Review: Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson

Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780449816738

Review: Imagine yourself running through the woods, badly bruised and cut being chased by a deadly stank. The sugar cane is burning; you're running as fast as the speed of light, not daring to look back. All of a sudden, you feel a painful sensation on the back of your head, and you are suddenly falling to the ground unconscious. Slowly feeling your life draining away, you're either quickÉor you're dead. This is just a small section of Boys of Blur by N.D Wilson.

In Boys of Blur, courage is a trait you need to survive in the woods. That's exactly what Charlie and Cotton have. It all starts at a funeral for the death of Willie Wisdom, a former football coach. Charlie doesn't know it, but he has a step cousin, Cotton. Once Charlie meets him at the sugar cane farm, Cotton shows Charlie something that no one else knows. The church they were at was vandalized, but even more surprising, there was an unknown warrior trying to steal the body of Willie Wisdom! There is much more danger than the animals and the occasional burning of the sugar cane. Stanks are an unknown species of a ghost like creature, who can hunt you down. The horrible smell can knock you out or even worse, kill you! The three of them have to work together to survive, but there is much more ahead.

What I liked most about the book is that the author always had a suspenseful ending to each chapter. I always wanted to read more. Each chapter interested me, whether it was action or arguments. When Charlie and Cotton ran, it was so suspenseful; it made me fall off the edge of my seat! The reader never suspects what is going to happen! This book could be recommended to boys and girls. This is a good book for middle school students and elementary kids. The setting makes the plot eerie and spooky. You don't know what's going to happen to the characters or what's going to pop out from behind a bush. Every second, the protagonists had to be aware of their surroundings, especially if they were vulnerable to the stanks. The fate of the world depends on Charlie and Cotton, and that makes the book very exciting. In my opinion, the characters show admirable traits. Charlie would do anything to save some one's life. The way he risks his life to get the antidote for Cotton was really brave. Sugar also shows courage because he helps Charlie get across the swamp. If you enjoy books full of action, suspense, and surprising events you should read Boys of Blur.

Review written by Nicholas (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Boys of Blur for this review.

Have you read Boys of Blur? How would you rate it?

Review: Barry by Kate Klimo

Barry by Kate Klimo. Book 3 in the Dog Diaries Series.

Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2013
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780449812808

Review: If you would like to read an emotional book about loosing a friend, or knowing what it's like to live through a dog's eyes. Then, Dog Diaries: Barry by Kate Klimo is the perfect book for you to read!

In Dog Diaries, readers will feel the emotion just like Barry (the main dog) feels it. Barry and his best friend Michel go on adventures such as saving people that are buried deep under snow caused by an avalanche, and saving people about to get hypothermia. He also lives with his mom and brothers. One day when he was young, he went into the deep snow but he sank because he didn't know how to walk in it. All Barry had to do was make his paws wider.

This book, Dog Diaries: Barry, would be for audiences approximately 9 and up. Overall, this would be one of the best books to read at your public library.

Review written by Tommy (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Barry for this review.

Have you read Barry? How would you rate it?

Review: Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch

Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch. A Scientists in the Field Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: June 2013
List Price: $18.99
ISBN-13: 9780547503509

Review: It begins when a deadly sleeping volcano finally awakes, causing fatalities of over 20,000 victims. Scientists around the globe know something could have been done to warn people. Something has to be done. Elizabeth Rusch provides descriptive wording and text in Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives - an informative book in which two daring scientists develop an organization designed to evacuate a town when eruptions are imminent. Tom Uhlman brings the book to life with his intriguing photos.

Sleeping giants and lofty volcanoes are dotted all over the world, capable of wiping out businesses and entire towns and villages. VDAP, a small group of scientists, work 24/7 to protect lives and people from the colossal volcanoes on islands, continents, and other large bodies of land. They must be decisive. A mistake can mean death. Andy, a curious and brave volcanologist, must work with the other scientists to study volcanoes, and save lives if an eruption happens. To do this, they must be risky. They risk placing seismographs on the volcano. Evacuation holds it's own risk; the stress on the people may be too much. With all the danger and fear, entire cities are in their hands, now, and it will be their responsibility save them before the volcanoes destroy them.

Although this sounds like a fascinating book, some readers may not be enticed by Eruption!. It's disappointing how the author tries to make a story merge with the nonfiction information. It could have been engaging, but it detracts from the nonfiction. For some readers, however, the story might make the book more engaging. Something that is appealing is how Tom Uhlman's pictures bring the book to life. Andy and John are brave for studying the volcanoes, and their work can certainly be respected. The best audience for this book would range from 9 through 15. Overall, Eruption! is good for people who don't expect much action, but this book won't captivate others who want a lot of information about volcanoes or for students needing some research.

Review written by Vincent (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin for providing a copy of Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives for this review.

