Book Review Key 2010+
+ + + + + Outstanding
+ + + + Highly Recommended
+ + + Recommended
+ + Average
+ Poor
|
SEARCH BELOW FOR
RECENT BOOK REVIEWS
Don't forget to check the archives further down for older reviews.
|
.
|
| *You may publish these book reviews on your website or in your ezine or newsletter. Please include the following byline with each book review:Book review by Lisa Barker, http://www.biblioreads.com |
Archive for August, 2009
Monday, August 31st, 2009
 * Harry Houdini
Author: Elizabeth MacLeod
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 155453299X
ISBN-13: 978-1554532995
Book description: Meet Harry Houdini – the most famous magician of all time. Harry performed many daring and astounding tricks still talked about today, including dangerous underwater escapes. Harry started his life in poverty but as a child got his own trapeze and performed for the neighborhood kids, calling himself “Prince of the Air.” He went on to become one of the most famous people in the world, performing in front of huge crowds and making six movies. With level-appropriate language and detailed illustrations, this level 3 first reader tells the story of Harry Houdini’s magic.
Book review: This is another great biography by Elizabeth MacLeod. For magic lovers, this book gives all the details and interesting facts of Houdini’s life. MacLeod’s writing is engaging and works wonderfully with the illustrations giving children a richly textured biography for their age-level.
A word of caution: The tricks depicted in this book are dangerous and parents need to discern whether or not their child will try to imitate Harry. Not for advanced younger readers without parental guidance.
Tags: Ages 9-12, Author last name M, biography, Harry Houdini, history, Recommended titles
Posted in Book Reviews |
Monday, August 31st, 2009
 * Big Bear Hug
Author: Nicholas Oldland
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 155453464X
ISBN-13: 978-1554534647
Book description: A huge bear is wandering through the forest – but wait a minute! Who’s that he’s hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a tree? Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight – even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesn’t feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest.
Book review: Funny and touching. Little ones will love the idea of a bear giving hugs and with a little help from mom or dad get the idea that trees and animals deserve our thoughtful care and stewardship.
Tags: Ages 4-8, Author last name O, ecology, environment, humor, Recommended titles, stewardship, Title B
Posted in Book Reviews |
Monday, August 31st, 2009
 * * Who Lives Here? Savanna Animals
Author: Deborah Hodge
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554530733
ISBN-13: 978-1554530731
Book description: The savanna is home to exciting animals whose bodies are suited to living on the warm, grassy plain. Elephants, giraffes, lions, meerkats, zebras and other animals have special ways of finding food, raising families and protecting themselves in this habitat with long dry seasons and shorter rainy seasons. The Who Lives Here? series looks at animals in their natural habitats – rain forests, polar regions, deserts, wetlands and savannas – and explains how the body and habits of each animal are suited to the place it lives.
Book Review: This is another great book in the series. What I really like about the Who Lives Here? books is that they are so accessible to little ones. Each animal is revealed close up and we learn what makes each so unique – the elephant’s trunk, the Giraffe’s long tongue and muscular neck, the meerkat’s sharp claws. This series makes it easy for little ones to learn about different animals, their habitats and some of their behaviors.
Tags: Ages 4-8, animals, Author last name H, Highly Recommended titles, savannah, Title S, Title W, Who Lives Here?
Posted in Book Reviews |
Saturday, August 29th, 2009
 * * / * * * Sucks to Be Me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe)
Author: Kimberly Pauley
Paperback
Publisher: Mirrorstone (August 26, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0786950285
ISBN-13: 978-0786950287
Book description: Mina Hamilton’s parents want her dead. (Or undead to be precise.) They’re vampires, and like it or not, Mina must decide whether to become a vampire herself. But Mina’s more interested in hanging out with best friend Serena and trying to catch the eye of the too-hot-for-high-school Nathan Able than in the vampire training classes she’s being forced to take. How’s a girl supposed to find the perfect prom date and pass third-year French when her mom and dad are breathing down her neck–literally?
Book review: I thought it was going to be dorky, but it wasn’t. It was really good. The story is realistic, funny and well put together. ~ N.C., 14 years old
Buy it on Amazon.
Tags: Ages 12-Up, Ages 9-12, Author last name P, fantasy, Outstanding titles, Title S, vampires
Posted in Book Reviews |
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
 * * Hoaxed! Fakes & Mistakes in the World of Science
Authors: The Editors of YES Mag
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554532078
ISBN-13: 978-1554532070
Book description: This book tells the real-life story of eleven elaborate schemes that fooled a lot of people. It also shows how scientists, acting like detectives, uncovered the truth and exposed some hoaxers (some of whom are … scientists).
Hoaxed! uncovers and explains 17 brilliantly bogus stories from the history of science. You’ll find usual suspects such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, as well as some lesser known but fascinating stories: phony ancient bones, a “lost” tribe who weren’t what they seemed, a UFO crash landing and many more. The combination of far-out facts, archival photos and comical illustrations keeps science interesting for youngsters.
Hoaxes include: * Crop circles made by a couple of British hoaxers that ended up creating a cultural phenomenon * Cold fusion, the scientific “discovery” that promised humanity cheap, clean fuel forever * A fake “Stone Age” tribe in the Philippines that caused a global media frenzy
Book review: Absolutely fascinating and perfect for this age group and all those who love to gobble up trivia and facts. Read about some of the best hoaxes in history, the suspicions regarding their circumstances and how they were proven fakes. A great encouragement for young readers to develop inquisitive minds.
This book is coming out in September.
Tags: Ages 9-12, facts, Highly Recommended titles, hoaxes, science, Title H
Posted in Book Reviews |
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
 * * * The Delicious Bug
Author: Janet Perlman
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1553379969
ISBN-13: 978-1553379966
Book description: One delicious bug, two foolish chameleons, and a pair of hungry crocodiles. Isn’t anyone willing to share? Will peace be restored to the rain forest?
Book review: If you’re tired of the kids fighting, try this book. I know my six-year old will get right into this and get the message while laughing all along. Two chameleons fight (humorously) almost to the death over one bug. At last they call a truce, decide to share and, best of all, make up to everyone around them for the trouble they caused. That’s what gets this book three stars – for helping little ones to think beyond themselves and see that sharing benefits everyone.
This book is coming out in September 2009.
Tags: Ages 4-8, Author last name P, bugs, friendship, insects, Outstanding titles, Title D
Posted in Book Reviews |
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
 * * * 100% Pure Fake
Author: Lyn Thomas
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554532906
ISBN-13: 978-1554532902
Book review: This is absolutely fun and gross and your kids will be sure to love experimenting with each ‘recipe.’ I am especially looking forward to Halloween this year and will definitely make the edible doo-doos for the kids. I can’t think of a book better suited for this time of year – except spring for April Fool’s Day. Each project is kid tested, safe and fun. The ingredients are handy and easily found at the grocery store. Everyone can do this! Make fake blood, fake vomit, fake cuts and scrapes, fake scars, fake rotting skin and tons more – you will be amazed. Three stars for being utterly cool!
Tags: Ages 9-12, Author last name T, costumes, gross, Halloween, Outstanding titles, science, Title 1, Title P
Posted in Book Reviews |
|
* Harry Houdini
