Jacket description:
"Growing up in Hong Kong in the 1960s, Yeung Ying is tired of hearing how important boys are. After all, she can write letters and recite poems as well as-even better than-her boy cousins.


Luckily, Yeung Ying's mother thinks 'girls and boys are just the same.' Despite protests from her husband's family, Ma uses what little money the family has to send her daughter to private school. There Yeung Ying begins to fall in love with books and writing. Combining this new passion with the colorful experiences of her daily life, Yeung Ying discovers that even girls can dare to dream."

Tofu Quilt, a collection poems by Ching Yeung Russell, is actually a story of the poet's life. Each poem helps to connect the pages into a beautifully written story, allowing for an experience of life in Hong Kong as a young girl, as well as a pretty great interpretation as to what it's like to turn a dream into reality. Russell wanted to be a writer more than anything, but was consistently turned away by male family members. She lets the reader in on just how she came to realize that big dream that previously seemed so impossible.

I loved the individual poems and the seemless way they seemed to flow into a single book. The main character was incredibly likable and left me really cheering for her, in hopes that she would indeed get to write (though I knew she was the author and obviously HAD succeeded).  The added glossary of Chinese words was very helpful and the cover was intriguing. Overall a great addition to any poetry collection, but one that can also be handed to a preteen/teen that enjoys historical fiction.

Tofu Quilt
Ching Yeung Russell
136 pages
Poetry, Middle Grade
Lee & Low Books
9781600604232
October 2009
Review copy received from publisher

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Sometimes I think our family is just on a crash course. We've had yet another family member pass away this week, after having been diagnosed with cancer only 2 months ago...and that makes it funeral #4 over the course of a year. What a way to start the holiday season...yet again.

So, I'm off to Upstate NY for a few days for the funeral, leaving the husband and dogs here, then driving back to VA, then back to NY Tuesday-Saturday with them for the holiday. Busy bee doesn't begin to describe it. I have some posts set up already, but there may be some blank spaces. Bear with me and send up some thoughts that this is the LAST funeral I have to attend for awhile.

See you soon :)

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Jacket description:
"Almost 15-year-old Austin Gray is tired of standing at the curb and watching the parade pass her by. Literally. She decides this is the year she;ll ride on the hood of a shiny pickup truck in the annual parade, waving to the crowd and finally showing the town bully that she's got what it takes to be the Sweetheart of Prosper County.

But far from simply being a beauty contest, becoming Sweetheart involves participation in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), raising an animal, and hunting or fishing. Austin will do almost anything to become Sweetheart, and has the support of her oldest friend, Maribel, her new FFA friends (including the reigning Sweetheart, and a quiet, cute, cowboy), an evangelical Elvis impersonator, a mysterious Cajun outcast, and a rooster named Charles Dickens. If only her momma would stop overprotecting her, and start letting Austin live her own life. But Austin can't move on until Momma moves on too--and lets the grief of losing Austin's daddy several years before out into the open."

I loved the setting. I really think that we don't get enough  books set in the "hicktowns" of America, featuring teens that love fishing, hunting, getting dirty, and taking car of animals. I grew up in one of these towns, where the first day of hunting season typically meant half the school took the day off and teachers just let it slide, and where we actually had an annual "drive your tractor to school day." Being "country" was the way life was and nobody knew any different. So, I really loved the Texas setting, the inclusion of the FFA, and the idea of the County Sweetheart riding on the hood of a pickup truck. My kinda people! I think author, Jill S. Alexander really got that part of our world.

I thought the plot was really cute and the different characters were certainly unique and interesting, though at times a bit over the top. I wasn't a huge fan of the Elvis impersonator, Lewis, I thought he was overly silly and not a bit believable. I also, unfortunately, wasn't a huge fan of the main character, Austin. I liked everyone else, but she and Lewis made were written by an adult and that was very apparent. I didn't feel Austin was a teen, I felt she was a fake teen and that's not good.

Overall, cute and funny. Teen girls will enjoy the the plot, with the tad bit of subtle romance and the heavy friendship elements.Oooh and I loved the cover. Definitely a great job there!

The Sweetheart of Prosper County
Jill S. Alexander
224 pages
Young Adult
Feiwel and Friends
9780312548568
September 2009
Review copy received from Amazon Vine program


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Whew! As most of you that read this blog often know, it's been quite a busy past few months for me. Job searching, getting the new house in order, a dog that seems to always want to be sick, the Cybils, trying to post every day, etc. I'm getting a little tired...wanting to just slow down a bit. Which is resulting in a process of trying to figure out how to revamp this blog for next year. I'm not sure if my goal will be to write about every book I read like it was this year. I'm not sure if I'll set my reading goal at 250 books again. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle my reviews, writing about the good and the bad, or just the good. I'm still just not sure. More updates to come on all that in the near future. And if you have any tips to make the blog better, send them my way!

What I do know is that I'm going to be giving away a whole bunch of goodies for the holidays! Sound like fun?? I'm still working out the kinks, trying to figure out when I'm giving away what,but you will (hopefully), get the items in time to give as Christmas gifts, if that's what you choose, and they will be fun! So make sure you stay tuned here to check out the giveaways and pass the word along!

I'm also going to be randomly featuring some Christmas ideas for you all. If you're interested, you can buy the items through Amazon and I may just be able to make a couple of bucks through the Affiliate program for shipping all the giveaways! These will be items that I have personally tried, so I'm not just trying to convince you to purchase random "stuff."

Enjoy the rest of your week!

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Well all over the country, the weather is certainly changing lately. Just this past week we had a tropical storm roll through Northern Virginia, leaving us soaking and some of the rest of the state flooded. Winter is almost upon us and the snow will be starting (if it hasn't already) and this is the perfect time to start introducing your kids to the different aspects of weather.

The series, "What's the Weather Like?" is an awesome way to start talking about weather with the young ones. Appropriate for kids probably 4 and up, each book in the series (there are 5) focuses on one aspect of the weather, using bold text, bright colors, photographs of real children, and lots of simple, yet educational facts to help them learn. Some have a hands-on activity featured, really putting the learning to the test, as well as a Did You Know section, a short glossary, and extra resources section.

The three I reviewed, It's Cloudy Today, It's Windy Today, and It's Snowy Today, all written by Kristin Sterling, were all fabulous in the easy-to-understand method of presenting the information. The bold colors on each page make for instant attraction and the simple facts result in a learning experience that is great for even the youngest.

Put out by Lerner Books, one of my favorite publishers, not only for their awesome books, but for the quality. These books are going to hold up to just about anything! Library shelf or home shelf, once you purchase these, they'll be with you for quite some time. That makes the price go up quite a bit, but I really think it would be worth it. You can get them in paperback too, for those more budget conscious.

Who am I recommending these for? Everyone. If you are a homeschooling parent of an elementary age child, go get them. If you are buying for your library, go get them. Really nice to compliment a unit in school on weather or just as a supplement to a science unit.

Just as a hint, these may be up for grabs in the coming weeks! Keep a watch here at the blog. 


What's the Weather Like? series
Kristin Sterling
Non-Fiction
Lerner Books
October 2009
Review copies received from publisher


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I'm taking the weekend off, though it's probably not the best of timing being as behind on reviews as I am. I really need to focus on some quality Cybils reading time and some housework time, so blogging and writing reviews is getting put on the back burner. I'll be back Monday!!

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Jacket description:
"Everyone's afraid of something...Madeleine Masterson is deathly afraid of bugs, especially spiders. Theodore Bartholomew is petrified of dying. Lulu Punchalower is scared of confined spaces. Garrison Feldman is terrified of deep water.


Which is why this may be the scariest summer of their lives. Worse than detention or summer school. Even worse than the orthodontist. The foursome must face their phobias at the exlusive and elusive School of Fear. The school is unusual, to say the least. But 'terrifying' would be a more accurate description.


The curriculum is simple: Conquer your fears in six weeks or find our just how frightening failing can be."

Reminiscent of Mr. Lemony Snicket and his Series of Unfortunate Events, School of Fear is hilarious, if not a bit dark and satirical. Author Gitty Daneshvari has created characters, each having a phobia that is very real for many people out there and if you have a child who shimmies away from bugs and spiders or has a fear of heights, they may get a kick out of these characters and just how funny the fictional treatment process is at the school. 

I loved the beginning of each chapter, when the author shared a real phobia that people suffer from, many that I had never heard of. Did you know that didaskaleinophobia is the fear of going to school? Or that mnemophobia is the fear of memories? Lots of cool little trivia facts in here!

There was definitely a good 50 page stretch in the middle that could have probably been eliminated without any plot problems. Toooooo long! Though it is certainly a light read and fun, there was just a bunch of unnecessary plot straying to make this one a quick read.

Illustrator Carrie Gifford did a great job at capturing the funny/creepy side of the story, with her black line drawings. The drawings are definitely funny, but they have that creep factor that a book titled School of Fear definitely should have.

Overall, a pretty good read. Hand this to fans of Lemony Snicket or even of The Mysterious Benedict Society. Amazon says 9-12 year olds would be the best age range for this one and I agree. Kids will enjoy it and parents will chuckle through it.

School of Fear
Gitty Daneshvari
352 pages
Middle Grade Fiction
Little, Brown Young Readers
9780316033268
September 2009
Review copy received from publisher


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I love looking at different versions of the same story, each interpreted by a different author and/or illustrator and ultimately deciding which parts of each story I like best. It's fun to compare and contrast, especially when the book is something truly popular, as Alice in Wonderland certainly is.

I recently looked at two very different versions of this much-loved tale, each based on Lewis Carroll's original story, but with different illustrators, allowing the books to come across as two very different stories.

The first, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko, a member of the Ukrainian Union of Artists, now based in Toronto. This particular Alice edition is large, the size of a picture book, but 112 pages long and is illustrated very darkly. The Disney version of Alice definitely took away some of the darkness that the story does indeed posses and Lipchenko brings that back through his dark gray and brown drawings.

There is something very surreal about the illustrations in this one, which fits the story awesomely. If you have an older Alice fan, this would be a great gift book for them. Being that the color-tone is so dark and muted, younger children probably won't enjoy it quite as much, but older kids and adults will definitely appreciate the intricate drawings and beautiful faces the illustrator creates. 

The cover is just beautiful, especially once the dust cover is removed. It would look so pretty on a shelf, but it's wonderful once opened too!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Oleg Lipchenko
112 pages
Juvenile Fiction
Tundra Books
9780887769320
November 2009
Review copy received from publisher


Alice in Wonderland, illustrated by Rodney Matthews, an English illustrator that has done work on record sleeves, computer games, and lots of books, among other things. It's still Lewis Carroll's famous story, but with a hugely different artistic interpretation. It all starts with the cover/box/sleeve the book actually comes in, which is designed in a very cool and unique manner, giving light to the fun you are going to find inside.

Bright colors all around and a strangely sci-fi take on the illustrations. Alice almosts looks alien-like on some of the pages, though not scary or creepy. Just weird. Different, in a good way. The scene of falling down the rabbit hole almost appears as if she's falling through space.

I really loved the brightness and boldness of the color choices and the double-page spreads done every once in awhile are just magnificent. They'll definitely hold your attention and allow for lots of looking around, discovering new parts of the story through the illustrations. Magical!

Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
Illustrated by Rodney Matthews
95 pages
Juvenile Fiction
Templar Books
9780763645687
September 2009
Review copy received from publisher

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Jacket description:
"Sisters Octavia and Tali dread the road trip their parents are forcing them to take with their grandmother over the summer. After all, Mare isn't your typical grandmother. She drives a red sports car, wears stiletto heels, flippy wigs, and push-up bras, and insists that she's too young to be called Grandma. But somewhere on the road, Octavia and Tali discover there's more to Mare than what you see. She was once a willful teenager who escaped her less-than-perfect life in the Deep South and lied about her age to join the 6888th African American battalion of the Women's Army Corps during World War II.


Told in alternating chapters, half of them following Mare through her experiences as a WAC and half following Mare and her granddaughters on the road in the present day, Mare's War introduces us to a larger-than-life character who will stay with readers long after they have finished reading."

I LOVED this book. Loved it. The characterization was absolutely amazing, leaving me completely entranced in Mare's story, while also totally believing in Octavia and Tali's personalities, the way they react to some of the stories their grandmother tells, and their overall attitudes. Tanita S. Davis managed to create this amazing menagerie of women in this book, all of which leave lasting impressions.

I really enjoyed the alternating chapters, between then and now, and feel that was probably the best way to tell Mare's story. At times it got intense, so the "Now" chapters gave the reader a break from the seriousness of WWII and allowed some present day teenage whining to take its place.

The amount of knowledge I had on African American women in WWII was basically zilch before starting this YA novel and now, I'm itching to learn more. Mare's War is not just a fictional story, it's an educational journey filled with sadness, poverty, war, death, and hope. We aren't taught about this part of history in school, which is a complete disappointment, but the truth. Davis gives us a history lesson within a fabulous drama.

Beautifully written, I would hand this to any teen girl, enjoying a good piece of historical fiction. I can see those fans of Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith, which I loved earlier this year, really liking Mare's War as well. I hope you'll check this out and then hand it to some teens...it's definitely worth your time. 

Thoughts on the cover:
It needs a bit of work. Not the most exciting thing to look at, that's for sure, leaving me wondering if it would be a first pick off a library shelf. The colors are very muted and pastel, and though the artwork is interesting and nicely done, it's not very attention-grabbing.

I read this one for the Cybil Awards.

Mare's War
Tanita S. Davis
352 pages
Young Adult
Knopf
9780375857140
June 2009
Review copy received from publisher

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Awesome, awesome book. That being said, on with the review.

Ann Fay is finally home from the hospital, where she sat for months, fighting to stay alive as polio ravaged her body. She's about to return to school, behind all of her friends, and is upset, not quite understanding why this has happened to her. She's not only behind in school, but she has to walk with loud, clunky braces, definitely making her stand out, rather than blend in with her classmates. At the same time, her precious father is also fighting some inner demons, having returned from the war an emotionally damaged man, mixing up Ann Fay's own emotions something fierce.

When Ann Fay is given the chance to go to the Georgie Warm Springs Foundation, started by Franklin D. Roosevelt, to continue her therapy and hopefully relearn to walk without assistance, she goes, but not without huge reservations. She doesn't want to leave her family, feeling they need her more than she needs to walk. Once Ann arrives, she makes friends, starts to truly heal, and really makes progress in her walking. Unfortunately, when a friend from home shows up with bad news from her family, Ann knows she has to make a huge decision, to leave her beloved Warm Springs or to stay.

So... Comfort is the continuation of Blue, which I've never read, so I'm not able to tell you how much I liked this novel in comparison to the other. Going in, I was a little apprehensive of reading a book that most definitely had a prequel, however I really felt it completely stands along, with whatever backstory is necessary given throughout the plot, without leaving the reader with the feeling that something is missing.

Author Joyce Moyer Hostetter's story is written in a manner that flows so well and really is comforting (like the title pun??) to return to. I spent a couple of days reading this one, not feeling the need to race through it to know what happens, but continually picked up when wanting something lovely and warm-feeling to read. One of my favorites of the year!

Safe to hand to middle graders or young adults.

Notes on the cover:
Yuck. Not a fan at all. My husband's words, when asked what he thought of it was "it looks like a school book on a dusty shelf in the school library." In other words, boring. Not interesting. Not intriguing to pick up at all. Honestly, probably wouldn't have grabbed it at the library unless it was a Cybils read. A classic case of "don't judge a book by its cover."

Hostetter also wrote Healing Water, which I loooooved last year.


Comfort
Joyce Moyer Hostetter
306 pages
Young Adult Fiction
Calkins Creek Books
9781590786062
March 2009
Book borrowed from the local library


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Ok, so it's a little early to be talking about gift exchanges, but this one needs to be early in order to get everyone their goodies in time for the holidays! The annual Book Bloggers Holiday Swap went live yesterday, so head on over, sign up, and get excited to exchange some holiday cheer with your fellow bloggers! I participated last year and had a lot of fun :)

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Bill Bryson is not an author I've encountered before, though he's definitely one I'll be going back to. A Really Short History of Nearly Everything was originally published for adults back in 2003 and this particular version has just recently been adapted for kids. I didn't read the original, but this adapted version is awesome!

Though he doesn't really give you a short history of everything in the world, he does hit on main scientific points in history, such as what happened to dinosaurs, why the oceans are salty, how heavy the earth is, chain of life, genetics, planets, weather, atoms, asteroids, etc, etc, etc. Bryson then gives a short, simple explanation which reads very much like a story would, in a nice flowing manner. Not boring and scientific at all, which is a definite plus when it comes to non-fiction books for kids.

Filled with illustrations and photographs that accompany facts that are short and to-the-point. This would be a great resource for a classroom, homeschool setting, or library, especially while teaching different units. A great supplemental material.

To learn more, or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon. I am an Associate and will receive a small commission from your purchase price. Thanks!

A Really Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson
176 pages
Middle Grade Non-Fiction
Delacorte Press
9780385738101
October 2009
Review copy provided by publisher

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It's time again for my monthly Mini-Reviews feature. If you haven't checked out one of these posts before, my main reason for doing them is simply because I read too many books during the month to write out full, long reviews about each one of them. Mini-reviews consist of books that have already gotten a lot of press and don't necessarily need my thoughts to boost sales, books that I didn't really enjoy, or books that I just didn't have a whole lot to say about, whether good or bad.

Ok, that being said, on to the short-but-sweet thoughts on these titles:

The Off Season by Catherine Murdock is one I listened to via audiobook on my way to New York earlier in October. Loved Dairy Queen and I'm going to be reading the third in the series, Front and Center for the Cybils later this month. 

The book was wonderful, read by Natalie Moore, who was just ok. She did a great job at getting the hint of a Wisconsin accent I expected from D.J., but she also made her sound about 12. Engaging story line and the awesome characterization Murdock has become known for.

Definitely recommended to those that read Dairy Queen (and if you haven't, go get it!).

The Off Season
Catherine Murdock
Audiobook read by Natalie Moore
Listening Library (book from Houghton Mifflin)
9780739350539
May 2007
Book provided by the local library :)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by the fabulous Jeff Kinney, was wonderful, as expected. Who couldn't love the Wimpy Kid books? Funny, crazy, and always delightful, with a main character you just want to squeeze (or sometimes smack).

In this one, it's summer-time and Greg is, once again, getting himself into lots of trouble. Not much different than the other books in the series, but Kinney's writing is anything but boring and repetive.

Hand this to a reluctant reader or to someone who things books with drawings are just for little kids. Loving these books :)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Jeff Kinney
224 pages
Middle Grade Fiction
Amulet Books
9780810983915
October 2009
Review copy provided by publisher


Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover, written by Darlene Bailey Beard and Heather Mione fits into that early chapter book category and sends out a pretty good message about standing up for what you believe in. Not the most exciting book I've ever read, but I think it will hold children's attention. It's easy to read, the main character, Annie, is likable and very similar to the children today, wanting to blend in with the crowd, rather than stand out.

I did feel the plot development was a little too fast, but given the length of the book, I suppose that could easily be overlooked.

A nice in-between choice for those not quite ready for long chapter books. A good family read aloud as well.

Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover
Darlene Bailey Beard and Heather Maione
128 pages
Early Chapter Book
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
9780374303518
September 2009
Review copy provided by publisher

Eli the Good, by Silas House, is one that a lot of people will probably argue with me on. It gets nothing but 5 star reviews on Amazon (though take those with a grain of salt as always) and really has the makings in the plot for a winner. I, however, found it boring and slow. It didn't move for me, I can't really remember anything about it only a few days after finishing it. It just didn't stick with me and is leaving me with not a whole lot to see.

Thus...a mini-review.

I suggest learning more about this one, Google it or check in on Amazon. Lots of others have loved it, the book just didn't go anywhere with me.

Eli the Good
Silas House
304 pages
Young Adult
Candlewick
9780763643416
October 2009
Review copy provided by publisher

To learn more about any of these books, or to purchase, click on the book covers above to link to Amazon. I am an Associate and will receive a small percentage of your purchase (of the books or anything else).

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Happy Halloween to all of you out there! Hope you're enjoying some nice weather and are anticipating trick or treating with the little ones later. We don't have any kiddos in our house, so we're just handing out loads of candy, if the rain holds off.

I did my Halloween post last weekend, hoping to get the books into your hands before the big day, so for today's Picture Book Saturday, we're just focusing on a couple of books I enjoyed this week. And only two because I had an absolutely exhausting week and am spending my time decompressing rather than blogging. :)

Really, who doesn't like Jane Yolen's picture books? She's one of my favorites and one of her newest, The Scarecrow's Dance, tells a magical story of how a simple wind can turn a hay-stuffed scarecrow into a fantastical dance.

The wind starts to blow and up goes the scarecrow! He dances down the rows, through the cow pastures, past the barn, and was given a rare glimpse into the farmer's house, where he listened to a boy pray. Such a sweet, simple, rhyming story, but one with such a satisfying ending.

Illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline does such a magnificent job at creating the night scenes. He definitely enhances the magic Yolen creates with her story, given the scarecrow a true character. Just as a side note, he's also the illustrator of one of my favorites by Kate DiCamillo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Love that one!

Great for a bedtime story (definitely appropriate for a Halloween read) or in anticipation of some autumn-themed storytime crafts.

The Scarecrow's Dance
Jane Yolen
32 pages
Picture Book
Simon & Schuster
August 2009
Review copy received from Raab Associates


If you need a story in which the main theme is about being one's self, Wanda's Freckles by Barbara Azore is a great choice. Book three is a series about Wanda by the author and illustrator Georgia Graham, this one shines with a self-esteem boost.

Our main character has lots and lots of freckles on her face (which her little cousin cutely refers to as "sparkles") and loves them. When other kids at the park start making fun of Wanda's "spots," she starts to think that maybe having freckles isn't so cool after all, attempting to get rid of them with various silly methods.

Kids can definitely be cruel sometimes, as I'm sure we've all experienced, and Wanda is a great role model for those kids. She ends up remembering why she loves her freckles...they make her who she is!

A great read aloud for all kids, reminding them not to make fun of people just because they may be different in some way. Great, eye-catching illustrations too.

Wanda's Freckles
Barbara Azore
24 pages
Picture Book
Tundra Books
9780887768620
August 2009
Review copy received from publisher

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Book description:
"Having earned her chef's hat, Lexi Stuart bids au revoir to her glamorous and deliciously satisfying pastry mentorship outside of Paris and returns to her homeown of Seattle, Washington. There, she finds life unexpectedly complicated.


She's put in charge of a high end catering bakery Bijoux, which should be her dream job, but there's a catch: She has to make this lavish bakery into a successful business in just a few short months, which will require more than her ability to make an amazing wedding cake. In over her head and at a loss for creative marketing ideas, Lexi isn't sure what the recipe for success needs to be.


Stire in a complicated relationship with her French beau, Philippe, and his daughter, Celine, then add a dash of romance with down-to-earth, lawyer Dan, and life suddenly contains more ooh la la than Lexi can handle.


With the fate of her career and her love life hanging by a thread, the phrase "piece of  cake" has never been more daunting. Lexi learns that she must trust the dreams in her heart and the God who put them there."

This "French Twist" series has been so much fun to read! Sometimes, I really am in the mood for a lighter read and Sandra Byrd delivers with these books. They're often humorous and laced with fun, but Lexi Stuart faces realistic situations and handles them with God's help (and a bit of chaos). You see inside Lexi's professional life, but her personal life as well, making the story (and Lexi) very well-rounded.

Oh, and the element of yummy cakes and desserts? Such a delicious asset to the stories! I loved reading about what Lexi and another baker was working and trying to picture the yumminess of the finished product. Food lover that I am, this one was of my favorite parts of the books for sure.

Romancy? Yes, but not overly so. There are love interests, but this is a Christian fiction book, so all the scenes are clean, promise. It's more a personal growth, Godly growth, and yummy bakery book :)

You can visit the author's website at SandraByrd.com. 

To learn more, or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon. As an Associate, I will receive a small percentage of your purchase price, of this book or anything else.

Piece de Resistance
Sandra Byrd
304 pages
Waterbrook Press
9781400073290
September 2009
Review copy provided by publisher

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Back in April, I fell in love with I Need My Monster, an adorable picture book written by Amanda Noll. So much so that I nominated it for a Cybil Award and have now done an interview with this awesome author. She is incredibly nice and gracious :) Enjoy!

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Jacket description:
"When it comes to wild animals, everyone knows that there are certain things you just don't do. It's clearly a bad idea to tease a tiger, pull a python's tail, or bother a black widow spider. But do you know how dangerous it can be to pet a platypus, collect a cone shell, or touch a tang fish? Some creatures have developed unusual ways of protecting themselves or catching prey, and this can make them unexpectedly hazardous to your health."


Oh how I love Steve Jenkins! He truly produces great, quality Non-fiction books for kids, complete with awesome illustrations and simple, yet totally educational facts. His latest, Never Smile at a Monkey, is easily another winner and one I can see teachers and librarians using all the time.

I can personally say that I learned a whole lot from this children's book! I did not know that confronting a kangaroo, swimming with squid, or petting a platypus were bad ideas, along with a bunch of other cool facts. The page spreads are awesome, each individual page featuring a different animal not to mess with, illustrated in Jenkins' cool way, with some reasons why and a nice, bold title.

There's an index of all the animals in the back, expanding on why they are not to be taken lightly.

Great for libraries, school, and home shelves.

To learn more, or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon. I am an Associate and will receive a small percentage of your purchase of this book, or any other book/item.

Never Smile at a Monkey
Steve Jenkins
32 pages
Non-Fiction Picture Book
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
9780618966202
October 2009
Review copy courtesy of publisher

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As you know, the Picture Book Saturday posts typically take place on, well, Saturdays. With the Read-a-thon yesterday, I didn't have room for a post, so I'm putting it up today. 3 great books for you all today, enjoy!

I Always, Always Get My Way, written by Thad Krasnesky and illustrated by David Parkins is a laugh-out-loud story, screaming to be read to your kids!

Jacket description:
"When Emmy accidentally spills juice on Daddy's pants, she's sure she'll get into trouble. But Mom tells Dad, 'Now sweetheart, you should let it be. After all...she's only three.'

For the next few days, whenever one of Emmy's creative projects ends in a wreck, she tried to wangle her way out of trouble by proclaiming, 'I'm only three.' With a carefully-aimed pout, a shift of blame, or an all-out tantrum, this girl sure knows how to always get her way."

Remind you of anyone? I'm sure we can all imagine a child that is just too cute to get into trouble, wrapping us around their little fingers! Emmy learns her lession eventually and it's fun watching her antics until the consequences are handed out!


I Always, Always Get My Way
Thad Krasnesky
32 pages
Picture Book
Flashlight Press
9780979974649
September 2009
Review copy courtesy of publisher

Spells, written and illustrated by by one of my favorite children's authors, Emily Gravett, is a hilarious, interactive pursuit of a little green frog, wanting to become a handsome prince.

The frog tries spell after spell, none of which turn out quite right, until he finally manages to turn himself back into a handsome prince. But....he didn't read the fine print!


The cover is just beautiful and the pages are fabulous as well. The story is definitely a Gravett story, as she has become known for her awesome endings and her somewhat dry humor. I love the different spells and I can picture children giggling like crazy after each one fails and the frog turns into something strange!

Just a teensy warning...when the frog becomes a prince, he is a bit under-dressed, though everything is definitely covered up! It just adds to the story and you know, by this point, the kids will be roaring!

This would make a great read aloud, though the split pages may make it hard to maneuver holding up to a crowd.


Spells
Emily Gravett
32 pages
Picture Book
Simon & Schuster
9781416982708
October 2009
Review copy courtesy of Amazon Vine Program

Rose's Garden, written and illustrated by the amazing Peter H. Reynolds, is my "sentimental" pick of the week (always gotta have the one)!

Jacket description:
"After traveling the world in her fantastic teapot, Rose is ready to put down roots. She sets about planting flower seeds in a neglected corner of a bustling city. And then she waits--through rain, cold, and snow. Rose waits, never doubting that the garden she envisions will one day come to be."


A beautiful story focusing on community, nature, and how powerful a faith in good can be. This would make a nice bedtime story or as a discussion provoking read aloud with your family. Talk about what it means to love others, even if you don't know them.

Reynolds has dedicated this book to the late Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, mother of the late Ted Kennedy (who has a quote on the back of the book) in which there is a foundation created in her name, the Rose Fitzgeralf Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, which you should definitely check out, it's an awesome organization!


Rose's Garden
Peter H. Reynolds
40 pages
Picture Book
Candlewick
9780763646417
October 2009
Review copy courtesy of publisher

To learn more about any of these books, or to purchase, click on the book covers above to link to Amazon. I am an Associate and will receive a small percentage of your purchase price of the books or any other item/books. 

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Jacket Description (from ARC):
"The upcoming holiday season is all about showing off her talents as a pastry chef for college-age Dakota Walker--when she's not busy stitching at Walker & Daughter, the coziest yarn shop on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Now, with the help of the family that's always sustained her, including the women of the Friday Night Knitting Club, Dakota remembers what is truly important. And the possibility of a Christmas visit to her beloved Gran in Scotland--with the potential for illuminating revelations about her mother, Georgia Walker--is overwhelmingly tempting.

From Thanksgiving through Hanukkah and Christmas to a spectacular New Year's wedding reception, Knit the Season is a tender story about the richness of family bonds, the magical power of memory, and the everlasting joys of friendship."

If you haven't read the previous two books in Kate Jacobs' series, The Friday Night Knitting Club and Knit Two, you'll definitely want to pick those up before starting this one, or risk being lost without back story and the building up of main characters. It even took me awhile to get caught back up with who was who and who did what, even after reading the previous two books.

That being said, this was a really nice addition to the series, though like my thoughts on Knit Two, I thought it was missing a little bit of magic that the first book had. The characters and their stories are definitely on the mark and though Dakota is placed as the main character, the others (Anita, Catherine, Darwin, and Lucie) all hold their own pretty well within the story. I think it's the knitting and the time together that I really missed from the first book.

All of the women lead very separate lives and the concept of getting together on Fridays to gossip and receive help on tough issues from each other has definitely taken a backseat. There isn't quite as much "coziness" or companionship running through this one as the others, though the story does still flow nicely, even if it takes a somewhat different path.

Jacobs does have a knack for description, especially when explaining different colors of yarns and the make-up of the Walker & Daughter. I guess I just missed the knitting and the chatting. I'm not sure if this is the last book in the series or not, but I would love to see an expansion on what happens with the shop in the future. We shall see....

I would recommend this series to anyone with a crafty nature and who wants to get that creative vibe going. I don't personally knit, but I love to read about others that do! With the beautiful red cover, this would make a nice stocking stuffer. Again, if you're giving this as a gift, I would start with the first one, The Friday Night Knitting Club. Just a thought!

To learn more, or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon. I am an Associate and will receive a small percentage of your purchase price.

Knit the Season: A Friday Night Knitting Club Novel
Kate Jacobs
272 pages
Adult Fiction
Putnam Adult
9780399156380
November 2009
Review copy received from publisher

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Jacket description:
"It is 1935, and eleven-year-old Dominic Walker has stopped speaking. Home is London's grimy docklands, where life with an ailing mother, an unemplyed father, and unanswered questions about the war that haunts his family lead him to retreat into a world of silence.

Everything chances when Uncle Roo invites Dominic and his little sister, Marlo, to spend the summer on the Cornish coast. There, in a boarding house populated  by likeable eccentrics, the children discover a free-thinking, unstructured way of life unlike any they have known before. But the idyllic holiday is threatened when a village uprising against a band of Travelers tests Dominic's emerging friendship with a one-legged Gypsy girl. Armed only with a treasured copy of Incredible Adventures for Boys: Colonel Lawrence and the Revolt in the Desert, he decides to take a stand for justice and the victimized community-and in so doing, learns what it truly means to have a voice."

Author, Trilby Kent has created a middle grade historical fiction book that has a lot going for it, mainly in the category of characterization. The main character, Dominic, has this inability to speak at times, allowing the reader to really want to know more about him and to cheer for him the whole way through the book. His little sister, Marlo, and Sancha, and Birdie, were all exceptional characters with awesome stories to tell.

I also really liked the inclusion of another book as the one of the main parts of Medina Hill. Kent showed Dominic becoming braver and more outgoing through the use of a book, which was a really nice thing to see in a story.

Unfortunately, I didn't really love the rest of the book as a whole. I think it moved incredibly slow for a middle grade fiction book and may have even been a bit too long for what I believe the author was trying to do with the plot. I didn't really get where the climax was supposed to be, as everything happening with the characters and the story was very subdued.

I can see children that are fans of historical fiction enjoying this and would recommend it as a library shelf choice or school classroom selection. It does have great characters and great potential, but unfortunately, for me as the reader, it didn't all come together as it maybe could have.

To learn more about this blog tour, head on over to this blog.

Medina Hill
Trilby Kent
176 pages
Middle Grade
Tundra Books
9780887768880
October 2009
Review copy received from publisher

To learn more, or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon. I am an Affiliate and will receive a small commission for your purchase.

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Got quite the menagerie for you all today. Enjoy!
My favorite title read this week, definitely goes to Jane Yolen's reissue of The Seeing Stick. She illustrator Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini have created a magical reading experience, just begging to be placed in the hands of children. This is definitely on my Christmas giving list this year!

We have a beautiful blind princess yearning to see and an elderly man that promises her father, the Emperor, he can give her the gift of sight. No one believes the old man, but with the help of his Seeing Stick, young Hwei Min is able to see the world as she could never see it before.

The truly magical part about this enchanting book is the illustrations. Beginning dark and gray, they become brilliant with color and texture, itching to be touched. I tried finding some info on how Terrazzini created the amazing pages to go along with Yolen's beautiful fairy tale, but didn't have any luck.

Definitely check this one out! Buy it for young girls for Christmas or add it to your library shelves. It was originally published in 1977, but has just been reissued. I have not had a chance to see the original book, but this one is absolutely beautiful.


The Seeing Stick
Jane Yolen
34 pages
Picture Book
Running Press Kids
9780762420483
September 2009 (reissue from 1977 edition)
Review copy received from publisher

Princess Hyacinth (the Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated) by Florence Parry Heide is  yes, another princess book, but this time on the funnier side. The Seeing Stick was much more serious...this one will have your kiddos laughing!

Told in a very humorous tone, this story follows Princess Hyacinth as she learns how to deal with being the odd kid out. If not weighted down, the Princess will float off, making it very hard to play with any other children, especially the young boy who wants to be her friend. When she decides she is just going to float anyways, no matter the danger, the Princess and the boy end up hatching a plan so they can play together and Princess Hyacinth is safe.

A very silly story, best read aloud. The illustrations, done by Lane Smith, definitely add to the humor, as the expressions on the characters faces are hilarious! A very cute read aloud.

Princess Hyacinth
Florence Parry Heide
32 pages
Picture Book
Schwartz & Wade
9780375845017
September 2009
Review copy received from publisher

The Jungle Grapevine, written and illustrated by  Alex Beard is one of those "lesson" books that doesn't quite feel like a lesson book. Which means your kids won't resent you for trying to sneak teaching into a story :)

When bird thinks he hears turtle say something, he tells another animal, who then tells another animal in the jungle. Panic begins to erupt amongst the animals, as the story becomes bigger and bigger until one of the animals discovers it isn't true. But then...it starts all over again!

Remind you of playing telephone? This is just how rumors get started and though the age group for this picture book is a bit young to be learning about the trouble of rumors, it's still a very cute book, a fun read aloud, and a nice one to discuss once you're finished. I liked the simple story line and the simple illustrations, making this a nice choice for even the youngest of listeners.

The Jungle Grapevine
Alex Beard
48 pages
Picture Book
Abrams Books for Young Readers
9780810980013
September 2009
Review copy received from publisher

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Product description:
"William S. Baggett is a good kid trapped in a really awful family. William has his running-away money ready to go, he's just been waiting until he's older than twelve to leave. When his big brothers flush his sister's pet guinea pig down the toilet, she insists they leave now. And take the two littlest Baggetts with them. So they head out in the middle of the night, ready to escape to their aunt Fiona's house.


Unfortunately the trip doesn't go exactly as planned. It's not so easy traveling with two little kids, and some help from a lonely rich girl makes it even more complicated. Will they ever make it to Aunt Fiona's? And if they do, will she let them stay?


This is the story of four children who learn that sometimes you have to run away before you can find your way home."

I'm a big fan of Zilpha Keatley Snyder and was definitely pleased with her latest book. The story is a quick read and one that families can read aloud and discuss together, with spots of humor, a great cast, and an interesting storyline.

I did have a few "issues" with the story, namely the violence towards the end. Though the story seems geared toward the 8-12 set, I would be a bit uneasy reading the last couple of chapters to an 8 year old, as the main character is described as being beaten, with his younger sisters forced to watch, as their own punishment. Violence is referenced in many spots in the book, but much more subtly than the end. I think it could have been a little toned down to be more age-appropriate.

I love Snyder's cover choices and her characters always stand out and shine in their own special way. The main character, William, was a great male character and one that I think would appeal to boys of the same age set and his younger sister was adorable.

This could be a great read aloud in a classroom, though again, be aware of the violence at the end, or within your family, possibly using the violence as a great discussion starter.

William S. and the Great Escape
Zilpha Keatley Snyder
224 pages
Middle Grade
Atheneum
9781416967637
September 2009
Review copy received from Amazon Vine program

To learn more, or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon. I am an Affiliate and will receive a small commission for your purchase.

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We're more than halfway there! The folks running the Read-a-thon have asked us participants to take part in this mid-way meme:

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Just finished Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen, about to pick up something new.
2. How many books have you read so far? 7
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Front and Center by Catherine Murdock. I'm attempting to hold off until the end and use it as my reward :)
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No, I have an understanding husband and the weather really worked in my favor
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I was interrupted to go out to dinner, but that only took a couple of hours. No problem.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I'm still SO surprised at how  many participants there are. Something like 350?
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Unfortunately, only a couple of the mini-challenges have been appealing thus far.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Nothing so far, I'm getting through a whole bunch of books.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Yep, but I'll make it a few more hours. I think we're taking the day off from church, so I'll get to sleep in a little.
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Get up often to keep yourself awake, listen to an audiobook for awhile, make a snack!

Progress:

Time Started: 8:03am
Time Now: 9.07pm
Time Spent Reading/Blogging:  8 hours 17 minutes
Total Pages read: 1022
Total Books read: 7 (Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover, Walking Backward, and William S. and the Great Escape, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jumped, The Naming of Tishkin Silk, Notes from the Dog)

Other tasks accomplished: Listened to the man from the local Volunteer Fire Department pitch his fundraiser and wrote him a check. Good cause. 

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Typically I make it to midnight, but I think I'm calling it a night at 11. I'll be reading before I actually fall asleep and I'll be up early in the morning to walk the pooches, which always requires an audiobook, so I'll still have some adding to do in the morning on my final post. It's been fun folks, good luck to all of those that are staying all night!

Progress:

Time Started: 8:03am
Time Now: 11:01pm
Time Spent Reading/Blogging:  10 hours 46 minutes
Total Pages read: 1273
Total Books read: 9 (Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover, Walking Backward, and William S. and the Great Escape, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jumped, The Naming of Tishkin Silk, Notes from the Dog, Tofu Quilt, Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist: Flight of the Phoenix)

Other tasks accomplished: Played with the pups, folded laundry

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I bailed out early, as I always do, but I still feel like I got a lot of reading accomplished and had so much fun checking on how others were doing, keeping up on Twitter, and doing different mini-challenges. I ended up actually shutting the computer down a little after 11, but read for another 45 minutes once I actually went to bed AND got up and read a bit in the early morning. So my final tallies are:

Total time reading/blogging: 11 hours 55 minutes
Total books read: 9.5
Total pages read: 1376

And the end of event meme is as follows:

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 15, that's when I gave up and went on into bed.

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? I read Jumped by Rita Williams Garcia and it was fast paced, short, and thrilling. Also, one I didn't read for the readathon but would certainly make a good book choice for the event is The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? I personally didn't enjoy a whole lot of the mini-challenges and therefore didn't participate in a lot of them. I think if they focused more on books/reading and not so much on multimedia, twitter, or writing things, I might have enjoyed them more. Surveys, memes, book title stuff, are all easy and quick to do and don't take a lot of time out of reading.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I think the fantastic organizers did a fabulous job at keeping all the info up-to-date. I really liked being able to head to the home page and see what challenges were still going on, who the most recent winners were, etc. 
 
5. How many books did you read? 10. Well, 9.5 really. I read 9 and finished half of another.

6. What were the names of the books you read? Annie Glover is NOT a Tree Lover, Walking Backward, and William S. and the Great Escape, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Jumped, The Naming of Tishkin Silk, Notes from the Dog, Tofu Quilt, Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist: Flight of the Phoenix, and finished Fat Cat. Reviews to come of all.

7. Which book did you enjoy most? I got lucky, I really liked all of them. It's probably a tie between Jumped and Notes from the Dog.

8. Which did you enjoy least? None, I really liked them all.

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I'm sure I'll be a reader again, if time allows. 

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