Purple Little Bird review

Purple Little Bird lives in a very purple world:

He has a purple little house and a purple little garden.  But somehow, it's just not quite perfect.  So Purple Little Bird sets off to find the perfect place for him—and discovers it in a most unexpected way.  (goodreads summary)





Who would have thought purple could be such an interesting and perfect color. Unfortunately, purple little bird becomes restless with it and sets off to explore the world to find something more perfect than his purple life. What he finds are many things along the way but they just do not seem right. This is a cute book about colors and even climates while finding that perfect fit. There are many animals in their habitats that little bird meets along the way. The sweet and adorable pictures are nicely illustrated and the short verses would make for a wonderful read-aloud. With such a variety of animals you could even do some fun character voices I'm sure will have the kids giggling.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title: Purple Little Bird
Author: Greg Foley
Pub. Date:  May 2011, Balzer & Bray
Genre: picture book
Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Top Ten Tuesday-October 18



Today is Tuesday and it is time for Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  Anyone can join and its fun to read what others have to say. This week's Top Ten is:

Judging Books by Their Covers-Do You??

There are so many fantastic covers and it's hard not to want to purchase them just for the artwork. I don't think I can think of ten but here are a few that caught my eye this past summer from our local library that I liked..........I did purchase The Mermaid Garden but have not read it yet.

The Revenant review

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary. Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.  She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . (goodreads summary)

It is August, 1896 and seventeen year old Willemina Hammond is doing the unthinkable. She is boarding the railway to the Cherokee Female Seminary under a false identity accepting a teaching position that is truly not hers for the taking.  She has assumed the name of a former classmate and will be teaching English classes at the Seminary as Angeline McClure. She finds she is not much older than her students and pretending to be someone she is not becomes quite the challenge for her.  She would much rather be an impostor than return home from her own schooling to her mother's plea for help with the family. Willie's father had passed away and not soon after his death, her mother remarried a neighbor and had children with him. Willie feels betrayed by her mother's choices but finds an opportunity to escape them by taking this teaching job under false pretences.  As the new school year begins, strange things are happening at the Girl's Seminary. There is rumor that a ghost of a student who drowned in the nearby river is haunting the Seminary but for reasons unknown.  There may be more to this death than just accidental. Willie has also captured the eye of a local schoolboy, Eli Sevenstar, who also seems to have unexpectedly captured her heart as well. Not only does she need to cover up her identity but also her feelings for him to keep from being exposed as the fraud she truly is. As more and more ghostly incidents occur at the school, Willie finds herself becoming intensely involved in the mysteries unraveling behind the truth of the Revenant that may bring her more than she bargained for.

Willie and her friend Olivia are determined to find the source of the ghost and why it is haunting with a vengeance.   There are girls in the school who seem to be targets for the ghosts outbursts that cause injury and fear amongst them. They feel it is the ghost of Ella, the student who drowned, because they treated her unkindly during her life. Ella was also the girl who had every boys attention and wishing for her love. There are many diverse characters that make this story appealing and added to the mystery of Ella's death. But, dealing with spooky ghosts is not the only thing Willie is trying to sort out. Her feelings for Eli come into conflict while hiding her identity. Any relationship is forbidden because she is a teacher but her feelings are actually one of a smitten school girl.  This was a simple but chilling historical ghost story that was filled with mystery, murder, plenty of secrets, romance and of course, suspense. It had many twists and turns that were unexpected. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was pleasantly surprised by another outcome. Passionate feelings and pregnancy before marriage are portrayed but not in too much detail. I did find myself enjoying this debut novel because it had a mysterious and suspenseful plot that kept me interested until the end.  It gave me vivid imagery of the setting because the writing style presented Victorian eloquence and a detailed feeling of an 1890's time period. The cover was quite beautiful, too. I do look forward to reading more books by the author and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 15 and up.~

Title: The Revenant
Author: Sonia Gensler
Pub. Date: June 2011, Alfred A. Knopf - Random House
Genre: young adult fiction
Hardcover, 322 pgs.

