Erik Brooks

Polar Opposites is a story about two friends, a bear (Alex) and a penguin (Zina), who live on opposites sides of the world. Throughout the story, the two are getting ready for a trip to see each other. This gives a spotlight to how different the two are: Alex is messy and Zina is neat; Alex likes bright clothes, Zina does not. Even though the two are very different, they still are able to "meet in the middle" at the end of the story. This turns out to be the driving message of the book. show more There are two characters who go about their lives in entirely different ways, but can still compromise, and even find similarities in themselves. show less

This book is filled with every creative punn you can think of, also shows how you can greet someone or say goodbye. You can also take a different spin on this and learn about all the different animals found in this book. A great book that your kids will be quoting for the rest of the day after you have shared it with them.

A new student named Octavius Bloom is a Pinkerton detective and decides to solve the mystery surrounding the house that his classmates fear. He listens to the students’ accounts and does research then takes them to the house show them what is truly there.

Octavius Bloom and the House of Doom by Erik Brooks includes themes of being a new student as well as being fearful of the unknown. Octavius demonstrates that by exploring the unknown, in this case Priscilla O’Moore’s yard, and show more researching he and others can gain knowledge and conquer their fears. This narrative poem is structured in rhyming couplets. The number of couplets to each stanza is uneven, however, probably to have certain subjects be with certain illustrations. There could have been more conflict in the story. Priscilla O’Moore could have been angry to find Bloom in her shed during the climactic scene, for example. The illustrations in the story are fun and imaginative and use vivid colors and shadows well. They show a lot of information that isn’t in the text itself. Overall, this story is a fun mystery that is published by Albert Whitman & Company. show less

Polar Opposites is a trade book about Alex, a polar, and Zina, a penguin, who are very different from each other, but they found a way to meet in the middle. The illustrations in Polar Opposites are very cute and detailed. It shows the cold winter days. Teachers can use this book in the classroom by teaching that total opposites can share something in common too or just a great book to read to the classroom. My interpretations of this book are that total opposites can always find a way to show more meet in the middle. show less