This book is an ode to Harlem, both the city and the girl named Harlem, age four. This book shares the relationship of a father/daughter pair in the dThis book is an ode to Harlem, both the city and the girl named Harlem, age four. This book shares the relationship of a father/daughter pair in the day-to-day life in Harlem. The city seems part of them.
The artwork is amazing. Frank Morrison's artwork feels like jazz with so much motion. It's like jazz on a street corner warming you up inside walking around the lonely city. It's oil paint and spray paint on an illustrated board. The book drips with the feel and color of Harlem. I love all the graffiti pages in the book.
This book was fun. We see modern Harlem and then the last few pages are dedicated to the beginning of Harlem. Year four after it was founded. I never thought to ask how Harlem came to be. Philip A. Payton owned some buildings in 1904 and he was willing to rent to black people during the great black migration when 6 million people moved from the south to the north. I never knew about any of that. It makes sense that someone had to make an opening. It's been a hub for famous people for many decades now.
Great book. I think kids will enjoy this for the art alone. The book is told in a sort of poem, almost like haiku....more
What a great book! I love this one. We see a girl who loves her violin and loves to play music. Yet, she is terrified to play in front of people. The What a great book! I love this one. We see a girl who loves her violin and loves to play music. Yet, she is terrified to play in front of people. The day of her recital, she keeps hoping something wild will happen to prevent her from getting to her recital. Things like dolphins in a fountain taking her away, or rabbits stealing her violing and hiding it in their burrow.
Nothing wild happens. She has to go on stage and she is so scared. Yet, her body knows what to do and once she starts playing, something wild does happen. Beautiful music happens and she is free and having fun.
I love the artwork. Colorful, bold and the imagination soars. I love the animals. They used Charcoal, pastels, acrylic paint and digital media to bring this story to life.
The message, a small one, is if you practice and you are ready, even if you are nervous, you're body will still know what to do.
As I've gotten older, I get more nervous to perform. It's gotten really bad too. My bladder goes wonky and I feel like I need to pee every 5 minutes. It's so painful, that I really don't enjoy performing any more. My nerves are just too out of control. So, I went the opposite way. Most people don't have to deal with that. ...more
I'm loving this story. This is one of the best BL Manga I've read in a while. This is about a Japanese rock Band. The story rocks.
We see the after effI'm loving this story. This is one of the best BL Manga I've read in a while. This is about a Japanese rock Band. The story rocks.
We see the after effects of their first live show. People loved that song and the audience took notice. Now they need to write a few more songs. We also see more about the politics of the band. We have a flashback on how the band came together.
Haruki is basically the one who brought them all together. He has a massive crush and unrequited love for Akihiko. Akihiko is the playboy. I can't figure out if Akihiko knows aobut Haruki's crush or not. There seems to be nods that he does.
Uenoyama realizes he kissed Mafuyu and he's in love. It's so awkward between them. Still, they confess their love. What does Uenoyama do? He asks permission of the band to date. It's so cute. Lots of sugar moments.
Basically, the band is gay, or at least one of them is bi. I mean this is totally BL. The author is going there.
This story rocks and I can't wait for the next volume. I want to own this one. It's so good. It looks like there is going to be much more drama ahead.
The Japanese Manga series about a band Rocks! I'm loving this series. This is a bit slower than the beginning and it has so much room to go, but the eThe Japanese Manga series about a band Rocks! I'm loving this series. This is a bit slower than the beginning and it has so much room to go, but the end of this manga hit the high note! It was awesome. I was jumping up and fist pumping the air.
So, our main character Uenoyama realizes that he likes Mufuyu. They didn't drag it out, thank goodness. We had some time in school and that was sort of boring. Stuff with the band is great. We also got some backstory about Mufuyu and his last love that died. They were childhood sweethearts and his heart is still so sore.
The band knows about these two and they are cool with it, so good band. They are also working up to their first concert with Mufuyu as lead singer. Everyone is sort of nervous.
