Month: November 2016

REVIEW: Ratpunzel by Ursula Vernon

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A princess adventure story! Princess Harriet and Prince Wilbur are off to find a missing hydra egg. Along the way, they meet Ratpunzel. She has a crazy-long tail that she can throw down from her tall tower. It’s how Mother Gothel gets into the tower. It’s how Harriet and Wilbur get up there, too! Pretty soon they aren’t just trying to find a missing hydra egg. They’re also trying to rescue Ratpunzel.

ratpunzel

Review

Such a fun addition to this great fractured fairy tale series! Harriet is a fantastic character – a princess who wants to fight monsters. She’s not interested in getting married to a prince – she’s only twelve! She’s smart, tough, and resourceful. The twists to the Rapunzel story are just right. The sassy tone of the narration left me laughing out loud several times.

I think this would be an awesome series to read out loud, at home or in a classroom! The “voice” is so fun. This would be a great mentor text for the concept of voice also.

Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥

Book 1 is Harriet the Invincible. I recommend enjoying these books in order – the whole series is a lot of fun!

BOOK NEWS: November 15, 2016

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s Monday; tomorrow is release day! There aren’t many new books coming out this week that caught my attention.  I’m not even going to break things into sections again this week. We’ll keep things simple!

Here are the books releasing on November 15, 2016 that you might be interested in:

golden-girls-of-riolilys-deliciously-different-dayfantastic-beasts-screenplay-18th into-the-lions-dentales-from-a-not-so-friendly-frenemy this-is-our-storyno-mans-land sleeping-beauty-killerstar-wars-catalystscrappy-little-nobody when-in-romans

The Golden Girls of Rio – A cool picture book celebrating the women of the 2016 Summer Olympics
Lily’s Deliciously Different Day – Picture book celebrating the delight of being different
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay – Screenplay for the movie that releases later this week. Are you going to go see the movie? I know we are!
Into the Lion’s Den (Devlin Quick Mysteries, The) – I’m looking forward to checking out this new middle grade mystery series that kicks off with a case about a page stolen from a rare book in the New York Public Library.
Dork Diaries 11: Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy – Book 11 in this hugely popular series comes out tomorrow!!
This is Our Story – Five boys go hunting. Only four return. This mystery sounds amazing!
No Man’s Land (John Puller Series) – A new mystery from the prolific David Baldacci. Looks like this is book 4 in the John Puller series.
The Sleeping Beauty Killer (An Under Suspicion Novel) – A good week for mysteries! This is a new one by Mary Higgins Clark, the queen of suspense.
Catalyst (Star Wars): A Rogue One Novel – Read the book that will set the stage for the new Star Wars Rogue One movie that comes out at Christmas!
Scrappy Little Nobody – I love Anna Kendrick in the Pitch Perfect movies and in The Accountant. I’m curious to read what she has to say in this new autobiography.
When in Romans: An Invitation to Linger with the Gospel according to Paul (Theological Explorations for the Church Catholic) – Dig into the New Testament book of Romans!

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Top 10 Favorite Illustrators

Posted on by Jaymie

I am crazy about picture books! And the illustrations are a large part of a picture book grabbing my attention. Certain illustration styles immediately catch my eye. And when you are reading with kids who don’t read on their own yet, the pictures are a HUGE part of the child’s engagement with the book. Here are some of my favorite illustrators, and links to some of my favorite books that include their amazing art work!

dan-santat

Dan Santat – Dan Santat has a great illustration style. I can usually pick out a book he has done from across the book store. I like his work so much. If you want to see great examples of his work, check out his award winning book, The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, or his illustration work on the Dav Pilkey Ricky Ricotta series ( Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot ).  The Three Ninja Pigs is an outstanding story by Corey Rosen Schwartz. The illustrations by Dan Santat work perfectly with this awesome story!

 

mo-willems

Mo Willems – The Elephant and Piggie books are a huge hit with the preschool and early reading crowd. The language is simple, the stories are funny and the illustrations are a major component of the humor. He is also well known for the Knuffle Bunny series and the Pigeon books. A few of my (many) favorite books by Mo Willems are Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, Let’s Go for a Drive! (An Elephant and Piggie Book), and I Will Surprise My Friend! (An Elephant and Piggie Book). If you are looking for something for slightly older readers, try The Story of Diva and Flea. Lovely illustrations of Paris in this book.

