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The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Abigail Packard
The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Mr. Morris Lessmore is an avid reader and writer. But his peaceful, book-filled life is interrupted by a tragic storm that whisks him and his books away. His colorful life becomes a dreary, black and white shell of what it used to be. But one day he sees a young woman flying away with a handful of strings attached to flying books. She sees him and sends him one of her favorite books to cheer him up. He becomes fast friends with the book and meets many other books in a building where they all “nest.” Morris takes care of …
A Hundred Horses, Cynthia Frazier
A Hundred Horses, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
Eleven year old Nell leads a very busy life full of classes and clubs that she hates. Now she is being forced to spend her spring break in the country with an aunt she can’t remember and two small cousins she doesn’t even want to get to know. On top of that, a suitcase containing a special project has been stolen by someone riding a big black and white horse. Somewhere between Maggie the pig having piglets, rescuing flying chickens, and tracking down a missing goat Nell meets an unlikely friend in a girl named Angel. People say that Angel …
There's A Giraffe In My Soup, Aylea Stephens
There's A Giraffe In My Soup, Aylea Stephens
Children's Book and Media Review
One boy has terrible luck in a restaurant when animals keep ending up in his soup! First it’s a giraffe, but even after he gets a fresh bowl of soup, the new bowl has an alligator in it. It’s followed by an elephant that can’t swim, a yak, walrus, and many other animals as the boy and the waiter try to get a bowl of soup that the boy can eat without any animals in it. When the waiter gets tired of the boy’s complaints, they finally discover why there are so many animals in the soup.
Caddy's World, Cynthia Frazier
Caddy's World, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
Caddy and her three friends Alison, Ruby, and Beth have been inseparable since the first day of school when they were five. Now they are twelve and each is dealing with her own challenges that include a new baby sister born too early, moving to another country far away, going to a new school where she knows no one, and growing taller, bigger and faster than everyone else her age. On top of all these complications, Dingbat, their communal boyfriend has decided to dump three of them and focus on only one of the four girls. How each of them …
El Deafo, Abigail Packard
El Deafo, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
At four years old, Cece is rushed to the hospital by her parents and she is treated for meningitis. As a result of this disease, Cece loses the ability to hear. Because Cece has grown up speaking, listening, and hearing her parents decide to help her by getting her hearing aids and taking her to a special kindergarten where she learns to lip-read. She is later integrated into the regular school system and she uses the Phonic Ear, a hearing aid that she wears under her shirt and connects to her ears with cords, amplifying the voice of her teacher …
The False Prince, Abigail Packard
The False Prince, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Sage insists that he wants nothing to do with becoming Carthya’s missing prince when he is taken from the orphanage by Conner, a nobleman of the court. However, Sage quickly becomes entangled in Conner’s plan to train the four boys he's taken and then choose one to pose as the lost Prince Jaron to take the throne after the murder of the king, queen, and crown prince. Sage and the other boys undergo a rigorous two weeks of classes and information, intrigue and competition in hopes of becoming the prince of Conner’s plan. But Sage has his own plan; at …
The Berenstain Bears: God Bless Our Country, Ashley Roggow
The Berenstain Bears: God Bless Our Country, Ashley Roggow
Children's Book and Media Review
The Berenstain Bears books are great for young children and have covered many topics such as manners, responsibility, kindness, as well as holiday themes. The story is well written. It starts out as the Fourth of July holiday is nearing and the Berenstain Bears are prepping for the holiday and participating in the patriotic activities. The Bear kids start by decorating their bikes, Mama Bear sews flags, and Papa Bear tries on his old military uniform. Papa bear tells the kids during their snack how their "bear country" started. On the fourth, the Berenstain Bears attend and participate in their …
Chicken In Space, Lori Cunningham
Chicken In Space, Lori Cunningham
Children's Book and Media Review
