Today we are chatting with Melissa Northway, author of the ebook adventure Penelope the Purple Pirate. Learn about her travels around the world, her biggest inspiration, and what mischief Penelope will find herself in next. Melissa is generously giving away FREE copies of Penelope the Purple Pirate– find out how!
1. Tell us about your background.
I have always loved writing and just being creative. Writing allows me to create these fun worlds that I would want to be a part of! After college, I moved to Japan with two sorority sisters and about $300 dollars in my pocket to teach ESL. After some rather interesting experiences (which could be another book), I found a great job with LADO International, a division of Georgetown University as an ESL teacher. My two friends ended up leaving Japan after eight months and I stayed for another two years. During that time, I co-founded an NGO with an Australian friend to raise money and awareness of the cycle of poverty in Vietnam. We cycled across Vietnam (yes, the whole country!) to raise money for UNICEF-supported programs. That was such a wonderful experience and one I hold dear to my heart. After coming back to the states, I married a good friend from high school, and years later we had our little monkey, Kate.
2. What was the inspiration for Penelope the Purple Pirate?
My little tomboy has been the inspiration to write about a girl who likes to have adventures with her friends. There are so many stories available about princesses. I wanted to write about a fun and adventure-seeking girl for children to enjoy. At the same time, Penelope teaches little ones about being kind to others. As a former teacher, I wanted to include the Fun Facts, Discussion Questions, and Activities for the home or classroom to further enhance the reading experience. Children are eager to learn about new things – so I thought it would be fun to include these extras for them!
3. What is your favorite part of the story?
Hmm, I think I have two favorite parts. One would be where Teddy, the sea turtle, whispers to Penelope “why is there a smiling skeleton face with the name Captain Funny Bones painted on the side of the treasure chest?” I just think that is such a silly name for the kids to enjoy! The other would be where Penelope says “Let’s just take a few things and leave the rest for the next adventurous pirates.” I wanted to show how Penelope thinks of others, while still having a good time.
4. Did you originally envision this story as an eBook?
The publishing industry is really tough to get your foot in the door. I would hear from fellow writers that it takes years to get your stories out in the market. I just felt that Penelope had a good message for children to see in a story, that I looked at alternatives to getting my book into children’s hands. My father-in-law introduced me to Penelope’s great illustrator, Paul Johnson, and the rest is history. Paul really did a great job bringing Penelope’s feisty personality alive in the illustr
This week’s most read library book was…
Panda and Polar Bear, by Matthew J. Baek
How in the world could a young panda bear and polar bear ever meet, given that they live on opposite ends of the Earth? Well, if they both lived in a zoo, they could just be the best friends nature never intended. In this huggable book, two little bear cubs meet by accident, and share the mysteries of each others’ worlds (bamboo? snow? crazy!). I really loved the “friends against all odds” theme of Panda and Polar Bear, and Curly couldn’t resist the sweetness of the illustrated bears.
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?
Martha Doesn’t Say Sorry, by Samantha Berger and Bruce Whatley
The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown
Big Wolf and Little Wolf, by Nadine Brun-Cosme and Olivier Tallec
Cute, by Lida Dijkstra and Marije Tolman
We Planted a Tree, by Diane Muldrow and Bob Staake
Have you read any of the above titles? Vote for your favorite in the comments, and tune in next week to see which book I will have committed to memory.
Title: Penelope the Purple Pirate
Author: Melissa Northway
Illustrator: Paul Johnson
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A young girl takes an imaginary adventure at sea.
Features:
- Bonus Materials
- Read-Aloud
The Greasy Screen says: Ahoy mateys! Just because you’re a girl doesn’t mean you can’t have adventures on the open sea! Now, I am not anti-girly girl or anything, but with the overabundance of princess paraphernalia shoved down young girls’ throats, Penelope the Purple Pirate is a nice break from the stereotype. Dressed in no-nonsense boots and skull-and-cross-bones hat, Penelope proves a girl can have fun without a spec of fairy dust.
