book illustration of the year. Now, in this fascinating exploration of children's book illustration, she focuses on the work of 12 contemporary illustrators. Looking at the wide variety of artistic genius in children's books, Show and Tell teaches the reader how to look for the perfect marriage of art and text, and is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in children's books and the art of illustration. Illustrators include:

David Wiesner

Trina Schart Hyman

Lane Smith

Brian Selznick

Bryan Collier

David Shannon

Petra Mathers

Paul O. Zelinsky

Hilary Knight

Denise Fleming

Harry Bliss

Betsy Lewin

05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Who better to "show and tell" how children's book illustrators work their magic than Evans, whose life mission has been to advocate for their status as fine artists. Twelve contemporary artists are covered in as many chapters, with content ranging from Kay Thompson's Eloise (S & S, 1955) illustrated by Hilary Knight, to Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret (Scholastic, 2007). Evans relays their education, favorite artists, approaches to specific composition problems or texts, and serendipitous moments, subtly revealing a picture of the individuals behind the images. The strength of this book lies in the depth of the author's understanding regarding how decisions about formal qualities and design affect narrative and in her ability to articulate their effectiveness for the layperson. She discusses the tension created by the perspective, the orange-red wall, and the swinging clock pendulum in David Shannon's No, David! (Scholastic, 1998) as the young imp prepares to whack a baseball across the living room. She points out Bryan Collier's "linear striations" suggesting the moving currents painted across a portrait for Doreen Rappaport's Freedom River (Hyperion, 2000) and their effectiveness in conveying the river's importance to the slaves. The color reproductions are true; spreads are carefully placed so the gutter in the book being discussed lines up with this title's stitching where possible. Book jackets and vignettes grace the margins. An enlightening must-read for all picture-book enthusiasts.-Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

Centipedes
by Margaret C. Hall
Published 2006 by Pebble Plus

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780736853484

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Duel!: Burr and Hamilton's Deadly War of Words
by Dennis Brindell Fradin
Published 2008 by Walker & Company

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780802795830

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In the early morning hours of July 11, 1804, two men stood facing each other on a New Jersey cliff side. One was the U.S. vice president, Aaron Burr, and the other was Alexander Hamilton, the secretary of the treasury. They were ready to fight to the death for honor. These Founding Fathers, once friends and colleagues, had become the bitterest of enemies. After years of escalating tension, Burr had finally challenged Hamilton to a duel. In the end, only one man survived, but their infamous rivalry lives on.

07/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Fradin's account of the Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton feud makes compelling, child-appropriate reading. The author vividly shows how some aspects of politics have not changed over the past 200 years, including negative campaigning and smear tactics. The account is short and fast moving with Fradin choosing key points in Hamilton's and Burr's lives that illustrate how they arrived at the duel. Describing events from their difficult childhoods, their service as aides to George Washington, their work as lawyers in New York and in positions in federal government, the author demonstrates that both men were to blame for the situation. His focus remains consistent in leading up to their final confrontation in 1804. Beginning with an arresting close-up perspective of Burr's dueling pistol on the front cover, the illustrations capture attention and convey details of the topic. The characters' expressive faces add emotion to the facts. Rendered in watercolor and gouache with pen-and-ink accents, the pictures are realistic, but not in a photographic sense. Incorporating primary sources in a dramatic style, Duel! presents a gripping view of men revered by history but not really known.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Astronaut Handbook
by Meghan McCarthy
Published 2008 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780375844591

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Jacket Notes:

DO YOU HAVE what it takes to be an astronaut? Meghan McCarthy blasts readers off to astronaut school in her new, young, nonfiction picture book. Take a ride on the "Vomit Comet" and learn how it feels to be weightless. Have your measurements taken--100 to be exact--for your very own space suit. Meghan McCarthy has created the perfect book to share with children who want to be astronauts when they grow up.

REVIEW: Publisher's Weekly 06/09/2008

McCarthy's signature bug-eyed characters return for another nonfiction excursion, this time for astronaut training. Addressed as "you," readers join three men and one woman as they undergo numerous tests of intellectual and physical endurance. Ever mindful of what fascinates her audience, McCarthy (Aliens Are Coming!) also visits a space toilet (her diagram helpfully points out the "vacuum for solids" and "hose for liquids") and devotes a spread to a ride on the legendary "Vomit Comet"-the airplane that NASA uses to give astronauts a momentary taste of weightlessness (the astronaut trainees remain unperturbed). The book signs off with a successful blastoff and a cheery, "Work hard and enjoy your time in space!" Bright, bold pictures and a wealth of information (including two full pages of facts and sources) take the place of Right Stuff bravado; this fare is strictly wholesome. Ages 5-8. (June)

