Mundie Kids Children's Book Review Blog

Author Interview: S.R. Johannes

2012-01-31T08:19:00.016-06:00

I'm thrilled to have author S.R. Johannes on the blog today to celebrate her MG debut, On The Bright Side which is out TODAY!!! Here's a little bit about her book:

By: S.R. Johannes

Published by: self

Released on: January 31st, 2012- TODAY

Purchase your ebook from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Read the 1st two chapters here

On the Bright Side is a hilarious road to guardian angeldom paved with so much drama and due-paying that it makes middle school look painless.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus,

the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. Until Gabby finds out she has to protect Angela, her school nemesis,

in order to move up through the training levels of heaven. Problem is, Angela is now hitting on Gabby's should-have-been boyfriend. (awkward!)

Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (like tripping is a sin?) at the hopes of cooling off the new couple. At first, they seem harmless until the school dance sabotage gets

completely out of control. Then, her Celestial Sky Agent, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, puts Gabby on probation, threatening her eternal future.

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns

what can happen when you hate someone to death.

Makes you want to rush to your computer to purchase the e-book doesn't it!? I'm looking forward to reading it!

How would you describe On The Bright Side in 5 words or less?

Disgruntled tween angel pranks school nemesis

Gabby sounds like a fun character to get to know. What's something you came to admire about her and her character?

In my mind – when we think of angels. There is a certain expectation. That they are all pretty and perfect and never make mistakes.

Gabby goes against that theory. She is expected to be a certain way but she struggles to be herself while still trying to fit in and do what everyone expects her to do– and she remains herself in spite of the consequences. Gabby is honest and authentic and tells it like it is. She doesn’t care about being perfect. Unfortunately, in trying to be herself, she refuses to change when she needs to the most – along the way she loses herself but redeems herself in the end becoming a better person than she was before.

I think this relates to teens today. They struggle to be who they really are – unique and special – because of the peer pressure around them telling them to be something different. To be like everyone else.

What inspired you to write Gabby's story?

I once saw a show where a man was talking about how he died on a table and experienced THE OTHER SIDE. He talked about how wonderful the OTHER SIDE was and how when he was there he felt no pain or sorrow. He just felt nothing but peace. He said even though he knew he left his family behind, he did not have the sorrow he thought he would. He actually felt sorry for THEM for being on Earth because The OTHER SIDE was so much better. When he came back, he was sad and depressed for some time because he had experienced true peace.

I don’t know if this is true or what. But it got me thinking. What if the other side was awesome! What if there was no pain or anger. Just happy?

I think there are so many negative and dark books about death. I wanted to write something funny and explore a different view of death – what if it’s a wonderful cool place on THE OTHER SIDE? So I started thinking about a Harry Potter types adventure mixed with the voice of Mia Thermopolis. Like a “Meg Cabot goes to heaven.” So if Mia Thermopolis were dead, she would be just like Gabby.

What advice would you want to tell your 13 or 14 yr old self?

That if you can get through high school, everything gets better. To not be afraid to be yourself. Because it’s better to be unique and not fit in; then it is to fit in and be like everyone else.

What's one of your favorite childhood books?

Pippy Longstocking. I loved her tenacity and humor. Her strength in who she was and how she stayed true to it – no matter what others did around her – she was just authentic. I love how she barely even noticed. She just was herself. I always wished I was more like that when I was in school.

**********

Thank you to S.R. Johannes for stopping by Mundie Kids today!

You can purchase your ebook for $.99 now through Valentine's Day!!

Please be sure to follow S.R. on her Blog | Twitter

View her book trailer here.

Add On The Bright Side to your Goodreads list

Book Review: Bosley Sees The World by Tim Johnson

2012-01-31T06:51:00.010-06:00

By: Tim Johnson

Published: self published

Source: e-book reviewed from author

To Be Released: TBA

Ages: 0 - 6

3 stars: It's A Good Read

Pre-order from: kickstart

Bosley Sees the World

The first book in a series of 'The Adventures of Bosley Bear'. This is the story of a small bear who is excited to see and experience everything around him. This story encourages children to take on new challenges and helps to build confidence for children experiencing new things. This book is about Bosley’s determination to challenge himself and discover new possibilities, and his realization that there is so much out there in the big world to explore. -quoted from Kickstart's site

Bosley's fun adventure book is one kids will enjoy as they get to explore Bosley's world right along side him. From his cave, to his backyard forest, the running river and the high mountain peak. Everything is new, exciting and fun to explore. The other great feature about Bosley's adventure is that this book is a dual language book. The version I read was both English and Spanish. There's a useful guide in the back that will help parents translate the words. I love it when books can not only entertain my kids, but teach them something. While I love that Bosley teaches dual languages, I hope that at some point this book will also come with a CD to teach kids how to speak the language, because my personal worry is if I'm saying the word correctly.

I think this book is most beneficial for toddlers through kindergarten aged kids. There's simple phrases and repeat words that make it easy for them to understand and follow along. Currently Bosley's adventure is being sold in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Arabic. If you're looking for a dual language children's book, I'd recommend looking into Bosley's world.

You can learn more about Tim's debut and the story behind Bosley's story here and preorder the book here. Here's an example of a page out of Bosley's book:

Middle Grade Monday & Book Review: Scholastic's Discover More Series

2012-01-30T11:42:00.015-06:00

For today's Middle Grade Monday I'm featuring a FANTASTIC new line of interactive, educational reads from Scholastic's Discover More series. Each of these books will not only educate children at a level they'll understand (from ages 4 up to 9 +), but it will capture their attention and their interests in each of the subjects. On a personal level, I acted like a kid in a candy shop when I was invited to attended Scholastic's launch two weekends ago at ALA and received a few of these books from them there. They not only demonstrated how interactive the books are and showed samples of their *free* digital books that are included with some of them, but they got everyone in attendance excited about these books.

For example, Planets, this book is not only full of real pictures, but it's a great source for kids to go to understand more about the history of our earth, the universe and space itself. Want to teach your kids about the different planets or give them a brief history about our space exploration? They'll learn about it here. From each of the planets, to astroids, satellites, stars, the moon and even what Astronauts wear and do, you'll find it all. For example, did you know Astronauts have to wear a special kind of underwear? Yeah, I didn't, but I learned that in this book. My kids thought it was hilarious.

From Oceans, to the Elements, to Planets, Penguins, Grow with Me and Farm each of these books are not only valuable in classrooms and libraries, but in the home as well. These are also great for home schoolers. No matter what you want to teach your kids there is something new and informative they can learn with this series. I'm far from being a kid, and I've learned a few new things. This series has also been a great refresher for me. I've read all but Penguins and Farm, and there's more releases that will be out through out the year. You can be sure I'll be picking up the entire series. I HIGHLY recommend checking out Scholastic's new Discover More series. I give this series 10 stars. I'm all for a book that doesn't engage kids, but teaches them and gets them interested in learning more about their world around them.

You can purchase this series via individual books at Amazon | Barnes & Noble

You can learn about this series by clicking on the red highlighted Discover More series links at Scholastic's site.

Waiting on Wednesday: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

2012-01-25T05:53:00.006-06:00

This is a feature I've not done a lot of here on Mundie Kids, but it's one I do weekly on Mundie Moms. With all the fabulous upcoming MG and Children's book releases this year, I thought now would be a fabulous time to start doing this feature here.

By: Shannon Messenger

Published by: Aladdin

To Be Released on: October 2nd, 2012

Pre-Order from: Amazon | iTunes

Twelve-year-old Sophie has always been different -- she's years ahead of the other kids in school and can read minds. She's always assumed there's some kind of logical explanation for her talents, but when she meets an adorable and mysterious boy, she finds out the shocking truth. She's never felt at home because she, well, ... isn't.

There are secrets buried deep in her memory, secrets about her true identity and why she was hidden among humans, that others desperately want and would even kill for. And she must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first -quoted from Goodreads

I seriously love YA books, but I get so excited over MG ones. There's something magical about stepping into their world, and this book is one of those I can not wait to sit down and read. Plus it's a debut!! I LOVE spotlighting debut books. I'm completely hooked on this story. I admit I will most likely do a fan girl dance when I get my hands on this book. Aside from the enticing story, check out this beautiful cover! I would seriously pick this book up based on the cover alone (not that I do that). I can't wait for Shannon's story to be out later this year. What middle grade/children's book are you waiting to be released?

Giveaway Winners

2012-01-24T09:11:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to the following winners:

Family Storybook Treasury:

Amy F

Heidi G

Toyland Express:

Sarah R

All winners have been notified via email and have 48 hrs to reply back or a new winner will be chosen. Thank you to everyone who entered! We'll have more giveaways shortly.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

2012-01-23T22:34:00.008-06:00

I'm thrilled to be taking part in my first ever Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post! This is an awesome meme started by the lovely Shannon Messenger. If you haven't yet, please go check out her blog! It's fabulous!

Each week with MMGM, I'm going to take a moment and spotlight an upcoming MG (middle grade) release I can't wait to read. Having just spent this past weekend at ALA, I had a hard time deciding which book to feature. I am beyond excited for this year's upcoming releases. Today's spotlight is: Ghost Buddy, Zero to Hero. I received this from via an invitation I had from Scholastic to attend their launch of some of their newest MG and Children's books, and I have to say I was completely impressed not only with the presentation, but with the books they featured. Here's a little bit about the Zero to Hero:

By: Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver

Published by: Scholastic

Released on: 1/1/2012

Series: Ghost Buddy Book #1

Ages: 8 & up

Purchase from: Scholastic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A hilarious new series from Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver, authors of the bestselling HANK ZIPZER books!

Billy Broccoli is new to the neighborhood, and wants cool friends and a spot on the baseball team more than anything. But the one thing he never wanted is his own personal ghost. So imagine his surprise when he ends up sharing a room with Hoover Porterhouse, a funny ghost with a whole lot of attitude.

When an obnoxious school bully sets out to demolish Billy, the Hoove comes up with a plan for revenge. It’s all in the Hoove’s Rule Number Forty-Two: Stay cool. And like it or not, Billy and the Hoove have to stick together if Billy ever wants to get in style, get even, and conquer the school - quoted from Goodreads

I'll be posting my review for this later this week. Now go check out the rest of the MMGM features here. Happy Reading!

Book Review: Tales of a Sixth Grade Muppet by Kirk Scroggs

2012-01-20T05:56:00.008-06:00

By: Kirk Scroggs

Published by: Little Brown kids

Released on: September 5th, 2011

Source: book from the publisher to review

Ages: 8 & up

4 stars: I Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

On a scale of one to ten, sixth-grader Danvers Blickensderfer's life is a solid minus two. But he really hits rock bottom when he auditions for the local talent show: his death-defying hula-hooping-ninja tribute to Gonzo the Great is beat out by the world's most obnoxious middle school boy band, Emo Shun.

With his daredevil dreams dashed, Danvers goes to bed... and wakes up feeling a little fuzzy-literally! He's turned into a Muppet! Fortunately, there's an internship open at the Muppet Theater and Danvers has a chance to meet his long-nosed, stunt-lovin' hero! All aboard The Electric Mayhem bus as this misfit makes good and joins the zaniest crew ever: The Muppets! -quoted from Goodreads

Growing up a Muppets fans, I adored this book and it's one my son enjoyed just as much as I did. Scroggs does a great job at staying true to the humor and misadventures that the Muppets are known for. I thought it was really creative in the way the story is told, which is through a kid name Danvers who wakes up one morning to find himself now a Muppet. Not only do readers get a behind the scenes glance of all that goes in the Muppet's world, but it was really cool to see how a huge fan of the Muppet's himself tries to adjust being one now.

The story is told in an engaging way with plenty of humor, mixed in with illustrations and words that were a bit similar to the way Diary of a Wimpy Kid is written. I think this style of story telling is great for reluctant readers or kids who easily get bored with a bunch of text. Within the illustrations are some hilarious jokes and mis adventures that happen with the Muppets. I loved that a lot of my favorite Muppets are featured in this story, as well as some new ones that fit in perfectly with Danvers. Scroggs does a fabulous job at introducing a new generation to all of the Muppets from the original show with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Scooter, Gonzo, Animal and the Electric Mayham Band, Beaker and Dr. Bunson Honeydew (who try to unsuccessfully return Danvers back to being a human), Sam the Eagle, Rowlf, and Fozzie. This story wouldn't be complete the famous duo of Statler, Waldorf who are of course constantly poking fun at everything that goes on and start heckling Danvers from the moment he becomes a Muppet.

