Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness

Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness
by Donn Fendler with Lynn Plourde
illustrated by Ben Bishop
Downeast Books, 2011
ISBN: 9780892729456
The reviewer purchased a copy of this book at an independent book store.

Here's the story: A twelve year-old boy from Rye, New York is stranded on Mount Katahadin, Maine's highest mountain, for nine days in 1939. He's alone and has no supplies, yet he miraculously lives to tell his story. It sounds like a work of fiction, yet it's all true.

                          Photo of Mount Katahdin taken by the reviewer in Baxter State Park

For decades school children across the state of Maine have learned about Donn Fendler's harrowing tale of survival as they read Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Joseph Egan & Don Fendler. It's the kind of story that grips readers right up until the end. Children's book author, Lynn Plourde, and Donn Fendler have collaborated to create Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness, a new nonfiction graphic novel based on Donn's experiences. The graphic novel format which is ideal for conveying the emotions and adventure of Donn's story.

Lost Trail begins before the hiking trip to Mount Katahdin as twelve year-old Donn, his father, brothers and cousins pack up the family car and head out to Baxter State Park for a weekend of camping, fishing and hiking. Being from New York, Donn is not as familiar with the Maine outdoors as his cousins.Yet, Donn is excited about the camping trip.

Bishop's black and white illustrations bring the story to life.  Bishop skillfully illustrates the land and animals of Baxter State Park. The drawings of wind, sleet and expression on Donn's face depict the severity of the storm on the mountain that scared Donn and made him decide to leave his cousin Henry to go in search of his father. That decision would prove to be Donn's biggest mistake.

Plourde spent a great deal of time talking with Donn about his memories from 1939, and she uses her gift of storytelling and Donn's own words to piece together an exciting tale. During the nine days, Donn injured his toe, was plagued by black flies, fought off hunger, and encountered a black bear. Readers gain a sense of the loneliness Donn faced in the wilderness through the text and illustrations. Newspaper clippings from The Bangor Daily News are interspersed effectively throughout the story to provide readers with a window into the rescue efforts and how Donn's family and the outside world reacted to the tragedy.

The story doesn't end with the rescue; it goes on to describe what happened to Donn after his ordeal (parades, a book, and a visit to the White House). The final panel of the books shows Donn as an adult sitting in a chair on his porch offering advice to readers:
"Trust in yourself, hold onto hope, and believe even if there's no sane reason to believe. And you'll be a better person because you did. I know I am."

Lost Trail will capture the attention of middle grade readers and it's sure to engage reluctant readers. It would make an excellent addition to juvenile graphic novel collections.

5 Stars
(Grades 3-6)


Lynn Plourde, Donn Fendler and Ben Bishop discuss The Lost Trail on WCSH 6.

From You Tube: Footage of Donn Fendler's rescue and reunion with his family.

Is the End of the World Near? by Ron Miller

Is the End of the World Near? from crackpot predictions to scientific scenarios

by Ron Miller

Twenty-First Century Books, 2011

ISBN: 9780761373964

Reviewer obtained a copy from the public library.

I will admit that I am a huge fan of anything about ancient civilizations, the theory that alien astronauts populated our planet, and “end of the world” literature. I’ve read The Book of the Hopi by Frank Waters, Chariots of the Gods by Erich von Daniken and the Earth Chronicles by Zecharia Sitchin, to name a few. I can’t really explain why I find it fascinating, yet I love to sit outside on summer nights looking up at the stars and wonder what came before us. Will our civilization end as abruptly as, say the Anasazi, those who inhabited Chaco Canyon or the people who lived in the underground city of Derinkuyu in Turkey?  After reading this book, I don’t see our future being as bleak as painted in dystopian novels.

Ron Miller, is an author who specializes in writing books about Science, especially Space and Astronomy. His knowledge is evident here as he gives us a scientific explanation to some non-scientific predictions. This book covers many of the more well known theories of how the world will end.  Using a down-to-earth tone, the author never rising into hysteria. Miller takes each theory and after briefly introducing it, he then gives a thorough explanation of why it isn’t likely to happen. 

The end-of-the-world scenarios covered include: December 21, 2012, horrific weather, the sun will die, diseases, a nuclear disaster, or an asteroid will collide with earth. 

Colorful illustrations and photographs make the writing come alive, with many illustrations done by the author.

When talking about nuclear war, Miller points out, “ most fact-based world-ending disasters are thousands, millions, and even billions of years in the future. They will not impact our lives or those of our children, or their children. But it is important for us to think about things happening on Earth right now – things that directly affect the quality of life on this planet and things that we can do something about'" such as stopping wars and being active by doing all we can to end global warming.

The well-documented book includes: table of contents, epilogue, timeline of events that were thought of as end-of-the-world scenarios, glossary, source notes, selected bibliography, further reading, films, and websites, and an index.

This book is excellent and a good addition to libraries. Teens will find it fascinating and reassuring at the same time. 

5 Stars

(Grades 8 and up)

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World
by Giles Laroche
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011
ISBN: 9780547238920

The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

November is Picture Book Month. In honor of the occasion we've reviewed beautiful picture book to share with young readers this month.

