For the Youngest Readers (Toddlers to Kindergarten)

COME AND EAT!
Written and photographed by George Ancona (Charlesbridge)
This is a fantastic book showing how different cultures eat their food. One thing is for sure—the food all looks good and is certain to work up an appetite. Encourages the reader to share their cultural experiences with food.  

SPOT SAYS GOODNIGHT
Written and illustrated by Eric Hill (Putnam)
This interactive lift-the-flap board book features lovable Spot the dog. It works well for teaching vocabulary that describes the process of getting ready for bed.

ANIMAL BABIES
By the editors of Kingfisher (Macmillan Publishing)
This series of eight books is simply adorable. Charming photos of baby animals complemented with expressive text provide great context for teaching young ones new vocabulary and animal recognition.

For Readers (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade)

BUG BUTTS
Written by Dawn Cusick, illustrated by Dr. Haude Levesque (Early Light Books)
If the title does not catch your attention, the content will. The author takes the bug world seriously and provides a fact-filled alluring look at the many functions of an insect’s derriere.

THE VOYAGE OF TURTLE REX
Written and illustrated by Kurt Cyrus (Harcourt)
The giant of all turtles, archelon, grew to 15 feet. Now extinct of course, but turtles still exist today. Read about these reptile wonders in this book. 

FRIENDS: TRUE STORIES OF EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL FRIENDSHIPS
Written by Catherine Thimmesh (Houghton Mifflin)
Imagine a monkey and a tiger or a cat and bear that live side-by-side in harmony. Both are unlikely friendships in the animal kingdom, but true, as described in this book. Read about these relationships and more along with another extraordinary story in a companion book, A Friend for Einstein: The Smallest Stallion.

For Readers (3rd to 6th Grade)

UNFORGETTABLE SEASON: THE STORY OF JOE DIMAGGIO, TED WILLIAMS, AND THE RECORD SETTING SUMMER OF ‘41
Written by Phil Bildner, illustrated by S.D. Schindler (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
As we head into this season’s baseball all-star game, the story behind two of baseball’s greats is worth reading. Seventy years later, their records still hold.

THE BOYS’ SUMMER BOOK
Written by Guy Campbell, illustrated by Paul Moran (Price Stern Sloan)
This book is packed with puzzles, games, quizzes, easy to follow directions, and a host of things to do. It’s a great cure for summer boredom. The Girls’ Summer Book by Ellen Baily is fun to compare and expand your possibilities for the summer.

INTO THE UNKNOWN: HOW GREAT EXPLORERS FOUND THEIR WAY BY LAND, SEA, AND AIR
Written by Stewart Ross, illustrated by Stephen Biesty (Candlewick Press)
Once you get started on this book, it is hard to put down. Fold-out cross-sections of each exploration vessel complement the historical accounts of 14 incredible journeys from the time of Pytheas the Greek in 340 B.C. to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon in 1969.

Book reviews provided by BSU professor Stan Steiner, the Bookman. For more suggestions and reviews, visit his web page at http://education.boisestate.edu/stansteiner. Book Nook is archived at www.treasurevalley.family.com