Have you read Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives? How would you rate it?

Review: The No. 1 Car Spotter: Best in the Village - Maybe in the World! by Atinuke

The No. 1 Car Spotter: Best in the Village - Maybe in the World! by Atinuke. A No. 1 Book.

Kane Miller
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $5.99
ISBN-13: 9781406320770

Review: How would you feel if you were able to know what kind of cars pass even before looking at them? The No. 1 Car Spotter: Best in the Village - Maybe in the World!, a No. 1 book by Atinuke is a great, quick read about family and caring for each other. Oluwalase Babatunde Benson (No.1 for short) is The No. 1 Car Spotter in the village, and maybe even the world. He lives in a small town in Africa with his huge family. There's Coca-Cola, Mama, grandmother, grandfather, Sunshine, Smile, Mama Coca-Cola, Beke, Bisi, Bola, Mama B, Auntie Fine-Fine, and much more! Meanwhile, No. 1's father is living in the city-- trying to make money for his loved ones.

When the citizens of No.1's small little village find that their cart has broken, no one can get their fruits, vegetables, toys, and other goods to the market, so it's up to Coca-Cola and him to save the day! When the women of the family need someone to go buy them beauty products, No.1 isn't afraid to do it for them! And finally, when grandmother is ill, and Papa needs wheelbarrows in order to make money for her to go to the care center, No.1 will surely give away his wheelbarrow for the sake of grandmother's life. Follow No.1 in all of his adventures to try and make everyone in his family- including himself the best they can be.

I rate The No. 1 Car Spotter 5 out of 5 stars because I loved the way that Coca-Cola and No.1 are so dedicated to help their family and to make their village better. No.1 is definitely a great role model! He shows respect and helpfulness in many ways throughout the story. This book is a great, enjoyable read for all ages. So don't wait, go read The No. 1 Car Spotter now; you won't regret it!

Review written by Sofia (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of The No. 1 Car Spotter: Best in the Village - Maybe in the World! for this review.

Have you read The No. 1 Car Spotter: Best in the Village - Maybe in the World!? How would you rate it?

Review: I Love People by Francoize Boucher

I Love People by Francoize Boucher.

Kane Miller
Publication Date: September 2011
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9781610670128

Review: Who are people? Who are not? After crossing out all the phrases that are not people, the reader is left with "You, bored to death; a dead house plant; and a huge dead rat" epitomizing the disadvantage of isolation. This fun activity along with nearly 100 more is from I Love People - an activity book by Francoize Boucher that teaches readers how to love all people - including those that might be from another planet!

According to the author, in order to read I Love People, every reader needs to have the following on hand: "a very big heart, a full pencil case, and a taste for adventure." Readers embark on a journey "with twists and turns - to the land of love and friendship." This activity book is filled with eye-appealing activities written with kids in mind that focus on friendship, stress, valuing yourself, etiquette, and looking for the best in people. The activities would not only be great fun for any 8-12 year old child, but they would also be an excellent resource for teachers and counselors of that age group.

One example of how I Love People could be used in a classroom setting is the "Who would you like to be friends with?" section. Six characters are presented with varying appearance, interests, intelligence and attitudes. The ultimate goal is to teach readers how appearances can be deceptive and that friends should be picked for who they are instead of what they look like. Countless other pages can yield thought-provoking discussions as well. But most importantly, I Love People is a fun book filled with wisdom under the disguise of humor. Only on a few occasions did I find myself questioning the value of a few pages. For example, on the page, "What about You? What do you do for other people?" kids are instructed to make a list following some of the given examples. One example is "I punched . . . ." The moral at the end of the page is, "You see! All these people would be really sad if you weren't around." It seems unlikely that someone you punched would miss you. Certainly this was intended as humor, but developmentally, some children may not understand the humor. Nonetheless, I Love People does exactly what it sets out to do - it stimulates thinking, creates a few laughs, jumpstarts imagination, and helps kids to become the best person they can be. Kids will read and write . . . . and ultimate learn a great deal about themselves and the people all around them.

Review written by Margo Nauert (6th grade teacher).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of I Love People for this review.

Have you read I Love People? How would you rate it?

Book Review: ALVIN HO: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Catastrophes by Lenore Look

ALVIN HO: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Catastrophes
by Lenore Look
Alvin Ho

A Schwartz & Wade Books
ISBN-10: 0-375-86335-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86335-6
Publication Date: September, 2010
List Price: $15.99

Review: Caution: Paranoia reigns in Alvin Ho' life. This little boy's world is about to be turned upside-down. It's amazing to know what goes on in Alvin's head as he tries to solve his problems. The author of this book is Lenore Look. Alvin Hois about eight years old. This book falls in the comedy category. This is the third book in the Alvin Ho series.

