It's
been a couple of weeks since my last post. That first week, I was occupied with
sewing and visiting my cousin in the hospital and just didn't get much reading
in. Then we had company over the weekend so I scrapped writing that post.
I've
had a better reading week this time round. I'm happy to state that my cousin
has been released from the hospital and is now home. I've continued to sew like
crazy. Although I'm not close to ready to start putting all the bits together,
I finally decided to assemble one block of That Quilt to motivate me to
continue on. I am impressed if I do say so myself.
BLOG
POSTS THIS WEEK
PICTURE
BOOKS
 |
| 3 stars |
Maxwell
the Monkey Barber by Cale Atkinson CL
Maxwell
is a cute little monkey who cuts and combs different animals hair. He's
challenged when an elephant shows up, but manages to come up with a solution.
Although
I likes the repetitious refrain, the rhythm of the poetry didn't work for me.
 |
| 4 stars |
Stepping
Stones: A Refugee Family's Journey by Margriet Ruurs & Nizar Badr
(Contributor)
There
is so much to love about this book. These images are remarkable. Combined with
the poems, they are profoundly moving. I appreciate that the money from sales of this book goes to support refugee groups.
 |
| 4 stars |
The
Lost Gift: A Christmas Story by Kallie George & Stephanie Graegin
(Illustrations)
Stephanie
Graegin's illustrations are poignant and stunning in this delightful tale of
four woodland friends who help Santa deliver a dropped present. I was charmed
by all of these characters, but especially the grouchy squirrel.
 |
| 4 stars |
In The Red Canoe by Leslie Davidson & Laura Bifano (Illustrations)
These
beautiful illustrations and descriptive words capture a beautiful world of love
and nature. The relationship between the child and grandfather is sublime. Unfortunately,
the poetry didn't quite work for me.
 |
| 4 stars |
Ooko
by Esme Shapiro
This
is a delightful book about friendship and being who you are meant to be. The
illustrations are charming.
 |
| 5 stars |
The
Day I Became a Bird by Ingrid Chabbert, Raúl Nieto Guridi (Illustrations)
I
am infatuated by anything these two artists create. At first I was kind of
creeped out by this idea of trying to be someone or something you are not, in
order to form a relationship with someone. Thankfully Sylvie, the bird fanatic, recognizes our hero for
who he really is and loves him anyway. I think, perhaps, this is what good
relationships are all about.
CHAPTER
BOOKS
 |
| 5 stars |
Public
Library Enemy #1 (Jasper John Dooley #6) by Caroline Adderson, Mike Shiell
(Illustrations)
This
book is just delightful! Jasper is devastated when, with the help of his
father, he accidentally kills his library book.
He's
terrified to go back to the library even though he really wants to read to
Molly, the dog.
Before
it is all over, there is a toast stand, a pet reading party, and lots of sweet
humour and delightful surprises.
 |
| 4 stars |
The
Missing Magic (The Magical Animal Adoption Agency #3) by Kallie George
& Alexandra Boiger (Illustrations)
I
was enchanted by this little chapter book about a girl who volunteers in a magic
pet adoption agency. Clover does something she shouldn't, and this action causes
near disaster for all the magical animals and people. To resolve the problem
she has to learn to work collaboratively with Oliver, a fellow volunteer.
NOVELS
 |
| 4 stars |
Jake
Reynolds: Against the Tide by Sara Leach
This
is a solid short novel for readers moving beyond chapter books.
Multidimensional characters deal authentically with friendship issues. There
is enough tension and action to keep readers engaged.
I
really liked how supportive the adults are and that even the troubled kid seems
to find a redemption of sorts.
Now
I'll have to go and read the first in this series.
Word
of Mouse by James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein Joe Sutphin (Illustrations)
& Chris Grabenstein (narrator) 3 stars
This
was an ok read. It reminded me of Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, but with
less depth. Still, I think some younger readers will find it interesting, and
perhaps could be persuaded to read the classic tale afterwards.
