• Reviews

    A Funny Little Bird

    I found a Funny Little Bird to be full of fun, excitement, and even a good lesson on being a friend and a nice person (or bird!).  The little bird in the story is almost invisible and soon becomes upset because he has no friends.  But after an afternoon of…

  • Reviews

    Ribbit!

    Ribbit! written by Rodrigo Folgueira and illustrated by Poly Bernatene is an adorable story of friendship that will definitely be on my  list for story time in the summer.  One morning a family of frogs wakes up to find a pink pig sitting happily on a rock.  The little pig lets out…

  • Reviews

    33 Minutes

    A lot can happen in 33 minutes… just ask Sam Lewis, who is going to get his butt kicked in 33 minutes by his former best friend, Morgan Sturtz.  Written in a span of time that takes only 33 minutes, Todd Hasak-Lowy creates a typical middle school environment where anything can happen. …

  • Reviews

    Maggot Moon

    Sally Gardner’s Maggot Moon was unexpected and has left me with an unsettled feeling.  The story itself was well-written, really capturing the essence of the characters and the setting.  The story begins with the powerful, “I’m wondering what if…”  What if are two very powerful words that make all the…

  • Reviews

    Navigating Early

    Clare Vanderpool has an amazing quotation on the header of her website from Madeleine L’Engle, “You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”  I think this is just what Vanderpool did in…

  • Reviews

    Tracing Stars

     Tracing Stars is a coming of age story for a young girl in a small coastal town where being different makes you stand out.  Indie Lee Chickory is a fish freak – she’s knows everything there is to know about the fish that can be found in the ocean that borders town.  She…

  • Reviews

    Penguin and Pinecone

    “One day Penguin found a curious object.”  And so begins this beautiful story of friendship between a penguin and that curious object – a pinecone!  Salina Yoon has created such a cute world with her whimsical illustrations and simple text about what it means to be a friend.  I don’t…

  • Reviews

    Palace of Stone (Princess Academy #2)

    I  have to admit, I still love a good princess story!  Overall, I really enjoyed Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale the follow-up story to The Princess Academy.  Miri travels to Asland to attend the Queen’s College and becomes a lady of the court to her friend, Britta.  But after having grow…

  • Reviews

    The Boy On Cinnamon Street

    I am in love with Phoebe Stone’s cover art for many of her books.  I recently read The Romeo and Juliet Code and I just picked up The Boy on Cinnamon Street this weekend.  Her cover art is always something that makes me want to pick up her books and…

  • Reviews

    Prairie Evers

    Prairie Evers is a ten-year old girl who has been homeschooled by her grandmother until the family moves to upstate New York and her parents decide it’s time she goes to public school to be around children her own age.  Prairie is content to stay at home on the farm…