A second grade boy named Alvin Ho must overcome his fear of all things and figure out a way to get his favorite deluxe Indian Chief outfit. Alvin is already a very nervous boy, so when he gets an invitation to a girl's birthday party, he gets himself into a big problem. Alvin's classmate, Bea, invites him to her birthday party-, and Alvin has never been to a girl's birthday party, so he's not sure what to do. So he goes to his cousin, Bucky, for advice. Bucky explains to Alvin how to act at a girl's party, but Alvin still doesn't feel ready. Besides this problem, Alvin must also figure out a way to get a most amazing deluxe Indian Chief outfit, which he wants to wear to Hobson's birthday party. Hobson is a boy in Alvin's class who is having his birthday party at the same time as Bea's. Suddenly, Alvin is faced with the biggest decision, should he go to Bea's birthday party or should he go to Hobson's party?

Alvin Ho is a fun-filled adventure with laughs. The book is written from a second grade boy's point of view, which makes it funny because they think differently. It is easy to understand how Alvin feels because we've all been second graders before. We have also faced tough decisions like Alvin has. I love how Alvin's character is a precocious, yet brave child. Readers are hooked on to the story right from the beginning. The plot relates to a second grade boy because that is who Alvin is and it makes sense to do it like that. I love the way that the author describes what Alvin is thinking. She makes it seem so realistic and cute. The characters in this story are interesting and very life-like, but in a little kid point of view. This book is a great book for any fun-loving people who like books with a lot of laughs.

Review written by Savannah (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of ALVIN HO: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Catastrophes for this review.

Have you read ALVIN HO: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects and Other Man-Made Catastrophes? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Ham Heist by Darrel & Sally Odgers

The Ham Heist
by Darrel & Sally Odgers
Jack Russel: Dog Detective

Kane Miller
ISBN-10: 1-935279-75-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-935279-75-4
Publication Date: September, 2010
List Price: $4.99

Review: Mischievous, Hammy, Terrier, Adventure! The Ham Heist by Darrel and Sally Odgers is the eleventh book in the Jack Russell: Dog Detective series. It is a great book for you to read! The main character is Jack Russell, a feisty terrier with a nose for crime.

It is a bright and sunny day when Jack and Preacher are sitting on the porch minding their own business. In preparation for Sarge’s wedding (Jack’s person), a ham van appears to deliver ham for the wedding. Dogs from everywhere, including a prisoner dog, run up to the ham-scented van to get a whiff. Then a couple of days later, Auntie Tinge and Kiarna find out that the ham is missing! Who stole the ham? It’s up to Jack to find out!

The Ham Heist is a great book, especially for dog or other animal lovers. It is intended for younger readers, but it’s fun for more advanced readers too. I would highly recommend it. The author uses fun dialogue and humorous jokes that keep the reader chuckling throughout the book. Plus, the mystery is not overly easy to solve. I kept on guessing the identity of the thief and was surprised at the end.

Review written by Andrea (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of The Ham Heist for this review.

Have you read The Ham Heist? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Thomas and the Dragon Queen by Shutta Crum

Thomas and the Dragon Queen
by Shutta Crum
Non-series

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85703-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85703-4
Publication Date: July, 2010
List Price: $15.99

Review: Thomas and the Dragon Queen is everything you would expect in a tale of the medieval times; there’s a chivalrous knight, a kidnapped princess, and a fire-breathing dragon. There are only a few problems. The knight is twelve and a midget compared to all the other boys, the princess is content in her prison, and the fearsome Dragon Queen has a treasure though it is not what you would expect it to be. Shutta Crum did a wonderful job writing Thomas and the Dragon Queen , and Lee Wildish’s amazing, black & white illustrations add to the story. The main characters are Thomas, Princess Eleanor, the Dragon Queen, and Jon. This book is a mix of adventure and humor.

