Informational Text 3

Who Is Barack Obama?

Our current President, Barack Obama, had a very interesting life. He played basketball, had a pet ape, lived in Hawaii and Indonesia.  He visited Kenya and even has family there.  By reading this biography of our President I learned a lot about that I did not know about him.  How did this normal man become President of the United States?  Read his story to find out!

Rating 5 out of 5 stars.  I love the Who Is/Who Was series.  These are great biographies written specifically for kids.  The have pictures, short chapters, and tell the stories of the lives of many famous or well-recognized people who lived or are living all over the world.  Kids also seem to love this series.

Title: Who Is Barack Obama?
Author: Roberta Edwards
Publisher: Penguin Books (Grosset & Dunlap)
Publication: 2010
ISBN: 9780448453309

Informational Text 2

Tornadoes

What is a tornado?  Have you ever seen one?  Tornadoes are funnels forming when warm and coo air meet.  They are crazy thunderstorms and can have traumatic effects.  This level one reader gives a great description of what a tornado actually is.  There are definitions and real photographs for pictures.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.  This is great story that gives facts about tornadoes.  It is easy to read and has great pictures.  There is a lot of great information for kids.  It is labeled a level one reader, which seems a little too young for beginning readers.  There are a lot of words on a page, even if they are easier words.  Although the reading number is not always accurate, parents may think this is a story too old or too young for their reader.

Title: Tornadoes
Author: Brian Cassie
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication: 2002
ISBN: 9780439269903

Informational Text 1

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds

When the students of Ms. Frizzle's class begin planting a garden, they realize they are missing the best looking flower- and a photographer is coming soon!  Ms. Frizzle decides to take the class on a trip over to another school.  They shrink into a ladybug and land on a flower.  Ms. Frizzle's class gets to explore the plant by becoming part of the plant! They have fun learning all about seeds, but will the class get back to school in time for their picture?

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.  Magic School Bus is a great book series that teaches kids a lot about different topics, usually within science.  The problem with reading these books, however, is that there is usually the main story and the side notes of the characters actually speaking.  This can make for a confusing read.  This book was pretty short so it was not too confusing.

Title: The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds
Author: Joanna Cole
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication: 1995
ISBN: 9780590222969

Fantasy 3

Avalon 1: Circles in the Stream

When Emily moves to a new state she feel lonely; well except for the animals she helps her mom with at the vet clinic.  When one amazing creature like a giant cat leopard gets brought to the clinic Emily is fascinated.  She decides to find out where this cat is from.  Along the way she meets Adriane and creatures from another world lost in our worlds forest.  Emily and Adriane know they need to help these animals get back home, but how they are missing the third helper.  Will the town shut down the spooky forest?  Will the girls help the animals? Find out in this 12 part sequel.

Rating 5 out of 5 stars.  This was one of my favorite series when I was younger so I may be a little biased. It has imagination and talks about different gifts each of the girls brings, as well as working together.  This is a book series that is high fantasy and goes into an imaginary and magical world will kids will be able to explore imaginative places.

Title: Circles in the Stream
Author: Rachel Roberts
Publisher: Seven Seas Entertainment
Publication: 2007
ISBN: 9781933164649

Fantasy 2

A Tangle of Knots

Here is a world where everyone has special talents.  Not just talents like we have but tangible talents.  They are extraordinary and can possibly be stolen.  When one orphan Cady, who has a remarkable talent for making the perfect cake for each individual person to go with their personality, finally meets someone who may take her in she goes on a journey that will change everything.  Cady not only meets a perhaps future father, but she meets a talent thief, but a crazy family with some secrets and searches, and a woman who cannot speak.  What will happen to all these lives when they intersect one summer?

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.  I read this book one a friends recommendation.  It was very interesting and kept me reading, but it was kind of strange.  It really makes you think though about the gifts and talents people have in a different way.

Title: A Tangle of Knots
Author: Lisa Graff
Publisher: Puffin Books
Publication: 2013
ISBN: 9780147510136

Fantasy 1

A Bad Case of Stripes

Camilla Cream loves to fit in, but on the first day of school Camilla wakes up covered in multi-colored stripes! Yikes! When the doctor comes he cannot find any logical explanation so Camilla gets sent to school.  Unfortunately the striped continue and now Camilla's stripes changed based on what people say or what she eats! Specials upon specialists come but can't find any explanation, will Camilla ever return to normal?

Rating 4 out of 5 stars.  This is a cute fantasy book that has a moral for kids at the end to not care what other people think.  It is funny too and gives way to lots of predicting and art, however there are SO many words on each page.

Title: A Bad Case of Stripes
Author: David Shannon
Publisher: Blue Sky Press/Scholastic
Published: 1998
ISBN: 9780439079551