BEE DANCE

What will it take to make honey? The bee dance! Honeybees do what they do best—follow the sweet scent and sip away at the nectar. The honeybees do the waggle dance movement in a figure eight pattern.  Bee Dance by Rick Chrustowski is a non-fiction book with simple text and colorful illustrations for a great read aloud. Don’t miss out. Read about these small insects found everywhere. 

For preschool through third grade.

"FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MARRIAGE"

...So begins The Case for Loving, a moving nonfiction picture book centered on the Loving v. Virginia supreme court case and the fight for interracial marriage. Only the year is 1958 and Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Jeter, part black and part Cherokee, live in the state of Virginia, where it was against the law for people of different races to marry. Though they must relocate to Washington, DC, in order to live together and raise their family, they keep fighting a lengthy legal battle to make sure families like theirs may be allowed to live in all fifty states by 1967.

Accompanied by the gentle yet evocotive paint-and-collage art by Sean Qualls and the book's author Selina Alko, Alko's text is powerful in its simplicity. It might be hard for young readers to imagine a time in America where interracial marriage could land people in jail, and this nonfiction picture book manages to deftly examine the historical injustice through the experience of one family in a straightforward, age-appropriate, and relatably poignant way.

An author's note, words about the art, sources, and suggestions for further reading are included so that parents or teachers might expand on the discussion, but this story of love, family, and standing up for what's right will resonate with young readers in its own right.

Recommend for 3rd grade and up.

ROMAN MYTHS

Imagine if you had the power to change into any shape or power.  Or if you could be in charge of the weather at all times. What would you do?  Would you become the sun or the moon?  Or would you make it rain all year long so that people would not want to leave their homes?  Legends and myths are just that, stories about gods and goddesses who possess supernatural powers. 

The most famous Gods and Goddesses originated from the Greeks; however the Romans decided to have their own so they adopted many of the Greek myths. 

In this Classic Starts series, all the stories are abridged so you don’t need to read many pages to learn about the amazing powers of these very powerful creatures.   

Roman Myths by Diane Namn is a simple and very easy read that will truly be enjoyed by girls and boys.

For grades 3 and up.      

GROWING UP!

When you wake up every morning to go to school or any other social event, the chances are that you look into the mirror and notice a variety of different changes about you.  The changes are mostly physical, like longer finger nails, or stronger arms and so forth. 

However, you are also going through a lot of changes that are not physical and it might be difficult to put in words or even to try to explain to your parents what those changes are.  Well, my friend that is called growing up.  

I think that this is one of the most important books that I’ve read in a very long time because it covers a wide range of topics that is crucial to young people who are going the emotional roller coaster of growing up. Like how to stop a bully or how to tell when friends are a bad influence instead of good?   

The book has tons of charts, illustrations and a glossary of important words that will be vital to know and understand once in high school.  Additionally, the book offers few pages of online resources that you can have access if you would like to acquire more information.  

Growing Up: Inside and Out by Kira Vermond and iIllustrated by Carl Chin.

Grades 7th and up.  

THANKSGIVING STORY

 

This classic book depict the journey of the Hopkins family’s London departure to America.  This particular story is seen through the eyes of the Hopkins’ family, who were part of the first settlers of Plymouth.  Even though the illustrations are very simple , the warm color palate adds another character to the overall story.  The story ends with a description of the Thanksgiving Dinner and how each person was thankful for their blessings in their lives. The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh.

For grades 2nd and up.

HOW LOUD CAN YOU BURP?

I am sure there are a lot of more challenging questions in this world than the noise level of our burps. However, this very intriguing book caught my attention so fast, that I just had to tell you all about it. So here it is...HOW LOUD CAN YOU BURP? by GLENN MURPHY is one of the funniest and coolest books that I've read in a long time. It has tons of very fascinating questions with some very hilarious but factual answers. So if you want to know...
How loud the loudest burp is?
Why grass is green?
Why we need sleep? and much more, than you need to read this very funny but all so true book.

For grades 5th and up!

THIS TIME IT'S OKAY TO SPY!

Did you know that squirrels can deliver some very top-secret messages?

Or that way back when there were no phones, birds were used to carry important messages?

From THE BIG BOOK OF SPY STUFF by BART KING, you are going to learn how to write in codes, how to tie your shoelaces in codes and also how to break codes...

Additionally, the book has tons of information on spies, secret agents and such.

For example, did you know of the confusion agents? They are spies who do not spy. Instead, they spread misinformation to confuse enemy agents.

For grades 5th and up.

THIS IS JUST TO SAY...

In life, we all have probably apologized to our loved once after hurting them with words or actions. However, how cool would it be if next time, we apologize with poems? I know this might sound too boring or too weird. But you know, after reading this great book about forgiveness and apology. I am starting to think that since evidently we all find ourselves asking for forgiveness, than why not do it in a unique way which will hopefully increase the chances of you being forgiven. The book is divided into two parts, one part is the apologetic poems, and the second part is the responses to these poems. It also has has tons of cute and hilarious illustrations. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS is by JOYCE SIDMAN and the illustrations are by PAMELA ZAGARENSKI.

For grades 3rd and up.

GALLOP GALLOP GALLOP!

If you have ever tried to make a paper airplane or made an attempt to fly a kite, than you should learn about the man who by observing birds, realized that objects could also fly as well... This man's name is Leonardo De Vinci and let's just say that he was one very cool man. He is also known for his other skills, such as painting, sculpting and drawing. But, you would be surprised to learn that with all his accomplishments, what bothered him the most was his inability to sculpt a huge horse out of bronze which was commissioned to him… He never did finish the sculpture and this haunted him even on his death bed... In the year 1977, a discovery was made...The rest, as they say is history, literally... LEONARDO'S HORSE by JEAN FRITZ is definitely what I would call a work of art!

