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<!-- START INTERCHANGE - ODD DUCK -->if(!window.igic__){window.igic__={};var d=document;var s=d.createElement("script");s.src="http://iangilman.com/interchange/js/widget.js";d.body.appendChild(s);} <!-- END INTERCHANGE --> Odd Duck is the newest book from my favorite of favorites,  Sara Varon. Varon has teamed up with YA author Cecil Castelucci for yet another slightly off center,

<!-- START INTERCHANGE - WELCOME TO YOUR AWESOME ROBOT -->if(!window.igic__){window.igic__={};var d=document;var s=d.createElement("script");s.src="http://iangilman.com/interchange/js/widget.js";d.body.appendChild(s);} <!-- END INTERCHANGE --> I am not the kind of person who collects anything by any means (books DON'T count, obviously) but I do really dig robots. And I also really,

I'm reposting this review from my Doll Week in June.  At the time, I forgot to add a label for Winter Holiday Stories because I almost forgot that the last half of the story took place on Christmas Eve.  So, if you need a last minute gift for a little girl who likes dolls or just need a good doll story, don't miss Big Susan! You may recognize the

<!-- START INTERCHANGE - THE 13 STORY TREEHOUSE -->if(!window.igic__){window.igic__={};var d=document;var s=d.createElement("script");s.src="http://iangilman.com/interchange/js/widget.js";d.body.appendChild(s);} <!-- END INTERCHANGE --> The 13-Story Treehouse is the latest Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, the geniuses behind the beginning to read books that look like chapter books and are

<!-- START INTERCHANGE - GONE FISHING A NOVEL IN VERSE -->if(!window.igic__){window.igic__={};var d=document;var s=d.createElement("script");s.src="http://iangilman.com/interchange/js/widget.js";d.body.appendChild(s);} <!-- END INTERCHANGE --> So, besides the fact that Gone Fishing : A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger, with illustrations by the fantastic Matthew Cordell, is a

Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It:  False Apology Poems, written by Gail Carson Levine and brilliantly illustrated by the very busy Matthew Cordell, is, as you may surmise, inspired by William Carlos William's poem "This Is Just to Say." What Levine brings to this collection is her considerable knowledge of fairy tales and a gleefully wicked sense of humor. Every poem in the book it titled, "This

Kathryn Lasky is probably best known for her Guardians of Ga'Hoole series about owls, is also the author of twenty non-fiction books for kids on subjects ranging from spiders to sea turtles to the rain forest and lemurs to Phyllis Wheatley, John Muir, Sarah Breedlove Walker and Joshua Slocum, the first man to sail around the world alone. With One Beetle Too Many, Lasky brings us a fantastic

Outside Your Window - A First Book of Nature by zoologist and author Nicola Davies with mixed-media illustrations by Scottish printmaker Mark Hearld, is exactly the big, gorgeous, thick-paged book that makes the perfect gift for a new baby, first birthday or any birthday after that. This is a book that is staying on the shelf and will not donated, lost or re-gifted, as so many books from our

Talk, Talk, Squawk!, the newest book from superlative zoologist and children's book author Nicola Davies and equally matched illustrator Neal Layton, might just be their most fascinating yet.  If you are already familiar with books by this dynamic duo, such as Just the Right Size, reviewed her, and others, then you know what a knack Davies has for presenting and writing about scientific

There are so many reasons why I am just over-the-moon with excitement for Alexander McCall Smith's newest series of books for children, and not one of them is because I am a fan of his adult novels. I've never read any of his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels, of which the adult Precious Ramotswe is the star, nor have I read any of his many books for children. I am bursting with elation for

Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It:  False Apology Poems, written by Gail Carson Levine and brilliantly illustrated by the very busy Matthew Cordell, is, as you may surmise, inspired by William Carlos William's poem "This Is Just to Say." What Levine brings to this collection is her considerable knowledge of fairy tales and a gleefully wicked sense of humor. Every poem in the book it titled, "This Is

I know that I am a broken record when I start talking about the lack of creative, interesting stories being told in the chapter book format, but it really is a quantity versus quality situation when you scan the shelves. However, this has been a bountiful and exciting spring! First, the awesome Mega Mash-Ups, a DIY chapter book series from Nikalas Catlow and Tim Wesson debuted, then

