Elijah got this book at the library yesterday and I have already been asked to read it to him five or six times, I’ve already lost count. He is quotinElijah got this book at the library yesterday and I have already been asked to read it to him five or six times, I’ve already lost count. He is quoting it constantly. I feel like it’s growing on me against my will. That said, it IS pretty fun, and I’ve definitely been forced to read worse stuff over and over and over!...more
Not my fave (I was a bit confused by the dancing emu I guess), but there are still some pretty entertaining parts. But how many more heroes are going Not my fave (I was a bit confused by the dancing emu I guess), but there are still some pretty entertaining parts. But how many more heroes are going to be introduced in this series? I like all the new characters and all, but man, there are a LOT)....more
We have read almost all of these at this point, but I think this one is my favorite. I mean, there’s just something really funny about a bunch of heroWe have read almost all of these at this point, but I think this one is my favorite. I mean, there’s just something really funny about a bunch of heroes trying to fight a stench! ...more
I just realized that I have not been reviewing any of Elijah’s books on here, even though I’m reading tons of them! So I’m just going to start with thI just realized that I have not been reviewing any of Elijah’s books on here, even though I’m reading tons of them! So I’m just going to start with this one.
This is basically Magic Treehouse in a boat, but I found it fairly enjoyable, and I liked the focus on wildlife. I’m not sure how realistic the solution to their turtle problem was, but it was fun to read at least. I’d read more of these!...more
Checked this out on a whim knowing absolutely nothing about it. The art is really pretty, and I liked the story, though I sometimes felt a little confChecked this out on a whim knowing absolutely nothing about it. The art is really pretty, and I liked the story, though I sometimes felt a little confused about what was actually happening. It’s one that I almost feel like reading again, because part of me thinks maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention and if I give it another go I’ll really love it. Will I actually do it, though? Mmmmm, probably not. But I’ll definitely give other books of O’Neill’s a try!...more
This was fine. It’s cute. I just…expected I would like it more because of how much I’ve enjoyed the Click series, but something about this one didn’t This was fine. It’s cute. I just…expected I would like it more because of how much I’ve enjoyed the Click series, but something about this one didn’t quite…click, har har. I’ll still read anything Kayla Miller puts out, including the next book in this series, but I guess I was just hoping for more out of this one somehow....more
I’m not always huge on juvenile fiction, but I love Nicole Kornher-Stace, so I had to read it anyway. And yeah, for the first chapter or two I was kinI’m not always huge on juvenile fiction, but I love Nicole Kornher-Stace, so I had to read it anyway. And yeah, for the first chapter or two I was kind of zoned out, but then, whoa! It got real good, like I should have known it would! Jillian is a super relatable character, and SABRINA super grew on me. And just…there’s a lot of fun stuff going on here—space exploration and alien biology and survival and a snarky AI… I kind of hope we get to see more of Jillian and SABRINA down the line!
Anyway, recommended if you like juvenile sci-fi, characters dealing with anxiety, survival stories, snarky AIs and parasites. ...more
It had been waaaaaay too long since I read book 4 and I hardly remembered anything, except that I really enjoyed the previous books in the series and It had been waaaaaay too long since I read book 4 and I hardly remembered anything, except that I really enjoyed the previous books in the series and wanted to know how it would end. How did it end, though? Um…I’m still not quite sure. But the art was still really pretty!...more
After Elijah got hooked on Jeff Mack's Hippo & Rabbit In Three Short Tales a few weeks ago, we decided to check out something else by Jeff Mack, and tAfter Elijah got hooked on Jeff Mack's Hippo & Rabbit In Three Short Tales a few weeks ago, we decided to check out something else by Jeff Mack, and this is the series he picked. At first he seemed to like the first book in the series, Mr. Monkey Bakes a Cake best, but now it is clear that this is his true fave. We've been reading it multiple times a day for the last week, with no sign of his getting bored with it. Maybe it's the repetition, as Mr. Monkey repeatedly runs, ducks, climbs, swings, jumps and falls into and out of various situations on his quest to retrieve his stolen video game controller. Maybe it's that it takes place mostly outside, which is where Elijah lives as much as possible. I'm not sure! But I imagine this book will be remain checked out for quite awhile....more
I happened across this book while looking for something else and it just sounded cool, so I put it on hold. And it is SUPER cool! Beautiful illustratiI happened across this book while looking for something else and it just sounded cool, so I put it on hold. And it is SUPER cool! Beautiful illustrations based on real photographs of seven kids around the world and their families, their houses, their meals, their schools, their games, their beds, their clothes, their names... It’s fun to see the similarities and differences among all of these kids, and learn more about where and how they live. It’s a very simple concept, but done just perfectly! I would love for there to be more books like this for sure. ————- Update: Elijah has now gotten hooked on this book as well. At this point you can name any of the kids or any of their family members and he can point them out. He knows who all the clothes and houses belong to. He gets really disturbed by the fact that one Japanese girl is not in her seat and yells, “No, girl!” at her whenever we get to that page, and he also doesn’t like that apparently kids in Russia don’t raise their hands all the way up in class. He loves saying “Bonka” (which is what he calls his little brother) when he sees Kian helping take care of his little brother. He always tries to grab the bike at Kei’s house out of the book, and he is weirdly fixated on Romeo’s dad Oscar.
