Monday, June 30, 2014

June Books M Schmitt

Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle 32
Goldi Rocks and the Three Bears 32
Penguin’s Love Their Mama 32
10 Little Penguins by Kate Toms 26
Monster Needs a Costume by Paul Czajak 32
I Love You More Than Anything by Anna Freeman 24
Counting in the Garden by Emily Hruby 58
Maria Had a Little Llama by Angela Dominguez 28
Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein 32
My New Friend is So Fun by Mo Wilhems 64
Upside Down Babies by Jeanne Willis 32
Ten Little Dinosaurs 28
Just Ducky Kathy Mallat 32
Five Little Ducklings Go to Bed by Carol Roth 32
Secrets of the FBI by Ronald Kessler 391
Welcome to the Bed and Biscuit by Joan Carris 124
The Eye of Moloch by Glenn Beck 432
Duck Tents by Lynne Berry 32
Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out by April Sayre 32
Zigby Camps Out by Brian Patterson 32
Chicken Chicken by Valerie Gorbachev 40
Who Ate the Cake? By Stewart Cowley 32
Who Spilt the Paint? By Stewart Cowley 32
Mommy’s Best Kisses by Margaret Anastas 34
Minnie-rella by Lisa Ann Marisol 32
A Tale of Two Sisters by Melissa Lagonegro 32
Outer Space Chase by Random House 32
Shapes are Everywhere by Charles Ghinga  20
Huey, Duey, and Louie’s Rainy Day by Kate Ritchey 32
Lego City Halloween Rescue by Trey King 24
Bubble Guppies Big Truck Show by Mike Jackson 32
Superman Day of Doom by John Sazaklis 32
Splat the Cat Blow Snow Blow by Rob Scotton 32
Axel the Truck Beach Race by JD Riley 32
Caillou the Firefighter by Sarah Johanson 24
Jake and the NEverland Pirates Surfin’ Turf  by Malinda Larose 32
Sofia Takes the Lead by Doug Cooney 32
Pinochchio’s Nose Grows by Barbra Winkleman 32
The Wonders of the Color Wheel by Charles Ghinga 20
Numbers at the Park by Charles Ghinga 20
Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas 400
Barry B Wary by Leslie Muir 32
The Butterfly Alphabet  by Kjell Sandved 60
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert 40
One Some Many by MArthe Jocelyn 32
Shapes that Roll by Karen Nagel 40
Balloon Trees by Danna Smith 32
Monsters on Machines by Deb Lund 40
A Wild Cowboy by Dana Kessimalis Smith 32
All the Pretty Little Horses by Linda Saport 32
When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore 32
Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer 32
Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green 412
Return of the library  Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy 32

Return of the library  Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy 32
This was an adorable story about the take over of  traditional library by Mike Krochip and his Ebooks. The kids and librarian turned dragon give him reason to take his ebooks and mother board run for the hills. This story is an important reminder for all us as to the importance and role paper books play in our lives.

Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green 412
I cannot decide if I liked this book or not, while I could not put it down, it reminded me too much of the pretty little liars series, and after a while all the dares and who dun-its get old. They ending is abrupt with a main character getting killed off, which does not seem to fit…but it looks like there will be more to come with this game of truth or dare.

One Some Many by MArthe Jocelyn 32
A simple book addressing a not so simple subject, what is a few and what is many? Different numbers are presented and then presented with whether that number is a few or many…Only one thing is for certain, one is only one.

Shapes that Roll by Karen Nagel 40
Let shapes take you for ride! Circle, square and triangle are on a mission to inform readers about all the different shapes that are out in the world. There are shapes that shine….Star and shapes that make you think of love..heart. I liked this book because it was still teaching even after the book was closed, little ones could look around the room to see how many different shapes they could identify.

Balloon Trees by Danna Smith 32
 A rhyming story about how balloons are made! Readers get to see where it starts at the tree to where it comes out at the factory. Interesting facts and thrown in so readers have a more in depth look at how balloons are created.

Monsters on Machines by Deb Lund 40
The monsters are at work building a large pre fab haunted house! They only take a break from their work when mama monster brings a lunch of monsteroni and cheese! Litte ones who love construction machines will enjoy this one!

