Website Review: Find Your Park

FINDYOURPARK is a website focusing public awareness on the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016.

Developed by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation along with many corporate sponsors, the website helps users find, share, and support parks.

The “Find a Park Experience” area helps users learn about parks of interest and features experiences that are possible at particular parks. Users begin by taking a quiz to determine their interests. They’re asked whether they want to experience history, learn new things, go exploring, or make a difference. The next questions are based on their answer to the first question. For those not able to travel to parks, virtual experiences are provided. Users can also watch videos and read about featured parks. A map is provided for further exploration of particular areas. Use this website as part of a writing activity to get youth thinking about places they’d like to explore.

The “Share Your Story” section encourages users to share their thoughts about parks through a song, photo, painting, poem, dance, video or any other approach. The Centennial Project is a contest to find and celebrate the top 100 stories. Consider a National Park theme for your library during the 2015-2016 school year. Get teachers and students started thinking about possible projects for next year.

The “Support Your Park” area features ways that people of all ages can get involved with the National Parks by joining community activities or volunteering. The “Every Kid in a Park” initiative will provide the opportunity for every 4th grader in the United States to experience public lands for free during the 2015-2016 school year.

To learn more, go to http://www.findyourpark.com/.

Book Review: Kangaroo to the Rescue!

KANGAROO TO THE RESCUE! by Moira Rose Donahue is the latest in the AMAZING ANIMAL HEROES CHAPTERS series from National Geographic Kids.

The book features three true stories featuring animals. First, Lulu the Kangaroo saves her human friend after an accident. Next, when Maggie the dog goes blind, her dog companion Pilot becomes her guide dog. Finally, three pigs named Dasiey, Lulu and Buttercup come to the rescue.

Each story includes three, short, fast-paced chapters. Appealing photographs of the real animals from the stories add to the drama. “Did You Know” fact boxes and full-page, spotlights on key topics help readers understand the context of the story. In addition, pronunciation is provided for difficult vocabulary.

Informational reading experiences are an important element of the Common Core. The CHAPTERS series is an effective way to address nonfiction reading needs.

The animal stories will appeal to both boys and girls. Beyond animal rescues, librarians will find many other “More True Stories” topics in the CHAPTERS series to keep children interested in reading.

For more National Geographic resources for kids, go to http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/.

Book Review: P. Zonka Lays An Egg

P. ZONKA LAYS AN EGG by Julie Paschkis tells the charming story of a daydreaming chicken who lays a spectacular egg.

The other hens in the chicken yard can’t figure out why their friend spends her time observing the natural world rather than laying eggs, so they’re shocked when one day she lays a beautifully designed, multicolored egg.

Designed for ages 3 through 7, Paschkis’ colorful folk art style inspired by Ukrainian eggs designs will appeal to young readers. The simple, easy-to-understand picture book story focusing on the value of creativity and the beauty of nature will be appreciated by readers of all ages.

The book is a great addition to the library’s collection of Spring and Easter-themed books. Librarians will find the publisher “event kit” useful for promoting the book. Go to http://peachtree-online.com/pdfs/PZonkaEventKit.pdf.

To learn more about the Ukrainian egg designs, go to http://www.pysanky.info.

To enjoy the White House Easter Egg Roll, go to https://www.whitehouse.gov/EasterEggRoll/

To learn more about the author/illustrator, go to http://www.juliepaschkis.com/.

Published by Peachtree Publishers on March 1, 2015.

Book Review: Reality Check in Detroit

REALITY CHECK IN DETROIT by Roy MacGregor is the latest in the Screech Owl hockey mystery-adventure series for middle grades.

The Screech Owls are a local hockey team in a small Canadian community. In their latest adventure, the team has been invited to star in a reality TV show in Detroit. After the initial excitement wears off, they realize that stardom may not be worth the sacrifices to their team and their friendships. Where do the lies end and the authentic reality begin?

For the past 20 years, MacGregor has written engaging adventures for young hockey fans. The mystery stories are told through the eyes of the team captain, Travis Lindsay. The 26 books are available individually or in collected volumes of 4 books. Readers seeking sports fiction focusing on team building and friendships will enjoy this series.

Librarians will find that the fast-paced, easy-to-follow stories are great for reluctant readers. The storylines have a nice balance of live hockey sequences with team drama and light-hearted banter. Librarians don’t need to worry about having all the books in hand. Although the team members carry over from book to book, each book stands on its own. The plots revolve around real places and events or universal themes.

