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1) “Children of the Lamp(The Akhanaten Adventure)- by P.B Kerr, published by “Orchard books, and imprint of scholastic Inc.New York 2004.What if you find out that you are descendants from a long line of Dijon, human-like beings created from fire.They are able to grant wishes, and take on different animal forms.This is exactly what happens to two twelve-year-old twins, John and Phillippa, after they get their wisdom teeth pulled.The children are sent to London to their Uncle Nimrod's home where their amazing adventure begins. This venture takes the reader on a magic carpet ride through a fantasy Middle Eastern World. This journey teaches the twins that granting wishes is not only dangerous for themselves, but for people who desire wishes as well.
2) “Peter and Star Catchers”-Writtenby Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, illustrated by Greg Call.Published by Disney Hyperion paperbacks for children New York 2004.How was never-land discovered?How did Peter Pan become a boy forever?This book helps the reader find answers to those questions and many more.Peter Pan is a never aging boy, who visits children at night and takes them to fantasy island called Never-Land where magic lives.Through the use of vivid language and pencil illustrations, the authors introduce us to how Peter Pan became a part of a world, full of amazing creatures, and magic. This story reveals the mystery of magic dust and how Children can make it real by looking within and tapping into their own imagination.
3)“Infinity Ring book three the trapdoor”- written by Lisa McMann, published by Scholastic Inc.New York 2013.The next book in this interactive serious takes our heroes Dak, Sera and Riq to Maryland in 1850 just before the Civil War.The main character in this book travel back it time and fix History Breaks, that has been caused by an evil corporation with intentions to take over the world.The time period in this book describes how new law has been passed that allows any white American to report free blacks, and then make them slaves. The children's mission is to stop this law, and to save the civil right leaders from a prison Dream like landscapes, humor and adventure take the seriousness of the topic at hand, and twists it into a fun read for everyone.
4) “The 13thReality, the Journal of curious letters. - Written by James Dashner, illustrated by Bryan Beus, Published by Shadow Mountain Press an imprint of Worzalla Publishing Co.Stevens point, WI. 2008. One day a nerdy boy, Atticus Higginbottom receives a strange letter from Alaska.After this boy’s life changes from a boring one to life full of mystery and questions that, need to be answered.Twelve clues help him understand that the world he lives in is just one of many parallel worlds, which still need to be discovered and saved.If a child likes to solve problems through clues, they would love this book.A story progresses Atticus goes from zero to hero.The pencil illustrations and secrets surrounding the boy’s life will keep your middle graders turning the pages.
0 Comments on Middle Grade Voices as of 4/7/2013 3:24:00 PM
Plan in advance for father’s day! The month of June is dedicated to books for dads and boys…don’t worry, a few dads & daughter books thrown in too! Good list for reluctant readers as well as summer vacation. Enjoy!
0 Comments on BOOK OF THE DAY: The June 2012 List! as of 1/1/1900
No need to wait until the end of February for the complete list. Here it is–plan ahead! Click on the link above, and also follows us on Facebook at Litland Reviews http://facebook.com/Litlandreviews
0 Comments on BOOK OF THE DAY: February 2012 List as of 1/1/1900
Here it is! The book of the day challenge, to recommend a new book or related media every day in 2012. January is complete, and attached for handy download–just click on the above link. February is on the way! “Friend” Litland Reviews on Facebook to see daily recommendations as they post. http://facebook.com/Litlandreviews
0 Comments on BOOK OF THE DAY: The January list! as of 1/1/1900
Day 2 SCBWI 13 annual winter conference In the Big Apple.
