Spooky Munchies for Spooky Reads {book list}

I'm a reading snacker; I admit it.  Admitting it is the first step I hear.  While my brain is reading I love to be doing something with my mouth.  Are you a reading snacker?  

I love drinking water while reading non-fiction.  I love salty snacks when things are intense.  I love sweets when the story is sweet 💖.  Depending how the story is going will depend on what snack I want to eat.  Unfortunately, I haven't quite figured out what kind of books causes me to munch on veggies and dip.  Hmmmmm

During the holidays reading snacks must be festive. It's pretty much a holiday reading rule.  ;)  With it so close to Halloween, obviously the snacks are holiday appropriate. 

I figured I might as well attempt to explain my reading snack madness to convert more of you over to the side of snacking by type of book/read. 

Spooky Munchies for Spooky Reads

Something Sweet

For me this means chocolate candy, though for those odd people (like a certain Mr. of mine) I know sweet sugary candy is preferred. 

I think any Halloween picture book fits in this category.

My favorite Halloween picture books this year are the following: 

Creepy Carrots

Creepy Pair of Underwear

Moldilocks and the Three Scares

Big Pumpkin

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

Something Sour

When I say sour I mean sour candy.  Just sour doesn't do anything for me, but Sour Patch Kids every now and again, that is yum.  

Sour Candy books are a little weird but cool at the same time.  

Coraline is definitely a sour candy book. 

   Something Salty

Salty snacks have to have a crunch for me.  Potato chips are my go to salty reading snack.  

Salty books are intense books that keep me coming back for more intensity... just like salty chips.  

Cirque du Freak  is an intense, every chapter is a cliff hanger, salty chip book.  

Such a fun series, and a great classroom or family read aloud for 5th-8th grade kids. 

Something with Everything

Snacks that are sweet, salty, and crunchy are perfect for the spooky reads with intensity, action, humor, and a little quirkiness.  

Books that have it all deserve a snack that has it all.  

I used to make a candy corn and peanuts snack mix, but then I came across this recipe from Oh Sweet Basil.  It has since won my heart. #yummy

The Last Kids on Earth is a book with thrill and laughs.

Bonus, it is now on Netflix. 

Something Pumpkin

Seasonal reads always entice some seasonally flavored snacks, and ice cream is always a great reading snack.  

The season of pumpkins deserves a book that sweet and seasonal as well as a delicious treat like Pumpkin Ice Cream. 

Pumpkinheads is such a fun and sweet and seasonally festive graphic novel.  It's a book you could read in the time a big bowl of ice cream took you to eat.  

Thank you Penguin Kids for the fun book and an excuse to share some of my favorite Halloween books with the snacks I eat with them.  

A Different Pond gets 4.5 Stars {picture book, graphic novel}

At first glance, A Different Pond by Bao Phi and illustrated by Thi Bui doesn't seem much to look at.  You may not be incredibly tempted to grab this book off the shelf b/c of the title or the cover.  I know, I wasn't tempted until after it won a Caldecott Honor.   

However, A Different Pond, is a fabulous book!  The story is a sweet story about the author growing up and going fishing with his father in Minnesota.  He and his father would go fishing out of necessity, but the time together was priceless I am sure.   I loved the close family relationship portrayed in this book.  I love the different immigration perspective, and I loved hearing Bao's father share about a different pond in Vietnam he would fish at.   

I loved the graphic novel like look but with a more artsy take Thi Bui did for A Different Pond.  The illustrations enhanced the beautiful story.  The combination of a touching, powerful, and educational story with stunning illustrations is why this book earned 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

You need to check this book out.  It'd make a great read diversity read aloud, and a perfect book for an immigration lesson.  Even though it is a clean and touching story I think 2nd grade through 6th grade would be the ideal audience for this book. The story is powerful and eye opening; older readers would gain more from the sweet story.  

The information and personal pictures about the author, Bao Phi, and illustrator, Thi Bui, found in the back of the book is fantastic.  I loved reading all about Phi and Bui.  Their history and personal connection with the story is powerful, and helps the reader feel even stronger for the story.  This page was a great ending to a wonderful book. Go check this read out!  

