Mrs. Bunny wants to be queen. Mr. Bunny (for so he is called) wants her to be happy, and to eat lots of carrot cake. Madeline wants to have a college Mrs. Bunny wants to be queen. Mr. Bunny (for so he is called) wants her to be happy, and to eat lots of carrot cake. Madeline wants to have a college fund, and her parents want to bring both organic vegetables and sugar to "the people."
Clearly, there is only one thing to do: take a cruise to England, and open a candy shop.
Along the way they meet snobby hedgehogs, Mrs. Bunny rescues a fox, the bunnies are nearly thrown overboard, and they attend a booksigning for Mrs. Bunny's first book alongside translator Polly Horvath that made me absolutely howl with laughter. It looks like this might be the last of the bunny books, and that is a shame!...more
Inspired by Park's childhood fascination with Little House on the Prairie, this is a wonderful look at life in the Dakota Territory for a young girl tInspired by Park's childhood fascination with Little House on the Prairie, this is a wonderful look at life in the Dakota Territory for a young girl trying to make a place for herself. Half Chinese, half white, Hanna wants to make friends and become a fine dressmaker, both things that seem out of her reach. I loved her fiery spirit and her determination, as well as her eye for fashion! I never read the Little House books, which is odd because I, too, was obsessed with "Wild West" and pioneer stories, and this book will be amazing to put into the hands of any young reader with similar interests!
PS- my daughter (11yo) took it from me and read it first and also loved it!...more
Sweet fancy heck, how did I not know this book existed?! Then a couple of weeks ago it won the Asian/Pacific American Children's Book award, and a bunSweet fancy heck, how did I not know this book existed?! Then a couple of weeks ago it won the Asian/Pacific American Children's Book award, and a bunch of authors I trust were talking about how it was their favorite book of 2019 and I'm like, huh, I guess we'll try it . . . ?
It's. Wonderful.
Funny, sad, awkward, sweet, all the things you want in a coming-of-age story, beautifully told in graphic novel form. I'm almost ANGRY this book slipped under my radar! I could have had it on MY best of 2019 list! Now it will have to wait to be on the Best of 2020 list!
My 11yo daughter has already read it and loved it, btw. And she can be hard to please!...more
I didn't really know what to expect from this, I bought it because I know Christian and I've loved his other books, and . . .wow. *Stefon voice* "ThisI didn't really know what to expect from this, I bought it because I know Christian and I've loved his other books, and . . .wow. *Stefon voice* "This book has everything: ghosts, krakens, mysterious mansions, creepy old ladies in wedding dresses with pet snakes, plagues, and scary living dolls. . ." It also makes you wary, as an author, about putting too much of yourself into your creations, and using a pen name. (I will say no more.) I don't really care for handsome, dashing rogue characters, and I wanted more from Wally and his brother, but this is clearly the set up for a series (second book is already out, in fact) so I'm excited to get more of them in book two! ...more
Stunning! The first of (I hope!) many graphic novels to be recognized with a Newbery Award, and it's absolutely deserving of the honor! Well written, Stunning! The first of (I hope!) many graphic novels to be recognized with a Newbery Award, and it's absolutely deserving of the honor! Well written, well drawn, poignant and funny, I couldn't put it down, reading into the wee hours. My 11yo has also read it and loved it, and next it will go to the 15yo!...more
This was fabbity fab! I'ave always had a soft place in my heart for John Henry, and I love the Brer Rabbit stories as well. Seeing them, along with otThis was fabbity fab! I'ave always had a soft place in my heart for John Henry, and I love the Brer Rabbit stories as well. Seeing them, along with other African and African American myths and folktales, brought to life in gorgeous detail, was a delight. And Tristan was pretty great, too. He reminded me of Miles Morales, and I loved how he used his "power." I can't believe this is Mbalia's first book, because it's just . . .well, fab!...more
Terribly cute, like the Dark Lord in Training herself!
This had all kinds of awesome in it: The Lady of the Lake tossing swords at people, hoping they'Terribly cute, like the Dark Lord in Training herself!
This had all kinds of awesome in it: The Lady of the Lake tossing swords at people, hoping they'll catch them. A bird made out of a book who lays eggs that turn into spells. Night mares. Color-changing "mood hair" that I would actually really love! Unicorns! A sheep named Dave!
