Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and me, Elizabeth
E.L. Konigsburg
Aladin Paperbacks, 1967
Pages: 117
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fiction
Elizabeth is a ten-year-old girl who moves into a new school. She doesn't have any friends, and is kind of lonely. Then she meets Jennifer. Jennifer is different then everybody else. She is a little strange. She tells Elizabeth that she is a witch. Elizabeth thinks Jennifer is great. Jennifer introduces her to stories of witches, like the witches in Macbeth. One day she asks Elizabeths if she wants to be a witches apprentice. Elizabeth says yes, and is very excited. She has to do a lot of weird things, like eating raw onions and eggs. The girls decided to make a flying ointment, and gathered lots of ingredients. One of them is a toad. They begin to love the toad. And when Jennifer is about to toss him in the pot, Elizabeth gets mad at her and stops her. This starts a big fight. They stay mad at each other for a while, then Jennifer comes over and they apoligize to each other. They don't pretend to be witches anymore, and just stay really good friends.
Kids who are seen as kinda different, or strange would benefit from this book. It proves that you don't have to be popular to have fun.
I don't see this book causing any problems.
I did not like this book. It was kind of boring.
My rating: **
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Juliet Dove Queen of Love
Juliet Dove Queen of Love
by Bruce Coville
Harcourt Books, 2003
Pages: 190
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fiction
Juliet Dove is a young girl who is very very shy. The only time she can speak her mind is when she gets angry, and when that happens you want to be out of her way. One day, after she yelled at a class mate, she runs away. She gets lost and runs into a magic shop. She is curious, so she walks in. Inside there is a strange woman who gives her a pendant. When she puts on the pendant, Juliet becomes very very beautiful. It turns out that the woman who gave her the pendant is Eris, the goddess of discord. She gave the same pendant to Helen of Troy, and started the Trojan war. Inside the pendant is Cupid, trapped. In order to keep the world from fighting over her, Juliet must find a way to free Cupid from his prison, since she can't take off the pendant. She is given a riddle by on old blind man, and she follows it, and with the help of two of the magic shop's owners rats, she sets free cupid and is declared the Queen of Love by the other anciet goddesses.
I would recommend this book to shy girls, because is shows that even if you are very shy, you can overcome it and be successful.
I don't see this book causing any problems.
This book is okay, but not anywhere near a favorite.
My Rating: ***
by Bruce Coville
Harcourt Books, 2003
Pages: 190
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fiction
Juliet Dove is a young girl who is very very shy. The only time she can speak her mind is when she gets angry, and when that happens you want to be out of her way. One day, after she yelled at a class mate, she runs away. She gets lost and runs into a magic shop. She is curious, so she walks in. Inside there is a strange woman who gives her a pendant. When she puts on the pendant, Juliet becomes very very beautiful. It turns out that the woman who gave her the pendant is Eris, the goddess of discord. She gave the same pendant to Helen of Troy, and started the Trojan war. Inside the pendant is Cupid, trapped. In order to keep the world from fighting over her, Juliet must find a way to free Cupid from his prison, since she can't take off the pendant. She is given a riddle by on old blind man, and she follows it, and with the help of two of the magic shop's owners rats, she sets free cupid and is declared the Queen of Love by the other anciet goddesses.
I would recommend this book to shy girls, because is shows that even if you are very shy, you can overcome it and be successful.
I don't see this book causing any problems.
This book is okay, but not anywhere near a favorite.
