tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33935999563704021172014-08-23T07:00:06.048-06:00KISS THE BOOKCindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.comBlogger7789125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-83310260266853168082014-08-23T07:00:00.000-06:002014-08-23T07:00:06.054-06:00Fallout by Todd Strasser - - ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FALLOUT-COVER075-398x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.slj.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/FALLOUT-COVER075-398x600.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Strasser, Todd <i>Fallout</i></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 258 pgs. Candlewick Press. 2013. $16.99. Language: PG (5 swear); Violence: PG; Mature Content: PG13 (Adult nudity - not graphic, teen boy conversations) &nbsp;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the 1962 American suburbs, &nbsp;eleven -year-old Scott’s dad has built an extension to their house, including a fallout shelter. &nbsp;The neighbors think he’s crazy, until Russia really does drop a bomb and Scott’s family uses the new shelter (along with a few neighbors who forced their way in.) &nbsp;The family planned for 4 people, now there are 10 and one is badly injured. &nbsp;Tempers are short, is their time short, too? &nbsp;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Written in alternating chapters (before the bomb and after) this well-told study in revisionist history lets the reader consider “what if?” MS ADVISABLE - - Lisa Librarian </span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-e27b4f9d-0292-5066-d674-6bc52ab470e5"><br /></span>Lisa Moreyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048870710743115114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-70009413126477413752014-08-22T08:35:00.000-06:002014-08-22T08:35:00.061-06:00Remake by Ilima Todd - ESSENTIAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g724MBN17Xs/U_Z6xBKsxkI/AAAAAAAAN8U/c1CQ65-On6s/s1600/todd%2Bremake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g724MBN17Xs/U_Z6xBKsxkI/AAAAAAAAN8U/c1CQ65-On6s/s1600/todd%2Bremake.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Todd, Ilima <i>Remake</i></b>, 304 p.&nbsp; Shadow Mountain, OCTOBER 2014.&nbsp; $18.&nbsp; Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (shark attack).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Nine is looking forward to her Remake day - the day she will be molded and shaped into her idea of perfection - including a gender change, if that is what she wants.&nbsp; Because of her red hair and freckles, she has always been the odd one in her batch of 20.&nbsp; On the way to their remake, disaster happens and Nine is the lone survivor.&nbsp; She is rescued by a secluded island group who live outside the government’s control.&nbsp; Through them, she learns about how life used to be, before remaking.&nbsp; Now she’s not so sure that the way she was raised is the way things should be.&nbsp; Nine has so many things to figure out - and love can help her find the way, or break her heart beyond healing. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Well done Ms. Todd, well done.&nbsp; She very nicely creates a unique science fiction world and a main character who is engaging.&nbsp; I suspect there is a&nbsp; sequel in the offing and i am looking forward to it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MS, HS - ESSENTIAL.&nbsp; Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1609079248&amp;asins=1609079248&amp;linkId=I4TO452ONHCV22TO&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-80261875866681824952014-08-22T08:30:00.000-06:002014-08-22T08:30:01.683-06:00Hidden by Loie Dauvillier - OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7nQDabwz2o/U_Z6gx-bx0I/AAAAAAAAN8M/2PmfLyD6hCE/s1600/dauvillier%2Bhidden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y7nQDabwz2o/U_Z6gx-bx0I/AAAAAAAAN8M/2PmfLyD6hCE/s1600/dauvillier%2Bhidden.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Dauvillier, Loie <i>Hidden</i></b>, illustrated by Marc Lizano (translated by Alexis Siegel), 76 p.&nbsp; GRAPHIC NOVEL.&nbsp; First Second (Macmillan), 2014 (English translation).&nbsp; $17.&nbsp; Mature Content: PG. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A little girl wakes up in the middle night and finds her grandmother also unable to sleep.&nbsp; The girl&nbsp; convinces her grandmother to talk about her troubles and the grandmother tells her about her life as a little girl in France during World War II.&nbsp; She shares the cruelty of others towards her because she was a Jew, the terror of the raids, and then her frantic flight to safety in the French countryside. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Though the story is written about a little girl and in a format that would appeal to younger readers, I would suggest that this is best for 6th grade and above.&nbsp; It might be good supplemental material for a Holocaust unit, because it does evoke the confusion of a child over the war.&nbsp; When it comes to a high school level graphic novel about the Holocaust, however, I still recommend Maus - the original graphic novel.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">MS - OPTIONAL.&nbsp; Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1596438738&amp;asins=1596438738&amp;linkId=TM3XU367O6HKUL75&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-26665664430375430022014-08-22T08:05:00.000-06:002014-08-22T08:05:00.419-06:00The Windy City by Smith and Spradlin - ESSENTIAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXPSbWAjghk/U_Z6JBgTH0I/AAAAAAAAN8E/1wdfGatoSZQ/s1600/spradlin%2Bwindy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXPSbWAjghk/U_Z6JBgTH0I/AAAAAAAAN8E/1wdfGatoSZQ/s1600/spradlin%2Bwindy.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Smith, Roland and Michael Spradlin <i>The Windy City</i> (I.Q. #5)</b>, 231 p. Sleeping Bear Press, 2014.