Early Chapter Book With a Focus on Friendship

Early chapter books continue to dominate the week.  Today I have the start to a new series that looks promising.  I appreciated that it didn't minimize how kids feel when they are in a disagreement with a friend.  The best books remember how it feels to be a kid.

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Title: Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split

Author: Anica Mrose Rissi

Target: Grades 1-3

Series: Yes

What this book is about: 
Anna and Sadie have been best friends forever.  Anna can’t imagine a day without Sadie making her laugh.  But at Anna’s birthday party, Sadie starts a fight and now the two girls aren’t talking.  Anna would do anything to fix things and get her friend back.  As she implements her plans, nothing works.  Perhaps moving on, but leaving the door open for her friend when she ready, is the best plan of all.

Why I love this book:
I really like books that don’t sugar coat the difficulties girls have with friends in elementary school.  These friendships are important, and I think that as adults we often times forget how a fight or misunderstanding can feel so devastating for the kids involved.  

What I like the most about the story is the message it sends for fixing things.  At the end of the day you can’t change what someone else does, you can only be responsible for yourself and your actions.  Taking the step to move on, while continuing to be kind, is a wonderful lesson for girls.  I appreciated that  Anna made mistakes before she got things right and that the adults supported her but did not come to her rescue.

Who this book is for: 
Great early chapter book for girls who are independent readers but still need smaller pages, larger text and pictures scattered throughout the story.  

Final thoughts: 
Banana is not her last name, it is the name of her dog.  Ok, maybe I was the only one who was confused.

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Anna, Banana, and the Friendship Split  A portion of each purchase will go back to this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

A New Early Chapter Book from Kate DiCamillo

Keeping on the theme of Early Chapter Books this week, I am focusing on the new book by Kate DiCamillo.  She has spun off some of the characters from her Mercy Watson series and now we get to delve even deeper into the the lives of the inhabitants on Deckawoo Drive.  Needless to say they are an eccentric and utterly unique group.

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Title: Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Target: Grades 1-3

Series: This is a companion book to the Mercy Watson series

What this book is about: 

Francine Poulet is an animal control officer.  She comes from a long line of animal control officers and has forty seven trophies that prove her superiority in her job.  However, when she is called in to capture a “ghost” raccoon, she is scared for the first time in her life.  With her failure to capture the raccoon, she begins to doubt her calling in life and finds other employment.  However, she is lucky enough to meet a young man who forces to face her fears and remember her true calling.

Why I love this book: 

This book, along with Leroy Ninker are hard ones for me.  On the positive side, I love the characters developed by DiCamillo.  They are quirky, humorous and insanely well drawn by Chris Van Dusen.  DiCamillo also does a beautiful job of interjecting new vocabulary into the text by seamlessly incorporating the definitions and cleverly repeating key words and phrases.  Frankly, no one else does it better.

However the one gift of her books which is also their downfall are the larger messages incorporated.  In her early reader series Bink and Gollie, she is able to bring in a more meaningful message which feels completely appropriate for kids to grasp.  In this book, as in Leroy Ninker, the bigger message is again noble, but perhaps a bit too broad for a 6-8 year old.  Having an adult face their fear and question their calling in life can certainly be applied to any age, but I don’t know if many kids will be able to make that leap.

Who this book is for: 

Good book for fans of Mercy Watson. With plenty of gorgeous illustrations and big type this is a fit for kids moving to early chapter books, but I worry that kids will put it down when the message of the book looses it's relevance for them.

Final thoughts:
I really wish she would keep the bigger messages simpler and more targeted to a younger audience.  It is not that we shouldn’t push boundaries for our kids, but I think that to make a message meaningful it has to be more relatable to their circumstances.

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Francine Poulet Meets the Ghost Raccoon: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume Two  A portion of each purchase will go back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Early Chapter Books Rock

I am so excited to have been selected as a second round judge for The Cybils this year in the Early Chapter Book/Easy Reader category.  For those unfamiliar with the awards, they recognize children's and young adult authors and illustrators whose books combine the highest literary merit and popular appeal.

