Book Review: Kissing in America

KISSING IN AMERICA by Margo Rabb takes an honest look at family, friends, and the world of romance for young adults.

Eva has read 118 romance novels, but real life is much more complicated. After her boyfriend moves to California, she decides to make a cross-country trip to surprise him. This coming-of-age, road-trip adventure explores a wide range of issues from family grief to self-discovery… and a bit of romance.

Readers will easily overlook the silly premise and enjoy Eva’s quest. Rabb has an excellent handle on contemporary issues and teen humor making the happiness and heartbreak feel authentic.

This book is difficult to pigeonhole. Librarians need to keep in mind that despite the title, it’s not solely a romance. Much of the book deals with Eva’s ability to deal with the death of her father and frustrations with her mother. The novel also contains lots of literary connections that could be distracting for youth without a background in literature. However for young adults who enjoy realistic fiction, this book has it all.

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

Published by HarperCollins, May 26, 2015

Website Review: Science News for Students

SCIENCE NEWS FOR STUDENTS is an engaging, informational website produced by the Society for Science & the Public.

The student science news is divided into five themes: atoms & forces, earth & sky, humans & health, life, and tech & math. Within each theme, subtopics are available. A search tool allows users to search by date, topic, source, readability and sort by date.

The short articles include high quality graphics including photographs and sometimes diagrams. “Power words” provide definitions of key words associated with the story and a readability score helps teachers assign articles. Each article ends citations and links to future readings. A variety of social media options are available for article sharing including Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and Google+ along with email and printing.

An educator section provides resources for educators including articles organized by subject, article tools, STEM career resources, and resources for teaching science.

A blogs and resources section includes a “doing science” blog, “Eureka! Lab” blog, science project resources, and competitions.

Along with the student science section, the website also contains information about the society, student science programs, and an adult version of the science news that would also be of interest to older students.

In addition to the free website, a subscription-based service is available for both paper and iPad.

To visit the website, go to https://student.societyforscience.org/sciencenews-students.

Book Review: Lost in the Sun

LOST IN THE SUN by Lisa Graff is a powerful work of realistic fiction focusing on a boy’s struggle to move on after a traumatic experience.

Trent is tormented by a death for which he feels responsible. His emotional agony causes him to rebel and angrily lash out at his family and friends. Although his parents, teachers, and a special friend try to help, it takes time for Trent to slowly learn to love others again and ultimately himself.

Graff’s complex characters are at the core of this authentic story. Trent’s anguish is skillfully played out in everyday situations that spiral out of control. From his caring teacher to his steadfast friend, Graff does an outstanding job inventing compassion characters who support Trent in his darkest moments.

Librarians will find this heart wrenching book to be popular with youth who enjoy character-driven stories. Although written for the middle grades, young adults will be drawn to the themes and complex emotions. It’s rare to find an emotionally charged book written from a boy’s perspective, so use this novel to engage young men in realistic fiction.

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

Published by Philomel Books, Penguin Young Readers in May 26, 2015.

Tech Review: Rex the Roach

REX THE ROACH is an adorable, interactive, picture book ebook app for children.

Designed for ages 6-8, this engaging ebook tells the story of Rex the robot cockroach. Rex isn’t a naughty roach, he’s just a poor listener which leads to trouble. When he gets lost, he encounters lots of interesting creatures on his way home.

Each page contains an interactive element that’s easily found by clicking on the robot finger. This interactive feature displays additional text, starts animated sequences, and moves from page to page. Clicking on parts of the screen related to the story may also trigger animation. In some cases, readers may need to re-read the screen to determine how to proceed making this book great for promoting reading comprehension. Readers can always swipe the screen to continue.

A menu of options called the “choose-a-matic” is accessed through a green bar at the bottom of the screen. Uses can go to particular pages or adjust the sound. They can also choose between the “I Will Read” and “Read to Me” options.

The charming illustrations will appeal to young children. The audio narrative is clear and soothing, The paragraphs of information are large and clear enough to read easily. However, the font may be distracting for early readers. American readers to be aware that British spelling is used such as “realised” rather than realized”.

Librarians will want to add this ebook app to their growing collection of interactive picture books.

The app is available at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rex-the-roach/id794177982….

Published by Software Results.