Many classes in my elementary school, from Kindergarten through fifth grade, study countries from around the world. Examining architecture is a fascinating way to explore similarities and differences between cultures, so I was eager to get my hands on If You Lived Here: Houses of the World.

The illustrations are definitely the main event in this nonfiction picture book. Laroche uses bas-relief cut-paper collage to illustrate homes from different parts of the world. Each two-page spread features a home and its surroundings. The inhabitants of the home are pictured outside taking part in chores or recreational activities. The layers of paper in different colors and textures add a depth to the illustrations that make them feel three-dimensional at times.

A paragraph describing what it would be like "If you lived here..." accompanies each illustration. Facts about the type of home, material, location, and time period are located in the same text box.

"If you lived here, you would step directly from your front door onto a boat to go to school."
(Venetian Palace in Venice, Italy)

The 15 dwellings described in the book include a stilt house from Chile, a chateau from France, and a Yurt from Mongolia. It would be helpful to readers if the location of each home was printed in bold print or used as a heading on each page. As I was savoring each intricately crafted collage, I wanted to know: What is the location of this home? I had to read through a page of small print to figure out the location. This won't be a problem for older readers (grades 3-5), but it may prove difficult for younger readers.

A map in the back of the book matches the homes to the region of the world. Children may want to compare book to a world atlas since countries or continents are not labelled on the map in the book.  Europe and North America are heavily represented in the book; South America and Africa are each represented one time (stilt house from Chile and decorated house from South Africa).

Children will enjoy the amazing illustrations in If You Lived Here, and teachers will want to read it aloud as part of social studies or art classes. This is a book that you can read again and again, and each time you'll notice something new. It could serve as a starting point for discussions about culture and how people live in different parts of the world.

4+ stars
(Grades K-5)

Digging for Troy: from Homer to Hisarlik by Jill Rubalcaba and Eric H. Cline

Digging for Troy: from Homer to Hisarlik

by Jill Rubalcaba and Eric H. Cline

Charlesbridge. 2011

ISBN: 9781580893268

Copy reviewed was obtained from the public library

It´s amusing how certain stories go in and out of favor. I want to blame technology eating up more and more of our free time, but I'm not sure that’s fair. I only know that every day I talk with parents who have never read the classic tales of King Arthur, Robin Hood, or the Greek myths. Those classic tales. “I’ve seen the movie, I didn’t know it was also a book!”

Thankfully, with the publication of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, children are once again begging for any book about Greek gods and goddesses. My library's copy of D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths is hardly ever on the shelf! Students also gobble up George O´Connor´s titles: Athena: Grey-Eyed Goddess and Zeus: King of the Gods. 

Once children are introduced to the adventures of these oft-times bothersome deities, I then steer them to books about the Trojan War. I hand them Rosemary Suttcliff´s Black Ships  Before Troy: the story of the Iliad, The Wanderings of Odysseus: the story of the Odyssey or Gareth Hinds graphic novel about The Odyssey. Both excellent introductions to the Homeric epic.

There have been people throughout history. regular folk and historians alike, who have wondered if the Greek gods and the Trojan War really existed. Digging for Troy (a CYBILS nominee) written by author Jill Rubalcaba and Eric H. Cline, PhD. who holds degrees in Classical Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, and Ancient History, have written a readable introduction that offers mythology fans a brief overview about the Trojan War and the people who made it their life´s work to find it.

In the introduction the author´s write:

"All of the archaeologist, professional and amateur, understood that

the mound they were digging through was composed of many layers built

up over time by human occupation after human occupation. There was no

one Troy, but many versions spanning from 3000 BCE through the fall

of the Roman Empire. Each archaeologist refined our understanding of

the layers, which were labeled Troy I-IX, until those 9 phases were

subdivided into 47 occupations, each formed by rebuilding after

destruction, invasion, or abandonment."

Digging began in 1893 with the egotistical Heinrich Schliemann, whose obsession with finding the "real Troy" lead him to destroy many important artifacts. The ones who came after were meticulous with their digging. German archaeologist Manfred Korfmann is responsible for establishing Hisarlik, the area in Turkey where the digging has taken place, into a national park.

Did he find Troy? You’ll have to read this book to find out.

The book, packed with lots of information, is filled with illustrations and photos. This book has a timeline of Troy(I love it!), a bibliography, web sites, source notes, illustration and photo credits, and an index.

Children who wonder if the Greek gods were real, and whether the Trojan war really happened, will be able to make their own decision. The book is a perfect companion for any display or book talk related to the Greek myths.

5 Stars

(Grades 4 and up)

Mystery Math: A First Book of Algebra by David A. Adler

Mystery Math: A First Book of Algebra
by David A. Adler
illustrated by Edward Miller
Holiday House, 2011
ISBN: 9780823422890
The reviewer received a review copy of the book from the Southern Maine Library District's examination collection.

Being a CYBILS judge has brought a number of books to my attention that I might have missed. One of those books nominated in the nonfiction picture book category if perfect for today.



Kids love Halloween! What’s not to love? There's candy corn, costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and scary stories. David Adler’s has a new nonfiction picture book just in time for Halloween. Set in a haunted house, Mystery Math: A First Book of Algebra follows Mandy and Bill as they encounter algebraic equations involving ravens, bats, black cats and skeletons. Igor, the caretaker of the haunted house, provides tips to help the children solve each problem. Adler uses the example of a seesaw to represent an equation showing readers that each side must be balanced. New concepts are described in an kid-friendly language that makes algebraic concepts such as “mystery number” and “variable” accessible to young readers.

