Alex Rider Secret Weapon gets 4 Stars {ya lit, action/adventure}

I know books, but I am not a music expert.  However, with the spy and adventure theme of this book I couldn't get the theme music for James Bond and Mission Impossible movies out of my head. If I had to create a Playlist of sorts for this book, it'd definitely include those songs. 

It's not all action and adventure. There is some humor. ;) "Of course it'll work!  I mean, I hope it'll work. But it is a prototype, you know..."

"You should be careful whom you choose to trust." 

Alex Rider, aka the teenage James Bond.  He's a teenage spy for MI6.  Therefore, he gets really cool gadgets, he's super smart, a linguist, martial arts master, and he just seems like a good 14 year old.  This book has seven short stories, which make for a super fast read that'll have you keep turning the pages. You'll finish before you know it, and if you are anything like me you'll love that reality is briefly suspended and that things work out for Alex.  I'm such a sucker for the happy ending.  To be honest, I didn't know the Alex Rider books were for more than just middle and high school boys.  I'm actually a big fan of Alex Rider now, and don't worry, you don't have to have been an AR fan and have read the other books to enjoy this one.  Horowitz does a great job including any necessary background information.  

Basically, this Alex Rider book is fantastic.  At times there are a few gaps in the action, but otherwise I felt the writing was great.  The story moves quickly and there is enough development, but this is definitely a plot driven story.  Definitely a great book to hand to a kid in 5th grade and up; middle school libraries should most definitely have this book on the shelf. 

Alex Rider Secret Weapon by Anthony Horowitz
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 12 and up, action/adventure fans will love this fast read. 
# of Pages:  336
Clean Read: Yes. There is action and violence, but it isn't gruesome. I think an 11 year old could enjoy this.   
Worth a Check Out: Yes. It is such a fun quick read. It's worth a read when you are looking for a page turner that will help you escape reality. 
Buy It or Not: Maybe.  If you are an Alex Rider fan then you definitely should. 
Read Aloud:  Actually, it could be a fun read for 6th-8th grade classroom. 



I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

National Pet Day aka Pet Book List {book list}

It's National Pet Day, and I'm so excited to share some fun "pet" books.  These books are hilarious, funny, and make awesome read alouds.  Some have won awards.  Some are great for beginning readers, and some are entertaining and better than I thought they'd be.  Definitely give them a check-out. 

Pet Books

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

This novel with illustrations is hilarious, but I know about an alien cat warlord that becomes a pet sounds awfully weird.  However, it's hilarious and fun and definitely worth a check-out.  I found myself laughing and enjoying it far more than I thought I would.  It'd make a great classroom read aloud, or nightly read.  The reading level is a little higher, but I think the interest is lower.  Therefore, a class read aloud in 2nd or 3rd would be awesome.    

Best for 3rd-5th grade.  

Flubby by J.E. Morris

Flubby is a pet cat.  He is your typical, lay around the house cat.  Tho, the endings of Flubby books have a surprise. The text is simple and short and perfect for the beginning reader, the pictures are fantastic, and the book series is all around fun!

Best for Preschool through 1st grade. 

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo

This picture book won a Caldecott Honor b/c the pictures are fantastic.  However, the text and story is super fun as well.  These pets are not your normal pets, and the ending will make you smile.  

Best for Preschool through 4th grade. 

Arnie, the Doughnut by Laurie Keller

I love Arnie; this book has been a favorite of mine for years.  Arnie is a doughnut, but he is also a pet.  This picture book is a must read, but it is a longer read.

Best for 3rd through 6th grade. 

Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin

Charlotte, like many children, just wants a pet to take care of.  However, her parents give her an unusual pet that becomes even more unusual.  Charlotte is fun, and finds the good in all things.  This would be a great picture book for a teacher to read aloud and complete a Venn Diagram to compare Charlotte's pet to the student's pet.  

Best for 1st through 3rd grade. 

This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Byrne

This interactive picture book is less about her pet dog and more about what happens to her dog, but it is funny.  Definitely a fun read for a classroom or with your child. 

Best for preschool through 1st grade. 

Too Many Moose by Lisa Bakos

If one moose is a good pet then many moose would be even better, right?! This picture book will answer that question in a fun way. 

Best for Kindergarten through 4th grade. 

Molly Mischief: My Perfect Pet by Adam Hargreaves

Molly is definitely silly, and it's quite obvious when she is trying to find the perfect pet.  

Best for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. 

Fairy Tale Pets  by Tracey Corderoy

What happens when a kid wants to earn a little extra money by pet-sitting?  It becomes quite the adventure for Bob when he pet-sits for fairy tale characters. 

Best for Kindergarten through 3rd grade. 