Zoey an adventurous chicken and her best friend Sam, the pie loving pig, take you on amazing journey through the power of imagination. Zoey, determined to make her voyage into space, formulates a plan with her sidekick Sam to explore the great skies above. Throughout the book her other farmyard friends have doubts, but Zoey and Sam are determined to find a way and turn their problems into an opportunity. Zoey and Sam make everyday items into something extraordinary: a spaceship, asteroids, comets, and more. Once back at the barnyard, Sam--still hoping for pie--tells all their friends of the adventure …
The Plot To Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero, Rachel Wadham
The Plot To Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero, Rachel Wadham
Children's Book and Media Review
Dietrich Banhoeffer, a pastor and staunch pacifist, faces dark times when his beloved country is thrust into war. A devote of Gandhi, Banhoeffer believes that peaceful means can end destruction, but as the atrocities are revealed the only logical path is violence. With their path chosen, Banhoeffer and his associates conspire to get information about what is happening in Germany out to the world while developing plans to assassinate Hitler. It soon becomes clear that sharing the evidence of hate is having little impact and when several assassination attempts go awry, allowing the enemy to flush them out, Banhoeffer and …
Mango And Bambang: The Not-A-Pig, Jess Verzello
Mango And Bambang: The Not-A-Pig, Jess Verzello
Children's Book and Media Review
Mango Allsorts is a girl who can do lots of things. She’s confident, kind, and capable. Mango lives with her very busy father in a very busy city, and even though she tries to be very busy herself, sometimes she feels lonely. That is until she meets Bambang, the tapir that has strayed far from his Malaysian jungle. In these four short stories, Mango and Bambang go on fun adventures and learn to overcome their fears together. They go swimming when Bambang is homesick for his pond, escape from the eccentric neighbor Dr. Cynthia Prickle-Posset, and perform at a concert …
Six Of Crows #2: Crooked Kingdom, Cynthia Frazier
Six Of Crows #2: Crooked Kingdom, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
Crooked Kingdom, the second in the Six of Crows duology, continues the story of Kaz and his gang of misfits. After being cheated out of the reward money for accomplishing a dangerous mission, Inej is kidnapped and held captive by the heartless and scheming Van Eck. If they give into the demands and trade Kuwai for Inej, Grisha everywhere would be in peril and their gifts exploited by wealthy men and corrupt governments. Kaz comes up with an intricate plan to trick Van Eck into relinquishing Inej. An elaborate chess game ensues, one step forward for the good guys and …
The Rule Of Three #3: Will To Survive, Cynthia Frazier
The Rule Of Three #3: Will To Survive, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
The exciting conclusion to The Rule of Three series finds the neighborhood of Eden Mills in a predicament. One of their own has gone rogue and he knows all about their fortifications, schedules, and vulnerabilities. Demands have come from the Division, ‘provide us with food or we will deliver children to your gate after we kill their parents before their eyes’. The people in the neighborhood are forced to think like their enemies to find a way to thwart this vicious scheme. Meanwhile, Adam and his airplane are key in efforts to form alliances with other communities to trade resources, …
Diary Of A Wimpy #10: Old School, Ashley Roggow
Diary Of A Wimpy #10: Old School, Ashley Roggow
Children's Book and Media Review
When Greg goes back to school and signs up to be a homework buddy, instead of helping someone else do their homework, he finds someone to do his. But, he does it too well and Greg gets put in harder classes! Meanwhile, Greg's grandpa moves in with them when he can't afford the rent at the retirement home anymore. His grandpa and his girlfriend break up and he sets up an online dating profile and later throws a party. When Greg was bored one day, his dad tells him and his friend to set up a stand and sell lemonade …
The Rule Of Three #2: Fight For Power, Cynthia Frazier
The Rule Of Three #2: Fight For Power, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
In this second book of The Rule of Three series, the people of Eden Mills are now 66 days into a world-wide blackout. The community continues to work together using their strengths and abilities to create a society that is as normal as possible in a dystopian situation. Herb the survival leader reveals a secret past that explains his knowledge and preparedness in the face of catastrophe. Sixteen-year-old Adam’s most important contribution to the safety of the neighborhood is his ability to fly reconnaissance in his ultra-light plane which allows advanced warning of dangers. But mysterious and troubling deaths and …