All that to say, my not-quite-two-year-old also thinks it’s super cool, and I am kind of amazed at how well a book this long has held his attention! We have read it about 25 times now, and he just seems to get sucked in deeper and deeper.
Am I regretting bringing it home now? …Maybe a little? But mostly I still really love it....more
As usual, Nathan Hale does a good job of conveying complicated moments in history in a way that’s understandable and entertaining, and I found the warAs usual, Nathan Hale does a good job of conveying complicated moments in history in a way that’s understandable and entertaining, and I found the war correspondent’s perspective interesting. I liked that at the end Higgins points out that there are lots of different perspectives of the Korean War, and encourages readers to seek more out. Maybe Hale will revisit it someday?...more
Very short Korgi tails indeed! I definitely liked most of them, but the final one completely confused me, and a couple of the others are just kind of Very short Korgi tails indeed! I definitely liked most of them, but the final one completely confused me, and a couple of the others are just kind of meh. I prefer the full-length stories for sure, but this was a fun little five-minute read....more
I was very happy to see another Korgi book had been published, but also very sad to see that it is the last one! This series is sweet and lovely and II was very happy to see another Korgi book had been published, but also very sad to see that it is the last one! This series is sweet and lovely and I will miss it. ...more
Okay, so you all know how much I love the CatStronauts, right? It might be obvious from the weird amount of CatStronaut clothing that can be found in Okay, so you all know how much I love the CatStronauts, right? It might be obvious from the weird amount of CatStronaut clothing that can be found in our house. My 1-year-old even knows all the characters’ names because I might have incorporated them into his bedtime song at one point.
Anyway, all that to say I was suuuuper excited to hear about this new series for younger readers about Waffles and his sister Pancake as kids. I had a series of unfortunate events when it came to picking up my hold at the library, but I finally got the book in my hands, and…I liked it. But.
I think partly I am just not used to reading books for this particular intended age group, so I don’t even really know what makes a good one, but it all just felt too rushed to me! I liked seeing Waffles as a kid, and I liked the dynamic between him and Pancake, and seeing certain other characters from the CatStronauts series was fun, but I finished it just feeling kind of meh about the whole thing.
Will I still read the next one? Absolutely! I’m just not nearly as excited about it as I once was. But maybe I’ll enjoy it more now that I have reset my expectations? We shall see!...more
Wow, people seem to really love this one! I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would. I think partly I didn't find the humor very enjoyable, andWow, people seem to really love this one! I liked it, but not as much as I thought I would. I think partly I didn't find the humor very enjoyable, and weirdly, the font also bothered me for some reason. That seems like a super dumb reason not to be into this, but what can I say? Sometimes I'm super dumb? I think really, I just wanted a little more depth. Everything felt very rushed to me, I guess. But the characters are fun, and I can see giving the next book a try to see if it's a little more what I'm hoping for....more
I didn't think I could love this one as much as I do Paris on Repeat, but I certainly do! I really enjoyed Lucas and Vivi, and the lessons Lucas learnI didn't think I could love this one as much as I do Paris on Repeat, but I certainly do! I really enjoyed Lucas and Vivi, and the lessons Lucas learns during this magical time in Rome come so naturally and feel so satisfying! I ended up staying up late last night to finish it, and miiiight have had a tear or two in my eyes by the final page.
Okay, so, it's time for the usual disclaimer. Amy is my friend, and I read this book 3 or 4 times in its early stages. I liked it a lot then, but this final version? Wow, it's so good! I'm blown away every time I get to see her books evolve into their final, published forms.
Anyway, if you're looking for a middle grade book that contains struggles with school, loneliness, friendship, family, history, art, poetry, time travel and the power of Rome, this one's for you!
P.S. Suuuper excited for the next book in the series!...more
Man, this totally made me cry--twice! This series really went in some unexpected directions, and I find myself very impressed with Jason Walz and eageMan, this totally made me cry--twice! This series really went in some unexpected directions, and I find myself very impressed with Jason Walz and eager to read more by him! If you're looking for a fun sci-fi action/adventure series with a lot of depth and a lot of heart, as well as a little humor, this would be a great bet!...more
Still very much enjoying this series, and it worked really well to have Sam and Wyatt separated for this volume. Both of their stories are compelling,Still very much enjoying this series, and it worked really well to have Sam and Wyatt separated for this volume. Both of their stories are compelling, and it opens up some space for some of the other characters to shine. Mia's perspective is an interesting challenge to Sam's, and I love how fiercely Harper supports Wyatt. I'm ready for volume 3!...more
This is super cute, and I liked the characters and the story so much! I really liked the art too—such pretty colors, and so much personality in how evThis is super cute, and I liked the characters and the story so much! I really liked the art too—such pretty colors, and so much personality in how everyone is drawn!
My only real complaint is that at times I really had trouble figuring out what was happening; sometimes the art just isn’t very clear, especially if it involves movement of any kind, and some bits made me wonder if this was book 2 instead of book 1. I like that the characters all have a history before we meet them, but I guess it sometimes felt like that history should just be understood, and I did not always get it.
Still, I absolutely recommend this for anyone who likes magic and friendship and adventures and ghosts, and I will most definitely be looking forward to whatever Aliza Layne does next!...more
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