Hopefully today you give your pet some extra love and then enjoy snuggling in with some of these fun books. 

Happy reading!

Some of the books were given to me for my honest review.  All books, thoughts, and opinions are my own.  

Matylda, Bright and Tender gets 5 stars {middle grade fiction, coming of age}

A co-worker and fellow-librarian was on a mission to get this book checked out more so it doesn't get weeded.  It just doesn't seem to get the love it deserves.  She loved the book, and I'm all about reading great books.  I will say I'm so glad I checked this book out.  

Matylda, Bright and Tender by Holly M. McGhee is a beautiful, well written character driven story about loss/death, healing, and love.  

Sussy (short for Susquehanna) Reed and her best friend Guy Hose have a beautiful friendship, and do many things a child can relate to.  When they are in 4th grade they are able to convince Sussy's parents that they need a pet to "love all their own."  That's when Matylda makes her appearance, and she has a valuable roll in this coming of age story.   

Holly McGhee's debut novel is fantastic.  The writing and feel of the story reminded me of Sharon Creech's books, or Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl.  

Matylda, Bright and Tender gets 5 out of 5 stars. This book is a gentle moving story, but at 200 pages it's a quick read as well.  I loved the writing.  McGhee wrote the tough parts, like death, quite well.  She wrote the emotions Sussy was feeling well.  The only part I didn't love is the stealing part, and I wish there was more explanation in that connection and Sussy's healing and growth.  

This would be a fabulous book for anyone that wants to heal from loss and relate to someone.  This would be a great classroom read aloud, or nightly read with your kids.  All in all, Matylda, Bright and Tender is a fabulous book that deserves more attention.  

Happy Middle Grade Fiction Heartwarming Coming of Age Reading! 


Matylda, Bright and Tender by Holly M. McGhee
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: 8 -14 yrs old, 3rd grade- 8th grade
# of Pages:  210
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.  Similar feel to Sharon Creech novels.
Buy It or Not: Yes.  Especially, if you know a child or teen that lost a loved one.  This would be a great book for bibliotherapy reasons regarding death and healing.   
Read Aloud: Yes this would make a great classroom read aloud for 3rd-5th grade class room, or with a parent at night.  
Lesson Ideas: Death. Pets. Pet Care. Love. Guilt. Forgiveness. Stealing. Friendship. Family Relationships. Character Driven Story. 

Have you read Matylda, Bright and Tender? What did you think of it?



A few quotes from Matylda, Bright and Tender that I had to share with you: 

"That's when I knew I loved him- not in a fairy-tale way with a princess or prince or anything like that.  I just loved him, the way you love the people closest to you." pg 2

"Don't look down, forget you can fall, fool yourself that way." pg 51

"I know it sounds silly, but sometimes a simple change on the outside can make you feel new." pg 131

Caldecott 2018 Winners {picture books, nonfiction, book list}

The Caldecott is a prestigious award named after Randolph Caldecott.  The award is given to the artist/illustrator of the best American published books.  

When I was the librarian in Denver, I had a 2nd grader that was fascinated with my "Caldecott Medal Winners" poster and checked out every single winner.  I feel a bit like that little boy b/c every year I check out the Caldecott Medal and Honor (runner-ups) books.  

This year, the 2018 Caldecott  Medal Winner is: 

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

The 2018 Caldecott Honor books are: 

Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes

A Different Pond by Bao Phi

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin

Some Caldecott years I completely adore all of the books for their story and illustrations, and some years I think the pictures are cool but the stories are lacking.  This year, I'm probably somewhere in between.  I thought some books were amazing, and I loved the diversity in the books.  

Check out the links above for my reviews on each of the Caldecott books this year.  

Which Caldecott book this year is your favorite? I'd probably vote for Grand Canyon, but maybe that is my Arizona connection.   Though, I really loved A Different Pond as well. 

Happy Caldecott reading! 

Grand Canyon gets 4.5 Stars {nonfiction, caldecott}

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin is absolutely fantastic.  The illustrations are gorgeous.  The details, such as the end paper map shown below, are exceptional and make this book a must addition for any library collection.

The information found in the Grand Canyon book is extensive.  It covers the geology of the Grand Canyon, ecology, biology including insects and animals, and so much more.  Though, the information is not the only thing found in this book, the story of a father and daughter's adventure hiking in the Grand Canyon is a welcome addition.  To be honest, this book could be used as a long picture book for younger students, or a research/fact book for older.  Both audiences/readers will learn something new about the Grand Canyon.

The story aspect and the nonfiction aspect merge together on pages that send the characters "back" in time billions of years ago to what the area looked like.  To be honest, the first time the story went back to the past I was a little confused, but it eventually made sense.  I think this confusion in the book is what made me rate the Grand Canyon at 4.5 out of 5 stars.

