For instance, I like the fact that they cover what kinds of things can be done in the kitchen.  Children are smart and they get to thinking about those ideas (they are contagious you know); once the ball gets rolling…they come up with some pretty smart ideas of their own.  Here the book talks about making better choices when shopping for groceries or even the items that we use to serve our meals and snack.   Household chores are discussed and really teach about making the most of conserving water while doing dishes.  Opening up a dialog with children about using real dishes instead of toss away, like paper or styrofoam, products shows children that even simple choices can impact the world and save money.

        Reusing or recycling products is a great way to go green and this book has wonderful pictures and suggestions for doing just that.  This book is wonderful also for the fact that it encourages the whole family to make a commitment to saving the planet by telling the children to “help” their parents.  Sometimes it takes the faith of a child to move a mountain. 

        Taking care of the earth is important if we expect to have a place for our children and grandchildren to live safely with all that they need.  Gardening is making a resurrgence and learning how to do it properly is not hard to do if someone takes the time to teach you.  Conserving water and protecting it is crucial to the health of human beings. 

         The pictures or photos in this book are colorful and are relatable for both children and their family to grasp the concept of nurturing the world that we live in.  Many of the ideas are familiar but some of them aren’t.  In fact, you older readers may be surprised by the wisdom of those elders before us who did precisely some of these things; perhaps without knowing exactly how wise they were.

          I would recommend this book for children from ages 5-12 (and their parents of course). 

      I like how he lays out the story of what each child is doing when the tornado hits.  Then he delves into the chaotic world of the adults who are stumped on how to overcome the despair that comes with the responsibility of rebuilding a town which has seen disaster more than once.  As the adults are brainstorming ideas on how to go about financing the rebirth of their town and their personal lives…one adult has a crazy idea. 

       That idea just happens to be putting together a talent show.  When that crazy idea is compared to the other crazy idea…well, let’s just say that the crazy idea of a tallent show…suddenly becomes very popular.  Not only that, but kids become empowered and energized and so do the adults.  Everyone pitches in to make it a success.  Each child discovers things about themselves and their friends that they never knew.

        Of course, as the town gets behind the talent show and it’s efforts to raise money for the school library, that’s lost all of it’s books in the tornado, trouble brews behind the scenes.  Characters and personal integrity are revealed and friendships are strengthened and lost in the process.  What I like about Dan’s book is that if one pays attention; lessons on positive personal development can be put to good use.  Discovering our own strengths and weaknesses and learning how to encourage positive self- growth and diminish the negative qualities we possess, can be very enlightening. 

        If you want to learn more about the writer Dan Gutman or his books check out his website here:  http://www.dangutman.com .   This book, The Talent Show was published in 2010 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.   I would say that this book is ideal for kids 7-12 years old.

       The text of the book explains in real language that doesn’t talk down to a child.  The book was written by Pam Rosenberg and she does a wonderful job of answering the question of how the end product, ice cream, goes from raw product, to the wonderful delight on the desert wish list of most children. 

       Through both mouth watering pictures and words designed to lead from one thought concept to another about what has to happen to turn milk into ice cream…the reader is left with an understanding of how that happens. 

        I like that Pam Rosenberg inspires the reader to ask questions of those people in the everyday life of the reader who may play a part in a manufacturing process.   Those people may include a farmers who produce raw products, to a trucker who delivers raw or finished products, to a factory worker who works on an assembly line or, maybe even a grocery worker who stocks the product, or a cashier who sells the ice cream.

       I like the fact that this book also has a list of glossary terms to help young readers understand words that may not be in their vocabulary as well as a page of websites and other resources on the subject.  There are 24 pages and the reading level is for children grades 2-4. 

        Those examples in manufacturing open the eyes of a child to the world around them…not only for ice cream products; but , also to open their eyes to other manufactured products, and jobs or potential careers that may be in their future.

          This children’s picture book was published by: http://www.cherrylakepublishing.com  in Ann Arbor, Michigan; copyrighted in 2010. 

       There are some behaviors that the young man, Dylan, does that confuse Mackenzie Mackabee.  He sits and swings alone for long periods of time.  He covers his eyes and his ears for no apparent reason.  He doesn’t seem to smile or talk back when any other students talk to him.  One day, the kids are playing soccer when out of the blue, the young man runs and takes the ball and continues running.  The kids are upset thinking that he is trying to stop their game.

       Mackenzie consults her teacher about her questions regarding young Dylan’s behavior.  The teacher is thrilled to have an opportunity to explain that Dylan has Autism and how that affects him.  She explains that she is sure that Dylan isn’t trying to stop their game or trying to be a bully. 

       You will have to read the wonderful story to see how the situation is resolved and how a little understanding can go a long way to helping others to include someone who is a bit different from themselves.  This is a wonderfully written book and the colorful pictures on the pages help to show how students can learn about one another and appreciate their differences.   The emotions of the characters are reflected in the artwork so that the reader can empathize with the characters in the story. 