07/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-McCarthy speaks directly to children who dream of someday "BLASTING into outer space," inviting them to experience astronaut school with four aspiring recruits. Painted in a cartoon style, the three men and one woman have large saucerlike eyes and off-center smiles. The book gives a very real picture of the arduous training required before going into space. Full-color spreads done in acrylics on gessoed paper show authentic facilities like a swimming pool, a jet, and the Vomit Comet (a plane ride that allows passengers to experience weightlessness). The text and illustrations are simply done, and their very sparseness highlights important stages in astronaut preparation. A space suit and toilet are shown against white backgrounds, and their parts are clearly labeled. The space-shuttle liftoff, painted vertically, and images of the smiling characters in space capture the excitement of this ultimate adventure. The author includes a page of fascinating facts as well as a list of places to visit. This appealing book is sure to find a wide audience.-Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

Elephants and Golden Thrones: Inside China's Forbidden City
by Trish Marx
Published 2008 by HNA Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780810994850

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Jacket Notes:

A rare look inside one of the wonders of the world, published in time for the 2008 Olympics in China

For five hundred years, the Forbidden City was the seat of power of China's emperors. Given rare access to this vast and beautiful complex, Trish Marx and Ellen B. Senisi explore its secrets in full-color photographs and lively, meticulously researched stories. From a grand procession of elephants to the golden nail guards that protected the emperor's three-inch nails, details large and small bring this fortress to life for young armchair travelers.

With contributions from the Palace Museum (the official museum of the Forbidden City), this is a definitive guide and the only book on the subject available for young readers.

07/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-The Forbidden City is a vast and magnificent palace complex. Wandering through this huge site, visitors often wonder about the people, royal and otherwise, who lived there during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Marx begins the history with Yongle, the Ming emperor who moved the government from Nanjing to Beijing and ordered the construction of the colossal structure in 1407. She brings the Forbidden City to life by telling stories about six different royal inhabitants from Zhengde, "one of the worst emperors in Chinese history," to Puyi, who became a pawn of the invading Japanese. Royal women take their rightful place with a look at the funeral of Princess Su as well as a relatively tame description of the preparations made by the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi to start each day. Each short tale is followed by straightforward but lively factual text that provides information about the palace and the lives of its inhabitants. Even the eunuchs, including a no-nonsense explanation of their condition and the reason for it, are included. Beautiful drawings and photographs, some provided by the Palace Museum and some taken for this book, lend color and provide additional information. Of particular note are the photos of the interiors of buildings, a number of which are not regularly open to the public. A book with surefire appeal to anyone interested in China's history and culture.-Barbara Scotto, Children's Literature New England, Brookline, MA

Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World
by Jane Yolen
Published 2008 by Charlesbridge Publishing

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781580891318

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Jacket Notes:

Throughout the ages, women from all the classes and walks of life turned to pirating out of necessity, desperation, or greed. Acclaimed author Jane Yolen examines the contradictions of these bold women's lives and times.

07/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Most of what is known about the earliest "sea queens" is the stuff of story and legends. Yolen carefully notes what has been documented and what may be exaggeration throughout these brief biographies. An introductory chapter clears up some common misconceptions about pirates and pirating. Using recent scholarship on the subject, this collection crosses the oceans to include both familiar and unfamiliar names. Beginning with Artemisia in the 5th century BC and ending with Madame Ching in the 19th century, the profiles include Queen Teuta, Alfhild, Grania O'Malley, Charlotte de Berry, Lady Killigrew, Pretty Peg, Anne Bonney, Mary Read, Rachel Wall, and Mary Anne Talbot. Alternate spellings are listed, and sidebars provide supplementary and high-interest information. A gold-embossed binding and black-and-white scratchboard illustrations give a period feel to this handsome volume. Women pirates about whom there is a lack of adequate information for inclusion are mentioned.-Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI

The Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes
by Ellen B. Jackson
Published 2008 by Houghton Mifflin Company

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780618563258

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The universe is rapidly expanding. Of that much scientists are certain. But how fast? And with what implications regarding the fate of the universe?

Ellen Jackson and Nic Bishop follow Dr. Alex Fillippenko and his High-Z

Supernova Search Team to Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii, where they will study space phenomena and look for supernovae, dying stars that explode with the power of billions of hydrogen bombs. Dr. Fillippenko looks for black holes--areas in space with such a strong gravitational pull that no matter or energy can escape from them--with his robotic telescope. And they study the effects of dark energy, the mysterious force that scientists believe is pushing the universe apart, causing its constant and accelerating expansion.

See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House
by Susan E. Goodman
Published 2008 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Paperback, English. ISBN: 9781599901718

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Using witty anecdotes and clear explanations, acclaimed writer Susan E. Goodman takes readers from the birth of democracy to the Electoral College; from front porch campaigning to hanging chads. It's all here, spiced up with Elwood Smith's witty illustrations, hilarious sidebars, photographs, and solid back matter. It's a landslide victory: "See How They Run "stands above the rest as the most accessible, informative, and enjoyable election book on the market.