OMG. There is so much good stuff happening and I love where this is going. I can't wait for volume 3. I need it now. This is one of the better Japanese Manga I have read in a while. I hope the characters are treated well....more
Wow! This is a Japanese high school story and it feels so fresh. I love this. We follow members of a band. The lead guitarist likes to nap on the staiWow! This is a Japanese high school story and it feels so fresh. I love this. We follow members of a band. The lead guitarist likes to nap on the stairs and one day a kid from another class is in his spot. He begs him to teach him guitar. The lead character is grumpy and refuses. Of course this other kid doesn't give up and shadows him.
So, eventually, the kid meets the other band members and off the story goes. I can't wait for the next volume. I'm hooked into this story. This is how you tell a story. So far, there isn't much going on accept for the music.
The drama in this is excellent and the characters are distinct and look distinct as well. Great artwork and you can follow the dialogue. This is an older story from 2014 in Japan.
I'll be getting these stories more and more. This is a good story!...more
This is one of the more unique stories I have read. I find this story is difficult to even explain.
The whole thing is a mood that moves through you. TThis is one of the more unique stories I have read. I find this story is difficult to even explain.
The whole thing is a mood that moves through you. The artwork, the story, all work toward this goal. It's a melon collie mood.
There is a new girl in school who has a great talent playing the violin. It makes Almond despair that she has no talent. She only has beautiful hair.
There is a beautiful line the mother gives. Almond asks her mother was her talent was. Her mother says, I used to love pottery, but then I had you . Almond says, then I'm your talent. I thought that was a great thought.
It's not a story you love, but the emotion that runs through you reading this is amazing. What a work of art. Allen Say comes through again. A beautiful book. I'm not sure most kids can appreciate this, but I'm glad it's here anyway....more
A great story about the life of Roberta Flack who sang "Killing me Softly". This is her story.
She loved music. She dreamed about it night and day. ShA great story about the life of Roberta Flack who sang "Killing me Softly". This is her story.
She loved music. She dreamed about it night and day. She loved her piano and she eventually loved to sing. She dreamed of being a classical concert pianist and she loved opera. But her first love was her green piano.
Her dad found her first piano in the dump, broken and smelly. They brought it home, cleaned it up and fixed it up and Roberta was on her way.
The artwork is cozy and bright. We see the community and coziness of a tight-knit family. The artwork does all this for us. Finding the piano at the dump was good artwork too. The piano looms larger than life in many drawings and that works well.
A bright and vibrant book about singing. The artwork is very colorful and ecstatic. The artwork feels like when you are singing and in that place of gA bright and vibrant book about singing. The artwork is very colorful and ecstatic. The artwork feels like when you are singing and in that place of glee. It catches that feeling of that otherwordly feeling. Singing connects us to universally being human. We can actually feel what other people feel. We can share an emotion as a group. Singing is amazing.
This is really a story. It's simply and ode to singing. It explores all the different ways humanity sings, the shower, the stage, around the campfire. Song is universal. They make this a universal story as well bringing in all cultures and people from around the world. This helps us truly be one people.
This is a Japanese drama set in the world of competitive dancing. We have two leads, one is Suzuki and one is Sugiki. One of the dances Ballroom and oThis is a Japanese drama set in the world of competitive dancing. We have two leads, one is Suzuki and one is Sugiki. One of the dances Ballroom and one of them dances Latin, so they are different styles.
This is a dense drama so far. There is back stories and lots of drama in the world of dance. These two are top of their fields. They each do five dances. There is a type of dance where you do all 10, both ballroom and Latin. These two decide they want to do it and they are going to teach the other how to do the other steps.
At this point, it sure doesn't feel like boys love. The two men are straight. Yes, they dance together and all they do is talk about the woman they date. I suppose this will progress later, but as a boys love story, this was sort of sour so far.
I will read the next one. I do love dancing and boys love, so I hope this will get a lot better....more
This was an interesting story about one of the first women drummer's in a jazz band. She was born in the 20s and her family was a musical family. She This was an interesting story about one of the first women drummer's in a jazz band. She was born in the 20s and her family was a musical family. She wanted to make a career of music. When WWII happened, it gave her an opening. Before that, men didn't let women play in the band. So she was able to have a career during that time.
She was around till the 2010s and playing drums still. She seems like she would be a person full of passion and vest. Cool to get to know her.