Book Review: Miss Hazeltine's Home for Shy and Fearful Cats

MISS HAZELTINE’S HOME FOR SHY AND FEARFUL CATS by Alicia Potter is the charming story of a scaredy-cat who learns to be brave.

When Crumb comes to live with Miss Hazeltine, he’s timid and shy. He listens carefully to lessons about bravery, but it’s not until Miss Hazeltine is in trouble that summons his inner courage.

Readers will enjoy Birgitta Sif’s whimsical illustrations and teachers will welcome Alicia Potter’s easy-to-read narrative that’s perfect for the read-aloud situations.

Librarians will appreciate Miss Hazeltine’s approach to teaching. She models important cat skills, but lets her pupils proceed at their own pace. The themes of bravery, courage, and overcoming shyness will resonate with many children.

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

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on May 12, 2015.

Book Review: We Are All Made of Molecules

WE ARE ALL MADE OF MOLECULES by Susin Nielsen is an authentic work of realistic fiction examining an emerging, 21st century blended family.

Thirteen-year-old Stewart and fourteen-year-old Ashley are thrown together when their parents decide to move in together. Their story is told through alternating chapters that feature nerdy Stewart and bitchy Ashley describing their frustrations dealing with this new arrangement and their encounters with family and friends. Along the way, the story incorporates timely characters including a gay father, a complex bully, and multifaceted friends.

Nielsen’s well-written story combines humor with realistic situations to create a convincing, positive tale for today’s teens. She’s successful at making her story uplifting without becoming preachy.

Librarians will find a broad audience for this funny, yet moving young adult novel. Nielsen’s work is a welcome relief to the many heavy YA realistic fiction books published this year. Add it to your list of lighter summer reads.

Learn more about the author at http://susinnielsen.com/.

Published by Wendy Lamb Books and Random House Teens on May 12, 2015.

Website Review: Occupational Outlook Handbook

The OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK (OOH) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is an online reference resource containing career information about hundreds of occupations.

The entry page contains a list of occupations organized into groups such as healthcare and legal. Users can also select occupations by median pay, entry-level education, on-the-job training, number of new jobs projected, and growth rather projection. In addition, options are provided to browse the A-Z index and explore occupations by highest paying, fastest growing, and most new jobs. Finally, users can explore FAQs, the glossary, a teacher’s guide, and career outlook.

The “Occupation Finder” provides a master list of 580 entries with tools to narrow the search by education, training, projected new jobs, projected growth, and median pay. A key word search is also available.

Each career profile contains a summary, what they do, work environment, how to become one, pay, job outlook, similar occupations, and more information.

This easy-to-use website is a great resource for informational reading activities. It’s also a excellent way to jumpstart a career exploration project. A Teachers Guide provides ideas for how the website might be used. It also links to other websites with career information.

Most libraries have a print copy of the OOH in their reference section, however the website provides an effective resource for a whole-class experience.

To learn more, go to the website at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/.

App Review: Plants

PLANTS by TinyBop is the second interactive playscapes app in The Explorer’s Library.

Designed to “spark discovery and a deeper understanding of the world”, this science app focuses on the world of plants. Geared to ages 4 and up, very few instructions are provided. Instead, users are encouraged to click and drag their way around the interactive app environment.

Users begin by creating an avatar. The app is organized into interactive dioramas that explore grasslands, forest, and desert settings that youth can explore. A crank icon reveals a menu allowing the user to turn labels on and off, change languages, control volume, and adjust other settings. Users also use the menu changes diorama and explore in-depth features.

As users explore each scene, they encounter more in-depth diagrams of plants that highlight particular features. Moving or clicking elements trigger features such as daylight or rain showers. A slide is available so users can even see a cross section underground. It’s also possible to zoom in and back out of the diorama.

A PDF version of the Plants Handbook is available to download and print. It contains lots of ideas for helping children work their way through the app.

This amazing app is highly recommended for elementary libraries and science classrooms and can be used across grade levels.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/a…/plants-by-tinybop/id872615882….

To download the handbook, go to http://tinybop.com/assets/Tinybop-EL2-Plants-Handbook-EN.pdf.

To learn about the other apps in this series, go to http://tinybop.com/apps.

Published by Tinybop.

