Sailors of old told stories of sea monsters that came out of the sea, grabbing ships whole, and taking everyone on them down into the depths; or of mermaids that sang a song so sweet they lured sailors off their ships and to their deaths in the sea. Read about real creatures from the deepest parts of the ocean, like giant squid that can be 57 feet long, or 18-foot-long oarfish. Read also about Jenny Green Teeth, said to be a mermaid that used to drown children. This book will help you separate fact from fiction about a part of our earth we still know very little about.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0822567504

ISBN-13: 9780822567509

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A girl who lives in Alaska tells about having recess even though it is 20 degrees below zero. She shows the many layers of clothes she puts on, the games she plays with her friends, and the way her eyelashes and hair freeze from the cold. The only things that keep the class from going outside are temperatures lower than 20 below or a moose in the school yard. The beautiful photographs make you want to join the fun.

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 5/19/2009

ISBN-13: 9781439512296

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The book cutely starts out with a boy finding a copy of this very book lying on a subway bench. The facts about redwood trees literally come alive as the boy reads them in the book. My favorite example of this is when the boy comes face to face with a real redwood tree at the bottom of the subway steps. This book truly conveys how amazing these trees are. Did you know that plants that grow on redwoods are called epiphytes? 'In one tree, researchers found a mass of ferns weighing more than 1,600 pounds-that's heavier than a full-grown bear!' Many more intriguing facts about redwood trees are presented in this book.

Awards nominated: 2013 Bluestem Nominee

Reviewed by: jb

Date read: 5/2/2012

ISBN-10: 1596434309

ISBN-13: 9781596434301

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Abigail Adams (1744-1818) was a woman ahead of her time. Even as a child, she believed that girls were the equal of boys. Although she wasn't allowed to go to school, she read every book she could get her hands on and expressed her opinion on everything. She married John Adams who wasn't afraid of a woman with brains. While John was away starting the new country, Abigail ran their farm and handled their business affairs. She wrote many letters about their children and the concerns of everyday people, but always reminded him that women should be able to go to school, vote, and own property. You'll enjoy reading about this very independent woman.

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 1/28/2011

ISBN-10: 1575055589

ISBN-13: 9781575055589

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Philbrick brings to life the tale of how, in 1820, the 'Essex' was rammed by an enraged sperm whale, and sunk in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/14/2009

ISBN-10: 039923795X

ISBN-13: 9780399237959

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