Two Books by Jim Pransky

Championship Expectations  

Pages:  78

Source: Review Copy from Author

Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

From Goodreads:

Mickey Baker and his teammates have experienced a rewarding and unprecedented athletic season, winning league titles in both basketball and football. As they approach the opening of the American Legion baseball season, hopes and expectations are running high for the opportunity at another championship.


My Thoughts:  
At first I wasn't sure I would like this book.  I agreed to review it because I knew it would be something my students would want to read.  I'm glad I did read it.  The writing is simple enough.  I was afraid that it would be full of stats and things I wouldn't really understand.  The plot was engaging enough to  keep my attention and progresseds smoothly. This was a simple book to read. And one I put on my shelves at school for the to enjoy.





Playoff Run

Pages: 88

Source: Review Copy from Author

Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

From Goodreads

The Riverfront Eagles have just clinched the league championship and are headed to the district playoffs, riding an eleven-game winning streak. Their storybook season is dramatically changed, however, by an automobile accident that rocks the entire community.



My Thoughts

I actually enjoyed this book more than the first book.  There was a lot more action in this book than in the first book.  The story is carried on smoothly yet could be a stand-a-lone book.  This is another book I was glad to put on my shelves at school.  It is always checked out.

I Don't Wanna Be An Orange Anymore - Hank Kellnor

From Goodreads:

Growing up in the fictional town of Meadowview, young Willie Watson objects to being required to play the part of an orange in the school play when he is nine and in the fourth grade. But that's just the beginning of his problems. As he continues through elementary school and into junior high school, Willie has to deal with the town bully; Christmas with his relatives; the death of a schoolmate; the loss of his girlfriend; the theft of a fountain pen, and his broken eyeglasses.

But that’s not all. Willie doesn’t want to eat his peas; take the garbage out; deal with his troublesome kid sister; try to climb the ropes in gym class while his gym teacher harasses him, or have to stay after school until he’s “…old enough to grow a beard.”

Readers will discover how Willy becomes a member of Brucie’s gang; what happens in the old movie house on Main Street; how feisty old Grandma inspires Willie, and much, much more.

Included in this book are such chapters as "There Is No Santa Claus," "Oh Captain, My Captain," "The Dog in the Rhinestone Collar," "A Bird's Just a Bird," and "Hey Brucie, Your Sister Wears Long Underwear."

I Don’t Wanna Be an Orange Anymore contains a wealth of humorous and often touching descriptions of a young boy's fantasies and life experiences as he grows up in a small town many years ago.

My Thoughts:

From the first incident in this book when Willie stops the school play with his announcement he doesn’t want to be an orange, I found myself laughing.  Although the beginning of this story took place around 1942, people born in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or even today could relate to things that Willie went through.  He dealt with bullies, like Brucie Schultz.  He even joined Brucie’s gang until he was required to harass and abuse other kids.  This shows he had a great moral foundation.  When Brucie cornered  Carvis Bullock, one of the few colored kids at the school Willie knew he should do something but was too afraid of the bully to interfere.  However, when the teacher finally intervened and suggested to Carvis that maybe it would be better if he stayed indoors instead of going outside for recess, Willie knew this was just wrong.  I could identify with every situation where Willie was blamed for something he didn’t do.  He took the punishment and kept his mouth shut for many different reasons.  We follow Willie all the way through adulthood. This is definitely a trip down memory lane in so many ways for all ages.  Childhood experiences don’t change a lot.  It was refreshing to be reminded that so often the things we go through as a child is what shapes us into the adult we become.  Would I recommend this book? I most definitely would.  This was an excellent read.  I am so glad I was asked to read and review it.

Three Wonderful Fairy Tales by Sergey Nikolov

I received copies of these books in exchange for my honest review. 

I love this author's writing style.  The stories are charming as are most fairy tales yet they have a wonderful lesson to be learned.

Princess Rose and the Golden Bird
This is a wonderful fairy tale of a young princess who loved roses. Everyone called her Princess Rose. Every night a golden bird would fly to her balcony. She and the bird sang and the people all had beautiful dreams,. One day a witch cast a spell on the roses. Princess Rose's hair turned black. When the bird came to her and they sang the people fell asleep and had nightmares. Princess Rose manages to break the curse only to have the witch cast it again. Want to know what happened? You must read this book to see what the witch did to Princess Rose and whether she can break the curse again.






The Legend of the Black Sea

What a lesson this story has. An old man, his dog and a black cat live by the sea. The dog doesn't like the black cat because it is black and doesn't help as much as he does. The old man is always telling the dog that he believes in the cat's goodness.  One day disaster strikes and the old man asks both the dog and cat to help.  When the cat doesn't he loses faith in its goodness. find out what happens when the old man loses faith in the cat's goodness.

Mommy
In a kingdom lived a king with his little princess. He stayed with her always. He was afraid of losing her like he had lost her mother. Princess Selena had no friends. She became very sad and very ill. In heaven two little angels always played together. One of the m became bored and wanted someone else to play with. God tells them it is not a good idea. He gives in to the pleading.  Selena leaves her earthly body and goes to heaven.  Her father is so sad he won't leave her body.  Selena has so much fun.  After a while one of the angels gets upset because three is a crowd.  God sends Selena back to her body and her father learns to give her some freedom.  Selena grows up.  To find out what happens next to Selena and to both of the angels read the book.  It is wonderfully written.