A Wild Cowboy by Dana Kessimalis Smith 32
 Readers ride along with the little cowboy as he goes through his daily routine, which coincide with cowboy activities. Everyone has ridden on mom or dad’s back, but after this title they may try to round up doggies in lieu of cattle. Story was ok, I was expecting a cowboy story not a correlation of city life.

All the Pretty Little Horses by Linda Saport 32
This is a the illustrated version of a classic folktale, I had never heard it before, it was okay, the illustrations were dark colored making it hard to make out shapes and definition.

When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore 32
Sandcastles will definitely snag you a dragon, says the author but he will bring all kinds of trouble with him! You will be blamed for all kinds of crazy things and when you claim it was a dragon, no one will believe you. This story was cute but not memorable.

Cowboy Camp by Tammi Sauer 32
Avery is at cowboy camp but he cannot seem to get things right, he is allergic to horses and lassos give him rug burn! So as all the cowboy campers sleep under the stars, Avery stays awake and is startled by Black Bart, Bart wants to shut down cowboy camp but when he runs into Avery, Avery convinces him that is not cowboy camp because of his lacking skills. After seeing Avery try cowboy things, Black Bart hits the road.


Barry B Wary by Leslie Muir 32
Barry B is a bug who loves to eat bugs, that is until the day he falls in love with a beautigul butterfly. In hopes of capturing her heart he swears off his bug eating ways, but when his system goes into shock after a no bug diet…and the object of his affection never returns, Barry B resides to the fact that he would be happier if returned to eating bugs.

The Butterfly Alphabet  by Kjell Sandved 60
I did not like this book at all….way too long for a picture book, the pictures were outdated and other than the letter there was not much in the way of illustrations for the reader to look at. A bit of a butterfly disappointment.

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert 40
Tiny pages turn in to larger ones as the reader is taken on the journey of butterfly. Catterpillars are waitng to become butterflies and flowers are waiting for butterflies to land on their petals, and then the whole cycle  begins again.




Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas 400
Loved this book! Love triangle with a who dun it! No spoilers here! Anna and Elise are best friends but no more after a trip gone awry, Elise is dead and Anna and her boyfriend have made the list of suspects. Jail in a foreign country is whole nother world and you will find yourself unable to put this book down to find who ends up staying there.

Huey, Duey, and Louie’s Rainy Day by Kate Ritchey 32
The boys are off to uncle Donalds for the day and they cannot wait, except when they get there it is raining and uncle Donald wants to read the paper. When the boys get creative Uncle Donald becomes a Fort.

Lego City Halloween Rescue by Trey King 24
The Chief send Bob and Andy for more ice but when they have a call the chief does not realize that Bob and Andy are still gone, because Two other monsters “ Real monsters” got in on the Halloween party and fire call.

Bubble Guppies Big Truck Show by Mike Jackson 32
The Bubble guppies go all around their town showing all the different trucks but trouble comes when super truck is stuck. But never fear the tow truck is here.

Superman Day of Doom by John Sazaklis 32
When Doomsday comes to Earth there is only one person who can save metropolis, Superman. With the help of his phantom zone projector Superman is able to save Earth and send Doomsday to a place where he can never return.

Splat the Cat Blow Snow Blow by Rob Scotton 32
Splat the cat wants snow and when there is no snow falling from the sky, he decides to make his own from ice shavings and pillow feathers. All the time Splat spends worrying about snow, is forshadowing for the end..when of course it finally snows and snows and snows

Axel the Truck Beach Race by JD Riley 32
Axel the truck likes fast racing and being shiny clean, but the two do not mix when he is racing in mud or in sand, it never fails that each time he cleans up he undoes it by finding himself another race!

Caillou the Firefighter by Sarah Johanson 24
The school is having a firefighter come and visit and Caillou and his friends are so excited. Readers learn the basics of fire safety with this story and favorite character.

Jake and the NEverland Pirates Surfin’ Turf  by Malinda Larose 32
Jake and the pirates have found a surf board but not for long because Hook gets his hands on it. With the help of the mermaids they chase down Hook only to see that he is in trouble and Jake being Jake decides that it is best to help him out. 10 gold da blooms earned for this good deed.

Sofia Takes the Lead by Doug Cooney 32
The Buttercups are off to earn badges but Ballywick is convinced that Sofia will get hurt out there without him, so he insists on tagging along. After BAilywick gets in the way one too many times he finds himself having an allergic reaction, but never fear the buttercups are here to save the day.

