Book Review: George

GEORGE by Alex Gino is the heartwarming story of a transgender girl finding her place in the world.

George is a boy on the outside, but inside he’s a girl who wants to try out for a girl’s role in the class play, Charlotte’s Web. When best friend Kelly gets the role of Charlotte, they hatch a plan that will change how George is viewed by classmates, friends, and family.

Written for the middle grades, Gino does a stellar job introducing young readers to the battle facing transgender youth. However from the rainbow poster in the school office to sympathetic educators, the author also shows glimmers of hope and understanding.

Librarians will find a strong demand for this candid examination of a transgender girl seeking acceptance. Add this title to your “We Need Diverse Books” collection. For slightly older readers, suggest Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky.

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

Published by Scholastic on August 25, 2015.

Website Review: Edheads

The EDHEADS website provides a wealth of interactive educational resources for all ages.

The website contains a wide range of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) activities.

Resources for elementary and middle school youth include Simple Machines, The Compound Machine, Weather, and Design a Cell Phone.

Resources for middle and high school youth include Trauma, Deep Brain Stimulation, Virtual Knee Surgery, Choose the Prosthetic, Virtual Hip Replacement, Virtual Hip Resurfacing, and Aortic Aneurysm Surgery.

Resources for high school students include Sickle Cell DNA, Crash Scene, Stem Cell Transplant, Stem Cell Heart Repair, and Nanoparticles and Brain Tumors.

The Teacher Resources section encourages educators to participate by exploring materials teachers have created to go with the interactives as well as the opportunity to share ideas.

Librarians will find these high-quality interactives to be popular with both students and teachers. The online activities are attractive, engaging, and educational.

To learn more, go to the website at http://edheads.org.

Book Review: The Wild Ones

THE WILD ONES by C. Alexander London is an enjoyable middle grade adventure fantasy featuring an epic conflict between wild and domesticated animals.

House pets known as The Flealess are planning to attack Ankle Snap Alley and break the treaty with The Wild Ones. Kit, a young raccoon in the city for the first time must find the Bone of Contention and stop the turf war.

Librarians will find the blend of witty humor with the well-developed animal characters to be a draw for youth who enjoy anthropomorphic stories. Fans of Redwall, Warriors, Spirit Animals, or any of the other animal series books will enjoy the diverse cast of animals.

Published by Philomel, an imprint of Penguin on August 25, 2015.

App Review: Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies

MONSTER GUARD: PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES by the American Red Cross is an engaging middle grade app preparing youth for natural disasters and other types of emergencies.

Sponsored by Disney and reviewed by major government agencies, the app is both engaging and authoritative. This visually attractive educational simulation stresses the Learn-Practice-Share approach including the importance of learning how to stay safe in an emergency, practicing safety strategies, and sharing with friends and family.

Users work their a series of 14 fun training activities. Students can role-play as five different monster recruits, earn badges, and beat high scores as they learn about emergencies. Audio support and subtitles address the diverse needs of learners. The simulated training environments focus on the types of emergencies found in particular areas of the United States such as hurricanes in coastal areas and wildfires in dry regions.

Librarians will find this to be an excellent app for building both science and social studies curriculum connections. Extend the experience by creating a display of books associated with natural disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods.

To learn more, go to http://www.redcross.org/monsterguard.

Book Review: Icebreaker

ICEBREAKER by Lian Tanner is an intriguing middle-grade science fiction thriller that takes place aboard a huge ship traveling the icy southern polar regions.

After 300 years at sea and an epic Civil War, the crew of the Oyster is divided into three tribes. As an outcast, twelve-year-old Petrel lives a lonely life with only a couple talking rats as companions. The ship was originally launched to save the final remnants of knowledge and technology from the evil Anti-Machinists. However, memory of the original mission has been lost for generations until a lone boy is spotted by Petrel on an iceberg. What follows is a fast-paced story of survival and renewal.

Tanner’s skills at world building and character development will bring the story alive for middle grade readers. Her balance of interesting dialog with vivid descriptions will help readers visualize this unusual shipboard setting.