Happy New Perspective on Immigrants reading!

A Different Pond by Bao Phi illustrated by Thi Bui
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best For: 7-12 years old, 2nd to 6th grade. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes
Buy It or Not: Great book. Definitely a purchase for a library collection.
Read Aloud: Yes.  
Lesson Ideas: Immigration, immigrants, diversity, Asian culture, family, father-son time, family relationships, Caldecott.

Lighter than My Shadow gets 3.5 Stars {ya lit, graphic novel}

Lighter than My Shadow by Katie Green is a young adult/teen memoir in graphic novel format.  This fast/quick read is perfect for reluctant readers, and anyone that has struggled with an eating disorder and/or sexual abuse.  

This book is heavy and talks about many tough subjects including the pain, frustration, and recovery from those subjects.  However, this tough heavy book is quite well done.  Overall, Lighter than My Shadow felt real and raw; it was hard to read at times, but it was also enlightening and encouraging. 

Lighter than My Shadow gets 3.5 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I think the artistic vision is great, and telling this story in graphic novel format was a great choice.  However, I sometimes found myself confused with the pictures and what exactly was going on.  This book is definitely not clean as there are drawings of Katie naked and drawings of the sexual abuse.   

I will say that this book is not one I am going to own, and I don't think it is one most people are going to buy.  However, there is a definite place for it in a school or public library collection.  Lighter than My Shadow has value, and it should be accessible for all those that need it.  Anyone looking for a help and hope with anorexia, eating disorder, recovery, and sexual abuse should definitely pick this book up.  It's a beautiful and valuable book; though, it is definitely not a book for everyone. 
  

Happy reading even if it is an incredibly difficult subject. 


Lighter than My Shadow by Katie Green
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Best For: 14 years old and up, 9th grade and up. 
Clean Read: No. Not clean at all, though in context with this tough subject.
Worth a Check Out: No, unless you want a great perspective on mental illness, eating disorder, and sexual assault.
Buy It or Not: No.
Read Aloud: No.
Lesson Ideas: Anorexia, eating disorder, mental illness, depression, sexual assault, sexual abuse, recovery, perspective. 


I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my review and honest opinion.  All of my thoughts, opinions, and words are my own.

My Favorite Books of 2017 {Picture Books, Middle Grade Lit, YA Lit, Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction}

I read or listened to a lot of books in 2017.  I'm super behind on writing reviews for them, but I wrote a review on all of these books here on my blog, Instagram @alohamroaopenabook, or my Goodreads Megan-Alohamora Open a Book.

Of all the books I read to this year, these 15 are my favorite.  What are some of your favorite books you read in 2017?  

My 15 Favorite Books of 2017

Picture Books

She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

Inspiring. Educational. An all around fantastic book. 

Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford

This Caldecott Honor book has gorgeous pictures, and a beautifully educational book. 

The Most Perfect Snowman by Chris Britt

Such a sweet story story about friendship and giving. 

Old MacDonald Had a Truck by Steve Goetz

This is one of my absolute favorite books to read aloud, and my very favorite version of this story. 

Middle Grade Fiction

Refugee by Alan Gratz

Fantastic book!  This quick read provides a valuable new perspective on the experiences of refugees. 

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

This Newbery Medal winner writes a beautiful and magical story. 

Young Adult

March Book Three by John Lewis

I love all three March books.  These non-fiction graphic novels about the civil rights movement are so well done.  

Perfect by Cecelia Ahern

The follow-up book to the Flawed series is fast paced and a great addition to this dystopian series. 

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

Fast paced mystery like novel with a strong female character.  Basically, a really fun read. 

Adult Fiction

The Black Book by James Patterson and David Ellis

This mystery may be my favorite James Patterson book.  Well paced story leaves you guessing until the end. 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I'm not sure if I can say this is my favorite Moriarty book, but I did love it.  I also loved that the story was unpredictable. 

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Picoult did it again.  She wrote a great book about a controversial yet relatable topic. 

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

This historical fiction is fantastic.  It's heart warming, emotional, and powerful. A definite favorite this year. 

Non-Fiction

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Amazing!  Definitely listen to this one (Chip and Joanna read it).  This book is inspiring, hilarious, and 100% enjoyable. 

