Review: Stuart Murphy's I See I Learn Series

When I was a classroom teacher, I used Stuart Murphy's MathStart books to teach math concepts to my children.  Well, Mr. Murphy is back with a new series to help children learn skills important for school and life, called the I See I Learn series.  Thanks to Charlesbridge Publishing, I was fortunate to receive two of the books in the series, for review.

Title:  Percy Gets Upset

Author:  Stuart J. Murphy

Review Copy Provided by:  Charlesbridge Publishing

About the Book:  Sometimes Percy gets upset. He scowls and stamps his feet. But when he learns to take a deep breath, count to ten, and talk about his feelings, he can calm down. When Percy's not upset, he can have fun again! 

My Thoughts:  This is a great book to use with young children and teach who deal with frustration, being grouchy, being cranky and/or being angry.  It is all about emotional skills and what a child can do to deal with those appropriately and ultimately become happy again.  Children can relate to Percy because he feels as they would when they're upset.  Through the story, Percy teaches children how to stop being upset.  The colors are vivid in the illustrations, the pictures eye catching, and the print large enough for a read - aloud to children or for older children to read themselves.

I can see this book being used in classrooms and/or counselor's offices with children 2-7.  It is recommended for 2-5, but I think older children, maybe up to 2nd grade would enjoy it if used as a read - aloud to spark discussion.  One of the things I love about Stuart Murphy's books is the discussion questions that he adds at the end.  You won't have to come up with questions on your own, because they are provided for you.

Title:  Camille's Team

Author:  Stuart J. Murphy

Review Copy Provided by:  Charlesbridge Publishing

About the Book:  Camille loves to build sand forts at the beach. But it's hard to build a big fort alone. Camille and her friends make a plan. They find that they can get more done--and have more fun--when they work together.  

My Thoughts:  Where Percy dealt with emotional skills in children, Camille's Team deals with social skills.  It teaches children how to work together.  There's even a plan that children can follow:  make a plan, work together, and share the fun.  In Stuart Murphy fashion, the pictures are vivid and eye catching, exactly what children like to see.

Again, there are discussion questions that lend themselves to opening up a classroom discussion or even a discussion with your young son or daughter.  This is a great series to help young children learn important life skills!

Blog Tour: Adventures in Nowhere

I am pleased to be participating in another blog tour for Pump Up Your Book Promotions!

 

Title:  Adventures in Nowhere

Author:  John Ames

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher, Pineapple Press

About the Book:  Before Disney and far from the palm-lined Florida beaches, ten-year-old Danny Ryan is transplanted to a tiny community on the hyacinth-choked Hillsborough River outside Tampa, a place his older sister calls Nowhere. But for Danny and his best friend, the irrepressible Alfred Bagley, whose fondest desire is to grow up to be a junk dealer, Nowhere is where adventures lurk and lure them into more trouble than they can handle. More trouble is not what Danny needs as he copes with a family that includes a father sinking into schizophrenia; two sisters, one very ill and the other ready to run away with a shady boyfriend; and a mother trying her best to hold it all together.  

My Thoughts:  This wasn't an easy book for me to get into.  I'm not sure why, though.  After I got past the first chapter or so, it was an easy read.

This story is written from a young boy's perspective and set in the 1950's.  It takes the reader back to a time when youth was innocent, and young kids could run free without being afraid.  It's a very compelling coming of age story.

I loved Danny's character!  He was strong, witty, and independent.  Danny is like many kids today who come from a troubled family.  He does what he needs to do, within himself, to get through his childhood and become a strong, independent adult.    His family is dysfunctional: a dying sister, a father who could blow his top, at any moment, and a mom who tries to hold it all together, the best she can.  He doesn't have many friends, but the ones he does have stick by him.  John Ames has written a wonderful character in Danny; one I'd like to know in real life.

The story pulls you in, takes hold, and doesn't let go, even after you've turned the last page.  Ames has written a winner.  Open the cover and take a trip back in time with Danny; you'll be glad you did!

Review: Exposed

Title:  Exposed

Author:  Kimberly Marcus

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher, Random House

About the Book:  In the dim light of the darkroom, I'm alone, but not for long.
As white turns to gray, Kate is with me.
The background of the dance studio blurred, so the focus is all on her
legs extended in a perfect soaring split.
The straight line to my squiggle,
my forever-best friend.

Sixteen-year-old Liz Grayson is photogirl—sharp, focused and ready to take the world by storm with her camera. But Liz's entire life is called into question when her brother is accused of a crime—and the accuser is Liz's own best friend. As the aftershocks from that accusation rip through Liz's world, everything she thought she knew about photography, family, friendship and herself, shifts out of focus. And for the first time in her life, Liz finds herself unable to trust her own point of view.  

My Thoughts:  I'm not a 5 star giving kind of girl.  That kind of a rating is reserved for books that "knock me off my feet," so to speak.  Well, this one did just that, so I didn't hesitate when I posted my completion on EXPOSED's Goodreads page.

This is the first book I've read that was written in free verse, but I'm ready to read more.  More free verse and more about Liz...what happens to her?  She goes through a lot in just one book, that I'd like to read more of her story.  The use of free verse makes this a quick read, but it doesn't take away from the depth of the story.

I'm so impressed with Kimberly Marcus as an author.  This is her debut YA, and it is going to be a hit!  There haven't been many YA novels written in free verse.  I think it is a great way to write and maybe there will be more like it in the future.  Marcus scores big with this one.