The story starts off with Thomas and his siblings reenacting a story that their father had told them the previous night. Near the end, they all see a knight on a mighty black warhorse. The knight has mud all over his armor and appears to be exhausted. Thomas takes the knight home so his bruises could be treated. It turns out that the knight is looking for a page and he thinks that Thomas is the perfect boy for the job. Thomas then goes to the castle and does many menial tasks as a page such as cleaning armor and serving meat roast. Thomas eventually becomes a squire and makes the acquaintance of a stable boy named Jon. While they are talking, Princess Eleanor comes and meets them. She has come to feed her father’s steed, Heartwind. As Thomas continues his training he learns that Princess Eleanor had been kidnapped by the Dragon Queen! Thomas then seeks the king and pleads to be knighted, and his wish is granted. Thomas becomes the shortest knight of the realm! His old master gives him a gift, a beautiful sword with a bright steel blade and an ivory hilt. Thomas is granted a quest to save the Princess. Will Thomas ever be able to find the princess? Can Thomas make it home alive? Only you can find out by reading Thomas and the Dragon Queen.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen is a remarkable book. It was a little surprising that Thomas did not feel much remorse when he loses his sword to the lake monster. One of my favorite parts of the story is when Thomas meets Princess Eleanor: “It was the princess! Thomas raised his eyes a little more; he had to see her. She was wearing a green and blue gown with long sleeves. Her dark hair was caught up behind her. Oh! And he was standing so close to her! He gulped. Wouldn’t Ma and Da want to hear of this! Then he looked down at his ash-colored rough clothes. To make matters worse, bits of straw and horse dung hung off him. Maybe Ma and Da wouldn’t want to hear of this.” This was hilarious! Also, there is a typo in the phrase above as it’s printed in the book. ‘Ma and Da’ were capital the second time but, not the first. This book is recommended to children ages seven and up because younger readers may not comprehend the storyline and seven-year-olds would enjoy the pictures. I give this book five out of five stars.

Review written by Ohm (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Thomas and the Dragon Queen for this review.

Have you read Thomas and the Dragon Queen? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Lunch Lady Series

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-86095-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86095-9
Publication Date: May, 2010
List Price: $6.99

Review: Hilarious, epic, and mysterious all describe Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. The main characters are the Lunch Lady, her assistant Betty, the Breakfast Bunch kids, and the Swamp Monster. This is the fourth book in this exciting series of graphic mysteries.

Summer camp should be filled with relaxation and fun and games, but that’s not what the Breakfast Bunch find when they go to summer camp. Instead a hungry, gross, yet maybe not real, swamp monster attacks the camp literally! The story begins with three kids on a bus heading to summer camp talking about what they’re going to do. When they get to the camp everyone welcomes them, and Ben tells them about an unknown swamp monster. Most of the campers are scared. There are boys and girls sleeping in cabins, and everyone is talking about different things. One night three kids sneak out of their cabins and into the kitchen to get the tasty food, and all of a sudden they see the swamp monster. Will they be able to capture the monster? Or will it ruin their summer camp? Find out in Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown.

This is a great graphic novel. It is filled with laughs and hilarious dialogue. For example, I really liked it when the kids go to get a tasty treat. I also laughed when I saw that the Lunch Lady and Betty had gadgets to try and trap the monster that were related to food. Also, the Lunch Lady is a fun character. She has clever ideas for capturing crooks, and always finds a way to save the day! Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I recommend the Lunch Lady books for all kids – and even adults. It’s a fun, quick read!

Review written by Andrea (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown for this review.

Have you read Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Ball Hogs by Rich Wallace

The Ball Hogs
by Rich Wallace
Kickers

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85754-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85754-6
Publication Date: June, 2010
List Price: $12.99

Review: In The Ball Hogs, Ben is on a soccer team and is determined to win. But when ball-hog Mark stands in the way, will Ben’s team have a chance? The Ball Hogs the first book in an early-reader series, Kickers written by Rich Wallace.

Ben joins a soccer team in his town and finds it is super fun until Mark comes along. Mark is tall and fast and brags a lot. Ben wants to prove to himself and the team he can be a better player. But then Mark and Ben aren’t getting along at school either. Playing four-square used to be fun until Ben had to make a new team. But then Ben learns that he needs to stop being a ball hog too. Will Ben learn to pass and learn to start getting along with Mark? I guess you’ll have to pick up the book to find out.

The Ball Hogs is a good book. It uses descriptive details and it seems like a real life situation. The solution is good and fair. This book is intended for younger readers, probably kids from second grade through fourth grade. It fits early readers because not a lot of big words are used, and the font size is big. I think the author did a good job with this book. He based some of things that happened on his own experiences of when he coached his son’s kindergarten soccer team. All in all it was a good book and I enjoyed it very much.

Review written by Sheila (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Ball Hogs for this review.

Have you read The Ball Hogs? How would you rate it?

Book Review: TOY STORY 3: Read-Aloud Storybook by RH Disney

TOY STORY 3: Read-Aloud Storybook
by RH Disney
Toy Story

Random House Books for Young Readers/Disney
ISBN-10: 0-736-42709-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-736-42709-8
Publication Date: May, 2010
List Price: $9.99

Review: The Toy Story trilogy concludes in Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 3. This is a much anticipated movie, and the read-aloud book, Toy Story 3: Read-Aloud Storybook by RH Disney, is a great bedtime story for kids. It features all your favorite Toy Story pals like Woody, Buzz, Jessie and Bullseye.