&nbsp; Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (scary, not graphic).&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Q and his step-sister Angela are still on tour with their parents, but the danger is heating up.&nbsp; The FBI is not sure who the actual target is - the rock star parents?&nbsp; The boy genius?&nbsp; Angela, because her “dead” mother is a deep cover government operative?&nbsp; Boone, the kids’ roadie protector is becoming more and more mysterious, too.&nbsp; With a little help from the son of the President of the US, Q and Angela might be able to survive this, but it will mean major changes in their family life.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This series should be way more popular than it currently is.&nbsp; I love Q, Angela, and Boone and their exciting stories.&nbsp; Share these with boys or girls and get the word out! &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">EL, MS - ESSENTIAL.&nbsp; Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=B00IIDF4C0&amp;asins=B00IIDF4C0&amp;linkId=FV664AVUJYXQ3SJJ&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-47583602661979767002014-08-21T19:00:00.000-06:002014-08-21T19:00:02.156-06:00Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica George - OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ag7k-rr1UM/U_Z5OweQ1qI/AAAAAAAAN70/ODZnm3sZ_zc/s1600/george%2Bthursdays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Ag7k-rr1UM/U_Z5OweQ1qI/AAAAAAAAN70/ODZnm3sZ_zc/s1600/george%2Bthursdays.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>George, Jessica Day <i>Thursdays with the Crown</i></b>, 272 p. Bloomsbury, OCTOBER 2014.&nbsp; $17.&nbsp; Violence: PG (scary without being graphic); Mature Content: G; Language: G.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Celie, Rolf and Lilah, along with Celie’s griffin, have been pulled to a place unknown by the tower of Castle Glower.&nbsp; They think they are in the place where the castle originally came from, and maybe they will find out the truth about the castle’s origins and about the griffins.&nbsp; The trio finds them right in the middle of a vicious argument between two wizards - a fight that could destroy them and the castle. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Wow - this so did not go in any direction that I thought it might from the first two in the series.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp; </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I had to disassociate from the other two in order to judge this one on its own merits.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp; </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">While I liked the idea of learning about the castle’s past, but the two villains in this story are very flat and unpersonable; the plot does not save the story from these unappealing characters.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp; </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If the series has been successful in your library, then you will be buying it.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">EL - OPTIONAL.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp; </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1619632993&amp;asins=1619632993&amp;linkId=MKB2YAMRAVLUSFFA&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-34506566005545288432014-08-21T18:49:00.000-06:002014-08-21T18:49:00.147-06:00The Tooth Fairy Wars by Kate Coombs - OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ooTDxQ1Ab6E/U_Z3kMFvOKI/AAAAAAAAN7s/yNosS86QGwg/s1600/coombs%2Btoothfairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ooTDxQ1Ab6E/U_Z3kMFvOKI/AAAAAAAAN7s/yNosS86QGwg/s1600/coombs%2Btoothfairy.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Coombs, Kate <i>The Tooth Fairy Wars</i>, illustrated by Jake Parker</b>.&nbsp; PICTURE BOOK.&nbsp; Atheneum (Simon), 2014.&nbsp; $18.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When Nathan loses his first tooth, he wants to keep it forever, but the tooth fairy assigned to him finds it any way and leaves him a dollar.&nbsp; Nathan’s attempts to keep his teeth become more and more elaborate and the tooth fairy is more and more determined. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The illustrations for this book are my favorite part - I really like Parker’s style.&nbsp; The struggle between the two characters is amusing, especially the lengths to which both sides resort.&nbsp; The final illustration, however, is kind of creepy - and as a parent, I am very glad that I don’t have such a trophy or remembrance in my house.&nbsp; I know it is fun to extend the whimsy of childhood with beliefs like the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, or Santa Claus, but sometimes the lengths we go to are a bit extreme.&nbsp; This one rides the line - a cute story with great illustrations that becomes just a bit creepy.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL.&nbsp; Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">FYI - soon after I read this book, a good friend told me about her son who just lost his first tooth. &nbsp; Like Nathan, he did not want to let go of his tooth, no matter what his parents promised that fairy would bring! &nbsp;I took this book over and read it to him and his siblings and they liked it VERY much! &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1416979158&amp;asins=1416979158&amp;linkId=TD2VCAEQOXICFTM3&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-19577287057943539062014-08-21T17:45:00.000-06:002014-08-21T17:45:00.320-06:00Go To Sleep, Little Farm by Mary Ray - OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6h20G5AOL3M/U_Z2uH-3fII/AAAAAAAAN7c/IJb0Azzb8QQ/s1600/ray%2Bsleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6h20G5AOL3M/U_Z2uH-3fII/AAAAAAAAN7c/IJb0Azzb8QQ/s1600/ray%2Bsleep.jpg" height="320" width="297" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Ray, Mary Lyn <i>Go To Sleep, Little Farm</i>, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal</b>.