Survival Challenge: Emergency!

Survival Challenge: Emergency!

Author: Stephanie Turnbull

Rating: 3/4 Stars

Reviewer: Denise Z.

Summary: It's an emergency. You are in trouble. You must think to survive...From this premise this book shows the available tips and tricks that will allow you to live and thrive. Real life survival sidebars add proof to the routines, and the thrill of lost in the wild is managed towards positive outcomes. Perfect for critical thinking exercises.

Review:  This would be a fun non-fiction book for any reader who enjoys the “I Survived” series. With this book, it puts the reader into the shoes of someone who is in a crisis and lets them figure out if they could survive in an exciting way. Tips and valuable information are throughout the text, making this book a valuable read. Imagine you’re an intrepid explorer trekking on top of a cliff when the ground below you starts moving. What would you do? What to avoid, what to pursue, and what survival tools to bring are all covered for each emergency scenario. Short blurbs on those who survived a similar experience were shared. There are a lot of interesting, helpful facts for any emergency.

The Frog Scientist

 The Frog Scientist

Author: Pamela S. Turner

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Reviewer: Denise Z.

 Summary: Harvard Graduate Tyrone Hayes had a fascination with frogs and other amphibians. It was no surprise that Dr. Hayes wanted to find answers as to why so many frogs were dying all around the world. Author Pamela S. Turner takes her readers where the frogs are, as Dr. Hayes and his students study these beautiful creatures and search for answers of why the earth's frogs are in jeopardy.

Review: This book will be interesting for anyone who has a special place in their heart for frogs and our environment. Author Pamela S. Turner does an excellent job describing Dr. Hayes' scientific journey so that the reader is taken to another place. This book tells both basic and more complex understandings of frogs, our environment, and what it takes to be a scientist. Beautiful close-up pictures fill each page that supports the text. Dr. Hayes' story of how he became a scientist and the importance of encouragement is also very inspiring, especially for children who would like to become a scientist someday. Descriptions of different types of frogs studied and suggested websites, as well as bibliographical information is available towards the back of the book for students needed to write a research paper.

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

Author: Misty Copeland

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Reviewer: Christi

Summary: As the only African American soloist dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has made history. But when she first placed her hands on the barre at an after-school community center, no one expected the undersized, anxious thirteen-year-old to become a ground-breaking ballerina ...

Review: This would be a great book for a middle school child who’s looking for or needs some inspiration. Misty Copeland is breaking down barriers that should have never existed and she's doing it with grace and talent. Life in Motion is a story about a kid who dared to be different and by sheer talent she has went straight to the top.

Awesome Craft Stick Science

Awesome Craft Stick Science
Author: Tammy Enz
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reviewer: Sue

Summary: This simple book has a lot of information and ideas in it!  There are instructions for 8 different projects that you can make using materials that you probably already have at home.  All the steps are laid out (most with a picture).  It tells you which branch of science is being used (chemistry, physics), some safety tips, fun facts, and even has a “reusable knowledge” section for the projects!

Review: I enjoyed this book a lot.  It gave me some fun ideas to try, and got me to think of other things that could be done also.