Peace Dale Elementary School Library: 4th Grade Battle of the Books

The Book of Turtles

by Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson

40 pgs.

From Amazon:

**A SIBERT HONOR BOOK! **

** A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR ** A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE OF THE YEAR **

From National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Sy Montgomery comes an ode to one of the most diverse, fascinating, and beloved species on the planet: turtles. With dazzling illustrations and emotionally engaging, fact-filled text, this picture book will speak to the wisdom these long-lived animals can lend.

Everyone loves turtles. And no wonder: long-lived, unhurried, and ancient, these shelled reptiles are fascinating.

Turtles are also endlessly surprising. There are turtles with soft shells, turtles with googly eyes, turtles with necks longer than their bodies, and turtles whose shells glow in the dark!

And each turtle, of each of the more than 300 kinds, is an individual. You’ll meet some of them here: Lonesome George, the last of his kind on Earth. And Myrtle, the 90-year-old green sea turtle who has more than 7,000 followers on Facebook.        

What questions might you ask a turtle? You’ll find many of the answers in this gorgeous compendium—and perhaps be inspired to help at a time when these reptiles, who evolved at the same time as the dinosaurs, face the deadliest dangers of their more than 380-million-year history.

Crenshaw

by Applegate, Katherine

245 pages

The Day the River Caught Fire: How the Cuyahoga River Caught Fire and Ignited Earth Day

by Dan Wittenstein

From Amazon:

Discover the true story of how a 1969 fire in one of the most polluted rivers in America sparked the national Earth Day movement in this nonfiction picture book by award-winning author Barry Wittenstein and beloved illustrator Jessie Hartland.

After the Industrial Revolution in the 1880s, the Cayuhoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, caught fire almost twenty times, earning Cleveland the nickname “The Mistake on the Lake.” Waste dumping had made fires so routine that local politicians and media didn’t pay them any mind, and other Cleveland residents laughed off their combustible river and even wrote songs about it.

But when the river ignited again in June 1969, the national media picked up on the story and added fuel to the fire of the recent environmental movement. A year later, in 1970, President Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency—leading to the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts—and the first Earth Day was celebrated. It was a celebration, it was a protest, and it was the beginning of a movement to save our planet.

Finch House

by Ciera Burch

197 pgs.

Grades 3-7, Ages 8-12, Reading Level Gr. 4.4

Eleven-year-old Micah has no interest in moving out of her grandfather’s house. She loves living with Poppop and their shared hobby of driving around rich neighborhoods to find treasures in others’ trash. To avoid packing, Micah goes for a bike ride and ends up at Finch House, the decrepit Victorian that Poppop says is Off Limits. Except when she gets there, it’s all fixed up and there’s a boy named Theo in the front yard. Surely that means Finch House isn’t Off Limits anymore? But when Poppop finds her there, Micah is only met with his disappointment.

By the next day, Poppop is nowhere to be found. After searching everywhere, Micah’s instincts lead her back to Finch House. But once Theo invites her inside, Micah realizes she can’t leave. And that, with its strange whispers and deep-dark shadows, Finch House isn’t just a house…it’s alive.

From the publisher.

Can Micah find a way to convince the house to let her go? Or will she be forced to stay in Finch House forever?

Garlic and the Vampire

by Paulsen, Bree

151 pages 

From: Booklist (July 2021)

Grades 3-6.

A worrywart and a klutz by nature, Garlic is one of a gardenful of fruits and vegetables brought to life by witch Agnes, proprietor of the local farmers market. When Potato spots chimney smoke coming from a nearby abandoned castle and it’s suggested that a vampire may have taken up residence there, the plants panic. Because garlic is a legendary vampire repellent, Garlic is convinced to make the trek to the castle, confront the vampire, and, if necessary, destroy it. Afraid but determined, she comes face-to-face with her foe, only to discover that this vampire may not be so bad after all. Gorgeous artwork featuring anthropomorphized plants and colors reminiscent of those used in Kate Greenaway stories make this a joy to read. The plot moves at a leisurely pace, and while the tension isn’t particularly tense, the characters are endearing, and the denouement comes together sweetly. Perfect for chapter-book readers and up, this will delight anyone wanting a light adventure heavy on friendship and self-actualization.

