Friday, October 15, 2010

Fancy Nancy Photo Contest

Does your child have an inner Fancy Nancy you'd like to share with the rest of the world? I wish I had a touch of Nancy's sense of style. Harper Collins Childrens books is looking for the next Fancy Nancy Fan. Right now they're holding a Fancy Nancy Fantastic Fan Contest!

The contest runs now through January 31st, 2011. The winner will have their photo illustrated in an upcoming Fancy Nancy book!! To submit your vote, vote for your favorite Fancy Nancy fan or to read the rules, be sure to visit their site here

Book Review - The Red Pyramid


By - Rick Riordan
Published By - Hyperion Books for Children
Released - May 2010
Source - Purchased
Age Range - 9 to 11 years old
4 Stars- I really liked this book. Go pick it up.

Synopsis (from disney.go.com): Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.


One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.


Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them — Set-has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe — a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.


Taking his now familiar path in presenting a modern day twist to mythology, Rick Riordan gives us his version of -- what if Egyptian gods still walked amongst us by inhabiting the forms of tweens, a.k.a. godlings?

Readers familiar with his Percy Jackson series will love his take on Egyptian mythology which is presented through the eyes of Sadie and Carter Kane, two siblings who were not raised together and who are now forced into an adventure in an attempt to find out what happened to their father and of course, to save the world.

I chose to listen to the audiobook because Rick presents the format as an audio diary and with two well chosen narrators, the audiobook was definitely a solid choice. There were many times throughout the book that I was caught up in the very different personalities of Sadie and Carter. I loved how in spite of their differences and natural sibling squabbles, they came together to solve the mystery of what happened to their Dad. I also loved how they overcame the challenge of suddenly being godlings and watching the world around them change. The world-building and presentation of a new reality is one of Rick's strengths. And he doesn't disappointed in using Egyptian mythology in a modern day setting.

But for me, there were parts that seemed slow and additions of gods that seemed unnecessary. I felt at times that I was getting a primer on Egyptology which may have been on purpose because so many of us are less familiar with Ancient Egypt than we are with Ancient Greece. In spite of these moments, I liked Sadie and Carter enough to follow them into their next adventure especially now that I've oriented myself with their world.

For more information about The Kane Chronicles go to the Red Pyramid website where you can find more details about Ancient Egypt, the House of Life and more.
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~