Pinochchio’s Nose Grows by Barbra Winkleman 32
This easy reader tells the brief story of Gipetto and his wooden puppet who he wishes to be a real boy. When Pinochhio is steered wrong he is given one more chance and realizes he needs to be in school  like a good little boy.

The Wonders of the Color Wheel by Charles Ghinga 20
Each page readers are met with primary and secondary colors and in the latter the colors start mixing. Each color is associated with some common everyday thing that children can relate it to.

Numbers at the Park by Charles Ghinga 20
2 kites and 7 bubbles readers have numbers of fun on each page. All the numbers are attractions and activiites that can be found at parks.

Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein 32
Kids can explore and identify all the different feelings and emotions they may feel through a day.
  


My New Friend is So Fun by Mo Wilhems 64
Piggy is scared that Elephant will leave him behind for a new friend who is so fun! But Elephant quickly learns that piggy has been going on and on about none other than himself! Elephant is left feeling silly but this story will be a valuable lesson to all little ones as they encounter the ups and downs of friendship!

Upside Down Babies by Jeanne Willis 32
All the animals are waking up with different babies! Readers are taking through pages about what life would be like if all the animals had different mamas!

Ten Little Dinosaurs 28
The best part about this book is the large eye balls that pop out of the cover and through each page.

Just Ducky Kathy Mallat 32
Ducky is feeling lonesome until he comes across a new friend! His very own reflection! Ducky plays and plays splashing up a good time and at the end of the day he realizes that it is ok to be just ducky and to play on his own!

Five Little Ducklings Go to Bed by Carol Roth 32
Five little ducklings are in trouble when they decide not to go to bed, after a good scolding the duckies make their way to bed with sad faces. Little ones will be reassured that no matter what they do mama will always love them.

Secrets of the FBI by Ronald Kessler 391
Loved this book! Readers delve into the world of secret ops and uncover different reasons and action that the military and government have used in the past! From bringing down the mob to Bin Laden this book has a little bit of everything!

Welcome to the Bed and Biscuit by Joan Carris 124
With this edition of Bed and Biscuit, readers learn how Sir Walter the little Scottish terrier and how he came about on the farm. With Milly the cat feeling like she has lost her place to someone new, she makes room for the new pup in the house and in her heart.

The Eye of Moloch by Glenn Beck 432
Book two and I loved it! Except for the fact that Molly was killed off so you have to wonder what will become of Noah without her. After a large battle and unrealistic takeover of government archives Noah is on his way to being the new leader of the Founder’s Keepers.



Duck Tents by Lynne Berry 32
Ducks go fishing and then ducks head to bed! Tents are tangled and marshmallows are roasted but soon all the little ducks are nestled in for sleep under the stars.


Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out by April Sayre
This title mixes fact and fiction with the story of a turtle and how he lives on the beach and ocean.

Zigby Camps Out by Brian Patterson
Zigby camps out but gets scared. As Zigby and friends sit in the dark as they hear noises outside their tent. Upon further investigation Zigby learns there was nothing to be afraid of after all…it was just another frined!

Chicken Chicken by Valerie Gorbachev
Two little chickens are scared at the playground, but with the help of a friend they find the courage to go down the big slide and they are so glad they did. Readers are left with the confident young chicks telling mama all about their playground day!

Who Ate the Cake? By Stewart Cowley 32
The animals are off to a birthday party but when the cake goes missing all the guests are accounted for, all but one. On the last pagereaders learn it was the birthday boy who got into the cake before everyone else!  Robby raccoon gets presents and a tummy ache.

Who Spilt the Paint? By Stewart Cowley 32
Follow the clues and spilled paint to unveil which woodland creature has red tracks and spilled the paint! My kids love these books and I loved them as a child growing up, so it is fun to share them with them now.

Mommy’s Best Kisses by Margaret Anastas 32

Minnie-rella by Lisa Ann Marisol 32
The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse does a Cinderella spin off . Minnie is off dreaming of going to a ball in a tomato turned chariot, but when she is awakened by Mickey she realizes it was just a dream! Mickey has the perfect surprise for Minnie! New glass slippers.

A Tale of Two Sisters by Melissa Lagonegro 32
This is another Easy reader addition of Frozen, out the three that I have already read this is my least favorite. The text seems thrown together without consideration for the actual plot.


