Sarah L. ThomsonCritiques

Wonderful and inspiring pictures in this book!

Unfortunately, the Continent of Australia has frequent wildfire seasons. During one of these, a little wombat takes cover underground, and learns hoot survive against the wicked, burning wildfires around it.

The best part of this book is the interview with Greg Mortenson's daughter at the end. The book itself is interesting, but the writing is rather stiff and they definitely oversimplified it in their attempt to make it for kids. However, it's an inspiring story and I loved the photos and additional materials at the end. It's definitely worth using it for those materials even if you don't read it from cover to cover.

Beautiful book, but some children might find some of the images confusing or scary. I found I needed to be careful with my tone - reading it lightly and happily. If I slowed it down too much, it became a bit spooky.

This is a young reader’s adaptation of the worldwide bestseller. Dedicated to promoting peace through education, humanitarian Greg Mortenson embarks on a quest to build schools all over Pakistan and Afghanistan. Maps

This compelling biography of President Barack Obama, written by a Chicago Tribune reporter, focuses on the ups and downs of Obama’s political experiences in Illinois. The book contains rich details about his childhood and a first-hand account of his travels, including a well-document- ed trip to Africa. Source Notes.

599.7

With a strong start, a strong middle, and a weak ending focusing on the second character Roger instead of Mella, this book was a good read. Mella is obviously the more interesting character, and she is driven by her job as a dragonkeeper to help dragons. Roger is a "dragon hunter" who discourses from the life his dad wants him to have. Roger is the weaker of the two, often pointed out by Mella herself(so the reader doesn't have to), while Mella devotes herself to accomplishing the task she promises to do to a dying dragon.

The beginning and the middle are powerful, amazing. The goal is strong, and both of them are determined to accomplish it. As we near the end, however, it fizzles into an ending focusing upon Roger being appreciated and accepted and Mella's ending or fate left unanswered.

I would definitely rate this two-and-a-half stars off the ending alone, so much is unanswered, what becomes of Mella? What comes of the friendships? What happens to the relationship between them?

Off the rest of it, three-and-a-half to four stars, it's really good and pulls you in fast. It's the last few chapters that are complete bummers and really feel like a quick wrap up and nothing more. It ends too sharply, and cuts off swift, without any real answers for Mella, our focal protagonist.

This book teaches students about sharks. It gives real pictures of sharks and could be read independentaly by higher level readers. This book is a great introduction to all things sharks.

A guided reading book that discusses key details and text features of physical characteristics, behavior, habitat, and lifestyle for the endangered specie tigers, this informational text is a great aid to visual learners as a way to practice their reading as well as engage them into the material. Amazing Tigers is a fun read for any child at any young age. Even to children who may not comprehend a larger reading level yet, this book would encourage their engagement to remain active and intrigued throughout the text as they explore the information displayed throughout the pages.

"I Can Read" series book about Dolphins - fun facts, curiosities, and habits! Informative, fun book.

A juvi National Treasure adventure! Minus Nicholas Cage, which I have to say is a little disappointing. I feel like his puns would've been more clever. Fun concept and creating a good friendship between the characters.

This book makes me want to go outside and explore everywhere. The imagery in the book provides the reader with so much interpretation that you do not know how they are going to feel about each page. Personally, each page inspired me more to want to live my best life and go out into the world not worrying about anything and just living. I would love to read this book to students and see what they see when they look at the illustrations. I am sure kids would see way more than I see when I first look at it.

Considering this book was practically wordless, I absolutely loved it! It had such meaningful content and a really powerful message throughout. The illustrations are so surreal and beautiful which makes the very few words on each page have so much more meaning. Without the pictures, I don't think the main purpose and message of the book would be made. One of the scenes they set for you says, "Imagine a day...when autumn is a yellow canopy above you, a burnt orange carpet underneath, a road you have never ridden before." The overall message of the book is that life is full of endless possibilities and we won't know what we're capable of until we try and go for it. I would absolutely put this book in my classroom and recommend it to children and adults of all ages. It speaks about things we can feel and truly resonate with.

This story was a picture book that included very bight, smooth illustrations. The theme of this book was that imaginations can become real if we let our mind go there. The setting is all over the world, and the style is protagonist, along with expressionistic because there was a lot of exaggeration of illustrations and real life scenarios. I enjoyed this story because it is important for the readers to open up their imaginations, and explore. There were also many oversized objects throughout the story that made the story become more alive.

A sweet story of a brave cub leaving her safe snow cave for the first time, adventuring a little too far, looking for her mama...and being found.

See also: Puffling

This book is all about using your imagination to imagine a variety of different, perfect days. The illustrations are intriguing and use different perspectives to capture the readers imagination.
6 books

This book take you on a journey to think past what you see at first. It makes you use your imagination as well. I feel as though this book make you think like a child does when they are playing. I enjoyed this book and would have it in my personal and classroom libraries. I would suggest this book to other teachers as well as an art teacher to see what type of project she would ask the children to do.

I read this book mainly for the illustrations, but the words keep you thinking. This book challenges you to look past what you see and imagine what it could be. I think this book takes you into a child's eye when they play. I love this book and I would suggest it to other teachers as well. I would keep a copy for my personal library and have one in my classroom.

This is a very educational books for children to read on saber toothed cats. It goes into detail about how the cats lived and also what happened to them throughout the years and when and why they became extinct. Something I like that this book has is the scientific names for each of the animals shown. This is a wonderful book for students to read and learn about the animals that used to live long ago.

I love Rob's paintings more than any other contemporary imaginative artist!

Wildlife Conservation Society. I can read

What Lincoln Said is an introductory biography of Abraham Lincoln for young readers, which chronologically cobbles together Lincoln quotes to track the story of his life from tween to emancipator. The illustrations are excellent (except for the opening page, which inexplicably makes Lincoln look like the village idiot). The book includes a timeline, and a note on Abraham Lincoln and slavery.

A serious issue with this book is that it lacks a clear audience. Its total and complete lack of a plot suggests a very young audience, but its volume of content suggests an older audience. Also, the book ends somewhat abruptly, before the Civil War has even ended - the ultimate cliff hanger. Finally, the book portrays Lincoln as an enthusiastic and committed abolitionist, but as the "Abraham Lincoln and Slavery" afterward notes, this was not the case. This book does not leave readers with a clear understanding of what Lincoln stood for, what he worked for, or what he accomplished.½

This informational book is all about the saber-toothed cat. Since the book uses short and simple language, it is great for newly independent readers. The text is accompanied by beautiful, realistic illustrations with scientific names labeled.

Cinderella is my favorite book. I love how it is magical. Really great for little girls.