MrsBond's 75 Books in 2009

Oh how I need this challenge! My TBR tag is catching up to the number of books I've actually read.

As a librarian to the kids, much of my reading is picture books or short chapter books. I'd like to throw in a few good books for my personal entertainment and education as well this year!

Last year I read just over 300 books; 500 seems like a good challenge.

I guarantee that this challenge will not help your TBR pile get smaller unless you have superhuman will power.

Agreed - it is definitely wishful thinking :)

MrsBond - Maybe you could post a few of your favorites from your childrens lit course too?!? I have two sons - 7 and 4 - and am always looking for good books to share with them.

Porch_reader: Certainly! If you'd like a preview, do take a look at my books tagged 611-547. My children are similar in age to yours (4yo boy, 8yo girl), it's always fun to hear their thoughts on books I read/evaluate.

MrsBond - What a great list! Thanks for tagging them all. I noticed several of our favorites (Cam Jansen, Horrible Harry, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom). I'll be interested to see if you and your kids discover new favorites.

1. Banana: the fate of the fruit that changed the world - Fascinating look at the past, present and future of bananas.

This sounds like a very interesting book! Oh, dear...there goes my tbr pile again.

Well, there's the first one on the TBR from '09 for me!

:) glad I could help. I'm sure you'll return the favor!

2. Hoot - Written for the kiddies, a typical Hiaasen environmental crime story based in Florida. As expected, an excellent read.

Have you read Flush? It's a very good read. Same YA, environmental crime story as Hiaasan loves to write.

I haven't, yet (just added it to the tbr pile!). I normally don't care for crime novels, but Hiaasen has a way of inducing the giggles. Skinny Dip was also a fun read.

Hello! I just added Banana to my wishlist. Sounds great.

I read Hoot at the tail end of 2008, and enjoyed it (I cannot resist owls), so I am going to have to look out for Flush and Skinny Dip as well. Thanks for the recommendations.

>17 TadAD:: Stasia

I think Skinny Dip is my favorite of his...or did I already say that to you? BTW, if you like Stranahan, the main character, he's one of the few Hiassen characters to appear in more than one book. He was previously in Skin Tight. However, you don't have to read the first to read the second; they each stand alone.

#17: No, I do not think you have said it to me before - somehow I think I would remember it, but then again, I am getting old. I will add Skin Tight to my list of Hiassen books to look for, too. Thanks!

3. Reading Lolita in Tehran This has been on my tbr pile forever. Reminds me of the time I went to lunch with one of my Lit. professors in college. Her books were such a part of her, all aspects of life related in some way to an author or character. This "memoir in books" is truly that -- the author's memories of life in Iran shared with the assistance of her books.

Oh, I love Reading Lolita in Tehran. Glad to find another fan.

I have Reading Lolita in Tehran from the library, hope to start reading next week.

I have Reading Lolita in Tehran next in my pile! Felt like I needed something light after The Sewing Circles of Herat, though, so am taking a little break...

If you're looking for something else about that region of the world, I recommend Winter in Kabul. It is the nonfiction account of a woman reporter who takes some time off to teach English in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her position allows her to see the realities of life for the people of Afghanistan, specifically women, as well as the inner workings of NGOs.

4. Dolphin Luck - A funny tween/ya tale about what happens when mom and dad leave for a few days; based in the UK. A bit of a slow start, glad I stuck with it.

On my third attempt to read Life of Pi. If I can't make it to page 50 by the weekend it will be in the bookmooch inventory.

>22 FlossieT: Just added Sewing Circles of Herat to the frighteningly huge TBR tag.

I've tried to read Life of Pi twice, too, with no success. Maybe the third time is a charm!

I can't seem to get through Life of Pi either. I've had a lot of people recommend it but I guess it's just not my thing. Different strokes...

MrsBond, dfreeman, loriephillips

I was lucky to get going in only my second attempt, the key for me being getting past first 100 pages, maybe it will work for you people too...

Woo Hoo!! Life of Pi is done! Finally! This story dragged until about page 100, then the adventure picked up. Even then I wasn't sure I wanted to continue, but by this point I felt trapped on the lifeboat with Pi and Richard Parker.

My children's lit class begins tomorrow morning. Hopefully the course reading will not overwhelm my attempt to knock a few more books off Mount Toberead!

In preparation for this semester I'll be looking at about 10 versions of the Cinderella story (picturebooks).

#28: Congratulations on sticking it out!

Congrats!!!
*with teary eyes* I am so happy for you :)
So, was your patience rewarded? I sincerely hope that after all the hard work you did like the book!

>29 alcottacre: and 30 Thanks!

>30 PiyushC: I guess I could say I liked it? I'm still not sure... I really did feel like once Pi was a castaway, I was right there with him, glued to the book until land was found. Not so much because I was engaged in the story, but because this was a book I had decided needed to be read!

Partway through the picturebook Cinderellas. Fun to read the same basic story (nice girl, with help from some form of magic, marries local ruler) with the addition of varying cultural perspectives.

27 Yeh Shen: China
28 Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper: European, French
29 Egyptian Cinderella: So far my favorite. The Egyptian Cinderella is actually a Greek baby stolen by pirates and sold into slavery in Egypt.
30 Korean Cinderella: Women can be so cruel.
31 Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: African tale

Hope to finish tonight:
32 The Way Meat Loves Salt: Halfway through this, love it so far!
33 Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella

32 The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition: As much as I don't like Cinderella, I really enjoyed this version of the tale.
33 Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella
34 Duffy and the Devil, a Rumplestiltskin with somewhat older and rounder characters
35 Rumplestiltskin

In between class readings I'll be sneaking time to read War and Peace along with the group and Somewhere in America: Under the Radar with Chicken Warriors, Left-Wing Patriots, Angry Nudists, and Others. So far, both are proving to be surprisingly quick and enjoyable reads.

Oops.. forgot to add a whole bunch of picture books that helped distract me while reading Life of Pi…

5 The Big Ugly Monster and the Little Stone Rabbit
6 Silly Billy
7 Max, the Stubborn Little Wolf
8 Monster Mischief
9 Grump Groan Growl
10 Library Lil
11 The Night Eater
12 My Friend is Sad
13 There Is a Bird On Your Head!
14 Cross a Bridge
15 The Cat Came Back
16 Too Many Bunnies
17 One Boy
18 Black? White! Day? Night! - A Book of Opposites
19 First the Egg
20 Dinosaurs!
21 Let My People Go : Bible Stories Told by a Freeman of Color
22 Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
23 My Car
24 From Me to You

and my first bit of manga, Christian style:
25 New Bad Girl in Town

OK. Back on track.