Librarians will find that this exciting adventure will appeal to youth who enjoy dystopian settings with elements of steampunk. ICEBREAKER is the first book in The Hidden Trilogy.

To learn more about this Australian children’s author, go to http://liantanner.com.au/.

Published by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan on August 18, 2015.

App Review: EarthViewer

EARTHVIEWER is a fascinating, interactive app from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that allows users to explore the science of Earth’s history.

Through timelines and visualizations, students can see the continents grow and shift as they scroll through billions of years of Earth’s history. Users can zoom into their favorite landmark and follow how it changes through time. Layers allow users to view data on atmospheric composition, temperature, biodiversity, day length, and solar luminosity.

Part of the HHMI’s BioInteractive initiative, the app opens with the option to take a short tutorial or jump right into the program. Users pinch out or in to switch between timeline views. The three main timeline views include phanerozoic (540 million years), deep history (4.6 billion years), and modern (100 years). Suggested areas to explore contain place markers such as cities, fossils, impact events, mass extinctions, biological events, and geological events. In-depth options include text and illustrations about topics such as the greenhouse effect and plate tectonics. The teacher resources area includes quick guides, references, and other information.

Librarians will find endless applications for this resource. Students can start with a modern city and track it back through time. Or, follow a famous fossil as it moves through time. Collaborate with the science teacher to build connections with the library’s science collection including books on prehistoric creatures, fossils, plate tectonics, and other curriculum-related topics.

The accompanying website also includes data files, classroom activities, worksheets, video clips, and a downloadable version.

To learn more, go to http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/earthviewer.

Book Review: Court of Fives

COURT OF FIVES by Kate Elliott is an action-packed fantasy adventure filled with mysticism, forbidden romance, and a compelling examination of race and class identity.

As the child of mixed race parents, Jessamy been brought up in the Patron class but still has ties to the Commoners. Stuck between two worlds, she secretly trains for the Fives competitions as a way to escape the suffocating expectations of society. However, her world is turned upside down after the death of an aristocrat who sponsored her family. The games may be her only hope to save herself and her family.

Her first young adult novel, Elliott pitched the idea as “Little Women meets Game of Thrones meets The Hunger Games” and she succeeded on all three counts. The Greco-Roman Egypt fantasy setting combined with characters that cross classes and an engaging adventure plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Librarians will find that both male and female readers will enjoy the smart, strong protagonist. This compelling YA fantasy joins a growing of titles that address social issues within the context of a convincing fantasy world.

The detailed world-building and complex characters along with the gripping plot will have readers waiting in line for the next book in this new trilogy.

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

Published by Little, Brown an imprint of Hachette on August 18, 2015.

Website Review: Climate Kids

CLIMATE KIDS from NASA’s Eyes on the Earth program features information and activities related to climate change.

The “Guided Tour of the Big Questions” provides an excellent overview to key concepts related to climate change. Then, users can explore eight areas of climate change including weather & climate, air, ocean, fresh water, carbon’s travels, energy, plants & animals, and technology.

The navigation bar connects users with areas where they can play games, make stuff, get information about the world, keep up to date, watch videos, and dream of a green career.

A Planet Health Report widget provides information on air, temperature, sea ice, and sea level.
The Climate Time Machine page looks at changes in the climate over the ages.

The website is colorful and engaging. Students will find it easy to read and use.

Librarians will find this to be a valuable tool for introducing students to important, accurate information about climate change. Pair this website with books about climate change. Work with the science teachers to weave in the website’s content into science activities.

The website’s teacher resources are outstanding too.

To visit the website, go to http://climatekids.nasa.gov/.

For those seeking more in-depth information, go to http://climate.nasa.gov/.

Book Review: The Little Shop of Monsters

THE LITTLE SHOP OF MONSTERS by R. L. Stine and Marc Brown is a picture book with just the right balance of giggles, gross outs, and evil grins to please most monster book fans.

Written for ages 4-8, this silly-scary book actively engages readers. Potential monster buyers are asked to guess the name of a creature or what it eats. The author use rhymes and visual clues to keep readers thinking.

