KIDS’ BOOK REVIEWS
“The Big Balloon Race”
Eleanor Coerr
Ariel wants to go to the balloon race and ride in the hydrogen balloon with her mom, Carlotta, but her mom says she is too little.
Carlotta tells Ariel to go play. So Ariel plays in the box attached to the balloon and falls asleep in there. Ariel does not even hear Mama starting up the balloon. Then they are up in the air, and Ariel wakes up.
“A stowaway is in the basket!” someone cries out.
They are stuck in a rain cloud. They go around and around and up and down. Then Ariel helps Mama get through the rain cloud. Who wins the race?
Reviewed by Lily, 8 Conejo Valley Homeschoolers Thousand Oaks
“Shockers of the Sea” Caroline Arnold
This book is about electric fish that live in the sea. Nearly 200 years ago, a German scientist discovered eels in the Amazon. He did experiments to see how strong the electric current was. In one of the experiments, he put his foot in the water and an electric eel stung him.
Scientists discovered other fish that can make electricity. To find out more about these electric sea creatures, you will have to read the book. You will learn which electric eel has 600 volts of electricity and what they do with it.
Reviewed by Humza, 7 Welby Way Magnet, West Hills
“Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH” Robert C. O’Brien
Mrs. Frisbee is a mother of four young mice and one of them is sick. Their house is in grave danger from the plow that may destroy it. She asks for help from the rats, and they help her.
Her son is sick with pneumonia. Will he survive?
The rats have problems, too. They may starve to death. If not, will they survive the exterminators? There is suspense and drama in this interesting story.
Reviewed by Vivian, 5th grade Hugo Reid Elementary, Arcadia
“Spy School” Stuart Gibbs
Benjamin Ripley is seen as a nerdy, unpopular kid. One day after school, he meets a man named Alexander Hale, a spy, in his living room. Alexander offers Ben a scholarship to a school for spies in training. He thinks he is going to an amazing high-tech and well-guarded secret hideout. But it has a bad security system and looks like a regular boarding school. Ben soon gets wrapped up in a scary situation. This is a real page-turner. To find out more, read the book.
Reviewed by Billy, 10 Third Street Elementary Los Angeles