Book Review: The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires is a picturebook that will speak to the inner perfectionist in us all. The book follows a young girl and her canine assistant as they try to make the most magnificent thing ever. They plan and work and build, but despite all the hard work the girl is not happy with any of their creations.She quits and walks away, but during a long walk with her assistant the young girl figures out just what she needs in order to succeed.

I really enjoyed The Most Magnificent Thing. I can relate to the young girl with an image of something perfect, but not quite able to met her expectations. It is only after walking away and seeing the bits of good in what she had deemed rows of failures that she sees how magnificent her work had been to that point. I feel like many of us can even relate o the canine companion, who sees the potential early and can only offer support. Many parents and teachers have felt like the cute little pug as they see wonderful artwork or writing tossed away as the creators cannot see the good in their own work. The story offers some perspective to both the youngest readers and the adults that might be sharing the story. I have failed to mention the wonderful artwork in the book, for shame! The illustrations are perfect in combination with the text of the story. A great deal of the story, especially the greatness of the young girls work, is told in the illustrations alone. The pictures are charming and a perfect addition to the story as a whole.

I would highly recommend The Most Magnificent Thing to readers of all ages. It could be used to start discussions with young children with perfectionist tendency, and help parents deal with their role as quiet supporter. The book would do wonderfully in a storytime setting, a small group, or for sharing one on one. I would suggest it as an addition to public and personal library collections.

Book Review: Scorched by Mari Mancusi

Scorched by Mari Mancusi is a young adult novel that has more twists than I expected. Sixteen-year-old Trinity Brown is used to her grandfather's crazy stories and has spent a good amount of time trying to make their home a permanent one. When he spent money he should not have on a treasure, she did not believe that it could be a real dragon's egg. Only when soldiers trying to steal it and a strange boy who tells her the world as she knows it will be wiped out in a fiery dragon war does she start to believe. Meanwhile, there is a voice whispering to Trinity, calling to her, telling her what to do...the dragon inside her egg is not ready to give up without a fight.

Scorched took me a while to get into, manly because of the fact that the point of view jumps between different points of view. Connor comes from the future, on a mission to stop the egg in Trinity's possession from hatching, and in turn preventing the dragon wars that destroyed the world that he knows. Trinity lost her mother to suicide and is just trying to have a stable home, all of which pales in comparison to the idea of the world being destroyed. Caleb is Connor's brother and working on his own mission to save the world and the dragons. The story is made more complicated by others from the future including plots and betrayals that will change the way all three teens view the world, the future, and each other. My main disappointment here is that Mancusi went for the love triangle, with twins no less. I saw it coming and shook my head and sighed. However, the twists and turns of the story, the development of Trinity's character, and the reveal of the dragon's possible fate all kept me reading. I am interested to see where the story goes from here- because while that is a certain level of resolution there is also a promise of more to come.

I would recommend Scorched to young adult, new adult, and adult readers that are looking for something a little different It is not a perfect book, but it was entertaining and interesting with a good deal of world and character building that leaves me curious to see what will happen in the book(s) to come.

Book Review: The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change by Yoram Bauman, Grady Klein

The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change written by Yoram Bauman and illustrated Grady Klein  is a quick and easy guide to a topic that is critical to everyone from students to politicians. While the topic is not all that funny, this book offers humor and information side by side to truly educate and entertain.

The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change offers an enjoyable presentation of mind-blowing facts and critical concepts. This is the most entertaining overview of the science, predictions, policies, and everything else pertaining to climate change that I have seen. I like that daunting subjects are explained, put into perspective, and made entertaining. I like that the information is well researched and based on the latest report from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and integrated with Bauman’s expertise on economics and policy.

I would Highly recommend The Cartoon Introduction to Climate Change to anyone that wants to understand the science and policy surrounding climate change. The topic is daunting, but made understandable and readable here.

Book Review: Eerie America: Travel Guide of the Macabre by Eric R. Vernor and Kevin Ead

Eerie America: Travel Guide of the Macabre by Eric R. Vernor and Kevin Eads is a nonfiction book for children about the more unusual attractions around the United States, with a slant towards the haunted and most interesting. there is alt least one attraction per state with more detailed descriptions for a few of the attractions. The book has 150 images, addresses, and directions, go state-by-state to tour the macabre side of the United States.

I found Eerie America to be an amusing diversion with some interesting photographs and descriptions. The photographs were full color, and there was a nice creepy atmosphere to the book. however, I found some of the descriptions to be vague and some of the discussion of the history and alleged hauntings did not always match with the information I have read from other sources. I think the book might be a nice start for young readers interested in what weird attractions might be found in their upcoming travels, but I would not buy it or take it along with me as a guide.

Eerie America does a decent job at satisfying a young readers curiosity about a few weird or creepy tourist attractions they might be able to visit, but is not for the more invested child. Those that have already done some research will find nothing new here, except for some information on where to eat, so it is more of a starting point than a valuable resource.

