Engaging Books for Girls

Sometimes it's just a girl thing.  These are books that I feel girls will be drawn to.  If you have a boy that likes a good story and is open to the inner workings of a girl's brain, then by all means give them these books.  My classifications are purely meant to help you find a good fit with your reader and a story, and not meant to imply that only girls can read these books.

So this week I have selected stories that have entertaining female protagonists who are managing the issues that girls deal with on a daily basis.  My favorite find this week is the series by Grace Lin, author of the Newbery Honor book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.  This series is much less serious than her Newbery fare, but incredibly clever and insightful.  I would very much encourage your child to give it a try.

Title:       Dumpling Days

Author:   Grace Lin

Target:    Grades 4-6

Series:     Yes

What this book is about:
This is the third book in a series about Pacy Lin, a Taiwanese American girl.  Despite being the third book, it is a stand alone story and you do not need to have read the other two.  Pacy and her family are traveling to Taiwan to celebrate her grandmothers 60th birthday, and they are spending a month there in order to lean about their culture.  However, Pacy and her sisters find that while it is nice to look like everyone else, it is difficult not being able to understand the language or the customs.  Pacy takes an art class, eats chicken feet (by accident) and finds that she can learn to love what is new and different.

Why I love this book:
First off, Pacy is such a real character that she felt absolutely authentic from the start.  More than a story, it actually felt like an account of the author’s life (which in parts it is.)  It was an absolute treat learning about Taiwan, and I felt at the end of the book that not only did I want to visit, but I absolutely knew more about the culture and customs of the Taiwanese.

This book is just delightful, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it even though I am not Asian, I suspect that if you are Asian American, it will carry even more significance.   I also loved the small illustrations which are smattered throughout the book.  They are fun visual treat during the story.

Who this book is for:
It feels like it will be a better book for girls, especially ones who love reading about family.  Girls who like the Laura Ingalls Wilder books should be drawn into this more modern version of family life.

Final thoughts:
Loved the first chapter where the mom dresses all the sisters in hot pink pinafore jumpers so she can find them when they travel, only to see a photo of the author and her sisters in those jumpers on the back flap!

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Dumpling Days (A Pacy Lin Novel) A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.

Title:       11 Birthdays

Author:   Wendy Mass

Target:    Grades 3-6

Series:     Yes

What this book is about:
Friends Amanda and Leo are born on the same day, and they have celebrated their birthdays together for ten years.  However, after a argument which starts on their tenth birthday, they haven’t spoken for a year.  This year, on their eleventh birthday, they have separate parties and Amanda can’t wait until the day is over because it feels terrible to celebrate her birthday without Leo.  But the next day doesn’t come.  Instead she wakes up and has to relive her  eleventh birthday all over again.  In this book Amanda has to figure out how to get tomorrow to finally come.

Why I love this book:
Wendy Mass is a terrific writer and this book is just a delight.  I love the concept that you can do your day over.  Amanda experiments with changes during the day, sometimes with great results and other times with terrible consequences, but it highlights the choices we make throughout the day and how they effect ourselves and others.

I also like a book where boy and girl are friends but there is no romance!

Who this book is for:
Fun book for most kids.  A Groundhog Day for the tween set.

Final thoughts:
There are a few things I wish I could do over about today ... oh well, live and learn.

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: 11 Birthdays  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.

Title:       Small Medium at Large

Author:   Joanne Levy

Target:    Grades 4-6

Series:     No

What this book is about:
After being hit by lightning, twelve year old Lilah realizes she now has a  unique gift, she can talk to dead people!  The first ghost she encounters is that of her grandma Bubby who wants Lilah to help her father find a girlfriend (her mother is just remarried and her dad is really lonely!)  Ghost after ghost help Lilah make connections with those around her and help them find resolution in their lives.  Now if only her crush would invite her to the school dance, she is only twelve after all!