Banished to her room to take a nap, Penelope instead decides to take a watery journey with her sea creature pals. Together, they search for some buried treasure, build sand castles, and swim in the ocean. The story is very carefree and fun, and Curly really liked seeing all the sweet sea animals. The only real visuals of sea life she sees on a regular basis are her bath toys, so it was nice to read a nautical-themed tale.
Included at the end of the story are bonus activity suggestions to try at home or in the classroom, along with fun facts about dolphins, sea turtles, and octopuses. This was a nice touch that is not often included with ebooks, but is a very considerate feature. We really liked spending time with Penelope the Purple Pirate, and I think you will too!
By: crystal,
on 4/1/2011
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Title: Big Red Barn
Author/Illustrator: Jon Higham
Publisher: Dipali Vaidya
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A counting story set in a farmyard.
Features:
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: Jon Highman, author of the charming Elly the Reindeer series, really has a knack for knowing what little ones are drawn to. Big Red Barn combines children’s natural curiosity toward animals and desire to learn numbers into one adorable ebook.
Every page features fun, candy-colored illustrations that are so cute you just want to squeeze them, and sound effects of the farm animals. Curly and I both really enjoyed the last few pages, which allow you to hear multiple animal sounds at the same time. Once you start pressing all those buttons, it sounds like a real live farm! If farms were has happy looking and odor free as they are in this story, I would be more inclined to head out to the country more often.
Older kids will not find much for them here, as the text revolves mainly on counting, but Big Red Barn is perfect for the toddler set.
Title: The Penelope Rose
Author: Lori Jones
Illustrator: Gian Marayag
Publisher: MoBad Games
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $6.99
Synopsis: A fairy shows her woodland friends hidden beauty.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Musical Score
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
- 3D
The Greasy Screen says: Sometimes I get a little wary toward ebooks that are boasting the latest! and greatest! technology. Just because something is pretty does not mean it is an engaging reading experience. Luckily, my fears were thwarted with The Penelope Rose, the first ebook I’ve come across in 3D.
I didn’t really know what reading a 3D ebook would be like, but as soon as the story loaded, it was hard to take my eyes of the screen. It’s something you have to see for yourself… the scenery has such depth, it looks like you could reach your hand into your iPad. All of the animation and graphics are extremely well done; everything moves effortlessly, and the interactivity really enhances the story, rather than just being there for the sake of looking cool. My favorite pages featured the fairy Penelope flying around the rose bushes, painting the petals a rainbow of colors.
As much as I enjoyed looking at The Penelope Rose, I liked the story itself even more. Penelope, a shy fairy, teaches her fellow woodland creatures a lesson about true beauty. Curly really responded to all the characters, and loved seeing the flowers come to life near the end. The lesson of taking one’s time to preserve, rather than destroy, was effectively told.
The Penelope Rose deserves every bit of hype it creates; it’s a solid story with unbelievable visuals!
Curly just said to me as we sat down for our pre-nap reading session, “I love books!” Music to my ears!
This week’s most read library book was…
Potty Animals, by Hope Vestergaard and Valeria Petrone
As we are in the trenches of potty training, we’ve gone through a slew of toilet-themed books. None are as cute or engaging as Potty Animals. Not only is the text set in happy, sing-songy rhyme, but each page features a young preschool-bound animal struggling to master a certain aspect of the potty procedure. Some forget to wash their hands, while others get a bit frightened of flushing; to help the animals, the book encourages readers to tell them the correct way to do things. Curly felt smart as she told an alligator to pee in the potty, not on the floor. Now, if only she could follow her own advice…
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?
Dog Blue, by Polly Dunbar
The Quiet Woman and the Noisy Dog, by Sue Eves and Ailie Busby
Ordinary Audrey, by Peter Harris and David Runert
Charles of the Wild, by John and Ann Hassett
Panda and Polar Bear, by Matthew J. Baek
Title: Mrs. Gigglebelly is Coming for Tea
Author: Donna Guthrie
Illustrator: Katy Keck Arnsteen
Publisher: Dipali Vaidya
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A little girl prepares for a tea party with her friend.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Oh, what it is to be a mother. There is nothing we won’t do to make our children happy, even if it means dressing up as your daughter’s imaginary friend due for tea. In this story, a young girl named Elizabeth Ann sets up a fabulous tea party for her friend, Mrs. Gigglebelly, as her mother frantically cleans the house. Just when it seems Mrs. Gigglebelly will be a no-show, Elizabeth Ann is delighted to seat her guest, who just happens to wear the same shoes as her mother.
