How to Survive in the Age of Pirates by Crispin Boyer

How to Survive in the Age of Pirates by Crispin Boyer -- 96 pages

This book gives a lot of information about pirates and piracy during the 17th and 18th centuries in the Caribbean.  It is given through the lens of someone from modern day being thrown back in time and having to survive.
I read this book in preparation for the homeschool class.  While I found it gave a lot of information, I did find the premise of a modern person being stuck back in time a little annoying.  Instead of focusing on the pirates' time it would instead give a present-day view of things -- such as when talking about common diseases and how to cure them.  Half of the time it talked about the historical issues and then the other half it talked about the diseases in modern times.  It was a little confusing.  Still, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting more information about pirates.
 

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett (336 Pages)

Summary: Eleven-year-old Kemi Carter loves scientific facts, specifically probability. It's how she understands the world and her place in it. Kemi knows her odds of being born were 1 in 5.5 trillion and that the odds of her having the best family ever were even lower. Yet somehow, Kemi lucked out. But everything Kemi thought she knew changes when she sees an asteroid hover in the sky, casting a purple haze over her world. Amplus-68 has an 84.7% chance of colliding with earth in four days, and with that collision, Kemi’s life as she knows it will end. But over the course of the four days, even facts don’t feel true to Kemi anymore. The new town she moved to that was supposed to be “better for her family” isn’t very welcoming. And Amplus-68 is taking over her life, but others are still going to school and eating at their favorite diner like nothing has changed. Is Kemi the only one who feels like the world is ending?With the days numbered, Kemi decides to put together a time capsule that will capture her family’s truth: how creative her mother is, how inquisitive her little sister can be, and how much Kemi's whole world revolves around her father. But no time capsule can change the truth behind all of it, that Kemi must face the most inevitable and hardest part of life: saying goodbye.

Opinion: This is a children's realistic fiction book with dystopian themes. I loved this book. The twist at the end was so satisfying (but also devastating - I sobbed). I found all of the characters extremely likable. The impending asteroid impact kept the pace fast and kept me desperate to know if everyone survives or not. Overall, a great fast paced, but also emotional read. 

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

 

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne -- 176 pages

I listened to this on audio.  It was a full cast dramatization with Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, and others.  I really enjoyed the stories.  It was interesting to see how they were different from the Disney cartoons as I had never actually read the book before.  I would definitely recommend the book and especially this audio version.

Bunny and Clyde by Megan McDonald

 Bunny and Clyde by Megan McDonald (128 Pages)

Synopsis: Get ready for a wild ride with Bunny and Clyde! These by-the-rules buddies, a rabbit and a chipmunk, are sick and tired of being good. For once, they want to know what it’s like to be baddies—rotten to the core! They want thrills and excitement! But to get really good at being bad, they’re going to need some experience. What if the dastardly duo started returning library books late on purpose? Or borrowing markers without asking? Everyone knows it’s a swift downhill slide from there—as long as there’s an unprotected piggy bank in town! Unless, of course, their best attempts at mastering bad deeds are strangely misconstrued . . .

Opinion: This is an early chapter book. It has a black and white photo on every page to every other page. Overall, this was a cute, short book that I enjoyed reading, but I wasn't thrilled by it. I did like the fact that the hijinks never went as planned and the drawings were cute, but that's about it. 

Stink and the Hairy Scary Spider by Megan McDonald

Stink and the Hairy Scary Spider by Megan McDonald - 160 pages
Stink #12

Stink has to rescue his origami frog from the backyard where it is being threatened by a huge pink spider.  Unfortunately, Stink is terrified of spiders.

I picked the audiobook up as it fits the month's reading challenge.  Although I've enjoyed all the other Stink books I've listened, I didn't care for this one.  I think a large part of it is that I'm not a huge fan of spiders myself.
 

