Real Sisters Pretend

 

Title: Real Sisters Pretend

Author: Megan Dowd Lambert

Series: N/A

Recommended for: 4-8 yrs old, K-5

Pages: 32

Call Number/Link:  E Lambert, M.

Synopsis: This warm, engaging story, which unfolds entirely through the conversation of two adopted sisters, was inspired by the author’s own daughters, whom she overheard talking about how adoption made them “real sisters” even though they have different birth parents and do not look alike. I like how this shows the different type of parenting families that exist and that the sisters are from different cultures as well.  A great read aloud in a classroom or for a family to read together.

 

Coco

Title: Coco
Author: Adrian Molina
Series: N/A
Recommended for: PreK- K
Pages: 24
Call Number/Link:  E DISNEY COCO

Synopsis: Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. This beautifully illustrated Little Golden Book retells all the excitement and adventure of Disney/Pixar’s Coco. It’s perfect for children ages 2 to 5.

Thoughts:  I really liked this book.  Super cute, vibrant and it seems to show all the symbols of Dia de los Muertos well.  I am certain this would be a great book to read aloud to your children or classroom about the movie. Beautifully illustrated and heart warming.

 

Thanks for Thanksgiving

Title:    Thanks for Thanksgiving
Author:   Julie Markes
Series:   —
Recommended for:   Individual and group reading to toddlers, preschoolers and kindegarteners
Pages:   32 p.
Call Number/Link:  E MARKES, J.

Rating:    ****

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

At Thanksgiving time, children express their gratitude for the people and things in their lives.

Comments:

It can be very frustrating to try to find a Thanksgiving book that is a good choice for Toddler Time and/or Preschool Storytime.  Hurray!  I was thrilled to discover this one!

While it is a Thanksgiving book, it is also a book about thankfulness.  It talks about seasonal reasons the kids are grateful (turkey, pie, golden leaves) and everyday things like school, swings, slides, puppies, puddles and MOST of all, the family they love.

The book has a brief rhyming text and large striking illustrations that will be easily visible at Storytime.

I am sooo thankful for Thanks for Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

I Hug

Title:   I Hug
Author:   David McPhail
Series:   —
Recommended for:   babies, toddlers, preschoolers, children who are just starting to read
Pages:   22 pages
Call Number/Link:   E MCPHAIL, D.

Rating:   *****

 

 

 

Synopsis:

“A child hugs Mom, Dad, a cat, a rock, a tree and more in this easy-to-read book”– Provided by publisher.

Comments:

Thanks to its minimal text, uncomplicated illustrations and sweet story, this is a great book for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.  It is also an inviting choice for children who are just beginning to read.

It would be a excellent choice for Lapsit and Toddler Time.

And it is so cute!

 

 

A Thousand Pieces of You

Title: A Thousand Pieces of You
Author: Claudia Gray
Series: Firebird
Recommended for: Grades 9-12
Pages: 384 pages
Call Number/Link:  TEEN FICTION GRAY, C.

Synopsis: Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their groundbreaking achievements. Their most astonishing invention, called the Firebird, allows users to jump into multiple universes—and promises to revolutionize science forever. But then Marguerite’s father is murdered, and the killer—her parent’s handsome, enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

Marguerite refuses to let the man who destroyed her family go free. So she races after Paul through different universes, always leaping into another version of herself. But she also meets alternate versions of the people she knows—including Paul, whose life entangles with hers in increasingly familiar ways. Before long she begins to question Paul’s guilt—as well as her own heart. And soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is far more sinister than she expected.

Thoughts:  The book was ok.  I really didn’t care what happened for most of the book.  They talked about dimension and the main characters were a little different in the different dimensions.  I am not sure that I care enough to will finish the series. Marguerite and friend Theo use firebirds (device used to jump dimensions) to chase after Paul, who they think betrayed them. They jump five times in the book, each time they jump they have to figure out their surroundings, and the role they play in this dimension.  A lot of time is spent on the dimensions, which is interesting. I guess my biggest thing is I didn’t feel like I connected with any of the characters.

