Early Book Review: Even Monsters by A.J. Smith

Even Monsters by A.J. Smith is a picturebook all about monsters that is currently scheduled for release on April 04 2014. Did you know that while monsters roar, growl, and moan they also have to eat, get ready for bed, and are sometimes a little afraid of the dark? Even the scariest monster out there is not that different from anyone looking at or reading Even Monsters.

Even Monsters sets out to capture the attention of the monster loving youngsters in your house. Monsters might growl and make scary noises, like my son when he gets out of bed in the morning, but they also need to brush their teeth, refrain from playing from their food, and go to bed. Monsters just might also be scared of the dark, or miss their moms, just like everyone else. I thought the book did a nice job of connecting the monsters that some kids love, some fear, and some are obsessed with to their own actions. This makes monsters less scary, more silly, and our children's fears a little less powerful. My only problem with the book was some page formatting difficulties that my reading a little bit challenging, but I am confident that the issues have been resolved and they were likely because of the e-galley format that I requested and received via NetGalley.

I would recommend Even Monsters to parents that have a monster fan in their house that needs a little help with fear of the dark or getting their daily tasks done. I think young readers with a little fear of monsters might also get something out of the book since it makes the monsters a little more human, and a lot less threatening, to active imaginations.

Early Book Review: Don't Dangle Your Participle by Vanita Oelschlager

Don't Dangle Your Participle is a children's non fiction book by Vanita Oelschlager which is scheduled for release on May 1 2014. The book features a clever combination of pictures and words that demonstrate exactly what a dangling participle is all about. Young readers are shown an incorrect sentence with a dangling participle and then shown how to make the sentence correct. All of this is done in a way that is fun, interesting, and easy to understand. Making grammar fun is not always an easy task, but this book make understanding and correcting participle misuse understandable and enjoyable.

Not many young readers are clamoring to read about grammar, but teachers and parents might be looking for some tools to help explain some of the more difficult grammatical concepts. Don't Dangle Your Participle is a book that might be helpful in that type of situation. It could be used in a classroom, homeschooling, tutoring, or any other educational setting. The best part about the book is not even the ease of which it can be understood, but rather that the ideas are described in a humorous way. This means that less enthusiastic readers will be distracted by the fun, and learn despite any hesitation that might otherwise have had. The illustrations and sentences use are highly entertaining and will hold the interest of a wide range of readers. Anyone old enough to be dealing with participles and being held accountable for their use, will enjoy the read while they learn.

I would highly recommend Don't Dangle Your Participle for a library collection, classroom, homeschooling library, tutoring, or any other educational setting. The combination of illustrations and slightly silly sentences explain the concept and can help all readers and writers understand the concept of participles.

Book Review: Two Parrots by Rumi, Rashin

Two Parrots is a classic tale from Rumi and illustrated by Rashin.  A plucky parrot living in the home of a wealthy merchant appears to have everything: the love of his owner, the best food, and a golden cage. But, despite all this, the parrot is sad. The merchant will do anything to make his parrot happy! But will he be willing to set his beloved pet free?

Two Parrots is a classic tale that many of us have heard in some form. A bird lives in a gilded cage and is given everything he could possibly need, but is unhappy because despite everything he is still captive. Using his wit the parrot tricks the merchant into setting him free, which in turn makes the merchant sad. It is only in the return of the parrot and conversation between the pair that the realization that captivity and love do not survive together. Freedom is a need, and in giving that the merchant was able to gain a true friendship with the parrot. The bright, colorful illustrations really bring the story a fresh feel and new life. A simple story that can be widely enjoyed.

I would recommend Two Parrots for readers that enjoy seeing folklore and its re-tellings from around the world. The artwork by Rashin matches the story and will interest readers of all ages.

Book Review: Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey by Timothy Roland

Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey is the first book in the Monkey Me series by by Timothy Roland.  This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. Clyde is an energetic kid with trouble sitting still, while his twin sister Claudia is much more grounded. During a museum field trip Clyde eats a banana that has been zapped by lasers. Soon, he starts to feel weird and now every time he gets excited, he changes into a monkey!

Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey is a fun and entertaining story that might be the draw reluctant early readers into reading more just for the fun of it. Clyde and his sister Claudia are twins and fit the basic twin standards- one is smart and follows the rules while the other is a little wild. As the wild one Clyde is very excitable- and after eating a laser zapped banana turns into a monkey whenever he starts feeling overly excited. The story is simply told, silly and exciting, and does not talk down to readers. I think this series just might encourage the newest generation of readers to keep on reading.

I would recommend Monkey Me and the Golden Monkey to new and reluctant readers that are either just starting to read novels on their own or have been struggling with reading. I think many readers will be able to relate with Clyde and enjoy his adventures.

Book Review: How To Make a Planet: A Step-By-Step Guide to Building the Earth by Scott Forbes

How To Make a Planet: A Step-By-Step Guide to Building the Earth by Scott Forbes is a book that describes the scientific theories of how the earth was formed. The book does a great job of talking the details of how our planet was formed with the basic building blocks of protons and neutrons and became the life sustaining place where we were all born. Forbes does a wonderful job of taking huge and abstract idea understandable.

How to Make a Planet begins with a timeline that easily shows how little time we have spent on our planet, and how long it took to get Earth to how it looks today. The books goes step by step through the history of our planet, and offers time checks through the book to show where each event of change took place in the larger scheme of things. The pictures and graphics are wonderful, and are worth exploring in their own right, even as they help drive home the information.  Information about weather, the water cycle, the atmosphere, and more are included in the book, which I find helps readers of all ages to see how interdependent the aspects of our world are, and how easy it would be to destroy out planet my ignoring the effects we can have on it.

I would highly recommend How to Make a Planet for middle grade students as well as libraries, The book would be a great resource in science classes and for homeschooling, since it offers well organized information in a way that inspires awe and further exploration.

Book Review: Snow White and the Vampire by Marina Myles

Snow White and the Vampire is the second book in The Cursed Princes series by Marina Myles. Like the first book in the series, Beauty and the Werewolf, the book is a historical romance. Alba Spencer thought her past in Romania and the dark magic that haunted it was behind her forever. She is one of the first female barristers now, safe in London. But London has its dark side, Jack the Ripper stalks the midnight streets and her hated stepmother has found her again. To make things even more difficult, the gypsy boy she loves at 14 has arrived in town and brings new dangers with him. That gypsy is Dimitri Grigorescu, who has become a surgeon, a gentleman, and a vampire. He fights his nature and wants to protect Alba, even from himself, but that is easier said than done.  Alba must rely only on her wits to discover what she wants, and to stay alive.

Snow White and the Vampire almost lost me a few times. In fact I put my Kindle down, ready to call it quits, only to pick it back up determined to finish. I liked Alba's character and the Snow White aspect of the story. She was smart, strong, and open minded without being gullible. The Jack the Ripper thing was good, and added some extra danger to the story since people kept going out at night unprotected. However,  I think the combination of three complex story lines was just too much. When I got to around 40% complete I was ready for the story to wrap up. I will say that I was surprised with who the Ripper turned out to be- but the rest rather fell flat for me. I just think there were several unnecessary bits, and while the important stuff was well done it lost its potency because of the sheer volume of extra information.

I would recommend Snow White and the Vampire to fans of Marina Myles, and for those that particularly loved Beauty and the Werewolf. If your reading list is as big as mine, and you do not fall in those categories then I would suggest skipping this book at least for now.

Early Book Review: Plant a Pocket of Prairie by Phyllis Root, Betsy Bowen

Plant a Pocket of Prairie, written by Phyllis Root and illustrated by Betsy Bowen, is a non fiction picturebook scheduled for publication on April 15 2014. The prairie once covered almost 40 percent of the United States and is currently one of the most endangered ecosystems. This book explains what a prairie is, why they are important, and how readers can bring back a little of the prairie in their own backyard.

Plant a Pocket of Prairie does a nice job of explaining the nature of prairies and the variety of wildlife in the ecosystem. There are specific suggestions for what readers might plant in order to help displaced or hungry animals and insects, as well as how to go about growing those plants. The airy illustrations capture the feel of the prairie and just might inspire a few pockets of prairie before readers finish the book. The text offers some great information, but did not really flow like I wanted it to. However, the book is still a lovely book and inspired me to change up my spring planting a little bit this year.

