Spring Reading Thing

I will get a post up by Wednesday morning at the latest. Within the last 3-4 weeks we've had a death in the family and my mother, who lives with us fell and broke both feet and an ankle.  To say life has been a little hectic is an understatement.  I apologize. Let me see what I can get done by tonight or early tomorrow morning, unless someone else wants to run with this.  If so please email me at my school email stiles@manateeschools.net.  It is the only email I can check during the day.  If I don't hear from someone by 3:30 eastern time I will put something up tonight.

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.

Student Saturday: Among the Betrayed - Margaret Peterson Haddix

Student Reviewer Katherine

Imagine you live in a world that allowed you to only have two children per pair. And if you were the third or fourth child you would have to get killed. Well in the book I read, Among the Betrayed, Elodie is betrayed. She is an illegal third child. Jason betrayed her. Since Elodie is illegal she has to get a face I.D. with a fake name. Now her name in Nina. But, she told the boy she loved the truth and then one day the Population Police came in her school looking for her. They arrested her and they let her have a choice. Either she betrays three kids or they kill her. This was a really entertaining book. It was filled with action and it was that type of book that I couldn't put down. I couldn't imagine being in Nina's situation. I would hate betraying someone or someone killing. But, did Nina really betray them?

Student Saturday: Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark - Ridley Pearson

Student Reviewer Kevin F.

The Kingdom Keepers is about five kids who have holograms of themselves programmed to serve as Disney World tour guides during the day. At night, they unexpectedly turn into holograms of themselves in the magic Kingdom wearing whatever they wore to bed at night. Finn is the leader of the Disney Hologram Interactive teens or DHI with Willa, Maybuck, Philby and Clarence. During the day, Finn meets a girl named Amanda who has a secret and is willing to help the DHI. They also met an elderly Imagineer named Wayne who tells them about the Overtakers, evil characters brought to life by night, such as Maleficent, the evil witch in Sleeping Beauty, or Blackbeard the robot pirate. The Overtakers want the Stone cutter's Quill, Walt Disney's first pen. The DHI must quest to find the Quill before the Overtakers do.

I can relate this to both Star Wars and Harry Potter. I would recommend this to someone who likes science fiction and fantasy, I chose science fiction because it has holograms and characters that are robots who come alive, and fantasy because it has magic pens, characters in general coming to life, and Maleficent trying to do something very bad.

Over all, on a scale of one-to-ten I would give it a ten because it exceeded all expectations.

The End of the Line - Jim Power

Publisher: Sweet Cravings Publishing (part of Secret Cravings Publishing)
Pages:  294
Genre: Literary/Romance/Interracial
Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Blurb:
Latesha Thomas is a beautiful, young African-American woman who lives with her handicapped father. She is in her final year of university and they are having a hard time making ends meet. She decides to start a matchmaking service to make a little extra money, though she has no experience and it turns out to be a disaster. She does, however, meet a client, a handsome white man named Peter Elsworth. The sparks fly immediately, but there’s a huge problem. Her father, and his mother, are vehemently opposed to an interracial4 relationship. This leads to tremendous conflict, but their love will not be denied. They grow closer, yet the closer they become, the more the tension rises. In time a secret connection between their two worlds become clear and this adds another dimension of conflict and complexity. But love is color blind and they are irresistibly drawn to one another.

My Thoughts:
When I am asked to review a romance book I usually hesitate.  I will try to find some reviews and read the synopsis to see if it is something I can tolerate.  Yes I did say tolerate.  Too often I get started on the book and suddenly there is so much mushy, gushy stuff going on that I am turned off.  I don't want to read sex scenes. I don't want to feel like I'm peeking in on someone's bedroom.  I was extremely surprised and pleased to find that there was none of that in this book.  We get a look at racism on both sides.  I loved the way that you had people who were willing to work together instead of separating because of color.  I believe this is a book they should be read by everyone.  Too often I hear African Americans talk about racism, yet they may be just as racist in their thoughts.  I loved the slow way Letesha and Peter's relationship developed.  I knew where Latesha's father was coming from when he made it clear that "she should date her own kind". However, I was just as put off by Peter's mother who thought he should only date within their own "class".  The author took on a subject many would not have handled as well, that is if they touched on it at all. He pulled no punches.  He laid it out there for all to see.  It was a real life as it gets.  Did I enjoy it?  You bet I did. Would I recommend it? Most definitely. 