The characters in the story are well written, strong, deep characters.  Liz comes to find out things about her brother and her best friend that she may not have wanted to know, but they also help her to learn more about herself as a person.  What does she want to do with her life?  Is she willing to hang on to her dreams, take the risks that she tries to get others to take, listen to those around her who are trying to help her?  She comes to find out that dreams are what keep you going, and risks are meant to be taken.  Things may not turn out the way you think they should, but they turn out, none the less.

This novel delves into a very heavy subject, but it doesn't tiptoe around it.  Marcus meets the challenge head on and makes her characters face the truth, no matter how painful it is or will be, no matter what it may do to their relationships.  The content dealt with in this novel is not an easy subject to broach, but Marcus does it so well!

I will be recommending this one to teens and adults as it will be enjoyed by both.

Review: Tell the Truth B.B. Wolf

Title:  Tell the Truth B.B. Wolf
Author/Illustrator:  Judy Sierra/J. Otto Seibold

Review Copy Provided by:  Knopf Books for Young Readers



About the Book:  Big Bad Wolf’s first visit to his local library (as related in Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf) was such a success that he returns to tell his version of “The Three Little Pigs.” His outrageous spin on the tale draws skeptical remarks from his audience: “Isn’t that wolf’s nose getting longer?” asks Pinocchio. “It’s a cooked-up, half-baked tale,” snaps the Gingerbread Boy. And “Tell the truth, B.B. Wolf!” squeal the Three Little Pigs. Caught in his own lie, B.B. explains that he is a reformed villain: “Now I’m begging on my knees, Little Pigs, forgive me, please!” How B.B. turns his bad old deed into a good new one provides a happy ending to this fun-to-read fractured fairytale.

My Thoughts:   As a teacher, I read many versions of The Three Little Pigs, even ones from the wolf's point of view.  Well, here is a new one and the wolf is at it again.

I really enjoyed Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf.  It was a fun story with bold illustrations.  I have not read Mind Your Manners, B.B. Wolf, but that didn't make a difference.  You don't need to have read it first to be able to understand this story.  In the story, B.B. Wolf tries to tell his side of the story, but he keeps getting interrupted by other storybook characters.  I loved how the author tied all of these stories together using the characters.  It is a great way to introduce young kids to many storybook characters that they might not know.  Many of these characters, like the little pigs, the gingerbread man, Pinocchio, etc. have been replaced by Dora and Spongebob.  Today's children may not know who these characters are, but books like this one will allow them to meet them, get to know them, and hopefully grow to love them, like we did as kids.

There are some lessons to be learned from B.B. Wolf as well.  He wants the pigs to forgive him, so he asks the other storybook characters to help him come up with a new name.  What else could B.B. stand for?  I could see this as a great activity for kids, after finishing the book.  They could write their ideas for B.B.'s new name and why they think he should have that name.  B.B. also apologizes to the pigs, so apologies could be discussed as well.  I think there is a lot to be learned from this book even though many will just see it as a fun read.

Tell the Truth B.B Wolf was a great read.  It was laugh out loud funny and I would read it over and over again to children.

Blog Tour - A True Princess

I am so pleased to be a part of the blog tour for A True Princess by Diane Zahler.  When Diane contacted me about doing a tour for her book, I was very excited!  For today's stop on the tour, I will be offering my thoughts on the book.

 
Title:  A True Princess
Author:  Diane Zahler
Published by:  Harper Collins, Feb. 1, 2011

About the Book:  Twelve-year-old Lilia is not a very good servant. In fact, she's terrible! She daydreams, she breaks dishes, and her cooking is awful. Still, she hardly deserves to be sold off to the mean-spirited miller and his family. Refusing to accept that dreadful fate, she decides to flee. With her best friend, Kai, and his sister, Karina, beside her, Lilia heads north to find the family she's never known. But danger awaits. . . .

As their quest leads the threesome through the mysterious and sinister Bitra Forest, they suddenly realize they are lost in the elves' domain. To Lilia's horror, Kai falls under an enchantment cast by the Elf King's beautiful daughter. The only way for Lilia to break the spell and save Kai is to find a jewel of ancient power that lies somewhere in the North Kingdoms. Yet the jewel will not be easy to find. The castle where it is hidden has been overrun with princess hopefuls trying to pass a magical test that will determine the prince's new bride. Lilia has only a few days to search every inch of the castle and find the jewel—or Kai will be lost to her forever.

My Thoughts:  A True Princess is a fun fantasy for young and old alike!  Who doesn't enjoy a good fairy tale every now and then?  Do you remember The Princess and the Pea?  Well, A True Princess is like that; princess wannabes trying to pass the prince's test so that they can marry him.  This is just a sweet story that you need to read for yourself.  The synopsis gives you a good idea what it's about and once you get into it, you will be rooting for Lilia!  This one was released yesterday, so you can pick it up at your local bookstore in town, or online. 

About the Author:  Diane Zahler, author of A True Princess, has loved tales of fairies and magic since before she was old enough to read. She has worked in the children’s room at a public library, in children’s book publishing, and as an elementary and high school textbook writer. The Thirteenth Princess, her first novel for young readers, was published in 2010. She lives with her husband and dog in an old farmhouse in the Harlem Valley that is held together with duct tape and magic spells. Diane’s website is: www.dianezahler.com.

Don't forget to stop by the other blogs on the tour.  You can learn more about Diane, A True Princess, and enter to win a copy of the book.

