Great board book with fantastic, realistic pictures. I like the simplicity of the text as it’s short and simple yet it gives the young reader some accurate information that’s not silly. This book is a great one for serious truck lovers as the pictures pop off the page and the text is not overbearing. It really is a great book and my grandson who loves trucks really liked it.
This book has great rhythm. I enjoyed the illustrations in the book as they’re bright and colorful and definitely filled with lots of trucks and movement. From cranes to tractors to flatbed trucks this book has them all. Dogs are the characters in this book that are driving, directing, moving, and lifting the items around these vehicles. Full of adjectives, the text adds to the illustrations as these vehicles mix, squash, tip, roll, dump, fix, empty, load, tow, squeeze and even stop (just to name a few). The text felt choppy to me. The book didn’t feel like a story to me but more like separate instances where red truck and yellow truck encounter different trucks. It’s a good book with lots to see and the variety of vehicles is great. 4 stars
Princess Lex read morning, noon, and night, surrounded by book lovers. Where is this place? Sounds like a great place to live. I found this book at the library and after this opening page, I was sold and I had to check it out. With a bedroom full of books, Lex would speed read through them, enlisting her trained dog to help fetch her reading material for her. This all changes on her 15th birthday though. When she awoke on her birthday, all of her books were gone! Craziness!!
Lex runs to parents and they sit her down and explain. When Lex was little, her parents had a party. An irritated fairy crashed the party, made a scene because she thought she wasn’t invited. That night at the party, the fairy put a curse on Lex. The curse stated that when Lex turned 15, she would receive a paper cut. This cut would be the result of reading a book. The cut would put her in a deep sleep which could only be cured by a kiss from one’s true love. Hence, her parents were the ones who took all of her books away. They saved her from a paper cut which would put her in a deep sleep.
Now, Lex’s world became dark and sad. She didn’t have any books to read. Lex couldn’t let this go on any longer and she decides to pay the fairy a visit to see about undoing the curse. Needing information to get this accomplished, Lex gets the help from a bot. The fairy has been keeping tabs on Lex and she was prepared for Lex when she arrives. It’s a princess vs. a fairy as they battle out this curse and the ending was great. I enjoyed this book. I thought the illustrations were fun and full of energy and the storyline was fast-paced and entertaining. It has a good message too. I highly recommend this cute book. 4.5 stars
I, for one, could eat spaghetti 24-7, so when I saw this title, I knew I had to read it. Is it really wonderful to be a super hero? Is being the fastest the best? I liked the idea of the super hero, Super Spaghetti and how he helped others. I laughed when his mother, the inventor, created the Spaghetti-Tronic Electro-Spaghetti Zapper as I know that kids will love that machine’s name as it sounds remarkable and powerful. Fred discovers that being Super Spaghetti is great at first but later he beings to realize that being a super hero isn’t all the terrific. Did his mother put a reverse button on this amazing machine?
Fred loves spaghetti but cooking it takes forever so his mother, an inventor, invents a machine that cooks spaghetti super-fast. The Spaghetti-Tronic Electro-Spaghetti Zapper complete with flashing lights, loud noises can give Fred a plate of spaghetti in ten seconds. Now, that’s amazing! Forgetting to shut the machine off, Fred returns home from a walk and as strange noises come from the machine, somehow Fred becomes Super Spaghetti. How he becomes this super hero, I just do not know. I feel that his attitude starts changing as now, he begins to care about others and he starts to help them. Where once he walked past the poor cat stuck in the tree, now Super Spaghetti is helping that same kitty. It’s interesting how others start to see this new super hero. Here is a person wrapped up in spaghetti trying to help others and they’re saying: “It’s a superhero!” “It’s a monster!” “It’s spaghetti!” Everyone has their own perspective of him as he tries to do good. Super Spaghetti is put to the test when he hears a loud BOOM!! Will he answer the call or try to find a reverse button on the invention and go back to being Fred?