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I am committed to getting great books in the hands of kids, and early readers are such a pivotal time in a child's reading life.  Great books can spark a love of reading that children will carry with them throughout a lifetime.  Recognizing the authors who have provided compelling books for this audience is such a delight and I love seeing the renewed energy and creativity in this category over the last several years.

In honor of this I am devoting this week to Early Chapter Book/Easy Reader reviews.  Please note that these reviews are solely my opinion of the books and do not represent the views of the The Cybils committees in any way.  

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Title: Dory and the Real True Friend

Author: Abby Hanlon

Target: Grade 1-3

Series: Yes.  First book is Dory Fantasmagory

What this book is about: 
In this second installment to the series, we find Dory ready to go back to school.  Dory is a widely funny girl who has a cast of unusual imaginary friends and a keen sense of the absurd.  Of course to her this is utterly rational.  This year she wants to find a real and true friend that people can actually see.  When she spies the lovely Rosabelle at school, she would do just about anything to befriend her, even trying to be someone she is not.  However, when she lets her imaginary colors fly, well it turns out she and Rosabelle have more in common than they ever could have imagined!

Why I love this book: 
Dory is just too funny.  Her drama, her angst, and her imagination all lend themselves to such clever silliness I couldn't help but giggle through this story.  I kept wondering what Dory would think to do next and I was never disappointed.  

The illustrations which are on almost every page help bring the story to life.  They are quite descriptive in capturing all the drama that unfolds!

Who this book is for: 
Great for early chapter book readers who are just venturing out of early readers.  Small pages, large text and lots of pictures on almost every page, make this a manageable story.  The humor will keep them reading!  Fans of Junie B. Jones will enjoy these books.

Final thoughts: 
Every time I read these books I am delighted by the level of intelligent, yet age appropriate humor that is included.  Funny done well is often the hardest to come by!

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Dory and the Real True Friend (Dory Fantasmagory)  A portion of each purchase will go to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Petlandia

Why not close out Friday with a book that takes your pet's personality to the extreme.  Haven't you ever wondered what they would do if they pushed us out of the house and claimed it as their own?  Well, let's be honest, they do really rule the coop now, don't they?

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Title: Petlandia

Author: Peter Hannan

Target: Grades 2-4

Series: No

What this book is about: 
Madame Wigglesworth is a cat who is beloved by her family.  However, when Grub, the new dog enters the picture, things take a quick turn for the worse.  Her love for her family is replaced by hatred and jealousy as she sees Grub getting belly rubs that she in fact never wanted, but is envious  of now that they aren’t bestowed upon her.  She organizes a pet revolt with the hamster, dog and clownfish in hopes of creating Petlandia, where all her wishes are fulfilled.  But when the election for President takes place and she doesn’t win … well there is going to be trouble.

Why I love this book: 
For any child who has a pet, they will see these absolutely silly and outrageous behaviors as mirrors of their own animals.  There is no way not to giggle at the silly antics of a cat, dog, hamster and fish.  I mean that covers most of the major pet groups!

Of course there are larger messages in the book about getting along and being a good leader. However the message about strength in numbers is taken to the extreme.  

Who this book is for: 
Fun book for kids with pets or kids who enjoy notebook novels.  The chapters are short, the type large and the picture plentiful,

Final thoughts: 
We humans really are at the mercy of our pets!

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Petlandia  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

A Whole New Ballgame

If your school is anything like ours, your kids are dealing with the transition to common core, the individual learning plans and more skills based grading systems.  It is a lot of new stuff to take in.  The book I am profiling today takes a look at this new system from a kid's perspective.  We parents aren't the only ones adjusting to a change.

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Title: A Whole New Ballgame

Author: Phil Bildner

Target: Grades 4-6

Series: This is the first book in a planned series

What this book is about: 

Rip and his best friend Red are starting fifth grade and they expect to have the same teacher that every kid at their school has had for fifth grade for the last 25 years.  But when they enter the classroom they are confronted with Mr. Acevedo who is nothing like what they expect.  He doesn’t believe in tests or homework, he doesn’t like to be disturbed while reading and he assigns class project that are well … nasty.  How will this new year go when everything they are used to is turned upside-down?

