Book reviews for the young and the old. This site reviews children, teen, and adult books with a few interesting things thrown into the mix. Check out the labels on the right hand side for specific genres or topics.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Heroes of the Quest: An Impossible Team by Mirja Camphausen
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
That Thing in the Sky by Christopher Francis
Genre: Upper Elementary, Middle Grade, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy from StoryOrigin. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Monday, June 27, 2022
A Wonderful Series by Christopher Francis
The Dream Catcher Series by Christopher Francis
Genre: Elementary, Fantasy
The Dream Catcher Series is based
on a group of Dream Catchers whose job is to enter the dreams of children and
help turn their scary negative dreams into something that is not scary, but fun
and positive. There are five books in this series.
The Dream Catcher Rescue Squad: The Fear of Falling
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
The Dream Catcher Rescue Squad: The Basement
Source: I purchased a copy
Paisley has made it onto the Dream
Catcher Rescue Squad. Destiny will continue to be her trainer until she had
completed 200 assignments. Then Paisley will get to be a trainer. The child’s fear in this story is a fear of
going to the basement. Paisley learns it isn’t the basement he is afraid of. He
is afraid of the toilet in the basement. I felt sorry for Bailey. He couldn’t
use the bathroom upstairs because it was being remodeled. He imagined the
toilet downstairs as being alive. One thing that was different was that Paisley
failed in her mission and had to go back.
I keep trying to figure out how they will solve each kids nightmare but haven’t
been successful in solving it before the Dream Catchers do.
The Dream Catcher Rescue Squad: The Fear of being Lost
Source: I purchased a copy
In this story Paisley and Destiny
have a new job and her name is Trinity. In this story the first thing we learn
is that they have a set up team that does things like open windows for them to
slip into the house. Trinity’s nightmare is that she gets lost and can’t find
her mommy. It doesn’t help that every time she has the nightmare and wakes her
older sister up, her older sister decides to scare her the next day. Each of these characters who have nightmares
must learn a lesson to deal with what scares them. Such a subtle way to teach a
valuable lesson.
The Dream Catcher Rescue Squad: Scary Noises
Source: I purchased a copy
Oscar is the Dream Catcher Rescue Squad’s
newest job. Oscar is afraid of things during the day and during the night. They
enter the dream hoop and shortly thereafter they see Moon Drifters. Moon
Drifters steal good dreams and keep them for themselves. The Dream Catchers
have got to show Oscar what is making the strange noises and shadows in his
house before he wakes up. Who will win this one the Dream Catchers or the Moon
Drifters? This one resonated with me a
lot. Growing up in a house that was over 100 years old made falling asleep
difficult. I heard every creak and groan and saw shadows everywhere. As an
adult I still jump at noises I hear at night and have to fight to not let my
imagination run away with me.
The Dream Catcher Rescue Squad: The Fear of School
Source: I purchased a copy
Maslyn is the squad’s newest job.
Before I say anything more I have to comment on the way the Dream Catchers get
around. They have hair propellers. That is just the coolest thing. Not only
that but I just learned that they have the ability to shape shift. Paisley and
Destiny notice that Maslyn isn’t in bed yet. They fly around the farm and watch
the parents. Dad is busy on his combine and mom is busy taking care of all of
the animals. Maslyn’s dad comes in to get Maslyn ready for bed. She doesn’t
want to go to sleep because she doesn’t want to go to school the next day. She
has to give a presentation and she is scared.
This is a nightmare I often had as a child. It is something that as a
teacher I still struggle with. I had no dream catcher squad to help me. I had
great administrators who pushed me out of my comfort zone and stood there to
support me.
Final Thoughts:
Oh my gosh what a wonderful
series. The author has touched on fears not only kids, but also adults have. We
have read about the fear of heights, falling, public speaking, scary noises or
getting lost. These are perfect for younger elementary students. I will
definitely recommend these books to our school media specialist. I believe my
grandkids are going to love a copy of these as well.
