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***

Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day! by Dandi Daley Mackall

Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day! by Dandi Daley Mackall

Geared Towards: Ages 6-9

Published By: Zonderkidz

Publication Date: May 2009

ISBN: 978-0-3107-1566-5

With my oldest daughter, now five, reading at about a second to third grade level, I am always looking for great chapter books that she can read on her own. I look for books that aren't too advanced, yet ones that will still be something more substantial than your basic beginning reader. This is exactly what I was hoping to find when given the opportunity to preview and review Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day! by Dandi Daley Mackall. Guess what, folks? It was!

Readers who remember enjoying the popular juvenile fiction series about Ramona Quimby should most definitely add this book to their TBR (to-be-read) list. The first in a new series, That's Nat!, by Zonderkidz and, more specifically, Dandi Daley Mackall, this is a book that I simply could not get enough of. I have incredibly great expectations for the series, as it comes together, as a whole, and I can hardly wait for the next book to release.

Even as an adult, I found I was so excited to read Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day! because the cover illustration was cute and the story sounded like something that I could have written about my own girls. Having read it, I am even more excited to let my daughter(s) have a go at it. My only worry about introducing the ever big hearted Natalie, star of the series, to my own daughters is that she has an uncanny way of getting herself in to quite the mess. I'd hate for my kiddos to be inspired by her, in the wrong ways, and repeat the five year old's off the wall "of the heart" mishaps. (LOL)

"What", you might ask, "is the book about?" To find the answer to that question, readers need look no further than the title of the book itself. Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day! is all about how one little girl, aka Natalie, strives from the very first moment in the morning until the very last moment of the night to do something truly remarkable, amazing, and wonderful for her parents. She's an utter sweetheart, but despite Natalie's best intentions everything she sets her hand to goes wrong in some fashion or another. It starts with her trying to make her mom and dad some grape omel-nats (grape omelets) for breakfast. Then the day quickly goes down hill as one by one, from her attempts at prettying up the bathroom and dad's Sunday church shoes to rescuing her friends the ants, Natalie's grandious schemes fall flat. More so, they don't just fall flat. They crash and burn!

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Natalie and her parents because literally I could have written the book about my own daughter. The way Nat thinks and acts, the things she does, they are all things my daughter has it in her to do if she hasn't done them already. (LOL) Better yet is how spot on the author portrays the parents. Mom and Dad know Natalie doesn't try to create the trouble she finds herself in, but even having that knowledge does not stop mom and dad from getting upset and imposing punishments when necessary.

All Natalie wants is to do something really special- something one-of-a-kind special. She wants to do something that will make her mom and dad stand up and say "that's wonderful!" More than anything, she wants them to be pleasantly surprised by her endeavors. Alas, nothing goes quite as expected. What Natalie doesn't want is to upset her hurt her mom and dad; however, at the end of the day it feels like she's done nothing but disappoint them. She wants to make them proud, and she wants to feel important. But as Nat quickly discovers, being a five-year-old girl in a grown up world can be very stressful. This is why she finds it so reassuring that even when it seems the rest of the world is against her, God is on her side.

God is all around us, and I adore how seemlessly Mackall manages to work Him in to Natalie's story. In such easy to follow terms, Mackall touches on God's forgiveness, His love for us, even His creations. It's perfect because the way she has written Natalie to think is most certainly the way most children that are going to be reading this book will also think. How awesome to be able to introduce God or help establish God's presence in your child's life than through a light hearted read like Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day!?

OUR RATING: 5 hearts

Q & A with Tony Fucile- Let's Do Nothing!

To coincide with my earlier review, I thought it would be fun to share what Tony Fucile, author of the new picture book Let's Do Nothing!, had to say about this, his May 12, 2009, release.