Miller’s deep blue, dark green, and black illustrations are perfect for the story and the Halloween theme. The goofy expressions on the skeletons’ faces and large eyes on the birds and cats make the “spooky” story non-threatening to youngsters. Directions are provided in the back for how to make your own scale using a coat hanger.

Mystery Math will attract kids looking for a good Halloween story, and teachers will be want to share it as a read aloud in math classes.

Other Math Books by David Adler and Edward Miller
Money Madness
Fun with Roman Numerals
Time Zones
Working with Fractions

Stuff that Scares your Pants Off! by Glenn Murphy

Stuff That Scares Your Pants Off: the science scoop on more than 30 terrifying phenomena!

by Glenn Murphy

Roaring Brook Press. 2011

ISBN: 9781596436336

Reviewer obtained the book from the public library.

Everyone, especially children, loves reading about Fear. It is our human nature to want to be scared and pump up our adrenalin. Stuff that Scares your Pants Off is a new book that promises to look at fears, "Where they come from, and how to work with them, live with them, and get around them." Murphy's hypothesis is that we are born with some fears (inborn) and others are learned behavior.

The book is divided into topics that are grouped into six chapters."Wild and Scary Wildlife", "Natural Disasters", Doctors, Dentists, and Deadly Diseases", "In the Unlikely Event", "In the Bad Place", and "The Unknown". Within those chapters the book is further broken down into specific fears. Chapter 4 is "In the Unlikely Event". It discusses the fear of flying, train derailment, a boat sinking, car crashes, and being struck by a car. The author presents a scenario (The Fear) and then explains "The Reality", "The Chances", and "The Lowdown".

The author, Glenn Murphy, (Why Is Snot Green?) writes in a chatty tone that makes readers feel as if they are having an intense, though somewhat quick-paced conversation. This book uses a combination of black & white drawings and photos, often with a lime green tinge, that mirrors the text. An explanation of The Fear and the Fear Facts are off-set in boxes from the rest of the information. 

A very minor complaint is that Murphy makes generalization, is a bit contradictory, and has a keen sense of the obvious.

"Although some sharks are quite definitely dangerous animals, many are completely harmless to humans." That is true. "Even the so-called man-eaters, like great white sharks, are not the bloodthirsty killers than movie directors would have us believe." 

Murphy goes on to explain that "while it's true that these sharks do occasionally attack swimmers and divers, it's almost always by mistake. Most attacks happen to divers who try to feed or prod sharks (not very bright) or surfers who fall off their boards and onto sharks, surprising them (just plain unlucky). Unprovoked shark attacks also happen, but usually to swimmers and surfers who, to a shark, happen to look a lot like seals or turtles from below -- a painful but honest mistake." 

Did you know that being struck by a car is a terrifying experience? The reality is that road-traffic accidents really are a serious danger. "Road-traffic accidents are so common that many of us have been in them, seen them firsthand, or at the very least know somebody who has been in one. And they're never a pretty sight…Luckily traffic accident victims are bounced clear of the car and escape with minor injuries like broken wrists or ribs. The less lucky ones crack their heads when they fall, bounce into other objects, or slip under the wheels of the vehicle -- all of which can prove fatal." 

Murphy's matter-of-fact, tongue-in-cheek, wise-guy tone will appeal to readers, especially those who love facts.

Plus it touts a way cool cover. 

4 Stars

(Grades 5 up)

For more information about Glenn Murphy, visit his web site. 

In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls

In Search of Sasquatch 
by Kelly Milner Halls
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011
ISBN: 9780547257617
The reviewer received a copy of the book from the publisher.

October is the perfect month to read about mysterious happenings and strange occurrences. The children in my school love to explore the 000 shelf in the nonfiction section. They are usually in search of books about UFOs, the Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and Bigfoot. Kelly Milner Halls, author of Tales of the Cryptids, has written a new book that is sure to satisfy inquiring minds.

In Search of Sasquatch aims to answer the question: Is Bigfoot Real? Milner interviewed numerous experts (anthropologists, biologists, and investigators) and everyday people in search of proof of Sasquatch's existence. Color photographs accompany stories of Bigfoot sightings and ancient artifacts. Young readers will enjoy learning how investigators use plaster to make casts of footprints found in the wild. Another section describes how to set up a Sasquatch field expedition.

After describing eyewitness accounts and outlining the evidence, the author points out a number of hoaxes that were widely publicized in the past. One hoax was pulled off by two men using an expensive ape costume.  In the end, Halls leaves it up to the reader to decide if Bigfoot is real. A map showing Sasquatch sightings is included in the back of the book along with a list of additional resources, and an extensive bibliography. Believers and skeptics alike will enjoy reading this fascinating book about the mystery of Sasquatch.

4 Stars
(Grades 4-8)

The Mysteries of Angkor Wat: exploring Cambodia's ancient temple by Richard Sobol

The Mysteries of Angkor Wat: exploring Cambodia's ancient temple

Richard Sobol wrote the text and took the photos

Candlewick Press, 2011

ISBN: 9780763641665

Book obtained from the public library.