 Guided Reading Level: N

The Iguanodon's Horn: How Artists and Scientists Put a Dinosaur Back Together Again and Again and Again

by Sean Rubin

48 pgs.

Reading Level Gr. 1

Publishers Weekly (10/6/23)

How do people conjure what extinct dinosaurs looked like? Via carefully cross-hatched pencil and digital collage, sprightly prose, and comic asides—and using informative sidebars to catalog changes in iterative iguanodon portrayals—Rubin (This Very Tree) surveys changing depictions of dinosaur anatomy. First, the work straightforwardly presents Mary Ann Mantell and husband Gideon’s 1822 discovery of parts of an unknown creature. The couple attributes their findings to an extinct animal, which Gideon names “iguanodon”; he believes a bony spike they find sat on its nose. Early attempts to sculpt dinosaurs capture public attention, but “unfortunately, they were totally inaccurate,” reads tongue-in-cheek text (“Seriously. This is embarrassing,” an early iguanodon sculpture complains). When a complete skeleton is unearthed in 1878, paleontologist Louis Dollo suggests that the iguanodon walked upright, a theory that subsequent discoveries, showing no tailmarks, debunk. But Dollo does identify the bone spikes as part of the creature’s hands. More recently, in the late 20th century, John Ostrom’s theories led paleontologists to see dinosaurs as birds’ colorful forebears. Images of dinosaurs tend to be accepted as fixed; this volume shows them as continually changing, and presents those changes as examples of science as “a process that never ends.” An author’s note concludes. Ages 4–8. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. 

Killer Underwear Invasion! How to Spot Fake News, Disinformation and Conspiracy Theories

By Elise Gravel

88 pages

Reading Level: Grade 4/Lexile: GN500L

From School Library Journal:

Gr 3 Up—Words matter, and Gravel provides a clever and humorous take on how kids need to look at the ways information and news can be miscommunicated, mismanaged, and mixed-up. The catchy title will get students talking and laughing. Gravel breaks down the truth of what is fake news, how it is given, and why people give it. Her quirky use of words and vibrant art make the information easy to understand for kids, with a cartoonish style that will draw in younger audiences. This topic is a serious one, and it can be emotional for many readers, but Gravel delivers a difficult message in a simplistic way, with humor to help readers understand. She addresses questions like, how do we know we're reading accurate information, and how do we understand what is real and not real? She equips readers with the knowledge to become media literate so they do not misunderstand information that comes from many different points of view. She gives the facts and sticks to them honestly, without bias. VERDICT A humorous, creative take on learning how the media can generate fake news and how to decipher the real from the unreal. This informational graphic work is a must read for students and educators.—Jacquetta Etheridge

The Legends of Lotus Island (#1): The Guardian Test

by Christina Soontornvat

147 pgs.

Reading Level Gr. 4.6, Interest Level: Ages 7-11

Kirkus Reviews:

Does Plum have what it takes to become a shape-shifting Guardian?Raised by her grandparents since her parents died in a boating accident, Plum has spent her childhood learning about plants and animals. She hasn’t ventured far from her island home, part of the Santipap Islands, but when she is accepted into the prestigious Guardian Academy, where she will train to become a Guardian along with other children from all walks of life, her grandparents encourage her to go, certain that her future holds more than their little island can provide. At the Academy, Plum’s tendency to talk to plants and animals strikes some of the students as strange, though she also begins to make friends. In the Santipap Islands, Guardians have the power to shift into an animal shape to better protect the land, and Plum’s first test is to find her own animal shape, but will she succeed, or will she be forced to return home a failure? With a Thailand-inspired setting, magic rooted in nature and the environment, and whimsical illustrations, this is a promising beginning to a series ready to introduce readers to both the fantasy genre and a beautiful and mysterious new world. All characters are somewhat loosely implied to be Thai due to character and place names.Themes of friendship and environmentalism combine in this magical school story. 

