Look to the Stars
by Buzz Aldrin
Published 2009 by G. P. Putnam's Sons

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780399247217

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As one of a handful of astronauts to have walked on the moon, Buzz Aldrin has a unique perspective of space. And he serves as an amazing guide as he introduces us to the pioneers of space. From Copernicus to the Wright brothers, from the Apollo program to dreams of future travel, he reminds us that mankind has always looked to the stars. Buzzas informative, kid-friendly text is paired with beautifully detailed illustrations by renowned illustrator Wendell Minor, and offers the perfect introduction to everything space-related, including the development of the fi rst rockets, Americaas space race with Russia, details of all the Apollo missions, and the space station. Aldrin and Minor collaborated on the bestselling "Reaching for the Moon" and now they reach beyond that book to give readers a concise look at the whole history of space exploration. Each spread provides a wonderful jumping-off point for young readers, and will no doubt inspire them to look to the stars themselves.

Publishers Weekly 05/04/2009

Astronaut Aldrin and Minor ("Reaching for the Moon)" offer a second collaboration, tracing the history of flight from the Wright brothers through numerous NASA missions to envisioning a future in space. Paintings evoke the 1950s1960s era, while Aldrin's text offers a compelling firsthand POV (I had the privilege of being on board the final Gemini mission). Additionally, quotations from Isaac Newton to President George W. Bush run across each page. A wealth of information as well as hints of whimsyas a boy peers through the porthole of a spaceship, the text says: One day your family may have some amazing vacation choices. Where will you go?will satisfy those captivated by space. Ages 68. "(Apr.)" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

04/01/2009 School Library Journal

Gr 24The "Apollo 11" astronaut follows up "Reaching for the Moon" (HarperCollins, 2005) with a quick overview of the past and near future of human space flight. Paired with Minor's clean-lined, realistically detailed scenes of significant aircraft, spacecraft, and high spots, his narrative opens with Galileo, closes with the rousing suggestion that the opportunity to venture into space lies just a tantalizing few years down the road for many young readers, and in between provides a fact-laced history, capped by a complete tally of Apollo missions and a look at planned expeditions to Mars. Aldrin adds a personal slant to his commentarynoting, for instance, that his aviator father was trained by Robert Goddard and was a friend of Charles Lindbergh. It distinguishes this survey from other titles that cover similar territory and should leave readers with a clearer sense of how the past connects with the future."John Peters, New York Public Library" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Insects: Biggest! Littlest!
by Sandra Markle
Published 2009 by Boyds Mills Press

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781590785126

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Jacket Notes:

Bugs that make kids say "Wow!" Here are twenty-one six-legged wonders from around the world.

03/01/2009 School Library Journal

Gr 24This simply written introduction examines insects from the perspective of size. Employing over a dozen kinds as examples, Markle explains why those that are unusually large, small, or equipped with extraordinary body parts have an edge over predators or competing species. For instance, the weta's huge size (three and a half inches) and the long, sharp spines on its rear legs deter most predators; the minute pirate bug is so small (less than an eighth of an inch) that it has no competitors for the tiny prey it consumes. The text also describes the process of metamorphosis, complete and incomplete, and explains why females are so much bigger than their mates. An amazingly detailed, close-up color photograph of one or more of the insects discussed complements the text on almost every page. Sidebars with additional information and a world map indicating the countries in which the depicted animals were photographed are included. Well organized and clearly written in an engaging style, Markle's book offers some unique insights into the insect world. It is a welcome companion volume to her "Spiders: Biggest! Littlest!" (Boyds Mills, 2004)."Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Open the Door to Liberty!: A Biography of Toussaint L'Ouverture
by Anne F Rockwell
Published 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780618605705

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A renowned children's book author joins a Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner for this account of revolution leader Toussaint L'Ouverture of St. Domingue (now Haiti), who led thousands of African slaves into a revolution for freedom. Full color. The story of revolution leaderToussaint L'Ouverture of St. Domingue (now Haiti).

The island now known as Haiti was once a French colony called St. Domingue, where white plantation owners forced hundreds of thousands of African slaves to farm sugar cane. Toussaint L'Ouverture was one of those slaves . . . but not for long. The day would come when L'Ouverture would lead his island's slaves into a revolution for freedom, and his efforts would influence the course of world history.

