Old Man Winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KIDZ KORNER

 

 

 

 

Cuddle up, it’s cold outside!!  In these frosty temperatures why not sit down with the kids and read some good books?  The snow in these books won’t make you any colder.  I promise!

 

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

 This book is remindful of that old favorite, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Each day a boy adds something new to the snowman he has built. A lot of woodland animals come out to take a peek too.  Lots of things to talk about and darling pictures.
I would read this book to kids 2-6.  P.S.  You could probably even sing it if you really wanted to do so.

 

Winter is for Snow by Robert Neubecker

 The brother likes the outside and is dying to get out there with his sister. He is winter’s biggest cheerleader.  Sis, on the other hand, wants to be indoors with brother!  What are two siblings to do?  The answer is a lovely compromise.  Kids will relate to the brother/sister dynamic.

I would read this book to kids 2-5.

 

Chaucer’s First Winter by Stephen Krensky

 Chaucer, the baby bear, doesn’t want to take that winter nap with his parents.  He wants to see winter.  He sneaks out and spends all winter playing with his friends and even surviving a storm with his own cunning.  When spring comes and mom and dad wake up, Chaucer can’t wait to tell them all about winter except for one thing, he falls asleep.

I would read this book to kids 2-5

 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

 

Peter spends his day enjoying the snow.  He makes foot prints and other kinds of things a little boy would find to do on a snowy day in the city.  I love his bright red snowsuit. This book is a classic. I would read it to kids 1-5.

So make some cocoa and bundle up and until next week, keep on reading!

No Horse Wanted by Shannon Kennedy

RATED 4.5 STARS








The only thing that Robin Gibson wants for her sixteenth birthday is a 1968 Presidential Blue Mustang. Following their family tradition, what her parents promise her is a horse of her own, one with four legs, not four wheels. Mom competes in endurance riding, Dad does calf roping, her older brother games and her older sister loves three-day eventing, but Robin proudly says that she doesn't do horses. She'll teach her controlling family a lesson by bringing home the worst horse she can find, a starved, abused two-year-old named Twaziem.

                                               *************************

Robin Gibson belongs to a family of horse lovers, but the only horse she’s interested in is a 1968 Mustang in Presidential blue.  She is hoping to buck the family tradition of getting a horse on your 16^th birthday and getting the car instead.

Things don’t work out as Robin planned and her parents insist she get a horse so she picks out a pitifully undernourished and neglected horse that looks to be on his last legs.  She plans to rehabilitate Twaziem and sell him later for money towards her car.
           

Robin is a typical teen in most respects.  She is a little mouthy, a little homework shy, a little unsure about boys and a little diva-ish.  She is a good hearted soul though who loves to care for animals and find the strays homes.

I liked that Robin had chores to do at home and varied interests including cross country running.  She made friends with girls she didn’t think she’d like because of her caring heart.

Her brother, Jack, was a typical teasing older sibling and her parents were supportive without being overindulgent.  Her older sister made a brief appearance but she was mostly away at college.

Robin’s friend, Vicki, was a girl stuck in an all too familiar situation.  Her parents divorced, mom is overloaded with her job schedule and she expects Vicki to pick up the slack. I liked the way Robin stood up for her friend so she could continue her cheerleading.

Robin also ended up being friends with Olivia, another cross country teammate who started out as an adversary and with Danielle, a girl she got to know at the stables where they both trained.

Any girl who has a secret or not so secret desire to own a horse will enjoy this story.  It is a great combination of teenage life and practical information about owning a horse. I think even preteens as young as 12 would enjoy this story very much.

Even if you aren’t a horse fan, I recommend this book for the compelling story of this group of friends.
  Note:  There are some mild curse words in the story.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Trick or Treat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kidz Korner

 

 Trick or Treat

 

 

 

 

As a kid, I hated Halloween.  I was the kid whose bag broke.  We had a lady on our street that scooped out a ton of candy corn and then shook the scoop until you ended up with two or three. Most years I hated my costume. 

However, I love Halloween books so the next two weeks are dedicated to them.

BOO!

 

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Megan Lloyd

 

A little old lady is out in the woods collecting herbs when she begins to hear strange noises behind her like clomp, clomp and shake, shake.  She continues on her way to her little house just a little faster as each noise gets a little scarier until she is home safe and sound.  Or is she?  The knock on the door reveals a sad bunch of parts but the little old lady has a solution. I would read this book to kids 4-8.

 

Room on the Broom  by Julia Donaldson

 

A witch’s flight is interrupted as she keeps losing things and picking up extra passengers.  They all squeeze onto the broom until there is no room left. When the witch gets into big trouble all her passengers help her out.  This is a not to be missed book that is cute and funny in a non spooky way. I would read this book to kids 3-6.

