Dirt (Jump Into Science) by Steve Tomecek

4 stars I think the fact that this book made dirt interesting shows how great the Jump Into Science series is. Well done. This is a lengthy book that is text-heavy, but very educational with great pictures. The book is packed with information and is a wonderful teaching tool for children to learn the importance…

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Volcano! (Jump Into Science) by Ellen Prager

4 stars Another great Jump Into Science book. This is such a great series for learning about the earth and the solar system. This book presents volcanoes in a non-scary way. The information is straight and to the point without making kids feel anxious about volcanoes (I was terrified of volcanoes growing up). It discusses…

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The Stuff of Legend Book 2: The Jungle by Mike Raicht

4 stars This is a great continuation of the series. I liked this one a little bit more than the first book because I feel like it covers more ground and you learn more about the characters. I enjoyed the first book, but it kind of dragged at points with the whole Hopscotch pit stop….

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The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

4 stars I actually enjoyed this more than I was expecting. Earlier this year, I listened to Neil Patrick Harris’ Choose Your Own Autobiography, which I had mixed feeling about. I saw this at the library and was intrigued by the premise (and of course the fact that it was written by Neil Patrick Harris)….

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The Principal from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

3 stars Growing up, I loved these books. They were the perfect amount of scary mixed with the perfect amount of funny. Now, as a adult, I work with kids. I’ve introduced a few to the series and they love it as well, so I have been looking for more and more of these books….

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The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

3 stars This was probably the first book I read in the Black Lagoon series. It’s a good place to start for sensitive children, because it is not nearly as dark as the first two books. There are still a few minor morbid moments (kids being trapped up in the ceiling after the gym teacher…

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The Cafeteria Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

3 stars Another fun Black Lagoon book. Similar to the gym teacher one, this one is far less morbid than the first two books. There are some animal-related things (class pets disappearing) that are a little freaky and gross, but most of them are far enough removed that they aren’t overly disturbing. You can infer…

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The School Bus Driver from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

3 stars Another humorous Black Lagoon story that lives up to the expectation of the series. This one is probably the least scary/graphic. The one possible morbid thing is the bus driver running cars over with his monster truck (leaving a trail of angry, unharmed people behind him). Nothing too graphic. Like the previous books,…

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Bad Kitty Does Not Like Video Games by Nick Bruel

3 stars Another silly Bad Kitty picture book that has a good message at the end. In this one, Bad Kitty plays the same video game for five hours so she is cut off and given three tasks she must complete before going back to play. I liked this book because it doesn’t say that…

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The Class from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

4 stars I really enjoyed the twist in this book. Instead of Hubie theorizing when his new (insert occupation here) will be like, his teacher worries about what her new students will be like. Very funny, great illustrations, as always.This one is the least morbid/gruesome I have read by far. There are still plenty of…

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