* * Magic in The Mirrorstone
Author: Several authors.
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Mirrorstone
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786947322
ISBN-13: 978-0786947324

Book description: In this anthology for teen readers, fifteen best-selling and acclaimed authors–including Holly Black, Cecil Castellucci, Cassandra Clare, Eugie Foster, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, and Gregory Frost–weave all-new stories filled with magic. Comic and dark, epic and entertaining, these stories will introduce readers to the new voices of Mirrorstone beside the treasured favorites of Young Adult fantasy.

Review: The stories are really good. The only reason I didn’t give it three stars is because the stories are too short. I really liked the characters but the stories ended too fast. I got really attached to the characters and then the story ended. ~ R.C., age 13

Note from Jelly Mom: It would be great to see some of these short stories later developed into novels. The characters are that appealing, engaging and memorable! When I see my thirteen-year old daughter read the whole book in a few hours, I know it’s a book to highly recommend.

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* * * Endless Quest Claw of The Dragon

* Red Dragon Codex

* * The Faceless Friend
Authors: Howard Whitehouse
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554531802
ISBN-13: 978-1554531806

Book description: Following The Strictest School in the World, the tale of The Faceless Fiend leaps from the woods around Lower Owlthwaite to the depths of darkest London as our friends seek to foil the nefarious schemes of the Faceless Fiend and his Masked Minions. The villainous plot to abduct Princess Purnah leads to wild chases, food fights, ridiculous costumes, balloons over London, famous fictional detectives, rat-killing contests, heroic dogs and assorted mayhem, all culminating in a thrilling finale.

Review: My daughter was hooked by the first book, The Strictest School In The World, and just mowed through The Faceless Friend calling it even better than the first book, longer and funnier. She’s eagerly awaiting book three. Definitely worth your time and money.

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* * Who Likes The Rain?
Author: Eta Kaner
Illsutrator: Marie Lefrance
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1553378415
ISBN-13: 978-1553378419

Review: Both a story and a lesson in natural science. What is rain? How does it transform the world around us? Investigate and find answers to all your questions here. Books like these encourage kids to ask questions, get answers and seek more.

Who Likes The Rain? is part of a series called Exploring the Elements by Kids Can Press. If you like this one, you’ll want to check out the other books in the series that cover wind, sun and rain.

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* * Fully Woolly
Authors: Ellen Warwick & Bernice Lum
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press; Spi edition (October 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1553377982
ISBN-13: 978-1553377986

Review: Learn to crochet and get hooked. Create necklaces, scarves, hats and bags. Clear directions and illsutrations make getting started and learning a cinch. Part of a series of craft-based books for girls from Planet Girl – a world of your own making, doing, being.

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* * * Could you? Would you?
Author: Trudy White
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 89 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Pub (September 30, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933605456
ISBN-13: 978-1933605456

Review: This one I loved! Fun to read to yourself or out loud. Fun to think of what you would or could do? Fun for parents to ask their children. Definitely an imagination inducing book. Teachers might even want to use this book to encourage creative writing.

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* * Bobbie Dazzler
Authors: Margaret Wild & Janine Dawson
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Pub (September 30, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933605464
ISBN-13: 978-1933605463

Review: I loved this one. A simple story that is fun to read, especially for the hoppers, skippers and jumpers in your family. Bobbie the Wallaby (set in Australia) wants to do the splits, but she can’t. Her friends help her and eventually she can do it! Yay! Way to go Bobbie! What child can’t relate? Cheer for Bobbie and her achievment.

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* * Ziba Came On A Boat
Author: Liz Lofthouse
Illustrator: Robert Ingpen
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Pub (September 30, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933605529
ISBN-13: 978-1933605524

Review: Ziba flees a war torn land with her mother to a new place where they will be safe and happy. Beautiful illustrations. We travel on a boat with Ziba and her mother and recall with Ziba what life was like when it was good back in her homeland. A story of hope and a lesson that can help children appreciate and understand better their immigrant neighborsz and classmates.

