Tag: middle grade nonfiction

REVIEW: Wings of Fire: A Guide to the Dragon World by Tui T. Sutherland

REVIEW: Wings of Fire: A Guide to the Dragon World by Tui T. Sutherland

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

A gorgeous compilation of dragon facts and stories from the various tribes of dragons from the long-running Wings of Fire series!

Each section includes full color art with descriptions of the tribe’s dragons. Then readers get to enjoy scrolls, stories, and letters gathered from members of the tribe to help Starflight create a resource that cuts through the secrets and lies that in the past led to distrust, war, death, and destruction.

This is probably a better resource for series fans rather than for newbies. Spoilers from the various books are included throughout the guide. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the tribes and stories. In the end, this made me want to go back and re-read the whole series again. If you have a Wings of Fire fan in your life, they will LOVE this guide. And if the fans you know happen to be students in your classroom, then your classroom library needs this resource guide.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: The Search for Sasquatch by Laura Krantz

REVIEW: The Search for Sasquatch by Laura Krantz

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Abrams Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The author, a journalist and podcaster, shares how she got involved in researching Sasquatch/Bigfoot and what she’s learned along the way. She ties as much as she can to science, the scientific method, and scientists like her famous ancestor, anthropologist Grover Krantz.

Review

This is fantastic! The content and illustrations are engaging. This is a meaty nonfiction book for kids about the science in the search for Bigfoot. Bigfoot enthusiasts will recognize many of the names she references throughout the book. And the sciences of DNA, eDNA, and anthropology are described in terms that will work for the kids and teens who will gravitate toward this title.

Amazon says this is for readers between 8 and 12, but this seems heavy for the younger kids in that age range. While reading I felt like this would be perfect for the older elementary and middle school crowd, 10 to 14 years old. This would be an excellent addition to classroom and library collections, especially where teachers and librarians are looking for engaging and contemporary nonfiction. This is the first book in a new Wild Thing line; I can’t wait to see what else they add to the collection!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: My 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal

REVIEW: My 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sasquatch Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This is a guided journal for kids modeled after the author’s highly successful 52 Lists books for adults.

There wasn’t anything here that surprised me. The artwork is kid-friendly with a fun summer/beachy/breezy vibe. Most of the lists are blank for kids to fill in, but there are a few that provide the list and then readers can circle the answers that best fit them. It’s a fun change up. Some list examples include “Things you want to do this year,” funniest memories, and “Draw your feelings.”

If you have a kid in your life who likes to write or likes lists, I would pair this guided journal with Annie’s Life in Lists to make a great combo gift!

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/solid/fine