The book is fantastic!  It truly is such a great book that I have high praise for.  The very end of the book, when the story is over, there are pages of facts and even more information about the Grand Canyon.  Honestly, the amount of information in this book is quite impressive, and a person that loves Arizona, the Grand Canyon, geology, ecology, or biology should definitely get their hands on this book.  This book should be, I hope it is, sold in the gift shops at the Grand Canyon National Park.

I loved many things about Grand Canyon, but this double fold out page illustrating the entire Grand Canyon is gorgeous!  It's honestly frame worthy, but I love it even more b/c it is in a kid's book.  This double fold out page will be awed and loved by those that own this book, but like many library books with fold-outs, it may be a little beat-up. 

I'm so happy that Jason Chin won a Caldecott Honor for Grand Canyon; in my opinion it is so well deserved.

Happy Fabulous Non-Fiction Completely Entertaining Scientific reading!

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: 8-13 years old, 3rd to 7th grade. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes
Buy It or Not: Great book. Definitely a purchase for a library collection, science lover, or Arizona teacher.
Read Aloud: No, it is far too long.  Though, you could read parts.   
Lesson Ideas: Arizona, The Grand Canyon, history, geology, ecology, animals, biology, maps, Caldecott.

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut gets 4 Stars {picture book, caldecott, newbery}

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Gordon C. James won all of the awards this year.  This book was definitely the big ALA winner; it came away with 7 awards.  With a Caldecott Honor, aka runner-up for illustrations, Newbery Honor, aka a runner-up for the written story, and a Coretta Scott King Award, an award for the best book by an African-American, for the author and illustrator. Barnes and Gordon seem to be quite the dream team, and even more impressive they are both new to the writing/illustrating world. 

Most people adored this book, and it's not new to me for feeling differently from the majority.  To be honest, I felt Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a great book to add to your collection for more diversity.  I felt the concept of taking pride in your appearance, getting a hair cut in this instance, can build self-esteem.  The story and the pictures are unique and beautiful in their own ways.  I thought the word choice was excellent and descriptive with words like magnificent, flawless, and a comparison to royalty.  

My major qualm with the book, and why it earned 4 out of 5 stars was because the storyline and the wording seem more appropriate for 4th through 6th grade, however the concept of pride felt from a hair cut, and the excitement for going to get a cut seems more appropriate for preschoolers.  I think the audience this book is best suited for is off and the reason for my lack of enthusiasm.     

According to Goodreads, I am in the minority with my rating.  What do you think? Where do you rate this Caldecott and Newbery Honor book?      

Happy New Hair Cut Self-Esteem Building picture book reading!

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes illustrated by Gordon C. James
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 2-7 years old, Toddlers to 2nd grade. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes
Buy It or Not: It's a great diversity book, if your collection is lacking diversity you need this book.
Read Aloud: Yes.  If you are talking about hair-cut or appearance impacting self-esteem.
Lesson Ideas: Hair cut, barbershop, African-American, word choice 6 traits writing, Caldecott, Newbery. 

My 25 Favorite Christmas Books for 2017 {picture book, book list}

I love Christmas!  I love picture books!  I love reading them by myself as well as with my kids.  Reading Christmas picture books is the best!  

May My Favorite 25 Christmas Books this year bring you some happiness as you read and enjoy them, but if you are a natural overachiever you can check my previous Christmas Favorites.  Links are found at the bottom of this post. Enjoy! 

My 25 Favorite Christmas Books of 2017

1.

Little Santa by Yoko Maruyama

A sweet story about gifts, a father, and a son.

Best for 1st through 4th Grade. 

2.

Boris the Christmas Tarantula by Joel Jeske

Spiders and Christmas don't usually go together, but that's what makes this story so fun and unique.  Boris may be the only spider I could get along with.

Best for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. 

3.

Bear's Merry Book of Hidden Things by Gergely Dudas

If you combine a simple Christmas story with a seek and find interactive book, then you will get this fun read you can enjoy over and over again.

Best for Toddler through 2nd Grade.  

4.

Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares

This is one of my favorites this year.  Red and Lulu are cardinals that nest in the same large evergreen tree.  Though, one year their tree is moved for something bigger and better, and Red and Lulu begin a new adventure.

Best for Kindergarten through 4th Grade. 

5.

Pig the Elf by Aaron Blabey

This Pig the Pug Christmas book is fun.  The story has great rhythm, miracles occur, and being greedy is never encouraged.

Best for Toddler through 2nd Grade. 

6.

The 12 Days of Christmas by Greg Pizzoli

The traditional song written in a fun and updated way.  The illustrations and the details found throughout the story make it that much more fun.

Best for All Ages. 

7.

