Otto the Book Bear review

Otto lives in a book and is happiest when his story is being read.  But Otto has a secret: when no one is looking and the mood strikes, Otto walks right off of his book's pages! (goodreads summary)







When Otto the bear walks off his book page, he finds plenty of interesting things to explore and do.  But when the family moves and Otto is accidentally left behind, he sets off for an adventure to find a new place to call home.  With his bag packed for the journey, he finds that the world can make him feel very small. But when he sees somewhere new filled with light and hope, Otto knows he has found a special place where he belongs. This story is cute and so sweet with simple, large text making it a perfect read-aloud. The gentle, eye pleasing illustrations give so much life to Otto that they could tell the story alone. It definitely encourages children's imaginations about book characters coming to life and that the library along with reading can be a magical thing for everyone. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title: Otto the Book Bear
Author:  Katie Cleminson
Genre: picture book
Pub. date: January 2012, Hyperion Books for Children
Hardcover, 32 pages

Stars review

Stars are everywhere.

Not just in the sky.

Look... (goodreads summary)

There is so much magic in the night sky.... As beautiful stars twinkle, they capture our sense of wonder. But what if you could have a star all for your own? This sweet and simple picture book tells us the many things a star can be. You can cut one out of shiny paper and put it in your pocket or pin it on and be the sherriff. You can also put it on a stick and make a wand. It focuses on imagination and thinking about what a star can mean in our everyday lives. The gentle and simply written text is calming and the beautiful illustrations makes it a great bedtime read. It is a wonderfully quiet book, perfect for settling down with the little ones. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title: Stars
Author: Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee
Genre: picture book
Pub. date:  October 2011, Beach Lane Books
Hardcover, 36 pgs.

An Elephant in the Garden review

With Lizzie’s father fighting in World War II, her mother takes on the job of a zoo keeper to provide for her family. Lizzie, her mother, and her eight-year-old brother Karli have become especially attached to an orphaned elephant named Marlene. The bombing of Dresden is imminent and soon, so the zoo director explains that as a precautionary measure all the animals must be destroyed so that they’re not running wild through the city. Lizzie’s mother persuades the director to allow Marlene, the elephant, to come stay in the family’s garden. Dresden is bombed and the family, including Marlene, is forced from the city.  Lizzie’s mother has to find a different route out of the city to keep the elephant and the children safe from harm.



When Karl's mother needs to work overtime as a nurse at the local nursing home on weekends, she would always take him along. At first, she was hesitant and unsure how he would get along with the many elderly residents but soon found that not only Karl loved it but they enjoyed him in return. He strikes up a friendship with Lizzie, an 82 year old woman who just so happened to have a brother named Karli that seemed to have a striking resemblance to him.  No one believes Lizzie when she talks of her elephant she has in the garden and the staff say she is just confused and imagining things. No one that is except nine-year-old Karl, who is so fascinated by her story and can't wait to hear more. Lizzie tells Karl and his mother the story of Marlene the elephant and how the day of February 13th, 1945 changed her life forever.

The story flashes back to the time when she was a young girl during World War II living in the city of Dresden, Germany with her brother Karli and mother (mutti). Her father has left for the war and her mutti takes a job at the local zoo. Mutti learns that all the animals will be destroyed because if the city is bombed, they cannot run at large. Her mother offers to take in Marlene, a baby elephant to care for instead of such drastic measures happening to her. One evening, while the family is out walking Marlene, the city is bombed and the elephant runs off frightened. The family chases after her and finds themselves too running for their lives with nothing but the clothes on their backs as they look back at their once beautiful city being destroyed. This beautifully written historical fiction was inspired by a true story. I was so engrossed in this book that I read it in one day. Listening to Lizzie's story not only brought emotion but the writing was so vividly detailed that I could see and hear the sounds of the war in my mind.  The family struggles on foot in the winter snow with no money, food, or shelter to find safety while the Russian Soldiers close in on them from the east. This is a story of courage, hope, survival and finding love.  The author describes the war from a child's point-of-view nicely and does not skim over the facts of the two sides along with the causes and effects of the war. At times, it has German vocabulary but the English meaning is also present. The ending wraps up quickly and there is an author's note describing how the idea came to life for this story.  This book is a reminder of the so many stories that are out there that should not be forgotten. It develops a connection with our youth and the importance of our elderly before their stories are taken with them to their next journey. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10 and up.~

Title: An Elephant in the Garden
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub. Date: October 2011, Feiwel & Friends
Hardcover, 199 pages

Follow Friday - March 16

                 

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme which is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read that expands your blog following. It is a great way to meet new bloggers! Each week there is a great question and each host will have a featured blog too. I have been a follower of Alison's blog for the past year and finally decided to join on this hop. I hope to hop from time-to-time!

