Young Precious Ramotswe lives in the African country of Botswana. She solves her first case when pieces of cake disappear from the school. Is one of the students the thief, or is there someone else who can't resist cake? Read this whimsical story to learn how Precious becomes a young detective.

Reviewed by: msp

Date read: 8/7/2012

ISBN-10: 0307949451

ISBN-13: 9780307949455

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'The Hallelujah Flight' by Phil Bildner is an exciting picture book telling about the heroic transcontinental flight of the African-American pilot, James Banning. Overcoming many obstacles; a beat-up 0XX6 Eagle Rock plane, a severe shortage of supplies, and racial prejudice, James Banning and his copilot Thomas Allen, captured the hearts of the American people when they flew over New York Harbor on October 9, 1932 completing their historic flight. Called the 'Flying Hoboes' because of their plane's condition and their shortage of supplies, James and Thomas became an inspiration to many Americans that all things are possible.

Similar authors: Reeve Lindberg; Wanda Langley; James Haskins:

Similar books: Black Eagles: African Americans in aviation by James Haskins; Flying Free: America's first black aviators by Philip Hart; Women of the Wind; early women aviators by Wanda Langley; Nobody Owns The Sky:the story of 'brave Bessie' Coleman by Reeve Lindberg

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/21/2010

ISBN-10: 0399247890

ISBN-13: 9780399247897

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Kek arrives in America on the 'flying boat.' The helping man, Dave, meets him at the airport to take him to live with his aunt and cousin. Kek's father and brother, as well as his uncle, were killed in the war in Sudan. Kek and his mother made it to a refugee camp only to be separated when it too was attacked. Now Kek has to get used to a whole new life. We see his confusion with air so cold it hurts, trees that just 'pretend' to be dead, and the miracle of washing machines, which he learns the hard way are for clothes not dishes. He makes new friends, including an old cow that helps when he misses the cattle he used to tend back home. We also feel Kek's pain as he shares memories of his family and the horrors of war and the refugee camp. Kek's aunt says that, 'Kek finds sun when the sky is dark.' Can he continue to do so as he struggles to maintain hope that his mother will be found and they will be reunited; or will he believe his cousin when he says, 'A man knows when he is defeated.'?

Reviewed by: cal

Date read: 5/19/2009

ISBN-10: 0312535635

ISBN-13: 9780312535636

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Commenter: St. Charles Reader, grade 0

Ana Shen, half chinese and half black, cringes when people say that she has a marvelously biracial, multicultural family. At her graduation ceremony from junior high, just as she is about to give her salutatorian address, the water main of the school bursts filling the football field with water. And if that isn't bad enough, the principal has to cancel the dance scheduled for later that evening. Ana is devastated. She's dreamed of dancing with her crush, Jamie for such a long time. When Ana sees Jamie after the ceremony, she impulsivly invites Jamie and his dad over to dinner with her family. Ana can't believe she actually asked both her grandmothers to cook. They've only cooked a meal together a few times, all with disasterous results. So it's off to a Chinese grocery store with her mom and grandma to get ingredients for her grandma's Chinese food. Her dad takes her other grandma to a store for her gumbo ingredients. Being in the house and helping both grandmas cook is beyond stressful for Ana! Her grandmas collide with their different bags of rice leaving Ana to pick it up off the floor so they don't waste good rice. The food ends up turning out well but Ana is shocked when she sees an uninvited guest at her door, Amanda, her classmate who also likes Jamie. However will Ana deal with a whole dinner of Amanda making her moves on Jamie? And what embarrassing things will her grandparents say? This book successfully portrays a biracial family with just the right combination of humor and matter-of-factness.

Reviewed by: jb

Date read: 8/7/2012

ISBN-13: 9780385734172

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Never trust a hungry crocodile is the moral of this delightful read, 'How the Ostrich Got Its Long Neck' by Verna Aardema. Tender hearted Ostrich couldn't help but come to the aid of Crocodile who had a bad toothache. Against his better judgment, Ostrich stuck his head in Crocodile's mouth in an effort to pull the tooth and end his suffering. Discover what happens next. The title of this book really says it all!

Similar authors: John Kilaka; Julius Lester; Melinda Lilly

Similar books: The Man Who Knew Too Much: A Moral Tale from the Baila of Zambia by Julius Lester; Wanyana And Matchmaker Frog: A Bagandan Tale by Melinda Lilly; The Amazing Tree by John Kilaka

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 8/7/2012

ISBN-10: 0590483676

ISBN-13: 9780590483674

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