Why I love this book:  

The thing I really loved about this book was the diverse cast of characters who felt genuine and not gratuitous.  Rip is African American, Red is on the autism scale, and there is even a classmate Avery who is in a wheelchair.  While often these range of characters feel contrived, in this setting they were well integrated and appreciated in the storyline.  That is not always easy to do and Bildner was quite adept at building a diverse community.

This book definitely has an education agenda.  Bildner is not a fan of testing or worksheets or homework for that matter. He is also a fan of inspired teaching (but frankly who isn’t?)  Since so many schools are moving to common core, this is a nice way to introduce the changing curriculum to kids without feeling preachy.  They will really enjoy some of the new methods.

The book is also centered around a basketball tournament and I think this will be a good draw for kids.  So many sports books are focused on baseball, but I find a lot more kids play basketball and while I don’t understand all the screen plays and cuts to the hoop, kids who play the game will be pleased.

Who this book is for: 

Great for kids who like realistic fiction.  Kids who enjoyed books like Because of Mr. Terupt will also enjoy this one.

Final thoughts: 

Teachers may also enjoy this book as much as kids.  They will certainly relate to reduced funding, testing and parental pressure!

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon:A Whole New Ballgame (Rip and Red)  A portion of each purchase will go back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Steve Jobs: Insanely Great

As if I didn't love graphic novels before, based on the book I am profiling today I am now hooked on this method for delivering biographical information.

Non fiction is often hard to deliver in a traditional narrative form because the stories aren't made up, so they don't have the natural flow and build up of a fabricated story line.    Pivitol moments don't happen on cue. making these harder stories to draft.  There are some nonfiction geniuses like Steve Sheinkin who are able to craft compelling stories with nonfiction material, but it's not easy and that is why his books are so highly regarded.

Which leads me to how fabulous this book is about Steve Jobs.  In a graphic novel format, Hartland has been able to create visual interest in moments that may not be as compelling from a narrative standpoint and she drives home the compelling and interesting times in his life.  A real winner in my book!

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Title: Steve Jobs: Insanely Great

Author: Jessie Hartland

Target: Grades 7 and up

Series: No

What this book is about: 
This book is a biography of the late Steve Jobs and spans his birth through his death.  This book covers his difficult teenage and college years, the birth of Apple and his ousting from Apple.  It also looks at his founding of NEXT and Pixar as well as his triumphant return to Apple.  It doesn’t shy away from his personal issues of abandoning his first child, or his difficult work style, but it doesn’t dwell or pass judgement on them either.

Why I love this book: 
First off the format of this book as a graphic novel makes the myriad of information feel manageable and more easily digestible.  I am a huge fan of graphic novels for history content, and this book has made me a believer that it can also be a superior method of delivering biographical information as well.  While my kids have tried to read traditional books about Steve Jobs, this book had them hooked from the start and they didn’t put it down.  Not only that, the information stuck with them simply because it was delivered both in words and visuals.

Now just a word about the illustrations.  I have been a huge fan of Jessie Hartland since her picture book biography of Julia Child.  Her illustrations are incredible, and while they may appear busy at first glance, they are filled with humor and nuance.  She is hands down one of my favorite illustrators.  

If you live in Silicon Valley, as  I do, your kids with love the references to local establishments.  She has a picture of our local Los Altos library hidden in one of the panels which is also a testament to the insane level of detail she has gone to in this book.

I appreciated the decade panels scattered throughout the text which give context to the technology of the time.  It is a nice reference point for kids and the 1960’s might just blow them away as she shows games that only come in board format!  She includes two page panels that show the evolution of the computer and Apple products which prove very informative and useful.

Who this book is for: 
This book is packed with information and doesn’t shy away from Job’s difficulties.  It is great for older kids or kids who are obsessed with technology.

Final thoughts:
I would love for Jessie Hartland to do a biographical series for kids.  They would fly off the shelves and be a real boon for nonfiction.

To purchase this book:
Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Steve Jobs: Insanely Great  A portion of each purchase will go to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

A Book for Girls Obsessed With Texting

Today I know I have a book that will resonate with quite a few kids and parents.  Do you have a daughter who is obsessed with her phone?  Is she texting constantly, even to her friend who is sitting next to her? Is she depressed if she doesn't get enough "likes" on her posts?  Do I have the book for you!