Jingle Bells by Susan Jeffers

Jingle Bells the song is written out with such gorgeous illustrations.  This book alone made me miss snow, and recall the white Christmas's I've seen in my past.

Best for All Ages. 

8.

'Twas the Evening of Christmas by Glenys Nellist

This is the story of the nativity told in a 'Twas the Night Before Christmas format.  I adore this book, the illustrations, and the concept of the true meaning of Christmas told in this recognizable Christmas format and rhythm.   

Best for All Ages. 

9.

Waltz of the Snowflakes by Elly Mackay

I love Wordless books b/c pictures tell the story and any age can "read" these books.  This wordless book is beautiful for telling the story of a girl and boy's first time enjoying The Nutcracker.

Best for All Ages. 

10.

The 12 Sleighs of Christmas by Sherri Duskey Rinker

Rinker wrote one of my son's favorite books, Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, and this book is one of his favorite Christmas books b/c it combines Santa, Elves, and building cool things.  The book is a little long (so the young and kids with short attention spans may struggle with this book), but the story is so fun.  Boys and kids who love to build will love this book.

Best for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. 

11.

The Great Spruce by John Duvall

Another story about a large tree heading to the big city for Christmas.  However, this story has a beautiful take on the importance of taking care of our earth.

Best for Kindergarten through 4th Grade. 

12.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and Illustrated by Antonio Javier Caparo

This classic story hasn't been changed, but the illustrations are updated and absolutely gorgeous.

Best for All Ages. 

13.

Santa Rex by Molly Idle

Idle, author and illustrator of Tea Rex and Flora and the Flamingo, writes and illustrates another fabulous book.  The illustrations are gorgeous and simple in this holiday Rex book, yet the story has depth and teaches a good message.  However, only the mature and older audience will truly "get it."

Best for Kindergarten through 5th Grade. 

14.

Ninja Claus! by Arree Chung

Santa is an awesome Ninja, and this story is simple enough for toddlers, yet fun for kindergartners.  Ninja fans will love this book and be anxious for their own pair of "Ninja Slippers."

Best for Preschool through 3rd Grade. 

15.

Weird but True Christmas: 300 Festive Facts to Light Up the Holidays

This book is for the reluctant reader in your life, or the child that loves to learn the most random facts.  These Weird but True books are so fun, and the facts in this Christmas version is pretty great.  A fun read for adults too!

Best for 2nd Grade through 5th Grade. 

16.

Cooking With the Grinch by Tish Rabe

An early reader/beginning chapter book about the Grinch and he's baking with friends.  It's definitely a fun read if you have an beginning reader in your home. 

Best for Kindergarten through 2nd Grade. 

17.

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin

A fun Pete the Cat story with good rhythm and a repetitious phrase about doing your best. 

Best for Toddlers through 2nd Grade. 

18.

Fly Guy's Ninja Christmas by Tedd Arnold

Another fun ninja Christmas book, but this one is an early reader/beginning chapter book, Fly Guy. Definitely a fun read, especially for those beginning readers.

Best for Kindergarten through 2nd Grade. 

19.

The Last Christmas Tree by Stephen Krensky

Beautiful story that will tug at your heart strings and make you smile.

Best for Kindergarten through 4^th grade.

20. 

A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel

This book made my previous Christmas book list, but it is such a great book and we're all about the Christmas books with characters we love from previous books. This book is fun for kids and adults alike; though, it's a little long.

Best for 1^st through 3^rd grade.

21. 

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

I love this classic Christmas story, and my kids do as well.  Since, I took my kids on the Polar Express here in Arizona, I figured it was only fitting this classic makes my Best of Christmas list again. This story is touching, and the movie is fun as well. 

Best for Toddlers through 3^rd grade.

22. 

Turkey Claus by Wendi Silvano

I love Turkey Trouble, and this fun Christmas version is just as fun.  This book is great for reading aloud and lessons using recalling sequence of events.

Best for Toddlers through 2^nd grade.

23. 

The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas by Laura Murray

The Gingerbread Man books by Murray are fun, interactive, have great rhythm, and all around great reads.  This Christmas one has a great message as well.

Best for Preschoolers through 4^th grade.

24. 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

What's Christmas without this classic? It's a bit long, but it's a fun and watching the movie or cartoon after is fun.

Best for 3rd Grade and Up. 

25. 

Santa! by Rufus Butler Seder

These scanimation books are so cool, and this Christmas version is as fun as the others.

Best for Toddlers and Up. 

I love Christmas books, and if these 25 books, many new to this year, are not enough for you check out my 2015 and 2016 lists. There will be a few repeats, but the repeats are my must reads to be enjoyed this Holiday season.

What are your Christmas must reads?!

Happy Christmas Reading!