Flying Frogs and Walking Fish by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page - ADVISABLE

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page  Flying Frogs and Walking Fish  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.  $17.99  PICTURE BOOK  Content: G.    

This fun book concentrates on how creatures get around.  The book looks at unique animals that walk, jet-propel and fly that you wouldn’t normally think could do that.  The illustrations are attractive.  Different types of mobility are explained and then multiple animals or insects are shown as examples.  Each animal has an explanation of how they use that type of movement and at the end there is a lot of additional facts about each creature covered in the book.  Fun and interesting!  

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt - ESSENTIAL

Mabbitt, Will The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones (Mabel Jones #1), illustrated by Ross Collins. 290 pgs. Viking (Penguin), 2015. $16.99. Violence: PG (Pirates); Language: PG (4 mild swears).  

Mabel Jones is kidnapped by Pirates when they witness her performing The Deed (picking her nose and eating it) but she is saved from walking the Greasy Pole of Certain Death when they realize that she can read and spell. Now, she must help them find the men who have the pieces of X so that she can open the porthole and return home.  

This is a delightful book!  Mabel is strong and resourceful, the writing is brilliant and the adventure is exciting.  The text layout is a lot of fun, lots of design and font changes.  This would be a great addition to either an elementary or middle school library.  

EL, MS ESSENTIAL  Lisa Librarian

Don’t Disturb the Dinosaurs (The Data Set Book#2) by Ada Hopper -ADVISABLE

Hopper, Ada and Illustrated by Ricks, Sam Don’t Disturb the Dinosaurs (The Data Set Book#2) 125 pgs. Little Simon, 2016. $16.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G
Gabe, Cesar and Laura are three best friends who share a fantastic treehouse and call themselves the Data Set (for Danger, Action, Trouble, and Adventure). They like technology and science. In this second story the kids have accidently been sent back to the distant past by the neighbor nutty professor. They must survive in the age of dinosaurs, and help one very special dinosaur friend find a family.
A fun chapter book series for K-2^nd graders which features a large font size and lots of illustrations by a Utah illustrator. I was a bit worried that it might feel too much like magic treehouse with the time travel and treehouse, but it looks like the Nutty professor has dismantled the time machine, so I look forward to seeing the new adventures. Good chapter books are tricky to find.
EL(K-3)  -ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

March of the Mini Beasts (The Data Set Book#1) by Ada Hopper -ADVISABLE

Hopper, Ada and Illustrated by Ricks, Sam March of the Mini Beasts (The Data Set Book#1) 125 pgs. Little Simon, 2016. $16.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G
Gabe, Cesar and Laura are three best friends who share a fantastic treehouse and call themselves the Data Set (for Danger, Action, Trouble, and Adventure). They like technology and science. In this first story the kids meet a nutty professor who turns toys into real creatures. The kids are delighted, but then the animals escape!
This is a great chapter book for K-2^nd graders, it features a large font size and lots of illustrations by a Utah illustrator. Its wholesome and includes many science tidbits. I think students will like the idea of their toys being brought to life.
EL(K-3)  -ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Ten Days a Madwoman by Deborah Noyes - ADVISABLE

Noyes, Deborah  Ten Days a Madwoman, 122 pgs.  Viking, 2016.  $18.99  Content: Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.   

A twenty-year old Nellie Bly wanted to make a name for herself as a credible woman reporter.  She was tired of the limits placed on women in journalism, with the news topics staying in traditional female roles, such as fashion and recipes.  Looking for a job in New York, she posed as an insane woman in order to get inside Blackwell Insane Asylum and report on the conditions there.  The story she acquired there pushed her career into the public’s eye and she reported many exciting stories from then on.   

This book is a pretty complete, yet simple, biography about Nellie Bly.  Although the title implies that it will be about her time inside the asylum, that was a small part of her whole life story.  Nellie Bly made many important social challenges known to the public and was an interesting historical figure.  The format of this book is a bit jostled because it flashes between the news stories she is working on and her past.  I think it would be a great addition to your library especially if your students have to do biographies.   

MS, HS – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Gator Dad by Brian Lies - OPTIONAL

Lies, Brian  Gator Dad  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.  $17.99  PICTURE BOOK  Content: G.   

An alligator dad and his three kids go throughout the day.  They eat breakfast, run errands and go to the park.  At the end of the day there is a lightning storm and the three gators snuggle with their dad.   

The illustrations in this book are attractive and adorable.  The story line is a basic day with nothing too exciting, such as dress up and story time.  The lack of a real story made it so my boys lost interest quickly, which is sad because they were super excited about the alligators. 

 EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.