The Fang Arrangement by Sarah Blue -- 328 pages
Wolf Blood by Lola Glass -- 399 pages
Sweet Blood by Lola Glass -- 522 pages
In 1775, Paul Revere of Boston made his now-famous horseback ride warning colonists of an impending attack by the British. This event went largely unnoticed in history until Longfellow celebrated it in a poem in 1861. So who was Paul Revere? In addition to being an American patriot, he was a skilled silversmith and made false teeth from hippo tusks! This biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout, brings to life Paul Revere's thrilling ride as well as the personal side of the man and the exciting times in which he lived.
This was a quick and informative read!
Presents a collection of unusual and miscellaneous facts about dinosaurs, covering such topics as their physical characteristics, behavior, herds, migration, and fossils.
Cute book, very informative. I could see kids liking this book.
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs - 40 pages
Mo Willems
Summary (From Goodreads)
Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.
One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go...someplace else. They were definitely NOT setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.
Definitely not!
Review
This was a delightful and funny retelling of a classic fairy tale! I'd recommend this to anyone who likes humorous, subversive takes on old favorites.
Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can't be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books -- superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn't tell anyone he's on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out -- bills are piling up, the electricity's been shut off, and the school year's about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He's never felt so alone -- until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home -- and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.
Written in verse so I finished this in one day. Very sad story about a boy who is abandoned by his mother and ends up living on his own trying to survive.
As captain of Room Nine's field day team, Junie B. Jones tries to rally her troops after they lose several events.
Junie B is a favorite of children...just have to remind them she doesn't always have the best manners.
A student is prepared to get into shape after Coach Kong announces the events for the school's mandatory field day, which he is afraid will include leaping over lions and skipping through snakes.
I love the Black Lagoon books!!
The Kissing Hand - 30 pages
A Pocket Full of Kisses - 32 pages
Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully - 32 pages
Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper (Illustrator), Nancy M. Leak (Illustrator), Barbara Gibson (Illustrator)
Summary for The Kissing Hand (From Goodreads)
Chester Raccoon doesn't want to go to school--he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he'll love school--with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that's been in the family for years--the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son's hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm--smack dab in the middle: "Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart." Whenever he feels lonely at school, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother's kiss. Chester is so pleased with his Kissing Hand that he--in a genuinely touching moment--gives his mom a Kissing Hand, too, to comfort her when he is away.
Summary for A Pocket Full of Kisses (From Goodreads)
In this tender sequel to the New York Times bestseller and children's classic The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn provides parents with another tale of love and reassurance to share with their children. Chester Raccoon has a baby brother—and the baby brother is taking over his territory. When Chester sees his mother give his baby brother a Kissing Hand—his Kissing Hand—he is overcome with sadness, but Mrs. Raccoon soothes his fears with her own special brand of wisdom, finding just the right way to let Chester know he is deeply loved.
Summary for Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully (From Goodreads)
When Mrs. Raccoon learns that there is a bully problem at school, she decides to investigate the situation. But after seeing the bully for herself, she shares a story about a forest that was full of smooth yellow stones, and how the animals living there changed a pointy stone they found into a smooth stone so that it wouldn't hurt any tender paws. Chester, Ronny, and Cassy follow the spirit of Mrs. Raccoon's story when they next encounter the Bully. Approaching him as a group, they invite him to play, proving that the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him or her a friend.
Review
I remembered loving the story of the kissing hand when I was little, so I decided to go back and read it again as an adult. This led to me discovering it was the first of a series, so I decided to check those out, too. They are all so sweet! I'd recommend these in a heartbeat to any parent with a child starting school!
The Chinese New Year Helper - 40 pages
Ying Chang Compestine, Ginnie Hsu (Illustrator)
Summary (From Goodreads)
A young girl finds an exciting role for herself at the Chinese New Year celebration in her family’s restaurant. At last, she isn’t being told that she’s too young to help! Jia’s family is busy preparing for the Chinese New Year feast at their restaurant in Chinatown, and Jia wants to take part. But each time she tries to help she’s told that she’s too too young to be in the kitchen, too young to light the lanterns, too young to carry the plates. And then the feast begins, and something wonderful happens. When Jia is scolded for getting too close to the exciting lion dance, one of the dancers swoops her up and into the costume, and suddenly she’s a part of the performance—a crucial part that saves the show. Never again does her family tell her that she’s too young to help!
Review
Reading about a holiday tradition as told through the eyes of a child really got me thinking about experiencing some of my own holiday traditions when I was a child!
Mungo on His Own - 48 pages
Matthew Burgess, Julie Benbassat (Illustrator)
Summary (From Goodreads)
One evening, young Mungo ventures into the forest to find the sweet, red berries he’s been dreaming about. But he soon finds that foraging alone can be hard for a kit like him, and Mungo gets lost. Very lost! Will he find the berries—and his way back home—all on his own?
Review
I picked this one up for the adorable fox, and I stayed for the equally cute story!
Club Microbe - 56 pages
Elise Gravel
Summary (From Goodreads)
It's a germ’s world. We’re just living in it!
In Club Microbe , Elise Gravel teaches young readers that germs live all around us―and even inside of us! Guided by Gravel in this formidable introduction to the fascinating world of microorganisms, we learn that some microbes get a bad rep for making us sick, but that most are helpful creatures that allow us to digest food, make cheese, and even enable snowflakes to form in winter.
In her signature colorful cartoon style, Gravel describes the invisible work of microorganisms that aid in creating our food, producing oxygen, and keeping our planet alive. She gives us a tour of the heroes and the villains of the microbe world, stopping to marvel at their unique names and wondrous shapes.
Review
This was as charming and humorous as it was educational -- the perfect way to get kids (and me!) interested in learning more about science!