Book Review: Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

UNUSUAL CHICKENS FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL POULTRY FARMER by Kelly Jones is a charming and fun fantasy about a twelve-year-old girl who moves to a farm and stumbles upon chickens with superpowers.

With the help of family and friends Sophie becomes a poultry farmer, but faces the challenge of dealing with a chicken thief who’ll do anything to steal her special chickens.

The story unfolds in letters written by Sophie to her deceased great-uncle and grandmother. Sophie also communicates with the owner of a poultry supply company who helps her learn about raising chickens.

The author does an outstanding job seamlessly weaving in topics related to diversity without making it the focus of the story. From Sophie’s brown skin to a passing reference to Jane’s girlfriend, readers are exposed to authentic situations, relationships, and reactions. There’s even a great recipe for migas.

Katie Kath’s whimsical illustrations add to the appeal of the story and also visualize the diversity represented in the book.

Librarians will be happy to see Sophie riding her bike to the library and interacting with a caring librarian. Many readers will particularly enjoy the informational pages describing the breeds and care of chickens.

Children who enjoy farm settings, humorous stories, and animal books will be delighted to find a novel that combines all three into an engaging, fast-paced fantasy.

To learn more about the author, go to http://curiosityjones.net/.

Published by Alfred A. Knopf (Random House) on May 12, 2015.

Tech Review: Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef

OVER IN THE OCEAN IN A CORAL REEF by Marianne Berkes and illustrated by Jeanette Canyon is a beautiful sing-along e-book, interactive app.

Based on the 2004 book by the same name, this interactive book encourages children to click and jiggle their mobile device to explore ocean animals. Designed for young children, this informational app focuses on both math and science topics.

The “Sing to Me” option sings the story aloud as readers follow along with the highlighted text. Readers can interact with the screen by clicking or shaking their device. Youth can move forward or backward through the story. The music on each page can also be repeated.

The “Read to Me” option provides the same format as the sing-to-me section, but the words are read aloud with music in the background.

The “Read to Myself” option encourages children to read the story without the music or audio narration.

In addition to the book, users can also explore activities and informational readings experiences. The “Find the Babies” activity asks children to find particular ocean creatures on the screen. The “Fishy Facts & Photos” section provides a series of pages focusing on ocean and sea creature information. Information is also included about the author, illustrator, developer, and publisher.

A menu option is always available providing easy access to narration.

This book would be a great addition to a library display focusing on ocean creatures. Include this book on an iPad, along with paper books.

Create a display of Marianne Berkes’ other books exploring the world including her latest book Over On a Mountain: Somewhere in the World. Also include Over in a River, Over in the Forest, Over in the Jungle, and Over in Australia.

Download free activities to go with these books from the publisher website at http://www.dawnpub.com/.

Published by Dawn Publications.

Book Review: Return to Augie Hobble

RETURN TO AUGIE HOBBLE by Lane Smith combines elements of humor, tragedy, and paranormal activity into a quirky middle grades novel.

Angie needs to do a “creative arts project” for summer school. Since he lives in an amusement park managed by his father, inspiration is everywhere in the form of fairy tale characters and theme park attractions. From comics and photography to illustrated short stories, Smith weaves in a wide range of visuals into the story. Between project ideas, Augie must deal with bullies, an amorous Cinderella, government agents, and a shocking tragedy. And, he may be turning into a werewolf.

This witty and weird work will be popular with middle grades youth familiar with the illustrations of Lane Smith. While the book is humorous, it deals with serious topics including bullies and death in a way that will appeal to children. Lane Smith’s first novel is a step above the many other books for this age that bridge fantasy and reality. While the story stands alone, it could easily be turned into a series.

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

Published by Roaring Brook Press on May 5, 2015.

Website Reviews: National Safety Month

June is NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH. Raise awareness of what it takes to stay safe.

Many government websites promote safety during this special month. A few examples are featured below:

Healthfinder.gov
http://healthfinder.gov/NHO/JuneToolkit2.aspx
The Healthfinder website from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services provides ideas for promoting the month including announcements, sample tweets, cards, and resources.

BAM! Body and Mind
http://www.cdc.gov/bam/safety/
This website designed for youth from the Centers for Disease Control focuses on many types of safety including water safety, helmet safety, and sun safety.

Tox Town
http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/
This US National Library of Medicine program explores environmental health safety concerns.