The book begins with the Toy Story gang reliving the adventures they experienced while playing with Andy. But, now Andy is all grown up and heading out for college. In packing up for college, Andy puts Woody in the college box and Buzz in a trash bag with the rest of the toys. Andy’s mom mistakenly puts the bags in the garbage, when really Andy meant to put them in the attic. Woody once again saves the day with a pair of scissors. The toys sneak into a box that is meant for donating and they wind up at Sunnyside Daycare. The toys are greeted by Lotso the Lots-o-Huggin Bear who shows the gang around the caterpillar room, the place where they were assigned. Woody desperately tries persuading the gang that they are still Andy’s toys and should return to Andy, but the toys would not be swayed. Woody leaves the daycare bent on finding Andy. The toys soon realize that the caterpillar room is for energetic toddlers who do not know how to properly play with the toys, and that the other toys may not be as nice as they really seem. Will Woody ever get back to Andy? Will the gang survive another day of this innocent abuse? Only you can find out by reading the Toy Story 3: Read-Aloud Storybook.

I loved this book. My sister wanted to watch the movie and she got me excited. When I saw this book I was thrilled because I would learn the plot of the movie. This read-aloud book goes more in depth than the picture books I read when I was a child. Plus, it is full of surprises – both good and bad. In addition, I was shocked when Buzz started speaking in Spanish. It is a funny random part of the book. The book is filled with these kinds of moments. In that it is a read-aloud book, it is filled with very well illustrated pictures. The pictures look a lot like the movie with painted backgrounds. They help bring the story to life. I happened to find an Easter egg in the book too! If you are familiar with the original Toy Story, the toy destroying boy, Sid, makes an appearance in the book. He is the garbage man who is easily identified by the skull shirt. All in all, Toy Story 3: Read-Aloud Storybook is an amazing storybook for kids of all ages.

Review written by Ohm (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of TOY STORY 3: Read-Aloud Storybook for this review.

Have you read TOY STORY 3: Read-Aloud Storybook? How would you rate it?

Book Review: TOY STORY 3: The Junior Novelization by RH Disney

TOY STORY 3: The Junior Novelization
by RH Disney
Toy Story

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-73642-711-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-73642-711-1
Publication Date: May, 2010
List Price: $4.99

Review: All of the world’s favorite characters are back in a new sequel to the Toy Story series. Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang are being donated to a daycare center because Andy is heading to college. What they discover at the daycare center is just another crazy adventure. Toy Story 3 the junior novelization is adapted by Jasmine Jones.

Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang still want to be played with, and they want to play with Andy. Andy is going away to college though, so Andy prepares to put them in the attic when his mom takes the bag the curb instead as trash! The toys soon escape that mess but, uh oh, more trouble. Now, they’re being donated to the Sunnyside Daycare center. They meet lots of new and friendly toys, but some of them are holding dark secrets. When Woody tries to escape the crazy daycare center, he winds up in one of the girl’s back packs and goes home with her! He then learns the start of how the toys got dark secrets and why they are keeping them. Meanwhile Buzz and the rest of the gang are being held captive by the once friendly toys. I guess you will have to read the rest of this book to find out what happens in this adventurous sequel.

I really think the story is great, but it is kind of a spoiler if you haven’t seen the movie yet. What I love is that the story really has a twist where you discover the true characters. It also is cool because there are many new characters such as Lotso the Teddy bear and Ken, the Barbie. Each new character has a secret, some of the secrets are good and some are bad. This book is also cool because it has pages in the middle that are picture clips from the movie! I like this book also because it includes a lot of details and subplots. One of the events is where Barbie has to distract Ken from the other toys who are trying to save Buzz. Also, if you have seen the commercials for Toy Story 3, this book explains what is happening in them and why. This book is very enjoyable. It has a bigger font size so it is an easy read for little kids and for older people. It is a good book to read in the car or for a bedtime story. This book is truly marvelous.

Review written by Sheila (7th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of TOY STORY 3: The Junior Novelization for this review.

Have you read TOY STORY 3: The Junior Novelization? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Very Little Princess by Marion Dane Bauer

The Very Little Princess
by Marion Dane Bauer
Non-series

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85691-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85691-4
Publication Date: February, 2010
List Price: $12.99

Review: Porcelain skin with rosy red cheeks and golden hair. A pretty pink gown with glitter and a rose. The Very Little Princess is written by Marion Dane Bauer who is the Newberry honor winning author. The Very Little Princess is one of the best children’s books I have read. This great book is about a very little princess and her experiences with, a little girl with orange curly hair and freckles, named Zoey, that little girls mom, and her grandma whom she never knew she had. This story has all the makings of another award winning story with action, and a life lesson in the end.

This little princess though beautiful at the skin has a mean and snobbish personality. In this story this little princess and the little girl have to put their differences aside. They have to find out what the other likes and become friends. But there is a twist, if the two “frenimies” can’t put their differences aside the princess will freeze into an eternal sleep. Will the little girl and princess become friends? Or will the princess go to sleep forever? You can find out in The Very Little Princess.