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* * A Practical Guide to Dragons
Author: Philip Steele
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Mirrorstone (September 26, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786941642
ISBN-13: 978-0786941643

Review: Everything you ever wanted to know about dragons. A definitive guide covering every detail of the creatures. Dragon lovers will want this one for their collection. Deatiled illsutrations and description. A real gem.

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* * When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth & Bugs Began To Swarm
Author: Hannah Bonner
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (October 9, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426300786
ISBN-13: 978-1426300783

Review: Welcome to Pennyslvania 430 million years ago. Discover how the land its inhabitants changed from then until now…well at leats up until some creatures developed feet. A great book to help your child understand and even visualize evolution.

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* * * Sea Monsters – A Prehistoric Adventure
Author: Marfe Ferguson Delano
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books; Library Ed edition (October 9, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426301197
ISBN-13: 978-1426301193

Book description: Relive the wonder of Sea Monsters, National Geographic’s 3-D Large Format Film, and learn more about these weird prehistoric creatures of the deep. Here’s the Official Children’s Companion Book to the giant-screen film which launches in October on giant screens nationwide. Sea Monsters leads kids into the Late Cretaceous Era, 80 million years ago. Stunning images of giant sharks, enormous squids, massive marine reptiles, and flying creatures with razor-sharp teeth will thrill young imaginations. Follow the story of a marine reptile called Dolichorhynchops—Dolly for short—as she braves the dangers of her inland sea home. Enjoy the cool digitally generated images of creatures like Tylosaurus, a whale-size predator, and the long-necked Styxosaurus. The brief text will engage young readers in a fun, unthreatening way. Sea Monsters is a wild and informative read for all who have or haven’t yet seen this wonderful movie.

Review: Oh, how your dinosaur and ocean loving kiddos will enjoy this book. Fact woven as fiction brings to life the underwater creatures that lived at the same time as Tyrannosaurus rex. Wonderfully illustrated.

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* * Remember Valley Forge
Author: Thomas B. Allen
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (October 9, 2007) Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426301499
ISBN-13: 978-1426301490

Book description: Remember Valley Forge tells the ultimate survival story. Travel the trail of defeat that leads Washington’s ragtag army to seek winter refuge at Valley Forge. Read from a teenage soldier’s diary and a doctor’s gruesome accounts of disease, hunger, and cold. Learn of plots against Washington and spies who aid the enemy. Discover why farmers sell the British food as the Continental Army starves and a powerless Congress looks on. Learn the true story behind the amazing achievements of the “winter soldiers.” A time line, archival images, maps, Web sites, source list, and index make this an excellent research tool for students.

Review: Bring history to life with this well put together collection of photographs, illsutrations, memoirs, letters and other primary sources. Will greatly enhance a study of Washington and the early formation of the United States. Great home library and homeschooling material.

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* * * Joan of Arc – The Teenager Who Saved Her Nation
Author: Philip Wilkinson
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (September 11, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426301162
ISBN-13: 978-1426301162

Book Description: Around 1412, a baby girl was born in the village of Domremy who would change France forever. A farmer’s daughter, she seemed destined for an unremarkable life. But as the dramatic narrative of this World History Biography reveals, Joan’s life was anything but ordinary. By the age of 13, she knew her destiny—to drive the English invaders from France. By 17, she had led an army to victory at Orleans. Captured in battle, and too poor to be ransomed, Joan was burned at the stake before her 20th birthday.

Review: From the National Geographic series. A book one of my eldest daughters gobbled up. Not just a biography but an inspiration.

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* * * Witness To Disaster – Hurricanes
Authors: Judy & Dennis Fradin
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (September 11, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426201117
ISBN-13: 978-1426201110

Book description: Step into the eye of the storm. Follow the action, from the first news reports of a hurricane called Katrina gathering out at sea, to eyewitness accounts of those who survive the epic devastation she finally wreaks along the Gulf Coast.

Then look back at the history of these catastrophic storms and examine the science of hurricanes. How do they form? Why do they rage through the same regions? Which were the deadliest hurricanes in history? And how can scientists predict their landfall?

Review: Again, the authors have brought together photographs and the people who have witnessed a disaster, in this case hurricanes. What I really like about these books bt the Fradins is that they read with the same quality as the shows on the Discovery Channel. This books definitely have the potential to encourage your children to read and exlplore through books the world around them.