My Rating: ***
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Holes
Holes
by Louis Sachar
Dell Yearling, 1998
Pages: 233
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Stanley Yelnats has bad luck. A long time ago, his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather, didn't fulfill his end of the bargain with an old lady named Madame Zeroni by carrying her up a mountain, and so she cursed him and all his desendants. Stanley Yelnats is one of those decendants. One day a pair of shoes fall down on him from the sky. It turns out that they belong to a famous baseball player. Stanley is caught with them and is accused of stealing. Instead of going to jail, he goes to Camp Green Lake. This camp is a desert, and the boys have to dig holes five feet deep and five feet wide. They don't know it yet, but they are looking for the treasure of Kissin' Kate Barlow, the outlaw. When Stanley's friend Zero, Stanley goes to find him. He finds him, and discovers that he is very sick and about to die. He remembers a tale his father told him about God's Thumb, and carries Zero to the top. This ends Stanley's curse, because Zero is actually a Hector Zeroni, a decendant of Madame Zeroni. They find food and water to keep them alive, and Zero gets better. They decide to go back for the treasure, because Stanley knows where it is hidden. After they find it though, they get caught by the camp Warden. She tries to take the treasure, but the boys are saved by Stanley's lawyer, who discovered that Stanley really was innocent. She takes both boys with her, and they share the treasure with their families and live happy lives.
I think that children who feel like their lives aren't good would benefit from this book. It shows that you can still find happiness in dark situations.
I think it is possible that this book could cause children to think that stealing is okay, because Zero did it, and got to get out of Camp Green Lake the same time Stanley did.
This bood has been a long-time favorite. I enjoyed reading it this time just as much as the first time.
My rating: ****
by Louis Sachar
Dell Yearling, 1998
Pages: 233
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Stanley Yelnats has bad luck. A long time ago, his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing great-great-grandfather, didn't fulfill his end of the bargain with an old lady named Madame Zeroni by carrying her up a mountain, and so she cursed him and all his desendants. Stanley Yelnats is one of those decendants. One day a pair of shoes fall down on him from the sky. It turns out that they belong to a famous baseball player. Stanley is caught with them and is accused of stealing. Instead of going to jail, he goes to Camp Green Lake. This camp is a desert, and the boys have to dig holes five feet deep and five feet wide. They don't know it yet, but they are looking for the treasure of Kissin' Kate Barlow, the outlaw. When Stanley's friend Zero, Stanley goes to find him. He finds him, and discovers that he is very sick and about to die. He remembers a tale his father told him about God's Thumb, and carries Zero to the top. This ends Stanley's curse, because Zero is actually a Hector Zeroni, a decendant of Madame Zeroni. They find food and water to keep them alive, and Zero gets better. They decide to go back for the treasure, because Stanley knows where it is hidden. After they find it though, they get caught by the camp Warden. She tries to take the treasure, but the boys are saved by Stanley's lawyer, who discovered that Stanley really was innocent. She takes both boys with her, and they share the treasure with their families and live happy lives.
I think that children who feel like their lives aren't good would benefit from this book. It shows that you can still find happiness in dark situations.
I think it is possible that this book could cause children to think that stealing is okay, because Zero did it, and got to get out of Camp Green Lake the same time Stanley did.
This bood has been a long-time favorite. I enjoyed reading it this time just as much as the first time.
My rating: ****
Tuesday
Tuesday
by David Wiesner
Clarion Books, 1991
Pages: 36
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Tuesday is mostly all pictures telling the story, with few words. On Tuesday evening, the frogs and their lily pads start floating into the air. They float up past the telephone lines and the birds, and over houses. At 11:21, they fly past a man eating a sandwich. The frogs go in windows and down chimneys. At 4:38, one frog gets chased by a dog, and brings back lots of frog friends to chase the dag. As the sun rises they fall off their lily pads and hop back to the pond. The police are confused as to how the lily pads appeared in the middle of town and on the street. The next Tuesday, the pigs start flying...
I would recommend this book to very young children and their parents. It is a great book for inspiring questions and discussions.
I don't see this book causing any problems
My reaction: I liked the pictures, they were very beautiful, but personally prefer a written storyline.
My rating: ***
by David Wiesner
Clarion Books, 1991
Pages: 36
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Tuesday is mostly all pictures telling the story, with few words. On Tuesday evening, the frogs and their lily pads start floating into the air. They float up past the telephone lines and the birds, and over houses. At 11:21, they fly past a man eating a sandwich. The frogs go in windows and down chimneys. At 4:38, one frog gets chased by a dog, and brings back lots of frog friends to chase the dag. As the sun rises they fall off their lily pads and hop back to the pond. The police are confused as to how the lily pads appeared in the middle of town and on the street. The next Tuesday, the pigs start flying...
