Little Red Reads

Children’s Book Review: These Rocks Count

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I received this book for free from Albert Whitman in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Children’s Book Review: These Rocks CountThese Rocks Count! by Alison Formento, Sarah Snow
Published by Albert Whitman on January 1, 2014
Genres: Children's, Non-Fiction, Picture book
Pages: 32
Format: Hardcover
Source: Albert Whitman
Buy the Book • Goodreads
four-stars
Mr. Tate's class is about to learn there's more to rocks than being dirty lumps on the ground. On this field trip they're visiting the rocky ridge mountains to learn about rocks. At first the children think rocks will be boring, but they soon learn that rocks are all around us in ways we might not expect--such as glass and toothpaste!

My children are huge rock hounds and collectors, so when they saw this book in the Albert Whitman catalog, they requested it. We loved the multi- media digital illustrations which are colorful, and bring the story to life. For a non-fiction book, These Rocks Count is interesting and easy to read. The only drawbacks for us were that 1) we haven’t had a great experience with rangers being nice to children as of late, and one of the main “helpers” in this story is a ranger,  and 2) we weren’t quite sure why everyone was hugging and listening  to a boulder.

What did we love? We really liked learning about all the different places you can find rocks and minerals: toothpaste, cell phones, etc. My children were excited to see a geode featured as this is one of our favorite types of specimens. Overall, I would recommend this one for teachers or mothers of young learners.

AAF-Color-8-09

littleredsig1About the Author

ALISON ASHLEY FORMENTO is the author of multi-award-winning nature picture books This Tree Counts!, This Tree, 1, 2, 3, These Bees Count!, These Seas Count! and These Rocks Count! (2014). Her debut young adult novel Twigs is published by new imprint Merit Press Books, helmed by The New York Times bestselling author, Jacquelyn Mitchard. Alison has written for publications including The New York Times, The Writer, Parenting and numerous international and regional magazines. She loves visiting schools and libraries and donates a portion of her book sales to AmericanForests.org.
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Harper Collins Children’s and Middle Grade Round-Up

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Harper Collins has some new summer and back to school titles for children and middle grade readers! Check them out…

PICTURE BOOK

 


Biscuit Loves the Library (My First I Can Read)
written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories
9780061935077 – $16.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 2/18/2014
Hooray! It is Read to a Pet Day at the library. Biscuit and his friend, the little girl, are excited to look at all of the books. And with the help of a very special person, the little puppy finds the perfect book to read and share.


Little Lola
written by Julie Saab, illustrated by David Gothard
9780062274571 – $16.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 4/22/2014
Lola the curious cat discovers that she loves school, in this funny and fast-paced picture book introducing Little Lola! A great read-aloud picture book for fans of the OLIVIA books.


Splat the Cat Makes Dad Glad (I Can Read Book 1)
written and illustrated by Rob Scotton
9780062115997 – $16.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 4/22/2014
Splat the Cat makes his dad proud—but not quite in the way he intended to—in this hilarious beginning reader adventure!


Flip & Fin: We Rule the School!
written by Timothy Gill, illustrated by Neil Numberman
9780062243003 – $14.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 4/22/2014
Flip and Fin the sand shark twins rule the school—and the high seas! A laugh-out-loud funny picture book brimming with goofy jokes, bright sea animals, and two brothers who crack each other up.


Little Critter: Just My Lost Treasure
written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer
9780061478062 – $16.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 5/27/2014
Join Mercer Mayer’s classic and loveable Little Critter is searching for a missing sock so he can get ready for school. But even he is surprised by all of the lost treasures he finds during his hunt!


Chu’s First Day of School
written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Adam Rex
9780062223975 – $17.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 6/24/2014
In this sequel to the New York Times bestseller CHU’S DAY, the adorable little panda with the great big sneeze heads off to his first day of school. From bestselling author Neil Gaiman and acclaimed illustrator Adam Rex.


Monsters Love School
written and illustrated by Mike Austin
9780062286185 – $15.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 6/24/2014
Summer is over, and now it’s time for the biggest adventure of all…Monster School! Join these hilarious, energetic monsters as they go to school for the first time in author/illustrator Mike Austin’s picture book sequel to MONSTERS LOVE COLOR. Reading and writing and learning your monster history has never been so much fun!


Pinkalicious and the New Teacher
written and illustrated by Victoria Kann
9780062189134 – $16.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 6/24/2014
It’s the first day of school and that means a brand new teacher, Ms. Penny! Pinkalicious misses her old teacher until she comes up with an idea to make the classroom feel a little more familiar and pinkeriffic.


Amelia Bedelia Chalks One Up (I Can Read Book 1)
written Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril
9780062334220 – $16.99 – Ages 4 to 8 – On Sale: 8/6/2014
Amelia Bedelia has been loved by readers for fifty years. And it turns out that her childhood is full of silly mix-ups, too! The star of the best-selling picture book series now has her own Level 1 I Can Read series. What happens when Amelia Bedelia decides to surprise her mother with chalk drawings all over the driveway and front walk? Chalk one up for Amelia Bedelia!