These two popular children’s authors make a great team. R.L. Stine’s creepy creatures are beautifully illustrated by Marc Brown. The gross visuals and goofy jokes are just right for the primary grade audience. The quick scare at the end will keep readers coming back for more.

Librarians will have fun with the variety of creatures displayed at the Little Shop of Monsters. Involve the art teacher in creating your own library-front window display of student-produced monsters. Then, get students to write stories to go with the creatures. This is also a great opportunity to bring out your creature puppets and other monster books. Pair this picture book with the beginning chapter books from the Magical Animal Adoption Agency by Kallie George.

To learn more about R.L. Stine, go to http://rlstine.com/.
To learn more about Marc Brown, go to http://marcbrownstudios.com/.

Published by Little, Brown Kids, an imprint of Hachette Book Group on August 25, 2015.

Website Review: Will Hobbs

WILL HOBBS is an award-winning author of picture books and young adult novels with a rich website for young fans. Hobbs writes outdoor adventures about places in the wild. With more than twenty books published, reader fans will enjoy learning more at his author website.

The website includes a biography in the Meet Will Hobbs section. There are lots of photos embedded throughout the site. Use the website to learn about his growing up, his family, and his writing. In the Will’s Books section of the website, users can click on a book cover and read an interview about each title. The author tells where he got his ideas and shows photos of his own adventures. There is a story summary plus information about awards and audiobooks for each title.

Don’t miss the Favorite Questions section and learn more about Will’s life, family and his writing. Most of the content is aimed to his young adult readers, but there is also a section for teachers and librarians. Here he suggests some curriculum resource materials and provides contact information about having him come to speak.

Will Hobbs is a favorite of many teen readers. Librarians can use this site to promote his books and extend student’s experience with his work.

Learn more at http://www.willhobbsauthor.com/

Book Review: Goodbye Stranger

GOODBYE STRANGER by Rebecca Stead takes an authentic look at the challenges facing middle school youth in today’s society.

A work of realistic fiction, the story follows three connected narratives what capture the awkward often complicated friendships of young teens.

From facing cyberbullies to dealing with the unintended consequences of impulsive texts, Stead does a stellar job addressing the issues on the minds of children as they enter young adulthood.

Librarians will find a ready-made audience among Rebecca Stead fans. This well-written novel is likely to swell her already large fan base. Youth interested in books about friendship will be drawn to the quiet humor and authentic dialogue among characters. However, some younger readers may have difficulty following all the characters and dealing with the unusual approach to the narrative.

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

Published by Wendy Lamb, an imprint of Random House on August 4, 2015.

Website Review: BAM! Body and Mind

BAM! BODY AND MIND from the Center for Disease Control provides information and activities aimed at helping young people make healthy lifestyle choices.

Designed for children 9 to 13 years old, the website contains six sections: Diseases, Food and Nutrition, Physical Activity, Your Safety, Your Life, and Your Body; all are packed with information and activities. For example, the Disease section includes the Disease Detectives and Immune Platoon activities and more. Information about Asthma is found within Disease Detectives and more details are added in Meeting the Challenge in the Physical Activity Section. Acne and its treatment are explained in the Under the Microscope section of Your Body.

In the Teachers Corner, educators can quickly view lessons and activities, handouts, and recommended related materials. Teachers can use BAM! to provide interactive, informative and fun activities in their classrooms; activities that are linked to the national standards for science and health.

Librarians can partner with teachers to plan and deliver a healthy food activity. Setup a blender with needed ingredients and have students try the recipes for drinks and smoothies found in the Food & Nutrition section. Lots of other recipes are provided in Cool Treats. Pair this activity with a cookbook display featuring healthy recipes.

Visit and learn more about BAM! at http://www.cdc.gov/bam/

Book Review: Chasing Secrets

CHASING SECRETS by Gennifer Choldenko combines an engaging medical mystery with a little-known historical event.