Sunwise Kids
http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/kids/index.html
The EPA provides information for children about sun safety.

Pedestrian Safer Journey
http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/pedsaferjourney/el_en.html
This website examines resources for three different ages geared at promoting safe walking for youth.

Bicycle Safer Journey
http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/bicyclesaferjourney/mi_en.html
This website examines resources for three different ages geared at promoting safe bicycling for youth.

Stay Safe! from Kids Health
http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/safety_center.html
Get youth involved in informational reading experiences focusing on different situations where it’s important to stay safe.

Book Review: The Cowboy

THE COWBOY by Hildegard Müller is an adorable picture book about friendship, acceptance, and helping others.

Designed for beginning readers, the story follows Anna and her toy dog Toto on their adventure to the beach. When a large wave carries Toto out to sea, a young cowboy comes to the rescue.

The large, attractive illustrations will appeal to young children and the simple, clean font is easy to read. Part of the I Like To Read series, librarians will find this to be a popular option for beginning readers.

The publisher website contains Common Core standards connections, flash cards, and discussion questions athttp://www.holidayhouse.com/title_display.php….

Published by Holiday House on May 1.

Website Reviews: Summer Reading Programs

It’s time to think about ways to promote summer reading. Let’s explore some resources to share with teachers, parents, and children.

ALA Library Summer Reading Programs
http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet17
The American Library Association maintains lots of resources to support summer reading programs.

Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP)
http://www.cslpreads.org/
The CSLP is a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality summer programs for youth. Most public libraries are eligible to use the materials. Many school and public librarians work together to encourage children and young adults to participate in summer reading.

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2015
The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is a free online reading program for children. The website contains resources for kids, educators, and parents. School librarians as well as parents can register and track students.

Reading Rockets: Summer
http://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/summer
Reading Rockets provides ideas for parents, teachers, and librarians to promote summer reading. They also link to articles and research that discuss the importance of summer reading and ways to reduce reading skills lose. Also, be sure to check out their summer book lists.

PBS: Raise a Reader!
http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/read/
This page provides ideas for using the PBS website and other resources to promote summer reading.

Children’s Choices Reading List
http://www.reading.org/Reso…/Booklists/ChildrensChoices.aspx
Get youth involved with reading books that children say they enjoy. The International Literacy Association and Children’s Book Council maintain these Children’s Choices lists.

Book Review: The Boys Who Challenged Hitler

THE BOYS WHO CHALLENGED HITLER: KNUD PETERSON AND THE CHURCHILL CLUB by Phillip Hoose tells the amazing true story of teens who stood up to the Nazis in Denmark during World War II.

The book’s introduction discusses how the author learned about the story and connected with one of the Churchill Club members. This work of nonfiction then alternates between a narrative discussing the formation and activities of the Churchill Club with the recollections of member Knud Pedersen.

Filled with historical photos, maps, artwork, and other primary source documents, the fast-paced story is presented in short chapters that follow the teens from their acts of sabotage through their trial and imprisonment during the War. It concludes with a discussion of what happened to the group members after the War.

To ensure that this book doesn’t get lost in the nonfiction section, consider featuring it along with works of historical fiction. Or, even better, suggest it to youth who enjoy dystopian fiction. This work of nonfiction contains the elements of resistance fighting that youth enjoy in dystopian works. It’s also a great choice for youth who enjoy real-world military and adventure stories.

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

Published by Farrar Straus Giroux on May 12, 2015.

Website Review: War of 1812

THE WAR OF 1812 website by Thinkport provides endless resources for exploring this often overlooked time in American history.

Produced through a collaboration among the Maryland Public Television, Friends of Fort McHenry, and the National Park Service, the website is organized into four sections: overview, resources, interactives, and field trips.

The Overview introduces the context of the war and the key players.

The Resources section provides over 100 documents, images, lessons, videos, audios, and interactives related to the War of 1812. Users can filter their search by resource type, grade, or keywords.

The Interactives area includes a clickable map, slideshow, “Hold the Fort” game, “Cast Your Vote” games, and a link to online tools.

The Field Trips section links to key historical sites where students can learn more about battles and key events. Links are also provided to other resources related to the topic. Many of these materials were designed for the 200th anniversary a few years ago.

