Rated By Kids

Book: Hardback

235 x 159mm
48 pages
ISBN 9780756655167
25 Aug 2009
Dorling Kindersley
7 - AND UP years

From the Publisher:
JONAS: The Essential Guide is a comprehensive companion to the Disney Channel TV series JONAS. Follow the Lucas brothers from rock star glamour to every day life with hundreds of exclusive full-color images, character profiles, locations and little-known facts about the Lucas brothers and their band, JONAS. This book's got all fans need to know about the TV series!

With the popularity of the Jonas brothers' TV series, it only makes sense to have a reference guide to the show. The book features bio of the characters along with interesting factoids that even the faithful viewer may have missed. We get a sneak peek at their musical equipment and into the old firehall they call home. We see how Stella influences the guys individual styles and how they balance their musical life with school.

When I asked Jordan what her favourite part of the book was, well, it was no surprise that she picked the Joe Jonas page! Typical fan, lol.

JONAS: The Essential Guide is just that, an essential part to any true Jonas Brothers fan.

Happy Reading
Jackie and Jordan

Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Sep 1 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316013560
ISBN-13: 978-0316013567

Product Description:

In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes.

I had seen mention of this book around the web, particularly that it had won The Caldecott Medal: this  intrigued me. With many thanks to Melanie at Hachette, I received a copy of this stunning book to review.

From the picture above (which is the dust cover) to the book cover itself, the inner linings, as well as the actual content of the book, Jerry Pinkney's drawings are beautiful, and barely any space is left blank. The size contrast between the lion and the mouse, the visual effect of the lion's roar, and the mouse diligently working to free the trapped lion, are lively rendered through the pages. The stunning drawings of the Serengeti are a reminder, also, of the delicate nature of our world in Earth's current tumultuous time.

Aesop's story was one that I vaguely remembered, but on reading the author's note at the end, I had to re-read it for myself (which I found online). With Mr. Pinkney's version, it is truly a tale we can teach our children from a very early age, with the purely visual aspect, but also remind ourselves how relevant the moral of the story is and how it transforms through circumstances and remains true in this modern age.

Definitely a fantastic addition to any book collector's library!

Happy Reading!
Jackie

Book: Hardback
235 x 159mm
64 pages
ISBN 9780756655419
27 Oct 2009
Dorling Kindersley
8 - 17 years

From the Publisher:

More delightful fun with the Brainwaves. This time they blast off into space to bring the science to you - in fabulously fun--and funny--text. Stars, galaxies, black holes, nebulae, asteroids, and more are discussed in clear text, meant to engage and entertain readers of all ages.

The Greatest Intergalactic Guide to Space Ever (phew, that's quite the title!) is a fun, fact filled book. There are lots of little caricatures running around making funny comments (I'm going to assume they are the Brainwaves, though I couldn't really find the proper reference.)

We get to see everything from Planets, Stars, Galaxies, etc. to learning about astronomers and what the Earth is composed of. Cute factoids about the naming of planets, moons, comits, etc make it an easy learning/teaching tool for our kids.

My favourite part of the book was the section called "Space Spinoffs" which talks about things that were created for use in space but have been adapted into more common usages (next time you're holding a golf ball in your hand, just know there's something special about it and it's relationship to the space shuttle!)

The Greatest Intergalactic Guide to Space Ever is a cool gift for the want to be astronaut or astronomer but is also a good resource for learning more about our world and what's far beyond it.

ISBN 9780756655334
25 Aug 2009
Dorling Kindersley
10 - 17 years

From the Publisher:

The zany world of The New York Times Best Selling Pick Me Up comes to you in a fabulous paperback edition. This is no run-of-the-mill reference book. Graphic novels, blog sites, comic strips, and more present information on everything you can think of. All entries are cross-referenced to others, keeping readers engaged for hours. You won't be able to put it down!

