One Chapter

The Assignment by Lisa M. Wiemer

Really? Logan’s taken her seat in history class, as Mr. Bartley addresses the class to explain their next assignment. This graded project is top-secret so nothing is to be discussed outside of class. Top-secret? Why is that, I’m wondering. Each student will be assigned either a 1 or a 2 and that, will direct them on which position they will defend in their paper. So, the students aren’t defending their own position on this topic? No, it’s random. What’s the topic, you ask? The students will need to pretend it’s 1942, and that they’re part of Hitler’s Elite Nazi’s Leadership Group. The concern is over the growing Jewish community: what should they do with the over 11 million Jews that are in Europe? Are they on the pro (1) or con (2) side of this problem? Pro: they exterminate them or Con: they put them in work camps/ghettos and sterilize them. I think I understand why it is top-secret. Did their teacher really only give them these 2 options for this required assignment?

I couldn’t believe a teacher would actually give their students this assignment and feel good about it. When Logan and her best friend Cede, who is also in the class, question Mr. Bartley about it, he justifies the paper. While some students are taking this assignment seriously, there are those who are pushing the subject, by adding in physical displays of Nazism in the classroom. Frustrated, the two friends keep reaching out to people to stop the assignment while they also try to create an alternate assignment that they hope the teacher will approve. I liked their persistence in this matter and how the author showed this process. The friends kept looking for solutions even though things weren’t working out for them.

Romance does fly in the book, as Logan and Cede’s friendship changes. They were great friends but this turns into something serious as they try to get the assignment terminated. They each had felt attracted to each other but neither of them had acted on their feelings until this project gave them a deeper connection to one another. They were great friends who just took it to the next level.

I liked how the teens discovered more about themselves and their families during this process. I enjoyed how they tried to stop the assignment and what finally happened in the end. The book made me think about what I would have done if I was standing in their shoes.

One By One by Ruth Ware

It was supposed to be a fun holiday for this small group of co-workers at the ski chalet. My eyebrows shot up a few times as the group made their entrance, as it didn’t seem like some of these individuals were prepared for these winter conditions. It’s a ski chalet and that means snow, cold, and unpredictable conditions. I also didn’t understand why Liz was amongst them, as she was no longer a Snoop employee. Getting comfortable with their new surroundings, the story of this tech company and its employees was laid out.

I felt that the team was catering to Liz for some unknown reason and Miranda, she was totally out of her element. Miranda might break a nail or scuff one of her high heels while on this holiday and where was Topher? Topher is one of the biggest shareholders, he should be there with them on that first night. There’s a big company buyout on the table which will be a huge benefit for some of them but in the meantime, it’s making things complicated.

Deciding to hit the slopes right away, not everyone makes it back. How can that happen, they were all just together, right? They haven’t even been their 24-hours. As they try to piece this mystery together, another member of their group has been discovered dead. When outside, an avalanche has struck their area and has caused major destruction. Wow, double whammy! Outside, the snow has blocked them in and inside, what’s happening to these employees? All I could think of was, let’s get shoveling and then, everyone needs to lock themselves in their room, we’ll be doing maximum social distancing for a while.

I liked the individuals who managed the chalet, I enjoyed their storylines and how they mingled with the guests. This book reminded me a bit of the book, Then There Were None. I liked the short chapters and how the situation deteriorated as the clock ticked. There were quite a few characters to evaluate for a motive in this case. I really thought it was strange how some of the individuals and the chalet wasn’t prepared for such a dangerous event. I would have thought that they would have many backup items on-hand. Having lived though a few disasters, I guess, you learn a few things along the way.

The Boy on the Bus by Penny Dale

If you know the song, The Wheels of the Bus, you’ll have to read this book as this book is about a young boy driving the bus but he’s picking up farm animals. At each bus stop, a different animal gets on and sometimes more than one animal boards the bus. The boy is having the time of his life driving the bus, gathering up all the farm animals as he says, “On you get! Take a seat! Not full yet!”

The bus is bouncy up and down over the dirt road as the bus fills up, and I mean fills up! The animals look to be having a good time also as they find room for each other until the bus looks like it cannot hold another person. With realistic looking animals, this is a fun, colorful, and entertaining picture book! 5 stars from this Nana.

This Old Dog by Martha Brockenbrough

What a beautiful, heart-felt book about an aging dog and a little girl. I’ll tell you right now, that the dog does not die in this book. In fact, I feel that the dog may even forgot that he was an old dog at the end of this book. For his life, has just taken on a whole new purpose.

“His bones are sore

But his heart is strong.

It thumps, and so does his tail.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Old dog’s glad to see a new day.”

So begins the first page of this fantastic picture book, as we see old dog wagging his tail in his dog bed. I really enjoyed the illustrations as we see old dog getting ready for his day. Ever since the baby came into the house, everything is done in fast motion yet old dog would rather take things slow as, his “knees yip,” his “back whines” and he enjoys just taking things slow. Old dog used to enjoy his walks, taking in the sights and sounds of the world around him but now, they hurry him along for time the clock is ticking.

As old dog dreams, he remembers what it used to be like and he longs to have a friend who would like to take it slow with him. These memories are so sweet and the illustrations will make you smile as you think about old dog’s life.

He’s sad, lonely and I felt for the old dog. The family is busy with their new baby and they’ve forgotten about old dog.

Then, old dog hears something and there’s a new pair of feet on the floor. As she makes her way to him, I felt my heart fill. It looks like today marks the beginning that these two, will start being seen together.

What a fantastic book! I loved everything about this book. Woo-hoo!! You need to check out this book whether you’re 3 or 103, it’ll make you smile. 5 stars!!

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

I guess I don’t follow the excitement about this book. The illustrations are wonderful but I thought they were the best aspect about the book. With a fantasy theme to them, the girl moves through the different scenes, trying to escape her dark past. Some scenes she has forest animals with her and in one she has dragons but throughout her adventures, she is with her companion, the fox.

Trying to put her dark and gloomy life behind her, she’s trying to move onto a brighter future. As she flees with the fox, she realizes that they could run into problems in their journey but she knows the action they can take to beat it.

It’s a beautiful book but I think the text might be a bit deep for some readers. It’s a book about hope, letting readers know that, although they may feel overwhelmed or defeated, victory and success awaits them. I think for a picture book, there are many children who will not be able to comprehend the true meaning of what the author is trying to convey without someone explaining it to them first. Once you get over that small hump with young readers, it’s a great book and for older readers, they should be able to grasp it.

This Old Truck by Jarrett Pumphrey

This story brought back a lot of great memories for me. I’ll tell you a bit about those stories in a minute but I do believe that boys and girl alike, will enjoy this picture book. I enjoyed this book for its simplicity, its resourcefulness, and the trip down memory lane. The colors used in the illustrations captured the true nature of the story and the illustrations edgings were perfect.

A truck is the main character in this book and we watch as this farm truck performs its many duties for the family over the years. The couple has a child and we watch her grow up in the book. Eventually, the couple decides to retire the truck to the side of the barn, where weeds and grass slowly shield the truck from outsiders.

There’s now a new farmer who needs a new truck. This new farmer is the daughter, who is now older and she’s putting new life into the old truck. As she works hard to restore the truck, it’s the determination and energy that she puts into it, that speaks volumes. She’s a farmer, a mechanic, she can be anything and do anything that she puts her mind into. This is a delightful read.

My journey: I took a few walks down memory lane with this one. From my grandfather to my father-in-law, they both were great unforgettable journeys. My grandpa used to drive an old dairy truck. It had to be the oldest vehicle in town and my grandmother hated that truck. I thought the truck was pretty cool, it reminded me of the gangster cars from the big cities. Grandma thought that he should get something nicer to drive, as she was embarrassed since they owned the general store in town and “they should look nice driving around town.” Grandpa loved that truck; those huge fenders, big mounted hood, and closed in backend. He also didn’t have to worry about her riding with him -ha. My father-in-law had a farm and I remember my first visit to the property. Old tractors and cars laid hidden under weeds and dirt all along the barns and sheds on the property. Their tires flattened or the windows down, they each had a story but no one could hear them as they were buried and silent. I loved walking amongst them when we visited, viewing inside, wondering what they would tell me if they could talk. My father-in-law could recite how each one of them found their way out into the field. He would tell of their importance and why they were now just waiting, waiting for something.

This book took me there and I appreciated that journey.

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott

The author wrote this book based on his own personal experience with stuttering. I liked the honesty and the emotions that the author shared in this book. As I read the author’s note at the back of the book, he explains in-depth, his own personal experience which made this book more enjoyable.

It’s not like he doesn’t know what to say, he has the words, they’re just stuck inside his head. Sitting inside his classroom, he’d rather participate quietly but when his teacher calls on him, every head in the room turns and looks at him, just waiting to see what he’ll say. He’s been in this spotlight before and no one understands. This isn’t the place he wants to be. A phone call later, his dad picks him up and the situation has been diverted for now.

Wow, this is so sad. This really frustrated me on many levels. I was glad that his father was there for him and that he cared a great deal for him. I’m glad that he was able to gather strength from the words from his father and from the river.

I think many children will enjoy this book as they relate to this story and/or gain strength/knowledge from his example. 4 stars

Neighbors by Kasya Denisevich

This book will get kids thinking about the world around them. With great illustrations and a text that asks the readers to inquire about their own situation, this book will have children thinking about their own situations.

Moving into a new apartment building, the little girl is proud that she knows her new address. Her apartment is in a building which is part of a complex of buildings which gives her something to think about. Up above her ceiling, underneath her floor, and even beside her own walls in her bedroom, are there people who live there? Who are all the people who live around her? What do they look like? What could these people be doing right now? These people are her new neighbors!

As she drifts off to sleep, she’s still thinking about the individuals who might be living around her. Yet, what if she’s the only person living in that building? Could that happen? The mind and the imagination of a child is full of possibilities and we see this with this book.

In the morning, it’s time to see if there’s anyone living in the building as she leaves the apartment with her mother for school. School? A new school? Oh, the possibilities. She wonders ……….

I enjoyed the illustrations in this book with the shades of black/gray with the yellow trees and the red highlighted characters. I liked the detail in the illustrations and how the use of space was used in others. I liked the text font that was used, as it was different but I think it added to the story. I liked how inquisitive the girl was in the story and that she realized she was part of something bigger and welcomed it.

I enjoyed the story and I think it would make a great read-aloud, a good bedtime story, or a story just to read. 5 stars.

Lift by Minh Le

Ha! This picture book is definitely a fun one and one you could have a good time with. Iris got mad when things changed in her normal routine but then, she found a solution. Little did she know that solution would lead her on magical journeys that began in her own bedroom.

Iris loved to push the elevator buttons in the apartment building that she lived in with her family. It always made her happy and she could count on it to cheer her up. Whenever they needed to push one of the elevator buttons, Iris would step right up and DING, she’d push the correct button.

She doesn’t know what happened that Thursday but once her family got inside the elevator to go up to their apartment, her little brother reached right over and pushed the elevator button before Iris had a chance. WHAT!! Her brother was so proud and excited and her parents, well…. they had the same reaction. Iris, she was mad! Then, on Friday when they left their apartment and again, got inside the elevator, her brother reached over and pushed the button AGAIN! Oh, the look on Iris’ face! I loved this part!! She doesn’t hold back her anger, nope! What does she do? Yell? Scream? Iris reaches over and she pushes all the buttons and her family stops on all the floors. This, my friend, I can see happening. How does everyone on the elevator feel now? I liked this part of the book as it shows through the text and the illustrations a lot about the characters.

When they finally reach the lobby, there’s a repair man fixing the other elevator. He’s currently replacing the elevator’s wall button and Iris notices when he throws the broken button in the trash can. Ah! Yep, Iris quickly grabs the broken elevator button and she shoves it into her coat pocket. I liked how most of this activity is told without words. Following the text boxes, the illustrations tell the story. Once home and safety behind her bedroom door, Iris takes the broken elevator button out of her pocket. After grabbing some tape, she tapes it up on her wall. She pushes the button (just for good measure)and starts to walks away when “DING!”

Don’t you love it? I would love to read this to a child or to a classroom and see what they think is going to happen next because it’s time to turn the page and then, Iris has an amazing adventure. Iris does return to her family’s apartment for just a bit and then, Iris is ready and we hear a DING!

I really loved this book and I have to get a copy of this. I love how it opens up the avenue for discussions and possibilities. I liked how Iris got angry and how she dealt with it, it was honest and representative of how some children might handle that situation, I think. I wished her parents would have said something to her about her behavior, not a lecture but something to address it. I thought her adventures were fun and entertaining and I think, children will like them too. The illustrations in this book are fantastic. The detail and the colors really bring out the story. It’s a mixture of a story book and wordless book as there were pages that didn’t have any words and you just had to follow the pictures to understand the storyline. Iris’ feelings towards her brother were fitting and her actions at the end of the book were really sweet. This is definitely a good book to read to the children in your life. 4.75 stars

What We’ll Build: Plans For Our Together Future by Oliver Jeffers

I’ve always gotten excited when I hear that Oliver Jeffers has a new book coming out. His words feel personal, carrying an emotional element, and those gorgeous illustrations, you get hooked on his books. The illustrations inside this book did not disappoint. Each page was lit with bright colors, capturing various unique ideas, and showcasing his wonderful imagination. I was disappointed in the text though.

At the beginning of the book, a father and his daughter gather their tools as they build a door together. Entering the door, they begin their journey. A magical journey that the two of them will share as they begin their life together, father and daughter.

I liked the idea behind the book; a father-daughter relationship and the journey that they’ll take through the years. Jeffers pulls at our heart, this journey leads them into dangerous and mysterious situations but the knowledge that they’re together looking out for one another, brings us comfort and tears, as we feel their love for one another.

There were a few things that didn’t work for me, in this book. Some of the rhymes didn’t work for me. I felt I had to force them, to make them work. I also wasn’t a fan of some of the ideas that were used in the book. They seemed like they were geared more for adults instead of something a growing child would come up with and would like. A tunnel to the moon vs. a rocket ship to the moon, cruise ship vs. a submarine, but that’s just my opinion. This wasn’t one of my favorite Jeffers’ book but I’m looking forward to his next one.