BIRMINGHAM, Maria. Weird Zone: Sports. illus. by Jamie Bennett. Owlkids. 2013. ISBN 9781926973616. JLG Level: SE : Sports Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Looking for baseball or basketball? You won’t find it here. Subtitled “The strangest, funniest, and most daringest events form the world of athletics and beyond!,” this book includes sports like bossaball ,which is a combination of soccer, volleyball, and gymnastics. It’s played on an inflatable court with a net like volleyball. Basic instructions are given for all kinds of sports, both team and solo. Readers can learn how to juggle and run―at the same time. Some of them are extreme―like roller-skating on a roller coaster or skate-boarding on a ramp as tall as an eight story building.

The author includes factual tidbits about sports dating as far back as .the early 11^th century.  An Englishman attached wings to his hands and feet and jumped from tower. (He broke his legs.) Also, when there was a cheese shortage in England, Cheese Rolling continued. Organizers built a wheel with representative cheese within it. In sidebars called “Invention Dimension,” kids discover different inventions related sports. Rules, quizzes, and vocabulary round out the text. A fascinating read―for the sports fan or not.

Davies, Nicola. Deadly!: The Truth About the Most Dangerous Creatures on Earth. illus. by Neal Layton. Candlewick. 2013. ISBN 9780763662318. JLG Level: NE : Nonfiction Elementary (Grades 2–6).

Davies’ latest nonfiction work focuses on killing techniques and defense mechanisms of a variety of animals. Suicidal ants explode to save their colony. Crocodiles perform the “death roll,” spinning in the water to twist off the limb (or head) it has clamped in its jaws. In spite of sometimes being as small as a fingernail, the box jellyfish may be the most toxic creature on the planet, according to scientists. A pack of wild dogs sometimes eats their victim before it’s completely dead. Readers will also learn to prevent attacks by not carrying food in their backpack (which draws bears) or avoiding a swim in the murky ocean water (where a shark might look for nourishment).

Though the material is far from being bedtime reading, Layton’s comic panel illustrations lighten the grim reality of animal survival skills. The author also points out that these dangerous creatures are important to our world. The cycle of life brings balance among plants and animals. Scientists have even found uses for lethal poisons: scorpion toxin is used in the fight against cancer; cobra venom can help relieve the pain of arthritis.

Readers may also enjoy the pairs’ companion books, Poop, Extreme Animals, and What’s Eating You.

GRIFFITHS, Andy. What Body Part Is That?: A Wacky Guide to the Funniest, Weirdest, and Most Disgustingest Parts of Your Body. Feiwel & Friends. 2012. ISBN 9780312367909.  JLG Level: HE : Humor Elementary (grades 2–6).

“Ninety-nine percent fact free” reads the cover. What may sound like a book that belongs in 612 is actually fiction. A diagram of the human body and all its parts precedes the chapters. Readers are encouraged to read only the parts they find interesting. Diagrams contribute to the humor of these quick chapters and tickle the funny bone. The author and illustrator offer “A & T’s Fun Body Part Facts” in each chapter. Kids can also read about how scars are formed (which will leave them in awe). The book even covers “Private Parts.” “Private parts are private. That is not all there is to know about private parts but that is all I can tell you because they are private.”

Readers who enjoy Lemony Snicket or Dav Pilkey would enjoy the humor (and the drawings) in this light comedy about the body.

JENSON-ELLIOTT, Cindy. The Most Famous Pirates. Capstone. 2013. ISBN 9781429686099. JLG Level: H35 : Series Nonfiction: History 3–5 (Grades 3–5).

“Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me,” might echo in readers’ minds as they peruse this tome of most famous pirates. Part of Capstone’s “Blazer” series (high interest, low vocabulary), Jenson-Elliott gives a brief introduction from the 1500s to 1730s. Sidebars feature highlighted vocabulary and facts for each chapter. The Barbarossa brothers often sold the crew and passengers of captured ships into slavery. Sir Francis Drake may have been the first to sail around the world, but he was also an English privateer―he was paid by his country to steal other ships and goods. Black Bart liked to dress in fancy clothing. One of Ireland’s most known pirates was a woman―Grace O’Malley. She owned at least five castles and all the land around them. Cheng Shih took her husband’s place on the sea and commanded more than 1,500 ships and 80,000 pirates. Nonfiction support material concludes the text.

For ideas about how to use these books and links to supportive sites, check out the Junior Library Guild blog, Shelf Life.

Junior Library Guild is a collection development service that helps school and public libraries acquire the best new children’s and young adult books. Season after season, year after year, Junior Library Guild book selections go on to win awards, collect starred or favorable reviews, and earn industry honors. Visit us at www.JuniorLibraryGuild.com.

Based on Disney’s Peter Pan franchise, this Annie-Award-winning show depicts the adventures of Jake and his cohorts: Izzy, a girl pirate who has been given a sack of pixie dust by the fairies for use in emergencies; Cubby, the youngest of the bunch and keeper of the Never Land map; and their talking parrot Skully. As they search for treasure or hunt for missing items, often sailing aboard their ship Bucky, the brave buccaneers come into conflict with the dastardly (but entertainingly ineffectual) Captain Hook and his first mate, the more easy-going Mr. Smee.