Here’s the complete list of blog sites on the tour:

Date	Blog Name	What's Happening
February 1	The Compulsive Reader	Review, book giveaway
February 2	The Brain Lair	Author interview, review
February 3	Jean Little Library	Review
February 3	Galleysmith	Author post, review
February 4	Write for a Reader	Review
February 5	The Cozy Reader	Author post, review
February 6	Libri Dilectio	Review
February 7	Tales from the Rushmore Kid	Interview with my editor
February 8	Green Bean Teen Queen	Review
February 8	Mother Daughter Book Club	Review
February 9	There's a Book	Author interview, review
February 10	Mrs. V's Reviews	Author interview, review
February 11	The Cazzy Files	Author interview, review
February 11	Sonder Books	Author interview, review
February 12	BookScoops	Author interview, book giveaway, review

Review: The Fates Will Find Their Way

Title:  The Fates Will Find Their Way

Author:  Hannah Pittard

Publication Date:  January 25, 2011 by Ecco

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher

About the Book - from Goodreads:  Sixteen-year-old Nora Lindell is missing. And the neighborhood boys she's left behind are caught forever in the heady current of her absence. As the days and years pile up, the mystery of her disappearance grows kaleidoscopically. A collection of rumors, divergent suspicions, and tantalizing what-ifs, Nora Lindell's story is a shadowy projection of teenage lust, friendship, reverence, and regret, captured magically in the disembodied plural voice of the boys who still long for her.
Told in haunting, percussive prose, Hannah Pittard's beautifully crafted novel tracks the emotional progress of the sister Nora left behind, the other families in their leafy suburban enclave, and the individual fates of the boys in her thrall. Far more eager to imagine Nora's fate than to scrutinize their own, the boys sleepwalk into an adulthood of jobs, marriages, families, homes, and daughters of their own, all the while pining for a girl–and a life–that no longer exists, except in the imagination.

My Thoughts:  When I first read the synopsis for this book, I thought it was YA, but as I read, I thought it might be adult fiction.  How could I have those thoughts?  Well, the book begins with everyone as teenagers, in high school, doing things that teenagers do.  But, the book is told in more of a "looking back" mode.  The characters are adults recalling their teenage days and how they got to where they are now.

This was a different read for me, because it is told from the male point of view.  While different, I enjoyed it.  Girls, women, are always wondering how the male brain works, and Pittard does a good job of getting into the male psyche for us.  There are many stories that relive high school from a female point of view, but it was amusing to hear it from the opposite sex.  They truly do think a lot about the female anatomy!

When Nora Lindell, age 16, disappeared, it left her sister and their group of friends wondering just what happened to her.  Although Pittard never really tells the reader the whole truth, we can piece parts of it together based on present day happenings in the book.  The boys in the group do a lot of speculating about what happened to her though.  Some scenarios are more plausible than others.  Nora is never forgotten, as some of the guys think they see her in various places as they are growing up and starting their own lives.

I think Pittard does a great job of putting into words and story form, what many of us do throughout our lives, wonder "what if."  What if we had done this, what if she had never disappeared, who would she have married?  Admit it, you've done it.  As an adult, I think we all wish we could go back to high school and maybe "do-over" some of our not so great moments.  We have all had those what if thoughts, and Pittard brings them to life, through the eyes of the boys.

Buy it at Amazon
Buy it at Powells
Buy it at IndieBound 

Review: The Book of Tomorrow

 

Title:  The Book of Tomorrow

Author:  Cecilia Ahern

Publication Date:  February 2011 by Harper Collins

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher

About the Book - from Goodreads:  Tamara Goodwin has always got everything she's ever wanted. Born into a family of wealth, she grew up in a mansion with its own private beach, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and all that a girl could ever wish for. She's always lived in the here and now, never giving a second thought to tomorrow. But then suddenly her dad is gone and life for Tamara and her mother changes forever. Left with a mountain of debt, they have no choice but to sell everything they own and move to the country. Nestled next to Kilsaney Castle, their gatehouse is a world away from Tamara's childhood. With her mother shut away with grief, and her aunt busy tending to her, Tamara is lonely and bored and longs to return to Dublin.When a travelling library passes through Kilsaney Demesne, Tamara is intrigued. Her eyes rest on a mysterious large leather bound tome locked with a gold clasp and padlock. What she discovers within the pages takes her breath away and shakes her world to its core.  

My Thoughts:  This was an interesting read.  I always had a thought that there was more going on than the author would let me believe, but the more I read, the more convinced I was that there was something eerie about this story.  

Tamara, the main character, is very independent.  She's used to being able to come and go as she pleases, but not anymore.  It seems as though she's always being watched.  Since her father's death, she has been forced to move to "nowhere" with her aunt and uncle.  Tamara has no access to the internet, no malls, nothing she is used to, so she's forced to find other things to occupy her time.  One of which, is a book.  This is not an ordinary book though.  The book writes itself, in Tamara's handwriting, and tells about tomorrow.

What a concept for a story!  I loved this one and I fell in love with Tamara, even though I thought she was a snob at first.  Throughout the story Tamara learns more about her family than she's ever known, but what she really learns is about herself and that she has to make her own tomorrows.

Ahern does an excellent job of keeping the reader in suspense.  There's something new around every corner, but she keeps you second guessing yourself, just like Tamara is second guessing the people around her.  This one had me predicting right up till the end, even though some of my predictions weren't what really happened.  I loved that as a reader, I was able to make those predictions.  The author didn't just reveal everything all at once.  As the story unfolded, so did the lies, or the truth, however you choose to read it.

Buy it at Amazon

Buy it at Powells

Review: Blood Red Road

Title:  Blood Red Road

Author:  Moira Young

Publication Date:  June 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry

Review Copy Provided by:  publisher

About the Book:  Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization. 