        I think this is a wonderful story book for any classroom setting; but, especially any classroom that may include special needs students who may be struggling to feel acceptance from their peers.   The author of the story is Julie Coe and the illustrator is Sondra Brassel; the story was inspired by the children of Jennifer Maloni.  I like the fact that these women intend for this book to make a difference in how children see another child who is a bit different from themselves and appreciate and include them in their social lives!   There are even some great activities to promote positive interaction between children who are living with Autism or any other challenge that sets them apart from their peers and others who are in their daily lives.   After all, everyone deserves the opportunity to be accepted for who they are and to feel like they fit or belong with others in the peer group.  Pick up this book and let it be an inspiration to teachers, students and families everywhere!

        The book can be purchased at:  http://www.amazon.com

      The book has great pictures and maps showing the way that the pioneers had to travel on their way out west to grab their own piece of land to start a new life.  The book explains about all of  the dangers that the travelors faced on their trip and talked about what the settlers would need to make the journey.  It is interesting to note that there were certain times of the year that the pioneers could travel because of the changing seasons and weather conditions.  Traveling by covered wagon was not as fast or as safe as traveling today. 

        Some interesting facts are that there was a mountain trail that was so narrow that they called it the Devil’s Backbone because both people and the wagons with the animals had to walk single file along it’s ridges.  Did you know that there are still to this day wagon tracks that can be seen on parts of the Oregon Trail?  This book is educational and fun to look at and imagine what it would be like to travel across the country in the same way that the pioneers did.

        Oregon Trail was written by Sarah Tieck and was copyrighted in 2008 by ABDO Publishing Company.  You can visit their website here:  http://www.abdopublishing.com

      Nancy Bourke, the author, tells of her inspiration for writing Dandelion Bubbles; it was a spring day at the park with her son who was three years old at the time.  Mother and son were blowing the white fluffy dandelion flowers into the wind when her son called them dandelion bubbles.  Those words inspired the title of the poem that she wrote the next day…it also became the title of the book.  The book became a family project as Nancy’s husband Kevin Bourke took some of the photos that were published in the finished book.   Speaking of the photos, the feel and ambience of the words is captured visually through the skilled photos between the covers of the book.

     The book, Dandelion Bubbles, reacquaints the reader with the feelings of their childhood when everything that they witnessed about the world around them filled them with excitement.  A child’s joy is contagious.  Adults need to merely listen to the words of a child to be inspired to find their own appreciation of the seasons and the environment.  The poems in this book, written for young readers ages birth to approximately seven years of age, will encourage your child to describe the world around them in ways that will fill you with amazement; and, remind you to enjoy the world around you.   I highly recommend this book for you to share with some special young reader who holds your heart in their hands.

       If you would like to purchase this book you can go to Nancy’s website here:  http://www.dandelionbubbles.com/home.html or you can purchase the book at: http://www.amazon.com .   This book was received by me from the author as a free review copy.

        There are some really great kid friendly sidebars that include suggestions for certain vegetables and even the occasional recipe.  There are vegetable facts such as which vegetable is good for your brain, which one for your eyesight and even which vegetables are good for your heart.  There is information about how many fruits or vegetables people should eat to stay healthy. 

         This book may even inspire some young readers to want to grow some of their own vegetables in a garden.  The pictures really help to explain the process.  I highly recommend this book for ages 4-10 years of age.  It was well done.

          All About Vegetables was copyrighted in 2009 by QEB Publishing, Inc.    You can visit their website here:  http://www.qeb-publishing.com

         Hannah realizes that she needs to reconnect with herself and her life before the life of a popstar, and that includes her horse Blue Jeans, her grandmother, her town and her other friends and family. 

         There are some really great pictures from the movie.  The  story reminds Miley/Hannah of who she is and that her friends, family and new boyfriend are what is really important to her as a person.  It is a good value to instill in the young tween and pre-teen readers who will find this book appealing.  The book was published in 2009 by Disney Press.   It was adapted by Kate Egan and based on the screenplay written by Dan Berendsen.

            Inside the covers of the book are charts to help motivate the young ones to reach their financial goals.  There are ideas for raising money or jobs that are age appropriate.  Guidelines are given for a kid to help compute their free hours that they have to work into their schedules to help them decide if they have time for a job.   This encourages them to consider their schedules and to make earning money a priority in their life.  There is information that expresses the importance of planning what kind of equipment or cost is needed to perform a job.  There is a section on budgeting your money so that you don’t spend all of your income on supplies to complete a job.   Information that applies to making enough money to cover all expenses and still make money is addressed in the book. 

         There is a chapter on the legalities of working…what is required if you want to work and you are under age.  Some jobs require you to be a legal adult to do a job…this book talks about that as well.  It teaches critical thinking when discussing getting a job and making money. 

           The book was written by Tamra Orr and was copyrighted in 2009.  It was published by Mitchell Lane Publishers and their website is:  http://www.mitchelllane.com .  If found this book informative, attractive and I think it teaches children to really look at making money from several different angles.    I would recommend this book for children from ages 8-13.