 

My New Mom and Me

Title: My New Mom and Me
Author: Renata Galindo
Series: N/A
Recommended for: K- 2 ( maybe a little younger)
Pages: 32
Call Number/Link:  E Galindo

Synopsis: When the puppy comes to live with his new mom, he is nervous. After all, his mom has stripes and he doesn’t. But his mom says she likes that they look different, and soon the puppy likes it, too. (And who cares what anyone else thinks!)

The puppy’s new mom does all the things other parents do. She plays with him, takes care of him, and sometimes even makes him mad! But that’s okay, because when he’s feeling sad, she knows just what to say.

Review: This is a super sweet story of adoption or fostering. It is geared towards older children more than those adopted straight from birth. Puppy knows from the get go that this is his new home and he is different from his new mom. At first, he tries to be just like her, even paints on stripes, but his new mom wipes it all away and tells him she loves him just the way he is. In the end, they end up embracing their differences–and even though it’s not easy being a new family they’re going to continue to work on it.  This would be a perfect book to give to families that have either just adopted older-ish kids or who are maybe even just fostering.

 

Treasure Hunters

Title: Treasure Hunters
Author: James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
Series: Treasure Hunters #1
Recommended for: 3rd grade –  6th grade
Pages: 451 pages
Call Number/Link:  J FICTION PATTERSON, J.

Synopsis: The Kidd siblings have grown up diving down to shipwrecks and traveling the world, helping their famous parents recover everything from swords to gold doubloons from the bottom of the ocean. But after their parents disappear on the job, the kids are suddenly thrust into the biggest treasure hunt of their lives. They’ll have to work together to defeat dangerous pirates and dodge the hot pursuit of an evil treasure hunting rival, all while following cryptic clues to unravel the mystery of what really happened to their parents–and find out if they’re still alive.

I want to start off by saying that I listened to the audio book, which I think gives a different spin on the book.  I can’t say that I would have finished it if I was just reading.  Why you may ask?  I loved the reader of the audio book he totally nailed the voices of the four siblings and I enjoyed listening to it. The book really portrayed how siblings get along or don’t at times, especially in troubled times.  These four are especially close as they have lived on a sail boat their whole lives. There is tons of action, with scuba diving, boat chases, reading maps, hidden compartments, secret messages, pirates, CIA agents, slimy black market dealers and an Uncle that really isn’t an Uncle.  If I had to read the book the sibling arguing would have gotten old really fast. Plus, the author talking to the reader bugs me (Just a personal thing).  This is a series and I don’t know how many books there will be, but the third book just came out.

I would recommend this book to kids who liked Genius Files by Dan Gutman and NERDS by Michael Buckley

 

 

Tapper Twins Go To War

Title: The Tapper Twins Go To War
Author: Geoff Rodkey
Series: The Tapper Twins
Recommended for: Grades 4 –  6
Pages: 240
Call Number/Link:  J Fiction Rodkey, G.

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old fraternal twins, Claudia and Reese, who couldn’t be more different…except in their determination to come out on top in a vicious prank war! But when the competition escalates into an all-out battle that’s fought from the cafeteria of their New York City private school all the way to the fictional universe of an online video game, the twins have to decide if their efforts to destroy each other are worth the price.

Told as a colorful “oral history” by the twins and their friends, and including photos, screenshots, chat logs, online gaming digital art, and text messages between their clueless parents, The Tapper Twins is a hilariously authentic showcase of what it’s like to be in middle school in our digitally-saturated world.

Alright, this is a PERFECT book for those kids who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Origami Yoda, etc. It’s fast paced, has that visual/diary feel to to, and has plenty of laugh out loud moments. This is a great one for reluctant readers as well. The War officially starts when Claudia eats the last pop-tart for breakfast, which should have been Reese’s. To get even, he blames a fart on Claudia around dozen of other kids hanging on before school, earning her the nick-name Princess Farts-a-lot. Things only escalate from there. There’s not a clear winner or loser, but there certainly consequences to their actions. This will be a series with book two coming out in Sept.

How to Sell it/Quick Spiel:  Claudia and Reese have very little in common beyond being twins and going to a private school in New York. When a fight ensues over a pop-tart and who dealt it, they soon find themselves in a vicious prank war. One that includes dead fish, embarrassing videos, and an online video game world. Can the twins get it together and make-up or will their mission to be on top destroy them both?