800s: Research, Writing, and Arithmetic: Series Nonfiction on the New Three R’s

Without a fundamental knowledge of language and mathematics, higher-level thinking skills are impossible. Many of the titles listed below can help support the efforts to make our children readers, writers, and, most importantly, thinkers.

ANDERSON, Jill. Adding with Sebastian Pig and Friends: At the Circus. ISBN 978-0-7660-3360-3. LC 2008028470.
––––. Counting with Sebastian Pig and Friends: On the Farm. ISBN 978-0-7660-3359-7. LC 2008028469.
––––. Finding Shapes with Sebastian Pig and Friends: At the Museum. ISBN 978-0-7660-3363-4. LC 2008028473.
––––. Measuring with Sebastian Pig and Friends: On a Road Trip. ISBN 978-0-7660-3362-7. LC 2008028472.
––––. Money Math with Sebastian Pig and Friends: At the Farmer’s Market. ISBN 978-0-7660-3364-1. LC 2008028476.
––––. Subtracting with Sebastian Pig and Friends: On a Camping Trip. ISBN 978-0-7660-3361-0. LC 2008028471. 
ea vol: 32p. (Math Fun with Sebastian Pig and Friends! Series). Enslow Elementary. Apr. 2009. RTE $22.60.
K-Gr 2–These charming books approach their subjects with good humor. For example, in Subtraction, Sebastian and his friends are on a camping trip where various items are being pilfered by some mischievous mice. While the bewildered campers use subtraction to figure out how many of their belongings are missing, the inventive rodents use the purloined hot dogs as water skis and the paddles from the friends’ boat as a diving board. These titles will have children laughing as they learn the concepts that are clearly demonstrated in the story line. Each one includes a practice section. With their sunny watercolors and engaging characters, these books will be welcome additions.

CLEARY, Brian P. Stop, Drop, and Flop in the Slop: A Short Vowel Sounds Book with Consonant Blends. ISBN 978-0-8225-7635-8. LC 2008012777.
––––. The Bug in the Jug Wants a Hug: A Short Vowel Sounds Book. ISBN 978-0-7613-9503-4. LC 2008012766.
––––. The Clown in the Gown Drives the Car with the Star: A Book About Diphthongs and R-Controlled Vowels. ISBN 978-0-8225-7637-2. LC 2008025477.
––––. The Frail Snail on the Trail: A Long Vowel Sounds Book with Consonant Blends. ISBN 978-0-8225-7638-9. LC 2008012773.
––––. The Nice Mice in the Rice: A Long Vowel Sounds Book. ISBN 978-0-8225-7628-0. LC 2008012774.
––––. The Peaches on the Beaches: A Book About Inflectional Endings. ISBN 978-0-8225-7636-5. LC 2008012768.
––––. The Thing on the Wing Can Sing: A Short Vowel Sounds Book with Consonant Digraphs. ISBN 978-0-8225-7639-6. LC 2008012771.
––––. Whose Shoes Would You Choose?: A Long Vowel Sounds Book with Consonant Digraphs. ISBN 978-0-8225-7640-2. LC 2008012767. 
ea vol: illus. by Jason Miskimins. 32p. (Sounds Like Reading Series). illus. CIP. Millbrook. Apr. 2009. PLB $23.93.
K-Gr 2–Cleary does a masterful job of explaining such potentially dry topics as “long vowel sounds with consonant digraphs” and “inflectional endings” by using comic, incongruous situations to get his point across. The silliness of “Racks of slacks are by the yaks with the snacks” will appeal to children, and the accompanying cartoons’ clean lines will be equally inviting. On each spread, the featured words are illustrated in a clean white space in a separate box on the left, and the rest of the page uses those words in a sentence accompanied by a cartoon that amplifies the humor of the situation. The vocabulary gradually becomes more challenging. In his introduction, Cleary states that: “The bridge to literacy is one of the most important we will ever cross. It is my hope that the 'Sounds Like Reading’ series will help young readers to hop, gallop, and skip from one side to the other!” Mission accomplished.

HALL, Pamela. Code Blue–Calling All Capitals! ISBN 978-1-60270-614-9. LC 2008036325.
––––. Find Your Function at Conjunction Junction. ISBN 978-1-60270-615-6. LC 2008036318.
––––. The Muscle-Bound Compounds. ISBN 978-1-60270-616-3. LC 2008036328.
––––. Punk-tuation Celebration. ISBN 978-1-60270-617-0. LC 2008036327.
––––. Stand-In Pronouns Save the Scene! ISBN 978-1-60270-618-7. LC 2008036321.
––––. Wheel of Subject-Verb Agreement. ISBN 978-1-60270-619-4. LC 2008036324. 
ea vol: illus. by Gary Currant. 32p. (Grammar’s Slammin’ Series). illus. notes. Web sites. CIP. ABDO/Magic Wagon. 2009. PLB $18.95.
K-Gr 2-These books have major problems. First, the attempts at humor are feeble at best. In Code Blue, for example, the characters all have names with meanings–Gus Clutz, Dr. Dope, Mrs. Dweeb. It wears thin fast. Second, the flimsy story framework does not effectively deliver the necessary information. This same book asserts that replacing uppercase letters with lowercase ones renders things unrecognizable, but fails to make its point. In Punk-tuation and Stand-In Pronouns, ridiculous fights break out that neither enhance the stories nor teach anything about the subject at hand. Third, sentences such as “We wanna swim!” (Conjunction Junction), the use of slang words and expressions, and repeatedly starting sentences with “but,” “and,” and “or” are annoying.

