Book Review - The Adventures of the Thundering Whales by Stephen Vadakin

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Product Description

The Weaved Catcher is the first book in Stephen Vadakin's series "The Adventures of the Thundering Whales." The books follow the exciting adventures of the three young dolphin friends Thunder, Flukie and Sapphire. In The Weaved Catcher, Thunder becomes caught in a fishing net and falls far, far down into the ocean depths. How can he ever escape? What happens when his friends rush to rescue him? When you read the answers to these questions in the book, you will meet some massive and amazing sea creatures. Blue whales, humpback whales, a giant squid and the Swordfish Police Patrol are all part of the fun and adventures!

My Take:
I almost want to apologize of this review because I have found many glowing reviews on the internet so I feel maybe it's just me, maybe I am missing something. The idea of the story is great the fun ocean characters are a good learning tool but this story has no spark. It doesn't have anything special that makes me want to read it again. I love to read obviously but for a large picture book this book is wordy to the point of boring. My son and I read chapter books at night so he can handle some serious story but this book could not keep his interest. I had hoped for more but it simply did not deliver.

Book Review - Savior of the Rain Forest by Bruno Gonzales

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Product Description

Savior of the Rain Forest is the story of Zalvator, a black panther who leads a group of animals on a mission to prevent their land from being destroyed. One day, as Zalvator is surveying for danger from atop the great pyramid, a red parrot named Roko flies in with a mysterious injury, too weak to talk. Soon other birds and wild creatures of the rain forest begin arriving and are confused at the sight of the injured parrot. Finally, Roko regains some strength, and he begins to tell the animals surrounding him of the terrible tragedy that had taken place the night before.

The red parrot tells the gathering animals that they may be in danger and that the same group that destroyed Roko's home is on their way. It all began when Roko and his friends noticed large machines flying in the air that they had never seen before. Soon they found themselves running for their lives as the rain forest they called home was being taken away from them.

My Take:

The publisher recommends this book for 9 to 12 year olds but my son who will be 4 this month liked the story very much. I honestly wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations but the bright colors and likable characters again very much appealed to my son. The story of a panther saving his little piece of the jungle by rescuing the son of the lead explorer is a touching piece that I only wish were so simple in real life.

Smoky and the Feast of Mabon Book Trailer

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

A great trailer for what is sure to be a wonderful book for children. I love stories that teach children about the circle of life, the world is organic when you accept that and go with the flow things are a lot easier.

Book Review - The Farm Book by Jan Pfloog

Friday, July 2, 2010

I used to have The Farm Book when I was a child, I had completely forgotten about it until I recently volunteered to organize the old library of a local non-profit parent run preschool. That is when I found this book sitting on the shelf, memories came flooding back as I flipped through the pages, I just knew I had to check it out to read at home to my son.
The story follows members of the family as they go about the day doing their jobs on the farm. The illustrations are like Norman Rockwell for kids, that all American look at everyday life. Somehow this book makes the simple tasks of life on a farm look like so much fun.
After all these years The Farm Book still works it's magic, as I read it to my son his eyes lit up, he started talking animatedly and pointing at the pages. At the end he asked if we could go to a farm, this book definitely has a certain charm

Book Review - The grey Grey Cloud by Manjula Naraynan

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The grey Grey Cloud by Manjula Naraynan brings one question to my mind. Why do we lie to our children? Let me be clear, I fully believe in fairy tales and the amazement of imagination as a matter of fact I have two fairy tattoos on my back along with the word Believe. But there is a big difference between make believe and flat out lies.
Let's say you are a grey cloud that cries when there is a thunderstorm because, well lets all be honest thunderstorms can be scary even as an adult. So it is totally understandable that a baby cloud or child would be frightened when the wind is blowing and the rain is coming down. My first reaction to make my son feel better is to explain that the rain comes down to clean the Earth and the lightning strikes because there is a lot of electricity built up in the clouds that has to go somewhere and the thunder is the noise that the lightning makes when it strikes. It is NOT to tell him that there are wicked witches and goblins outside that can only be seen when the clouds make it dark outside!! And that the rain and wind and lightning and thunder are all to help scare away the Witches and Goblins that live outside all the time that we just can't see! What the Hell? Now instead of being comforted and educated the kids who read this book are afraid there are Witches and Goblins outside when it rains.
Why oh God Why can't we just tell them the truth? What would be so bad about the same silver fairy teaching the same grey cloud about why rain really comes down and what really causes lightning? It's one thing to make believe but this book just flat out lies to little kids and I do not support that. Children need magic in their lives but isn't nature magical enough?

Book Review - Donner the Western Dragon by Suzanne Davis Marion

Saturday, June 5, 2010

I received Donner the Western Dragon: A Hero's Tale by Suzanne Davis Marion for review.