Outer Space Chase by Random House 32
Team Umizoomi must save Door Mouse as he jets off into outerspace. With the help of Milli, Geo and Bot, they are able to save dormouse by getting the boosters back to the rocket just in time.


Shapes are Everywhere by Charles Ghinga  20
 A new shape is introduced on every page and readers can look and see the everyday objects that correlate to that particular shape. Kids love pointing out correct answers and they will love thinking  of new ones!


Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle 32
The weather is raging and the rain is coming down on the streets! Puddles are emerging and umbrellas will be needed as people hit the streets through this thunderous story!

Goldi Rocks and the Three Bears 32
A pop rendition of Goldilocks and the three bears! The three bears are auditioning for a new lead singer when along comes goldi peering inside! And wouldn’t you know Goldi is a rocker too, breaking mikes, and playing instruments, but when the bears find her they are shocked to find her scream carries a tune…and the four of them lived happily ever after making music.

Penguin’s Love Their Mama 32
Mama teaches her baby penguins everything she knows, but mama gets worried about what she will do when her babies no longer need her? Her penguin babies lovingly assure that she will be their mama…Always.

10 Little Penguins by Kate Toms 26
A counting tale about little penguins getting in trouble.

Monster Needs a Costume by Paul Czajak 32
Monster is distraught about finding a costume and after trying dancer, cowboy, and ninja…Monster comes up with the perfect costume for his Halloween night out.

I Love You More Than Anything by Anna Freeman 24
A little mouse goes through the pages telling his little one of all the things that are and will be….the things he loves most is him!

Counting in the Garden by Emily Hruby 58
This counting garden grows more and more as the readers pages through the book. Onions, watermelons, butterflies and of course butterflies!

Maria Had a Little Llama by Angela Dominguez 28

 A Cute Spanish version of Maria had a little lamb, except with a llama!

Black Butler (Manga) by Yana Toboso

Black Butler (Manga) by Yana Toboso, 704 pages
v. 5 - 176 pages  - Introduces Prince Soma and his butler Agni. Earl Ciel Phantomhive has Sebastian enter a curry contest to win the Royal Warrant and foil the plan of an ambitious business owner who will stop at nothing to get what he desires... including blackmailing the prince's own butler.
v. 6 -176 pages - Children are disappearing without a trace. The trail seems to follow the circuit of Noah's Ark Traveling Circus. What better way to infiltrate than to become a part of the circus act?
v. 7 -176 pages - Having successfully infiltrated the circus, Ciel and Sebastian must now discover what sinister plots lurk under the big top. Most especially why there is a letter written with Ciel's name and birth date on it.
v. 8 -176 pages - Uncovering the secrets held inside an estate, Ciel faces a living nightmare from his past. While Ciel and Sebastian are battling away from the Phantomhive manor, the servants of Phantomhive will have to protect Ciel's home from invasion. As the chapter closes on Noah's Ark, yet another case awaits for the Queen's Watchdog.

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard, 241 pages

I did with this book what I usually try not to do: I watched the movie before I read the book which I never to do. The book was exactly like the movie except for maybe just a few small details.  I am not sure I have ever read a book which mirrored the movie.  In Labor Day, you can't help but root for Frank who takes up living with Adele and her son, Henry, after escaping from prison.  The ending surprised me, but made me feel happy to see that love won in the end.

Jenny McCarthy Stirring The Pot by Jenny McCarthy

Jenny McCarthy Stirring The Pot by Jenny McCarthy, 192 pages

If you are looking for a light, entertaining summer read, this is for you.  If you have read Jenny McCarthy's other books, you will probably like this one.  I read this book in a day.  This book would be a good one to take to the beach.  Jenny writes about how to get what you want out of life. Most of her book is just plain, simple common sense, but she does add a certain humorous spin to things.  Jenny is a girl who is not afraid to make fun of herself!

Who Was Rosa Parks? by Yona Zeldis McDonough

Who Was Rosa Parks? by Yona Zeldis McDonough, 106 pages

This was a fascinating account of Rosa Parks life.  Many of the facts in this book I was not aware of.  For instance, in Montgomery Alabama in the 1940s, there were fifty-thousand African Americans but only thirty-one of them were registered to vote. Rosa fought hard for her right to vote.  She had to take a test only given to black people and in Alabama, you had to pay a poll tax of $1.50 a year to vote which was alot back then. Rosa was a heroine.  By refusing to give up her bus seat, she played an important part in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.