This story is written in a way I'd except a Muppets book to be written. There's plenty of laugh out loud moments, jokes and puns that both tween readers as well as their parents will get a good laugh at. If you ever wondered what it would be like to be apart of The Muppets world, you'll know after reading Danver's story. I liked that Scroggs was able to create a story that takes place in both The Muppet and Danver's world and combines the two of them. It definitely makes for an interesting read. There's a few things that weren't tied up at the end that leaves me wondering if they'll be a sequel. Even if there's not, this is still a book I'd recommend picking up. I enjoyed the story line, the world Danver's is now a part of and the illustrations are fabulous.

Book Review: Peep in the Deep, Sea Creature Counting Book by R.M. Smith

2012-01-19T11:40:00.000-06:00

By: R.M. Smith

Published by: Clarence Henry Books

Released on: January 16th, 2012

Source: book from author to review

Ages: 1 & up

5 stars: It's A Great Read

Purchase from: Amazon

Beneath was a peaceful, quiet place when barely a peep gave way to something in the deep. Your child will love learning their numbers with this bright, and colorful book. Watch the ever growing number of sea creatures chase their former group across the pages til the last but not least! Each spread displays each group and number in a large, easy-to-read typeface. - quoted from Goodreads

What a fun under sea adventure! This is a book that will be easy for beginning readers to read, and one younger children will enjoy having read to them. Kids will enjoy counting the various groups of under sea creatures and enjoy the easy to read, rhyming words that make up this story. The illustrations are eye catching and bright and the story itself is quick, educational and engaging for younger children. It's a great read for any personal, school or classroom library.

Book Review: The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards

2012-01-17T12:57:00.010-06:00

By: Jasmine Richards

Published by: Harper Collins Children's

Released on: January 17th, 2012 TODAY

Source: ARC from publisher to review

Ages: 10 & up

5 stars: I LOVED It!

Purchase from: Harper Collins Children's | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Magic, Djinn, Ogres, and Sorcerers. Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings, long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying usurper who, even with his eyes closed, can see all.

When her own beloved sister is captured by the evil ruler, Zardi knows that she must go to any lengths to rescue her. Along with her best friend, Ridhan—a silver-haired, violet-eyed boy of mysterious origins—and an unlikely crew of sailors led by the infamous Captain Sinbad, Zardi ventures forth into strange and wondrous territory with a seemingly impossible mission: to bring magic back to Arribitha and defeat the sultan once and for all -quoted from Goodreads

A fantastic debut that's full of adventure, fantasy, friendship and a whole lot of charm. I felt like a kid all over again while reading this compelling story. There's something about a well written middle grade book that reminds me of the excitement I had when I first started reading them (what feels like eons ago), and this book has that excitement. The journey with Zardi and her best friend Rhidan isn't just thrilling, it was completely engaging. The world of Arribitha screams of adventure, because it is dangerous, full of myths, magical creatures and a place where magic is strictly forbidden. It's also ruled by an evil and cunning Sultan who isn't afraid to do whatever it takes to keep his people in line. He definitely gives evil villains a who new meaning. Mixed into the story's danger are two well characters I've really come to admire.

I love that this story's main character is a strong female lead. Zardi will do everything she can to save her family from the Sultan, and thankfully she has her trusted best friend, Rhidan, who's equally as strong in his own right, to help her. These two have such an amazingly strong bond and will do anything to help each other on their journey and to fulfill Zardi's destiny. I loved being introduced to the two of them, as well as to some of the more vibrantly written secondary characters that aid them on their journey.

Jasmine's writing is beautiful, descriptive and it held my attention the entire time I spent reading The Book of Wonders. She made it extremely easy for me to picture her richly detailed world, and her characters in my mind. Their world is beautiful, enticing, magical and the story itself is fascinating. Jasmine does such a brilliant job at weaving together all the right elements to bring this adventure to life. Her lore is rich and inviting, her fresh spin on the mythology of Sinbad, and the tales of Aladdin and the Arabian Nights is intriguing. If this beautiful cover doesn't already lure you into the world of Arribitha, than the story definitely will. I highly recommend picking up this exciting fantasy/adventure story! I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Check out the book trailer here:

Follow Jasmine on Facebook | Blog | Twitter

Book Review: The Deadlies: Spiders on the Case by Kathryn Lasky

2012-01-13T13:25:00.005-06:00

By: Kathryn Lasky

Published by: Scholastic

Released on:

Source: Book from publisher to review

Ages: 7-10

4 stars: A Really Fun Read

Purchase from: Scholastic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Can the world's friendliest spiders spin a web strong enough to catch . . . a criminal?

They're sweet and friendly . . . but they just happen to be super toxic. The Deadlies are the world's most misunderstood family of spiders. Kicked out of home after home, all the Deadlies want is to settle down in a cozy web with no exterminators around.

Now they've found the perfect place - the Rare Books room at the Boston Library. The librarian isn't afraid of the Deadlies, and they have lots of lovely books to explore. But their peace is threatened when a thief starts targetting the library. Can the Deadlies spin a web big enough to catch a crook - or is it back on the road once more? -quoted from Goodreads

What a fun adventure with a unique family of crime fighting spiders. Who would have thought that spiders could be so cool? Certainly not me, but if this family of spiders lived in my house I'd definitely keep them around. Not only do they protect the Boston Public Library's collection of books from those pesky silverfish who eat through pages and the collectable paintings, but together they stop thieves who keep stealing pictures out of books.

Not only did I like the library setting, but I liked the way Kathryn was able to incorporate some fun science and history lessons into the story. I like it when my kids can read a fun book and take something away from it. The history part of the story comes from the collectable books were the spider family makes their home and the science part of the story comes from learning a ton of cool (or gross) spider facts, depending on how you look at it. The illustrations that go along with this story are great.

I also loved how the spider family learns to read and uses hieroglyphs in their webs to send messages to Tom, the friendly librarian in order to help him stop the thieves who vandalize the library's books. I really liked Tom, and admired his respect for the spiders and how nice he was to them. There's also a great lesson about respecting the public library and it's books, as well as historical artifacts. I'd definitely recommend this book for home, classroom and library settings. It's a creative way to get kids interested in reading, learning more about spiders (and this is coming from someone who's afraid of spiders), and respecting our public libraries. Kathryn also includes a great facts page at the end of her story about the library and spiders.

Book Review: Jay: Ninja of Lightning (Lego Ninjago Chapter Book Series) Books #4

2012-01-12T12:44:00.007-06:00

By: Greg Farshtey

Published by: Scholastic

Released on: January 1st, 2012

Source: book from publisher to review

Chapter Book Series: Book #4, 2 books in 1

Ages: 7 & up

5 stars: We Loved It!

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Walmart

Masters of Spinjitzu: a new force to save the world!

The next book in the Lego Ninjago Chapter Book series!Jay is much like the element he represents: fast and full of energy. Always good in a fight, always up for a laugh, and always, always inventing. Even if those inventions don't always turn out the way he wants! -quoted from Goodreads

Another fabulous read for fans of the hit lego series, Ninjago. We loved getting to learn more about Jay and enjoyed reading about some his and the team's adventures. Like the other three books in this series, the story starts off with an entry about his Ninja from Sensei Wu's journal and than leads right into the first of the two stories featured in this book.

The first book is a short read called Dragon's Roar which is taken from one of the episodes that's aired on TV where the young ninja's meet their dragons. The bulk of this book is the chapter book featuring the story The Truth Seeker, which takes fans on a brand new adventure with Jay, Zane, Cole and Kai. Jay is one of our favorite ninja's, because he always provides the right amount of humor in any situation, no matter how dangerous it is.

Though we fell in love the TV series before the books were out, my son has fallen in love with the books just as much as he loves the series. He carries these around with him all the time. As a parent it's so rewarding watching my kids get lost in a good book. I HIGHLY recommend picking up the books. If you have a young fan of this series I strongly recommend looking into picking up each of the books in the series. This series of books is perfect for 1st and 2nd grade reading levels.

Book Review: Cole: Ninja of Earth (Lego Ninjago Chapter Book Series) Books #3

2012-01-03T16:24:00.006-06:00

By: Greg Farshtey

Published by: Scholastic

Released on: January 1st, 2012

Ages: 7 & up

Pages: 80

Series: Ninjago Chapter Book Series

Source: book from publisher to review

5 stars: I HIGHLY Recommend It

Purchase from: Scholastic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Masters of Spinjitzu: a new force to save the world!

The next chapter book in the Ninjago series!Cole is the leader of the team. As the Earth Ninja, he is (perhaps unsurprisingly) the most grounded of the four. And the strongest. There is no physical challenge Cole cannot overcome. Now is his chance to use his skills to save the world! - quoted from Goodreads

I didn't think it was possible for my son to love a new lego series/sets as much as he loves Star Wars, but that was before Lego Ninjago. The thing I love about this new series of cartoons and books, is each episode and each book teaches young readers a lesson. Being the huge book fanatic I am, I LOVE that Scholastic has released a new line of Ninajago chapter books. These books aren't just a huge hit for my son, but for many of the boys in his 1st grade class.

The first Ninjago book we purchased was an item we couldn't keep in stock at the school's fall Scholastic Book Festival, the Ninjago Official Guide. Shortly after we purchased one of beginning reader Ninajo books, which was devoured shortly after we got home from the story, followed by the 1st & 2nd books in the new chapter book series. I love it when there's something that interests my kids and that interest is then turned into a book, which continues to fuel the reading fire for my kids. When this book along with Jay's story arrived the week of Christmas from Scholastic, my son immediately took them and went off to read. After I sat down to read Cole's story, I can see why.

Ninjago fans will thoroughly enjoy this new chapter book featuring the leader of the Ninjago team. Cole is a natural leader and in the first of the two stories included in this book we get to see his leadership put to the test. In the second story we see how the team struggles with each wanting to be the leader and what happens when they stop working together. Like all Ninjago stories, this one teaches a lesson on the importance of team work and how everyone who's apart of a team has something to add to the group that helps them accomplish their goal. In turn, readers will see that once the team is able to do this, they're able to fight the Phantom Ninja. Aside from my son's love of this book, I as a mother love the valuable lesson it also teaches him.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND picking up this book, and this series. It's a must have for fans of the Lego Ninjago series and for readers who have advanced to reading chapter books.

Happy New Year's

2011-12-31T11:17:00.006-06:00

image found on google

I hope you all have a fabulous New Year's Eve & a HAPPY New Year this weekend!

I wanted to take a moment and say THANK YOU to everyone who's been apart of Mundie Kids this year. It's been such a fabulous year and I'm truly grateful to have worked with some fabulous authors and publishers. I've really enjoyed being able to feature the large variety of children's and tweens books this year on the blog. Though the holidays, Mundie Moms and just life in general kept me away from the blog for most of the month, I do have a lot of great reviews already lined up for January. I'm looking forward to all the upcoming releases in 2012!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T13:05:00.003-06:00

We want to take a moment and wish you all a wonderful Christmas & Holiday season. Thank you so much for being apart of Mundie Kids. We're looking forward to the upcoming new year and sharing many more book reviews with each of you. We wish you all the joy and happiness of this time of year.

It's WINTER & Book Review: Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara

2011-12-21T23:15:00.010-06:00

It's officially the 1st day of Winter! I love this time of year. It's not only the time of year to celebrate the joy of Christmas and the holiday season, but the time of year when the nights are longer, and the days are colder which makes it perfect reading weather!! I love reading weather. Despite the fact I've slacked off a bit on Mundie Kids, it's been crazy busy on Mundie Moms. Luckily this next week or so will be a time for me to catch up on here. There's some fabulous children's books I'll be sharing with you guys and I'll also be listing my favorite books of 2011 as well.