Wow, can't believe another day had just passed. It was an over whelming one full of lots of enlightenment and good news on all genres from picture books to young adults and beyond. I will try to put In the important information in here in a a few paragraphs. I have 11 pages of notes but will try to make it brief. It was a list of amazing guest speakers which included authors, agents, editors, publishers and other people involved in the business. The day started with breakfast, and the first keynote speaker was Chris Crutcher. He was a very inspiring speaker, that inspired the room that represented 49 states and 20 countries. The conference had 1400 people. He spoke about the importance of balancing out stories with tragedy and comedy. Here is a brief list to inspire you guys of what he talked about 1) Look into your life to find information 2) Put this into every story you write. 3) Power and connection of family is important. 4) Just write your story. 5) Hear it in your language and voice. The next speakers was panel children book pros which included two editor directors, a marketing person and agent. They covered lots of information, but I will l.limit the list to three basic important ideas. 1) Independent Book stores are growing 2) Picture Books are not dead 3) The Digital publishing market is expanding. In general now is a good time to get your book out there in the publishing industry. You also must understand that it takes a village to make a book. That it is important to also work as a team on each book. Our next speaker was a great surprise for all of us. It was Henry Whinkler. He was one of the best speeches of the day. He got a standing ovation today. He only spoke for ten minutes, but his ideas, comedy and inspiration touched us all. We then broke up into small groups I went to a fantasy meeting first. Then after lunch I had two picture book small groups. Before the two afternoon sessions we had another key note speaker her name was Cassandra Clare she spoke of Love triangles and forbidden love in YA adult books. She was interesting speaker but not very inspiring to me, since it was not my kind of topic. I will just list the basic things of what editors are looking for in picture book manuscripts: 1) Characterization 2) Narrative guilty 3) Voice 4) Humor 5) Universal appeal. 6) Clear ideas and simplicity. In conclusion, the day ended with a wonderful cocktail party, and dinner that gave us two hours to network with other people in the industry. The day ended, and I got back on the train home full of inspiration, new ideas and hope for the future of children's books. There is now one more day left for this conference that I look forward to tomorrow. I will make my last post this month called All great things come to an end.
0 Comments on Winter Conference has started ( An insider's look). as of 1/1/1900
There are very important factors when it comes to being any kind of writer. It covers a whole range of books. As everyone know putting together a children's book has many people involved. It is a team effort that takes many years to master and complete. For the next three days I will take you all on a journey into this event. It is a huge gathering of people in the children book industry and covers a very important idea that every author has to do. This is called networking and creating a platform. The post will be updated daily from 1-27-2012 to 1-29-2012. Each day I will give you guys an inside into this business. So get ready for a wild ride. I blog my experience on this journey enjoy.
Day 1 Writer's Intensive
Today started just like an ordinary gray day, the rain tapped the roads and my journey had began. Strong winds and heavy rains very strange weather for New York State especially in the middle of winter. Only two snow storms so far and that it. I took the train in from my home town. New York was wonderful like usual. The rains were strong at first but as the day went on it all changed. I started the day psyched to finally have the SCBWI conference, I could not believe it came so fast. Where does this path called time really go? Does it just vanish in a puff of smoke or where does it end up? So back to business the day started with registration and breakfast not much of a filling one but it was good enough Coffee and Bagels the real New York local food. My nerves shaking and my hands gasping the 500 hundred words we were supposed to bring here. Hundreds of questions inside my hands? Who will I meet? What will the professional say? Is my manuscript good enough? At registration our tables were given to us? I got Table 17 and 18. When I was getting my food a strange thing happened the hot water was gone. I am usually a tea drinker, but I needed that jolt, I needed that caffeine. I wanted something hot but it was the bitter black stuff we call coffee. I guess many tea drinkers came here? Oh well I guess I had no choice. I found my table, my mind moving and my body shaking, it was it, the moment I have been waiting for, another year had passed. The session started by a panel on voice. Three editors spoke. What is voice? Each of them had there own view. What I can tell you guys is it needs to be fresh. It needs to be authentic. It has to stand out from the crowd. The editor panel spoke about the kind of books they buy. Here is just a very quick summary: Characters have to have personality, you have to get into your character's mind, and the story has to stand out for the individual editor and always make sure to do you research. You have to be in the moment and write the best story you can. Then the time began my table had eight writers at it and one professional. We each were given 12 minutes for our 500 words. The critique process is very important and it is great to have a group of your own. The setting here was much more family like. Every manuscript was discussed by everyone. I have to say I got a lot out of it and had many wonderful suggestions and commends from both critiques. There is no need for
1 Comments on SCBWI Winter Conference 2012 ( The Heart Children Books), last added: 1/28/2012
Thank you for sharing your inner thoughts. I think writers and illustrators walk through the emotional insecurity path at some point at an overwhelming, large conference.
Last summer, I felt the layer of intense fog the minute I entered the hotel. I brushed off the nerves because my excuse was that it was my first conference.
The fun part was meeting all the new strangers and learning more about your career.
Wallis, Michael. (2011) The Wild West: 365 days. New York, NY: Abrams Press. ISBN 978-0810996892 All ages.