Press Start! - Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy by Thomas Flintham

 Press Start! - Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy! by Thomas Flintham (80 Pages)

Synopsis: Uh-oh, Animal Town is in trouble! Meanie King Viking has created a dreaded robot army to spread No Fun across the land. On top of that, he has stolen the happiest and most fun animal ever, Singing Dog. There is only one person who can save the day -- Super Rabbit Boy! Super Rabbit Boy is super fast and super brave, but he's also a video game character living in a video game world. What will happen when Sunny, the boy playing the game, loses each level? Will it be game over for Super Rabbit Boy and all his friends?

Opinion: This is an early chapter book for kids. There are sentences and pictures on every page. The art style and story mimic a video game. So it may be appealing to kids who play video games such as Super Mario Bros or Minecraft. I really liked that you get to see the player of the game and their reactions. And that sometimes you lose the game, which gave the story with some stake. 

Owl Diaries - Eva's Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott

 Owl Diaries - Eva's Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott (80 pages)

Synopsis: Eva Wingdale gets in over her head when she offers to organize a spring festival at school. Even with her best friend Lucy's help, there is NO way she will get everything done in time. Will Eva have to ask Sue (a.k.a. Meanie McMeanerson) for help? Or will the festival have to be cancelled?

Opinion: The Owl Diaries is a early chapter book series that contains both pictures and sentences on every page. This was a cute, light read that I think any young reader could enjoy. Especially those who may like owls or stories about day to day life. I really like that the words are on lines like notebook paper. I think that made it easier to focus on the text even as an adult. 

The Drama with Doomsdays by Scott Reintgen

  The Drama with Doomsdays by Scott Reintgen (354 pages)

Synopsis: Ever since the fateful visions about Jeffrey Johnson, Celia Cleary's prophecies have focused on smaller things like minor mishaps and everyday inconveniences. It's finally starting to feel like she has a handle on her powers...until things take a turn for the weird. One day at school, Celia's notebook magically fills in with a single name written over and over: Patrick. She uses the family guidebook to investigate and learns that the mysterious Patrick is connected to a Doomsday Prophecy--a vision that involves a large group of people, a point of no return, and a terrible future. The target for this particular reckoning? The entire eighth grade. Celia soon finds herself in a race against the clock to figure out which Patrick at their school is at the heart of the coming disaster. As the shifting sands of luck turn against her, she'll need Grammy's voice and the help of friends more than ever. But even with their efforts combined, can they prevent the doomsday?

Opinion: This is the second book in the Celia Cleary series. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first. There is one plot point (loose end from the first book) that I was waiting for this whole book, but it never happened. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a third book in this series because it feels wrong to not address as I think it could impact character relationships. That being said, I am glad that this book feels distinct from the first, the main conflict is different, we see different characters getting more attention and growth. Along with that, I appreciate how the author depicts positive female friendships and connections in this book. 

Mini Mermaid Tales The Dolphin Dream

 

Mini Mermaid Tales: The Dolphin Dream  By Debbie Dadey  64 pages

Aqua Wave wants to ride, play, and dance with her favorite underwater creatures: dolphins! But Morgan, her older sister, isn’t so sure Aqua is ready, especially because Morgan was hurt when she last rode a bottleneck. Will Aqua get her wish or will Morgan’s worrying keep her from her deep-sea dreams?

Snowmen's Twelve Nights of Christmas

 

Snowmen's Twelve Nights of Christmas by Caralyn Buehner 29 pages

A reimagined Twelve Days of Christmas with snow people/animals. You can sing this book!

The Earth One-of-a-Kind Planet

 

The Earth One-of-a-Kind Planet  by Laura Perdew  30 pages

This is a nonfiction book about how the earth was created. The back includes an activity (Make a terrarium) and a glossary of all the big words. It is an easy (E) book for older children. 

Noodle and the No Bones Day

 

Noodle and the No Bones Day by Jonathan Graziano

30 pages

Noodle the pug takes a 'no bones day'. That means he is lazy, comfy, and sleepy. And that's OK!

Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain

 

Noodle Conquers Comfy Mountain by Jonathan Graziano

30 pages

Noodle the Pug can do lots of things by himself, but he learns to ask for help when he needs to climb comfy mountain. Doing things together is better.

Dino-Gro

 

Dino-Gro by Matt Myers  38 pages

Cole has a tiny Dino-Gro toy that grows when it gets wet. When it grows big enough, Cole stops getting it wet, but Dino-Gro finds other funny ways to get wet on its own and grow bigger. This is a cute book with a funny last joke.

Sherlock Chick and the Peekaboo Mystery

 

Sherlock Chick and the Peekaboo Mystery by Robert Quackenbush

39 pages

In a repetitive verse story, a small detective chick looks for a baby mouse.

Don't Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise

Don't Check Out This Book! by Kate Klise (160 pages)

Synopsis: Is the sweet town of Appleton ripe for scandal?

Consider the facts:

•        Appleton Elementary School has a new librarian named Rita B. Danjerous. (Say it fast.)
•        Principal Noah Memree barely remembers hiring her.
•       Ten-year-old Reid Durr is staying up way too late reading a book from Ms. Danjerous's controversial "green dot" collection.
•        The new school board president has mandated a student dress code that includes white gloves and bow ties available only at her shop.

Sound strange? Fret not. Appleton's fifth-grade sleuths are following the money, embracing the punny, and determined to the get to the funniest, most rotten core of their town's juiciest scandal. Don't miss this seedy saga!

Opinion: Kate Klise is an author that I've enjoyed reading since I was a kid. I remember devouring the Regarding Series in elementary school and making my dad drive to any SLCL branch that had the next book. I enjoy her format of telling stories, it prevents my brain from getting bored, and I enjoy her zany/punny style of humor. This book doesn't live up to any of the Regarding series books for me, but that's alright, I still had a good time reading this book. 

The Problem with Prophecies by Scott Reintgen

 The Problem with Prophecies by Scott Reintgen (338 pages)

Synopsis: Most people inherit eye colors or heirlooms, but for Celia Cleary, the gift of prophecy has been passed down in her family for generations. And on the 4,444th day of her life, Celia will have her first vision. But nothing could have prepared her for what she sees—the quiet boy down the street, Jeffrey Johnson, is about to die. Determined to save him despite her grandmother’s warnings against it, Celia alters events to stop her vision from playing out. But for each prophecy she avoids, another one takes its place, putting Jeffrey in constant danger. Fate has made its choice, and it’s not giving up the hunt. Focusing on homework or friends isn’t easy when you’re going head-to-head with death—and keeping Jeffrey Johnson alive is throwing Celia’s seventh grade year into chaos. It doesn’t help that she’s getting to know Jeffrey more and more with each new rescue attempt. It really doesn’t help when she realizes she kind of likes him.

Opinion: This is a Truman Award Nominee for the 2024-2025 school year. I fully enjoyed reading this book. It has a little bit of everything, some supernatural elements with the seer abilities, some cuteness, friendship drama, and action. The characters are all relatable and easy to like. Celia had me invested as I wanted to see whether she would be able to pull off her main goal of the book. I will say I did predict the ending of the book, but I was still satisfied by it. 

The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt

 

The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt by  Riel Nason  40 pages

A small ghost deals with his 'body'. He is made out of a heavy , scrappy, itchy quilt instead of the light sheet like his parents. But when a little girl mistakes him for a blanket and cuddles him, he feels brave and is not afraid of humans anymore. Nice pictures by Byron Eggenschwiler.

Bear Can't Wait

 

Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson  30 pages

A rhyming Tale. Bear and his woodland friends prepare for a surprise party.

The Princess and the Pitstop

 

The Princess and the Pitstop by Tom Angleberger  38 pages

This story tells of a racecar driving princess who won't give up even when she is in last place. The book is full of fairytale characters and packed with colorful pictures by Dan Santat.