I would recommend this book to very young children and their parents. It is a great book for inspiring questions and discussions.
I don't see this book causing any problems
My reaction: I liked the pictures, they were very beautiful, but personally prefer a written storyline.
My rating: ***
The Magic Thief
The Magic Thief
Sarah Prineas
Harper Trophy, 2008
Pages: 411
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
Connwaer is a young boy who has been a pick-pocket and thief his entire life. One night, he picks the pocket of a wizard named Nevery, and gets his magicalicus. It should have killed him instantly, but it doesn't. Of course the wizard finds him, and when he dos, he is shocked that Conn isn't dead. Because of this he agrees to take on Conn as an apprentice. Conn goes to school, and everyone is shocked that he doesn't have his own Magicalicus, which is supposed to be a rock of some kind. The mages council gives him 30 day to find it, and if he can't, he isn't allowed to be an apprentice. He looks and looks, and on day thirty, he finds it. It is the largest emerald on the Duchesses finest necklace. He steals it and almost gets arrested when Nevery tells everyone it is Conn's magicalicus, and he HAS to have it. Conn knows that something is going on with the magic in the air, and he knows it is up to him and his emerald magicalicus to figure it out. It turns out that it is being stolen and stored by Conn's uncle, and if he doesn't free it, it will die. He finds where the magic has been stolen and uses his magicalicus to set it free.
I would recommend this book to children from poorer houses. It shows that even those at the bottom can acheive greatness
This book could possibly condone thievery in children, for it makes it seem as if stealing isn't bad, and that a child won't get punished for it.
I really enjoyed this book, and think that it is a book that every child should read
My Rating: *****
Sarah Prineas
Harper Trophy, 2008
Pages: 411
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
Connwaer is a young boy who has been a pick-pocket and thief his entire life. One night, he picks the pocket of a wizard named Nevery, and gets his magicalicus. It should have killed him instantly, but it doesn't. Of course the wizard finds him, and when he dos, he is shocked that Conn isn't dead. Because of this he agrees to take on Conn as an apprentice. Conn goes to school, and everyone is shocked that he doesn't have his own Magicalicus, which is supposed to be a rock of some kind. The mages council gives him 30 day to find it, and if he can't, he isn't allowed to be an apprentice. He looks and looks, and on day thirty, he finds it. It is the largest emerald on the Duchesses finest necklace. He steals it and almost gets arrested when Nevery tells everyone it is Conn's magicalicus, and he HAS to have it. Conn knows that something is going on with the magic in the air, and he knows it is up to him and his emerald magicalicus to figure it out. It turns out that it is being stolen and stored by Conn's uncle, and if he doesn't free it, it will die. He finds where the magic has been stolen and uses his magicalicus to set it free.
I would recommend this book to children from poorer houses. It shows that even those at the bottom can acheive greatness
This book could possibly condone thievery in children, for it makes it seem as if stealing isn't bad, and that a child won't get punished for it.
I really enjoyed this book, and think that it is a book that every child should read
My Rating: *****
Bran Hambric - The Farfield Curse
Bran Hambric - The Farfield Curse
Kaleb Nation
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2009
Pages: 430
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
Bran Hambric woke up one day when he was six years old inside a bank vault with no memory of how he got there. He is adopted by a somewhat foul man named Sewey, and is taken to live with Sewey and his family. When bran gets older, around 13, he discovers his magic when it comes to his aid when he is trying to save a friends life. Bran soon discovers that he is the only child of a magic criminal. His mother was involved in creating, but not finishing, the Farfield curse, which killed many people. She was a VERY powerful mage, but could only perform dark magic. Bran got his mother's power, but was not restrained to dark magic. Bran is the most powerful mage ever known. Because of his power, the people who were with his mother when the curse was created want him to help them finish the curse. They eventually, after much difficulty, capture him and force him to bring back to life the leader of their cause, Baslyn. When Baslyn realizes that he cannot convince Bran to help them, he tries to kill him and his friend. After a difficult battle, Bran wins and Baslyn dies for good, and the Farfield curse is not brought to completion.
