Schwartz, Heather E. Cyberbullying.

Schwartz, Heather E.    Cyberbullying.  Capstone 2013  32p  ISBN 978-1-4296-9944-0  series: Tech Safety Smarts   elem      Hardback    VG-BNS  Nonfiction     

Heather Schwartz deserves praise for the organization, anecdotal information, charts and tactful handling of the content.  She takes a subject that is complex, breaks it down for young children, and presents the topic using repetitive, easy-to-understand text.  She begins with a definition and a chart to help the reader decide if he or she has ever been a cyberbully.  Chapter 2 discusses the reasons cyberbullies threaten or hurt others, the effects on victims and the consequences that ensue if one is caught.  Chapter 3 describes ways to avoid expressing one’s anger online and offers suggestions that will help the potential cyberbully diffuse anger.  The final chapter is all about taking control of the situation, finding a trusted adult in whom to confide, or reporting cyberbullying to website monitors.  Helpful advice is displayed in colorful text boxes.  Children who witness cyberbullying but are not themselves victims are advised to help.  For children taking beginning technology courses, there is a variety of helpful additions, including vocabulary words defined in the text, topics for discussion, Internet sites, resources to consult and a glossary.  The color choices and layout support this useful guide to cyberbullying.

The series Tech Safety Smarts is a new series that presents books on cell phone safety, gaming safety, social networking and cyberbullying.  Each book defines the topic and employs graphic organizers, fact boxes and quizzes in a colorful, well-organized layout. Technology teachers in elementary schools will enjoy an exciting first week with this book and should stock a copy for their students to study.  Elementary-school libraries will want to stock the entire series.     

Summary: Children learn the definition of cyberbullying, how to prevent it, how to stop themselves from becoming cyberbullies and how to help others who are victims.

Cyberbullying                                               --Martha Squaresky

Schwartz, Heather E. Cheerleading.

Schwartz, Heather E.  Cheerleading.  Cengage (Gale/Blackbirch/Greenhaven)  2012 104p      $34.10  978-1-4205-0818-5  series: Science Behind Sports  ms/hs  VG-BN

                    

Cheerleading offers an unique view of the sport.  It begins with a discussion on whether or not cheerleading is a sport and continues with a historical summary of its development, from the mid-nineteenth century practice of young men yelling from the sidelines to the intricate and complex routines that occur in today’s performances.  The book is divided into chapters covering the transformation of cheerleading into its present form, the chants and cheers, the dance moves, tumbling and jumping, stunts and pyramids, related troubles and treatments, and the psychology of cheerleading.  Each chapter explores specific aspects of the sport and discusses the ways that the human body changes in response to the stresses placed upon it by the cheers and other physical activities.  It describes how the body responds to training through consistent conditioning and development of muscle memory and what the part played by physics in the creation of new moves and stunts.  The book examines both the positives and the negatives that can arise from a cheerleading program.  The informative text includes many first-person accounts and is greatly enhanced by the full-color photographs and sidebar tidbits.  It ends with source notes, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index.     

By combining sports with science, this series has found a way to engage youngsters in learning about the physical-science concepts involved in playing each sport, as well as the physical training and psychological ramifications arising from participation.   

Cheerleading                                                --Susan Ogintz

Willie and Uncle Bill

Schwartz, Amy     Willie and Uncle Bill    

Holiday House     2012  unp   $16.95

978-0-8234-2203-6       elem    VG    Realistic fiction

In this book, elementary-school students meet a little boy named Willie and his Uncle Bill, and get to read three short stories about them in an easy-fiction picture book.  In the first part, Uncle Bill comes over to baby-sit Willie while his mother is out.  While Uncle Bill cooks lunch, Willie locks himself in the bathroom and cuts his hair.  When Uncle Bill sees Willie's hair, he tries to fix it, but then realizes he needs professional help.  In the second story, when Uncle Bill comes to baby-sit again, the two make Icky Stew and look for customers to try the stew.  The third story has Uncle Bill and Willie out watching and interacting with a rock band while Uncle Bill is baby-sitting again.  Students will enjoy reading the adventures of Willie and his Uncle Bill and they may be able to relate them to their own adventures in baby-sitting.

This book includes colorful illustrations created with gouache and pen-and-ink and an easy-to-comprehend text.  There is an Accelerated Reader quiz available,  quiz #150148.          

VG    Charleen Forba-Mayer    Uncles, Family, Easy readers

 

Schwartz, Ellenj The Case of the Missing Deed (Teaspoon Detectives)

Schwartz, Ellenj  The Case of the Missing Deed (Teaspoon Detectives)     

Tundra Books      2011  189p  17.99 978-0-88776-959-7     

 elm/ms      E-BN  Mystery/Detective  

     In this story five cousins try to help their Grandmother find the deed to her house. It seems her husband had hid so no one could find it. It seemed that Grandpa liked puzzles. So the cousins turned detective with some hilarious results as they cooked their way through the clues that he left as clues.     This is a delightful story of a family who pulls together to solve problems that crop up.
      The cousins (Sebastian, Genevieve,Claire, Olivia, and Alex) arrive for their summer stay with their Grandmother only to find her in a quandry. She can’t seem to remember where her husband put the deed to their property. If she can’t produce the deed the Tantalus Mining Company will get control of the land for an access road.
     It seems that Grandpa loved puzzles. To help his wife to remember where the deed was secreted, he left a series of clues that he hid in such places as her cookbook. The cousins tried cooking their way through the recipes that had clues found on them hoping to get some insight.
     Readers will love the various characters and the fast paced action and intrigue that commences as the troop of cousins investigate the threat of environmental destruction, the secret codes, and tempting recipes that are included for enjoyment.                  Family life-fiction    Linda McNeil

