Book List
Comments are explicit and detailed and are intended for parents to use to determine acceptability for their children. Please read comments - do not rely on ratings alone. Books are reviewed to the best of our abilities, we apologize for any errors.
| Review Date | Title | Author | Series | Grades | Rating | Teen | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/30/2021 | Fish in a Tree | Hunt, Lynda Mullaly | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
Girl who hid her dyslexia discovers that she is smart and also learns to read thanks to special teacher. Boy/girl relationship, Tznius and Negiah Brother tells sister to leave parents alone so parents can "talk mushy".Girl thinks boy likes her, thinks she might like him too. Turns out to be nothing. Religion/Hashkafa Passing mention of Native American story of butterflies taking your wish the spirits. Religion/Hashkafa Passing mention of Xmas Language Freak |
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| 03/30/2021 | The One and Only Bob | Applegate, Katherine | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
Sequel to The One and Only Ivan. Told from perspective of dog who befriended gorilla, helps save animals after tornado. Boy/girl relationship, Tznius and Negiah Passing mention of gorilla who has girlfriend - another gorilla. When dogs are in danger of drowning, a female dog tells the male dog that she always loved him. He answers "you're a looker... and you're too good for the likes of me". Language What the heck. Pee TV, Movies, Rock Music, Internet and other Media Passing mention of wanting to watch TV. |
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| 02/22/2021 | Cats Aloft | Martin, Lisa and Valerie Martin | Anton and Cecil | 3 - 6 |
The brother cats' adventures continue as they visit the Chicago World's Fair and help capture criminals who are stealing puppies for the circus. Detective dog tells the cats that his human master charms the ladies "The ladies do fancy him so". |
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| 02/22/2021 | Secrets of the Circus | Klise, Kate | Three Ring Rascals | 2 - 4 |
Generally Acceptable |
The circus animals help a pig who has run away from his farmer who plans to sell him to a pork chop company so he doesn't lose his farm. |
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| 02/19/2021 | Cats on Track | Martin, Lisa and Valerie Martin | Anton and Cecil | 3 - 6 |
Generally Acceptable |
Cat brothers receive a message that their mouse friend is in trouble. They travel by train to rescue him and experience adventures along the way. Language blasted, weird, durned (p144,162), creepy |
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| 02/18/2021 | Revenge of Superstition Mountain | Broach, Elise | Superstition Mountain Mysteries | 5 - 7 |
Children decide to return the gold to the mountain before the ancient curse hurts them. In the meantime, they try to find out where the other gold is. Many spooky cemetery scenes. Scary avalanche scene. In the back of the book there are mentions of titles of some books that may or may not be appropriate also mentions of the names of the author's favorite rock music and TV shows. Boy/girl relationship, Tznius and Negiah Two large black and white illustration of two different women wearing skimpy dresses .The children find love letters that their uncle wrote to his "true love" but they are confused since their father described their uncle as a "player" which they describe to mean "a man who has had a lot of girlfriends at the same time, or one girlfriend after another, with no long relationships." Boy notices his aunt looks "positively giddy" when she is around her boyfriend (towards the end of the book they get engaged)- some minor negiah between them- she puts a hand on his shoulder, he tucks his arm around her waist and pulls her close, etc. A lot of discussion if people believe "that there is one person for everybody...a person you're meant to be with" Religion/Hashkafa Boy asks repeatedly what people think about life after death- reincarnation. His mother is very definite that "death doesn't work that way". His father is not so sure- "different religions for many centuries have had the belief in reincarnation. Hinduism, some parts of Judaism, Native American religions..." Girl who is sad that she lost her father explains she wishes her dad would come back as something and there has been a hummingbird near their house lately and that might be him. Boy is very scared since Native American woman tells him that the Thunder god is angry at him for taking gold from the mountain and he will die if he doesn't return it. In the back of the book there is a more extensive explanation of the belief in the thunder god. Language creepy, weird, shut up, dumb |
