Who Made This Cake?

Written by Chihiro Nakagawa

Illustrated by Junji Koyose

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers and Kindergartners

Last week, when I read this story to our preschoolers, we were lucky to have a student celebrating a birthday that day. As we read 'Who Made This Cake', we imagined that the cake being made was for the student. How fun to see all of the little workers with their construction equipment breaking eggs, mixing flour and sugar, and pouring cake batter into a pan. And the end result? A birthday cake to be proud of!

Younger readers will love the pictures in 'Who Made This Cake'. Each two page spread is filled with little workers helping each other complete each task. Tons of details have been used in the illustration of the construction equipment, too. It's enough to make the birthday girl or boy miss their cake and ice cream! Add this to your bookshelf and make it a special read aloud whenever a family member celebrates a birthday.

Extreme Aircraft! Q & A

by Smithsonian

Most enjoyed by 2nd through 6th graders

Man, I wish I could fly. Not with wings, of course, but flying as in airplane flying. As in at the controls, speeding through the air, faster than the speed of sound kind of flying. Take a look at the airplane on the cover of 'Extreme Aircraft! Q & A'. That's the SR-71 Blackbird, America's first stealth plane. It flies at three times the speed of sound! Guess that would get you to school fast, woudn't it?

The SR-71 is just one of many planes featured in this way-cool book. Beginning with a short history of flight, 'Extreme Aircraft' answers lots of questions about airplanes. Answers to questions like 'What's a supersonic aircraft?' and 'What's a stealth plane?' will make you want to sign up for flying lessons. There are internet links throughout the book, too, so you can learn even more about planes shown.

Which airplane do you want to fly? You know, after reading 'Extreme Aircraft! Q & A' I've changed my mind - I want to fly SpaceShipOne!