I believe that most boys and girls would benefit from this book. I would recommend it especially to orphans, because it can help them to feel that they are also special, like Bran Hambric.
This book makes magic seem very real, since it comes along with modern things, like cell phones. It could cause some children to have a hard time differentiating between real and fantasy.
I absolutly loved this book. It is creative and well-written
My Rating: *****
Kaleb Nation
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2009
Pages: 430
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
Bran Hambric woke up one day when he was six years old inside a bank vault with no memory of how he got there. He is adopted by a somewhat foul man named Sewey, and is taken to live with Sewey and his family. When bran gets older, around 13, he discovers his magic when it comes to his aid when he is trying to save a friends life. Bran soon discovers that he is the only child of a magic criminal. His mother was involved in creating, but not finishing, the Farfield curse, which killed many people. She was a VERY powerful mage, but could only perform dark magic. Bran got his mother's power, but was not restrained to dark magic. Bran is the most powerful mage ever known. Because of his power, the people who were with his mother when the curse was created want him to help them finish the curse. They eventually, after much difficulty, capture him and force him to bring back to life the leader of their cause, Baslyn. When Baslyn realizes that he cannot convince Bran to help them, he tries to kill him and his friend. After a difficult battle, Bran wins and Baslyn dies for good, and the Farfield curse is not brought to completion.
I believe that most boys and girls would benefit from this book. I would recommend it especially to orphans, because it can help them to feel that they are also special, like Bran Hambric.
This book makes magic seem very real, since it comes along with modern things, like cell phones. It could cause some children to have a hard time differentiating between real and fantasy.
I absolutly loved this book. It is creative and well-written
My Rating: *****
Friday, January 22, 2010
Amelia Bedelia
Amelia Bedelia
By Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel
Newfield Publications, Inc., 1963
Pages: 64
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Amelia Bedelia is hired to work in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Rogers. Mrs. Rogers leaves a list of things for Amelia to do while they are gone. After Amelia Bedelia makes a lemon-meringue pie, she starts on the house. She follows the direction impecably, definitly to a fault. When told to "change the towels," she gets out her scissors and literally changes them. She takes all her chores literally like that. At one point, she even dresses the chicken up like a boy! When Mrs. Rogers sees what Amelia has done to her home, she is furious. She opens her mouth to fire her, when Mr. Rogers puts in some Lemon-meringue. It is so delicious, that Amelias job is safe, and Mrs. Rogers learns to rephrase her list.
I would recommend this book to young children who still take things literally. It can help them to understand that there is more than one meaning to a lot of words.
This book could cause children to think that it is alright to go around cutting up towels and putting dusting powder on the furniture. It enables the thought that they won't get in trouble for things like that.
I really enjoyed this book. It has been a favorite since my childhood.
My rating: ****
By Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel
Newfield Publications, Inc., 1963
Pages: 64
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Amelia Bedelia is hired to work in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Rogers. Mrs. Rogers leaves a list of things for Amelia to do while they are gone. After Amelia Bedelia makes a lemon-meringue pie, she starts on the house. She follows the direction impecably, definitly to a fault. When told to "change the towels," she gets out her scissors and literally changes them. She takes all her chores literally like that. At one point, she even dresses the chicken up like a boy! When Mrs. Rogers sees what Amelia has done to her home, she is furious. She opens her mouth to fire her, when Mr. Rogers puts in some Lemon-meringue. It is so delicious, that Amelias job is safe, and Mrs. Rogers learns to rephrase her list.
I would recommend this book to young children who still take things literally. It can help them to understand that there is more than one meaning to a lot of words.
This book could cause children to think that it is alright to go around cutting up towels and putting dusting powder on the furniture. It enables the thought that they won't get in trouble for things like that.
I really enjoyed this book. It has been a favorite since my childhood.