03/01/2009 School Library Journal

Gr 58Toussaint, born a slave in the French colony of St. Domingue, led the first successful slave uprising in the Americas in 1793, defeating first the French and then the British and American opportunists who hoped to take advantage of the new country. The Haitian revolution is put in context with those in America and France, and its significance is made clear as Rockwell connects Napoleon's defeat in Haiti with his willingness to sell French Louisiana to the United States. Christie's bold, naive gouache illustrations invoke Haiti's beauty and savage history. The scene of Toussaint preventing a fellow revolutionary from unnecessarily killing a white man and the rendering of the bleak French prison in which the hero died are particularly striking. Altogether, this is a beautiful and captivating portrait of a leader whose story will probably be unfamiliar to most youngsters. Written for an older audience than Walter Dean Myers's Toussaint L'Ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom (S & S, 1996), it is a welcome addition to biography and history collections.Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho, NM Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It . . . What to Feed It . . . Why It Sleeps All Day
by Jackie French
Published 2009 by Clarion Books

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780618868643

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What's the best way to scratch a wombat? Well, if it's a wombat that's familiar with humans, says author Jackie French, you rub the bony ridge along its back or behind its ears. And the harder you scratch, the better the wombat likes it. For more than thirty years, Jackie French has lived in the Australian bush, coexisting with wild wombats. In this cross between memoir and natural history, Jackie shares her often hilarious adventures with her wombats neighbors and describes their physiology, history, and habits. Bruce Whatley adds pencil drawings in both comic and realistic styles. It's a book that's perfect for the budding naturalist. It's an easy read. It's full of funny stories. It's science with a heart.

Publishers Weekly 01/12/2009

A nonfiction companion to French and Whatley's more whimsical picture book "Diary of Wombat", this book will spread the Australian author's affection for the marsupial critters that populate her backyard and the nearby bush. Between detailed notes about wombat anatomy, behavior and habitat, French weaves in personal anecdotes from her 30-plus years of observing local wombats and caring for orphaned baby wombats (cuddly, furry creatures that wreck your kitchen and take over your life). Readers will learn not only about a wombat's teeth but also how one Rikki the Wrestler sank his pearly whites into the author's wrist, thinking it was a game. From the outset, French uses a friendly tone, discussing how wombats have influenced her writing career. Whatley's spot maps, diagrams and realistic b&w pencil sketches further amplify key points. A nifty blend of field notebook and memoir, this volume enlightens readers about the observed species and the human doing the observing. Ages 610. "(Feb.)" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

03/01/2009 School Library Journal

Gr 46French expands the simple introduction found in her picture book Diary of a Wombat (Clarion, 2007) into a longer account, nicely incorporating her experiences observing these animals with information on the wombat's physical characteristics, life cycle, and behavior. Small line drawings capture the creatures' various activities and body parts, and the informal, smoothly flowing narrative will engage readers who have an affinity for wildlife and those who enjoy reading about unusual species. The book concludes with explanations of how to observe wombats in the wild and the contemporary threats to their habitat. A final summation of "What I've Learned from Wombats" provides a deft set of life lessons for youngsters. This is a congenial selection for animal lovers that could also be a fun item for booktalking.Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Publisher's Marketing Text:

What's the best way to scratch a wombat? Well, if it's a wombat that's familiar with humans, says author Jackie French, you rub the bony ridge along its back or behind its ears. And the harder you scratch, the better the wombat likes it. For more than thirty years, Jackie French has lived in the Australian bush, coexisting with wild wombats. In this cross between memoir and natural history, Jackie shares her often hilarious adventures with her wombats neighbors and describes their physiology, history, and habits. Bruce Whatley adds pencil drawings in both comic and realistic styles. It's a book that's perfect for the budding naturalist. It's an easy read. It's full of funny stories. It's science with a heart.

The Spatulatta Cookbook: Recipes for Kids, by Kids, from the James Beard Award-Winning Spatulatta Web Site
by Isabella Gerasole
Published 2007 by Scholastic Reference

Spiral, English. ISBN: 9780439022507

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Jacket Notes:

com. This companion volume to their series contains accessible, fun, and kid-friendly recipes.