 

Space Case by Edward and James Marshall

 

What do you do when you meet a real alien space ship?  You take it trick or treating.  I mean, what else would you do?  Everyone thinks it is a great costume. The alien has to leave at the end of the book until he finds out about…….Christmas. .  Don’t forget to use your best robot voice when you read this book!  I would read this book to kids 4-8.

 

Rotten Ralph’s Trick or Treat by Jack Gantos

 

Ralph the cat just can’t help himself.  He is just rotten. His owner Sarah loves him so much she puts up with his crazy antics.  In this story, Sarah wants them to dress as each other for the Halloween party but Ralph wants nothing to do with that idea. This is one of a great series of books about Ralph. I never get tired of his “evil” ways.  I would read this book to kids 4-8.

 

So pull up the bowl of candy corn and until next week, keep on reading!

Back to School

  KidzKorner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time for school!  How many times did I say that to my own kids?  Well, countless probably.  The next best thing to going to school is reading about it so here are a few that stand out for me.

 

 

 

School Bus by Donald Crewes is a classic picture book for young ones ages 2-5 years old.  They love the bold graphic pictures and it is the perfect companion to the song, The Wheels on the Bus.

 

The Night Before Kindergarten and The Night Before First Grade byNatasha Wing .  These two books are based on that old favorite Twas the Night Before Christmas.  The illustrations are cute and the cadence is familiar and soothing for those first-day jitters. Pick the one that’s right for you. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

 

 

 

 

 

Miss Nelson is Missing by Henry Allard Jr. and James Marshall.  Miss Nelson’s class has been misbehaving so, when she is absent, a nasty old substitute teacher takes her place.  A funny story about behavior in school with great illustrations by Mr. Marshall, one of the artists I admire. Appropriate for ages 5-9.

 

I came across a new favorite which I only picked up because of my son’s love for all things Star Wars.  The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger is a hilarious tale of a weird boy whose Yoda finger puppet dishes out sage advice to sixth graders and  changes a misfit into a hero.   Appropriate for ages 9-12.

 

Until next week, reading keep on!

 

 

Review of Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick

 

 

 Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick      Rating: 5 STARS

 

Read a book. Fall asleep. Meet a boy. Is it real or just a dream? Katie's everyday life suddenly turns exciting when she travels back in time and meets the boy of her dreams. Thinking of nothing else, willing to leave the real world behind, she's determined to find out if it's all a dream or not. Returning again and again, Katie almost has her answers until one day her precious book goes missing.

Show more

One of my favorite author's premiere book is the book I chose for my new blog.  Nancy has put a new slant on the romance of two young people.  Enjoy!

Show lesWaiting for Dusk is a lovely romance about a boy and girl.  They have one problem though.  Katie thinks that Andrew may just be a dream.  Oh, he is a wonderful dream and she has lost her heart to him but should she stay in a dream world or live her life as a modern teenager among family and friends?

I loved Katie as a heroine.  She is inquisitive and perceptive yet she suffers from the same confusion most teenagers suffer.  She is torn between loving Drew and having a relationship with her long-time friend, Tyson.  She also feels like her parents are keeping something from her.  She thinks she may have travelled back in time but was it only a dream?

Her friends, Lindsey and Jordyn try to be understanding and helpful.  I liked the way they are friends in the true sense. 

Tyson is an obsessed teenage boy who, after years of friendship with Katie, decides she is the love of his life and he won’t take no for an answer.  I found him a little frightening and I worried for Katie’s safety.

Drew is a perfect love interest.  He is handsome, kind, genuine and his love for Kate is apparent and given unconditionally.

The setting of the Grand Canyon was unique and well described.  I also enjoyed the touches of Swedish language.  I liked that the reader was exposed to a language not readily found in most books.

Although this book is considered a young adult novel, I think readers of all ages will appreciate the story and love the characters.

I know there is a sequel to this book and I look forward to it with great anticipation.

You should pick up a copy of Waiting for Dusk and catch up before the sequel is released.  It is available at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=waiting%20for%20dusk and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/waiting-for-dusk-nancy-pennick/1114286882?ean=9781612355238in paperback or as an eBook.
 

Grand Opening Announcement

Read Around Sue will open on  Monday, August 5th.  I will post a new book review every Monday.  Thursday will be KidzKorner, where I will recommend  books for read aloud and sharing with children ages 3-8.  I always loved reading to my class and my own kids and I have some good ones.
I will review a mix of Young Adult, Adult fiction and New Adult.  I won't do Erotica or Horror.
I hope you will enjoy my opinions and will follow me through this literary journey.
See you Monday!