tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46442426388457171742024-02-07T21:37:00.128-08:00Blanket Fort ReviewsReviewing kids' books, from picture books to pre-teen novels<br> and everything in between.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-28206902829565241202018-01-27T18:37:00.000-08:002018-01-27T18:37:56.156-08:00A Boy Named Queen by Sara Cassidy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYOe-22uqJMKian3tZ5xL2iZw2Jsaw4ZaT5G6cZkISomTErHCPOziyq1hld5h3iDvDJOkcbJ7T5w1LoUAbCrtOzwrDgPzafZ4e9_2ISDuxA2LMewRtiUlQK2rgr1SUuOiktBTnkAweTs/s1600/boy-named-queen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYOe-22uqJMKian3tZ5xL2iZw2Jsaw4ZaT5G6cZkISomTErHCPOziyq1hld5h3iDvDJOkcbJ7T5w1LoUAbCrtOzwrDgPzafZ4e9_2ISDuxA2LMewRtiUlQK2rgr1SUuOiktBTnkAweTs/s320/boy-named-queen.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
Title: A Boy Named Queen<br />
Author: Sara Cassidy<br />
Format: Novel (middle grade) <br />
Length: 77 pages<br />
Publication Date: August 2016<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
In this very short novel, a grade 5 girl named Evelyn learns a lot from a boy named Queen, the new kid in her school. Queen is different from everyone else, and so becomes the target of school bullies, but he never lets the bullies get to him, always remaining positive and enthusiastically himself.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
I love this book's message of acceptance, both of oneself and of others. Queen is a great character; he's clearly different from his peers, and that makes it hard for him to make friends, but he knows who he is and isn't afraid to show it. Evelyn struggles with that at times, but ultimately learns a lot about friendship and being yourself from Queen.<br />
<br />
The story is very short, perhaps disappointing very plot-focused readers, but personally I very much enjoyed this brief glimpse into Evelyn's life. The shortness of the book also means this could be a good choice for struggling readers; for more advanced readers it could be a one-day read.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-86002266441681041322017-04-22T15:37:00.000-07:002017-04-22T15:37:22.130-07:00The Bear Who Wasn't There and the Fabulous Forest by Oren Lavie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusuUDlk9fApEnbhssVbE3tyqmTE2WZR-9vkasuIL9-i0oCQM_OAx_ZCwTncuSabvFVSkMSgEzdH6DZL32ZfpOZP7XEQBSwI5UdbQzr8uPUikFq1-07kvm9CVr1jyOiP_oeGLt40PX7wBQ/s1600/bear-who-wasn%2527t-there.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusuUDlk9fApEnbhssVbE3tyqmTE2WZR-9vkasuIL9-i0oCQM_OAx_ZCwTncuSabvFVSkMSgEzdH6DZL32ZfpOZP7XEQBSwI5UdbQzr8uPUikFq1-07kvm9CVr1jyOiP_oeGLt40PX7wBQ/s320/bear-who-wasn%2527t-there.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
Title: The Bear Who Wasn't There and the Fabulous Forest<br />
Author: Oren Lavie<br />
Illustrator: Wolf Erlbruch<br />
Format: Picture Book<br />
Length: 37 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
The Bear Who Wasn't There isn't sure if he is himself. In his pocket he finds a list of clues about himself to help him figure that out. So he sets off through the forest to find out if he is himself.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
This is a very strange book. It's nonsensical nature reminded me a bit of Alice in Wonderland, but in this case the confusing nonsense (or, one might argue, philosophy) is basically the whole story. So if you're like me and don't easily understand abstract philosophical concepts, you might be confused the whole time you're reading this book. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but I don't really get it. And I don't know what age group to recommend it to. I feel like this is an adult book in picture book format. Maybe if you know a really philosophical child?Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-45689477241165337612016-12-11T13:59:00.000-08:002016-12-11T13:59:46.824-08:00The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXVAn3z-QvEfs-QkyEWi9KJwo8j2o3hGpk-iWNj81zt7VUmXGNWGEyDJpKCDBBvak09KXvQBXItT9qbUfePNPa9_CvoFy4cnCIgjZ2w9lnIGchosGvJI5lFHT0OlH3U_xt6MNt-I04xcH/s1600/lump-of-coal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXVAn3z-QvEfs-QkyEWi9KJwo8j2o3hGpk-iWNj81zt7VUmXGNWGEyDJpKCDBBvak09KXvQBXItT9qbUfePNPa9_CvoFy4cnCIgjZ2w9lnIGchosGvJI5lFHT0OlH3U_xt6MNt-I04xcH/s320/lump-of-coal.jpg" width="312" /></a></div>