About the Author:
Jim Power (1957- ) has been published internationally by 60 magazines and newspapers, including by the Smithsonian Institution, and by many of the top outdoors magazines in North America. He has a long history of publishing fiction, from dozens of short stories in New York magazines to seven novels in 2013/2014. He studied Honors English at Saint Mary's University and majored in Russian Literature at Dalhousie University before becoming a writer.

Ordering Information:
The paperback is coming shortly and the ebook can be purchased through:

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.ca/The-End-Line-Jim-Power-ebook/dp/B00G9H4LGC

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-end-of-the-line-jim-power/1117257480?ean=2940148597582

Bookstrand:
http://www.bookstrand.com/the-end-of-the-line

All Romance Ebooks:
 http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html

Sweet Cravings Publishing:
http://store.sweetcravingspublishing.com/index.phpmain_page=book_info&cPath=12&products_id=196

Sample Chapter Link (Amazon):
http://www.amazon.com/The-End-Line-Jim-Power-ebook/dp/B00G9H4LGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386946880&sr=8-1&keywords=the+end+of+the+line+by+jim+power#reader_B00G9H4LGC

Student Saturday: The Last Thing I Remember - Andrew Klaven

Student Reviewer: Dale Y.
I read the book The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan. It's about a sixteen year old boy who is kidnapped from his room while sleeping, but he did not feel anything...And he wakes up in a chair with straps, strapping both of his feet and hands. There are torture tools on a tray next to him and blood all over his t-shirt. He hears three men talking outside and he hears the one thing he did not want to hear, "kill him", said the boss man. Two men walk through the big metal door, one picks up a needle and says that the poison is strong enough to kill an adult in hours. Luckily he is a black belt and he loosens the straps and hits the guy in the spot no man ever wants to get hit, and he makes the man loosen the rest of these traps, and it's freedom for him. But, he has to escape the compound and run.
I think this is a great book and has many parts where you just want to keep reading.

Student Saturday: Closed for the Season - Mary Downing Hahn

Student Reviewer: Riley E.

I recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a good mystery book to read. I loved this book because it's all about a murder mystery. So, if you are looking for a book that is exciting and reveals more interesting clues each chapter, then this is the book for you. the main character in this book is Logan, who is a young boy going into middle school. Logan and his family just moved into a new town and he does not know anybody.

The only friend he has is his next door neighbor Arthur which Logan's mom does not approve of. The house that Logan moved into was a murder house. There was an old woman that was murdered there three years ago and they still have not found the murderer, Throughout this book Arthur and Logan go on a never ending adventure all throughout town to try and find out who murdered the little old woman.

In my opinion this was a wonderful book because I loved the way the book was so interesting and explained everything so well. I can make a connection to this book because if I were Logan I would try to find out who murdered the little old lady because I am also very curious just like Logan.

Student Saturday: The Garden of Eve - K.L. Going

Student Reviewer: Nina A.

The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going is a fascinating book filled with adventure and magic. It all starts off when Eve's mother dies from cancer. I wondered how could a ten year old girl live without her mother? Especially for ten months! Soon enough, Evie and her father move to Beaumont, New York. And that is when all the adventures and the magic begins. Do you believe in ghosts? Even if you don't have you ever had a feeling like you've seen one? Well you're not alone. Evie has seen someone who died a week ago in the graveyard next to her house. Was that person really dead? Turns out the boy is dead but when he touches anything, it feels solid. His name is Alex and he is also ten. Evie and Alex go through the "dead " woods to find a grave to plant a seed. It's not an ordinary seed. I asked myself, if the seed is magical, what will happen once the plant grows? This seed was given to Evie the night before her birthday from someone she has never met. When Eve's mother dies, it made me appreciate more than I already do.

Before her mother died she always told her beloved daughter, "When I die, there will be a garden and I will meet you there." With the seed Evie has, she hopes this seed will bring her to the garden where her mother is waiting for her. Will Evie be able to finally see her mom again? Or will she have to wait when her time comes? I definitely recommend this book. It is probably one of my favorites.