The illustrations in this book are fantastic as they’re bright and they fill up the page. I like how some of the pages are constructed like a graphic novel with boxes to section off different scenes without devoting a whole page to each scene. The use of text bubbles gives the characters personality and the using of a variety of fonts and the varying of their sizes, make this book a fun book to read. There were a few instances in the storyline that I couldn’t follow but otherwise, it’s an entertaining story. 3.5 stars
You think you have hair issues? Well, you haven’t seen anything until you see Malie’s hair! Malie’s hair is golden and it flows down her back and unfortunately, it just keeps on flowing. How she can even stand up or do anything is particularly interesting considering how long her hair is. It just so happens that one day, Malie wakes up and her hair is completely out of control. She’d like to just stay home inside her closet but her Mama has some errands that she wanted her to take care of. I really enjoyed the illustrations in this picture book as Malie ran around town completing the errands. Little Malie with her long trail of golden locks falling behind her was entertaining as well as humorous. We know how Malie feels as she runs around town for her mother yet her locks become a blessing for others around town. When Malie passes a barber shop, I thought for sure Malie would try to stuff herself and her hair inside and get it whacked off. She came close too, for she “came within a whisker of having it all shaved off.” So, what happened to Malie and her hair? Who benefited from her hair that day? How did she finally get her hair under control? Well, for starters Malie took a time out. This time-out was just the beginning of something big for Malie as I think, she just might start to like her hair. The ending of the book was basically open-ended which I have mixed feeling about. I think it was too open for my liking. I also wondered why since Malie didn’t like her hair, why couldn’t she cut it? (I know I might be thinking too much on this topic but if she hated it, why not cut it?) I thought the story was sweet as her hair was a blessing to others even though she didn’t like it and that has a good message in it. It’s a good story to read, I enjoyed it and I think children will think it’s funny. |
My grandson is into construction vehicles so I thought he’d like this book but he wasn’t a fan. He’s 2.5 years old and I wondered if it was because the book wasn’t focused solely on vehicles or if it was the book’s text. The book is focused on building a library so we had painters, plumbers, and movers, working with the construction team.
The first part of the book the construction team is getting the building ready. They’re digging the holes, poring the concrete, adding the walls and floors until they finally put the roof on. It’s now time for the inside of the building to get finished. Pipes, wires, paint, and furniture are added. Finally, the books are placed in their assigned spot, the door opens up wide, and a new adventure awaits.
I enjoyed the illustrations in this book as they’re bright and colorful. They don’t show a lot of detail but just enough to get the point across. The last page in the book has some Machine Facts which discuss the different trucks in the book. I thought the rhyming text was a bit too much for me. I can see some individuals liking it but the words on some of the pages, just didn’t make any sense to me and I had to do some eye-rolling. Some kids like this silly talk yet I thought other words could have been used which would have made more sense on these pages. It’s a good book to read about how a library is constructed and I think most children will enjoy it. 4 stars
“Build the frame. Build the frame.
Hammer all day long.
Make the stairs and floors and walls.
Bing! Bang! Bong!”
“Fill the holes. Fill the holes.
Let the concrete drop.
Spread it fast before it sets.
Sloosh! Slosh! Slop!”
I read this novel and then, I listened to this novel on audio. I really enjoyed the story. I liked the character of Ellie as she was a strong, caring individual. She could have walked away from the situation and started over yet she didn’t. Ellie held strong and thought about her family and what was best. I liked how the story moved from the present time period into the past and how the two connected. Presented with some questions at the beginning of the story, allowing the reader to time travel, gave us the ability to see we could get the answers we needed yet, also gave us more questions that we were able to get answers to later in the book.
Presently: Ellie is planning on moving into a newly built home with her daughter, Raine. This new home comes with a lot of memories although the house hasn’t had any family inside its walls. Ellie and her late husband, Jackson were both architects and have spent the past seven years designing this house. An accident claimed the life of her husband inside the studded walls of this dream home. Now, inside this newly developed estate, Ellie plans on beginning their new life with Raine in the house that her and her late husband designed. With her father close by, Ellie relies on him to help with the house and with four-year-old Raine but the emotional toll of this recent death still hits hard. With other houses being built around them, there is one older house that anchors the development and Ellie finds that she already has one neighbor, so she will be all alone. I felt this part of the book was more mysterious and adventurous. I found that I read these sections more slowly as it felt more discreet and secretive.
Time travel to 1965: Ellie wants to do something; she has a fire within her. Every summer she works at her father’s pharmacy but this year, she has heard about SCOPE and she wants to sign up. She approaches her parents about SCOPE: “place nearly five hundred predominantly white college students in nearly one hundred predominantly black rural and urban areas in Southern states.” This was part of the Civil Rights Act but her parents don’t care and refuse Ellie participation. Ellie is determined to go, so she forges her parent’s signature on the form and she prepares herself to go. What a ride this part of the book was. I looked forwarded to this time period as the excitement never ended. I was excited for Ellie yet I was scared as she went through some of the events.
What a great story, I enjoyed how everything came together. I think the audio of the book was nicely done too. I’m definitely going to be looking for more of her books in the near future. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, Diane Chamberlain and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars.
Who’s pointing the finger now? Mallory has a shadow over her and she can’t seem to shake it. See, Mallory’s been in rehab and although, she’s been clean for some time, that doesn’t really matter. For Mallory, the label alone wasn’t the issue, it was all the adjectives that came trailing along with that classification that she’s having to confront. Mallory needs room to breathe. Mallory’s big chance came when she landed a job being a babysitter for five-year-old, Teddy. Mallory is given her own cottage to live in, separate from the families, and the only individuals who know about Mallory’s past are the parents.