Title: The Lump of Coal<br />
Author: Lemony Snicket<br />
Format: Picture Book<br />
Length: 34 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
This is the story of a lump of coal who rolls out of a bag of coals and goes off in search of something interesting. He finds a snobby art gallery manager, a disappointingly inauthentic Korean restaurant, and a fake Santa before his fortune finally takes a turn for the better.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
If you're a fan of Lemony Snicket's other books you will probably like this one too. The premise is odd, and it just gets odder as you go. I particularly enjoy the part where the lump of coal goes into a Korean restaurant and can tell by the smell of oregano that the restaurant does not cook real Korean food.<br />
<br />
Snicket does tend to use a lot of big words, which can be good for a kid's vocabulary but which also means young readers will probably struggle with this one. It's probably better suited to parents reading to their young children, or for older readers to read on their own.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-29280983365124872952016-11-05T17:11:00.000-07:002016-11-05T17:11:22.320-07:00Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrecfZeL11oMhlVlsa2D3FsFtpMNr0T6YbS-1CW0k_Zl4A8NY-v5DYmGIxFr6TgoQT6vtWtwU4v6finH9lERRlTrLQTv4S46uhRHm14P8cpDjgvu0SSDdzZGqXUDNYg3Y8EddJEFd37Q/s1600/anything-but-typical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrecfZeL11oMhlVlsa2D3FsFtpMNr0T6YbS-1CW0k_Zl4A8NY-v5DYmGIxFr6TgoQT6vtWtwU4v6finH9lERRlTrLQTv4S46uhRHm14P8cpDjgvu0SSDdzZGqXUDNYg3Y8EddJEFd37Q/s320/anything-but-typical.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
Title: Anything but Typical<br />
Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin<br />
Format: Novel (middle grade)<br />
Length: 195 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
Jason Blake is a 12 year old autistic boy. He struggles to fit in with his neurotypical classmates, but has more success interacting on a website called Storyboard, where he writes short stories and talks to other young writers. There, he meets a girl named PhoenixBird, who he thinks of as his girlfriend, but when the chance to meet her in person comes along, he panics.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
I picked this book up because it is written from an autistic perspective and seemed to make use of the concept of neurodiversity (the idea that autistic people just have a different sort of brain rather than having something wrong with them). Different perspectives are present in the book: Jason's dad is an accepting, understanding parent, who sometimes struggles but ultimately accepts Jason as he is. His mom is another story, having a lot of difficulty understanding her son and interacting with him in a way that works for him. Jason himself is sort of in between, uncertain at times whether or not he would choose to be neurotypical if he could.<br />
<br />
I would have liked to see more of a transformation in how the characters came to view autism by the end of the story. I found it to be pretty subtle. But there is a positive message in there and overall I still enjoyed the story and was rooting for Jason all the way.<br />
<br />
This book is good for middle grade readers. I think autistic kids and teens may enjoy the relatable character, and neurotypicals who have autistic friends or family members could gain some insight from Jason's narrative.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-47792394876062117632016-07-28T07:00:00.000-07:002016-07-28T07:00:22.730-07:00A Guinea Pig Pride & Prejudice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7_jsBpCPbMR7TT2B02jwEgXmTHgceOk-sdT4WGFMfFnzTp5SbJV8j5yP82-eAgOz1FlNLRF7vpWfXmNaiUt0RfgGMCygi5CZtbk2dCHMI0r9Jo2PnZIEORnsnbEU-ZMcxi7UYrXhzb6q/s1600/guinea-pig-pride-and-prejudice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7_jsBpCPbMR7TT2B02jwEgXmTHgceOk-sdT4WGFMfFnzTp5SbJV8j5yP82-eAgOz1FlNLRF7vpWfXmNaiUt0RfgGMCygi5CZtbk2dCHMI0r9Jo2PnZIEORnsnbEU-ZMcxi7UYrXhzb6q/s1600/guinea-pig-pride-and-prejudice.jpg" /></a></div>
