Cells (Kids Discover; Free for a limited time, then, $3.99; Gr 5-9) by Sean Price offers students an overview of animal, plant, and human cellular life. On opening the app, viewers can choose from 11 sections or scroll screen by screen through chapters that present both text and colorful illustrations under such headings as “The Stuff of Life,” “DNA Unraveled,” and “What Cells Do.” “Zooming In” offers a cut-away diagram with 10 clearly marked parts and functions of the cell from the nucleus to the role of the mitochondrion. When tapped, the corresponding part or parts of the cell light up (while the rest darkens), allowing students to see exactly what they look like or where they take place. “Incredible Journey” features a short, narrated video clip that takes viewers into the blood stream, zooming past red blood cells, and into the center of a single white blood cell to view chromosomes. “Engineering in a Better World?” mentions gene therapy, stem cells, genetic testing research, and  the “thorny issues” raised by genetic engineering. Music clips, animation, and interactive screens (such as a time line covering the years 1590 to 1997), are some of the additional enhancements found in the app. A maze, a simple jigsaw puzzle, and a five-question quiz are also available, but once they are tried it’s unlikely users will revisit them. There is no glossary or list of key facts. The last section contains short lists of print and web resources with live links (to Amazon, in the case of the books). Two of the four recommended books may be best suited to a slightly younger audience. Cells is also available in a Spanish language edition. —Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

Kids Discover has produced a number of high quality nonfiction offerings for iOS devices and Matter ($3.99; Gr 5-8) is another. The text introduces readers to the following concepts: atoms, elements, states of matter, mixtures, and physical changes versus chemical changes, as well as real-world examples of these states and their properties. The writing is clear and precise and well suited to those new to the subject. Because the app is both comprehensive and illustrative, it could easily serve as an interactive stand-in for texts of a more static nature. The bright, sharp visuals are stunning; each page is pleasingly arranged with an appropriate balance of information and illustration. Animations, sound effects, and short video clips are incorporated throughout demonstrating, for example, how a steam engine works and what happens when a piece of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is dropped into a glass of water. Accompanying the text is a vocabulary matching activity and a brief five-question quiz. Interactive activities include a step-by-step experiment guide and practice problems for calculating volume. Between the lucid writing and the beautiful visuals, this app will have many classroom applications. The brief, how-to section that appears when the title is first opened serves as a tutorial on how to use the app. A worthwhile addition to nonfiction collections.— Lindsay Cesari, Baldwinsville School District, NY

Three tabs, “solid,” ‘liguid” and “gas,” lead viewers to paragraph-length definitions and descriptions of each of the States of Matter  (Braahmam Net Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Gr 5-8) in this free app. In addition, a list of properties is provided for each state, as well as an animated “demonstration” of its particle activity and forces. Finally, a quiz consisting of 10 simple true-and-false and mulitiple-choice questions is provided. The language of the text is awkward at times, suggesting a translation. Viewers can opt to read it or listen to the narration. While neither deep nor particularly exciting in presentation, the app may offer students an opportunity to test or review what they know about the topic.—Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal

BUTTERWORTH, Chris. See What a Seal Can Do. illus. by Kate Nelms. 32p. index. websites. Candlewick. 2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6574-6. LC 2012947729.

K-Gr 2–A curious gray seal peers out from the cover, seeming to invite readers into its underwater world. Once inside, the book begins and ends with seals napping on the rocks. This sedentary behavior, the only one visible to earth-bound humans, gives these sea mammals a “lazy” reputation. In fact, as the illustrations go on to show, the seal is anything but. Once below the ocean’s surface, the creature’s streamlined body and adaptive features (which are described and explained) make it a master predator. The poetic text is full of alliteration, onomatopoeia, and vocabulary that will delight readers. (“A flump is a flop and a jump both together.”) Sentences in smaller type act as captions and add further detail, as do the illustrations on the endpapers and the information on the verso of the title page. The beautifully colored, full-spread illustrations portray the seal’s transformation from awkward land dweller to sinuous and powerful denizen of the deep. The below-water scenes masterfully evoke the murky ocean habitat and the singular seal’s steep descent to the bottom. From the irresistible cover to the closing “super-swimming underwater wonder,” the book will encourage readers to dive right in and see what a seal can do.–Carol S. Surges, formerly at Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI

GUIBERSON, Brenda Z. The Greatest Dinosaur Ever. illus. by Gennady Spirin. 32p. bibliog. websites. Holt. Oct. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9625-5.

Gr 1-4–This book poses the question, “Who was the greatest dinosaur that ever lived?” Each beautifully illustrated page declares “I, —-, was the greatest of them all!” The succinct text describes the superlative characteristic (biggest herbivore, stongest teeth, fastest runner) of the species and offers the gross, interesting, and informative facts that dinosaur-obsessed readers want to know. Each name includes a pronunciation guide (exactly what adult readers want). The text includes a mix of familiar and obscure species including “the first dinosaur to say I was a bird,” the best parent, and the longest spikes. Every full-spread illustration, in oil paint on paper, shows the dinosaur in its richly depicted habitat. Observant children will learn as much from the detailed, painterly images of groups of animals moving together, hunting prey, and adapting to new environments as they will from the text. The dreamy quality of the art keeps these giant predators from being too scary. Whether read aloud or pored over individually, this book is sure to please anyone who has ever wondered about dinosaurs.–Leila Sterman, Chappaqua Library, NY

PINKNEY, Jerry. The Tortoise & the Hare. illus. by author. 40p. Little, Brown. Oct. 2013. Tr $18. ISBN 978-0-316-18356-7. LC 2012048426.

PreS-Gr 3–Following up on his superb rendition of The Lion & the Mouse (Little, Brown, 2009), Pinkney has created yet another stunning interpretation of a classic tale in this virtually wordless picture book. Endpapers establish the desert setting with a map of the course through the cacti and rocky region of the American Southwest. Tortoise and Hare, each sporting a bandana, are joined by their animal friends at the starting line for the famous race. Fox in his broad-brimmed hat gives them their marks, gets them set, and off they go as Hare bounds away, leaving Tortoise behind in a trail of dust. Pinkney uses watercolor, colored pencil, and pastel paintings to create vibrant characters that are in colorful contrast to the tans and natural browns of the desert. Long horizontal lines and Hare leaping off the page propel the story–and the race–ever forward. The limited text, used sparingly but extremely effectively, reinforces the theme of the story–that the journey is as important as the ultimate goal–and builds one word at a time: “slow,” “slow and,” “slow and steady” until finally the race is won to the cheers and high-fives of the supportive spectators. Pinkney takes care to show Tortoise overcoming challenges and Hare demonstrating good sportsmanship and healthy competition. An artist’s note explains the creative process and motivation for retelling the well-known tale. This spectacular success is certain to become a classic in its own right.–Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY

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The following titles are reviewed in the September 2013 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Preschool to Grade 4

ALOIAN, Molly. What Is Hearing? ISBN 978-0-7787-0970-1; ISBN 978-0-7787-0997-8. LC 2013004906.

––––.What Is Sight? ISBN 978-0-7787-0969-5; ISBN 978-0-7787-0996-1. LC 2013009067.

––––.What Is Smell? ISBN 978-0-7787-0971-8; ISBN 978-0-7787-0999-2. LC 2013009066.

––––.What Is Taste? ISBN 978-0-7787-0967-1; ISBN 978-0-7787-0972-5. LC 2013007631.

––––.What Is Touch? ISBN 978-0-7787-0968-8; ISBN 978-0-7787-0991-6.

ea vol: 24p. (Senses Close-Up Series). diag. further reading. glossary. illus. index. photos. websites. Crabtree. 2013. lib. ed. $22.60; pap. $7.95.

BARRETT, Judi. Grandpa’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Cookbook. illus. by Ron Barrett. 64p. ebook available. index. photos. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Spiral $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4475-1. LC 2012045731.

BARRY, Holly M. Helen Keller’s Best Friend Belle. illus. by Jennifer Thermes. 32p. Albert Whitman. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-3198-3.

BROCKET, Jane. 1 Cookie, 2 Chairs, 3 Pears: Numbers Everywhere. 32p. (Jane Brocket’s Clever Concepts Series). Millbrook. Oct. 2013. lib. ed. $26.60. ISBN 978-1-4677-0232-4; ebook $19.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1702-1. LC 2012049689.

BROOKS, Susie. Get Into Art People: Discover Great Art and Create Your Own! illus. by author. 32p. diag. glossary. index. photos. reprods. Kingfisher. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7534-7059-6.

DEMI. The Fantastic Adventures of Krishna. illus. by author. 44p. Wisdom Tales. 2013. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-937786-05-2.

FRANCINE, Gabriella with Solara Vayanian. Let’s Make a Difference: We Can Help Orangutans. (Save Coins for Causes).32p. photos. websites. Big Blue Marble. Oct. 2013. Tr $15. ISBN 978-1-938504-00-6. LC 2013930091.