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Title: Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting!

Author: Tommy Greenwald

Target: Grades 5-8

Series: This is a companion book to the Charlie Joe Jackson Series

What this book is about: 
Katie Friedman is obsessed with her phone.  She texts her friends constantly, even when they are sitting next to her!  However, when an accidental text ends up hurting someone she really cares about, she starts to rethink things.  Add to that a challenge to stop using devices, given to her by someone she looks up to, and she is off her phone for a week.  Did I mention she also has to get 10 friends to join her?

Why I love this book: 
Well I am hard pressed to find many parents who aren’t dealing with phone issues with their daughters.  Most parents I know are lamenting that their kids no longer have actual conversations with friends, and the number of likes they get on instagram is more important than the friendships right in front of them.  This book speaks to all those issues and more.  

I like that the book doesn’t make the phone evil, but simply shows kids that hiding behind devices can allow them to be unkind and not face important situations.  Using the phone doesn’t mean the end of the world, but kids do need to be present and active in their own lives.

Who this book is for: 
Any girl who types on a phone keyboard faster than an actual keyboard.  The characters in this book are from the Charlie Joe Jackson series, and while the author assumes you have read the other books you do not have to to enjoy this one.  That said this is a different audience from his previous books so I do wish he would have given a bit more background information for new readers to the series.

Final thoughts:  
There is one glaring error in the book.  Boys in the story are on their cell phones  just as much as girls.  As a parent of both genders I can tell you that getting a boy to keep his cell phone charged is often a bigger challenge than getting him to stop texting!

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! (And Lives to Tell About It.) (Charlie Joe Jackson)  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Con Academy

Everyone likes a good caper ... heist ... fleece of the undeserving entitled rich kid!  Well today your wish has been answered in the form of Con Academy.  Take a fun ride in to a world where money is no object and revenge is for the weak.

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Title: Con Academy

Author: Joe Schreiber

Target: Grades 6 and up

Series: No

What this book is about: 
Will Shea is a con artist who has finagled his way into an exclusive prep school.  But it turns out he isn’t the only grifter on campus and there isn’t room for both of them.  So Will and his counterpart, Andrea, devise a contest to see who stays.  The first one to fleece Brandt Rush, the resident super rich kid, out of $50K gets to remain a student at the illustrious institution.  The looser must go home packing.  May the best con win!

Why I love this book: 
This book is a fun read.  While not particularly deep and developed, it moves quickly and readers will want to see how these two intend to fleece their intended target. Think a book version of Oceans Eleven or Mission Impossible.  There are some nice twists and turns at the end that will keep the reader guessing. 

I liked Will a lot and so despite the con, you are rooting for him to win.  There is a nice redemption section at the end, so you need not worry that your child will be tempted into a life of crime.  I actually could have done without the romance, but it is minimal, so boys won’t get bogged down in anything too romantic.  

Who this book is for: 
 Reminded me a lot of the book Trust Me, I’m Lying but with a male protagonist.  Kids who like books where the con is on, like Loot and Heist Society should enjoy this one.

Final thoughts: 
Love the title!  Our students use Kahn Academy here, so the play on the name gets quite a few smiling eye rolls.

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect with Amazon: Con Academy  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Books For Kids Who Like Computers

Today I have a book that features robots, computer games and competition.  Do you think you might have a kid who is interested in any of those?  If so, hop on board with this great story that will engage kids with it's wit ... and did I mention the computer games?

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Title: How Lunchbox Jones Saved Me from Robots, Traitors, and Missy the Cruel

Author: Jennifer Brown

Target: Grade 5-7

Series: No

What this book is about: 

Luke Abbot is happy playing computer games at home after school with his best online friend Randy.  However, when he gets recruited for the Robotics team, his dad “encourages” him to join.  The next thing Luke knows is that he is with a group of other “recruited” students with their own issues, including a girl who does everything with her feet (because she can) and a large scary boy simply known as Lunchbox.  Their biggest challenge is that Forest Shade Middle School has never won anything …. ever!  Losing is what they do.  Can this team beat the odds? Well in a way they will.