To learn more about the series, go to http://www.screechowls.com/.

Published by Tundra, February 2015.

Website Review: Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)

For two decades, the PURDUE ONLINE WRITING LAB (OWL) has been providing hundreds of free resources for students.

Sponsored by the English Department at Purdue University, this online resource includes the areas of writing and teaching writing; research; grammar and mechanics; style guides; ESL; and job search and professional writing.

Tutorials of particular note include their APA and MLA style guides, ideas for avoiding plagiarism, business letter writing tool, and instructions for developing an effective resume.

The “Purdue OWL Vidcasts” connect to a YouTube channel providing dozens of short, instructional videos on topics such as writing, citation styles, rhetoric, and grammar.

Although some resources are designed specifically for Purdue students, the majority of materials are intended for all users.

A keyword search tool provides quick access to useful resources. The “Site Map” provides easy access to a master list of topics and links.

To learn more, go to the OWL website at https://owl.english.purdue.edu/.

Book Review: The Tightrope Walkers

THE TIGHTROPE WALKERS by David Almond is the coming-of-age story of a boy torn between two very different friendships in the mid-20th century. While Holly represents artist freedom, Vincent reflects the wild, violent side of life.

Based on the memories of the author growing up in northern England, this work of realistic fiction is told through very short chapters making it a quick read. The well-developed characters, use of local dialects, and authentic settings add to the appeal. Although technically a work of historical fiction, the story transcends time.

From beauty and creativity to violence and death, Almond’s exploration of both the dark and light side of everyday life make this book special. The novel’s many metaphors and other literary elements make it an excellent book for young adult discussions. However because of the mature themes this book is not designed for children.

Published by Candlewick Press in March 2015.

Web Review: Google's April Fool's Day Jokes

Each year Google introduces a unique April Fool’s Day joke. Go to Google at http://google.com to join in the fun. Can you find the joke?

Need a hint? 
Go to https://com.google/ 
Go to https://www.google.com/maps and click the PacMan icon.
Go to https://youtu.be/XTTtkisylQw

Let’s explore some Google jokes from past years. These are a great way to introduce youth to the hazards (and also fun) of fake websites.

Google Gulp - http://www.google.com/googlegulp/
Google's PigeonRank - http://www.google.com/technology/pigeonrank.html
Google Romance - http://www.google.com/romance/
Gmail Mail - https://www.gmail.com/mail/help/paper/index.html
Google Emojify the Web - https://youtu.be/G3NXNnoGr3Y
Google Chromecast - https://youtu.be/IpT1787EjbE
Gmail Custom Time - https://www.gmail.com/mail/help/customtime/
Gmail Autopilot - https://www.gmail.com/mail/help/autopilot/index.html
Google Nose - https://www.google.com/intl/en/landing/nose/
Google Motion - https://www.gmail.com/mail/help/motion.html
Google Comic Sans - http://www.google.com/landing/csfe/
Google Treasure Map Mode - https://youtu.be/_qFFHC0eIUc

Youth need to distinguish fact from fiction from fake. Unfortunately, most students aren't very concerned about accuracy, they're simply seeking an answer to a question or a funny photo to share on Instagram. Get them interested in asking themselves about accuracy. Student should ask themselves:
What questions do I have about the content?
How would I find out if it's real or fake?

For more fun, go to Wikipedia’s list of Google Hoaxes and Easter Eggs at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google_hoaxes_and_easter_eggs

Book Review: Shadow Scale

SHADOW SCALE by Rachel Hartman is the sequel to the popular dragon vs humans fantasy SERAPHINA.

In the first book, Seraphina discovers her true identity as half-dragon, half-human. In this gripping followup, Seraphina goes on a quest to gather together other half-breeds with the hope of bringing peace to a world at war. However, she comes to realize that dark forces are against her and many would like to see both dragons and humans destroyed.

The refined characters, intricate world-building, and multi-layered backstory make this a much more sophisticated fantasy novel than many other young adult works. Although some readers will enjoy the details, others may find that the detail slows down the story.

Hartman’s amazing descriptions of Seraphina’s mental garden are a unique and compelling alternative to telepathic communication found in many other books featuring dragons.

Readers who enjoy dragon fantasy will be impressed by both the first book as well as the sequel. However, librarians should keep in mind that this is a young adult novel rather than a middle grades fantasy. The elaborate world-building and multitude of characters may not appeal to readers looking for a fast-paced fantasy and the complexity may be overwhelming for younger children.