Speaking of books, I've got a children's book I want to share with you:

By & Illustrated by: Kazuno Kohara

1st Released on: October 27th, 2009 by Scholastic/Roaring Brook Press

Re-released on: October 25th, 2011 by Square Fish for Scholastic book fair

Source: Bought via Scholastic Book Fair

Ages: 5 & up

4 stars: We Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

One cold morning a lonely boy wishes for something to do. His animal friends are hibernating, and he has nobody to play with-even all the birds have flown south. When he meets Jack Frost, the last thing he expects is to make a new friend... or to discover how enchanting winter can be! -quoted from Goodreads

Celebrate the first day of Winter by reading this delightful story about Jack Frost. What little kid wouldn't want to spend the winter playing with Jack Frost, skating on the ice, building snowmen and having snowball fights? That would have been a dream come true for my son. The little boy in this story really lucks out when he meets Jack Frost and is able to do all that with them. That is until Spring makes her first appearance. Once that happens, Jack Frost has to leave until next year.

I love the simple illustrations and the way the blue & white colors brought the story to life. It provided a really inviting winter feel to it. The writing itself is very easy and I think those who are past beginner reader books will be able to sit and read this story by themselves. This is a book I'd recommend picking up. It's one that caught my eye at my son's most recent Scholastic Book Fair, and we've already enjoyed reading it a few times since bringing it home.

Blog Tour: Author Interview with Ryan Jacobson

2011-12-16T12:16:00.001-06:00

I'm thrilled to have author Ryan Jacobson on Mundie Kids today! Recently I had the chance to reviewe his newest release, Sir Author Conan Doyles Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. You can read my glowing review here.

He's the world's most famous detective, and thanks to this brilliantly adapted book, he's you! The cases, the clues, the suspects, they're yours to sort through in this exciting Choose Your Path book. You are Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. You make the choices. But be careful; the wrong decision could lead to your doom. -quoted from Goodreads

Hi Ryan! Thank you so much for stopping by Mundie Kids today. If you were a character in your book Can You Survive: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, what is one thing you'd want to have with you in order to survive your adventure?

I’d want a copy of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Since the stories are

adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original book, I’d read it and always

know just what to do.

What's one of your favorite Sherlock Holmes adventures?

I have a special place in my heart for The Hound of the Baskervilles. It’s both a

mystery and a scary story at the same time. Plus, when I was in high school, our

theater department performed it as a play. I remember getting a real kick out of

hearing my classmates talk with British accents.

I loved reading choose your own adventure stories when I was in middle school. What

inspired you to write a choose your own adventure story for Sherlock Holmes?

This is my fourth Choose Your Path book, and I chose Sherlock Holmes for this

one because I found out I could. I love, love, love Sherlock Holmes stories! When

I learned that other writers were allowed to use his character and his old stories, I

jumped at the chance. I couldn’t wait to get this book written and share it with the

world.

What was one of your favorite children's books to growing up?

I actually didn’t read many books as a child. Mostly, I read comic books and

Sports Illustrated. My very favorite was a graphic novel called Batman vs. The

Incredible Hulk (DC Special Series #27). I read it so many times that it fell apart.

My mom had to buy me a second copy.

Do you have any other books in the works you can tell us about?

I usually have four or five projects going at once (I like to jump back and forth

between them), but I just finished three Choose Your Path books: Sherlock

Holmes, Call of the Wild and Storm at the Summit of Mount Everest. So my

workload is lighter than normal. My five-year-old son loves Indiana Jones, so I’m

writing a book called Kruse Jasper and the Legend of the Dreamcatcher. I’m also

doing a Choose Your Path adaptation of Dracula. After that, I keep telling my

wife that I’m going to take a break from writing. Maybe I actually will. But there

is a comic book series I’d like to tackle…

**************

Thank you Ryan for stopping by Mundie Kids today! We're looking forward to reading more of your upcoming releases.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Blog Tour here

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Be sure to visit Ryan on his Website, follow him on Twitter & like him on Facebook

Book Review/Blog Tour: Sir Arthur Conan Doyles' Adventures of Sherlock Holmes By Ryan Jacobson

2011-12-06T07:20:00.002-06:00

By: Ryan Jacobson

Published by: Lake 7 Creative

Released on: November 1st, 2011

Source: book from author to review for blog tour

Ages: 8 & up

4 stars: I enjoyed it

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

I've been a fan of choose your own adventures books since I started reading them back in 5th grade. I'll admit, it's been years since I've read one, but reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, reminded me of how much fun these books are. They're exciting, action filled reads and completely engaging, as readers get to choose what "they would do next" as they act as though they're the main character.

The exciting thing about this choose your own adventure is the fact the reader becomes Sherlock Holmes. How much more exciting can that be. I've always been fascinated by clue solving Sherlock Holmes, and I really enjoyed getting to become him in this story. It was a lot of fun to make the decisions I thought he should make. Sometimes that lead me to disastrous paths and other times I succeeded and lasted longer than I thought I could in this book. I swear I was like a pre-teen again in reading this adventure book.

This is a great story for young readers and especially reluctant readers, as it invites them to be apart of the story. There's plenty of mystery, clues and twists to keep young readers invested in this story. You don't necessarily need to be a huge Sherlock Holmes fan to enjoy this read. The adventure and mystery that unravel as readers choose their own path are what fans will enjoy the most. I'm excited to see a new Choose Your Own Adventure Book and I really think readers 8 yrs old and older will enjoy jumping into this fun adventure. This is one book I'd recommend picking up!

Be sure to check out the rest of the Blog Tour here, and visit us on the 16th when we have author Ryan Jacobson on for an interview.

Book Review: Nicholas St. North And The Battle of the Nightmare King (The Guardians Book 1) by WIlliam Joyce & Laura Geringer

2011-12-02T18:25:00.003-06:00

By: William Joyce & Laura Geringer

Published by: Simon & Schuster Kids

Released on: October 4th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 8 & up

5 stars: This is a MUST HAVE MG!

Purchase from: Simon & Schuster | Amazon |Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Before SANTA was SANTA, he was North, Nicholas St. North—a daredevil swordsman whose prowess with double scimitars was legendary. Like any swashbuckling young warrior, North seeks treasure and adventure, leading him to the fiercely guarded village of Santoff Claussen, said to be home to the greatest treasure in all the East, and to an even greater wizard, Ombric Shalazar. But when North arrives, legends of riches have given way to terrors of epic proportions! North must decide whether to seek his fortune…or save the village.

When our rebellious hero gets sucked into the chaos (literally), the fight becomes very personal. The Nightmare King and his evil Fearlings are ruling the night, owning the shadows, and sending waves of fear through all of Santoff Clausen. For North, this is a battle worth fighting...and, he’s not alone. There are five other Guardians out there. He only has to find them in time. -quoted from Goodreads

I reviewed this book yesterday on Mundie Moms, but it's such a fabulous book for readers 8 and up, that I felt the need to share my review here on Mundie Kids. You can also enter to win a copy of the book on Mundie Moms, here.

Nicholas St. North and The Battle of the Nightmare King is an enchanting story with a rich mythology and is set in a world that's full of legend, adventure and action. This is a story that will appeal to adult readers and engage young readers as they meet mythological creatures, learn about ancient legends and experience the magic of Nicholas St. North's story. This fascinating world will allow young reader's imaginations to run wild as they are introduced to old world forklore that has a bit of Russian tradition mixed into it.

This is a book I think that will be most appealing to younger readers. It's an exciting read, with beautiful illustrations, and has a bit of a old fashion feel to it. William Joyce and Laura Geringer's writing is fabulous. It's easy to read and has a poetic feel to it. I didn't need to feel a connection to their characters to fall in love with this story. Their writing and world building are what made this book for me. To put it simply, I was captivated by the book. I swear I turned into a little kid again, as the excitement of this story came to life for me.

The only compliant I have, and this is the adult reader side of me saying this, I didn't like that it took so long to introduce the the heroine of the story. Had I been a preteen reading this, it wouldn't have bothered me at all. It's still a 5 star book for me, as this is one MG book I'd highly recommend picking up for Christmas/the holiday season. It's such a fun, action packed, quick read that even a reluctant reader will enjoy it. I'd be surprised if this book wasn't made into a movie. I'm definitely looking forward to more of William Joyce's MG/YA books.

Be sure to visit The Guardians of Childhood website to learn more this book and the next 5 books that will follow it. I'm looking forward to reading this series! You can read an excerpt here

Picture Book Month

2011-11-30T14:00:00.002-06:00

This month we had the privilege of taking part in the Picture Book Month, A Celebration! Through out the entire month of November my reviews were focused solely on the fabulous picture books that you can find around the book world. I'm not even sure how I came across the Picture Book Month blog, but I'm glad I did. I love what they're doing and strongly believe in the power of picture books.

I personally feel that picture books leave a profound impact on young children. I started reading picture books to my children as new borns and they've grown up with a love of readings and books. I know not every child will grow up loving books, but the importance of reading to your children while they're young does wonders for them. Aside from the developmental and educational benefits, reading picture books to your children also creates bounding moments for you and will leave a lasting impression on them.

Though the month is over, we'll continue to include picture book reviews on Mundie Kids like we have from the beginning of the site. It's the reason why I started Mundie Kids, so I could help promote the picture books I was reading with my children. You can read the more than 25 picture reviews that were featured this month on the blog here. You can learn more about Picture Book Month here.

Book Review: The Best Kind of Kiss by Margaret Allum

2011-11-29T08:09:00.006-06:00

By: Margaret Allum

Illustrated by: Jonathan Bently

Published by: Walker & Company/ Bloomsbury Children

To Be Released on: December 6th, 2011

Ages: 3 & up

Source: book from publisher to review

5 stars: We Loved It

Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles

A little girl likes all kinds of kisses, including a fluffy kiss from a cat and a fluttery kiss from a butterfly. And she gets a smelly-yelly brother kiss. But her favorite kiss of all is a bristly, growly, daddy kiss. Full of whimsy and charm, readers will agree: this is the best kind of book. -quoted from Goodreads

This is one of those stories that's just plain CUTE! The Best Kind of Kiss is a story about a little girls favorite kisses, from grandma kisses, to butterfly kisses, big kisses, slobbery baby brother kisses, to mom kisses and her favorite, kisses from her dad. Some of our favorite kisses mentioned are the "dandelions for a whispery kiss and snowflakes for a frosty kiss". This an adorable story with equally adorable illustrations. If you're looking for a fun, heart warming story, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up when it's released next week!

Book Review: Quincy Moves to the Desert by Camille Matthews

2011-11-28T11:23:00.007-06:00

By: Camille Matthews

Illustrated by: Michelle Black

Published by: Pathfinder Equine Publications

Released on: June 15th, 2011

Ages: 5 & up

Source: book to review from the publisher

5 stars: We Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon

Author/illustrator team Camille Matthews and Michelle Black have created a new series of children's horse books for ages 5-10.

The stories introduce a red horse named Quincy and follow his exploits. Quincy Moves To The Desert, the second book of the series, is a story of self-discovery. Quincy and his trusted friend, Beau, leave the comforts of home and go on a big trip West to find trails as far as you can see. Though hesitant at first, Quincy is soon soaking up the sights. To his amazement, Quincy discovers that Horses are everywhere. He learns about all the jobs horses do and begins to dream about his own possibilities.

Full of energy and imagination, the beautifully illustrated book includes a map of the US with highlighted states. The sensitive descriptions of Quincy s feelings and experiences provide an environment of warmth and comfort. The striking oil paintings bring Quincy and his world to life for young readers. Matthews' and Black's knowledge and love of horses and attention to details of horse life instill the series with joy and authenticity- quoted from Goodreads

This is a book horse fans will love and non horse fans will enjoy reading about. Camille Matthews introduces readers to a red horse named Quincy. Quincy and his friend Beau are off on a new adventure as they're moving from their home in NY to a new one out in the West. On their journey Quincy learns a lot about the different horses and what they do. I loved the brief history Camille gives, along with the map that shows the route of Quincy's journey and talks about the different horses found along the way.

Camille writes Quincy's story is such a unique way that I think young readers will really enjoy meeting Quincy. The story after all is told from his point of view. I love that Camille gives the right amount of information away to make Quincy's story engaging, educational and fun to the readers. Both Camille and Michelle's passion for horses shines through in their details about horses both in their writing and artwork. Michelle Black's illustrations are beautiful! Her illustrations by themselves make the book worth picking up. This is a book I'd definitely recommend picking up for elementary school libraries, class rooms and to have at home.

To learn more about Quincy, please visit his site here.

