Elizabeth Bennett (1)Critiques

My nephews love maps, and I think they'll love the Map It! books. The illustrations are adorable, and the book prompts the reader to find interesting things on each page.

Note that this review is for the paperback version: not the board book. I don't know what changes (if any) were made for the paperback edition. I would say the audience for the paperback version is older than any kid I'd still be buying board books for.

My nephews love maps, and I think they'll love the Map It! books. The illustrations are adorable, and the book prompts the reader to find interesting things on each page.

Note that this review is for the paperback version: not the board book. I don't know what changes (if any) were made for the paperback edition. I would say the audience for the paperback version is older than any kid I'd still be buying board books for.

My nephews love maps, and I think they'll love the Map It! books. The illustrations are adorable, and the book prompts the reader to find interesting things on each page.

Note that this review is for the paperback version: not the board book. I don't know what changes (if any) were made for the paperback edition. I would say the audience for the paperback version is older than any kid I'd still be buying board books for.

Are stars as tiny as they look in the night sky? Why is it hard to see stars in the city? What star pictures do people see in the sky? What is the difference between blue stars and red stars?

Young readers ages six and seven will find the answers to these questions and more in this Scholastic Science Vocabulary Reader that introduces first- and second-grade students to the stars and constellations in the night sky. Using pictures, diagrams, and a simple text to help strengthen reading skills and vocabulary, the book addresses three main topics: What is a Star?, Constellations, and Famous Stars. In each section, Fast Fact boxes provide a piece of information related to the topic.

A glossary and three comprehension questions help young readers assess their understanding of the information presented in the book.

Highly recommended, especially for students interested in science, stars, and /or space.

Hello Kitty's class at school have a fun Valentine's Day party at school...

Science vocabulary readers

fun introduction to different unique fish and their characteristics
6 book

book discusses different animals that live in caves, what caves are, and how they help the environment.
1 book

simple introduction into patterns and how they are seen in the safari. (flower patterns, dots on cheetahs)
3 book

introduces different animals in the ocean while introducing numbers and counting. Simple book, good for young readers.
3 books

introduces shapes that are naturally seen in the desert (scales on a snake are in a diamond shape)
3 book

discusses opposites that occur in the arctic animals. (penguins have orange feet on the bottom and yellow features on the top)
3 book

in depth discussion of the life of polar bears: their height, weight, what they eat, where they live, etc.
1 book

this book introduces where one might see colors in the rainforest (yellow snakes, blue birds)
simple introduction to colors and real life applications.
3 books

big (bear) and small (mouse) play throughout the day and the book describes all the things that big does and small does together. even though they do different things, they still need help from each other. very cute book with bright colorful illustrations.
7 books

This is an awesome book with one serious flaw. However, more on that later...

This is the first in a new series called Curious About... and features a unique method of teaching kids; x-rays! Each spread talks about a different aspect of fishes, illustrated by both a live fish and a x-ray that clearly demonstrates the trait under discussion. So a spread talking about gills shows, on the left, a brilliantly-colored school of snappers and on the right, against a black background, the text and an x-ray of a red dory illustrating the skeletal plate protecting the gills.

Additional facts are sprinkled throughout the book and at the back there's a key to the specimens that provided the x-rays and a glossary. The text is intermediate, simple enough to read aloud to a class of children, but complex enough to challenge a 1st or 2nd grader. It's a fascinating look at the anatomy of various fishes with lots of attractive photographs, excellent text, and a nice layout.

So, what's wrong with it? Well....this series is only available in paperback. Now, I will buy some nonfiction in paperback (and I'm pretty lonely in that decision - my director still looks askance at me about it) but I absolutely won't buy popular, i.e. animal, books in paperback. They'd disintegrate at the first little sticky hand or disappear the minute they're put onto the shelf, sliding back between the bigger books. Hopefully, when more of the series is released it will be available in a prebound edition.

Verdict: This would make a great addition to a homeschool curriculum or to add to your prize books (you DO offer nonfiction prize books, yes?) but until a hardcover version is available I couldn't recommend it to a library with any kind of decent circulation. It's too bad because it's a really great idea and I loved the book.

ISBN: 9780448484624; Published 2015 by Grosset & Dunlap (Penguin); Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to summer prize books

Charming book that is very colorful.
summary : Story about a small mouse that is always asking for Bigs help. "A little help, please! calls small. Until the end when Big ask for " A little help, please! calls Big,and small is finally able to help Big.
Personal reflection: Charming book that is very colorful.
Classroom use: story time½

This is not only adorable but sturdy! The rhyme scheme is fun, and I loved how it includes the new year. Each page has something "shiny" (like a glittery bow) and texture. Although this is a book you'll read with toddlers and preschoolers, first graders will be very proud to read it themselves, too.

Pros: Great rhymes, bright colors and lots of activity make the warmth of the holidays contagious.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.

Christmas time is about caring, sharing, baking, singing and giving. Preschoolers will see just how busy Christmas time can be. A little bear family bundles up for Christmas time shopping. The streets are filled with the hustle and bustle of many shoppers. After shopping, there is no time for napping, only baking and wrapping. Families gather around to sing joyful songs. It's family time, giving time and gathering with friends.

Elizabeth Bennett has created a festive tale surrounding the Christmas holiday. Soft pastel pictures with sparkles throughout are there for little fingers to touch. Easy words and recognizable characters are inviting for any new reader. A padded cover and sturdy pages make this book easy to hold and long lasting.

Age Appropraiteness: Priemary/Elementary
Genre: Informational
This is an informational book because it gives the reader information on the lifecycle of a baby chick. It also gives facts about chicks.½

This book is a good example of an information book because the book goes through the life cycle of a chicken, labeling many of the important facts along the way. The artwork done in this book is photographs. The point of view is third person. It was a fun way to narrate the story of the chick's life cycle because there also were "quick facts" that would be in boxes next to the text.

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