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| 02/16/2021 | Cats at Sea | Martin, Lisa and Valerie Martin | Anton and Cecil | 4 - 6 |
Generally Acceptable |
Two cats with very different personalities live near a seaport. When one cat is captured and taken on ship, the other cat goes on a journey to find him and bring him home. Mouse is bemoaning the fate of mice and says they must have been "created by a very careless fellow indeed" Language darnedest (p101), shut up, weird, stupid, stinkin' |
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| 02/12/2021 | Den of Wolves | Quinn, Jordan | The Kingdom of Wrenly | 2 - 4 |
Generally Acceptable |
Boy and girl go camping- they each have their own tent and there is a wizard chaperoning- completely innocent. They rescue a wolf pup from hunters but then their dragon is captured and the wolves help them rescue it and capture the hunters. Language creepy, snot |
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| 01/03/2021 | Fear Itself | Clements, Andrew | Keepers of the School | 4 - 6 |
Questionable |
The saga continues as children solve clues to race and save their school while an evil janitor tries to stop them. Description of funeral in a chapel- relatively nuetral. Eccentric old man tells boy a story- he was at a funeral and was having so much fun he thought he was at a wedding- he got thrown out for trying to dance with the widow. Boy is upset because his father moved out and went to live on his boat. Boy and mother watch movie together. Use internet to research. Language goofball, weirdo, stupid, weird. creepy, gross, a creep,heck, darn |
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| 01/01/2021 | Dolls of War | Parenteau, Shirley | 5 - 7 |
Problematic |
A girl's father runs a museum that features a Japanese doll given to American children in friendship. Girl mourns the loss of her mother via her connection to the Japanese doll. When anti Japanese feelings are strong, girl is sent away from home and sneaks the doll with her to protect it. Girl has a crush on her much older brother's friend- he is later killed at war. GIrl is afraid her brother will be killed. Children display terrible middos when they ransack a museum, beat up a classmate and throw mud at a train carrying a Japanese American classmate. Boy/girl relationship, Tznius and Negiah fifth grade boy "collected popular girls as fast as the teacher caught their whispers". Boy didn't follow after the "flirtiest of them all". Girl hates her because she is jealous that a boy in the class likes her.Boys and girls go to a movie together. Man teases woman that since she can't buy stockings during the war she should draw lines on her legs and "any time you want to borrow my calipers to hold a pencil steady, let me know". She is horrified a man is talking about a woman's legs. Fifth grade girl tells boy that if he doesn't listen to her she won't kiss him again. Girl "drools over" a boy who has "the bluest eyes ever". Religion/Hashkafa a lot about xmas- presents, tree, santa, food, ornaments. After mother's death father doesn't want a tree for xmas- girl makes one from cookies. Description of church service but not detailed religion. Language jerk, creep, weird, dumb, shut up, I'll be darned |
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| 01/01/2021 | The ACB With Honora Lee | DeGoldi, Kate | 4 - 6 |
Questionable |
A quirky girl forms a special relationship with her grandmother who suffers from dementia and lives in a nursing home. The girl writes and unusual alphabet book to remember their time together. Sad when a friend of her grandmother's dies. Father tells daughter that he was told to call her by her first name, even when he was a little boy. Piano teacher wears a nose stud. Grandmother says things very directly without filters- sometimes her comments are hurtful. Residents in nursing home watch a lot of TV. Nurse sings xmas carols, later children do too. Brief mention of Zeus, a Greek god. Language stupider, idiotic, damn (p105) |
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| 01/01/2021 | Anika Riz, Math Whiz | Mills, Claudia | 2 - 4 |
Generally Acceptable |
A girl who loves math wins a Sodoku contest. She wishes her friends didn't hate math They unsuccessfully try to make cookies for the school carnival fundraiser. Principal and teachers get dunked at a dunking booth- girl thinks its funny to see them in t shirts and shorts. Language weird, dumb, stupid, gross |
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| 12/31/2020 | Katie and the Cupcake War | Simon, Coco | Cupcake Diaries | 4 - 6 |
Problematic |