36 A Seed Is Sleepy: Beautiful nonfiction book about seeds and the plants that grow from them.
37 Slowly, Slowly, Slowly Said The Sloth
38 Bumpety Bump!

About poetry:
39 How to Write Poems (How to Write...)
40 How to Read, Recite, and Delight in All Kinds of Poetry (Donna W. Guthrie)
41 Rhyme, Meter, And Other Word Music (Understanding Poetry)

Poetry collections (general topic animals):
42 Peacock and Other Poems
43 Imaginary Animals
44 Bird Watch
45 Carnival of the Animals: Poems Inspired by Saint-Saëns' Music
46 The Beauty of the Beast: Poems from the Animal Kingdom: stands out as my favorite collection, wide variety authors/styles/length/mood.
47 A Selection of Animal Poems: Birds Beasts and Fishes
48 Animal Fare: Poems
49 A Zooful of Animals
50 Animal Poems
51 Alphabestiary: Animal Poems from A to Z

Just took the quiz that AllotAcre's thread mentioned (think it was mentioned elsewhere as well). I've never read this book, but now I want to. Although I don't agree that learning must involve controversy, I do like monkeys!

You're Inherit the Wind!

by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee

To you, the learning process is inherently about controversy. If
people aren't having their minds stretched, how could they possibly be learning? This
makes you a good but unpopular teacher, and the people around you are ready to make it
a federal case. All you're asking them to do is evolve a little. But they would like
you to be more creative. You would make an excellent lawyer, even though people think
you love monkeys.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

52 How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen. Fantastic read about reading. Appreciated and identified with her admission that she would sometimes prefer to read rather than spend time with others, even family.

Picture books:
53 Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus by Tony Mitton, A great read-aloud. Dinosaurs go through their day, making all sorts of actions and noise.
54 Owliver and 55 Noel the Coward by Robert Kraus. Something about Kraus' writing rubs me the wrong way; just didn't like these stories.
56 The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton.
57 Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
58 Is It Red? Is It Yellow? Is It Blue? by Tana Hoban
59 The Wee Little Woman by Byron Barton

MrsBond - I love the sound of Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus! In a house filled with boys - two of my own plus assorted friends - who are having to spend a lot of time inside because of cold weather, a book about actions and noise seems just right!

60 The Promise by Jackie French Koller. For the tweens. A family is experiencing their first Christmas since Ma has died. All are trying to be joyful in keeping traditions. The oldest boy and the family dog are decorating a tree outside the house when they come upon a bear. The bear and dog fight, leaving the dog in bad shape. A Christmas miracle happens and promises are kept.

Nursery Rhymes
61 The House That Jack Built by Diana Mayo. Farmer Jack.
62 This Is the House That Jack Built by Liz Underhill. Architect Jack.
63 The House That Jack Built by Emily Bolam. Tropical Jack.
64 The House That Jack Built by Jenny Stow. Caribbean Jack.
65 Miss Mary Mack: A Hand-Clapping Rhyme by Mary Ann Hoberman
66 Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose by Leo & Diane Dillon
67 Holly Hobbie's Nursery Rhymes by Holly Hobbie
68 Baby Goose by Kate McMullan
69 Playtime Rhymes for Little People by Mary Finch
70 Tail Feathers from Mother Goose by Iona Opie
71 My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie
Traditional nursery rhymes. Colorful illustrations throughout. Occasional Max and Ruby sighting.
72 We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy: Two Nursery Rhymes with Pictures… by Maurice Sendak. Class Sendak. Two nursery rhymes combined to tell the tale of an orphaned, homeless child.
73 Here Comes Mother Goose (My Very First Mother Goose)… by Iona Opie
Traditional nursery rhymes. Colorful illustrations throughout. Occasional Max and Ruby sighting.
74 Tomie DePaola's Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola

Picture Books
75 Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
76 Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson. Love this version of the tale!

Congrats for the fastest 75!

Thanks, but it is a bit of a cheat. The majority of the list is picture books... If you put them all together they probably count as 1 very schizophrenic novel!

You will make up for it by reaching that 500 books goal of yours. Anyways I remember you reading good books like Life of Pi this year.

Oooh. I see you're reading Ibsen's A Doll's House. It was a required read in high school, sadly I don't recall a thing. I'd love to read it again... are you enjoying it?

Still having fun with Nursery Rhymes and Mother Goose:

77 Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale
78 The Neighborhood Mother Goose by Nina Crews. Collection of well known nursery rhymes accompanied by photographs. Depicts urban settings.
79 Will Moses' Mother Goose by Will Moses
80 Wendy Watson's Mother Goose by Wendy Watson
81 The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book by Iona Opie. Thorough collection of nursery rhymes (800 according to the Preface). Woodcut illustrations scattered throughout.
82 Babushka's Mother Goose by Patricia Polacco

I finished A Doll's House this week (updated my profile page now) and am currently reading another Ibsen, A Wild Duck. I very much enjoyed A Doll's House, which incidentally is now the first play I ever read. I intend to read a few more plays this year and suggestions on the same would be welcome.

83 Somewhere in America: Under the Radar With Chicken Warriors, Left-Wing Patriots, Angry Nudists, and Others by Mark Singer. Collection of essays on a American subcultures. Takes a look at the stories behind the headlines.

A few more nursery rhymes:
84 Previously by Allan Ahlberg. Loved this! Several fairy tales told as one continuous backward tale. Goldilocks, Jack of Beanstalk fame, Jack and Jill, the Frog Prince, Cinderella, and the Gingerbread Boy. Connections between the tales seem natural, even with the creation of family relationships.
85 The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by Mini Grey.
86 Baa Baa Black Sheep by Iza Trapani. I surprised myself with how much I disliked this rendition. The sheep is a doormat to a bunch of greedy animals – and that's the message of the story!
87 The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Arctic Inuit style. Beautifully detailed illustrations.

Picture books:
88 Flotsam by David Wiesner. Love this wordless book about a boy's visit to the beach where he finds an old underwater camera.
89 The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein. Based on the true story of a man who walked on a cable between the Twin Towers as they were under construction in 1974.
90 The Paper Crane by Molly Bang. Origami comes to life and saves a restaurant.
91 The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. Simple, funny tale of a bull that loves flowers.
92 Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie dePaola.
93 Marveltown by Bruce McCall. Town where life revolves around inventing. When their giant robots attack, the children's inventions save the day.
94 The Tub People by Pam Conrad
95 The Tub Grandfather by Pam Conrad.
96 When Sophie Gets Angry...really, Really Angry by Molly Bang

Previously sounds like it would be one worth taking a look at, even at my advanced age, lol. I may see if my local library has that one.