WINGARD-NELSON, Rebecca. Amusement Park Word Problems Starring Pre-Algebra: Math Word Problems Solved. ISBN 978-0-7660-2922-4. LC 2008030787.
––––. Animal Word Problems Starring Addition and Subtraction: Math Word Problems Solved. ISBN 978-0-7660-2917-0. LC 2007051780.
––––. Big Truck & Car Word Problems Starring Multiplication and Division: Math Word Problems Solved. ISBN 978-0-7660-2918-7. LC 2008005302.
––––. Fun Food Word Problems Starring Fractions: Math Word Problems Solved. ISBN 978-0-7660-2919-4. LC 2008019629.
––––. Space Word Problems Starring Ratios and Proportions: Math Word Problems Solved. ISBN 978-0-7660-2921-7. LC 2008030785.
––––. Sports Problems Starring Decimals and Percents: Math Word Problems Solved. ISBN 978-0-7660-2920-0. LC 2008019627. 
ea vol: 48p. (Math Word Problems Solved Series). charts. diags. illus. appendix. further reading. index. Web sites. CIP. Enslow. 2009. RTE $23.93.
Gr 2-4-Wingard-Nelson chooses subjects of high interest to children and capitalizes on that interest when constructing her word problems. For example, a problem in Amusement Park involves comparing the speeds of wooden and steel roller coasters, and in Addition, readers are asked to figure out how many tarantulas have escaped from a cage. The author provides a logical list of problem-solving steps, instructs readers in searching for clue words, and describes pitfalls to avoid. She also offers alternative ways to solve problems, which is a most helpful feature as it facilitates different learning styles. The books are visually stimulating, employing varying colors and fonts that will help children zero in on essential information. Further reading includes downloadable worksheets that are guaranteed to be available through 2013.

BULLARD, Lisa. Ace Your Oral or Multimedia Presentation. ISBN 978-0-7660-3391-7. LC 2008024885.
GAINES, Ann Graham. Ace Your Internet Research. ISBN 978-0-7660-3392-4. LC 2008032351.
––––. Ace Your Research Paper. ISBN 978-0-7660-3390-0. LC 2008024884.
––––. Master the Library and Media Center. map. ISBN 978-0-7660-3393-1. LC 2008024886.
RAU, Dana Meachen. Ace Your Creative Writing Project. ISBN 978-0-7660-3395-5. LC 2008024888.
––––. Ace Your Writing Assignment. ISBN 978-0-7660-3394-8. LC 2008024887. 
ea vol: 48p. (Ace It! Information Literacy Series). charts. diags. photos. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Enslow Elementary. Apr. 2009. PLB $23.93.
Gr 3-4-These attractive books will be excellent starting points for students tackling any of the topics under discussion. The approach in each is logical and organized, presenting the steps to be followed in clear, precise prose that flows easily. Colorful charts and other graphics appear frequently, as do crisp, clear photographs. Text boxes are included when significant pieces of information, such as online safety or a definition of plagiarism, need to stand out. These titles will work for independent readers, and they will also be good resources for teachers or librarians to offer when they sense that students may be intimidated by either the research process or by making presentations.

HAMILTON, John. You Write It!: Fantasy. chart. illus. ISBN 978-1-60453-504-4. LC 2008042605.
––––. You Write It!: Graphic Novel. chart. illus. ISBN 978-1-60453-505-1. LC 2008044329.
––––. You Write It!: Horror. chart. illus. ISBN 978-1-60453-506-8. LC 2008044316.
––––. You Write It!: Mystery. charts. ISBN 978-1-60453-507-5. LC 2008042044.
––––. You Write It!: Science Fiction. charts. ISBN 978-1-60453-508-2. LC 2008040266.
––––. You Write It!: Screenplay. diags. ISBN 978-1-60453-509-9. LC 2008044271. 
ea vol: 32p. (You Write It! Series). photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. CIP. ABDO & Daughters. 2009. Tr $17.95.
Gr 5-8-These books are for students who have a serious interest in the writing process and are thinking of pursuing it professionally. Screenplay, for example, gives specific directions for formatting their work so that it will garner the attention of a producer, while the other titles each feature a chapter on publishing. Hamilton frequently makes references to books that may be beyond the interest level or reading abilities of his audience, such as Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces and Ray Bradbury’s Zen in the Art of Writing. The series is well organized, offering examples from contemporary works to reinforce the points being made. A particularly useful touch is the emphasis placed on work habits. Back matter includes advice from successful people in the field and a list of (ambitious) helpful reading.

The outstanding offerings here are “Math Fun with Sebastian Pig and Friends,” “Sounds Like Reading,” and “Ace It! Information Literacy.” The first two convey their information clearly, but also in such a way that children will return to them time and again. The third, for older readers, contains a wealth of information that will be of solid, practical use to students faced with these assignments. The “Write It!” series should be considered only if there is significant interest in these highly specialized subjects. “Math Word Problems Solved” is competently written, but not outstanding.

Skills Sets: Series Nonfiction on Study Habits and More (Fall 2008)

To Sum Up: Series Nonfiction on Math (Fall 2008)