Book Review: The Three Snow Bears

2011-11-27T09:11:00.004-06:00

By: Jan Brett

Published by: Putnam & Sons, review edition (paperback edition) by Scholastic

Released on: September 13th, 2007

Source: Bought at Scholastic Book Fair

Ages: 3 & up

5 Stars: We Loved It

Purchase from: IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Aloo-ki glances up from fishing and sees her sled dogs floating off on an ice floe. She races after them and comes upon an igloo. Being a curious girl, she goes inside only to find no one home. That’s because the polar bear family who lives there is out walking while their breakfast cools off. Aloo-ki eats some soup, tries on their boots, and finally crawls into the smallest bed for a nap. Meanwhile, Papa, Mama, and Baby Bear see her dogs adrift, swim out to rescue them and return home to find Aloo-ki fast asleep in Baby Bear’s bed.

Jan traveled to the far North to meet the Inuit people and see the amazing land where they live. Dramatic illustrations capture the shimmering ice, snow and deep blue seas of the Arctic, and when Jan adds a raven-haired Inuit girl and her appealing huskies, an endearing family of polar bears, and playful Arctic animals in the borders, the result is one of her most beautiful picture books.

The decorative Inuit patterns and clothing Jan uses throughout are sure to attract adult fans and collectors while children will want to listen to and look at this exciting version of a well-loved story over and over again. -quoted from Goodreads

A wonderful re-telling of the children's classic, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jan Brett takes her readers to a beautiful Arctic world where a young Inuit stumbles upon the huge Igloo of three polar bears while looking for her dogsled team. Young Aloo-ki can't resist trying the warm soup, comfy boots and the warm beds of the three bears. The artwork in this story is beautiful! I love the way Jan paid respect to the culture and artwork of the Inuit culture. If you're a fan of Jan Brett's and story re-tellings, I highly recommend picking this book up.

Book Review: Ten on The Sled by Kim Norman

2011-11-26T11:17:00.004-06:00

By: Kim Norman

Illustrated by: Liza Woodruff

Published by: Sterling

Released on: September 30th, 2010, released for Scholastic Book Fairs 2011

Source: Bought

Ages: 3 yrs old & older

5 stars: We LOVE This Book! It's a MUST HAVE!

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Author Kim Norman (Crocodaddy) and illustrator Liza Woodruff have whipped up a rollicking, jolly, snow-filled adventure!

In the land of the midnight sun, all the animals are having fun speeding down the hill on Caribou's sled. But as they go faster and faster, Seal, Hare, Walrus, and the others all fall off…until just Caribou's left, only and lonely. Now, a reindeer likes flying-but never alone, so…one through ten, all leap on again!

An ideal picture book for reading-and singing along with-over and over. -quoted from Goodreads

If there is one children's picture book you buy this year, this should be it! I picked this up last week while working at my son's school's Scholastic Book Fair and it's been a hit ever since! This story has been read numerous times since coming home. It's funny, it's engaging, and it can be read to the tune of "There Were 10 In The Bed". In fact, I usually sing the story to my kids to that tune.

This story is not only highly entertaining, as hysterical laughing ensues, but it's bright illustrations are great for toddlers as well. If I gave out 10 stars, this book would get that. I love the way the story rhythms, how easy to read it is and the memories that are being built each time we sit down to read this story. I HIGHLY recommend picking this book up! This year it's been re-released in paperback format to be distributed at the Scholastic book fairs, which also makes it a very inexpensive purchase.

Book Review: Hibernation Station by Michelle Meadows

2011-11-25T10:00:00.001-06:00

By: Michelle Meadows

Illustrated by: Kurt Cyrus

Published by: Simon & Schuster

Released on: June 24th, 2010, released for Scholastic Book Fairs 2011

Source: Bought from Scholastic book fair

Ages: 2-5

4 stars: We Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Simon & Schuster | Amazon

EVERYBODY TO THE STATION!
TIME FOR WINTER HIBERNATION!

With room for all kinds of critters from big burly bears and clamoring chipmunks to grumpy groundhogs and fidgety frogs, this train is filled to capacity and ready to go!

The final destination?
SLEEP! -quoted from Goodreads

Have you ever wondered what the animals do when they prepare to take their long winter naps? In Hibernation Station Michelle Meadows reveals what the forest animals do. They hunker down for a long winter's nap in the hollowed out tree log train cars. Things go wrong with the woodland animals are put into wrong cars, eventually leading them to all snuggle together in a nice warm log together.

With cute illustrations and fun rhyming words, Hibernation Stations is a story that's great for reading at nap time or bed time. This is a story my little girl enjoyed. She loves seeing the animals in their pjs. I think this is a story that's great for toddlers and pre-school ages kids. I like that the author, Michelle Meadows included a helpful note about hibernation in the back of the book.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:42:00.004-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for being apart of Mundie Kids. We hope you all have a wonderful & safe Thanksgiving!

Book Review: The Story of Thanksgiving by Nancy J. Skarmeas

2011-11-24T06:55:00.005-06:00

By: Nancy J. Skarmeas

Illustrated by: Stacy Venturi-Pickett

Published by: Candy Cane Press

Released on: September 1st, 1999

Ages: 0 & up

Source: bought

5 stars: It's A Fabulous Boardbook

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

This book tells the story of the first Thanksgiving-how the pilgrims came to America on the Mayflower in search of religious freedom, how they landed at Plymouth Rock, and how the Native Americans taught them to plant and then joined them in a Thanksgiving feast. Parents can use the simple text and the bright illustrations of this book to introduce a very young child to this holiday

This is a fabulous story to have for infants and young children. The Story of Thanksgiving tells the story of why we celebrate this day, as well as the history of the 1st Thanksgiving, starting with why the Pilgrims left England, their journey to America, their first year in America and the hardships they endured, meeting Squanto and how he helped them, to their first Thanksgiving. If you want to have a Thanksgiving story for young kids, I highly recommend picking up this sturdy board book. The story is written in a way that educates and teaches young children the importance of why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

Book Review: Nothing Like A Puffin by Sue Soltis

2011-11-23T11:10:00.005-06:00

By: Sue Soltis

Illustrated by: Bob Kolar

Published by: Candlewick Press

Released on: September 13th, 2011

Source: book from author to review

4 stars: I Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

There’s nothing like this book! Bold, charming artwork enlivens a fun and clever game of compare-and-contrast for curious kids and puffin lovers alike.

A puffin is an amazing creature. It’s completely unique and one-of-akind. A ladder is nothing like a puffin. A house is nothing like a puffin. A newspaper is nothing like a puffin. . . . But wait! Who would have guessed? Could these things be more alike than you think? Young children will love following this mischievous puffin in an entertaining exercise in creative classification— and are guaranteed to start looking at everyday things in a whole new way -quoted from Goodreads

There isn't anything quite like a puffin. This cute little puffin gives a range of examples from other animals, to objects who aren't quite like him. In comparing himself to other things, he sees just how unique he is. There is nothing else quite like him. I like the message this story gives. The reader/the story's audience can easily relate themselves to the puffin, as there's no one else quite like them.

Book Review/Giveaway: The Family Storybook Treasury

2011-11-22T11:07:00.006-06:00

Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Released on: October 25th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Pages: 304

Ages: 4 & up

5 stars: It's A Must Have

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Family, friends, your favorite characters…bring them all together at story time! Share the book that is sure to entertain, delight, and make the whole gang laugh. The Family Storybook Treasury is a collection of your most well-loved picture books and poetry, now available in one beautiful keepsake volume with bonus audio CD! Includes eight complete picture books:

* Curious George and the Firefighters by Margret and H. A. Rey

* Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh

* Lyle Walks the Dogs by Bernard Waber, illustrated by Paulis Waber

*Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw, illustrated by Margo Apple

* Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

* Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

* The Great Doughnut Parade by Rebecca Bond

* Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

A beautiful treasure to give, receive, and pass down.

This is a fabulous collection of some of the most beloved children's books. When this arrived in the mail my youngest was so excited about this book that we sat down the moment the package was open and started to read it. This is an ideal read for story time and bedtime. I love that this book comes with a CD, which is great for those families who are always on the go! This CD features all 8 stories included in the book.

Mixed in with these classic stories are beautiful poems that kids will enjoy. Each poem is featured at the end of the stories. This hard cover collection of treasured stories makes a wonderful gift for Christmas, the holidays and birthdays. If you're like me, you never need an excuse to pick up a great children's story. This book will ensure hours of quality reading time with your little ones. The Family Storybook Treasury has already been a huge hit in our household, and it's one I'd recommend adding to yours.

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Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, we have 2 copies we're giving away!! To enter, please fill out the form below:

Book Review/Giveaway: Can You See What I See? Toyland Express by Walter Wick

2011-11-21T10:56:00.009-06:00

By: Walter Wick

Published by: Scholastic

Released on: October 1st, 2011

Ages: 4-8

Source: book from publisher to review

5 star: We Loved It!

Purchase from: Scholastic | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? TOYLAND EXPRESS, the eighth title in the bestselling search-and-find series, follows the life of a toy train from the workshop to the attic, only to be rescued at a yard sale and brought to life once again in a new home. As readers search for more than 250 hidden objects, they will also notice how the train takes on various transformations along its journey.

Have you ever read a book that made you wish you could jump into it's pages? While reading this book with my kids, it made me wish I had an attic to go into to, so that I could pull out a box of toys and set up a Toyland Express train set like the one featured in the story, and allow my children endless hours of imaginary fun. Luckily Walter Wick's stunning photos and engaging story provide those hours of entertainment for my kids with his newest release.

The Toyland Express is a fabulous book for readers ages preK through 2nd, as they take a journey with the Toyland Express from when it's first hand crafted, to it being giving as a gift for a birthday party, played with, stored in an attic, reclaimed, and played with once again. My son's a 1st grader and he loved being able to read the book and looking for the different objects in each picture. This book is the PERFECT gift for train fans. The photography is beautiful, and the story and puzzle search is entraining, as well as engaging. I highly recommend picking this book up this Christmas/holiday season.

Don't miss this behind the scenes video with Walter:

About the author:

Walter Wick has opened millions of eyes to a world of treasures big and small in his award-winning, bestselling I SPY and CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? picture-puzzle books. Walter discovered his passion for building picture puzzles by accident. One day when cleaning out a drawer, he scattered odds and ends on a glass tabletop and photographed them. The photo appeared in a magazine and caught the eye of Jean Marzollo, editor of Scholastic’s Let’s Find Out. This photo inspired the first I SPY book, with riddles by Jean Marzollo, and led to their long collaboration.

In his more recent CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? series, Walter’s detailed photographs convey subtle hidden stories. Walter meticulously constructs 3-D sets for CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? in his Connecticut studio. For videos and more photos, visit www.walterwick.com or www.facebook.com/walterwick.

__________________________

Thank you to Scholastic, we have 1 SIGNED copy of Can You See What I See? Toyland Express to giveaway. To enter, please fill out the form below:

Book Review: Ricky's Christmas Tree by Guido Van Genechten

2011-11-20T09:11:00.005-06:00

By: Guido Van Genechten

Published by: Clavis Publishing

Released on: September 1st, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 5 & up

4 stars: It's A Great Read

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Ricky is wishing for a Christmas tree to light up his family’s house, but Dad has been too busy—until today. Dad tries to pick out the first tree they come across at the market, but Ricky convinces him to buy the biggest tree they can find instead. While they’re trying to tie it onto their sled, the rope snaps and they tumble backward into the snow. Rather than getting angry, Dad starts a snowball fight with Ricky, and as they play together, Dad is reminded how much fun winter can be. A touching story about the strength of a bond between father and son, this colorful book featuring the lovable Ricky delivers an important message about what really matters during the holidays. -quoted from Goodreads

Ricky really wants to have a Christmas tree in time for Christmas, but his dad has been to busy working. In hurry, Ricky's dad wants to get the tree and get back to work, but something happens along the way that causes his dad to be covered in snow. From this misfortune, Ricky and his dad end up spending a fun filled day together. I really like the message that spending time together is a gift itself. We enjoyed reading about all the fun things Ricky and his dad do, from snowball fights to making snow angels and getting home in time to decorate the tree. Fans of Ricky will enjoy this fun Christmas story.