Girls try to raise the most money of any group at the school fundraiser. They compete against a group of girls who are not nice to them- this group pretends that their rum cupcakes have alcohol in them and they get in trouble for promoting alcohol. A lot of juvenille boy/ girl- does he like me? do I like him? do I want him to dance with me at the school dance? flirting, etc. Girl very into wearing "lucky" clothing to bring her good luck. Girl is worried since her grandmother needs heart surgery. A lot of internet use, TV, movies.Mentions of divorced parents and if girl likes going from one to the other. Language gross, freaked out, weird, funky, supercreeepy |
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| 11/29/2020 | Adventures with Waffles | Parr, Maria | 3 - 5 |
Not Acceptable |
Norwegian boy and the girl next door get into all sorts of mischief. Very sad when great aunt dies. Girl doesn' t have a father - he "ran off" before she was born- and wishes for one- finally she picks out the local doctor for her mother and ends up proposing marraige to him -to marry her mother- and he accepts. Boy wonders if girl considers him her best friend- at the end he is gratified to find out that she does. Uncle yells at them that if htey make mischeif again he will "bash their heads into their stomachs" (girl comments that if he does that at least they can see out of their bellybuttons). Children are happy uncle's girlfriend is visiting since he won't yell at them in front of her. Girl explains how lambs are born "Soon lambs will be coming out of the ewe's bums". Religion/Hashkafa story of Noah's ark- quasi accurate. Boy imagines Noah pushing a tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur onto the ark. Children sing xmas carols to earn money. Boy's grandmother dies- boy is surprised that when he goes to see her in her casket is isn't "creepy"- it looks like she is sleeping. Grandmother has a picture of Yoshka that the children think protects them- mentioned many times. Xmas described- mom gathers them in front of "creche" and tells them the "nativity story". Boy decides his dead grandmother is probably up there giving yoshka a sweater for xmas. Girl puts herself into danger on the side of a mountain so she should look like Yoshka. Language stupid, pee, flipping stinky, creepy, idiot, poop. Aunt tells grandfather not to say "suffering sticklebacks" in front of the children. TV, Movies, Rock Music, Internet and other Media When girl punches boy making fun of her, child comments it was just like in a PG 13 movie he isn't allowed to watch, but has seen some anyway. Boy watched DVDs with his neighbor. |
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| 11/29/2020 | Bob | Mass, Wendy and Rebecca Stead | 3 - 6 |
Questionable |
An American girl goes to Australia to visit her grandmother and finds a strange creature dressed up like a chicken in the closet that she helps return to his family who live in the well. Mentions of fairy tale creatures. "In Australia they say toilet for bathroom". One sentence about dinosaurs- rain fell on them, sank into earth and evaporated and then fell again. In the back of the book the author lists favorite books by title and author, some of which may be innapropriate. Language weird, dorky, poop, weirdo, freak out, butt, gross, that stinks , scared the heck out of me TV, Movies, Rock Music, Internet and other Media many mentions of grandmother watching TV and creature listening to it through the walls- no details. |
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| 11/26/2020 | The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind | Kamkwamba, William and Bryan Mealer | 6 - 8 |
A true account told by an African boy who despite his poverty and lack of education figured out how to generate electricity using a windmill built from junk and ended up attending university in the USA. Very detailed descriptions of hunger and famine. Very detailed explanations about producing electricity and other scientific concepts. Detailed descriptions of the superstitious and magical beliefs of people in his community. Centerfold has color photos of the boy and his inventions. Primitive toilet collapses while girl is "squatting" on it-- they have to dig her out. Religion/Hashkafa It is xmas and children are starving- hope someone will have compassion and give them something to eat- radio plays silent night. Remember xmas past when they went ot watch the nativity play in church and eat flying ants roasted with salt. Paragraph expaining that Yoshka told his disciples that seeds planted on fertile soil live and prosper. Description of tribal belief that magical dancers who are spirits of ansestors roam the earth and take young boys to graveyards. Witch doctor brought a man to life who was killed by a snake. Language drooling idiot, stupid, poop, shut up TV, Movies, Rock Music, Internet and other Media African children watch movie "The Terminator" and wonder if the main character was able to stay alive because he is the greatest wizard ever. Mention of TV |