Blueberry Girl review

This is a prayer for a blueberry girl . . . A much-loved baby grows into a young woman: brave, adventurous, and lucky. Exploring, traveling, bathed in sunshine, surrounded by the wonders of the world. What every new parent or parent-to-be dreams of for her child, what every girl dreams of for herself.
Let me go places that we've never been, trust and delight in her youth. (goodreads summary)

This book is a beautifully written poem stemmed from the hopes and dreams we have as a mother for our daughters.  A special prayer for girls growing up to find strength, independence and the courage to face the many challenges in their life.  This may not a be a book for everyone because it has such a deep emotional feel to it. You need to read between the lines and then you will find the true meaning of the authors intent. The illustrations have a dreamlike, fantasy quality about them also making it not your typical picture book or bedtime story.  I think it would though be a nice baby shower gift for the expectant mom of a newborn girl.  I could see myself reading it to my daughter now at an age when she needs me to help guide her through those tough years approaching. I think this is a "just right book" for anyone who would like to pass the words and wisdom on to our future generations of women. It truly carries a special message from the heart!~

Title: Blueberry Girl
Author: Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Charles Vess
Pub. Date:  March 2009, Harper Collins
Genre:  poetry
Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Book Blogger Hop - October 14

Thanks must go to Crazy-For-Books for hosting this weekly book blogger hop. It is a fun and great way to meet other bloggers and share our thoughts. This week's question from Jen is:

“What is your favorite spooky book (i.e. mystery/suspense, thriller, ghost story, etc.)?”

My Answer:  Since I have always loved spooky stories it is hard to think of just one. But I think my favorite spooky book would be Pet Sematary and a close second would be Misery both by Stephen King. He is actually a favorite author when it comes to scary.~

I'm looking forward to reading what other's choose as their favorite spooky book and hope to find some recommendations for some new scary reads too! Have a good weekend.........







Top Ten Tuesday-October 11

It has been a while since I posted a Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.  Finding more time now that summer has come to an end, I thought I would join up again when I saw today's question.........

Top Ten Books I Wish I Could Read Again for the First Time

My list in no particular order - They just stand out in my mind

- The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore 

- Harry Potter - all seven of them of course!

- The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

- Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

- Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

- Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor

- The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

- The Shining by Stephen King

Apples

Apple trees grow in more parts of the world than any other fruit tree. They have been in existence for about two million years. From blossom to pollination to picking, here is information about how they grow, their various parts and different varieties. Instructions on how to plant and care for an apple tree are included. Juice, jelly, cider, pie or right off the tree...apples are delicious (jacket description)

This past weekend, we took advantage of the beautiful fall weather in Wisconsin and went apple picking.  A yearly tradition that we never seem to outgrow and still enjoy together as a family. While out in the orchard, this reminded me of one of my many all-time favorite books by Gail Gibbons.  She provides much information on many topics and Apples is a great addition when it comes to the fall season.  Inside you will find a brief history on how the colonists brought apple seeds from England and then moved westward.  From pollination to picking time to the dormant stage, the book gives wonderful information on all things apple related.  After reading this book, you will gain an appreciation for all the apple truly has to offer. The illustrations are detailed and plentiful as well as bold and bright. For families looking to have a fun family day activity, this book would make a great read-a-loud before you head out to the orchard. Also, a recipe is included in the back pages and I know I am looking forward to baking my first apple pie with my daughter this year. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4 - 8.~

Title: Apples
Author: Gail Gibbons
Genre: nonfiction
Pub. Date: December 2000, Holiday House
Hardcover, 32 pgs.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall review

When twelve-year-old Florence boards the horse-drawn coach in London, she looks forward to a new life at Crutchfield Hall, her great-uncle’s manor house in the English countryside. Anything will be better, Florence thinks, than the grim London orphanage she has just left.  Florence doesn’t reckon with the eerie presence that haunts the cavernous rooms and dimly lit hallways of Crutchfield. It’s the ghost of her cousin Sophia, who died the year before. Sophia’s ghost seeks to recreate the scene of her death and cause someone else to die in her place so that she will be restored to life. And she intends to force her newly arrived cousin to help her. (goodreads summary)

Florence has lived at Miss Medleycoate's Home for Orphan Girls since she was 5 years old when she lost both her parents in a drowning accident. She had no other family to live with until seven years later finds that she is the great-niece of Thomas Crutchfield. He searched a very long time for her and made arrangements for Florence to live at Crutchfield Hall with himself, his spinster of a sister and James, a cousin from her father's brother who also had become orphaned.  Unfortunately, James is very ill and in a fragile state. Not only had he lost his parents but after moving in at Crutchfield Hall, his older sister Sophia was killed in a tragic accident.  Once Florence arrives, she soon realizes she is not welcomed by her Great-Aunt Eugenie and finds that she places Sophia on a pedestal.  When Florence is taken to her new room for the first time, she feels an eeriness about the house, almost as if she is being watched and hears laughter in the halls.  Many strange and unusual things are about to take place behind the doors of this dark and creepy house.  Florence must find the mysteries behind Sophia's death before she can feel settled in her new surroundings and call this place home.