Title: A Guinea Pig Pride & Prejudice<br />
Authors: Jane Austen (original) and Alex Goodwin (adaptation)<br />
Format: Picture Book (text-heavy)<br />
Length: 51 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
This is a condensation of Pride and Prejudice, seemingly using text right from the original book, accompanied by pictures of guinea pigs playing the various roles. The photos are complete with beautifully designed sets and adorable tiny guinea pig outfits.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
I'm not entirely sure what age range this book is good for. It is quite wordy for a picture book, and the words are not easy for a modern-day child to understand, being taken from the original novel. There are lots of sentences like "To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained." Very flowery.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the pictures are adorable! So while I can't really say whether this will encourage a child's interest in "the classics", they might like it just for the guinea pigs. :)Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-9704666607523280072016-07-21T07:00:00.000-07:002016-07-21T07:00:11.175-07:00The Insomniacs by Karina Wolf<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VXFyi27J4mYKaAhRB_bQ-2YdU6NwyLhC30ac73C4AmcLaZ_6Hgt8WIvjSrCr0KdLQxnCmBdWJJX1uAs9C3MPpE77UyczPh_RC0JcbWMAyn5LLjlzAQR26jEjWzqwAcmojLyX2uGCOhoX/s1600/insomniacs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VXFyi27J4mYKaAhRB_bQ-2YdU6NwyLhC30ac73C4AmcLaZ_6Hgt8WIvjSrCr0KdLQxnCmBdWJJX1uAs9C3MPpE77UyczPh_RC0JcbWMAyn5LLjlzAQR26jEjWzqwAcmojLyX2uGCOhoX/s320/insomniacs.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
Title: The Insomniacs<br />
Author: Karina Wolf<br />
Illustrators: The Brothers Hilts<br />
Format: Picture Book<br />
Length: 29 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
The Insomniacs used to live during the day like most people, but then Mrs. Insomniac gets a new job 12 time zones over. Suddenly the whole family is up all night and always nodding off during the day. They try to find some way of getting back to their old schedule, but finally end up learning from the nocturnal creatures around them.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
The illustrations are what really made this book for me. The art is in a dark, kind of weird/creepy style that reminds me of Tim Burton. The story is unique, while having a common message of accepting yourself for who you are. I feel like this would make a good bedtime story.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-1554663916434043422016-07-14T07:00:00.000-07:002016-07-14T07:00:05.147-07:00That Is NOT a Good Idea! by Mo Willems<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6IA9iPyeR9nDfB8bZ7UbTw3A7Yd77RH3KX9ihCEGHdyHTs9FQMx2NNavQZmwSxl1UxoOSCa4wR1JJ8qnefYd6vDKmoe7dnCgGvk14xLG-jLt8v8KRITa0Aa9htqCydmDAcYaN1CD1K8n/s1600/that-is-not-a-good-idea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6IA9iPyeR9nDfB8bZ7UbTw3A7Yd77RH3KX9ihCEGHdyHTs9FQMx2NNavQZmwSxl1UxoOSCa4wR1JJ8qnefYd6vDKmoe7dnCgGvk14xLG-jLt8v8KRITa0Aa9htqCydmDAcYaN1CD1K8n/s320/that-is-not-a-good-idea.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
Title: That Is NOT a Good Idea!<br />
Author: Mo Willems<br />
Format: Picture Book<br />
Length: 42 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
A fox invites a goose to dinner. She goes along, with every page leading closer and closer to danger. All along, a chorus of baby geese warn that that is NOT a good idea!!<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
This is book is the perfect storytime book! I read it during my brief time in an elementary school library, and the grade 1-2 classes loved it. The tension builds throughout the story, towards the conclusion everyone can see coming, but as in every good story not everything is as it seems.<br />
<br />
