Waiting on Days of Blood and Starlight

Daughter of Smoke and Bone has to be one of my favorite books of all time, so naturally, I am ridiculously excited for the sequel. Squee!

Days of Blood and Starlight
by Laini Taylor
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

November 2012

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

Halloween reviews

Trick or Treat
by Leo Landry
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
August 2012

 Just a fun party, hosted by a ghost! Witches unwittingly provide broom rides, and skeletons provide the music for two unexpected guests: two kids dressed as a cow and a jack o' lantern for Halloween. Nice and simple, this book should get you in the mood for Halloween.

I borrowed this book from the library.

The Monsters' Monster
by Patrick McDonnell
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
September 2012

This is just about the cutest Frankenstein I've ever seen. Hoping to make the biggest, baddest, scariest monster of all time, Grouch, Grump and two-headed monster, Gloom n' Doom fashion a huge monster, bringing it to life in an electrical storm. Problem is, (just like the original Frankenstein's monster) this guy is nothing but a gentle giant who enjoys sunshine, jelly donuts and days on the beach. Perfect as a not-too-scary Halloween story, or any time of year.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Book Cupcakes

Books have a kind of sustenance to them. I often think of a novella as a "light snack" where a lengthy epic is more of a hearty meal.  What could look tastier than this? Book cupcakes! Nom, nom, nom.

Picture book mini-reviews 16

Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of the Olympic Gold
by Deloris Jordan, illustrated by Barry Root
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
May 2012

Michael Jordan's mother offers her perspective on Michael Jordan's athletic success in this lengthy picture book. Her emphasis on "homework first!" felt a bit didactic, and seeing his Olympic dream far outweigh thoughts of a pro-basketball career seemed a little artificial, but no matter. Michael Jordan fans and kids looking for sports books will gobble this one up. Full-color watercolor and gouache illustrations by Barry Root (known for his book covers on sports chapter books by Tiki Barber) elevate would could have been an otherwise dull read.

I borrowed this book from the library.

My Teacher

by James Ransome
Dial Books
April 2012

"Maybe that's why she keeps teaching"

Old enough to retire, and having taught three generations of students at the school, a little girl's teacher tirelessly continues to charm, delight, inform and inspire her students. Keep an eye out for the Folkmanis bee puppet which makes an appearance on the 3rd page! The story is long, and a bit on the overly-sentimental side, but I'd bet there are plenty of educators who won't be able to read this without getting a little verklempt. The illustrations appear to be watercolor and pencil, and portray a diverse, friendly urban neighborhood.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Martha Bakes a Cake

by Susan Meddaugh
HMH Books
April 2012

Martha (of Martha Speaks fame) stars in this beginning reader title. Endpapers feature scrambled alphabet soup letters. This is an adaptation from the Martha Speaks TV show. When Helen (the little girl that Martha lives with) is bummed about not winning a contest, Martha takes it into her head to bake a cake to cheer her up. Martha asks for help from the neighbor and the postman, but she and Skits, the large brown dog of the house, do most of the work themselves. Predictably, they come up with a lumpy, messy cake, littered with dog hair. Thank goodness dad has brought home a fresh cake from the bakery! Short, static sentences that do not use contractions make this an approachable book for young readers.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Marley: The Dog Who Ate My Homework
by John Grogan, Richard Cowdrey and Rick Whipple
HarperCollins
May 2012

This book is very typical of any of the books in the Marley beginning reader series. Marley gets a little carried away and eats Cassie's science project: a mobile of the planets made of fruit. What kind of dog eats fruit, I ask you? Anyway, just when everyone thinks that Marley's ruined everything, Marley saves the day, by bringing the family balls to make the solar system with instead. Cue the 1950's laugh-track! The watercolor illustrations featuring a happy Caucasian family, wearing conservative clothes (especially Cassie's pinafore dress) give this a mildly Dick and Jane feel.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Waiting on The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart

I loved Darker Still, so it will be interesting to see how things pick up in the sequel.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart
by Leanna Renee Hieber
Sourcebooks Fire

November 2012

For Natalie Stewart, a normal life has never seemed so far away. Her only solace, Lord Jonathan Denbury, is wanted for murder. To clear his name, Denbury must return to England and assume the role of his demon doppelganger. But Natalie begins to doubt his true motives, especially as a new gentleman begins whispering in her ear. Natalie and Denbury may be able to visit each other in their dreams, but they can't escape the darkening shadows. Amid spontaneous explosions, friends turned enemies and dangerous secrets revealed, there's still a demon who has Natalie's scent, and someone is trying to resurrect the ultimate evil.

Awesome Book video

Have you seen this Google Chrome ad, featuring An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton? I like the upbeat spirit, and Clayton's hipster vibe.

Picture book mini-reviews 15

Gem
by Holly Hobbie
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
April 2012

Here's a book that kept me guessing. Starting out with a lengthy handwritten letter from Gram to her granddaughter Hope, I thought this would be a complex, wordy story. Not so! After the first page, the art takes over, and we follow the wordless adventures of little Gem the toad who survives nearly being hit by a car and being chased by a hungry hawk until he's rescued by a little girl, and set free in a nighttime garden full of flies. The book is appended with a few toad facts. Many of the watercolor, pen and ink illustrations would be lovely as framed art - particularly those scenes featuring Gem happily hidden amidst the greenery.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Olivia and the Kite Party
adapted by Alex Harvey, illustrated by Patrick Spaziante
Simon Spotlight
May 2012

Based on the TV series, this beginning chapter book offers bright, digital illustrations and a fairly prosaic storyline about Olivia's efforts to make her own kite, and then host a kite-flying party. Undemanding fans of the Olivia series may enjoy this easy to read adventure of pig-headed determination to get that kite aloft, but this book has absolutely no comparison to the understated elegance of the original Ian Falconer book that birthed the Olivia franchise.

I borrowed this book from the library.

The Berenstain Bears and Mama for Mayor
by Jan and Mike Berenstain
HarperCollins
April 2012

A less than dazzling entry into the Berenstain Bears franchise. Still, this book will be easy to recommend around Mother's Day, or during any election year. Simple, repetitive language and a easy to follow plot make this a good choice for very beginning readers to build confidence. Mama Bear is frustrated by the potholes on the road, and conceives of a plan to run for mayor. After an exciting campaign, where she gets carried away and begins to promise anything and everything, including "honey in every pot" and "salmon in every stream," Mama wins the race! A somewhat cynical ending shows Mama (like many politicians) overwhelmed and unable to make good on her campaign promises.

I borrowed this book from the library.

Two Little Monkeys
by Mem Fox, illustrated by Jill Barton
Beach Lane Books
January 2011

How utterly delightful! This book features a simple rhyming text and two sweet little grey monkeys, Cheeky and Chee who are busy avoiding a jaguar. Lovely, full-color double-spread illustrations feature lots of soft tans, blues and greens. Keep a sharp eye out for the jaguar, hidden on nearly every page! A gentle storybook perfect for the under two year-old set.

I borrowed this book from the library.