Picturebooks:

97 Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman. Near epic tale of the fireboat Harvey from its "birth" in 1931 to its rebirth in 2001. Factual treatment of the events of 9/11 and the Harvey's part in helping out that day.

98 You Read to Me & I'll Read to You by Janet Schulman. Nice collection of picturebooks in one volume. Because of the size, not as comfortable to read as the individual books.

99 Pascual and the Kitchen Angels by Tomie dePaola, Pascual has been blessed by God. His family sends him to a monastery where the monks ask him to prepare dinner. Pascual doesn't know how to boil water. He prays and angels prepare the meal. Author's note includes biography on Pascual, the patron saint of cooks and the kitchen.

100 Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff
101 Owen & Mzee: Language Of Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff
102 Officer Buckle & Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
103 Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
104 Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
105 The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster
106 Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue by Maurice Sendak
107 Little Grunt and the Big Egg: A Prehistoric Fairy Tale by Tomie dePaola
108 Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban. Frances gets what she wants the most: bread and jam for every meal. It doesn't take long for her to realize that trying other foods might not be such bad thing after all.
109 The Piggy in the Puddle by Charlotte Pomerantz

If you let me know what kind of novels you like, I can let you know some good plays to read. It is hard to base plays of children's books, though I think I can come up with some classic plays for children too.

110 The Annotated Brothers Grimm by Jacob Grim. Fantastic resource. 37 tales, 9 additional for "adults." Bonuses: Grimms biography, illustration bibliography, additional reading suggestions, preface to 1st and 2nd editions of Grimm's tales. Tales are from Grimm's 7th ed, published 1857. Also includes some background on the collection and the revisions made over time (including those by the Grimm brothers). Individual tales: full text accompanied by annotations that shed light on cultural norms of the day, revisions or alternate texts, symbolism and meanings. Illustrations reproduced from classic collections.

111 Pageland: A Story About Love and Sharing and Working Together by David Hutchens. The characters of PageLand have varying levels of belief in the author the book. The author sends Arthur to help relay his message to the people. Creative story that tackles a seemingly invisible creator, free will, obedience, and faith.

112 Come Look With Me: Exploring Landscape Art With Children by Gladys S. Blizzard
113 Henny Penny by Paul Galdone
114 The Three Little Pigs: An Old Story by Margot Zemach
115 The Three Little Pigs by Steven Kellogg
116 The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola

The Grimm collection sounds great! I have one of my own, but I think it would be fascinating to read about the various revisions. Maybe I'll have to track down a copy for that extra material alone...

Maira Kalman, a new favorite:

117 Ooh-la-la (Max in Love): The illustrations are magnificent, the text is humorous. Max (dog) visits Paris and falls in love, of course.
118 Next Stop Grand Central: Another beautifully fun book from Maira Kalman. An invitation for the reader to visit Grand Central Station in New York. Introduces the reader to the people who help keep Grand Central moving. Talks about the people who pass through on their way to work and life.
119 Swami on Rye: Max in India: Max goes to India. A beautifully fun book to read.
120 Sayonara, Mrs. Kackleman:Children daydream a trip to Japan. Imaginative illustrations. Touches on small bits of Japanese culture, ancient and modern.
121 Max in Hollywood, Baby: Max Stravinsky goes Hollywood. Explores LA landmarks and characters. A facetious look at the Hollywood culture. Hats and noses are once again prominent.
122 Max Makes a Million: Max heads to Paris to become a poet.
123 Talking with Artists, Vol. 2: Collection of interviews; artist's own words. Most provide great insight into who they are and how their art evolved. Some examples of their work. Having watched Kalman's lecture at TED and listened to several interviews, her entry really provides insight into who she is.

Can't wait to get my hands on The Principles of Uncertainty, a collection of her work in the New Yorker.

and the rest of the picture books

Really enjoyed:
124 Baseball Saved Us by Ken Mochizuki: First person narrative of a young boy whose family is forced to move to a Japanese Relocation Camp. To help pass the time they play baseball.
125 Ella's Big Chance: A Jazz-Age Cinderella by Shirley Hughes
126 Fanny's Dream by Caralyn Buehner: Wyoming Cinderella
127 Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack: Provides a glimpse into the life of an African-American child living through segregation.
128 Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter by Diane Stanley: A young maiden is faced with the choice of facing death or marrying the king. She decides that Rumpelstiltskin is more to her liking and they run off together. They have a daughter who finds herself at the palace where her parents met.
129 The Wall by Eve Bunting: A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in DC, with the purpose of finding grandpa's name. Not at all political, very personal and moving.
130 Where Does the Garbage Go?: Revised Edition by Paul Showers: Excellent explanation of what trash is and where it goes.
131 The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson: Simple story with powerful message.

OK:
132 The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Susan Stevens Crummel
133 Freight Train by Donald Crews
134 Jouanah: A Hmong Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
135 Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss: It's all about the little guy. Surprised to read that Seuss had a political agenda when writing this one.
136 The Turkey Girl: A Zuni Cinderella Story by Penny Pollock Less a Cinderella type story, more about being true to your friends.
137 The Trees of the Dancing Goats by Patricia Polacco: Jewish family helps Christian neighbors who are ill with scarlet fever prepare for Christmas.
138 My Name Is Georgia: A Portrait by Jeanette Winter: O'Keefe biography for the kids
139 Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure by Doreen Cronin
140 Adam, Adam What Do You See? By Bill Martin: Takes children through some of the big Bible stories. Great illustrations, rhythmic text.
141 Big Wheels by Anne Rockwell
142 Construction Crews (Pebble Plus) by Macken

Didn't care for:
143 Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle by Susan Jeffers: Tries too hard to be organic/natural in its plea for environmental friendliness while bringing in a hodgepodge of Native American images.
144 So Far from the Sea by Eve Bunting: A family visits a Japanese Relocation Camp; not my favorite Bunting.

Love, love, love this collection of poetry. By far the favorite reading in this batch:
145 The Random House Book of Poetry for Children compiled by Jack Prelutsky.