MIDDLE GRADE


The School for Good and Evil
by Soman Chainani
9780062104892 – $16.99 – Ages 8 to 12 – On Sale: 5/14/2013
THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series unleashes a dazzling new fantasy world, one in which ordinary boys and girls are trained to be perfect heroes or perfect villains. Book One subverts the assumed roles of our indelible heroines, when witch-girl Agatha is “mistakenly” sent to the School for Good, and wannabe-princess Sophie to the School for Evil. As rivalries bloom and jealousy sets in, Agatha and Sophie discover that these fates may not be a mistake after all…


The School for Good and Evil #2: A World without Princes
by Soman Chainani
9780062104922 – $16.99 – Ages 8 to 12 – On Sale: 4/15/2014
A WORLD WITHOUT PRINCES is an epic return to the spectacular world of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, where the only way out of a fairy tale is to live through one.


Big Nate: In the Zone
by Lincoln Peirce
9780061996658 – $13.99 – Ages 8 to 12 – On Sale: 3/11/2014
Here comes Book 6 in the hilarious BIG NATE series! Meet Nate Wright: 6th grader, class clown, self-described genius, and the all-time record holder for school detentions! With over 500 black and white illustrations, comics, and doodles throughout, BIG NATE blazes an unforgettable trail through middle school.


The Cabinet of Curiosities: 36 Tales Brief & Sinister
by Stefan Bachmann
9780062331052 – $16.99 – Ages 8 to 12 – On Sale: 5/27/2014
An illustrated collection of thirty-six creepy and mischievous very short stories by acclaimed literary talents Stefan Bachmann, Claire LeGrand, Katherine Catmull, and Emma Trevayne.


The Gollywhopper Games: The New Champion
by Jody Feldman
9780062211255 – $16.99 – Ages 8 to 12 – On Sale: 5/27/2014
The sequel to the popular and acclaimed THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES. The puzzles are trickier, the obstacle courses harder, and the competition fiercer. It’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets The Amazing Race!


The Nerdy Dozen
by Jeff Miller
9780062272621 – $16.99 – Ages 8 to 12 – On Sale: 6/10/2014
When Neil Andertol and a motley crew of middle-grade, video-gaming whizzes are recruited by the military to restore a botched aircraft mission, the kids are no longer playing their favorite game for points—they’re playing to save the world!


My Weird School Special: Back to School, Weird Kids Rule!
by Dan Gutman
9780062206855 – $5.99 – Ages 6 to 10 – On Sale: 6/24/2014
With tons of bonus content and a Back to School-themed story centered on the kids of Ella Mentry School, the My Weird School Specials bring the beloved MY WEIRD SCHOOL brand to a whole new level of weird.


My Weirder School #11: Miss Klute Is a Hoot!
by Dan Gutman
9780062198440 – $4.99 – Ages 6 to 10 – On Sale: 6/24/2014
Building on the international success of MY WEIRD SCHOOL, which has sold over six and a half million copies worldwide, this latest book in the new arc features Miss Klute, a therapy dog who needs therapy.


Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book #5: Amelia Bedelia Shapes Up
by Herman Parish
9780062333971 – $16.99 – Ages 6 to 10 – On Sale: 8/26/2014
In the fifth book in the bestselling Amelia Bedelia chapter book series, Amelia Bedelia—in an effort to find a sport or game to call her own—takes to the field and the gym and the court and the rink, with hilarious results.


Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures #12: Escape to California
by Jeff Brown
9780062189912 – $15.99 – Ages 6 to 10 – On Sale: 8/26/2014
This exciting new installment of FLAT STANLEY’S WORLD WIDE ADVENTURES is another addition to the 2014 50th Anniversary celebration! Stanley’s San Francisco adventure touches upon a central theme in the series—the importance of treating people equally, not just based on their appearance.


First Team
by Tim Green
9780062208750 – $16.99 – Ages 8 to 12 – On Sale: 9/30/2014
From bestselling author and former NFL defensive end Tim Green comes the companion novel to NEW KID, where Brock is new in town after being on the run. And this time, he joins the football team.

My Weirder School #12: Mrs. Lane Is a Pain!
by Dan Gutman
9780062198471 – $4.99 – Ages 6 to 10 – On Sale: 10/14/2014
Building on the international success of MY WEIRD SCHOOL, which has sold over 6.5 million copies worldwide, this final book in the third series arc features Mrs. Lane, a reality star wannabe who coaches A.J. and the gang for Ella Mentry’s Got Talent.

Start Reading The Thickety by J.A. White

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the_ thickety

When Kara Westfall was five years old, her mother was convicted of the worst of all crimes: witchcraft. Years later, Kara and her little brother, Taff, are still shunned by the people of their village, who believe that nothing is more evil than magic . . . except, perhaps, the mysterious forest that covers nearly the entire island. It has many names, this place. Sometimes it is called the Dark Wood, or Sordyr’s Realm. But mostly it’s called the Thickety.

The villagers live in fear of the Thickety and the terrible creatures that live there. But when an unusual bird lures Kara into the forbidden forest, she discovers a strange book with unspeakable powers. A book that might have belonged to her mother. And that is just the beginning of the story.

The Thickety: A Path Begins is the start of a thrilling and spellbinding tale about a girl, the Thickety, and the power of magic.

“The spellbinding story, lashings of suspense and stalwart heroine will draw in fantasy fans and keep them reading until the bitter ending.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In this darkly imaginative debut, White creates a fantasy world with creatures that are anything but sweet. Absolutely thrilling.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Start reading The Thickety NOW

About the Author
J. A. White lives in New Jersey with his wife, three sons, and a hamster named Ophelia that doesn’t like him very much. When he’s not making up stories, he teaches a bunch of kids how to make up stories (along with math and science and other important stuff). He wishes dragons were real, because it would be a much cooler way to get to work.

You can visit him online at www.jawhitebooks.com.