02/01/2008 School Library Journal

Gr 38 This lively, colorful companion book to the Gerasole sisters' Web site, where "Kids teach kids through video recipes," contains an enticing array of dishes both sweet and savory, easy and complicated. Each recipe lists ingredients and equipment needed, and there's additional material like a glossary and a section on basic skills, tools, and measurements. Beautifully reproduced color photos show the completed dishes and smaller photos show some of the steps. The seasonal arrangement includes dishes like "Bunny Salad" and "Mashed Potato Ghosts," plus sections on vegetarian entrées and snacks. Initial skepticism about some of the techniques, like the Yumbo Gumbo based on a roux made in the microwave, was overcome when tried. It was delicious! Overall, this book strikes a great balance between fun and practical. Several of the recipes assume a sophisticated palate and/or access to unusual ingredients, so this may not be the best basic cookbook for all kids. But it's got a slick design, an appealing collection of recipes, and a welcome tone of playfulness and encouragement."Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

The Migration of a Whale
by Tanya Kant
Published 2008 by Children's Press(CT)

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780531240496

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03/01/2009 School Library Journal

K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

How an Egg Grows Into a Chicken
by Tanya Kant
Published 2008 by Children's Press(CT)

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780531240472

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03/01/2009 School Library Journal

K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.K-Gr 3Well-organized chapters promote inquiry, using questions as titles, which are followed by clearly written answers and other facts, distinguished by different-size fonts. Chicken, which features a boy and a girl of different ethnicities, outlines two experiments that are ideal for performing in class or at home; Whale features a migratory map. Children will love holding pages up to the light to see "inside" the gray whale and the eggs. Excellent, simple illustrations using colorful mixed media enhance the texts, providing clear examples of embryo and animal development. Suitable for independent reading and classroom use.Colleen D. Bocka, Nathaniel Rochester Community School, Rochester, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Art from Her Heart: Folk Artist Clementine Hunter
by Kathy Whitehead
Published 2008 by G. P. Putnam's Sons

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780399242199

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Jacket Notes:

Can you imagine being an artist who isnat allowed into your own show? Thatas what happened to folk artist Clementine Hunter. Her paintings went from hanging on her clothesline to hanging in museums, yet because of the color of her skin, a friend had to sneak her in when the gallery was closed. With lyrical writing and striking illustrations, this picture book biography introduces kids to a self-taught artist whose paintings captured scenes of backbreaking work and joyous celebrations of southern farm life. They preserve a part of American history we rarely see and prove that art can help keep the spirit alive.

09/01/2008 School Library Journal

K-Gr 3Although there was a difference in their life spans of about 25 years, Clementine Hunter (1886/18871988) and Grandma Moses (18601961) had much in common. Neither had any formal art training, both started painting in midlife, both used a folk-art style derived from their individual roots, and both lived long and fruitful lives finding personal passion in their art. Hunter, who today enjoys a modest reputation and whose work is sold in galleries and hung in museums, never received the acclamation that Moses achieved. Whitehead and Evans present an effective vehicle to introduce children to the work of this remarkable Southern black woman. Whitehead's lyrical text speaks of Hunter's perseverance and talent as well as of the simplicity, love of nature, and caring of friends and family that informed her work. Evans bolsters Whitehead's words with bold mixed-media illustrations that portray Hunter in hard times and in good. He often focuses on her hands and face, bringing strength and vitality to the pictures. In one especially poignant image, he depicts the artist standing alone before her pictures at an exhibition after hours: she was forbidden to enter the gallery with other visitors because of her race. Pair this picture-book biography with one about Grandma Moses, perhaps Alexandra Wallner's "Grandma Moses" (Holiday House, 2004) or W. Nikola-Lisa's "The Year with Grandma Moses" (Holt, 2000), to present inspiring stories of two outstanding American women artists. Eleven small reproductions of Hunter's works are appended."Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Koalas
by Rachael Hanel
Published 2008 by Creative Education

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9781583416556

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A look at koalas, including their habitats, physical characteristics such as their stomach pouches, behaviors, relationships with humans, and protected status in the world today.