Book Review: Birdie's Big-Girl Dress by Sujean Rim

2011-11-19T08:41:00.001-06:00

By: Sujean Rim

Published by: Little Brown Kids

Released on: September 5th, 2011

Ages: 4 & up

Source: book from publisher to review

3 stars: An Adorable Picture Book

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In this follow-up to Birdie's Big-Girl Shoes, our favorite pint-sized fashionista is looking forward to a very BIG day—her birthday. But when Birdie tries on her favorite party dress, she realizes that - oh no! - it's too small. Mommy takes her to the boutique, where she tries on dress after dress, but Birdie realizes that none of these gowns will allow her to run and jump, make messes, and eat cake. Only when she takes a trip up to her favorite thinking place, the attic, does she realize that all it takes the find the perfect "Birdie dress" is a little imagination.

-quoted from Goodreads

Birdie is an adorable little girl who's so excited to celebrate her upcoming party. This pint size fashionista has a problem, she doesn't know what to wear to her party. Her mother takes her shopping at a local boutique, but Birdie can't find what she's looking for. It's until she rummages through the attic does she find the perfect outfit. The attic scenes were my favorite! I can only imagine the hours that could be spent playing dress up there.

The only problem I had with the story is found on a page where the little girl won't get a dress because it would be too snug after eating cake. For whatever reason that rubbed me the wrong way, and it bothers me that this was mentioned in a children's book. It sends the wrong message to kids, especially little girls who should be able to enjoy a dress not matter their size. Aside from that page, this story has some extremely adorable illustrations, that I couldn't get enough of. I'd recommend getting it for the illustrations alone.

Book Review: Not Inside This House! by Kevin Lewis

2011-11-18T09:30:00.004-06:00

By: Kevin Lewis

Illustrated by: David Ercolini

Published by: Orchard Books/Scholastic

Released on: August 1st, 2011

Source: unbound book from publisher to review

Ages: 4 & up

4 stars: A Fun Read

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Meet Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse, a curious boy who loves to explore!

You'd expect a boy with a name like Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse to explore. But Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse doesn't stop there. He comes home with specimens from his travels! First a bug, and then a moose-what will Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse show up with next? Curious readers are in for a fun adventure.

"Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse,

why is that hog inside this house?"- quoted from Goodreads

Livingstone Columbus Magellan Crouse is like many young boys, he's curious, and in search of the perfect thing to bring home from his various adventures. From a moose, to a whale, to a pig, to bugs and everything in between. Livingstone can't help himself. His poor mom sure has an awful mess to clean up each time he brings something home.

This is an extremely fun book to read it. It's written in an easy to read way that my first grader could read a lot of the book himself, and the rhyming makes the story that much more engaging. This is a great book to have at home and in the classroom.

Book Review: A Starlit Snowfall by Nancy Willard

2011-11-17T08:10:00.002-06:00

By: Nancy Willdard

Illustrated by: Jerry Pinkney

Published by: Little Brown Kids

Released on: November 7th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 5 & up

4 stars: It's A Good Read

Purchase from: Amazon

"My cave is big enough for two!" a bear declares to a rabbit, inviting his small friend to share his den through the longest, coldest season. The rabbit readily accepts the bear's offer, but no sooner have the two curled up than the lively rabbit jumps up to wonder: Wouldn't it be better to be out in the crisp winter air, free to leap through the starlight and the sparkling snow?

In this paperback reissue of a long out-of-print winter tale (originally titled A Starlit Somersault Downhill),Caldecott Medal winner Jerry Pinkney's rich watercolors create a cozy winter world that perfectly complements Newbery Medal winner Nancy Willard's charming poetry.- quoted from Goodreads

This is a beautiful illustrated story that follows a hare who wants nothing more than to run and hop through theapproaching winter, rather than laying in a cave with his friend bear. While I was reading this, I swear this is a story I read when I was younger, and in looking into this story I found this is a re-issue of a long out of print classic tale. It's a wonderful story with some fabulous illustrations.

Book Review: Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko

2011-11-15T06:35:00.008-06:00

By: Selina Alko

Published by: Alfred A. Knopf

Released on: October 11th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 4 & up

3.5 stars: It's A Good Read

Purchase from: Amazon

It's no secret that little girls love playing dress up, but the little girl in this book ditches her princess duds in favor of costumes inspired by great women in history.

Now dressing up is an adventure
When, every day of the week,
I am a daring new dame!

From Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to chef extraordinaire Julia Child to queen of jazz Ella Fitzgerald, our protagonist pays homage to the women who came before her and imagines herself in their shoes. Maybe someday she'll inspire little girls with her own gown of greatness. -quoted from Goodreads

Being a mother of a little girl who loves to dress up, I loved the concept of this book. The little girl dresses up each of the week and pretends to go on the adventures of the prestige women she's pretending to be. While as I grown up, I knew who these amazing women are, they were totally lost to my little girl. Young girls would know more about these women than young preschool aged girls. I do love the concept that dress can be more than just Disney princesses. I'm a little torn on how to recommend this book. It's geared towards preschool aged kids, yet the content of the book is more of girls in elementary school. I like that the respected women through out history who are mentioned in this story are included in a biography in the back of the book.

Book Review: Kevin's Christmas by Liesbet Slegers

2011-11-14T10:54:00.003-06:00

By: Liesbet Slegers

Published by: Clavis Publishing

Released on: September 1st, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Purchase from: Amazon

It is Christmas time and Kevin is discovering all of his family’s holiday traditions. He wonders why Mom put a tree inside the house; she tells him that it’s a Christmas tree for decorating with shiny ornaments, little lights, and a golden star at the top. Then Kevin helps Mom prepare Christmas dinner for all of their relatives and is excited to exchange presents with everybody. Even though he loves the special food and is grateful for his presents, Kevin learns that his favorite part of Christmas is getting to spend time with the people he cares about. With simple language and bright illustrations, this festive story focuses on the joys and delights of experiencing a holiday through the eyes of a child. -quoted from Goodreads

I like the brightly illustrated pages, and the simple illustrations, but I'm a little torn on my feelings with this story. Normally we're huge fans of Christmas/holiday stories, but this one didn't quite win us over like I had hoped. I liked how Kevin introduces readers to his family's traditions, but I think if the story had been written a little bit simpler, it might have been a bit more engaging for kids. Not saying it's written bad, it's just not one that captured the attention of my kids.

Book Review: Snowflake Baby by Elise Broach

2011-11-13T07:11:00.006-06:00

By: Elise Broach

Illustrated by: Cori Doerrfeld

Published by: Little Brown Kids

To Be Released on: December 5th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 2 & up

5 stars: We Loved It

Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Snowflake baby
Winter day

Snowsuit baby
Out to play!

Little ones will love playing along with baby during a day full of wintry fun, from snowballs to sledding. This interactive novelty board book features large lift-the-flaps on each spread, hiding charming surprises underneath. With acclaimed author Elise Broach's delightful rhyming text and playful illustrations by Cori Doerrfeld, this is the perfect read-aloud to share after fun-filled snowy day! -quoted from Goodreads

An adorable, chunky board that's perfect for little hands. This brightly colored, cutely illustrated book has the perfect size lift the flaps, making it harder for them to ripped. This sturdy board book follows the story of a snowflake baby and her puppy as they venture out to play in the snow, and end their adventurous day snuggled under their warm winter quilt. If you're looking for the perfect book for your little one this Christmas/holiday season, I'd recommend picking this one up. It makes a great stocking stuffer.

Book Review: Duckling Ducklings & Baby Animal Friends by Aaron Zenz

2011-11-12T11:21:00.006-06:00

By: Aaron Zenz

Published by: Bloomsbury Kids

Released on: February 15th, 2011

Ages: 3 & up

Source: book from publisher to review

4 stars: It's A Cute Read

Purchase from: Bloomsbury Kids | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Here's a puppy, there's a kitten . . . a yawning fawn and chuckling ducklings

The perfect introduction to animal names and animal groups, Chuckling Ducklings features baby animals of every variety. The bouncing text and adorable illustrations will become a favorite with kids as they learn the special baby names that match all the grown-up animals they know and love. -quoted from Goodreads

Cute, bright illustrations introduce young readers to a variety of different baby animals found in the animal world. Who would have thought tadpoles would be cute?! If you're an "awwer" than this book will have you awwing on every page. With it's simply wording and "aw" so cute illustrations, make this an adorable read.

Book Review: Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert & Nancy Ekholm Burkert

2011-11-11T08:10:00.006-06:00

By: Rand Burkert & Nancy Ekholm Burkert

Published by: Scholastic

Released on: October 1st, 2011

Source: unbound book from publisher to review

Ages: 4 & up

4 stars: I Really Enjoyed

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A wonderful re-telling of the classic Aesop Fable- Lion & the Mouse story. I enjoyed this beautifully illustrated story, as Rand pays tribute to the courageous, little mouse. This story proves that no matter how big or little you are, you can do anything you set your mind to as long as you're brave enough to try.

Book Review: Lily Hates Goodbyes by Jerilyn Marler

2011-11-10T09:05:00.006-06:00

By: Jerilyn Marler

Illustrated by: Nathan Stoltenberg

Published by: self pub

Released on: March 8th, 2011

Ages: for any child who's parent is in the armed serves

Source: book from author to review

5 stars: It's a Touching Read

Purchase from: Amazon

Sometimes Lily has to say goodbye to her Daddy for about a billion days. She feels a swirl of unhappy emotions that can be scary. And she aches to feel connected to her Daddy during his long deployments. Join Lily as she learns how to cope with her emotions and to be happy in her daily life while she looks forward to joyfully saying hello when Daddy gets home. "Lily Hates Goodbyes" is helpful for any child who suffers separations from a loved one. The charming illustrations will draw your child's interest immediately. Children appreciate the affirmation that scary emotions are normal and that they don't last forever. Parents appreciate the opportunity talk with their children about the scary emotions in a safe, non-volatile way. - quoted from Goodreads

A personal story for the authors grand-daughter, this is a touching story about a little girl who hates to say goodbye to her father, who's in the Navy and currently deployed away from home. Lily's story is a touching one, as Jerilyn allows us to connect with Lily on an emotional level as she goes through the daily routines of not having her father there. From looking at the moon at night to writing him letters, Lily is anxiously counting down the days when she will see her father again.

This is a great story for children who have a parent or parents currently serving our country and are away from home. Through Lily they will be able to identify with similar feelings of worry, fear, sadness, being upset, happiness and the joy when their parent/parents arrive home. The vivid illustrations do a great job at portraying all Lily is feeling and experiencing. Lily's story is one I highly recommend picking up. To learn more about Lily's story, please visit Lily Hates Goodbye .

Book Review: My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee

2011-11-09T10:09:00.005-06:00

By: Jon Agee

Published by: Scholastic

Released on: September 1st, 2011

Ages: 4 & up

Source: unbound book from publisher to review

4 stars: I Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Watch Jon Agee win over a new flock of fans—the toddler set

If you should ever get a rhinoceros for a pet, you're in for a surprise. It won't chase a ball. Or a stick. Or a frisbie. In fact, according to the experts, a rhinoceros does only two things: pop balloons and poke holes in kites.

But don't be discouraged. As you'll discover in Jon Agee's hilarious picture book, rhinoceroses can do more—so much more—than that! -quoted from Goodreads

A really cute story about a boy who chooses a pet, but this pet isn't quite what he had excepted. This rhinoceros surprisingly proves just how great of a pet he is! I never thought a rhinoceros would make a great pet, but after reading this hilarious story I can see just how useful this pet could be. This is a fun story with some great illustrations.

Book Review: The Vole Brothers

2011-11-08T09:02:00.004-06:00

By: Roslyn Schwartz

Published by: Owl Kids

Released on: September 15th, 2011

Ages: 2-5

4 Stars: It's We Enjoyed

Purchase from: Amazon

From the creator of the beloved Mole Sisters comes an irresistible tale about two ravenous rodents, wanted for snacking on too many strawberries, daisies, tulips, and other vegetation. And after these rodents chomp and chew all the plants they can find around their home — a drainpipe in an urban alley — they’re still hungry! So hungry, in fact, they could even eat a cat!

Using an imaginative paper bag disguise and a natural talent for tunneling, this mischievous pair sets off in pursuit of a feline-sized feast — and finds a slice of pepperoni pizza. But the vagrant voles are left empty-handed — and empty-tummied — when a greedy crow and an army of ants invade their picnic.