Reading Mrs. Gigglebelly is Coming for Tea in its eBook format does not have much difference from its 1990 print version; besides the narration, it seems the original book was kept entirely intact, right down to the crease in full-spread illustrations. The watercolor artwork looks very charming on the iPad, (especially since many eBooks now utilize a more digital look), and the story, which demonstrates the bond between a mother and daughter, is just as sweet.
If you are a parent who often acts silly for the benefit of your child, then you will appreciate Mrs. Gigglebelly is Coming for Tea!
It’s been a wet and wild week at our house, as we’ve begun the torturous process of potty training. Ugg. Though Curly has shown some progress, I cannot wait for this learning period to be over. I consider myself to be a very hands-on kind of mom, but this is the one thing I wish I could outsource. Like bringing in a “super nanny,” only for toilet training. I’m sure someone, somewhere, offers that kind of service.
This week’s most read library book was…
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, by Leo Lionni
Sweet little Alexander just wants to be loved. After being constantly swung at with a broom, he meets a wind-up mouse, Willy, who is loved, making Alexander wish he could change who he was. The two become pals, and the rest of the story illustrates the meaning of friendship and selflessness. As I’ve mentioned before, Curly seems to have a penchant for rodents, so Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse was right up her alley! I’d never read this Leo Lionni title, but it is just as great as the rest of his collection.
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?
Lettice, by Mandy Stanley
All the Things I Love About You, by LeUyen Pham
Black Dog Gets Dressed, by Lizi Boyd
Potty Animals, by Hope Vestergaard and Valeria Petrone
If you’ve yet to discover the deliciousness of Chocolate Attack!, you can download it for FREE today on the App Store. Embrace your inner sweet tooth and indulge in a sweet adventure!
Curly randomly slept in this morning, so we missed toddler story time. By the time we got to the library, all the kiddies had cleared out, and we had the whole children’s section to ourselves. I’m sure Curly was happy to have the puzzles and Little People play sets all to herself, but I know she missed the stories. This week’s most read library book was…
Spork, by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault
Sporks are generally not given much thought; they do not have designated spots in the utensils drawer, and since they are made of plastic, are often thrown away after use. Spork feels that pain. As “neither fork nor spoon, but a bit a both,” the title character struggles to find his identity, but in the end, he finds his particular shape to be quite useful. Spork is an adorable story, and mixed into the plot is a quick lesson in mixed relationships and tolerance.
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?
Giant Meatball, by Robert Weinstock
Chalk and Cheese, by Tim Warnes
Ned’s New Home, by Kevin Tseng
Howler, by Michael Rosen and Neal Layton
Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse, by Leo Lionni
Have you read any of the above titles? Vote for your favorite in the comments, and tune in next week to see which book
Title: Meet the Fraggles
Author: Michaela Muntean
Illustrator: Barbara Lanza
Publisher: iStorytime
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A guide on how to entertain Fraggles, should one ever come to your house.
Features:
- Auto Page Turn
- Read Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: “Have you ever wondered what you would do if a Doozer or a Fraggle or a Gorg came to visit?” If you haven’t, well, then you obviously are not a child of the 80s. I loved the Fraggles as a kid, but seeing as our house didn’t have cable, I only got to watch the show when HBO would have their special preview weekends. Still, I knew all about them, but this ebook (adapted from a print version) certainly would have added to my Fraggle expertise!
For example, where else can you learn all about the sleeping, eating, and bathing habits of this fun little friends? The ebook reads like an informative how-to book, and features informative segments such as “Interesting Radish Recipes” (radish shish kebab, sliced radishes on toast, etc). The deliciously retro illustrations are ridiculously cute, and Curly really liked seeing all the little critters.
Meet the Fraggles does not have a lot of fancy extras, but I certainly wasn’t missing them. If you’ve been looking for a way to introduce your little one to the characters you loved as a kid, this ebook is a fun place to start!
