Hackett, Jennifer. Game Design (Behind the Scenes).

Hackett, Jennifer. Game Design (Behind the Scenes).  Scholastic/ Childrens Press  2018  48p  $31.00  ISBN 978-0-531-23503-4    elem Nonfiction  VG-BNS  series: A True Book.

Beginning with a timeline of game development and moving into the earliest of electronic games and controllers, the author goes on to discuss the different types of computer-based gaming, the process of designing a video game, and the changes that cutting-edge technology will bring to this industry.  She describes the steps necessary to design a game: setting the scene, developing characters, making a storyboard, and creating a script.  She then explains 3-D modeling and virtual-reality settings.  The descriptive text is crisply written and enhanced by excellent, well-captioned photographs of both males and females, and it will appeal to young readers. It begins with a mini quiz and ends with a page of “true” statistics, a bibliography of books and web sites, a glossary, and an index.  Highly recommended for elementary and middle-school libraries.  

Summary: Beginning with a timeline of game development and moving into the earliest of electronic games and controllers, the author goes on to discuss the different types of computer-based gaming, the process of designing a video game, and the changes that cutting-edge technology will bring to this industry.    

Computers, Game Design                             --Susan Ogintz

Oxlade, Chris. History of Robots.

Oxlade, Chris. History of Robots. Capstone Publishers    2018 32p  $27.32    ISBN 978-1-4846-4036-4    elem       Nonfiction  E series: History of Technology

Elementary students who enjoy learning about robots will appreciate this new title in The History of Technology series.  Written in an easy-to-comprehend manner, the book provides students with an understanding of robots from the late 1950s to the present, with the robots continuing to change and become more advanced. From early ancient automatons in the 1700s to robot stories, games, films, industrial robots, robot explorers, walking robots, medical robots, robot games and sports, domestic working robots, drones, humanoids and androids, the author covers the changes in the use of robots with advanced technology. In the future, our everyday lives may involve humanoids and androids assisting us with tasks and household jobs. 

The author includes color photographs, interesting facts, a glossary of terms, recommended books, a special code to use on FactHound, and an index.

For schools who participate in Accelerated Reader, an existing test is available for students to use (AR Quiz # 190808). The title would make a good addition to an elementary collection for casual reading and reports. 

Summary: “Provides a history of robots, covering key inventions and inventors.”

Robots-History                                --Charleen Forba-MacCain

Peterson, Megan Cooley. Haunted Objects From Around the World. Capstone Publishers  2017  32p   $27.99  ISBN 978-1-5157-3859-6      elem  Nonfiction  VG         

Upper-elementary students who are interested in ghost stories and learning about hauntings will appreciate this new title in the “It’s Haunted” series.  Written in an easy-to-comprehend format, students are introduced to several haunted objects from around the world.  Students who read the stories behind the haunted objects can determine for themselves whether they believe something is haunted or not.  Stories include Robert the Doll, a vintage Nintendo Entertainment System, a Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle, King Tut’s tomb contents, a painting of the Anguished Man, Anna Baker’s wedding gown, a mirror at the Myrtles Plantation, a haunted Dybbuk (or Dibbuk) Box cabinet, and Thomas Busby’s stoop chair.  Each story provides insight and photographs for students to determine whether they think it’s fact or fiction.

The author includes colorful photographs, interesting facts, intermixed vocabulary terms, a glossary of terms, a list of recommended books, a special code to use on FactHound, and an index.

For schools who participate in Accelerated Reader, an existing test is available for students to take (AR Quiz # 186793).     

Haunted Objects is part of the new It’s Haunted series. As of this review, four titles have been published in the series.  Each title explores some of the most haunted places and things around the world.

Summary: “Explores haunted objects, including cursed boxes and demon-possessed dolls, that can be found around the world.”     

Ghosts, Poltergeists, Parapsychology                        --Charleen Forba-MacCain

Potts, Nikki. My First Guide To Fast Vehicles.

Potts, Nikki. My First Guide To Fast Vehicles. Capstone Publishers      2017  24p   $25.32  ISBN 978-1-5157-3594-6  elem  Nonfiction  VG   

Elementary students who enjoy reading about race cars and fast vehicles will appreciate this new title in the My First Guides series.  Written in an easy-to-comprehend manner, students gain a basic understanding of high-speed land, air, and sea vehicles.  Students learn about ATV’s, helicopters, trains, hydroplanes, sport bikes, dragsters, race cars, and supercars. 

The author includes gorgeous color photographs, interesting facts, inter-mixed vocabulary definitions, a glossary of terms, a list of recommended books, a special code to use on FactHound to gain additional information, critical thinking questions using the Common Core, and an index.     

The series is My First Guides.  As of this review, six titles have been published for elementary students featuring fun facts  that introduce readers to military vehicles, robots, and other topics.

Summary: “Readers will have an up-close look at the fastest cars, trains, bikes and more. Includes fact boxes and full-color images of vehicles in action.”     

Automobiles, Racing; Transportation                   --Charleen Forba-MacCain

Taylor-Butler, Christine. Rosa Parks.

Taylor-Butler, Christine.  Rosa Parks. Scholastic/Childrens Press 2017  48p   $29.00  ISBN 978-0-531-21195-3  elem  Biography  VG          

Learn more about the events that led others to identify Rosa Parks as an iconic figure in the American Civil Right movment.      This is a re-issue of Taylor-Butler’s 2015 text of the same title.  Still, the story of Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus so a white man could sit, continues to rivet the attention of students of history, just as Ms. Parks’ actions influenced events through the present day.  Almost overnight, Rosa Parks became the symbol of the nascent Civil Rights movement.  Readers will discover how Parks continued to advocate for civil rights after her arrest, as well as the racism and segregation that continue to concern many people even today.  A lot of information, and many historical photographs, are packed into this slender volume.     A True Book (Sch/Childrens)         Welliver(3), Hilary