Why I love this book:
This book is simply a charming story.  Lilah is a “do the right thing” kind of gal, and I liked her immediately.  The book is also quite funny.  While some of the ghostly connections are about larger lessons in life, they also deal with the everyday worries of being liked and buying your first bra (a very funny scene that had me laughing out loud!)

Who this book is for:
It is a quick read at 208 pages and quite humorous.  The story is aimed at girls and I think most will really enjoy it!

Final thoughts:
That title kept confusing me until I read the story, now I just think it is darn clever.  Confused?  Read the book!

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Small Medium at Large  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.

Chopsticks - A Picture Book that Clicks

It is picture book Friday.  Yipee!  This week I am indulging in my love for a wonderful picture book author, Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  Just about anything she writes is absolutely magical for me. Her books in the Little Pea series are genius and ones that I give as gifts time and time again.  But she also has more to her repertoire that is quirky and fabulous and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share it with you.

Title:       Chopsticks

Author:   Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Target:    Preschool - Grade 2

What this book is about:
You must meet chopsticks.  They are an inseparable duo who have perfected their teamwork.  However, one day they come to a fork in the road, when one of them is injured and they realize that while they work well together, they can also stand on their own!

Why I love this book:
Well, besides being adorable, this book has a wonderful play on words.  “No one stirred, not even Spoon.”  “Knife was sharp like that.”  How can you resist that text!  The illustrations are engaging and the little details in the drawings just make it fun to read.

This book is a spin off from the author’s last book Spoon.  I can’t wait to see what she does for the other utensils.

Who this book is for:
Any child who like an engaging picture book with details that make reading it again a delight.

Final thoughts:
As the author says, “Not exactly a sequel to Spoon.  More like a change in place setting.”

To purchase this book, please click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Chopsticks  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.  

Also, check out another one of Amy's books that I reviewed last year, This Plus That - a delightful find!

Non Fiction Books for Kids Really Can be Fun

Ok, the dreaded non-fiction books for kids.  Yes .... I am going there.  I have to say that kids do love the weird and strange animal books, the funny fact books and some of the history of war books, but sadly these are not the books I am talking about.  I am talking about the straight up non-fiction books, that tell the story of real people and events.  These are the books that include facts, dates, definitions and places.  I know that many kids (and frankly this adult) shudder at the thought of reading these books.  They lack imagination, exciting narrative and the leap from reality.

But sadly we can't give in to our temptation to run from these stories.  With the new common core standards being implemented nation wide, kids will be reading more and more non fiction.  We are trying to prepare our children to become literate in a world were they are required to become responsible citizens, prepare for careers, and better understand the real challenges that face the nations around us.  As a result they need to be able to understand and use evidence to come to reasonable conclusions and non fiction is a wonderful vehicle to help them develop these skills.

Happily, non fiction continues to get better and better for children. The stories are more compelling and are written in a way that will engage kids.  But this genre is not always going to appeal to kids immediately.  They need to develop this skill set, and when they do, they will see how exciting and liberating the knowledge gained through books can be.  So encourage your kids to step out of their comfort zone.  I hope this weeks offerings will provide a nice bridge between fiction and non fiction and show kids that what happens in real life can be just as wondrous and compelling as what is made up in a story.

Title:        The Fairy Ring: Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World

Author:     Mary Losure

Target:      Grades 4 and up

Series:       No

What this book is about:
This book is the true account of how two girls, Elsie and Frances, fooled journalists into thinking they had taken pictures of actual fairies living by the waterfall behind their home.  The story looks at how the girls took the pictures for fun and how they innocently landed in the hands of men trying to prove the theory of fairies.  These pictures became the basis for published articles and the story examines how the girls got caught up in a series of lies that they kept until they were very old women.

Why I love this book:
I find nonfiction a difficult genre, especially for kids.  This book is one of the few that reads well and more like a story than a list of facts.  It kept my interest from start to finish.  I loved how the author put in the pictures which were taken by Elsie and Frances, showing us what the world saw, although their placement was at times awkward in the book, but that is a small thing.

