Ten Unusual Features of Lulu McDunn by Kelly Pulley

Lulu is a very unique individual.  She has special traits that will make your child's eyes wide and their mouths drop open.  Just read the book to see...

Frog Legs Inc., an imprint of Gauthier Publications, shared a copy of this book with me (thank you).  It was published in July of 2010, so you will be able to find a copy at your local bookstore now.

If you have a child who is worried about how they look, this is the book for them.  If they have freckles, wear glasses, are overweight or are losing hair from chemotherapy, they are still going to notice Lulu has worse problems.  And she doesn't think they're problems; they are just enhancements to her physical skills and bring joy to her life!

Mr. Pulley writes a very cute story about a young girl with odd features who takes every day at a time and thinks the ten oddities are attributes.  Lulu will make you smile.

Why not get a copy today and share it with your child.  If they have low self-esteem, this book teaches them that being different makes you special, not weird.  Just look at Lulu!

Happy reading.

Lily Renée, Escape Artist by Trina Robbins

We all know how Jews were treated by the Nazis, but do your children?  This graphic novel is an easy way to teach them about the horrors of war and discrimination.  It's not pleasant, but it's presented nicely and in good taste, as well as being truthful.

Graphic Universe, an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group and Net Galley allowed me to download the ebook to do a review (thank you).  This book will be published the first of November, so make a note to check your bookstore then for a copy.

This is a great educational tool done in graphic art form with Anne Timmons and mo oh as illustrators.  Reading the story in this way somehow makes it less threatening, but no less sad.  To see how people can treat each other over no more than religious or racial differences is disheartening.  The worst part is that this story is set back during in the early 40's, the time of WWI.  However, this type of activity is still alive in the world today.  We should learn from our history and move on, but it never seems to happen.

Lily could draw, and draw well.  That was her ticket to keep herself alive after being separated from her parents.  Times were tough, she never had enough to eat, but she survived.  And she became quite a success later in life.

This is non-fiction.  Your children may have questions after they've read the story.  That's a good thing.  Make sure you're prepared for discussion and be sure to offer them some other suggestions for reading.

Use this as a educational opportunity and the whole family will benefit.

Happy reading.

Black Cat, Little Witch Clacker Books

These would make a great holiday gift for a young one.  Who can dislike a book you can read or make noise with?

Robin Corey Books, an imprint of Random House, sent me a copy of these board books for review (thank you).  Both are available at your local bookstore now.

Filled with simple stories for small ones with illustrations by Luana Rinaldo, the books are charming.  The thick pages mean young ones can turn the pages again and again without harm.  

The best part is that they have handles.  So a child can hold the book at its side and shake them back and forth and they clack.

Little ones will enjoy a book they can read or play with.  And they both are cool Halloween themed books.  Why not include them as a special gift to your trick or treater?

Happy reading.

The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen

I love Jane Yolen's books, but I have to say this one is my very favorite so far.  You've got to give this book a peek, you'll want it too!

Dark Horse Books and Net Galley shared this ebook with me (thank you both).  The book will be published on the 21st of this month.  The illustrator is Rebecca Guay.

This is a beautiful book.  Yolen's golden words grace the pages, and Guay's illustrations are outstanding.  Together they weave a beautiful story of the last remaining dragon. The villagers believed they had destroyed them all, but there was one surviving egg...

This fantasy at its finest and is suitable for both younger and older adults.  The story is light, the dragon is dangerous, and the villagers are hoping for a hero.  The man they find tells tall tales but is no hero.  Will he become one?  You'll have to read the book to find out.

Happy reading.

Everything I Need To Know Before I'm Five by Valorie Fisher

 Why buy several picture books to teach your child things they need to know to go to school when you can buy this one and have it all in one volume?

Schwartz and Wade sent me a copy of this book for review, and it's been a real pleasure (thank you).  You can snag a copy at your bookstore now.

As the DJ says:  Do you know a B from a P?  A 3 from a 4?  A circle from a square?  A red from a green?

This book covers numbers, opposites, shapes, colors, seasons, weather, and the alphabet.  This is author has done an excellent job of setting up a scene that depicts what she is trying to teach and taking a photo of it.  The photos are brilliantly colored and it's easy to see what the opposite meanings are or the colors are, etc.  She even shows them how to mix colors to create a new one.

I was very impressed by this book and am sure young ones will return to it again and again.  They will learn lots of subjects here in a fun way and will want to read it several times.

Why not get your young one an educational treasure trove of learning?

Happy reading.

Burned by Thomas Enger

His scars on the outside are healing and he can return to work, but his scars on the inside are still raw...

Simon and Schuster shared a galley of this book with me for review (thank you).  The book will be published the first week of October so add it to your TBR list.  This author is Norwegian and this is first book, but it certainly won't be his last.  It's also an excellent read.

Henning Juul is an investigative journalist who does a very good job.  In many ways, he does a better job than the police do.  It helps that he has an instinct that tells him even if the conclusion is logical, it's not "right".

He's suffered a terrible loss.  His flat caught fire and when he and his son attempted to flee the building, only he got out.  His son died, along with part of Juul's heart, and he had awful burns from the fire.  He also ended up divorced because even though he thought he still loved his wife, he couldn't live with her because of his guilt at not saving their son. As he returns to work, he realizes that's all he's got left in his life.

His first day back he finds himself following the murder case that has just been discovered.  A young woman is found inside a tent, buried up to her neck, with her hand cut off and her head almost unrecognizable because she was stoned to death.  This is a complex case with multiple players and personalities involved.

Mr. Enger writes a story thick with detail, where clues fall over each other and no one is exactly what they seem.  There are bad guys all around and the ones that should be good are not.  He leads you through Juul's coming back to life and learning he can still find excitement at the thought of following the trail of the killer; even if he may die because he is doing so.  The author also does a psychological study of several of the other characters in the story.  

I found his writing fascinating.  He weaves his story together without giving you any real hints about how it's going to turn out.  I kept turning to pages to see what would happen next.

And, the best part, at the end of the book, Juul is moving past his son's death and asks a friend to see if they can find out who torched his flat.  As soon as it comes out, I'll be reading that book, too!

Happy reading.

Zoozical by Judy Sierra

Nobody is visiting the animals at the zoo because it's winter.  They are bored and depressed.  What can do they to cheer each up?

This children's picture book was published the first part of August and is available at your local bookstore now.  Alfred A Knopf Books for Young Readers sent me a copy for review (thank you).

This a fun book for children.  Marc Brown's illustrations are always colorful and whimsical and his zoo animals are great!

Ms. Sierra does an excellent job of drawing a child into the story.  All the animals are sitting around being bored and all of a sudden a baby hippo and kangaroo start hip-hopping, toe-tapping, and rap-rocking.  Pretty soon everyone is involved!

If your child likes music or is artistic in any way, this book will appeal to them.  If not, it's still a good read.  You get to watch the animals put things together for a performance.  They invite the patrons to come see the show and everyone has a good time!

Why not let your little one sing and dance for you?  Maybe with a little help from you they could dress up, too.  This book should give you some good ideas on how to accomplish that.  It's also great for read aloud.  Get a copy!

Happy reading.