Star Trek: Bloodthirst

Star Trek: Bloodthirst by J.M. Dillard, 264 pp.

The Enterprise is receives a distress signal from a distant Starfleet outpost, and discover a conspiracy entangled with a dangerous virus that leaves it's victims craving blood....

Definitely for fans of the Original Series. The author has each character's voices down extremely well.

Who Is Bill Gates? by Patricia Brennan Demuth

Who Is Bill Gates? by Patricia Brennan Demuth, 105 pages

I did not know much about Bill Gates before I read this book.  Of course, I knew he created windows and was behind Microsoft. But, I had no idea he dropped out of Harvard.  He did, however, eventually receive an honorary degree from Harvard in 2007. Nowadays, Bill and his wife Melinda spend their time running their foundation to fight poverty and polio worldwide.

Who Was Paul Revere? by Roberta Edwards

Who Was Paul Revere? by Roberta Edwards, 105 pages

What I really like about this series the Who Was? and Who Is? books is that not only do you find out more about the person your reading about, but you learn about the period of history they went through.  This was especially true with this book.  I had always wondered how Paul Revere became famous for the phrase "The British are coming, the British are coming."  But, Paul Revere also did so much more with his life.  And, maybe the least known fact of all was that Paul Revere's ride became so famous because Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem about it.

Who Was Pablo Picasso? by True Kelley

Who Was Pablo Picaso?  by True Kelley, 105 pages

If you are interested in Pablo Picaso or modern art, you may want to read this book.  This book illustrates Pablo's professional as well as personal life.  Pablo had a very fascinating life.  He created over fifty thousand pieces of art!  He was creating works of art up until the time of his death at age ninety-one.  Pablo had many children, grandchildren, and many woman in his life. His art changed with the world.  The book also includes many black and white pictures of his art. This was a great book!

Prime Cut by Diane Mott Davidson

Prime Cut by Diane Mott Davidson, 320 pages
Book 8 in the Culinary Mystery series finds our favorite caterer fighting a competing new caterer in town.  He seems to have an unfair advantage over Goldy - endless supplies of money and no conscience!

Goldy teams up with her culinary teacher for a photo shoot for a holiday catalog, but is soon devastated by his untimely death.  Of course, she must try to solve his murder herself - and then must also defend herself against an unknown murderer AND her ex-husband.

Be sure to watch for the scrumptious recipes scattered through out the book!

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson, 336 pages

Book 9 in the Culinary Mystery series features top caterer Goldy Bear hosting a PBS cooking show in the Denver area just before the Christmas holidays.  She views this as an opportunity to promote her new business as a personal chef - a change made necessary as her newly remodeled professional/home kitchen has been shut down by the health department.

Of course it's not long before Goldy is knee deep in a murder mystery - and soon thereafter finds herself in danger.

Davidson's reads are nice, easy reads with some violence, but not a lot of gore or lurid sexual content.

Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet Pascal

Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet B. Pascal, 103 pages

Who Was Dr. Seuss? was another very informative and interesting read on how Dr. Seuss became the wonderful author he is. It is interesting to note that while at Dartmouth College, he was voted least likely to succeed.  This book lets us know how he was inspired to wrote certain stories. The cat in The Hat was written using first grade sight words, and the book Green Eggs and Ham was written using only 50 words. This book is a must read for all Dr. Seuss fans!

Who Was Walt Disney? by Whitney Stewart

Who Was Walt Disney?  by Whitney Stewart, 106 pages

Who Was Walt Disney? is a very good book for children as well as adults if they are a fan of anything Disney.  This was a very interesting read about Walt's life. It includes the history of Disney films, Disneyland, Disney World and Epcot, as well as Walt's personal life.  I especially liked the timeline in the back of the book.