 

Schwartz, Heather E. Breaking Barriers (Women of the US Marine Corps)

Schwartz, Heather E.     Breaking Barriers (Women of the US Marine Corps)

            Capstone Publishers 2011   32p     20.25  978-1-4296-5450-0           

elm/ms           Snap Books(Capstone)         E-BN  

Colorful photos illustrate the history of

women in the Marine Corps. The focus is on current service by women as

helicopter pilots and combat support positions. Glossary terms appear in bold

with definition at the bottom of the page. Grades 4-8.     This book provides an

up close and personal look at a female Marine who piloted the Presidential

helicopter. Her entry into the Marines and advancement through pilot school

shows young girls that they too may find success in the military.  The training

in boot camp is rigorous and the physical conditioning needed to be successful

is not downplayed.  A thorough history of women in the Marines starts with the

War of 1812 and continues through the Afghanistan/Iraq War. The only misstep is

a photo showing female Marines without head covering interacting with female

Iraqi children while the text below the photo indicates that female Marines wear

headscarves as an indication of respect for the Muslim culture.  Excellent color

photos, both current and historic, illustrate the text admirably.  Students do

not need to flip to the glossary for terms highlighted in bold as the terms are

defined at the bottom of the page they appear on. An excellent addition to women

studies collections for elementary and middle school libraries as well as great

career information for female students who may not give much thought to a career

in the military. Fast facts, a timeline of women in the Marines, index and

further reading complete the book.            Snap: Women in the U.S. Armed Forces

contains four books, one for each service branch, show how women have served in

the military, an up close and personal interview with a current female

serviceperson and excellent color photos.             McNicol,Lois

Schwartz, Ellen. The Case of the Missing Deed (Teaspoon Detectives).

Schwartz, Ellen.   The Case of the Missing Deed (Teaspoon Detectives).    

Tundra Books 2011  189p  17.99 978-0-88776-959-7 

elm/ms      Mystery/Detective       E-BN

      In this story five cousins try to help their Grandmother find the deed to

her house. It seems her husband had hid so no one could find it. It seemed that

Grandpa liked puzzles. So the cousins turned detective with some hilarious

results as they cooked their way through the clues that he left as clues.     This

is a delightful story of a family who pulls together to solve problems that crop

up.

The cousins (Sebastien, Genevieve,Claire, Olivia, and Alex) arrive for their

summer stay with their Grandmother only to find her in a quandry. She can’t seem

to remember where her husband put the deed to their property. If she can’t

produce the deed the Tantalus Mining Company will get control of the land for an

access road.

     It seems that Grandpa loved puzzles. To help his wife to remember where the

deed was secreted, he left a series of clues that he hid in such places as her

cookbook. The cousins tried cooking their way through the recipes that had clues

found on them hoping to get some insight.

     Readers will love the various characters and the fast paced action and

intrigue that commences as the troop of cousins investigate the threat of

environmental destruction, the secret codes, and tempting recipes that are

included for enjoyment.       McNeil, Linda

Schwartz, Ellen. Cellular

Schwartz, Ellen. Cellular
Orca 2010 115p 9.95
978-1-55469-296-5 ms/hs Leukemia - Fiction VG-BN


Brendan is diagnosed with leukemia. In the hospital he meets Lark who is having a bone marrow transplant. She helps him come to grips with his illness. Powerful reading on a hi/lo level about teenagers faced with life-threatening illness. Gr 7+. Brendan, an athletic, good-looking high school student is diagnosed with leukemia. As he struggles to assimilate his diagnosis he goes through phases of anger and is basically a pain to be around. In the hospital he meets Lark, a teenage girl who is having a bone marrow transplant that is her last hope for surviving leukemia. Lark believes in living each day to the fullest regardless of the prognosis and shares her philosophy with Brendan. The two, being the only teens in the pediatric chemo wing of the hospital, form a bond of friendship and help each other through their treatment programs. Although slightly formulaic with Lark dying in the end and Brendan going into remission, this is a powerful look at teenagers with life-threatening illness. Their mental and emotional state as well as the physical effects of chemo and radiation are accurately portrayed. This book is the hi/lo equivalent of a McDaniels or Picoult themes. For grades 7-12. Realistic Fiction McNicol,Lois

Schwartz, John. Short: Walking Tall When You’re Not Tall At All

Schwartz, John Short: Walking Tall When You’re Not Tall At All
Roaring Press see Millbrook 2010 132p 16.99
978-1-59643-323-6 ms E-BN
This book discusses the issue of short stature from many different angles, from the causes to the social consequences of being short, along with some advice on developing positive self-esteem. This book is very well written and thorough. It could be used individually with a student or by a counselor with a group. The author starts with the popular idea promoted in the media that being short is a distinct disadvantage, and then he shoots holes through it, with the help of scientific data he has collected. He links the manufacturers and marketers of human growth hormone with the erroneous theory that shortness is disadvantagious, and he makes a very strong case.
In addition, Schwartz discusses such pertinent topics as bullying, building self-esteem, and refusing to allow one’s physical attributes to determine one’s life.
It would be a great book to give to teens to read ... whatever their height.
For teenagers, particularly boys. Kennedy, Carol