Living World
by Gerard Chesire
Published 2008 by Children's Press(CT)

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780531240267

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03/01/2009 School Library Journal

Gr 14These are the books to answer students' "I Wonder]?" questions. Each chapter begins with a query, such as "What's the Deadliest Creature on Earth?" (World), "Where Do People Live Longest?" (People), and "How Did People Keep Clean?" (Machines). The answers are given in short, information-packed paragraphs, with related questions and answers and bits of information in sidebars. The color drawings provide additional details. There are several acetate overlays in each volume, and those in Machines provide cutaway details.Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.Gr 14These are the books to answer students' "I Wonder]?" questions. Each chapter begins with a query, such as "What's the Deadliest Creature on Earth?" (World), "Where Do People Live Longest?" (People), and "How Did People Keep Clean?" (Machines). The answers are given in short, information-packed paragraphs, with related questions and answers and bits of information in sidebars. The color drawings provide additional details. There are several acetate overlays in each volume, and those in Machines provide cutaway details.Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.Gr 14These are the books to answer students' "I Wonder]?" questions. Each chapter begins with a query, such as "What's the Deadliest Creature on Earth?" (World), "Where Do People Live Longest?" (People), and "How Did People Keep Clean?" (Machines). The answers are given in short, information-packed paragraphs, with related questions and answers and bits of information in sidebars. The color drawings provide additional details. There are several acetate overlays in each volume, and those in Machines provide cutaway details.Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.Gr 14These are the books to answer students' "I Wonder]?" questions. Each chapter begins with a query, such as "What's the Deadliest Creature on Earth?" (World), "Where Do People Live Longest?" (People), and "How Did People Keep Clean?" (Machines). The answers are given in short, information-packed paragraphs, with related questions and answers and bits of information in sidebars. The color drawings provide additional details. There are several acetate overlays in each volume, and those in Machines provide cutaway details.Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.Gr 14These are the books to answer students' "I Wonder]?" questions. Each chapter begins with a query, such as "What's the Deadliest Creature on Earth?" (World), "Where Do People Live Longest?" (People), and "How Did People Keep Clean?" (Machines). The answers are given in short, information-packed paragraphs, with related questions and answers and bits of information in sidebars. The color drawings provide additional details. There are several acetate overlays in each volume, and those in Machines provide cutaway details.Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.Gr 14These are the books to answer students' "I Wonder]?" questions. Each chapter begins with a query, such as "What's the Deadliest Creature on Earth?" (World), "Where Do People Live Longest?" (People), and "How Did People Keep Clean?" (Machines). The answers are given in short, information-packed paragraphs, with related questions and answers and bits of information in sidebars. The color drawings provide additional details. There are several acetate overlays in each volume, and those in Machines provide cutaway details.Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Animals with Awesome Armor: Shells, Scales, and Exoskeletons
by Susan K Mitchell
Published 2008 by Enslow Publishers

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780766032965

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Jacket Notes:

Armadillos, turtles, horseshoe crabs, and millipedes all have something in commontheir armor helps protect them from predators! Author Susan K. Mitchell explores these fascinating animals in this book from the new AMAZING ANIMAL DEFENSES series.