GILANI, Fawzia. Snow White: An Islamic Tale. illus. by Shireen Adams. 44p. (Islamic Fairy Tales Series). glossary. The Islamic Foundation. 2013. Tr $14. ISBN 978-0-86037-526-5.

HARRIS, Robie H. What’s in There?: All About Before You Were Born. illus. by Nadine Bernard Westcott. 40p. (Let’s Talk About You and Me Series). Candlewick. Sept. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-3630-2. LC 2008025455.

HUBER, Raymond. Flight of the Honey Bee. illus. by Brian Lovelock. 32p. index. Candlewick. Sept. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6760-3. LC 2013931462.

KOHUTH, Jane. Anne Frank’s Chestnut Tree. illus. by Elizabeth Sayles. 48p. (Step into Reading Series). photos. websites. Random. Sept. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-449-81255-6; lib. ed. $14.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97115-0; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97579-9; ebook $3.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98113-5. LC 2012034585.

KULLING, Monica. Making Contact!: Marconi Goes Wireless. illus. by Richard Rudnicki. 32p. (Great Idea Series). Tundra. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-77049-378-0. ebook available. LC 2012947610.

LEVINE, Sara. Bone by Bone: Comparing Animal Skeletons. illus. by T.S Spookytooth. 32p. further reading. glossary. websites. Millbrook. Oct. 2013. lib. ed. $26.60. ISBN 978-0-7613-8464-9. ebook available. LC 2012048894.

LUNDE, Darrin. Hello, Mama Wallaroo. illus. by Patricia J. Wynne. 28p. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $15.95. ISBN 978-1-57091-796-7; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-1-57091-797-4; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-605-0. LC 2012024436.

O’CONNELL, Jennifer. The Eye of the Whale: A Rescue Story. illus. by author. 32p. Tilbury. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-88448-335-9. LC 2012031165.

PRELUTSKY, Jack. The Silver Moon: Lullabies and Cradle Songs. illus. by Jui Ishida. 48p. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Oct. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-201467-2. LC 2012038097.

QUATTLEBAUM, Mary. Jo MacDonald Hiked in the Woods. illus. by Laura J. Bryant. 32p. further reading. websites. Dawn. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58469-334-5; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-58469-335-2. LC 2013009249.

ROCKWELL, Anne. Hey, Charleston!: The True Story of the Jenkins Orphanage Band. illus. by Colin Bootman. 32p. bibliog. Carolrhoda. Nov. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-5565-6; ebook $12.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8843-2. LC 2010001525.

RUSCH, Elizabeth. Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit Up the World. illus. by Oliver Dominguez. 40p. bibliog. diag. further reading. notes. Candlewick. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5855-7. LC 2012954334.

RUSCH, Elizabeth. Volcano Rising. illus. by Susan Swan. 32p. bibliog. diag. further reading. glossary. websites. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-408-1; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-409-8; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-616-6. LC 2012000793.

THOMSON, Sarah L. Ancient Animals: Terror Bird. illus. by Andrew Plant. 32p. further reading. websites. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-398-5; pap. $5.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-399-2; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-610-4. LC 2012029366.

TONER, Jacqueline B. with Claire A. B. Freeland. What to Do When It’s Not Fair: A Kid’s Guide to Handling Envy and Jealousy. illus. by David Thompson. 96p. diag. Magination. Sept. 2013. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-1341-2. LC 2013005781.

WINTER, Jonah. JFK. illus. by AG Ford. 32p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. Nov. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-176807-1.

FREEDMAN, Russell. Angel Island: Gateway to Gold Mountain. 96p. bibliog. index. notes. photos. reprods. Clarion. Oct. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-547-90378-1.

Gr 5-8–For the 30 years it was in operation, from 1910-1940, Angel Island Immigration Station served as the first step for hundreds of thousands of people seeking a new home and a new life in the United States. It was a bleak, unwelcoming introduction to the new land, and for many immigrants, primarily those from China, it was also a detention center. Many Chinese were held there for weeks or months at a time while they endured lengthy interviews and invasive medical exams in order to prove that they could enter the U.S. Freedman’s inimitable style and approach to nonfiction writing shines in this accessible, thoughtful history of Angel Island and its legacy in the American immigration narrative. Detailed descriptions of the island, the actual building, the events that took place there, and the people who passed through its doors are sprinkled with the emotional poems, quotes, and other writings that were discovered covering the walls of the areas where the detainees were housed. These words provide not only a unique perspective of the immigrants, but also a context for what was happening in the broader world, specifically the racist, xenophobic attitudes encountered by many new arrivals. Complemented by photographs, artwork, and primary sources, Freedman’s writing offers up a strong, engaging introduction to the subject of a more diverse immigrant population and the obstacles that were put in its way. Equally evocative and informative, this is an excellent choice for middle school libraries.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

GREENBERG, Jan & Sandra Jordan. The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius. 56p. bibliog. notes. photos. reprods. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Oct. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-810-1. LC 2012047601.

Gr 5-8–Ohr was a homegrown genius and the greatest artist potter on Earth, or so he claimed, and while dismissed by many as a self-promoting eccentric (he was that), much of what he declared about himself is recognized as true today. His pottery, notably inventive in its shapes, textures, and glazes, became more experimental and free-flowing in form after 1894, when fire destroyed his kiln. While clearly distinct, Ohr’s art was not outsider; he subscribed to the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement, and for a short time worked with Joseph Meyer furnishing pottery for the women of The Ladies’ Decorative Arts League in New Orleans. But Ohr was quirky, flamboyant, and a Biloxi, Mississippi, tourist attraction; he had a bushy handlebar mustache that he could wrap around his ears, and he was often difficult. The authors do an excellent job describing this larger-than-life character through quotes and plentiful color photos of his pottery, or “mud babies” as he referred to his creations. Of particular interest are the archival sepia photos, including the two large, double-page images depicting the artist in his barnlike studio with piles and piles of his work–and several children–about, that open and close the book. A one-page guide on “How to Look at a Pot” examines a decorative piece with reference to texture, color, form, line, and expression. Extensive source notes round out this nicely designed, fascinating introduction to the master craftsman and art pottery.–Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal

LEWIS, Catherine. Thrice Told Tales: Three Mice Full of Writing Advice. illus. by Joost Swarte. 144p. appendix. diag. glossary. index. S & S/Atheneum. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-5784-3. ebook available. LC 2012010644.

Gr 8 Up–Lewis offers a witty and whimsical guide for burgeoning scribes that includes definitions of common literary terms as well as writing advice. With a page or two devoted to each, elements such as intertextuality, farce, foreshadowing, and leitmotif are explained using the nursery rhyme about three blind mice. The author has created a background story for the mice and developed distinct personalities for each one as she uses their tale to define the selected literary elements. Concepts are succinctly summarized at the end of each page. Playful black-and-white illustrations of the mice in action add visual interest. Other writing advice includes topics such as how to build suspense, how and when to incorporate sentimentality, and how to effectively include potentially distracting content such as sex or expletives. Explanations are interesting and clever, turning formerly lackluster definitions of literary terms into entertainment. Useful for readers who want to hone their writing skills as well as creative-writing classes.–Ragan O’Malley, Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY

MARKLE, Sandra. The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery. 48p. diag. further reading. glossary. index. map. photos. websites. Millbrook. Oct. 2013. RTE $29.27. ISBN 978-1-4677-0592-9; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1700-7. LC 2012046913.

Gr 4-8–The worker bee and its vital role in the life cycle of the honeybee are interwoven with the threat that Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) poses to bees, plants, and humans in straightforward language on honey-colored paper, illustrated with full-color photographs on every page. Commercial colonies of bees are trucked around the country to pollinate almonds, blueberries, apples, citrus fruit, and pumpkins in a yearly cycle that does not include the winter rest that wild bees take. But because these honeybees can mix with wild populations, the threat of CCD is not confined to commercial bee colonies. The work of scientists examining such possible causes as virus, fungus, mites, and pesticides and possible remedies is described. The glossary and index provide good definitions of terms relating to both honeybees and CCD. The author has included a half page of interesting factoids about honeybees as well as suggestions for how to help them locally and organizations involved in “Global Rescue Efforts.” An excellent first purchase for reports as well as for general interest.–Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

MONTGOMERY, Sy. The Tapir Scientist. photos by Nic Bishop. 80p. (Scientists in the Field Series). bibliog. chart. index. map. websites. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-547-81548-0. LC 2012018678.