 

ashley-spires

Ashley Spires – I fell in love with Ashley Spires’ work when my son and I discovered the Binky the Space Cat (A Binky Adventure)  graphic novel series. As cat people, we thoroughly enjoyed the jokes, many of which were in the pictures. The Most Magnificent Thing  is an amazing book about ideas and perseverance. Ashley’s style speaks to me, and I sit up and take notice any time she releases a new book.

 

 

lauren-child

Lauren Child – Lauren Child is the author/illustrator of the Charlie and Lola books. Disney turned these into a cartoon several years back. We watched it all the time. The writing was smart and fun. The illustrations have a paper piecing feel to them that have fun texture. My favorite Charlie and Lola story is We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog (Charlie and Lola). The New Small Person  is a clever story about a boy who gets a younger brother that he refers to as the “new small person.”

 

kadir-nelson

Kadir Nelson – I wish I could show you the illustrations inside this book because they are stunning! I used to show this book to students while letting the accompanying CD of Dr. King’s speech play. The words and pictures were a perfect  compliment to each other. Check out I Have a Dream (Book & CD)

 

 

don-tate

Don Tate – I met Don Tate at a conference a couple years ago. I was so excited to meet him because he wrote about and illustrated stories of African American history I had never heard before. I love Ron’s Big Mission, a book I would read a lot during Black History Month. It is a stirring story of a boy pursuing his right to a library card. I also like The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch and Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton. The covers are lovely and reflect the illustrations within.

 

alex-latimer

Alex Latimer – I discovered Alex Latimer through the American Library Association conference when I saw a cover and it pulled me out of traffic on the exhibit floor into the publisher’s booth. Lion vs Rabbit is my favorite story of his because of the clever rabbit’s solution to bullying. When you read it the second time  (and you will want to read it again), really explore the illustrations! I also loved to read The Boy Who Cried Ninja  and Penguin’s Hidden Talent  to students.

 

troy-cummings

Troy Cummings –  More Bears! cracks me up every time I read it. And Troy Cummings had an interesting job of illustrating such an unusual story. He did a bang up job at it! Wait until you see all the bears! I also love his work in Little Red Gliding Hood. Lovely pictures and lots to look at and enjoy as you read this one!

 

 

peter-h-reynolds

Peter H. Reynolds – I got to meet Peter H. Reynolds at a conference after I discovered his books and it was a highlight of the conference. I love the message of his books The Dot and Ish (Creatrilogy)  about embracing your art, no matter how imperfect you think it might be. My favorite book of his is So Few of Me which I think could be modeled on my life.

 

 

kazu-kibuishi

Kazu Kibuishi – I have loved the Mary Grand Pre’ illustrations in the Harry Potter books since I first read them. The covers are lovely and so iconic at this point. So when Scholastic said they were releasing the books with new covers, I was not interested. But then I saw them. They are gorgeous! (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Book 1)) The illustrator, Kazu Kibuishi, is the author/illustrator for the Amulet graphic novels ( The Stonekeeper (Amulet 1) ). His work is exquisite. If we didn’t already own three sets of the Harry Potter books, I would totally get this new set. I love the pictures!

 

So, who are your favorite illustrators?

 

REVIEW: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Magnus Chase is the son of the Norse god Frey. He lives at the Hotel Valhalla because he died an honorable and brave death (see book 1). And now he gets to die over and over in battles to prepare for Ragnorok. Even though Ragnorok hasn’t started – yet – Magnus has plenty to keep him busy. First there’s the fact that Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, has been stolen. Then he gets a volatile new floormate, Alex, the shape-shifting, gender-fluid son/daughter of Loki. And then Loki arranges a marriage between his other daughter, Samirah, a Valkyrie, to an earth giant. Loki assures Magnus that this plan will rescue the hammer. But when as Loki ever been trustworthy?

hammer-of-thor

Review

This feels like all of Riordan’s other books, in a good way. You have the main, overarching quest and then the side trips that put everyone – and the time table for their quest – in danger. But the side trips are so important to the reader because that is where we get to know our heroes even better. Riordan is intentional about adding diversity to his cast of characters, a trend in children’s literature these days. Sam is a devout Muslim and Alex is transgender. And they aren’t token characters. These characteristics are key plot points in the story. There is some speculation online that Alex may become a love interest for Magnus in a future book. Readers who are not familiar with LGBT characters and story lines may have questions for parents/teachers about the things they read in The Hammer of Thor. Percy Jackson fans will be happy to know that Annabeth makes an appearance. And the last sentence of the book is a teaser that has many fans squealing for joy.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

