My rating: 5 of 5 stars
With all the recent conversation about introverts, this book makes a nice offering for kids who like their solitude but still want a friend or two. Further important lessons learned? I did not realize that Sasquatches carried their pet bunnies in Snuglis. Sadly, Spires does not clarify whether this is for all journeys or merely those in which the Sasquatch is in disguise.
Posted in Book Reviews, Reading
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Lowry’s understanding of how to pack a message or a little self-help into children’s novels continues to amaze me. Too often in books, the message is simply spoken by one character to another, a la Glinda’s “You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas […but you] had to learn it for [your]self.” (The ending did skate a little too close to that for me, but the bulk of the work is more subtle and respectful of the reader.) By making the plot the message here and in other books, Lowry allows young readers to decide for themselves whether and how much to adopt the message for themselves. She is inspirational, not didactic. Here, the struggles of an abused boy and the individuals who want to help him may be fodder for anyone trying to cope with their own bad dreams.
Posted in Book Reviews, Reading
The Book Without Words: A Fable of Medieval Magic by Avi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
It was lovely, really, and I have no major complaints about it, but a few hours after finishing it, I can’t remember how it ended. Parts were enjoyable, and I liked the concept and plot, but never really cared about the characters.
Posted in Book Reviews, Reading
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having deeply loved Ferdinand for well over thiry years now, I had not expected to discover anything except an old friend among its pages. Imagine my delight to discover that the cork tree is actually hung with clusters of corks – a suprise that tells me I have learned something about the world since the last time I read it. I still hope that one day, in a time of strife, I will find that I have an inner Ferdinand.
Posted in Book Reviews, Reading
You just finished a book you love. Maybe you’re an avid reader and you love most books. Maybe reading isn’t your thing, so loving a book is a pleasant surprise. No matter which person you are, I bet you want your next book to make you feel the same way. You may already know about Amazon’s many ways to get you interested in buying more books (great recommendations to take to your local library or bookstore, too). Here are several more ways to find similar books online. (I’m going to use Gary D. Schmidt’s Okay For Now, which was my favorite book of 2011.)
If you are looking for a book, why not start at a library’s website? One of the great things about the internet is that you can use websites from all over the world, so explore a little bit. However, if you use your local site, most libraries allow you to place an online request, so you don’t have to go back to the library over and over, hoping that their copy of Divergent will be on the shelf (not to say that happened to me … 😉 ). Libraries are using many of the same tricks as Amazon to show you other books you may want to check out:
My personal favorite is my home library’s page. Perhaps I am biased, but look at all the information the Minuteman Library Network gives you! Now, you do have to look for it. The top of the page doesn’t tell you …
…the awesome stuff hiding down at the bottom!
This bottom material sometimes loads slowly, so give it a few extra seconds.
Like many libraries across the country, the Boston Public Library‘s catalogue includes links to book lists and tags, which the red arrows are pointing to. Libraries using the Bibliocommons service will have this material, including the New York and Seattle libraries, to randomly pick two.
After the Minuteman Library Network, my next favorite source of recommendations is Goodreads.
The right column, underneath the “Genres” list, has “Readers also enjoyed…” recommendations:
Don’t forget to click through several pages of recommendations. Many books have 10-20 suggestions. I think the computer created this list by looking at the books read by someone who gave Okay For Now four or five stars, and seeing what else they rated highly. This gives really good results, because they are recommendations from people you know you already agree with!
Goodreads also links to lists and forum discussions that mention the book; both are in the left (main) side of a book’s page:
… and …
These aren’t as reliable for finding “another book like that one,” but they may introduce you to a book you would never have thought to try. Keep in mind that anyone can add to and vote on lists – I tend to ignore books that only have one vote, assuming that if they are a good match for my interests, I will see them recommended somewhere else.
If I don’t already have a pile of ten books to try next, I go on to:
Recommended sites (click images):
Posted in E-Resource, Reading
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A beginning reader book in which the main character is literally playing with words? Yes, please!
Posted in Book Reviews, Reading
New Kid, New Scene: A Guide to Moving and Switching Schools by Debbie Glasser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Speaking directly to kids, and using many quotes from kids, Glasser and Schenck have written the book I wish I’d had in 11th grade. And 8th, 6th, 5th, 2nd, and 1st grades. Yes, I moved a lot as a kid, so I speak from experience when I say that New Kid, New Scene does a great job of addressing real worries kids have.
There is a running movie theme throughout that may seem a little hackneyed but helps organize the materials in a way that allows readers to go directly to the parts that will be most useful to them. “What’s My Next Line” helps kids take care of themselves, whether that’s by talking to an adult or changing personal habits to reduce stress. “Casting Call” provides self-assessments that help readers think about how they react to changes and what kind of friends they are looking for. “Coming Attractions” previews the next chapter, allowing readers to more easily jump back and forth, taking control over how they read the book – in a time when many kids feel they have no control over their life, even this small detail may help. Lots of headlines and text boxes also help readers navigate around the material
Throughout, the emphasis is on what feels right for the individual reader. There are plenty of suggestions, some even seemingly contradictory, because (for example) some kids want to know how to make a new set friends while others might want suggestions about how to keep in touch with old friends. Honestly, though, I think moving is such a complex experience that both sides will be useful to each kid at one time or another. I strongly recommend New Kid, New Scene.
Posted in Book Reviews, Health & Wellbeing, Reading
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Would it be possible to convince you that a pastel-hued book about a man who cares for three baby elephants, taking them to the park and cooking them pancakes, isn’t overly precious? Something odd in the gentle illustrations prevents that, instead making this a good book for children nervous about a new caregiver. A chance meeting with an old friend in the park may also make Mr. Elephanter a good book for a child having to say goodbye and move on from a now-beloved caregiver, too.
Posted in Book Reviews, Reading