The Rule Of Three, Cynthia Frazier
The Rule Of Three, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
When the lights went out in Adam Daley’s high school it wasn’t an ordinary power failure. As time went on it became apparent that any machine or service that relied on a computer for operation no longer functioned. The local police department, the survivalist neighbor next door, and the ability of a teenage boy to pilot an ultralight plane are the foundation of a plan for the safety and survival of 1600 people living in the Eden Mills neighborhood. Using the Rule of Three: you can live without air for three minutes, without water for three days, and without food …
Growing Up Pedro, Cynthia Frazier
Growing Up Pedro, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
Many children dream of becoming a famous musician, dancer, Olympic gymnast, or a professional athlete. Few actually see their dreams become a reality even after years of lessons, meets, recitals, and games. Brothers Ramon and Pedro Martinez, poor boys in the Dominican Republic, dream of becoming famous big league baseball players. As Ramon leaves his homeland to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers, young Pedro remains at home with his desire to follow his older brother into a baseball career. He practices every day with the baseball glove his brother bought for him and he works hard to learn to …
Journey #3: Return, Abigail Packard
Journey #3: Return, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Return is the third and final installment in the magnificent trilogy that began with Journey and Quest. The girl has returned from her quest with the boy. A red kite floats up to her father’s office and catches his eye. He goes to his daughter’s room and discovers the red door that leads to the magical kingdom. After following the girl into the magical world, he confronts her and she refuses to go with him. The evil emperor returns with his soldiers and steals four of the magic crayons. The boy, the girl, and her father escape with the purple …
Wonder, Abigail Packard
Wonder, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Auggie is your average kid about to begin fifth grade: he likes Star Wars, he likes comics, he’s a pretty good student. Only, Auggie has been homeschooled for the last few years of school because he was born with some severe medical conditions. After countless surgeries and therapy and doctors appointments, Auggie is your average kid on the inside, but on the outside he looks different than any other kid you’ve ever seen. But he’s come a long way and no longer needs to be homeschooled in his parents’ minds. So they strike a deal with the doubtful Auggie: if …
Tractor Mac: Harvest Time, Cynthia Frazier
Tractor Mac: Harvest Time, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
Life on a farm in the autumn is a busy time. The farm across the road from Stony Meadow is having its annual Pumpkin Picking Festival. Families come every year to pick out their pumpkins, ride on a hay wagon, guess the largest pumpkin’s weight, find their way through the maze, and eat yummy food. All of the animals on the farms are excited about the season also. But Mac and Small Fred, tractors on neighboring farms aren’t so excited. Small Fred is worried that pulling the heavy wagon full of pumpkins will be too much for him this year. …
Responsibility In Action: How We Clean Up A Park, Stephany Nalley
Responsibility In Action: How We Clean Up A Park, Stephany Nalley
Children's Book and Media Review
Responsibility in Action: How We Clean Up a Park is a step-by-step story on how to clean up a park with others. A class of six children and their teacher decide they have a special project to do. They will be cleaning up a local park together. They put on gloves, gather garbage bags, and split into groups. The groups take different sections of the park to clean up effectively. While cleaning up, a group of children come across broken glass. They get their teacher to safely clean up the broken glass. After they have cleaned the park, the students …
Patch, Cynthia Frazier
Patch, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
Owning a dog is not always easy, but in this story about Patch and his boy they are “buddies through thick and thin.” Three delightful short stories show Patch’s encounter with a prickly bush when chasing rabbits, sleeping outside in the dog house when he has fleas, and failing miserably in a contest of dog tricks even when he could do the tricks perfectly in practice. In each story, Patch’s owner patiently tends to his dog’s hurts, empathizes with his banishment and reaffirms his love for his pet through their disappointments.