Why I love this book: 
First off I love a book that has robotics as the setting.  With two sons who are on their robotics teams, this was a nice book to share with them.  They could certainly relate to programing their bots to perform a series of tasks with multiple points attached to each skill!

But while robotics is the backdrop, this book is really about friendships and relationships.  Luke is funny and I found myself laughing out loud several times.  He manages to create connections with his teammates and empathy for even the toughest characters without ever making the reader feel it is contrived.  

This book even has a nice message -  getting up and away from computer games from time to time can be a good thing.  It does it without being preachy!  A win for mom.

Who this book is for: 
Great for kids who like realistic fiction and anything to do with computers and robots.  I think a lot of kids are going to like this one!

Final thoughts:
This book really does have humor and heart.  Although the phrase is overused, in this case it is really quite accurate. 

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: How Lunchbox Jones Saved Me from Robots, Traitors, and Missy the Cruel  A portion of each purchase will go to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Brilliant Early Readers

So the last Elephant and Piggie book by Mo Willems will be published in the summer of next year.  25 books in total and the series will be ending.  However this series is a brilliant entrant into the early reader category.  There has not been so much fun and creativity in this age group since Dr. Seuss!

To fill the void, we have some exciting writers who are penning engaging books for beginning readers.  Greg Pizolli is one to watch, and with a Geisel win under his belt, he has the freedom to try innovative things.  Bob Shea is another up and comer and with his new set of characters, Ballet Cat and Sparkle Pony, we will see if he can keep the humor coming. Ethan Long is a creative guy who is able to turn simple, repetitive words into clever stories. I am feeling quite optimistic!

Of course we can't forget the ladies!  Kate Di Camello and her Bink and Gollie series is brilliant.  I hope this one won't end at three books!  Also Judith Viorst and her Lulu books remain my all time favorites.  Please keep them coming!

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Title: Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret

Author: Bob Shea

Target: Preschool - Grade 1

Series: This is the first book in a planned series

What this book is about: 
Ballet Cat and Sparkle Pony are trying to decide what to play together.  Every time Pony comes up with an idea, Cat finds something wrong with it because she cannot do it while leaping, kicking or spinning.  Turns out that Cat wants to play ballet like she does every day.  The problem is that Pony doesn’t want to play ballet every time, but he is afraid to tell Cat because she might not be his friend anymore.  Luckily there is something that Cat likes more than ballet and thankfully it is Pony!

Why I love this book: 
With colorful illustrations, humor and friendship, this early reader is for every kid who loves Elephant and Piggie and Fly Guy.  These books take early readers and elevate them to something kids actually want to read because of their humor and silliness.  

The story has some humor that will be lost on the youngest readers, but if you are reading it to a preschooler you will enjoy the subtelties, and older readers will pick up on the joke.  

Who this book is for: 
Great for early readers and fans of Elephant and Piggie and Fly Guy.  A lovely new entrant into the category.

Final thoughts: 
I can’t wait for the next book in the series simply because of it’s title.  Who can resist Dance! Dance! Underpants!  I think I am secretly six years old!

To purchase this book:
Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Ballet Cat The Totally Secret Secret  A portion of each purchase will go back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Find Audrey

I am a total sucker for a great cover, and the cover of the book I am profiling today had me hook, line and sinker.  Thankfully the book held up to it's illustrious first impressions, or what a waste if would have been!  I must admit that I had no idea the book would deal with such a big issue as social anxiety disorder, but it is handled deftly and with humor so while the subject is weighty the story never felt heavy.

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Title: Finding Audrey

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Target: Grades 6 and up

Series: No

What this book is about:  
Audrey has experienced a trauma, and is now suffering from severe social anxiety.  She wears dark glasses constantly because eye contact is just too intense for her.  She is slowly making progress, but when she meets her brother’s friend Linus, he starts to help her want to get better faster.  Between her wacky, but loving family and a boy who sees past her problems, the road to recovery may just be possible, if not a little bumpy.