Angkor Wat was built in 1100 CE by the Khmer people of Cambodia. It is the largest religious monument still in existence. The crumbling ruins are visited each year by millions of tourists. For years, Richard Sobol, an award winning photographer, dreamed of visiting Angkor Wat. "I wondered what mysteries waited for me inside those ancient walls."

This book is another entry in Sobol's Traveling Photographer series. (The Life of Rice: from seedling to supper, 2010)

It must be difficult to know what pictures you will need before writing the text of a book, yet the photographs in this book are spot-on. Sobol has a terrific eye for what is appealing to children. In almost every photo he not only gives us a visual of this ancient temple, but he includes children as well. Happy Cambodian children smiling from every picture. We learn that for these children, Angkor Wat is not only their playground, a place for them to explore, but also a means for income. 

"When we arrived at the entrance, the first thing I noticed was a group of children selling T-shirts, scarves, postcards, wooden flutes, and beaded bracelets to groups of tourists." 

Sobol's guide, John Teng explained "because more than two million tourists visit Angkor Wat each year, the children who live near the temple sell souvenirs in order to make a little extra money for their families."

The children also learn English at their school to aid them in communicating with these tourists. The children quizzed Sobol on the capitals of our states. "These kids remembered them all…way better than I did!"

This book is a beautiful travel log that gives some historical background on the temple. I loved how Sobol emphasized that though the carvings on the walls showed images of what everyday life was like during the time of the Khmer people, he noticed that it also reflected a contemporary Cambodia as well. It is obvious looking at the photographs that Sobol truly loves this part of the world. 

Children interested in the world's ancient wonders will find this book a good jumping off place to learn more about Cambodia.

4 Stars

(Grades 4 up)

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart
by Elizabeth Rusch
Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Tricycle Press, 2011
ISBN: 9781582463261
The reviewer obtained a copy of the book from her public library.

One of the many things I enjoy about nonfiction is how authors can take a topic that is widely-known and shed new light upon it. For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart was recently nominated for a CYBILS award, so I checked out a copy from my local library. I thought I had a solid understanding of the life of Wolfgang Mozart and his music, but I had no idea his sister was a musical genius.

Rusch organizes the story into movements so that it mirrors a sonata. The subject of this picture biography is Wolfgang Mozart's sister, Maria Anna Mozart, also known as Nannerl. Maria was a prodigy on the piano, her young brother admired her skills on the piano. When Wolfgang was older, the siblings traveled across Europe performing for kings, queen, dukes and duchesses. As the children matured, Maria was left behind while Wolfgang and his father went on tour. Wolfgang became the center of attention while Maria was left at home; it was not appropriate for a young woman to perform in public. Yet, Maria didn't give up on music. Maria collaborated with her brother to compose symphonies. She kept playing, for the love of music, even after she married and had children of her own.

The intricate illustrations reflect the time period. Fabric is layered to form borders on many pages. The fabric, paper, oil and acrylic illustrations create rich textures on each page. Manuscript paper displaying musical notes is used throughout the illustrations including on carriages, pianos, wallpaper, and stone archways. An author's note with more details about Maria's life is included in the back of the book. A bibliography lists the books, letters, and interviews that Rusch used during her research.

This is a book that is meant to be read together, to be shared and savored. Teachers, librarians and parents, take note, it would make an excellent read aloud and would lead to interesting discussions about history, music, and art. Even though this is not a book that students will be clamoring to check out, it's a gorgeous book that deserves a spot in a biography collection.

5 Stars
(Gr. 2-5)

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature

Joyce Sidman; Pictures by Beth Krommes

Houghton Mifflin, 2011

ISBN: 9780547315836

This reviewer checked out the book from the public library.

Newbery Honor winner, Joyce Sidman is a demanding poet. Over and over again, she has asked her readers to slow down and observe the natural world around them. And, oh, my,  Joyce shows us just how many wonders are out there waiting for children -- and adults -- to discover. 

For my children and me, Sidman's books bring back happy memories. With Song of the Water Boatman and other Pond Poems we talked about the hours spent watching the goings on at a marshy pond that was just down the road from our house when we lived on a Maine island. Every day throughout the year we would visit the pond to track the changes. Tadpoles turning into frogs that became a tasty lunch for the Great Blue Heron. 

While reading Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night we were reminded of the time, very late one night, when we were awoken to the sound of four Great Horned Owls. They were in the trees that surrounded our house; one Owl in each of the four directions. For a time we could hear nothing but their hoots. Seeing Rick Allen's illustrations had us speculating again what it was those owls were hunting.  A mouse? 

Now, in Swirl by Swirl, Sidman asks us to look hard to find swirls. The poetry is simple, making a book to share with a younger audience. Especially, those children just learning about the wonders of outdoors.

The book begins in winter with hues of gray and purple. Beth Krommes (2009 Caldecott winner) gives us a cut-away view of a harvest mouse, a bull snake, a woodchuck, and an eastern chipmunk all curled up safely sleeping underground.

"A spiral is a snuggling shape. It fits in small places. Coiled tight, warm and safe, it waits...

Turn the page and with an explosion of color we see the same animals awakening in spring.

"...for a chance to expand." 