New arrivals for the church library:
146 47 Beavers On the Big Blue Sea by Phil Vischer
147 Sidney & Norman by Phil Vischer

Never expected to enjoy the Hardy Boys so much, especially in graphic format!
148 Identity Theft (Hardy Boys Graphic Novels: Undercover Brothers #2) by Scott Lobdell

Random picture books, enjoyed them all:
149 Trainstop by Barbara Lehman
150 The Bobbin Girl by Emily Arnold McCully
151 Zelda and Ivy by Laura Mcgee Kvasnosky
152 Smash! Crash! (Jon Scieszka's Trucktown) by Jon Scieszka
153 Hector Protector and As I Went Over the Water: Two Nursery Rhymes by Maurice Sendak
154 Firefighters A To Z by Chris L. Demarest
155 This Truck by Paul Collicutt
156 Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals by Ashley Bryan
157 The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern
158 Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
159 Gregory Griggs and other nursery rhyme people by Arnold Lobel
160 The Frog Prince Continued by Jon Scieszka
161 Amistad Rising: A Story of Freedom by Veronica Chambers
162 Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
163 Coolies by Yin
164 The Genius of Leonardo by Guido Visconti
165 A Ride on the Red Mare's Back by Ursula K. Le Guin

MrsBond - My kids love Jack Prelutsky. What great poems! And I didn't know that they had the Hardy Boys in graphic novel format. This sounds great for my older son.

I've really enjoyed seeing all of the children's books you've been reading!

166 Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

167 Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme by Chris Roberts: Enjoyed Roberts' tour through history as he explains inspiration for so many popular and less known nursery rhymes. It is interesting that the original audience for what we affectionately refer to as 'nursery rhymes' did not see them as tales for children. Peppered with allusions that Gen X readers will recognize

Chapterbooks
168 The Not-So-Jolly Roger (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka.
169 The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey.
170 Trouble On Thunder Mountain by Russel Hoban
171 Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin
172 Catwings Return by Ursula Leguin

#55: MrsB, what did you think of Stargirl? I read it earlier this year and would like to hear what you think of it.

re 56: I like it, but not sure if I love it... I think it is still settling in my brain? Stargirl is so original, so out there. The other characters are classic high school, where originality and personality are acceptable so long as they fit within the prescribed parameters. I do like how the book explores high school culture, fitting in, peer pressure and the desire to be true to self.

What did you think?

#57: MrsB, I really liked it. Mostly I guess because she knows who she is and she wouldn't change all that much just to fit in. I don't really know what else to say about it. :) I gave it 4/5, or something like that. I think I am going to read the sequel Love, Stargirl this year as well.

re 58: I'm afraid to read the sequel. I felt like the ending was just as it should be. I may keep an eye out for your review to see if I can handle it!

59: MrsB, Ok! I have heard it wasn't quite as good as the first one but I will see when I get to it. :)

Graphic Novels
173 Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale: Favorite read of the month! Quick paced adventure tale, with a girl as the main character. Rapunzel lets down her hair and rescues herself and whole communities as she returns home to rescue her mother and seek revenge against Mother Gothel. She is assisted by Jack of Beanstalk fame. A great tale of making the best of terrible circumstances, righting wrongs, and doing the right thing.
174 Owly Volume 3: Flying Lessons by Andy Runton: A cute owl and his little worm friend come upon a flying squirrel in the forest. After some research they decide to befriend him. The new friend learns to trust, and teaches Owly how to fly. Black and white illustrations are clear and expressive (which is essential since there are very few words in this book).

General Fiction
175 Charlotte's Web by E. B. White: I have watched many film adaptations, but this is the first time I read the book. Loved every page!
176 Hatchet by Gary Paulsen: Brian's parents have recently divorced, and he knows more about they 'why' than his father. While making the big trip for his first summer at his dad's new home, the pilot suddenly dies. Brian crash lands the plane and manages to escape. Now he must survive in the wilderness with minimal assets. He makes great use of all of his resources, including knowledge gained from school, tv, books and his own wits.

Chapter Books
177 2095 (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka: This time the boys zoom ahead 100 years and meet their great grandchildren! Don't worry, there is no mushyness in this family meeting. Love how the sellbots badger everyone for their number so they can know what products to hawk; have no doubt that some marketing genius is working on a prototype.
178 Me Oh Maya (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka: The boys warp back 1000 years to a Mayan village. While there they challenge the High Priest Kakapupahed to a ball game in order to oust him from power and to get their hands on The Book. Final chapter titled 'Professor Sam's Maya Math' explains how to write numbers the way the Mayans did.
179 Elisa Michaels, Bigger & Better (Riverside Kids) by Johanna Hurwitz: Follows second grade Elisa through her adventures.
180 Ricky Ricotta's Giant Robot: An Adventure Novel by Dav Pilkey: Ricky the mouse is sad and lonely. His dad promises that one day something BIG will happen. That something is a giant robot that becomes his friend. My daughter thought the old show Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot was based on this book; perhaps the author was inspired by the show when he was a toddler?

Picture Books
181 Big Truck and Little Truck by Jan Carr

Shannon Hale appears to be one of those authors that a lot of people (including my daughter Catey) love. I am going to have to read more of her work. I think the only thing of hers that I have read so for is Austenland, and I enjoyed it.

This was my first Hale, I'm looking forward to more of her work. Will put Austenland at the top of the list!

Austenland is not really young adult, though, just to let you know.

182 Ready, Steady, Spaghetti: Cooking For Kids And With Kids by Lucy Broadhurst: (arc) Beautiful photographs of what the end result could look like, style similar to Real Simple magazine. Recipes are certainly simple enough for children to help with, but not necessarily kid taste bud friendly. A few promise to make vegetables yummy, my children were not convinced. The short list of ingredients and steps made it very easy for my 8 year old to prepare several recipes almost independently.

183 The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse: If this didn't appear on the required reading list for my class I would have missed out on this good story. A pilot spots a girl on an uninhabited island and rescues her. Her caretakers soon learn that Mila has been living in the ocean with the dolphins. She wants to please her new family but desperately misses her dolphin family.

184 Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos: Joey's family life and ADHD medication are not quite balanced yet. Follows his attempt to behave, focus and not feel foolish, all the while being distracted by one thing or the other. Narrator's voice hops around as much as Joey.

185 Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo: Sweet story about a girl who feels like she has no one in this world, whose chance meeting with a dog changes everything. Opal moves to a small Florida town where her dad is the new preacher. While running an errand she befriends a dog who has invaded the grocery store; she names him Winn Dixie. WD helps Opal meet many new friends, many of whom are just as lonely and sad as Opal and her dad. Winn Dixie also makes it easier for Opal and her dad to work through issues relating to the mother who left them. Short chapters.

