Another FREE Online Book Offer: The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

Here is another great online offer. The Poison Diaries isn't even in stores yet, but Harper Collins has posted it in it's entirety online. Interested readers should check it out soon though as I don't know for how long it will be available.

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

FREE Online Read: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Browse Inside this book Get this for your site

I read this book a couple of years ago; it was really pretty cute. I haven't had the chance to read any of the others in this series, but hopefully will one of these days. Enjoy the freebie! =)

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow *REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!!*

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
Geared Towards: Ages 12 and up
Published By: Razor Bill
Publication Date: June 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59514-251-1

In a day and age when young adult fans flock to paranormal reads like the Twilight and Vampire Academy series, Lili St. Crow (also known as Lilith Saint Crow on the adult lit spectrum) has released her first YA novel in the form of the eerie and oh so chilling Strange Angels.

There are things out there, dark and nasty things, that most people prefer to pretend do not exist. They're out there though, and as Dru Anderson will tell you, you're better off living in that world of make believe where everything smells like roses.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Raised by her grandmother and father, after her mother's death when Dru was only five, Dru has come to see the world through different eyes than most other kids her age. At sixteen she should be working towards finishing up her last couple of years of school, shopping at the mall with girlfriends, and even dating a high school hottie. Instead of this grandious picture of modern teenage life, however, Dru travels across the country with her dad hunting down things that go bump in the night. They're not your average father daughter duo, but what Dru and her dad have together works for them. It's not always easy or safe, yet at the end of each day they can rest knowing that maybe, just maybe, the world is a little safer because of what they do.

And then, the unthinkable happens.

When her dad fails to return home after a hunt one cold winter night, Dru knows something bad has happened. Perhaps it's her sixth sense, the touch - as her grandma called it, but whatever it is though Dru knows she's got plenty to be worried about. Caught in the middle of a battle against things no sixteen year old should even know about, Dru Anderson must push beyond everything she thought she knew about life and The Real World if she's going to ever see another day of either again.

Alone and afraid, still the new girl in town, Dru turns to an unlikely source. With the help of her new found friend Graves, the somewhat attractive goth boy from American History, Dru sets out to solve the mystery of what happened to her father. She knows what became of him, but not who or what was responsible. Yet that is the million question she must answer if she's to ever avenge his death.

She is the hunter and the hunted. Running for her life, Dru must work in ways she never knew herself capable. She must learn to put her trust in those most likely to hurt her. And she must push herself farther than ever before.

In this brilliant coming of age tale, Crow has created a highly unnerving and bizarre world right here within the realm of our own. Her layout is seamless and the story developement is spot on. I particularly enjoyed how despite her character's backgrounds, Crow has made sure they don't come across as brash and unbelieveable. Dru's still just a regular teenage girl at heart. She can, for a time, hold her own in this world of darkness and pain, but despite her strength and attempted bravado Dru is not ashamed to recognize her own inexperience and weakness. The same goes for Graves, and even, to a lesser extent, Christophe. It's this naivete which adds to the overall realistic vibe of the story. You feel for the characters, and you are able to really see through their eyes because the voice of the story is believable while being utterly engaging.

I think readers will be really pleased with how entertaining this novel is, and with the news that there's a sequel on the horizon for Spring 2010!

If you'd like to give Strange Angels a go for yourself, then now is your chance. Thanks to the kind publishers (more specifically to Emily) at Penguin Group (USA) I have an extra copy to giveaway one one lucky Ready Set Read Reviews reader (US only please... unless you already commented and aren't within the US.. then I'll still enter you because it's my fault for not making this specification initially.)! All you have to do to enter the draw is leave a comment here, by July 11th, telling me who you'd like to win for and why. Sound easy enough?

Want more entries? Do any or all of the following in addition to the first required post. Then comment back after doing each to let me know you did it so I can enter you again. This gives you a possible 6 entries in to the draw.

1.) Become a Ready Set Read Reviews blog follower/or let me know you are already one. (on the right hand side of the screen) ***1 additional entry***

2.) Follow me on Twitter (Twitter id is: monkeygirlsmama - Be sure to include your twitter id with your follow up comment.) ***1 additional entry***

3.) Retweet and link back to this giveaway on Twitter (Be sure to include your twitter id with your follow up comment.) ***1 additional entry***

4.) Subscribe to the Ready Set Read Reviews blog feed. (on the right hand side of the screen) ***1 additional entry***

5.) Post about this giveaway anywhere else online (Facebook, your blog, etc) and post a link back. (Be sure to include a link to your post with your follow up comment.) ***1 additional entry***

Twas' the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade

Twas' the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: Sylvan Dell
Publication Date: February 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1934359082

Twas' the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore was always one of my favorite Christmas stories to read. I loved the rhyming lines, and the jaunty flow. When I was given the opportunity to review a few books for Sylvan Dell I immediately had to raise my hand for the book Twas' the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade for that very reason. Nevermind that my family loves going to the zoo, and we go countless times every year - so much so that we more than pay for our membership several times over. I wondered though would a book with a play on the title like this end up following in some format the story of Moore's I've grown to love over the years? The answer, when the book arrived, was a quick and unequivocal, 'yes'.

The way the author wrote the story has a very similar feel. I couldn't help but read the lilting text in the same way I would read the text from Moore's Twas' the Night Before Christmas. The story itself though is, obviously, about something entirely different than Moore's. Instead of getting ready for Christmas morning and a visit from Santa, in Twas' the Day Before Zoo Day readers follow the zoo staff around as they prep the zoo for a visiting class field trip. They feed and wash the animals, clean the grounds and even lecture the animals on how to behave. The animals, meanwhile, take it all in stride. Some get excited, yet others maintain their lazy disinterested position (just like they do when you're actually there visiting them).

This was cute and very cleverly thought out. My 3 yr old daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations by Ben Hodson, but I will say of all them I really didn't care for the monkeys or gorillas. Pretty minor complaint there though. So, no worries.

Another plus factor to mention about this book, is like with the other Sylvan Dell titles we've had the pleasure of reading/reviewing this one comes with a fun and handy "For Creative Minds" section in the back. These extra four pages provide educational information that kids will both learn from and enjoy. On the first two pages they can play a matching game. Readers can read the habitat and survival clues to help determine which animal picture it belongs to. Younger children who aren't yet old enough to follow along with the facts can simply tell you the name of each animal as they go through the picture list. On the third page readers will find an extensive list of Animal Fun Facts for the animals featured in the story. They'll learn which class each falls into (bird, mammal, amphibian, etc), what the baby is called, weight at birth, family group (herd, band, pride, etc), and what they eat (omnivore, herbivore, etc). Again this might be a little advanced for the younger readers in the group, but it's a great teaching tool that even they can benefit from. Last but not least, on the fourth page there is a fun fact section about Zoo Keepers and what their jobs entail. Then at the bottom there's a fill in the blank section with five questions your child can read and respond to regarding animals and taking care of them.