Book Review:Grim a Young Adult Short Story Anthology

Grim is a collection of 17 short stories based off fairy tales collected by Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. Some of the tales are better known such as Beauty and the Beast and The Snow Queen, and some are lesser known, such as The Shroud and The Robber Bridegroom. The authors in the anthology are: Ellen Hopkins, Amanda Hocking, Julie Kagawa, Claudia Gray, Rachel Hawkins, Kimberly Derting, Myra McEntire, Malinda Lo, Sarah Rees-Brennan, Jackson Pearce, Christine Johnson, Jeri Smith Ready, Shaun David Hutchinson, Saundra Mitchell, Sonia Gensler, Tessa Gratton, and Jon Skrovon.

I do not want to go to much into each of the stories, because reading a full summary of a short story might give away to much and destroy some of the fun. So, I will highlight some of my favorites. The Key by Rachel Hawkins is about a girl with a special gift, and has an open ending. The Raven Princess by Jon Skovron offers a fun twist to a lesser known story. Thinner Than Water by Saundra Mitchell is a retelling of Donkeyskin, with a vengeful flavor. The tale is tough to read, but so worth it. Beast/Beast by Tessa Gratton, a retelling of a tale you can figure out by the title, featured characters that break the preconceptions you might have of them.

The stories were generally very well done, and left me with only a couple moments of wishing I skipped a story. However, for the most part I enjoyed the reading. I take great pleasure in reading new twists on classic tales, and even more pleasure in having a lesser know story or even one I do not recognize introduced. This is a definite young adult and adult selection, and one worth exploring.

I would recommend Grim to young adults, new adults and adults. The stories are a bit grim, as the title suggests, and sometimes a little gritty. In this regard I think the short story format is perfect. If you like new and unusual takes of folklore and learning new stories from the past then you will enjoy this collection.

Book Review: My Little Pet Dragon by Scott Gordon, Julien Tromeur, and Dimitar Marinov

My Little Pet Dragon is a simple book for children written by Scott Gordon and illustrated by Julien Tromeur and Dimitar Marinov. This cute children's ebook is about getting a dragon for Christmas,  and just what a dragon might be useful for and what the dragon likes. there is a cute twist at the end, adding to the whimsical charm of the tale.

My Little Pet Dragon is a cute little book. The illustrations are well done, and pair perfectly with the actions the brief words describe. There are only three words per page, along with a charming dragon, which makes the book great for new readers to explore on their own, or for sharing with even the youngest book lovers.

I would recommend My Little Pet Dragon to anyone looking to add to their digital reading collection for children. the story and illustrations are charming, and the purchase has a feel good bonus. All of the proceeds to to a charity helping  the family of a young girl pay for medical bills following a severe car accident. It is available in English, a bilingual edition (Spanish and English), Spanish,and French.

Book Review: The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

The Night Gardener is the second middle grade novel by Jonathan Auxier. This is a Victorian style ghost story with shades of Washington Irving and Henry James. It is also a moral fable about human greed and the power of storytelling.  The story is about an Irish sister and brother that travel to work as servants at an English manor house. But the house and its family are not quite what they seem. Soon the children are confronted by a mysterious spectre and an ancient curse that threatens their very lives.

The Night Gardener is a Gothic story with the perfect amount of creepy atmosphere and secrets. Molly is doing her best to care for her little brother Kip, while using stories to keep them both from despair. The people the meet along the way, and the family they come to work for, are all facing their own challenges and carry their own secrets. There is a blend of folklore and a lesson about just how powerful storytelling can be, and how it can be used to help or hurt regardless of the initial intentions. I liked that while some mysteries were not fully explained, while others were perfectly revealed. While the ending was satisfying and complete, there was still a little something that left me wondering if we might see more of Molly and Kip in the future.

I would recommend The Night Gardener to middle grade readers that like a good creepy novel, mystery, folklore, or coming of age stories. The story is solid, although I did hit a couple patches that seemed a little slow moving, but I think that was my desire to get to the conclusion rather than the fault of the book.

Book Review: Hooray for Hat by Brian Won

Hooray for Hat is a picturebook written and illustrated by Brian Won. Readers first meet Elephant, who  wakes up grumpy. He is unhappy until he hears his doorbell ring and discovers a surprise box at the front door. Inside is a hat which immediately cheers Elephant, and makes him want to show off his surprise. Elephant marches off to show Zebra, but Zebra is having a grumpy day too. So, Elephant shares his new hat and cheers up his friend. The pair then march to show Turtle! The parade continues as every animal brightens the day of a grumpy friend. An irresistible celebration of friendship, sharing, and fabulous hats.