11/01/2008 School Library Journal

Gr 2-4Broader in focus than the Gross-Out Defenses series, this set groups animals by type of defensive (and sometimes offensive) behavior or capability. "Combat", for instance, opens with a look at snakes and monarch butterflies, closes with marine ink squirters and the ever-popular hagfish, and in between recounts the unfortunate consequences of bothering such animals as stink bugs and the slow loris (It produces a poison that smells like stinky gym socks). The close-up photos are frequent and well chosen, and accompanied by clear, simply phrased texts, which are more detailed than average and take up most or all of the space on each page. An unusual feature is each volume's closing discussion of human equivalents, such as what spies do in "Mimics", and how Kevlar works in "Armor." Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.Gr 2-4Broader in focus than the Gross-Out Defenses series, this set groups animals by type of defensive (and sometimes offensive) behavior or capability. "Combat", for instance, opens with a look at snakes and monarch butterflies, closes with marine ink squirters and the ever-popular hagfish, and in between recounts the unfortunate consequences of bothering such animals as stink bugs and the slow loris (It produces a poison that smells like stinky gym socks). The close-up photos are frequent and well chosen, and accompanied by clear, simply phrased texts, which are more detailed than average and take up most or all of the space on each page. An unusual feature is each volume's closing discussion of human equivalents, such as what spies do in "Mimics", and how Kevlar works in "Armor." Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.Gr 2-4Broader in focus than the Gross-Out Defenses series, this set groups animals by type of defensive (and sometimes offensive) behavior or capability. "Combat", for instance, opens with a look at snakes and monarch butterflies, closes with marine ink squirters and the ever-popular hagfish, and in between recounts the unfortunate consequences of bothering such animals as stink bugs and the slow loris (It produces a poison that smells like stinky gym socks). The close-up photos are frequent and well chosen, and accompanied by clear, simply phrased texts, which are more detailed than average and take up most or all of the space on each page. An unusual feature is each volume's closing discussion of human equivalents, such as what spies do in "Mimics", and how Kevlar works in "Armor." Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.Gr 2-4Broader in focus than the Gross-Out Defenses series, this set groups animals by type of defensive (and sometimes offensive) behavior or capability. "Combat", for instance, opens with a look at snakes and monarch butterflies, closes with marine ink squirters and the ever-popular hagfish, and in between recounts the unfortunate consequences of bothering such animals as stink bugs and the slow loris (It produces a poison that smells like stinky gym socks). The close-up photos are frequent and well chosen, and accompanied by clear, simply phrased texts, which are more detailed than average and take up most or all of the space on each page. An unusual feature is each volume's closing discussion of human equivalents, such as what spies do in "Mimics", and how Kevlar works in "Armor." Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.Gr 2-4Broader in focus than the Gross-Out Defenses series, this set groups animals by type of defensive (and sometimes offensive) behavior or capability. "Combat", for instance, opens with a look at snakes and monarch butterflies, closes with marine ink squirters and the ever-popular hagfish, and in between recounts the unfortunate consequences of bothering such animals as stink bugs and the slow loris (It produces a poison that smells like stinky gym socks). The close-up photos are frequent and well chosen, and accompanied by clear, simply phrased texts, which are more detailed than average and take up most or all of the space on each page. An unusual feature is each volume's closing discussion of human equivalents, such as what spies do in "Mimics", and how Kevlar works in "Armor." Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.Gr 2-4Broader in focus than the Gross-Out Defenses series, this set groups animals by type of defensive (and sometimes offensive) behavior or capability. "Combat", for instance, opens with a look at snakes and monarch butterflies, closes with marine ink squirters and the ever-popular hagfish, and in between recounts the unfortunate consequences of bothering such animals as stink bugs and the slow loris (It produces a poison that smells like stinky gym socks). The close-up photos are frequent and well chosen, and accompanied by clear, simply phrased texts, which are more detailed than average and take up most or all of the space on each page. An unusual feature is each volume's closing discussion of human equivalents, such as what spies do in "Mimics", and how Kevlar works in "Armor." Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea
by Steve Jenkins
Published 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780618966363

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Jacket Notes:

A Caldecott Honor winner provides a top-to-bottom look at the ocean, from birds and waves to thermal vents and ooze. Full color. Caldecott Honor-winning Steve Jenkins provides a top-to-bottom look at the ocean, from birds and waves to thermal vents and ooze.

Half the earth's surface is covered by water more than a mile deep, but most of this watery world is a mystery to us. In fact, more people have stood on the surface of the moon than have visited the deepest spot in the ocean.

Come along as we travel

down,

down,

down,

from the surface to the bottom of the sea.

Along the way you can see jellyfish that flash like a neon sign, creatures with teeth so big, they can't close their mouths, and even a squid as long as a bus, which battles to the death with a sperm whale, the largest predator on earth.

It'll be a journey you won't soon forget!

