 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
First Rate Reads We’re passing on some of our favorites! Click on the title or book cover to go to the catalog (you can then place a hold, and be notified when it is ready to be picked up at the library). For an archived list of book reviews, click here.
Jennifer L Holm and Matthew Holm Reviewed by Liz April 8, 2010 Babymouse is a little mouse with big daydreams. She longs for fame (oh, to be Queen!), fortune (all the new books she can handle), and tasty snacks (cupcakes are choice), but only seems to get the usual annoyances: homework, annoying little brother, and whiskers that won't straighten. Fortunately, she has a best friend who's always there for her, and a way of turning any situation into an adventure. These graphic novels are the ultimate in hilarious and cute! Start with Babymouse: Queen of the World!
Kean Soo Reviewed by Liz February 3, 2010 In this graphic novel, ten-year-old Portia has just moved to a new neighborhood with her mom. She tries to adjust to this new life without a father, but school is boring and her classmates are less than welcoming. But when she befriends a shy purple monster in the woods behind her house, her life starts turning around. Jellaby doesn't say much, but makes it clear he's going to be a great (although secret) friend to Portia. Throw in a co-conspirator Jason, and this graphic novel is adorable and sweet, yet keeps you thinking with its mysteries and suspense.
Amy Krause Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld Reviewed by Liz January 7, 2010 What do you call a day when every answer is yes? Even though every other day might be "we'll see" day or "don't even ask" day, on this special day of the year, what you want is what you get! Can I please have pizza for breakfast? Yes! Can I clean my room tomorrow? Yes! Can we stay up really late? You betcha! Unfortunately, does this day really have to end?
(and 17 Other Important Things to Remember) Steve Jenkins Reviewed by Liz January 7, 2010 Everyone knows that tigers, crocodiles and sharks are dangerous. But what about those creatures whose dangerous nature may not be so obvious? This book tells you why you should never pet a platypus (it has venomous spurs on its hind legs), never poach a puffer fish (poisonous if eaten), never corner a cassowary (it could deliver a lethal kick), and never badger a beaded lizard (venomous teeth and powerful jaws). A bonus section goes into a little more detail on the potentially-dangerous animals habitats and lifestyles. Before you go deep-sea diving or embark on a safari, take a look at this book!
(#1 of the Children of the Red King series) Jenny Nimmo Reviewed by Liz October 27, 2009 Magical happenings in England, a school for children endowed with X-Men-like powers, and a boy with messy hair at the center of it all! Join Charlie Bone as he discovers a magical talent and is sent by his ghastly relatives to forbidding school, where he makes friends and enemies alike. Sure, similarities to Harry Potter are there, but this book (and the rest in the series) hold their own with fun characters, creepy villains, strange mysteries, and a dose of magic. If you like HP, give this one a shot! For 3rd graders and up.
Gloria Whelan (Michigan Author) Reviewed by Kate May 8, 2009 The setting is West Germany, 10 years after the Second World War and the Holocaust have ended. Peter, a young boy of 13, discovers in his parents’ bedroom, a mysterious letter and a photograph of an unknown young woman. To his shock, he realizes he knows her from a dream. And so, Peter starts to question his own origins. Are his parents really his parents? Who is the strange woman? And who is Peter? This story is written from an unusual perspective. I would recommend it to upper elementary to middle school students who are interested in historical fiction!
(A Novel in Cartoons) Jeff Kinney Reviewed by Liz April 2, 2009 Greg Huffley isn't enjoying Middle School much. He ranks himself #53 in terms of popularity this year (possibly #52 after Charlie Davis gets his braces next week) and reckons grade levels should be based on height, not age. His best friend isn't the sharpest crayon in the box. Plus, the dangerous and mysterious Cheese is still lurking on the basketball court. Between school and his family, Greg's got his hands full just staying afloat. But maybe running for class Treasurer will earn him some respect. Or maybe listening to his older brother's new CD (the one with a "Parental Warning" sticker on it) will cheer him up. Or maybe designing an awesome Halloween Haunted House (with live sharks!) will finally gain him fame and fortune. Follow Greg's exploits in this hilarious handwritten journal chock-full of cartoons illustrating his life.
Jane Yolen & Mark Teague Reviewed by Liz March 18, 2009 Perfect for sharing and reading aloud, the 'dinosaur' series of books explores behavior, manners, and life lessons. While a Gorgosaurus might stick beans up his nose, most dinos know it's much better to be polite while eating! Protoceratops learns to say 'please' and 'thank you' while he eats his bowl of Dino Flakes, and Cryolophosaurus daintily samples his pancakes, oversized pinky extended. Beautifully illustrated by Mark Teague (of dog LaRue fame) and with rolling, easy-to-chant text.
Sara Pinto Reviewed by Liz March 18, 2009 How are an apple and an orange alike? They both don't wear glasses. How are a bicycle and a motorcycle alike? They both don't work at a bank. This silly book of comparisons invites the reader to think about why a pair of objects are similar, while providing off-the-wall answers (complete with pictures of those objects doing exactly what they "don't" do: Bank Teller Motorcycle and Assistant Bank Manager Bicycle). A fun way to exercise your powers of observation!
by Neil Gaiman Reviewed by Liz February 27, 2009 Nobody Owens (known to his friends as Bod) isn't like other kids. He's been brought up in a graveyard, with adopted parents who died two hundred years ago. His friend and guardian, Silas, isn't dead or alive. And Bod has the ability to see in the dark, walk through walls, and fade from people's sights. He stays in the graveyard because he is safe - if he ever leaves the otherworldly protection that it offers, the man Jack will find him and kill him as he killed Bod's original family. This fantastic read is like the creepy, Halloweeny version of The Jungle Book. If you liked Coraline by the same author, check this one out!
For an archived list of book reviews, click here. |
| Content is copyright (c) Highland Township Public Library. Questions/comments, email the webmaster here. | |
Jellaby
Midnight
for Charlie Bone