I do wish it had gotten moving a lot sooner, I feel like the first half meandered quite a bit, without really building the world I wanted to see. Things were hinted at, or told and not shown, and with a little more solid world-building this would have been stellar!...more
Cute story about a girl who achieves her dream to dance as Clara in the Nutcracker . . .and then enters another dream (or is it?) where she really is Cute story about a girl who achieves her dream to dance as Clara in the Nutcracker . . .and then enters another dream (or is it?) where she really is helping the nutcracker defeat the Mouse King! I liked the friends and family dynamic that was happening, but felt like the magical world wasn't as fully realized as it could have been. There was a lot going on, between trying to dance her best, strife with her best friend, family issues including a sick grandfather, and then this magical element, so I felt everything happened too slow and then too fast. ...more
Like a combination of The Worst Witch and The Box of Delights. I wish someone had told me sooner that it was set at Christmas, because I'm always lookLike a combination of The Worst Witch and The Box of Delights. I wish someone had told me sooner that it was set at Christmas, because I'm always looking for new Christmas books, and I love the fact that this doesn't hinge around Halloween, like so many witch books!...more
Utterly charming! Of course, you know me: any book that includes Charles Dickens as a character rises high in my esteem at once! And especially books Utterly charming! Of course, you know me: any book that includes Charles Dickens as a character rises high in my esteem at once! And especially books about Christmas! About hope! And magic! And eating gingerbread!
I read the first book several years ago, I liked it a lot, but it was a bound manuscript and didn't have the art, and now I need to get a finished copy of that to read to the kids next year! They all loved this, and the art is darling!...more
Adorable start to a series about an intrepid young girl during the Great Depression who inherits her archaeologist mother's sense of adventure as wellAdorable start to a series about an intrepid young girl during the Great Depression who inherits her archaeologist mother's sense of adventure as well as her animal companions. It reminded me very much of Lloyd Alexander's wonderful Vesper Holly books, just for a much younger set. I would say this is on the level with the Magic Tree House books....more
Is this the last book? There was a sort of last book vibe to this one, and some major upheaval in the Heffley family (not divorce or anything, nothingIs this the last book? There was a sort of last book vibe to this one, and some major upheaval in the Heffley family (not divorce or anything, nothing that might be too upsetting for kids). Last book or no, I still laugh until I cry over these books!...more
Had to take a break halfway through to read some Christmas books, and then some other things for Battle of the Books, but at last we finished!
Such an Had to take a break halfway through to read some Christmas books, and then some other things for Battle of the Books, but at last we finished!
Such an interesting book: the turning point for the series where it becomes YA! Romance! Political intrigue! Murder! DRUNKEN HOUSE ELVES! The illustrations suitably reflected this more mature story line, with lovely pictures of Hermione, and funny ones of Winky and Dobby undercut with a HORRIFYING portrait of Mad-Eye Moody. There were also, I felt, fewer illustrations to this one, which makes sense because there are so many words! ...more
Delightful from start to finish! All the best elements of story: mystery, magic, humor, a hint of romance, friendship, family relationships, drama, dyDelightful from start to finish! All the best elements of story: mystery, magic, humor, a hint of romance, friendship, family relationships, drama, dynamic characters, all combined with charming art to make an excellent Halloweeny story about a brand new witch, her crotchety familiar, her family, and her family secrets.
Reread 2021: Just. So. Darling. Mr. Laszlo's tiny paws will never stop being my favorite thing....more
The #1 Bestselling Book in America the week it debuted hardly needs my endorsement, but Imma give it to you anyway: Read Raina's books. Guts, like SmiThe #1 Bestselling Book in America the week it debuted hardly needs my endorsement, but Imma give it to you anyway: Read Raina's books. Guts, like Smile and Sisters, was a damn delight. I love the way she draws, I love the frank and funny way she tells the story of her childhood. Smile focused on the drama when she smashed her front teeth, but also dipped into the rest of what was happening in her life. Sisters was the tale of a road trip, but also about her life and her relationship with her sister, and now we have Guts, a book that I wish that I, personally, had had as a kid. Not only do I have IBS, and have had stomach aches and "nervous stomach" since childhood, but while I don't have anxiety, I do have depression, and I wish I had had books like this as a kid to show me that I was not alone, not a freak, and not about to die! Raina's the 21st century Judy Blume, explaining Life to kids, just with less talk about giant maxi pads or bras. ...more
My kids got super into this, trying to figure out why Gwendolen was so horrible and why Cat put up with it. Reading it aloud made me realize how decepMy kids got super into this, trying to figure out why Gwendolen was so horrible and why Cat put up with it. Reading it aloud made me realize how deceptively simple it is, which sometimes made it seem like there was a lot of padding for such a small book, but it all came into play later. Which was hard to remember since reading it aloud took us a while. ...more
Subtly magical, and full of so many other good things: music, dogs, the satisfaction of watching an egg go SPLAT! on the sidewalk. I loved Annie Lee, Subtly magical, and full of so many other good things: music, dogs, the satisfaction of watching an egg go SPLAT! on the sidewalk. I loved Annie Lee, her parents, her friends, and the life she was trying to find for herself after the huge loss she had suffered. I know this will sound weird, but for a book where music plays such a huge part, the book felt very quiet to me. Annie Lee tries to be invisible, her mother, her friend Mitch, and others around her are quiet people as well. And because their voices are so quiet, it lets you hear the music around them. This is truly a beautiful and heartfelt story about friendship, loss, and opening your heart. ...more
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