Spirals are not only shapes of animals, spirals show growth as a fern unfurls. Spirals in the shape of a Ram's horn to defend, and a common octopus uses its spirals -- found at the end of its tentacles -- to reach out,

"exploring the world." 

Krommes illustrations are done on scratchboard. They bring Sidman's words to life. My favorite is the picture of the tornado as,

"It twists through air with clouds on its tail." 

As in her other books, Sidman includes a scienitific explanation for each entry. Here, those informative paragraphs are in the back of the book. 

Well done, Sidman and Krommes (Butterfly Eyes and other Secrets of the Meadow) for crafting another exquisite book to savor. 

6 Stars

All ages.

To see those luscious illustrations and see the book, watch the book trailer. 

The Worst-Case Scenario Survive-O-Pedia: Junior Edition

The Worst-Case Scenario Survive-O-Pedia: Junior Edition 
by David Borgenicht, Molly Smith, Brendan Walsh and Robin Epstein
illustrated by Chuck Gonzales
Chronicle Books, 2011
ISBN: 9780811876902
The reviewer obtained a copy of this book from the Southern Maine Library District's examination collection.

I have a loyal group of nonfiction readers (ages 8-10) who come into the library each week in search of The Guinness World Records. If all of the Guinness books are checked out, then they will check out The Scholastic Book of Records or The Dangerous Book for Boys. Now there's a new general knowledge book that will have reluctant readers asking for more. The creators of The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook have published The Worst Case Scenario Survive-O-Pedia, a survival guide for elementary school children.

The book is actually an encyclopedia with entries organized alphabetically. Each two-page spread features a topic that middle grade readers will find fascinating. Some of the subjects covered include airplane crashes, bull running, Komodo dragons, polar bears, and avalanches. General information about each topic is organized into paragraphs with headings, making the text accessible to young readers. A fact box with "how to" information provides instructions for what to do in each dangerous situation. If you want to avoid a crocodile attack, then stay away from croc infested water, run away, or punch the croc in the snout. The authors provide information about each event or animal without inciting fear in young readers.

Readers will be drawn to the combination of colorful photographs and cartoon drawings that illustrate each article. Boxes containing "Fast Facts" will thrill the trivia buffs in your library. For example, "The box jellyfish or sea wasp (found off the northern Australian coast) kills more people than any other marine creature each year."

I was a bit surprised that the entry about being lost on a mountain never mentions looking for trail markers. We have a lot of hiking trails in New England, and periodically hikers become lost. The best advice is to try to stay on or near the marked trail until help arrives. The entry on shipwrecks never mentions wearing floatation devices or using a marine radio to call for help.

Despite a few oversights in the survival advice, the book is sure to excite reluctant readers. Teachers and librarians may want to select pages to read aloud to classes as a springboard for research. The Worst Case Scenario Survive-O-Pedia would make a popular addition to the 031s (general knowledge). Beware, you'll need to start a waiting list once the kids see it!

3+ Stars
(grades 3-6)

Feynman by Jim Ottaviani and Leland Myrick

Using the graphic novel format, Jim Ottaviani and Leland Myrick have partnered to create an engaging and completely accessible biography of the world famous physicist, Richard P. Feynman (1918 – 1988)

Feynman is known for his involvement creating the atomic bomb, his work on the panel to investigate the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, and how he popularized science in his lectures and books. (The Meaning of it all: Thoughts of a citizen scientist, The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, and his autobiography, "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a curious character.)

This book, told as if Feynman himself were narrating, chronicles his important life work and his personal relationships, such as his first wife, Arline. They met in 1931, became engaged in 1939, and were married in 1942. She suffered from tuberculosis and, while Feynman was working with Robert Oppenheimer developing the Atomic Bomb that would end World War Two, Arline's health deteriorated until she died in June of 1945.

The illustrations are expressive and capture the mood and changing times during Feynman’s life.

This highly readable biography introduces to Young Adults one of the greatest minds of the twentieth century.

The authors include an "almost complete" bibliography.

Highly recommended.
6 Stars
(Grades 8 up)

For more information about Richard P. Feyman.
http://www.feynmanonline.com/

There are several movies of Richard P. Feyman on Youtube.

Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen in Time! by Christopher Sloan

Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen in Time! A Prehistoric Animal's Journey into the 21st Century
by Christopher Sloan
in cooperation with Bernard Buigues
photography by Francis Latreille
National Geographic Society, 2011
ISBN: 9781426308659
The reviewer obtained a copy of the book from her school library.

When I look across the shelves in the nonfiction collection in my library I notice three types of books. There are the books that fill a gap in the collection, but they don't circulate often. There are "reseearch" books that students check out when they're completing an assignment for school (states, countries, ecosystems, animals, explorers, etc...). Finally, there are the popular nonfiction books that students check out week after week. In my school library some of the popular nonfiction topics are rocks & minerals, dinosaurs, how to care for pets, sharks, World War II, and survival techniques. I'm constantly looking for new nonfiction titles, and I wasted no time in ordering Baby Mammoth Mummy! for the information connoisseurs in my library.