Chock full of silly antics and suspense, young children will root for these insatiable characters as they continue on their quest for food. And readers will celebrate along with them when the Vole Brothers’ perseverance pays off when they are tossed into a garden full of luscious strawberries — a very happy ending if you’re a hungry vole!

What a fun, entertaining read. The Vole Brothers are off to find something to eat, but their misfortunes almost have them ending up as dinner. This is a simple, easy to read, well illustrated that book that we really enjoyed. Having little words on each page not only makes it an engaging story, but it's perfect for preschool age kids and beginning readers.

Book Review: Whooo Loves You?

2011-11-07T08:45:00.006-06:00

By: Sandra Magsamen

Published by: Little Brown & Company

Released on: August 3rd, 2011

Ages: toddler

Source: book from publisher to review

3 stars: It's a Cute Read

Purchase from: Amazon

The birds resting on the clothesline sing...
You're my little tweetheart! You're my little tweetheart!

The little puppies snuggled in their home bark...
We ruff you! We ruff you!

Babies will love playing peek-a-boo with this interactive board book, featuring fun-shaped lift-the-flaps on each spread. This adorable new addition to the "Made with Love" series invites little ones to discover messages of love through Sandra Magsamen's signature heartfelt text and sweet new hand-stitched illustration style. - quoted from Goodreads

A cute lift the flap, board book for toddlers. The bright colors and simple words make for an engaging read. Each page incorporates the way each animal expresses how they love.

Book Review: Just Fine the Way They Are, From Dirt Roads to Rail Roads to Interstates

2011-11-05T10:29:00.001-05:00

By: Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge

Illustrated by: Richard Walz

Published by: Boyds Mills Press

Released on: March 1st, 2011

Source: book from author/publisher for review

3 stars: A Good Read

Change. Who needs it? We do! Mr. John Slack, the keeper of a tavern beside a rutted dirt road in the early 1800s, thought things were just fine the way they were. So did Lucius Stockton who ran the National Road Stage Company in the mid 1800s. So too, did the owners of the railroads when the first model T appeared in 1908. Yet with each new innovation, Americans were able to move around the country more quickly, efficiently, and comfortably. Connie Woolbridge offers an informative, yet light-hearted look at how the dirt roads of the early 1800s evolved into the present-day U.S. highway system. Richard Walz's gorgeous paintings capture both the broad sweep and the individual impact of change and progress - quoted from Goodreads

This book is a good for kids to learn about the history of transportation and the worries about change that come with them. The book spans the early 1800's through now and discusses the history of change and how roads, the railroad and such were created and why. The illustrations are great, the history of transportation is fascinating, but the wording was a bit much for kids. There's a lot mentioned on each page that didn't hold my kid's attention long enough for them to want to sit and listen to the whole book. While the book seems like it's geared towards kids K-2nd grade age, the wording is written for kids whom are older. I'd recommend it for kids in 2nd grade & older.

Book Review: Everything Goes on Land By Brian Biggs

2011-11-04T09:20:00.006-05:00

By: Brian Biggs

Published by: Balzer & Bray

Released on: September 13th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: preschool- 1st grade

4 stars- My Kids Loved It

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cars and trucks and bikes and trains!

Rvs and construction vehicles too!

Everything goes

Ride along with Henry and his dad as they visit the big city and check out all the amazing vehicles around them.

Full of mini-story lines, endless seek-and-find activities, and hundreds of funny details, Everything Goes: On Land is an interactive book that provides hours of fun! -quoted from Goodreads

A fun, read that teaches kids all about different means of transportation. Each of the busy, brightly colored pages shows a variety of ways we can get around the city, from the subway, to trains, taxis, motorcycles, cars, trucks etc. One of the engaging things about this story are the captions found on each page by each different car, truck, motorcycle etc. This made if fun for the kids to find the different vehicles and learn what they do.

This is a great book to pick up. You can even have your child count the different vehicles found on each page, point out colors, and look for silly things pictured on each page. I highly recommend picking it up!

Book Review: Wildfire Run by Dee Garretson

2011-11-03T19:46:00.006-05:00

By: Dee Garretson

Published by: Harper Collins Children's

Released on: August 31st, 2011

Age: 10 & up

Source: book from author to review

5 star: A Thrilling Read for MG Readers

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Just once Luke Brockett would like to do something slightly dangerous, but when your father is the President of the United States, that is not an option. Always surrounded by Secret Service agents and kept in a bubble of safety, Luke sees Camp David, the presidential retreat in the woods of Maryland, as the only place where he can almost normal. For one week in August, Luke's mother has arranged for Luke to have a 'summer camp' experience, if summer camp had only three kids and the counselors carried automatic weapons. The experience comes to a quick end when a forest fire surrounds Camp David. Luke and his friends are trapped inside, left on their own, the Secret Service agents incapacitated, forcing the three to outwit security systems designed to be unbeatable before the fire gets to them -quoted from Goodreads

What an awesome, fast paced, action packed, thrilling adventure! This story is one that just grabs ahold of it's reader and doesn't let them go until the last page. The story centers on Luke, the son of the President of the United States. While on a trip to Camp David with his dad, an destructive earthquake hits MO, causing his father to promptly return to the White House leaving Luke behind with his own secret service men, and his best friend Theodore. While there, a frightening wild fire breaks out and heads straight for Camp David.

This book really played out like watching an exciting movie. One thing after the other happens during this story, from natural disasters, to an accident, that leave part of the team either hurt or separated from each other. Oh wait, I also forgot the run ins with wildlife. Not to mention the fact that one of the big problems is the security that's meant to keep the "bad guys" out, is also keeping the team from leaving. The details of the lay out of Camp David are intriguing and the facts about the camp itself that Dee includes at the end of her story are fascinating. It was so easy for me to imagine what the grounds of this camp look like, as well as the surrounding woods where part of the story takes place.

Wildfire Run is such a high energy, engaging story with fabulously developed characters. The three tweens, Luke, his best friend Theodore and Callie, the chef's daughter we so fun to meet, and as were Luke's own Secret Service men. I loved the ideas that Luke and his friends come up with to help them all escape. Despite how daring and dangerous this mission is, their bravery, intelligence and teamwork are needed to help them figure out away around a high security system. This is a book I highly recommend picking up. I think it's one that even the most reluctant reader will end up enjoying.

Book Review: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jerry Pinkney

2011-11-02T10:20:00.004-05:00

Written & Illustrated By: Jerry Pinkney

Published by: Little Brown Kids

Released On: October 10th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 3 & Up

5 stars: A beautifully illustrated book

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

One of the most acclaimed children's book illustrators of our time now takes his legendary skill with watercolor to new heights in this lavish visual adventure. As a curious little chipmunk leaves his nest to greet the twilight, he gazes at the glittering sky above him. He can't help but also notice the sparkling dewdrops on a spider's web, the lights of the fireflies, and the shimmers of moonlight on the water. "How I wonder what you are!" marvels the tiny creature, launching a dreamlike quest to reach for the stars.

Inspired by one of our most popular children's lullabies, Jerry Pinkney's gentle world--where the loving arms of nature embrace us despite darkness or uncertainty--is perfect for easing little ones into dreamland. -quoted from Goodreads

This is my first Jerry Pinkney book, and what a fabulous first book of his it was to read. This is such a beautifully illustrated book. I was not only mesmerized with it, but my kids were as well. I love that this story was not only inspired by, but uses the words for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. I think fans of Jerry's will be pleasantly surprised with his latest release. I loved his beautiful artistic touch to this classic, as it created a timeless feel for both the song and the story. This richly illustrated book is perfect for bedtimes! I highly recommend picking it up.

Book Review: I Am Small by Emma Dodd

2011-11-01T10:06:00.005-05:00

By: Emma Dodd

Published by: Cartwheel Books/Scholastic

Released on: September 1st, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 3 & Up

5 stars: An Adorable Read

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cuddle up with your little penguin this winter!

"The world is big and I am small."

From the eyes of a baby penguin the world is a great big place. The sky so high, the ocean so deep, and the mountains so steep--all these things are magnificent from it's point of view. But in the eyes of it's mother--this little penguin is the biggest, most important thing in the world! This beautiful story is highlighted with foil on the cover and throughout. -quoted from Goodreads

This is the perfect book for preschool & kindergarten aged kids, as the simple words and adorable illustrations will draw them right in. The adorable story is told from baby penguin's perspective and the world around him his huge. From the vast ocean, endless icebergs and the star filled sky, everything around baby penguin is huge. But to this little guys's parents, he is their world.

This story was a hit with my kids and I'm sure it's one that will be a hit with many other young readers. Who can resist an adorable penguin story, with charming illustrations sprinkled with bits of silver foil on each page. This is a great story for beginning readers as well.

November is: Picture Book Month!

2011-11-01T05:55:00.000-05:00

It's Picture Book Month and this month we're celebrating our love of picture books! Through out the month of November y0u'll find reviews for some of our favorite picture books, as well as new releases. Be sure to join in the celebration and go HERE to grab the image and find out more about Picture Book Month.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T06:45:00.002-05:00

We hope everyone has a wonderful & safe Halloween!

Book Review: Happy Halloween!

2011-10-29T08:32:00.004-05:00

By: Liesbet Slegers

Published by: Clavis Publishing

Released on: September 1st, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 5 & up

4 Stars: It's A Good Read

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The fun traditions of Halloween are celebrated in this engaging picture book in which the whole family prepares for the big day. Daddy carves the pumpkin into a scary monster face, while Mommy makes pumpkin soup and pumpkin cakes with the trimmings. Everyone makes scary costumes for the neighborhood Halloween party. After bobbing for apples, the children travel door to door collecting sweets and singing scary songs. When the excitement is over, the makeup and costumes come off, and it is time to crawl into bed, forget about the ghosts and goblins, and dream of next year's celebration. Simple shapes and just the right amount of spooky suspense introduce youngsters to a favorite holiday. -quoted from Goodreads

This is a great story for parents or teachers who are wanting to introduce their kids to the various activities that take place on Halloween. It's fun, informative read with bright, colorful, and simple illustrations. My kids related to this story well, and got really excited when we'd read about some of the things we do. This story is one that could even be read to preschool age kids, as there's nothing scary about this story at all. This is one I'd recommend picking up if you're looking for a clean, fun Halloween read for your kids.

Book Review: Frangoline and the Midnight Dream

2011-10-28T09:39:00.006-05:00

By: Clemency Pearce

Illustrated by: Rebecca Elliott

Published by: The Chicken House/Scholastic

Source: from publisher to review

Ages: 5 & up

4 stars: A Fangtastic Read

Purchase from: Barnes & Noble

Good Girl Gone Bad! An adorably dark picture book about the naughty midnight exploits of an impish litttle girl.

During the day, Frangoline's a perfect little angel. But in the darkest shadows of night, when all good children are sleeping tight, this little imp dons her jet-black cape and makes a break for it! Out the window, across the grass, screeching like a banshee, twirling like a dervish! The worried Moon looks down, warning, "Little ones should be in bed!"

"You can't tell me what to do. I'm Frangoline!" she says.

But when Frangoline's dancing antics wake the dead and they chase her to the tippy-top of the church steeple, how will she escape? And will she learn her lesson?

For every parent who has faced a fight at bedtime, and for every child just beginning to assert her independence, this is an adorably dark storybook about a (sweet but) wicked girl. The perfect rhyming Halloween read for all the little angels with a little devil inside! -quoted from Goodreads

This is cute Halloween read with some charming illustrations that both my kids and I enjoyed reading. It's about a little girl who's really good during the day and at night after midnight she becomes opposite of what she's like during the day. One night on Halloween, she doesn't listen to the warnings the moon keeps giving her about the choices her makes and she ends up learning her lesson, at least for that night. It's not that she's bad, she's just a bit adventurous and wants to do whatever she wants. It's appealing rhyming words, engaging illustrations and that fun, exciting Halloween feel the story has, make this a book I'd recommend picking up for Halloween.