My rating: ****
If You Lived With the Cherokee
If You Lived With the Cherokee
By Peter and Connie Roop, Illustrated by Kevin Smith
Scholastic, Inc 1998
Pages: 80
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Social Studies Non-Fiction
This book tells you exactly what your life would be like if you lived with the Cherokee. It talks about what you would wear and eat, how you would marry, what tools you would use, what you would live in, what games you would play, how to make a canoe, what jobs you would do if you are a girl or a boy, and pretty much anything else you can think of. When the Cherokee got married, they exchanged items. The man would give the woman meat to show he would always be a good hunter, and she would give him corn, to show that she would always tend to the crops. Then , they would move into the woman's house. The women could not be cheif, but were otherwise equal to men, and were considered the leaders of the family. The Cherokee didn't go to school, instead they were taught by their family and told were told stories about their history. If you were a Cherokee, you could change your name many times. You would be givin a name a few days after birth, but as you got older you sould change it to something you were good at, or an acheivement or quality. The Cherokee's life changed a lot when America was settled by the Europeans. They gained tools and weapons, but eventually lost their land and were driven out via the Trail of Tears.
I would recommend this book to an elementary school Social Studies teacher to read to their students. All students, and even adults like myself, would benefit from the knowledge in this book
This book could cause steryotyping between men and women.
For a non-fiction book, it was good. I don't really like non-fiction, but this book was more interesting than most.
My Rating: ***
By Peter and Connie Roop, Illustrated by Kevin Smith
Scholastic, Inc 1998
Pages: 80
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Social Studies Non-Fiction
This book tells you exactly what your life would be like if you lived with the Cherokee. It talks about what you would wear and eat, how you would marry, what tools you would use, what you would live in, what games you would play, how to make a canoe, what jobs you would do if you are a girl or a boy, and pretty much anything else you can think of. When the Cherokee got married, they exchanged items. The man would give the woman meat to show he would always be a good hunter, and she would give him corn, to show that she would always tend to the crops. Then , they would move into the woman's house. The women could not be cheif, but were otherwise equal to men, and were considered the leaders of the family. The Cherokee didn't go to school, instead they were taught by their family and told were told stories about their history. If you were a Cherokee, you could change your name many times. You would be givin a name a few days after birth, but as you got older you sould change it to something you were good at, or an acheivement or quality. The Cherokee's life changed a lot when America was settled by the Europeans. They gained tools and weapons, but eventually lost their land and were driven out via the Trail of Tears.
I would recommend this book to an elementary school Social Studies teacher to read to their students. All students, and even adults like myself, would benefit from the knowledge in this book
This book could cause steryotyping between men and women.
For a non-fiction book, it was good. I don't really like non-fiction, but this book was more interesting than most.
My Rating: ***
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Melting Stones
Melting Stones
Tamora Pierce
Scolastic Press, 2008
Pages: 312
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
The main character in this book is a twelve-year-old girl named Evvy. She has magic that comes from stones. While at her school, Winding Circle, she gets in a fight and is sent off with her teacher, Rosethorn, to figure out why some plants on an island are dying. While there, Evvy discoveres that the island is sitting on a volcano, and that the fumes from it are killing the plants. She becomes her magic self, and goes down into the rocks and discovers that volcanoes are made up of lots of volcano spirits. Two of these spirits want very bady to get out. Evvy tries and barely succeeds to get them out to the ocean before exploding and destroying the island. In the end she ends up having to stay on the island until everyone returns to help rebuild the damage the tremor did.
I would recommend this book to pre-teen girls between 10 and 14. It teaches girl power and that they can do anything they set their minds to, even if other people say they can't.
Thin book condones stubborn behavior. It could possible cause children to think being stubborn to the point of ridiculiousness as okay.
I liked this book. It wasn't my favorite of Tamora Pierce's books, but it was okay.
My Rating: ***
Tamora Pierce
Scolastic Press, 2008
Pages: 312
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
The main character in this book is a twelve-year-old girl named Evvy. She has magic that comes from stones. While at her school, Winding Circle, she gets in a fight and is sent off with her teacher, Rosethorn, to figure out why some plants on an island are dying. While there, Evvy discoveres that the island is sitting on a volcano, and that the fumes from it are killing the plants. She becomes her magic self, and goes down into the rocks and discovers that volcanoes are made up of lots of volcano spirits. Two of these spirits want very bady to get out. Evvy tries and barely succeeds to get them out to the ocean before exploding and destroying the island. In the end she ends up having to stay on the island until everyone returns to help rebuild the damage the tremor did.