Ice Age meets Technology Age as scientists use cutting edge tools to study a recently discovered baby mammoth in Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen in Time! The book is divided into three sections: "The Discovery," "The Investigation," and "Lyuba's World." The first chapter describes the Nenets of the Yamal Peninsula of Siberia. The Nenets are nomadic and rely on reindeer for food and clothes.  It's common for the Nenets to unearth mammoths in the region when the permafrost thaws. Sloan includes a Nenet myth about mammoths in the first chapter, showing how important mammoths are to the Nenet culture.

Yuri Khudi, a Nenet herder, discovered a baby frozen mammoth in the permafrost one day while hunting in 2007. Christopher Sloan writes in a descriptive and accessible style that will engage readers.

"As Yuri and his sons stood around the little body lying on the sandbar, they were shocked by what they had found: a perfectly preserved baby woolly mammoth. It was frozen solid."

Sloan makes the story palatable to young readers by including anecdotes about the discovery of the mammoth. Readers will find it interesting that when Yuri left to get assistance from a friend and to contact the Yar Sale museum, his cousin took the mammoth. Yuri returned to find the mammoth missing! Luckily, the mammoth was retrieved from Yuri's cousin with assistance from the police. Dogs had chewed off the mammoth's tail and an ear, but the body was in good shape.

A team of scientists from Japan, Russia and the United States worked together to study Lyuba. (The name Lyuba means "love" in Russian.) The scientists were amazed by the small size of the mammoth: 33 inches high and 110 lbs in weight. Using radiocarbon testing, the scientists determined that Lyuba lived 42,000 years ago.

The research team packed Lyuba in dry ice and plastic bags to fly it to Japan for CT scans. Every inch of the mammoth was studied and tested including its teeth. Dentin from the teeth help provide clues about the food and plants available during the Ice Age. Researchers pieced together data to determine that Lyuba died from drowning in the mud.

Amazing photographs compliment the story of Lyuba. One photo shows the frozen mammoth being loaded onto an airplane. In another photo, a team of scientists dressed in sterile suits and masks insert a probe into the mammoth's body. Science-minded readers will be interested in the CT scan that shows Lyuba's bones and muscles.

Maps, a timeline, and a page about the order of Proboscidea (elephants, mammoths, and mastadons) provide additional information for curious students. The final chapter uses illustrations and photographs to show readers what life was like for mammoths during the Ice Age. 

Baby Mammoth Mummy: Frozen in Time! would make an interesting read aloud for a middle grade science class or an independent reading book for fans of nonfiction. It's sure to be scooped up by readers interested in science, technology and history.

5 stars
(Grades 4-8)

The Great Global Puzzle Challenge with Google Earth by Clive Gifford

The Great Global Puzzle Challenge with Google Earth

Written by Clive Gifford; Illustrated by William Ings

Kingfisher. 2011

ISBN: 9780753467213

Copy of book obtained from bookstore.

Being an armchair traveler, when I saw a review for The Great Global Puzzle Challenge, I wanted to take a closer look. The large-size book (11 7/10 x 10 1/5 inches) of 32 pages is a basic introduction on how to use the program Google Earth and some of its features on the computer. The book is already outdated because it does not include instructions for mobile devices, such as the iphone or ipad, (I did try it with both a computer and ipad and found the computer is preferable because you have more options for the layers feature.)  Each entry is two pages that combines cartoon-like graphics, text boxes, and images taken from Google Earth.

The journey begins with “Traveling Around the World with Google Earth”.

"Have you ever wanted to go on a travel adventure around the globe? Well, set your compass for a great global puzzle challenge -- with the help from Google Earth! Explore busy cities and awesome landscapes.

Navigate your way around the planet and solve brainteasing puzzles to discover your final, top-secret destination!”

A brief explanation explains how to download, how to use the mouse controls and the “fly to” window, the navigational panel, the Look Joystick, Move Joystick, and the Zoom slider. Here is also where you learn in more details about the Puzzle Challenge! Throughout your searches armchair travelers are instructed to pick up a souvenir, spot a country's flag or emblem, spot a geographical or historic misfit (these are really hard) with the overall goal of gathering number clues that "will add up to a coordinate to your exciting final destination!"

The way it all works.

There are eleven destinations in all: London, Paris, Ancient Rome, Tokyo, Ancient Egypt, Himalayas, Great Barrier Reef, Tanzania, New York City, Amazon Rainforest, and New Delhi. To travel to these places, you type in the given coordinates. Ancient Rome and Ancient Egypt are misleading because you're not really traveling back to those times; instead you are visiting the modern place where you can still see the Colosseum or the Pyramids. 

"Welcome to your first destination! London is the capital city of the

United Kingdom. It's a huge, bustling place full of historic

buildings, such as St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, and

there's plenty to do and see. Many visitors can't resist viewing the

city, like we do here, from the giant London Eye wheel standing on the

banks of the Thames…"

Once you arrive at your destination, I was reminded of the "Where's Waldo" books. The cartoon like drawings shows a busy London where you are asked to find a policeman, a London taxicab (which I could not spot) and Royal Guards on parade. You really have to look hard to find them. There are also text boxes placed throughout the drawing that point out historic buildings, give facts, a hint at the souvenir to pick up, and the number you need to record that will give you that final coordinate. 