The Lion of Mars

By: Holm, Jennifer

261 pages

From the Publisher:

Blast off with New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning Jennifer L. Holm's out-of-this-world new novel about a kid raised on Mars who learns that he can't be held back by the fears of the grown-ups around him.

Bell has spent his whole life--all eleven years of it--on Mars. But he's still just a regular kid--he loves cats and any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping. Like, why don't they have contact with anyone on the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups all fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It's up to Bell--a regular kid in a very different world--to uncover the truth and save his family...and possibly unite an entire planet.

Mars may be a world far, far away, but in the hands of Jennifer L. Holm, beloved and bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish, it can't help but feel like home.

Guided Reading Level: N

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion

by   Shannon Stocker

Pages: 32

Grades 3-6

From School Library Journal:

Gr 36 The life of deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie dances and swirls across the page in this vibrantly illustrated picture book biography that is perfect for elementary school readers learning about music and fascinating women. Glennie's story begins in Scotland, where she can play music by ear by the age of 10. Soon thereafter, she loses her hearing, and it seems as if she will lose access to music, too. A compassionate teacher, Ron Forbes, understands that Glennie feels the music with every part of her being, and she becomes an essential musician in any percussion section. This is more than a story of overcoming discrimination due to disabilityStocker captures something about the artist's need to be herself, regardless of abilities. Glennie is making music to this day. Lush brushstrokes, delicate character portraits, and warm colors make this a beautiful title to explore, and the ample text and sweet author's note ensures that Glennie's story will have an impact on readers. VERDICT An excellent addition to biography sections, especially for musical readers looking to feel the music and not just hear it.Aryssa Damron

The Lost Library

by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

224 pages

Grade Level 3-4

From Amazon:

The New York Times bestselling authors of Bob, Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass, introduce readers to a little free library guarded by a cat and a boy who takes on the mystery it keeps.

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two weathered books from its shelves, never suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend Rafe quickly discover a link between one of the old books and a long-ago event that none of the grown-ups want to talk about. The two boys start asking questions whose answers will transform not only their own futures, but the town itself.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story from award-winning authors Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass. It’s about owning your truth, choosing the life you want, and the power of a good book (and, of course, the librarian who gave it to you).

Maizy Chen's Last Chance

by Lisa Yee

288 pages

Reading Level: Grade 4.6

School Library Journal Starred Review (11/1/22)

Gr 4 Up . When 11-year-old Maizy's grandfather falls ill, she and her mother visit her grandparents in Minnesota for the first time. While helping run their Chinese restaurant, Maizy learns about her family history with enduring roots in the town since the 1880s. As Maizy discovers her ancestors' struggles against racism, she also confronts issues that still plague the town. In connecting with her grandparents, Maizy learns not only about past generations, but also about family dynamics of living up to your parents' expectations and strained familial relationships. This fast-paced, humorous, heartwarming tale of family and history is likely to appeal to readers of all ages. VERDICT Recommended first purchase for all collections. This contemporary fiction tale has mystery, friendship, and family packed into an enthralling read.Monisha Blair

Max in the House of Spies: A Tale of World War II

by Adam Gidwitz

336 pgs.

Ages 8-12.Grades 3-7

From School Library Journal:

Max is not happy. He’s an unwilling Kindertransport refugee, having been sent from Germany by his loving parents to London to stay with whatever family will take him in. Max is Jewish and separated now from his mother and father, he’s incredibly worried. Those two are the people Max had sworn to protect (even though he’s just a kid himself). Vowing to find some way to return, Max is soon to discover that the family that has taken him in has distinct connections to Britain’s intelligence agencies. Now Max has a new goal: Become a spy for the British so that he can be sent back to Germany as soon as possible. Oh. And one more thing. He has two immortal creatures, a dybbuk named Stein and a kobold named Berg, permanently stuck to his shoulders for, potentially, the rest of his life. What could go wrong?

