Some interesting information on the history of the idea of a tooth fairy, but absolutely the wrong medium to try and tell those stories. Too long and Some interesting information on the history of the idea of a tooth fairy, but absolutely the wrong medium to try and tell those stories. Too long and cumbersome for a picture book, but the illustrations are nice....more
Interesting concept, amazing illustrations, nice rhyming text, but somehow I just wasn't impressed.Interesting concept, amazing illustrations, nice rhyming text, but somehow I just wasn't impressed....more
This book is really too long to be a picture book. The concept is fantastic and would be a fun early chapter book! The illustrations are a lot of fun.This book is really too long to be a picture book. The concept is fantastic and would be a fun early chapter book! The illustrations are a lot of fun. If you have a really cooperative group of 6-9 year olds, you could use this as a group read aloud, but most kids who appreciate picture books won't want to sit still long enough to get through this book. But I absolutely loved the ending!...more
I can't really recommend this book, despite the idea that a high school where kids can be themselves without judgement would be wonderful and the premI can't really recommend this book, despite the idea that a high school where kids can be themselves without judgement would be wonderful and the premise was therefore intriguing to me. The problem is, the execution falls flat. Every single character is a stereotye and they all do exactly the stereotypical thing. There was no suspense, no real drama for the reader. There was lots of teenage angst and drama for the characters, but everything was so utterly predictable that, as a reader, I was bored out of my mind. The saving grace, the book was short. ...more
I picked this book up because I needed to fill a prompt for a challenge I'm doing: an author's fourth book. According to fantasticfiction.com, this isI picked this book up because I needed to fill a prompt for a challenge I'm doing: an author's fourth book. According to fantasticfiction.com, this is Patricia Briggs' fourth book, and I absolutely love Briggs' Mercy Thompson series and her Alpha and Omega series. So, I decided to give it a try. It was a slow start, but picked up about 80 pages in and I ended up enjoying it. In my opinion, Briggs is better at Urban Fantasy than High Fantasy. The world-building is just a bit lacking. As with her other High Fantasy series, the rules of magic are never clearly explained and there's time jumps that come without warning and throw the reader off a bit. But I can forgive that because Briggs' ability to write a bada$$ female mc who doesn't need to be rescued while still being feminine and caring is absolutely unparalleled! Along with that, her ability to craft realistic m/f relationships where they love and respect each other while growing together and complimenting each other is amazing.
This book was a nice distraction if you enjoy fantasy.
But if you're looking for some really great character development and "Low Fantasy" or "Urban Fantasy", then there's nothing better than Briggs' Mercyverse!...more
Another touching memoir of a specific time in his life by Krosoczka. This book recounts an experience he had in high school getting to be a counselor Another touching memoir of a specific time in his life by Krosoczka. This book recounts an experience he had in high school getting to be a counselor at a camp for kids with terminal illnesses, mostly cancer. This camp is different than others because the entire family gets to come, not just the ill child. They spend a week in the woods just being together and making friends and not having to be "that kid with cancer" or "the bald kid" or "the kid in the wheelchair."
Krosoczka has a way of fusing his art and his text to create magic. You know you're not there, the story is clearly told in past tense with commentary from adult Jarrett, but the reader still feels like they're right there experiencing the events as they unfold.
Highly recommended for middle grade readers and up....more
In her late thirties, Catherine grew up in foster homes and has never felt loved. She works in Chicago as a medical illustrator (she does the drawing In her late thirties, Catherine grew up in foster homes and has never felt loved. She works in Chicago as a medical illustrator (she does the drawings in textbooks and sometimes for autopsies). She's sitting in her booth one day at a medical conference when she meets Dr. Frank Overlook who happens to be writing a medical textbook. It's over a year later when Catherine meets Frank again, but this time he's come to get to know her and persuade her to marry him. After a whirlwind two-week romance, they marry in the morning and then fly to Florida where Frank has accepted a new job working with his old medical school friend, Dr. Sandy Westerling.
When the newlyweds arrive on Osprey Island in February 1970, they are immediately whisked away to a welcome party with just the inhabitants of the island. At the party Catherine has too much champagne, but Frank stays apart from the crowd and acts sullen all night. In the morning Catherine wakes up and realizes that Frank never came to bed. Embarrassed at her own over-indulgence on her wedding night, she prepares a quick breakfast for them both and calls to Frank from the back porch, assuming he's gone fishing. Instead, she hears a scream from the water where one of the local residents she met last night has just discovered a body. Dr. Frank Overlook is dead and everyone on the island, including his new bride, are suspects. Detective Quentin Jones from the mainland is called in to investigate.
