Snoop review

 

The story of a boy who's stuck at home with two broken legs... and who starts using cameras and a drone to spy on his classmates, neighbors, and a possible criminal who's come to town.(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

After an unfortunate accident on the ski slopes leave 12 year old Carter home bound with two broken legs, he decides to fill up his boredom by watching his local police departments live feed security camera links. At first, he views neighborhood citizens and his classmates around town to see what they are up to.  But when he starts seeing things that look a bit unusual and possible endangered animals roaming the streets at night, he has a hard time convincing people to believe him.  But worse yet his obsessive innocent snooping, or so he thought, leads him into trouble with his classmates and the police, isolating him more than being wheelchair bound at home in the first place.

 

This new middle grade book is short and fast-paced for the reader who is looking for something quick to read.  There are a lot of events going on all at once but will keep kids engaged to find out what happens in the end.  If Carter was not constantly glued to his phone, he would have been able to see his little brother barrel down the ski hill right into him.  While recovering, he needs to attend zoom school which he finds difficult and being home all day is boring.  Once he gets hooked on the police live cams, he becomes even more addicted spying on his school crush Lacey and the popular kids group around town. This also leads him into some sleuthing of a possible crime but everything snowballs.  It definitely shows how technology can lead into too much distraction and has a cause and effect element. It is told mainly from Carter's point-of-view and has themes of privacy, friendships, family, feeling isolated from others, middle school drama and illegal animal smuggling.  Some things do seem a little overstretched in reality but kids may still find it entertaining.  As the story unfolds, Carter redeems himself by uncovering an illegal operation but also admits that his snooping/spying turned obsession got out of hand and that you have to be aware of where to draw the line.  The author always includes good character development in his stories and are good choices for middle grade readers.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 11-12.~

 

Title: Snoop

Author: Gordon Korman

Pub. date:  July 2025,  Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade 

Hardcover, 195 pgs.

 

 

The Wombats go Wild for Words review

 

A trio of wandering wombats with a passion for words inspire an enthusiastic duckling to transform her town from dull to dazzling.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Evergreen Forest was a very nice and very ordinary place to live.  Although, being a very nice place to live, the forest seemed rather quite dull.  But nobody seemed to mind or complain about it because they really didn't say many words at all.  That was until a trio of wordy wombats arrived ready to show the ordinary inhabitants how extraordinary it could be.  

 

This is a cute and fun book about the power of words and how new ones can fit into our everyday lives.   Why use plain simple words when you can use grand and unique word choices instead.  The wombats teach a little curious duckling how ordinary things can become more exciting when changing the word choices.   For example; hot and thirsty can become sweltering and parched or very hungry and super hungry can turn into famished and ravenous.  The illustrations are colorful, expressive and shows how much fun using new words can be. In the end, little ducking becomes an honorary word wombat and makes his own "duck-tionary" to share the meanings of his new found vocabulary words.   This is a delightful book that will help kids learn more about descriptive words and aid in the writing process. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-7

 

Title: The Wombats go Wild for Words

Author: Beth Ferry, illustrated by Lori Nichols

Pub. date: June 2025, Random House

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pine Cone's Secret - A Life Cycle Poem review

 

Did you know a pine tree starts as a cone, turns into a gift, and can become a blanket?(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

We have the opportunity to learn many amazing things from nature and here is the perfect book to add to your home or classroom library.  It is a mix between poetic text and a science lesson all in one.  It follows the journey of a pine tree through each stage of its life; starting from a falling pine cone and growing into a towering giant. The tree can also be many helpful things to the forest animals and people that live near it.   The beautiful illustrations are gentle and peaceful while taking you through the different seasons.  If you look closely at the forest scenes, kids will find little animals hidden in various spots. I also liked that it tells a story of a growing family, caretakers of the forest and how animals need trees for their survival.  Added at the end pages are wonderful extras such as; parts of a pine tree, where pines are found, tree trivia and a pine cone craft project.  It is an extra fun science lesson part that taught me things I didn't know.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-8.~

 

Title: The Pine Cone's Secret

Author: Hannah Barnaby, illustrated by Cedric Abt

Pub. date:  September 2025,  Sourcebooks Explore

Genre: picture book, nature

Hardcover, 40 pgs 

How to Catch a Turkey review

 

A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Can YOU help catch it?(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A turkey is on the loose! He is expected to go onstage any minute for the school play but he gets stage fright and takes off running.   Will everyone catch him in time for the big Thanksgiving performance?

 

 If you are looking for a fun and fast-paced read for the Thanksgiving season, this story will add giggles to the festivity.  The rhyming text flows easily and the whimsical illustrations are in bold colors.  When the turkey gets stage fright and decides to bolt, the chaos trying to catch him throughout the school will have kids either cheering for his escape or his capture.  In the end, the turkey ends up right up on stage where he was suppose to be and finds that it can be quite enjoyable after all. A fun read to add to the Thanksgiving Holiday.  I think this is a "just right book for ages 3-6.~

 

Title: How to Catch A Turkey

Author:  Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton

Pub. date: September 2018, Sourcebooks Wonderland

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

 

 

A Fall Day for Bear review

 

 Can gruff and grumpy Bear cheer up his usually upbeat friend Mouse?(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Bear is suppose to meet Mouse at his home for a picnic.  Little Mouse is always on time and bright-eyed when they plan fun things to do.  But when Mouse is a no show, Bear becomes concerned and begins to worry.  He sets off to look for him and finds Mouse sitting on a stump looking rather dreary. Mouse explains he feels sad with all the changes that come with Autumn.  Will Bear find a way to help cheer up his usually happy friend?

 

This a heartwarming story about friendship, the changing seasons and comforting others who have the blues. Mouse feels sad because he doesn't like the falling leaves, the birds heading south and the flowers drying up. He is struggling with everything going away. Kids who have difficulty with change will relate to how Mouse is feeling. By trying to cheer Mouse up though, Bear does find his sadness rubbing off on him making him grumpy and sad as well. Together they work out their sad feelings in a supportive way that only good friends can do.  The watercolor illustrations are warm and gentle giving the feeling of blowing winds and crunchy leaves.  It is a wonderful story to spark discussion about change, the feelings of others and ways they can help someone when they are feeling down for whatever reason.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title:  A Fall Day for Bear

Author: Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton 

Pub date: September 2025, Candlewick Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.