I have read a multitude of
elementary age books by this author and loved them. The illustrations are
wonderful. If you have a middle grade
child or young adult you might want to check out his books for older children. Please
check back here as I will be reviewing
five more books for the older population. This is definitely an author
you need to check out.
Friday, June 24, 2022
Two Books by MamTalk Publishing
Scissor Skills Workbook for 2 Year Old and Older Kids by MamTalk Publishing
Genre: Children, craft/skills bookSource: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
One thing I liked at the beginning is that we have a page
that explains why this type of activity is important for kids. Right below that
are rules for parents to share with their child about using scissors. They can
read them, and demonstrate the rule. As a middle grades teacher I still have to
go over these rules with my students at times. This book reminded me of papers
I got the first time I took a sewing class. They are simple lines to teach kids
the beginning cutting movements. They
begin to get more complicated. Finally they get to picture that use those basic
movements to cut out the picture. If you
are an adult who has to cut something more than a straight line then this would
be great practice for your as well. Great starter for using scissors.
Springtime Rhymes for Kids: Poetry about Spring by MamTalk Publishing
Genre: Children's Picture Book, PoetrySource: I purchased a copy
I purchased this book to see what else this company had to
offer. I was not disappointed. This is a book of discovery about spring. The
words are lyrical in their rhyming. Then
there are the pages that have small pictures about individual items found. For
example on the page where they show flowers that bloom you have them identified
as “D” is for Daffodil, “T” is for Tulip. So we have a list of words to teach
children to pronounce. Did I mention the beautiful and bright pictures? Since I
teach in a K-8 school I think these books would be perfect for our pre-k or
kindergarten classes.
Sunday, June 19, 2022
The Giant Inside by Christopher Francis
Genre: Upper-Elementary
Source: I purchased a copy
This book followed Meeting Henry Greenfield. Alex has
definitely made an enemy of Damian Dermite. The bully has a reputation to
uphold and it seems that Alex is getting in the way of that reputation. Things will get better if he can just figure
out how to handle Damian Dermite. Once
again I love the continuing story of these characters. Had I read this book
before the Screaming Ridge books it would have seemed more cohesive.
This author definitely has the upper-elementary lower middle-grade students
figured out. The story comes across as realistic and relatable.
Friday, June 17, 2022
There’s an Ogre-Beast in the Playground by Christopher Francis
Genre: Upper-Elementary
Source: I received a copy from StoryOrigin to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I loved this upper elementary grade book. Being different is tough. It is even tougher
when someone is there to always point out those differences and make fun of
you. Henry is that boy. He is a six foot tall fourth grader with red hair.
Everyone, including the teachers bully him in some way. He doesn’t like being
different. It isn’t until an ogre-monster comes to the school that Henry
realizes that sometimes being different is okay.
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Catherine Dickens: Outside the Magic Circle Heera Datta
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The
opinions expressed here are my own.
I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t wait for Christmas
to come to watch “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. After reading this
book my feelings toward the author have been tainted. While I saw him as a wonderful and successful
writer, I never knew who he was. To understand who he was you must understand
the Victorian time period he lived in.
Imagine you have married the man of your dreams only to have
him blame you for everything that he doesn’t like in your marriage. Imagine
your young sister who lives with you to help you with your children, suddenly
sides with your husband. You are removed
from your home, while your sister and your children stay with your husband.
This is for the most part a fictionalized account. We know
for a fact that Charles Dickens was separated from his wife. We also know that
even though he wrote terrible things about her. She kept her mouth shut. Part
of this I believe was because she loved him, and part of it was because that is
the way things were handled during this time period. Women pretty much had no rights. She was publicly humiliated through his
writings. Up until her death she pretty much kept quiet. Yet she made sure her
daughter received letters Charles had sent her to be sent to the Smithsonian.
It was her way of letting the world know he really wasn’t all that bad. She believed this until her death. Maybe that
is what helped her survive this situation.
Even though this story took place in the 1800’s this could
be anyone’s story today. I believe that is why it is such a good book. It is so
applicable to present time. A great book
to be read by anyone wanting to know more about the real Charles Dickens.