Title: Humpty Dumpty
Author: Dennis Hysom and Christine Walker
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A musical telling of the popular children’s rhyme.
Features:
- Interactivity
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: Who knew that Humpty, a fragile little egg, could be such a source of strength and inspiration? In this eBook, Humpty’s story of falling off a wall is set to a music, but instead of being left on the ground, unable to be put back together again, the lyrics here encourage the clumsy egg to get back up and move on. “Pull yourself together, Humpty!” sings the song, and by the end, he’s skateboarding away. How can you not want to get up and cheer? Curly couldn’t resist the urge to bounce happily as we read; no fear of falling here!
This telling of Humpty Dumpty is taken from a previously released children’s album entitled Wooleycat’s Musical Theater, and it transitions nicely into an eBook. I really liked the audio clue of a “ding” when it was time to turn the page; it served as a helpful hint for Curly, who likes following the highlighted text featured in many eBooks, but does not always realize when it is time to move on. I didn’t expect to enjoy Humpty Dumpty, since most Mother Goose rhymes have been done to death, but this telling had a fresh spin that we both liked.
Turn your sunny side up and scramble to your feet if you’re looking for a pick me up that’s a little offbeat.
When your husband says he’s bought “some” Girl Scout cookies, be sure to find out what that means. Thirteen boxes later, I know the answer.
I am in a sugar coma. Anyway. This week’s most read library book was…
The Dollhouse Fairy, by Jane Ray
The Dollhouse Fairy is the quintessential girly girl book, with beautifully detailed illustrations of the most wonderful dollhouse a girl could dream of. Thistle, the fairy who takes up occupancy in the house, is not the quintessential fairy though; she’s loud, messy, and full of mischief. But that’s why Rosy, the dollhouse’s owner, loves her. And I’m pretty sure it’s why Curly loved the book too. Who wouldn’t want to have a real life fairy living amongst her dolls? For a little girl whose bedroom is decorated with Tinkerbell, this book was a hit.
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?
Tony Baloney, by Pam Munoz Ryan and Edwin Fotheringham
Spork, by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault
The Boy Who Wouldn’t Swim, by Deb Lucke
Sneaky Weasel, by Hannah Shaw
The Day Ray Got Away, by Angela Johnson and Luke LaMarca
Have you read any of the above titles? Vote for your favorite in the comments, and tune in next week to see which book I will have co
If you’ve ever wondered what having a chocolate attack sounds like, now you can find out for yourself! My eBook, Chocolate Attack! has just be updated with an original musical score and sweet sound effects! Chocolate Attack! follows the mishaps of a girl named Missy, a young chocoholic who has trouble putting down her ice cream spoon. She is plagued by a particularly troublesome sweet tooth, and one day, her cravings become out of control.
Creating Chocolate Attack! has been a labor of love for me, and I’m always working on making the final product as engaging and entertaining as possible. Discovering so many wonderful eBooks through The Greasy Screen inspires me to keep going! I’m very excited for this latest update, which also includes enhanced narration (recorded by yours truly) and improved navigation.
To read more about Chocolate Attack! be sure to visit my publisher, Apologue Entertainment, and when you’re ready for an appetizing adventure, head over to iTunes to download yourself a helping!
Title: Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure
Author: Kristina Stephenson
Publisher: Egmont
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A brave young knight travels through the woods and meets some interesting characters.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Musical Score
- Painting
- Sound Effects
- Voice Recording
The Greasy Screen says: I am very appreciative when publishers take their time to think of thoughtful ways the eBook medium can enhance a story, and the makers of Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Big Adventure have done just that. Without any sort of extras, Sir Charlie would be a fun, engaging story for kids, but the interactive features make it an experience.
Charlie is a brave little knight who is not scared of creepy crawlies or deep dark forests; he tackles situations with a clever, optimistic attitude. His biggest challenge comes when meeting a prickly princess, and even then, Charlie keeps his cool. While the story has some great animation and use of the iPad’s accelerometer, my favorite feature was the swipe-to-read text: simply run your finger over the words and they are read aloud. Several eBooks contain this technology, but none run as seamlessly as Sir Charlie; there were no delays or errors as we read. Plus, the narrator, Michael Maloney, was very entertaining, and I don’t usually feel that way regarding voice over. Recording fun narration is not easy, and I should know, since I recorded the voice over for my eBook, Chocolate Attack!