Gr 5-10–In this addition to the series, readers join Pati Medici and her team in their quest to study tapirs in the world’s largest wetland, the Pantanal Wetlands of Brazil. Although its appearance may lead some to suppose that the tapir falls somewhere near elephants or hippopotami in the family tree, this flexible-snouted, hoof-toed tropical creature is most closely related to rhinoceroses and horses. Medici has dubbed the tapir “the gardener of the forest” for its critical role in maintaining foliage by ingesting fruits and excreting the seeds elsewhere, but little else is known about this vanishing species. By observing and trapping the animals to outfit them with radio collars or microchips and collect samples including blood and ticks from infestations, Medici’s team hopes to better understand their lifestyles to enhance conservation efforts. Although in-text pronunciation guides are included for some Portuguese names and select scientific terminology is explained, no glossary is provided, and many of the exotic birds discussed are not shown. Following each chapter are several pages of related information with text and photographs placed on top of a marbled background with shadows that can make the text difficult to read in some places. A list of several websites and YouTube videos is included, and the index differentiates between text and photographic references. Bishop’s captivating photographs, paired with Montgomery’s narrative, not only call attention to a lesser-known endangered species, but also expose readers to the working conditions, obstacles, and emotions experienced by passionate scientists in the field.–Meaghan Darling, Plainsboro Public Library, NJ

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The following titles are reviewed in the September 2013 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Grade 5 & Up

BEDELL, J. M. So, You Want to Be a Chef?: How to Get Started in the World of Culinary Arts. 224p. (Be What You Want Series). bibliog. chron. glossary. illus. websites. S & S/Aladdin/Beyond Words. Oct. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-58270-437-1; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-58270-436-4.

CAWTHORNE, Nigel. Notorious Tyrants. 128p. (Great People in History Series). chron. further reading. glossary. index. photos. reprods. websites. Rosen. 2013. lib. ed. $34.60. ISBN 978-1-4777-0406-6. ebook available. LC 2012032497.

CLIFFORD, Mary Louise. Drummer Boy of Company C: Coming of Age in the Civil War. 158p. bibliog. chron. index. map. notes. photos. reprods. Cypress Communications. Sept. 2013. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-0-9636412-8-1. LC 2013938235.

DINGLE, Adrian. How to Make a Universe with 92 Ingredients: An Electrifying Guide to the Elements. 96p. chart. further reading. glossary. illus. index. photos. websites. Owlkids. Oct. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-77147-008-7. LC 2013930988.

FRENZ, Florida. How to Be Human: Diary of an Autistic Girl. illus. by author. 40p. Creston Books. Sept. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-939547-01-9.

GLASSBOURG, Michael. Learn to Speak Film: A Guide to Creating, Promoting & Screening Your Movies. illus. by Jeff Kulak. 96p. index. Owlkids. 2013. Tr $22.95. ISBN 978-1-926973-84-5; pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-926973-85-2. LC 2012954724.

GOLDMAN, Judy. Whiskers, Tails & Wings: Animal Folktales from Mexico. illus. by Fabricio VandenBroeck. 64p. bibliog. glossary. index. map. notes. websites. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-372-5; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-617-3. LC 2012024636.

GUTMAN, Dan. My Weird Writing Tips. illus. by Jim Paillot. 160p. HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209107-9; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209106-2. LC 2012029985.

HUEY, Lois Miner. Ick! Yuck! Eew!: Our Gross American History. 48p. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Millbrook. Oct. 2013. lib. ed. $29.27. ISBN 978-0-7613-9091-6; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1710-6. LC 2013004386.

KUIPER,Kathleen, ed. The Life and Times of William Shakespeare. 108p. ISBN 978-1-61530-926-9. LC 2012019293.

––––.The Tragedies of William Shakespeare. 88p. ISBN 978-1-61530-927-6. LC 2012021217.

ea vol: (Shakespeare: His Work and World Series). bibliog. chron. glossary. index. map. photos. reprods. Britannica. 2013. lib. ed. $32.90.

MCCLAFFERTY, Carla Killough. Fourth Down and Inches: Concussions and Football’s Make-or-Break Moment. 96p. bibliog. diag. further reading. index. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Carolrhoda. Sept. 2013. lib. ed. $20.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1067-1; ebook $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1665-9. LC 2013004192.

MACLEOD, Elizabeth & Frieda Wishinsky. A History of Just About Everything: 180 Events, People and Inventions That Changed the World. illus. by Qin Leng. 124p. chron. index. map. Kids Can. 2013. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-775-4.

MARTIN, Lesley Schwartz. Make the Grade: Everything You Need to Study Better, Stress Less, and Succeed in School. 144p. chart. diag. index. Zest. 2013. pap. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-936976-38-6. LC 2012943317.

MEYER, Terry Teague. How Inflation Affects You. ISBN 978-1-4488-8341-7. LC 2012018537.

PORTERFIELD, Jason. How a Recession Affects You. ISBN 978-1-4488-8345-5. LC 2012018784.

STRAZZABOSCO, John. How Spending and Saving Affect You. ISBN 978-1-4488-8344-8. LC 2012017552.

ea vol: 80p. (Your Economic Future Series). bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen. 2013. lib. ed. $33.25. ebook available.

MILLER, Ron. Recentering the Universe: The Radical Theories of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton. 88p. bibliog. diag. further reading. glossary. index. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Twenty-First Century. Oct. 2013. lib. ed. $31.93. ISBN 978-0-7613-5885-5; ebook $23.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1662-8. LC 2012047665.

MORPURGO, Michael & Clare Morpurgo. Where My Wellies Take Me…: A Childhood Scrapbook with Poems and Pictures. illus. by Olivia Lomenech Gill. 97p. index. Candlewick/Templar. 2013. RTE $29.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6629-3. LC 2012954328.

NAZARIO, Sonia. Enrique’s Journey: The True Story of a Boy Determined to Reunite with His Mother. 288p. map. Delacorte. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-74327-3; lib. ed. $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-99104-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-307-98315-2. LC 2012038328.

O’KANE, Bernard. The Civilization of the Islamic World. 232p. (The Illustrated History of the Ancient World Series). bibliog. diag. further reading. glossary. index. map. photos. reprods. websites. Rosen. 2013. lib. ed. $53.25. ISBN 978-1-4488-8503-9. LC 2012032340.

PERKINS, Mitali, ed. Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices. 144p. Candlewick. Sept. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5866-3. ebook available. LC 2012955218.

PRINGLE, Laurence. Scorpions! illus. by Meryl Henderson. 32p. (Strange and Wonderful Series). diag. further reading. map. websites. Boyds Mills. Oct. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-473-0. LC 2013931088.

REYNOLDS, Luke, ed. Break These Rules: 35 YA Authors On Speaking Up, Standing Out, and Being Yourself. 212p. Chicago Review Press. Sept. 2013. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-61374-784-1.

RHATIGAN, Joe. Ouch!: The Weird & Wild Ways Your Body Deals with Agonizing Aches, Ferocious Fevers, Lousy Lumps, Crummy Colds, Bothersome Bites, Breaks, Bruises & Burns & Makes Them Feel Better! illus. by Anthony Owsley. 80p. chart. diag. glossary. index. photos. reprods. Charlesbridge/Imagine! 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-62354-005-0. LC 2012048462.

SHECTER, Vicky Alvear. Anubis Speaks! illus. by Antoine Revoy. 128p. (Secrets of the Ancient Gods Series). bibliog. glossary. index. Boyds Mills. Oct. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-995-7.

STEWART, Melissa & Allen Young. No Monkeys, No Chocolate. illus. by Nicole Wong. 32p. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-287-2. LC 2012000789.

SWANSON, James L. “The President Has Been Shot!”: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy. 288p. bibliog. diag. further reading. index. map. notes. photos. reprods. Scholastic. Oct. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-545-49007-8; ebook $18.99. ISBN 978-0-545-49654-4. LC 2012041167.

WALKER, Niki. Why Do We Fight?: Conflict, War, and Peace. 80p. chron. index. map. notes. Owlkids. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-926973-86-9. LC 2013930981.

WITTENSTEIN, Vicki Oransky. For the Good of Mankind?: The Shameful History of Human Medical Experimentation. 96p. bibliog. further reading. index. notes. photos. reprods. websites. Twenty-First Century. Oct. 2013. lib. ed. $35.93. ISBN 978-1-4677-0659-9; ebook $26.95. ISBN 978-1-4677-1661-1. LC 2012043413.

Fiction

BĂDESCU, Ramona. Pomelo’s Opposites. tr. from French by Claudia Zoe Bedrick. illus. by Benjamin Chaud. (Pomelo the Garden Elephant Series). Enchanted Lion. p. 112.

BEST, Cari. Beatrice Spells Some Lulus and Learns to Write a Letter. illus. by Giselle Potter. Farrar/Margaret Ferguson. p. 114.

GRAHAM, Bob. The Silver Button. illus. by author. Candlewick. Oct. p. 120.

HOLUB, Joan. Little Red Writing. illus. by Melissa Sweet. Chronicle. Oct. p. 122.

KNOWLES, Jo. Living with Jackie Chan. Candlewick. Sept. p. 160.

LAFLEUR, Suzanne. Listening for Lucca. Random/Wendy Lamb. p. 146.

LAKE, Nick. Hostage Three. Bloomsbury. Oct. p. 160.

LUDWIG, Trudy. The Invisible Boy. illus. by Patrice Barton. Knopf. Oct. p. 125.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. Snowflakes Fall. illus. by Steven Kellogg. Random. Oct. p. 126.