I love how the book shows us how people can get caught up in a lie so easily, even when they consider themselves good and honest, and I think that is a good point of discussion for kids.  Nothing is wrapped up neatly, as is true in real life.

Who this book is for:
This is a lovely nonfiction choice for kids who need to read a book in that genre.

Final thoughts:
Two young girls who fool the world, or did they?  Some may say that even though the pictures are not authentic, there really are little green men running throughout the glade!

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Fairy Ring: Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog.

Title:        Bomb

Author:    Steve Sheinkin

Target:     Grades 6 and up

What this book is about:
This book is a fascinating look at how a discovery in a German lab in 1938, that a uranium atom could split in two, lead to one of the greatest races to make the first atomic bomb.  Germany, Russia and the US knew that the first one to have a weapon of this magnitude, would be the one to win the war.  They devoted scientists and resources to make this happen, and in the case of Russia, quite a few spies to help speed their process along.  This book profiles the US program, their patriotism, their eventual success and their self doubt at what they had accomplished.

Why I love this book:
This story was just fascinating.  I have to say that some of the more suspenseful scenes, where the US attempts to blow up a heavy water plant in Norway controlled by the Germans, were all the more heart stoping because it wasn’t fiction.  This was real life and these were real people, and the outcome could be good or bad.  I was on the edge of my seat.

I must say that there were a lot of characters in the book, and at times I had trouble keeping track.  I would have also liked the pictures scattered throughout the book when they were relevant and not simply at the beginning of a section.  I think the photos could have been used in a much more powerful way.  I kept flipping back and forth and that stopped the flow of the story for me.  But overall it was as incredible account of the people and events of the time.

Who this book is for:
This book is for older kids.  At times it reads like a terrific story, and at others felt more like facts.  Kids have to be interested in the subject matter and be willing to wade through some parts that are more data driven.  I will say the science in the book is not complex.  The story is not about physics but about the men and women behind the creation of the bomb.

Final thoughts:
This book is garnering quite a lot of attention, but for me the draw was feeling like I really understood a part of our history with so much more comprehension after having read it.  To paraphrase, I felt a whole lot smarter!

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog.

Title:        Little Rock Girl 1957

Author:    Shelly Tougas

Target:     Grades 4-8

What this book is about:
This series selects photographs that adults will recognize as being historical and full of impact, and shares the story behind the photographs for children.  In this book the author selected a well known photograph of one the Little Rock Nine teenagers who were sent to the white high school the first year that integration was mandated.  In the background you see one of the white students whose face is contorted in hatred.  It is a powerful photograph, and frankly an even more powerful story as the book discusses integration in Little Rock and the eventual reconciliation between the women in the photo.  

Why I love this book:
First off, I often times have trouble with non fiction.  In many cases I don’t think the authors use the visual images available in a compelling way for kids.  This is not the case with this book.  Using the photo as the stepping off point for the book is extremely powerful, and the whole story is filled with photos that showcase the turmoil and eventual healing.

I also liked the length.  At 59 pages, the book is not at all overwhelming for kids, especially for those not accustomed to reading non fiction.  It is a very manageable book.

Finally, I had just finished The Lions of Little Rock, a wonderful historical novel for kids which deals with the year after the Little Rock Nine.  That made this book particularly interesting.  I think pairing the two books would really get kids intrigued in this topic.

Who this book is for:
Kids ready to explore non fiction, but who aren’t ready to handle a chapter book in that genre.   Reading non fiction can be a bit more detailed and challenging than the novels kids are used to.

Final thoughts:
I continue to be amazed and inspired by the bravery of those teenagers who faced racism and ignorance head on.  A true moment of absolute courage.

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Little Rock Girl 1957; How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration (Captured History)  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Picture Book

With Matin Luther King, Jr. Day just around the corner, I thought I would take a moment to share a new picture book dedicated to this American hero.    While I haven't found a plethora of books that I love about Martin Luther King, Jr, the paintings in this new offering are absolutely stunning and done by an artist whose work I greatly admire. So I hope this book inspires you to talk with your children about the impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the day devoted to his life.