The problem with the book

Readers are expected to juggle between the book and the computer, which is really confusing and frustrating, because the maps of the cities or places are disproportionate to what you see on the computer. This was especially true when you were in Ancient Egypt. The first coordinates landed me in the middle of nowhere, not a bustling ancient city. At the Amazon Rainforest, the book shows trees, colorful birds, and the Amazon River. On the computer there is only a green landscape and your view becomes blurry the closer you zoom to eye level. However, you do need the book to find most of the clues and to uncover the "historical or geographic" misfits placed at each location. Many of the questions when trying to find the final coordinates are really hard and impossible to answer with either the book or Google Earth. 

About that ultimate challenge and the numbers for you ending coordinates, there is a typo in the book. I admit, I took the easy way out and went directly to the "Puzzle Answers" found at the back of the book and typed in the coordinates they listed. The hint says, "Out of this World!" and "The two astronauts are "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins." 'Oh! I bet I'm going to the Moon!", I said, but when I typed in the coordinates I ended up in the middle of Democratic Republic of the Congo! (I typed the coordinates in four times!)  Huh!  

2 Stars -- Despite the above mentioned problems, this book could be an introduction on how to use Google Earth. Under adult supervision, someone who is familiar with this book's shortcomings, the combination of the book and Google Earth could be an activity for a rainy afternoon. Maybe the challenge could be to find the correct coordinates! In a school or public library the book itself could be given to those children still longing for puzzle adventures, since there is much to find within the pages of the book, yet without an adult guiding them and an encyclopedias for support for some of the questions, children will easily become overwhelmed. (The book's binding is pretty weak.)

Drum roll please...

Cathy and I are very happy to report that we've both been selected to serve as judges for the 2011 Cybils Awards (Children's and Young Adult Blogger's Literary Awards) Cathy will be judging nonfiction picture books (NFPB) and I will be judging nonfiction for Middle Grades and Young Adult 

This is a huge honor for us, as well as an exciting experience. 

Thank you all for following our blog!

Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets by Kathleen Krull

Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets
by Kathleen Krull
illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Random House, 2011
ISBN: 9780375857218
The reviewer obtained a copy of this book from the Southern Maine Library District's examination collection.

Saturday was Jim Henson's birthday; he would have been 75 years old. If you spent time online Saturday you may have seen Google pay homage to Henson with this Google Doodle.

Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets shares the magic of Jim Henson with a new generation of readers. The picture book biography by Kathleen Krull follows Henson as he grew up in Leland, Mississippi in the 1930s. Henson loved to create and draw, and he was interested in nature. Upon entering high school in the 1950s, Henson joined the school puppetry club and went on to take puppetry and costume design courses in college.

After graduation from college and a short stint in Europe, Henson formed a new company...Muppets, Inc. His career took off when a t.v. producer offered Henson the chance to create puppets for Sesame Street, for a new children's program. Most readers will be familiar with Henson as the creator of The Muppet Show and the series of Muppet movies.  However, many children may be surprised to learn that Henson also created characters (such as Yoda) for the Star Wars films.

Krull writes in a clear and concise manner that young readers will understand. Each page of text is accompanied by a colorful, full-page painting by Johnson and Fancher on the opposite pages. Smaller illustrations of Muppets fill the margins below the text.

This picture book biography is an excellent introduction to the creative genius of Jim Henson. Students working on research projects may want to read Who Was Jim Henson? by Joan Holub for more details about Henson's life and work.

4 Stars
(Gr. 2-5)

                         Jim Henson on Making Muppets- You Tube Video

Who Has What?: All about girls' bodies and boys' bodies by Robie H. Harris

Who Has What? All about girls' bodies and boys' bodies

Robie H. Harris; Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott

Candlewick Press. 2011

ISBN: 9780763629311

Review copy obtained from the public library.

Just recently a parent came into the library and asked if we had any books on sex education. As I walked her to the 612's, the slightly bewildered mother said, "This morning at breakfast my three year old asked why she can't go pee like daddy? I thought these questions wouldn't come until she was older."  The harried mom would have found Who Has What?: All about girls' bodies and boys' bodies by Robie H. Harris useful.

Robie Harris has penned other great books to help preschoolers understand their bodies: "It's Perfectly Normal", "It's So Amazing", "It's NOT the Stork!"

As a mixed-race family is headed to the beach a reassuring narrative explains how there are lots of ways that girls and boys are similar.

"Boys and girls like to catch frogs, swing up high in the air, ride

scooters, and make a lot of noise. Girls and boys like to run fast,

play catch, and take their dollies and stuffed animals for a stroll."

But some parts of girl and boy bodies are not the same. "The parts that are different are what make you either a boy or a girl. And when you grow up, the parts that are different will make you a man or a woman."

Running parallel to the narrative is the ongoing conversation, told in speech balloons, between the sister and younger brother on their way to the beach. The two discuss, in childhood language, what makes them the same and different. They do sound just like two preschoolers carrying on a conversation in the backseat of the car.

Harris uses anatomically correct terms to explain the similarities between boys and girls -- neck, hands, fingers,nipples, waist, bottom, bellybutton -- to what makes them different -- scrotum, penis, vagina, testicle, ovary, uterus. Nadine Westcott's colorful, cartoon-like illustrations mirror the text.