NAKAWAKI, Hatsue. Wait! Wait! tr. from Japanese by Yuki Kaneko. illus. by Komako Sakai. Enchanted Lion. p. 128.

O’BRIEN, Annemarie. Lara’s Gift. Knopf. p. 147.

RASCHKA, Chris. Daisy Gets Lost. illus. by author. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Oct. p. 129.

SALERNI, Dianne K. The Caged Graves. Clarion. p. 164.

SLOAN, Holly Goldberg. Counting by 7s. Dial. p. 148.

WIESNER, David. Mr. Wuffles! illus. by author. Clarion. Oct. p. 135.

Graphic Novels

LEWIS, John & Andrew Aydin. March. Bk. 1. illus. by Nate Powell. (March Series). Top Shelf. p. 171.

Nonfiction

BUTTERWORTH, Chris. See What a Seal Can Do. illus. by Kate Nelms. Candlewick. p. 174.

FREEDMAN, Russell. Angel Island. Clarion. Oct. p. 182.

GREENBERG, Jan & Sandra Jordan. The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Oct. p. 184.

GUIBERSON, Brenda Z. The Greatest Dinosaur Ever. illus. by Gennady Spirin. Holt. Oct. p. 176.

LEWIS, Catherine. Thrice Told Tales: Three Mice Full of Writing Advice. illus. by Joost Swarte. S & S/Atheneum. p. 185.

MARKLE, Sandra. The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees. Millbrook. Oct. p. 186.

MONTGOMERY, Sy. The Tapir Scientist. photos by Nic Bishop. (Scientists in the Field Series). Houghton Harcourt. p. 188.

PINKNEY, Jerry. The Tortoise & the Hare. illus. by author. Little, Brown. Oct. p. 178.

From the Adult Books 4 Teens blog

LBARRY, Max. Lexicon. Penguin. (July 17 post)

FAGAN, Jenni. The Panopticon. Hogarth/Crown. (July 25 post)

ZAMBRANO, Mario Alberto. Lotería. HarperCollins. (July 25 post)

DVD

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal. PBS Dist. p. 63.

Nelson Mandela. Weston Woods. p. 63.

Audio

Hero on a Bicycle. By Shirley Hughes. Brilliance Audio. p. 69.

Oblivion. By Anthony Horowitz. Recorded Books. p. 71.

Out of This Place. By Emma Cameron. Brilliance Audio. p. 71.

Recess. Performed by Justin Roberts. Justinroberts.org. p. 76.

Shadow and Bone. By Leigh Bardugo. Brilliance Audio. p. 72.

Twelve Kinds of Ice. By Ellen Bryan Obed. Recorded Books. p. 74.

When readers of nonfiction see the names Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop on the cover of a book, they know they’re in for an adventure. Together this author and photographer dream team has written about and photographed expeditions on the trail of snow leopards in Mongolia, tarantulas in French Guiana, and the kakapo in New Zealand. On a recent trip, the two traveled with Pati Medici to the Pantanal Wetlands in Brazil, described as “the Everglades on steroids,” and home to tick swarms, pumas, wild pigs, giant amadillos, and the elusive tapir.

Why are scientists interested in the tapir?
The tapir is South America’s largest land mammal, and it’s what’s known as a “keystone” species: an animal whose lifestyle profoundly affects the health of its ecosystem, which makes it important to all the other animals and plants who share its habitat. Tapirs love fruit and they transport the seeds in the fruits they’ve eaten far from the trees on which they grew. Pati calls the tapir “the gardener in the forest” because it “plants” (complete with fertilizer) the seeds that grow into trees upon whose fruit many other animals depend. So tapirs are integral to the rainforest ecosystem. Yet very little is known about them—including how best to protect them.

The tapir looks almost prehistoric. Tell us about them.
A tropical animal with a long, flexible snout (which it can use a snorkel when it swims) and a stout body, four hoofed toes on front feet and three on each in back, the tapir looks like a cross between a hippo, an elephant, and something prehistoric. But tapirs aren’t related to elephants and hippos. Because of their flexible snouts, some people think they’re anteaters, but they’re not; their closest relatives are rhinos and horses. But the tapir is prehistoric; it has remained unchanged since the Pliocene, more than four million years ago, when mastodons and giant ground sloths roamed North America, and the first humans had not yet evolved in Africa. Tapirs lived all over Europe, Asia, and the Americas then. Now they’re found only in South America and Southeast Asia.

Your trip brought you to the Pantanal wetlands in Brazil, a place that has been described as “South America’s Serengeti” and “the Everglades on steroids.” What challenges did that environment present?
One challenge was all that water. This is the world’s largest wetland, and so many areas are difficult to reach because in the wet season, they are flooded. It also presents a danger to a tapir if you dart one outside a trap. Tapirs often flee to water, and this can be very dangerous for the tapir if it rushes into water for safety and then collapses from the tranquilizer.  Another was the heat—especially when we had a tapir in a trap. Normally they would be in the shade of the forest or the cool of the water by mid-day; we were eager to get them out of the traps as soon as possible anyway, but after early morning, we were especially worried that hot temperatures would add to the stress. And for us, the ticks were a nuisance—they were thick as flocking on our pants, and their bites were itchy!

What sort of team must be assembled for this sort of mission?
Our team was headed by Brazilian scientist Patricia Medici and included her Brazilian field assistant, a Brazilian-American darting specialist, a French zoo veterinarian, a Brazilian specialist in animal diseases and parasites—plus photographer Nic Bishop from New Zealand and me from New Hampshire in the States.

What modern technology did the team use to track the animals?
We followed the tapirs with radio telemetry and tracked them with collars transmitting GPS information to orbiting satellites. We searched on foot, by car, and with motion-sensing remote cameras. And we (and off site, some of Pati’s other colleagues) used microscopes, PCR, powerful computers and other lab equipment to look at their blood, classify their ticks, and analyze their genetics.

Once a tapir is captured, what happens next?
We would dart the animal to tranquilize it, so it wouldn’t be frightened while we examined it and affixed a radio collar to its neck. It was thrilling to be so close to a tapir, we could touch it. But we had to work fast. You don’t want to use too much tranquilizing drug—but you don’t want your 400-pound tapir to wake up in the middle of an exam, either!

You noted in the book that one of the scientists’ goals was to find out how much roaming space tapirs need to survive. What did they discover? What other information do they hope to learn as they continue to study these animals?
Pati hasn’t crunched her data yet, as she is hoping to get more tapirs and more years of information before she analyzes it all for a large sample size. But it’s known that often animals of the same species have different space requirements in different habitats. Tigers, for instance, in the cold Russian far east may need 10 times the space that tigers in the tropics might use. As Pati points out, tapirs live in lots of very different kinds of places—from high mountains to the Amazon. Tapirs live in five different types of habitat just in Brazil alone. So it’s necessary to study them in each of these habitats to see what their needs are.

Was this a successful trip?
Pati said she thought this was the most successful of her research expeditions yet! Before Pati and her team left the field, they had captured and collared three new tapirs and microchipped another; recaptured three old friends; collected tapir poop, skin, hair, and blood; and located other tapirs with sightings, camera traps, and telemetry. It was just fantastic to be part of it!

How did it compare to some of your other trips to learn about animals: snow leopards in Mongolia, the tree kangaroo in New Guinea, the kakapo in New Zealand?
Each trip has different challenges and delights. The snow leopard work in the Altai Mountains of the Gobi demanded hours of difficult, high-altitude hiking on rocky scree—and as result we got incredible views of this stark and gorgeous landscape. To even get to the area where we’d look for tree kangaroos in the cloud forest of Papua New Guinea, we had to hike to 10,000 feet on slippery mud for three days, bringing with us everything we’d need, including tents and scientific equipment, for two weeks. We didn’t camp in Brazil for the tapir book—we stayed in a comfortable fazenda on a cattle ranch, with beds and showers. But it was a very dramatic book. At first it seemed our dart guns and anesthetic wouldn’t work. We were capturing tapirs but couldn’t collar them. What was going wrong? That was part of the scientific challenge of field work, and figuring out the problems was something Pati’s team did beautifully.

Sy Montgomery, the tapir. From ‘The Tapir Scientist’ (Montgomery) Houghton Mifflin.

Any comment about the two recently named tapirs traipsing about the Pantanel: Nic Bishop and Sy Montgomery?
Both tapirs have been spotted repeatedly since they were collared, and Sy Montgomery has been seen with her new baby.

I understand you just returned from scuba diving in the Pacific with octopuses. Is another book in the works?
Indeed! The next book to appear will be Chasing Cheetahs, which Nic and I researched in Namibia together last summer at the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s African headquarters. In the South Pacific I was researching a book on octopus, working with underwater photographer Keith Ellenbogen to record how a team of researchers from Canada, Alaska, and Brazil are figuring out how octopuses’ personalities affect their food choices. No kidding—one of the things the team did was give each octopus we found a personality test!

