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Updates Made by Karen Kirchel
Thursday, December 29, 2016 4:52:32 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 548:
Karen said, "Clara and the Bookwagon, by Nancy Smiler Levinson, illustrations by Carolyn Croll, HarperTrophy, 1988.This book is delightful, from the sweet story to the absolutely charming illustrations. There is even a hefty dose of humor in it, for those..." more
Thursday, December 29, 2016 4:52:23 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 549:
Karen said, "Mog in the Dark, by Judith Kerr, Collins Picture Lions, 1986.Despite having lived in England for a few years during my youth, and then, much later, growing up to be a children's librarian, I wasn't familiar with Mog books. At least I wasn't..." more
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 2:17:30 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 545:
Karen said, "Volcanoes! Mountains of Fire, by Eric Arnold, illustrated Doug Knutson.This book is a decent introduction to volcanoes. The text is written at a second grade level, and the illustrations are all drawings. It gives examples of a couple of..." more
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 2:17:30 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 546:
Karen said, "The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, by John Erickson, Puffin Books, 1999.Full disclosure: I didn't buy this book. A friend of mine bought this book and three others for my son. But she bought them because she remembered how..." more
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 1:51:17 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 544:
Karen said, "Heidi, by Johanna Spyri, originally published in 1880.This was my favorite book growing up, and I read it many times before I 'outgrew' it by the age ten or so. At least, I THOUGHT I read it many times. Apparently, I read a condensed..." more
Thursday, November 3, 2016 5:53:10 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 542:
Karen said, "The Girl in a Swing, by Richard Adams, Alfred Knopf, 1980.I found this book at a second-hand story. I remember reading Watership Down -- at least thirty years ago -- and liking it, so, for a dollar, I picked up this book.This book is not..." more
Thursday, November 3, 2016 5:53:10 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 543:
Karen said, "A Weed is a Flower, by Aliki, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1988.This beautifully illustration book is an excellent introduction to George Washington Carver for young readers. The text is fairly simple, but the ideas conveyed are not."
Monday, September 19, 2016 12:18:20 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 536:
Karen said, "Bellman & Black, by Diane Setterfield, Atria Book, 2013.This is a beautifully written book. And that may be the problem. The lovely, poetic prose just doesn't quite match up with a stark tale of madness and death. Maybe if the..." more
Monday, September 19, 2016 12:18:20 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 537:
Karen said, "Little Bear's Friend, written by Else Holmelund Minarik, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, Harper Collins, 1960.I love Little Bear. And Emily. And Lucy. So it is probably no wonder that I named two characters in my first book 'Emily'..." more
Monday, September 19, 2016 12:18:20 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 538:
Karen said, "The House of Hades, by Rick Riordan, Disney-Hyperion, 2013Sometimes I can't count on the library having a book that I really want to read, especially when a series is involved. In those cases, I just have to buy the book.This was a pretty..." more
Monday, September 19, 2016 12:18:20 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 539:
Karen said, "The Crown of Ptolemy, by Rick Riordan, Disney-Hyperion, 2015.This book came with another book. I doubt if I would have bought this one for its own merit.It is great to revisit the Percy Jackson character, but this isn't one of his stronger..." more
Monday, September 19, 2016 12:18:20 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 540:
Karen said, "The Blood of Olympus, by Rick Riordan, Disney Hyperion, 2014.I really enjoyed this series. And I liked this book. But this book didn't quite seem to be the ending we were promised. Don't get me wrong: I'm glad that so many of..." more
Monday, September 19, 2016 12:18:20 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 541:
Karen said, "Sock Monkey -- Into the Deep Woods, by Matt Danner, illustrated by Tony Millionaire, Fantagraphics Books, 2014.I bought this book because I was able to get a copy signed by the illustrator. So it was definitely worth the purchase price for..." more
Monday, August 15, 2016 7:50:44 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 534:
Karen said, "Book 534: The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, Penguin (originally published in 1900).L. Frank Baum was the J.K. Rowling of his day; or, she is the L. Frank Baum of modern times.They both weave amazing and..." more
Monday, August 15, 2016 7:50:44 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 535:
Karen said, "Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, Random Books, 2011.Are thorough editors a thing of the past?The story for this book was great. The pacing was mostly pretty good. The character development was good. But, because close editing..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 2:01:22 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 529:
Karen said, "Tut's Mummy, Lost... and Found, by Judy Donnelly, Random House, 1988.We used this book in my son's first grade History class -- obviously when we were studying Ancient Egyptians. This book, however, brings ancient history into modern history,..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 2:01:22 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 530:
Karen said, "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig, Simon & Schuster, 1969.This book is so very nearly perfect. A little traumatizing for kids who can empathize, but, still, very nearly perfect."
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 2:01:22 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 531:
Karen said, "The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War, Emily Little, Random House, 1988.This book simply, but thoroughly, tells the story of the Greek and Trojan War. Since I didn't learn about the Greek and Trojan War until I was twelve and was..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 2:01:21 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 532:
Karen said, "The Story of Diva and Flea, written by Mo Willems, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi, Disney-Hyperion, 2015.I bought this book for my seven-year-old son, and took it with us on vacation, and every night I read a chapter or so to him. The next..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 2:01:21 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 533:
Karen said, "Beachy and Me, by Bob Staake, Random House, 2016.My seven-year-old son LOVES Bob Staake's work, so whenever Mr. Staake has a new book out, I will, of course, buy it.I also let my son review this book, so here it goes:"I liked Beachy and Me because..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:53:02 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 524:
Karen said, "Mummies, by Joyce Milton, Penguin Young Readers, 1996.My first grade son read this book for a part of his History lesson. He finds mummies to be a bit icky/scary and a bit intriguing/funny. And that is exactly how he found this book to..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:53:02 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 525:
Karen said, "Harry and the Lady Next Door, written by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, HarperCollins, 1960.I think this Harry book is even more fun and funny than the original Harry, The Dirty Dog. Harry has a problem -- the lady next door..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:53:01 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 526:
Karen said, "Frog and Toad are Friends, by Arnold Lobel, HarperCollins, 1970.It it hard to imagine a better book for emergent readers than a Frog and Toad book. The stories are short. And funny. And quirky. And easy to read. And..." more
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 1:53:01 AM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 527:
Karen said, "Bedtime for Frances, written by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams, HarperCollins, 1960.This is one of the books my son would have had to read for his first grade class if we had started schooling at home at the beginning of the year..." more
Thursday, December 29, 2016 4:52:32 PM
Karen Kirchel wrote a blog post titled Book 547:
Karen said, "Stepping Stones -- Peter Pan, based on story by J. M. Barrie, adapted by Cathy East Dubowski, Random House, 1991.I love J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan -- both the play and the story from the play -- but this version is not at all like J. M. Barrie's Peter..." more