My Thoughts:  This was my first read for 2011, and I loved it!  Saba is a very strong willed, independent kind of girl, who loves her brother, and will do anything to find him, even if it means taking her bratty kid sister along for the ride.




From the fist page, to the last, I was hooked.  Young took me into Saba's world, and allowed me, the reader, to escape from this world into one that was filled with wastelands, savages, girls who fight in cages, and a King.  I wanted to be there every step of the way with Saba and Young made me feel as if I was right there through her writing.

Saba didn't t know anything other than Silverlake, except for what she had heard from her father.  After her brother is taken away, she embarks on a journey that will lead her to places she's only heard of, allow her to meet some rogue characters, and help her discover things about herself that she didn't know, which cause her to grow into a strong woman.  Saba's sister won't be left behind, after all, Lugh is her brother too.  Lugh is Saba's twin, and her little sister will just get in the way, but throughout the book, she continues to find Saba and get her way.  I loved the way the sisters' relationship grows and blossoms as the story unfolds.  They start out in a love/hate relationship and end up in a loving one, the way sisters should be.  Saba also learns about romance, something she tries to avoid throughout the story.  She is strong and independent but the reader learns that she also has a soft side.

This is a book that I really enjoyed.  It doesn't come out until summer,  but if you get your hands on an ARC, I encourage you to read it!
 

Green Books Campaign - Billy Had to Move

I have been waiting for this day for a while now.  Today, 200 bloggers take a stand to support books printed on environmental paper by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 such books. It is a phenomenal feat, and I am excited to be a part of it!  Make sure you check out the campaign page to see which other bloggers are involved and see the other reviews.

Title: Billy Had to Move
Author: Theresa Fraser
Illustrator: Alex Walton
Review Copy Provided by: Green Books Campaign, via Loving Healing Press

About the Book:  Child Protection Services have been involved with Billy and his mother for some time now. He has been happily settled in a kinship placement with his grandmother and enjoys his pet cat, interacting with neighbors and even taking piano lessons. As the story unfolds, Billy's grandmother has unexpectedly passed away and so the story of Billy Had To Move begins.

Unfortunately, Billy's mother cannot be located. Mr. Murphy, Billy's social worker, places him in the foster home of Amy, Tim, and their baby "Colly." Billy experiences great loss resulting not only from his grandmother's death, but also the loss of the life he knew. Billy's inner journey therefore has also begun and with the help of Ms. Woods, a Play Therapist, there is hope.  

My Review:   I chose Billy Had to Move because, as an educator, I see kids like Billy more often than not.  Kids like Billy walk through the door of my school everyday.  Some, I know their story, because they are in a wonderful situation and they freely share, but others, I would never know about unless the foster parents tell me or CPS shows up to meet with them and reveals the truth.  Truth is, it's reality, and we have to help our kids understand kids like Billy.

That's why I'm glad that this book is available to children.  We don't need to hide foster care in our society, we need to embrace it and help the kids that are involved.  A children's book is a great way to do that!

The author does a fabulous job of sharing Billy's thoughts with the reader.  We don't always know what these kids are thinking and feeling, but with the help of a play therapist, Billy's story, thoughts and feelings are revealed.  The counselor on my campus uses play therapy with some of our kiddos and it is fascinating to see it in action.  You can learn alot about a child and/or their situation just by listening to them play.  Much is revealed in a short time, if you just take the time to listen and make them feel comfortable.  That is what Mrs. Woods, the play therapist does for Billy.

This book is sad because it does deal with grief when Billy loses his grandmother.  How he deals with that may be different than how you as an adult, would deal with grief, and it's important to share that with children. They can relate to Billy because he is a child, and it may help them to deal with the death of a loved one.

Billy Had to Move is a book that I will definitely be sharing with my counselor.  I feel that it would benefit children who experience grief through the loss of a loved one, children who are in or have to be put into foster care.  Billy had to learn to live with strangers, and the reality is, many children in our country today are dealing with the same thing.  Thank you Theresa Fraser for putting "Billy's" story out there so that others may benefit! 

Review - Water, Weed, and Wait

Title:  Water, Weed, and Wait

Author:  Edith Hope Fine & Angela Demos Halpin
Illustrator:  Colleen Madden
Review Copy Provided by:  Random House Children's Books

About the Book:  When Miss Marigold challenges the kids at Pepper Lane Elementary to turn an unpromising patch of their schoolyard into a garden full of fruits, flowers, and vegetables, they know they'll need all the help they can get. Soon everyone in the community is lending a hand--including an unlikely neighbor with a soft spot for gardening--and it isn't long before peppers, zuccchini, sugar peas, snapdragons, zinnias, and much more are growing and blooming.

My Review:  What a beautiful picture book!  This is one that will be loved in classrooms during a unit on plants.  I should probably save this review until Spring, but it's too great not to tell you about now.

This book reminded me a little of The Magic School Bus series because the teacher, Miss Marigold, made me think of Ms. Frizzle, with her name and her outfits.  There is a grouchy neighbor that the students befriend and turn into a wonderful gardening mentor for them.  In the end, everyone is happy, which is a great way to end a picture book!

The pictures themselves are so vivid and bright.  Children are sure to love them and want to study them.  Each page has a lot going on, that they will want to revisit the book to catch every detail.  It's not too much on a page as to overstimulate the reader, but enough to hold their attention and keep them finding some new detail.  Colleen Madden did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the children and the school garden that they work together to create.