Mallory’s job is to entertain Teddy while the parents’ work. Swimming in the family’s pool, going to the park, and drawing together are just some of the activities that they enjoy together. It’s not every day that you get some illustrations in a fiction book while you read but soon the book begins to show some of Terry’s drawings which are disturbing. For being five, Teddy sure could draw! These drawings began very basic and later evolved but the details and the symmetry in which Teddy was able to create his pictures was amazing for a five-year-old. Red flags immediately went up in my head, as there was no way Teddy drew these. It doesn’t stop there as Teddy’s drawings started to take on more meaning and I was hoping it would be dark.
Mallory was enjoying her own private quarters, away from the family, when she was not working. She was alone in her cottage yet it felt as if someone was watching her. Then, came the sound. The scratching sounds. Where was that coming from and why? So much for the quiet life that she had hoped to obtain.
As Mallory tends to Teddy, she finds him talking to, no-one. He was carrying on this great conversation and when asked about it, he says he was his imaginary friend, Anya. At first, she doesn’t think much about it but when she learns some history about this residence that she’s living on, she changes her mind. This Anya might not be a made-up individual. Is it really possible that this Anya could be someone from the past? Mallory is all over the place mentally, as she contemplates what this all could mean and the excitement builds until I realize that Mallory needs to stop and consider her own life. It’s Mallory. The Mallory in Rehab. With their foggy glasses on, people see her as unstable, not able to think straight, and just a bit off. So, can she really address this issue with anyone? Can she afford to remain quiet with Teddy in the picture?
I liked the idea behind the story but I do think there were too many drawings in the book, as it connected too many dots in the story. I would have liked less dots connected and more of a mysterious element to the story at the end, than having them all connected. Perhaps leave out why some of the items were in the pictures and not explain everything just explain the main events. I liked Mallory and Teddy and I thought their friendship was important to the story, as it provided comfort and it stability. I enjoyed this book. 4 stars
What an interesting story, one that got me thinking. The story kept building, lies hidden beneath it all, how long could this deception go on? If the truth would finally be revealed, who would be left? As teens, they were friends. Michael seemed to fit nicely into their family and so, the family decided to adopt Michael. At first, this seemed like a perfect fit. The two sisters enjoyed having Michael as a brother now and father proudly showed him some of the items around the summer house which someday, he would now own. This adoption changed Michael too, for now he wasn’t the quiet boy he once was.
Leaving life in Wisconsin, the family would take off each summer and spend some time in Cape Cod in their summer home. Poppy and Ann look forward to this time every year and they can’t wait to show their brother Michael everything they do. I thought it was interesting how Michael initially views this vacation spot and how this changes as he got older. One summer, one of the sisters finds herself in a difficult situation. As I read these pages, I couldn’t read them fast enough, as I wanted it over with yet I wanted someone to intervene. The outcome was heart-breaking and frustrating to me but they thought it was the best way to get this matter settled. They thought that this situation was behind but it wasn’t.
As the years pass and the story progresses, their parents have now died. The children are now adults and Poppy and Ann have decided to sell the cottage in the Cape. I was steaming mad at this point. One of the girls couldn’t keep her mouth closed and the other one couldn’t open her mouth and talk. Holy macaroni folks! I can’t tell you all that went on but I wanted to speed read as things started to heat up but I didn’t want to miss anything. There are lots of memories in this house, good and bad but you just can’t walk away and lock the door and leave them behind. This was a great book for me but I don’t think the cover was very exciting on it.
Note: Tell your loved ones where your Will, Power of Attorney, Living Will, etc. these important documents – are when you have them done. Don’t wait till you’re old or dying to tell your loved ones where they’re at. I want to thank St. Martin Press, Net Galley and Christina Clancy for sending me an arc of this book. This review was my own personal opinion. 4.5 stars
Crocodile loves watermelon! He eats it anytime of day and he gets so excited when he eats it. This excitement comes to a standstill when one day, he accidently swallows a watermelon seed. Oh no! Crocodile can only image what’s going to happen now that he’s gone and done that. His skin is going to stretch, vines will begin growing inside his body and then, his skin will start turning a different color!! He needs help!!
Children will laugh as they hear this story and learn how crocodile solves his watermelon seed problem. I liked the how the text (including the fonts) worked with the illustrations to make this a lively, entertaining book to read and enjoy. With simple, fun illustrations this is one story that will be read over and over again 4.5 stars The Watermelon Seed
One Chapter 