Publisher’s description: The Wild West: 365 Days is a day-by-day adventure that tells the stories of pioneers and cowboys, gold rushes and saloon shoot-outs in America’s frontier. The lure of land rich in minerals, fertile for farming, and plentiful with buffalo bred an all-out obsession with heading westward. The Wild West: 365 Days takes the reader back to these booming frontier towns that became the stuff of American legend, breeding characters such as Butch Cassidy and Jesse James. Author Michael Wallis spins a colorful narrative, separating myth from fact, in 365 vignettes. The reader will learn the stories of Davy Crockett, Wild Bill Hickok, and Annie Oakley; travel to the O.K. Corral and Dodge City; ride with the Pony Express; and witness the invention of the Colt revolver. The images are drawn from Robert G. McCubbin’s extensive collection of Western memorabilia, encompassing rare books, photographs, ephemera, and artifacts, including Billy the Kid’s knife.
Our thoughts:
This is one of the neatest books I’ve seen in a long time. The entire family will love it. Keep it on the coffee table but don’t let it gather dust!
Every page is a look back into history with a well-known cowboy, pioneer, outlaw, native American or other adventurer tale complete with numerous authentic art and photo reproductions. The book is worth owning just for the original pictures. But there is more…an index of its contents for easy reference too! Not only is this fun for the family, it is excellent for the school or home classroom use too. A really fun way to study the 19th century too and also well received as a gift. I highly recommend this captivating collection! See for yourself at the Litland.com Bookstore.
0 Comments on So what do we think? The Wild West: 365 days as of 1/1/1900
Nordhielm Wooldridge, Connie. (2011) Just Fine the Way They Are: From Dirt Roads to Rail Roads to Interstates. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek of Boyds Mill Press. ISBN 978-1-59078-710-6. (26 pgs) Author recommends grades 4-6; Litland adds excellent for younger advanced readers.
Publisher’s Description: Change. Who needs it? We do! Mr. John Slack, the keeper of a tavern beside a rutted dirt road in the early 1800s, thought things were just fine the way they were. So did Lucius Stockton who ran the National Road Stage Company in the mid 1800s. So too, did the owners of the railroads when the first model T appeared in 1908. Yet with each new innovation, Americans were able to move around the country more quickly, efficiently, and comfortably. Connie Woolbridge offers an informative, yet light-hearted look at how the dirt roads of the early 1800s evolved into the present-day U.S. highway system. Richard Walz’s gorgeous paintings capture both the broad sweep and the individual impact of change and progress.
Our thoughts:
What a great overview of American history focused on transportation! Told in a folky style, the narrator’s storytelling voice reminds us of sitting on the front porch and listening to elders of the family recount the same stories over and over again. And even though we already knew the story, we enjoyed hearing it once more. Only for 8-11 year olds, these stories will be new :>)
Just Fine the Way They Are has lots of potential uses:
* reluctant readers, particularly boys, will find an easy and entertaining style holding their attention.
* a discussion tool for talking about feelings or conflict, making it great for family book clubs or class discussions.
* illustrations are brilliantly eye-catching—I was sitting in a diner reading this, and the waitress walked over saying “What a cute book!”. As such, it would surely keep the students’ attention if read to the class, whether reading to a traditional classroom or homeschool kids around the dining table.
* While intended for 4th, 5th & 6th grades, it also would be great for accelerated students writing their first book report.
An added touch: it comes complete with a historic timeline, bibliography, and list of relevant websites. Plus the author (a former elementary school librarian) has lesson plans on her website too (see http://conniewooldridge.com/ )! This is one of those unique books that provide diversity on the bookshelf, catching the eye of the reader looking for something a bit different, and being enjoyed many times over :>) Pick up a copy at our Litland.com Bookstore!
0 Comments on So what do we think? Just Fine the Way They Are as of 1/1/1900
Wild About Books- This picture book is written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown. It won the E.B White Read Aloud Award in 2005. It was published by Alfred A. Knopf in August 2004. It is a great book to read aloud both in the classroom and at bed time. What happens when librarian Molly McGrew by mistake drove her bookmobile into the zoo. All the animals end up having fun borrowing her books. The illustrations are wonderful and the story brings your child into a world where animals read books and the adventures they have doing so. The animals also discover reading. This is probably one of my favorite books. It will be a great read for any child or adult. I highly recommend it to be available in any school library.