&nbsp; PICTURE BOOK.&nbsp; Houghton Mifflin, 2014.&nbsp; $17.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As a little girl gets ready for bed, the animals and nature far and near also prepare to sleep. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Occasionally the rhymes are a little forced, but overall the illustrations and text work together for a good sleepy book.&nbsp; The style is reminiscent of early picture books, with an almost monochromatic color palette.&nbsp; This would be a good one for grandparents to read aloud as a bedtime story - that final story before ti really is time to turn out the lights and sleep.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pre-K - OPTIONAL.&nbsp; Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=0544150147&amp;asins=0544150147&amp;linkId=M4YS7CNPUOGTH5RD&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-25978939391925607482014-08-21T16:48:00.001-06:002014-08-21T16:48:31.116-06:00The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker by E.D. Baker - ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tlsiFazcqk/U_Z3CAJhZzI/AAAAAAAAN7k/3Vk3Xe-htSQ/s1600/baker%2Bmatchmaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tlsiFazcqk/U_Z3CAJhZzI/AAAAAAAAN7k/3Vk3Xe-htSQ/s1600/baker%2Bmatchmaker.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Baker, E.D. <i>The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker</i></b>, 352 p. Bloomsbury, OCTOBER 2014.&nbsp; $17.&nbsp; Content: G.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cory’s mother has always pressured her to be a tooth fairy and follow in her path.&nbsp; Now that Cory has passed all of the training and has been working on the job, she has lost all desire to continue down that path.&nbsp; As Cory tries to find a new way for herself, her mother is actively harassing her and the Tooth Fairy Guild seems to be out to sabotage Cory’s efforts.&nbsp; Then Cory finds out about a secret her mother has kept from her all of her life - things are about to change drastically for Cory. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">While I have a hard time believing the Tooth Fairy Guild could wield quite so much power and influence, this is still classic Baker fun.&nbsp; I am sure there are more books to come.&nbsp; I think authors are amazing.&nbsp; You would think that reworking fairy tales and such would get tiring after awhile, but I still read new permutations that make me fall in love all over.&nbsp; Of course the book is best understood if students know the original tales, so make sure you have some good Mother Goose and other fairy tale books on hand for reference.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">EL, MS - ADVISABLE.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">&nbsp; </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1619631407&amp;asins=1619631407&amp;linkId=BAGWB55RJBEW5XYZ&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-76100413010889083022014-08-21T16:45:00.001-06:002014-08-21T16:45:29.052-06:00Cinderella’s Dress by Shonna Slayton - OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VD2QWHISBAI/U_Z2SRvYzoI/AAAAAAAAN7U/eKaxYfQQ86M/s1600/slayton%2Bcinderella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VD2QWHISBAI/U_Z2SRvYzoI/AAAAAAAAN7U/eKaxYfQQ86M/s1600/slayton%2Bcinderella.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Slayton, Shonna <i>Cinderella’s Dress</i></b>, 322 p. Entangled Teen, 2014.&nbsp; $10.&nbsp; Content: G.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In the midst of World War II, Kate’s Dad is traveling somewhere in Europe, her brother is anxious to enlist and join the war over there, and Kate and her mother are trying to hold life together and hope that the men will come home safely.&nbsp; Then Mom’s aunt Elsie from Poland arrives on the scene with a crazy story about a very important dress that Kate’s family has kept safe for a very long time - the original Cinderella’s ballgown.&nbsp; While Cinderella’s descendants may not have an political importance any more, should the crafty Burgosovs (evil step sisters) get their hands on the dress, they could do some damage.&nbsp; Besides all of that, Kate still has to worry about following her own dreams, not her mother’s, and prove herself capable of designing as beautiful department store windows as the men, along with wondering if the handsome boy will ever pay attention to her. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Slayton writes her book in fits and starts, with few real time clues, so it is hard to know exactly how much time is passing between scenes - has it been days? months? years?&nbsp; I don’t know.&nbsp; Other than that confusion, she a good job of weaving the Cinderella basics with a novel with glimpses of World War II and at heart about a girl who is trying to find her place in the world.&nbsp; If this is meant for a YA audience, it feels on the older end of the spectrum.&nbsp; It has a historical setting, which are not as popular by themselves.&nbsp; The gorgeous dress on the cover and title will capture browsing eyes, though and help sell it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">HS - OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=1622663403&amp;asins=1622663403&amp;linkId=QYQJJTDYVD5YUOQ4&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-71022165737255884042014-08-21T16:43:00.004-06:002014-08-21T16:49:05.180-06:00Mr. Ferris and his Wheel by Kathryn Davis - ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEwKZqzwPVw/U_Z15eEEMEI/AAAAAAAAN7M/N55giMyD5kI/s1600/davis%2Bferris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NEwKZqzwPVw/U_Z15eEEMEI/AAAAAAAAN7M/N55giMyD5kI/s1600/davis%2Bferris.