Here
is a sample of the audiobook.
 |
| 4 stars |
A
Rare Gift (Crystal Journals #1) by G.Rosemary Ludlow
This
is the first in a series about a young girl who is 'chosen' by a magical
crystal to be its guardian. The crystal takes her through time and space to
help people who need it. At first Susan is very unhappy with this
responsibility, but by the end of her first adventure, aiding a young orphaned
boy on an immigrant ship on it's way to New York, she has accepted and even
appreciates the challenge of the crystal. Ludlow integrates historical detail
seamlessly in this novel.
 |
| 3 stars |
Pharaoh's
Tomb (Crystal Journals #2) by G. Rosemary Ludlow
In
this book Susan travels back in time to ancient Egypt and the creation of the
crystals. She is adopted by an evil magician. Eventually, she makes friends
with the grand vizier's son, but is instantly despised by Neferure, daughter of
the ruler.
I
appreciate Ludlow's ability to entertain and educate me about many aspects of
life at that time. The book has plenty of action and suspense.
I
want this to be 3.5 stars. It might have been more except that I had a hard
time dealing with a plot that posits a young female character in conflict with
other female characters, especially when the reason is jealousy over a boy.
 |
| 3 stars |
Under
a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee & Emily Woo Zeller (narrator)
I
wanted to like this more than I actually did. I appreciate the diverse cast of
characters. Two girls, Samantha, a Chinese American, and Annamae, a runaway slave,
pose as boys as they flee across America on the Oregon Trail. Along the way
they connect up with a crew of three cowboys. There is just a bit of romance
that will appeal to older readers.
I
acknowledge that as a Canadian, I am woefully ignorant about the Oregon Trail.
Still it bothered me was that there were so few mentions of the indigenous people
who inhabited the country they crossed. It reads as though the group are
travelling across empty landscapes. There are a few mentions of bow and arrows
being acquired from different people, but the people themselves are profoundly
missing.
 |
| 4 stars |
Scar
Island by Dan Gemeinhart
I
had a hard time with this book. It felt too much like Lord of the Flies, a book
I hated when I had to read it in high school, a very very long time ago. I tried to ignore, and even skipped over some of the more
intense violent bullying episodes. Eventually though, somewhere in there I was hooked on the story and couldn't
stop reading.
 |
| 5 stars |
Short
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Nothing
compares to a brilliantly written middle grade novel! This is one of them. Sloan writes beautiful characters, puts them in situations where we get to
watch them grow and mature, all the while making us fall in love with them. I
adore this diverse collection of actors working on a theater production of The
Wizard of Oz. I especially appreciate that the author shows us how important the arts are in our lives.
 |
| 5 stars |
The
Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
OMG!
Swooooon. This book is so beautiful I had to keep writing down quotes from it. It
takes place in one day in New York City. A young man of Korean ancestry and a
young Jamaican girl whose family is about to be deported meet and fall in love.
This is one of those books that you don't want to miss. I've come to the
conclusion that if Nicola Yoon writes it, I'll read it.
It's
almost impossible to come up with one quote that resonated most with me, but
since I'm writing this on a Sunday, I'll give you this one:
"God
is the connection of the very best parts of us."
CURRENTLY
I'm
currently listening to Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. I've started a library book, The Left
Handed Fate by Kate Millford, and Everyday Hero by Kathleen Cherry, a Chocolate Lily candidate. I've got another audiobook on the go, but I've
forgotten about it. I think I have a netgalley title I should be attending to
also.
UP
NEXT
I'm
digging into the box of Chocolate Lily contenders and plan to read Root Beer
Candy and other Miracles by Shari Green as well as at least 2 others from
there. There are two titles by Becky Citra, one of my favourite BC authors, in
the box, but I'm saving those for when I need a special reading treat.
PROGRESS
ON MY READING GOALS
#MUSTREADIN2017
7/36
#MUSTREADNFIN2017
1/12, 1 in progress
50
Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 11/50
Chocolate
Lily (CL) 33/52
Goodreads
Reading Challenge 110/333