For 3rd and up grades.

FATTY LEGS: A TRUE STORY

Sometimes its hard to go to school. So learns Olemaun Pokiak, an Alaskan Inuit girl who really wants to learn to read. Her sister is allowed to go to school, but didn't like it at all, saying they take everything away from you, including your name and your hair. Even her father is against Olemaun leaving the family to go to school. But Olemaun SO wants to read, she begs and pleads. Finally, her father agrees to send her to the school. When Olemaun gets there, school is NOTHING like what she had hoped it would be. The first thing they do is change her name to Olemaun and cut off her long braids! This is a true story that took place about 60 years ago and its good for 4th grade and up.

HOW TO BE A VAMPIRE!

If you ever wanted to become a vampire or wanted to know how their world works but were afraid to do so, now is your time. HOW TO BE A VAMPIRE by AMY GRAY is the book for you. This illustrated and colorful book might be too tempting to close so once you open it, than be cautious that you might get hooked.
The book is divided into different sections, such as: vampire etiquette, choosing your vampire name, how to form your own coven and much more. The book also has a chapter on the famous vampires that were in movies and and television shows as well. Additionally, if you like to know how to dress like a vampire, there is a big chapter on that as well.

For grades 7th and up.

ONE SMALL STEP

ONE SMALL STEP: CELEBRATING THE FIRST MEN ON THE MOON is one of the coolest non-fiction books that I have seen/read in a long time. The book is pact with great, colorful pictures of the Apollo 11 spacecraft among other really interesting stuff. The uniqueness of the book is in its scrap book format, flipping through the pages, you will feel as though you are reading someone's actual personal creation. It also has things such as a copy of the actual food menu of the Apollo 11, among other must see things. Even if you are not interested in space, you will not want to put down this fascinating book. The creative team for the book is JERRY STONE, TERRY PASTOR AND ANDY MANSFIELD.

For grades 4th and older.

JOURNALIST AT RISK

I am sure that you have already wrote countless of book reports in your studies, However, as you already know, writing a book report is totally different from writing a report on a war. JOURNALISTS AT RISK: REPORTING AMERICA'S WARS by GEORGE SULLIVAN is an informative and historical account of how technology, way of war operation and way of reporting has changed since the beginning of journalism.

Nowadays war journalists are required to participate in boot camps to prepare for chemical or biological attacks, they have become as much part of the war as the soldiers who are fighting. You will get a sense of what they go though to report the news from a war zone.

For grades 4 and up.

ALL ABOUT THE DANCERS

This is a book for those interested in dance and those who may want to pursue a career in dance or those who are dance fans. There are in depth interviews with dancers of all type: ballet, tap, modern, etc. The readers gain insight into what drives them and the deep commitment they have to dance and where dance have taken them in their lives. There are also side tips and little interesting bits of info for the readers.

Meet the Dancers by Amy Nathan, a fascinating collection of chats with dancers from around the country that's hard to put down.

For 6th & up.

IT'S ALMOST HERE...

Most likely you have read many of the titles from the Eyewitness book series and know that it's full of interesting facts. And since our presidential election is almost here, it is important that we understand how voting works and its origin. Reading this book will reinforce us yet again that we, as people, have come a long way in deciding our future in society. It was not too long ago, when people in the United States could not vote if they were women or African-American.

And now... we have an African-American and a woman in this year's presidential campaign. It's a humbling experience to read this book and feel the evolution in our society.

VOTE from the EYEWITNESS BOOKS series is a necessary book to read before the election.

For grades 4th grade and up.

MEET PEANUT!

Did you know that the Aztecs in Mexico soothed aching gums with peanut paste?
Chances are that you have eaten a peanut butter sandwich at least once in your life time. In fact, it probably is one of your favorite things ever.
However, you probably don't know much about the crop itself. THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE PEANUT by CHARLES MICUCCI is one of those books that you can read as fiction or non-fiction. It tells you all the interesting and fascinating facts about it and it also includes a timeline as well as a glossary of some difficult words.

For grades 2nd and up!

SEE THE RHYTHM OF A PEOPLE

Spirituals, ragtime, blues. Jazz roots, soul expressions, gospel prayers. A wide history of music brought from Africa to the United States makes up an entire culture of life and music. Poetry intertwines with visual art to create the most vibrant, lyrical portrayal of African American music history. Literally without missing a beat, the poems rhythmic flow sound like music in your head, while at the same time describe the different musical genres that are rooted in this diverse history. i see the rhythm, written by Toyomi Igus includes vivid, colorful paintings by Michelle Wood illustrating the text. Reading this book means more than looking at words on a page - it means experiencing history, hearing the paintings, and seeing the music. For grades 4 and up.

A DOG'S CRAZY LIFE

You'll probably never meet a dog this crazy, or maybe you own a dog who does some of the things that Marley, a huge yellow Labrador Retriever does. He chews through walls, runs away from home, rips pillows into tiny pieces! What a mess! But he is also one of the most loyal, loving dogs you'll ever hear about. Make sure you pick up MARLEY: A DOG LIKE NO OTHER by John Grogan. It's a non-fiction book, which means that all the things that Marley does REALLY HAPPENED! For 5th grade and older.

PICTURING LIFE IN MANZANAR

The wonderful photographs in this book, Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese Relocation Camp, capture and illustrate what life was like for Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans who were uprooted and forced into a life of uncertainty and fear during their time in Manazanar. Many of these photos are from the National Archives and the Library of Congress taken by professional photographers hired by the U.S. government to document the evacatuations and camps.

This is a small yet heartfelt book commemorating life at the Manzanar Relocation Camp in Central California by Michael L. Cooper.

For readers in 4th grade and up.