Pick Me Up is divided into 8 sections - Science, technology, and space, Society, places, and beliefs, History, The Natural World, People who made the world, Arts, entertainment, and media, You and your body, and Planet Earth. What's cool about this book (beyond the actual information in it) is that on most pages you will find a reference to something which will link to another blurb within the book. When you  go to the next indicated page, you are off on a tangent learning some other fact that is loosely related to the first. You could easily get lost following the information associations forever! (And not in a bad way :-)

There are pictures, diagrams, puzzles, mind tricks, and more. Strange correlations like Ancient Greece's influence on chewing gum or guessing who would win a fight between Genghis Khan and Spiderman are some of things we get to learn about or ponder

Pick Me Up is a great way for kids to learn about the world we live in, in small amounts at a time, while hopefully piquing further curiousity into the topics. The format used to present the information is also very effective in maintaining a kid's attention. But you don't have to be a kid to enjoy this book; Pick Me Up is a great book for lovers of Jeopardy type shows or those (like myself) who love researching interesting tidbits to learn something new.

Happy Reading
Jackie

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (Oct 1 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0545030358
ISBN-13: 978-0545030359

Product Description:
One of Liz’s favorite memories of her father is the day they passed the window of Kronenberg’s department store. Daddy had bought her a very special gift something warm and wonderful to remember him by. A gift she would never outgrow. Now Daddy is back from the war, and his gift is perfect, as the two of them set out together on a cold autumn morning—first to town, where they share a special slice of cherry pie, then to the gray-green hills of the Pennsylvania farmlands, where they beckon crows from the quiet sky. Lois Lowry pairs with acclaimed artist Bagram Ibatoulline to deliver a timeless story about the power of a very special relationship.

I had tried to get Jordan to read this one a few times on her own, but she kept telling me there were too many words (hmm, not sure about that one, lol). So one day, we sat down and I read this book to her. What I found in Crow Call was a lovely, heart-touching story

Liz set's off to spend the day with her Dad, who has just returned from the war. My guess from the author's note is that it's World War 2, but I think what's going through Liz's mind, the reconnection with her father after so many years away, is still felt by many families today with mothers and fathers away fighting wars, even now. Liz seems a bit shy at first, getting to know her Dad again but quickly warms to him through some silly circumstances.

The illustrations in the book are in muted tones which very much goes along with the feel of the story. There's a certain frozen in time quality that gives it an ageless feel. There's a bit of sadness that you feel as you realize these days have probably happened to all of us but then as we grow older, we lose sight of them. It is lovely that Lois Lowry remembered this one and shared it with us.

Crow Call is a sweet peek into a memory of a special day. It's a beautiful book for all ages.

Happy Reading!
Jackie & Jordan

Book: Hardback
235 x 159mm
96 pages
ISBN 9780756655518
29 Sep 2009
Dorling Kindersley
 
There's alot of renewed fascination out there today of the mythical creatures known as vampires. They are making headlines with best selling books, movies, and have been making waves on the small screen as well. So what's all the hype about, anyway?
 
Turns out there's alot of history behind the pointy-toothed monsters; even more than what we've learned from the previously mentioned medias. To this end, Dorling Kindersley has compiled a book dedicated to these scary creatures of the night.
 
True to DK form, the book is put together with tidbits of information paired with colourful pictures on lovely,  thick pages. It gives the book that extra, reference type feel. It talks of different societies' myths and legends, of the different forms vampires have taken over the years, and the evolution that has brought them into the newest form of pop cultural fame today. There's some interesting true life stories recounted, too; just enough to maybe make you look over your shoulder at night.

While the age range states from 10 years and up, there are some particularly gruesome pictures involved (though when you're dealing with blood sucking fiends a little gruesomeness is hard to avoid). I think this is a great gift idea for the vampire lover in your life or an excellent addition to your own library, right beside all those books featuring a certain 100 year old vampire that I know you have!

Happy Reading!
Jackie

Hardcover: 192 pages

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd. (Sep 29 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0756655153

ISBN-13: 978-0756655150



My thoughts:

This book, published by DK books, is intended for an age range of 10 years and older. It's full of pictures and factoids, with lots of information on what our brains are and how we can use them.

