Monday, April 19, 2010

Some New Books for April













Aliens & UFOs
by Chris Evans

This nonfiction book discusses aliens and how strange things that have happened on Earth are thought, by some people, to be the work of alien visitors. There are also facts are how the name “flying saucer” became used when talking about UFOs, and how many reported sightings of UFOs there are every year. The book also discusses aliens and what they may look like, and the popular aliens from movies and television, such as Alien and Dr. Who. There are also discussions of alien hunters, kidnappings by aliens, ideas of why the aliens may come here, and finally, if the aliens might just be living among us right now. The pictures are very cool, and there is even a pop-up spaceship. There is even a test at the very end of the book to see how much was learned.
















First Rain
by Charlotte Herman and illustrated by Kathryn Mitter

Abby and her parents are at the airport and are ready to fly to their new home in Israel. Abby and her grandmother will miss each other very much, but her grandmother gives her a “plane letter” to read as she is flying. Abby reads her letter, and when she gets home, her grandmother notices the letter that Abby wrote for her. They talk to each other over the phone and by email. Abby tells her grandmother all about visiting Jerusalem, and going on a hike (or tiyul) and to the marketplace (or shuk) and sends pictures, too. Abby also sends her grandmother some mud from the Dead Sea that is supposed to be good for your skin. Her grandmother sends Abby a picture of herself wearing the mud on her face. Her grandmother also sends her some leaves that have changed color, and Abby cannot wait for the first rain of the season. Will the first rain ever come? How will Abby share it with her grandmother?

















Big Nate: In a Class by Himself
by Lincoln Peirce

This book is a mixture of illustrations and words that discusses a day in the life of Nate Wright. The illustrations are much like comic strips. Nate believes that he is “destined for greatness.” His day, however, does not seem to be going that way. He thinks he forgot about a history test, but then he finds out there is not a test and gets a favorable fortune in a fortune cookie. Unfortunately, it seems that the fortune cookie is wrong. Three classes down, and Nate has three detentions. Then the day only seems to get worse. Will Nate be able to follow the fortune and “surpass all others?” Will his day get any better?
















Fly Free!
by Roseanne Thong and illustrated by Eujin Kim Neilan

Mai stops to see the sparrows that are for sale next to the temple gate. The vendor lets her feed the birds, but Mai would really like to buy them and set them free. That is why the vendor is selling the birds, so that customers can buy them and set them free as a good deed. Mai, however, cannot afford to set any of the birds free, so she hopes that someone will. Then a girl named Thu comes to the temple and removes her sandals. Mai has never seen such beautiful shoes. On her way out, Mai asks Thu if she would like to help her feed the sparrows. Then she sings a little song about good deeds coming back to those that do them. On her walk home, Thu sees a girl whose foot has been cut on glass, and she gives the girl her sandals. As she leaves, Thu sings the song, and the girl hears it. As she is bringing home water from the well the next morning, the girl notices the oxcart driver is asleep, and so she leaves some water for him when he wakes up. He hears her sing the song as he drinks the cool water. That day, the oxcart driver sees an old woman with a big basket of cakes, and he offers to give her a ride for one of her cakes. As he leaves, she hears him singing the song. Will the old woman continue the chain of good deeds? Will the good deeds of the others help Mai and her sparrows?

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