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| 11/26/2020 | Worst Witch and the Wishing Star | Murphy, Jill | The Worst Witch | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
Girl who keeps getting into funny trouble in witch school is now a senior with more responsibilities, but unwittingly still gets into trouble. One word Hallowe'en. Language stupid, manic, weirdo |
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| 11/26/2020 | Worst Witch to the Rescue | Murphy, Jill | The Worst Witch | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
A girl who tries to be good at witch school but gets into funny trouble is excited to hand in her vacation project until a classmate steals it and pretends it is her own. Language shut up, weird, freaked out, berserk, stupid, idiot, dumb |
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| 11/26/2020 | Worst Witch Saves the Day | Murphy, Jill | The Worst Witch | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
A girl who keeps getting into funny trouble in witch school saves the school from the headmistress' sister who is masquerading as a teacher and wants to turn them all into snails and take over the school. Language weird, shut up, berserk, stupid, creepy |
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| 11/26/2020 | A Bad Spell for the worst Witch | Murphy, Jill | The Worst Witch | 3 - 5 |
Questionable |
A girl in witch school tries hard to be a model pupil but keeps getting into funny trouble. When a mean girl in her class turns her into a frog, she befriends another frog and finds out he is really a magician who has been waiting to be turned back into a person for a long time. She gets into even more trouble when she ties up a classmate so she can go to a Halloween celebration in her place and help the magician. Language stupid |
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| 11/22/2020 | Smashie McPerter and the Mystery of the Missing Goop | Griffin, N. | Smashie McPerter | 3 - 5 |
Problematic |
Third grade children are putting on a school performance, but the goop one of their classmates plans to use to style their hair keeps dissapearing. Boy and girl detectives solve the mystery. Boy's father and girl's grandmother love sixties "go go" dances and teach it to the children. Illustrations of them dancing together (not romantic). Many sixties dances named and described. Children get in trouble when teaching the dance called "the jerk" when teacher thinks they are being rude to her. Friend's mother quit her job and tries to make it on her own but is having financial difficulties. Boy/girl relationship, Tznius and Negiah Many mentions of children wondering if a boy and girl classmate "like-like" each other and how people act when they like-like each other. Remember when their substitute (previous book) like-liked their teacher. Boy hugs girl to thank her for teaching him a dance. Language frequent language- dumb, stupid, weird, stink, darn, heck, I'll be darned, freak |
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| 11/22/2020 | The Worst Witch Strikes Again | Murphy, Jill | The Worst Witch | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
The administration hopes to teach responsibility to the girl who has difficulty in witch school by giving her the job of taking care of a new girl. The new girl ends up getting her into even more funny trouble. One word mention of Hallowe'en. Language berserk |
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| 11/22/2020 | The Worst Witch | Murphy, Jill | The Worst Witch | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
A girl tries to adjust to witch school but she keeps getting into funny trouble. Many mentions of Halowe'en but no religion- class puts on a broomstick riding display. Mean girl exhibits bad middos towards classmate. Language stupid |
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| 11/22/2020 | The Lost Stone | Quinn, Jordan | The Kingdom of Wrenly | 2 - 4 |
Generally Acceptable |
A prince is lonely and tries to make friends by dressing like a commoner and sneaking into their school. When he is discovered his parents decide to allow him to befriend the dressmaker's daughter. They go on a quest to find the queen's lost jewel. |
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| 11/22/2020 | The Scarlet Dragon | Quinn, Jordan | The Kingdom of Wrenly | 2 - 4 |
Generally Acceptable |
The prince is given a rare scarlet dragon to raise, but then it becomes sick. In order to save it the prince and his female friend go on a quest to locate mysterious berries that will cure it. Magic and magical beasts. |
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| 11/22/2020 | Adventures in Flatfrost | Quinn, Jordan | The Kingdom of Wrenly | 2 - 4 |
Generally Acceptable |