The Castle Behind Thorns by Merrie Haskell

The Castle Behind Thorns by Merrie Haskell - 327 pages

Sand wakes up in the chimney of the Sundered Castle.  He is the only living thing in the castle -- trapped by a hedge of thorns that surrounds the castle.  Being trained as a blacksmith, Sand starts to mend things in the castle - buckets, pots, relics in the chapel, and even a skeleton he finds in the crypt.  He is shocked when that skeleton comes to life.  Perrotte was killed over 25 years ago by her stepmother.  Now they are both trapped in the castle behind thorns and must find a way out.
I enjoyed this book.  I picked it up thinking it was a simple retelling of Sleeping Beauty. While it had elements of the fairy tale -- a princess that was meant to be in a long sleep that comes back to life and a castle surrounded by thorn covered hedges -- it was much more than that.  It was a story of politics in Middle Ages France.  It was a parable on forgiveness.  It was also a coming of age story for the two main characters.  It was also extremely atmospheric and creepy.  The image that stayed with me long after reading the book was the mended heart of a saint in the chapel coming to life and having a heartbeat in it's reliquary box.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones

Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones

Charley Davidson is a paranormal private investigator and grim reaper in training.  That crazy life is further complicated by her sort of pending of engagement to Reyes Farrow, Satan's only son.  Charley gains access to a file on Reyes' mysterious childhood that reveals layers upon layers of deceit.  These books are fun and snarky in the best possible way.  Fans of the Dresden Files and the Supernatural tv show won't be disappointed.    

Sailor Moon Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi

Sailor Moon Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi, 236 pp.

The adventures of Usagi Tsukino, an average schoolgirl who likes nothing better than desserts and a good nap, until she is transformed by Luna the talking cat into Sailor Moon, the champion of love and justice. This is the new translation of the manga, and will likely be quite popular now that the anime series is being rebooted.

Star Wars: The Old Republic- Revan by Drew Karpyshyn

Star Wars: The Old Republic- Revan by Drew Karpyshyn, 368 pp.

Set after the events of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video game. Revan, now a hero of the Republic and happily married to fellow Jedi Bastila, senses an evil presence at the far reaches of the galaxy, waiting for a chance to strike a the Republic. Meanwhile, the Sith Lord Scourge is placed on special assignment by the Sith Emperor.

The story starts out well enough, but by the second half things fall apart and the fate of the hero feels unfulfilled and confusing.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson- 447 pp.

Follows the construction of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, how it changed the city of Chicago, and how the Fair allowed a serial killer to lure victims to his "Murder Palace" hotel. Written like a novel, so it doesn't feel as dry as most biographies.

Friday, June 27, 2014

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan - 596 pages
Heroes of Olympus #4

Percy and Annabeth are in Tartarus making their way to the Doors of Death.  In the mortal world, the others are being led by Nico to The House of Hades to those same Doors of Death.  There they hope to meet up and close the Doors -- if only they can make it there.

I thought this was a very slow read.  Usually Rick Riordan's books are fairly quick to read and very engaging.  This book took a lot of time to draw you in.  Still, I'm anticipating the final book in the series coming out in September.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Black Butler (Manga) by Yana Toboso

Black Butler (Manga) by Yana Toboso , 768 pages
V1 - 192 pages , V2 -192 pages, V3 - 192 pages, V4 - 192 pages

12 year old Earl Ciel Phantomhive became head of his family when his mother and father where murdered and the family home burned in flames. Ciel was kidnapped (we later find) and comes back later with a black clad butler who seems to know Ciel's every thought and need. All of the characters of the book love Sebastian for the most part and think he's the most amazing butler around -- capable of doing some truly magnificent feats. The manga has side notes and flashbacks that gradually fill in the blanks of what happened to Ciel and his family and why he contracted with a demon to exact revenge on those who hurt his family and humiliated him. Throughout the manga, Ciel and his extraordinary butler work together to solve various mysteries plaguing the "Great Empire of Queen Victoria"  -- especially the streets of London -- while at the same time gathering information about who ordered the murder of his parents and then Ciel's kidnapping. Ciel's family has always been the Queen's Watchdog and when he returns to his family's home, he resumes the duties of his father. Ciel is also the shrewd owner of a toy company and various other Phantomhive businesses as the books progress. The characters are well done and the story lines draw you in. I would say it's the manga is dark humor for the most part, but tastefully done.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi  338 pages


No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time - and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever.

Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo  358 pages

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life - a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha.and the secrets of her heart.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater - 108 pages

Arthur Bobowicz is sent to find a turkey for his family's Thanksgiving dinner.  Unfortunately, there are no turkeys to be found.  What he does find is a mad scientist who sells him Henrietta -- a six foot tall, 266 pound turkey.  When his father makes him return Henrietta, the chicken escapes and goes looking for Arthur.  Now Henrietta is scaring people all over town and the town is determined to get rid of the rampaging chicken.