Flotsam-This book was illustrated by David Wiesner. It won the Caldecott Medal in 2007. It was published by Clarion Books in 2006. This book uses only illustrations to tell a wonderful story. The main character is a boy spending time on a beach. The boy's story is told through pictures that flow smoothly. He discovers an old camera with film in it. It seems the pictures had traveled in the ocean for a very long time. It is a great book for children because each illustration tells its own story. It also proofs that picture books do not necessary need words to tell a wonderful story.
MoonPowder- This book was written and illustrated by John Rocco a very good friend of mine. It was published by Hyperion Books for Children. It came out in 2008. This book is the story about Eli Treebuckler who is known for fixing everything. Then one day the Moonpowder factory is on the blink and he is the only that can fix it. The question is will he get there on time. This book is full of wonderful illustrations and a fantastic story. This is a great book to read to your child at bedtime. It covers topics like dreams and nightmares. It also takes Eli on a amazing journey to save the Moonpowder factory. I believe it will also take your children there.
Middle Readers
Charmed Life- This book was written by Diana Wynne Jones. It was published by Macmillian Children's Books in 1977. This is the story about two siblings a boy named Eric who has no talent with magic and Gwendolyn who is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. This is the home of a great enchanter. However, life with his family is not what either of the children expects and sparks start to fly. This is a charming story that is probably like the Harry Potter of it's day. Even though it came out over thirty years ago it can still be viewed in our day. It has a great story that any middle grader interested in magic and fantasy could enjoy. I highly recommend this book for them.
Over Sea, Under Stone- This book was written by Susan Cooper. It was published in 1965 by Simon and Schuster and came out again in 2000 from Aladdin paperback. This book is the first in the Dark is Rising Sequence. When three siblings go on holiday to Cornwall they find an ancient manuscript which sends them on a dangerous quest for a grail that would reveal the true story of King Arthur and entraps them in a battle b
0 Comments on Oldies, but Goldie's (Where are we heading now?) as of 1/1/1900
1) Where The Wild Things Are -This picture book by Maurice Sendak and a very popular book. I highly recommend it if you did not read it yet. The book is a classic and has been for years. It was published originally in 1963 and won the 1964 Caldecott Medal for most distinguished picture book of the year. When a boy named Max misbehaves his mother sends him to his room where his fantastic journey begins. After his journey he comes home to discover that barely any time had passed even though his trip seemed to take place a very long time. This book is a wonderful read not only for children but adults as well. It explores the possibilities of other worlds and so much more.
2) The Egg- This picture book by M.P Robertson is less known, but also a great read. It was published in 2001 by Dial books. It is about a boy named George, who one day discovers a huge egg under one of his barn chickens. When the egg is warmed and hatches a dragon is born. It is then when George's adventure begins. His adventure takes him for a special training and eventually to another world where dragons live. The book has amazing illustrations and a great fantasy story line that any child or adult will enjoy. It is a great read for everyone. Make sure to look for this book and to share it with your children in the classroom or by a sizzling fire.
3) Sweep Dreams- This picture book came out in 2005. It is by Nancy Willard and Illustrated by Mary Grandpre. It was published by Little Brown and company. It is about a man who fell in love with a magical broom. The mystery started when the lady at the register had no idea where this broom was from. Since it had no cost on it she gave it to the man as a gift. The man never used the broom to sweep and this made her sick. As soon as started using her to sweep the floors and etc.. the broom became very happy and danced outside in the street. A bad man saw it and kidnapped her. As the book goes on many magical adventures take place. I believe children will get right into the story. The book has all kinds of wonderful pictures that almost everyone will enjoy. Please pick up a copy.
Middle Readers
1) The Phantom Tollbooth- I read this wonderful book back in elementary school. It was written Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer who I had the pleasure to meet and talk to a few months ago. It came out from Random House in 1961. I love this classical book that teaches many things to children. It is about a boy named Milo who is bored of everything in his life. One day a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room. Milo drives through it in his toy car because he has nothing better to do. This leads him to a different world. It is here that Milo's whole view of life changes. he takes on several amazing quests and meets fantastic creatures including a ticking watch dog named Tock. I loved this classic fantasy book as a young lad and I truly believe your son or daughter will as well.
