The Police Station. (My Neighborhood). Aaron Carr. New York, NY: AV² by Weigl (Distributed in Canada by Saunders Book Company), 2014. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $12.95 (pbk.), $23.99 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-62127-352-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-62127-347-9 (hc.). Subject Headings: Police-Juvenile literature. Police stations-Juvenile literature. Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 4-6. Review by Kate Hachborn. *** /4
	The Hospital. (My Neighborhood). Aaron Carr. New York, NY: AV² by Weigl (Distributed in Canada by Saunders Book Company), 2014. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $12.95 (pbk.), $23.99 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-62127-350-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-62127-345-5 (hc.). Subject Headings: Hospitals-Juvenile literature. Young volunteers in community development-Juvenile literature. Civic improvement-Juvenile literature. Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 4-6. Review by Kate Hachborn. *** /4
	The Fire Station. (My Neighborhood). Aaron Carr. New York, NY: AV² by Weigl (Distributed in Canada by Saunders Book Company), 2014. 24 pp., pbk. & hc., $12.95 (pbk.), $23.99 (hc.). ISBN 978-1-62127-349-3 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-62127-344-8 (hc.). Subject Headings: Fire stations-Juvenile literature. Fire extinction-Juvenile literature. Fire fighters-Juvenile literature. Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 4-6. Review by Kate Hachborn. *** /4

excerpt:

People call the police station if they are in danger. They can also go to the police station if they need to talk to a police officer. (From The Police Station.)

My family and I go to the hospital when we are not feeling well. The hospital has machines that show if we are sick. (From The Hospital.)

People call the fire station when there is a fire. They also call the fire station if they are in danger. (From The Fire Station.)

The “My Neighborhood” series is a beginning reader series describing the features of various places found in a neighborhood. The books are written at an introductory level with larger print in boxes separate from the photographs paired with the text. Each title uses repetitive words and phrases to reinforce the introduction of new words and reiterate familiar sight words. An outline of sight words and content words is provided at the back of the text. A Table of Contents will introduce readers new to nonfiction to features of factual texts. Page numbers are given special designation throughout the book in a bolded, colourful bubble with large numerals.

     The Police Station describes police officers and their role in the neighbourhood, as well as shjowing how young readers might interact with officers in their lives. The title implies a description of the station rather than the police officers, but there is no explanation of the different areas of a police station or the duties of a police officer within the station.

     The Hospital, like The Police Station, focuses largely on the people within the hospital, including doctors, nurses and community volunteers, rather than the physical space of a hospital. Content words are appropriate for new readers, and the people within a hospital are presented as kind and helpful.

     The Fire Station is better than the other two titles at describing the fire station, itself, but maintains the emphasis on the firefighters and their role in the neighborhood, rather than the physical place.

     As a whole, the series is consistent across each title and explains the role of each community agency within the neighbourhood. Though the titles may be slightly misleading, the books contain information within the realm of the subject implied. Some of the enhanced media content (not reviewed here) did expand on the information provided in the title, and video tours of each place were included.

     The “My Neighborhood” series features five books, including the three titles reviewed above as well as The Library and The School. Published by Weigl, this series is included in the AV² line of books, featuring media enhanced content and compatible with interactive whiteboards.

Recommended.

Kate Hachborn is a library technician at the W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, ON.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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