I learned to scuba dive for that book, even though we ended up finding most of our octopuses in very shallow water in which we could snorkel—but I plan to use my scuba skills to work with Keith on a book on great white sharks after that.

The Tapir Scientist by Sy Montgomery, Illustrated by Nic Bishop (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013; Gr 4-8.)

Sy Montgomery reveals her passion for animals in this mini-documentary, courtesy of TeachingBooks.net

Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library (Rosenstock)
©2013 by John O’Brien

GOLDSTONE, Bruce. That’s a Possibility!: A Book About What Might Happen. 32p. illus. photos. Holt. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-8998-1.

K-Gr 4–As he did in Great Estimations (Holt, 2006), Goldstone takes a mathematical concept and makes it easily understandable for children and great fun as well. Using a question/answer format, he explains possibility, impossibility, probability, improbability, and certainty. Each concept is accompanied by photographs that are not only sharp and clear, but that also employ colors that make the pictures really pop. Varying sizes and fonts add interest, and the subjects that Goldstone has chosen to illustrate the concepts have a great deal of child appeal. The pages featuring combinations have adorable Squidgy the Bear dressed in the 100 outfits made possible by his possessing 10 shirts and 10 pairs of pants. It’s “bearly possible” to predict which outfit he will wear because of the 1 in 100 odds. This book will be a boon to teachers working with these concepts, and it will attract browsers as well. A first purchase.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, check out our new Book Verdict site! Book Verdict is fully accessible to all users, though certain content and functionality are only available to subscribers.To log in to your account, click here. To view the new subscription options, Get Started With Book Verdict ProToday.Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.

The following titles are reviewed in the August 1, 2013 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Preschool to Grade 4

ADLER, David A. Things That Float and Things That Don’t. illus. by Anna Raff. 32p. Holiday House. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2862-5. LC 2012045827.

ALLAN, Nicholas. Picasso’s Trousers. illus. by author. 32p. reprods. Red Fox. 2013. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-099-49536-9.

ARGUETA, Jorge. Tamalitos: Un poema para cocinar/A Cooking Poem. tr. from Spanish by Elisa Amado. illus. by Domi. 32p. Groundwood/Tigrillo. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-55498-300-1.

BLEIMAN, Andrew. Hello, Mommy ZooBorns! 24p. (Ready-to-Read Series). S & S/Spotlight. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4382-2; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4383-9. ebook available. LC 2012020354.

CELENZA, Anna Harwell. Saint-Saëns’s Danse Macabre. illus. by JoAnn E. Kitchel. 32p. w/CD. Charlesbridge. Aug. 2013. RTE $19.95. ISBN 978-1-57091-348-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-612-8. LC 2012024575.

CLAYTON, Sally Pomme. Greek Myths: Stories of Sun, Stone and Sea. illus. by Jane Ray. 78p. bibliog. index. maps. Frances Lincoln. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-84780-227-9.

COHN, Scotti. On the Move: Mass Migrations. illus. by Susan Detwiler. ISBN 978-1-60718-616-8; ISBN 978-1-60718-628-1; ISBN 978-1-60718-640-3.

LORD, Michelle. Nature Recycles: How About You? illus. by Cathy Morrison. ISBN 978-1-60718-615-1; ISBN 978-1-60718-627-4; ISBN 978-1-60718-639-7.

ea vol: 32p. websites. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95; pap. $9.95; ebook $9.99.

CORNELL, Kari. Awesome Snacks and Appetizers. ISBN 978-0-7613-6642-3; ISBN 978-1-4677-1717-5. LC 2012048903.

––––.Slurpable Smoothies and Drinks. ISBN 978-0-7613-6639-3; ISBN 978-1-4677-1715-1. LC 2012048904.

––––.Terrific Veggies on the Side. ISBN 978-0-7613-6640-9; ISBN 978-1-4677-1716-8. LC 2012048909.

ea vol: photos by Brie Cohen. 32p. (You’re the Chef Series). chart. diag. further reading. glossary. illus. index. websites. Millbrook. Sept.2013. lib. ed. $26.60; ebook $19.95.

FENTON, Corinne. Queenie: One Elephant’s Story. illus. by Peter Gouldthorpe. 24p. Candlewick. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6375-9. LC 2012947255.

FLATT, Lizann. Sizing Up Winter. illus. by Ashley Barron. 32p. (Math in Nature Series). Owlkids. Sept. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-926973-82-1. LC 2012954723.

GATES, Valerie. The Other Colors: An ABC Book. photos by Ann Cutting. 56p. Sky Pony. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-62087-537-7. LC 2012040716.

GERBER, Carole. Spring Blossoms. illus. by Leslie Evans. 32p. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-412-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-594-7. LC 2012000791.

GIEBINK, Bruce. Minnesota Bug Hunt. 32p. Minnesota Historical Society Press. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-87351-865-9. LC 2012044590.

HILL, Laban Carrick. When the Beat Was Born: DJ Kool Herc and the Creation of Hip Hop. illus. by Theodore Taylor III. 32p. bibliog. chron. websites. Roaring Brook. Aug. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-540-7.

HIMMELMAN, John. Noisy Frog Sing-Along. illus. by author. 32p. Dawn. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-58469-339-0; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-1-58469-340-6. LC 2013009691.

KALMAN, Bobbie. Baby Carnivores. ISBN 978-0-7787-1010-3; ISBN 978-0-7787-1015-8.

––––.Baby Rodents. ISBN 978-0-7787-1009-7; ISBN 978-0-7787-1014-1.

ea vol: 24p. (It’s Fun to Learn About Baby Animals Series). diag. glossary. illus. index. photos. Crabtree. 2013. lib. ed. $22.60; pap. $7.95. ebook available.

KAVIN, Kim. Native Americans: Discover the History & Cultures of the First Americans with 15 Projects. illus. by Beth Hetland. 128p. (Build It Yourself Series). chart. chron. diag. glossary. index. map. websites. Nomad. 2013. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-175-7; pap. $16.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-170-2.

KING, Martin Luther III. My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. illus. by AG Ford. 32p. HarperCollins/Amistad. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-028075-8; lib. ed. $18.89. ISBN 978-0-06-028076-5.

MORDEN, Daniel. Demeter and Persephone. Bk. 1. 40p. ISBN 978-1-84686-834-4. LC 2012020208.

––––. Orpheus and Eurydice. Bk. 3. 40p. ISBN 978-1-84686-784-2. LC 2012011236.

––––.Theseus and the Minotaur. Bk. 2. 64p. ISBN 978-1-84686-782-8.

ea vol: illus. by Carole Hénaff. (Greek Myths Series). bibliog. diags. maps. Barefoot. 2013. pap. $7.99.

NELSON, Steve & Jack Rollins. Frosty the Snowman. illus. by Wade Zahares. 28p. w/CD. Imagine/A Peter Yarrow Bk. Nov. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-62354-012-8; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-671-5. LC 2012046363.

ODE, Eric. Sea Star Wishes: Poems from the Coast. illus. by Erik Brooks. 32p. Sasquatch. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-57061-790-4.

OWEN, Cheryl. Gifts for Kids to Make. 128p. (The Craft Library Series). index. photos. Hamlyn. 2013. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-0-600-62515-5.

PELLETIER, Mia. Avati: Discovering Arctic Ecology. illus. by Sara Otterstätter. 48p. glossary. map. Inhabit Media. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-927095-13-3.

ROSENSTOCK, Barb. Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library. illus. by John O’Brien. 32p. bibliog. notes. Boyds Mills/Calkins Creek. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-932-2. LC 2013931061.

SAYRE, April Pulley. Let’s Go Nuts!: Seeds We Eat. photos by author. 32p. S & S/Beach Lane. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6728-6. ebook available.

SCHWARTZ, David M. Rotten Pumpkin: A Rotten Tale in 15 Voices. photos by Dwight Kuhn. 32p. glossary. Creston Books. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-939547-03-3.

SILVERBERG, Cory. What Makes a Baby. illus. by Fiona Smyth. 36p. Seven Stories. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-60980-485-5. LC 2013001628.

The Three Little Pigs. illus. by Emily Bolam. 32p. (A Story House Book). Boxer Bks. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-907152-67-2.

How to Train a Train (Eaton)
©2013 by John Rocco.

Fiction

BERRY, Julie. All the Truth That’s in Me. Viking. Sept. p. 109.

BLACK, Holly.The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Little, Brown. Sept. p. 109.

BROWN, Peter. Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. illus. by author. Little, Brown. Sept. p. 66.

COOPER, Elisha. Train. illus. by author. Scholastic/Orchard. Oct. p. 69.

COUSINS, Lucy. Peck, Peck, Peck. illus. by author. Candlewick. Aug. p. 70.

DICAMILLO, Kate. Flora & Ulysses. illus. by K. G. Campbell. Candlewick. Sept. p. 96.

EATON, Jason Carter. How to Train a Train. illus. by John Rocco. Candlewick. Sept. p. 72.