The artwork was full of energy and a whole lot of fun. It was bright and colorful. Well told and well done....more
This story about a Japanese middle school choir is interesting. We focus on the president of the choir. A very driven young man whose told he is ordinThis story about a Japanese middle school choir is interesting. We focus on the president of the choir. A very driven young man whose told he is ordinary and believes himself to be extraordinary.
Our boy soprano is going to also join the city opera guild. They are doing Turn of the shrew by Benjamin Brittain. It looks to be a dark little play.
Again, we get to see how the boy Soprano sees the world of music. It's so interesting how the artist protrays it. This story is all about music and these kids. There is no romance. It's a nice little story. I can't believe how many volumes there are. I will be reading the third one for certain....more
This is a non-fiction book about Yo-Yo Ma playing at the border back in 2019. I don't think I knew about this inspirational story. I guess it got lostThis is a non-fiction book about Yo-Yo Ma playing at the border back in 2019. I don't think I knew about this inspirational story. I guess it got lost in the media blitz of 2019.
This is a wonderful book about bringing different places together and creating harmony. I think this did a wonderful job about talking about Yo-Yo Ma. He is American, born in Paris and his parents were from China. The story discusses his cello and how all it's parts were from all over the world as well. Yo-Yo Ma is about different people coming together for harmony and peace. It does a great job discussing who he is and how we need to work together.
The artwork is fine, nothing exceptional. I do like all the musical notes all over the place and it was nice seeing the toronto garden he helped to create. A nice inspirational story....more
The story continues. It's mostly cute. Most of this volume was a side story about another couple. I admit, I really didn't care about those charactersThe story continues. It's mostly cute. Most of this volume was a side story about another couple. I admit, I really didn't care about those characters. Who are they and why should I care? I don't.
I don't get why our main Omega is still so hostile. I mean, there was a snippet of backstory, but really, it wasn't enough to make up for it. I don't get why the Alpha puts up with it. There is a hodge-podge wedding just thrown in the middle of this. There was no joy around it. It happened and done. I can't figure out what's going on with our main characters. There wasn't enough focus.
There is also a little bit about the Alpha's band. It's simply all over the place and it ended on this weird place. It's just trumped up drama. Totally fake and I really don't care. I want to like this story, but it simply didn't focus on the main characters in this story. I feel sort of cheated. The story seems to be falling apart just a bit.
Oh well. I'll go on, but I'm not loving this as much as I was. Sigh....more
A great book of 10 collected folktales from China. They are: 2 Little Bunnies Gold and Silver Hatchets The fake Musician got into big Trouble How can You A great book of 10 collected folktales from China. They are: 2 Little Bunnies Gold and Silver Hatchets The fake Musician got into big Trouble How can You Weigh and Elephant The Boy who saved a friend from Drowning How Silk was invented A lost ball The Goddess who created Humankind The Princess who brought peace The Smallest one is just right for me
I enjoy hearing stories about Goddess Nuwa. She is cool. She creates humankind. This myth mention Pengu also.
The gold and silver hatchets was a good one. A story about greed.
I loved the lost ball story as well. Some people are simply problem solvers.
Some stories are folktales, some are myths and some are about famous people in Chinese history and their story lasted to the present for the incredible things they have done. The first story is about a rabbit and it reminds me of a well behaved Peter RAbbit.
A fine collection. The English is above the Chinese. It's easy to follow along in both. This is a great story collection for kids. It's good to learn about a new culture and how they do things differently....more
This story is from Japan set in middle school. It's about a choir at that school.
There is a special boy who moves into the school. He's a boy sopranoThis story is from Japan set in middle school. It's about a choir at that school.
There is a special boy who moves into the school. He's a boy soprano, but what's special about him is how he relates to sound. He listens to everything, the sound of the neighborhood getting ready or the boats horns across the water. The sounds are his emotions. If a song is sad, he is sad, if people are arguing then he feels sick. His sound is pure. He's sort of distanced from people because of it. When people sound happy, he is happy.
People think he's weird. There is a teacher who is trying to get him to sing opera. They go listen to one. It's interesting how the author illustrates sounds. The boy is only 12.
