The Curious Garden by Peter Brown Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) When Liam is out exploring (he seems to be the only one in his city that enjoys being outside) he discovers some plants struggling to grow between the rails of an abandoned elevated railway. He starts tending these plants, even though he doesn’t have much experience with gardening, and he gradually learns how to care for them. The plants flourish and … Read more
How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page Juvenile Nonfiction (Grades 4-7) Intricate and colorful torn paper collages illustrate the fascinating symbiotic (mutualistic) relationships between various animals and organisms. Their stories are told in comic book/graphic novel-like panels, describing the nature of the relationship and how it benefits each animal. Even if you know something about symbiosis, this book really brings it to life – from … Read more
How to Scratch a Wombat by Jackie French Juvenile Nonfiction (Grades 4-6) * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Jackie French has been living among wombats in the near-wilds of Australia for over 30 years. She’s made friends with her neighborhood wombats and has cared for orphaned and injured wombats. Wombats are curious creatures, marsupials, which like to dig. They experience the world primarily through their large nostrils and have a highly evolved sense of … Read more
The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn by Thomas and Dorothy Hoobler Historical Fiction Juvenile Fiction Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) Seikei is the son of a merchant in ancient Japan, but he longs to escape his current station and become a noble samurai – one of the knights of Japan. He gets his chance when he notices a mysterious figure in the dark while he and his father are staying at an inn. … Read more
Savvy by Ingrid Law Fantasy * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) In the Beaumont family, when your 13th birthday rolls around you discover what your “savvy” is. Having a savvy is a lot like having a special skill or talent, except that there’s no way to tell what your savvy is going to be until it shows itself. Like Mibs’ brother Fish, who found that his savvy can make storms and hurricanes blow up … Read more
Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs Adventure Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * Stars (Pretty good) This book is about Victor and his adventure to cross the wire into the United States of America to help his family. The main character is Victor. Other characters are Rico, Miguel, Julio, Rico’s parents, Victor’s parents. I liked this book because it’s full with adventure and suspense. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good … Read more
Night of the Living Dummy II Goosebumps series #31 by R.L. Stine Horror Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) In this book there is a girl named Amy Kramer. Every Thursday night her family has a family sharing night. One Thursday night, Amy’s sister was telling her family about her new painting she had done. She couldn’t take the painting out of her room because it was stil wet, but she did … Read more
Bone: Out from Boneville Bone series #1 by Jeff Smith Fantasy Graphic Novel Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I liked it because the characters are funny. Some of the characters are Bone, his cousin, Bartleby, and Rock Jaw. Rock Jaw wanted Bone and his cousin to go with him. Then Bone and his cousin went with Rock Jaw. Then these mice found bread crust. Then they fainted because they found food. … Read more
The Meanest Doll in the World by Ann Martin Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) This book is about dolls who come to life. They live happily in a dollhouse until the Meanest Doll in the World comes along. She tries to get them in trouble, but does she win? The answer is right in this book!
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * 1/2 Stars (Pretty Good-Great) Maniac Magee’s parents were killed by a drunk trolley driver when he was a baby. He moves from family to family looking for a home. He untied this giant knot (Cobble’s) and can run on the metal part of train tracks. Finally, he finds a permanent home with a black family, the Beales. Then the town is one again. … Read more