The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler, illustrated by Sarah Gibb. I found Liz Kessler’s page on Facebook, and I am so glad I did.  The Tail of Emily Windsnap is a  fascinating story of Emily, who, at 12 years old, discovers she is a mermaid!  It is written well, and as far fetched as it is, I couldn’t put it down.  Emily discovers herself; how strong she really can be, and who her true friends and family are.  She has some problems at her new school, but in finding herself, she also finds a new best friend.  She is able to deal with some grownup issues, and help her mother realize…

Nate the Great Stalks Stupidweed by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont I have been looking for more easy chapter books to read aloud to my son (I’m on a break from Magic Tree House).  This is the second Nate the Great we tried, and I cant’ say that I loved it.  It was very hard to hold my sons attention.  He didn’t get the details, so it was hard for him, even with my help, to solve the mystery.   The story was long, with no chapters or breaks, so it was hard to find a good place to stop.  And, they do seem a bit outdated.  The pictures are…

The Baby-Sitters Club: Kristy’s Great Idea by Ann M. Martin. We have been  having a lazy summer and family dramas, so reviewing books seems to be last on my list of things to do.  I apologize for the lack of entries. My daughter got several of The Baby-Sitters Club books through school and the Scholastic Book Order Forms.  She still hasn’t read any of them.  I thought they might be a little too grown up for her.  But, I read the first one Kristy’s Great Idea, and I couldnt put it down.  Some of the topics might be a little older than my daughter, but it is all things that she will have to deal with…

I think I mentioned before that we have to read the book before we see the movie.  My son had been seeing the promos for Mr. Popper’s Penguins.  So, we just finished Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, illustrations by Robert Lawson. I had read this a few years ago to my daughter.  It was amusing, but I think a lot of the humor was too grown-up for both of my children.  It was written in 1938 so are there are a few things that are outdated.  But, it is still a good book to read aloud.  Mr. Popper is a house painter who loves the Antarctic.  He…

We’ve been a little busy with the ending of school and trying to get into the routine of sleeping late and enjoying the pool.  Ahhhhh, summer.  I feel as though its been months since I put up a new book.  Never fear, I’m back! And, the Penderwicks are back, too.  We were #2 on the waiting list for The Penderwicks at Point Mouette at our library!  We didn’t have to wait very long.  We were so excited, and we just finished it today. Once again, it was so nice to be reunited with the Penderwick girls and Jeffrey.  Rosalind has gone on vacation to NJ with her friend, Anna.  Their…

I’ve been getting a little tired of The Magic Tree House, so I encouraged my son to try something different.  The local librarin gave us several suggestions.  He reluctantly agreed to try one – although we check out  several.  We read Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, pictures by Scott Nash.  This is a funny story of a little boy who becomes flat and is now able to do things that no one else can.  Nobody was being shot at, there were no adventures to other lands, it was just Flat Stanley and his new life being flat.  My son enjoyed it.  It was an easy read and the illustrations are wonderful.  There are…

I hope that everyone has read Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White.  It is truly a classic.  I read this to my 1st grade class each year.  They always loved read aloud, I would tell them to just lie down and listen, to let the pictures form in their heads of what they were hearing me read.  They relished it.  And, they LOVED Charlotte’s Web. Wilbur, the runt pig, is saved by the little girl, Fern.  When he is old enough and big enough he has to move out of the house to the barn.  There, he discovers a whole new world.  Charlotte, the spider, whom Wilbur adores.  Templeton, the…

The Doll People, The Meanest Doll in the World, and Runaway Dolls by Ann M. Martin & Laura Godwin, illustrated by Brian Selznick We found this series last year.  I thought it was perfect for my daughter.  She wanted to read it on her own, and she did.  It was a little tough, but she was determined to do it.  And, it gave us ‘special reading time’, as I would sit with her and read my own book. The Doll People is about an old dollhouse and the doll people that has been passed down to Kate by her grandmother.  And, surprising, the dolls are still in good shape.  Nora,…

Sophie the Hero by Laura Bergen Sophie is trying to find a moniker, so she tries out many (see the Sophie titles – http://larabergen.com/).  Sophie the Hero begins with a group of girls telling all about how Sophie saved a Kindergartner.  She is a hero.  The story continues as Sophie looks for ways to become a hero again and again.  Poor Sophie, her fifteen minutes of fame came and went in the blink of an eye.  She just wants to figure herself out – as do most children. My daughter has read some of the Sophie books at school and enjoys them – she was the one who told me I…

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Angela Barrett Not your regular fairy book.  If you are expecting fairy wishes and dreams coming true, go find Tinkerbell.  Flory is a night fairy, and, as with all fairies, her parents are not around because fairies are bad parents.  Flory is on her own and just getting used to her wings, when disaster strikes.  She learns very quickly about the dangers and hardships one can face.  But, she perseveres, and creates a whole new world for herself.  This is a wonderful story of realizing your potential, and allowing “help” when its needed.  A good lesson for everyone. My mother found a…