I checked out the audio of this book a few weeks ago, however I never actually got around to listening to it.  So I decided to read it on my lunch break instead.  It was a very, very quick read as I finished it in 30 minutes.  I did enjoy the story and am considering reading some of the author's other books.

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden- 233 pp.

Annie and Liza meet by chance in the museum, and over the school year become close friends who eventually fall in love, facing prejudice from their peers and school administrators.

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin- 694 pp.

Intricate high fantasy about several noble families plunged into intrigue and war after the suspicious death of the High King; meanwhile a mysterious force assembles in the North, and to the South, a rogue princess prepares to take back what is rightfully hers.

Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore by Walter Mosley

Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore: A Novel by Walter Mosley --- 265 pages

This is a very moving story of a woman struggling with self-loathing, despair, forgiveness and redemption. Debbie Dare is a black porn film star, immediately and strikingly identifiable because of her signature (bleached) platinum blonde hair, vivid blue (contact lenses) eyes and the distinctive white tattoo just below her left eye.

She comes home from a long, exhausting film shoot to find her husband (an ex-porn star, producer) dead, electrocuted along with the young girl he was "auditioning" in their bathtub, when the video camera fell into the water.

The accumulated shocks of the day force Debbie to face some hard truths about her life and the path that led her to this dead end. She decides this is her chance to quit the porn industry and make a new and better life for herself. Making the decision is the easy part.  The hard part is understanding how she got to where she is, and what she has to do to get to where she wants to be.

Mosley doesn't pull any punches. In order to show us Debbie's struggle to rise, he must also show us the depths of her fall. In the process he gives us another portrait in his American gallery of flawed but persistent souls in search of salvation.

Walter Mosley is the award-winning author of the Easy Rawlins and Leonid McGill mystery series, as well as many other works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama.

Click HERE to visit Walter Mosley's web site.

Click HERE to read an interview with Mosley talking about Debbie Doesn't Do It Anymore in the Chicago Tribune.

Moldylocks and the Three Beards by Noah Z. Jones

Moldylocks and the Three Beards by Noah Z. Jones - 74 pages
Princess Pink and the Land of Fake-Believe - Book 1

Princess Pink (first name Princess, last name Pink) falls through her refrigerator into the land of Fake-Believe where well-known fairy tales and nursery rhymes are just slightly off.  She meets Mother Moose and Moldylocks.  Princess Pink and Moldlylocks go to visit the house of the Three Beards where Moldylocks is captured.  It is up to Princess Pink to rescue her new friend.

This book was getting a lot of requests after being heavily pushed through the spring Scholastic School Fairs.  It is a simple chapter book for kids in 1st-2nd grade.  I believe the series is going to continue with Princess Pink interacting with other well known characters in fractured fairy tales.  I wasn't hugely impressed with the book itself.  The one thing I did like was the final page that had discussion questions and literacy extension activities for those who read the book.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Beowulf by J.R.R. Tolkien

Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, Together with Sellic Spell by J.R.R. Tolkien; edited by Christopher Tolkien --- 425 pages

J.R.R. Tolkien and all of his works has been one of the greatest pleasures and influences on my reading life since I first chanced upon The Hobbit in high school. He was, for me, like finding manna in the desert.

For years some of my favorite British authors have written about their time at Oxford and the extraordinary experience of hearing Tolkien's lectures on Beowulf. Now so many years later, Tolkien's son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, has at last published his father's 1926 translation of Beowulf along with excerpts from his written lecture notes from the 1930s. This is about as far from the dry and desiccated style of most academic writing as one can get.

Tolkien's comments on Beowulf cast a reflective light not just on the ancient heritage of Northern European myth, legend and history; they also reveal how these influenced Tolkien's own imagination and his grand design to create "a mythology for England" in his tales of Middle-earth. It will be interesting to compare Tolkien's translation with the more recent translation by the (late) celebrated Irish poet and scholar Seamus Heaney.

For those who love learning, world-building and ancient days, this will be a delight.

Click HERE to read an article about Tolkien's Beowulf in The Guardian (UK) and HERE to read an article from The Oklahoman (US).

Click HERE to read an appreciation of Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf.


The thousand-year-old manuscript of Beowulf is preserved in the British Museum .
Click HERE to read how the sole surviving manuscript of Beowulf was preserved against all odds.