Bees Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about the magic of the bees for children, kids (World Full of Wonder 3)

Written by Anna Smithers

Illustrated by Nino Aptsiauri

Smithers manages to pack a lot of information plus a wealth of problem-solving resources in this illustrated picture book.

Even though the language is not colloquial, the rhymes are fun to read out loud, and important vocabulary words are highlighted in color for emphasis. Children learn about the different types of bees and their work in the hive. I especially liked the interactive challenge for the reader to locate twelve different types of bees in the story. Young readers also discover the problems bees face today due to urban expansion.

The illustrations are multicultural, and they include children with disabilities. This book will appeal to children who enjoy nonfiction for information about the life of bees, but also to young community activists who will appreciate the seven practical solutions they can use to help the rapidly declining bee population.

I would highly recommend the book for parents, teachers, and librarians of elementary school readers.

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Bacon’s Very Important Christmas Job! (It’s Bacon’s World! Book 2)

Written and Illustrated by Tina Neely

Bacon, a pot-bellied pig, loves his family. He wants to be helpful. When his mom, dad, and grandma begin preparing for the Christmas holidays, Bacon tries his best to get involved. Unfortunately, he only gets in the way and gets rebuffed for his efforts.

This book series is based on the exploits of the author’s pet pig. Children get a preview with a genuine photo included at the end of the tale. I like the interactive feature, which requests readers to count the number of hearts on each page.

This book is a perfect holiday choice for families of primary grade readers.

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Save the Scraps (Save the Earth Book 5)

Written and Illustrated by Bethany Stahl

Alex teaches Mateo a valuable food lesson. After finishing lunch, the two friends are ready to get rid of the trash. Alex shows Mateo the compost bin and explains how it can be used to grow more nutritious food.

They teach readers that not all trash can be composted. Their friends, Mr. Squiggles, the worm, and some friendly bees, join to complete the process.

At the end of the book, parents and teachers find a list of questions for children to answer, and a step-by-step list of directions for creating their own compost bin.

Another book in this author’s series that I recommend highly for preschool and primary grade readers.

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I Have Feelings, Too: Understanding Dog Communication

Written by Anissa Svoboda

Illustrated by Aneta Knoppova

A wonderful teaching tool for children. It explains how dogs communicate with their bodies, unlike humans, who generally communicate with spoken words.

Readers learn that different breeds of dogs use different parts of their bodies to express different emotions. I enjoyed the parent paws section, which provides an easy-to-understand teaching point. Children learn empathy and respect for our four-legged friends, and how to better communicate with them.

The comprehension questions are useful for parents and teachers to review and reinforce the lessons taught.

I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children ages three through ten.

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The Know It Owl and the Axolot

Written by Terri Sabol

Written by Paula Piechna

This book is part of a series in which The Know It Owl entertains and educates elementary-age readers.

The axolotl is an intriguing creature. This amphibian breaks the rules. It reminds young readers that unique characteristics can be a blessing or a curse. Children learn about the habitats, foods, and body characteristics of this little-known sea creature.

Readers will not realize they are absorbing knowledge as they turn each page. There are interactive features such as drawing pages, Fast Facts, and mazes.

The whole series is highly recommended.

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I Love My Family

Written and Illustrated by Angela M. Smith

An interesting book that explores the reasons why we should love our family and stick together in good and bad times.

The artwork is done by both children and adults. This gives the book a non-professional homespun appeal. It is clear that not all families are alike, and single-family homes are becoming more prevalent.

I enjoyed the author’s blank pages at the end, which allow the reader to draw and express personal feelings about his own family.

Probably best suited for preschool and younger readers.

The Wonderful Animals of the Boise River (Into Justin’s World Book 2)

Written by Heather Lyn Davis

Illustrated by Corryn Webb

This book is interactive. From the outset, children learn that they will find and identify many animals that inhabit the Boise River.

Each picture layout features a color and a black-and-white illustration. Readers are encouraged to color the black-and-white illustration. For each animal, children gain a wealth of information. At the end of the book, readers have the opportunity to illustrate their favorite animal.

The book is a good choice for studying local geography and animal life. It is highly recommended for curious upper elementary students.

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Focus Is My Superpower: An Inspiring Story to Help Kids Pay Attention, Avoid Distractions, and Improve Concentration for Ages 4–8 (My Superpower Books Book 15)

Written and illustrated by Alicia Ortego

This book is a wonderful resource for elementary-age children who have difficulty focusing.

The protagonist is a young boy who has difficulty staying focused and completing tasks. His grandfather brings the boy to the garage and shows him a magnifying glass. Grandpa explains how the glass focuses the rays of the sun to one point on the glass. His grandson should practice this method.

Grandpa also teaches him the five-finger step method for remaining on task. In the book, the author lays out this pathway and provides examples of how the boy achieved successful completion. In addition, Ortega provides a letter of encouragement and an interactive task for readers to follow the example.

A sequence of clever rhymes and charming illustrations draws readers, making this book an excellent choice for children and adults.

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Al’s Journey: The Night Everything Changed: A Magical Story of Growing Up Fast and Learning Who You Are

Written and Illustrated by Marin Darmonkow

This intriguing book contains 32 illustrated pages, but is far more than a picture book story.

The author has combined an earthly tale with mystical elements. At the outset, readers encounter a young boy being raised by his grandfather, who is the shaman of the village. When the shaman turns one hundred years old, he informs his grandson that he must climb the mountain to talk with God about his mission and purpose in life. The boy is guided by fireflies as he continues on his journey.

A book that begins as an adventure story becomes one of philosophical questions as the boy must grow up virtually overnight. Older readers will come face-to-face with finding answers on their own journey.

The illustrations are compelling. They draw the reader into the story and rapidly change its mood as the story evolves. This is a book that can grow with the reader who will return to it time and time again.

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Berticus: How I Survived School! and Bullies! and Farley Finnigan!

Written by Brian Silbert

Berticus dreads the first day of school because his birthday always falls near opening day. This year, it is even worse because he is facing the transition to middle school.

Berticus tries hard to pay attention and do his best, but his ADHD keeps getting in the way. This middle-grade novel addresses the common trials of middle school, bullying, and peer pressure. The cast of characters is so relatable. Action is non-stop. This book is a page turner with unexpected twists and turns.

Two bonus resources enhance its value. The Student Activity Pack contains word searches, crosswords, a class discussion guide, and problems for students to solve. In addition, a Teacher’s Guide examines the characters, provides discussion topics, analyzes the story arc, and provides chapter summaries.

Whether you purchase this book for a home library or develop a lesson for a large classroom group, this book is sure to please readers ages nine through twelve.

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