This book could be used in the classroom for many different themes: Spring, plants, teamwork, friendship, and possibly others that I may not think of.  As I was reading it, I had one of my teachers in mind.  She refers to her students as her little flowers that grow more and more with each new day and new learning.  Sometimes we see results quickly like the students did in their garden with some of the vegetables, but other times we have to wait longer for our work to "sprout."  This teacher spends many days teaching (watering), reteaching (weeding) and then watching what her children do (waiting).  In the end, she has amazing results, just like the beautiful garden that sprouts!

At the end of the book there are 2 pages dedicated to "Sprouting Your Own School Garden."  You can also learn more about this book at the Water, Weed, and Wait website. 

Review - Infinite Days

Title:  Infinite Days
Author:  Rebecca Maizel
Review Copy Provided by:  St. Martin's Griffin


About the Book:  "Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you...no one."

Those were some of Rhode's last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.
I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn't Rhode.
But Justin was...daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.
I never expected to be sixteen again...then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me... 

My Review:  When I finished this book, I tweeted something like this; "Just finished Infinite Days.  All I can say is WOW!!"   And now, a week later, as I write this review, I am still in awe and wish the 2nd book were coming out next month.  But, it's not.  This book releases then, and, if you're a fan of books about vampires, then rush out and get it; you won't regret it!

There are not many debut books that grab me and won't let me go, but this was one of them!  I picked it up on the afternoon of one day, and finished it the afternoon of the next.  As soon as I did, I handed it to my favorite teenage reader and said, "I just finished this...you have to read it."  So, she started it that night. 

Rebecca Maizel does such a great job with this one!  What author has taken a new spin on vampires lately?  Make the vampire human?  That's one we've never heard of, but she does it so wonderfully because I was intrigued by the idea the minute I started reading. 

Lenah has the chance that vampires don't usually get, being human again, and she falls in love with it.  Not only does she fall in love with being human, she falls in love which is something she thought she'd never do.  My favorite part of Lenah being human is her pure innocence about everything.   She'd never known what things felt like, tasted like, didn't know about 21st century things like Lacrosse, but it didn't take her long to learn.  It is so refreshing to read her naivety and innocence about every little thing.  It adds humor to the story.

Everyone thinks there's something different about her, Lenah, the new girl on campus, but she just wants to fit in.  She's befriended and is soon learning about her new world, finding love, and "feeling" a kiss for the first time.  That is until the bad news...the coven will hunt for their queen.  Will Lenah be able to save all that she has come to know and love, or will she lose it all again?

Ms. Maizel has crafted a dark, romantic story that will stay with you long after you close the cover and put the book down.  It's unlike any other vampire story you've read in this genre!  I fell in love with Lenah, was sad, but applauded Rhode, felt indifference towards Vicken, and was scared for Justin.  Very touching, very emotional, very good!!!

Review - Turtle in Paradise

Title:  Turtle in Paradise
Author:  Jennifer Holm
Review Copy Provided by:  Random House Books for Young Readers


About the Book:  Life isn't like the movies, and eleven-year-old Turtle is no Shirley Temple. She's smart and tough and has seen enough of the world not to expect a Hollywood ending. After all, it's 1935, and jobs and money and sometimes even dreams are scarce. So when Turtle's mama gets a job housekeeping for a lady who doesn't like kids, Turtle says goodbye without a tear and heads off to Key West, Florida, to stay with relatives she's never met.

Florida's like nothing Turtle has ever seen. It's hot and strange, full of wild green peeping out between houses, ragtag boy cousins, and secret treasure. Before she knows what's happened, Turtle finds herself coming out of the shell she has spent her life building, and as she does, her world opens up in the most unexpected ways. 

My Review:   What a good little book!  It took me about 2 hours to read it all because I wanted to know what happened.  I love that it is based on real people, places, and events.  Jennifer Holm does a great job with this story for 9-12 year olds.

I have to say, that I love Turtle!  She is just so tough and sweet at the same time!  How horrible, to be sent to live with your aunt because your mom's boss doesn't like kids.  Probably didn't make her feel good, but she made the best of what could have been a real bad situation.  Her aunt didn't know she was coming, her cousins don't want to share the house with a girl, and she misses her mom!  But, she grows to love Key West and you will too after reading this.

Holm's descriptions of Key West are so vivid that you can almost see it, and feel as if you are there right alongside Turtle as she walks the streets with her cousins and the "Diaper Gang."   What's great is that at the end of the story, Holm gives us actual photos of some of the people and places that are mentioned in the book, or the people or places that they were based on.  I love having that to compare with my "mental movie" of the book!  It really brings the book to life.

What was once her most prized possession, a pair of shoes, becomes something that's no longer needed at her new home.  I felt like the shoes were a pivotal part of the book.  Turtle holds on to those as if that will keep her from forgetting her past, or the future that she and her mom have planned with Archie.  But, when Turtle loses one shoe, she seems to lose part of her hope that mom will come back.  She is growing to like it in Key West and proceeds to become one of the barefoot neighborhood traipsing children.  As a matter of fact, she realizes that Key West just might be the future she wasn't looking for.

Turtle learns a lot about herself in this book, and the author does a great job of letting the reader figure it out slowly.  It is really fun to see how the story unfolds and everyone fits together.  If you have children who love a good story and want to learn a little about the past in a place they may not know about, then pick this up for them.  You might enjoy it as well!

Review and Giveaway: Dear Teacher

Title:  Dear Teacher
Author/Illustrator:  Amy Husband
Review Copy Provided by:  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

About the Book: This hilarious collection of letters from Michael to his new teacher comes packed with alligators, pirates and rocket-ships, and much, much more.  Can Michael's imagination save him from the first day of school?