Set in 1900, Lizzie would prefer to work along side her physician father than attend finishing school. She secretly longs to become a doctor and is fascinated by science. When part of San Francisco is quarantined, a family servant is trapped in Chinatown. Although officials are denying a plague, Lizzie is convinced that people aren’t telling the truth about what’s happening in the city and she is willing to do anything to save her friends and family.

This compelling work of historical fiction weaves together a number of interesting themes related to forbidden friendships, race relations, and class. It also sheds light on the history of immunization and people’s distrust of medicine.

Fans of Choldenko’s other works of historical fiction will recognize her use of humor, well-developed characters, and conversational writing style. Librarians will find an audience beyond those who traditionally read historical fiction. This is an excellent opportunity to pair historical fiction with nonfiction books about the history of medicine.

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

Published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s on August 4, 2015. ARC from NetGalley.

Website Review: The Science of Baseball

The SCIENCE OF BASEBALL website from the Exploratorium combines articles on the history of the sport, along with instruction for throwing varied pitches, and components that explore the forces involved in hitting the ball.

Young people will enjoy seeing if they can react fast enough to hit a 90 mph fastball. They’ll learn how to identify the “sweet spots” on a wooden bat, find out how bouncy a baseball is, and compare their bounciness with other sports balls like golf balls, basketballs, and tennis balls. They can also experiment with how temperature affects the ball.

Baseball is a Spring, Summer into Fall event. Keep in mind that interest is not limited to just boys. There is a section called “The Girls of Summer” that focuses on the history of female players.

Aimed at the middle grades, the site has several embedded video and audio clips. It uses an older version of Flash for the interactives that may not work on all systems. Librarians can find added resources on the ‘Baseball Links' page and the Bibliography list.

Lead into the World Series at your school. Use the Science of Baseball website as the centerpiece for a collaboration between classroom teachers and the school library. Incorporate math with activities for baseball statistics. Set up a MakerSpace center for related baseball experiments.

Find more ideas at the website, go to http://exploratorium.edu/baseball

Book Review: Mr. Postmouse's Rounds

MR. POSTMOUSE’S ROUNDS by Marianne Dubuc is the charming story of a mouse postman who delivers mail to a variety of interesting creatures.

This adorable picture book takes readers from house to house as Mr. Postmouse makes his rounds. Each creature’s living space is displayed as a cross-section. Children will be delighted by the funny situations and fascinating variety of habitats.

Dubuc’s amazing illustrations will appeal to readers of all ages. The many tiny details found in each drawing will encourage re-reading and provide lots of opportunities for I-spy games.

Librarians will enjoy exploring each page with children. Pair this book with nonfiction works showing cross-sections. Or, seek out other picture books that explore life below ground or animal homes. Teachers will discover endless ideas for writing activities such as selecting a house from the book and writing about a day in the life of the creature that lives there.

Published by Kids Can Press on August 1, 2015. ARC from NetGalley.

Website Review: StopBullying.gov

The STOPBULLYING.GOV website provides a variety of useful resources to help educators develop programs to prevent bullying.

Managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the website contains major sections including “what is bullying”, “cyberbullying”, “who is at risk”, “prevent bullying”, “respond to bullying”, and “get help now”. The content includes definitions, examples, statistics, strategies, and additional information.

In addition, there are sections specifically aimed at parents, educators, community members, teens, and kids. The website blog and newsroom contains up-to-date information and resources including articles, research findings, and strategies.

Of particular note are the media sections. The images page contains appealing photos and infographics that could be used in library displays. The video page includes dozens of short videos focusing on specific issues such as LGBT bullying and cyberbullying.

For youth working on research projects related to bullying, the resources page and policies and laws page would be particularly useful.

Kick off the school year with a library promotion that encourages friendship and positive relationships. Weave in resources to help young people address the issue of bullying before it starts.

To visit the website, go to http://www.stopbullying.gov.

Book Review: Finding Someplace

FINDING SOMEPLACE by Denise Lewis Patrick is the gripping story of a young teen’s experiences surviving Hurricane Katrina.

Written for middle grade youth, this compelling work of historical fiction begins a few days before the hurricane as Teresa prepares for her 13th birthday. Unaware of the severity of the storm, Teresa is caught in the 9th Ward when the levee breaks. The rest of the story follows her escape, temporary move to New Jersey, and return home.

