Children’s author Ralph Fletcher seemed to live an ideal life for a child. The oldest of a large clan in the small town of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Fletcher had nearby woods to roam in, numerous bothers and neighbors to recruit for games, and parents who loved him. Fletcher recounts stories from his young days in Marshfield [...]
When Zita finds a gadget in what appears to be a crashed meteorite site, she can’t resist pushing the button. When she does, a creature with octopus-like limbs reaches through a tear in the sky and grabs her friend Joesph. Zita runs away, but soon she realizes that she must follow Joseph and try to [...]
As a follow up to her delightful picture book, My Name Is Not Isabella, where a little girl dreamed about being like famous women in history, author Jennifer Fosberry has turned her attention to famous men and a little boy who dreams of being like them. In My Name Is Not Alexander, a dad wakes [...]
Sal knows all the prophecies from her favorite poem, “Songs of the Fleece,” but she doesn’t know much about modern technology. That’s how she misinterprets a cell phone falling on her head from a hot-air balloon as a struggle between the great Lord Aries and his nemesis, Lambad the Bad. Under Sal’s direction, the sheep [...]
This week I’m excited to offer a couple of posts about a new fantasy book for middle readers. It’s called A True Princess by Diane Zahler, and it should delight young readers who like Ella Enchanted, The Goose Girl, and other retold fairy tales. Take a look at my review below, then enter a comment [...]
Today I’m featuring a review and a giveaway in the newest title in the popular Ivy and Bean series. It’s called Ivy +Bean: What’s the Big Idea. It’s a really cute book about friendship and creativity. Please leave a comment here by midnight (PST) Wednesday, December 8 for your chance to win. Here’s my review: [...]
Music has always been a big part of both of my daughters’ lives, and knowing how much they loved musical books and toys when they were very young I’m always on the lookout for products that combine reading and music to give as gifts for the little ones I know. That’s why I was happy [...]
Lots of kids love gross stuff. They may learn to be polite and hide their fascination with body fluids, creepy bugs and germ-ridden places, but that doesn’t mean they’re less drawn to reading about them. Which is why lots of kids will also love the latest addition to The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook series—Gross Junior [...]