Q. How and when did you become interested in art and animation?

A. I was lucky to have been exposed to some of the greatest animation at a very early age. We had a local TV cartoon host who showed early 1940s Looney Tunes, which were on the air every day after school. Those Bob Clampett Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons in particular just mesmerized me. Then came my first viewing of Pinocchio. Of all the movies I’ve seen in my lifetime, none compares to that one screening in terms of dramatic impact. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. I knew its characters weren’t “real,” but to me they were more alive than anything. Later came Ray Harryhausen’s wonderful stop-motion monsters, the Peanuts holiday specials, Chuck Jones, and Tex Avery. All of this is what inspired me to learn how to draw.


Q. How did you make the leap from films to books?

A. I spent most of my career in animation making hand-drawn animated features, as both an animator and a character designer. Pixar brought Brad Bird up to develop The Incredibles, and I came along to join the team, helping to create and build the characters and supervise animation. I was intrigued by the computer. It was an amazing experience, but I did miss drawing, and acting with drawings. In the meantime, the hand-drawn form of animating movies was slowly being phased out at all the studios, including Disney. A very sad development.

I had always wanted to make picture books, but thought it was something that would be very tough to break into. I had collected many little tidbits over the years that I thought would make fun books. I began developing an idea about a kid who climbs his huge grandfather like a mountain. But my wife spotted a review of The Daddy Mountain in the newspaper, and that was the end of that. It actually energized me. I thought to myself, Wow, the great Jules Feiffer thought this idea was worth making a book out of. Maybe I have a chance here!

Q. How is creating a book different from or similar to working on animation?

A. The biggest difference for me is the writing. In animation, I never wrote or worked in story. I was an animator. My responsibilities were similar to what an actor gives a director in a live-action film. I was addicted to it, the notion of breathing life into characters with a pencil and paper. Making this book was kind of like animating, but without the in-betweens. In an animation shot, we call it the “storytelling pose”— the single visual idea that must be conveyed to the audience, to connect them with what you’re trying to communicate. When you animate, you usually begin with that dominant pose or poses in mind. Let’s Do Nothing! is really a series of key animation storytelling poses. It scratches that animator itch in me that I’m afraid will never go away. Also, with a book you are a one-man show — you lay it out, draw locations, research, and color the thing all by yourself. I used to live in a black-and-white world as an animator. That may have been the toughest challenge for me with this book: color. I hope that I stink at it a teeny bit less than I did before painting the book.

Q. Why did you want to write a book about doing nothing? How did you get the idea?

A. I vividly remember those childhood moments of excruciating boredom. We tend to remember the interesting and exciting parts of youth, but what about those times when you feel like you are stuck in a vat of molasses? A kid experiences that with such conviction. It was horrible! That said, I think those moments can be hugely catalytic. Great ideas come out of a bored mind. Or quiet mind. The concept of nothing wasn’t the impetus for the book; it was
a product of the characters and situation. I visualized these two bored boys — one kind of like me, and
the other kind of like my childhood friend Steve.
Then I had them interact. The idea of doing nothing
really sprang from these characters yapping at each other.


Q.Describe the process of illustrating Let’s Do Nothing!

A. Most artists who use computer paint programs use them to do their final art. I went the opposite way with this project. I used computers for roughing it all out and real materials for final art. I used a Cintiq monitor, which allows you to draw right on the screen. I completed all versions of the dummy on the Cintiq using the program Painter. I find the program great for playing around with layouts and placing text. It has all sorts of cool brushes, and experimenting with color is very fast. Being slightly detached from the work is strangely liberating for me as well. It keeps me loose. When it came to doing the final art, I went with traditional materials: acrylics, ink, and pencil. You still can’t beat real art supplies for tight control (and happy accidents). It was fun! And I like getting dirty.