Patrick’s well-developed characters draw readers into the culture of New Orleans. Her authentic portrayal of the disaster and its aftermath are shocking realistic.

It’s been a decade since this disaster, so it’s important to revisit this event with a new generation of youth. Librarians will find the combination of disaster, suspense, and real-life popular with youth. Pair it with nonfiction works about forces of nature and other books about natural disasters.

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

Published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan on August 4, 2015. ARC from NetGalley.

App Review: Space Station Research Explorer

The SPACE STATION RESEARCH EXPLORER app from NASA involves youth in exploring the array of scientific experiments being conducted on the International Space Station.

Designed for young adults and adults, the app discusses the results and benefits of research in microgravity. Focusing on recently completed and ongoing experiments, this engaging resource includes in-depth descriptions, photos, video, and interactive media to bring the science alive for users.

The app is divided into five sections:

The Experiments area includes the topics of biology and biotechnology, human research, earth and space science, physical science, educational activities and outreach, and technology development and demonstration. Within each major category, users can choose a subcategory. Users can filter their search for experiments by choosing a particular expedition or sponsor. A detailed technical report along with images are provided for each experiment.

The Facilities section shows a 360 view of the interior of the three station modules. Users can tap on racks to see descriptions of the items stored there.

The Benefits resources include the areas of human health, earth benefits, and global education. Each topic explains a specific example of how the experiments are positively impacting the world.

The Media materials provides podcasts, games, and videos to explore.

The Links area includes space station-related websites and links to useful resources.

Librarians will find this to be a useful resource for science classes. The app would be a great jumping off spot for student reports and investigations. The technical reports would also be an useful resource for informational reading in the sciences.

To download this free app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/space-station-resear…/id934070569.

Book Review: The Prisoners of Breendonk

THE PRISONERS OF BREENDONK by James M. Deem tells the compelling, personal stories associated with a lesser-known concentration camp during World War II.

Located in Belgium, the internment camp held both Jewish and non-Jewish prisoners who were political dissidents or accused of resistance activities. Occupied from 1940 through 1944, it was also used as a transit camp for Jews on their way to death camps in Germany and Poland. The prisoners were subjected to forced labor and lived under the constant threat of starvation, interrogation, and torture.

Following the chronology of World War II, Deem’s work of nonfiction provides a comprehensive examination of the camp and it’s inhabitants. Told through short narratives that weave in background information and personal histories, Deem brings the poor, over-crowded conditions to life for young adult readers.

Designed for young adults, this well-researched work contains an afterward and information source sections in addition to the body of text. Of particular note are the many high-quality illustrations including maps, signs, photographs, and drawings. The author also describes why so many photos and sketches are available from this camp.

Librarians will find this outstanding work of nonfiction to be an excellent addition to the history section of the library. Its focus on this brutal, but lesser-known camp will be particularly appealing for YA researchers already familiar with Nazi-German concentration camps.

Visit the National Memorial Fort Breendonk website at http://www.breendonk.be/EN/.

Read the Wikipedia article at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Breendonk.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on August 4, 2015. ARC paper and NetGalley.

App Review: Choose Your Path

CHOOSE YOUR PATH from the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is an engaging app focusing on bullying prevention. This interactive learning experience was designed as part of the museum’s Power of Children exhibit.

Youth choose from three settings: online, playground, or classroom. Before getting started, users have the option of setting up their own name and avatar, a friend, and an adult. Users are then faced with a dilemma that’s shown on the screen and also read aloud. The audio aspect can be turned on or off. Participants are given four choices and instructed to drag their choice into a box. The user is then provided informative feedback about their selection. After the challenge, users are asked whether they’d like to choose a different path within the same challenge or select another challenge area.

Because the app only contains three dilemmas, it won’t take long for youth to complete the activity. However, the experience is an fun and effective way to review at the completion of a lesson on bullying prevention.

To download this free app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/childrens-museums-ch…/id920112377.