Peek-a-Boo Monsters

I read Peek-a-Boo Monsters by Charles Reasoner, illustrated by Marina Le Ray
I received a free digital copy through NetGalley
4 stars

Look at all the colorful monsters! Little listeners can peek at them through the holes in the pages while listening to the fun rhymes. The monsters come in many shapes and sizes. At the end, the reader (and listener) gets to shout out ROAR!

This very short book is cute for little listeners. The colors are fun, and the rhyme is fun, but it is extremely short. I think it would have earned that last star if it had been a little bit longer. I would have probably even been able to read it during a story time if that were the case. Still, it is a cute, somewhat interactive book.

The Wizard of Oz Colors

I read The Wizard of Oz Colors by Jill Kalz, illustrated by Timothy Dean Banks
I received a free digital copy through NetGalley
5 stars

A rhyming board book based on The Wizard of Oz, I was very pleased with this one. It started with the black and white page, just like in the story/movie. Dorothy follows the yellow brick road, finds all of her friends, gets to Oz, and uses her ruby red slippers to get back to Auntie Em. Each page is simple with a wonderful rhyme. At the end, there is a glossary and an index.

This is a great board book. The bright colors work wonderfully for little babies, and the longer stanzas and rhyming word work for older toddlers. Anyone who loves The Wizard of Oz will be happy to share this with little ones.

Lilly Babysits her Brother

I read Lilly Babysits her Brother by Brenda Bellingham, illustrated by Clarke MacDonald
I received a free ARC through NetGalley
4 stars

Lilly is asked to stay home with her brother while her mom and step dad go buy him a birthday present. He wants a dog, but that isn't going to happen, because he is super allergic to animals. Lilly is excited because she gets to keep her mom's smartphone while they are gone. When her brother finds a dead bird, she must make sure he stays away. After that, another dilemma comes up. She makes the right choice, and things end up great.

This is a VERY short book. It is a simple chapter book for good first grade readers through probably third graders who want to be reading a chapter book but might be intimidated by larger books. Also, Lilly's brother is actually her half brother. She calls her step dad Pop. Her father died when she was two. Some kids will relate, and that is always a benefit. Lilly seems to be a responsible child. She is helpful with her brother, and she makes good choices. Overall, a good beginning chapter book

Baby Santa

I read Baby Santa by M. Maitiland DeLand
I received a free copy from Greenleaf Book Group through NetGalley
5 stars!

Santa and Mrs. Claus are dealing with their most stressful time of the year, and Baby Santa has actually made it worse. Thankfully he owns up to his mistake, apologizes, and finds a way to help save Christmas.

I have to say that I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. It is a cute and fun Christmas story with a lesson involved. It is also the start of a series, and I feel that it introduces the series well. The illustrations are cute, very appealing to children. It is a well rounded Christmas book that can be read to a group of children or with a single child on your lap.

Who is Santa?

I read Who is Santa? And how did he get to the North Pole by Stephen W. Bigalow
I received a free copy by Profit Publishing Co. through NetGalley
3 stars

This is a story about how Santa made his way up to the North Pole. It is almost written like a nonfiction, with sections that answer certain questions. At the same time, it is a story. You really can't switch from section to section. You must read it as a story. Each chapter is often only a page or two, and there are illustrations to accompany it.

I liked the story. The writing style wasn't my favorite, and it seemed a bit choppy, but the concept was good. The illustrations were not appealing to me at all. I think it would have been better to make this just a chapter book for young readers and not include actual pictures, maybe just some graphics. I'm sorry to say, but the illustrations really ruined this one for me.

Note: I tried to compare the illustrations in my copy to those of the finalizes book, but was unable to do so. Since I downloaded this after it was published, I am going on the assumption that it is the final artwork. If this turns out to be wrong, I will change my review accordingly.

The Visit

I read The Visit: The Origin of "The Night Before Christmas" by Mark Kimball Moulton
I received a free ARC through NetGalley
4 stars

This is the 2013 edition of the book that has been out for a few years. It is the story handed down generation to generation about how the famous poem came about. Clement C. Moore made it for his daughter that was sick in bed at Christmastime. He finally wrote it down 40 years later, shortly before his death. At the end of this book, you can see the full poem in Moore's handwriting.

This book is written in verse similar to "The Night Before Christmas" text. There are rhyming stanzas. It goes through the story of a child visiting her grandfather in New York City, seeing a large city from a child's eyes. Then, her grandfather tells her the story of how his grandfather came up with the famous poem. It explains parts of the story that aren't current, that many kids wouldn't understand now.