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Davis, Kathryn Gibbs <i>Mr. Ferris and his Wheel</i>, illustrated by Gilbert Ford</b>.&nbsp; PICTURE BOOK.&nbsp; Houghton Mifflin, 2014.&nbsp; $18.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Chicago World’s Fair was set to open and there was nothing yet planned to compete with the wonder of the previous fair in France with its Eiffel Tower.&nbsp; When Mr. Ferris proposed his Monster Wheel, the organizers allowed him to build it - without any monetary help from them, because they were sure it would fall to the ground.&nbsp; Mr. Ferris’ Wheel became the highlight of a fair filled with wonder and inspiration.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mechanical wonders are so commonplace now, children don't have any idea how experimental and scary the ideas used to be.&nbsp; Not just for young students, this would be a good book to pair with <i>Going up! : Elisha Otis's Trip to the Top</i>, a story of an early elevator in any class with engineers.</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">EL, MS - ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=0547959222&amp;asins=0547959222&amp;linkId=XIX2NIQK3SA6FHAO&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-66623451204357842832014-08-21T08:00:00.000-06:002014-08-21T16:59:36.426-06:00No Nap! Yes Nap! by Margie Palatini - OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgT-wZaQ8M4/U_Z5q-KQZyI/AAAAAAAAN78/RKYzmoq2na8/s1600/palatini%2Bnap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgT-wZaQ8M4/U_Z5q-KQZyI/AAAAAAAAN78/RKYzmoq2na8/s1600/palatini%2Bnap.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Palatini, Margie <i>No Nap! Yes Nap!</i></b> illustrated by Dan Yaccarino.&nbsp; PICTURE BOOK.&nbsp; Little Brown, 2014.&nbsp; $17.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Baby doesn’t want to take a nap and will go to great lengths to avoid it.&nbsp; Mom chases her around the house and both settle down for a much needed nap. &nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This would be great as a board book.&nbsp; The bright illustrations and the short phrases would be a good beginning reader book too.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pre-K - OPTIONAL.&nbsp; Cindy, Library Teacher</span></div><div style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=ss_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=kistheboo-20&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=US&amp;placement=0316248215&amp;asins=0316248215&amp;linkId=AQWPNPQWULK6XBJ6&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></span></p><p> </p><p style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></iframe></span></div>Cindy Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02689887956133594080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-78964865728335952902014-08-20T11:57:00.001-06:002014-08-20T11:57:45.547-06:00Splat the Cat Makes Dad Glad by Rob Scotton –ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MU9NLm5_1Fk/U_TeYpk-xaI/AAAAAAAADx8/7MXmJXbrzjI/s1600/splat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MU9NLm5_1Fk/U_TeYpk-xaI/AAAAAAAADx8/7MXmJXbrzjI/s1600/splat.JPG" height="200" width="132" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Scotton, Rob &nbsp;<b><i>Splat the Cat Makes Dad Glad </i></b>32 pgs. HarperCollins, 2014. $16.99. Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G. EARLY READER<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Splats dad is sad and Splat is determined to cheer him up. He learns about a contest at the Cat School Picnic and decides that winning that with his dad would cheer him up. So Splat practices with his little mouse friend Seymour. When it comes time for the daddy/son contest, things don’t go quite as planned. Will Splat go splat?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Splat is pretty popular at my school library –so any read from this series would go over well. The plot is fairly cute and the lesson is nice. I think students will enjoy the accidents that Splat has. The artwork is fairly good,&nbsp; not my favorite art style. I&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;like the attempt to have a&nbsp;rhyming scheme to the story, since words that were awkward <i>had</i> to be used in order to not break the rhyme. For example the word Lad. Ugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">EL(K-3) –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian &amp; Author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04969873032043489205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-33741652194071718882014-08-20T11:50:00.001-06:002014-08-20T11:50:30.109-06:00The School of Nonsense (Ernest and Rebecca Book #5) BY Guilluame Bianco –NO <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H3o4cTLFvSw/U_TeYtb-xBI/AAAAAAAADx4/RtWRRXIxlAE/s1600/JUL141363_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H3o4cTLFvSw/U_TeYtb-xBI/AAAAAAAADx4/RtWRRXIxlAE/s1600/JUL141363_m.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Bianco, Guillaume <b><i>The School of Nonsense (Ernest and Rebecca Book #5)</i></b>48 pgs. Papercutz, 2014. $12.99. Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G. GRAPHIC NOVEL<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Rebecca is a six year old girl who was sick and made a very special friend named Ernest. He is a microbe. But now she is healthy and he has disappeared. When a bad virus attacks the school, Rebecca does her best to fend it off, but really wishes Ernest would come back. In the meantime she is worried about her Grandpa who is sick. Her big sister has a secret admirer and they have been texting back and forth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">As book #5 in the series, this one is definitely built on the past books, so this is not a read-alone. I don’t know what to make of the age recommendation, the main character is 6 years old but the vocabulary and the plot lines that involve older characters don’t mesh well with that, so I decided on the middle ground, middle school. I found myself annoyed by the main character. I thought the microbe thing was confusing. I thought Rebecca’s school teacher was a bit creepy. The artwork is adorable and bright and fun but that’s not enough for me to recommend this read. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">MS?– NOT RECOMMENDED Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian &amp; Author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04969873032043489205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-39322305374287611742014-08-19T20:29:00.002-06:002014-08-19T20:34:15.620-06:00Worse Things Happen at Sea! A Tale of Pirates, Poison, and Monsters by Alan Snow - ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Worse-Things-Happen-at-Sea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Worse-Things-Happen-at-Sea.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Snow, Alan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></strong><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><strong>Worse Things Happen at Sea! A Tale of Pirates, Poison, and Monsters.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></i>332 pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>$17.99.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; Language: G.&nbsp; Adult content: G.&nbsp; Violence: G.&nbsp; </span>Author/illustrator Alan Snow concocts an unforgettable, zany pirate tale with plenty of cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The Ratbridge Nautical Laundry, a rat-pirate ship that cleans and starches clothes, is in trouble when they are sued by someone who saw drying underwear on the rigging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Arthur’s grandfather owns the ship and is very sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Arthur takes his grandfather to a doctor who gives out his special medicine, Black Jollop, for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Grandfather is immediately better, but the doctor is out of Black Jollop and needs to sail off to find the secret ingredient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Arthur and his boxtroll, Fish, stowaway and have an exciting adventure including: mechanical monsters, poison, and forbidden cheese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The ink illustrations abound with quirky personality and whimsical personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>A fun read that will have boys asking “Arrrghhh there anymore?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">EL/MS: ADVISABLE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Samanthahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09004157555124667205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-49800527999785078172014-08-19T17:01:00.001-06:002014-08-19T17:01:40.567-06:00My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: The Seaquel (Book #2) by Mo O’Hara –OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-66N-qrKxpcw/U_PUlyRfGAI/AAAAAAAADxo/VfYajkvK7DU/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-66N-qrKxpcw/U_PUlyRfGAI/AAAAAAAADxo/VfYajkvK7DU/s1600/2.JPG" height="200" width="127" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">O’Hara, Mo <b><i>My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish: The Seaquel (Book #2) </i></b>208 pgs. Feiwel &amp; Friends, 2014. $12.99. Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">(Please note that Sequel is spelled Seaquel for fun on this title. Not a spelling error.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Tom is still Frankie the Zombie Goldfish’s owner and guardian. Tom is excited to go on a family vacation to the ocean, but there is a sign by the lighthouse that says that an evil eel lives there. Tom’s brother Mark, the Evil Scientist wants to catch it. Frankie and the Evil Eel might end up facing off. &nbsp;When Mark tries to mess with Tom’s school play of Robin Hood, Frankie is going to have to swim in. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Again, a great cover. This book was actually a bit better than the first, less confusing because the plotline was focused in more. The illustrations are ironically cute as they illustrate analogies in the text as well as plot elements. There was much less ‘morons’ and other mean talk from the older brother in this one as well. This second book was more readable and fun, but I don’t think it could function as a stand alone, since students will be confused about how the goldfish became the way he is. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">EL – OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian &amp; Author.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-66N-qrKxpcw/U_PUlyRfGAI/AAAAAAAADxo/VfYajkvK7DU/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-66N-qrKxpcw/U_PUlyRfGAI/AAAAAAAADxo/VfYajkvK7DU/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-66N-qrKxpcw/U_PUlyRfGAI/AAAAAAAADxo/VfYajkvK7DU/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04969873032043489205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-59017151989212855142014-08-19T16:49:00.001-06:002014-08-19T16:49:44.318-06:00My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish (Book #1) by Mo O’Hara –OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APnxaPUXxmY/U_PTEEqYowI/AAAAAAAADxg/-FAr7daAm7k/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APnxaPUXxmY/U_PTEEqYowI/AAAAAAAADxg/-FAr7daAm7k/s1600/1.png" height="200" width="132" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">O’Hara, Mo &nbsp;<b><i>My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish (Book #1) </i></b>198 pgs. Feiwel &amp; Friends, 2013. $12.99. Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: PG. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Tom’s big brother, Mark decides to become an evil scientist. Tom is horrified, especially when Mark decides to experiment on a poor goldfish. He puts a toxic mix in its fishbowl and it dies. Tom and his best friend bring it back to life with a battery. But the fish, Frankie, is different –smarter and capable of hypnotizing people. He is out for revenge and when Mark and his friend cause big trouble at Tom’s school –Frankie might just be able to get what he wants and help Tom too. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">The cover of this book is incredibly appealing, especially for reluctant readers. I found the story a bit harsh, lots of degrading language from the big brother, introduction of the concept of harming one’s pet, and lots of violence. The story gets more crazy and convoluted as it goes on, and I felt totally uninterested. The character of the best friends little sister is so annoying that I couldn't bear to read her catch phrase one more time. I&nbsp;wouldn't&nbsp;add this to my school&nbsp;library, but its no worse than captain underpants. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">EL – OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian &amp; Author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04969873032043489205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-71838712133301846162014-08-17T20:52:00.001-06:002014-08-17T20:54:02.803-06:00McElligot's Pool by Dr. Seuss-ESSENTIAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnVmII5ncEs/U_FeG59WiUI/AAAAAAAAY6k/BDat0exBgLM/s1600/mcelligot's%2Bpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HnVmII5ncEs/U_FeG59WiUI/AAAAAAAAY6k/BDat0exBgLM/s1600/mcelligot's%2Bpool.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Seuss <i>McElligot’s Pool</i></b>. PICTURE BOOK Random House Children’s Books, 2014. $17.99. &nbsp;Winner of a 1948 Caldecott Award, this Dr. Seuss book is still a favorite.&nbsp; Marco is accused of being a fool when he tries to catch fish in McElligot’s Pool.&nbsp; “I’ve been here three hours without one single bite, there might be not fish… but, again, well, there MIGHT!” Marco then goes on an imaginative adventure guessing what MIGHT be in the pool “cause you never can tell what goes on down below!” &nbsp;In the end of the story Marco explains that the sea is full of so many fish that if he is patient, he might get his wish.&nbsp; The story is positive and uplifting with a great message for young readers.&nbsp; The illustrations are bright and bold and classic to what only Seuss can produce.&nbsp; EL (K-3). EL. ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL. &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div>SLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096840263916662184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-19480361224300130282014-08-17T20:33:00.000-06:002014-08-17T20:33:39.186-06:00I Can Read: It's Valentine's Day by Jack Prelutsky-ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJojDkqyyoA/U_FeYdDEloI/AAAAAAAAY6s/n3LnZNd8A4w/s1600/its%2Bvalentines'%2Bday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJojDkqyyoA/U_FeYdDEloI/AAAAAAAAY6s/n3LnZNd8A4w/s1600/its%2Bvalentines'%2Bday.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Prelutsky, <i>Jack It’s Valentine’s Day</i>.</b> PICTURE BOOK. Content: G. Jack Prelutsky has written and published 14 fun poems about Valentine’s Day in this great “I Can Read” independent reader.&nbsp; The words are silly and easy to read. “I made my dog a valentine, she sniffed it very hard, then chewed on it a little while and left it in the yard!” With poems about teachers, best friends, cakes and mailboxes, and more there is a poem that will interest all readers.&nbsp; The poems are sweet and funny with detailed illustrations by Marylin Hafner.&nbsp;This book could be used in a unit on poetry or Valentine's Day celebration.&nbsp;EL (K-3). ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></div>SLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096840263916662184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-38933044499586728902014-08-17T20:23:00.002-06:002014-08-17T20:23:58.838-06:00My Pet Penguins by Mark Iacolina-ADVISABLE <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swn-tCA-mxA/U_Fej2qIJUI/AAAAAAAAY60/AFja7-6MBhY/s1600/my%2Bpet%2Bpenguins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swn-tCA-mxA/U_Fej2qIJUI/AAAAAAAAY60/AFja7-6MBhY/s1600/my%2Bpet%2Bpenguins.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Iacolina, Mark <i>My Pet Penguins.</i></b> BOARD BOOK.&nbsp; Price Stern Sloan, 2014. $5.99. &nbsp;18pgs. Content: G. This board book is a fun rhyming book about very cute and very active penguins.&nbsp; Whether the penguins waddle, play, flip or mix they are busy and imaginative.&nbsp; The illustrations are simple but irresistible!&nbsp; This adorable book would be a perfect gift for anyone with little ones who love to read.&nbsp; Pre-K. ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL.<o:p></o:p></div>SLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096840263916662184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-68695750597020327282014-08-17T20:17:00.000-06:002014-08-17T20:17:23.880-06:00Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin- ESSENTIAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_IecU_Z5Pp4/U_FhyYxrUeI/AAAAAAAAY7A/CvF3r0nzMho/s1600/chicken-squad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_IecU_Z5Pp4/U_FhyYxrUeI/AAAAAAAAY7A/CvF3r0nzMho/s1600/chicken-squad.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Cronin, Doreen <i>The Chicken Squad. </i></b>Illustrated by Kevin Cornell. CHAPTER BOOK.&nbsp; Content: G. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014. $12.99. This book is about a family of chicks, their mother, and a crazy squirrel. When the crazy squirrel comes into the yard he looks like he just looked death in the face. He claims he has just seen a UFO.