2) The Book of Time Trilogy- I got a chance to read this Trilogy on my trip to FL. You can look back at my older posts to read more about it. It includes three books: The Book of Time, The Gate of Days and The Circle of Gold. They are by Gullaume Prevost and were translated by William Rodarm. The books originally published by Gallimard Jeunnesse in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The English- language translations were published by Arthur A. Levine books in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Cheryl Klein was the wonderful editor who worked on this wonderful Fantasy Trilogy. The books are about Faulkner family. They could be any ordinary family on the outside, but they have many secrets. Sam Faulkner a 13 year old boy discovers a sec
0 Comments on All around fantasy and a little about reality as of 1/1/1900
"Whenever he can, President Obama likes to share dinner with his family. During their evening meals, the First Family has a tradition they refer to as "Thorns and Roses." They will go around the table, telling one another about something good and something bad that happened during their day." - TIME For Kids President Obama: A Day in the Life of America's Leader
Just a month ago, President Obama delivered a televised back-to-school address to the school children across the nation. At that time he asked them to "put in the hard work it takes to succeed." President Obama knows quite a bit about hard work and responsibility. His job requires both. Kids can read about his daily life as President of the United States in the paperback book released this week, TIME For Kids President Obama: A Day in the Life of America's Leader by the editors of Time for Kids Magazine.
TIME For Kids President Obama is laid out a bit like a magazine, with eye-catching color photos on each page and short text segments illustrating various parts of the President's day. The book starts with a brief introduction of his journey to the White House, the campaign trail and election day. Kids will love the informative descriptions of the White House complete with rendered drawings and a Washington, D.C. city aerial picture map. Then, going from morning to night, readers are shown behind-the-scenes aspects of the President's daily life. The morning workout, briefing, a sample daytime agenda, family time and staying up late -- President Obama leads a busy life. Besides daily life facts and tidbits, the book is chock full of educational features like a chart of all the U.S. presidents, the order of presidential succession, branches of the federal government and the Cabinet. A short quiz in the back of the book tests readers' knowledge and an alphabetical index directs readers to specific subjects.
I really can't say enough good things about this informative yet entertaining book about President Obama. I learned quite a few facts from reading it. Did you know there are 87 phone lines on board Air Force One and that President Obama receives over 40,000 letters a day! The book would make a great gift or possible collector's book for boys and girls, and I think it would be a useful educational tool for schools, especially for kids in the middle grades. It is written in such a way that even those reluctant readers should find it interesting.
On page 71 of the book, the Easter Egg Roll is featured and it shows a picture of the President reading Where the Wild Things Are at the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll on April 13, 2009. If you were wondering what it's like listening to President Obama read a children's book, check out this highly entertaining YouTube video of the event. Reading aloud is just one of the many things the President does well. "Let the wild rumpus start!" (Just in time for the movie release on the 16th.)
TIME For Kids President Obama: A Day in the Life of America's Leader the editors of Time for Kids Magazine. Time For Kids (October 2009); 128 pages; ISBN 9781603208291; (Ages 6-13) Book Source: Review copy provided for free by the publisher (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)
"What no one knew was who the boy was, and neither did he. Wasn't a memory left in the boy's head; everything about his past was gone...except for the note." - Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation
We've all heard about them or seen them. You know, those odd little creatures with the conical hats found in gardens. Up to this point, I've never had the slightest desire to place a gnome anywhere near my home. But after reading Kaleb Nation's debut fantasy book, I just might change my mind. Maybe. It's a thought, anyway.
Of course Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse isn't completely about little gnomes. Actually it's mostly about an orphaned chap named Bran Hambric who struggles to figure out where he fits in a magical world gone awry. After a childhood of not knowing, he discovers the truth about his perplexing past, a past deeply entrenched in an evil sort of magic and a terrible secret curse.
The book begins with a prologue. A six-year-old boy named Bran turns up inexplicably, locked in a bank vault in a city called Dunce--the only city in the world that does not allow magic of any sort. No gnomes, no mages. No magic. A banker named Sewey Wilomas discovers Bran in the vault and finds himself responsible for the boy due to a Finders Keepers Law. Bran ends up living with the very annoying Wilomas family, and they treat him like dirt. A ripped note stating his name and birth date is the only clue to his past. Fast forward eight years later. Bran still lives with the Wilomases and one fateful night finds himself face-to-face with a scary creature. He learns his mother was a powerful mage that used dark magic in horrific ways, discovers the reason for the torn note and determines the meaning behind a special crescent moon necklace. Along his journey of discovery he makes a few new mage friends and meets a gnome named Polland.