This book is very cute, as soon as we opened the envelope with this book inside my son pointed, smiling and said "dragon!" With a reaction like that Donner gets points right away.

This book has quite a few more words than the books we usually read but my little guy stuck with it the whole way. He was interested in the story and the illustrations kept him excited to turn the page.

Product Description

Donner the Western Dragon lived in a cold northern forest with his parents, brother and sister, and several other dragon families. Western dragons were noted for their warlike and fierce demeanor. The young dragons spent much of their spare time in rough-and-tumble games, snorting fire at one another, wrestling and fighting. While all the other young dragons were tumbling about and breathing fire all over the grass, flowers and trees, Donner much preferred romping and playing with his best friend, Una. Everyone found it strange that Una should be Donner’s best friend, as Una was a unicorn, an animal noted for its gentle disposition. Donner’s father and the other dragons mocked Donner for his quiet demeanor. They accused him of behaving like a peaceful Eastern dragon. He was an embarrassment to them. In an unexpected twist of fate, Donner’s unique personality and talents enabled him to intervene in a frightening situation, and become a hero, appreciated and commended by all.

About the Author

Suzanne Davis Marion grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated from the University of Arizona and from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. She is a singer, pianist, and teacher, and recently developed a small business creating personalized lullabies and play songs for children (Lullabies By Suzanne). She and her husband Stuart live in Houston, Texas with their two dogs, Laura and Diana.

Book Review - Share from the Heart by Marilyn Randall

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Oh my where do I start with this book? First let me say I received this book from the author to review. Second, I was so disappointed with this book I never read it to my son. Share from the Heart is about two boys who walking through the woods one day meet a dragon. At first they are scared (understandably) but soon they realize that like themselves the dragon is just lonely so they invite his to come live with them. The very basic story is not a problem at it's heart but the moral of this story changes halfway through and is completely overshadowed by all the other issues. The problem with this book is everything else.This story is told in what is supposed to be poetic prose but what is really a forced jumble of words that do not rhyme or flow in any way. This book was very difficult to read not only did the story repeat and at times contradict itself but there was no meter, no groove, it was just clunky throughout.
Now the illustrations...Are these two kids walking in the woods, brothers with possibly an extremely rare skin condition? Maybe she's making a not so politically correct statement to say they are American Indians? Or maybe they have been lightly burned by their new friend the Dragon?

I like how his teeth are the same color as their skin, yummy!

Or possibly they aren't kids at all and are in fact a gay couple in their forties forced to live on their own in a log cabin in the forest where none of the other towns people have to "worry" about them. No wonder their so lonely. I mean seriously in most of these pictures they don't even look like kids.

Rubbing his chest with those crazy fingers?

These illustrations look like they were sketched by a middle schooler with little to no real drawing talent then some one handed a box of colored pencils to my three year old to put on the finishing touches. This would explain the sudden age changes, why in one picture the dragon looks friendly and in the next he looks like he's about to rip off the childrens heads, the crazy skin tone and why the "friendly" dragon has blood stained teeth. Unfortunately these illustrations were drawn by an adult.
I hate writing bad reviews. I go out of my way to find something good in a book even if I didn't love it but I just can't do it here. This is a children's book that I actively did not want my child to be exposed to due to it's utter lack of anything I, as a Mom can get behind. I wish that weren't true but the fact is, it is.

Book Review - Pork Chop by David Edminister

Saturday, May 22, 2010

I received Pork Chop by David Edminister from the author to review. I am always excited to receive a children's book because I have the best little tester. A three year old who loves books. Pork Chop passed the test for sure. my little guy got into the story of Porter P. Psnout easily and enjoyed following his little adventures as he learns valuable lessons in his life.

Product Description from Amazon:

Martial Arts Is Not For Chickens!

Porter P. Psnout's favorite book was "The Three Little Pigs." Unfortunately, he had frequent nightmares about the Big, Bad Wolf trying to "huff, puff, (and bluff)" his way into our hefty hero's house for a little midnight "snack." In his disgustingly disturbing dreams, he hid and cowered in the face of adversity. One fateful night, Porter awoke startled, and nearly frozen with fear, made himself a solemn oath to get into shape, enroll in Master Tusk's Martial Arts Academy and to stop being a "chicken" once and for all! Did he finally succeed or succumb when he finally fully faced his fears?

If you enjoy cute, clever, and funny children's stories with a lot of challenging alliteration, then you will LOVE reading this story!

