​A Dog Like Daisy
Written by Kristen O’Donnell Tubb
Age Level: 8 – 12
Grade Level: 3 - 7

I knew when I was halfway through this book that I had to review it. The hook, a dog is 2 days away from being put down when 3 people enter the pound. They’re looking for a special dog that can be trained to become a therapy dog. This is the perfect book to honor our veterans, many of whom return home with PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. After serving our country, they find themselves flashing back to the horrors of the battlefield. It makes life difficult for them, difficult for their families. Read this book to find out how Daisy passes her tests to become a therapy dog, and how she heals her new pack of humans. If you are interested in learning more about therapy dogs, read all the way to the back matter. Kristin will tell you how she got the idea for this book, and how she researched it. Daisy has become one of my favorite books, one of my favorite dogs!

I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson's Blackboard
Written and Illustrated by Jennifer K. Mann
Age Level: 5 – 8
Grade Level: K - 3

​This week my blog went home to my last classroom. The teacher next-door, Mrs. Benson. Really! I had to pick this book! This story brought me back to when I taught 2nd grade, and earning a star was a dream come true. Really! Poor Rosie, she can’t earn one for school things like math, reading, or cleaning. Her biggest fear…having her desk dumped out on the floor. This is life in the primary! Read and find out how Rosie gets her star. If you’re looking for a book for a teacher, or for a child who’s struggling to achieve, this is the perfect gift. Perseverance works!

​Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark
             Became the Ocean’s Most Famous Scientist​
​Written by Jess Keating
Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: P - 4

I saw this cover and had to read it! Girl meets sharks! What a great idea for a book! As a kid Eugenie was told she couldn’t be a diver. She refused to listen. She started diving, taking every class she could till her dream was as large as a whale shark. Large enough to teach people that women can be scientists, and that sharks are worth understanding. Read this book, and you’ll discoverEugenie Clark, AKA Shark Lady.

​Vincent Comes Home                       
Written and Illustrated by
​   Jessica Bagley and Aaron Bagley
Age Level: 4 – 6
Grade Level: P - 1 
​
I liked the beginning, but I loved the ending to this story. The hook— Vincent is a ship’s cat who travels all over the world. Check out the map to see where he’s been. Lucky Vincent! Now the ship’s heading home, and Vincent doesn’t understand why everyone’s so excited, not till he finds a home of his own. Fun facts— Jessixa and Aaron are married. They’re both published writers and illustrators, and this is their 1st book together. Here’s to many more collaborations from them!

​Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates
Written by April Jones Prince
Illustrated by Steven Salerno
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: 1- 2

If you love Goldilocks AND pirates, have I got the story for you! You don’t have to be a 7 year old second grader to read this…Really!  You must love pirates, or fixing things, or sneaking into a house to test out all the good stuff. In this version of the classic story Mama Pirate is domestically challenged. Really! Luckily Goldenlocks comes in and saves the day. How? Read the story, and you’ll find out! 

​Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN
Written by Michelle Cusolito
Illustrated by Nicole Wong
Age Level: 5 – 9
Grade Level: K - 4

​I was on a different kind of boat this week, but I was hooked by this book. It takes you through a day inside ALVIN as it searches the sea floor for treasures. Imagine, finding the Titanic!
​
The back pages are great! They tell you how how small Alvin is, only 7 feet in diameter. Can you imagine spending a day inside, with 2 other people? Talk about crowded! They also tell you how the author and illustrator researched this book. And one last fun fact…did you know Alvin started exploring the deep in 1965? Since then it has had 40 male pilots, and 1 female. I think it’s time for some girl power!

​Ranger in Time: Escape from the Great Earthquake
Written by Kate Messner
Age Level: 7 – 10
Grade Level: 2- 5

I love learning history from the eyes of a  dog! Ranger travels back in time to rescue children from history’s most famous disasters. When his first aid kit hums to life, it’s time to travel. In book 6, Ranger is sent back to San Francisco for the 1906 Earthquake. His job— to rescue 3 kids, first from earthquake, then from fire, and worst of all, from anti-Chinese prejudice. Ranger is thrown clueless into each mission, and he can't return home until the kit hums to life again.
The back matter helps you uncover the truth to this story which was based  on accounts from people who survived the quake. The best part—the words and pictures about San Francisco in 1906, and today. 

​Dad By My Side
Written and Illustrated by Soosh
Ages: 5-6
Grade Level: P - 3
 
I love this story. My dad is gone, no longer by my side, but his memory is. The words and images remind me of the things we did together, the things dads do with their kids. My post this week was about another dad who, I hope, will always be by his son’s side.

I hope you read the back matter for this story. It tells how Soosh got the idea, how it all started with an Instagram post. Cool!

​What If You Had An Animal Tail?
Written by Sandra Markle
Illustrated by Howard McWilliam
Grade Level: PK - 3

​​There are so many books I love, and I just found another! It’s nonfiction, but the author and illustrator added a lot of fun with a little fiction. Check out the cover to see how. This is a great way to read and understand nonfiction.
 
It's also part of a series of what-if books that include animal teeth, hair, feet, ears, nose, and eyes. You can’t get this title on Amazon, yet. I checked! I can't post a review-- I have to wait till the title appears. Did you know one of the best ways to help your favorite books/authors/illustrators is to post a review telling why you like their work. It’s like writing candy!

​Two Truths And A Lie
Written by Ammi-Joan Paquette & Laurie Ann Thompson
Illustrated by Lisa K. Weber
Ages: 8 - 12
Grade Level: 3 – 7

I love this book! And so will kids, whether they’re 8 or 80. Have you ever played Two Truths and a Lie? I have. It’s fun! That’s exactly what the authors did in this book that’s 2/3 nonfiction, 1/3 fiction. There are 9 chapters total about living things. Each one tells 2 stories that are true, and 1 that’s not. All 3 feel true, but crazy. Your job— take a guess, then check the end for answers. Confession— I missed some but I kept on playing. It was too much fun!
 
Teachers, I copied this quote for you:
“Considering the fresh attention being paid to teaching a skeptical approach to information evaluation, this series opener couldn’t be better timed. A brief but savvy guide to responsible research methods adds further luster to this crowd pleaser.” —ALA Booklist (starred review)

PS- I’m so glad to read that this is the first in a series of books. I can’t wait for the next one!
PPS- The pictures are great!