Young author Kaleb Nation creatively depicts an exciting magical world in his suspenseful middle grade/YA fantasy. There's many obvious similarities between Bran Hambric and the beloved Harry Potter series--orphaned boy, magical world, an evil counterpart, unpleasant family life. But Nation has developed the city of Dunce and all the people and creatures inside and outside the city entirely from his own imagination. The scenes involving the Wilomas family in the beginning of the book bog down the story a bit, but the pace picks up when Bran learns more about magic and meets some mages and magical characters. Written using uncomplicated language, the book is sure to appeal to all those young readers that have been clamoring for Harry Potter read-a-likes. Nation makes readers chuckle with his over-the-top characters and even a few clever word plays, like measuring magical power in witts, calling those with the most, brightwitts and those with the least, dimwitts. Just so readers know, there are a number of slightly violent scenes involving guns, death and troubling dark magic in this book but nothing is especially graphic. The enticing artwork by Brandon Dorman on the cover is worth a mention and deserves a big thumbs up. The book leaves quite a few questions unanswered and Kalab Nation has plans for a sequel. I'm hoping to learn more about the gnomes and their sacred Givvyng Tree!
As part of his homeschool education, Kaleb Nation started writing the book at the age of 14 and worked on it throughout his teenage years. Currently 20 years old, his young age makes this debut book an impressive accomplishment. Highly ambitious, Kalab Nation is also a successful blogger at his popular TwilightGuy.com website.
Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (September 2009); 464 pages; ISBN 9781402218576 (Ages 9-12/YA) Book Source: ARC copy provided by for free by Sourcebooks. All quotations should be checked against final version. (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)
To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post. Or, just for fun, if you are feeling particularly creative, think of an original gnome name and leave it in the comment section.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section. • Contest is open to US only • Contest ends on Monday, September 14th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST. • Winner will be chosen at random and sent an email notification.
Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4; please leave a separate comment for each entry): 1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader 2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section. 3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
45 Comments on Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation - Book Review and Giveaway, last added: 9/6/2009
I would love an entry psyko_kittie12 AT yahoo DOT com
Belle said, on 9/3/2009 5:08:00 PM
I love Kaleb Nation. He is amazing. And I love the gnomes!!!!! I am waiting until the day the book is ACTUALLY supposed to come out to buy it, but I would love a free copy. :)
"Fairy godmothers do help people." She turned to me. "But the people you will help won't always know what you are doing. You will have a magic in your world that can make a difference, not just to people but also to the world itself. And in your case, your family - those of the Arbor Lineage - has magic that helps the green world the most." - The Fairy Godmother Academy: Birdie's Book by Jan Bozarth
When thinking of stories involving fairy godmothers, Cinderella probably comes to mind first. But how does a fairy godmother learn her trade? Author Jan Bozarth has her own ideas about fairy godmothers. In her book series, The Fairy Godmother Academy, all fairy-godmother's-in-the making must complete special quests and gain wisdom through specialized training through the Fairy Godmother Academy. Sometimes, fairy-godmother's-in-training are just ordinary girls that don't even realize they possess special skills. Such is the case with a twelve-year-old girl named Birdie Cramer Bright.
Birdie doesn't have a clue what lies in store for her when she visits Mo, her long-lost grandmother. Birdie's mother, Emma, doesn't get along her Grandma Mo at all and calls her a crazy old bat. But when Birdie finally meets her grandmother for the first time, she finds that they have many things in common. They both share a love of plants and can even name species by botanical (Latin) names. During her three-day-visit Birdie also discovers that she belongs to the Arbor Lineage of fairy-godmothers. After she stumbles upon an old book called "The Book of Dreams" she learns more about her lineage and enters a world called Aventurine. There she makes a new friend her age named Kerka and meets several mythical creatures including the Willowood Fairies. If Birdie intends to become a fairy godmother, the fate of the Arbor Lineage and all that is green lies in her hands. With Kerka's help, she must complete a quest to save the rotting Glimmer Tree and repair her broken family talisman, the Singing Stone.
A cross between the Disney Tinkerbell stories and Harry Potter, Birdie's Book is a imaginative fantasy for tween girls. Birdie goes on an magical adventure of self-discovery, learns about responsibility and tries to encourage reconciliation between her mother and grandmother. I enjoyed the intergenerational aspect of the book (perfect for mother/daughter bookclubs), the use of a family tree and the Latin phrases sprinkled throughout the book. Scrapbook style images of birds, flowers and other objects add interest to the book, sometimes appearing as faded pictures under the text. Birdie is a highly likeable character and she makes interesting observations, comparing people to flowers (her mom is like a calla lily and her grandmother, a tiger lily).