If you've read any of Mo Willems' books you already know that he's amazing. This book is no exception!Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-56548320361818429922016-01-18T21:13:00.001-08:002016-12-11T14:26:24.715-08:002016 I Love Picture Books Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://beasbooknook.blogspot.ca/2015/11/2016-i-love-picture-books-reading.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABm6lwF-VRmKcHSITcIw6ptmWxJYKniVJHsDAWyNc-11wNO0smHKXQvIXlGXDxL72ZoU-QSdMgEIJTKrt2cb-GZuV2zY1Cjafyf3ZSe2UyLZqHiq4j4DwG6CBF_VURjUM3a7bTcdcOdy5/s1600/I+Love+Picture+Books+RC+BBN+2+.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Since starting this separate book blog for reviewing children's books, I've had a bit of trouble really getting it going. This is partly because I've had trouble finding time to write reviews, but also partly because I haven't been reading enough kids' books! So, to motivate myself to find some great new kids' books to read and review, I'm joining the <a href="http://beasbooknook.blogspot.ca/2015/11/2016-i-love-picture-books-reading.html">I Love Picture Books Reading Challenge</a>.<br />
<br />
My goal is to read and review 20 picture books in 2016. I'll list them below as I read them.<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="http://blanketfortreviews.blogspot.ca/2016/07/that-is-not-good-idea-by-mo-willems.html">That Is Not a Good Idea!</a> by Mo Willems</li>
<li>Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems</li>
<li>Small Saul by Ashley Spires</li>
<li>Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss</li>
<li><a href="http://blanketfortreviews.blogspot.ca/2016/07/the-insomniacs-by-karina-wolf.html">The Insomniacs</a> by Karina Wolf</li>
<li><a href="http://blanketfortreviews.blogspot.ca/2016/07/a-guinea-pig-pride-prejudice.html">A Guinea Pig Pride and Prejudice</a> by Jane Austin and Alex Goodwin</li>
<li>The Good Little Book by Kyo Maclear</li>
<li>Sensational Sisters: A Story of Two Sisters with Sensory Processing Disorder by Samantha Sandiland</li>
<li>Squirmy Wormy: How I Learned to Help Myself by Lynda Farrington Wilson</li>
<li>Xander's Panda Party by Linda Sue Park</li>
<li><a href="http://blanketfortreviews.blogspot.ca/2016/12/the-lump-of-coal-by-lemony-snicket.html">The Lump of Coal</a> by Lemony Snicket</li>
</ol>
Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-25818321516201231932015-12-12T18:40:00.001-08:002015-12-12T18:40:59.556-08:00The Hork-Bajir Chronicles by K.A. Applegate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjYv8_Zlsc3cDtxMbwabCKC5tpXSbJngn4sl9-rvFw6xqD8p_JxXzesratCQhBJxlmPkgDUNxfPvoeIycLJKw-u6UCGL-4i-ttqjsifcG1RfNpyaZJvLS1gJdXrVxEmwGNuYXpiSWiLry/s1600/hork-bajir-chronicles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjYv8_Zlsc3cDtxMbwabCKC5tpXSbJngn4sl9-rvFw6xqD8p_JxXzesratCQhBJxlmPkgDUNxfPvoeIycLJKw-u6UCGL-4i-ttqjsifcG1RfNpyaZJvLS1gJdXrVxEmwGNuYXpiSWiLry/s400/hork-bajir-chronicles.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
Title: The Hork-Bajir Chronicles<br />
Series: Animorphs (book 22.5) <br />
Author: K.A. Applegate<br />
Length: 206 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
This book is a sort of prequel to the Animorphs series, much like <a href="http://www.thetoweringpile.com/2013/08/the-andalite-chronicles-by-ka-applegate.html">The Andalite Chronicles</a>. It is the story of how the Yeerks came to the Hork-Bajir home world in search of hosts they could use to fight the Andalites. The main characters are Dak Hamee, a Hork-Bajir seer who is more intelligent than the rest of his species, Aldrea, a young Andalite girl, and Esplin 9466, a Yeerk who will do anything to gain more power.<br />
<br />
When the Yeerks attack, Aldrea calls to her people for help, but the Andalites send too little too late, leaving the gentle Hork-Bajir to desperately defend themselves.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
Readers of the Animorphs series already know how things end for the Hork-Bajir. In the present day when the main series takes place, the Hork-Bajir are used as hosts for the Yeerks. This makes the story sad to read, since we know all along they aren't going to be successful. It's also sad because we see a darker side of the Andalites, who are supposed to be the good guys. K.A. Applegate is great at showing that moral issues aren't always black and white. Still, the story ends on a hopeful note, with a promising future for the new free Hork-Bajir.<br />