04/01/2009 School Library Journal

Gr 36Starting at the surface of the Pacific Ocean, Jenkins introduces some of the animals that inhabit descending layers of water all the way down to the Marianas Trench. At nearly 36,000 feet, this zone has been visited only once, by human passengers of a research vessel. Depicted in Jenkins's signature handsome collages, the denizens of each level swim against ever-darkening backgrounds ranging from sunny blue to deepest black. Each double-page segment begins with a paragraph or two explaining the growing degree of darkness, cold, and pressure, and how all of these affect the lives of the resident creatures. A bar running down the far right of each scene indicates depth. Usually three or four animalswhales, fish, worms, and moreare featured. Sometimes colorful or luminescent and often toothy, they are both familiar and strange. In some views, the animals are relative in size, but in others, those that are actually quite different in scale appear to be similar. At the end of the book, an added paragraph about each scene takes up the matter of size. Here length is stated, and silhouettes compare each creature to either an adult human's hand or a full body. The bold views tend to emphasize the weirdness of these little-known species, but the repeated message that humans have much to explore and learn in the deeper ocean is intriguing and inviting. This is a good complement to Sneed B. Collard's "The Deep-Sea Floor" (Charlesbridge, 2003), which introduces some of the same animals and offers more information about recent exploration."Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Voice from Afar: Poems of Peace
by Tony Johnston
Published 2008 by Holiday House

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780823420124

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Publishers Weekly 11/03/2008

Guevara's ("Chato's Kitchen") gentle acrylics temper 26 poems about war by Johnston ("P Is for Piñata", reviewed above), whose imagery pulls no punches. Many of her poems are set squarely in the middle of combat, addressing victims (Child on the other side of the world.../ I am calling) or describing their surroundings. The poet sharply invokes the products of war: poverty (of a dog: His ribs are the slats of a small ark), violence (The body remains, / crumpled in the street) and grief. Guevara, painting on rough canvas, declines to show the most frightening scenes. Instead of the child on the other side of the world in your little torn shirt, she paints a small girl clinging to the back of a flying dove; instead of the crumpled body, she paints an angel. Quick brushstrokes and pastel shades soften the blow, and the images register as memories or dreams. The final poems pray for peace, but Johnston's sobering portraits make forgiveness unexpectedly difficult to imagine. Ages 10up. "(Dec.)" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

12/01/2008 School Library Journal

Gr 58Johnston offers thoughtful responses to war's senseless violence. Her free-verse word pictures call to mind scenes of terrible devastation: bodies lying crumpled in the street and homeless dogs "nosing along barren streets/for tidbits never found." Lives are wiped away in an instant when a bus explodes, homes and lives are shattered, yet Johnston finds cause for hope amid the grimness. A mother bravely tends a wounded soldier, a rosebush clings to life through drought and war, and a soccer game brings a respite: "The soldier's face remembers/it has a smile." Johnston adds her own voice, the sympathetic observer from afar, sending prayers for peace. Guevara's paintings, crafted with acrylic and oil paint with collage on textured canvas, feature subdued, neutral colors and haunting images, such as the poignant cover painting of a small girl clinging to the back of a dove. Through prayers and healing words, Johnston hopes that a new landscape can be woven: "A world/with peaks of kindness, /orchards branched with good, /rivers swollen with peace." Teachers will appreciate this measured response to the subject."Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Tiger Woods: Athlete
by Judy L Hasday
Published 2008 by Chelsea House Publications

Library Binding, English. ISBN: 9780791097144

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Jacket Notes:

Tiger Woods: Athlete recounts the story of his life, from a young child golfing under his fathers tutelage to a world-famous athlete and philanthropist. Each title features:

- "In Their Own Words" boxes offering selected quotations from the subject

- "Did You Know?" boxes that highlight fascinating facts about each person

- A chronology, suggestions for further reading, and a listing of related Web sites

- A final chapter that delves into the legacy of the subject's thoughts and deeds for new generations of black Americans.

Mega Trucks: The Biggest, Toughest Trucks in the World!
by Deborah Murrell
Published 2008 by Scholastic

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780439850568

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Jacket Notes:

From massive diggers, loggers, and loaders to gigantic dump trucks and bulldozers, this bright and busy book offers a colorful introduction to the exciting world of mega trucks. Full color.

Titanic: Disaster at Sea
by Martin Jenkins
Published 2008 by Candlewick Press (MA)

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780763637958

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Jacket Notes:

Explore the glory and tragedy of the Ttitanic in a fascinating book that traces the events leading up to her fateful end.