Sir Charlie Stinky Socks is currently on sale for $0.99– if I were you, I’d snatch up this eBook!
Title: Roy the Little Rabbit
Publisher: LaLafish
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: A little rabbit explores and meets new friends.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Roy the Little Rabbit is geared for the toddler set, with uncomplicated words and basic plot line. Roy hops around, meeting new friends, and gets caught in a rain storm. It is a simple story, so little ones looking for more oomph (like my Curly) will quickly lose interest.
Roy’s graphics were a bit too stark for my taste, and some of the sound effects were a bit over the top: when Roy’s new friend Lyn the bluebird needs to fly away, a random chorus of children’s voices chimes in with a loud “BOO!” I did like the repeat text button on each screen, available for little ones looking to hear the words again, but in our case, Curly was itching to get through the story and was not looking for a repeat performance.
If Roy continues to have more eBook adventures, I hope he gets more to do the next time around!
By: crystal,
on 3/3/2011
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Title: Growing Up Together
Publisher: Sungsil Graphics
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A caterpillar and a sunflower become best friends as they grow up together.
Features:
- Animation
- English/Korean
- Interactivity
- Musical Score
- Painting
- Sound Effects
- Voice Recording
The Greasy Screen says: Growing Up Together is the sweet story of a sunflower seed and butterfly egg who meet each other on the ground, and spend their lives growing up and changing together. As they both continue to evolve, the other comments on their progress, remarking on the beauty of the other’s wings or petals. The story is educational, in that we see the stages of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, and how the sun and the rain helps the sunflower grow, but it also shows how two different things can work together.
Curly LOVED this eBook. The pages are full of bright, child-like illustrations that just explode with happiness. She laughed and laughed watching a ladybug crawl up the sunflower’s stem, and delighted in having the power to make a raincloud burst with droplets. I liked the story too, as the friendship between bug and flower was so peaceful, and seeing the big reveal of each organism in its final state was beautiful.
Gentle music and cute sound effects enhance the entire experience, and the animations are as brilliant as a rainbow. On one page, a vibrant sun streaks across the sky as the sunflower continues its ascent– lovely! I wish more eBooks were this saturated and gorgeous. There are plenty of extras, including the option to record your voice for the narration, but even without, we truly loved Growing Up Together and will be going back for more!
It’s amazing how quickly time flies by, and yet we’re still trapped at the mercy of winter. I’ve been trying to get outside a bit more, since the sun has been happily shining the past few days in Chicago, but the wind it still too biting for any prolonged journeys. Curly thinks the wind is hilarious; she likes to see her curls fly around. She is her own personal furnace though, and doesn’t seem to mind the cold. Her mom does not share this feeling. This week’s most read library book was…
Socksquatch, by Frank W. Dormer
The title alone makes this book an instant winner; how can you not pick up a book entitled Socksquatch? In this story, our poor little beastly friend only wants one thing: a sock to cover up his cold foot. “Got sock?” he asks his friends Martin the mummy and Frank the frankenstein, and they do their monsterly best to help. Since all the characters are creatures of the night, they speak in short, broken sentences (“What need?”) that Curly was able to memorize quickly. After a few readings, she could repeat the story to me! We love you Socksquatch!
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?
Big Plans, by Bob Shea
Nibbles, by Charlotte Middleton
The Dollhouse Fairy, by Jane Ray
I Feel a Foot!, by Maranke Rinck and Martijn van der Linden
Title: Katie and the Witch’s Swap
Publisher: Storynory LTD
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: Katie, a witch with magical powers, switches places with a friend for a day.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says:If I was a witch, there are lots of spells I’d want to try. Flying or any mode of transportation featured in the Harry Potter series would be high on the list, along with ways to turn stuff into gold. Switching bodies for a day, as is done in Katie and the Witch’s Swap, could be interesting as well, provided you choose your swapee with care. This is definitely a situation where you would want to upgrade to be someone completely fabulous and more well off than yourself, which is exactly what Katie thinks she’s doing when she pulls a freaky Friday with her pal Isis.