REVIEW: Dire Threads by Janet Bolin

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

An embroidery mystery! Willow is living the dream! She’s opened up a machine embroidery store in “Threadville,” a community with shops dedicated to fabric-related crafts. But satisfaction with her new life takes a dip when a self-serving zoning commissioner gives her trouble. When he’s found dead on her property, Willow is the prime suspect.

dire-threads

Review

This has a fairly standard cozy mystery set up. The theme (crafts, needlework), the best friend, the quirky townspeople, the law enforcement accusations, and the love interest are all present. The setting is fun; I would love to visit somewhere like Threadville!! While I don’t sew, I was able to follow 85% of the craft-related parts of the story. The local law enforcement was infuriating. I hope that character is retired by book 2!

I couldn’t pinpoint the culprit before the end, but I picked up on some of the motive. The conclusion was satisfying and I would read another book in this series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

REVIEW: In the Shadow of Liberty by Kenneth C. Davis

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A book for kids about slavery. We all know that slavery is an ugly part of American history. When we think about slavery, we might think of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and the Emancipation Proclamation. But our history with slavery goes all the way back to the Pilgrims. And every President we had before Lincoln had a stance on the issue. Some of them even owned slaves. How could some of our Founding Fathers, people who wrote about “all men” being created equal, own some of those people as property?

In the Shadow of Liberty

Review

This book, written for students in middle school and high school, does a great job of outlining the history of slavery in America in a clear, matter-of-fact way. It doesn’t shy away from the complexities of the issue. It includes discussion of famous founders who said and wrote that they felt slavery was wrong while they still had enslaved people working for them. The book was honest about the economic issues faced by those with enslaved workers whom they thought should truly be fee. Some of those people felt “powerless” to change things because they were so tied into the systems that perpetuated slavery.

While the focus is on four presidents for the most part – Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson – there are also historic notes about the roles of African Americans in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. And there are also notes about the abolitionist movement and its proponents. All of the “who” is tied to the “when” and “where” of the growth of our country as new states and territories are added and debates raged over slave states or free states.

This is a great resource. It will raise questions for students – which is what reading and studying history should do for all of us! I recommend this for middle school and high school libraries. It would also be good for history classrooms, English classrooms that want to expose students to excellent informational books, and public libraries. This would also be a great resource for families to talk about racial history in America.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

 

BOOK NEWS: November 8, 2016

Posted on by Jaymie

It’s Monday; tomorrow is release day! There aren’t many new books coming out this week that caught my attention.  I’m not even going to break things into sections today. We’ll keep things simple!

Here are the books releasing on November 8, 2016 that you might be interested in:

princess-in-black-takes-a-vacationlost-property-officeboomerang-effect  dead-girls-society  heartless   the-chemistcat-got-your-diamondsdeadly-dog-days

The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation– Book 4 in this fantastic series for elementary school students about a princess who sometimes wears black and fights monsters. I love this series!!
The Lost Property Office (Section 13) – A new middle grade novel about a secret society of detectives. Doesn’t that sound awesome?!
The Boomerang Effect – This is billed as a “hilariously subversive YA.” It sounds fantastic. A trouble maker. An exchange student. Homecoming floats. And chickens. Really. I have to read this and find out how all of these things come together!
Dead Girls Society – A girl with Cystic Fibrosis receives a mysterious invitation to join a secret society. She was wanting some adventure in her life. But The Society might not be quite what she thought it was.
Heartless – from the author of The Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter). This time she takes on the story of Alice in Wonderland. I loved the Lunar Chronicles series. I am curious to see what she does with this new world as she puts her own twist on a classic.
The Chemist – A new thriller from the author of the Twilight series. Looks like this will appeal to older teens as well as adults who like suspense books!
Cat Got Your Diamonds: A Kitty Couture Mystery – First book in a new cozy mystery series about a pet boutique.
Deadly Dog Days (A Dog Days Mystery) – First in a new cozy mystery series set in Metamora, Indiana.

 

Happy Reading!!

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: New Christmas Books

Posted on by Jaymie

This time of year, I start to get excited about Christmas. I start watching Christmas movies on TV. And I look for Christmas books to read. It helps me get in the mood for the holiday season.

Here are a few new Christmas books that came out this year. I haven’t read any of them yet, but these have received good reviews and they sound great! I hope you find something in this list to help you read your way towards the holidays.

an-amish-family-christmas An Amish Family Christmas: A Charmed Amish Life Christmas Novel – Grief, secrets and second chances  are at the core of this new story in the Charmed Amish Life series. I know my friends who adore Amish fiction and Amish life will enjoy this book. And maybe discover a new series!