The mystery itself is compelling and the cast of characters is diverse and intriguing. Still, the middle of the book dragged for me. It started strong, then lagged, then came back strong at the end. I enjoyed the twist, which I did not see coming. I was annoyed in the middle by Jones because the only way the reader knew he was a good detective is because he kept telling everyone so. I really saw no evidence of that throughout the book. His one important quality as a detective was persistence.
The other characters were mostly sympathetic, except David Arnett, but he wasn't supposed to be. I found myself enjoying Catherine's character development, but being annoyed by how long it was taking for the huge amounts of secrets the island inhabitants had to be revealed.
The book could have been a bit shorter, there were several side characters from the mainland that were pointless to include. It felt a bit like Agatha Christie in that the reader was amassing the clues along with the detective.
Overall, it was a fun mystery and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or police procedurals.
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ...more
This was a quick read that didn't require a lot of brain power, but it made me laugh. It's the second in a series, but could easily be read as a standThis was a quick read that didn't require a lot of brain power, but it made me laugh. It's the second in a series, but could easily be read as a stand alone. I actually liked it better than the first book, there's a bit of a mystery in this one that was fun, too....more
I don't actually think Pig learned anything since the consequences had nothing to do with the actually fibbing, but the illustrations are absolutely aI don't actually think Pig learned anything since the consequences had nothing to do with the actually fibbing, but the illustrations are absolutely amazing in this series....more
A quick read, this book is realistic and, frankly, depressing. The idea of 12-year-olds having to deal with the issues Jamal deals with in the story iA quick read, this book is realistic and, frankly, depressing. The idea of 12-year-olds having to deal with the issues Jamal deals with in the story is terrible. The adults in his school were awful and made me want to smack them. I felt bad for Jamal's mom and Tito and his abuela. This book was published in 1988, but I'm not sure anything has gotten better since then....more
I admit up front that I've never watched The Gilmore Girls and I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I were familiar with the show. Still, tI admit up front that I've never watched The Gilmore Girls and I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I were familiar with the show. Still, this was an entertaining read with lots of down-to-earth advice and some fun stories. It's inspired me to go watch the show!...more
I could not put this down. I was fascinated and moved by the whole thing. This is a beautiful portrait of PTSD and family bonds and adventure all wrapI could not put this down. I was fascinated and moved by the whole thing. This is a beautiful portrait of PTSD and family bonds and adventure all wrapped in one....more
This book would be helpful with anxious kids to help them understand there are coping mechanisms and friends out there that can help you deal with youThis book would be helpful with anxious kids to help them understand there are coping mechanisms and friends out there that can help you deal with your feelings....more
Sophia is smart and strong and wants to be a paleontologist. Everyone keeps discounting her feelings and telling her to smile. She refuses until she fSophia is smart and strong and wants to be a paleontologist. Everyone keeps discounting her feelings and telling her to smile. She refuses until she finds something that gives her a reason to smile. This is a great book to introduce body autonomy and have some discussions about when it's appropriate to smile whether you feel like it or not, and when it's okay to say, "No thanks, I don't feel like smiling right now." A nice story time read for older kids....more
This one reminds me a bit of The Boy Who Cried Wolf and the trickster folk tales. I found the illustrations too busy and the story just meh. With the This one reminds me a bit of The Boy Who Cried Wolf and the trickster folk tales. I found the illustrations too busy and the story just meh. With the right reader, it could be a hit in story time, but that reader isn't me. ...more
Slumby the sloth comes from a very slow family so when he goes to school he just can't keep up with everyone else. They all like him, they just don't Slumby the sloth comes from a very slow family so when he goes to school he just can't keep up with everyone else. They all like him, they just don't slow down enough to include him. Eventually Armadillo ends up in danger and Slumby is the only one who can help. A nice message on the beauty of diversity and friendship and how slowing down sometimes helps us savor life. A nice group read aloud for story time. The illustrations are also marvelous!...more
Definitely more suitable for reading one-on-one at bedtime than in a group setting. Rhyming text describes silly things animals would never do to descDefinitely more suitable for reading one-on-one at bedtime than in a group setting. Rhyming text describes silly things animals would never do to describe how long the reader will love the listener....more
Definitely more suitable for older kids (5-8), this book discusses lots of different ways smiles can be used to make life better for you and the peoplDefinitely more suitable for older kids (5-8), this book discusses lots of different ways smiles can be used to make life better for you and the people around you. There's really not a story line, it's more of a teaching/discussion book....more
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