Zeke Meeks vs His Big Phony Cousin. (Zeke Meeks)

Green, D.L.  Zeke Meeks vs His Big Phony Cousin. (Zeke Meeks)  Capstone/Picture window  2014  128p  ISBN 15.99  ISBN 978-1-4795-2167-8  elem  Realistic fiction  VG

Elementary students who like realistic fiction will like this new humorous title in which they meet Zeke, who is a video game lover and trickster.  When Zeke’s class was assigned a class project, Zeke offered to show the class his project on the last day.  As usual, he put off doing his project and had no idea what he even wanted to show off.  As he watched his classmates display their projects, he still wondered what he could do for his project.  When Zeke’s cousin Sam and family arrived, Zeke was excited about his visit with Sam, as he hoped the two of them would have fun together.  But after Sam’s arrival, Zeke realized that having his cousin here was no fun at all.  Sam’s family thought he was perfect in every way, and Zeke learned that his cousin was a big phony.  After a conflict, Zeke and Sam finally began to bond and then the two learned to have fun together.  Since Zeke taught Sam how to play video games for the first time, he used his teaching skills to his advantage, and this became his big project.

The author uses easy-to-read text, black-and-white illustrations, information about the author and illustrator, questions about manners classes, tips for faking a sickness, and a glossary of big words (according to Zeke).

For schools that use Accelerated Reader, an existing test is available for students to take (AR Quiz # 163767).  Ten titles have been published so far in this chapter-book series. 

Summary: “Zeke can't wait for his cousin Sam to arrive for a visit. But once Sam arrives, Zeke quickly tires of his guest's constant bragging and sucking up. Is Sam really perfect or is he just a big phony?”  In this first book of a new series, students meet Zeke Meeks, a third-grade boy with his share of problems.      

Cousins-Fiction                                 --Charleen Forba-Mayer

Jakubowski, Michele. Dodgeball, Drama, and Other Dilemmas.

Jakubowski, Michele.    Dodgeball, Drama, and Other Dilemmas.  Capstone/Picture window    2014  128p  ISBN 978-1-4048-8061-0      elem  E     Conflict   

This book would be a book of note except that our committee gives that designation only to books suitable for grades 5-12.  Sidney (a boy) and Sydney (a girl) are back for a second book in this wonderful series about friendship and friendly competition.  The book provides an upbeat feeling that stays with the reader even after the last page is finished. The two share a love of video games. When the prize for a spelling contest is a new video game, they both try their best to win. Dodge ball becomes the second arena of competition, but it is the school play that tests them both as they learn more about their own abilities as well as the strengths of each other.  This is a chapter book for children of both sexes in grades 2-4 that provides laughs as well as moments to contemplate.  It is the second book in an engaging new series that hopefully will include many more books about the friendship between the two young people. It would be great if the characters could grow up and mature at a rate similar to that of their readers, so readers would be able to continue reading the series in 5th and 6th grades and learn how Sidney and Sydney handle classroom and family issues when they are 11 and 12 years old.             

Summary: When Sidney (boy) and Sydney (girl) get together, they exhibit a competitive nature that leads them into friendly jousting.  This time it is dodgeball, a spelling bee and the school play.  A chapter book for grades 2-4. This series (Sidney and Sydney) appeals to both genders. 

Friendship-Fiction, Rivalry-Fiction                         --Lois McNicol

Kalz, Jill. Out-of-the-World Aliens: Hidden Picture Puzzles.

Kalz, Jill.  Out-of-the-World Aliens: Hidden Picture Puzzles.  Capstone/Picture window  2014  32p       ISBN 978-1-4048-7942-3  series: Seek It Out  elem  E-BNe  Picture book

           

Children love finding things hidden in pictures.  In this hidden-picture book, all the pictures involve aliens doing everyday activities like attending a birthday party, going to a soccer game, playing at an amusement park, sitting at a rock concert, aboard a spacecraft or sitting at the movies.  The aliens are even in the library.

The illustrator is very creative in designing the aliens.  Finding the hidden objects is not as simple as it sounds, because the item may be partially hidden or a very different size from what is expected.

At the end  of the text there is a chart that encourages students to decode the alien words found throughout the text, a novel idea. The few words this reviewer tried are appropriate to the picture, and were fun to do.

Students love hidden-picture books, and this one is outstanding.  The Seek It Out series includes Christmas Chaos, Halloween Hide and Seek, Out-of-This-World Aliens, Pretty Princess Party, School Shake-Up, and Zoo Hide-Out.
Each includes picture puzzles.           