On April 14, 1912, the largest and finest ocean liner of the age struck an iceberg and sank to the icy depths. Here, in clear, compelling prose illustrated with evocative scenes, extensive diagrams, and historical photos, is the story of the Titanic's rise and fall -- from details on her state-of-the-art design and widely varying accommodations to a timeline showing how structural and human failure contributed to her demise.

Publisher's Marketing Text:

Explore the glory and tragedy of the Ttitanic in a fascinating book that traces the events leading up to her fateful end.
On April 14, 1912, the largest and finest ocean liner of the age struck an iceberg and sank to the icy depths. Here, in clear, compelling prose illustrated with evocative scenes, extensive diagrams, and historical photos, is the story of the Titanic's rise and fall -- from details on her state-of-the-art design and widely varying accommodations to a timeline showing how structural and human failure contributed to her demise.

Ancient Maya: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of the Maya's Past
by Nathaniel Harris
Published 2008 by National Geographic Society

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781426302275

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As Europe endured its Dark Ages, the Maya mapped the heavens and mastered mathematics. They constructed vast cities in jungle landscapes, leaving legacies in stone at places like Palenque and Uxmal. In overgrown sites, archaeologists now piece together this civilization with the aid of satellite technology. Modern-day experts provide windows into the Mayan world by interpreting ancient messages, inscribed for future generations.

Publisher's Marketing Text:

As Europe endured its Dark Ages, the Maya mapped the heavens and mastered mathematics. They constructed vast cities in jungle landscapes, leaving legacies in stone at places like Palenque and Uxmal. In overgrown sites, archaeologists now piece together this civilization with the aid of satellite technology. Modern-day experts provide windows into the Mayan world by interpreting ancient messages, inscribed for future generations.

Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt
by Don Brown
Published 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH)

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780618179992

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By the time he was 10 years old, Theodore Roosevelt had a frail body, weak eyes, suffered from asthma, and was tormented by bullies. But Teedie had a strong mind, endless curiosity, and a fierce determination. Full color.

04/01/2009 School Library Journal

Gr 25Teedie led a privileged life in one of New York City's wealthiest households, but was a sickly child. His asthma didn't stop him from being curious or from reading widely (at least, about things that he found interesting), but his father nonetheless encouraged him to build up his physical strength. He worked hard and had at least one boxing success. Teedie became Teddy when he entered Harvard University in 1876. After graduation, Roosevelt sought his own way and continued on his own course in spite of personal losses (or perhaps because of them). He traveled, became an outdoorsman, a politician, and ultimately the youngest president of the United States. Line and wash illustrations add movement and a playful tone to the serious text, which generously incorporates quotes from Roosevelt. (These are not attributed, but it is assumed that they are drawn from sources provided at the end of the book.) An author's note concludes this brief overview and may well encourage youngsters to learn more about this fascinating figure. Lead them to Betsy Harvey Kraft's "Theodore Roosevelt: Champion of the American Spirit" (Clarion, 2003), which presents a fuller portrait illustrated with photographs."Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

How Many Baby Pandas?
by Sandra Markle
Published 2009 by Walker & Company

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780802797834

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Baby pandas abound as readers learn how they live and grow.Science expert Sandra Markle bumps up the cuteness factor in this adorable photo essay featuring the eight panda pairs that were born during a baby boom at China's Wolong Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center in 2005. Basic counting skills combine with panda facts to introduce readers to numbers and these cuddly cubs, from the moment they were born to the time they started climbing trees. Tracked as they play and grow in captivity, until they are strong enough to be released into the wild, these baby pandas will steal any reader's heart, whether it's one at a time or sixteen at once!