Just in time for halloween, this book will give kids spine tingling shivers. It had many exciting thrills for such a short story and I enjoyed this classic styled ghost tale. The words and characters had a wonderful 19th Century English feel to it and I loved the many references of classic book titles and authors. Hopefully young readers will recognize a few because they are quite old but popular enough for some titles to click.  When Florence encounters Sophia's ghost, it is evident that she was not only nasty in life but it carried over to her afterlife with a vengeance. Sophia is demanding and can make people say and do things beyond their control and Florence cannot seem to escape her bidding. Sophia entices Florence to visit James even though she knows it is forbidden. She finds James is also haunted by his sister and needs help releasing himself from her hold.  The adults in this story want to believe but not sure if they should believe? I think Sophia is written as an unhappy lingering spirit whose anger keeps her from crossing over to a more peaceful and better life.  It is the idea of her popping up at any moment and sensing James and Florence's fear of her anger and mind games whenever she is around that makes this story the scary page turner. What she really wants is for someone to pay for her untimely death so she can come back and live the life she was entitled to.  But who does she want and why? I felt it had a good beginning, climatic middle and a fast wrapped up ending. Everything a spooky ghost story needs to keep you on the edge of your seat.  Although, the end did leave me with questions wondering if there could have been more to finish the story or did the author leave room for a second book.  It was a simple, quick read and may capture the reader who likes psychological type ghost stories as well as the short length. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10 and up.~

Title: The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
Author: Mary Downing Hahn
Genre: fiction
Pub. Date: September 2010, Clarion Books
Hardcover, 153 pgs.

Wild Life review

Erik is preparing for his first-ever hunting trip when he learns that his parents are being deployed to Iraq.  A few days later, Erik is shipped off to North Dakota to live with Big Darrell and Oma, grandparents he barely knows. When Erik rescues a dog that’s been stuck by a porcupine, Big Darrell says Erik can’t keep him. But Erik has already named her Quill and can’t bear to give her up.  He decides to run away, taking the dog and a shotgun, certain that they can make it on their own out on the prairie.  In this story of adventure and survival, Erik learns about the challenges and satisfactions of living off the land, the power of family secrets, and the pain of losing what you love. (goodreads summary)


Twelve year old Erik arrives home with exciting news that he passed his hunter safety course and is looking forward to his first outing with his best friend and father. It is soon overshadowed when Erik learns that both parents are being deployed to Iraq at the end of the week. Arrangements have been made for him to move to a very small, underdeveloped town in North Dakota to live with grandparents he does not know.  When Erik arrives, his grandmother is sweet but his grandfather "Big Darrell" is very cool and does nothing to welcome him into his home.  Erik cannot believe he will be living in this remote area for 6 months or maybe even longer. When a stray dog in need of help shows up at the farm with porcupine quills in its nose, he befriends the dog and feels that his life may be bearable after all. But to his dismay, Erik's grandfather says "No dogs" and strictly forbids it into the home. Unfortunately, the owner of the dog has also been located a couple of days later and is ready to take her back. Not only does he have a hard time adjusting to his new surroundings but also does not want to return the dog.  While Erik is alone one day, he decides to see what is behind the closed door that his grandparents do not want him to enter in. Inside, he finds a bedroom shrine from Erik's uncle who died at an early age from the Vietnam War.  When he notices his uncle's old hunting gear, gun and a few other supplies in the closet, he decides to run away to survive living a pioneer life on the land away from any adults telling him what to do.  Besides, what more does he need when he has supplies and a faithful dog by his side?

This story is a quick and fast paced survival/adventure read.  It moves along in a matter of five days time and Erik is faced with a few challenges such as finding shelter, hunger, thirst, sickness and snowy weather. Naturally, things do not go as planned for him and eventually realizes this adventure could be harder than he thought.  The writing was not only wonderfully descriptive but also gave me detailed feeling of the setting and characters.  Because of the fast pace, it just may capture some reluctant readers in need of a bookshare book.  I thought there were some great vocabulary words that kids may find new and noteworthy as well.  Hunting and cleaning pheasants and a rabbit is mentioned in detail but I guess that is part of the true survival experience Erik faces. Both Big Darrell and Erik had to come to terms with loss and change that made for some character development for each person.  I also thought the cover art was eye-catching and beautiful.  I think this is a "just right book" for grades 5-8.~

Title: Wild Life
Author: Cynthia DeFelice
Genre:  Fiction
Pub. Date: April 2011, RR Donnelly & Sons
Hardcover, 177 pgs.