186 Women Writers of Children's Literature (Women Writers of English and Their Works) by Harold Bloom: Interesting read; look forward to going back to it again. Each entry includes: brief biography, excerpts from critical essays (beginning with the author's words on her own work), and bibliography. Authors profiled: Louisa May Alcott, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Louise Fitzhugh, Kate Greenway, Ursula K. Le Guin, Madeline L'Engle, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Edith Nesbit, Katherine Paterson, Beatrix Potter, P. L. Travers and Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Graphic
187 Time Machine (Graphic Classics) (Graphic Planet): Abridged graphic adaptation of the classic novel The Time Machine. Not a fan of abridged works; this one provides the general overiew of the orignal story. Appendix includes: brief biography on Wells including additional works, brief biography on adapter, glossary of terms, and link to website with more information on Wells. CD: option to read book on screen or have listen to a reading (reading is terrible), review quiz and glossary.

188 Superman Adventures Vol. 4: Man of Steel: I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

189 There's a Wolf at the Door by Zoe Alley: This is a big book (about 14" tall, 11" wide, but thin). Great interaction between the text and the illustrations. The stories are connected as the wolf moves from tale to tale. Very fun to read!
The Three Little PIgs: Pigs are named (Alan, Gordon, Blake) and not eaten by the wolf.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf: Barry is shepherding the sheep and is bored out of his mind. He cries wolf so the townspeople will visit him in the field. When the wolf shows himself, it is the sheep who save the day.
Little Red Riding Hood: Rhonda is a shallow little girl who loves pretty girls and the color red. Her parents send her to visit her grandmother in hopes that she will knock some sense into the girl.
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Wolf goes back to Barry's pasture in costume, everyone thinks he is a poodle.
The Wolf and the Seven Little Goslings: Mom is out for the afternoon and the goslings are out of control. Wolf tries to trick them; the goslngs aren't having it.

190 The Way Home & The Bittersweet Summer (Owly) (v. 1) by Andy Runton: The Way Home: The critters in the forest are frightened by Owly, even though he is kind, helpful, and has no intention of eating them. He rescues Wormy and helps him to locate his parents. The Bittersweet Summer: Owly and Wormy plant a garden. A bird hovers their garden; Owly and Wormy investigate what plants hummingbird might like. Hummingbird shares that his friend is stuck in a cage, Owly and Wormy agree to help with the rescue. The new friends are sad when they must part for the cold winter months.

191 Owly Volume 2: Just A Little Blue (Owly) (v. 2) by Andy Runton: Owly and Wormy build a birdhouse for a bluebird family. The birds are hesitant to accept the gift, fearing it is a trap.

Chapter Books
192 Lenny and Mel Holidazed by Erik P. Kraft: Silliness ensues with Lenny and Mel. Favorite chapter is about the Leftover Fairy: the boys pile Thanksgiving leftovers under the pillow in hopes that the fairy will "pay a dollar per pound." Chapters can be read independently.

193 Marvin and the Mean Words by Suzy Kline: Marvin overhears his teacher and the janitor having a conversation about how she hates Marvin and wants him to go away. Marvin can't shake the memory which causes him to act differently with family and friends. He finally confronts the teacher about what she said, only to learn that she was speaking about a hockey player named Marvin, not Marvin her "class leader."

194 Poppleton and Friends: Book 2 by Cynthia Rylant: Cute easy-reader about a pig named Poppleton and his adventures. Three chapters/stories: The Shore Day, Dry Skin and Grapefruit. Colorful illustrations.

195 Poppleton in Spring by Cynthia Rylant: Another cute easy-reader. Three chapters/stories: Spring Cleaning, The Bicycle, The Tent. Colorful illustrations.

Picture Book
196 Mama: a True Story, in which a Baby Hippo Loses his Mama During a Tsunami, but finds a new home, and a new Mama by Jeanette Winter: Simplified version of the true story of Owen and Mzee (hippo/tortoise buddies). Little hippo says 'mama' repeatedly: first because he is with his mama, later because he looks to the tortoise as mama. Note from the author briefly explains the background of the story.

197 Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson: Gilly dreams of reuniting with the mother who abandoned her to foster care. She bounces through a few foster homes, perfecting her tormenting skills. Everything changes when she is placed in a home in Thompson Park, Maryland. A great story of growing up and finding a place in the world.

198 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt: Now I understand why this book appears on nearly every reading list -- it is a good read. While the first few pages seem to try a little too hard to stir up a mystery, the author wastes no time in grabbing the reader's full attention and interest. The Tuck family stumbles upon a spring that gives everlasting life. They manage to keep it a secret until a little girl sees the spring, and one of the Tuck boys drinking the water. To help protect both her and the spring they wisk Winnie away to their cabin. While there she grows to love them as dear friends.

Well, I am pulling several books from your recent reading to put on to the Continent. Thanks for both your reviews and recommendations!

197 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt: Now I understand why this book appears on nearly every reading list -- it is a good read. While the first few pages seem to try a little too hard to stir up a mystery, the author wastes no time in grabbing the reader's full attention and interest. The Tuck family stumbles upon a spring that gives everlasting life. They manage to keep it a secret until a little girl sees the spring and one of the Tuck boys drinking the water. To help protect both her and the spring they wisk Winnie away to their cabin. While there she grows to love them as dear friends. At the same time a mysterious man is scheming to take ownership of the spring.

198 Great Gilly Hopkins (New Windmills) by Katherine Paterson: Gilly dreams of reuniting with the mother who abandoned her to foster care. She bounces through a few foster homes, perfecting her tormenting skills. Everything changes when she is placed in a home in Thompson Park, Maryland. A great story of growing up and finding a place in the world.

199-233

Harriet Tubman

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford: I felt like I was on the journey, creeping and hiding in the darkness with Harriet Tubman. It is clear that a trip on the underground railroad requires trust, faith and strong desire to survive (physically, emotionally and spiritually). The illustrations are packed with so much emotion: the facial expressions are rich with detail, even in the darkness you feel the struggle.

A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman (Picture Book Biography) by David A. Adler: Factual picturebook telling about the life of Harriet Tubman, beginning with her birth and ending with her death. Provides great detail into her family, life and her part in the Underground Railroad. Illustrations are colorful, detailed and graphic (one scene shows Harriet holding gun to an escaping slave who considers returning to slavery).

Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringgold

Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder

Harriet and the Promised Land by Jacob Lawrence: I like the rhythm and flow of the text, it seems like it would be a good read-aloud.

Harriet Tubman And The Underground Railroad (Graphic History) by Michael Martin: Brief biography on Tubman with details about the Underground Railroad. From editor's note: 'Direct quotations from primary sources are indicated by a yellow background.'

Abraham Lincoln

Where Lincoln Walked by Raymond Bial: A beautifully detailed look at the Lincoln's life.

Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln (Turning Point Books) by Judith St. George: Another great Lincoln biography, this one highlights the immense positive influence of stepmother Sally to Lincoln and his family.

A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln by David A. Adler

Abraham Lincoln by Amy L. Cohn
Begins with Lincoln's birth and ends with an illustration of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Language attempts to bring the reader back to Lincoln's time and place. Shows the turmoil he felt as he led the nation during the Civil War and the ways he attempted to lighten the mood and bring laughter to those around him. Full page illustrations, ink and watercolor washes show Lincoln as he grows up. Additional resource: important dates from Lincoln's life. In the acknowledgments: “Special thanks to Jon Austin from the Illinois State Historical Society for meticulously fact checking text and art.”

Abe Lincoln's Hat by Martha Brenner

Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire

Abraham Lincoln (Bio-Graphics) by Joe Dunn

Lincoln: A Photobiography (Houghton Mifflin social studies) by Russell Freedman

True Stories About Abraham Lincoln by Ruth Belov Gross: The combined stories cover Lincoln's life from birth through death providing insight into his personality, character, family life, and political convictions.

Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington by Cheryl Harness: An excellent resource on the adult life of Lincoln, focusing on the events leading up to and during his presidency.

Honest Abe by Edith Kunhardt
Shares information about Lincoln's entire life, birth through death. A few sentences of text appear at the bottom of each page. Brightly colored folk-art illustrations (gouache paints on paper) fill nearly 3/4 of each page. Content is sometimes graphic: battle scenes show fallen soldiers, Lincoln is shown with his head on sideways next to Booth holding a smoking gun. Additional reference aids: full text of Gettysburg Address and chronological list of major events in Lincoln's life.

Abraham Lincoln (The Great Americans Series) by Kathie Billingslea Smith: Major emphasis is on Lincoln's political career: first as an Illinois assemblyman, later as a Congressman, and finally as President.

Abraham Lincoln: America's 16th President (Encyclopedia of Presidents. Second Series) by Steven Otfinoski

Leonardo DaVinci

Leonardo: Beautiful Dreamer by Robert Byrd: An almost overwhelming amount of information poured onto each page; this is certainly a thorough look at DaVinci.

Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley: An incredibly through and detailed view of DaVinci's life, work and personality. Not at all nostalgic or romantic in its treatment of DaVinci, yet was able to portray his humanity. Beautiful illustrations.

American Revolution

George vs. George: The Revolutionary War as Seen by Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer: Takes a look at both sides of the disagreement between the American colonies and Britain. While the focus is somewhat on George Washington and King George III, all of the major participants are discussed.

Those Remarkable Women of the American Revolution by Karen Zeinert

The Revolutionary War: Letters from the Battlefront by Virginia Schomp

Projects About The American Revolution (Hands-on History) by Marian Broida

You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea You'd Rather Not Drink (You Wouldn't Want to...) by Peter Cook: Readers are invited to imagine themselves as the fictional George Robert Tweleves Hewes, a middle-aged Bostonian who becomes an active participant in the Boston Tea Party.

Give Me Liberty: The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Russell Freedman

Chronicle Of America: American Revolution, 1700-1800 by Joy Masoff: Presents the social, cultural, political aspects of American society during the revolutionary era.

Key Battles Of The American Revolution, 1776-1778 (World Almanac Library of the American Revolution) by Dale Anderson

General Non-Fiction

Hungry, Hungry Sharks (Step into Reading, Step 2) by Joanna Cole

Creepy, Crawly Caterpillars by Margery Facklam

Castle by David Macaulay

The Power of the Media (What's Your View) by Adam Hibbert

Picture Books

How I Became Champion of the Universe by Kenny Harrison

Inside, Outside Christmas by Robin Spowart

234-244

The Classic Fairy Tales by Iona Opie: from Introduction, page 11: 'The magic in the tales (if magic is what it is) lies in people and creatures being shown to be what they really are.' Retellings and some background on classic fairy tales, color illustrations scattered throughout. A great resource.

Frog Prince
Standouts:

A Frog Prince by Alix Berenzy:Alternate ending to the Frog Prince fairy tale. Princess tosses frog to corner of room, he does not transform into a human. Princess is a spoiled brat, her own father acknowledges this and equips the frog to find a princess deserving of his love. He finds his princess sleeping in a quiet castle (a la Sleeping Beauty, frog style), she awakens, they marry and live happily ever after. Illustrations are rich with color, dark shadows. No mention of Iron Henry.

The Frog Prince illustrated by Binette Schroeder: Schroeder brings out the fantasy in this classic fairy tale. Illustrations are fantastic -- they are a must see. Creatures growing out the trees in the dark forces, a careless princess, a talking frog and a dog with a man's face. Princess throws the frog initiating an almost ghoulish transformation (not frightening for little eyes). Iron Henry is mentioned and illustrated at the end of the story.

The Frog Prince by Paul Galdone

The Frog Prince by Jan Ormerod

The rest:

The Frog Prince (Start-Off Stories) by Mary Lewis Wang: Cute version of the Frog Prince for preschoolers. Princess is a little girl, frog wants to be her friend. Frog is about the size of a baby doll.

Frog Prince by Edith Tarcov: Cartoon like illustrations, proportions are odd. Princess throws frog against wall instigating the transformation. No mention of Iron Henry.

The Frog Prince and Other Stories by Walter Crane: Richly detailed, colorful illustrations. (wood-engraving)

Abraham Lincoln leftovers

Abraham Lincoln and President's Day (Let's Celebrate Series) by Joanne Barkan

A Man Named Lincoln by Gertrude Norman

The Value of Respect: The Story of Abraham Lincoln (Valuetales) by Ann Donegan Johnson

through 257...

Isms: Understanding Art by Stephen Little: Nice resource for gaining a better grasp on the various art movements. Each entry includes: major works and artists, characteristics, time period, and examples.