The prince and his female friend get in trouble when they play hide and seek with his pet dragon and accidentally melt all of the ice in the larder. The king sends them to the land of the giants where ice is harvested so that they will learn not to take people's possessions lightly. |
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| 11/22/2020 | The Hidden Treasure | Burkhart, Jessica | Unicorn Magic | 3 - 5 |
Questionable |
Princess' evil aunt tells her that she must find her a hidden memory crystal or she will have to forfeit her unicorn. Princess and friends sneak around castle to find it, even lying to parents. Girl apologizes for making her friends lie- friend responds "We hate lying too but not when it is for the right reasons. Keeping Glimmer (the unicorn) is definitely a right reason". Cartoonish illustration of girls and boy swimming- bathing suits. Girl watches TV. Language gross, weird |
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| 11/22/2020 | Green with Envy | Burkhart, Jessica | Unicorn Magic | 3 - 5 |
Questionable |
When princess' cousin comes to visit , she finds herself jealous of how quickly she becomes friends with her friends and with her unicorn. Girls are excited to watch a movie at a party. Girl pretends not to feel well and goes to watch TV. Girl shakes boy's hand when she meets him. Boys and girls dance at a party but described in a romantic way. Language weird, dumb |
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| 11/21/2020 | Where's Glimmer | Burkhart, Jessica | Unicorn Magic | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
Children search for the princess' missing unicorn without telling her parents so that the stable boy doesn't get in trouble. She ends up lying to her parents to protect him. In the end she apologizes for lying to them. Princess ends up making a deal with her evil aunt to get the unicorn back. . Father takes mother's hand to reassure her. Language gross |
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| 11/21/2020 | Bella's Birthday Unicorn | Burkhart, Jessica | Unicorn Magic | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
A princess is worried about her eighth birthday. That is when she finds out f there is a unicorn that matches her aura and will become her lifelong companion. Girl doesn't like when her parents make "googly eyes" at each other. She finds out she has an evil aunt that her parents never told her about when her aunt shows up at her birthday celebration. Princess gives an interview to TV reporters. Father takes mothers hand during a ceremony. Language creepy, brats, weird |
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| 11/21/2020 | The Missing Magic | George, Kallie | The Magical Animal Adoption Agency | 3 - 5 |
Questionable |
The head of the magical animal adoption agency goes away for a few days and the girl is left to run things with the help of an annoying boy training to become a wizard. A teenage witch flirts with the boy and tells the girl she would understand if she had a crush on him too - very minor. Language freak out |
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| 11/21/2020 | Clover's Luck | George, Kallie | The Magical Animal Adoption Agency | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
A human girl accidentally comes across an agency that specialized in finding owners who want to adopt magical animals. Girl is convinced she is very unlucky, until she realizes she really is lucky. Mentions of lucky charms- horseshoe, wishbone, etc. At one point she is captured by a scary witch but eventually escapes. Language weird, stupid |
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| 11/10/2020 | Pop Goes The Circus | Klise, Kate | Three Ring Rascals | 2 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
Girl is miserable since her parents are focused on their baby who will be born soon so she mails herself to the circus- she ends up in a dead letter warehouse. Mouse from the circus accidentally gets carried away by balloon. The girl and the mouse find each other and try to survive by impersonating a ventriloquist and confronting robbers. It all turns out fine at the end and they learn their lessons. Mentions of mouse liking comic books and movies. |
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| 11/10/2020 | Marge In Charge and the Missing Orangutan | Fisher, Isla | Marge In Charge | 3 - 5 |
Questionable |
Continued adventures with the wacky babysitter when she takes the children to the zoo. Childen comment on babysitters size "Marge is so small that she could be a hobbit. She even told us that Santa Claus once mistook her for an elf and asked her to help him deliver xmas presents". They also say she looks like "an Oompah Loompah from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Boy is upset his mother won't let him watch the Lego Movie. Boy searches for lost tooth so he can put it under his pillow for the tooth fairy. Cartoonish picture of busty babysitter in a ballet leotard. Language weird, poop, weird, stupid |