The children earn gold doubloons for solving each “pirate problem,” counting them up at episode’s end. With a focus on determination, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, the series also incorporates toe-tapping music (including live-action songs performed by the Pirate Band), slap-stick humor, and frequent opportunities for audience participation. A primetime special, Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Jake Saves Bucky (G), premieres on September 19 (International Talk Like a Pirate Day) and will be released on DVD in October.

Young hearties can sail on over to Jake’s website to watch clips from the series, music videos, and full episodes. Also featured are numerous show-related video games that are both entertaining and educational. Introduced by a narrative framework and/or clear directions, the selections emphasize skills such as sorting, counting, color and shape identification, eye-hand coordination, and more. There is plenty of positive reinforcement as the characters cheer on youngsters, and several of the games allow users to progress from level to level (and reward success with gold doubloons). Some of the offerings have a more creative bent (design your own pirate), and coloring sheets and craft projects are also available for downloading.

Book Tie-ins

Kids who love the series will dive right into these colorful volumes starring the familiar characters. The tales follow the format of the show, introducing a problem (usually caused by Captain Hook’s misguided actions), demonstrating how the friends work together to face the challenge, and ending with a clear resolution. In Skipping Day (Random House, 2012; PreS), “A Little Golden Book” appropriate for the very youngest fans, Hook snatches a jump rope from Jake and his pals and ends up in a tangle; however, the kindhearted kids free the captain and show him how to use the rope to have fun. The short and simple narrative is accompanied by soft-hued illustrations that echo the look of the animation, all neatly set off by clean white backdrops, and the book’s small size makes it great for lap-sharing.

Disney Press presents a colorful cache of upbeat tales illustrated with bright-hued cartoon artwork that delightfully depicts the show’s familiar players and island setting. Each book begins with Jake’s trademark greeting, an invitation for readers to join the crew by saying the pirate password (“Yo-ho-ho!”), and “Today’s Pirate Pledge”—a recap of the lesson learned during that particular adventure (e.g., “A good matey does nice things for other people”). The stories end with kudos from the characters for a job well done and a smattering of gold doubloons to be counted. Jake and the Spyglass introduces the cast with full-page portraits and then plunges into fast-paced action. Eyeballing the glow of distant treasure, Hook is unable to locate his own spyglass and steals one from the kids, who must find a way to retrieve it (don’t worry, the light-fingered captain receives his comeuppance from Tick Tock Croc). The book ends with several activity pages (search-and-find, counting, finger-follow mazes, etc.).

Two smaller-size staple-bound picture books take a similar approach. In Let’s Get Jumping!, Hook swipes a pogo stick from the youngsters and manages to end up stuck in a tree (Izzy solves the problem with a dose of fairy dust), and when Cubby’s harmonica goes missing (courtesy of the sneaky caption), the “sea pups” must Follow That Sound! (all Disney, 2012; PreS-Gr 1) to recover the instrument. These inviting books feature vividly illustrated spreads, clearly written narratives sprinkled with dialogue, and smiles all around. Jokes and tongue-in-beak quips from Skully the parrot appear on the bottom corners of the pages.

Part of Disney Press’s “World of Reading” series, two “Level Pre-1” titles incorporate rebus images into the lines of large-size text to encourage youngsters to follow along. Paired with the word they represent, these pictographs are repeated frequently throughout the short and simple narratives, helping kids to make connections between objects and sequences of letters. It’s Hook’s birthday and the “puny pirates” try do something nice, but when The Croc Takes the Cake, they must come up with a way to save the day. Thinking it’s treasure, the greedy Captain snatches a golden egg from the nest of two humming bird parents, and Jake Hatches a Plan (both 2012; Pres-K) to get it back safe and sound. Both tales feature easy-to-follow plots, and the accompanying artwork adds to the action and humor while providing visual clues to support the storytelling. Separate sentences in a smaller font prompt kids to seek out or count objects in the pictures, nudging them to take a closer look and interpret the visual details more carefully. The high-interest subject matter and appealing format of these books will help pre-readers take their first steps toward reading.

Publication Information

POSNER-SANCHEZ, Andrea, adapt. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: A Skipping Day. illus. by Stefania Fiorillo, Raffaella Seccia, & Gianluca Barone. Random/Golden Books. 2012. Tr $3.99. ISBN 978-0-7364-3029-6.

LA ROSE, Melinda. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Jake and the Spyglass. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-142314944-6.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Let’s Get Jumping! pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142314924-8.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Follow That Sound! pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142314943-9.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: The Croc Takes the Cake. “World of Reading.” pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142315543-0.

_____. Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Jake Hatches a Plan. “World of Reading.” pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-142315542-3.

ea vol: illus. by Alan Batson. Disney Pr. 2012.