EDINGER, Monica. Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad. illus. by Robert Byrd. Candlewick. Oct. p. 97.

GERSTEIN, Mordicai. The First Drawing. illus. by author. Little, Brown. Sept. p. 74.

HARRINGTON, Karen. Sure Signs of Crazy. Little, Brown. p. 100.

HEST, Amy. When Charley Met Grampa. illus. by Helen Oxenbury. Candlewick. Sept. p. 76.

KITTSCHER, Kristen. The Wig in the Window. HarperCollins/Harper. p. 102.

KURTZ, Chris. The Adventures of South Pole Pig. illus. by Jennifer Black Reinhardt. Houghton Harcourt. p. 80.

LAROCHELLE, David. Moo! illus. by Mike Wohnoutka. Walker. Sept. p. 80.

NESS, Patrick. More Than This. Candlewick. Sept. p. 114.

PARK, Linda Sue. Xander’s Panda Party. illus. by Matt Phelan. Clarion. Sept. p. 86.

QUICK, Matthew. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock. Little, Brown. Aug. p. 115.

ROWELL, Rainbow. Fangirl. St. Martin’s Griffin. Sept. p. 115.

RUBIN, Adam. Secret Pizza Party. illus. by Daniel Salmieri. Dial. Sept. p. 89.

TWOHY, Mike. Outfoxed. illus. by author. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. Sept. p. 91.

VANCE, Alexander. The Heartbreak Messenger. Feiwel & Friends. p. 106.

Nonfiction

GOLDSTONE, Bruce. That’s a Possibility! Holt. p. 122.

RUSCH, Elizabeth. Eruption! (Scientists in the Field Series). Houghton Mifflin. p. 129.

SAMPSON, Sally. ChopChop: The Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food with Your Family. S & S. Aug. p. 129.

SANDLER, Martin W. Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II. Walker. Aug. p. 129.

From the Adult Books 4 Teens Blog

KINDT, Matt. Red Handed. First Second. (June 10 post)

DISCLAFANI, Anton. The Yonahlossee Riding Camp forGirls. Riverhead. (June 17 post)

WALLS, Jeannette. The Silver Star. Scribner. (June 18 post)

DVD

LMNO Peas. Weston Woods. p. 50.

Last Flight of Petr Ginz. First Run Features. p. 51.

AUDIO

Anna and the Cupcakes. Performed by The Bari Koral Family Rock Band. Bari Koral. p. 58.

Deep Sea Diver. Performed by Recess Monkey. Recess Monkey. p. 58.

Doll Bones. By Holly Black. Listening Library. p. 53.

I Like Everything About You (Yes I Do!). Performed by Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble. Crosspulse Media. p. 59.

Joshua Dread. By Lee Bacon. Listening Library. p. 55.

Listen to the Birds: An Introduction to Classical Music. The Secret Mountain.p. 59.

RUSCH, Elizabeth. Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives. 76p. (Scientists in the Field Series). bibliog. diag. glossary. index. map. notes. Houghton Mifflin. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-0-547-50350-9. LC 2012034055.

Gr 5-9–What does another book about volcanoes or natural disasters matter to a nonfiction section these days? In the case of this addition to the series, it matters a lot. This book gives tragic and terrifying volcanoes a sense of story that other books lack by talking about real-life crises and how individuals came together to keep millions of people safe. Young geology enthusiasts may not realize that there are so many volcanoes in the world, erupting constantly and posing threats to so many people, so the maps and personal narratives are eye-opening. The text is easy to understand but does not oversimplify the content, and the captions for the full-color photos give brief but valuable information about the images. In addition to telling the stories of specific, recent volcanic eruptions and how volcanologists reacted, there are also many pages with general information that help readers gain necessary vocabulary and see the big picture of volcanic activity. The book includes an extensive index, a helpful glossary, chapter notes citing sources, and a selected bibliography that is fairly lengthy, covering quite a breadth of sources. A great addition for all collections.–Trina Bolfing, Westbank Libraries, Austin, TX

SAMPSON, Sally. ChopChop: The Kids’ Guide to Cooking Real Food with Your Family. 208p. S & S. Aug. 2013. pap. $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4516-8587-9; ebook $11.99. ISBN 978-1-4516-8589-3.

Gr 3-8–By the creator of ChopChop: The Fun Cooking Magazine for Families, this book has a simple concept: teach kids to cook wholesome foods and you will not only get help in the kitchen and build positive family memories, but also set up youngsters for a lifetime of healthy eating. With a balance of health food and kid appeal as well as kitchen chemistry, history, and the facts about smart choices, this is more than a collection of recipes. Many (soups, salad dressings, smoothies, sandwiches, vegetables, chocolate chip cookies, and more) merely provide the basic instructions and then invite kids to build their own; the smoothie section includes a simple chart that they can use to select ingredients that sound appealing. Included in the beginning is a note to children, a note for parents, a list of essential ingredients and equipment to have on hand, and even a seasoning experiment. Each recipe lets youngsters know if an adult is needed, the hands-on time, the total time, kitchen gear necessary, and, of course, ingredients. The photographs show fully engaged kids having a really good time making and enjoying beautiful food. A delicious standout title, sure to inspire the next generation of chefs.–Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN

SANDLER, Martin W. Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II. 176p. bibliog. charts. further reading. illus. index. maps. photos. reprods. websites. Walker. Aug. 2013. Tr $22.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2277-5; PLB $23.89. ISBN 978-0-8027-2278-2.

Gr 7 Up–Sandler expertly crafts a narrative that manages to explain the horror and incomprehensibility of locking up American citizens in prison camps simply because of their ethnic ancestry. Japanese American relocation has long been expurgated from school history texts about World War II, and here this delicate topic is handled with sensitivity and insight, providing an in-depth look at the full story, from anti-Japanese sentiments during the first wave of immigration through more current issues such as redress. A close examination of both the nation’s feelings after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the political conversations that followed is an important part of the story that leads up to the actual relocation of hundreds of thousands of people. There is also a lengthy and moving section about the young Japanese Americans who served in the military in a variety of capacities, from actual combat to intelligence and translation services. Sandler makes it clear that these brave folks were battling prejudice and tyranny overseas while their families and friends were suffering under it back at home. The irony was not lost on them. Photographs help to further the narrative and yet tell their own story, offering rich detail and putting a human face on this tragic episode. A must-have for any library collection.–Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

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The following titles are reviewed in the August 1, 2013 print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Grades 5 & Up

ANDERSON, Michael. Abraham Lincoln. ISBN 978-1-61530-942-9. LC 2012020487.

––––.Ronald Reagan. ISBN 978-1-61530-944-3. LC 2012026713.

HOLLAR, Sherman. Andrew Jackson. ISBN 978-1-61530-941-2. LC 2012019291.

––––.Barack Obama. map. ISBN 978-1-61530-945-0. LC 2012034011.

ea vol: 80p. (Pivotal Presidents: Profiles in Leadership Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. reprods. websites. Britannica. 2013. lib. ed. $32.90. ebook available.

ARETHA, David. Martin Luther King Jr. and the 1963 March on Washington. 112p. (The Civil Rights Movement Series). bibliog. chron. index. notes. photos. Morgan Reynolds. 2013. lib. ed. $28.95. ISBN 978-1-59935-372-2. ebook available. LC 2012035355.

BARBER, Nicola. Cloning and Genetic Engineering. illus. ISBN 978-1-4488-7187-2. LC 2012013797.

––––.The Death Penalty. chron. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4488-7185-8. LC 2012021963.

COSTER, Patience. Animal Rights. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4488-7184-1. LC 2012023102.

––––.Euthanasia. ISBN 978-1-4488-7186-5. LC 2012026948.

ea vol: 48p. (Both Sides of the Story Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen Central. 2013. lib. ed. $29.25. ebook available.

BASCOMB, Neal. The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi. 256p. bibliog. index. map. notes. photos. reprods. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-43099-9; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-56239-3.

BOW, James. What Is the Executive Branch? ISBN 978-0-7787-0902-2.

––––.What Is the Legislative Branch? ISBN 978-0-7787-0879-7.

RODGER, Ellen. What Is the Judicial Branch? reprods. ISBN 978-0-7787-0880-3. LC 2013001275.

ea vol: 32p. (Your Guide to Government Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Crabtree. 2013. lib. ed. $26.60.

CARSON, Mary Kay. Beyond the Solar System: Exploring Galaxies, Black Holes, Alien Planets, and More: A History with 21 Activities. 124p. charts. chron. diags. further reading. glossary. illus. index. maps. photos. reprods. websites. Chicago Review Press. 2013. pap. $18.95. ISBN 978-1-61374-544-1. LC 2012046330.

CATTERALL, Clive. The Hot Air Balloon Book: Build and Launch Kongming Lanterns, Solar Tetroons, and More. 240p. (Science in Motion Series). chart. diag. illus. photos. Chicago Review Press. Aug. 2013. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-1-61374-096-5.