Q. What artists, writers, and/or experiences have most influenced your work?

A. I’ll always be somewhat a product of my experience as an animator. My drawing style is very much influenced by some of my favorite animators. Many of my heroes from the golden age of the art form made the transition to picture books: Bill Peet, Mary Blair, J.P. Miller,The Provensens. I love Marc Simont, Dr. Seuss, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Roger Duvoisin, Robert McCloskey, Richard Scarry, Jules Feiffer, Charles Schulz, N.C. Wyeth, Ronald Searle, Hank Ketchum. I can go on and on. Many current artists and writers inspire me as well. I should mention one book that cast a spell over me: Dmitri the Astronaut by Jon Agee. Like Where the Wild Things Are, this is a book that I can endlessly chew on, like a dog with a bone. I love the appearance of something that at first glance feels breezy and spontaneous but at further inspection reveals tremendous complexity. I love it. I think that books as much as anything inspired me to try to create one myself.

All Illustrations Copyright © 2009 by Tony Fucile

WANNA SEE MORE ABOUT THIS AWESOME BOOK? CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING ANIMATED TRAILER!!!

Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile

Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile
Geared Towards: Ages 4-7
Published By: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: May 12, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3440-7

Have you ever sat still and tried to do nothing? Better yet, have you ever told a child to sit still and do nothing? Were you met with the realization that even when you try your best to do absolutely nothing it's actually an impossible goal to achieve? That's what the boys, Frankie and Sal, discover in Tony Fucile's debut children's picture book, Let's Do Nothing!

Having done seemingly everything there is to do and having played seeminly everything there is to play, Frankie and Sal look for something to occupy their time with. When they decide to play a game of "do nothing" they quickly discover that doing nothing isn't as easy as it sounds. Every time they set their minds on a "do nothing" task, such as be a still statue, a tree, and a sturdy sky scraper, Frankie finds that while he can make his body respond properly at first he can't maintain the still facade. For you see, all the while his body is trying to stay still, his mind is working overtime as he imagines himself in each scene but with added distractions.

My three year old and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book together. It was fun to see what the kids would attempt to do on their "do nothing" adventure, and even more fun was trying to act out those same scenes together along with them. Every child has surely, at one time or another, played the statue game. And that's basically what the children in this book were attempting to do. So, more less, reading Let's Do Nothing! is not just a book for storytime, but inspiration to play a game as well. That's what made it all the more exciting.

If you enjoyed the animation is such cartoon films as The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles then you'll be thrilled to learn that the author/illustrator of this book had his hand in the character design and animation of all of them and more. Having been in the design/animation field for over twenty years, Fucile provides solid and creative illustrations to accompany his humorous literary debut. Each picture is simple, but totally grabs the reader's attention. Fucile has perfected the ability to infuse life in to otherwise flat characters on the page. It is true artistry when even such unadorned illustrations can show such emotion and give the reader a clear picture of how the characters displayed are truly feeling. The illustrations mirrored the gaiety inspired by the story, and allowed for the author's humor to really shine through his art as well as his words.

As a parent, I appreciated how the author showed kids having fun and using their imaginations. I also thought it was great because this book makes you think about how much our bodies really do even when we try our hardest to not do anything at all. It showcases the intricate complexities of our person, and how amazing we really are. And through it all it shows how to really have fun, even when you don't have a million and one toys at your disposable. A great inspiration for the kids of today's techno savvy, digital age.

Thanks to Candlewick for the review opportunity! This was one of the most fun children's books my daughter and I have read as of late!

OUR RATING: 5 hearts

The Fairest Star: Friends & Enemies Part III by David Field

The Fairest Star: Friends & Enemies Part III by David Field
Geared Towards: YA
Published By: Athena Press
Publication Date: November 2008
ISBN: 978-1-84401-363-8

I was asked to review this book, and at first I was going to send along my thanks but also decline the offer. The book's cover turned me off right away, and as a rule of thumb I usually steer clear from the fantasy genre. Yet, when I read through the synopsis a second and third time, I couldn't help but feel like this Field guy just might have something here. So, I agreed to review the book. I think what really did me in was the fact that I just had to read more about how a kid from the 21st century could take his cell phone back to the 16th century. Try picturing it. It's really quite funny; wouldn't you say?

