Beverly, Right Here by Kate DiCamillo
– The Conclusion To The Series Of Novels – Author: Kate DiCamillo Publisher: Candlewick Press (September 24, 2019) Sample Chapter Genre: Middle Grade Hardback: 256 pages My Thoughts This is New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo’s touching, funny, and fearless conclusion to her sequence of novels about the beloved Three Rancheros. Though it is a stand-alone book, it is a companion novel to Raymie Nightingale and Louisiana’s Way Home. Beverly Tapinski has no reasonRead More →
Book Review – Judy Moody, Book Quiz Whiz by Megan McDonald
The Judy Moody Series Book #15 Description Books, books, books! Judy’s got books on the brain as she prepares for a totally RARE trivia competition. Has reading always been this exciting? Judy Moody is in it to win it. Win the Book Quiz Blowout, that is. Judy and her brother, Stink, are two-fifths of the Virginia Dare Bookworms, and they’ve been reading up a storm to prepare for Saturday’s face-off against second- and third-grade readersRead More →
Delivery Bear by Laura Gehl
– This Story Has A Sweet Message – Author Laura Gehl Illustrator: Paco SordoPublisher: Albert Whitman & Company (September 1, 2018) Genre: Picture Book YouTube Trailer Pages: 32 So Let Me Explain: If you’ve been following my blog you’ve seen several of Laura Gehl’s books reviewed. I began by posting some older picture books of hers that I loved: I Got A Chicken For My Birthday and My Pillow Keeps Moving. I did that as aRead More →
#BookReview ~The Very Very Far North by Dan Bar-el
– A Most Unusual Polar Bear – Author: Dan Bar-el Illustrator: Kelly Pousette Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Publication Date: September 3, 2019 Genre: Middle Grade Excerpt Hardcover: 272 pages Ages: 8 – 12 Grades: 3 – 7 My Thoughts The minute I started reading this book it became apparent that the writing style was quite unique. And enjoyable. Duane the polar bear is ready to take the reader on a wonderful adventure. HeRead More →
#BookReview ~ Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli
– Bzzzz…Time For Work – Praise For Older Books Author: Giovanna Zoboli Illustrator: Mariachiara di Giorgio Publisher: Chronicle Books (August 2017) Genre: Picture Book Hardcover: 32 Words: 0 My Thoughts: Typically a wordless story isn’t included in my favorite books. But I would say the fun illustrations and twist at the end of the story, are what caused me to rank this high. We see crocodile getting up to the noise of an alarm, brushingRead More →
#BookReview ~The Dog I Loved: A Novel by Susan Wilson
– An Emotional And Inspiring Story – After spending years in prison for a crime she didn’t intend to commit, Rose Collins is suddenly free. Someone who knows about the good work she has done—training therapy dogs while serving time—has arranged for her early release. This mysterious benefactor has even set her up with a job in the coastal Massachusetts community of Gloucester, on the edge of Dogtown, a place of legend and, for theRead More →
Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank
– Fun Quirky Characters And Story – Author: Dorothea Benton Frank Publisher: William Morrow (May 28, 2019) Excerpt Genre: Fiction/Contemporary Women Pages: 432 My Thoughts: First, I have to admit that I listened to this book. Sometimes the narrator can really make a difference in how much I enjoy a story. And Shannon McManus did a great job of bringing this book to life. Holly Jensen is a teacher, beekeeper, and a caretaker for herRead More →
Always Looking Up: Nancy Grace Roman, Astronomer by Laura Gehl
Follow Your Dreams Author: Laura Gehl Illustrators: Louise Pigott and Alex Oxton Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company; (October 2019) Genre: Picture Book Hardcover: 32 pages My Thoughts: I felt so lucky to get to review this book by one of my favorite picture book authors, Laura Gehl. If you haven’t read My Pillow Keeps Moving or I Got A Chicken For My Birthday you will certainly want to pick up a copy. I’m going toRead More →
My Pillow Keeps Moving by Laura Gehl
– Are You Ready For Some Giggles? – Author: Laura Gehl Illustrator: Christopher Weyant Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (January 16, 2018) Genre: Picture Book Hardcover: 40 pages Word Count: Approx 167 You may have noticed that my last review was also a book by Laura Gehl. I Got A Chicken For My Birthday and My Pillow Keeps Moving are two of my favorite books by Gehl. I wanted to post those before reviewingRead More →
I Got A Chicken For My Birthday by Laura Gehl
The Gift That Keeps On Giving Author: Laura Gehl Illustrator: Sara Horne Publisher: Carolrhoda Books (March 1, 2018) Genre: Picture Books Pages: 40 Words: Approx. 259 My Thoughts: Ana has a birthday coming up so she mentions to Abuela (Spanish for grandma) Lola that tickets to the amusement park would be just grand. But instead of tickets, Ana receives a chicken. A Chicken! A black chicken wearing yellow boots. But hey, Ana reasons, a chickenRead More →
Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks
– Be Ready For This To Grab Your Interest Immediately – Author: Heidi Perks Publisher: Gallery Books (January 8, 2019) Listen To Except Reading Group Guide Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher’s Synopsis What should have been a fun-filled, carefree day takes a tragic turn for the worse for one mother when her best friend’s child goes missing in this “seriously page-turning” (Lisa Jewell, New York Times bestselling author), suspenseful, and darkly twisted psychological thriller. Charlotte was supposed toRead More →
#BookReview ~ Little Fox In The Forest by Stephanie Graegin
– Help! – A Fox Has Been Stolen By. . . A Fox? Praise For Older Books Author/Illustrator: Stephanie Graegin Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (February 28, 2017) Genre: Picture Books Look Inside The Book Hardcover: 40 pages My Thoughts: After sharing her treasured stuffed fox with her class during show-and-tell, a little girl proceeds to take him out to recess with her. But while she is swinging a real fox snatches the stuffed fox andRead More →
Book Review – Interrupting Chicken And The Elephant Of Surprise by Stein
– Sequel To The Caldecott Honor Book – Description It’s homework time for the little red chicken, who has just learned about something every good story should have: an elephant of surprise. Or could it be an element of surprise (as her amused papa explains)? As they dive in to story after story, looking for the part that makes a reader say “Whoa! I didn’t know that was going to happen,” Papa is sure he can convince Chicken he’sRead More →
You’re in Good Paws by Maureen Fergus
– A Mistake That Should Bring About Lots Of Giggles – Author: Maureen Fergus Illustrator: Kathryn Durst Publisher: Penguin/ Tundra Books (September 10, 2019) Genre: Picture Book (ages 3-7) Pages: 40 Publisher’s Synopsis: When Leo arrives at the hospital, he is surprised to find it run by animals! A hilarious story featuring animals in human situations, perfect for fans of Zootopia and A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Slightly distracted parents accidentally take their son, Leo, to theRead More →
Don’t Say A Word by Amber Lynn Natusch
– Are They Hiding A Secret? – Details ABOUT THE BOOK Pretty Little Liars meets Riverdale in Don’t Say a Word, a standout YA mystery from indie-pub favorite Amber Lynn Natusch. Kylene Danners’s ex-FBI agent father is in prison for murder and she’s hell-bent on getting him out. But trying to investigate in the small town where a defensive lineman is a hero no matter who he tries to kill and the girl who gets him locked up isRead More →
#BookReview ~ The Collected Works of Gretchen Oyster by Cary Fagan
Can A Homemade Postcard Carry So Much Meaning? ABOUT THE BOOK Who is Gretchen Oyster? The discovery of a series of mysterious handmade postcards distracts Hartley from trouble at home. A poignant novel for fans of Rebecca Stead and Holly Goldberg Sloan. Hartley Staples, near-graduate of middle school, is grappling with the fact that his older brother has run away from home, when he finds a handmade postcard that fascinates him. And soon he spotsRead More →
Book Review – The Starlight Claim by Tim Wynne-Jones
Adventure and Excitement Details Author: Tim Wynne-Jones Publisher: Candlewick Press (September 10, 2019) Genre: Young Adult/Suspense Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher’s Synopsis Four months after his best friend, Dodge, disappeared near their families’ camp in a boat accident, Nate is still haunted by nightmares. He’d been planning to make the treacherous trek to the remote campsite with a friend — his first time in winter without his survival-savvy father. But when his friend gets grounded, NateRead More →
Book Review – Lana Lynn Howls at the Moon by Rebecca Van Slyke
Who Doesn’t Love A Little Adventure? Publisher’s Synopsis: An adventurous sheep tries to take a walk on the wild side and encounters more than she expected.Lana Lynn is an intrepid sheep. The other members of her flock are content to nibble grass in the pasture, sip water from the pond, and nap in the meadow. But not Lana Lynn. She wants… adventure!So one night, when the moon is high and the other sheep are asleep,Read More →
Freddie and Friends: Becoming Unstuck by Kimberly Delude
– Letting Go Of Your Worry Bug – Author: Kimberly Delude Illustrator: Brian Martin Publisher: Boys Town Press (August 10, 2019) Paperback: 32 pages Genre: Picture Book Publisher’s Description: Betsy the Beetle has a constant companion, Murray. Unfortunately, he’s a notorious and pesky worry bug. He loves to whisper horrible “what ifs” into Betsy’s ear, making her worry about every little thing. Betsy gets so flustered and weighed down by Murray, she repeatedly falls flatRead More →
At Your Door by J. P. Carter
– A DCI Anna Tate Series – – Book 2 – Publisher’s Synopsis What happens when the past comes back to kill you? When DCI Anna Tate is called to the gruesome discovery of a dead woman found on Barnes Common, she is plunged into a high‐profile investigation involving a prominent MP. London is baying for blood – but is there more to Holly’s death than at first meets the eye? Meanwhile, the hunt isRead More →