• Reviews

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    I’m just stopping in for a hot minute to wish all my readers a Happy Thanksgiving this year!  If you have time take a look at the picture entitled The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz.  A story about a pumpkin who just doesn’t seem to fit in, until he realizes that he…

  • Reviews

    Those Darn Squirrels

    If you need to think happy thoughts to get you through the holidays or just need something to chuckle about, definitely take a look at Adam Rubin’s .  This book is absolutely hysterical from the text to the pictures Rubin and illustrator, Daniel Salmieri, got it right.  Those Darn Squirrels…

  • Reviews

    The Great Unexpected

    “I had big thoughts to match the big wind. I wondered if we find the people we need when we need them. I wondered if we attract our future by some sort of invisible force, or if we are drawn to it by a similar force. I felt I was…

  • Reviews

    Almost Home

    Almost Home written by one of my personal favorites – Joan Bauer and is about a 12-year-old girl named Sugar.  When her grandfather dies and her father runs off yet again, Sugar’s mother loses their home and Sugar is left homeless – lost and confused and unsure where to turn.…

  • Reviews

    Press Here

    Press Here by Herve Tullet is an amazing book that works well both one-on-one as well as with a group.  I actually used this book for a story time with some trepidation, worrying if all the toddlers would rush towards me wanting to “press here.”  But instead, we got a wonderfully…

  • Activities,  Reviews

    Vote for Me!

    I don’t pretend to be a political person, I’m not even a fan of discussing politics due to the way most people seem to forget how to have a civilized conversation when discussing politics.  But due to the fact that election day just happened, I figured I should at least…

  • Reviews

    Wonder Show

    Another book I grabbed because the cover art caught my attention.  Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby was a fascinating read and was perfect for the two days I was home from work because of Hurricane Sandy.  This book is definitely one to pick up if you love vivid descriptions and settings…

  • Reviews

    Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms

      Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms is a captivating mystery filled with magic tricks, nosy triplets and a small boy who is much older than he looks.  This story also has a number of funny, wacky parts that made me laugh out loud.  Stuart Horten, whose name can be shortened to “shorten”…

  • Reviews

    The Whole Story of a Half Girl

    The Whole Story of a Half Girl written by Veera Hiranandani grabbed my attention, again due to the cover.  It was definitely something I wanted to read and I’m so glad I did! Sonia Nadhamuni’s father loses his job and she is forced to go to public school for 6th grade.  Never has her…

  • Reviews

    The Boy On Cinnamon Street

    I am in love with Phoebe Stone’s cover art for many of her books.  I recently read The Romeo and Juliet Code and I just picked up The Boy on Cinnamon Street this weekend.  Her cover art is always something that makes me want to pick up her books and…