Young children will take pleasure in seeing the many different families going about normal activities. It was nice to see a pregnant mom, a dad feeding an infant with a bottle, and another mom nursing a baby under a beach umbrella.

Harris' matter-of-fact tone and the inclusion of multicultural families makes this a good addition to public libraries.

5 Stars

Preschoolers, Ages 2-6

For more information on Robie Harris and her books, visit her web site. 

Inside Volcanoes by Melissa Stewart

Inside Volcanoes
by Melissa Stewart
illustrations by Cynthia Shaw
Sterling Children's Books, 2011
ISBN: 9781402781623
The reviewer obtained a copy of the book from her school library.

Volcanoes are a "hot" topic in my library. I like to use volcano books when I introduce research skills to younger students. The students are so enthused and curious about volcanoes, it makes generating questions and looking for answers fun for them and for me.

Melissa Stewart's newest nonfiction book, Inside Volcanoes, is full of interesting facts and amazing photographs that will entice even the most reluctant reader to pull up a chair and explore this book from cover to cover.

Inside Volcanoes is part of the Inside! series that features numerous fold-out pages. Arrows on the bottom of the pages direct readers where to fold out the pages. Stewart uses clear and concise language to describe different kinds of lava, different types of eruptions and how lava creates various landforms.
"When lava gushes out of a volcano, it's a sizzling 1,300 to 2,200 degrees F (700 to 1,200 C). That's six to ten times hotter than boiling water!"

Various volcanic eruptions around the world are also described, and Stewart incorporates first hand accounts from witnesses. Stunning photographs of volcanoes erupting will capture the attention of readers. One of the fold-out pages shows "before" and "after" photographs of Mount St. Helen. Students who love facts and trivia will linger on the fold-out page of a chart that lists the Volcanic Explosivity Index. The VEI is used to rate volcanoes from the least to the most explosive.


Shaw's diagrams and illustrations will help students understand the structure and causes of volcanoes. Maps are used effectively throughout the book to provide a geographic context to readers. Stewart includes information about volcanoes in space and under the ocean. A glossary, list of web sites, and bibliography are located in the back of the book.

Inside Volcanoes should be scooped up by teachers and librarians. The book would make an excellent science resource and a high interest read for middle grade students.

5 Stars
(Grades 3-6)

Other titles in the Inside! series
Inside Hurricanes
Inside Tornadoes
Inside Earthquakes
Inside Stars
Inside Dinosaurs
Inside Butterflies
Inside Human Body

Rah, rah, radishes! a vegetable chant! by April Pulley Sayre.

Rah, Rah, Radishes! a vegetable chant!

by April Pulley Sayre

Beach Lane Books. 2011

ISBN: 9781442421417

Reviewers copy of this book was checked out from the public library.

"Rah, rah, radishes!

Red and white.

Carrots are calling.

Take a bite!

So begins this lively ode to the many interesting, unusual, yet yummy veggies found in gardens, grocery stores and farmer's markets. Large color photos taken by the author show not just the usual varieties, but other kinds found throughout the world. We see bright orange carrots alongside heirlooms in deep reds and yellows. Eggplants, brussell sprouts, peas, corn and more! 

The book is great to use with all ages. A poetry unit with high school students. Elementary children will appreciate the fun while they are learning about good nutrition. Preschoolers will be clapping hands in story time. (Saying, "Yuck" to those vegetables they don't like). Rah, rah, radishes would be excellent for a Readers Theatre group!

After the parade of so many different vegetables, some I have not tasted, the chant nicely wraps up with,

Thank you, farmers.

Thank you, bees.

Sun and season, leaf and stalk.

Know them. Grow them!

Veggies Rock!

I heartily agree!

Salad anyone?

5 Stars

(all ages)

April Pulley Sayre has some suggestions for performing Rah, rah, radishes with students.

Labrador Retriever: Most Popular by Jessica Rudolph

Labrador Retriever: Most Popular
by Jessica Rudolph
Big Dogs Rule series
Bearport Publishing, 2012
ISBN 9781617723001
The reviewer obtained a copy of the book from the publisher.

"Where are the dog books?" That question can be heard in my library many times each day. Kids love to read about pets, especially dogs. I was pleased to learn Bearport Publishing has published a new series, Big Dogs Rule. The series includes nonfiction books about German Shepards, Great Danes, Rottweilers, and more.

Labrador Retriever: Most Popular begins with the story of Pearl, a Lab that was rescued from an animal shelter and trained to locate people in disasters. Pearl used her training to locate people trapped in the rubble after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. Rudolph outlines the history of Labrador retrievers and how they were used as fishing and hunting dogs due to their good sense of smell, ability to swim, strong bodies, and their instinct to retrieve. Other sections are devoted to Labs as guide dogs, competition dogs, and pets.

Colorful photographs of Labrador retrievers in action are placed throughout the book. Young readers will especially enjoy the photos of Lab puppies playing as well as the picture of a litter of pups snuggled up with their mother. Captions, bold print, and fact boxes (printed on dogs' tags) will aid readers as they navigate the text. An extensive glossary, index and bibliography are included in the back of the book. 

Labrador Retriever: Most Popular and the other books in the Big Dogs series will definitely meet the needs of pet lovers in your library or classroom.

4 stars
(Grades 2-5)