After the girls switch, they have fun experiencing the differences in each other’s lives for awhile, but eventually, they decide they are happier being themselves. I’m sure the story’s moral wants to be touching on the “grass-is-always-greener-love-yourself-for-who-you-are” vein, but it wasn’t clear to me why either girl was itching to switch back. There was no conflict, no drama, no… nothing. Curly lost interest part way through, mainly because the story didn’t move fast enough; each illustration was bogged down by tons of text, so much in fact that the publisher does not even feature the text and the illustrations together (one needs to turn the iPad to see the text, which then includes a tiny thumbnail of the drawings). More artwork could have helped bring the story to life.
For a story about a witch, I thought there would be more magic on the pages of this eBook, but with no extras to be found and a story that took too long to get to its point, Katie was a bit of a let down.
Title: First Words Deluxe
Publisher: Learning Touch
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $4.99
Synopsis: A game that helps develop reading skills.
The Greasy Screen says: There are a lot of reading-skills games out there in the App Store, and most of them have the same objective: making letter learning fun. I don’t know how it is for other parents of toddlers, but in my case, Curly is very interested in letters, and it doesn’t take much to engage her. She loves pointing out letters while grocery shopping, sticking alphabet foam pieces to the wall during bath time, and most notably, playing with her Leap Frog “letter box” (as she calls it). So, it was no surprise that Curly enjoyed moving the letters around the screen in First Words Deluxe and was very proud of herself after spelling words correctly.
The game has some nice customizable options, such as choosing the length of words to spell, allowing your little one to start out slowly, and challenge herself later. The screen is easy to navigate for little fingers and the animations are cute. Overall, First Words Deluxe is a good game for toddlers, though I did enjoy Bob Books‘ similar app better, mainly because it sounded out the letters, rather than simply stating their names.
Title: Huggybird and the Dream Box
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: While digging in the garden, Huggybird finds a magical treasure box that takes him on an adventure.
Features:
- Animation
- Read Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: A mysterious box sprouts up in Huggybird’s garden, and though it doesn’t contain sweets or treasures liked he’d hoped, it does hold enchanted pirate, detective, and knight costumes that transport the wearer to far-off adventures. Right now, I wish I could find a box like that containing some cruise wear, so I could get out of this endless Chicago winter!
Huggybird and the Dream Box is a cute story that had some humorous moments. I especially liked when Huggybird turned into a pirate and suddenly had a peg leg (er, claw), and I also laughed when as a brave knight, he spotted a sign outside a castle that indicated a princess was at the top of the stairs. It reminded me of a line from Gilmore Girls, when Lorelai said, “I left behind a glass slipper and a business card, in case the prince is really dumb.” Ha.
The story uses some great, sophisticated vocabulary, such as “chivalrous” and “enthusiastically.” I love when kids’ books sprinkle in some tougher words. Who says you can’t be challenged while being entertained? I do wish the story featured more illustrations; many of the scenes are repeated as the words change underneath. Huggybird is a cutie, and deserves more variation, just like in his closet of costumes.
Just when I thought I’d get a break from all the madness once the GRE was over, my body decided to take some sick days. I guess all the stress building up to the test was a bit too much, and my system crashed. Ugg. I’m finally feeling better though, and now I no longer have to spend my time reading math textbooks! Instead, I can read material that is actually enjoyable– miracle of miracles! This week’s most read library book was…
Yuck! That’s Not a Monster!, by Angela McAllister
When two terrifying monsters become parents to a sweet, fluffy fur ball of love, they are beside themselves with confusion. How can they raise a critter that would rather snuggle than snarl? Yuck! That’s Not a Monster! is a true testament to how a family can create acceptance, but it is also quite funny! Curly growled and roared along with the monster family, and giggled as they learned to love their pink poof of a son.
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?
Tumble!, by Maria Van Lieshout
Socksquatch, by Frank W. Dormer
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Little Ballet Star, by Adele Geras
Dirtball Pete, by Eileen Brennan
Have you read any of the above titles? Vote for your favorite in the comments, and tune in next week to see which book I will have committed to memory.
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