04/01/2009 School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 4Large, beautiful close-up photos taken in the Woolong Giant Panda Breeding Center in China show these animals from birth to the age of two. Each picture is clear and well composed, making it easy for children to count the pandas. A map of the historical and current panda habitat is included. Books and Web sites are recommended as well as associations that are working to save the species. Compared to many panda books available, the photos here are exceptional. This book will be constantly in demand as a counting book and for information about this popular animal."Erlene Bishop Killeen, Stroughton Area School District, WI" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.PreS-Gr 4Large, beautiful close-up photos taken in the Woolong Giant Panda Breeding Center in China show these animals from birth to the age of two. Each picture is clear and well composed, making it easy for children to count the pandas. A map of the historical and current panda habitat is included. Books and Web sites are recommended as well as associations that are working to save the species. Compared to many panda books available, the photos here are exceptional. This book will be constantly in demand as a counting book and for information about this popular animal."Erlene Bishop Killeen, Stroughton Area School District, WI" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Lost Childhood: My Life in a Japanese Prison Camp During World War II
by Annelex Hofstra Layson
Published 2008 by National Geographic Society

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781426303210

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"Lost Childhood" is the vivid, first-hand account of the horrors of war through the eyes of a child. This real-life memoir breaks a 60-year silence to tell one woman's riveting story of prisoner life during World War II. As a little Dutch girl in Indonesia, Annelex Hofstra's comfortable world was torn apart when she and her family were sent to Japanese prison camps for three and a half years.

The story begins in 1942 when four-year-old Annelex is living on the island of Java in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Her grandfather is a successful planter, and her father is a pilot instructor in the Royal Netherlands Navy. But her carefree childhood ends as the Japanese invade Java, and along with 10,000 other Dutch residents, Annelex's family is rounded up. With few belongings, they are shipped off to interment camps, to a helpless, unknown future.

In a shockingly honest narrative, we learn of the tactics used by their captors to dehumanize the Dutch prisoners. We learn of the grinding daily routine of the prisoners, the food rations, the sleeping arrangements, and the awful sanitary conditions. We share in Annelex's near-death bout with malaria. We also share some of the awful things she witnessed--extracting parasitic worms from a fellow-prisoner's throat; the agonizing death by starvation of women punished for stealing food; and the sight of bodies being piled high on a truck.

Eventually the hell ends and the family is liberated. But the girl's personal hell plagues her in freedom. Just days after she is reunited with her father, he is killed in an explosion. World war is replaced by civil war in Indonesia, forcing the family to flee first to Holland and then to theU.S., where the family tries to mend their broken lives.

For 60 years Annelex Hofstra Layson has repressed her early memories, shielding even her husband and children from the horrors of her past. With "Lost Childhood," her harrowing ordeal is finally revealed. The author shares her story now to provide hope in young lives torn apart by war, and to inspire future generations to work for peace.

Publisher's Marketing Text:

"Lost Childhood" is the vivid, first-hand account of the horrors of war through the eyes of a child. This real-life memoir breaks a 60-year silence to tell one woman's riveting story of prisoner life during World War II. As a little Dutch girl in Indonesia, Annelex Hofstra's comfortable world was torn apart when she and her family were sent to Japanese prison camps for three and a half years.
The story begins in 1942 when four-year-old Annelex is living on the island of Java in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Her grandfather is a successful planter, and her father is a pilot instructor in the Royal Netherlands Navy. But her carefree childhood ends as the Japanese invade Java, and along with 10,000 other Dutch residents, Annelex's family is rounded up. With few belongings, they are shipped off to interment camps, to a helpless, unknown future.
In a shockingly honest narrative, we learn of the tactics used by their captors to dehumanize the Dutch prisoners. We learn of the grinding daily routine of the prisoners, the food rations, the sleeping arrangements, and the awful sanitary conditions. We share in Annelex's near-death bout with malaria. We also share some of the awful things she witnessed--extracting parasitic worms from a fellow-prisoner's throat; the agonizing death by starvation of women punished for stealing food; and the sight of bodies being piled high on a truck.
Eventually the hell ends and the family is liberated. But the girl's personal hell plagues her in freedom. Just days after she is reunited with her father, he is killed in an explosion. World war is replaced by civil war in Indonesia, forcing the family to flee first to Holland and then to theU.S., where the family tries to mend their broken lives.
For 60 years Annelex Hofstra Layson has repressed her early memories, shielding even her husband and children from the horrors of her past. With "Lost Childhood," her harrowing ordeal is finally revealed. The author shares her story now to provide hope in young lives torn apart by war, and to inspire future generations to work for peace.