This week's question is:

Q: What is the best book you've read in the last month? What is the worst book you've read in the last month?.

My answer:  This is going to be a tough question this week because I have been so far behind on my reading this past month, especially the young adults. I know that the middle grade book Mo Wren, Lost and Found by Tricia Springstubb was wonderful. I am just about finished with An Elephant in the Garden by Michael Morpurgo which is also a good story that I could add to my favorites.

As far as some not-so-great ones? I don't think I have come across any that I could say were the worst ones yet. If I get myself caught up, I just may have a different answer next month....

Have a great weekend everyone!



Storm Runners Book 1 review

Chase Masters and his father are "storm runners," racing across the country in pursuit of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. But when the hurricane of the century hits, Chase will be tested in ways he never could have imagined. (goodreads summary)







Chase and his father never seem to stay in one place very long.  After the loss of Chase's mother and sister, his father decides to take his building skills on the move to become the Masters of Disaster.  When people need help in rebuilding their communities after a natural disaster strikes, Chase's father John and his helper Tomas' are there to assist. This time they are heading down to Florida in the wake of Hurricane Emily, predicted to hit the St. Petersburg area. Chase is used to relocating to different places quickly and starting new schools, never staying more than a few days. He will be residing with the Rossi family on their farm which is used as a winter haven for a travelling circus and several exotic animals.  On Chase's first day of school, he figures out that the hurricane will change routes and will hit exactly where he is staying in Palm Breeze, instead of the St. Pete's area 40 miles away as predicted. Not believing him when he tells the school Principal they are safer to remain at school, Chase and the students are sent home on the bus. A sudden gust of wind blows the bus off its wheels with Chase, Nicole Rossi and a third student Rashawn on board. The three must fight for their lives to survive the hurricane's force and make it safely to shelter before it is too late.

This story is full of high adventure and heart pounding elements that will keep its' reader hooked with every turn of a page. I think it may also appeal to reluctant readers because it is a fast-paced, short read that is quite thrilling.  I especially like books that portray characters who remain level headed and calm in situations of crisis. This survival story is not short on peril and the characters handled the many life threatening circumstances they came upon.  From pounding hurricane wind and rain, roads breaking away from under them to crossing a flooded refuge full of alligators, it was hard to imagine that this story is based in one day's time.  I found Chase, Nicole and Rashawn very knowledgeable and full of problem solving skills making them strong, likable characters.  I also found myself learning about hurricane's, survival skills and that Chase's go bag filled with items in case of a disaster is a good idea. The ending was a bit of a surprise cliffhanger, which I did not see coming. Some may not like the book ending the way it did. But then again, I view it as a way to keep kids interested in reading and having another book in hand.  The last chapter gave a little foreshadowing for the next book and I am looking forward to following the series. The second book, The Surge, is available now and the third, The Eruption, just came out this month. I think this is a "just right book" for grades 4-7.~

Title: Storm Runners
Author: Roland Smith
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Pub. date: March 2011, Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 143 pgs.

The Creative Kitchen: Food Gifts to Make and Give review

Need an amazing gift? These delicious foods and beverages are wonderful to share--and it's so easy to make them look as good as they taste. Present a savory Garden Chicken Casserole in a placemat Casserole Tote, or a Butterscotch Coffee Cake in a Decorated Cake Box. With more than 100 recipes and 65 quick, creative presentations, you will always have the right gift for the occasion. (goodreads summary)



I enjoy making food gifts for just about any occasion for my family, friends or child's teacher. Sometimes, when I run out of ideas I could use a little inspiration... I came across this idea filled book at my local library and will be placing it on my wish list! It is packed with wonderful and creative gift giving ideas that will impress that someone special. It contains over 100 recipes, which are quick and simple to make such as; cookies, breads, cakes, beverages, pies, sauces or jams and healthy snacks.  From creamy fudges to nut mixes, there are plenty of tempting treats to try that will please just about any taste. A section on Holiday and Seasonal ideas will keep you inspired from Valentine's Day to Christmas. Best of all are the beautiful pictures and sample ideas on how to present your yummy treats. They can be delivered in dressed up baskets with handmade towels, sewn totes, jars and containers with colorful scrapbook paper cards, tags or labels or wrapped in cellophane with ribbons and placed in buckets or decorated boxes.

