One Proud Penny
Written by Randy Siegal                     
Illustrated by Serge Bloch
Ages:  4 - 8  
Grade level:  Pre – 3

This is such a cute book!  Teachers and kids will love it!  The illustrations use the penny as main body with cartoon drawings added.  This is a good mix of fiction (with a talking penny), and nonfiction (with facts like how pennies are made, how they’re used, and their history).  Penny’s hero is Abe Lincoln, of course, and he takes Abe’s advice to heart, “Whatever you are, be a good one.”  Read this book to make sense of cents!  All puns intended!
 
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Nefertiti The Spidernaut
Written by Darcy Pattison                             
llustrated by Valeria Tisnes
Age Level:  5 - 12                                         
​Grade Level:  K - 5

I wrote this review when Nefertiti was published.  I liked it then, but I love it now.  Maybe it’s because Highlights gave me a paperback copy (I attended a conference in Honesday).  I think it’s because it’s easier to read a paperback than a digital book.  Here’s my original review:
 
NEFERTITI, The Spidernaut" is the story of a Jumping Spider’s voyage into space. From cover to cover, I was fascinated with Nefertiti’s story, and I think my 2nd graders would be too. They’d love nonfiction in story form. Add in the hardships Nefertiti faced from preflight to returning home, and my class would keep turning pages to see how it all ends. If you’re a teacher looking for a unique animal story or a nonfiction book on animal adaptations or the space program, this is a great choice. Plus, it offers the opportunity to take your students from hypothesis to conclusion in one book. Enjoy the trip!

Her autograph says:  Rinda – So glad we met – again!  Darcy Pattison

The Kingfountain Series                     
Written by Jeff Wheeler
Age Level:  YA (Young Adult)  It’s comparable to Harry Potter or The Hunger Games in content and readability.

I love this series!  I read the first book back in February, 2016.  I was hooked!  I’m on my  3rd reread of the series.  I can’t wait till August when book 5 comes out.   This series is Harry Potter good!  And, it reminds me of Harry.  There’s a young hero, Owen, age 8 (Harry was 11).  Owen’s not an orphan.  His family’s kept home while Owen’s forced off to Kingfountain.  As the king’s guest, AKA hostage, he eats first to make sure the king’s food is poison-free.  Owen quickly realizes his life, and his family’s, are in danger.  The queen’s poisoner, Ankarette, is one of the “fountain blessed.”  She thinks of the plan and helps Owen save himself, and his family.  The plot has as many twists and turns as Kingfountain’s castle!   
 
Harry’s story was pure fantasy.  Owen’s is a mixture of magic and historical fiction.  It draws characters from England’s War of the Roses, including Joan of Arc, Richard III, and the missing princes from the tower.   Merlin, Arthur, and Guinevere are legends in Kingfountain too.  I can’t wait to see where Jeff takes me in books 5 and 6!​