When I brought it home to look through, my 7 year old daughter grabbed it first, then my 65 year old dad got into it too. Between them, they tried working on the puzzles throughout the book, including things like left brain/right brain coordination and optical illusions. What I take from this is that it's an awesome reference for any age. I think, in particular, Jordan loved it because of the cartoons and vivid pictures, some even a little gross at times. But kids are quite often attracted to these the most. While her understanding might still be limited, the images piqued her interest enough that she wanted to actually read the facts accompanying the visuals. That's good, right? Absolutely, I say.

As I browsed through the pages, I could see how much information was provided. It talks about the different senses and how you can trick some or experiment with them. There are many other facets discussed, too, and put in such a way that even if we already know some things, there's definitely other, new information in there to be gleaned.

This is a great reference for school projects or just general knowledge, making it fun for kids (and adults) to learn about what's going on in their heads. Definitely a cool book!

Happy Reading!
Jackie

Publisher: DK Children

Released: September 1, 2009

Book: Hardback, 48 pages

Ages: 7 - 15 years




From Publisher:

Building bricks and books come together in this fantastic set. With more than 140 LEGO ® bricks and two minifigures, LEGO ® aficionados can build to their heart's content. The hardcover book features easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions on how to build castle or pirate models. Or, young builders can come up with their own fantasy castles or pirate lairs for the ages! Dynamic full-color photos and clear illustrations make this the perfect book-and-toy set for all LEGO ® fans. There's no end to the creative building options for young LEGO ® Brickmasters ™ everywhere!

Jacob's thoughts:

I liked how easy it was to read the instructions so I could build everything. When I made my first castle, I had so much fun building and playing with it. I really liked that you could build lots of different sets. Lego is so much fun because you can build anything you want.

Mom's thoughts:

I wish every Lego set was like this! The "cover" is actually a box that holds all the Lego pieces and lists all pieces included in the set, while the pages of the book inside contain the instruction booklets. I know we have a drawer filled with various booklets from other sets and after the first build they hardly get used again. With this Lego set, the Lego pieces & booklets are kept nice & safe. Another bonus is that the Lego pieces in the set are used to make 13 different models & 7 different scenes. Included with each scene is a little paragraph describing the scene. My son would make one model then flip the page & start the building process all over again.I'm not sure how many times he's built each scene, it really is endless fun! Currently there are only two versions (Castle and Pirate) but I am hoping to see more in the future. I would have to say this is one of my favorite toys of 2009.

Publisher: The Blue Sky Press

Released: August 15, 2006

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Paperback: 176 pages

ISBN: 978-0439376143 

Book Description:

When we last saw George and Harold, they were about to take their pet pterodactyl Crackers back to the Cretaceous period. But things didn't work out quite as they had hoped. They've entered an absurd alternate reality where teachers are nice, kids are allowed to read banned books, and the cafeteria food doesn't smell like dirty diapers. Even worse, they've discovered alternate versions of themselves--Evil George and Evil Harold--who plan to unleash some preposterous plans on Piqua, Ohio. Now it's up to George and Harold to defeat the evil twins and THEIR superhero, Captain Blunderpants!

Caleb's thoughts (age 8):

This book is about George and Harold's evil twins and when they come to their world. I liked when the evil twins turned the principal into Captain Blubberpants. I liked this part because it was funny.  George and Harold's grandma and grandpa turned into superheroes and I thought that was pretty awesome. At the end, Professor Poopypants came from the giant pants. My favorite part about Captain Underpants books are the stories because they are funny to me.

Mom's thoughts:

Caleb loves Captain Underpants and its not hard to see why. One look inside the cover and you'll discover comic strips, "loud" illustrations, and activities among the story; all elements that young children love. While I may not appreciate the Captain's humor, I can appreciate my son's enthusiasm to read it.  He finished this book in 2 days, reading much longer than his required reading time for homework. This book appeals to boys, and since boys are the hardest to-reach-readers, I don't care what the plot is...I'll let Caleb read Captain Underpants anytime.