It's a slice of life for school kids in choir and this one extraordinary character. It's a great little story. I'm curious to see where this goes. It doesn't seem to be about anything other than friendship either. It's interesting. I'm looking forward to the next volume....more
This is not the new Archie series stuff they recently started doing. I guess they are done with that. This is a collection of short stories about ArchThis is not the new Archie series stuff they recently started doing. I guess they are done with that. This is a collection of short stories about Archie and the gang going to India for various reasons. They are making a movie, a Bollywood movie, so their is dancing and singing, or going on an adventure.
They wear lovely Sari's while in India. One story is weird. Veronica and Bettye go to India and while there, they switch their persons for some weird reason, so Bettye does Veronica things and Veronica does Bettye things. Strange.
It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It was so so. Probably not 3 stars. Writing about it, I realize how dissatisfied with it I am with it. I miss the older series. This left me feeling empty. There was no delight in Bettye and Veronica here. Oh well. They can't win them all. Reggie was really weird in this one too. Not enough Jughead. He was skipped over. ...more
I'm in withdrawals after finishing this. I want more of the story. It's sort of addicting. This is a cultivation spoof set in historical China/Canada.I'm in withdrawals after finishing this. I want more of the story. It's sort of addicting. This is a cultivation spoof set in historical China/Canada. I was so close to giving this 5 stars. I had so much fun reading this.
CasualFarmer has set up so many things to play forward now. There are a ton of irons in the fire and the story can go just about anywhere.
The first volume, we focus on the farm, Jin and his life and his animals. Well, the second volume, we get to know all the animals and watch them cultivate. Xuelian is fun to watch as well. Her arc is amazing. All the animals have their own arc as well. Jin is married and it's a good union. It's fun to watch their relationship.
We also go back to the cultivation world that Jin left. They are now trying to find him. We are learning there is something more to Jin somehow. I know it has to happen, but I hope they just leave him alone. Let him be. Although, now Jin's cultivation is probably higher than most.
Big D goes on a quest and meets two more spirit animals. It now becomes obvious that they are collecting a rough form of the Chinese Zodiac. We are missing the horse, dog and goat. There are so many moving parts to this one. I love Meiling, JIn's wife. She is a healer and she is so cool.
Everyone goes out for some reason and by the end, everyone is back, at least for a time. There is a tournament coming up that some will leave.
I also just love Washy. His story arc was amazing. I loved the turtle arc. So much can happen. There a multiple threads to pull on and see what happens. I can't wait to see where it all goes. One of the most fun new stories I've read. ...more
This little love story is set in the music industry. A graphic designer is doing artwork for the new album of the English singing sensation in Japan. This little love story is set in the music industry. A graphic designer is doing artwork for the new album of the English singing sensation in Japan. The graphic designer has to get to know the singer and in doing so, falls in love.
It's a nice little story. It moves really fast and they don't really take moments to just enjoy the chemistry building. It's difficult to feel pulled into their relationship. There are a few sweet moments.
It's nice that the singer is English living in Japan and he's a singer there. I doubt that happens often. ...more
A collection of carols and 3 unique and interesting Christmas stories by Tomie dePaola.
The stories are: The Night of Las Posadas The Story of the ThreeA collection of carols and 3 unique and interesting Christmas stories by Tomie dePaola.
The stories are: The Night of Las Posadas The Story of the Three Wise Kings The Legend of the Poinsettia
The carols are: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" "Silent Night" "The First Noel" "Away in a Manger" "Joy to the World!" The carols have music with it
It's a nice little book and the stories are a different take on old stories. ...more
A fun book for Halloween times. Gustavo is a shy ghost and he has a gift for music. Thank god for the arts. They really give shy people a way to interA fun book for Halloween times. Gustavo is a shy ghost and he has a gift for music. Thank god for the arts. They really give shy people a way to interact with people.
The artwork is wonderful. It has a cozy feel to it. Gustavo is sweet and jolly. He's painfully shy. He's also lonely.
One day he gets the courage up to invite everyone to his violin concert to try and make some friends. I love that music is at the center of the story.
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