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 |
Posts Tagged ‘Author last name K’
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
 + + + + I See The Sun in China
Author: Dedie King
Illustrator: Judith Inglese
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 40 pages
Publisher: Satya House Publications; First edition (October 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981872050
ISBN-13: 978-0981872056
Book description: I See the Sun in China follows a young child as she travels from a small town to the city of Shanghai, portraying the events that take place from dawn until night over the course of that one day. The story is very simple, yet designed to give an insight into the culture of China from a child’s perspective. The unspoken message of this book is the movement from the old to the new, while still maintaining some connections with the past. It depicts some of the many choices available in China today, and the drive to be successful in a modern world.
Written in both English and Mandarin Chinese, I See the Sun in China is beautifully illustrated with warm, engaging collages made from photographs, paper cut-outs, and drawings. As with the other books in the I See the Sun series, children will be able to recognize the similarities as well as the differences between their own culture and the culture of modern China.
Book review: Beautifully illustrated and realistic, this book is perfectly portioned giving readers a broad taste of old and modern China. I loved the child’s perspective and reflection about day and her own future. Young readers will find this book new, interesting and yet very identifiable. A great taste of China! Parents and homeschoolers – this is a great book/series to add to your collection.
Tags: Ages 6-10, Author last name K, China, countries, culture, Highly Recommended titles, Title I Ages 4-8
Posted in Book Reviews |
Monday, May 24th, 2010
 + + + Girl in The Know – Your Inside and Outside Guide to Growing Up
Author: Anne Katz, R.N., Ph.D.
Illustrator: Monika Melnychuk
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 112 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd. (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554533031
ISBN-13: 978-1554533039
Book description: With a relaxed, conversational approach, Girl in the Know is a straight-talking little manual packed with everything a girl should know about the many changes she can expect in puberty and how to make her way through it all as smoothly as possible.
But there’s way more than just the body basics the book is divided into three main sections (Your Body, Your Mind and Taking Care) where girls will find advice on their sexuality, mood swings, crushes, health and much more.
Book review: This book presents itself as informational and does a great job of covering most of the basics of puberty and adolsecence in a matter-of-fact way. It is a secular viewpoint, so a word of caution: In the Your Body section same-sex attraction and masturbation are touched upon and may not reflect all parental views. Though these are very minor parts of one section of the book, some parents may want a heads up.
What’s missing? While periods and symptoms are discussed, nothing whatsoever is said about the signs of fertility which a girl may also wonder about and want information on as she experiences them.
The section on Your Mind is particularly good and hits on the topics of friends and bullying as well as balancing your life with rest and relaxation, creating a well-balanced life. The Section on Taking Care does a great job covering nutrition, exercise and hygiene.
All-in-all this a great book that would make an excellent part of a kit/basket that some mothers like to make up for their daughters welcoming them to womanhood. (Kits can include hygiene products, pampering items like lotion and body scrub and CHOCOLATE!)
Tags: adolescence, Ages 9-12, Author last name K, girls, health, hygiene, puberty, Recommended titles, Title G
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
 + + + + One Night in the Zoo
Author/Illustrator: Judith Kerr
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers (March 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935279378
ISBN-13: 978-1935279372
Book description: One magical, moonlit night in the zoo…an elephant jumped in the air and flew! But nobody knew. So begins an extraordinary night. The zoo is filled with the wild antics, high spirits and sily games of some of the, most beloved zoo animals…does anyone know? Will anyone find out? Nobody…except you!
Book review: This is what the best children’s books are made of: magical imagination, silly and creative instances and pure fun. One Night in the Zoo has all that and more. Kerr’s carefully drawn, colorful menagerie perks the imagination and invites readers to pretend along–which we do all too willingly and discover pure fun! Little ones will love counting the animals and turning the page to see what new clever event awaits.
Tags: Ages 4-5, Ages 4-8, animals, Author last name K, counting, fun, Highly Recommended titles, silly, Title O, zoo
Posted in Book Reviews |
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
 + + + Have You Ever Seen a Stork Build a Log Cabin?
Author: Etta Kaner
Illustrator: Jeff Szuc
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd. (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554533368
ISBN-13: 978-1554533367
Book description: Have You Ever Seen a Stork Build a Log Cabin? compares human and animal homes and reveals surprising facts about how animals make shelters. Maybe you’ve never seen a stork build a log cabin – but these animals can build nests the size of a small car. The Play Around the World! activity at the end of the book will provide hours of educational enjoyment. Each informational picture book in the Have You Ever Seen series uses lighthearted human-animal comparisons to teach primary-level children about animals.
Book review: I love the light touch of humor in these books and so does my kiddo. He reads for both the silliness and the animal facts and avidly collects the book sin this series. A great way to introduce little ones to animal habitats.
Tags: Ages 4-8, animal habitats, animals, Author last name K, humor, Recommended titles, Title H
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
 + +, + + + Runaway Storm
Author: D. E. Knobbe
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 223 pages
Publisher: Emerald Book Company (January 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1934572357
ISBN-13: 978-1934572351
Book description: Nate stole the kayak . . . sort of. His parents don’t know where he is, and that’s just fine with him. He’s made it to the chain of sparsely populated islands off the coast of Vancouver, his kayaking dream come true. So what could possibly go wrong?
For starters, he hadn’t counted on real runaways making him feel like a fraud or on the cops chasing him into a wild and deadly storm. Nate hadn’t planned to shipwreck on a deserted island either, or to have a run-in with a crazed drug smuggler, who drifted into the bay on a crippled Sailboat, ready to protect his stash with a loaded gun.
