From the Children's Room - Book Reviews
August 2007 - Summer Update
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine - Fans of Ella Enchanted and other fairy tale retellings will get a lot out of this spin on Snow White. Like she did in Ella Enchanted, the story is very loosely based. There are no 7 dwarves, instead there is a whole colony of Gnomes. And the evil queen is not her step-mother, but a girl her own age.
It's a really good story once you get into it. And if you are able to get past the difficult name pronunciation, zhamM for instance, there will be much to enjoy.
The Wicked Big Toddlah by Kevin Hawkes - This is one of the funniest picture books that I have seen in a long time. Full of Maine humor, this book will have you looking closely each of the illustrations.
Look for a nod to Robert McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal, and the snowplow on the canoe. This is one for the whole family--don't miss it!
December 2006 - Winter Update
Chowder by Peter Brown - Chowder is one unique Bulldog. He doesn't care to go for walks or play fetch like the other dogs. He prefers listening to music, playing on the computer, and looking through a telescope. However, Chowder is pretty lonely. When a new Petting Zoo opens nearby, Chowder is determined to make friends with these animals no matter what obstacles he has to overcome.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - It's hard to believe that this book is ten years old. If you read it before, you're due a re-read; and if you haven't read it yet, it's time to start. An epic fantasy, the Golden Compass is the first in the Dark Materials Trilogy. Lyra Belacqua sets off with her daemon to the frozen north to rescue kidnapped children and to discover the secrets of Dust.
New Holiday Books to Watch for:
 |
||
|
|
|
April 2006 - Some new books for spring!
A Place for Butterflies by Melissa Stewart This is one of the most beautifully illustrated books that I have seen in a while. Focusing on twelve different butterflies that can be seen in various parts of the United States, the author gives a brief introduction to their needs, habitats and lifestyle. The illustrations done in acryllic capture the setting and the extraordinary details of each butterfly.
This is a wonderful book for sharing out loud together and poring over the pictures. It gives enough ecological background to inspire you to grow your own butterfly garden and to start keeping a list of all the lepidoptera you spot in your yard.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke A mysterious stranger waits outside Meggie's house one night. A man named Dustfinger whom Meggie had never heard of, but who her father knew quite well.
With Dustfinger's appearance Meggie discovers a world in which book characters can be brought to life, and where fire will obey one man. Trying to save her father from the evil Capricorn and Basta, Meggie discovers that her world is not as she always imagined it, and that the mother whom has been missing since she was three might be in the last place she expected.
This is one of the best fantasy books that I have read in a years. Now is the perfect time to read it, in anticipation of the movie coming out in 2007.
Some new titles to look for...
Picture Books
|
|
 |
Chapter Books
|
|
 |