On The Farm, At The Market, Kelsie Ward
On The Farm, At The Market, Kelsie Ward
Children's Book and Media Review
In this informative, yet clever story, the reader is walked through two separate, yet connected events that occur with farming. In the first half of the story, the reader takes a journey through the process of harvesting vegetables from a crop, the work that goes into making cheese, and the process of mushroom farming and harvesting. The second part of the story takes place the following day, which is portrayed as the local farmers market. This is the location where each of the different farmers provides their goods for sale. At the end of the day, Amy, a baker, has …
Nancy Drew And Her Biggest Case Ever, Rebeca Wallin
Nancy Drew And Her Biggest Case Ever, Rebeca Wallin
Children's Book and Media Review
“When kidnapped, I am often reminded that a sack over your head, a gag in your mouth, or rope around your wrists are anything but fashionable.” Detective Nancy Drew offers this and many other pearls of wisdom to the audience throughout Nancy Drew and Her Biggest Case Ever. This mystery as per usual features hidden doorways, kidnapping, a questionable will, supposed ghosts, and cut phone lines. Nancy works to help two recently orphaned girls who have doubts about their new guardian who is appropriately mysterious and brooding. In the course of her sleuthing Nancy discovers a treasure map, an imposter, …
My Bike, Jacquelin Marrero
My Bike, Jacquelin Marrero
Children's Book and Media Review
The main character Tom is on his way to work and although the title refers to his bike, the story actually is about how he uses it to get there. He chooses to ride a bike and describes it, and further describes everything he sees along the way on his path. Tom passes multiple types of vehicles, circus animals, and other things as well. Once he arrives at work, he also describes how he gets ready and what he does in the circus.
The Milk Of Birds, Amelia Hillebrant
The Milk Of Birds, Amelia Hillebrant
Children's Book and Media Review
Nawra is a young woman living in a refugee camp in Sudan. In a country that is ravaged by war, Nawra has been subject to abuse, poverty, hunger, and the emotional absence of her mother. When an American charity program comes to her camp promising financial and emotional help for girls, Nawra signs up. On the other side of the world, KC is a young woman living in Virginia. KC struggles in school, has a difficult time focusing, and is eventually diagnosed with a learning disorder. When her mother signs her up for a pen pal program called Save the …
The Little School Bus, Stephany Nalley
The Little School Bus, Stephany Nalley
Children's Book and Media Review
Go on an adventurous school bus ride with the little school bus and the driver Bob. In this story, Bob is a school bus driver who picks up children to take them to school. He wakes up to start his day at 5 AM and picks up children of all kinds. The little school bus uses its stop sign as it picks up children waiting at their bus stop. While riding around, children sit, laugh, and talk. The little school bus also picks up Kate, a young girl on a wheelchair. After picking up all the children and sharing some …
The Land Of Forgotten Girls, Cynthia Frazier
The Land Of Forgotten Girls, Cynthia Frazier
Children's Book and Media Review
This is a story of children, Sol and Ming, whose mother and sister dies in the Philippines. After moving to the United States, their father abandons them to their stepmother’s abusive care. Their neighborhood is a poor one; the park has no grass or playground and rats infest the walls of their four room apartment. Few people speak English and rarely do any ethnically diverse people speak to one another. Sol learns to cope with their hard situation by retelling and embellishing the bedtime stories her mother once told her about Auntie Jove who traveled the world having fantastic adventures. …
Kid President's Guide To Being Awesome, Aylea Stephens
Kid President's Guide To Being Awesome, Aylea Stephens
Children's Book and Media Review
Robby Novak, better known as Kid President, has spent a lot of time trying to make the world more awesome. In this guide, he shares a list of 100 ways that his readers and fans can make the world more awesome too. Fans of his YouTube videos will recognize familiar things like his pep talk, the advice to send a friend a corn dog, and to treat everyone like it’s their birthday. The book also shares some information about how Robby stays positive in spite of his brittle bone condition, a background on some of his videos, select interviews with …
Journey, Abigail Packard
Journey, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
A little girl in a big city just wants someone to spend some time with her, but her family members are all busy with their own activities. The girls discovers, amidst her bleak surroundings, a bright red crayon. But it is no ordinary crayon; it is a magical crayon that transports her into another world, full of color and far off places. She journeys through a forest, finds a castle-city, and follows a bright purple bird, all the while coloring bright red tools in the moment she needs them. The bird is captured by an evil emperor and his soldiers. …
Journey #2: Quest, Abigail Packard
Journey #2: Quest, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Quest picks up where Journey left off: with the boy and the girl riding their magic-drawn bicycle down the street. But it begins to rain and they find cover under a bridge. Out of the blue, a door appears on the wall of the bridge and a king steps out handing them a map. He is dragged away by the evil emperor’s soldiers and he drops his orange crayon. The boy and girl follow them back through the door and begin a quest to find the other three magical crayons. They journey underwater to the ruins of a grand aquatic …