Birdie's Book releases on August 25, 2009 and is the first book in The Fairy Godmother Academy series. The series also includes a multimedia component featuring a website and trading cards. Readers can experience the dream world of Aventurine by visiting the corresponding online website and Fairy Godmother Academy social network at http://www.fairygodmotheracademy.com.
The Fairy Godmother Academy #1: Birdie's Book by Jan Bozarth, decorations by Andrea Burden. Random House Books for Young Readers (August 2009); 224 pages; ISBN 9780375851810; paperback; Ages 9-12 (tween) Book Source: Review copy provided by for free by Creative Asylum and Random House. (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)
Register to win a Hello Dreamer party kit at http://www.giaheadquarters.com or win one right here at Brimful Curiosities! Win a "Hello Dreamer" Party prize pack, that includes:
The Fairy Godmother Academy #1: Birdie's Book and Iron-on Transfers, Music CD, Lineage Journal Book Pages, Wisdom cards Stickers
To enter, leave any comment relevant to this post or let me know what special talent or wisdom would you like to have if you were a fairy godmother.
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41 Comments on The Fairy Godmother Academy: Birdie's Book by Jan Bozarth - Book Review and Giveaway, last added: 8/21/2009
I can't enter (darn) but I had to tell you I love the sound of these books. I think my daughter will love them. Your review outlines what I thought the books would be about. Thanks
If I had one Fairy Godmother type powers I'd like to make things move just a wave of my wand. I know it sounds lazy, but some days it would just make life easier :)
I'd love to have the power to go backwards and forwards in time - that would really help teach lessons I think! Thanks - alicedemskehansen at gmail.com
This is a fabulous giveaway. If I were a fairy godmother, I'd love to be able to speed up time to show people how things would turn out, then bring them back to the present and let them make wise decisions.
I would really like to have the ability to figure out why my 30 year old daughter is so mad at me. I can't stand the language that she uses when she talks to me. It just shouldn't be that way between a mother and a daughter.
If I were a fairy godmother, among many things, I would like to be able to help girls help themselves to follow their dreams. Whether that means the magic of patience, perseverence or luck!
What a wonderful subject for a book! :-) I suppose... I would like to be able to turn pumpkins into horse-drawn carries. ;-) No, not entirely original, LOL. Okay, if I must be original... how about my little girl's outgrown clothes into wonderful fancy dresses that fit? :-)
"It was breathtaking, mesmerizing, and as the fireflies began to blink in unison, the kids stopped to stare. All around them, the greenish light from the bugs pulsed like a dream. Was this really happening? Was every night like this -- this magical? Why did anyone ever go to bed?" - Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder
School may have started already for some children, but in our area summertime continues for another month. Lucky kids! There's still time to play outside and time for imaginations to run wild. June, July and August were always my favorite months as a child and remain my favorites. All the freedom. All the vibrant, green fields and forests full of life and abundance. The corn rows, straight and orderly, provide an interesting contrast to the other vegetation. Wandering through the rows of a huge, tall cornfield is a disorientating but fun experience, though avoiding the sharp leaves requires careful maneuvering. The many corn fields near us recently finished tasseling, several sweet corn festivals will take place in the next few weeks and the corn mazes will open next month. August for me has always included corn (and plenty of it considering my father worked, for my entire childhood, at a pea and corn canning factory.)
Author Laurel Snyder has witnessed her share of corn fields. For a time she lived in Iowa, surrounded by plenty of corn. After all, Iowa does produce the largest corn crop every year. In her middle grade book, Any Which Wall, four curious, school-aged children from fictional Quiet Falls, Iowa, pedal their bikes to nowhere in particular and end up exploring a cornfield. In the middle of the cornfield they discover a large, "precarious" stone wall. Soon they realize that the wall isn't ordinary; in fact, the wall is magical. It has the power to take the kids most anywhere they wish - any time, any place. They visit interesting and dangerous places, like a pirate's home, a pioneer settlement and Camelot, where they meet the wizard Merlin. Along the way, the children (two sets of siblings: Emma and Henry & Roy and Susan) find that magic exists even in the commonest of places. They also learn that growing up does not mean having to let go of your imagination.
Any Which Wall is a creative, imaginative summertime children's book. Because of the setting, I'd especially recommend it to children living in the Midwest, though children living anywhere will appreciate the adventure. Snyder wrote Any Which Wall as kind of a tribute to Edward Eager. To be honest, I've never read Eager. [GASP!] I'll blame that little oversight on not meeting a Lily the librarian as a child. Lily is the exotic and slightly peculiar orange clog, fork-in-her-hair wearing librarian that the children befriend in Any Which Wall.