CORRIGAN, Jim. The Korean War. 172p. chron. glossary. photos. (Modern American Conflicts Series). Morgan Reynolds. 2013. $28.95. ISBN 978-1-59935-403-3.

CYRUS, Kurt. Your Skeleton Is Showing: Rhymes of Blunder from Six Feet Under. illus. by Crab Scrambly. 32p. Hyperion/Disney. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3846-4. LC 2011014439.

DAKERS, Diane. The Beatles: Leading the British Invasion. ISBN 978-0-7787-1035-6; ISBN 978-0-7787-1045-5.

DOWN, Susan Brophy. Muhammad Ali: The Greatest. ISBN 978-0-7787-1034-9; ISBN 978-0-7787-1043-1.

ea vol: 112p. (Crabtree Groundbreaker Biographies Series). chron. further reading. glossary. index. photos. reprods. websites. Crabtree. 2013. lib. ed. $33.27; pap. $12.95. ebook available.

FARNDON, John, Alex Woolf, Anne Rooney, & Liz Gogerly. Great Scientists. ISBN 978-1-4777-0405-9. LC 2012032245.

––––.Great Mathematicians. ISBN 978-1-4777-0402-8. LC 2012032367.

ea vol: 128p. (Great People in History Series). chart. diag. further reading. glossary. illus. index. photos. reprods. websites. Rosen. 2013. lib. ed. $34.60. ebook available.

GOLDISH, Meish. Disabled Dogs. ISBN 978-1-61772-697-2. LC 2012032978.

––––.Soldiers’ Dogs. ISBN 978-1-61772-696-5. LC 2012032064.

ea vol: 32p. (Dog Heroes Series). bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Bearport. 2013. lib. ed. $25.27.

HAND, Carol. Depleted & Contaminated Soil and Your Food Supply. chart. ISBN 978-1-4488-8414-8. LC 2012023106.

HEOS, Bridget. Radioactive Contamination and Your Risk. ISBN 978-1-4488-8415-5. LC 2012024850.

LANDAU, Jennifer. Pesticides and Your Body. ISBN 978-1-4488-8413-1. LC 2012018544.

ea vol: 48p. (Incredibly Disgusting Environments Series). bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen Central. 2013. lib. ed. $29.25. ebook available.

KRULL, Kathleen. Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought). illus. by Kathryn Hewitt. 96p. (Lives of Series). further reading. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $20.99. ISBN 978-0-15-205909-5. LC 2012953333.

LAVERY, Brian. The Conquest of the Ocean: An Illustrated History of Seafaring. 400p. bibliog. diag. glossary. index. map. photos. reprods. DK. Sept. 2013. Tr $30. ISBN 978-1-4654-0841-9.

MEISSNER, David & Kim Richardson. Call of the Klondike: A True Gold Rush Adventure. 168p. bibliog. chron. further reading. illus. map. photos. reprods. websites. Boyds Mills/Calkins Creek. Oct. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-823-3. LC 2013931060.

MOONEY, Brian. Great Leaders. chron. ISBN 978-1-4777-0403-5. LC 2012032376.

STANGROOM, Jeremy & James Garvey. Great Philosophers. diag. ISBN 978-1-4777-0404-2. LC 2012032781.

ea vol: 128p. (Great People in History Series). further reading. glossary. illus. index. photos. reprods. websites. Rosen. 2013. lib. ed. $34.60. ebook available.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, The. An Eye for Art: Focusing on Great Artists and Their Work. 180p. chron. photos. reprods. Chicago Review Press. Sept. 2013. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-61374-897-8. LC 2013009403.

PAYMENT, Simone. Black Ops and Other Special Missions of the U.S. Navy SEALS. diags. maps. ISBN 978-1-4488-8380-6; ISBN 978-1-4488-8385-1. LC 2012014776.

POOLOS, J. Black Ops and Other Special Missions of the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command. ISBN 978-1-4488-8383-7; ISBN 978-1-4488-8390-5. LC 2012018783.

SHEA, Therese. Black Ops and Other Special Missions of the U.S. Army Green Berets. ISBN 978-1-4488-8381-3; ISBN 978-1-4488-8387-5. LC 2012017970.

ea vol: 64p. (Inside Special Forces Series). bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen Central. 2013. lib. ed. $31.95; pap. $12.95; ebook available.

STERN, Rebecca. Breakfast on Mars: and 37 Other Delectable Essays. 224p. Roaring Brook. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-737-1.

WAGNER, Lisa. Cool World Cooking: Fun and Tasty Recipes for Kids! 160p. glossary. index. map. photos. Scarletta/Junior Scarletta Readers. 2013. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-938063-12-1. ebook available.

WELLDON, Christine. Reporter in Disguise: The Intrepid Vic Steinberg. 78p. bibliog. glossary. index. notes. photos. reprods. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2013. RTE $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-233-7.

WILSON, Janet. Our Rights: How Kids Are Changing the World. illus. by author. 32p. photos. Second Story. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-1-926920-95-5.

WOLFE, Mike with Lily Sprengelmeyer. Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk into Treasure. 128p. illus. index. photos. reprods. Feiwel & Friends. 2013. Tr $18.99. ISBN 978-1-250-00848-0; pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-250-01930-1. ebook available.

YASUDA, Anita. Explore Native American Cultures!: With 25 Great Projects. illus. by Jennifer K. Keller. 90p. chron. glossary. index. map. websites. Nomad. 2013. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-61930-160-3.

The assortment of recent books surveyed below examines both historical milestones and current research that have illuminated our understanding, with explorations in two opposite (or maybe not so opposite) directions: toward the universe’s smallest and most fundamental components and forces, and outward to the stars and beyond. Along with picture books that will have very young audiences thinking beyond the playpen, selected fiction and poetry are tucked into this list to demonstrate less typical but no less valid ways of introducing scientific wonders and concepts. Several of the titles also serve todispel the notion that science is for nerds; the sometimes provocative biographies of nuclear physicists Ernest Rutherford and Richard Feynman, for instance, profile men whose personalities were every bit as big and powerful as their brains.

Digger, Dozer, Dumper (Vestergaard)
©2013 by David Slonim

FLOCA, Brian. Locomotive. illus. by author. 64p. diags. maps. notes. S & S/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks. Sept. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9415-2; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-8522-8.
Gr 3-5–It all started with “a new road of rails/made for people to ride” where “covered wagons used to crawl.” Almost 150 years ago–just after the Civil War–the completion of the transcontinental railway radically changed both this country’s landscape and the opportunities of its people. The book traces the advent of cross-country train travel, focusing on an early trip from Omaha to Sacramento. As in Moonshot (2009) and Lightship (2007, both S & S), Floca proves himself masterful with words, art, and ideas. The book’s large format offers space for a robust story in a hefty package of information. Set in well-paced blank verse, the text begins with a quick sketch of “how this road was built” and moves abruptly to the passengers on the platform and the approaching train. The author smoothly integrates descriptions of the structure and mechanics of the locomotive, tasks of crew members, passing landscapes, and experiences of passengers. Simply sketched people and backgrounds, striking views of the locomotive, and broad scenes of unpopulated terrain are framed in small vignettes or sweep across the page. Though a bit technical in explaining engine parts, the travelogue scheme will read aloud nicely and also offers absorbing details for leisurely personal reading. Substantial introductory and concluding sections serve older readers. There’s also a detailed explanation of the author’s efforts and sources in exploring his subject. Train buffs and history fans of many ages will find much to savor in this gorgeously rendered and intelligent effort.–Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston

PINKNEY, Andrea Davis. Martin & Mahalia: His Words, Her Song. illus. by Brian Pinkney. 40p. chron. discography. further reading. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-07013-3. LC 2012005499.
Gr 2-4–As in Sit-In (Little, Brown, 2010), the Pinkneys present important figures and a pivotal moment during the Civil Rights Movement in a fresh and visually compelling manner. Readers are invited to follow a path and a dove throughout–both images being rich in multiple meanings. The narrative starts with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s upbringing, which trained him to speak the gospel. Rendered in cool blues and greens, the fluid watercolor and ink compositions are less about capturing a likeness than conveying the charisma and soul of this preacher. Mahalia Jackson is portrayed in warm oranges and reds. (When together, purples envelope the pair.) Readers learn that she sang the gospel, from church choirs to recordings, and performances for presidents. Overlaid with ribbons of key words and rounded lines suggesting ripples from the characters’ auras, the pictures provide emotional content for the author’s smart and stylized descriptions. This fascinating new lens for children on the often-depicted “Dream” speech during the March on Washington reveals how Jackson’s powerful voice stilled the crowds for King’s: “She rolled her brass and butter with a MIGHTY DOSE OF THUNDER.” Author and artist indicate how, in the call-and-response manner so familiar to both, it was Jackson who admonished King to, “TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR DREAM, MARTIN!” Ideas and fervor build and important phrases appear in bold colors. Historical context and artistic inspirations wrap up this informative approach to the two icons and the effect of their partnership on history.–Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