Actually getting in to the book and following along was another story all together though. I found that not having read the first two books to the Friends & Enemies series really put me at a disadvantage because this wasn't a stand alone book. This, from what I could tell, picked right up from where the second installment left off. I was at a total loss when it came to keeping all the characters and their stories straight. Thank God for the list of characters included at the beginning of the book because I had to switch back and forth to and from those pages constantly. Didn't really make for an incredibly pleasant reading experience, but it helped in a huge way compared to if the list hadn't been included.

I think that if a reader has already taken the time to read the first two books in this series he'll most likely enjoy reading this final part. I found it hard to get in to because I couldn't keep up, as already mentioned earlier. But as far as stories go, it was pretty exciting- full of action, adventure, and appeal. Then there's the bit which initially caught my eye, the technology from today in yesterday's world. Maybe I'm being too hard on it, but while I found the concept intriguing initially, I found it to be a little too far fetched in the end. It was a fun twist, but when push comes to shove I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that the phones would actually work in the year 1599. Not just work, call back to modern time! Using a GPS from the future to help guide the horse in the past was also a bit bizarre for me. I guess it all depends on how you look at it, and maybe if I were actually of the age this book is marketed to, I'd not think twice about it.

As Tommy (from the 21st century) and Eloise (from the 16th century) try to hunt down the priest, Drogo, to exact revenge for his taking Eloise's mother's life, they must also fight for their own lives and those of their friends. There's also a brewing romance, but it's winsome- not like so many of the relationships portrayed in YA fiction. Even in books geared towards pre-teens and teens, today the focus on sex or sexiness is more often than not actively written if not implied. However, the hero and heroine in this story have a sweet and innocent relationship that shows their affection without overdoing it. It was quite refreshing. It was also nice to see the author keeping their relationship believable in the sense that Eloise, despite her love of the modern day life, was born and bred a girl of the sixteenth century. In that day and age, today's advanced relationship styles would have left the people aghast. So it was believeable to see Tommy and Eloise showing their attraction in a much more delicate light.

All in all, I would recommend this book. I would do so though while making note that the reader should be sure to start out with book one. This is a series with too much going on to simply skip straight to book three.

OUR RATING: 4 hearts

The Dr. Hippo Series by Charlotte Cowan, M.D.

A while back I had the pleasure of reviewing Charlotte Cowan's most recent release in her Dr. Hippo series, The Moose With Loose Poops. It was funny, yet offered great insight for parents and children on a regular run of the mill tummy bug. My daughters and I enjoyed the book, and were absolutely thrilled when the author asked if we'd like to review the rest of her series. Naturally, we accepted without a second thought!

Cowan does a brilliant job of connecting the reader to her stories, and offering a tangible look at the disconcerting feelings and body reactions a child deals with when he or she is sick. Her story style takes the form of entertainment, but hidden within is a concept that even the youngest of readers can understand. No one likes to be sick, especially when it's for the first time. What Cowan does through her stories is helps familiarize her readers with the facts about some everyday common illnesses, and puts an exact name with each. By doing so, she helps take the edge off the unknown, thereby helping to calm the fears and concerns children can feel when they're sick.

Parents too can benefit from checking out this line because each book includes a handy, laminated Parent's Guide. The guides each discuss, in a question/answer format, the concerns the parent may have regarding best caring for their child who happens to be suffering from the illness the character in the story also dealt with. These handy reference guides are not meant to take the place of a real doctor visit, but they may help ease the parent's concern and guide them in knowing at what point they should consult their child's physician and what to do for their child themselves until that point is reached. As with any book, these guides serve as recommendations only, and all parents should always follow their gut instinct when best deciding whether to call the doctor or not.

Now for a quick synopsis of each individual title...