North Winds Press/Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Released: October 1, 2009

ISBN 978-0-545-98577-2

Hardcover, 32 pages

Ages 3 to 8

From publisher:

It came in the night. “Perfect!” said Scott. “Snow!” said Jim.

At recess the schoolyard is full of happy kids. Scott is making snowmen. Jim is working on the world’s greatest snow fort. At lunchtime they join forces… to create a prefect snow surprise!

Barbara Reid combines her renowned Plasticine art with ink and watercolour panels to bring a timeless Canadian tale of winter fun to life.

Jacob's thoughts:

I really, really liked this book. My favorite part was when the big twister of kids happened. It was funny when Jim said he wanted to make the "totally massive, indestuctible Snow Fortress of Doom". The big fort was really cool. I wish it would snow soon so I could make a snowmen fort like that too!

Mom's thoughts:

The story is fun for the kids, while at the same time provides a subtle lesson on teamwork and compromise. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. Along with the colorful Plasticine art, snap shots (almost like mini comics) are used to show action sequences. One page is an aerial shot of the kids during recess in the school yard playing in the snow and the first time we read the book, Jacob had to search out the main characters Jim & Scott (almost like Where's Waldo). Each time we read this book, somewhere in the story Jacob stops to say "I really like this book". This was a great read-a-long book for me and both kids (Jacob being age 7 and his brother almost 3). I can see us reading this book many, many times this winter.

Publisher: DK CHILDREN

Released: September 29, 2009

Reading level: Ages 6-8

Paperback: 32 pages

ISBN: 978-0756655273




From publisher:

DK Readers draw in young people and captivates their imagination while helping them develop and improve their reading skills. Indy's Adventures and Traps and Snares include full-color movie stills from the Indiana Jones movies. The charismatic hero and adventure theme will make these titles popular with reluctant readers. Lively age-appropriate text engages children throughout the book while developing their reading skills.

Jacob's thoughts:

I liked that this book had all the movies mixed up together. My favorite movie is #4 which is called Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. My favorite trick in the book is when Indy puts a sack of sand since he thinks it will weigh the same as the Golden Idol but it didn't. He made a big giant rock ball come down.


Mom's thoughts:

My son has been in love with Indy since the latest movie came out last year. This book was great for him as it covers all the exciting adventures Indy has been on throughout all the movies. Each page is filled with a picture from the movie. Basically, this whole book is action packed! My son loves to read but sometimes skips over words he doesn't know and I found this book was the perfect level for him. He needed a little help but only with a few words & some of the places/names (Egypt, Venice, Russians, Germans). I can see him re-reading this book many times.

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (DK Children)

Released: 24 Nov 2009

Board book

28 pages

ISBN 9780756655440

Age: 1 - 3 years


From publisher:

My First Farm: Let's Get Working! helps kids develop first language skills by introducing them to the animals and machines on a farm. Each tabbed section focuses on a different category of farm life, from baby animals to tractors.

Mom's thoughts:

This is a great book that I think every toddler would enjoy. Each square you see on the cover represents one page: baby animals, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses, chickens, more farm birds, tractors, farm vehicles, crops & foods, around the farm & noisy farm. On each page you see many 'real life' pictures with their names, as well as a question. I think the question is a great addition as it adds another level of interaction when reading the book. My son's favorite page was the tractors. He loved the animal pages and making the sounds but we have many other books with animals on them. For him, the tractors were new and really grabbed his attention.

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (DK Children)

Released: 05 May 2008

Hardcover

144 pages

ISBN 9780756635008



From publisher:

Since his debut in 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, fans have followed the adventures of learned scholar and hunky professor Indiana Jones. He is the unlikely action-hero who undertakes perilous adventures involving snakes, rats, spiders, and villains, in order to stop powerful, mystical artifacts from falling into the wrong hands. With a fourth installment underway, fans can brush up on their Indy knowledge and relive the archeologist's best--and worst--moments.

