Review: Duck! by Meg McKinlay and Nathaniel Eckstrom

978-1-5362-0422-3

$15.99

When Duck runs around the farm shouting “DUCK!” to the other animals, they grow exasperated as they haughtily explain to Duck which animal is which. Unfortunately, something is falling from the sky. But perhaps “DUCK!” isn’t the best warning. Perhaps what Duck should have said is . . . “RUN!”

Now, what young child cannot identify with the frustration of having something important to say, but nobody will listen? A great counterpoint to the classic Chicken Little (definitely read them together!), this time our main character knows exactly what he is talking about. A great story time read, with the repeated shout of "Duck!" perfectly set up at the end of each page.

The cartoony illustrations are a hoot, particularly the animals' lofty expressions as they try to tell Duck just how wrong he is (I swear if that pig rolls his eyes one more time...). Children may wonder why Duck appears to have angel wings, but they will delight in spotting the danger he is trying to warn the other animals of.

Review: Looking for Yesterday by Alison Jay

978-1-5362-0421-6

$16.99

If yesterday was the best day ever, wouldn’t it be great to find a way to repeat it? A whimsical tale about happiness with sure appeal for science-minded kids — and wise grandparents — everywhere.

What could beat yesterday’s perfect day at the fair? Maybe nothing, one boy thinks, and he wishes he could go back and do it again. So he puts all his scientific knowledge to work, from stars to time machines to wormholes (is it possible he could find one in his garden?). He thinks that maybe Grandad could help him. But Grandad, in sharing some memories from his own past, reminds him that every new day brings the chance of a new adventure.

This is almost two books in one. The first half focuses on the boy's attempts to repeat that perfect day, which led me towards wanting a solution in that respect. The second half is full of Grandad's special memories: less action and more thoughtfulness. I don't see it working well as a large group read-aloud, but it would be great for one-on-one lap time, with lots of discussion about our favorite days or ways we can hang on to those special memories. Grandad's scrapbook is the perfect segue between the two!

 The real star of the book is the illustrating. Soft oil paints create whimsical landscapes with enough detail to keep a child intrigued for hours. The blending of science and imagination is portrayed perfectly this way.

Not an instant crowd pleaser, but one you may find yourself going back to over and over.

Publication date: August 20.

Review: Kids Cooking by George Ancona

9780763698768

$16.99

Roll up your sleeves, wash your hands, and join four different groups of kids as they prepare recipes from all over the world, step by step. George Ancona’s photographs record every crumb of effort as the children make their way around the kitchen, chopping, measuring, rolling, mixing, and learning about the food they’re eager to eat. The end result? Roasted vegetables from Morocco, fried rice from China, minestrone from Italy, and salsa from Mexico, filling the kids’ bowls and plates and tantalizing readers who may be inspired to cook up something savory of their own.

Why do I keep reading things that make me hungry? 

This book has so many elements that make me happy: learning about other cultures, trying new things, letting kids manipulate tools of all kinds, hands-on cooperative learning, plenty of colorful photographs...and, of course, food! The one thing it doesn't include are recipes for each of the dishes described, which was a little disappointing. Still, a fun book to read to kids before the start of a similar unit.

Review: White Rose by Kip Wilson

978-1-328-59443-3

$17.99

Disillusioned by the propaganda of Nazi Germany, Sophie Scholl, her brother, and his fellow soldiers formed the White Rose, a group that wrote and distributed anonymous letters criticizing the Nazi regime and calling for action from their fellow German citizens. The following year, Sophie and her brother were arrested for treason and interrogated for information about their collaborators. This debut novel recounts the lives of Sophie and her friends and highlights their brave stand against fascism in Nazi Germany.

Novels in verse are often hand-sold as 'quick reads', but this is not a novel to dash through. The pages deserve as much thought and consideration as the Scholls and their friends put into their words and actions. The entries vary in person between characters, including the Nazi officer determined to catch them, and in time - from the beginning of Hitler's rise of power to the Scholls' last moments - yet it is never confusing regarding who is speaking or when the entry is taking place. Yes, each is titled, but the voices are different enough as well. I was especially intrigued by some of the 'before' entries, in which Hans fiercely defends and supports the new government's policies...after all...the economy is better. I love that it illustrates that it is always possible to change your mind and be a hero!

