Review: The Iguanodon's Horn

New York: Clarion Books, 2024. Informational. 48 pages.

When the first mysterious bone of the iguanodon dinosaur was discovered in 1822, scientists believed it was the horn of the dinosaur... but they were completely wrong. This book follows the path of discovery towards a more accurate image of the iguanodon, exploring the thought processes of the past artists and scientists that created unintentionally inaccurate images of the creature. While today we think we know what the iguanodon might have looked like, the book is quick to emphasize how much we still don't know about these and other dinosaurs.

The text amuses as it informs, including via commentary from the iguanodon itself, who is disappointed at how it is drawn for decades after its discovery. Readers of all ages will be enchanted by the rich illustrations, filled to the brim with extra facts, historical references, and comedic asides that provide plenty to pore over. A delightful introduction to the history of paleontology and its future potential that is perfect for both the dinosaur-obsessed and those ready to dig deeper into how scientific discovery is an ever-changing process. Highly recommended.

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Review: The New Girl

The New Girl By Cassandra Calin New York: Graphix, 2024. Comic. 261 pages. 12-year-old Lia and her family have just moved from Romania to Montreal, and she's doing her best to keep up with the changes. But, she's homesick. She misses the rest of her family, her friends, and her favorite Romanian treats. She doesn't speak French and her English is shaky, which makes it hard to make friends, even in her international immersion class. And she's dealing with super painful menstrual cramps every month. But before long, Lia starts to hit her stride. She befriends the other bilingual girls in her class, she gets a spot as the artist for her school's magazine, and even has a new crush -- Julien. Though she may be the new girl, Lia is starting to fit in. This slice of life graphic novel is an adorable choice for middle grade readers and young teens. Lia is a likable protagonist and readers will have little difficulty relating to her adjustment to school. The text speaks to a

Books That Take You There: The Museum

One of my very favorite things to do is walk around a museum. There's something special about being surrounded by paintings, sculptures, and objects and just getting to wander and take it all in. There are some amazing local museums, including our own Nelson Attic, but if you want to recreate the experience of visiting a museum from the comfort of your own bedroom -- here are some books that will take you there. Mona Lisa and the Others Written by Alice Harman Illustrated by Quentin Blake London: Thames & Hudson, 2023. Informational. 95 pgs. If you're going to visit a museum from your bedroom, you might as well start with the most famous museum in the world -- and home to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa -- Paris' Louvre Museum. Mona Lisa herself is on hand to introduce readers to the Louvre before passing the mic to other masterpieces who are all eager to say why they are the museum's real treasure. The result is an engaging book with lots of facts and crisp reproductions

If You Like... Books About Nightmares

It's that time of year when the weather is getting colder, the leaves are changing colors, and I'm in the mood to read a good spine-tingling Halloween book. If you're like me and enjoy reading a good horror book this time of the year, here is a list of books about nightmares that will set your heart pounding with fear. Nightmare in the Backyard By Jeff Strang Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2024. Fiction. 212 pages. What if your worst nightmare became a reality? Chloe and her best friend Avery are excited for their backyard campout. They have plans to stay up all night roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories, but things that night don't go according to plan. When tentacles begin to emerge from the ground and start causing chaos the girls realize they must fight back. But as the fight goes on they discover that they may be fighting a bigger battle than they realized. This is a short, fast-paced, action-packed monster book that is perfect for readers

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