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* * * Witness To disaster – Volcanoes
Authors: Judy & Dennis Fradin
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (August 28, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0792253760
ISBN-13: 978-0792253761

Book description: Volcanoes brings you the shocking first-person reports of those who have witnessed the violent rage of a volcanic eruption.

Review: Very well done. A great book for your home library for the inquisitive reader who soaks up facts with great interest. Also great as a reference on the subject. Impressive photography and illustrations combine with history, science and personal accounts to make this book a treat for anyone.

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* * Lickety-Split
Author: Philip Steele
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1553377109
ISBN-13: 978-1553377108

Review: Fun! If you love the way Dr. Seuss’s words dance on your tongue you will enjoy Lickety-Split. No rhymes here, just a series of silly sounding and attemntion grabbing words that are fun to say, like: Lickety-Split, zingity-zonk, splishity-splash and so many more. Each word has an illsutration perfectly created for each sound. This is a book that will encourage your young reader to read on his own – and even memorize.

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* * Mrs. Marlowe’s Mice
Authors: Frank & Devin Asch
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554530229
ISBN-13: 978-1554530229

Review: A fun book with a twist on the relatonship between cats and mice. Children will love Mrs. Marlowe’s big secret. I thought the ilustrations were great in bringing this imaginative tale to life. This is the kind of book I would read as a child and then spend hours imagining what it would be like to be Mrs. Marlowe…or to own a cat much like her. A book that is great for a child’s fantasy.

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* * * Bugs Up Close
Author: Diane Swanson
Photography: Paul Davidson
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554531381
ISBN-13: 978-1554531387

Review: Awesome! If you want to see bugs up close, this is the book for you. Stunning photography captures every detail that the naked eye just can’t see. Filled with facts, your backyard explorer will love this gem of a book. Caution: This book may lead to some serious bug catching.

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* * * The Trailblazing Life of Daniel Boone
Author: Cheryl Harness
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (September 11, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426301456
ISBN-13: 978-1426301452

Book description: The Trailblazing Life of Daniel Boone and How Early Americans Took to the Road.

Review: I can’t say enough of Cheryl Harness’ books. She has a way with words and facts that draws readers into the history she brings to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as well as two others: Myles Standish and Narcissa Williams (about the Oregon Trail).

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* * Muckrakers
Author: Ann Bausum
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (September 11, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426301375
ISBN-13: 978-1426301377

Book description: Hold the presses! Here’s the sensational story of the birth of investigative journalism in America. At the turn of the 20th century, news reporters and monthly magazines collaborate to create a new kind of journalism—in-depth, serialized exposés of corporate, labor, and political corruption. Many of these stories become instant bestsellers in book format: books like The Jungle, Upton Sinclair’s classic account of corruption in the meat-packing industry.

Review: This is an excellent first book for this age group to read and help them delve into the world of journalisim, its history and its purpose. Will your child pick it up on his own? Maybe not. Will it illuminate and define a part of our history that is integral to our society? Yes. So I recommend it for home libraries and homeschoolers both as required reading and as a resource for research.

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* * * Isaac Newton – The Scientist Who Changed Everything
Author: Philip Steele
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (September 11, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426301146
ISBN-13: 978-1426301148

Book description: Born in England in 1643, Isaac Newton grew up in the age when Renaissance thinkers were challenging accepted ideas throughout Europe. Fascinated by all earthly science, Newton developed laws of motion and universal gravitation which also furthered our understanding of the movement of celestial bodies. This vibrant biography profiles the famed physicist as an acclaimed mathematician, astronomer, alchemist, philosopher, and inventor as well. Readers will discover the genius who inspired Alexander Pope to write,

“Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night;
God said ‘Let Newton be’ and all was light.”

Review: An excellent addition to the home library from a series worth investing in. Quick facts, timelines, photos, illsutrations and narrative all make history intriguing and engaging to the young reader. I used to love to read biographies when I was a kid and this is just the type of book I would have picked out at the library. It makes history fun and interesting.

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