With as much as my girls love animals and trips to the zoo, I know this book is sure to become a regularly read selection in this house.

Thanks again to Sylvan Dell for the opportunity!

OUR RATING: 4 hearts

We Believe in Christmas by Karen Kingsbury

We Believe in Christmas by Karen Kingsbury
Geared Towards: Ages 4-7
Published By: Zonderkidz
Publication Date: October 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0310712121

In a day and age when Christmas has become so commercialized and the true meaning behind it all has become lost more often than not, We Believe in Christmas by Karen Kingsbury was a welcome and wonderful book to read. I'm not saying I don't enjoy the commercial aspects just as much as the next person, but I do find it incredibly refreshing to find a book that not only brings to attention the fun commercial aspects of the holiday but one that also tries to draw the reader's focus on the genuine reason behind the Christmas celebration.

I think Kingsbury did a great job of drawing to light the fact that even as we go about our regular holiday traditions, both religious and secular, there's still room to remember the true reason behind it all. When you think of the presents you get and receive, think of the greatest gift of all and how amazing that gift was. When you sing Christmas carols like Silent Night, don't worry if you don't get it exactly right. Remember what the song itself is about and how imperfect that situation could have been and yet how incredible it all turned out. When you think of Santa and how much the little children believe in him, think how much more you can believe in Jesus who has done so much for you.

We Believe in Christmas is well written, beautifully illustrated, and carries with it a weighty message that even the youngest among us can appreciate. No matter what your holiday traditions, enjoy them. But never forget to see the beauty in the true meaning behind it all. Christmas isn't really about Santa and Christmas trees. It's about the Christchild and the amazing gift God gave us the day that He was born.

*Thanks go to Stephanie over at Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists for sending me a copy of this wonderful book for my daughters' collection and for this review opportunity.*

OUR RATING: 5 hearts

My Little Girl by Tim McGraw & Tom Douglas

My Little Girl by Tim McGraw & Tom Douglas
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: October 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1400313211

I was talking to one of my best friends tonight over a cup of coffee while our kids ran around sword fighting (pretend swords, obviously) and doing all the other crazy and wild stuff kids do when you're looking to just sit tight for a moment for a peaceful cup of joe and conversation with another person older than 5. I was telling her about this cute book I'd recently had the pleasure of reading and reviewing called My Little Girl by Tim McGraw & Tom Douglas. Almost as soon as the author's name had past my lips my friend was rolling her eyes.

"What?", I said. Now, I can't remember her exact words in response, but basically her reply had to do with her disgust with otherwise famous people (actors, singers, etc) trying to break in to the realm of kid's and adult literature. It's like it's not enough for them to be really good at the one thing they're already known for (acting, singing, etc). It's like they have to get their names out there just one more time- this time in the book arena. This is what my friend had to say. And, to be perfectly honest, I will say that I do, in a small way, have to agree with her just a little bit. Certainly that's not the case with every new/crossover author, though I'm sure there are plenty it applies to.

Admittedly the first time I read a children's book by one of Hollywood's already famous actors/actresses I was a little hesitant for this very reason. I by no means think anyone should be pigeon-holed to simply one genre or area of the arts/practice. I do, however, wonder about the driving force and motives behind some of these career expansions. Is the person looking to dabble in a new field because they really feel a calling and desire to share something with another younger generation? Do they really have a story, one worth sharing, to tell? Or is the new adventure into the world of literature and publishing merely another opportunity to go after the all mighty dollar?

So far, I have to say, I've been pleasantly surprised by the Hollywood actor/actress penned children's books I've had the opportunity to read. Both Jamie Lee Curtis and John Lithgow come to mind, and I know both have written more than one book my girls and I have enjoyed. I suppose it's safe to say that whatever the driving force was behind their decisions to write worked in the favor of everyone. They undoubtedly each made a mint off of their sales and the reading community around the world has been given some adorable children's books to enjoy on their behalf.

Still, I'd be lying if I said I didn't go in slightly skeptical to reading My Little Girl by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas. I was in love with the cover illustration from the very minute I laid eyes on it online, but you can't always judge a book by its cover. Sometimes you have a cover that's totally awesome; however, when you get to the meat and potatos of the book you find there's not much there but grizzle and some left over three day old, store brand mashed. (hehe) Other times it's the opposite, while the cover leaves much to be desired it's what's inside on the pages that truly blows you away. And, yet again, there's a third option. Sometimes, a reader is lucky enough to happen upon a book that not only takes the cake in the world of cover design but that also rocks when it comes to the story itself.

I'm a little disappointed to say that, to me, My Little Girl didn't quite make it in to that last category, but rather was on the middle of the spectrum for the first category I mentioned. The illustrations by Julia Denos were fabulous. Like I said, I was in love with the book based on it's cover alone when I saw it online. There's something about the little girl that really reminds me of my own two daughters, and even though it's probably nothing more than the dark hair and whimsical attire it made me want to read this book. And the beauty and mesmerizing images didn't stop there. Each page was artfully crafted and stunning. Even though it appears, to my untrained eye (which means I could be totally off on this assumption) that the illustrator did her pictures in nothing more than basic sketches topped with carefully placed accents and color, they are down right incredible. The illustrations themselves catch your eye and leave you with a immense feeling of happiness down to your very core. That's pretty big considering.

The story itself seemed kind of weak to me and even a bit choppy at times. It would be unfair to say that the underlying premise of the story wasn't a good one, because it was. I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of the story being about daddy's little girl getting all dolled up for her fancy day out with dad. She didn't know what they were doing or where they were going, but whatever and wherever she was going to be with her favorite man in all the world and she had to look her best for him. I loved how the author then showed Katie and her dad spending a completely unremarkable, in all outward appearances, day together. Then how, when all was said and done, it was better than anything Katie could have possibly hoped for.

Books that show little girls with their daddys really pull at my heart strings because not only do I have two adorable little girls who both have their daddy wrapped around their little fingers, but I was also a daddy's girl myself when I was growing up. My dad was killed when I was 14 (I'm 27 now.), and not a day goes by that I don't miss him. Reading a book like this brings back so many happy memories for me that I'm literally crying just typing this. (Oi!) So, as I was saying, any story that portrays a great father/daughter interaction like this one is going to automatically get my vote. It shows how a father should be and how wonderful even just the simplest things done together can impact a little girl and mean more to her than any expensive outlandish outting or treat ever could. I think in today's society this is a major issue because so many people think it's not about the time spent together but about how much money is spent and how big the opportunity itself is. That's not it at all though. It's about the quality time spent together, and for that reason alone this book was a hit for me. It brings to the table a beautiful precedent of what a father/daughter relationship can and should be like.