Readers do not need to be familiar with Eager's works to enjoy Any Which Wall. Anyone with an interest in magical fantasies (Harry Potter and the like), unicorns, and time travel will find something to love about Snyder's book. She lures readers into the story with a short note on common magic, the kind of magic that takes place every day, the kind you'd miss if you weren't looking for it. She convinces readers that extraordinary things can happen to an ordinary person. (Yes, watching fireflies blink in unison is magical.) Now, I admit I wish Snyder would have left out the children's "fun" sacrificial ceremony to the spirits of the field bit in the beginning of the book. It plays such a minor part in the otherwise charming book, a book that mentions creating music using a blade of grass and includes several light-hearted messages including "you have to be careful of strangers and of cake, even the kind that comes from nice librarians." The black and white illustrations drawn by LeUyen Pham show some of the unusual situations the children encounter. As a bonus, Snyder has included a secret message somewhere in the book for curious children to find. Someday I will let my children read the book, so long as they promise to never, ever use my toothbrush to clean filthy objects.
Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Random House Books for Young Readers (May 2009); 256 pages; ISBN 9780375855603; Ages 9-12 (tween) Book Source: Review copy provided by Random House Children's Books (with thanks to author Laurel Snyder)
4 Comments on Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder - Book Review, last added: 8/9/2009
Fireflies are magical. I love watching them all. Thanks for the great review. I've seen it around but didn't know much about it. It sounds like a really fun book.
I've heard about the book at least the name, but didn't really know what it was about. Now that I've read your review I'll have to try and find a copy. Thanks
1) “Children of the Lamp (The Akhanaten Adventure)- by P.B Kerr, published by “Orchard books, and imprint of scholastic Inc. New York 2004. What if you find out that you are descendants from a long line of Dijon, human-like beings created from fire. They are able to grant wishes, and take on different animal forms. This is exactly what happens to two twelve-year-old twins, John and Phillippa, after they get their wisdom teeth pulled. The children are sent to London to their Uncle Nimrod's home where their amazing adventure begins. This venture takes the reader on a magic carpet ride through a fantasy Middle Eastern World. This journey teaches the twins that granting wishes is not only dangerous for themselves, but for people who desire wishes as well.
2) “Peter and Star Catchers”-Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, illustrated by Greg Call. Published by Disney Hyperion paperbacks for children New York 2004. How was never-land discovered? How did Peter Pan become a boy forever? This book helps the reader find answers to those questions and many more. Peter Pan is a never aging boy, who visits children at night and takes them to fantasy island called Never-Land where magic lives. Through the use of vivid language and pencil illustrations, the authors introduce us to how Peter Pan became a part of a world, full of amazing creatures, and magic. This story reveals the mystery of magic dust and how Children can make it real by looking within and tapping into their own imagination.
3) “Infinity Ring book three the trapdoor”- written by Lisa McMann, published by Scholastic Inc. New York 2013. The next book in this interactive serious takes our heroes Dak, Sera and Riq to Maryland in 1850 just before the Civil War. The main character in this book travel back it time and fix History Breaks, that has been caused by an evil corporation with intentions to take over the world. The time period in this book describes how new law has been passed that allows any white American to report free blacks, and then make them slaves. The children's mission is to stop this law, and to save the civil right leaders from a prison Dream like landscapes, humor and adventure take the seriousness of the topic at hand, and twists it into a fun read for everyone. 
by the editors of Time for Kids Magazine.
isn't completely about little gnomes. Actually it's mostly about an orphaned chap named Bran Hambric who struggles to figure out where he fits in a magical world gone awry. After a childhood of not knowing, he discovers the truth about his perplexing past, a past deeply entrenched in an evil sort of magic and a terrible secret curse. 
by Jan Bozarth, decorations by Andrea Burden. Random House Books for Young Readers (August 2009); 224 pages; ISBN 9780375851810; paperback; Ages 9-12 (tween)
Thank you for sharing your inner thoughts. I think writers and illustrators walk through the emotional insecurity path at some point at an overwhelming, large conference.
Last summer, I felt the layer of intense fog the minute I entered the hotel. I brushed off the nerves because my excuse was that it was my first conference.
The fun part was meeting all the new strangers and learning more about your career.