As I said before I love this book because of the way it transitions from one event to another. Also this book just in general has a sweet story about a girl whose mom just needs a break and time alone. The doll is mean at the beginning though at the end of the story they are more of friends that foes. On a one to ten rating this story deserves a 10 because of everything I’ve said about this wonderful story. This story has love, compassion, and friendship all of this is why I love this story so much. This very little princess whom at the beginning worried so much about how she looked became a loving, caring person with a friend and a heart.

Review written by Gabrielle (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Very Little Princess for this review.

Have you read The Very Little Princess? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Leprechauns and Irish Folklore by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce

Leprechauns and Irish Folklore
by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce
Magic Tree House

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-86009-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86009-6
Publication Date: January, 2010
List Price: $4.99

Review: Have you ever been to Ireland? Do you think you would like to? If so, you should read Leprechauns and Irish Folklore. It's a research guide that goes with the book Leprechauns in Late Winter, which is #43 in the Magic Tree House series with Jack and Annie. It's by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce.

Leprechauns and Irish Folklore is about Ireland. Since it's a companion to a fiction book, it has to do with the subject of the other book-Irish folklore! This compelling book teaches you about Ireland's culture and legends. Some individual subjects in this book are leprechauns, the Shee, and Lady Augusta Gregory, who was one of the main characters in Leprechauns in Late Winter. Some other topics are banshees, Douglas Hyde, and merrows. First, according to Irish legend, leprechauns are 'solitary fairies'. Leprechauns wear pointed hats and shiny shoes, with tiny glasses. Some say leprechauns collect money in pots of gold at the end of rainbows. Next, the Shee don't trust humans, and so are invisible to them. They live in kingdoms in hills, caves, or even rivers! The Shee are called trooping fairies. Finally, Lady Augusta Gregory was a snobby girl of about 11 or 12. She came from a rich family, and she had fifteen brothers and sisters. Wow! When she got older, she wrote books about Irish tales just like her friend Douglas Hyde, who was the first president of Ireland.

To sum it up, I thought Leprechauns and Irish Folklore was very informative as far as the Ireland theme. I liked how it gave you background information on all of these subjects, and even more! I also was wondering who was a real person or not, like Lady Gregory or Mary Sheridan, and this cleared up any doubts or confusion that I had about the book. This book was very helpful, and was a good accompanying book to Leprechauns in Late Winter. If you're older and doing research on Ireland, this would be a useful book for you. In addition, if you're a kid from about six to nine years, this would be a very educational and instructive book. Also, you can get a better understanding of the Shee than the regular book tells you, and there are other fairies you never heard of and wouldn't have ever heard of like merrows which are mermaids, banshees, and pookas, who are huge horses that live on top of cliffs. You should definitely read this after reading Leprechauns in Late Winter, which is a first-class, awesome book! All in all, I give this book 5 stars.

Review written by Emily (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Leprechauns and Irish Folklore for this review.

Have you read Leprechauns and Irish Folklore? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Leprechaun in Late Winter by Mary Pope Osborne

Leprechaun in Late Winter
by Mary Pope Osborne
Magic Tree House

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85650-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85650-1
Publication Date: January, 2010
List Price: $12.99

Review: Have you ever heard about leprechauns? Ever read a book about them? If you would like to read a great book about leprechauns, read Leprechauns in Late Winter. It’s #43 in the Magic Tree House series starring Jack (about age 10) and Annie (about age 8) by Mary Pope Osborne.This fascinating book takes Jack and Annie to a beautiful place- Ireland! In this book, the kids are instructed by two young sorcerers named Teddy and Kathleen, and this time, their mission is to find a girl named Augusta who lives in Galway, Ireland, and Jack and Annie must inspire her so she can ‘give her gifts to the world’. Teddy and Kathleen give them a magic flute. Next, they find a book about Ireland and point to a picture of Galway and say, “I wish we could go there!” Then they are transported to Ireland while the tree-house spins and swirls around them. As their clothes also change, Jack and Annie look like simple street kids. When they reach her house, they meet Augusta, and after a short time in the parlor with Augusta’s rude sisters her mother comes in. Augusta walks to the lane with them and decides to bring them to Mary Sheridan so ‘Mary can tell them I’m a good person’. After Augusta brings them in, Mary tells them a tale about the Shee. Afterward, Mary tells Jack and Annie that they are special kids and Augusta runs away, crying because she says Mary likes them better than her. Jack and Annie go to her and explain that they will call the Shee with their magic flute. As they start to perform, Annie plays the flute and Jack sings, and out of the blue they hear a loud noise-it's the Shee! As Jack sings the last stanza, "In a swirl they leave, so wild, so free, with a lonely girl, to the hill of the Shee!", Annie realizes Augusta is gone! Now the children must find Augusta with the help of a leprechaun named Willy, who in exchange for bringing them to the Shee's secret hollow, will be taught to play the magic flute. If you want to know the rest, read the book!

