Beck and the Great Berry Battle

Beck and the Great Berry Battle
By Laura Driscoll
Illus. Judith Holmes Clarke & Disney storybook artists

Ages-7 to 10 years old

This series is for the children who love Disney and fairies. Disney has produced a movie about Tinker Bell and her friends and has written books to keep the fairy world alive. The books don’t follow the movie, but introduce readers to more fairies that live in Never Land.

Beck is fairy in Never Land. She is the best animal-talent fairy. Every fairy has a special talent that helps keep balance in the forest. Beck is able to communicate with animals. The hummingbirds and the chipmunks start a Berry war which escalates when other animals join sides. Can Beck get the bottom of the misunderstanding and convince the animals to stop fighting?

It is another decent, very strong moralistic story in the series. It shows how easily fights can start and stupidity of wars and the reasons for them. It demonstrates that people can decide to cooperate rather than fight, and things are much better that way. I was introduced to this series by my 8 year old niece. It is very popular with the 3rd and 4th grade girls. This series can help reluctant readers make the difficult transition from picture books to chapter books.
If you are interested in learning more about these books, of course, Disney has a website- http://disney.go.com/fairies/

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

written by Susan Wise Bauer, Joyce Crandell, Jeff West (illustrator)
appropriate for elementary grades k-5 (and their parents)

Formatted to be read aloud, The Story of the World is as engaging as it is fascinating. This is the first in a series of four books exploring the world's great civilizations. A workbook is also available with this series as well as cd's. Topics include: First Nomads, Egypt, the Jewish People, Abraham and Joseph, Hammurabi and the Babylonians, the Assyrians, Ancient China, Ancient Africa, Exodus, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and Rome. Here are some of the questions that are answered in The Story of the World:

What terrible secret was buried in Shi Huangdi's tomb? Did nomads like lizard stew and did they bathe? Who was Homer? And how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of Rome?

School days are fast approaching and there's nothing like spending some quality time with your kids reviewing and learning during the summer. Intelligently written and interesting, this is simply a great book.

I'd Tell you I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You

written by Ally Carter
Young Adult

Being a spy is never easy- especially when you're a teenager. Cammie Morgan attends the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women; a super secret spy school for girls. While the school looks average on the outside, there isn't anything ordinary about it. Cammie may speak 14 languages, excel at advanced martial arts, and decode with the best of them; but what happens when she finds herself in the real world and faced with- gasp- a boy?

The first in a series of four, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, is fun and fast paced. This is the perfect book to read while lounging at the beach or by the pool.

Who are You, Baby Kangaroo?

by Stella Blackstone

Ilustrated by Clare Beaton
Ages: Pre-readers

A little puppy desires to know the name of the baby kangaroo. The baby kangaroo suggests the puppy asks other animals to find the answer. The puppy travels around the world asking wolf cubs, piglets, penguin chicks, zebra foals, tadpoles, and other various baby animals, what’s the name of a baby kangaroo? The other baby animals don’t know and send him to another baby animal. Finally, the beaver kittens suggest asking baby kangaroo’s mother. The puppy learns the name of the baby kangaroo. While you are following the little puppy in his journey, the ready learns the names of animal babies.
The illustrations are unique and not typical drawings. The illustrator’s creativity of using felt fabric as the pictures helps readers want to touch and feel the page given the book texture and depth.

Cooking Rocks! Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals for Kids

written by Rachael Ray
ages: 4 and up

In Cooking Rocks! celebrity chef Rachael Ray provides fun and easy recipes that kids can create with the assistance of a grown-up helper (or GH) or all alone with some great Rachael guidance. This cookbook is divided into age-appropriate sections: 4-6 years old, 7-11 years old, and 12-16 years old (and up). There are also chapters on beverages and snacks, submarine sandwiches, kitchen basics, and how to be a great grown0up helper. My kids have thoroughly enjoyed using this book- it has provided the opportunity for us to be together in the kitchen just talking and having fun. Although these dishes may take more than 30 minutes, the recipes that we have tried have been mouthwatering. One to try: chicken toes. Sounds odd, tastes great!