Bonnie Bader

The myth continues. This book continues to portray Lee as a hero. He was in fact a traitor. He signed an oath at West Point and when inducted into the army that he would not take up arms against the United States. He proceeded to break that oath in order to protect slavery. He owned many slaves and inherited slaves from his father-in-law. His father-in-law's will required Lee to free the inherited slaves within 5 years. Robert E Lee went to court to have this provision overturned to no show more avail. I'm not sure I think it is a great idea to promote this hero mythology concerning Lee to children. This is a very popular series and it is a disservice to all to include this horrible man. show less

I have a confession to make: I do not find sloths cute. Or particularly interesting. Now you know.

This nonfiction easy reader features photographs of sloths, both on a white background and a blurry green habitat, and walks readers through basic facts. It starts with their habitat and related animals, and pictures the two different types of sloths. Most of the book is devoted to a description of the sloth's early life and habits, from a baby to adulthood.

This is a level 2, for a "progressing show more reader" which is roughly intermediate. The sloth pictures are cute (if you like sloths) and the information clearly written, but I am not a big fan of Penguin Young Reader's nonfiction titles, compared to, say, National Geographic. My primary complaint is the layout of the text. It's a larger than normal font, but it's still fairly small and you have to search for the words on some pages. Also, some pages change the text from black on a white background to white on a blurry photographed background, which I find confusing.

Verdict: An additional purchase if you need more nonfiction easy readers or have a lot of sloth fans.

ISBN: 9780399541162; Published 2016 by Penguin Young Readers; Review copy provided by publisher show less

This biography introduces young readers to Jacqueline Kennedy, one of the most iconic First Ladies in American history. Bonnie Bader captures Jackie’s life with accessible storytelling, from her early years and education to her role in the White House, her restoration of historic rooms, and the strength she showed during moments of national tragedy. The book balances facts with engaging anecdotes, helping students see Jackie not only as a famous figure but as a woman of intelligence, show more grace, and resilience. show less

Who Was Martin Luther King Jr is an important informational book for a wide range of young readers. Any of the books in the Who Was/Is series provide vital information in a unique way. The engaging biographies introduce children to a wide range of influential figures in history like Martin Luther King Jr. Being short and concise, the books create a simple format for children to easily read along and learn without feeling overwhelmed. The illustrations in the book make the stories visually show more appealing therefore enhancing the child's chance of retaining the information being read. I loved these books as a child because they taught me history in such an effortless way. show less