<br />
If you're reading the main series, don't skip this book! There's lots of backstory on the Hork-Bajir, the Andalites, and the Yeerks. Events of this book are also mentioned in the next Animorphs book (#23 - The Pretender).Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-82241907877393876762015-08-11T07:00:00.000-07:002015-08-11T07:00:02.801-07:00From Anna by Jean Little<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6dQpdD_R8XQOIaaf3rnWBV4-3oGt7yA2MswjW7f4Lyu9xEFWcQmurKw-qUiJCYzCjpipIUPkgnwtwVFUNBZFcW6__vnXmJ9dKwD8inWOAms0o4h_1MiW5O92YPeIY1SXw9ZQCOZvMXIw/s1600/from-anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6dQpdD_R8XQOIaaf3rnWBV4-3oGt7yA2MswjW7f4Lyu9xEFWcQmurKw-qUiJCYzCjpipIUPkgnwtwVFUNBZFcW6__vnXmJ9dKwD8inWOAms0o4h_1MiW5O92YPeIY1SXw9ZQCOZvMXIw/s400/from-anna.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
Title: From Anna<br />
Author: Jean Little<br />
Length: 205 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
Anna doesn't fit in with her family, or at school. She's clumsy, can't read, and can't knit or do other household chores. Her siblings nickname her Awkward Anna, and her teachers constantly scold her. The story begins in Germany, just before World War II, and the Solden family is worried about the changes happening to their country. When the opportunity arises, the family moves to Toronto.<br />
<br />
When the Soldens arrive in Canada, Anna soon learns the reason for her clumsiness, and with the help of a friendly doctor, a caring teacher, and great new friends, she begins to learn that she can have a better life than she'd ever imagined.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
I couldn't put this book down, and read it in a single day. I felt so sad for Anna right from the beginning, and then so happy for her as her life improved. This is a really heartwarming story. It has a main character who has a disability, and addresses the issue of bullying.<br />
<br />
From Anna is a middle grade novel, so it's aimed at ages 8-12. However, the story is a good one for any age group.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-73507598931337577842015-03-21T08:00:00.000-07:002015-03-21T08:00:00.634-07:00Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITOEVqo5XbYL27btpShFm-PKjl_Jb7PaQvIizSOt4SQbVBCP84usXWFUbdY7dEwFm7Yksv1i0ccvBefEf2TEjEQ4v7BiAEpVyFWGyVKD3162fmBno9EVaAoZIJcU5u-po16vbKpJzUra9/s1600/binky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITOEVqo5XbYL27btpShFm-PKjl_Jb7PaQvIizSOt4SQbVBCP84usXWFUbdY7dEwFm7Yksv1i0ccvBefEf2TEjEQ4v7BiAEpVyFWGyVKD3162fmBno9EVaAoZIJcU5u-po16vbKpJzUra9/s1600/binky.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></div>
Title: Binky the Space Cat<br />
Author: Ashley Spires<br />
Length: 64 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
Binky is a pet cat who orders a space cat kit so that he'll be able to go into outer space (outside the house) to protect his humans from aliens (bugs). He believes that the house is a space station, and that he needs a space suit or rocket ship to go outside. He gets to work building himself a rocket ship, while he continues to protect his family from the aliens and keep the alien spies from discovering his secret identity.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
This is a fun story about what your house cat might really be thinking. The simple illustrations and funny writing make for an engaging read. It's a short graphic novel, so it's a pretty quick read, too. I like the way Binky tries to make sense of his world, and how he's always trying to protect his family.<br />
<br />
Binky the Space Cat is aimed at readers aged 7 to 10. I think its fun story and simple format could make it a good choice for reluctant readers in that age group.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-21907832895356529412014-12-13T18:57:00.000-08:002014-12-13T18:57:35.801-08:00The Warning (Animorphs #16) by K.A. Applegate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iWVGt-L3dXiC3aaY0KcynGFcHjKhsyJ3zG5VL6XUw7JNTz6cJtwB4CYfL-RGvIZFSHx85uT1Z3OsRCRE85VwKTvbOAZYyCGMm8DVjyViXI3PS3LFwpqrDffck3bjrp0avzAXaaRc0U8/s1600/the-warning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iWVGt-L3dXiC3aaY0KcynGFcHjKhsyJ3zG5VL6XUw7JNTz6cJtwB4CYfL-RGvIZFSHx85uT1Z3OsRCRE85VwKTvbOAZYyCGMm8DVjyViXI3PS3LFwpqrDffck3bjrp0avzAXaaRc0U8/s1600/the-warning.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