Packed with a wealth of information from all four movies--about the characters, movie story lines, ancient ruins and artifacts, the history, and the mysticism - Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide provides fans with everything they need to know about the unconventional archeologist and his world.

Jacob's thoughts:

I think Indy is cool. I wish I could be like him and go on lots of adventures. I liked looking at the pictures then reading stuff about them. I liked seeing all the movies in one book.


Mom's thoughts:

I love how almost 30 years later, Indy is still popular with the kids. I think it was thanks to Indy that my son became interested in archaelogy. As always with DK, this book is filled with amazing pictures (including the beating heart & money brains dessert from Temple of Doom *shivers*). My son carried this book around for days (and even brought it to school) looking at the pictures and talking about his favorite parts in the movies. This book provides details on everything you could imagine in the movies and is a great book for any Indy fan, young and old!

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Released: March 12, 2008

20 flash cards

ISBN: 978-0811862943

Ages: infant to toddler


From publisher:

These durable flash cards from Eric Carle, best-selling author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear Brown Bear and many others, feature his beloved animal illustrations and serve as a delightful introduction to counting. The thick, sturdy cards are durable enough for play and decorative enough to hang on the wall. Includes two sets of the numbers 1-10.

Mom's thoughts:

The box contains 20 very sturdy cards, two sets of cards ranging from 1-10. The first set shows pictures/numbers, the second set shows pictures/dots & word.

I am a huge Eric Carle fan and my two year old son loves the pictures in his books so this was a perfect addition to our library. As always with Eric Carle, the pictures are vibrant and quickly grab a childs attention. The cards are very thick so this makes it easy for him to pick up himself. He likes to name the animals on the card, while I ask him to count them then show him the back of the card. Since there are two sets, later we can play a game where we match a picture with the correct number. I see these cards providing lots of learning fun for many years to come!

Part 1
Author: Dav Pilkey
Format:Trade Paperback, 176 Pages
Ages 7 - 10
Published: October 1, 2003
Publisher: SCHOLASTIC INC

Strangely enough Part Two picks up right where Part One left off. Coincidence? Don't think so, after all it is the second part of the cliffhanger and that's where they usually start up again. So the second part of our story begins with robo-boogers and ends with…Ha! We're not telling you that, no spoilers here…just know that this book is a monster-mashin', robo-wranglin', time-travelin', brain-switchin', nose-pickin' good time.


Part 2
Format:Trade Paperback, 175 Pages
Ages 7 - 10
Published: reissued September 1, 2003
Publisher: SCHOLASTIC INC

George and Harold's latest prank has snotty school brainiac Melvin Sneedly seeing red, and he has a plan to get them back. But when Melvin tries to transform himself into a bionic-powered super boy, things go from bad to worse and the Bionic Booger Boy is born! Will Captain Underpants beat this blobby behemoth of blech, or is the entire world doomed to drown in disgusting nose dribble?


Jacob's thoughts:
Melvin makes a machine called the Combine-O-Tron 2000 that switches up things but Melvin sneezed at the wrong time and the machine also made monster boogers. Now Captain Underpants thinks he can fly because they switched up Melvin & Captain Underpants' brains! They make a time machine to go back and fix things but end up seeing dinosaurs. This book is about them fighting boogers. I really like when they change the letters on the boards so that they say silly things. My favorite part was when a guy got squished by a tank. I liked these books and give them two thumbs up.

Mom's thoughts:
I know some people may shy away from a book about potty humor and boogers but if it gets my kid reading, I'm all for it! Jacob is at the Grade 2 reading level but I am sure he did not read everything on each page instead he used the pictures to follow the story. After his first Captain Underpants book, Jacob starting writing his own comics just like George and Harold from the series. I love that these book have got his creative juices flowing and he is now making up his own stories.