Fans who have been waiting to return to the kingdom of Goredd will enjoy revisiting their favorite characters and meeting new half-dragons. The two books were intended to be a duet with a clear ending, so don’t expect to revisit this kingdom again unless the author explores a different facet of the world.

To learn more about the author, go to http://rachelhartmanbooks.com/.

Published by Random House on March 15, 2015.

Website Review: Poets.org

April is National Poetry Month. The POETS.ORG website sponsored by the Academy of American Poets is a wonderful website to feature during this month-long celebration.

The “Dear Poet” multimedia education project for grades five through twelve is a letter writing contest specifically for National Poetry Month. Students watch video-recorded poetry readings, then respond in the form of a letter. To learn more, go to http://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/dear-poet.

The “Browse Poems & Poets” section of the website provides access to thousand of biographies of poets and poems, essays, and books related to poetry. Users can browse by poem, poet, text, book, or audio. For youth working on projects, students can search for poems by occasion, schools & movements, or forms. Featured poems and poets can get students started. The audio section is particularly useful to young poets learning about the cadence of poetry. Readers can listen to poems like The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost read aloud. Links allow users to share their favorite poems through social media or print them out.

The “Poem-a-Day” feature providers readers with an unpublished poem throughout the week and classic poems on weekends. Consider highlighting new poetry on a bulletin board during the month of April.

The “Materials for Teachers” section provides dozens of standards-aligned lesson plans for primary and secondary levels. In addition, the area includes thoughts on teaching poetry and additional resources.

The “Stanza: Updates” area is a blog highlighting new resources and events.

To explore POETS.ORG, go to http://www.poets.org.

To extend the National Poetry Month experience, try some of the resources provided at Reading Rockets at http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/poetry.

Book Review: Breaking Sky

BREAKING SKY by Cori McCarthy is a fast-paced, science fiction adventure focusing on an elite military program and a hotshot teen pilot testing an experimental jet.

It’s 2048 and America is on the verge of war. Chase is among a select group of daredevil pilots at the United Star Academy flying the “Streaker”, a top-secret prototype jet designed for teen pilots. The strong female protagonist and eclectic cast of characters will appeal to both male and female readers.

McCarthy’s skillful mix of heart-pounding fight sequence descriptions with authentic military comrade dialogue fit perfectly with the book’s themes. The cinematic writing style and non-stop action will appeal to the video game generation.

Librarians and young adult readers alike will immediately see connections to books like Ender’s Game and movies like Top Gun. The futuristic military theme will be popular with fans of dystopian science fiction. The hint of romance and family drama will add to the appeal.

This young adult novel has been optioned by Sony Pictures as a movie, so this title will be popular for awhile. It’s likely that Breaking Sky will kickstart renewed interest in the military, science fiction thriller sub-genre.

Learn more about the author at http://www.corimccarthy.com/.

Published by Sourcebook Fire on March 10, 2015.

Book Review: The Imaginary

THE IMAGINARY by A.F. Harrold is an entertaining middle-grades fantasy about imaginary friends.

In most novels, the imaginary friend plays the side-kick, but this isn’t the case in THE IMAGINARY. While his human playmate is in the hospital, Rudger takes center stage as an imaginary companion struggling to stay strong and avoid the evil Mr. Bunting.

Harrold’s rich language and quirky writing style will be attractive for many tween readers. Emily Gravett’s amazing, full-color artwork contribute to the appeal of this beautifully presented book.

Harrold’s work has been aptly compared to Neil Gaiman and Roald Dahl. Librarians will find the mix of eerie suspense with lighthearted humor a popular combination with tween readers.

For information about this amazing author and poet, go to http://afharrold.tumblr.com/.

For a website designed specifically for kids, go to http://www.afharroldkids.com/. The website contains videos and an image gallery related to the book.

Published by Bloomsbury Kids by March 2015.

Book Review: The Dead I Know

THE DEAD I KNOW by Scot Gardner tells the gripping, coming-of-age story of a young man haunted by death and dreams he can’t explain.

In this compelling psychological drama, Aaron gets a job working at a funeral home during the day. However at night, he’s haunted by recurring nightmares unrelated to his job. In between, he must deal with a family member’s dementia and life in poverty.

Originally published in Australia, teens are likely to find the unfamiliar funeral home setting intriguing and the array of characters fascinating. Gardner does a masterful job balancing the need for dignity and respect for the dead with just the right amount of dark humor.