I enjoyed the story. It was sweet as well as educational. There were some amazing rhymes, similar to the original poem. I am a sucker for rhyming tales, and the rhymes in this one ranged from adequate to eloquent. At 54 pages, I felt the story was too long to be completely rhyming. It would have been better to tell the story and throw in some poetic pages.

There are a lot of aspects that make this book a winner and just a few that kept it from making the 5 star status. It is beautiful and mostly beautifully written. Some children, especially a little older ones, and many adults will treasure this story.

Nursery Rhyme Delights

I read Nursery Rhyme Delights illustrated by Kristi Abbott
I received a free ARC through NetGalley
5 stars

This is a collection of very popular and familiar nursery rhymes such as Jack and Jill and Hey Diddle Diddle. I have been looking for a collection like this to read aloud in my preschool storytimes. This is the book I have been looking for! The illustrations are definitely different, but they are amazing. They are hand collaged pictures mixed with a fun playful way to put the words on the page. At the end, kids can match the pictures with the story, a great way to make it interactive as well. I am in love with this book and have nothing negative to say about it except that I am sad I do not see it on Amazon. I want to purchase it for my 2 year old daughter's collection.

The Other Bears

I read The Other Bears by Michael Thompson
I received a free ARC through NetGalley (October 31, 2013)
4 stars

Koalas are THE bears. They are proud bears. Then the other bears start arriving. Bit by bit, mother and father koala bear see all of the things different and wrong with the other bears. The little koalas see the fun parts. In the end, mother and father realize they are bringing themselves down and find joy in the happiness the little bears bring to each other.

A book about judging others, this sweet, short read is a great one. Sure, some people might be different, but maybe those differences can be fun. Just like in real life, it's the kids that don't notice the differences that shouldn't matter anyway. That is a lesson for parents as well as kids.

There are also some learning opportunities in this one with the beginning and ending pages, where we can learn about different types of bears and where they come from. I think this is going to be a great read aloud for preschoolers. It can be a beginning book to teach tolerance to young grade school kids as well. The illustrations are okay, but I don't think they are cute enough to make it a 5 star read aloud winner.

Dust of Eden

I read Dust of Eden by Mariko Nagai
I received a free ARC through NetGalley (March 1, 2014)
4 stars

I really feel like there is not enough literature out there about the Japanese Internment camps. Yes, it is an embarrassing part of United States history, but it is a real part of it. I would bet that most kids really don't know what happened. Mariko Nagai managed to write a beautiful story about a sad time.

Mina is a Japanese-American girl living in Seattle when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Her father is taken to jail, and then she, her mother, her brother, and her grandfather are sent to multiple internment camps. Imagine, as a young child having to pack up what is most important to you, leave your pet and your best friend, and go live in deplorable conditions. It breaks people.

Dust of Eden is written in verse. I don't like verse. Still, I appreciated the poetic value of this story, and verse really seems appropriate. I did like that the verse read more like an actual story and less like a poem. It also makes for a very quick read. There was a lot of emotion packed into a very small book. The author packed a large story into a small book without managing to miss anything important. She even managed to show that not everyone was as heartless as those that showed hate toward the Japanese-Americans only because of their race. This is a great story for tweens to read to learn about a very important but overlooked part of US history.

All the Truth That's In Me

I read All the Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry
I borrowed a copy from a coworker and also received a free e-book through NetGalley
4 Stars

Set in the 1800's, we are put down some time after Judith has returned to her town. She went missing, was gone for quite some time, and returned missing her tongue. She slowly tells us the story of how she lost her tongue, the forbidden love she has for a man in town, and the troubles of her town. Unfortunately, her mother blames Judith for her loss, and the town is happy having her stay silent.

There is really so much more to this story, but it is best to read it without knowing more. It is a quick read with very small chapters, if you can even call it that. The writing is beautiful. I needed to know what happened to her in the past and what was going to happen to her for the future. It was so unfair that she was basically punished because of something she had no control over. I did get to a point in the story that I didn't know where it was going, and it dragged a bit in the middle. Then, the ending was great. I was on the edge of my seat, reading as quickly as possible. I had to know the outcome.

If you like historical mysteries, pick this one up, stick it out, and be glad you did.

Stinky Sanitation Inventions

I read Stinky Sanitation Inventions (Awesome Inventions You Use Everyday) by Katie Marsico
I received a free copy through NetGalley
4 stars

I don't normally enjoy literal bathroom reading. Things that involve poop are not up my alley. I do like nonfiction books that tell interesting facts though, and I knew this book would be a good one for many patrons at the library. I was right. I can foresee this checking out a lot.

On each spread there is one page with a large amount of text and the following page with pictures and some key facts pulled out. This gives kids something to look at, they get the main points, and they can read deeper into the subjects. We learn about where people "went" before there was indoor plumbing, why we need sanitation, and some information about trash in general. Any nonfiction children's book that is quick to read and still teaches me fun information is a good one.