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| 11/08/2020 | Marge In Charge and the Stolen Treasure | Fisher, Isla | Marge In Charge | 3 - 5 |
Problematic |
Children and their babysitter have more zany adventures with their naughty baby cousin, at a public swimming pool and at their cousin's wedding. Baby cousin pulls down boy's pants- cartoonish illustration of him in his underpants. Boy said a "bad word" to his teacher so now mother has a chart to help him not say bad words anymore. Babysitter convinces little boy to wear sunscreen by telling him it will stop ladies from falling in love with him. Humor as children try to change babies dirty diaper since the babysitter doesn't know how. One of the stories in this volume takes place at the pool. A few cartoonish illustrations of busty babysitter in a bathing suit and young girl in a bikini. At wedding, the babysitter cleans paint off the back of the bride's gown and it becomes seethrough- after that the children refer to her as "Annie underpants". Boy avoids chores by saying he is temporarily blind from watching too much TV. Describe babysitter as "no smaller than an xmas elf". Cartoonish illustration of mother wearing a sleveless gown and another woman wearing a strapless gown. Groom kisses the bride "gently". Language stupid, poop, stinky, weird |
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| 11/08/2020 | Marge In Charge | Fisher, Isla | Marge In Charge | 3 - 5 |
Questionable |
A brother and sister meet their new babysitter who seems responsible when around adults, but when they leave she takes off her hat to reveal rainbow colored hair and a personality to match. She specialized in bending their mother's rules and making things fun and somewhat out of control. Things always work out in the end. Boy love dinosaurs. Babysitter is very short and boy wonders if she is an Xmas elf. Boy wears a blazer he got for xmas. Babysitter tells stories about her supposedly royal upbringing, including a earl who taught her to tango with a rose between his teeth. Language stupid |
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| 11/05/2020 | The Year of the Baby | Cheng, Andrea | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
Chinese American girl worries about her adopted baby sister who isn't gaining weight. She and her friends do a science fair project to help her gain weight and succeed. Discussion about mothers milk (not worded that way) being nutritious . Grandmother comes for Thanksgiving. One word xmas. Language poop |
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| 11/05/2020 | Kylie Jean Fashion Queen | Peschke, Marci | Kylie Jean | 2 - 4 |
Problematic |
Girl enjoys staying up late to watch the movie awards on TV with her mother and commenting on the (not tznius) fashions worn by the actors. She is thrilled when her cousin asks her to wear a gown she sewed in a fashion show which is a fundraiser for the high school prom. The only redeeming value is that her mother tells her one also must be pretty on the inside, not only on the outside. |
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| 11/04/2020 | Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters | Beaty, Andrea | The Questioneers | 3 - 5 |
Generally Acceptable |
Girl who loves to use engineering skills to create inventions figures out a way to help an artist paint in a painting contest even though her arms are in casts. She learns that the neighbor she thought was mean is actually very nice and learns not to judge people. A lot of mention of women who did men's jobs in factories during the war. Mild promotion of women's lib type thinking. Language weird, goofball, funky |
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| 11/04/2020 | Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants | Beaty, Andrea | The Questioneers | 3 - 5 |
Acceptable |
Girl who loves to find the answers to her questions using science works with her friend to help rescue her uncle who floated away in helium pants. A lot of humorous mentions of her brother's "stinky" shoes. |
In order to reduce the number of printed pages, you may choose to omit comments. PLEASE NOTE: Lists printed for use by children should not include comments.
Do you want to print without comments? The Golden Wasp
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children accidentally bring something from the magic world into their world, thereby upsetting the balance between the worlds
The Tower of the Elf King
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Unimportant mentions of children mixed swimming.
The Final
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
QuestionableSeries
Conclusion to series, children save the magical world. Language- creepy. Non-religious xmas, non romantic negiah.