Yet, as I mentioned earlier, as much as I enjoyed the basic premise for the story and the illustrations that went along with it, I'd be lying if I said this book deserved a 5 heart rating. While it was beautiful and the concept was excellent, the actual follow through came up short for me. I believe it was McGraw's intention to have the story flow from activity to activity with as much delicate flow as possible, but something seemed to be off. In a few places it was like the thoughts were there but they were missing the necessary cohesive links to join them together without leaving a disjointed , choppy feel. For example, in one section Katie and her dad are spelling messages to one another with the alphabets in their soup. Then the very next thing Katie's telling her dad to push her higher on the swing. The last couple of sections had the same slightly disjointed feel to me. Perhaps I'm just being overly critical and there's really nothing missing at all but a decent, more objective reader. Cause, again, over all, I really did enjoy the book, and I think my daughter (5) did to.

My Little Girl was a fun look at a daughter's day out with her dad, and it truly was sweet story. I wish the flow felt a little more strong to me, but at the end of the day I still think I'd recommend this book.

Many thanks to Jackie at Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to review this one.

OUR RATING: 4 hearts

Kersplatypus by Susan K. Mitchell

Kersplatypus by Susan K. Mitchell
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: Sylvan Dell
Publication Date: February 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1934359075

Have you ever felt out of place, not really knowing how you got where you are or where you belong? If so, you'll quickly be able to relate to the main character in this darling picture book from Sylvan Dell. Kersplatypus is the tale of a young Platypus who finds himself washed away from his mother during a big Australian rain. When he settles he finds himself surrounded by lots of strange creatures all of which are just as confused about him as he is about them.

Poor little Platypus doesn't know what kind of animal he is, but the other outback animals are determined to help this little fellow figure out what exactly he is and where he belongs. The Brushtail Possum finds a similarity between herself and the creature, and concludes he must belong in a tree. But when the little Platypus is unsuccessful in climbing after the Possum he slips... KERSPLAT! Next he attempts to fly like the Kookaburra, yet again he's met with defeat. KERSPLAT! Over and over again, the little Platypus strives to prove he can keep up with the animals and that he truly does belong. Time and time again his efforts are unsuccessful. He is similar to all of them in a way, but he isn't exactly like any of the Outback animals. It's this realization that breaks the little Platypus's heart and brings tears to his eyes.

When finally wise Old Bandicoot happens by he is able to once and for all put a name to the fuzzy duck looking creature. He is a Platypus. Unfortunately though, this is where Old Bandicoot's knowledge stops. He knows what the lost creature is, but not where he belongs. Picking up on the opportunity for a fun play on words, Blue Tongued Skink contrives the nickname Kersplatypus for his new furry friend. Since with every attempt he made to follow in the steps of one of the other creatues he ended up going "KERSPLAT!" it seems an all too fitting name.

Soon after, Kersplatypus sets out on a walkabout to try to help himself recall something- anything- about where he belongs. And it doesn't take long before our dear little Kersplatypus finds the water and senses home.

Children will love this sweet story, and undoubtedly will ask you to read it over and over again. If not for the story itself then for the cute illustrations by Sherry Rogers. (The page with the Platypus crying is just absolutely adorable. He looks so sad and helpless. :( ) Each one is done impressively, and the animals seem to come alive on the pages.

Parents/Educators will love it not only because it is a fun story in general, but because it will lead its readers to to recognize and accept diversity. Opening young reader's eyes to the wildlife in another place (This of course only applies if you don't live in Australia.) will encourage and inspire them to learn more. There is also a "Creative Minds" section at the back of the book that allows readers to learn more fun facts about the Platypus. There's an activity page and short quiz where they can learn more about each of the Outback animals featured in the story. There's a section where the author discusses animal classifcation (plants, animals, mammal, reptile, etc), and then gives the reader a chance to try his or her own hand at classifying the animals from the story. Since the story itself tied this in through the other animals trying to figure out what kind of animal Platypus is, I think this is a really neat feature. Last but not least, there is also a short question section that inspires the reader to consider the story, and to do so on a level of "Bully vs Friend". I think this is a great way to encourage conversation with young readers to help them learn basic social skills, and to help reinforce the age old idea of treating others like you'd like to be treated.

(Thanks to Sara at Sylvan Dell for this wonderful review opportunity.)

OUR RATING: 5 hearts

Always and Everywhere by Laura Bowman

Always and Everywhere by Laura Bowman
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8 approx
Published By: CreateSpace.com (independent)
Publication Date: October 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0615230672

When I discovered this book online a few weeks back, I made a post here to help spread the word about it. Written for her dear friend Margie and her family, Laura created the book as a way to both commemorize her dear friend's life and impact on her children, and to give encouragement to them all. You see, Margie is fighting a heartbreaking battle against breast cancer. And while she has no intentions of giving up the fight any time soon, when the time does come for her to move on from this world she wants her children to remember that even though she won't be physically with them she'll always be here in spirit. Isn't that a beautiful way to look at it? I personally hadn't read it, but the book's content and the story behind it was so moving that I felt it sounded like one truly worth promoting. It was then that Susan, the kind and generous director at Always and Everywhere, having seen my blog post, contacted me regarding receiving a copy of my very own. So, it is with much thanks to Susan, Laura, and Margie that I am now able to post my very own review.

Set in a normal every day world where kids will be kids and questions will be asked, Laura tackles one of the toughest subjects. What happens when you lose someone you love? Done in a beautiful and very simplified manner, Laura never actually uses the words death or loss. Rather, she skips gently to the topic of angels. Those slightly older readers will probably grasp the concept without help, but the younger ones in the group will still learn great lessons from the book even if they don't necessarily make all the connections.

The point of the story is that everyday- always and everywhere- those we love are with us. If not in body they are with us in spirit, and they'll always be with us through the lessons they've taught us and morals they've instilled in us.

Always and Everywhere was everything I'd expected and more. The children John, Mark, and Claire go about their daily routines, and at set intervals stop to inquire about something unseen but felt, unheard but noticed, forgotten yet not gone completely. They learn to slow down and live in the moment, to enjoy the simple joys life has to offer, to hold tight to their dreams and never let go, and they learn that they are never truly alone. In short, there's always more going on than meets the eye; so never take any of it for granted.

I absolutely loved this book. The way the author chose to put forth her friend's story on paper and canvas (She also painted the illustrations.) was both moving and beautiful. No matter what point your child is at in life's circle, I think this is a wonderful book filled with great reminders that even we parents can benefit from.



OUR RATING: 5 hearts

Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot- FREE Online

Wanted to let you know that anyone who is interested can currently read Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries, in its entirity for free, online at Harper Collins' website. Click below to check it out!

The Secret History of Giants- BOOK GIVEAWAY

The time has come, my friends, for me to host my very first ever Ready Set Read Reviews book giveaway! It's unfortunately not something I can afford to do all the time, but Candlewick Press has ever so generously donated a brand new hardcopy of Professor Ari Berk's The Secret History of Giants for me to giveaway here on my blog.