Amelia Earhart: The Legend of the Lost Aviator
by Shelley Tanaka
Published 2008 by Abrams Books for Young Readers

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780810970953

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Jacket Notes:

On July 2, 1937, aviatrix Amelia Earhart mysteriously vanished. This biography follows Earhart from her first sight of an airplane at the age of 10 to the last radio transmission she made before she disappeared. Illustrated with original artworks and contemporary photos.

Atlas of the Universe
by Mark A. Garlick
Published 2008 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781416955580

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Filled with one-of-a-kind images of planets, constellations, and galaxies, this complete reference includes more than 75 maps detailing topographic features of the planets and their moons, constellation charts for each season, timelines and diagrams, and much more. Full color.

Building Manhattan
by Laura Vila
Published 2008 by Viking Children's Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780670062843

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Vibrant illustrations and spare text come together in this striking picture book to tell the story of the building of Manhattan--from its beginnings as an undeveloped island to the bustling metropolis of today. Includes a time line and a bibliography. Full color.

REVIEW: Publisher's Weekly 05/12/2008

Tracing the growth of Manhattan from a time "before maps or words were used" to the present day, debut author/artist Vila employs many lenses-geography, sociology, politics, ethnography. Likewise, her radiantly dramatic mural-like paintings present a wide range of visual styles and approaches: she offers readers both fisheye and a bird's-eye views of the island, and varies her vantage point from romantic idealism (a "peaceable kingdom"-like scene of pre-people Manhattan) to reportorial (the influx of immigrants) to surreal (a celebration of the city's traffic snarls) to metaphoric (the world's ongoing love affair with the Big Apple). But while her paintings are lavish, it takes her only one pithy sentence on each spread to convey both a specific moment and a sense of history and human ambitions: "Boats and boats packed with people, traditions, languages and new ideas clogged the shores." A formidable new talent. Ages 6-8. (May)

Sweet Eats: Mmmore Than Just Desserts
by Rose Dunnington
Published 2008 by Lark Books (NC)

Spiral, English. ISBN: 9781600592362

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When the treat is sweet, children want to cook their own confections. And with this cheerful, beautifully designed kids' cookbook--the fifth in Lark's bestselling series--they can. Author Rose Dunnington is back once more, presenting a flavorsome and fun collection of recipes for what is unarguably the most anticipated course of the meal. A handy basics section gets beginners started, but with goodies such as snickerdoodles, chocolate mint cookies, hot cheesecake brownies, strawberry stickies, spumoni, and trifle, eating will be the best part of all. Also included is information on sugar substitutes, less fattening variations, and healthful options. Each recipe features helpful how-tos, and a color photo that will have children grabbing their mixing bowls.

Volcanic Eruptions, Earthquakes, and Tsunamis
by Sean McCollum
Published 2007 by Chelsea House Publishers

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780791090473

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This book explores the underground causes of these natural disasters and shows how scientists seek to save lives through a greater understanding of Earth's geology.

05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 5-7-Following an introduction that focuses on the formation of a volcano off the coast of Iceland in 1963 and presents the principles of seismology, geology, and the structure of the Earth, individual chapters on volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis describe these phenomena, how they happen, and their characteristics. Subsequent passages discuss precautionary changes in building codes and bridge construction and efforts at prediction. Boxed off areas present supplementary information, such as myths, significant scientists, the future of the Earth, tables of the deadliest events, first-person accounts, historical notes, and tables of data. The workmanlike writing is clear, with glossary terms highlighted in the text. Major events, such as Mount St. Helens, the 2004 tsunami, and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, are used as examples, while good color diagrams and photos effectively illustrate ideas presented. Although these topics are readily available in many individual books, McCollum's volume is noteworthy for conveniently bringing them together in one title and highlighting their interrelatedness.-Jeffrey A. French, formerly at Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, Willowick, OH

Mark Twain: An American Star
by Elizabeth MacLeod
Published 2008 by Kids Can Press

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781553379089

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05/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-This is an engaging introduction to a fascinating icon in the history of American literature. The text is clever and convincing and the level of detail is perfect for the intended age group. Readers are left curious about the controversies surrounding Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and appreciative of Twain's exceptional and humorous writings. Many kids will go straight to the fiction shelves after they finish this book. The organization is excellent; the narrative is arranged chronologically and is easy to follow. Each spread contains text on the left side and a collage of well-captioned photos, illustrations, and reproductions on the right. A cartoon figure of Twain provides comments or additional information in dialogue boxes. The copyright page contains a list of photo credits, but there are no sources listed for the text. The time line at the back of the book is helpful but contains an error-it lists Twain's father's death as 1848 but he actually died in 1847. Regardless, this is a solid choice for most libraries.-Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL