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Oliver Has Something to Say! By Pamela Edwards
Review by Mary Rowe (Library Queen's Weblog)


Oliver has a very common problem found among children with an older sibling. Oliver doesn’t get a chance to speak. Oliver opens his mouth to speak but someone always answers every question for him. First, it is his older sister. She seems like the typical older sister who is trying to be helpful. She just has not noticed that Oliver has grown up and is able to speak for himself. Mom and Dad are also guilty of speaking for Oliver instead of waiting for him to form the words and make his own voice heard.

It takes a kind, patient preschool teacher to help Oliver find his voice. Oliver seems a little overwhelmed when he gets to make a choice for himself about where to play. Mrs. Samra is patient while Oliver tries to get his underused mouth in motion. Through the process Mrs. Samra listens with her eyes and heart as well as her ears. Finally, Oliver is able to tell her what he wants to do.

Oliver has learned his lesson well. After his first day in pre-school he gets up in the middle of the night and lets everyone know they have not been right about what he really wanted as they spoke for him. Loudly, he lets them know all the things he tried to say over the week. Mom, Dad, and Margaret are so surprised that this time they have nothing to say.

This is an excellent book to be used in the home or classroom, not only to encourage children to speak up, but to let talkative children know they are not being helpful when they rush to finish someone’s thought or sentence. Sometimes, children need an extra few seconds of time before they can gather their thoughts. Those who are a bit quicker in forming their thoughts (Mom, Dad, older siblings, and even teachers) need to take the lesson in this book to heart.

Reviewers note: This book hit very close to home for me. My grandson has some tendencies found in children with oral apraxia. There seems to be a bit of “a disconnect” between his brain and his oral muscles. He can make all the sounds but has a hard time getting his lips and tongue into position to make the sounds. This causes a bit of a delay when he begins to speak. It also causes him to substitute some sounds that are easier for him to make for some of the harder sounds. He is more than happy most of the time to let his older sister do the speaking for him. His mom has an undergraduate degree in speech communication. She has been able to make sure he got an opportunity to make his voice heard.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:
Just One More Book: "Slurps, spaghetti, grimaces and gasps seem to spurt from the page in this animated escapade of a younger sibling who finally finds his voice." (listen to podcast about book...)

My Readable Feast: "Oliver Has Something to Say! makes us realize that quiet kids do have opinions and we need to encourage them to express themselves." (read more...)

Cheryl Rainfield: "Do you know a shy child, or a child who has a hard time speaking up? Give them this book; it may help them to feel understood or less alone." (read more...)

The Literary Word: " I think this is an amazing book in that it will inspire and promote confidence in children who are shy or quiet." (read more...)



More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Lobster Press (March 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1897073526
• ISBN-13: 978-1897073520
• Source: Review Copy from Publisher
  

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Big thanks to Mary Rowe (The Library Queen) for writing the following review!

Dream Girl by Lauren Mechling

Some mysteries are much like a roller coaster; you get in and hang on while you are taken for a dangerous ride. You are thrown up-side down as you speed along in the dark and are totally terrified before you come to the end of the track. This mystery is not at all like that at all.

Dream Girl is more like a stroll with Robin Leach through the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Along the way pieces of the mystery become known at a leisurely pace. In-between the clues you are entertained by an introduction to lavish living with fascinating and eccentric characters. The mystery is slowly revealed to the heroine and the reader at the same time.

Claire has always thought her dreams were strange, but when her grandmother gives her a cameo necklace her dreams begin to change. As she pays attention to the dreams , they seem to lead only to embarrassment as her sleuthing uncovers nothing. Just as she is about to give up on following the leads in her dreams, Claire's grandmother gives her a few suggestions that help her have more confidence.

The characters in Dream Girl are a lively mix of likeable individuals, dramatic eccentrics and a few unpolished gems. For the most part the characters are fully developed and the relationships ring true.

Kiki, Claire's grandmother is very sophisticated. She lavishes money and clothes on her granddaughter but also seems to honestly enjoy spending time with Claire. Becca Shutterworth's character seems to be revealed gradually almost like a butterfly unfolding its wings for the first time. The reader gets glimpses of Becca that create uncertainty about her personality. When she is finally emerges I felt as if she had become my friend as well as Claire's.

Some characters lacked depth and don't seem to add much to the story line but hinted at having more important roles in possible sequels. Claire's parents (Mom's a writer and dad is a French professor) and their eccentric friends add color to the story but not much else. I wondered if Douglas (college professor friend of Claire's dad) was going to become a stronger character in the plot but all he does if have dinner with Claire and Becca and disappear from the book. In some ways the extra scenes like this added to the mystery because I found myself wondering if this was going to be important incident in the story just like Claire wondered if her dreams were significant.

Becca's brother Andy has a girlfriend named Rye. Rye seems to lack the most development. Readers just don't get enough information about her to make her more than a "stick figure" walking among the more central fleshed out characters. The catty schoolgirls aka "the beatles" didn't gain much affection from me or from Claire and Becca. They seemed to be placed in the story only to detract attention from the real mystery surrounding the Shutterworth family. I found myself wishing they had been given more personality. When they get their "just rewards" from Claire and her friends I felt sorry to see the friends behave unkindly and Claire seemed to have regretted it also.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and while I would not classify it as one of my favorites I did find the time reading Dream Girl enjoyable. I enjoyed the fashion name dropping along with the peek behind the dressing room doors of stores, which unfortunately, will never be graced with my real presence. (I never knew some customers were treated with finger sandwiches and other delicacies while shopping.)

Dream Girl was more of an intriguing situation than a fast paced mystery. But the stroll was lovely.


What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Liv's Book Reviews: "The writing in Dream Girl might not have been all that wonderful or captivating but the whole mystery of the story and the fun romance between Claire and Andy kept it all moving and left me satisfied. I would recommend Dream Girl as a nice light read along the lines of The Gallagher Girls and The Queen Geek Books..." (read more...)


The Book Muncher: "Dream Girl was definitely a satisfying and thrilling read that I recommend to all readers. Fans of stories with high style, high school, and high mystery will enjoy this novel." (read more...)

YA Book Realm: "It’s a great book to pick up if your looking for action, mystery, and just a touch of romance." (read more...)

Harmony Book Reviews: "The plot of Dream Girl involves so many things that it’s hard to believe it all fits in between the few hundred pages it does. Lauren Mechling has a way with words and she makes that happen, keeping the plot fast-paced and never bogging the read down with details." (read more...)

Abby (the) Librarian: "I would hand this one to middle-school mystery fans who like a splash of the paranormal." (read more...)

In Bed With Books: "I enjoyed DREAM GIRL, but the A-plot doesn’t hold up to any of the subplots. The paranormal element feels extraneous and didn’t seem to add much to the book as a whole. I believe I prefer the 10th-Grade Social Climber books, which Lauren Mechling coauthored." (read more...)

More Info:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385735219
• ISBN-13: 978-0385735216
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

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Born to Read by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

I was prepared to write my review for Born to Read and had all my
ideas ready to go. I planned to write the review while babysitting my
grandkids, so I brought the book along. My notes had several
comments I had taken as I read and reread the book:




1. Wonderful message to share - but seemed forced

• Reading will help you win - but it won't make you win every time as in the bike race
• Coaches frown on basketball playing and book reading at the same time
  

2. Story line seemed a bit contrived

• Putting the child in impossible situations which are made to seem realistic (correcting the doctor's diagnosis, competitions above child's ability)
• Reading in the tub (oh my what were they thinking? ) Water and books don't mix.
• Realistic examples and the fantasy giant fit together well to present the message
  

3. Illustrations were superb!

• Details- you can almost feel the texture of clothing
• The expressions on the faces of the characters are entertaining
  

But, then my three year old grandson saw the book. "Can I read it?" was his first question. "What is it called?" was the next. I watched while he took the book and began pointing to the letters on the inside of the cover. " I know that one. Here is a "b" Nana." When he finished with those he knew, he turned the page and began to read. He put his finger under each word and started making up a story to go with the illustrations. He paused before "reading" each page to look at the illustrations and point out what he liked or noticed that was interesting. He knew most of the books in the baby's crib and told me which ones he had in his room and which ones were in his sister's room. He "read" the whole book with great enjoyment. Later, when I tried to find the book during their naptime to write this review it was not where we had left it when Noah finished reading.

After my grandson's nap I asked him if he knew where the book was. "It is in my room Nana, I wanted to read it again at naptime, and will you read it to me now?" He and his five year old sister paid close attention to me as I read Born to Read. When I told them I had to take the book home to do my homework, Noah nodded seriously and asked, "Will you bring it back?"


So much for my notes, this book is a hit with the three-year-old reviewer! Maybe sometimes, we older reviewers would be better off letting the books speak to the children and judging their reactions as the true test of a worthwhile book.

What Other Bloggers Are Saying:

Kidazy! : "This wonderful book rhymes words with such enthusiasm that you can’t help but get in to the story yourself rooting for Sam!" (Read more...)

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "I think that this book is well-intentioned, sometimes fun, and gorgeously illustrated. I think that parents who want to encourage young readers will buy it and read it to their kids, and that they will enjoy it. But my personal recommendation, if you're looking to encourage a child to love books, is to not push this particular book too hard." (read more...)

Young Readers: "Great premise. Great start. Ultimately falls into mediocrity. Slightly disappointing." (read more...)


Cheryl Rainfield: "Born to Read celebrates reading and reinforces its importance. It’s got a wonderful message, though the message is laid on a bit too thick for me. Still, it’s got a message that both kids and parents really need to hear–that reading can help you." (read more...)


More Info:

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (August 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375846875
• ISBN-13: 978-0375846878
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

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