Squirrel's Family Tree, written by Beth Ferry, reviewed by Judy Hauser

Summary: This is a very good book about nature and squirrels in nature in particular. Squirrels are more than cute critters in cartoon-like situations. The author writes, in rhyming text, about how squirrels gather seeds and nuts for winter, how they eat, how they prepare for winter (since they do not hibernate) and how the acorn seeds they bury or cache sometimes become oak trees. The book is very interesting and the author explains in a very nice, obviously simplified manner, how these animals that we all see in yards and parks live day-to-day. The symbiotic relationship between squirrels and the food that they eat and cache will be interesting to young children. The illustrations by A.N. Kang are lovely and complete the rhyming text so well! 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This is a great book for very young children about an animal they see often. They will learn about the feeding, living and sleeping activities of squirrels and the illustrations will be very helpful in understanding these activities. This is a very good lesson on nature.

Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor, written by Ally Carter, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: When April is brought to the Winterborne house - her twelfth group home in ten years - she isn't sure what to think. The other orphans are welcoming and brilliant, the woman in charge is kind and understanding, but April isn't an ordinary orphan - her mother is coming back for her, and left her a mysterious key with the Winterborne crest. The house itself is shrouded in its own share of mystery: Gabriel, the sole remaining Winterborne heir, vanished ten years ago and reappears to save April's life, although he is desperate to keep himself hidden. To help Gabriel and protect the Winterborne legacy, April and her newfound friends have to work together through ingenious inventions, fake accents, and evil family members. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: April's adventures continue at a breakneck pace throughout the novel, creating a thrilling mystery for middle grade readers. The characters create their own intrigue and add humor to the story: April is a plucky, independent heroine, and her new friends bring their own brand of humor, from Sadie's constantly failing inventions to Colin's accents and impersonations. A blend of mystery and thriller, advanced middle grade readers will eat this novel up. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers begging for the sequel.

Twilight Chant, written by Holly Thompson, reviewed by Judy Hauser

Summary: This is a beautiful book about animals that are active during twilight which, as the author explains, is the time of low or "half" light after sunset and before sunrise. The illustrations by Jen Betton depict deer coming out to graze, birds swooping, rabbits and foxes running and jumping and many other animals in their natural habitats. A family is by a lake packing up their picnic and heading home amid all that is happening in nature. The family walks up to their house as the animals around them also live their lives, possibly ending their day or, perhaps, beginning their day. This is a low-key yet beautiful book in how it demonstrates nature and juxtaposes some daily occurrences of animals with those of people. In this book, all living things are living in harmony. At the end of the book there is a one-page explanation of twilight and nocturnal, diurnal and crepuscular animals. This is helpful and is a good, short explanation for young children. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: A nice introduction to when some animals are active during a day. The short explanation at the end of the book explains some terms that may be difficult for some young children to understand but, then again, may still be helpful.

Sea Creatures Swim, written by Steve Jenkins, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: This lift-the-flap board book shows the movements of sea creatures both familiar and unfamiliar. Each flap introduces a sea creature and a verb describing the way it moves - a sea urchin "creeps", tuna "dash", and a squid "squirts'" - and can then be lifted to reveal a small caption with more information about that creature's movements. Accompanied by Jenkins' characteristically vibrant artwork and including some lesser-known sea creatures (Portuguese man-of-war and leafy seadragon, for example) along with the more popular ocean animals, "Sea Creatures Swim" is a quick peek into non-fiction for very young readers. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Jenkins' colorful illustrations may fool some young readers into thinking this book will be fiction, and could serve as an introduction to the idea of non-fiction for younger students. While too brief to be much of a source of information, the pictures and introduction of lesser-known animals will whet the curiosity of young scientists. This board book could also be used to explore the use of descriptive verbs; the ten sea creatures all are described as moving with a different verb, showing a wide array of terms. Although this book certainly wouldn't be helpful for a research project, it is an interesting and quick peek into non-fiction in the board book format.