&nbsp; It’s up to Chicken Squad to solve the mystery. Read this book to find out what happens and whether the mystery is solved and what is really lurking behind the chicken coop. &nbsp;I really liked the illustrations. I also thought the author told the story in a funny and likeable way. I liked the little chicks-my favorite ones are Sugar and Dirt. EL (K-3). EL. ESSENTAL Student Reviewer&nbsp; J-L age 11.<o:p></o:p></div>SLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02096840263916662184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-914660669518139272014-08-15T16:46:00.001-06:002014-08-15T16:46:42.063-06:00The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm -- ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AoYkryxfOI/U-6Kcrz_GtI/AAAAAAAABeU/qLKJAyq2D9c/s1600/The-Fourteenth-Goldfish-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7AoYkryxfOI/U-6Kcrz_GtI/AAAAAAAABeU/qLKJAyq2D9c/s1600/The-Fourteenth-Goldfish-198x300.jpg" /></a></div><b>Holm, Jennifer L. </b><b style="font-style: italic;">The Fourteenth Goldfish</b>, 208 pgs. Random House Books for Young Readers, August 26, 2014. 16.99. Content: PG.<br /><br />Eleven-year-old Ellie doesn't know her grandfather very well, but when a science experiment turns him into a teenager, even she has to admit that Melvin, the curmudgeonly boy, is her mom's eccentric father. But Melvin isn't satisfied with turning himself young; he is determined to revolutionize humanity and win the Nobel prize with his cure for aging. Too bad he's now banned from the lab where he used to work. To regain access, he must enlist Ellie's help and, along the way, teach her a little about both life and science -- two subjects which really aren't so different from each other.<br /><b><i><br /></i></b><i>The Fourteenth Goldfish</i>&nbsp;is a gentle introduction to themes of life and death, for those who are beginning to think about such things. &nbsp; Ellie's and her grandfather's interest in science not only sets a wonderful example, but informs readers in an interesting way while making chemistry, physics, and other subjects come alive. The lesson about persevering is also admirable, a reminder that people often experience many failures before they finally succeed at something brilliant.<br /><br />MS -- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: CarynCarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10993800414836261130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-87134022248381554952014-08-14T18:13:00.000-06:002014-08-14T18:13:54.496-06:00The Ring and the Crown by Melissa de la Cruz -- OPTIONAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ap7RRJotLkE/U-1JUtDdJMI/AAAAAAAABd8/KDq1hNQcNpM/s1600/18296016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ap7RRJotLkE/U-1JUtDdJMI/AAAAAAAABd8/KDq1hNQcNpM/s1600/18296016.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div><b>de la Cruz, Melissa </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Ring and the Crown</i>, 384 pgs. Disney-Hyperion, 2014. $17.99. Language: PG (13 swears, no 'f'); Violence: PG-13; Sexual Content: R.<br /><br />Using five points of view, this fantasy tells an alternate version of history in which magic exists, shaping London, New York, and all the other parts of the world as we know them. Marie is a princess who never wanted to have the glory, the responsibility, or the complicated life to go with her title. Aelwyn, the princess's best friend, has magical powers that mean her enslavement to the crown instead of her freedom. Isabelle, the orphaned daughter of a French family, is determined to win back her former fiancé, the crown prince of Prussia. Ronan's family is destitute, and they depend on her to make a good match with a rich man -- whether or not she loves him. Finally, Wolf, the younger brother of the Prussian prince, is considered the "spare" and as such has little power to change his destiny or anyone else's, no matter how much he wishes it.<br /><br />This one had a slow start for me, as the many points of view made it difficult to find my footing in each scene and to get to know each character. Because the characters each only got about 20% of the book, the story necessitated telling about much of the action instead of showing it, as well as giving some clunky info-dumping instead of natural revelations. Still, by the second half I was invested enough to have trouble putting the story down, and by the end I could understand why de la Cruz chose to tell the tale this way. I admit I was a little skeptical about how the book would be wrapped up, and feared it may be a cliffhanger with a year-long wait for the next installment, but I found the conclusion satisfying and interesting, and it kept me thinking for a while afterward. The sexual content definitely straddles the line between PG-13 and R; many acts are strongly implied and are, in fact, central to the plot. None are specifically detailed, however, and such acts are not only not condoned but often have disastrous results. Still, this one may be more suitable for mature readers.<br /><br />HS -- OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CarynCarynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10993800414836261130noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-33895380240518826312014-08-13T14:08:00.000-06:002014-08-13T14:08:41.034-06:00All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens by Gloria Whelan - ADVISIBLE <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1nzfsA9ps4/U-vFbfsmCFI/AAAAAAAAAHY/6iUSVPkbNzk/s1600/dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A1nzfsA9ps4/U-vFbfsmCFI/AAAAAAAAAHY/6iUSVPkbNzk/s1600/dreams.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><strong>Whelan, Gloria <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">All My Noble Dreams and Then What Happens</i></strong>, 255 pgs. Simon &amp; Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013. $6.99. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G<o:p></o:p></span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">In India during the 1920s, Rosalind finds herself trying to find a balance between two worlds. She is an ex-pat in India with a father who is an officer in the British Indian Army and is enjoying all the trappings of being a British citizen of the occupying country while trying to connect to the occupied. She is aware of Gandhi and the increasing support for him and his movement for independence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This is a effort she supports and will do what she can to advance the cause, but does she really understand what she is doing and the consequences her actions may bring about?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">This story successfully tells of the struggles in India during the British occupation at a time when change was beginning. Rosalind is a well-drawn character who believably mixes activist zeal with the naiveté that is often seen in teenagers. Her choices and the consequences they bring about allow for an understanding that sometimes what seems right may not be what is best. Readers will come to appreciate the problems inherent with imperialism and Social Darwinism and have a better grasp of what is involved when change is sought. The characters in the book have a few too many convenient moments to allow the story to progress, but that is a small snag in the overall story.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">MS,HS—ADVISIBLE. AEB<o:p></o:p></span></div>AEBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13475658643970687286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-64969105567185653252014-08-13T14:03:00.000-06:002014-08-13T14:03:42.965-06:00The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett - ADVISIBLE <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YldkUz2j3aA/U-vEMmJ2nGI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/R4b5ff80No8/s1600/silver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YldkUz2j3aA/U-vEMmJ2nGI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/R4b5ff80No8/s1600/silver.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;"><strong>Hartnett, Sonya <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Silver Donkey</i></strong>, 266 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2014. $16.99. Language: G;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Mature Content: PG (talk of war); Violence: G<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">In a small village in France during the Great War, two sisters find a soldier who has deserted hiding in the woods near their home. He has been blinded in battle and is now desperately seeking a way home. Marcelle and Coco agree to assist the soldier by keeping his presence a secret and smuggle him food and other essentials until they can figure out how to get him safely across the water. As their friendship grows, the soldier introduces them to his good luck charm; a tiny silver donkey that he keeps close to his heart. While the sisters do their best to formulate a plan to help, the soldier captivates them with stories of courage, strength, and loyalty all connected to the silver donkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">World War I is often overlooked as a subject for historical fiction, so it is pleasant to find a book meant for young readers about this time period. The story is charming and interweaves the reality of war with lessons about courage, loyalty, and strength using the donkey as the symbol for these desired qualities. Aimed at a young audience it is understandable that the themes of war and loss are oversimplified, but sometimes that can lead to the story becoming too fantastical. The illustrations are lovely and add to the overall book. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">EL, MS—ADVISIBLE. AEB<o:p></o:p></span></div>AEBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13475658643970687286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3393599956370402117.post-18009602231079088582014-08-11T16:32:00.001-06:002014-08-11T20:34:48.453-06:00Halloween Mice (Reprint) by Bethany Roberts -ADVISABLE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuuTLLmHCpQ/U-lDSWMdGAI/AAAAAAAADxQ/d0asFz8RUt8/s1600/halloween+mice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NuuTLLmHCpQ/U-lDSWMdGAI/AAAAAAAADxQ/d0asFz8RUt8/s1600/halloween+mice.jpg" height="196" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Roberts, Bethany and Illustrated by Cushman, Doug <b>&nbsp;<i>Halloween Mice (Reprint) </i></b>32 pgs.</span> <span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">HMH Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition, 2014. $3.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">A little group of mice travel at night to a pumpkin patch to celebrate Halloween. They are all dressed up and just as they start to party –a cat shows up. By working together creatively the mice come up with a plan to scare off the cat. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">This is a fun suspenseful read for beginning readers. Although this is a reprint, the artwork is still fresh and fun. The story is really cute, and I appreciate the mice being so innovative and brave. Students will love to participate with the italicized sound portions of the story. They will also love the surprise ending, and trying it out themselves!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;Georgia&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">PRE-K, EL(K-3) – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian &amp; Author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Stephaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04969873032043489205noreply@blogger.com0
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