My Review:  This is such a cute book for the start of the school year!  It was released this month, so if you're a teacher, librarian, or otherwise involved with school age kids, you may want to check this one out.

I was hooked at the cover, which is made to look like a large envelope, with postage and all!  It even opens like one...what kid wouldn't love that?!  Once inside, it reminded me a lot of The Jolly Postman, which I used to enjoy sharing with my kindergartners.  The difference with this one is that the letters/post cards are the story, don't come out of the book, and are all written by the same person, until the end.

Michael writes to his teacher before school starts, in response to her "Welcome" letter, that many teachers today write to their students.  He uses different correspondence forms:  letters, a telegram, and a post card.  The book even shows Michael mailing the letters in different mail boxes. Most of the book is made up of letters from Michael, so it would be a good book to use when teaching letter writing as well.  Michael always includes a P.S., which is something that a lot of kids don't know about.

Michael's whole intent, is to let his teacher know why he will not be at school on the 1st day, and what an imagination he has!  He talks about travels to other cities, countries, climates, etc.  Amy Husband does a wonderful job of not only telling about the places Michael travels, through his letters, but also illustrating the highlights of that place.  The illustrations are child like, so it really looks like Michael has added drawings to his letters to help his teacher understand where he is and what he's doing. Very eye-catching, bright, vivid illustrations that children are sure to love!

I'm sure there are many children who feel like Michael, not wanting to go to school on the first day, the end to summer vacation, and having to let go of all they have been doing.  What a great way to express those feelings, through letter writing!  Wouldn't that be a good lesson/activity for the first day/week of school?  Write a response to your teacher's welcome letter.  You could use any correspondence format: post card, letter, etc.  I can see a whole slew of ideas coming from teachers with this book!  May be I'll challenge my teachers to see what they can come up with?  There's so much: letter writing, geography, story telling, etc.

I'm always on the look out for books to start the school year with, and will definitely be sharing this one with the teachers on my campus!

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Thanks to Sourcebooks, I have 2 copies of Dear Teacher to giveaway to 2 lucky readers. Just fill out this form and you are entered...it's that easy!  Giveaway ends Thursday, July 15th at midnight and the winner will be announced on the blog on Friday, July 16th.

Blog Tour - The Phantom Diaries

Another blog tour sponsored by Pump Up Your Book Blog Promotions

Title:  The Phantom Diaries

Author:  Kailin Gow

Electronic Review Copy Provided by:  the author

About the Book:  What happens to the Phantom after the tragedy at the Paris Opera House is the basis for this fantastic tale of The Phantom Diaries, loosely based on Gaston Leroux's classic, The Phantom of the Opera, but with a new tale and a modern twist. This new series for older teens and young adults is told through the eyes of 18 year-old Annette Binoche, who lands a job at the New York Metropolitan Opera House as a seamstress' assistant only to become the lead singer of the Opera House, with the help of the mysterious, yet highly-seductive Phantom.

My Review:   I wasn't real sure how I would feel about this one when I received it.  One, I've never read The Phantom of the Opera, so I had nothing to compare it to, even though it's loosely based on that.  Two, the author sent it to me along with these words, "The Phantom Diaries is for older teens and young adults (age 17 and up).  It is a romance novel loosely based on the Phantom of the Opera, and does contain a few racy scenes due to the prominent characteristics of two characters.  If that is not the kind of book you review, then please do not feel obligated.  This book is definitely for the more mature teens who would be heading toward Harlequin romances for grown ups in a year or so and currently watch anything racy like Gossip Girl or Vampire Diaries on television  :)"  

So, to read or not to read.  Well, I am no stranger to racy scenes in a book, they don't bother me.  I've reviewed books for mature teens, so I thought I'd give it a try.  Besides, I'm a Vampire Diaries fan, so that was enough to make me want to read it.

Having never read Phantom was not a problem.  Maybe it even allowed me to get more into the characters because I had no preconceived notions.  Kailin Gow delivers an intriguing, mysterious, first in a series story that left me wanting more each time I stopped reading.  Waiting for the next one will be trying.  This book is dramatic and if you are looking for paranormal, mixed with romance and suspense, then this is the book for you!  The 2nd in the series is due out at the end of the year, so your wait will not be too long for the next one.

Blog Tour - Female Nomad and Friends

Title:  Female Nomad and Friends

Author:  Rita Golden Gelman

Review Copy Provided by:  Three Rivers Press

About the Book:  In 1987, Rita, newly divorced, set out to live her dream. She sold all her possessions and became a nomad. She wrote a book about her ongoing journey and, in 2001, insisted on putting her personal e-mail address in the last chapter—against all advice. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision. She has met thousands of readers, stayed in their homes, and sat around kitchen tables sharing stories and food and laughter.

In this essay collection, Gelman includes her own further adventures, as well as those of writers and readers telling tales of the shared humanity they experienced in their travels. The stories are funny and sad, poignant and tender, familiar and bizarre. They will make you laugh and cry and maybe even send you off on your own adventure. Also included are fabulous international recipes such as vegetarian dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano chiles topped with a white cream sauce with walnuts and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds), and ho mok (an extraordinary fish-coconut custard from Thailand). Happy reading—and bon appétit, selamat makan, buen provecho!

My Review:  What a delightful collection of essays!  I really enjoyed Gelman's thoughts as well as those of the others in the book.  The stories took me through a range of emotions as I read them and made me want to see the places that were being talked about.  I love to read first person accounts; it makes me really feel like I'm walking in the person's shoes.  The voice in these essays really comes through as the authors speak from the heart and with passion!