 

 

 

baxter-family-christmas A Baxter Family Christmas – A new story in the ongoing Baxter family saga.  This one looks at redemption after tragedy at the holidays. I’ve never read a Baxter family story before, but this one sounds amazing. This is top of my holiday reading list!

 

 

because-of-bethlehem

Because of Bethlehem: Love Is Born, Hope Is Here– I love reading Max Lucado because he makes familiar Bible stories fresh and new. Help freshen up your holiday season by reading Lucado’s take on the Biblical Christmas story.

 

 

 

christmas-comes-to-main-street

Christmas Comes to Main Street (The Briar Creek Series)– fiesty competition may lead to love in this story of a big city fella and a small town baker in a holiday contest. This one sounds fun!

 

 

 

christmas-on-my-mind

Christmas on My Mind (A Cowboy Christmas)– Apparently this one came out in hardcover this past spring, and just released in paperback in September. Cowboy Sheriff takes an interest in town newcomer. Is it because her family members have a shaky relationship with the law, or is it because there is something special about this woman? Part of a series.

 

 

eggnog-murder

Eggnog Murder– A set of three holiday-themed mysteries. Short stories join long-running series starring Lucy Stone, Hayley Powell and Julia Snowden (Maine Clambake series). I love collections like this because it lets readers try a taste of three series with which they might not be familiar.

 

 

the-christmas-town

The Christmas Town–  A former foster child, now grown up, longs for a sense of home somewhere in her life. I love stories like this! A new story from the author of The Christmas Shoes and the Christmas Hope series.

 

 

 

twelve-days-of-christmas

Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Novel– A woman blogs her efforts to thaw the grinchy heart of her neighbor. But when things start to warm between them, can she tell him the world has been reading about her efforts online? Debbie Macomber is a holiday staple, turning out a new Christmas story regularly. Check out this year’s offering!!

 

 

we-need-a-little-christmas

We Need A Little Christmas (Evergreen Lane Novels)– A grieving young woman is thrown together with her high school crush as she goes through her grandmother’s belongings. When she is done with her grandmother’s estate, will she leave everything – and everyone behind her?

 

 

 

So, which of those sound great to you?!

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVIEW: Stick Cat by Tom Watson

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Stick Cat and his neighbor cat, Edith, get together each day after Stick Cat’s owner leaves the apartment. (They’ve scratched a hole in the wall between the bathrooms.) Usually they play with socks or play the staring game (It is not like the human version!). One of their favorite things to do, though, is listen to “Mr. Music” play piano in the building across the street. With the window open, the cats can hear Mr. Music tune the pianos and then play them. On one particular day, though, Mr. Music gets into some trouble and no one knows he needs help – no one but Stick Cat and Edith.

stick-cat

Review

I’ve never read the Stick Dog books before, but as a cat person, I wanted to try this spin off. I heard the author speak at a Children’s Literature Festival, and I really liked him. He was funny, and he related well to the kids at the event.

Stick Cat is the smart one. Edith is pretty ditzy. They are great friends and they make a great rescue team. I can see why kids love these books. This one was so fun. The style reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Timmy Failure or Big Nate. If you know a reader who likes those books, you might suggest they try Stick Dog and Stick Cat!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

There are supposed to be at least two more books in this series, plus ongoing Stick Dog books. There are pictures of those posted below.

stick-dog-collage

REVIEW: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A set of triplets born to be Queen. Each girl born to eliminate the other two and win the crown. Katharine is a poisoner. Arsinoe is a naturalist. Mirabella is an elemental. Each girl is nurtured in her powers by factions that want their girl to win – and their group to be in power. Who will win? Who will die? And who can be trusted?

Three Dark Crowns

Review

This was amazing from start to finish! If you are a fan of Young Adult fantasy, I highly recommend this story. The author did a great job making each of the sisters distinct. Each one has a unique “support system,” too. I expected to like one more than the others from the start. Maybe get more of her perspective. I thought there might be a clear favorite at the outset. But they were so different. I cared about them all. And even when I did develop a “favorite,” the author up-ended things enough to leave me wondering if she would still be my favorite when it’s all done.

The author does a fantastic job of hinting at backstory, but she does it sparingly so that even at the end, we have unanswered questions. The ending was HUGE and sets up the next book perfectly. My only complaint is having to wait so long for it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