VESTERGAARD, Hope. Digger, Dozer, Dumper. illus. by David Slonim. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5078-0. LC 2012947724.
PreS-Gr 2–These delightful, finely crafted, informative, fun verses can serve as Common Core exemplar texts while satisfying truck and poetry fans. Each rig’s function is described with great care and attention to language with seamless rhymes, alliteration, and assonance gracing the selections. Nothing seems forced about Vestergaard’s rhymes; they’re smooth and sure, and easy to set to memory: “After the asphalt’s dumped and spread/in sticky, long black lines,/the road must cure. You can be sure…/Steamroller’s close behind….” About the cherry picker, Vestergaard writes, “The picker pauses in the sky,/plucks its target,/then…/gently, slowly, gracefully, sets it down again,” and in a tour-de-force ending: “digger, dozer, dumper, grader/backhoe, roller, excavator/….” Each poem is presented on a spread with lighthearted acrylic and charcoal illustrations that often include a girl and two boys of various hues and a yellow hard-hat-wearing pup, as well as the rigs themselves with hints of personification in their headlight eyes. There are 16 machines in all: garbage truck, forklift, street sweeper, and so on. The cartoon children are depicted operating the machines, but the final illustration reverses the relationship of object to child; suddenly the children are quite big and their trucks are small and handheld. This book is intelligent and informative, with craft, rhythm, great art, and entertainment.–Teresa Pfeifer, The Springfield Renaissance School, Springfield, MA

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The following titles are reviewed in the July print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Preschool to Grade 4 Nonfiction

CLAFLIN, Willy. The Bully Goat Grim: A Maynard Moose Tale. illus. by James Stimson. 32p. glossary. w/CD. August Little Folk. 2013. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-087483-952-4. LC 2012008626.

COLEMAN, Janet Wyman. Eight Dolphins of Katrina: A True Tale of Survival. illus. by Yan Nascimbene. 40p. bibliog. photos. Houghton Harcourt. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-71923-8.

CUMMINS, Julie. Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America’s Heart. illus. by Malene R. Laugesen. 32p. bibliog. further reading. websites. Roaring Brook. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-509-4. LC 2012029743.

DEMIR, Cengiz. Tales from Nasreddin Hodja. tr. from Turkish by Serdar Aşlar. illus. by Öznur Kalendar. 144p. Tughra Books. 2013. pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-59784-285-3.

FORD, Bernette. reteller. Little Red Riding Hood. illus. by Tom Knight. 32p. (A Story House Book Series). Boxer Bks. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-907967-38-2.

GORDON, Nick. Army Night Stalkers. ISBN 978-1-60014-874-3. LC 2012032062.
––––. Marine Corps Force Recon. ISBN 978-1-60014-875-0. LC 2012032050.
––––.Marine Expeditionary Units. ISBN 978-1-60014-876-7. LC 2012032984.
ea vol: 24p. (Epic: U.S. Military Series). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Bellwether Media. 2013. PLB $22.95.

HAMILTON, John. A-10 Thunderbolt II. ISBN 978-1-61783-685-5. LC 2012946022.
––––.AC-130H/U Gunship. ISBN 978-1-61783-686-2. LC 20129945705.
––––.B-52 Stratofortress. ISBN 978-1-61783-687-9. LC 2012945706.
––––.F-22 Raptor. ISBN 978-1-61783-688-6. LC 2012945865.
––––.UH-60 Black Hawk. ISBN 978-1-61783-689-3. LC 2012045707.
ea vol: 32p. (Xtreme Military Aircraft Set 2 Series). glossary. index. photos. ABDO. 2013. PLB $27.07.

HENEGHAN, Judith. Love Your Cat. ISBN 978-1-4777-0184-3. LC 2012026234.
––––.Love Your Dog. ISBN 978-1-4777-0185-0. LC 2012026233.
––––.Love Your Hamster. ISBN 978-1-4777-0186-7. LC 2012026641.
––––.Love Your Rabbit. ISBN 978-1-4777-0187-4. LC 2012026642.
ea vol: 32p. (Your Perfect Pet Series). glossary. index. photos. websites. Windmill. 2013. PLB $25.25.

HOLLAND, Mary. Ferdinand Fox’s First Summer. 32p. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-614-4; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-626-7; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60718-638-0. LC 2012030121.

JOSLIN, Mary. reteller. The Lion Classic Wisdom Stories. illus. by Christina Balit. 128p. Lion Children’s Books. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7459-6369-3.

KIM, Young-Ah. Some Days Are Lonely. tr. from Korean. illus. by Ji-Soo Shin. 32p. Magination. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-1287-3; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-4338-1288-0. LC 2012035886.

LEPPANEN, Debbie. Trick-or-Treat: A Happy Haunter’s Halloween. illus. by Tad Carpenter. 40p. S & S/Beach Lane. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3398-4; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3399-1. LC 2012004906.

LEWIN, Ted. What Am I? Where Am I? illus. by author. 32p. (I Like to Read Series). Holiday House. Sept. 2013. RTE $14.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2856-4. LC 2012039289.

LYON, George Ella. Planes Fly! illus. by Mick Wiggins. 40p. S & S/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Bks. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5025-7; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5026-4. LC 2012030310.

MINOR, Florence. If You Were a Panda Bear. illus. by Wendell Minor. 32p. further reading. glossary. websites. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-195090-2.

NUNES, Shiho S. Chinese Fables: “The Dragon Slayer” and Other Timeless Tales of Wisdom. illus. by Lak-Khee Tay-Audouard. 64p. Tuttle. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8048-4152-8. LC 2012029059.

OWEN, Ruth. Arctic Foxes. ISBN 978-1-4777-0222-2; ISBN 978-1-4777-0240-6. LC 2012026936.
––––.Beluga Whales. ISBN 978-1-4777-0221-5; ISBN 978-1-4777-0239-0. LC 2012026640.
––––.Musk Oxen. ISBN 978-1-4777-0219-2; ISBN 978-1-4777-0237-6. LC 2012020685.
––––.Puffins. ISBN 978-1-4777-0224-6; ISBN 978-1-4777-0242-0.
––––.Snowy Owls. ISBN 978-1-4777-0223-9; ISBN 978-1-4777-0241-3.
––––.Walruses. ISBN 978-1-4777-0220-8; ISBN 978-1-4777-0238-3. LC 2012025846.
ea vol: 32p. (Polar Animals: Life in the Freezer Series). further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Windmill. 2013. PLB $25.25; ebook $25.25.

PIVEN, Hanoch. Let’s Make Faces. illus. by author. 40p. S & S/Atheneum. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-1532-4; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-8186-2.

POLISAR, Barry Louis. Something Fishy. illus. by David Clark. 32p. glossary. Rainbow Morning Music. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-0-938663-53-9.

ROSE, Deborah Lee & Susan Kelly. Jimmy the Joey: The True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue. photos by Susan Kelly. 32p. further reading. maps. websites. National Geographic. July 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-4263-1371-4; PLB $25.90. ISBN 978-1-4263-1372-1.

SHAPIRO, David. Tool. Time. Twist.: A Brief History of Tools Through Time. illus. by Christopher Herndon. 48p. Craigmore Creations. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-9844422-7-0.

WEGERIF, Gay. Up Close. illus. by author. 30p. Abrams/Appleseed. 2013. BD $12.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0391-1.

WHEELER, Jill C. Dav Pilkey. ISBN 978-1-61783-577-3; ISBN 978-1-61480-724-7. LC 2012946383.
––––.Rick Riordan. ISBN 978-1-61783-578-0; ISBN 978-1-61480-725-4. LC 2012946385.
––––.Yuyi Morales. ISBN 978-1-61783-576-6; ISBN 978-1-61480-723-0. LC 2012946367.
ea vol: 24p. (Children’s Authors Series). glossary. index. photos. reprods. websites. ABDO. 2013. PLB $17.95; ebook $17.95.

WILD, Margaret. The Dream of the Thylacine. illus. by Ron Brooks. 32p. photos. Trafalgar Square. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-74237-383-6.

WINTERS, Kari-Lynn. Buzz About Bees. 32p. charts. diags. further reading. glossary. illus. index. maps. photos. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2013. RTE $19.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-202-3.

WORTH, Bonnie. Hark! A Shark!: All About Sharks. illus. by Aristides Ruiz. 48p. (The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library Series). further reading. glossary. illus. Random. 2013. Tr $8.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87073-6; PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97073-3. LC 2011048247.

WRIGHT, Danielle, ed. Korean Nursery Rhymes: Wild Geese, Land of Goblins and Other Favorite Songs and Rhymes. tr. by Jenny Wang Medina, Binna Lee et al. illus. by Helen Acraman. 32p. w/CD. Tuttle. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8048-4227-3. LC 2012029066.

YOLEN, Jane. Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book. illus. by Jane Dyer. 112p. index. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. 2013. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-4898-8. LC 2012015136.