This quick-read is likely to be popular with young adults who enjoy realistic fiction with a mix of morbid themes and dark humor.

For a teacher’s guide and information about the author, go to http://scotgardner.com.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers available March 3, 2015.

App Review: Storm & Skye

STORM & SKYE AND THE SECRET OF THE CAR WASH from Digimoo Studios is the first episode in a beautifully illustrated, animated, and audio narrated storybook app.

In this exciting and engaging fantasy adventure, Storm’s imagination goes wild during a drive through the car wash. Later, he joins forces with his young friend Skye to explore the magical world of knights and dragons inside this mysterious car wash.

Designed for children ages five and over, the animated storybook app provides an engaging visual and auditory experience. However because no text is provided, it’s not designed as a text-based reading experience.

The charming narration is accompanied by pleasant music making it perfect for the young children. Each chapter is around 5 minutes for a total of about 45 minutes of entertainment. Users can read straight through the storybook app or jump to one of the nine chapters. In addition to the animated story, a few interactive animations are built into the story allowing young readers to play with story elements. A “help button” reviews the options for users.

Librarians seeking an amazing visual and auditory experience for preschool and primary grade students will want to add this app to their app collection. The short, focused chapters would work well for listening comprehension activities.

Readers will be begging for the next episode in this high-quality animated storybook series.

To learn more, go to the Digimoo Studios website at http://www.digimoostudios.com/.

Book Review: Blackbird Fly

BLACKBIRD FLY by Erin Entrada Kelly tells the authentic story of a filipina child facing the real-world drama and dilemmas of the middle grades.

From racial slurs to disloyal friends, Apple finds herself seeking solace in the world of music where she discovers new friendships and a renewed sense of identity.

The realistic banter between classmates and genuine emotional responses to typical tween experiences will make this a popular book for youth who enjoy realistic fiction featuring home and school settings.

This quiet work of realistic fiction explores critical issues related to popularity, bullying, and racism without the need for over-the-top plot twists and unnecessary subplots.

The titles of each chapter include subtitles featuring songs from the Beatles. These songs closely tie to the contents of each chapter adding to the musical aspect of the story. Be sure to check out the Apple Yengko’s playlist at http://www.erinentradakelly.com/the-apple-yengko-playlist/.

For libraries involved with the WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS initiative athttp://weneeddiversebooks.org/, this book would be an outstanding addition to your campaign collection.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.erinentradakelly.com/.

Published by Greenville Books/HarperCollins on March 24, 2015.

Website Review: The National Map

THE NATIONAL MAP at http://nationalmap.gov/ is a versatile mapping website sponsored by the United States Geological Survey.

Although Google Maps works for lots of mapping projects, The National Map provides more in-depth opportunities to explore geography topics with maps.

The Viewer and Download Platform allows users to visualize topographic data. Themes such as elevation, orthoimagery, land cover, hydrography, geographic names, boundaries, transportation, and structures are available. Maps also feature both current and historical topography. Mashups that include The National Map are created by many organizations such as those involved with emergency services or health care. A new 3D Elevation Program is currently being developed.

To go directly to the viewer, go to http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/. Users can select layers associated with their arms of interest.

The US Topo Maps section makes “Quad Maps” available to users. These recently produced maps can be viewed, downloaded as PDF files and printed for free. Or, they can be purchased in the map store.

The Historical Topo Map section features historical maps that provide a snapshot of the nation’s physical and cultural past. The maps are useful in multi-disciplinary projects that connect the past to the present. These maps can be viewed online or downloaded.

The Fact Sheets, Videos, and Information Products section features useful background information.

Get your school involved with a partnership project with the USGS. The website features lots of opportunities to become involved as part of important national geography projects.

Book Review: Sleepless Knight

Children love humor, comics, and drawing books. SLEEPLESS KNIGHT (2015) by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost has it all. Even the pun in the book’s title will make elementary children giggle.

Many young readers will be familiar with the characters from Adventures in Cartooning. In this hilarious episode, the Knight along with Edward the horse embark on a camping adventure. Everything goes as planned untilit’s bedtime and a beloved teddy bear goes missing.

From the well-drawn panels to the easy-to-read speech bubbles, the book models outstanding sequential art writing. Many children want to make their own cartoons. Unfortunately some youth, particularly boys, have trouble with fine-motor control and quickly become frustrated. Sturm, Arnold, and Frederick-Frost make drawing fun and easy. Whether following the step-by-step visual instructions for drawing a knight or a bear, all children will be successful creating their own stories that extend the fun of Sleepless Knight.