Book Review - I Can't Wait to Meet You by Claudia Santorelli-Bates

Saturday, May 15, 2010

I was delighted to receive I Can't Wait to Meet You by Claudia Santorelli-Bates for review. It was one of those great coincidences in life that I was asked to review this book at this particular time. I have some close friends who just found out they were pregnant using IVF.
This book is perfect for a family who wants to be open and honest with their children about what it took to bring them into the world from a very young age. It is a picture book with basic descriptions of the IVF process while making it clear that the love the could have for each other and the want for a child were the major motivating factors in taking part in IVF. In the end the couple end up with a beautiful baby to love.
I really liked how this book made the hard stuff easy to understand on a toddler/preschooler level. And that the most important thing is the whole family's love for one another.

Product info from Amazon:

I Can't Wait to Meet You" is a picture story book about a young couple hoping to start a family. Eventually, they turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive. It is told in a light-hearted and spirited way, meant for young IVF boys and girls who are curious about how they came into the world.

Book Review- Bug's Adventure Series by K.M. Groshek

Thursday, April 29, 2010

I recently received three of the Bug's Adventure books for review from the author.
Bug's Trip to the Store takes us along with Bug (a VW Bug) as he bravely handles an intimidating Semi truck on his way to the store. Bug Goes Through the Maze follows Bug through a fun corn maze. He makes some new friends on the farm as the help him navigate the maze. Bug Meets his Friend
finds Bug trying to figure out what to do for the day. When his friend Coop comes along they decide to head down to the track for a day of racing.
Each Bug book is filled with bright eye-catching illustrations. Although from an adult point-of-view they seem a bit computer generated my son didnt seem to mind as he enthusiastically pointed out each character by name after just a couple readings. He instantly connected with Bug from the first time we read Bug Goes Through the Maze.
Each story is told through rhyming prose making them fun to listen to for the kids and fun to read for the adults.
Bug Meets his Friend
is by far my son's favorite, I think because we used to own a Coop (mini Cooper) which is Bug's friend. Whatever the reason he has picked this one out for nearly every storytime since it arrived in the mail and that is the best recommendation any children's book can recieve.
These titles will be available for sale in June from Amazon and Barnes and Noble in fact some are available to pre-order right now. You can find even more information on the author and her books at http://kmgroshek.com. The fun doesn't stop there either check out tge online games at http://bugsadventureseries.com.

Children's Classics Mystery Challenge

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The folks over at 5 minutes for books are starting a new challenge that I am not exactly signing up for because it runs from January to June and I just don't have time for it right now but I do want to do this one post as a sort of nostalgic look back at the mystery books I read as a child.
The idea is to reread those classic mystery books you read as a child. Here's the catch with me, I didn't read any. Not that I didn't read at all, in fact I loved to read but I never liked to read mystery, still don't in fact. But when I was 19 I decided that there were some children's books that I missed out on. Either I didn't think I would like them at the time or I was never exposed to them. I went to a private Protestant school through 6th grade so all those books that other kids had to read, I was never even told about.
So as an adult I went to the library and picked up the Boxcar Children, I had a friend who was home schooled and she had loved these books so that is where I wanted to start. I am a slow reader and one thing I loved about each boxcar children book is that I could push right through it and finish a book in a day. I kept checking out more and more of them, I loved imagining myself reading them as a child. As much as I was getting into the story of the children in the books I was enjoying transporting myself into an alternate past where I read these books.
I loved every minute of every boxcar children book and when my son gets old enough I look forward to recommending these books to him.

Currently "Reading":
Book - Interfictions 2: An Anthology of Interstitial Writing by various artists
E-Book - The Alphabet Challenge by Olga Gardner Galvin

Willy and the Spider Book Trailer

Sunday, September 6, 2009

I am loving the book trailers. Check out this one for the children's book Willy and the Spider.

Find more videos like this on Book Trailers







Currently "Reading":
Magazine - still the Parents mag from yesterday
Book - My Goodness: My Kids: Cultivating Decency in a Dangerous World
Audio - also see yesterday.

Children's Classics - 5 minutes for books

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

This month's 5 minutes for books Children's Classics carnival post theme is Poetry. There is no arguing that when it comes to classic children's poetry Shel Silverstein rises right to the top of the pile. I remember when my younger sister who did not even like to read brought Where the Sidewalk Ends home from her elementary school one day. She had checked it out of the library and spent a good bit of time reading it, as a matter of fact I think she kept it till it was overdue she liked it so much. Being the older sister I typically ignored her but when she stopped looking at it and left it laying ont he table I picked it up. I was already an avid reader at the time so I devoured it from cover to cover.

I loved the book and so went on to read all of his books, everything I ever read by him got two thumbs up, way up. When I grew up was only when I found out all about Shel Silverstein's background. He was a writer for Playboy. He wrote some of the great classic songs that we all know, Johnny Cash's A Boy Named Sue and The Cover of the Rolling Stone performed by Dr. Hook to name just a couple.