My favorite thing about this book is the recipes.  I love to collect recipes and cookbooks, and love it even more when authors include recipes in their books.  I am anxious to try out many of the recipes because they are out of my comfort zone and culturally different than what I am used to.  It will definitely be a challenge, but one that I am ready to take on.

Review: Hailey Twitch is Not a Snitch

Title:  Hailey Twitch is Not a Snitch

Author:  Lauren Barnholdt

Illustrator:  Suzanne Beaky

Review Copy Provided by:  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky



About the Book:
Meet Hailey Twitch...

She's just like you. Well, sort of.

She loves pink sparkly pencils and ice cream. But Hailey also has a secret: she's friends with Maybelle, a sprite that only she can see.

Hailey and Maybelle are having fun, fun, fun. But they're also getting into lots of trouble!

Can Hailey keep her friend a secret or will she have to tell?

My Review:   I had such fun reading this book!  When I taught kindergarten, I always read Junie B. Jones to them.  If I was still in the classroom, with Kinder or 1st or 2nd grade students, this would be my new chapter book series of choice, to introduce them to.  It is funny, realistic, and teaches a lesson.

Lauren Barnholdt does a great job of depicting Hailey as your typical 2nd grader.  I love that the story is told from Hailey's point of view, talking the way kids talk, thinking what kids think, and doing things that kids do.  I'm sure that young girls will fall in love with Hailey, her fairy friend, and this new series.  Yes, this is the first in a series and I'm anxiously awaiting the 2nd installment so I can see what happens to this precocious young girl.  Her actions are instigated by her new found fairy friend Maybelle, who has been trapped in Hailey's dollhouse for years.  Maybelle gets Hailey to do some things that are not always the best choice, because Maybelle wants to be known as "fun."  Doing what's fun, Hailey learns, is not always right.

The illustrations add to the fun of this book.  Suzanne Beaky does a great job of providing pictures to illustrate what is happening in the story.  Children need to learn to create pictures in their minds, but chapter books like this that put pictures in just the right places, ease children into that.   I enjoyed the short break in reading and the addition to the story that Suzanne's illustrations provided.

I actually read this book during the Read-A-Thon, but I saved the review for this week because I felt it was a perfect book to share during Children's Book Week.  Hailey Twitch is Not a Snitch was just released on May 1st.  I hope that you will check it out for yourself and/or someone you love!

Review: Artsy-Fartsy

Title:  Artsy-Fartsy
Author/Illustrator:  Karla Oceanak/Kendra Spanjer
Review Copy Provided by:  Bailiwick Press

About the Book:  Aldo Zelnick is the star of a new comic novel series for children. Ten-year-old Aldo lives with his family in Colorado. He's not athletic like his older brother, he's not a rock hound like his best friend, but he does like bacon. And when his artist grandmother, Goosy, gives him a sketchbook to "record all his artsy-fartsy ideas" during summer vacation, it turns out Aldo is a pretty good cartoonist. In addition to an engaging cartoon story, Artsy-Fartsy includes an illustrated glossary of fun A words used throughout the book, such as absurd, abominable, and audacious. 

My Review:  This was my first comic novel, and I really enjoyed it.  The interspersing of pictures throughout the story, in paragraphs, on the edges, on pages of their own, etc., helped to make this one a fun, quick read.

Artsy-Fartsy was released in December 2009 as a book for kids aged 8-13.  It has a male main character, which I think is great!  The reason I think so many of my male students picked up Diary of  A Wimpy Kid was because it was about a boy.  I think they will pick this one up for the same reason. 

This book is centered around a red letter sketchbook that Aldo received from "Goosy," his grandmother.  In fact, the sketchbook is the book you are reading.  I had my students create Writing Notebooks in my class and this reminded me so much of what some of them did and what was my ultimate goal for their notebooks.  It is a place to write, draw, add your secrets, treasures, etc.  If I were back in the classroom, I would definitely use this book to inspire my students, especially the boys because they usually think the notebooks are more like diaries, which are for girls!

Aldo's not real sure what to put in his sketchbook, but as he adds thoughts, stories, drawings, he realizes that his sketchbook is whatever he wants it to be: a place to be himself.   And, he didn't even want the sketchbook at first, but by the end he may be ready for another one.  Interesting turn of events, right?

I love the added bonuses with this book.  Aldo uses and asterisks many "A" words in his sketchbook.  The definitions to all of these words is included in the back of the book.  You and/or your child can learn more about Aldo, hear how the words are pronounced, get recipes, coloring pages, see the author/illustrator's appearance schedule and sign up for the email list by visiting Aldo's Website.  Aldo is also on Twitter: @AldoZelnick

By the way, Artsy-Fartsy is the first book in the Aldo Zelnick Comic Novel Series.  I bet you're thinking, "since this book focused on 'A' words, then the next book must focus on 'B' words."  Well, you're absolutely right!  The next book in the series, coming Spring 2010, is Bogus

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This just in from Bailiwick Press:

We're a Book of the Year Award Finalist!

Foreword Reviews just named Artsy-Fartsy a Book of the Year Award finalist in not one but TWO categories:

juvenile fiction

AND
graphic novels!

The contest honors the best books published by independent publishers from across the country. The top three winners in each category will be announced at Book Expo America on May 25th.
Yay Aldo!

Review - Perchance to Dream

Title:  Perchance to Dream

Author:  Lisa Mantchev

Review Copy Provided by:  Feiwel and Friends

About the Book:  From the critically acclaimed author of Eyes Like Stars

We are such stuff as dreams are made on.