Blog Tour/Book Review: A Christmas Secret

2011-10-27T11:25:00.005-05:00

By: Candace Hall

Published by: Tate Publishing

Released on: July 5th, 2011

Source: Book from author to review

Ages: 8 & up

4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Tate Publishing

When Santa's reindeer discover a lost kitten named O'Malley, they have no choice but to rescue him and bring him back to the North Pole. Soon all the residents of the North Pole are doing their part to save O'Malley, including Broome, the head elf, and Wilma the mouse. Because only those who were born in the North Pole can live there, everyone decides to keep O'Malley a secret-until O'Malley goes missing. Will O'Malley be able to stay in the North Pole? What will Santa think about A Christmas Secret? -quoted from Goodreads

A cute, festive short story that will get kids in the Christmas Spirit, A Christmas Secret is about an adorable little black kitten O'Malley who finds himself lost at the North Pole. This charming story is about friendship and love, and allows readers to get a glimpse into life at the North Pole for Santa and his reindeers. The story does a great job at reminding readers that the over all meaning of this time of year is about love.

While the black & white illustrations are simple and fit the story well, I think they'd be more appealing to younger kids if they had been in color. This by no means takes away from the cuteness of the story. This book is the perfect size for kids who are at an intermediate level for reading, though I found some of the words to be a bit out of the targeted reading ages level. I think with the help of an adult, kids would find it easier to read. This adorable book is the perfect size to fit into any stocking. It's a book I'd recommend picking up for the upcoming holiday season.

Be sure to go to Candace's website to find out more about this story and find out more about the cute cat that inspired O'Malley's story HERE.

Book Review: The Runaway Pumpkin

2011-10-26T03:44:00.000-05:00

Written by: Kevin Lewis

Illustrated by: S.D. Schindler

Published by: Orchard

Release Date: September 1, 2003

Ages: 4-8

Source: Bought

Purchase: Indie Bound | Barnes and Noble | amazon

Synopsis: When Buck, Billy, and little sister Lil spy the biggest pumpkin they're ever seen, they can't resist. Buck and billy try to roll it down the hill, but the giant pumpkin barrels its way through the family farm and no one can stop it! Kids and families will have a thumpin' bumpin' good time with this rollicking tale of a pumpkin on the run.

This is a book that I bought at a Scholastic Book Fair many years ago and it serves as a reminder to me to remember the wonderful fairs that are upcoming at our local schools. I know that Mundie Moms and Mundie Kids check those out faithfully and if you're like me you spend way too much money there. But consider the quality of books you purchase like this one.

A pumpkin that runs away from two little boys and their baby sister. The words are so rhythmic that you'll find yourself repeating them just for fun:

Round and 'round
across the ground
making a
thumpin'
bumpin sound
came that
thumpety
bumpety
thumpin'
bumpin'
round and roll-y
RUNAWAY PUMPKIN!

Don't you want to find out what happens to this giant, out-of-control, rolling pumpkin? I know I do...every October. Another must-have, Halloween classic for your children's book shelves.

Random House Kid's Must Have Halloween Reads

2011-10-25T17:14:00.009-05:00

Looking for that perfect Halloween book for your kiddos? Random House Kids shared a great list of their must have books for Halloween. Here's a sample of just some of the books you'll find here.

Be sure to visit Random House Kids to read the entire list, find out where you can purchase of each of these books and more. Don't forget to sign up for their free read & play newsletter, which how I heard out about this fabulous list.

Book Review: Where is Baby's Pumpkin?

2011-10-24T03:32:00.001-05:00

Written and Illustrated by: Karen Katz

Published by: Little Simon

Release Date: August 8, 2006

Ages: Baby - Preschool

Source: Bought

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound | amazon

Synopsis: In Karen Katz's distinctive style, an adorable baby searches throughout the house for her pumpkin. Is the pumpkin under the leaves, behind the curtain, under the bed? NO! But Baby finds many other surprises as a ghost, a witch's hat, cute-as-a-button bats, and candy apples are found beneath each flap. Finally after Baby finds her pumpkin, she's ready to go trick-or-treating and the final flap reveals a Halloween extravaganza.

I absolutely fell in love with Karen Katz' illustrations when my kids were babies and preschoolers. So much so, that there is hardly a book of hers that we didn't own. I'm so glad that this one's still being sold.

If you have a baby or a preschooler in the house, this is a perfect book to read with them. I used to tell my kids when to lift the flap (or just plain tear it off...lots of these books are gently taped up) as I read the easily told tale.

The story uses every day words like -- curtain, closet, bowls, bed and door. I loved that because I'd walk around after reading it and point out the same objects in our house. The brightly colored, happy drawings and the fuzzy feel of the cat costume makes this book a perfect gift for anyone with a baby or a preschooler.

Book Review: The Apple Pie Tree

2011-10-22T03:19:00.000-05:00

Written by: Zoe Hall

Illustrated by: Shari Halpern

Published by: Blue Sky Press

Release Date: September 1, 1996

Age: 4-8

Source: Bought

Purchase: amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound

Synopsis: The changing seasons bring a tasty surprise in this bright picture book from the author/illustrator team of It's Pumpkin Time!. Two young sisters watch in fascination as their apple tree changes, from bare in winter to bursting with pink blossoms in spring, and as robins build a nest. When autumn comes, the small green apples have grown big enough for picking--and for pie!

I adore well illustrated picture books and Shari Halpern's gorgeous paintings make Zoe Hall's story literally come to life. I know that my three kids spent a lot of their preschool, Kindergarten and first grade years learning about seasons and how they affect everything around us -- plants, animals and humans. This book is a wonderful companion to those lessons.

It starts off with a great first sentence: "My sister and I have a tree that grows the best part of apple pie. Can you guess what that is?"

Oh, I think every three year old up can guess and guess correctly. The story follows two sisters through the seasons as they watch an apple tree in their back yard grow and provide a home for birds, a place for a little waterplay and food for the nearby deer.

My kids read this every year as we head out to the orchard to pick apples and more importantly, they read it when that apple pie is in the oven. This serves as a great reminder that no, our food doesn't come from the store.

Book Review: The Night Before Halloween

2011-10-21T03:05:00.016-05:00

Written by: Natasha Wing

Illustrated by: Cynthia Fisher

Published by: Grosset & Dunlap

Release Date: August 16, 1999

Source: Bought.

Ages: 4-8

Purchase: amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indie Bound

Synopsis: "'Twas the night before Halloween, and all through the house,
All the creatures were stirring, except for the mouse.
The monsters had gathered to plan and prepare,
For the trick-or-treaters who soon would be there...."
Little monsters and goofy goblins take center stage in this silly, spooky spin on Clement C. Moore's beloved poem. But what will happen on Halloween when the monsters come face to face with human trick-or-treaters in this fun-filled book by the author of The Night Before Easter?

I have to admit that we have a TON of these books. Okay, not a ton, but at least a dozen. Who can resist the familiar rhyme made famous by Clement C. Moore's poem. We all know it and can recite it by heart.

Well, imagine a Halloween-themed version where the monsters are getting ready for trick-or-treaters to visit their house. I think I love this story as much as my kids.

Count Dracula grinned
and slicked back his hair.
Frankenstein's bride cried,
"I've nothing to wear!"

And just as the children (all tucked and nestled indeed) are going out trick-or-treating, they happen upon a real haunted house filled with actual monsters all decked out for them. I promise you the ending is far from scary and yes, it's in fact, awfully sweet.

This book was first published twelve years ago and it's still popular. Be sure to check out why by picking it up at your favorite bookstore.

Book Review: The Not-So-Scary Monster Handbook

2011-10-20T03:15:00.005-05:00

Written and Illustrated by: Dave Ross

Published by: HarperFestival

Release Date: August 5, 2003

Source: Bought.
Ages: 4-8

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Purchase: amazon | Barnes and Noble | AbeBooks

Synopsis:

Have vampires turned your life upside down?
Are you tired of mischief-making mummies?
Fed up with Frankenstein?

If so, this book is for you!

Finally, a handy how-to guide for dealing with pesky monsters. Lift the flaps and learn where monsters play and how to send them away!

When my son was in preschool, I kept trying to find monster-friendly books for him to read during the weeks before Halloween. You see, he was the kid who would pout/cry/scream as we walked through the Halloween aisles in stores. Imagine the fun I had shopping for Halloween decorations and candy. Well, now I can laugh but then I kept thinking there has to be a way to show him the fun in all this instead of just the sheer terror.

This is the book for those kids who find monsters to be beyond frightening. The story pokes fun in a gentle and silly way reminding us that monsters are not all around us, after all. Here's a quote:

It's easy to tell if King Kong is hiding under your bed. (lift the flap)
Your nose will be touching the ceiling. (pictured is a King Kong sweet-faced monster saying "Nightey-night.")

So, if there's a kid in your house who is just plain scared of Halloween costumes, be sure to check out this book. It's out-of-print now, but the links above have it for a good price. It's worth the investment in not having to get up with a nightmarish little one this time of year.

Book Review: Wanda Witch and the Bullies

2011-10-18T03:22:00.005-05:00

Written by: Rose Impey

Illustrated by: Katharine McEwen

Published by: Cartwheel Books

Release Date: August 1, 2005
Ages: 4-8

Source: Bought.

Purchase at: amazon | Barnes and Noble | Scholastic

Synopsis: When Wanda Witch arrives at school with Cat-a-Bogus, she gets picked on by Gobby-goblin and his mean brother! She turns their faces into sausages and cabbages, and they set their slimy, mean boggart cousins loose on her. But Wanda uses her very special powers to turn them all into boggart-fairies.

My kids have a special basket by the fireplace where we put all of the current holiday books. With autumn leaves turning orange/yellow/red and Starbucks pouring my favorite drink, yes, that pumpkin spiced latte that signals "Fall is here" in my brain, my kids have placed all the Halloween/Autumn books in our special basket. Over the next few weeks, I thought I'd take a moment to review some of our favorites.

Wanda Witch and the Bullies is a Scholastic Level 3 Reader story and one that is unforunately out-of-print, however, the links above all have used copies for sale. Most of you know that October is National Bullying Prevention month and what better tale than this one for our youngest students.

Wanda wakes up with a tummy ache and her mom is too busy with the new baby to drive her to school so much to her embarassment her cat walks her to school. Once there, she's tripped by Gobby and bullied by Gobby's brother. After school, Gobby's goblin cousins start calling her names on her walk home. And then Wanda Witch gets the greatest idea of all.

I won't spoil her solution for you, but she does devise a sweet form of retaliation -- the kind that goblins will surely dislike. I think that this book is a solid read for the month of October. It teaches kids that they should listen to an adult's instructions and well, in the face of bullies, to use the right words and walk away. It doesn't teach them the proper bullying ettiquette (i.e. to report the incident to an adult), but this does open up dialogue for the parent/caretaker reading this with the child to remind them what they should do. For me, it's a good read for my first grader especially because she has her older brother and sister close by who inevitably chirp in with the "remember to also do this..." part.

Razzle-Dazzle Ruby Giveaway!

2011-10-17T09:59:00.003-05:00

I am excited to spot light an adorable story called Razzle-Dazzle Ruby. This is one of those fun, heart warming stories that kids and parent's alike will enjoy. You can read my 5 star review for it here.

Ruby can make the ordinary extraordinary! Come skate on a shimmering pond, roll a giant snowball, sled down a snowy hill, and create soaring snow angels with her as she becomes a snow queen and transforms a typical winter day into a gleaming-beaming fairy tale. Combining glorious watercolors, elegant paper engineering, and whimsical storytelling, this joyful novelty picture book is sure to enchant children and adults.

Here's a sneak peak into the adorable, whimsical world of Ruby's:

You can find out more about Razzle Dazzle Ruby by visiting the book's site here. Don't miss this fun sneak peak into the story.

About the author:

Masha D’yans is an award-winning artist. Her line of greeting cards, clothing, and home décor, featuring her alluring artwork, are sold at Target, Macy’s, Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom, as well as other major retailers and smaller specialty shops. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, and classically trained at the St. Petersburg Academy of Art Lyceum and subsequently at Cooper Union in New York City, she now lives and works in Manhattan. Razzle-Dazzle Ruby is her first book. Vist her at www.masha.com .

Thank you to the Scholastic, we've got two copies to GIVEAWAY!!!

To enter, please fill out the form below:

* If you are under 13 yrs of age, you do need to have your parent's/guardian's permission before entering * 1 entry per person

* Open to residents of the US

* This giveaway ends on November 1st, 2011

Giveaway Winners!

