Four Children's Books

Maya & Filippo Make Friends in Auckland – Alinka Rutkowska

Imagine living on a cruise ship with your family.  That is exactly how Maya and Filippo, their parents, and cat Otello live.  They cruise to New Zealand and their parents encourage them to get off the boat and go exploring. 

They get on a bus and realize they can’t see over the people in front of them.  They become cranky and the people around them are cranky.  Next a young couple get on board.  The children learn a valuable lesson about how attitude affects them and those around them.

Ziggersnout – Dale Rensing
Eric is a young boy who loves to skate. Unfortunately he didn’t pass his test and feels terrible. The rink owner encourages him to return the next week.  Eric returns, and as he is skating he sees a shadow.  The shadow seems to be following him. He learns from Gramps, the owner that the shadow is actually a shy water dragon named Ziggersnout. Eric begins to enjoy his skating time. Not only does he enjoy skating, he is beginning to improve.  This is a book that not only encourages kids to practice at whatever sport they are into, but teaches them what the dragon really is.  This was a wonderful book.  I read it over several times because I enjoyed it that much.

King Not’s Powers – Betty DeLoach Presley

Want to teach your kids about prefixes and their powers?  This is the book to do just that.  This wonderful book is full of “negative” prefixes.  The story shows the power of adding or taking away prefixes. King Not is the one with the power.  When he takes some of his subjects, (root words) on a rollercoaster ride different prefixes which mean “not” suddenly attach themselves to the root words.  It changes not only their meaning  but their attitude.  Wonderful way to teach prefixes.

The Diary of Stuffles B. Snippet – Kathie Brown

I love and collect teddy bears. This was a wonderful book about a wonderful teddy bear and a young girl. Emily is a sad little girl because her parents are in China and she must stay with her grandmother until they return. She has no friends in her new school. Her grandmother owns a teddy bear shop and orders a special teddy bear for Emily.  Unfortunately the wrong bear is sent. Stuffles B. Snippet doesn’t look or feel soft and cuddly.  He isn’t a smiling bear either.  He has a strict look to his face.  He came with a red writing journal.  Emily is disappointed.  Her grandmother  tells her she will send him back and get the one that she ordered. Emily leaves Stuffles in her grandmother’s teddy bear shop. When she returns the next day Stuffles is not in the rocking chair where he was left and the cat is outside the shop.  Emily prepares to wrap the bear up to be returned when she sees the journal hanging open. When she looks inside she sees a note from Stuffles describing what went on after the shop was closed.  Emily decides to Keep Stuffles.  She loans him to the teacher who finds a message to her the next day.  Emily and the teacher decide they can use Stuffles to help the students who don’t really talk to each other.  Read the book to find out what they do and how it turns out.  This book was such a great book that I RELUCTANYLY passed it on to a young lady who may or may not need a new friend like Stuffles.

Author Kathie Brown taught for forty years in the primary grades and at the university level. The journey of a teddy bear was a successful classroom project that inspired the writing of this ook. Kathie is married and has two children and six grandchildren.

Student Saturday: The Sea of Trolls - Nancy Farmer

Student Reviewer: Nicolas

I just finished a really good book, called The Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer. This book is about a boy named Jack. He is just a small farm boy in his little village. But to the Bard (a type of mage) he is special. The Bard is one of the oldest and most wise people in Jack's village.

The story takes place during the 14th - 15th century in England, Scotland, and Finland in a small village on a small farm. Jack does some of the farm work and the Bard thinks that that is a waste of Jack's talents so he invites him to study as a young Bard. The Bard teaches Jack about magic, about the life force and how to draw magic from the life force. The bard sends Jack to collect drift wood at the sea shore where he sees a Viking ship ready to raid villages!

I really like this book because it has Norse legends about magic, gods, and Valhalla which is Viking heaven. It is really well written. A connection to this book would be the Ranger's Apprentice series because it too is set in medieval England. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense filled action packed books and especially to someone who likes medieval fantasies.

Three Wonderful Children's Authors: Tali Cami, Jason Sandberg, Michael Yu

I have recently been reading a lot of children's picture books.  When I get a request to review a book I will often purchase copies of some of their other books if I like the author.  Here are three that I would recommend to any parent.

Books by Tali Carmi

Abigail and the Jungle Adventure

When Abigail’s parents go on a business trip she spends Christmas with her grandparents. Her grandfather was a scientist and inventor. When her grandparents take a nap, Abigail begins to explore. She slips into the attic.  She discovers a magical book and bicycle. She decides to take a trip to the Amazon. Read the book and go on this great adventure with her.

 

Terry Treetop Finds New Friends

The main character of this story has red hair and freckles and is called Terry Treetop because he likes climbing trees. His dad built him a treehouse but he had no one to play in it with him. Go with Terry on his journey to find someone to join him.

Where Is My Home?

It’s summer vacation and Terry Treetop is in his treehouse when he sees a butterfly. He chases it into the woods and gets lost and hungry.  He meets several new friends on his journey. But, will they be able to help him get home?

Terry Treetop and the Lost Egg

Terry Treetop is camping with his family when he see an egg.  Terry tries to find the owner of the egg. Travel with Terry on his journey and learn about different types of animal eggs.

 

Books by Jason Sandberg

The New Crown

Platavia was built on top of a mountain to keep the people safe. But, the people had more to fear than trolls and ogres.  Their king was evil, he took what he wanted and made so many laws the people feared him and were afraid they would do something that would break a law. Read to find out how a young carpenter named Juliette makes something for the King that in the end will help the people win their freedom.

 

Baby Julia Feeds the Moon

This is another wonderful story by an author whose work I’ve come to love. Baby Julia loves her crib. One night she hears someone crying. She opens her secret pixie wings and she flies off to the moon to find out why he is crying.  She discovers the moon is hungry.  But, what can she do to help?  She’s just a baby. Read this book to find out what Julia does to help the moon.

 Books by Michael Yu

 

The Dragon Egg

In this story we learn that size doesn’t matter. Jayden wants to become a knight. He is young and very small.  The people in his town laugh at his desire to become a knight because of his size and age. Finally the King tell shim he will knight him if he can bring back a dragon egg.  The king gives him some food and a rope to tak on his trip.  Follow Jayden on his quest for a dragon egg.

 

Playtime With Monster

Eric is like most kids. He hates going to bed. His mom tells him that after he gets ready for bed a monster will come play with him.  Read this wonderful book that should be a bedtime ritual to find out if Eric will be able to entice the monster to come play with him.

 

There’s No Such Things As Monsters

Everyone knows there is no such thing as monsters, right? As a little boy prepares for bed he keeps seeing monsters. His mom picks up each items and assures her son there is no such things as monsters. But, could she be wrong?  What happens if she is? Read this wonderful story to find out.