Leprechauns in Late Winter is a really good children's book. When I was little, the Magic Tree House books were some of my favorites-and this one isn't any different. I liked how the author put surprises practically on every page, like Jack finding the letters in his notebook when him and Annie were summoned to the tree house, and like Augusta thinking she was better than poor people, because I thought she was going to be really nice and not high and mighty like she was at all, and Augusta being taken by the Shee, which I was really anxious to know what would happen next (I read that part really quickly!), and Willy appearing and attempting to play the magic flute and leading Jack and Annie to the Shee's secret hollow and-OOPS! Sorry, I can't tell you what happened next. One part I didn't like was how Augusta and her sisters were acting so superior. It made me feel bad for Jack and Annie that they had to deal with her, and I didn't like how Augusta was so prosperous and conceited. One other thing I didn't like was how Willy the leprechaun wasn't there until practically the very end, because I thought the whole book would revolve around a leprechaun, but it was revolving more around the Shee than Willy. One thing I really liked was that the book was kind of educational by helping you learn about Ireland, because it told you about all the fairies and where they lived and stuff like that, and so I liked how it taught you about the culture and folklore in Ireland. What's more, I liked how this book educated you on the famous people who lived in Ireland like Mary Sheridan and Lady Augusta Gregory. On a scale of one star to five stars, I would totally, definitely, without a doubt give this book 5 stars!

Review written by Emily (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Leprechaun in Late Winter for this review.

Have you read Leprechaun in Late Winter? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Inspector Jacques by Darrel & Sally Odgers

Inspector Jacques
by Darrel & Sally Odgers
Jack Russell: Dog Detective

Kane Miller
ISBN-10: 1-935279-17-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-935279-17-4
Publication Date: March, 2010
List Price: $4.99

Review: The painting of the painter’s dog has gone missing! Inspector Cook and his French bull dog Jacques are on the case, but so is Jack Russell in the newest Jack Russell book Jack Russell Dog Detective Inspector Jacques. Preacher and Foxie only want treats. Jack doesn’t like Jacques acting su-paw-iear (superior for dogs) in his terrior-tory! (a Terrier’s territory) Jack Russell dog detective is on the case. Darrel & Sally Odgers did a great job on this book. Let’s find out what happens.

Jack and his junior jack preacher are minding their own business when Serge, their owner, needs to go to a meeting. So he takes preacher to the library and ties him to a bike rack. Then the dog-boggarts (little children) start to scare preacher so Jack is left alone in the house. There’s a noise and a strange man and a strange dog come in. Jack thinks their braking in so he attacks the dog. Jack loses and runs to warn Serge. Auntie Tidge comes out of the house. She tells Jack it’s just Inspector Cook. Jack runs to preachers rescue. Only to be tied up. Jacques and Cook come to help. Jack isn’t happy about that. So Inspector Cook unties them and brings them home. He lets Preacher in, but won’t let Jack in! So Jack must wait until Serge gets home. Serge gets home and lets Jack in. Inspector Cook says why he’s here. “I’m here on the case of the Painters dog.” For some reason Inspector Cook and his French speaking Jacques suspect Serge and his friends! Is he right? Is he wrong? Well, I’ll tell you! Wait… no I won’t, find out for yourself. Find out in Jack Russell Dog Detective Inspector Jacques.

Jack Russell Dog Detective also has: Dog Den Mystery, The Phantom Murder, The Mugged Pug, The Lying Postman, The Awful Pawful, The Sausage Situation, The Buried Biscuits, The Kitnapped Creature and The blue Stealer. The characters are great and add spice to an already spicy and sweet story. Serge does the human-type crimes. He’s nice and he’s forgiving. Jack deals with dog-type crimes. He’s protective of his terrior-tory, his friends and his family. Preacher is Jack’s son and is afraid of mean dog-boggarts. Inspector Jacques is a mean, suspicious French speaking French bull dog. He’s mean and suspicious on the outside, the inside is nice and he has a tender heart. It’s hard to get to the inside. Not only are the characters good, but the plot and setting is great too. It’s for younger children, but I loved it all the same. It’s heartfelt and has action. It’s a great story and… I give it five out of five stars.

Review written by Amanda (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of Inspector Jacques for this review.

Have you read Inspector Jacques? How would you rate it?