Title: The Warning<br />
Series: Animorphs (book 16)<br />
Author: K.A. Applegate<br />
Length: 146 pages<br />
<br />
<b>Warning: </b>This is a review of book 16 of the series, so watch out for spoilers of earlier books! The first book in the series is The Invasion, which I reviewed on my adult book blog <a href="http://www.thetoweringpile.com/2012/07/animorphs-1-invasion-by-ka-applegate.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
Jake discovers a website about yeerks. Some of the information seems
pretty accurate, while some is way out there. But the most interesting
part of the site is the chat room. People are chatting about yeerks,
swapping information, some of them obviously yeerks in disguise, others
potential allies to the Animorphs. So they decide to break into the ISP's offices to find
out who the people behind those screen names are.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
The Animorphs books always involve the kids coming up with a plan, and some of their plans make more sense than others. Breaking into the office of an internet service provider to find out who some people in a chat room are does not strike me as a very smart plan. But other than that, I liked the plot of this book. The Animorphs face another big moral question, and those always make for the best stories in this series. There are also the usual cool fight scenes and moments of suspense.<br />
<br />
The Animorphs series is great for elementary school kids who are striking out on their own with chapter books. Because there are so many of them, they can keep reading about the same characters and seeing them grow, like in a longer novel, but in bite-sized chunks. The reading level is probably a bit above the really early chapter books. There are lots of animal-alien fight scenes, but the violence is not gratuitous.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4644242638845717174.post-65467589638951869582014-12-09T18:03:00.000-08:002014-12-09T18:03:00.771-08:00Chickenhare by Chris Grine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJocMxEDnFRTgzZJ06cnNd3hcXBMy3NzqF9b5PUvSQRa3qklc9gp3sC33wddOXb97m8I3xJJdUh-gi8mG8xudBQLMIz7acxm97wvVADGhuZ8jwQXiKUeM2YXFyAAQPXrjIOyWT-p9VyzxY/s1600/chickenhare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJocMxEDnFRTgzZJ06cnNd3hcXBMy3NzqF9b5PUvSQRa3qklc9gp3sC33wddOXb97m8I3xJJdUh-gi8mG8xudBQLMIz7acxm97wvVADGhuZ8jwQXiKUeM2YXFyAAQPXrjIOyWT-p9VyzxY/s1600/chickenhare.jpg" /></a></div>
Title: Chickenhare<br />
Author: Chris Grine<br />
Length: 157 pages<br />
<br />
<b>The Story</b><br />
<br />
Chickenhare is a rare animal with the ears and body of a rabbit and the feathers and legs of a chicken. He and his friend, a bearded turtle named Abe, are captured and sold to a crazy taxidermist named Klaus, who wants to stuff them. Chickenhare and Abe, with the help of their new friends Banjo and Meg, have to escape to avoid being stuffed. Along the way, they meet the Shromph, strange creatures who live in caves, and the ghost of a goat named Mr. Buttons, whose spirit can't rest until she's stopped Klaus once and for all.<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts</b><br />
<br />
Chickenhare's story is a fun adventure with interesting characters. You'll be cheering for Chickenhare and Abe as they use their wits to escape from the evil Klaus, and Banjo and Meg will keep you guessing with their mysterious identities.<br />
<br />
This book is a great introduction to graphic novels, since the text and pictures are easy to follow. It would be enjoyed by pre-teen (tween) readers, and maybe readers a bit younger than that. <a href="http://www.scholastic.ca/books/view/chickenhare">Scholastic</a> rates it for ages 9-12.Liannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10426150893408223206noreply@blogger.com0