Graphic novels for young readers fly off the shelves. Sleepless Knight is an outstanding example of a quality comic for youth.

NetGalley ARC used for review

Book Review: Ms. Rapscott's Girls

MS. RAPSCOTT’S GIRLS by Elise Primavera is a quirky middle grades boarding school fantasy.

A group of reluctant 8-year-old girls arrive at the Great Rapscott School for Girls of Busy Parents to find one child missing. While in search for their missing classmate, they learn important lessons about bravery, self-reliance, and friendship. Although the premise is absurd, some readers will empathize with the characters who have absent parents. Although the clever, sophisticated humor will be lost on some younger children, older readers will find the humor appealing.

Primavera’s interesting characters, easy-to-read writing style, and balance of descriptive versus dialogue segments were just right for lower, middle grade readers.

The book begins and ends with beautiful illustrations showing the isolated, but fascinating lighthouse setting. Numerous black-and-white drawings are then woven throughout the story.

Intended to be the first in a new series, librarians will find this to be a pleasing addition to the collection. With mostly female characters, it’s likely to appeal to young girls rather than boys.

Learn more about the author at http://www.eliseprimavera.com/.

Published by Dial on March 10, 2015.

Book Review: Read Between the Lines

READ BETWEEN THE LINES by Jo Knowles explores the ordinary live of people in a small town from ten different perspectives.

While the characters from the various chapters interconnect, each chapter stands alone and contributes to the “read between the lines” theme. While this quiet work of young adult contemporary fiction, lacks the memorable personalities and powerful social commentary of many popular YA novels, the slice-of-life approach will appeal to those seeking a straight-forward drama.

Reluctant readers who enjoy realistic fiction may be drawn to the short vignettes told by various voices. However, the lack of “over-the-top” drama may lose some readers.

For librarians seeking middle-of-the road realistic fiction for teens, this is a good choice. However, don’t look for it on the bestseller lists.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.joknowles.com.

Published by Candlewick Press March, 2015.

Book Review: Razorhurst

RAZORHURST by Justine Larbalestier is an absorbing chase novel from beginning to end.

Set in the gangster-filled slums of 1932 Sydney during a time of extreme poverty and violence, a young orphan stumbles upon a murder involving organized crime. This bloody discovery sets off a non-stop thrill-ride filled with fascinating characters. From the ghosts she’s been able to see since birth to the wide array of criminals put in her path, Kelpie doesn’t know who to trust and who to follow.

What makes this young adult historical suspense particularly intriguing is the way it weaves in ghosts as a fantasy element. Many young adults find the idea of ghosts alluring. While most novels use ghosts as a one-dimensional plot element, Larbalestier has built a complex ghost world complete with rules that guide their existence.

Readers will find the glossary at the end of the book useful in explaining some of the lesser-known vocabulary. Although some readers may find the use of archaic terms distracting, most lovers of history and fantasy will find that the rich vocabulary brings the world alive for readers.

From history and fantasy fans to those that enjoy a heart-pounding suspense-thriller, librarians will easily identify readers for this well-written young adult novel.

This book was influenced by the real-life gangs of the twenties and thirties in Sydney. To learn more about what sparked the author’s interest, go to http://justinelarbalestier.com/books/razorhurst/influences/.

To learn more about the author and the book, go to http://justinelarbalestier.com/.

Published by Soho Teen, March 2015.

Book Review: Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions

DR. CRITCHLORE’S SCHOOL FOR MINIONS by Sheila Grau joins the plethora of magical school series that began with Harry Potter. However in this case, the stories focus on a school for training minions. The combination of mystery, mischief, and monsters is perfect for lower, middle grade readers.

In this kickoff episode, Runt Higgins is hoping to enter the Junior Henchman training program, but he gets caught up in school-wide mystery involving viral videos, explosions, and pranksters. Readers are sure to enjoy lovable, gullible Runt and his monster friends.

The comical characters and silly array of monsters will keep readers coming back for more. The action moves quickly as the main characters are introduced and readers learn about this bizarre school for hopeful, Evil Overlord sidekicks.

This humorous series will be a welcome addition to your library’s growing collection of fantasy school books.

Published March 17, 2015 by Amulet/Abrams.
Reviewed through ARC NetGalley.