A Handful of Beans: Six Fairy Tales Retold by Jeanne Steig with Illustrations by Wiliam Steig: Retelling of: Rumplestiltskin, Beauty and the Beast, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Frog Prince, and Jack and the Beanstalk. Illustrations. Small sized book.

Poetry:

A Child's Calendar by Updike, John

Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep by Jack Prelutsky: Collection of 12 poems illuminating the creatures that lurk in the dark. Certainly a darker side of Prelutsky. Black and white sketch illustrations help convey nightmare/haunted mood of the collection. 'The Ghoul' encourages readers to stay in school - especially when they learn that this truant officer patiently waits to break them to pieces, feasting them 'with delight and ease, for every parts a treat.'

Cornflakes: Poems by James Stevenson

Autumnblings by Douglas Florian

Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Hoops by Robert Burleigh

If You're Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand: Poems About School (Aladdin Poetry) by Kalli Dakos

Doodle Dandies: Poems That Take Shape by J. Patrick Lewis

River Friendly, River Wild by Jane Kurtz

Wake Up, House! Rooms Full of Poems by Dee Lilligard

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening illustrated by Susan Jeffers: Illustrations on their own are lovely: detailed, beautiful, minimal yet effective use of color. However, they simultaneously oversimplify and complicate Frost's well known poem. A Santa looking man rides into the woods on a snowy evening, makes a snow angel, feeds the animals, leaves food for them and returns to his (?) awaiting family. Or does he simply visit the family and move on to visit other families?

Fiction:

Coraline by Neil Gaiman: Reads like a modern day fairy tale. Coraline receives scattered attention from the adults in her life, but not the direct focus she longs for. Her other mother offers it to her, but is it worth the price? Is she to be trusted? Scattered black and white illustrations add to the dark feeling of the text. Quick read, finished in about an hour.

The Mealworm Diaries by Anna Kerz: Jeremy's life is in massive upheaval: father dies in a terrible motorcycle accident, Jeremy is hurt in that same accident, dog is missing, he and his mother move from the farm to the city, and new teacher pairs him with the most annoying kid in school (who has ADD?). Through this drama Jeremy adjusts, growing to love his new home and even like that annoying kid. The story is interesting but not exciting, the mood and tempo were consistent on each page.

Picture Books:

Spring: An Alphabet Acrostic by Schnur, Steven: Collection of acrostic poems relating to spring. One poem per page, total of 26 poems. Full page colorful illustrations depict the item or scene.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Willems, Mo: Little girl loses her favorite stuffed toy at the laundromat, tries to tell dad but he doesn't understand her toddler-speak. Beautifully written and illustrated, great read-aloud. Facial expressions are fantastic. An instant family favorite!

Tomie dePaola's Favorite Nursery Tales by dePaola, Tomie

Every Autumn Comes the Bear by Arnosky, Jim: Follows a bear on his way to hibernation. Shows the size, strength and scariness of bears. Color illustrations beautifully show the chage from fall to the first snow.

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Willems, Mo: Sequel to Knuffle-Bunny. Little girl goes to school for the first time, learns that another girl has the same one-of-a-kind knuffle bunny. Parents and children will enjoy this tale.

Dumpy the Dump Truck: Dumpy the Dumptruck by Edwards, Julie Andrews: Charlie and Pop-Up work together to repair Dumpy the dump truck.

MrsBond - Mo Willems is one of our favorite authors! We love the Pigeon books. And my younger son (5 years old) checks out a Piggie and Gerald book everytime he goes to the library. We like the Knuffle Bunny books too!

And I've never seen Every Autumn Comes the Bear, but it sounds like it's right up our alley. I'll keep my eyes open for it.

266 Inkheart (Funke, Cornelia): An exciting story about what can happen when characters leave the book and enter real life. A quick read despite the heavy page count. I wanted to love this book, instead I liked it a lot. Will probably read the follow-up later this summer.

267 The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do (Tyre, Peg): I got the point about 1/3 in and didn't feel the need to continue, yet I did. Presents the issue nicely before becoming redundant.

Whirligig (Fleischman, Paul) 4 stars
A young boy decides to end his life, instead he accidentally takes the life of another. The victim's mother requests that he build whirligigs in honor of her daughter, to make people smile the way she did in life. Follows the boy as he journeys across the country, putting himself together after the car crash that changed his life. Also shows how each of the whirligigs have positively impacted someone's life.

#76: That one looks good! I will see if I can find it. Thanks for the recommendation.

#76 I agree, it does sound good and I'm adding it to my tbr list. Thanks

268 The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
Enjoyable read on the making of my favorite dictionary, the OED. Although the main focus is on the lives and interaction of Minor and Murray, also provides some highlights on the other major contributors. Chapters begin with word entry from OED, word gives small preview of what to expect. 4 stars.

Really should be diving into War and Peace, but I am enjoying the progress of moving so many books off the TBR shelf! The next read will either be Inkspell, The Looking Glass Wars, or Book 1 of A Series of Unfortunate Events. All depends what I find first during tomorrow's library trip.

#s 76 and 77 -- I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

>79 MrsBond: The Bad Beginning is FAB. I hope you like it! I'm so sad there are no more Unfortunate Events to come.

#270
The Bad Beginning (Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket

The Baudelaire children enjoy a life of contentment and luxury. One sad day a fire consumes everything they hold dear, including their parents. This tragedy forces them to live with a distant relative who has no interest in them except their large inheritance. Using their wits the children do everything within their power to save one another from terrible situations. Despite the heavy content this was a delightful and quick read. There is plenty of danger, suspense and adventure, but not so much that the average tween reader will not be overly frightened.

3.5 stars, already snagged book 2 from my daughter's bookshelf

>82 MrsBond: yay! They get better and better as you go on too.

271 Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
The characters from Inkheart find themselves in Inkworld. Favorite characters Meggie and Dustfinger are featured prominently throughout the text as new and old enemies make their lives challenging. Story contains plenty of adventure, suspense, magic and romance. The tale wraps up some lose ends while setting up the next installment, Inkdeath. This book could have used another round of editing -- too many commas and oddly formed sentences, especially in the last few chapters.

Some picturebooks:

272 The Windy Day (Karas, G. Brian): A wind from far away turns a very tidy town into a messy town. A young boy breathes in the air that has traveled the world, adding his name to it. A great book for showing how small the world can be, our connection as humans, and our connection to the past and future. Illustrations are soft, muted colors. Show the simplicity of being tidy contrasted with the complexity of the wind.