Should Nate save himself or the Goth girl from Seattle who tried to rescue him? Between being chased by criminals, shot at, and almost drowned, their options aren’t looking good.
Book Reviews: The story has a slow beginning, but the pace picks up as you read along. Runaway storm is realistic with some far-fetched ideas that the author blends well together. The ending makes the story worth reading. – N.C., 15 yrs old.
The book is interesting with believable and fantastical elements. It has a nice pace and is a worthwhile book for reading at school. – R.C., 15 yrs old.
Here’s the breakdown:
Hook / Setting: The opening is slow, but the setting is interesting featuring many places such as: the Canadian Islands and American Islands. The setting was always very well described and places the reader right in the story. – N.C., 15 yrs old.
The opening is mediocre and the setting is well-established. – R.C., 15 yrs old.
Character(s): Nate, the main character, is hard to relate to because he gets angry a lot, sometimes whiney. David, on the other hand, who cares for his own younger brother and others is more interesting. I can relate and appreciate David because he puts Nate in his place when he gets out of hand. Nate becomes more interesting as the plot becomes more complicated.- N.C., 15 yrs old.
Nate is believable and the characters he meets are interesting. I like that he meets people in the wilderness instead of simply being alone. – R.C., 15 yrs old.
Events / Plot: The plot makes sense and moves at a quicker pace once the characters are introduced and established. What I like most about the plot is that it has a bit of suspense in it and you don’t know just what will happen until it does. – N.C., 15 yrs old.
This is a likeable survival story, not like the fantsay and science fiction I usually read, but the situations Nate gets into are believable and you can get into it. – R.C., 15 yrs old.
Reader Excitability / Overall Presentation: The overall idea isn’t very unique. I wouldn’t recommend this book to friends. – N.C., 15 yrs old.
I would recommend Runaway Storm as a casual book to read–in school for Silent Reading–and also for those that like survival stories. – R.C., 15 yrs old.
Tags: adventure, Ages 12-Up, Author last name K, Average, Recommended titles, survival stories, suspense, teen, Title R, young adult
Posted in Book Reviews |
Monday, November 30th, 2009
 * * 1776: A New Look at Revolutionary Williamsburg
Author: K. M. Kostyal
Photography: Lori Epstein Renda
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books (October 13, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426305176
ISBN-13: 978-1426305177
Book description: Colonial Williamsburg scholars shed fresh light on this vital era in our history with the most recent research and analysis. The book’s lively design combines with the compelling photography of modern-day Williamsburg’s street theater and historic interpretation to transport readers back to the heyday of colonial times. Scenes from around the city include a milliner forced to pack up shop, children at a play in a courtyard next to soldiers on patrol, and slaves wrenched from family and friends as they leave town with their Loyalist masters. This exciting, innovative book takes a new look at a familiar topic through the lives of the men and women who would claim America for their own and declare themselves its first citizens.
Book review: Thanks to stunning photography of life in 1776 Williamsburg reenacted we get a clearer look at history including farmers, blacksmiths, women and children, Native Americans and enslaved people. I was swept away by the writing and got caught up in the excitement of the day. This is a great read and one I hope kids will enjoy outside of a school setting.
Tags: Ages 9-12, American history, Author last name K, Highly Recommended titles, historical, Revolutionary War, Title A
Posted in Book Reviews |
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
 * * The Angry Thunderstorm
Author: Carol Henson Keese
Illustrator: Rachel Henson
Paperback: 40 pages
Publisher: AuthorHouse (March 31, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1438943342
ISBN-13: 978-1438943343
Book description: The Angry Thunderstorm rolls into a child’s world in the middle of the night awakening her with a fright. Witnessing his booming display, the child trembles with fear. The Angry Thunderstorm acknowledges that he sounds ill-tempered because it takes such a powerful display to do his job. The wind. The thunder. The flashes of light. All of these seem scary. His intent is often misunderstood and his presence is seldom welcomed. But as he explains the reason behind his gruff display, the child is reassured that he does these things for a very good reason.
Book review: Loved this one. This will make a great bedtime story and help make something rather scary not so frightening to my little one. Absolutely LOVED the illustrations especially of the thunderstorm creeping about and the huge eyes of the scared child, teddy bear and other frightened creatures. Scary, but funny and soothing. A great writing/illustrating team. Sure to be a favorite in this house.
Tags: Ages 4-8, Author last name K, bedtime story, Highly Recommended titles, humor, scary, Title A
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, July 30th, 2009
 * * Have You Ever Seen an Octopus with a Broom?
Author: Etta Kaner
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554532477
ISBN-13: 978-1554532476
Book description: Have You Ever Seen an Octopus with a Broom? compares human and animal tools and reveals surprising facts about how animals clean house, fish for food and even play percussion. Maybe you’ve never seen an octopus with a broom – but these animals use jets of water like a broom to sweep out leftovers after a meal, and also sweep sand and small stones out of their den to make it bigger. The Spin It! activity at the end of the book will provide hours of educational enjoyment. Each informational picture book in the Have You Ever Seen series uses lighthearted human-animal comparisons to teach primary-level children about animals.
Book review: Loved this one as much as the others in this series. Using silly questions to launch a mini-lesson about animals and how they really act hooks the reader. Little ones will gobble this up, memorizing the little facts about each creature.
Tags: Ages 4-8, animal habitat, animals, Author last name K, Highly Recommended titles, silly, Title H
Posted in Book Reviews |
|