The Little Elephant with the Big Earache by Charlotte Cowan, M.D.
Illustrated By: Elaine Garvin
Geared Towards: Ages 2-7
Published By: The Hippocratic Press
Publication Date: September 2004
ISBN: 978-0-975-3516-04

Eddie the Elephant is preparing for a birthday celebration with his cousins. He doesn't have time to be sick. But an icky ear ache makes him have to slow down and sit out some play time in hopes of getting better. Momma gives Eddie some medicine to help make his ear feel better, but only Dr. Hippo can determine for sure the full extent of Eddie's ache.

Peeper Has a Fever by Charlotte Cowan, M.D.

Illustrated By: Susan Banta

Geared Towards: Ages 2-7

Published By: The Hippocratic Press

Publication Date: October 2005

ISBN: 978-0-975-3516-28

Peeper the Frog is looking forward to going to the big picnic withhis family and friends. He wants to try to win the diving competition. But a nasty fever stops Peeper in his tracks. Dr. Hippo thinks the fever is just the on set of an infection which means that Peeper must stay home and get lots of rest. Will medicine and rest help Peeper get back on his feet in time for the big contest?

Katie Caught a Cold by Charlotte Cowan, M.D.
Illustrated By: Katy Bratun
Geared Towards: Ages 2-7
Published By: The Hippocratic Press
Publication Date: October 2005
ISBN: 978-0-975-3516-35

When Katie the Polar Bear begins to sneeze uncontrollably, she worries that she won't be allowed to skate in the upcoming Ice Show. Dr. Hippo doesn't think it sounds like anything more than a household variety cold, but she still must take care of herself and get better if she wants to participate. Lots of rest and warm fluids can help make Katie better, but will she feel alright in time?

Sadie's Sore Throat by Charlotte Cowan, M.D.

Illustrated By: Katy Bratun

Geared Towards: Ages 2-7

Published By: The Hippocratic Press

Publication Date: November 2006

ISBN: 978-0-975-3516-42

Sadie the Giraffe can't wait for her school's art fair. Her contribution is going to be the beautiful necklaces she's been working hard to make. But when Sadie's throat starts hurting and she comes down with a fever, prepping for the fair is the least of her concerns. Momma gives Sadie medicine to help ease the pain in her throat and to bring her fever down, but only a trip to Dr. Hippo can tell them for sure what's causing Sadie to be sick and how to properly treat her.


One of the commonly shared themes in this series is that each child has some big event getting ready to take place that suddenly gets tossed in the air with the introduction of the child's illness. I think it's a unique way to approach not only the sicknesses themselves but also how each child can expect to deal with them. Life gets put on hold when you're sick, and learning to be patient can be difficult. Each story shows what process a child can expect to go through when dealing with a particular infection or sickness, and shows what kind of behavior they should have despite how unpleasant the situations can be. (An example of this would be how willingly each child takes his or her medicine and visits Dr. Hippo despite the intense desire not to.) When you are sick it can feel like it lasts forever. But what's great about these books is that they show, in each story, that an end is in sight. And even when things don't go exactly like the characters would like, they still find a way to be happy.

OUR RATINGS: 5 hearts (each)

Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace

Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace
Geared Towards: Ages 3 and up
Published By: Chronicle Books
Publication Date: February 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8118-6655-2

Little Oink is a cute little pig, but he differs from his friends and family in one big way. As far as pigs are generally concerned they love to wallow in filth and be as sloppy as can be. Not Little Oink. Little Oink prefers everything to be clean and tidy. He doesn't like to have a messy room or wear dirty clothes. He doesn't mind being different, but his parents aren't so easily convinced.

In this cute, unorthodox story we see the family dynamic take an unusal twist. Instead of the classic argument where the child wants to be messy and the parents are constantly calling for him to be more neat and tidy, here we have a child who wants to be orderly and unsoiled while the parents are calling for the clutter and grime. While it wasn't my favorites byRosenthal; it really was quite funny. That being said, kids of all ages are sure to enjoy reading this good-humored, adorably illustrated tale.

OUR RATING: 4 hearts