Book Review: February Friend by Ron Roy

February Friend
by Ron Roy
Calendar Mysteries

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85662-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85662-4
Publication Date: December, 2009
List Price: $4.99

Review: The Calendar Mysteries are back and better than ever! In this book there are four kids, Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy. All these kids have been friends for a long time, and coincidentally so have all their older siblings. All of them are about the same age, but the author didn’t find it necessary to add the exact ages Now that the kids know what they are doing makes the story more interesting and the added in some life lessons here and there. To read February Friend you don’t need to have read the first book, January Joker.

On Valentine’s Day the Pinto boys will have to solve a mystery that is almost impossible to solve. What all happens on a normal Valentine’s Day became a fast paced, clue packed action book that is far more exciting than the last. When the kids find a valentine with no name on it and end up with a bunny that misses his owner so terribly he could just die, the Pinto boys end up trying to solve this case, but will they succeed? Will they find Douglas his owner before he dies? Or will this end a sad tale? You can find all this out in February Friend!

I enjoyed this book much better than the last. It had more action, suspense, and life lessons. It still lacks uniqueness in characters. What I mean by this is all the characters have too many similar traits that make the story less interesting. I guess it builds a better friendship, but that doesn’t necessarily make a better book. Plus, February Friend lacks important sensory details. Most definitely, February Friend is a book geared to early chapter book readers, probably under the age of 8. I look forward to seeing how the characters continue to develop in the next installment in March. And who knows maybe after one year worth of calendar mysteries the he will have them grow up a bit to help the younger reader transition to the A to Z Mysteries series.

Review written by Gabrielle (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of February Friend for this review.

Have you read February Friend? How would you rate it?

Book Review: January Joker by Ron Roy

January Joker
by Ron Roy
Calendar Mysteries

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85661-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85661-7
Publication Date: December, 2009
List Price: $4.99

Review: The first mystery series of the younger siblings from the A to Z Mysteries kids has just begun! In this book there are four kids, Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy. All these kids have been friends for a long time, and coincidentally so have all their older siblings. All of them are about the same age, but the author didn’t find it necessary to add the exact ages. January Joker is clearly meant for younger kids.

January Joker is about the four younger siblings of the A to Z Mystery kids, and they have gotten their first detective case. What all starts as a harmless sleepover at Bradley and Brian’s house ends up to be a clue-packed book that is quite easy to follow. This is great for the younger sleuth readers! The kids will encounter everything from glowing lights in the distance, to “aliens” in the attic. But did the kids actually see what they said they saw, or is it just a prank that someone has pulled on them? Were the kids telling the truth? You can find all this out in January Joker.

I kind of liked this book, but clearly it is intended for younger children. This is the first book in the Calendar Mysteries series and certainly not the last. Unfortunately this book fell short in a few areas. First, it didn’t have any sensory details, and lacked depth in the descriptions. Plus, the book was unrealistic, because if the kids thought they saw aliens wouldn’t they just call for their parents, not the police? I know that I wouldn’t go straight into calling the police that’s for sure. On the other hand, this book has chapters but shorter chapters which is great for the child that is just starting to tackle chapter books. So overall I believe that this would suit a younger child just fine. The best audience for January Joker is for chapter book readers under the age of 8.

Review written by Gabrielle (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of January Joker for this review.

Have you read January Joker? How would you rate it?

Book Review: BABYMOUSE #12: Burns Rubber by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

BABYMOUSE #12: Burns Rubber
by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
BABYMOUSE

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85713-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85713-3
Publication Date: January, 2010
List Price: $5.99

Review: Babymouse Burns Rubber is a classic tale of how a little fiction animal follows her dreams. Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm did a fantastic job with this book. This book simply has everything. It starts with a dream and then Babymouse nearly reaches her dream of driving in the Downhill derby. The book also includes the always important good deed. Babymouse Burns Rubber is the tenth book in the series.

The book begins with Babymouse riding her bike to school. However she looses focus and thinks she is in a race car and of course she crashes. After school she goes to her best friend Wilson’s house so he can fix her bike. Meanwhile she spots Wilson’s race car. It is at that very moment that Babymouse learns about the Downhill Derby. She knows that that is her time to shine. She wants to win extremely badly. In order to enter, she has to make her own vehicle. She dreams about the perfect ride and goes home and starts making a car of random junk. It doesn’t work out that well. Through a series of mishaps, Babymouse finds she eventually ready to fulfill her greatest dream, but her conscience stands in her way. What will she do?

This book is filled with passion, adventure, and humor, all the ingredients to a great book. I personally thought this was an amazing book. I had a few laughs every once and a while. And, it ends with a wonderful message for all children. Certainly,-children as young as 7 could read this book because the vocabulary was not very big. Plus it is a high-interest book-especially for early readers. Babymouse Burns Rubber is an inspiring book. I look forward to the eleventh book!

Review written by Sara (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of BABYMOUSE #12: Burns Rubber for this review.

Have you read BABYMOUSE #12: Burns Rubber? How would you rate it?