Title:      I Have a Dream

Author:  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Target:   Kindergarten - Grade 5

What this book is about:
This is an illustrated version of Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech.  An audio recording of the actual speech is included with the book if it is purchased, but my copy  from the library did not have one.  I can only imagine that it would have made this beautiful picture book even more compelling.  The book is of selected portions of the speech, but the complete version is printed at the back.

Why I love this book:
The illustrations are magnificent.  Kadir Nelson’s paintings overlooking the Lincoln memorial are stunning and capture the historic and significant time of the speech.  When I read this with my daughter I actually got chocked up.

Who this book is for:
This is a bit difficult.  Out of context, I don’t know how much children will take away from this book, but if you are willing to invest some time talking about race and its history in our nation, this book is a moving tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision and his significance in history.

Final thoughts:
Kadir Nelson is such a wonderful and powerful artist, that I always look forward to his work.

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: I Have a Dream (Book & CD)  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog.

A Series for Kids to Enjoy

With the Cybils final round judging just around the corner, I have been reading and rereading the wonderful selections provided by the First Round Judges.  It is a great group of middle grade fiction so check these books out!  However, it has gotten me behind on my own book reading, so please be patient with me.

This week I thought I would tackle some series for middle grade readers.  Parents (and kids) love a series.  It takes a lot of stress out of selecting books when kids have a book in the offing which they know they will enjoy and will move their story forward.  While none of the series I am profiling this week are new, they are ones that are tried and true and have many books that are already out.  The drawback of the new series, which are fresh and shiny, is that they only have one or two volumes, so there is far less to draw from.

So this week get your kids into an established series and know that if they like it, they will have quite a few volumes ahead of them, so your work is done for a while.  Put your feet up, eat some bon bons, maybe actually read a book for yourself (gasp!)

Title:        Ranger’s Apprentice

Author:    John Flanagan

Target:     Grades 4-8

Series:      Yes

What this book is about:
Will is a ward of his kingdom, having been orphaned as a baby.  When he turns fifteen, he must be chosen to apprentice in a particular field or end up working the farms around the castle.  To his surprise, he is chosen by the Rangers, a group that seems to appear and disappear at will, their mission always a mystery.    But a battle is brewing across the land, with the return of a fallen enemy, and the Rangers will play a key role in this confrontation.  As Will learns the ways of the Rangers, will he be ready?

Why I love this book:
First off I have to say that my son looooooved the series, and he begged me to read this book.  Thankfully, I listened to him, because I could immediately see why he liked it so much.  This is a great story.  Will is immediately a likable character and the pace of the book is great.  The author does a wonderful job at building the suspense and excitement in many of the  more climactic sequences.

The relationship between Will and Halt, his mentor and trainer, was complicated and supportive with just enough mystery to keep you on guard.  The relationship with Will and his friends, other wards apprenticing throughout the kingdom, was also well thought out.  It is obvious these relationships will play out throughout the series and they are set up for some engaging interactions.  

Who this book is for:
Great action book.  Should appeal to most kids

Final thoughts:
As my son would say, “What took you so long to read this book?”

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1)  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.

Title:        The Familiars

Author:    Adam Epstein & Andrew Jacobson

Target:     Grades 3-5

Series:      Yes

What this book is about:
This book is about magic and wizards, only it is not told from the perspective of the wizards, it is told from the perspective of their familiars (animal companions that support them.)  So welcome to the adventures of Aldwyn, the cat, Gilbert, the frog and Skylar, the blue jay!  When their loyals get kidnapped, it is up to them to save the wizards from the evil queen.  It takes them on a quest throughout the land, gathering potions, meeting with seers and running from bounty hunters.  Will they be able to save those they love the most?

Why I love this book:
Michael Buckley, an author I admire, has called this book a cross between Warriors and Harry Potter, and I think that hits the nail on the head.  The book is filled with action, but it also never takes itself too seriously, so there is plenty of comic relief with our three animal friends.  

The one real misstep in the book are the illustrations.  While I usually like great drawings dispersed throughout a book, in this case they actually detracted from the story.  They were far too juvenile.

Who this book is for:
I have targeted this book younger because the writing is probably not sophisticated enough for older kids.  This book definitely has a simplicity to the prose that does not put it in the same category as Harry Potter, but for a younger child it will do just fine.  If your kids liked Warriors, this book is probably a great next read.

Final thoughts:
While many of the ideas in this story take their inspiration from far greater novels, this book is a nice introduction for younger kids to the magical world of the fantasy genre.

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Familiars  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.

Title:        The Mother-Daughter Book Club

Author:    Heather Vogel Frederick

Target:     Grades 4-6

Series:      Yes

What this book is about:
Four sixth graders are coerced into a book club by their mothers.  In this club they will read Little Women.  The girls are struggling with their friendships at school and this carries over to the book club.  The story is told in the alternating voices of the four girls as the reader sees how the girls work through their differences and their own relationships with their mothers.

Why I love this book:
While the ending was never in doubt, what kept me reading was to see how these girls worked through their issues to come together.  I really enjoy books that have alternating voices, because it allows the reader to see into the head of all the characters.  I think that is especially beneficial for kids.   They get a sense of how others may view their actions and that helps as they are developing empathy. 

I also loved the references to Little Women.  While it has been years since I read the book, and you don’t need to have read it to enjoy this story, it really inspired me to want to pick it up again.    I will definitely read it with a new perspective.

Who this is for:
Girls who love to read, but it is also good for girls working through social situations at school.

Final thoughts:
A book that inspires you to read a classic, how great is that!

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: The Mother-Daughter Book Club  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog.

Picture Book Friday

I had so much fun with Picture Book Fridays, that I decided to extend them into the new year!  I know, control your raucous enthusiasm, it's embarrassing.  However, instead of the usual three books per post,  which I did for Picture Book Month, I will simply profile the picture book that I loved each week.  I am hoping it will give me the chance to share new finds with you, as well as highlight some older books that are absolute delights.

So without further fanfare, Picture Book Friday:

Title:        Robot Zombie Frankenstein!

Author:    Annette Simon

Target:     Preschool - Grade 3

What this book is about:
Picture two robots who start a game of oneupmanship.  First our robot becomes Robot Zombie.  Well, then our second robot becomes Robot Zombie Frankenstein.  Not to be out done, our first robot becomes Robot Zombie Frankenstein Pirate and the game continues.  Will it end?  Actually it has a gratifying and delicious conclusion!

Why I love this book:
This book is just a delight of shapes in strong vibrant colors, so it is a joy to look at.  The story of getting the better of your opponent is what had my son in stitches.  Could these robots add anything more to their costumes to best the other?  And thankfully the ending is a tasty reconciliation of these two friends.

Who this book is for:
Great for kids who like to laugh and those who think robots are fun.

Final thoughts:
My eleven year old son laughing hysterically at this book said it all for me.

To purchase this book, click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Robot Zombie Frankenstein!  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog.

A Good Mystery Book for Kids

Well, I thought I would start off the new year with some fun mystery books.  Nothing like a puzzle to get the brain going.  There have been some great mystery books published this last year, especially with the new offering from Lemony Snicket, so perhaps we may start to see a trend towards this genre.

I personally think mysteries offer kids a chance to hone their ability to predict where the action is going in a story, as well as to keep them focused on some of the smaller details in the narrative.  Whether they solve the mystery or not, that is a win.  So get out your magnifying glass and your thinking cap, because this weeks offerings will test your ability to solve a puzzle, and in the case of our first book, the puzzles are everywhere!

If you find this site helpful and intend to purchase any of these books, please consider clicking through the Amazon link on this site.  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog!