My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More

by G.Neri

pages: 96

 From the publisher/Amazon:

Antarctica is a land of extremes—the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest place on the planet. It’s a world where the sun stays hidden half of the year and where visitors must undergo a week of special training before it’s safe to go outside (watch out for lava bombs!). It’s also a place of stark beauty, history, and endless scientific research. Join beloved author G. Neri on his long-dreamed-of voyage to the ice, where he taps into his inner child and encounters sea angels, mummified seals, space robots, inquisitive penguins, and so much more. Abundant full-color photographs (many by the author) and annotated comics and illustrations from Corban Wilkin depict an unforgettable stay in a land of baffling mysteries to uncover, epic questions to ponder, and bigger-than-life stories to tell. Robust back matter includes more facts and history, recommended source material, and answers to questions about everything from logistics (how do you sleep?) to cool science (why is Blood Falls red?). This eye-opening, information-packed memoir—shaped by the author’s visits with school groups upon his return—sparkles with his heartfelt journey of discovery.

The Mystery of Locked Rooms

By Lindsay Currie

251 pages

Grades 4-7, Reading Level 5.0

School Library Journal (2/1/24)

Gr 4 and up; Locked rooms filled with secret passages, puzzles, and codes create challenges for friends West, Hannah, and Sarah, or as they call themselves, the Deltas. As the story opens, they have just become the first team of mystery solvers to beat the escape room at Lasers and Lava in record time. While riding high on that victory, they begin discussing a long-since abandoned fun house built by a set of triplets many decades ago. Legend has it that treasure awaits the person who manages to escape from it. Treasure is just what Sarah needs now. Since her dad isn't able to work anymore, and her mom can't work enough, their house is being foreclosed on and they will probably have to move. With that motivation, the Deltas decide that they could take on the challenge of the fun house and find the treasure that will keep them together. Upon arriving at the house, Sarah finds the first clue and their way inside. Once in, they must solve puzzles, decipher codes, and escape from one room after another. But the challenges start, becoming more personal and sinister, leaving the Deltas to wonder who planned these, and how to break free. These twists and turns will keep readers rapidly turning the pages to find out if the trio successfully escapes. VERDICT With highly likable characters, authentic dialogue, and tension-building action, this exciting and engaging story will grab the attention of many readers who will not put it down until the end. Highly recommended for all libraries.; Laura Fields Eason

Out of My Mind

by: Draper, Sharon

320 pages

Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she's determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

In this breakthrough story—reminiscent of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly—from multiple Coretta Scott King Award-winner Sharon Draper, readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability.

A Rover's Story

by Jasmine Warga

294 pgs.

School Library Journal (10/1/22)

Gr 3 and Up. A fictional Mars Rover narrates its own journey from the robotics lab to the Red Planet. When two scientists, Rania and Xander, build a Mars rover named Resilience, neither are aware that it is paying attention to every detail. Through journal-style updates, interspersed with letters from Rania's daughter Sophie, Resilience meets robotic and human colleagues, survives a battery of tests, and travels millions of miles into outer space, all experienced through an emotional humanistic lens. The format of brief journal entries and letters is engagingly readable for even reluctant readers, and the humorous interactions between robots and machines keep the science-heavy story moving at a reasonable pace. Readers learn about becoming a Mars rover as Resilience does, turning into the expert as Resilience further learns how to be human. Warga's character development is consistent with human and nonhuman figures, particularly Rania and Sophie; their Arabic language and culture weave smoothly throughout the story and elevate the reading experience. Rania's very real challenges of being a working wife and mother in a male-dominated field round out an authentic, modern text. The arc of the story travels into the future for a happy ending that sacrifices realism for sweetness, but the overall experience is quite satisfying. VERDICT A fresh format and timely topic engage readers in this uplifting and deeply human sci-fi story. Casey O'Leary

