Bust out of your genre…Read Harder!

January 14, 2016

Book groups are wonderful for many reasons: intelligent discussion,  wine and snacks, socializing with friends, having a book on tap all year. For me, I love the fact that book clubs force me to read . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews

The Greatest Books of 2015 You Never Knew About

December 2, 2015

I recently read a great article in Slate introducing 27 great books that didn’t get a lot of press in 2015. Click here for the article or peruse some of my favorites below.   “Parts of . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews

Closing down 2015

November 5, 2015

The publishing industry is planning a strong finish for 2015 with a cavalcade of new titles from some heavy hitters as well as some new voices. Here are few books to be published this fall . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews

Rags – Hero Dog of WWI by Margot Theis Raven Illustrated by Petra Brown 2014 Sleeping Bear Press

September 29, 2015

Picture Book As we mark the centenary of the start of the World War I, this fantastic true dog story will also teach a bit of history. Rags, a Parisien stray, was befriended  by a . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Juvenile Books

The Tortoise & The Hare by Jerry Pinkney 2013 Little, Brown and Company

September 29, 2015

Picture Book Fans of Pinkney’s  Caldecott Medal – winning The Lion and The Mouse  will be equally enchanted by his retelling of another of Aesop’s fables, The Tortoise and The Hare.  Pinkney’s  storytelling is through . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Children's Books

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead Illustrated by Erin E. Stead 2010 – Roaring Brook Press

September 29, 2015

Picture Book This delightful story about friendship won The Caldecott Medal with good reason. Amos is a punctual zookeeper and thoughtful friend to the animals. He recognizes the animals’ different needs and is supportive. For . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Children's Books

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai – Harper Collins – 2011

September 29, 2015

This compelling novel in verse begins in Vietnam during the war in 1975. Ten-year-old Ha and her older brothers and mother are living in Saigon, waiting for the return of the children’s father. Even as . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Juvenile Books

Emily’s Blue Period by Cathleen Daly Illustrations by Lisa Brown Roaring Brook Press 2014

September 29, 2015

This fantastic book manages to instruct on so many different levels. It is the best book about divorce for younger children that I have come across. Children’s feelings are predominant through the entire picture book, . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Children's Books

Rain Reign by Ann Martin 2014

September 28, 2015

The story takes us inside the heart and mind of a great kid named Rose (rows) who has high functioning Autism. Rose has no Mom, a dysfunctional depressed Dad, and an Uncle who cares. She . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Juvenile Books

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper 2004?

September 28, 2015

This is such a tough book…very well told but devastating. Do kids really have to read this stuff? Yes…because it’s the world we live in? Because maybe it will prepare them…thus prevent a tragedy? I . . . read more »

Category: Book Reviews - Kids, Reviews Young Adult Books