To visit the website, go to http://warof1812.thinkport.org.

Book Review: Cuckoo Song

CUCKOO SONG by Frances Hardinge is an eerie supernatural mystery set in England after World War I.

When Triss wakes up after an accident, her life feels strange. Pages have been ripped her diary, her memories seem incomplete, and dolls are coming to life. In her quest to understand her illness, she discovers a world of creepy changelings that causes some exciting sinister suspense.

Hardinge immediately grabs that attention of readers and provides just enough information about each character to keep readers wondering and guessing.

Librarians will find this book popular among youth who enjoy a thriller without needless blood and violence. Written for ages 12 and up, both middle grade youth and young adults will enjoy this spooky fantasy.

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

Published by Amulet Books on May 12, 2015

Tech Review: Expedition: Insects

EXPEDITION: INSECTS by the Smithsonian Science Education Center is an ebook exploring the exciting world of insects.

From deadly hornets to stealthy stink bugs, young readers will enjoy learning about six different types of insects in their natural habitats from around the world. Designed for grades 3 through 5, interesting text and colorful images will appeal to science students. In addition to insect facts, the informational text also provides suggestions for ways that youth can observe nature.

Short video clips, interactive images, sounds, and links to key terms will maintain students interest and promote scientific understandings. Animated maps help children connect world geography to their exploration of insect habitats and an interactive sketchbook encourages young artists.

The iBook interface divides that book into eight chapters investigating the blue morpho butterfly, Asian giant hornet, Malaysian walking leaf, African dung beetle, brown marmorated stink bug, and firefly. Students can add highlights and notes using the built-in note taking features.

The accompanying project website includes downloads such as sketchbook pages and informational pages.

Those without access to the iBook format can still read a full-color PDF version of the book.

Go to the project website at http://www.ssec.si.edu/books/expedition/insects.

Download the iBook at https://itunes.apple.com/…/b…/expedition-insects/id912242496

Read a PDF version of the book at http://www.ssec.si.edu/Media/SSEC/PDFs/ExpeditionInsects.pdf.

Book Review: Saint Anything

SAINT ANYTHING by Sarah Dessen is compelling work of contemporary young adult fiction.

After Sydney’s older brother is convicted of aggravated drunk driving, her parents have a difficult time adjusting to his incarceration. With problems at home, Sydney reaches out to members of a warm, caring family for the support and acceptance she needs.

Dessen’s conversational writing style is enjoyable to read. She manages to make everyday moments seem special without unnecessary drama. Her spectrum of fully developed characters will quietly immerse readers into this coming-of-age story.

While many teens seek out Dessen’s stories for the romance elements, her themes of self-discovery, family love, and friendship are at the heart of her young adult novels. These themes are particularly strong in SAINT ANYTHING. Librarians will welcome Dessen’s latest work of realistic fiction.

To learn more about this author, go to http://sarahdessen.com/.

P.S. After reading this YA novel, I wanted to watch the 1988 film Mystic Pizza while eating french fries.

Publishing by Viking on May 5, 2015.

Website Review: Inklewriter

INKLEWRITER is an easy-to-use, online tool for writing and publishing interactive stories.

This free tool lets students easily write branching stories that can be shared with the world. Begin by exploring the library of favorite and examples stories.

When youth are ready to write, they start a new story. The intuitive approach makes it easy to add text and create links to branches of the story. Basic text tools are provided as well as the option to add images. Users can easily switch between the writing and reading modes. The map and contents options help students visualize the sections of their story. Students can save their work and generate a URL that can be shared with their teacher and peers.

Although inklewriter houses stories for free through an affiliated website, the stories can also be downloaded or turned into an HTML file or Kindle e-book for a small fee. Resources are also provided to help users turn their stories into interactive games.

School librarians will enjoy helping their students write interactive stories. An education page discusses ideas for incorporating inklewriter into the classroom.

In 2012, inkle hosted a writing competition. The ten best stories are available as a free iPad app called Future Voices. In addition to their interactive writing site, the company is also known for their interactive games.

To get started writing interactive stories, go to https://writer.inklestudios.com/.

To follow their blog, go to http://www.inklestudios.com/blog/.

To download the Future Voices app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/app/future-voices/id594781813.

To learn more, visit the website at http://www.inklestudios.com/inklewriter/.