The Skull: A Tyrolian Folktale

by Jon Klassen

112 pages

Reading Level: Age 6-10

Starred Review ALA Booklist

*Starred Review* In his appended author's note, Klassen shares how he stumbled upon and reimagined the Tyrolean folktale that occupies this early chapter book's pages. He casts off the original's "Beauty and the Beast" glamour in favor of a gritty sort of moxie that results in a more rewarding friendship story. One night, young Otilla runs away from home and becomes lost in the snowy woods. Eventually, she comes upon a seemingly abandoned mansion, but when she knocks on its door, it is politely answered by a skull. Otilla takes this strangeness in stride as the skull gives her a tour of his home and invites her to stay the night, on the condition that she helps him escape the headless skeleton that tries to capture him each night. She agrees and boy does she deliver. Klassen's recognizable graphite-and-ink illustrations capture the haunting, somehow charming atmosphere of the stark Austrian setting, where shadows loom, bones come to life, and apricot sunshine cuts through the gloom. The book itself is divided into three sections, where the text is kept short but printed large and the artwork takes center stage. Is the story creepy? You bet, but it's also weirdly sweet and characterized by agency, kindness, and choice. It won't be for all readers, but for those who thrill at peering into shadows, it will shine bright.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With a Caldecott Medal, best-seller status, and a cult following to his name, Klassen's newest offering will be highly coveted.

Skunk and Badger (Book 1)

by: Timberlake, Amy

pages: 124

From the publisher:

Wallace and Gromit meets Winnie-the-Pooh in a fresh take on a classic odd-couple friendship, from Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake with full-color and black-and-white illustrations throughout by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.
 
No one wants a skunk.
 
They are unwelcome on front stoops. They should not linger in Important Rock Rooms. Skunks should never, ever be allowed to move in. But Skunk is Badger’s new roommate, and there is nothing Badger can do about it.
 
When Skunk plows into Badger’s life, everything Badger knows is upended. Tails are flipped. The wrong animal is sprayed. And why-oh-why are there so many chickens?
 
“Nooooooooooooooooooooo!”
 
Newbery Honor author Amy Timberlake spins the first tale in a series about two opposites who need to be friends.
 
New York Times bestselling author/illustrator and Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen completes the book with his signature lushly textured art. This beautifully bound edition contains both full-color plates and numerous black-and-white illustrations.
 
Skunk and Badger is a book you’ll want to read, reread, and read out loud . . . again and again.

Guided Reading Level: P

The Trail

by: Hashimoto, Meika

Pages: 229

Toby and his friend Lucas made a list of things to do the summer before they entered middle school, but now Lucas is gone, and Toby sets out to fulfill the promise he made to his friend, to finish the list by hiking the Appalachian Trail from Velvet Rocks to Mt. Katahdin, an undertaking that he is poorly prepared for, and which will become not only a struggle for survival, but a rescue mission for the starving and abused dog who he finds along the way.

                                                                                                                                  - Publisher

Guided Readin Level: R/S 

The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8

by Rick McIntrye

Who Were the Navajo Code Talkers?

by Buckley, James Jr.

108 pages

From Follett:

Grades 3-6

Includes bibliographical references (page 108).;Who were the Navajo Code Talkers? -- The Navajo -- Marine boot camp -- The secret language of war -- Creating the Navajo code -- The code in action -- Code-talker life -- Iwo Jima -- Going home -- Delayed honors. "By the time the United States joined the Second World War in 1941, the fight against Nazi and Axis powers had already been under way for two years. In order to win the war and protect its soldiers, the US Marines recruited twenty-nine Navajo men to create a secret code that could be used to send military messages quickly and safely across battlefields. . . This book explains how these brave and intelligent men developed their . . . code, recounts some of their riskiest missions, and discusses how the country treated them before, during, and after the war"--Provided by publisher.

Guided Reading Level: U/ Lexile Level 960

Witch Boy

by Ostertag, Molly Knox

pages: 227

Gr. 3-6- In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . . . and be truly himself.

                                                                                             - Publisher's Description

Guided Reading Level: S