Queen of Shadow Thorn
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children are not sure if they should trust a queen from the future. Book ends very uncertainly - are the children OK or not?
Orbit Wipeout
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Comic book hero and villains.Brief mentions of enjoying eating snacks while watching TV.Language:gross, stinko, stupid,creepy,weird,stinky.
Under the Serpent
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Picture of a sea serpent/lady in low cut outfit on cover - somewhat cartoonish.
Becca and the Prisoner's Cross
Series:
Grades: 4 - 7
QuestionableSeries
See comments about first book in series above.Man says if go by view of some biblical scholars world is 6,000 years old, if go by big bang notion it is 13.8 billion years old. Children look for relic that is shaped like a cross. Husband quickly kisses wife goodbye. Girl wonders why boy keeps staring at her, friend says it's because he "likes" her.Girl holds boys hand when she is scared. Kids search tombs in churches for relic. Old movies referred to by title. Language- stupid, gross, dummy
Journey to the Volcano Palace
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Children go into a secret volcano to steal back a magical jewel. Lies to his mother to protect magical land. Language-weird, stinky, dumb, creepy.
Into the Land of the Lost
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children go to a ghost land to save their friend.
Moon Magic
Series:
Grades: -
Not AcceptableSeries
Children go to the future and the past to save the magical world. In the future a boy and girl hug "it was an embrace that never seemed to want to end"; page 127 illustration.
The Hawk Bandits of Tarkoom
Series:
Grades: N/A
Generally AcceptableSeries
Children help destroy an evil city that reappears from the past. Girl is happy to see her friends (boys) so she hugs them- not romantic. Language- weird, creeps.
Quest for the Queen
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children help save the queen.
The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
2 boys and a girl help save a magical world that they accidentally find when they clean up the boy's basement.
The Serpent's Curse
Series:
Grades: 5 - 7
QuestionableSeries
The saga continues along the same lines as the previous book. Violence. A lot of cell phones, tablet, internet, technology. Children visit monastery/monks, church,mentions of saints, christian art work, kneeling in prayer, . Opera described. Non romantic negiah. Language- stinking/bloody (as an expletive), weird, stupid,snot, blast it all, freaking out, freak, idiot
Voyage of the Jaffa Wind
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children help rescue their friends
Escape from Tabar-Loo
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children help rescue the king and queen.
Flight of the Blue Serpent
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Children battle bad guys and give a dying serpent back his scale. Girl holds hand of boy she thinks is dead and cries. Somewhat scary.
The Moon Dragon
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children join townspeople in battle with the bad guys. A bit more violence than the other books in this series, but still pretty tame.
In The Shadow of Goll
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Kids unsuccessfully try to rescue their friend from being transformed into a villain. Sad. Language- creepy.
The Chariot of Queen Zara
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children rescue world from evil genie.
Search for the Dragon Ship
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children rescue world from evil princess.
The Coiled Viper
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children chase bad guys who came into their world from the magic world.
The Isle of Mists
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Kids help prevent evil man from taking over the world.
Knights of the Ruby Wand
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Kids try to find a magical wand to rescue their friends. A bit convoluted for younger readers. Non romantic negiah. Language- weird, dudes
The Forbidden Stone
Series:
Grades: 5 - 7
QuestionableSeries
2 boys and 2 girls search for items that were parts of Copernicus' time machine, and run away from the bad guys. Put themselves in dangerous situations, sometimes with encouragements of adults. Books do not stand alone, a reader will want to read them all. Very mild references to boy's admiration of girl, not developed in this book, appears to be more as a friend than romantic; mentions of them being in close physical proximity or brief touching, no romance. Boy's parents are divorced, mention that he wished they would get together again, but now he is happy in his new blended family. Mention of girl wearing shorts and 'stylishly slashed t-shirt'. Man hugs woman who saved them - not romantic. Language: screwy. Passing mention of temples for Greek gods. Evil woman kisses precious artifact; her male employee briefly wishes he was the artifact. Violence.
