Rocket Town

Rocket Town is a board book I wished I'd had YEARS ago when my boys were little! Bob Logan's book is sure to delight our littlest readers! It is a fun read that teaches opposites and shows off that love for rockets of all kinds. The illustrations are whimsical and engaging - I am looking through it again and finding new things on every page! With a countdown at the end - your little readers will not be able to help but love this new book!


*I was sent a copy for review purposes by the publisher.

Okay for Now

When I say Gary Schmidt - I hope you smile!! If you are clueless, then I say - GET ON BOARD! He is a fabulous author that has captured me with every book he has written! I pass them along to my boys and they love him as well. DO NOT MISS THIS AUTHOR!!! (I would say it louder if I could, but this will have to do!)

His latest title, Okay for Now, kept me laughing and crying - he really is quite an author! This is the story of Doug Swieteck, who we first saw in The Wednesday Wars. You certainly do not have to read Wednesday Wars to know what is going on in this book - they are both stand-alones. (But if you do not read Wednesday Wars in your lifetime - that would be a horrible sadness!!) Doug's life is not an easy one - his father is a total loser of a father - he is abusive and mean. His mom tries hard to be a tender mom, but she seems powerless in the face of his father. And then his brother, seems to be taking after his father - mean and abusive as well. And another brother that is in Vietnam fighting and returns home - to teach us all the realities of what happened to many of our vets when they returned home, scarred and sad.

So that leaves Doug on his own, trying to get through school with some teachers that are even against him. His bright spots seem to be Lil, his adorable girlfriend that is just the sweetest character in this novel, and the customers that he delivers food to each Saturday - yes, even dear Mrs. Windmere! I could go on and on on this one - I will just say - it resounds with readers - you find yourself laughing along, shaking your head "yes" - because you just "get it." OH, and I almost forgot - I loved the WONDERFUL bird-theme in this one as well!! I love everything about it and I will sing Schmidt's praises until I rest in my grave - he is a master storyteller!!

Cahoots

I have said it before - LOVE Aldo Zelnick!! This screams "boys" and I cheer whole-heartedly when I see a wonderful series that boys will enjoy!!! If you've missed it before - the Aldo Zelnick series is a comic novel series based on the alphabet. It is geared to our kids ages 7-13 and it is just the right size for our readers that may be daunted by larger chapter books. It follows the adventures of 10 year old, Aldo Zelnick, and this particular installment, Cahoots, focuses on the family summer vacation spent visiting relatives on a small farm in Minnesota. Yep, Aldo still hates physical activity but loves bacon - he hasn't changed a bit!! I love how new vocabulary is introduced in these books - they sneak it right in and kids just read it and never know they are learning excellent vocabulary words at the same time!! You will laugh out loud - I guarantee it - the books are THAT funny. AND it is reminiscent of the Wimpy Kid series format so I really can not say it enough - this will be a hit with those readers. Watch in the fall for the next title, Dumbstruck!


*I was provided a copy for review purposes by the publisher.

Dear Teacher

Dear Teacher by Amy Husband is a title I was sent by Source Books to review on my blog. I opened the package and started reading and laughed right out loud! This is SUPERB!! How many kids are apprehensive about the first day of school?? How many kids would LOVE to write their teacher a letter and explain why they will not be there the first day of school?? It just cracked me up - we've all thought of it - but Husband brought it to life with her fun illustrations and witty humor. This one will keep you laughing - yes, one I am DEFINITELY showing to all my reluctant readers as well!!

Wink The Ninja Who Wanted to be Noticed

I just finished J. C. Phillipps' Wink The Ninja Who Wanted to be Noticed and HAVE to share!!! Want a book that will make you smile AND laugh? This is it!! You don't find hardly any stories about Ninjas in picture book-format. AND I, for one, am SO glad this one is out there! I LOVED it and our kids will too - another great title for boys too!!! YEAH!!

Horrid Henry

Horrid Henry is just that - HORRID!!! But with Francesca Simon as author and Tony Ross as illustrator - the kids are SURE to love him!! "Henry was horrid. Everyone said so, even his mother." So begins the story of Henry and his laugh-out-loud adventures. I sat here at my desk laughing, chuckling, and yes, even snorting at Henry's hilarious adventures - and if these books had me doing that, and I'm the YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN (said sternly and with NO smile on my face!!) then imagine what boys and girls alike will be doing as they devour these short, easy-to-reading beginning chapter books. Simon is a genius - these will hook kids on books - and another great series to give to those reluctant-boy readers! Don't miss the whole series AND the upcoming video game!!