The five book series Salt Water Taffy by Matt Loux has to be one of the greatest graphic novels to cross my path while working as a bookseller. Of course it caught my attention right away because it was so markedly different from the bulk of the books automatically sent to my store. When I started reading it I realized, graphic novel or not, Salt Water Taffy is also a standout for the

Beginning reader books, the good ones anyway, seem to center around two friends. Friends who are usually opposites. I always think that this friend quota has been filled (Frog & Toad, George & Martha, Elephant & Piggie, Benny & Penny, Dodsworth & Duck) and then someone comes up with a new pair. With her book Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover, Cece Bell has created a fantastic new beginning

Short story collections for kids are very rare these days, and, while I haven't read very many in my life, I suspect that Joan Aiken has to be one of the most prolific and excellent writers of short stories for children in the 20th century. A Necklace of Raindrops came about when, in 1968, Aiken was to write stories from a list of 200 words for younger readers in America - much the way Theodore

Angie Sage, creator of the magnificently magical world of Septimus Heap, book 5 of which was just published, has also authored a series for younger readers. The Araminta Spookie books are perfect for the reader who wants something a little different from the usual Magic Tree House and Junie B Jones. Araminta is brilliant, brave and has a different bedroom for every day of the week!   She's not

In the seventeen years since The Time Warp Trio series was started and the nine years since my daughter first read it, it seems that is has become an animated television show! If you seek these books out, please be sure you find the originals as it is my understanding that there are some that are based on the television show, which is slightly different and not illustrated byLane Smith, Jon

Published in 1968 and made into an animated movie in 1999, The Iron Giant, with illustrations by Andrew Davis, is one of the many books for children written by Ted Hughes, who was British Poet Laureate and husband of poet Sylvia Plath. Sadly, the companion to this book, The Iron Woman, is no longer in print.A modern parable, The Iron Giant is the tale of how Hogarth, a farmer's son, befriends the

You may recognize the artwork of Elizabeth Orton Jones from her 1945 Caldecott winning book, A Prayer for a Child, written by Rachel Field, winner of the Newbery in 1930 for her excellent book, Hitty: Her First 100 Years. I first learned about Jones' 1947 book Big Susan while perusing the pages of the Chinaberry catalog years ago. For those of you who have never heard of Chinaberry, started by

EXCITING NEWS!!!! Stuart's Cape, which was previously only in hardcover and the follow up, Stuart's Goes to School, are now available in one great book at one very low price, magnificent color illustrations and all, titled The Amazing World of Stuart, and that is a very good thing! As I am always saying, there are so few 2nd and 3rd grade reading level books for kids written in the 50 - 70 page

Dick King-Smith, who's most popular book is probably Babe: The Gallant Pig, was a farmer in England for twenty years before turning his trade to teaching and eventually writing children's books. His knowledge of and reverence for animals is evident in every book he writes.  What I love best about Dick King-Smith, however, is the length of his books, most of which come in at 150 pp and are a 2nd

Daisy is back in her third adventure!  Steve Voake and Jessica Messerve, creators of Daisy Dawson is on Her Way and Daisy Dawson and the Secret Pond continue the adventures of this little girl with the magical gift - Daisy can talk to animals! A snowy day begins with the trek to Nettlegreen Primary where Daisy is in charge of cleaning the gerbil cage.  Of course this means a conversation with

In this epistolary quartet of books by Harry Horse, Grandfather and his intrepid dog Roo are always off on one adventure or another, sending letters home to his grandchild, all accompanied by Horse's wonderful pen and ink illustrations that are reminiscent of Ernest H Shepherd's work. Every book includes a map of the region that Grandfather and Roo are scouring, always on a new quest. Below are

I have to confess that, despite the fact I have been dedicated over the last three years to searching out well written, thoughtful and entertaining books written at the second and third grade reading levels, I continue experience a sense of apprehension each time I begin to read one, even if it is by Newbery Award winning author Patricia MacLachlan with illustrations by the charming and

Graphic novels are hot, hot, hot these days. And, while the publication of Charise Mericle Harper's first book the Fashion Kitty series in 2005 was some two years ahead of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I think that it is fair to say that the widespread popularity of Kinney's graphics-laden tome has lead to parents being more open to buying their "chapter book" reading kids books with