Love Monster

Love Monster By: Rachel Bright

This is the story of a slightly hairy, googly-eyed monster.  He cannot find anyone that loves him, everyone likes cute, fluffy things.  He sets off to find love, and finds that it is harder than he thinks. Just when he is about to give up love finds him. A cute fun story about finding love.  I thought the illustrations in this book were really cute. And who doesn't love a story about a monster who finds love.  Perfect for reading aloud to elementary age kiddos.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-374-34646-1

Counting By 7s

Counting By 7s By: Holly Goldberg Sloan

Willow loves the number 7, it helps her keep order in her life.  She was adopted by her parents and loves them very much. She is a genius, and loves to garden, learn, and tells things like they are. When she is given a test in middle school, she scores perfect, the school accuses her of cheating.  They cannot prove this, but order her to see Mr. Dell Duke for counseling. Dell is a little odd himself, and when he realizes that Willow is a genius he gets excited. When Willow meets a pair of Dell's other cases, she forms a bond with them.  Willow gets some tragic news, her parents are killed in a car accident, Mai tells the police that Willow will stay with them.  In the events that unfold, Willow and all the characters find that they can find a family when they are in the worst places.

This was a wonderful book.  It is really hard to explain, but the journey that each character goes through in these pages was heartbreaking and heartwarming throughout.  I loved how they all bound together to make a home for Willow, and with her in their lives they are able to do things that they never thought possible. Wow.

I bought this from the Scholastic Book Order.
ISBN: 978-0-545-67401-0

Legend

Legend By: Marie Lu

No one really knows who Day is, and that is the way he wants it to stay.  He escaped when he was ten, and now is just trying to stay alive, and get enough money to help his family.  June is a prodigy, and she believes in working with the government.  She knows that Day has killed her brother, and will stop at nothing to catch this criminal.  But by chance Day and June meet, and she sees a different side of everything. Day just wants to make sure his family is ok, and is trying to piece it all together before it is to late.

I really liked this book. It was written from both characters perspectives and that is what made it great. As the reader you know both stories, and it is interesting to watch the characters figure things out.  This book is perfect for middle and high school readers. I cannot wait to get the nest in the series.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-399-25675-2

Cromwell Dixon's Sky-Cycle

Cromwell Dixon's Sky-Cycle By: John Abbot Nez

This is the story of Cromwell Dixon's life.  Dixon was an inventor from the time he was young, he loved building and creating new things. He read about all the different things that were being invented, but he went flying in 1904 in a hot air balloon, he then knew he wanted to fly.  He invented a sky-cycle, and on August 9, 1907 he took it to the air for the first time.

This is a terrific non fiction picture book for kids. It would go great with any unit on inventions. It has great illustrations and the facts in it tell Dixon's story well.  I loved reading it to my kids, because they thought it was amazing that someone would invent a bike for the sky!  Great read

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-399-25041-5

Redwoods

Redwoods By: Jason Chin

This is about a boy who is reading this story while he travels home on the subway.  He reads about how redwood trees can live for 2,000 years, and can grow to 200 feet tall. While he is reading the world around him turns into the forest.  He has many adventures learning about the forest while he is in there.  He finds out that there is a record for the tallest redwood, 379 feet tall!  When he is done with the book, he leaves it on a park bench, where a girl finds it and opens it up.

I loved this book, it has beautiful illustrations and is packed with information about redwood forests. Kids will love the adventure that the boy takes and will learn so much by reading it.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-1-59643-430-1

Winston and George

Winston & George By: John Miller and Giuliano Cucco

Winston is a patient crocodile and he has a good friend named George who is a bird.  They love to go fishing and George looks out for danger and fish.  But George also likes to play tricks on Winston and his friends, pretending that their is danger.  One day when Winston is really in trouble, none of the other crocodiles believed George.  George learned a very important lesson.

This was a cute book, retelling the boy who cried wolf. My boys loved this book and we read it over and over.  I thought that the illustrations were great and the word choice was terrific. Great read aloud for elementary age readers.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-1-59270-145-2

Sea of Shadows

Sea of Shadows By: Kelley Armstrong

Moria and her twin Ashyn are the Keeper and Seeker of the Forest of the Undead. It is their job to protect their village and to lead the souls of the dead away.  This is Ashyn's first time performing the ritual on her own, and things do not go as planned. There is something stalking the forest, and causing havoc all around.  The shadows do not usually come out of the forest, but this time they are not playing by the rules and they attack the village.  Ashyn and Moria must seek help and each other, but the path is not an easy one, and they are hunted along the way.

This book was suspenseful and creepy.  It would make a great movie, because there is danger at every turn and it is unseen.  I really enjoyed this book, the characters were each really special in their own way, and I was instantly hooked on their story.  I could not put the book down, and was frustrated at the end because I was not ready for it to be over.  

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-06-207124-8