Title:        The Puzzler’s Mansion

Author:    Eric Berlin

Target:     Grades 4 - 7

Series:      Yes

What this book is about:
Winston Breen is addicted to puzzles.  When he is invited to a puzzle party at the home of a famous musician, he manages to secure invites for his two best friends.  As they work through a series of clever puzzles, they find another mystery is afoot.  The prizes are going missing.  Who could be taking these valuable possessions, and does this mean they must solve another puzzle, that of the missing prizes?

Why I love this book:
This book is the third in the series, but they do not have to be read in order to be enjoyed.  Brainteasers are scattered liberally throughout the story, and they made this puzzle solving mom jump for joy.  The puzzles were not run of the mill, and kids will be challenged to get the answers.  While the writing is not earth shattering, the cleverness of the games are wonderful along with nice lessons on good sportsmanship.

Who this book is for:
Any kid who likes brain teasers will just eat this book up.  The puzzles are tough so I would not recommend this book for younger kids.  There are even supplemental puzzles in the back for kids who want to continue to be challenged.

Final thoughts:
I hated myself when I wimped out and looked in the back for the puzzle answers, only to find it so obvious once I knew!

To purchase this book, click here to connect to Amazon: The Puzzler's Mansion: The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

Title:         “Who Could That Be at This Hour?”

Author:     Lemony Snicket

Target:      Grades 4-7

Series:       This is the first book in a planned series

What this book is about:
Ok, this won’t be easy.  Lemony Snicket is a boy on a mission.  He abandons his parents (or are they his parents?) in a tea shop to become an apprentice to S. Theodora Markson.  They go to a seaside town, which is no longer by the sea, to investigate a stolen item, which appears not to have been stolen at all.  Lemony meets a girl who takes a keen interest in the item and makes him realize that he has been asking all the wrong questions!

Why I love this book:
This book feels like you have been dropped in the middle of the story with no life vest.  Our narrator, Lemony Snicket talks to his readers as though they know the background of this narrative and we are scrambling to glean clues along the way.  Of course, just when you think you might have something figured out, the reader, just like the narrator, realizes that we have been going down the wrong path.

This is a mystery, and a fun one at that.  It is written in Lemony Snicket style, with a rich vocabulary, and definitions deftly included to help the reader out.  The adults all seem to exhibit the highest levels of stupidity which thwart the children at every turn, but once the adults are ignored, the real investigations begin.  The one disappointment was that after all the twists and turns, the mystery seems no closer to being solved at the end than it did at the beginning.  But it was an entertaining ride.

Who this book is for:
My eleven year old son thought the book was great.  I think fans of a Series of Unfortunate Events, who like this writing style, will also enjoy this book.  I don’t think it will play well for every child, but kids who like a mystery, a smart main character and have a willingness to figure things out, will be taken by this book.

Final thoughts:
I just know the illustrations by Seth contain more hints to the mystery, but it will take more clues for me to figure them out!

To purchase this book, click here to connect to Amazon: "Who Could That Be at This Hour?" (All the Wrong Questions)

Title:        Girl’s Best Friend (Maggie Brooklyn Mystery)

Author:    Leslie Margolis

Target:     Grades 4-6

Series:      Yes

What this book is about:
This book is about twelve year old Maggie, who starts a dog walking business.   When her frenemie’s dog is stolen and held for ransom, Maggie starts putting together the clues she has observed during her daily walks.  This leads to her solving not one, but two mysteries that have been plaguing those around her!

Why I love this book:
Maggie is a very likable character and she is dealing with all the same things girls her age are wrestling with: a crush on a boy, figuring out who her true friends are, balancing her passion and her schoolwork, and not getting too embarrassed by her parents.

While the mystery is fun, it is not a who dun it in the sense of the Sammy Keyes Mysteries, where the reader can realistically solve the mystery.  However, with a good sense of observation, readers will be putting the pieces together along with Maggie.

Who this book is for:
This is a girl book, and kids who liked the Cupcake Diaries will find some of the similar themes in these books, but centered around a mystery.

Final thoughts:
A real girl with a penchant for solving mysteries!

To purchase this book, click here to connect to Amazon: Girl's Best Friend (Maggie Brooklyn Mystery)