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

If you love sports, athletic shoes, or own your own business then you should definitely give this book a read.  Excellent book! 

These are my favorites. Do we have any in common, or do you have some to add to my TBR list? 

Happy Fantastic Book Reading in 2018!

The Jungle Book gets 4 Stars {manga, graphic novel, classic}

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is a classic.  Everyone should read the classics.  However, there are many classics that are wordy, and a good group of people just don't enjoy reading them.

Enter graphic novels and mangas, aka books in comic format.  Mangas and graphic novel adaptations of the classic books is a great way for anyone, reluctant readers, busy moms, or high school students, to read this classic story.  This manga version of The Jungle Book is a great way to get the story, and it helps those with reading challenges to understand and comprehend the story better. 

The Jungle Book gets 4 out of 5 stars.  This classic is fun to read, but the story, with the short stories included, are good stories.  However, this manga version of a classic is a bit choppier than I would like.  I personally wouldn't pick this book for the first classic manga story for a reluctant reader. I would start with either Great Expectations or The Scarlet Letter first b/c it's an easier and more fluid story.   However, if a student needs to read a classic book, and there is a graphic novel or manga version of that book, then a child that doesn't like reading, struggles to read, or has a learning disability would greatly benefit from reading the manga/graphic novel version of that book.   

Happy Classic Literature Manga Reading! Fun fast read of this classic story. 

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling Adaptation by Crystal S. Chan
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 14+ year olds, 9th grade and up.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: No. Unless you love the classic.
Read Aloud: No.
Lesson Ideas: Classic Literature. Animals. British ruled India. Short stories. 


I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my review and honest opinion.  All of my thoughts, opinions, and words are my own.

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute gets 4 Stars {graphic novel, 2nd-5th grade}

Lunch Tray Laptop. Spatu-Copter. Cyborg Teachers. A cafeteria worker that fights crime. 

That is just a small glimpse into the fun and creativity that can be found in Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. 

This Lunch Lady is the first book in a fun graphic novel series perfect for 2nd through 5th grade.  Fans of Babymouse will enjoy this series, and reluctant readers, aka kids who don't like to read, will love how easy and quick this book is to read.  To be honest, everyone will find enjoyment reading this book.    

Lunch Lady gets 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I love graphic novels.  I love that the pictures and the words tell the story.  I love that graphic novels, like this one, are books even the kids who hate reading will pick up.  I was one of those kids, and I wish there were more books like this when I was a kid. 

This book did a great job artistically and creatively.  I love the black, white, gray, and yellow color scheme found in this book.  The pictures/illustrations in Lunch Lady are simple enough, but yet they have plenty of detail.  I felt the ingenuity with the spy gadgets that can be found in the a school cafeteria to be really fun.  Things like a Spatula and a droid helicopter becoming a Spatu-Copter or a lunch tray that is a laptop made me smile, laugh, and thoroughly enjoy reading this book even as an an adult.  If I found it to be a fun read, I am pretty sure kids in early to middle elementary will enjoy this book as well. 

Do you know any kid who doesn't think about what their teachers and school personnel do outside of school? When I was in elementary school, I was sure the Music Teacher and the PE Teacher were married.  They weren't, but we were all 100% sure they were.  Lunch Lady brings to life, and then adds a lot of creativity and fun, to what kids already think.  I really love that this spy Lunch Lady is fighting crime.  It's fun and out there, and yet it is completely relatable to kids as well.  

The writing in Lunch Lady is good.  The story is funny.   This great book doesn't get the full 5 stars just b/c it wasn't amazing, but I think it is definitely needed in any library collection, and a good book to check-out if you have a kid (especially a girl) in 2nd through 5th grade. 

Happy Fun and Adventurous Spy Graphic Novel reading! 

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 7 - 10 year olds, 2nd - 5th grade. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: No, unless it's what your reluctant reader will read over and over again. 
Read Aloud: Graphic novels rarely make good read alouds, but for a literature group or small reading group/circle this could work perfectly. 
Lesson Ideas: Spies. School Life. Color Scheme. Creativity. Inventions.