Summary: This book features fun and fairly difficult hidden-picture puzzles involving aliens.  Students will enjoy searching for the hidden items.  They aren’t all easy.   

Hidden pictures                                                   --Joan Theal

Kim, Patti. Here I Am.

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Kim, Patti.  Here I Am.  Capstone/Picture window  2014  40p  ISBN 978-1-4048-8299-7  elem  VG-BN  Picture book (Wordless)           

A beautifully drawn picture book describes coming to the United States without the use of a single, understandable word.  Letters are grouped together in the book, but they are nonsense words, which is just what a child would perceive if he or she were new to the English language.  This is just one of the many problems that young immigrants have, whether coming to America or to any country but “home.”  The differences in society, environment and comfort are clearly illustrated through the artwork, and the note to the reader tells the author’s own tale of coming to the United States.  As hard as the transition is for immigrants, in so many ways it is especially hard for children.  But as this story tells it, it all works out in the end.        

Summary: The story of coming to America as seen through the eyes of a child is presented without words.  Just pictures.

Immigration-Picture books                                  --Lynn Fisher    

Lemke, Donald. Superman Fights for Truth.

Lemke, Donald.  Superman Fights for Truth.  Capstone/Picture Window     2014  16p  ISBN 978-1-4795-1686-5   series: DC Board Books  pre K-elem   VG  Fantasy    

It was bound to happen -- a board book for toddlers about Superman.  When a local produce vendor finds his bananas missing he calls on Superman to find the culprit.  Quickly Superman locates the ape that stole the bananas.  However, getting the truth from the ape about the current whereabouts of the bananas proves tricky.  But, no task is too great for Superman, and in a humorous (at least the youngest readers will think so) ending, Superman solves the mystery of the missing bananas.  Sharp characterization and  primary colors will attract young readers.  Superman appears very masculine and strong, and the ape strangely but aptly shares Superman’s physique. This is perfect for sharing with the youngest fans of superhero adventures.      

Summary: This is a board book that combines superheroes and teaching the value of truth telling. It features fantastic, sharply drawn primary-color illustrations. Bananas are missing from a local vendor and Superman is called in to find the ape that took the bananas. Preschool.              

Truth-Fiction, Super heroes                               --Lois McNicol

Martin, Mary. Princess Addison Gets Angry.

Martin, Mary.  Princess Addison Gets Angry.  Capstone/Picture Window    2013 unp  ISBN 978-1-4048-7851-8    pre K-elm   VG      Conflict   

In this charmingly illustrated book for young children, Addison learns to deal with her anger over a rainy day.  It is the perfect book for a parent or grandparent to read aloud to a young child (especially a little girl) on a rainy day.  The drawings are whimsical and amusing, full of imagination and good humor, and they help to underline the message that it is okay to have one’s feelings, as long as one doesn’t hurt anybody or break anything.  It ends on a hopeful note, with Addie looking forward to another day, one without rain.    

Summary: In this charmingly illustrated book for young children, Addison learns to deal with her anger over a rainy day.     

Feelings-Picture books                                   --Carol Kennedy

Villa, Alvaro F. Flood.

Villa, Alvaro F.  Flood.  Capstone/Picture Window  2013  32p  ISBN 978-1-4048-8006-1  pre K-elem  Hardback  E-Bne  Books without words    

This wordless picture books shows the start, process and aftermath of a flood. It starts with a family at play outside; then, in the evening, the children are playing a video game or listening to an i-pod while the parents listen to the report as a storm approaches.  They work to  protect the house with sandbags.  The family packs what they can and leaves.  The water rises and engulfs the house while the family stays safe at a hotel in the city.  The family returns to see the damage and begins to repair the house.

Because the book is wordless, the illustrations are everything.  The paintings evoke the mood of each section, from sunny and happy to terrifying and violent.  The expressions on the faces of the family members show what they are feeling.

This title may be used to start a discussion of traumatic events with young children who cannot read. It can be used to develop language and conversation or develop sequencing and storytelling.  It shows a family’s perspective on the turmoil and aftermath of a flood, and is an excellent title for young children about a flood or other disaster.  For the very youngest pre-readers into the elementary grades.     

Summary: This wordless picture book shows the impact, struggle and aftermath of a flood on a family.  A non-threatening way to introduce young children to a traumatic event.  Ages pre-K and up.  

Flooding-Fiction                                                  --Joan Theal