July 2009

  • The Complete Adventures of the Mole Sisters

    By sarajean on 7/28/09 2:08pm
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    If you’re looking for a sweet story about sisters, an adorable animal adventure, or a gentle exploration of the world from a unique and creative perspective, look no further. Roslyn Schwartz’s The Complete Adventures of the Mole Sisters is filled with the sisters’ signature experiences of wonder and joy, and is sometimes sold along with two adorable Mole Sister puppets to act the stories out with.

    The Complete Adventures holds ten charming tales, including “The Mole Sisters and the Fairy Ring,” “The Mole Sisters and the Moonlit Night,” and “The Mole Sisters and the Way Home.” Each page features the short but poignant storytelling and soft, beautiful artwork of the author. In every adventure, the sisters seek out new bearings based solely on their own curiosity, which leads them to some delightful situations.

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  • I Udderly Love You

    By sarajean on 7/25/09 4:15pm
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    If you’ve got a young fan of cows, felt, or even silly cow noises in your home, he or she is bound to love I Udderly Love You by Kate Toms. The hardback book’s cover is adorned with sparkling, glittery hearts and letters, as well as a delightful pair of round, felt-embellished cows wrapped in a snuggly embrace. The cuteness doesn’t stop there, either.

    The background of each page is a soft, comforting plaid pattern of pink, blue, and green, and the non-cow images, such as trees and flowers, also have a felted look—or, in the flowers’ case, a rolled ball of yarn. The border around each page resembles stitching as well.

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  • I Love It When You Smile

    By sarajean on 7/21/09 5:00am
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    I love it when you smileI love it when you smileEvery once in a while you get one of those books on a whim because the illustrations look like a lot of fun, or you know the author and have enjoyed his or her previous works. You may even be simply looking for a specific subject to go along with seasonal lessons or themes. Then, you take it home and begin to read it out loud—only to discover that it quickly becomes a new favorite. That was the case for my daughter and me when we read Sam McBratney’s I Love It When You Smile.

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  • Septimus Heap Book 5: Syren

    By sarajean on 7/11/09 8:18am
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    On September 29, 2009 fans of Angie Sage and her Septimus Heap phenomenon will be rewarded for all their waiting by the latest installment of the series, Syren. I can’t wait to delve back into the world of the rambunctious and ever-getting-into-trouble Heaps—who sort of remind me of the Weasleys in the Harry Potter universe—and see what happens next in this compelling magical series.

    We left off with the adventure at the House of Foryx, and we’ve been given a few of the characters’ own misgivings about their futures. While Simon’s desperately pining after the role of Extraordinary Wizard, Septimus isn’t sure he wants it though he is training for exactly that—and fiery Jenna has her doubts about becoming queen as well. Will Syren provide us with more clues about what will become of these characters and others?

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  • Topical issues in children's books

    By akgoemans on 7/6/09 5:37am
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    Recently, I was looking for the name of a book I read as a kid about racism and prejudice in South Africa. That was the backdrop to the main story which in turn was about the friendship between two young girls of different races. It was a well-written, rather touching story and yes, I still don't know the name of that book. However, my quest to find its name led me to explore various lists of recommended reading for young adults. This lead to a starting discovery. Now, tell me something ... is it just me or has the number of books about princesses and ponies increased in number since I left school? Or has it always been like that?


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