The Magic Pillow by Demi - ADVISABLE

Demi The Magic Pillow. McElderry (Simon), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

A young is given a gift of sleep on a magic pillow that shows him a life of fame, power and fortune. Upon waking, the boy can decide to follow that path or choose a different type of life.

A powerful life lesson wrapped up in a neat little package accompanied by Demi’s stylized Asian drawings.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Amigurumi Animals by Annie Obaachan - ADVISABLE

Obaachan, Annie Amigurumi Animals, 128 pgs. St. Martin's Griffin

EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

This book teaches you how to crochet animals. Amigurumi was developed by the Japanese. Now you can learn on how to make creative and cute animals. First, they show the history of Amigurumi animals. Then, it's on to tips and instructions. Finally, in the back of the book, there is a gallery full of cute pictures! This book is really detailed in the instructions. It can be used by beginners and experts. But one thing I didn't like was that there were so many abbreviations. It made it a bit confusing.

Student Reviewer: CW

The Sister Switch by Jane B. Mason - OPTIONAL

Mason, Jane B. and Sarah Hines Stephens The Sister Switch, Pgs. 150. Scholastic.

Content- G

EL - OPTIONAL

Caitlin and Andie are identical twins. Andie is athletic, and Caitlin isn't. Although, she is going to try out for the Jazz ensemble, but the P.E. teacher said that everyone has to go though an assessment. Caitlin doesn't think she will pass, so she asks her sister to do it for her. They promise that it would be a one time thing, then they both like being each other more than themselves.

I really didn't care for this book, because I prefer less predictable books. Even though, I think that it teaches kids that they can do anything that they set their minds to.

Student Reviewer: SH

Fartiste by Kathleen Krull and Boris Kulikov - ADVISABLE

Krull, Kathleen and Paul Brewer Fartiste: An Explosively funny, mostly true story, illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Simon and Schuster, 2008. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK.

EL – ADVISABLE

In turn-of-the-century France, a gentleman arrives in Paris with a highly unusual talent. He gained instant fame and was highly successful.

This tongue-in-cheek book with its terribly amusing illustrations looks at a real man with an unorthodox talent. If your library has Everyone Poops or the Gas We Pass, you can certainly carry this one!

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Teeth by Sneed Collard - OPTIONAL

Collard, Sneed B. III Teeth, illustrated by Phyllis V. Saroff. Charlesbridge, 2008. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS – OPTIONAL

Collard explores all kinds of teeth in all kinds of mammals in this picture book. The information is helpful without being overwhelming. The only thing I wonder is how it would have looked if the illustrations were photos instead of drawings.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Monarch and Milkweed by Helen Frost - ADVISABLE

Frost, Helen and Leonid Gore Monarch and Milkweed. Atheneum (Simon), 2008. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.

EL – ADVISABLE

With beautiful illustrations and simple words, the authors explain the cycle of birth and regeneration for the monarch butterfly and the butterfly’s relationship with the milkweed plant.

If you have a teacher who loves living science, this is a perfect book to accompany a lesson on lifecycle. There are even kits available online to grow live monarch butterflies.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Gorilla Doctors by Pamela Turner - ESSENTIAL

Turner, Pamela S. Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes, 64 p. NON-FICTION. Houghton Mifflin, 2005, 2008.

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL

Copious amounts of full-color pictures accompany detailed information about the rewards and challenges of tending to the mountain gorillas of east-central Africa. Instead of being clinical, the book is peppered with first person stories of the gorillas and their doctors which are entertaining and educational to read. Any teacher who covers endangered species will be delighted to know about this book.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

This is Your Life by Heather Miller - ADVISABLE

Miller, Heather Lynn This is Your Life Cycle: With special guest Dahlia the dragonfly, illustrated by Michael Chesworth. NON-FICTION. Clarion, 2008.

EL (K-3), EL – ADVISABLE

In the style of an old game show, Dahlia Dragonfly meets the insects and animals that were instrumental to her life to this point.

This comically illustrated book is not only amusing, but also contains the factual details of the dragonfly’s life. Younger students will be highly entertained by this lively offering. Perfect for an elementary school lesson.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

The Duck Who Played Kazoo by Amy E. Sklansky - ADVISABLE

Sklansky, Amy E. and Tiphanie Beeke, Ill. The Duck Who Played the Kazoo. PICTURE BOOK, Clarion, 2008.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

In this rhyming story a duck is left alone after a hurricane with nothing but a kazoo to keep him company. He plays solitary songs each day with the recurring refrain, "zu zu." As the season changes and the days shorten, he packs his things and flies south to a river and some fellow ducks. He plays his kazoo for them and is invited to join their "fine-feathered crew." Again the season begins to change, so our kazoo duck invites his new fellows to visit his former home.

Rhyming and refrain give the story rhythm and continuity, and I love the illustrations, though the message is nebulous.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist.

What the World Eats by Faith D'Aluisio - ESSENTIAL

D’Aluisio, Faith What the World Eats, photographed by Peter Menzel, 160 p. NON-FICTION. Tricycle Press, 2008.

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL

From the creators of Material World and Hungry Planet comes this knockout book about what25 families around the world grow, make and buy to feed themselves for a week. Each family is photographed with all of the makings for their weekly meals. Full of details about nutrition and lifestyle without ever being boring.

This book is utterly fascinating and I really want posters of all of the family portraits and the ingredient lists for a fabulous display! I hope that Tricycle comes up with some related materials for this must-have title!

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Buffalo Music by Tracey Fern - ADVISABLE

Fern, Tracey E. and Lauren Castillo, Ill. Buffalo Music. PICTURE BOOK, Clarion, 2008.

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

The main character, Molly, is a fictionalization of Mary Ann Goodnight, who actually settled in the Texan Panhandle in 1876 when buffalo were still numerous in the area. Molly loves hearing "buffalo music" as the massive herds graze nearby. Within about six years, however, buffalo hunters have slaughtered the animals, and Molly is grief stricken. When a fellow settler brings her two orphaned buffalo calves to raise, Molly accepts the challenge, taking them into her dugout home to warm by the fire. The buffalo thrive, eventually more are added until Molly's herd numbers 100, and some are eventually sent to Yellowstone to help build the herd in the park.

Castillo's mixed-media illustrations enhance Fern's homespun expressions, making this an appealing book.

Beverly Stout, Area Library Media Specialist.

Skunkdog by Emily Jenkins - ESSENTIAL

Jenkins, Emily Skunkdog, illustrated by Pierre Pratt. Farrar, Strauss and Giroux (Macmillan), 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL

Dumpling, a.k.a. Skunkdog, is a delightful pet, but her nose isn’t as great as she is; she can’t smell anything. Dumpling and her family move to a new place where she meets a new black and white friend that she is determined to keep.

The illustrations are so adorable that I wanted to have Dumpling and the skunk for my own regardless of the smell. Loneliness and acceptance are subjects that most kids understand. It begs to be read to someone!

Reviewer: Kami, Children’s Librarian.