Included at the back of the book are some patterns and sewing instructions for some of the projects which I find are always helpful. Even if you don't exactly make what they have in the book, it will help spark your imagination.  There were so many ideas to get my creative juices flowing again I can't wait until the next special occasion arrives! This would even be a fun book for kids or together time for families to share in the spirit of gift giving. I think this is a "just right book" for anyone who enjoys crafts and who love to give gifts from the heart.~

Title: The Creative Kitchen
Author: Leisure Arts - Gifts of Good Taste Series
Pub. date: 2011
genre: nonfiction
soft cover, 160 pgs.

Mo Wren, Lost and Found review

This is the story of what happened after Fox Street.  Mo Wren knew that eventually she, her dad, and her sister would have to move from beloved Fox Street. She just never expected it to happen so soon.  At the Wrens’ new place, things are very different. The name of the street—East 213th—has absolutely zero magic. And there’s no Mrs. Petrone to cut her hair, no Pi Baggott to teach her how to skateboard, no Green Kingdom to explore. She’s having trouble fitting in at her new school and spending a lot of time using the corner bus shelter for her Thinking Spot. Worst of all, Mo discovers that the ramshackle restaurant Mr. Wren bought is cursed.  

Mo has lived her entire life on Fox Street and this is where she called home. After selling their house, her family moves to the city following her father's dream of opening a restaurant. Things are all so different now and she finds herself having a hard time adjusting to all the sudden changes. Her younger sister Dottie though seems to fit in quite well with her new classmates and surroundings. Mo misses the comfort of Fox Street but soon finds the local laundromat a place of warmth. She meets Carmella, the owner of The Soap Opera, who seems to have a small hidden secret, along with the many other people who frequent there. She becomes friends with Shawn, a boy from her class who seems to be full of nonstop energy and big stories. Her dad is working hard at making a new life for the Wrens but Mo has also heard rumor that the restaurant is cursed, only adding to the many worries she already has.  Finding a sense of place in her new home has challenging obstacles but she will soon find that it just may be what the Wrens need after all.

This wonderful book is a sequel to What Happened on Fox Street, which I read when it first came out a couple years ago. I thought it was a great book for kids and was happy to see a second one continue on with the Wren's story. Even if the first has not been read, you will easily pick up on the family's storyline. It gives a descriptive overview of the diverse characters back on Fox Street and gently touches on Mo's mother's death that brings you quickly up to speed. Mo's voice is truly believable from her feelings and thoughts of a child who experiences the loss of a parent or changes of moving to an unfamiliar place.  She is uncertain with her fitting in and looks back on what she misses most about Fox Street. Her changing life takes her to many characters in her new neighborhood who have wisdom, wit, personality and charm of their own. Each person is a story within itself and yet they show a great sense of community and what it means to be a good neighbor.  I mainly loved this book for it's wonderful writing. The author has a beautiful flair of style when it comes to words. For example one of my favorites:  - Some kindly giant hand found the sun's plug and connected it. If you closed your eyes and tilted your face, the backs of your eyelids prickled with color, and warmth brushed your brow and cheeks. In the park, green grass islands dotted the snowy sea. (pg. 124).   I actually envisioned it in my mind, feeling the well thought out meaning behind the words that the author was expressing to her readers through her writing talents. The story flowed with many sentences like these and not only will this help our children become better readers but writers as well. The story represents change is something that does happen but if you give it a chance it might turn out to be a good thing after all.  It is a heartwarming story about family, friendship, community, hard work, finding acceptance and most of all love.  I love books like these for our children and hope Mo's story continues on to become many new ones in the future.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-12.~

Title: Mo Wren, Lost and Found
Author: Tricia Springstubb
Pub. Date: August 2011, Balzer & Bray
Genre: realistic fiction
Hardcover, 248 pgs.
Book received from author in exchange for my honest review.

Follow friday - February 24

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme which is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read that expands your blog following. It is a great way to meet new bloggers! Each week there is a great question and each host will have a featured blog too. I have been a follower of Alison's blog for the past year and finally decided to join on this hop. I hope to hop from time-to-time!

 

This week's question is:

Q: Activity!!! Take a picture or describe where you love to read the most...

My Answer:  I love to read just about anywhere I can! Usually it is on my living room sofa with a cozy blanket but I also love to read in bed, coffee shops, local bookstore and while I'm sitting at the music store waiting for my kids during lessons. Today we are getting snow and if I get a chance this afternoon, it will be a good day for reading on the sofa with a warm fire and a cup of tea.