273 Four Freckled Frogs: a book about consonants (Thomson, Ruth): Each page focuses on a single sound combination (such as st, tr, nk, etc.). The sound is shown with: a sentence at the top of the page uses several words with the sound combination; a large central picture includes images of things that include the sound; the large picture is surrounded by smaller individual pictures of those items; and 2 questions at the bottom of the page ask questions about the pictures (answers are words that include the sound). Illustrations are bright and colorful, depicting wild adventures. Color is used to highlight the sound combinations within the text. Additional resources: parent/teacher note, games to reinforce lessons, word list.

274 Cows in the House (Lewis, Beverly): A young boy asks his grandfather's help in stopping his sisters from annoying him. Grandfather suggests introducing some interesting characters into the home, which of course only adds to the chaos. The boy eventually learns to be thankful for what he has, for it could be much worse.

275 Loathsome Dragon (Wiesner, David): Wicked stepmother casts a spell on the fair princess, turning her into a dragon. The spell will only be broken when her brother the prince kisses her three times.

276 June 29, 1999 (Wiesner, David): A girl's science experiment gone wrong, or vegetables from outer space? Typical of Wiesner, the illustrations are rich with detail. This could easily be a wordless book, although the text provides details such as people and place names.

277 The Giver (Lois Lowry): I can see why this book is a favorite for literature teachers. The tale is well crafted, engaging, and thought provoking. There are so many hot topics: education, euthanasia, surrogate pregnancy, designer babies, adoption, arranged marriage, and governmental power and control. It is hard not to find comparisons to the educational system, childhood, society with the world Lowry creates. Her society has perfected the practice protecting itself from itself, embracing "sameness" while apologizing for free thought.

278 The Reptile Room - Book 2 of A Series of Unfortunate Events (Snicket, Lemony): The unfortunate and exciting tale of the Baudelaire children continues. They find great happiness with their Uncle Monty until the return of an old nemesis.

279 The Frog Princess (Baker, E.D.): A twist on the well known Frog Prince fairytale: Awkward princess/witch in training meets frog prince, kisses him, turns into a frog. Story follows the pair as they journey to reverse their amphibious state.

280 The Looking Glass Wars (The Looking Glass Wars Trilogy) (Beddor, Frank):
Rewrite of Carroll's Adventures in Wonderland. Exciting tale, sometimes over the top, but none the less fun to read. Not sure if I have enough interest in this Wonderland's future to read the next book in the series.

Hmm... I have The Looking Glass Wars sitting on my shelf... I didn't realize it was a trilogy! Maybe I'll wait just a little longer to read it...

I have it on my tbr pile as well and never seem to get round to reading it. I also have a graphic novel version Hatter M out from the library and that looks pretty interesting too.

>90 avatiakh: Hatter M looks interesting.

281 Sabriel by Garth Nix: Thrilling, exciting read. My hands ache from tightly gripping the pages, my eyes are strained from the battle to speed read or slowly savor. Can not wait to pick up the next installment.

Sabriel is thrust into a world she knows little about and is expected to save it from an evil force that is responsible for the death of her father. Along the way she discovers of herself, her family legacy, and the history of her homeland and its inhabitants.

282 Overcoming Fear by Walt Croom: Autobiography chronicling Croom's journey as he slowly learns where true security can be found. Our church has supported his mission for many years, baking cakes and pies, collecting toiletries and other items for the service men and women who visit the center.

283 Twilight is a teenage romance novel. No more, no less. While I am glad that I read it (finally), please don't make me read any more.

#92: I want to read the trilogy some time this year. I hope all 3 books are as good as the first one appears to be!

284 Pippi Longstocking (Puffin Modern Classics) (Lindgren, Astrid): Strange combination of Amelia Bedelia, Cat in the Hat with a hint of Roald Dahl wrapped into one precocious little girl. Painful to read chapter after chapter, much more palatable individually. Pippi believes her mother is an angel and her father the king of the cannibals. At age 9 she lives without adult supervision with a horse and monkey. She spends her days with the children next door who enjoy Pippi's antics.

285 The Spectacular Now (Tharp, Tim) 4 stars: This is not a story about growth, instead the protagonist refuses to move beyond being the life the party. Alcohol is his courage, anesthetic and constant companion; he frequently refers to himself as "God's own drunk." Well written, a pleasure to read despite the dark content.

Tying up loose ends from summer reading.

Bump and Run by Mike Lupica, 3.5stars
Gritty tale about the business of football. Somewhat predictable but still a fun vacation read.

Wish on a Unicorn by Karen Hesse, 3.5stars
Mags desperately wants to fit in with the other children in her school. The only thing that stands in here way is family: a father who died when she was 2, a mother who works the night shift, a younger brother (Mooch) who has has a history of stealing, and a mentally challenged sister (Hannie) who clings to Mags. It doesn't help that the boy down the street despises the family and takes great joy in pointing out all of their flaws. When Hannie comes across a 'magic' unicorn and insists on keeping it, Mags can help but believe there is a little magic in that ratty toy. Wishes don't always turn out the way you expect.

Nick of Time by Ted Bell, 3.5stars
A 12 year old boy goes on an exciting adventure through time to rescue his kidnapped dog. This story has everything: pirates, Nazis, spies, great sea captains, and a great deal of suspense. More sensitive readers should be aware that the author does not hide the atrocities of war, including crazy bad guys and lots of bloodshed. While I enjoyed the book a great deal I felt the author left a few unanswered questions. Perhaps he is saving those details for a sequel?

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, 4stars
A smooth read -- the words simply floated off the page (like fog in a graveyard?). Follows Nobody Owens as he grows, learns about life and becomes independent.

Inkdeath (Inkheart Trilogy) by Cornelia Caroline Funke, 3.5stars
It is finished. I managed to read the entire trilogy, all 50 pounds of it. I am convinced the author needs a lesson in word economy. As wonderful as the story is, there are times where the words just keep going and going and going. It is as though she was under the same delusion of grandeur that Fenoglio and Orpheus suffered. Despite my complaints, I still enjoyed this book. The last 100 pages are fantastic - all story lines collided and came to a satisfactory end.

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, 4.5stars
Charlotte Miller finds herself as the new head of the family business which is plagued with debt, drama and a magical curse. It is interesting to watch Charlotte as she gradually learns to trust: herself, her instincts, family, loved ones, the unknown. Loose adaptation of Rumpelstiltskin, intended for teens and up.

Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman, 2stars
Slow moving, sentimental and just plain dull.

I need to finish the Inkheart trilogy, too. Thanks for the reminder!