Because I haven't read the book, I can't post a review. However, I can say that, after having taken a quick peek between the covers, that it looks like a really cool book. From the textured front cover to the incredibly detailed illustrations to the neat surprises included on many of the pages. It just looks like a fun book!

Here's what the publisher has to say about it...

Ancient Greece had its Titans, the Celts their Green Knight, the Bible Goliath -- and for those who know where to look, signs of these legendary hulking creatures still abound. Now comes a hugely engrossing chronicle of
giants since antiquity, from their role in forming mountains and causing earthquakes to the mysteries of their sacks (watch out for hitchhiking humans); from their means of employment (how did the Druids built Stonehenge?) to an extensive map of places around the world where giants may likely be found. Exhaustive and lushly illustrated, this enormously valuable resource is sure to fascinate all who open its covers.

Special features include:

• sundry flaps, booklets, and gatefolds
• a lavish foiled and embossed cover
• an elegant tassel dangling from the spine

Are there giants among us? Find their story writ large in a lavish exploration touching on folklore and myth, truth and whimsy.

If you live in the US and think this book sounds like something you'd be interested in winning for yourself or a special child in your life, please leave me a comment here telling me about your favorite folklore or mythical creature.

For extra entries readers can do one or all of the following:

• Subscribe to my e-mail updates (link can be found on right side column)


• Follow me here at Ready Set Read Reviews (link can be found on right side column)


• Stumble either this post or the main Ready Set Read Reviews page and comment back with your Stumble ID


• Add my button (found on right side coloum) to your blog roll


• Mention this giveaway on your blog by creating a new post linking back to me

Please come back and leave a new comment for each new entry. (Please include links.)

With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up next week, I'm going to leave this open for entries through Friday December 5th. I'll then do an online random draw to determine which lucky reader will be taking home this prize just in time for Christmas.

Due to cost of postage, US entries ONLY on this first giveaway. I'll see how it goes, and then consider my options again in the future.

~Thanks~

Always and Everywhere... a book with a cause

Most of the time when we as readers determine to buy a book it's based on some trivial reason such as price, appeal, etc. We buy the book, the author makes some money of it, and so do several people in between. Now there's nothing at all wrong with this process of elimination, and there is certainly nothing wrong with the chain of command as that's the nature of the business. But, what if there was a book that looked interesting and inspiring, was very reasonably priced, and was written and being sold for a totally selfless cause? Would this cause you to pause and take note? If it would, then get ready to put everything on hold for just a few moments, because I have a book I'd like to suggest to you.

Always and Everywhere by Laura Bowman

I have personally never seen or read this book except for what I'm about to share with you here online. Infact, I only just discovered it myself tonight while browsing some of my favorite blogs. Just reading the author's introduction on the site though has me thinking this is a book worth promoting. I'd absolutely love to read it too, but will have to wait til I have some extra money to pick up a copy. If anyone should read it, based on this post referral, before I get a chance to, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

From http://www.alwaysandeverywhere.org/-

Author and illustrator, Laura Bowman, created Always and Everywhere to help a dear friend in need. Margie LaSalle was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. The book is intended to raise funds for Margie and her family. The LaSalle family, including husband Chris and children, John Mark and Claire, currently live in a two bedroom condominium. The stairs throughout their current home are difficult for Margie to negotiate due to the pain associated with the cancer in her bones. The LaSalle’s are in need of funds to help cover medical expenses and to assist in moving expenses. Proceeds from Always and Everywhere will assist in these initiatives.

Always and Everywhere features John Mark and Claire, Margie’s two children. The book revolves around a series of questions from the children, and reassuring responses from their mom. The final question, regarding the existence of angels, provides reinforcement that we are never alone. For the children who are facing, or have faced, the loss of a Mother; Always and Everywhere is a reminder that Mom is always with you in the lessons that she taught and her spirit is eternal.

So, if the sound of this book or the drive behind it inspires you, there's no better time to order the special child(ren) in your life a copy than right now. Doing so will not only help promote the love of reading I hope all of you are trying to instill in your child(ren), but you'll also be helping out a very worthy cause in the process.

If you've read this far, THANK YOU!

One last side note, if anyone reading this lives in the Atlanta, GA area or knows of anyone who does, there's a Book Launch party coming up soon.

Thursday, November 20th from 5 - 9 PM @ the Mason Murer Projects in Buckhead
There will be: Live music, book signings, and silent auction of the original artwork from the book (Which is stunning, by the way.) Please go to the artwork section for information about bidding and to view the paintings.
All proceeds go to the Margie LaSalle Cancer Fund

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? by Jane Yolen & Mark Teague
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: The Blue Sky Press (Scholastic)
Publication Date: February 2003
ISBN-13: 978-0439241007

Jane Yolen is an author we've read many times, and I'm certain we must have read one or two of her other Dinosaur books. Yet, for the life of me I couldn't begin to tell you which or when. Hmpf. Guess that means I need to be on the look out for more books in this series when my 3 year old and I hit the library Monday. Why?, you ask. Because this was a stinkin' cute book.

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? is a beautifully illustrated fun look at what it might be like if human parents had dinosaurs for children. And we're not talking about just any old dinosaurs. No, we're talking about SICK dinosaurs. Just like real kids, the dinosaurs in this book don't seem to be keen on taking medicine, visiting the doctor, getting rest, and all the other things that go hand in hand with getting over a cold or sicky bug.

Each dinosaur is fighting his parent for the upper hand. Stubborn like any child forced to do anything they don't want to do, especially when sick, none of the dinosaurs in this book want to do what their mommies and daddies tell them will help make them better. But, much to this mother's delight, Yolen turns things around at the end of the story and shows the kids that even dinosaurs can follow the rules so that they can get better quickly.

Yolen does a fantastic job of making the scenes and setting realistic, so her young readers will be easily able to pick up on the similarities she's trying to draw attention to in regards to how the dinosaurs act and how most young children act when it comes to being sick. Perhaps kiddos everywhere reading this book will suddenly realize that nobody, not even big scary dinosaurs, likes to go through the process of recovering from being sick. It's unpleasant and yucky, yet if the dinosaurs decided they had to listen to their mommies, daddies, and doctors (and they're WAY bigger than all of them) then maybe the kiddos will realize they can do it to.

Mark Teague, the illustrator, has come up with some great, eye catching illustrations for this one. Each of his dinosaurs has a great expression on its face; so there's no doubting what he's feeling or thinking. Likewise, each dinosaur is, over all, very detailed and realistic looking (in that obviously illustrated way). Younger kids might not catch on or care much, but Teague has even managed to incorporate the name of each kind of dinosaur somewhere within it's own two page spread.

Great story, great illustrations, a book I can see picking up over and over again.

Last but not least... I'm not sure if this is a feature that comes with all the copies of this book or if it's maybe just with the hardback releases, however, the copy we borrowed from the library came with a read along audio cd. Read by the author, Yolen does a wonderful job of inflecting her voice and making the story fun to listen to. With two follow along formats to choose from, young readers can opt for either a version with a "turn the page" que or one without. My 3 year old wasn't interested in listening to the cd version as she was content to have mommy read it to her. I think I'll try sitting my 5 year old down with it later though. I'm sure she'd have a blast reading along with the author.


OUR RATING: 5 hearts

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: Charlesbridge Publishing
Publication Date: June 2006
ISBN-13: 978-1570914980

It's that time of year again. The leaves are beginning to change colors, and a chill is most certainly in the air. What better time to pick up a book about, you guessed it, Fall?!

Leaf Jumpers is about just that. Young readers will enjoy following along with this brother sister duo as they make a learning adventure out of yard clean up. As the children work to rake all the fallen leaves from the grass, they stop to notice each one's shape, size, and color. From the common oak leave to the more peculiar ginko leave. Readers will enjoy the bright array of colors and rhyming story that they won't even realize they're actually having a mini biology lesson and learning something too. My 3 year old loves this one, and I'm just waiting for her to start naming out the leaves the next time she happens upon them outside. That'll be a proud mommy moment for sure.

What kid, who lives in a climate where the leaves change colors and fall off the trees, hasn't experienced the fun of raking all the fallen leaves up, only to turn around and send them flying from their neat piles with a hearty jump and roll? Seriously, I believe this should be a requirement for all kids. There's just nothing quite like the crisp air, combined with a big full pile of crunchy leaves to inspire a child- or an adult, for that matter- to want to throw caution to the wind and live a little. JuMp!

OUR RATING: 5 hearts

Plaidypus Lost by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel

Plaidypus Lost by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: Holiday House
Publication Date: March 2004
ISBN-13: 978-0823415618

This is a book my kindergartener came home from school talking about a few weeks ago. Her teacher had read it to them during story time, and she just thought it was the best story. I, having never heard of it before, decided I had to see what all the hype was about. So, off to the library I went, and low and behold there was a well loved copy on the shelf. Naturally, I grabbed it like it was gold, nevermind that there wasn't another soul even in the kid's section with me. I wasn't about to lose out on it though, and was bound and determined to get it in to my 3 year old's pile as quickly as humanly possible.

I have to say, my 5 year old's hype was spot on. This book was incredibly cute, and actually struck a cord with me as we often have our own "Hippo Lost" and "Cow Lost" moments. Hippo is Jo's lovey that she's had since she was 4mos old, and Cow is Joc's lovey she's had since the day she was born. Both go everywhere with us, and both inexplainably disappear on a daily basis.

Darn! Why didn't I think to write the book?! LOL

"Plaidypus Lost. Plaidypus Found. This story goes around and around."

Yep, that about sums it up, but how about just a little more detail?

Plaidypus belongs to a little girl whose grandma made him out of grandpa's old shirt and buttons. He's big, he's lumpy, he's goofy looking, and he's absolutely and completely loved. Plaidypus goes sliding and swinging with his little girl at the park, rides in the cart at the grocery store, and goes swimming with her in the lake. But each time he goes out with his little girl she ends up distracted and forgets all about him until later when she realizes he's lost. Luckily, each time she is able to retrace her steps, and eventually finds her beloved Plaidypus.

However, one day while pretending to have Plaidypus fly in the car, they hit a bump and Plaidypus really does fly- right out the car window. His girl looks and looks, but Plaidypus is no where to be found. Sad and distraught, she decides the best idea she has left is to make posters in hopes that someone will recognize the picture of Plaidypus and send him home.

Days pass, and Plaidypus doesn't return. Then one day, there's a knock on the door. When the little girl opens it, she finds a brown sack with her sweet Plaidypus stuffed inside. Only, now her Plaidypus doesn't look quite the same. He's hurt, torn, and missing pieces. His girl is upset, yet she knows just what to do. Grandma made and gave her her Plaidypus, so surely she can make him well again. And, in the end, that's just what she does.

Plaidypus Lost was a sweet story. One I reckon most any parent can relate to on some level. It might not be a homemade Plaidypus, but undoubtedly there's been some other stuffed lovey, silky, blankie, or what-not. Whatever the case may be, I'm near positive that most parents will agree with me in saying that Plaidypus Lost or a variation thereof, could have been written by any of us. For me, the recurring line would be...

"Hippo/Cow Lost. Hippo/Cow Found. This story goes around and around." :P

Both the girls and I thought this story was well worth the read. The words were catchy and fun to read, plus the story itself made you feel happy inside when all was said and done. And the oversized hardback provided big, bold illustrations that while not my favorites were appropriate enough for the story.

Last but not least, I enjoyed that there was an underlying message with this one. That message is what I'm always looking for in kid's books. I mean, you can have a great story that's totally fun and nothing more, but it's nice to have a story with even a subtle good message incorporated. For Plaidypus Lost I'd say that message was that we (kids and adults alike) need to pay better attention to the world around us and take good care of the things we have, especially those we hold dear. Poor little Plaidypus was well loved, but because his little girl was not careful enough with him she ended up nearly losing him for good. Even when she did get him back he'd been damaged and wasn't the same as he'd been before. It's true she was able to have him fixed, but such a simple solution isn't always possible.

In short, I liked that the book taught kids that while it's okay to have fun and really enjoy the things we've been given and blessed with, that we must also never stop being responsible for and taking care of those things.

OUR RATING: 4 hearts

Teen FIRST Blog Tour: Ripple Effect (Time Thriller Trilogy, Book One) by Paul McCusker

I realize that the below post says that it's the 21st, and it would have been if my power hadn't been out. It figures, the first month I get to participate in the Teen FIRST blog tour, my power is out for the day. Oi vey. So, I'm really sorry this is late. However, as the old adage goes, better late than never. ;) ~Rebekah

It's the 21st, time for the Teen FIRST blog tour!(Join our alliance! Click the button!) Every 21st, we will feature an author and his/her latest Teen fiction book's FIRST chapter!

Paul McCusker

and his book:

Ripple Effect (Time Thriller Trilogy, Book 1)

Zondervan (October 1, 2008)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Paul McCusker is the author of The Mill House, Epiphany, The Faded Flower and several Adventures in Odyssey programs. Winner of the Peabody Award for his radio drama on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for Focus on the Family, he lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and two children.

Product Details

List Price: $9.99
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (October 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310714362
ISBN-13: 978-0310714361


AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

“I’m running away,” Elizabeth announced defiantly. She chomped a french fry in half.

Jeff looked up at her. He’d been absentmindedly swirling his straw in his malted milkshake while she complained about her parents, which she had been doing for the past half hour. “You’re what?”

“You weren’t listening, were you?”

“I was too.”

“Then what did I say?” Elizabeth tucked a loose strand of her long brown hair behind her ear so it wouldn’t fall into the puddle of ketchup next to her fries.

“You were complaining about how your mom and dad drive you crazy because your dad embarrassed you last night while you and Melissa Morgan were doing your history homework. And your dad lectured you for twenty minutes about . . . about . . .” He was stumped.

“Chris-tian symbolism in the King Arthur legends,” Elizabeth said.

“Yeah, except that you and Melissa were supposed to be studying the . . . um — ”

“French Revolution.”

“Right, and Melissa finally made up an excuse to go home, and you were embarrassed and mad at your dad — ”

“As usual,” she said and savaged another french fry.

Jeff gave a sigh of relief. Elizabeth’s pop quizzes were a lot tougher than anything they gave him at school. But it was hard for him to listen when she griped about her parents. Not having any parents of his own, Jeff didn’t connect when Elizabeth went on and on about hers.

“Then what did I say?” she asked.

He was mid-suck on his straw and nearly blew the contents back into the glass. “Huh?”

“What did I say after that?”

“You said . . . uh . . .” He coughed, then glanced around the Fawlt Line Diner, hoping for inspiration or a way to change the subject. His eye was dazzled by the endless chrome, beveled mirrors, worn red upholstery, and checkered floor tiles. And it boasted Alice Dempsey, the world’s oldest living waitress, dressed in her paper cap and red-striped uniform with white apron.

She had seen Jeff look up and now hustled over to their booth. She arrived smelling like burnt hamburgers and chewed her gum loudly. “You kids want anything else?”

Rescued, Jeff thought. “No, thank you,” he said.

She cracked an internal bubble on her gum and dropped the check on the edge of the table. “See you tomorrow,” Alice said.

“No, you won’t,” Elizabeth said under her breath. “I won’t be here.”

As she walked off, Alice shot a curious look back at Elizabeth. She was old, but she wasn’t deaf.

“Take it easy,” Jeff said to Elizabeth.

“I’m going to run away,” she said, heavy rebuke in her tone. “If you’d been listening — ”

“Aw, c’mon, Bits — ” Jeff began. He’d called her “Bits” for as long as either of them could remember, all the way back to first grade. “It’s not that bad.”

“You try living with my mom and dad, and tell me it’s not that bad.”

“I know your folks,” Jeff said. “They’re a little quirky, that’s all.”

“Quirky! They’re just plain weird. They’re clueless about life in the real world. Did you know that my dad went to church last Sunday with his shirt on inside out?”

“It happens.”

“And wearing his bedroom slippers?”

Jeff smiled. Yeah, that’s Alan Forde, all right, he thought.

“Don’t you dare smile,” Elizabeth threatened, pointing a french fry at him. “It’s not funny. His slippers are grass stained. Do you know why?”

“Because he does his gardening in his bedroom slippers.”

Elizabeth threw up her hands. “That’s right! He doesn’t care. He doesn’t care how he looks, what -people think of him, or anything! And my mom doesn’t even have the decency to be embarrassed for him. She thinks he’s adorable! They’re weird.”

“They’re just . . . themselves. They’re — ”

Elizabeth threw herself against the back of the red vinyl bench and groaned. “You don’t understand.”

“Sure I do!” Jeff said. “Your parents are no worse than Malcolm.” Malcolm Dubbs was Jeff’s father’s cousin, on the English side of the family, and had been Jeff’s guardian since his parents had died five years ago in a plane crash. As the last adult of the Dubbs family line, he came from England to take over the family fortune and estate. “He’s quirky.”

“But that’s different. Malcolm is nice and sensitive and has that wonderful English accent,” Elizabeth said, nearly swooning. Jeff’s cousin was a heartthrob among some of the girls.

“Don’t get yourself all worked up,” Jeff said.

“My parents just go on and on about things I don’t care about,” she continued. “And if I hear the life-can’t-be-taken-too-seriously-because-it’s-just-a-small-part-of-a-bigger-picture lecture one more time, I’ll go out of my mind.”

Again Jeff restrained his smile. He knew that lecture well. Except his cousin Malcolm summarized the same idea in the phrase “the eternal perspective.” All it meant was that there was a lot more to life than what we can see or experience with our senses. This world is a temporary stop on a journey to a truer, more real reality, he’d say — an eternal reality. “Look, your parents see things differently from most -people. That’s all,” Jeff said, determined not to turn this gripe session into an Olympic event.

“They’re from another planet,” Elizabeth said. “Sometimes I think this whole town is. Haven’t you figured it out yet?”

“I like Fawlt Line,” Jeff said softly, afraid Elizabeth’s complaints might offend some of the other regulars at the diner.

“Everybody’s so . . . so oblivious! Nobody even seems to notice how strange this place is.”

Jeff shrugged. “It’s just a town, Bits. Every town has its quirks.”

“Is that your word of the day?” Elizabeth snapped. “These aren’t just quirks, Jeffrey.”

Jeff rolled his eyes. When she resorted to calling him Jeffrey, there was no reasoning with her. He rubbed the side of his face and absentmindedly pushed his fingers through his wavy black hair.

“What about Helen?” Elizabeth challenged him.

“Which Helen? You mean the volunteer at the information booth in the mall? That Helen?”

“I mean Helen the volunteer at the information booth in the mall who thinks she’s psychic. That’s who I mean.” Elizabeth leaned over the Formica tabletop. Jeff moved her plate of fries and ketchup to one side. “She won’t let you speak until she guesses what you’re going to ask. And she’s never right!”

Jeff shrugged.

“Our only life insurance agent has been dead for six years.”

“Yeah, but — ”

“And there’s Walter Keenan. He’s a professional proofreader for park bench ads! He wanders around, making -people move out of the way so he can do his job.” Her voice was a shrill whisper.

“Ben Hearn only pays him to do that because he feels sorry for him. You know old Walter hasn’t been the same since that shaving accident.”

“But I heard he just got a job doing the same thing at a tattoo parlor!”

“I’m sure tattooists want to make sure their spelling is correct.”

Elizabeth groaned and shook her head. “It’s like Mayberry trapped in the Twilight Zone. I thought you’d understand. I thought you knew how nuts this town is.” Elizabeth locked her gaze onto Jeff’s.

He gazed back at her and, suddenly, the image of her large brown eyes, the faint freckles on her upturned nose, her full lips, made him want to kiss her. He wasn’t sure why — they’d been friends for so long that she’d probably laugh at him if he ever actually did it — but the urge was still there.

“It’s not such a bad place,” he managed to say.

“I’ve had enough of this town,” she said. “Of my parents. Of all the weirdness. I’m fifteen years old and I wanna be a normal kid with normal problems. Are you coming with me or not?”

Jeff cocked an eyebrow. “To where?”

“To wherever I run away to,” she replied. “I’m serious about this, Jeff. I’m getting all my money together and going somewhere normal. We can take your Volkswagen and — ”

“Listen, Bits,” Jeff interrupted, “I know how you feel. But we can’t just run away. Where would we go? What would we do?”

“And who are you all of a sudden: Mr. Responsibility? You never know where you’re going or what you’re doing. You’re our very own Huck Finn.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Not according to Mr. Vidler.”

“Mr. Vidler said that?” Jeff asked defensively, wondering why their English teacher would be talking about him to Elizabeth.

“He says it’s because you don’t have parents, and Malcolm doesn’t care what you do.”

Jeff grunted. He didn’t like the idea of Mr. Vidler discussing him like that. And Malcolm certainly cared a great deal about what he did.

Elizabeth continued. “So why should you care where we go or what we do? Let’s just get out of here.”

“But, Bits, it’s stupid and — ”

“No! I’m not listening to you,” Elizabeth shouted and hit the tabletop with the palms of her hands. Silence washed over the diner like a wave as everyone turned to look.

“Keep it down, will you?” Jeff whispered fiercely.

“Either you go with me, or stay here and rot in this town. It’s up to you.”

Jeff looked away. It was unusual for them to argue. And when they did, it was usually Jeff who gave in. Like now. “I don’t know,” he said quietly.

Elizabeth also softened her tone. “If you’re going, then meet me at the Old Saw Mill by the edge of the river tonight at ten.” She paused, then added, “I’m going whether you come with me or not.”

Pumpkinhead by Eric Rohmann

Generally speaking, I seem to have a pretty good ability to discern, just by looking at the cover and reading the synopsis, whether or not I'll like a book. I can do this with both the books I read to my kids and the ones I read for myself. Which is why I believe I rarely read a book that I end up giving a low rating. I simply tend to weed those books out during the initial selection process before they ever even end up sitting on my own personal TBR shelf. I'm only human, however, and so I do occasionally miss the mark.

With all the 5 heart reviews I've posting here, I thought it might serve me well to show everyone that it is indeed possible for me to give a less than perfect satisfaction rating. I have a couple of others that I will try to post here in the next few days, but since I only had a few minutes and this was one I'd written previously I decided I'd go ahead and share it now. Be fore warned though, this is probably the most harsh I've ever written. Thank God I don't find many that I end up rating this way. I'd feel awful.

Pumpkinhead by Eric Rohmann
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2003
ISBN-13: 978-0375824166

This is the most disturbing children's book I've ever read. And judging by the other reviews I've seen online for it, I must be one of the only ones that absolutely hated this book. Strange. To be perfectly honest, I found the whole idea behind the Pumpkinhead story to be completely disturbing, especially when the book is geared at preschool age children.

This story is about a little boy born with a human body and a jack-o-lantern head. One day while he's outside a bird swoops down and grabs Pumpkinhead's head from his body, and then flies off with it. Throughout the book the head travels by way of a second party (bird, fisherman, etc) until it winds up on sale at produce stand. It's here that the mother discovers the pumpkin head, and immediately snatches it back up after recognizing it as her son's.

The book goes as far as to say that the parent's had kept the boy's body in a "cool dry place" while they waiting in hopes of finding his head. I'm sorry, but that's just creepy and disgusting. I will say that the rhyming nature of the book was fun and enjoyable, but the storyline itself was just horrid. There is no way I would ever recommend this book. Infact, our copy is buried around here somewhere because I simply couldn't bring myself to pass it along for any other child to read, and it certainly wasn't going to remain on my daughters' shelves. It was just that bad. :(

OUR RATING: 1 Heart (and that's only because there is no ZERO)

Where's My Mummy? by Carolyn Crimi

Where's My Mummy? by Carolyn Crimi
Geared Towards: Ages 4-7
Published By: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: July 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0763631963

I was so excited to open up my door this morning and find an envelope from Candlewick Press waiting for me. Thank you so much to the wonderful Nicole Deming over at CP who sent me this great book for review. My oldest daughter wasn't home at the time (Because it's Fall break here, and she was off playing at a friend's house.), but my soon to be 3 year old was thrilled when she saw mommy open the package and pull out this super cute looking book. So, naturally, we had to sit right down and read it. (And sissy had her turn when she got home.)

Where's My Mummy? is the tale of Little Baby Mummy, and what happens when he wants to play one quick game of Hide-and-Shriek with his Mama Mummy before bed.

Like with many little kids I know, when Little Baby Mummy's bedtime rolls around, he wants to do anything but crawl in to bed. So, he asks his Mama Mummy if they can play one last game of Hide-and-Shriek. However, when Mama doesn't immediately come find him Baby goes to look for her. In the process he ends up getting a bit lost in the dark, spooky woods, and as he does so he stumbles upon a few odd characters who, while friendly, are not his Mama.

My girls and I really thought this was a fun book to read anytime, but especially now with Halloween just around the corner. Little Baby Mummy is portrayed just as sweet and gentle as any other little kid would be. Lost in the spooky woods he wants to maintain the upperhand, and, just like a little boy trying to be macho, he has to keep saying to himself "I'm not scared." (In my head I could totally picture a real little boy lost and walking through the dark woods, saying this to himself even though you know it's all a front because he is terrified inside.) Even when he hears lots of scary noises like clinking, clanking, glubbing, flapping, rustling, and scratching Little Baby Mummy stays calm, calling out "Mama Mummy is that you?"

The story was really cute, and my girls thought the "spooky" monsters that Little Baby Mummy encountered were pretty comical. From the mommy perspective I liked how the author and illustrator worked together to take characters who, under normal circumstances, would be considered too scary for little kids and made them fun and likeable. Bones, the skeleton that Little Baby Mummy meets first, is brushing his teeth before bed and is caught while wearing nothing but his bathrobe and dice printed boxer shorts. Glob, the swamp monster, is in the swamp washing his face with soap and water before bed. And lastly, Drac, the vampire, is washing and Q-tipping his ears while wearing his bat jammies and fuzzy slippers. Each of these characters could be really scary, but the way they've been portrayed they're more silly than anything. In other words, they perfectly fit the feel of this book without being too eerie.

Oh, and my 5 year old got a huge kick out of the one thing that finally made Little Baby Mummy scream out and call for Mama. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read it yet, so I won't say more here. Let's just say though that I think it was a very clever choice of direction for the author to take.

I think this would be a wonderful addition to any little one's library. Even though she's just a week shy of turning 3, and is therein still a year younger than the publisher recommended age for this title, my youngest had no trouble staying tuned in as I read the story. Then after we finished reading it together she decided to look through it again on her own, and each time she turned to one of the pages where Little Baby Mummy discovered the one making the noise wasn't his Mama, my daughter would say "You're not my mummy!" Just like in the story.

Last but not least, I have to give props to John Manders, the illustrator of this adorable look into a night in the life of a little mummy. Who knew, that by giving it just a few well thought out brilliant pops of color, you could make a frightening place like the dark woods or even a cemetary at night feel interesting and scary without being over the top scary? And Little Baby Mummy, as simply drawn as he was, had the most expressive face to match his attitude from page to page. You could look at him and know that he was really feeling the whimsy, curiosity, frustration, fear, and love that the author indicates in the story.

Where's My Mummy? was a lighthearted and entertaining read that is guaranteed to get lots of wear and enjoyment in this house.

OUR RATING: 5 Hearts

Trucks by Patricia Hubbell

Trucks by Patricia Hubbell
Geared Towards: Baby-Preschool
Published By: Marshall Cavendish
Publication Date: March 2003
ISBN-13: 978-0761451242

Readers who have or are girls themselves might not initially think to pick this book up off the shelf since the subject matter seems like a decidedly more boyish theme. However, I can speak from experience, as the mother of two little girls, when I say, boy or girl, young children will delight in this fun rhyming book all about trucks. Trucks big and small travel the pages of this book as Hubbell describes them from color, to size, to what they carry, and what sounds they make. Coupled with some very creative illustrations, Trucks makes you want to read it again and again. Infact, you really have to just to take it all in.

The online age recommendation for this one was baby to preschool. I'd have to say though that it's certainly suitable and engaging enough for not just early readers but for those up to ages 7-8 as well. Younger kids will enjoy just listening to the catchy story and taking in the pictures. Older readers will get a kick out of the clever play on words the illustrator uses for each of the company names on the vehicles. And if you look closely you're bound to get a laugh out of the people, er um.. creatures, driving the trucks. For example, there's a cow driving the dairy truck and a penguin driving the snow plow.

I know that this author has written several other kids books that also deal with a transportation theme, and I hope they're as entertaining as this one was to read and look through. I know my girls and I weren't disappointed this go round.

OUR RATING: 5 hearts

And the Cow Said Moo! by Mildred Phillips

And the Cow Said Moo! by Mildred Phillips
Geared Towards: Baby-Preschool
Published By: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: May 2000
ISBN-13: 978-0688168025

Here we have a book that has actually been out for several years (8+ to be exact) that I had never heard of before. That's not to say that I'm aware of every book ever published. However, seeing as I discovered it at the library and we've spent so much time there since my oldest daughter was born 5+ years ago, I found it amazing that I'd never happened across it before. I'm glad though that after all this time it finally found me and me it. What a cute book!

In And the Cow Said Moo! a young calf receives an early morning visit from each of his farm friends. As each animal stops by to say 'hello', cow cries out "Good morning, _________. Say Moo! Say Moo! If I say Moo, why don't you?" Because cow is so young, he doesn't understand that not everyone speaks 'moo'. So each animal visitor explains to cow that it doesn't moo, and then proceeds to show cow what noise it does make. No matter how many animals parade by to greet the calf (there are six in all), he still asks each why they don't moo back to him.

Finally, his last visitor, an owl, explains to the little cow that everybody is different and we all can't be the same. "Now if I said MOO, and you said Whoooo, you'd be me and I'd be you!" The calf is then able to grasp the concept of being different. And as he imagines all of his animal friends mixed up with each other (the wrong heads on the wrong bodies) he realizes the importance of each animal being just as they are.

This book was so much fun to read. From the lilting text to the cheerful and funny illustrations, this is one I want to read over and over again. Not only was it just a cute story in general, but I really felt the author conveyed a great message to her readers. Individual identity is important, and while it's wonderful to be the same as others, you don't always have to be exactly alike. Each of us has our own unique characteristics and tastes which makes life all the more interesting.

Due to the way Phillips wrote each animal's dialog, And the Cow Said Moo! can easily be converted from a normal "one reads while others listen" style book to one that allows audience participation. Both my 2 year old and my 5 year old loved this story, but I think they enjoyed it all the more simply because they got to help call out the animals sounds. For this particular point alone, I would definitely recommend this book for teachers or librarians who want a story to read in a group storytime setting. I personally am hoping to get my hands on my very own copy of this book, and then I'd love to go in and read it to my daughter's kindergarten class. I can hear the excited shouts of participation ringing in my ears already.

OUR RATING: 5 hearts

Baby Animals by Jim Pipe

Baby Animals by Jim Pipe
Geared Towards: Ages 4-8
Published By: Stargazer Books
Publication Date: January 2007 (reprint- library binding)
ISBN- 13: 978-1596041110

Part of the "Read and Play" book line from Stargazer, Baby Animals is one I'd certainly recommend for parents/educators with children as young as 1 or 2, not just the 4-8 yrs age group as suggested in the publisher information. While the younger of the group would not be able to read the book themselves, obviously, they would most definitely be drawn to the clear, close up animal pictures (such as puppies, kittens, lambs, piggies, and more) featured throughout. Likewise, this would be an excellent training tool to help teach these younger, not quite there yet, readers the names of the baby animals.

With a simple text and featured word blocks, older children who are new or learning readers will easily be able to navigate through the book on their own or with minimal help. Phrases on each page concisely refer to the animal pictured, and help the young child learn the baby animal names and occasionally a very basic fact about the animal.

Upon coming to the end, readers will find the "play" portion of this book which entails three quick games. The first inspires the child to recall visual details about four of the featured animals as he/she is asked to match the animal name to its pictured part. The second shows a picture of an animal included in the story, and asks the young reader to count the number of babies. Next there are four of the featured animals pictured, and the reader is asked to make the sound each animal would make. Lastly, on the index page, there are several images pictured from in the book, and the child is asked to find the pages each picture was on.

I loved how this book prompts the reader to use his/her mind, even if he/she is not of reading age. A child as young as 1 or 2 won't grasp the counting aspect on that particular quiz, but he/she will most definitely be able to begin recognizing the animals by sight and with help learning the noises each makes. The older kids can practice their memorization skills and counting skills as well. And don't let the learning and play stop there. Flip to the Parent/Teacher guide located on the last page of the book. Listed there are several themed tie in questions and activities that one can use to continue teaching, quizing, and playing with their kids even after you've finished reading the book.

Final thoughts...

I read this today with my 2 year old, and she absolutely loved it. As suspected, she was drawn to the animal pictures, quickly began displaying her knowledge by rattling off the names of the adult animals, and the animal's sound. She needed help with several of the names in their baby form, but that's exactly the point of this book- to teach the baby names to the child. At the end of the story, we were able to do all three activities included in the "play" section. We worked together on the counting one, but the rest she did on her own. So, yes, while referenced as being for children 4+, I stick to my guns about believing there's no reason a younger child couldn't enjoy and benefit from this book.

OUR RATING: 5 Hearts