Have  a great weekend everyone!

 

Follow Friday - February 17

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme which is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read that expands your blog following. It is a great way to meet new bloggers! Each week there is a great question and each host will have a featured blog too. I have been a follower of Alison's blog for the past year and finally decided to join on this hop. I hope to hop from time-to-time!

This week's question is:

Q: I like unique names for characters and am looking forward to coming up with some when I start writing. What's the most unique character name you've come across?

My Answer: Wow, this is a great "put on your thinking caps" question this week.... Right off the top of my head the first thing that comes to mind are the Harry Potter characters (Hagrid, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort) but they fit perfect for the book series.

I had to look back at some of the books that I read or posted and found Liesel Meminger (The Book Thief), Atticus, Scout and Jem (To Kill a Mockingbird), Rory Deveaux (The Name of the Star) it just sounds cool, Tintin (The Adventures of Tintin), Calla Tor and Ren Laroche (Nightshade) and I do find that Katniss, Peeta, Primrose along with many more from The Hunger Games are quite unsual as well.

I look forward to reading everyone elses and probably be like "oh, yeah that one!" Have a great weekend!!

Red Sled review

In this almost wordless picture book, a host of woodland creatures take a child's sled for a nighttime joy ride. Their whimsical ride is gorgeously depicted in bold watercolor, complemented by humorous expressions and pitch-perfect sound effects. With a timeless tone and classic characters, RED SLED will become a wintertime favorite. (goodreads summary)




What an interesting way to tell a story! A bear is curious about the red sled he finds propped alongside a house one night. He decides to borrow it and finds himself going for a fun-filled joy ride with several of his forest friends. Even though this book is considered almost wordless, the story is told brilliantly by the beautiful watercolor illustrations and minimal text of using sound effect words. For example: scrinch, scrunch as the child walks home in the quiet snow and hrmmm? when the bear comes across the sled, just to name a couple. It has wonderful imagery and I could hear the sounds of the animals sledding in the quiet winter's night forest. The expressions of the forest friends while riding the sled are cute, witty and put a smile on my face. I think this will be a new favorite book of preschoolers for winter and is a "just right book" for ages 2-5.~

Title: Red Sled
Author: Lita Judge
Pub. Date: Simon & Schuster
Genre: picture book
Hardcover, 40 pgs.

Follow Friday - February 10

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme which is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read that expands your blog following. It is a great way to meet new bloggers! Each week there is a great question and each host will have a featured blog too. I have been a follower of Alison's blog for the past year and finally decided to join on this hop. I hope to hop from time-to-time!

This week's question is:

Q: What would your prefer: reading your favorite book over and over again until you got sick of it OR reading 100s of mediocre books? And why?

My Answer: I think I would have to say reading my favorite book over and over again because I have plenty of favorites. After reading one, I know I can move onto another. This way I don't think I will get tired of them too quickly because they will be changing all the time!

Have a great weekend!

Red Wagon review

All Lucy wants to do is play with her brand-new, bright red wagon. But her mother has other plans for her - and the wagon. Lucy must go to the market and buy vegetables for dinner. Lucy doesn't want to do chores! But she sets off for the market nonetheless, hauling her red wagon with her. Before long, her ordinary trip becomes a high-seas adventure, a ride through outer space, and a day at the circus. As long as she has her red wagon, not even chores can get in the way of Lucy's fun. (goodreads summary)


Lucy is so excited to play with her new red wagon! But when her mom asks her to go to the market, this sounds like a chore to her. She will soon find out that taking her wagon to the market can be fun and full of adventure. Along the way, several friends join Lucy and their journey begins to flow with imagination. The text is short and simple but it is really the illustrations that tell the story. The pictures give you a soft, gentle feeling and the characters expressions are cute and lifelike.  When you look closely, there are little details that add humor and kids will talk about what they see happening.  I liked that it was about using imagination and Lucy helping out when asked, even though she just wanted to play with her wagon.  Renata Liwska is the illustrator of The Quiet Book and The Loud Book, which I also found to be wonderful reads. She does a nice job of storytelling on her own with this first book as a writer and illustrator. I hope her characters find many more imaginative adventures to share with young readers. It is a quick read but would make for wonderful quiet time story. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title: Red Wagon
Author: Renata Liwska
Pub. Date: February 2011, Philomel Books
Genre: Picture Book
Hardcover, 32 pgs.