I would recommend Plant a Pocket of Prairie for school and library collections. I think this book would be a good classroom or homeschooling resource for talking about the environment, the prairie, and the webs of life. It might be particularly engaging for those that live in areas where there were once vast prairies.

Book Review: Handle With Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey by Loree Griffin Burns, Ellen Harasimowicz

Handle With Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey is a nonfiction children's book written by Loree Griffin Burns and illustrated by Ellen Harasimowicz. The book describes the work done on a butterfly farm in Costa Rica, as well as the journey the farmed butterflies take. Workers care for these delicate, winged creatures as they change from eggs to caterpillars to pupae. Like any other crop, the butterflies must eventually leave the farm. But where will they go, and just how do you ship a butterfly?

Handle With Care was a beautiful and interesting read. I have seen libraries, schools, and museums (and more recently commercials about ordering them for home) with cocoons waiting to open and reveal a butterfly or moth, but I never really thought about the source for this living things. I loved getting a look at the care and dedication that butterfly farms put into raising healthy caterpillars, and in turn butterflies. The photographs were stunning as well, and I spent some time flipping through the pages just to enjoy the images after finishing the book the first time. The information is presented in a way that is easy to understand and engaging.

I would highly recommend Handle With Care for libraries and classrooms. I think the book would be a great classroom aid for discussions about life cycles and nature. Every insect loving child will find something interesting here, and just might be inspired to do a little further research and investigation.

Book Review: The Only Alex Addleston in All These Mountains by James Solheim, Jeffrey Ebbeler

The Only Alex Addleston in All These Mountains is a picturebook written by James Solheim, and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. In this story young Alex Addleston has just moved to a new town, and on her first day of school discovers that a boy shares her name. The two Alex Addlestons begin to do everything together. They chase Flatt Mountain fireflies, code secret messages, and collect crawdads. When Alex's parents move her family to Kenya, the two friends lose contact with each other. Half a world apart, each Alex still keeps the other close while climbing trees, counting stars, playing games, and growing up. One day, just maybe, they will rediscover what it means to be best friends, no matter what.

The Only Alex Addleston in All These Mountains is a fun and heart warming story about true friendship. The two Alex's vow that they will be best friends forever, and do everything together. When they are separated, the two keep their vow despite not being in contact and the vast distance between them. I loved the feel and the bright, playful illustrations that were splendid in their own right. I think that the ending was especially wonderful, with a conclusion in images alone that will particularly speak to the adults that might be sharing the book.

I really enjoyed The Only Alex Addleston in All These Mountains, and think that readers of all ages will as well. Parents, teachers, and caregivers of all kinds trying to handle the difficulties of children sharing a name (and not being happy about it) could use this book as a way to show nicer ways the conflict could be resolved, and those struggling with a pending or resent move could us this book to help handle transitions.

Book Review: The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids by Ammi-Joan Paquette, Marie LeTourneau

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids is a picturebook written by Ammi-Joan Paquette and illustrated by Marie LeTourneau. This delightful book combines real photographs of a trip to the beach with paper cut outs of mermaids and a story of children having an adventure on the beach looking for the elusive beings. Nature facts about the beach and what can be seen there, a seek and find feel, and the fantastical search for mermaids come together in a lovely book.

The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids is the newest addition to the Tiptoe Guide series that explores nature and the joy of fantasy in childhood (and beyond). On a quiet beach day children hunt for signs of mermaids, and have great fun doing it. I think that the combination of beach and ocean facts with the sheer fun of seeking mermaids will delight many readers both young and old. Some pages have the drawn mermaids taking center stage, and on other pages there is a seek and find feel as eyes search for hidden figures. A sweet, light hearted read regardless of the weather.

As I sit still in the midst of a very cold winter, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids warmed me up a little. This would be the perfect read to get ready for a trip to the beach, for mermaid fans, and for nature lovers. I could spark some great discussions or outdoor activities.