Hooray for Hat is a wonderful book for showing readers of all ages that doing something nice makes the person on the receiving end happy, but can make the doer very happy as well. All it takes to make Elephant happy is a modest surprise, which inspires him to share with others that need some cheering as well. I loved the premise, and the final result. The artwork and the hats are simply fabulous and add to the fun and feel of the story.

I would recommend Hooray for Hat for classroom, storytime, and family time reading. I think it works well whether the reading is sharing with a group or one on one. The story is sweet, fun, and contains a message we could all stand to be reminded of without leaving readers and listeners feeling preached to.

Book Review: Herbs for Long-Lasting Health: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies for Lifelong Vitality by Rosemary Gladstar

Herbs for Long-Lasting Health: How to Make and Use Herbal Remedies for Lifelong Vitality by Rosemary Gladstar is a well organized guide to herbs and health in middle age and beyond. The book goes through the specific health issues and some specifics about them, as well as the properties of dozens of specific herbs, both familiar are previously unknown to me. The book is a precise guide to choosing the right herbal remedies for common situation.

Herbs for Long-Lasting Health is a solid resource for novice and experienced herbalists. The book details many herbs and their properties including astragalus (which was new to me), bilberry, and milk thistle. The book offered recipes for herbal remedies, how to use herbs safely, and details about some of the most common battles those reading the book are likely to be trying to fight. The book was well organized and the appendix was particularly useful for precise and detailed information.

I would recommend Herbs for Long-Lasting Health to readers that are looking to begin their journey, or solidify their knowledge, in working with herbs for their personal health. There are recipes and herbal properties that are very well explained and organized.

Early Book Review and Author Interview: Toby by Stacy Nyikos, Shawn Sisneros

Toby is a children's picturebook written by Stacy Nyikos and illustrated by Shawn Sisneros. It is currently scheduled for release on July 15 2014. Birds, and crabs, and crocodiles stand between Toby and his new ocean home. Can he out-slip, out-slide,and otherwise outsmart them? Just jump in to find out!

Toby is bright, fun, and teaches young readers about how newly hatched turtles make their way to the relative safety of the ocean. While the plucky Toby faces many dangers on his way to the water, and there is tension in the story, there is not a frightening feel to the story. Readers will root for Toby and enjoy both the rhythm and flow of the text. the illustrations pair pretty much perfectly with the story, imparting extra bits of information and some fun on each page.

I would recommend Toby for reading one on one with young readers, in classroom or storytime settings, and for interested readers to explore on their own. the story will speak particularly to animal and adventure fans, but could also be used as a discussion starter about nature, turtles, young animals, the environment, and more.

Questions for Stacy A. Nyikos:
1. Exactly how many pencils did you destroy in the making of Toby? As a fellow pencil chewer I really need to know.

• Toby pencil toll: Well...let's just say I'm learning to whittle my own pencils now. You wouldn't think chewing pencils is an expensive habit, but oh the things teachers don't tell us. Pencils are expensive! I tried mechanical, but plastic isn't nearly as inspiring as wood slivers between my teeth. The upside: I can now whittle! 

2. My favorite munchies of choice while reading or writing vary between Goldfish and anything chocolate. What is in your secret stash?

• Munchies (besides pencils): Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! I have two chocolate bars in my right hand desk drawer (see incriminating photo). So, chocolate is definitely my munchie of choice. However, if that's not cutting it, I bring in the gummy bears. I like how I can squish them when I'm really frustrated, but they spring right back, and then we get these little gummy bear adventures going where they scale my computer (no incriminating photos. Gummy bears are way too shy), which makes me totally forget why I got them in the first place...until I eat them. Oops.

3. Do you have any special writing quirks, besides pencil chewing. I often need to be barefoot to think well, do you perhaps write sitting cross legged, on the floor, in pj's, or something else that just helps you focus?

• Super secret writing quirk: I run. I run every morning at about 5:30. It's so early and so dark, it's like being in a half sleep/meditation place where my dog, Desi, who runs with me, and I have conversations about writing. Desi swears this isn't true, but since she refuses to talk outside out little runs, it's my word against hers. Between you and me, we all know who's right. Dogs talk! or is it rock?? Either way, running with my dog is where I work out story problems and get a lot of cool new ideas. My dog is my best writing partner ever, which is why I feature her in my upcoming picture book, WAGGERS.  

About Stacy A. Nyikos:
Stacy A. Nyikos is the author of three aquatic picture books, Squirt, Shelby & Dizzy (Stonehorse), as well as a middle grade novel, Dragon Wishes (Blooming Tree Press, 2008). Her books have received numerous awards, including Winner in the Arizona Authors Literary Contest, Finalist in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year, and Featured Picture Book of the Oklahoma Aquarium.

Stacy conducts school visits at both elementary and middle schools across the U.S., using dummy books, selected (somewhat embarrassing) early drafts of her writing, and power point presentations to teach children about story-making and sea life. In 2008, she will finally! be able to add Chinese dragons to her presentations.