Don't Push the Button

I read Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter
I received a free copy through NetGalley
4 Stars

I was very hopeful that this book would work in story time. If not, I was at least hoping it would be similar to Press Here by Herve Tullet. That one is way too interactive to work in a story time, but it is read-together, lap book magic. Don't Push the Button has some of the same charm, but it doesn't live up to those standards. It felt like a different, shorter take on Tullet's book. I think the book is a bit too short. There is a build up to pushing the button, there are a few more interactions, and then it is over.

I might consider trying it in a story time. It might work. Most young kids that this would appeal to have a hard time understanding that there is a main character talking. They often think the person reading the book is essentially the main character. With this book, that makes it hard for them to pick up on the funny aspects, the real tone of the book.

I really do like this book. I think it is fun, and kids will enjoy it. Anytime a book tells them not to do something and they get to do it anyway, they have fun. The illustrations are cute. The sarcasm make it enjoyable for parents. I can hear myself reading this one out loud. I would recommend this book to read with your kids at home.

Allegiant

I read Allegiant by Veronica Roth
I checked it out from the library
5 stars

I will start with the faults. I did not like the varying point of views between Tris and Tobias. I had to flip back to the start of the chapter more than once to see which character was talking. I think the book could have been accomplished sticking to Tris and maybe flipping to Tobias at the end. Also, I had a hard time remembering the supporting characters. I figured them out pretty quickly though. Sure, some of the storyline was contrived, but that is easily overlooked in a teen book.
!!!!SPOILERS!!!!!!
Tris took Tobias back too easily. The people around them accepted Tobias too easily after he tried to help overthrow them. He was allowed to run around doing whatever he wanted after that? Not likely.
END SPOILERS

The positives: I could not put it down. I got into it right away. It has been awhile since I read the other two, but there was really no getting back into it. I was hooked right away. It was very political, something I'm okay with. There was the war aspect. There was the divergent genetics aspect. There was the factions vs non-factions. Then there was the ethical questions. They were all very well thought out and concluded well.
The ending.... oh the ending. I know there are some very upset people, but I absolutely loved it. Some people say it was for shock value. I think it was realistic. No cookie cutter ending that drives me insane. Sacrifices made for good reasons, in my opinion. It wasn't someone running off to a definite death. There was the belief that survival was possible, so that keeps it true to me. No easy way out by the author either.

I have enough qualms with it that I probably should rate it 4 stars, but I really loved it too much. I was so excited to talk to my friend about it, how amazing it was, how I couldn't put it down. She pointed out the misfires in it, but thankfully she agreed about the ending. The fact that my gut said 5, I'm keeping it a 5. It was the perfect ending to the trilogy to me.

Unfortunately I will not be posting my review on Amazon, my go-to for reviews, as I can guarantee I will be hit with numerous down votes. A lot of people did not get the ending they wanted, so they are taking it out on everyone else. Yes, there are some negative reviews that don't focus on the ending, but they are sure rare. So, I really needed to get my love for this book out somewhere, and here it is.

Fangirl

I read Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
I checked it out at my library
4 stars

Cath writes fan fiction with her twin sister/best friend, Wren. I mean, Cath writes and Wren edits. It's kind of the perfect team. They write the fan fiction based on a book that is so very similar to Harry Potter. Their stories are pretty much as popular as the actual book. They are kind of a big deal. Then they go to college.

I love Rowell's writing style. She is the perfect amount of sarcastic mixed with actual good writing. Her characters are realistic and believable, and a lot of teens will relate to them. This story is perfect for those about to go to college as well as those that are there. It is a book I would have devoured when I was a freshman in college, something I could have related to. No, I don't write fan fiction, but I do love Harry Potter, and I was a bit of a recluse in college.

Cath is the sarcastic introvert. Wren is the semi-alcoholic party girl. They have always been together. They were there for their dad when their mom left. They were there all the times he fell into depression. College comes along, and all of a sudden Wren doesn't want to spend as much time with Cath. Cath doesn't have as much time to write her story. No one has enough time to make sure Dad doesn't fall back into depression. And then Mom shows up. There is a lot going on here, a lot for a variety of people to relate to. It is a very large book though, so it wasn't all crammed in. And then of course there are roommates and boys.

This is just a 4 star for me. It was wonderful, and I really enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't sensational. The story was entertaining but nothing too special. The ending was too cookie cutter. Just like in Eleanor & Park, I felt it was a build up to an anticlimactic event that never really happened. Definitely worth a read if you like good writing and sarcasm.