The Best Pet Ever review

A little girl really wants a pet and with some creative thinking and a very active imagination she finds all types of objects that can become the best pet ever. A rock, a glove, a candy wrapper and even a balloon all serve as substitutes! Until, one day, she carefully opens a box to find a real kitten--and he is the best pet in the WORLD!  (goodreads summary)

When the little girl in the story asks her mom for a pet, her mom's reply is "we'll see".  So instead, by using her imagination, this carefree girl finds various objects that she can turn into the best pet.  This cute story is full of imagination and using creativity to come up with something out of the simplest thing.  The wonderfully done illustrations will make you smile and laugh. Especially when the girl gives names to her object pets and describe the things they will do . The book brought me back to my childhood when I would make things out of boxes and play for days on end with it until it fell apart. I love books that promote using the imagination and think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title: The Best Pet Ever
Author: Victoria Roberts - illustrated by: Deborah Allwright
Genre: Picture book
Pub. Date:  March 2010, Tiger Tales
Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Book Blogger Hop - September 16

Thanks to Crazy for Books for this great Book Blogger Hop question this week, iIt is a great way to meet other bloggers and share our thoughts.  Here is what Jen has to say about this weeks question!


This week, I went to Twitter for the prompt. Thank you to @fangswandsfairy for a great blogger-focused question! 

“As a book blogger, how do you introduce yourself in your profile?”

My Answer:  I had a hard time writing a profile for myself. I think I had a blank page in front of me for two days and I remember going back and forth to my computer. So, I decided to just write about the passion that I had for books and how we as adults can help instill this in our children by helping them make good reading choices.  I love reading so many genres of books and passing on that "just right book" for everyone to enjoy through my blog.

I am looking forward to reading what others have said and will catch a few new profiles along the way. Have a great hop weekend everyone!!

Imaginary Girls review

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby. But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.(goodreads summary)

Ruby and Chloe are separated when the tragic death of a classmate is questioned and she moves in with her distant father miles away. The reservoir is a place where kids would go for parties and swimming but there are also many other secrets that it holds. Two years after the discovery of London's dead body, Ruby finds Chloe and insists she returns to her hometown to be reunited so she can take care of and protect her just like before. Ruby and Chloe share the same mother who was non existent in their lives growing up.  Ruby was always the popular, daring and outrageous sister. All the girls want to be like her and all the boys want to be with her. Upon her return, Chloe now finds things are more different than usual with Ruby.  She seems to hold an unexplainable power over the small community and the people around her.  She is manipulative and will use others as a pawn to get what she wants whenever she wants, especially with ex-boyfriends.  Being influenced by Ruby's unnatural force, some almost seem to be in a trance like state at times in her presence. Both sisters also have an incredible needy bond but hold a strong love and trust for each other.  Ruby is very protective of Chloe and insists that she does not go near the reservoir or leave the outskirts of town.  Ruby would tell Chloe stories of the flooded Town of Olive that was laying underneath the reservoir giving it a ghostlike quality. As Chloe adjusts to the many unusual changes around her, she unfolds answers to the secrets that lay at the bottom of the mysterious watering hole which determines what is real and what is not.

When I first started reading this book, I had a hard time getting into it. I wasn't sure what direction this story was taking. I found myself confused in the beginning and almost gave up on it.  It took me until the first 80 pages to realize this was becoming more exciting and I was liking it.  I picked up on the beautiful writing talents of the author and ended up surprisingly captivated by this supernatural story after all. I found myself eager to read into the next chapter to see what was going to happen. The haunting words flowed so easily and they gave me such an eerie visualization that I had the heebie jeebie's for a couple of days.  Good writing is suppose to do this for the reader and I found myself hooked on the spookiness.  The relationship of the two sisters seemed quite strange but it was a story about the strong bond of sisterhood and how far someone would go for the one they loved.  What Chloe had to figure out was the truth behind Ruby's powerful force and how it connected with the death of London which turned out to be a surprise as well.  I enjoyed the twists and turns at each new chapter keeping my attention until the very end. I admit I was left with questions lingering in the end  but I suppose that was the author's intent, so I would reflect on what I just read.  There is drinking and Chloe does have a sexual encounter but is not written in too much detail and is brief.  This book may not be for the reader looking for a wrapped up plot in the end but I was glad I gave it a chance with an open mind.  It will make for a good supernatural story to curl up with now that the chilly fall nights are fast approaching.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 16 and up.~

Title: Imaginary Girls
Author: Nova Ren Suma
Genre: young adult, paranormal
Pub: Date: June 2011, Dutton Books
Hardcover,  348 pgs.