Green, Jen. You Wouldn’t Want To Be a Polar Explorer! rev. ed.

Green, Jen.  You Wouldn’t Want To Be a Polar Explorer! rev. ed.  Scholastic/Watts   2017  35p   $29.00  ISBN 978-0-531-23832-5     elem/ms  VG-BN         

In You Wouldn't Want To Be a Polar Explorer! the reader accompanies Sir Ernest Shackleton on his voyage to explore the South Pole. The reader travels along and faces the many dangers that the crew faced on Shackleton's journey from 1914 to 1916, including having the ship become frozen in the ocean, being stranded, and being hungry. The text is exciting and suspenseful as well as very informative. The writing is fun and will engage young readers.

The graphics are as exciting and interesting as the text. David Antram has created many full-color, fun illustrations that truly compliment the text. The expressions on characters’ faces will having young readers laughing out loud.
     

This is one book in the You Wouldn’t Want To Be series. There are currently 28 books in this highly acclaimed series.  

Summary: Explains Sir Ernest Shackleton’s voyages to explore the South Pole. 

Polar Exploration                                                 --Virginia McGarvey

Malam, John. You Wouldn’t Want to Be A Worker on the Statue of Liberty! rev. ed.

Malam, John. You Wouldn’t Want to Be A Worker on the Statue of Liberty!  rev. ed.   Scholastic/Watts  2017  35p   $29.00  ISBN 978-0-531-23833-2  ms    Nonfiction  VG-BN

The Statue of Liberty was designed as a gift from the French people to the United States for the centennial celebration of our independence in Philadelphia in 1876, but the statue was not installed until 1886.  The story is told from the standpoint of a young French sculptor who helps create Lady Liberty.  This slim book manages to both teach and entertain its likely readers.  Finding themselves in the position of a “member” of the statue building team, readers can experience both unskilled and skilled positions firsthand.  There is significant historical data presented throughout the book.  The major narrative is offered on the upper part of each page, with supportive illustrations and fact boxes along the bottom.  A series of "handy hint" sidebars aids the reader with helpful suggestions on how to best prepare for the construction.  This is a lively, informative presentation that combines history and humor, which may entice the reader into further study.  The illustrated characters are cartoon-like and have remarkably expressive faces that enhance the enjoyment of the book. 

The book begins with a timeline and a map and ends with a brief fact file, a glossary, an index, and a description of several other American monuments.

The series You Wouldn’t Want to Live Without introduces a variety of topics relating to each subject and includes illustrations to promote the text.  Each volume includes a timeline, glossary, list of facts, and “Did You Know?” section.     

Summary: The story of the building of the Statue of Liberty is told from the standpoint of a young French sculptor who helps create Lady Liberty.  This slim book manages to both teach and entertain its likely readers.         

Statue of Liberty                                                       --Susan Ogintz

Mara, Wil. The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Mara, Wil.  The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.  Scholastic/ Watts  2016  112p  $32.50    ISBN 978-0-531-20999-8  ms/hs  Nonfiction  VG-BN     

For the reader who wants a basic understanding of the events leading up to November 22, 1963 -- the fateful motorcade ride through Dallas, background on Kennedy, Oswald, and Ruby, the government investigations, and the conspiracy theories -- this book is a prime source of information.  The succinct writing, numerous photographs, and historical explanations of events and feelings of the time provide report writers with enough data to understand the impact of the assassination.   The chapter on conspiracy theories shows that there were some that were credible and others that do not seem plausible.  The release of the Oliver Stone Movie JFK is mentioned as influencing public opinion about conspiracy theories.  There are two formatting flaws that show a lack of attention to detail, however.  Two chapter subheadings appear at the bottoms of pages in bold red type, and in each case the reader must turn the page to begin reading the text of the subsection: to wit, “The House Select Committee on Assassinations on page 81 and “A Change of Heart” on page 83.  

The book is well sourced with both primary and secondary information, and it includes a timeline, chapter notes, lists of sources, lists for further reading (with none more recent than 2010), and an index.      

Summary: Basic information for reports on the three people involved in the events of November 22, 1963 (Kennedy, Ruby, and Oswald), the government investigations, and the conspiracy theories.  Color or sepia toned photographs appear on most pages.  Index, timeline. Grades 5-10 

Kennedy Assassination, Conspiracy Theories                  --Lois McNicol

Graham, Ian. You Wouldn’t Want to be Sir Issac Newton.

Graham, Ian.  You Wouldn’t Want to be Sir Issac Newton.  Scholastic/Watts     2013  35p   $29.00  ISBN 978-0-531-25943-6      elm/ms  series: You Wouldn't Want to Be E-BN   

This is a most delightful and informative biography of Sir Isaac Newton from his birth and early school days through his death in 1727. Some of the less commonly known bits of information included are his dabbling into alchemy, his position with the British mint, and his apparently nasty personality.  What a fun book, and a great way to learn about such an historical, scientific figure. Here are some things I found I did not know about Sir Isaac Newton: he spent many of his formative years with his grandmother, having been left with her by his mother for a new husband; that he became involved with the Royal Mint; and that he was evidently a most obnoxious man.  Who knew?  The illustrations, with their associated quips and bits of information, accompany and enhance the associated text. Each double-page spread covers a specific aspect of Newton’s life or work, and includes not just the text and illustrations, but also a ‘Handy Hint” that can be read as a point to be remembered. While some of the “handy hints” are also a tad sarcastic, all are valid.  Lots of fun!  The book concludes with a glossary and an index.      The You Wouldn’t Want to Be series is now comprised of 37 titles.  Each one is engagingly illustrated and written and, while aimed at  elementary and middle-school students, would be fun reads for all ages.

Newton, Isaac, 1642-1727                                          --Lynn Fisher

Morley, Jacqueline. You Wouldn’t Want to be an American Pioneer! rev ed.

Morley, Jacqueline.  You Wouldn’t Want to be an American Pioneer!  rev ed. Scholastic/ Watts  34p            $21.75  978-0-531-27500-9         2013      ms           E-Bnes  series: You Wouldn't Want To Be  Nonfiction     

Comical illustrations support this children’s book about the journey westward over land.  Instead of painting the picture of an adventure which was worth the trip, the book describes the journey as it really was, fraught with hardship at every turn.  With visual aids that are uniquely humorous and educational, this book provides a look at the many obstacles facing the pioneer who wanted to venture west.  Other details include a look at the necessary equipment, the supportive role of animals, and the hardships faced by men, women and children who made the journey.  The timeline on the inside cover helps young readers establish a timeframe, and a map of the western trails shows the various routes that pioneers took to reach the western seaboard.  This book is as creative as a comic book with a glimpse at history thrown in!  The reader never feels inundated with information; instead, he or she enjoys a present-tense text that places him/her into an era of American history that is both adventurous and dangerous!  “Handy Hints” offers helpful advice along the way, but one of the best parts is the detail in each illustration.  Children will enjoy studying the visuals to see the facial expressions on both the animals and humans, to compare the text to the pictures, and to read the creative and often humorous dialogue.  Each two-page spread presents new information about topics like sandstorms, Indians, stampedes and mealtimes.  If the task of a social-studies teacher is to get children to enjoy reading and learning American history, this book provides the solution.  It is user-friendly, innovative and enjoyable!  The glossary and index are followed by the enumeration of a few of the factors that pushed Americans to venture west:  financial problems, epidemics, and the Civil War.  The contributions of top American pioneers are summarized, and some trivia about various trails concludes the volume.
American history-Westward expansion.                                                              --Martha Squaresky