I would recommend this book to pre-teen girls between 10 and 14. It teaches girl power and that they can do anything they set their minds to, even if other people say they can't.
Thin book condones stubborn behavior. It could possible cause children to think being stubborn to the point of ridiculiousness as okay.
I liked this book. It wasn't my favorite of Tamora Pierce's books, but it was okay.
My Rating: ***
Heckedy Peg
Heckedy Peg
By Audrey Wood, Illustrated by Don Wood
Scholastic Inc., 1987
Pages: 30
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Heckedy Peg is about a mother and her children. One day the mother leaves to go out and agrees to buy one thing for each of the children. Each child chooses something they really want. While Mother is gone, Heckedy Peg comes along and tricks the children into letting her in and then turns them into food and takes them home. Mother comes back and realizes they are missing. With the help of a bird,she finds them. Heckedy Peg tell her that if she can figure out which child is which food on the first try she can have them back. Mother uses the things the children wanted to match them all up and successfully retrives her children. The witch then jumps off the bridge, and Mother and the children head home happily.
All children and many young adults and adults would benefit from this book.
I don't see this book causing any problems. In fact, it teaches children to NOT open the doors to strangers.
This is one of my childhood favorites. It is so creative and the pictures are beautiful.
My Rating: *****
By Audrey Wood, Illustrated by Don Wood
Scholastic Inc., 1987
Pages: 30
Reading Level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Heckedy Peg is about a mother and her children. One day the mother leaves to go out and agrees to buy one thing for each of the children. Each child chooses something they really want. While Mother is gone, Heckedy Peg comes along and tricks the children into letting her in and then turns them into food and takes them home. Mother comes back and realizes they are missing. With the help of a bird,she finds them. Heckedy Peg tell her that if she can figure out which child is which food on the first try she can have them back. Mother uses the things the children wanted to match them all up and successfully retrives her children. The witch then jumps off the bridge, and Mother and the children head home happily.
All children and many young adults and adults would benefit from this book.
I don't see this book causing any problems. In fact, it teaches children to NOT open the doors to strangers.
This is one of my childhood favorites. It is so creative and the pictures are beautiful.
My Rating: *****
The Frog Prince Continued
The Frog Prince Continued
By Jon Scieszka
Penguin Group, 1991
Pages: 28
Reading Level: 6-9
Genre: Picture Book
The first two pages of the book start out with “The Princess kissed the frog. He turned into a prince. And they lived happily ever after...Well, let's just say they lived sort of happy for a long time. Okay, so they weren't so happy. In fact, they were miserable.” It goes on to tell us why the Princess and the Prince aren't getting along. After a while of living miserably, the Prince decides to find a witch to turn him back into a frog. Although he has no trouble finding witches, he can't seem to find the right one. He runs into Sleeping Beauty's witch, then Snow White's, and Hansel and Gretel's. Each tried to do to him what they did to their princesses. He finally comes upon Cinderella's witch. She tries to help him, but in the end, turns him into a carriage. When midnight strikes, he turns back into himself and heads home. The Princess tells him that she was so worried about him, and the Prince realizes that she really does love him. Then he kisses her and they both turn into frogs and live happily ever after.
I would recommend this book to all children.
This could cause children to attempt to run from their problem, instead of solving them in the beginning
I LOVED this book. It has a great storyline, and a great theme about love, even when life isn't going how you expected it to go.
