Book Reviews

Picture Books

The House in the Night, by Susan Marie Swanson, illustrated by Beth Krommes. This book weaves a classic tale of bedtime, quiet, and night. The illustrations bring a feeling of peace and illumination.

Enemy Pie, by Derek Munson, illustrated by Tara Calahan King. Dad has a secret recipe that is sure to get rid of his son’s Enemy Number One. Find out if the secret concoction works!

That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown, by Cressida Cowell, illustrated by Neal Layton. Queen Gloriana wants Emily’s old gray rabbit, Stanley. But Stanley is not for sale. Will Emily be able to keep Stanley safe?

Utterly Otterly Day, by Mary Casanova, pictures by Ard Hoyt. Mama tells Little Otter to be careful, but he’s having too much fun playing! Join Little Otter on his busy—and adventurous—day.

For children ages 5–9

Abigail Takes the Wheel, by Avi, pictures by Don Bolognese. Every day, Abigail and her brother travel to school on their father’s freight boat. One day there is an accident in the busy harbor of New York, and Abigail must take the wheel to reach their destination in safety.

Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak. Join Little Bear as he has a birthday, goes to the moon, and makes a wish.

Nate the Great on the Owl Express, by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Mitchell Sharmat, illustrated by Martha Weston. Hoot is a very special owl, and someone wants to kidnap her! Nate the Great is on the case as he takes the bird on a mysterious train ride.

For children ages 10–12

The Well-Wishers, by Edward Eager, illustrated by N. M. Bodecker. James and his friends believe the old wishing well really grants their wishes. They each get a chance to tell their story of how their wishes helped others in need.

The Twenty-One Balloons*, by William Pène du Bois. Professor Sherman is tired of teaching arithmetic, so he decides to take a year off and fly across the Pacific Ocean in a hot-air balloon. But his leisurely trip goes far off course. Follow him on his exciting adventure!

Nonfiction

The Real Vikings, by Melvin Berger and Gilda Berger. The Vikings are often thought of as cruel warriors, but this book follows archaeologists as they discover that Vikings enjoyed music, went ice-skating, and settled in farming communities.

Out of Sight: Pictures of Hidden Worlds, by Seymour Simon. All around us are tiny worlds that can only been seen with powerful microscopes and cameras. See some of these worlds, from inside the human body to outer space.

You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Polar Explorer! by Jen Green, illustrated by David Antram. Visit Antarctica with some of its earliest explorers, and learn about an adventure you might never want to have!

Every Minute on Earth: Fun Facts that Happen Every 60 Seconds, by Steve Murrie and Matthew Murrie. How fast can a spy plane fly? How many times do you take a breath when you’re awake? Find those answers and many more interesting facts in this book.

These reviews do not constitute official Church endorsement of these books, but the books have been carefully reviewed to ensure that Church standards are observed. Please note: Occasionally, characters who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not follow the Word of Wisdom. Selections where this occurs are marked with an asterisk (*).

Illustration by Brad Teare

I’m excited to read these books!

Maybe I do want to be a polar explorer!