Let's Mooove!

March 1, 2019
A magical camper van whisks twins Molly and Finn to a dude ranch for a mystery mission.This first in a beginning chapter-book series blends cozy sibling adventure with a geography theme. The Planet Earth Transporter literally introduces itself to Molly and Finn as they explore the spacious van parked in their Ohio driveway. The rising third-graders, illustrated with white skin and friendly demeanors, find themselves transported to Colorado by the PET in a matter of minutes. Gentle black-and-white illustrations break up text as the pair are deposited at Snowflake Ranch until their "work is done." The careful balance of dialogue and somewhat-advanced vocabulary throughout will build confidence among emergent readers as they see newer words paired with context clues. Normative gender roles are reinforced: Maternal Helen prepares all the food in the mess hall, Finn is physically brave and a sports fan, and Molly is timorous and book smart. When the ranch's prize cow, Snowflake, is wrestled by "rogue cowboys" during a cattle drive, Molly, Finn, and newfound friend Ella break off from the grown-ups for a rescue operation. Ella, the lone dark-skinned character depicted, lives part-time in Colorado with her ranch-hand father and with her mother in Florida. Backmatter includes fun facts about Colorado, suggesting that each book in the series will focus on a different U.S. state.Light fare for emergent chapter-book readers who've exhausted the Magic Tree House series. (Adventure. 7-10)

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April 1, 2019

Gr 1-3-At the very start of the summer, second-grade twins Finn and Molly find a camper in front of their home. Their father has swapped their family car for his dream vehicle with plans to take the family on the ultimate vacation. But before he gets the chance, curiosity overcomes Finn and Molly when they decide to check out the camper in the middle of the night. The twins discover that the camper is actually a magic transporter called Planet Earth Transporter (aka PET) that sends them on assignment from their home in Ohio to Colorado where their adventure begins. They end up on a cattle drive where they make new friends, gear up like cowboys, and learn about the state. But when Snowflake, the ranch's prized cow, is stolen, the twins embark on solving the mystery before returning safely home. VERDICT A beginning chapter series that's part geography lesson, part adventure, and part mystery. A solid addition for medium and large collections.-Vivian Ho, Port Washington Public Library, NY

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