The Race to Doobesh
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Children prevent beasts from creating powerful armor. Unimportant mention of children seeing a movie in a theater.
Mondo Meltdown
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Mention of watching TV, reading comic books, Language- freak,weird, stinky,stupid,nerd, dorky, gross.
The Genie King
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
QuestionableSeries
Children try to find a medallion in a city that is in a bottle. Very subtle boy/girl, some children might miss it. One accidental hug (p66 chapter. 5) some blushing, goodbye hug (pg. 167 chapter.12) language- dummy, dumb, minor bathroom humor. Subtly alludes to Santa Claus but never mentioned by name.
Wade and the Scorpion's Claw
Series:
Grades: 4 - 7
QuestionableSeries
Shorter books that continue the story between the fatter Copernicus Legacy books.Told from the viewpoint of one character. Make many references to the thicker books, so they don't really stand alone.Violence, technology. Girl jokingly "shoves" boy. Man is killed on airplane- kid sitting next to him discovers he is dead- description. One sentence mention of an xmas ornament. Many mentions of church bells.Kids look for clues in a church- described. Language- dumb, geek, freaky, weird, freak out, stupid, idiot, creep
Space Bingo
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
QuestionableSeries
Note on series: Children travel to the future and try to save the world. A lot of juvenile slang. In each book preview of the next book in the back. In this book middos among classmates and siblings. A few brief references to a meteor crashing into earth sixty five million years ago and killing all the dinosaurs.Brief mention of rock band.Non Romantic negiah. Language:nerd, weird,
The Great Ice Battle
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children help save the city from an ice curse.
The Sleeping Giant of Goll
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Children prevent the bad guy from getting more power. An innocent hi-five between boys and girl.
The Riddle of Zorfendorf Castel
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children try to stop bad guys from using a portal to their world.
The Treasure of the Orkins
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children help recover a stolen treasure
The Mysterious Island
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children help save magical world.
The Crown of Fire
Series:
Grades: 5 - 7
ProblematicSeries
The conclusion of the saga. Similar to previous books in violence, technology. The mild romantic interest continues as boy still can't find the courage to tell girl that he "likes" her. However another boy and girl become more of a couple after she almost dies, though nothing happens between them other than hugs when they realize they are safe , when girl isn't feeling well boy puts arm around her shoulder- it feels good to her, etc.Mention of Greek gods. Hide out in a church- boy thinks stained glass windows are beautiful. Temple with statue gods. Sistine chapel- analysis of the symbolism in the painting "The Last Judgement" with the help of the Pope- many mentions of yoshka- this is very detailed and specific, but only a minor part of the story- a parent needs to use careful judgement. Language- idiotic/idiot, shut up, gross, dang,stupid, dumb, jerk, stinky head, weird, bloody 'ell, hell,
Pirates of the Purple Dawn
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
AcceptableSeries
Children prevent bad guys from the past from building an evil city.
The Golden Vendetta
Series:
Grades: 5 - 7
ProblematicSeries
The saga continues along the same lines as the previous book. Violence. A lot of cell phones, tablet, internet, technology, movies. A mild romantic interest beginning to develop- Boy realizes he likes girl when they are forced to stand "pressed up against each other" when they are hiding from a killer- but he is afraid to tell her.Girl is miserable because of her parent's impending divorce. Man daydreams about the time he held a woman in his arms for "countless seconds". Husband and wife kiss and hug "for a long time" in front of the children. Woman kisses boy on both cheeks in greeting he blushes. Mosque described in detail in very positive terms. Language- weird, stupid, creep, dumb, brat, freak, blast it all, idiot.
City in the Clouds
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Children visit an invisible flying city and help prevent the bad guy from gaining power. The Guardians of the magical city are dinosaurs - no mention of years.
The Mask of Maliban
Series:
Grades: 2 - 4
Generally AcceptableSeries
Children try to prevent bad guys from getting a magical mask. One of the children discovers that he has magical powers. Non-religious mention of Halloween. Minor language: doofus.