My Rating: *****
By Jon Scieszka
Penguin Group, 1991
Pages: 28
Reading Level: 6-9
Genre: Picture Book
The first two pages of the book start out with “The Princess kissed the frog. He turned into a prince. And they lived happily ever after...Well, let's just say they lived sort of happy for a long time. Okay, so they weren't so happy. In fact, they were miserable.” It goes on to tell us why the Princess and the Prince aren't getting along. After a while of living miserably, the Prince decides to find a witch to turn him back into a frog. Although he has no trouble finding witches, he can't seem to find the right one. He runs into Sleeping Beauty's witch, then Snow White's, and Hansel and Gretel's. Each tried to do to him what they did to their princesses. He finally comes upon Cinderella's witch. She tries to help him, but in the end, turns him into a carriage. When midnight strikes, he turns back into himself and heads home. The Princess tells him that she was so worried about him, and the Prince realizes that she really does love him. Then he kisses her and they both turn into frogs and live happily ever after.
I would recommend this book to all children.
This could cause children to attempt to run from their problem, instead of solving them in the beginning
I LOVED this book. It has a great storyline, and a great theme about love, even when life isn't going how you expected it to go.
My Rating: *****
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Fairest
Fairest
Gail Carson Levine
HarperCollins Publishers, 2006
Pages 326
Reading level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
Fairest is a spin on the classic Snow White Story. The main character is a girl named Aza, who, instead of being beautiful like the classic Snow White, is very very ugly. She lives is a place where everybody sings. They don't hold balls, they hold Sings. All of their ceremonies, birthdays, weddings, funerals, were sung. Aza, although being very self-conscieous about her looks, has the most beautiful voice in the kingdom. When Aza was just a baby, she was dropped off in a basket at an inn, and the innkeeper and his family took her in. As she got older, Aza learned how to do what she calls "Illuse." This means to make her voice sound as if it is coming from somewhere else One day while she was cleaning the inn, Aza becomes friends with a duchess. This duchess invites Aza to take her sick friends place as an escort for the Kings wedding. Aza happily agrees. At the wedding, Aza discovers that the Kings new bride cannot sing! This is a atrocity. Aza ends up being blackmailed into illusing her voice so everyone else believes the queen in a beautiful singer. Eventually, they get caught, and the queen tells everyone Aza forced her to let Aza illuse. Aza gets thown in jail, but in the process discovers that the queen is using a magic mirror and taking beauty potions. Aza takes some of it, and becomes exceedingly beautiful. While in jail, a man comes and takes Aza out. He tells her that he is there to kill her on the queens orders, but that she is just to beautiful, so instead he takes her to live with the gnomes. The queen discovers she is still alive and tries to poisen her with an apple. When Aza is poisened, she is transported into the mirror. In the mirror lives a man named Skulni. He is the face that talks to whomever looks in. It turns out that whoever drinks the potion takes his place in the mirror when they die. Aza then breaks the mirror, goes back to her body, gets the prince, and lives happily ever after.
Chilren and young adult girls would enjoy this book. Possible even many adults. As a future teacher, I would recommend this book to all of my students.
I can't think of any problems or conflicts this book would cause.
This book was wonderful. I really liked how Aza realizes at the end that beauty is not everything, and that her prince loves her just the way she is. It teaches us that we need to be happy with our talents and not worry about what other people think of us.
Rating: *****
Gail Carson Levine
HarperCollins Publishers, 2006
Pages 326
Reading level: 9-12
Genre: Fantasy
Fairest is a spin on the classic Snow White Story. The main character is a girl named Aza, who, instead of being beautiful like the classic Snow White, is very very ugly. She lives is a place where everybody sings. They don't hold balls, they hold Sings. All of their ceremonies, birthdays, weddings, funerals, were sung. Aza, although being very self-conscieous about her looks, has the most beautiful voice in the kingdom. When Aza was just a baby, she was dropped off in a basket at an inn, and the innkeeper and his family took her in. As she got older, Aza learned how to do what she calls "Illuse." This means to make her voice sound as if it is coming from somewhere else One day while she was cleaning the inn, Aza becomes friends with a duchess. This duchess invites Aza to take her sick friends place as an escort for the Kings wedding. Aza happily agrees. At the wedding, Aza discovers that the Kings new bride cannot sing! This is a atrocity. Aza ends up being blackmailed into illusing her voice so everyone else believes the queen in a beautiful singer. Eventually, they get caught, and the queen tells everyone Aza forced her to let Aza illuse. Aza gets thown in jail, but in the process discovers that the queen is using a magic mirror and taking beauty potions. Aza takes some of it, and becomes exceedingly beautiful. While in jail, a man comes and takes Aza out. He tells her that he is there to kill her on the queens orders, but that she is just to beautiful, so instead he takes her to live with the gnomes. The queen discovers she is still alive and tries to poisen her with an apple. When Aza is poisened, she is transported into the mirror. In the mirror lives a man named Skulni. He is the face that talks to whomever looks in. It turns out that whoever drinks the potion takes his place in the mirror when they die. Aza then breaks the mirror, goes back to her body, gets the prince, and lives happily ever after.
