RefoReMo Day 8 Book Reviews

A HUNDRED BILLION TRILLION STARS by Seth Fishman

Author Seth Fishman introduces the concept of number, really, really, really big numbers, like the idea that there are a hundred billion trillion stars in the universe and there are about ten quadrillion ants on the planet. Now, those numbers are big!

This is a great book for teaching kids about big numbers. The imaginative illustrations by Isabel Greenberg are the perfect accompaniment to the text. The author also provides an Author's Note in the back of the book with more information about numbers.

ANOTHER WAY TO CLIMB A TREE by Liz Garton Scanlon

Lulu loves to climb trees. There is not a tree around that she can't climb. She feels a special closeness to the trees. But when she is sick and can't climb a tree, she wonders if the trees miss her. Maybe the birds do, too. She longs to climb a tree, even while she is stuck indoors. But, how can she do that? Spoiler alert: She figures out a way!

CHARLOTTE THE SCIENTIST IS SQUISHED by Camille Andros

Charlotte is a scientist. She is also a rabbit and she lives in a house with lots of other rabbits, so many of them that she has no room for all the equipment she needs to run her experiments. Since Charlotte is a scientist, and scientists use the Scientific Method to solve problems, she decides to follow that procedure to solve her problem. First, she states the problem: "How can I get some space around here?" Then, she forms a hypothesis: "If I get rid of my brothers and sisters, I will have room to be a scientist." But, that's not easy to do. So, Charlotte must find another way to get more space.

And, she does. She finds more space on her own planet in outer space. Now she has lots of room. But, she also has another problem. She is very lonely. How can she solve that problem and still have space for her experiments?

Author Camille Andros provides an explanation of the Scientific Method at the end of the book, using Charlotte's methods as examples of how the Scientific Method works.

CHIBI SAMURAI WANTS A PET by Sanae Ishida

Chibi Samurai's friend, Little Kunoichi, has a pet, a "super-duper ninja bunny." Chibi thinks his friend's pet is so special, that he wants a pet, too. So, Chibi goes on a quest to find the perfect pet. Will it be a giant salamander? No, it's too strong. How about a tanuki, a magical creature that can turn into anything? No, the tanuki turns into a car and drives away. Chibi keeps looking for the perfect pet, rejecting a monkey and a squid and others. Will he finally find the perfect pet for him?

In addition to having a few Japanese words sprinkled throughout the text, there is a page in the back of the book with facts and trivia about different animals and also about things that are Japanese.

DAZZLE SHIPS: WORLD WAR AND THE ART OF CONFUSION by Chris Barton

During WWI, ships in both the British and American fleets were being hit in large numbers by enemy torpedoes. In an effort to confuse the enemy, the ships were painted in bold colors with crazy patterns. The idea was the brainchild of a British lieutenant-commander named Norman Wilkinson. He thought that painting the ships would make them harder for the enemy to determine the ship's speed and direction. The process was called "dazzling"; hence the name of the book.

There are four extra pages in the back of the book with more information about these ships. There is an Author's Note, an Illustrator's Note, a Timeline about events in WWI, and some photographs.

GREAT BIG THINGS by Kate Hoefler

Minimal text by Kate Hoefler and wonderful illustrations by Noah Klocek convey the size of "great big things" like mountains and the ocean and the forest as a small, small mouse braves all big obstacles to reach his love.

I WON'T EAT THAT by Christopher Silas Neal

Cat is hungry but he doesn't want to eat his dry, dull cat food. So, he goes in search of something better to eat. Turtle offers him worms. Cat doesn't want those, either. Fox eats rabbits, but Cat doesn't want those, either, or the ants that Chimp enjoys. So, what will Cat eat if he won't eat those things? The ending has a great little twist to it.

Author/illustrator Christopher Silas Neal serves up the perfect combination in this delightful book that all kids will relate to.

NIMOSHOM AND HIS BUS by Penny M. Thomas

Nimoshom was a bus driver. He was a Cree Indian. Nimoshom means "my grandfather" in Cree. While he was driving the bus, he would sometimes tell silly stories. He always said, "Tansi," when he picked someone up, since tansi means "hello" in Cree. He taught the children other words like "Api" (sit down) and "ehe" (yes).

This isn't so much a storybook as it is a book about how someone from one culture can influence someone from another culture. In this instance, the book serves to teach readers some basic words in the Cree language. The author includes a glossary of the words in the back of the book.

SHELTER by Celine Claire

When a big storm is coming, all the creatures in the woods take shelter - the rabbits, the squirrels, the birds and the foxes. All the creatures have a shelter except for the two bear brothers.

When the storm hits, the bears are left out in the cold. They knock on the other creatures' doors, but no one will let them in, even when they offer to share their food. The foxes don't open their den, but little fox goes out and gives them a lantern so they will at least have light.

The bears wander around for a while until it starts snowing. Then, they use the snow to build a shelter for themselves. When the roof collapses on the fox den, the fox family goes running. They look for new shelter and they find it with the bear brothers.

SING, DON'T CRY by Angela Dominguez

Every year, the children's Abuelo (grandfather) visits his family. When he comes, he brings his guitar. He sings songs with the children and shares his memories. He spreads the idea that whenever you're feeling scared or sad, you should sing instead of cry and that will make you feel better.

This story was inspired by author Angela Dominguez's grandfather. He made his family realize that whenever they were singing together would experience true happiness.