Number Fourteen

Sing, Nightingale, Sing (Book and CD Edition) by Francoise de Guibert; Illustrated by Chiaki Miyamoto; Music by Daniel Goyone. (Kane/Miller; 43 pages; ISBN: 1929132980; Ages: All.)

This wonderful resource is jam-packed with factual information about 60 different birds. Each bird is introduced in a descriptive paragraph. A bold, colorful illustration of the bird is accomapnied by factual information about its coloring, size, diet, song, and nest. The accompanying CD has a soundtrack of each bird's song that was recorded in nature. As an added bonus, there are thirteen tracks that include a duet of piano and birdsong.

Too good to miss! District-wide purchase encouraged.

Pup and Hound Lost and Found (Kids Can Read, Level 1) by Susan Hood; Illustrated by Linda Hendry. (Kids Can Press; 32 pages; ISBN: 1553378067; Ages: 5-6.)

In this rhyming tale, Pup and Hound hitch a ride to the country fair. While Hound watches the Poky Pig Races, Pup disappears. Hound searches high and low. Just when he thinks he has found Pup, it turns out to be another animal: "Wait! Over there! Were those Pup's paws? No! It was a cat with very sharp claws!" When Hound is about to give up, he finds Pup . . . in charge of the kissing booth!

This is the latest title in the Kids Can Read, Level 1 series from Kids Can Press, and a wonderful choice for beginning readers. The sentences are short, decodable, and surrounded by lots of white space. The accompanying illustrations are provide picture clues that will help readers. Highly recommended.

Franklin's Picnic (Kids Can Read, Level 2) by Sharon Jennings; Illustrated by Sean Jeffrey, Sasha McIntyre, and Shelley Southern. (Kids Can Press; 32 pages; ISBN: 1553377141; Ages: 6-7.)

Franklin the turtle convinces his Woodland friends to have a picnic. Franklin offers to make all of the food. He makes fly cookies, fly sandwiches, and fly juice (his favorites). The next day the friends gather for the picnic and a game of baseball. After the game, everyone prepares for the picnic; Franklin brings out the food. To his dismay, Skunk, Rabbit, Beaver, and Bear all hate flies. Thankfully, Franklin's mother comes by with a pizza, topped with ants. "Everyone had two slices. Except for Franklin. 'Ants?' he said. 'YUCK!'"

The Franklin series is an early elementary favorite. The bright, cartoon illustrations extend the text and provide visual clues for the beginning reader. Highly recommended.

Discover Space Rocks (Kids Can Read, Level 3) by Cynthia Pratt Nicolson; Illustrated by Bill Slavin. (Kids Can Press; 32 pages; ISBN: 1553379004; Ages: 6-8.)

Divided into four short chapters, this title introduces readers to space rocks, comets, asteroids, and meteorites. Written in a question-and-answer format, the text is accurate, flows naturally, and is filled with fascinating facts.

The accompanying illustrations are a perfect match for the text. A perfect choice for report writing or just browsing. Highly recommended.

Who Likes the Wind? (Exploring the Elements) by Etta Kaner; Ilustrated by Marie Lafrancel. (Kids Can Press; 32 pages; ISBN: 1553378393; Ages: 4-8.)

"Wow, what a cool, clever book!" That was the response from the teachers here at the Oasis after reading Who Likes the Wind? On the left side of each double-page spread, a child makes an observation about the wind. On the right-hand page, another child wonders aloud about that observation. The reader opens a flap for the answer. In one scene, for example, a small boy is seen sailing his toy boat in a pond. "I like the wind because it pushes my boat," he says. On the facing page, another child states,"I wonder why the wind blows." Inside the flap one finds the answer: "The wind blows because air is moving. Air near the ground is warmed by the sun. When air is warm, it rises. Cool air moves in to take its place near the ground. This is the wind you feel." The explanation is accompanied by illustrations that provide a visual interpretation.

The explanations are masterfully done. Kaner has a real knack for taking a complex process and making it understandable in a simple, straightforward manner. (Why bubbles burst, for example, is the best explanation we have ever read, bar none.) Classroom uses are numerous. Who Likes the Wind? works as a picture book, resource, read-aloud, and browsing book. A must-have for your classroom or library. District-wide purchase encouraged.

Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses? by Stanley Coren. (Kids Can Press; 64 pages; ISBN: 1553376579; Ages: 8-12.)

Written by world-renowned dog expert, Dr. Stanley Coren, this title is an accessible, lively introduction to man's best friend. The book is divided into four chapters: How Humans and Dogs Became Friends; How Dogs See the World; How Dog Talk; How Dogs Think.

Readers will learn fascinating facts such as: Saint Bernards can hear subsonic sounds (such as those made deep in the earth before an impending earthquake); Dogs have more than 220 million smell-detecting cells; The oldest dog who ever lived died when he was 29 years and 5 months old.

The text is beautifully illustrated with full-color photographs. Excellent choice for report writing or leisure reading. Highly recommended.

Murder on the Ridge by Ted Stenhouse. (Kids Can Press; 240 pages; ISBN: 155337892X; Ages: 12 and up.)

The time is 1952 and the setting is Grayson, a small, Canadian prairie town populated by Native Americans and whites. A mysterious letter surfaces, one supposedly written during the battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I. The message states that Wilfred Black—Wolfleg to his Blackfoot people—was not killed by the enemy (as everyone had thought) but killed by "one of his own." Some Grayson residents want to the whole matter forgotten, but young Will and Arthur—the main characters in the novel—want to see justice done, and set out to find and expose the truth.

Murder on the Ridge is a suspenseful, atmospheric, deftly written tale of racism, regret, loyalty, and love. (Note: Mild profanity in the context.) Highly recommended.