Chilren and young adult girls would enjoy this book. Possible even many adults. As a future teacher, I would recommend this book to all of my students.
I can't think of any problems or conflicts this book would cause.
This book was wonderful. I really liked how Aza realizes at the end that beauty is not everything, and that her prince loves her just the way she is. It teaches us that we need to be happy with our talents and not worry about what other people think of us.
Rating: *****
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Caralyn Buchner & Mark Buchner
The Penguin Group, 2007
28 pages
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
The Buchner's Goldilocks and the Three Bears is very similar to the classic story. In this version, Goldilocks is an avid jump-roper. The Bears leave for a walk to let their porridge cool, and in jumps Goldilocks, looking for a friend to jump with. She comes upon the porridges, and finds only the Baby Bears satifactory, so she eats it. Then she jumps to the chairs, and jumps right up on Baby Bears and breaks it. Then she jumps to the bedroom and falls asleep in Baby Bears bed. When the Bear family arrives home, they are shocked to see the damage that has been done to their home. When they discover Goldilocks in the bed, they think she is a monster, and their screams scare her out the window. They then made more porridge and it was "just right."
I would recommend this book to preschool and kindergarten children, both boys and girls.
This book could potentially validate children to take other people's things, and doesn't look down on destoying personal property. Children are like sponges, and they might mimic Goldilocks and break others belongings.
I didn't really like this book. I was expecting more of a spin on the classic story. However, the illustrations are fantastic, and I believe that young children would really enjoy it.
Rating: **
Caralyn Buchner & Mark Buchner
The Penguin Group, 2007
28 pages
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
The Buchner's Goldilocks and the Three Bears is very similar to the classic story. In this version, Goldilocks is an avid jump-roper. The Bears leave for a walk to let their porridge cool, and in jumps Goldilocks, looking for a friend to jump with. She comes upon the porridges, and finds only the Baby Bears satifactory, so she eats it. Then she jumps to the chairs, and jumps right up on Baby Bears and breaks it. Then she jumps to the bedroom and falls asleep in Baby Bears bed. When the Bear family arrives home, they are shocked to see the damage that has been done to their home. When they discover Goldilocks in the bed, they think she is a monster, and their screams scare her out the window. They then made more porridge and it was "just right."
I would recommend this book to preschool and kindergarten children, both boys and girls.
This book could potentially validate children to take other people's things, and doesn't look down on destoying personal property. Children are like sponges, and they might mimic Goldilocks and break others belongings.
I didn't really like this book. I was expecting more of a spin on the classic story. However, the illustrations are fantastic, and I believe that young children would really enjoy it.
Rating: **
Children's Literature
So in my Children's Lit class, we are required to read a whole bunch of books, like 60-something. Most people might feel overwhelmed by this, but not me. :) I was overjoyed. I absolutely LOVE to read, but during a busy semester, with full-time school and 20 hours of work and the new responsibilities of marriage, I can never find the time. I came home and told Randy, my husband, "Now I can read as much as I want and not feel guilty, because it is part of my homework! WOO HOO!" I decided to write this in a blog instead of hard-copies for a couple of reasons. One, there is absolutely no way I could keep track of 60-something papers for and entire semester. Two, I want to be a special ed teacher, and a list of good children's books and what I thought about them would be a great resource for the rest of my career, and what better way to save something than on the everlasting world wide web? So here we go.
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