Marketed as for ages 12 and up, which I would call accurate. Little violence, but much heavy thinking.

Review: The Woolly Monkey Mysteries by Sandra Markle

How much does one particular species really matter to an entire ecosystem?

9781512458688
$31.99

In the cloud forests of the Amazon Basin, scientists are installing extraordinary numbers of camera traps in the hopes of learning more about an elusive species—woolly monkeys.

No one knows for sure how many woolly monkeys are left in the wild. But they play a key role in their ecosystem, and without them the rain forest is in trouble.

Join scientists on their quest to solve the mysteries surrounding the lives of woolly monkeys before it's too late.

The nice thing about reviewing a Sandra Markle book is that you can rest on her reputation and be relatively certain the science is well-researched and accurate!

So, why are the woolly monkeys so important? The answer lies in...poop! The monkeys eat a variety of fruits from different trees in the forest to keep up their energy as they jump from tree to tree. They also need to stay light, though, so they have to poop frequently. That waste not only contains the seeds of the fruit they have eaten, it provides a nice little pocket of fertilizer to get a new tree started! In this way, the variety of trees and plants that the rainforest needs to have in order to support the variety of wildlife is 'planted' throughout by the monkeys.

No monkeys = no monkey poop = no plants = no animals = no rainforest.

For this reason and more, scientists want to make sure they understand how the woolly monkeys live, so they can make sure they aren't even more endangered than believed. Are they all the same species? How often do they give birth? How far do they travel in a day? And...why do they sometimes eat dirt?? But, how do you study an animal that hides so well? (Hint: lots and lots and lots of cameras...and some expert tree climbers!)

Markle's writing style is conversational, imparting a boatload of facts with direct quotes form scientists in the field. A two-page spread describes the layers of the forest, and colorful sidebars describe the many close-up photographs. Readers can even scan QR codes to hear the monkeys or watch videos!

A fabulous addition to any elementary library, sure to be enjoyed from the eye-catching cutie on the front cover to the activity suggestion at the end.

Review: The Best Four Questions by Rachelle Burk and Melanie Florian

9781541521667

$17.99

Marcy is finally old enough to ask The Four Questions at Seder!

"Marcy was sure she could do a great job with The Four Questions. After all, she knew a lot about questions. She asked them all the time. Why does that man have hair in his ears? Can I have a pet elephant? Are we there yet?"

Through her continuous questions, non-Jewish readers will learn some of the basic elements of a Seder meal, while those already familiar will simply enjoy (and perhaps recognize) Marcy's irrepressible nature and her determination to do it without anyone's help - or any practice.

As it turns out, however, there are SPECIFIC questions you are supposed to ask at Seder...not the four Marcy throws out. Did she ruin the evening, or did she just expand on it a bit?

Fortunately, we do eventually get to the traditional questions, to which Burk offers answers at the end, along with a simple explanation of Passover. Definitely one to add to your collection whether you are looking to expand your books about specific cultures or you just want a funny picture book that many kids can recognize themselves in.

Review: Undercover Ostrich by Joe Kulka

Okay, he's just plain cute:

9781512497878

$17.99

Animals can be sneaky. But do you know who is especially sneaky? Undercover ostriches! They're everywhere, and they're masters at going undetected. You've probably seen one and just assumed it was another woodpecker or owl. The narrator of this book is on the case, following a single ostrich on his many adventures. Not until the final twist does author and illustrator Joe Kulka let the readers in on the narrator's true motivation: a peanut collection mission involving undercover elephants.

Despite Kulka's assertion that undercover ostriches are "experts at blending into their surroundings", our main character's presence is glaringly, hilariously obvious in each illustration. The trick here is to read aloud with a completely straight face and awestruck tone, while your young audience shrieks "HE'S RIGHT THERE!!!" Pair it with Mac Barnett's Guess Again for an absolutely hysterical (and more than likely raucous) story time!