Thursday, May 30, 2013

Splintered

Splintered By: A. G. Howard


Alyssa has always held the secret that her mother is in a mental institution, because her mother believes that she is part of the story Alice in Wonderland.  But when Alyssa starts to hear the voices of the flowers and the insects she fears that she is going to go crazy too.  Jeb is Alyssa's neighbor and friend, but lately he has been dating a very mean girl and Alyssa really wants him to be with her.  But when her mother completely looses it, and Alyssa witnesses her mom being attacked, she knows she must figure out a way to help.  This leads Alyssa to the rabbit hole that just might save her mom, and herself. But the adventures in Wonderland are almost to much for Alyssa to handle.

I loved this book!  It was a perfect play on the story of Alice in Wonderland. Being a fun twist to the classic tale was worth every minute of reading. The love between the two main characters is well worth it, and to know that they love each other so much but are to afraid to act on it makes it the perfect drama.  It is the perfect young adult book, and I truly hope that this author writes more!

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN:

That is NOT a Good Idea

That is NOT a Good Idea By: Mo Willems

This story is about a wolf who meets a duck and invites that duck to his house. Through the story the little chicks keep saying "That is Not a good idea" whenever the duck follows the wolf.  But the duck does not listen and in the end someone ends up getting eaten. This book is short but hilarious.  The illustrations are perfect and the story made  me laugh. Pick it up for any elementary age kiddo.


I borrowed this from a friend
ISBN: 978-0-06-220309-0

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Splat The Cat Storybook Collection



Splat The Cat Storybook Collection
 By: Rob Scotton


Splat the Cat is one of my all time favorite characters.  This adorable little cat and his funny stories have made my day and the days of my boys who love to listen to them read over and over.  In this collection you get 6 Splat stories in one! None of these stories disappoint and are filled with the most hysterical illustrations and wonderful stories to share for hours!! As the back of the book says, "That's better than fish sticks and ice cream!"

I bought this book at Costco
ISBN: 978-0-06-213383-0

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Poison



Poison By: Bridget Zinn

Kyra is a trained potions master, who has an extremely high knowledge of all things poison.  She is on the run because she tried to kill her best friend and princess Ariana.  Kyra knows that she tried to do the right thing because she had a vision in which she saw that Ariana would destroy the kingdom.  As she is on the run she meets Fred. Fred is an annoying young man that she must rely on but she tries to ditch him at every turn.  As the palace guards and her former potion master friends get closer to finding her she must find a way  to tell people that what they know is not true.

This was one of the BEST books I have read in a long time.  I was instantly engaged and really did not want to put it down.  I loved that the character Kyra knew what she had to do, and was willing to sacrifice whatever to save the kingdom she loved.  I thought that the relationship between Kyra and Fred was fun and classic.  When I got to the end of the book I wanted more from this wonderful author.  Then  I read the back author bio and found out that not only was this her only book, but unfortunately the author passed away before this book even was published. Defiantly this book is a must read. http://www.bridgetzinn.com/index.php 

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-142313993-5

Monday, May 27, 2013

The Madman's Daughter



The Madman's Daughter By: Megan Shepherd

Juliet knows that her father is considered mad within London society.  She has been outcast because of his actions.  Her father fled London, then her mother died leaving her to fend for herself and find her way.  But when a childhood friend reappears, she knows that he has the information she needs to find her father.  Montgomery does not want to help her, but she forces him to take her on the long journey to the island that her father has been living on.   When she arrives at the island she slowly finds out why her father is a madman, he has been doing procedures on animals to make them a mix between humans and different animal species.  But as the island erupts into violence and Juliet finds out more of her father's secrets she must get away.  But is is to late.

This was a very interesting and crazy book.  The story of Juliet just wanting to find her father, and then to find him and realize that he is not the person she thought he was, was terribly depressing.  Then when she must find a way to escape from the horrors of the island and her father.  What was interesting in this book, while a terribly depressing and scary story, I found myself wanting to finish as quick as possible to find out if Juliet escapes. But then the end was terrible, I literally groaned when I finished the last page, hopefully there is a sequel so that I can find out. Crazy teen read!

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0-06-212802-7

Sunday, May 26, 2013

The Elite


The Elite By: Kiera Cass

America is still torn between two when we meet her again in this novel. She is still in The Selection process, and it seems that Prince Maxon does have feelings for her. But she really does not know what to think, because she is torn between wanting to become the princess and feeling that she is not good enough.  America also has very strong opinions on how she thinks things should be and that does not earn her any points from The King.  America finds herself wanting to fall for Maxon, but she is confused by her feelings and the way that he acts with the others in the process.  America also still has feelings for Aspen, who is a palace gaurd now.  But when her friend is canned for having feelings for another other than Maxon, she does not know what she wants.

This was another perfect addition to this series.  I loved how the drama continued and that America is having a personal battle with herself over her feelings and the way that the Selection is happening.  I thought that America came out as a stronger person because she stands up for herself and her feelings on how others ought to be treated.  The only problem with this novel is that at the end you really are left craving more. But the sequel does not come out until May of 2014!!

I borrowed this book from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0-06-205996-3

Math Fables Too



Math Fables Too By: Greg Tang Illustrated By: Taia Morley


This is another great book from the author of The Grapes of Math, The Best of Times, and  Math Fables.  Tang does it again with a wonderful story that also helps children learn to count.  This book focuses on counting animals as they do different things.  It shows animals in their natural habitat and teaches children to count them.  The illustrations are beautiful and it is fun book for young children.  If you are working with the Common Core Standards this would be a great addition to your classroom library.

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0-439-78351-4

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Dragon's Keep



Dragon's Keep By: Janet Lee Carey

Princess Rosalind has always hidden her secret.  Her mother told her that if anyone saw her hand there would be trouble.  See the Queen was unable to have children so she drank the egg of a dragon, Princess Rosalind was born with one dragon claw.  She has hidden this from everyone her entire life, and anyone who finds out about her claw suddenly ends up dead. In her kingdom the people are at war and want to kill all the dragons.   But one terrible May Day Rosalind is taken by the dragon Faul.  He forces her to take care of his children, because the humans had killed his mate.  Rosalind hopes to escape, but is forced to live with the dragons.  But soon she finds that she is being searched for, and that if she does not return soon her kingdom will suffer.

This was an interesting teen read.   The storyline was good, that no matter what you are going through you can overcome it.  It also had all the great story elements, a princess who is captured but finds a way to get through, and of course a little bit of a love story. 

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-15-206401-3

Friday, May 24, 2013

The Little Red Pen

The Little Red Pen By: Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

Little Red Pen is very frustrated because none of her friends will help her save the world.. She asks everyone in the drawer to help her, but everyone has an excuse.  They are all mostly afraid that they will fall into "The Pit of No Return!" (the trash). So Little Red Pen decides to do all the work by herself, she is so exhausted she falls off the table right into "The Pit of No Return." Everyone realizes how much they need her, and they all try their hardest to get her out of the Pit.

This is a GREAT book for any age. I cannot wait to read it to my class next year.  The storyline and the illustrations will keep you laughing!!

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-15-206432-7

Sunday, May 19, 2013

It has been a long year!

Well I don't really think that anyone looks at this blog at all but if anyone out there is...  It is almost summer!!!  I have been so busy with school that my blogging has not happened at all.  BUT I am getting back into the swing of things this week!