2011-10-17T07:51:00.007-05:00

CONGRATULATIONS to the following winners:

Cahills Vs Vespers, SIGNED book:

#18- Stephanie M

llama, llama home sick with mama:

#2- Kristen

#3- Booklady

You Will Be My Friend:

#2- Anne U

#7- Kaya H

#11- Gayahtri

#9- Beth R

#15- Justine W

The Man in the Moon:

#14- Melissa Clark

#22- Nancy D

Congratulations to all of our winners! All winners have been notified via email.

Book Review: The Apothecary

2011-10-11T15:54:00.000-05:00

By: Maile Meloy

Illustrations by: Ian Schoenherr

Published by: C.P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin

Released on: October 4th, 2011

Source: ARC from publisher to review

4.5 stars: I Really Enjoyed It

Purchase from: Penguin| Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Indie Bound

It's 1952 and the Scott family has just moved from Los Angeles to London. Here, fourteen-year-old Janie meets a mysterious apothecary and his son, Benjamin Burrows - a fascinating boy who's not afraid to stand up to authority and dreams of becoming a spy. When Benjamin's father is kidnapped, Janie and Benjamin must uncover the secrets of the apothecary's sacred book, the Pharmacopoeia, in order to find him, all while keeping it out of the hands of their enemies - Russian spies in possession of nuclear weapons. Discovering and testing potions they never believed could exist, Janie and Benjamin embark on a dangerous race to save the apothecary and prevent impending disaster.

Together with Ian Schoenherr's breathtaking illustrations, this is a truly stunning package from cover to cover. -quoted from Goodreads

The Apothecary is an exciting story with a beautiful blend of fiction and historical references, set in London during the early 1950's. In a world that's still reeling from WWII, Maile Meloy takes readers into a world full of spies, danger, suspense, and has a thrilling adventure laced with magic. This story's enticing plot line starts out in LA, California with young Janie and her parents and soon after the story begins follows them to London. Here Janie befriends an Apothecary's son, Benjamin and the two of them soon find themselves in the middle of a secret world full of spies, betrayal, murder, magic and danger as they race to save Benjamin's kidnapped father. The era, and the setting really set the tone for this intriguing story.

I'm a huge sucker for historical settings and events, and I was so mesmerized by the way Maile was able to blend those together with both historical and fictional events to bring her story to life. She created this exciting, suspenseful story that was believable and one I really enjoyed reading. Life in London after WWII is not all blissful, and Maile allows readers to see what life was like contrasting life in CA vs London for Janie. It was a bit of an eye opening experience for Janie, as she left behind the comforts of home and now she's moved into a run down flat with food rations, to dealing with bomb drills at school, to kid's who's parents are deemed as spies, to the suspicions that arise with foreign students. It's really whole different world for her.

There's a fabulous cast of characters from Janie, to her parents, Benjamin, his father, Pip the pick pocketer they befriend, schoolmates, the gardener and of course some great spies. Each character is written in a very realistic way, which really added to the story's "real life" feel. I really enjoyed getting to read about each of them, including Mr. Danby, who's character really surprised me. I was most intrigued by the apothecary elements of the story. I found the whole secret "underground" world that Benjamin's father is apart completing fascinating. Much of the story is centered around this.

The Apothecary is one of those well written stories that both middle and YA readers will really enjoy. It's a story that reads like watching a movie. It's enticing, exciting, and suspenseful. The magical elements of this story are very appealing and fit perfectly into the story line. The illustrations in the ARC are amazing and tie the story together perfectly. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they look like in the published copy of the book. The ending wraps up nicely, though I'm secretly hoping there will be more books in this series. I have to say the cover is a perfect fit for this story! Once you read the book, you'll know what I'm talking about. I highly recommend picking this book up. It's an awesome read!

**My review was originally posted on Mundie Moms, but since this is such a fabulous read for both YA and MG readers, I wanted to post about it on here as well.

Under The Weather

2011-10-09T09:45:00.003-05:00

I apologize for my absence this past week, I've been feeling under the weather. I'll make up for it next week with some great reviews and I'll be posting the winners of our current giveaways!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

*image found on google

Book Review: Halloween Surprise

2011-10-04T17:20:00.005-05:00

By: Corrine Demas

Illustrated by: R.W. Alley

Published by: Bloomsbury Kids

Released on: July 19th, 2011

Source: book from publisher to review

Ages: 3-6

5 stars: A wonderful Halloween Treat

Purchase from: Amazon

Halloween is almost here and Lily wants to make her own costume for trick-or-treating. Should she be a scary ghost? Or maybe a roly-poly pumpkin? Perhaps a glittery princess! After many ideas and a few wrong turns, Lily finally settles on a costume that will be perfect for a Halloween surprise with her cuddly kittens.

The new book from the duo behind Valentine Surprise is sure to capture readers' hearts once again with its sweet celebration of creativity, as Lily enjoys the fun of homemade costumes and Halloween traditions. - quoted from Goodreads

A delightful, non scary Halloween story that kids will enjoy!

This is an adorably illustrated, cute Halloween story about a young girl who, with a little help from her two cats comes up with the perfect costume for Halloween. Will she be a princess, a pirate, a ghost, a pumpkin or a ballerina. With all the endless possibilities, Lily not only uses her imagination to come up with her costume ideas, but she creates them, until at last she finds the right one. You'll have to pick up this sweet Halloween story to find out what Lily dressed up as.

Book Review: The Leaves on the Trees

2011-10-03T16:46:00.000-05:00

By: Thom Wiley

Illustrated by: Andrew Day

Published by: Cartwheel Books/Scholastic

Released on: July 1st, 2011

Ages: preschool aged & older

Source: book from publisher to review

4 stars: It's A Wonderful Read

Purchase from: Scholastic

The leaves in the trees are falling down in this autumn-themed 8x10 picture book!

THE LEAVES ON THE TREES revels in the sights, sounds, smells, and general feeling of the autumn leaves.

Based on the classic song, "The Wheels on the Bus," THE LEAVES ON THE TREES explores all types of trees making the magical transformation from the green leaves of summer to fascinating foliage of fall. - quoted from Goodreads

Just in time for Fall, this adorably illustrated story shows kids about the variety of brightly colored leaves that fall from the various trees around them. This is a fun story that engages kids as the story can easily be sang or read to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus. This is a great addition for any home, preschool or early elementary school classes, as kids learn more about fall, their colors and different types of leaves.

Book Review: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver

2011-09-29T10:24:00.010-05:00

By: Lauren Oliver

Illustrated by: Kei Acedera

Published by: Harper Collins Childrens

To Be Released on: October 4th, 2011

Ages: 8-12

Source: ARC from publisher at TLA

5 stars: I Loved It

Purchase from: Indie Bound| Amazon| Barnes & Noble

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places. - quoted from Goodreads

A beautiful, heart warming story with a timeless adventure that all of us can relate it.

This poignant story starts off with a letter from Lauren talking about her journey with Liesel and her inspiration for her story. This personal letter is so moving, that it made me teary eyed, and I admire Lauren even more so for sharing it. It really set the tone for her book and often times through out the story I thought back to what I read. I really hope they keep it in the published copy. Though the story was a personal one for Lauren, it became personal for me as well. I really love that she wrote the story in that manner. It's one that anyone who's every lost someone close to them can relate to. It's story about love, heartache, despair, hope, adventure, friendship and so much more.

This story is centered on a young girl named Liesel. This sweet, compassionate, caring young girl is both friendless and lonely as she's been locked in the attic by her stepmother after her beloved father passed away. Things change for her when she meets Po, a mysterious boy who's drawn to her by her light. What ensues is a beautiful friendship founded on trust and love. Not the romantic kind of love, but the love you have for someone you start to care about them. The humor and wit really pick up in the story when Po and Will, the alchemist's apprentice meet. It made for some great laugh out loud lines. The best way to describe these two guys is to say, Po was the protector Liesel needed on her journey and Will became the friend she always wanted. These characters so richly written, in depth, and lively. I love the way Lauren intertwined their stories throughout the book.

I've not yet seen the published copy, but the ARC cover is gorgeous! I love the tattered edge pages (I know there's an actual name for it) and the illustrations are amazing! I can't wait to see what they look like in the published book, because in the arc, these whimsical illustrations really added a new depth to this story. I'm a huge sucker for illustrations in MG books and these are some of my favorites. I love the shadowing on them, the way the simple illustration mark the beginning of a new chapter and I love that each illustration captures both the feel of the story and the magic behind it. These illustrations are truly the perfect match for this incredible story.

Liesel & Po's story is charming, moving, heartwarming, enduring, and captivating. There are so many elements within this story that readers of all age will relate to it. Some of the stronger themes that I enjoyed are that of family (whether you're blood related or not), love, loneliness, grieving, finding hope and realizing happiness is truly all around us and sometimes found in the most unlikely places. This a story that kids, teens, and adults will truly fall in love with, be moved by and take comfort in. I highly recommend picking this book up on Tuesday, when it's out!

Mundie Kids Children's Book Review Blog

Author Interview: S.R. Johannes

Book Review: Bosley Sees The World by Tim Johnson

Bosley Sees the World

Middle Grade Monday & Book Review: Scholastic's Discover More Series

Waiting on Wednesday: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Giveaway Winners

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Book Review: Tales of a Sixth Grade Muppet by Kirk Scroggs

Book Review: Peep in the Deep, Sea Creature Counting Book by R.M. Smith

Book Review: The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards

Book Review: The Deadlies: Spiders on the Case by Kathryn Lasky

Book Review: Jay: Ninja of Lightning (Lego Ninjago Chapter Book Series) Books #4

Book Review: Cole: Ninja of Earth (Lego Ninjago Chapter Book Series) Books #3

Happy New Year's

Top 11 Favorite Middle Grade Reads for 2011

Merry Christmas!

It's WINTER & Book Review: Here Comes Jack Frost by Kazuno Kohara

Blog Tour: Author Interview with Ryan Jacobson

Book Review/Blog Tour: Sir Arthur Conan Doyles' Adventures of Sherlock Holmes By Ryan Jacobson

Book Review: Nicholas St. North And The Battle of the Nightmare King (The Guardians Book 1) by WIlliam Joyce & Laura Geringer

Picture Book Month

Book Review: The Best Kind of Kiss by Margaret Allum

Book Review: Quincy Moves to the Desert by Camille Matthews

Book Review: The Three Snow Bears

Book Review: Ten on The Sled by Kim Norman

Book Review: Hibernation Station by Michelle Meadows

Happy Thanksgiving!

Book Review: The Story of Thanksgiving by Nancy J. Skarmeas

Book Review: Nothing Like A Puffin by Sue Soltis

Book Review/Giveaway: The Family Storybook Treasury

Book Review/Giveaway: Can You See What I See? Toyland Express by Walter Wick

Book Review: Ricky's Christmas Tree by Guido Van Genechten

Book Review: Birdie's Big-Girl Dress by Sujean Rim

Book Review: Not Inside This House! by Kevin Lewis

Book Review: A Starlit Snowfall by Nancy Willard

Book Review: Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko

Book Review: Kevin's Christmas by Liesbet Slegers

Book Review: Snowflake Baby by Elise Broach

Book Review: Duckling Ducklings & Baby Animal Friends by Aaron Zenz

Book Review: Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert & Nancy Ekholm Burkert

Book Review: Lily Hates Goodbyes by Jerilyn Marler

Book Review: My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee

Book Review: The Vole Brothers

Book Review: Whooo Loves You?

Book Review: Just Fine the Way They Are, From Dirt Roads to Rail Roads to Interstates

Book Review: Everything Goes on Land By Brian Biggs

Book Review: Wildfire Run by Dee Garretson

Book Review: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jerry Pinkney

Book Review: I Am Small by Emma Dodd

November is: Picture Book Month!

Happy Halloween!

Book Review: Happy Halloween!

Book Review: Frangoline and the Midnight Dream

Blog Tour/Book Review: A Christmas Secret

Book Review: The Runaway Pumpkin

Random House Kid's Must Have Halloween Reads

Book Review: Where is Baby's Pumpkin?

Book Review: The Apple Pie Tree

Book Review: The Night Before Halloween

Book Review: The Not-So-Scary Monster Handbook

Book Review: Wanda Witch and the Bullies

Razzle-Dazzle Ruby Giveaway!

Giveaway Winners!

Book Review: The Apothecary

Under The Weather

Book Review: Halloween Surprise

Book Review: The Leaves on the Trees

Book Review: Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver