Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction

Math Lab for Kids: Geometry + Topology

Math Lab for Kids: Geometry + TopologyGeometry and Topology: Fun, Hands-On Activities for Learning Math by Rebecca Rapoport, J a Yoder
Published by Quarry - Quarto Library on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1631594540
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Math Lab introduces the reader to fun, hands-on activities focusing on Geometry and Topology.  Each of the ten labs is accompanied by colorful, easy to follow diagrams and a math fact.  Readers will learn about different types of shapes (prisms, anti-prisms, pyramids, platonic solids, circles, ellipses), how to compare the shapes, and discover Mobius strips.  Materials are easy to access (gumdrops, string, paper) and experimentation is encouraged. Challenging terms (vertex, oblique) are described in an easy to understand manner. Hints and solutions are provided at the back of the book as well as a couple links for further activities.  Although a link for printable versions of some of the exercises is also provided, when the site was accessed no activities relating to these topics existed. Intended for 4th-8th graders, some of the pictures show younger children. Older readers may find the text informative, but the activities not challenging enough.  Parents and teachers may place this book in the hands of a younger student needing a challenge or an older student struggling to grasp geometric shapes.

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

three-stars

Unsinkable: From Russian Orphan to Paralympic Swimming World Champion

Unsinkable: From Russian Orphan to Paralympic Swimming World ChampionUnsinkable: From Russian Orphan to Paralympic Swimming World Champion by Jessica Long
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on June 26th 2018
ISBN: 1328707253
Pages: 112
Goodreads
three-stars

In a series of “moments”, Jessica Long details her journey starting with being adopted from Russia by an American family to winning multiple medals in the Paralympics.  Having both her legs amputated below the knee due to fibular hemimelia as a child, Long trains hard, swims fast, and deals with her multiple challenges with persistence and determination.  This middle grade memoir will appeal to readers interested in swimming, training for the Olympics, the Paralympics, and overcoming physical/emotional limitations. Intriguing facts, training schedules, and Paralympic insider information fill the pages (putting on an Olympic swimsuit can take up to 45 minutes), but the reader may be left longing to know more about the author’s daily struggles.  This easy to read, age-appropriate narrative addresses both Long’s physical struggles as well as her emotional conflicts including disappointment, failing, and finding her biological parents.  The colorful pictures and sidebars will easily carry 4th-8th grade readers through the slightly disorganized arrangement of “moments.”

Reviewed by Heather Hale, Easton School District, Easton

three-stars

Ski Soldier: A World War II Biography

Ski Soldier: A World War II BiographySki Soldier: A World War II Biography by Louise Borden
Published by Calkins Creek Books on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1629796743
Goodreads
four-stars

In this biography in verse, Louise Borden introduces readers to Pete Seibert who grew up skiing in New England and joined the US Army 10th Light Division in 1943. The 10th Division soldiers trained on skis in the Rocky Mountains before being sent to the mountains of Italy to during World War II. Louise Borden weaves brings together quotes, primary documents and the poetic narrative to tell the story of a brave and talented young man who was injured in battle and overcame obstacles when he returned home. Ski Soldier is a recommended purchase for middle school and public library collections.

Reviewed by Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School, Falmouth

four-stars

Resist

ResistResist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice by Veronica Chambers, Tracy Turnbull
Published by HarperCollins on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 0062796259
Pages: 224
Goodreads
four-stars

Resist – 35 Profiles of Ordinary people who rose up against tyranny and injustice, is a collection of short biographies of various people who fought for what they believed in. Each story/bio is only a few pages long, includes a quote from them at the beginning of the chapter and ends with a “#Resist Lesson” that sums up one aspect of this famous person’s resistance that kids can take away from it. The bios are fairly diverse, including Sojourner Truth, Emiliano Zapata, Sitting Bull, Malala Yousafzai, Mohandas Gandhi, Hedy Lamarr, and many more. The book begins with a great foreword by Senator Cory Booker and an afterword by one of the survivors of the Parkland school shooting. The only negative about this book is that because the bios are so short, they tend to gloss over many aspects of each person’s history. This is a good addition to a middle grade biography section.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein’s Creator Mary Shelley

The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein’s Creator Mary ShelleyMary Shelley: The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein's Creator by Catherine Reef
Published by Clarion Books on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1328740056
Pages: 224
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Strange True Tale of Frankenstein’s Creator Mary Shelley” by Catherine Reef is an interesting biography that goes through Mary Shelley’s life from birth to death. It is fairly depressing, since Mary had a lot of bad stuff happen in her life (from being shunned by her family, to living in poverty, to having multiple children die, and more!), but it is very thorough and includes a lot of illustrations to break up the large amounts of text.  Because there is a lot of information, the book is fairly dense and not for someone who is casually interested in Mary’s life. I learned many things about her that I never knew and think that this would be a good addition to your collection if you have a lot of young adult biographies or for a teen who is really into bios.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

Power On!: Life-Changing Technology

Power On!: Life-Changing TechnologyPower On! Power On!: Life-Changing Technology Life-Changing Technology by Eleanor Cardell
Published by Full Tilt Press on August 1st 2017
ISBN: 1629206075
Goodreads
four-stars

Power On! focuses on four technological enhancements that made a big impact on the technology we now use. The invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 ultimately led to the formation of the telecommunications company AT&T, transcontinental telephone lines, and the 911 system. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first “fireside chats” in 1933 helped American people connect more directly with the President via radio. Now people are connected to our President via television, internet, and twitter. The video game Space Invaders was released in Japan in 1978 which launched an entirely new billion dollar industry — the video game industry. Apple released the first iPhone in 2007 and sold a million phones in just 74 days. That first iPhone has led to touchscreen technology and changed the way we communicate.

Power On! Is part of the Flash Points non-fiction “high-low” series and should appeal to upper elementary/middle school readers and includes a bibliography, index, glossary, and quiz. The design is appealing with lot of photographs and a “How and Why” and “Ripple Effects” timeline in each chapter.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi LeonardKawhi Leonard by Jon M. Fishman
Published by Lerner Publications on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 1541500415
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

This biography of San Antonio Spurs star player Kawhi Leonard is part of the Sports All-Stars series. Leonard is known for his big hands and wide wingspan (the distance from fingertip to fingertip when your arms are spread straight out). The book covers his early career as a high school basketball star (voted best basketball player in the state of California), his college career, and his professional career with the Spurs. Along the way, he has had to overcome the tragic death of his father while still in high school and various injuries. He also gives back to his community, even donating a new car he won to an organization helping children. His latest endeavor is designing clothing. With brief chapters and photographs, the attractive design should appeal to basketball enthusiasts and is appropriate for upper elementary/middle school readers (grades 4-6). The book includes an index, glossary, bibliography, and source notes.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

three-stars

Birds from Head to Tail

Birds from Head to TailBirds from Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick, Kwanchai Moriya
Published by Kids Can Press on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 1771389257
Pages: 36
Goodreads
four-stars

Birds is part of the From Head to Tail series of early science picture books.  From nicely illustrated end pages to the two page spreads with informational text, this book is fun and educational.  Several pages include only a hint of the bird while others display the bird in full glory.  Alternate spreads ask the reader a question and the following illustrations and text reply with the answer.  In many cases the piece of anatomy is enough to identify but then Roderick and Moriya throw in a stumper like the Kiwi or Blue-Footed Booby.

Children who love nature and animals will want to take this from the public library over and over.  While there is not enough information for even primary class reports this book belongs in early grade media centers.  Make your favorite child happy by reading Birds but be ready for repeated request to open the cover and devour.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired children’s services librarian in Scarborough, ME

four-stars