I found this interview on wikipedia, the answers to these questions are a perfect example of why I love him and his poems.

Question: "Why do you have a beard?"
Shel: "I don't have a beard. It's just the light; it plays funny tricks."

Question: "How do you think your present image as world traveler, bawdy singer, etc. combines with your image as a writer of children's books?"
Shel: "I don't think about my image."

Question: "Do you admit that your songs and drawings have a certain amount of vulgarity in them?"
Shel: "No, but I hope they have a certain amount of realism in them."

Question: "Do you shave your head for effect or to be different, or to strike back at the long-haired styles of today?
Shel: "I don't explain my head."

—Shel Silverstein (1965) from the album I'm So Good That I Don't Have to Brag.

Currently "Reading":
Magazine - National Geographic Kids
Book - A Year in the Merde
Audio - The Art of Happiness by the Dhali Llama

Preschool Recommendations

Monday, June 8, 2009

If you are looking for book recommendations to read to your preschooler or even your whole preschool class to go with a lesson then you need to check out Boris the Book Hog's blog.

This is a simple and straight forward blog with lots of book recommendations. Boris and his co-author are training to become a librarian and must have access to lots of preschool age books because he has lists of books to go with lessons from noses to garbage to holidays.

I definitely plan to pick up a few of the books recommended by Boris next time I go to the library.

Currently "Reading":
Magazine - Good Housekeeping
Book - A Year in the Merde
Audio - The Art of Happiness by the Dhali Llama

Harry Potter Trailer

Saturday, June 6, 2009

You liked the book? Now check out the movie. I can't wait to go see this movie. A friend of mine turned me on to this new featurette.


This Belgian site has a new featurette for HBP and it's really awesome. So click that link there and then watch the one that says "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince featurette"


http://www.kinepolis.com/be-nl/index.cfm?PageID=10001&coufid=28262

Childrens book review

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

I love to read so when I learned it was good to read to little ones all the time I was very happy for the opportunity to get even more titles under my belt. I started reading to my son even before he was born, then when he was so little that it didn't matter what i read I would sit in the rocking chair nursing him and reading out loud from whatever book I was in the middle of at the time. A little Life with Jeeves (A Jeeves and Bertie Compendium) here and a little The Color of Magic there.

All that reading paid off because now I have a 2 year old who loves to read. We read a book before nap and a few books before bed and then throughout the day he will randomly bring books out of his room and ask you to read them. If you ever visit our house be prepared to read a few books to the little one, just letting you know.

In the spirit of all those children's books that we read every day I thought I would do a little review here to maybe help out any of those parents or grandparents or friends who are looking for a book to read or gift to the little ones in their lives.

My Car by Byron Barton. I want to say this book is simple and when I first picked it off the shelf at the library I thought there was no way I would enjoy this book but because my son LOVES cars I would take one for the team so to speak and check it out. Each page is illuminated with bright high contrast colors which put a smile on my face each time I opened the book. Only a few words expand the story on each page making it perfect for the youngest readers. Sam (the main and dare I say only character) takes you through the workings of his car and a day in his driving life. There is even a little twist at the end which as a parent I could see coming form a mile away but my little guy found very amusing once he 'got it' which was about the third time around. All-in-all we hated to give this one back to the library and if my guy was a little bit younger I would probably purchase it for his collection but at his age I don't think it would hold his literary interest for much longer. If you are looking for a book for the very youngest ones I would say newborn to 3 years old would really enjoy this book.



Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I am putting this one on here for two reasons. 1. It was Dr. Suess' birthday earlier this week and 2. people seem to wonder what the right age is for Dr. Suess. Dr. Suess is like Reese's peanut butter cups, "There's no wrong age to read Suess." It is bright, it is cute, it is smart, it is funny, it rhymes, it teaches a lesson, the list could virtually go on for ever (especially since this is a virtual platform but who cares about semantics). We all want our children to be bright, smart, cute, full of lessons and speaking in rhyme which would be funny and there in proves my point. Read Dr. Suess to your children from the youngest age for all of those reasons and one more oft overlooked but truthfully very important reason, you will like it too!


This next one I haven't read yet but it is much anticipated
Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman. I have a weird relationship with Neil Gaiman mostly because we have never met written each other or spoken to each other but over looking all of those things I don't like his books. At least I can't seem to get through a single one of his books for adults, his children's fare however are real page turners for me, go figure. Anyway this is his newest tale for tots, it comes out very soon and I am very interested in picking up a copy to share with the little guy. Here is a cool website where you can here Neil read the book.