Why I love this book: 
First off, while the subject matter is weighty, the book never feels heavy.  Kinsella is able to infuse quite a bit of humor into her characters and the situation.  I loved that her family is together, supportive and loving as they try to help her get past this disorder.  Frankly, I couldn’t stop laughing at the mother and her obsession with her son’s computer gaming.  It made me feel that perhaps I might (just might) come off as a little wonky to my son who is a touch obsessed with video games!

We never learn the details about what happened to cause the social anxiety, although it is easy to surmise it was a bullying incident.  The author gets away without telling us, although I think I may have understood Audrey better and sympathized with her more had I known.  I also kinda wish it wasn’t a boy who gets her recovery going, but all in all this is a compelling and entertaining story, so I quibble.  Even with those things it was a can’t put down read.

Who this book is for: 
Teen/tween girls should really enjoy this one.  

Final thoughts: 
Great cover!

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Finding Audrey  A portion of each purchase will go back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

Charming Picture Book

Today I am pulling out the nostalgia card!  Yes, this reprint of a classic was one I owned when it was originally published.  I cringe typing that!  But good stuff never goes out of style, so don't miss a chance to share a little bit of the past your child.

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Title: A Doll For Marie

Author: Louise Fatio

Target: Preschool - Grade 1

What this book is about:  
This is the story of a beautiful antique doll that wants to be loved by a girl.  People feel she is too delicate to be purchased as a plaything so she ends up in the home of an older woman whose house looks just like the antique store she left.  However, when a cat and puppy get a little frisky, our doll ends up in the mouth of a dachshund and her dress is torn and tattered.  She is found by Marie, the little girl who admired her from afar and now the doll may not be fancy, but more importantly, she is loved.  

Why I love this book: 
This book was originally published in 1957 and I remember owning it!  The illustrations evoke an earlier time and the story is charming, so it just brought me back.  This is a lovely book with a sweet message about being loved and not admired.  

Who this book is for: 
Great for kids who are open to books with some nostalgia. Also nice for girls who love their dolls!

Final thoughts: 
I still have a hard time with books being reprinted from my generations and marketed as “retro”  I’m not ready to be retro, but I guess it is better than old fashioned!

To purchase this book:

Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: A Doll For Marie  A portion of each purchase goes back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support!

You're Invited to Enjoy a Great Tween Book

I have to admit that the Mix line by Simon and Schuster is publishing just the kind of books I would have loved as a tween.  These won't be winning awards, but they are fun, engaging, appropriate and they will keep your daughter reading.   These books are a nice complement to some of the more sophisticated reading that will be expected of them in the classroom and they deftly address many of the social issues your tween will be facing.

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Title: You’re Invited

Authors: Jen Malone & Gail Nall

Target: Grades 4-6

Series: Yes

What this book is about: 
Sadie is asked to leave her mother’s party planning business after an unfortunate incident with a dog at a Little Mermaid themed wedding.  Sadie really wants to show her mom that this mistake was just a fluke, and that she has what it takes to help her.  

So she and her three best friends decide to start RSVP, a party planning business of their own over the summer.  While all four have different talents, they realize that they can grow and support each other while having a fun summer planning some pretty interesting events!

Why I love this book: 
This book is published by the Mix line at Simon and Schuster.  These  books are meant for tweens and have innocent fun and friendship at their core.  They are not award winners, but they are well done for quick relaxing reads and are just the sort of books I would have gobbled up at this age.  Think a modern version of Babysitter’s Club.

I liked that the characters were all different and most girls could find someone to relate to.  We had studious Lauren who is already worried about college, sporty Vi who is also a whiz in the kitchen, organized Sadie who can solve things on the fly and wants her mother’s approval and flirty Becca who secretly longs for a music career.  

I like to see girls as entrepreneurs.  Stories that empower girls to start their own businesses are a win in my book and the parties were fun too! 

Who this book is for: 
Great for girls who liked books similar to Cupcake Diaries. 

Final thoughts: 
I like the party planning theme and I think a lot of girls will dream about starting their own businesses after reading this book!

To purchase this book:
Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: You're Invited (mix)  A portion of each purchase will go back to support this blog at no cost to you.  Thank you for your support.

I have include a link to Simon and Schuster’s website for a party planning guide to accompany the book : http://assetlibrary.supadu.com/images/ckfinder/26/pdfs/PartyPlanner.pdf