Billy Hooten, Owlboy by Tom Sniegoski

Here is a graphic novel (comic book) to read!

School Library Journal (September 1, 2007) Grades 3-6:
Billy Hooten is a comic-book nerd who has been dubbed "Owlboy" by the class bully because of his last name and his big glasses. When he hears a cry for help coming from a nearby cemetery, Billy follows the voice into a crypt, where he meets Archebold, a goblin, and discovers that he is the next Owlboy, crime-fighting superhero of Monstros City, an underground world populated by every type of monster imaginable. Billy is amazed that his comic-book story is real and is not sure about being a superhero, much less donning the Owlboy costume, which doesn't fit. But after he completes a series of tests and discovers that he has some unusual powers when in Monstros City, he realizes that taking on the mantle of Owlboy is his destiny. He begins his adventures by catching the evil Slovakian Rot-toothed Hopping Monkey Demons. Sniegoski clearly knows his superhero stories and fills this book with tropes that hark back to Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man. Owlboy has an Owlmobile, but there are other more imaginative touches, such as a secret hideout called the "Roost" complete with a gadget-creating troll. This lively tale should be a hit, especially with reluctant readers. A few black-and-white sketches appear throughout.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Easy Origami by Boursin

School Library Journal (February 1, 2006) Grade 4 and up:
Boursin offers directions for 24 models, some of which are original and actually live up to the title's promise. Using standard origami notation (introduced, along with several bases, at the beginning), he presents two-color step diagrams with reasonably lucid captions for an array of animals, toys, and decorations, from a two-piece tuliplike flower, a perky hamster, and a string of paper dolls to a 12-piece geometric ball. Each project is rated for difficulty and includes one or more color photos of the finished work. Many of the models require scissors cuts, which will ruffle origami purists, but paper-folding novices in particular may be drawn to this collection by its unusually clean design and bright, inviting colors.-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

The Jumbo Book of Needlecrafts by Judy Ann Sadler

School Library Journal (May 1, 2005) Grades 4-7:
An attractive, how-to guide to the basics of knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and sewing. The introduction presents ideas on how needlework can be used to liven up clothing and create gifts and decor items. The volume begins with helpful suggestions on gathering supplies, measuring, selecting fabric, and stitching. The rest of the book presents detailed, step-by-step directions on basic techniques for projects that range from very simple to intricate. Patterns for decorations include permission for copying for personal or classroom use. Color drawings and photographs are appealing as well as instructive. This book is for an older audience than Ray Gibson's Starting Needlecraft (Usborne, 1994). An excellent addition to needlework collections.-Elizabeth Stumpf, Clearfield Middle School, PA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.