Along his route, Boy gains self-confidence, strength, and builds new friendships. Accepting the assignment, Boy takes Maharajah across northern England. After meeting a charming showman, Boy is tasked with charting an Elephant, Maharajah, 200 miles from Edinburgh to Manchester in one week. In 19th century England, Boy, a young thief from the slums is given an important task. The dominant theme of the text is love between humans and animals. Objects are darker so readers can focus on the watchman and the kitten. Yellows showcase light from street lamps and the moon. Dark blues, as well as shades of indigo are used to depict a calm construction area which is a contrast to the site during the day. In the end, the man is reunited with the kitten and decides to take the kitten home for his family to love. The watchman is anxious for the kitten because of barking dogs and moving cars. During his shift, the kitten disappears, which worries the watchman. The kitten immediately follows the watchman everywhere he goes. While at his job, the watchman comes across a tiny furry kitten who wants to be friends. Illustrated by Taeeun Yoo.Ī watchman leaves his family for his job at a large construction site. Simon & Schuster (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). Black and white illustrations help to bring another level of depth and visual aid to the educational and entertaining text. Proper cooking and baking techniques appropriate for a real live kitchen are unique stylistic features. The exciting plot also teaches any aspiring young chef common kitchen phrases. The plot provides the young reader with confidence in participating in a competition, and coping with the outcomes. In the end, there can only be one winner. The winner will receive an apron, a food truck, and the prestigious title of being the next best junior chef. Rae, Caroline, and Oliver must participate in an on and off camera challenge. Three talented tween contestants remain in the final showdown during a cooking contest where their skills are put to the test. The Winner Is… (Next Best Junior Chef Book 3). From cover to cover, the poems provide an overall message of following one's goals, taking pride in wins and losses, and trying one’s best. The illustrations help set the overall mood of the poems of encouragement and empowerment. Characters wear bright colors, textures are sparsely applied, and characters are placed behind a plain background to bring attention to themselves. A cohesive muted yellow helps to pair all of the illustrations and poems together as well as provide a tranquil sense of peace and happiness throughout the pages. The poems invite young readers to empathize with a duck who wins a marathon, a pig who participates in gymnastics but is made fun of for his leotard, and a bunny who is afraid of the high diving board at the pool. These themes help to connect to the reader in a new level and leave them wanting more. Themes prevalent in The Crimson Serpent include teamwork, trust, and action. The Crimson Serpent is a edge of your seat book which will engage any middle school reader, wondering what will happen next. It is up to Gabe and his friends to work together to battle the the collision of dimensions to save everyone from the horrors being caused by a cult leader Jonathan Thorne. Magic and monsters roam the streets and cause havoc on everyone trapped inside San Francisco. Both universes collide into one and millions of people become trapped. The Crimso n Serpent follows the story of Gabe and his friends as they need to find a way to destroy the dimension of Arcadia, however, they were tricked and instead they destroy San Francisco, California. The Crimson Serpent is the third book in the Five Elements series, a modern action packed magical adventure. HarperCollins (HarperCollins Children’s Books). A delightful read for lower elementary students with themes of friendship and growth. Steinke also keeps the reader engaged by using humor. The graphic novel is not too overwhelming for readers, as it has a limited number of panels per page and keeps the reader focused on the story. Aziza wants to get her work done in class in a quiet environment. Penny has a new younger brother at home and is tired because of him. Margot, a new student to the school wants to make friends. The graphic novel gives a diverse number of characters. The plot depicts all of the characters in a deep and meaningful way, students will be able to identify and empathize with the characters in the graphic novel. Wolf’s Class is a vibrant and light hearted read which explains the first day of school from the perspective of both the teacher and the students. Unfortunately, the first day does not go as planned. Like most classrooms, the students in the class are going through unique struggles and are diverse. Wolf, a fourth grader teacher at Hazelwood Elementary school, wants the first day of school to go well for his s tudents.