Act Two, Scene One

Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world. 

Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY


But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—

 Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.

 Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.

When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

My Review:  Perchance to Dream is a delectable read!  I first fell in love with Bertie and the fairies in Eyes Like Stars, and after reading this one, I'm even more in love with them!  They are characters like no others I've read; so funny, so charming, so full of life!

Bertie is such a strong-willed, bull-headed character, and I can relate.  What's so fascinating about her is she's this way as a teenager.  She sure seems to know her way around the stage, of which the world is her stage.  Bertie left the theatre to rescue Nate.  She's never been outside the theatre, so she's not quite sure how to go about things, but she knows she can write.  She is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and her writing helps her create the stage she wants and needs to get to where she's going.  Her writing doesn't always work out the way she plans though, and that tends to get her into trouble.  But the trouble is the fun part!  Will she ever make her way to Sedna's lair and Nate?  Will she realize her true feelings for Ariel?  Perchance, but only time will tell.

Did I mention that the fairies were my favorites?  They add so much comedy to the story.  I love how they are so food driven.  You can get them to do anything for pie!  Bertie relies on the faeries and they look out for her, but will she be able to make it own her own, without them there to be her conscience?

Lisa Mantchev is such a phenomenal writer!  From the very first page, I was drawn back into the story, right where Eyes Like Stars had left off.  Her writing is so different from other writers, so unusually compelling.  She mixes words like the fairies would mix a pie...a little of this, a little of that, and when you put it all together, it is a tasty treat!  There are so many words in this book that I want to go back and explore.  When you read them, you want to say them out loud and hear the way they roll off your tongue.  Many of them are delicious sounding to the ear!  It's amazing how words can do that!

I can't say enough about this book; it is just an awesome read!  Lisa, like Bertie, is a Teller of Tales, and this one is a Broadway hit!  Bravo Lisa, Bravo!

Perchance to Dream has a release date of June 2010, but Amazon says it will be available May 25, 2010.  So, if you haven't read Eyes Like Stars, get busy so you're ready.  If you have read Eyes, then pre-order Perchance and be one of the first to read this delightful tale of comedy, tragedy, and magic!

Review: Horrid Henry's Joke Book

Title:  Horrid Henry's Joke Book

Author:  Francesca Simon

Review Copy Provided by:  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

About the Book:  Warning: Too rude for parents and for slimy toad little brothers!
These are Horrid Henry's very own jokes: the jokes that grossed out Mom and Dad... that made Aunt Ruby run home... that sent Miss Battle-Axe screaming from class. Be horrid! Read Henry's jokes. Then tell them to the world!

My Review:  I've never been a huge fan of joke books, but I love Horrid Henry, so I had to review this one.  Children on the other hand, love joke books.  My 3rd graders would check them out and laugh out loud as they read them.  They shared them with me and even though I found them corny, it was funny to see the kick they got out of telling them.

This will be one of those books that is continuously asked for in a school library.  Horrid Henry is very popular, so kids will definitely want to read his jokes.  There are "why did the chicken cross the road" jokes, knock-knock jokes, and some questionable jokes as well.  Henry even shares some of his friends as well as his brother's jokes, even though he really doesn't want to.

I really enjoyed this little joke book.  With just 88 pages, it is packed full of funny!  The illustrations and Henry's commentary add so much to the jokes.  Ms. Simon has a winner on her hands with this one!  Kids are going to love it!  It was just released on April 1st, so get one for the joke loving child in your life.

Review: The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge

Just in time for Earth Day comes Ms. Frizzle and her students in a new Magic School Bus book!

Title:  The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge

Author/Illustrator:  Joanna Cole/Bruce Degen

Review Copy Provided by:  Scholastic

About the Book:  Ms. Frizzle’s students are putting on a play about global warming, and they need some cold, hard facts. The Friz knows just where to find them! A hop on the Magic School Bus takes the kids on a whirlwind tour. From the Arctic to the equator, they see telltale signs of climate change. But to get the really big picture, the class has to get really small – so they can see exactly what is in the air and why it is making the world warmer. What they find gives them a real cause for concern!

My Review:  I am a HUGE Magic School Bus fan! I have a collection of the books, that went along with themes in my classroom, and I loved to use the videos with my kindergartners and 3rd graders!  This is a great new book from Joanna Cole.  Global warming and climate change are words that we're hearing too often these days.  This book helps to explain the phenomena to children in a way they will understand.  It makes non-fiction reading fun!

Children love these books because they are fun!  Ms. Cole tells a story about climate change that can be read on it's own and easily understood, without all the side notes.  But, if you read the side notes, definitions, etc, you will be that much more informed about global warming.  The children in Ms. Frizzle's class explain gases, conserving, recycling, molecules, atoms and many more words.  In their mini-reports, they teach the reader about fossil fuels, why global warming is happening now, and much more!  It's amazing the way Ms. Cole packs a ton of facts into one children's book.

I think another reason children are drawn to these books is the fact that the characters become the science that they are talking about.  It is more of an interactive non-fiction text that not only informs but entertains.  This is a must have addition to a classroom or school library.

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Find out more information on Ms. Frizzle’s April 20 Webcast:  Climb on board with author Joanna Cole and illustrator Bruce Degen on Tuesday, April 20th at 1pm ET / 10am PT as they join Ms. Frizzle to celebrate Earth Day and their new book The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey! Simply register online, then tune in on April 20th and join the fun! Visit The Magic School Bus Webcast.






*I received a copy of The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge in support of this post*