The Jellybeans (Bitsy, Emily, Anna, & Nicole) return in another adventure. Anna with the help of the librarian shows her friends that even though they don't really like books, there is a book for them.
What I thought: I like the Jellybeans. I love that their second adventure deals with books and reading. I like that Anna's book turns out to be a book of fairy tales. Calling book reports a book bonanza is an interesting idea. The illustrations are classic Munsinger--lovely! My favorite illustrations are Anna reading in a chair, Anna reading in the bathtub, and the Jellybeans as princesses. I look forward to the Jellybeans' next Adventure: The Jellybeans and the Big Camp Kickoff.
Like Laura Numeroff, my favorite jellybean flavor is buttered popcorn. :)
(Illus. Lynn Munsinger. Abrams, 2010)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Panda-Monium! by Cynthia Platt
A panda named Beckett feels hungry. On his journey to acquire some bamboo (that's what pandas eat, you know!) he unknowingly gathers a panda following. One bamboo tree and fifteen pandas don't seem like good odds.
What I thought: A cute book! Pandas are so likable. Kids will love counting all the pandas. The illustrations are lovely--soft colors and lines. My favorite is panda-monium. I'm looking forward to using this book for my China & Japan story time this summer.
Story Time Themes: Numbers, Pandas, Bears, China.
(Illus. Veronica Vasylenko. Tiger Tales, 2009)
What I thought: A cute book! Pandas are so likable. Kids will love counting all the pandas. The illustrations are lovely--soft colors and lines. My favorite is panda-monium. I'm looking forward to using this book for my China & Japan story time this summer.
Story Time Themes: Numbers, Pandas, Bears, China.
(Illus. Veronica Vasylenko. Tiger Tales, 2009)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
From Willa, With Love by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Willa's summer continues to be eventful. She has a new brother who is convinced their dad is still alive. While she's waiting for her boyfriend Joey to return from baseball camp in Florida, another local boy catches her eye. The only problem--he's friends with Joey. Add to this some startling new about two friend and an overwhelming desire to make a difference. All in all, a typical situation for Willa.
What I thought: The Willa books keep getting better. The two things that most endear her to me is her love of books and her desire to make a difference. It's about time we have a love triangle. Willa and Joey were getting a bit too comfortable. Willa's latest Pix List is great as per usual. I've read 5 of the 11 books on it. Like the previous books in the series, From Willa, With Love is a perfect summer read. One of these days, I'm going visit Cape Cod.
(Scholastic, July 2011. ARC provided by publisher.)
What I thought: The Willa books keep getting better. The two things that most endear her to me is her love of books and her desire to make a difference. It's about time we have a love triangle. Willa and Joey were getting a bit too comfortable. Willa's latest Pix List is great as per usual. I've read 5 of the 11 books on it. Like the previous books in the series, From Willa, With Love is a perfect summer read. One of these days, I'm going visit Cape Cod.
(Scholastic, July 2011. ARC provided by publisher.)
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wish I Might by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
What Willa Doesn't Have This Summer
~Her boyfriend Joey (drat baseball camp!)
~Her best friend Tina (too busy with Ruby stalking cute lifeguards)
~Her new best friend Mariel (She's in NY with her mom)
What She Does Have:
~Strange British boy claiming 1) he's her half-brother and 2) their father might still be alive
Willa turns to her old standbys candy (you can't go wrong with taffy) and books to help her relax and deal with all this new complication.
What I thought: Another great installment in Willa's life. You know, her father has always been a hazy area in her life. I'm not surprised Coleen decided to develop it a bit. Even with a new brother, Willa seem very alone this summer. I think she shows great strength of character in dealing with Will. I continue to revel in the lovely small town-ness of Bramble. It's one of my top vacation destinations. Willa's Pix List is excellent as usual. I love that she continues to change the world around her for the good. She's an inspiration.
(Scholastic, 2010)
~Her boyfriend Joey (drat baseball camp!)
~Her best friend Tina (too busy with Ruby stalking cute lifeguards)
~Her new best friend Mariel (She's in NY with her mom)
What She Does Have:
~Strange British boy claiming 1) he's her half-brother and 2) their father might still be alive
Willa turns to her old standbys candy (you can't go wrong with taffy) and books to help her relax and deal with all this new complication.
What I thought: Another great installment in Willa's life. You know, her father has always been a hazy area in her life. I'm not surprised Coleen decided to develop it a bit. Even with a new brother, Willa seem very alone this summer. I think she shows great strength of character in dealing with Will. I continue to revel in the lovely small town-ness of Bramble. It's one of my top vacation destinations. Willa's Pix List is excellent as usual. I love that she continues to change the world around her for the good. She's an inspiration.
(Scholastic, 2010)
Friday, May 20, 2011
#FlannelFriday: Questions & Observations
I don't have anything new to add to #FlannelFriday this week, but I do have a few questions and observations.
Besides the hot air balloons that I'm going to use each week during Summer Reading, I'm also planning to make pigs for my UK story time (for the English rhyme "This Little Pig") and pandas for my China & Japan story time. For the pigs I'm using a coloring sheet as a pattern. For the pandas, I'm using the illustrations from Panda-monium! by Cynthia Platt.
My question is this: when you're making a figure that has 2 colors, which color do you use as the base? (In the case of the pandas, black or white) Or do you make the whole thing 2 layers so it looks nice?
I'm enjoying making flannel stories. I've found that I like invisible tape better than clear for taping on the patterns because I can see it better. I'm wishing we had a craft store close because Wal-mart only carries black, white, green felt squares that you can buy individually. I predict a trip to Hobby Lobby in my future.
Besides the hot air balloons that I'm going to use each week during Summer Reading, I'm also planning to make pigs for my UK story time (for the English rhyme "This Little Pig") and pandas for my China & Japan story time. For the pigs I'm using a coloring sheet as a pattern. For the pandas, I'm using the illustrations from Panda-monium! by Cynthia Platt.
My question is this: when you're making a figure that has 2 colors, which color do you use as the base? (In the case of the pandas, black or white) Or do you make the whole thing 2 layers so it looks nice?
I'm enjoying making flannel stories. I've found that I like invisible tape better than clear for taping on the patterns because I can see it better. I'm wishing we had a craft store close because Wal-mart only carries black, white, green felt squares that you can buy individually. I predict a trip to Hobby Lobby in my future.
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Donna Underwood is different. Her peers call her a freak. That's just what she feels like, but Donna is more than an outsider. When she was a child, evil fey cursed her hands. Alchemists manages to restore them only by infusing them with iron. She hides bother her hands and the strength they give her. Donna is content to live life on the edge (the outskirts, that is). She's comfortable with her life until the day she sees a wood elf in the city. Wood elves are bad news. Donna isn't thrilled when they kidnap her best friend, Navin. With the help of Xan (cute guy who just happens to be half faery), Donna must steal the elixir of life from the alchemist who saved her hands and helped rtaise her. A fair exchange surely--powerful potion for irreplaceable best friend. But will complying with the elf queen's request really resolve the situation.
What I thought: Yeah, I like this one. First of all, the cover art is gorgeous. Second, The Iron Witch is a retelling of one my favorite fairy tales, The Girl Without Hands. After reading this book, I went back and reread the Grimm's version. I like what Mahoney did with the tale. Navin and Donna's friendship is great. Xan is a compelling love interest. I can't wait to see their relationship develop in future books. (Oh, and I loved the snarky comment about fallen angels on pp.117-118 though I do like the sub genre of paranormal myself.) Mahoney's article/author's note "The Girl with Silver Hands: The Making of The Iron Witch" was really intriguing. Her approach to retelling a fairy tale is much more elemental. She took the basic themes (girl without hands and a battle between good and evil--isn't it always?) and came up with The Iron Witch. Amazing!
Look for The Wood Queen (#2) in 2012 and The Stone Demon (#3) in 2013.
(Flux, 2011. Review copy provided by publisher.)
What I thought: Yeah, I like this one. First of all, the cover art is gorgeous. Second, The Iron Witch is a retelling of one my favorite fairy tales, The Girl Without Hands. After reading this book, I went back and reread the Grimm's version. I like what Mahoney did with the tale. Navin and Donna's friendship is great. Xan is a compelling love interest. I can't wait to see their relationship develop in future books. (Oh, and I loved the snarky comment about fallen angels on pp.117-118 though I do like the sub genre of paranormal myself.) Mahoney's article/author's note "The Girl with Silver Hands: The Making of The Iron Witch" was really intriguing. Her approach to retelling a fairy tale is much more elemental. She took the basic themes (girl without hands and a battle between good and evil--isn't it always?) and came up with The Iron Witch. Amazing!
Look for The Wood Queen (#2) in 2012 and The Stone Demon (#3) in 2013.
(Flux, 2011. Review copy provided by publisher.)
The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes by Kelly Easton
Liberty Aimes endures a life of dull drudgery until the day of the skunk attack. With the key to her father's laboratory, Liberty discovers several things, including comprehension cream and lifting soda, that aid her in escaping her home life. Her goal is school. Can she reach the Sullivan School before her dastardly father apprehends her and forces her to resume her previous life of drudgery?
What I thought: A fun story. I like Liberty and her adventures certainly are outlandish. The illustrations are lovely. Liberty's face and person match her personality perfectly. This book would pair well with Matilda by Dahl, Pippi Longstocking by Lindgren, and any of Polly Horvath's hunorous middle grade novels.
(Illus. Greg Swearingen. Wendy Lamb, 2009)
What I thought: A fun story. I like Liberty and her adventures certainly are outlandish. The illustrations are lovely. Liberty's face and person match her personality perfectly. This book would pair well with Matilda by Dahl, Pippi Longstocking by Lindgren, and any of Polly Horvath's hunorous middle grade novels.
(Illus. Greg Swearingen. Wendy Lamb, 2009)
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