Book Review - Skyfall by Michael Dahl

Skyfall by Michael Dahl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In Zion Falls it is the night of the biggest meteor shower of the century, the Draconids. For fourteen year-old Pablo and his friends, Thora and Zak, it is also the night that is going to change their lives forever. Pablo, Thora and Zak are pulled into a real-life fairy tale of the Grimm variety. They find themselves battling trolls, or "gathool", for their lives. And this is only the beginning.
The premise for this books is very interesting. Giant trolls known as gathools are emerging to wreck havoc on the town of Zion Falls. The name "gathool" is reminiscent of Lovecraft's greatest short story, The Call of Cthulhu, about a giant kraken like creature. The illustrations in the book also run along these lines, with the multi-armed trolls appearing to have heads that resemble octupi. While this story is much, much milder than Lovecraft's, I would not recommend it to be read as a bedtime story. The information about the trolls and the characters is somewhat sketchy. The trolls are coming but it is not really said where they are coming from. There is something special about Pablo, Thora and Zak but you are not really sure what. However, as this is the first book in a series, I would assume the information will be coming in the next installments of the series.
I would recommend this book for children ages 10+, especially those readers who want an alternative to Goosebumps or Beast Quest.

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Book Review - It's a Big World Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi

It's a Big World, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Poppy the litte pig who dreams big is finally an ice skating star. Now she follows her dream to Paris, France to compete in the World Games. While in Paris, Poppy must overcome her fears of being so far from home in a new place. But she soon learns that although we may not speak the same, we all smile in the same language.
This is a sequel to the book "Dream Big Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi. It is very nice with cute illustrations. Who doesn't love a pig in a bow? It was a little light and fluffy for my personal taste, but the message of being accepting of new people and places is a good one.

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Happy New Year Ramblings

I am hoping to have a great year in 2012. I have set myself up with some reading challenges which will take me out of my comfort zone. I have decided on a goal of 250 books in the year 2012. Yes Melissa - that is 250!!!! I am also going to be participating in the Why Buy the Cow and several other blogging/reading challenges. So my reviews will change somewhat. I am going to be adding adult fiction to my blog so it will not just be children's/young adult books, although these will still be the mainstay of my blog. Just look at it as I am adding a little more variety. Hope everyone has a great year ahead of them!

Book Review - The Chronicles of Harris Burdick

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Van Allsburg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Thirty years ago a man called at Peter Wender's office, introducing himself as Harris Burdick. Mr. Burdick explained that he had written fourteen stories and had drawn many pictures for each one. He'd brought with him just one drawing from each story, to see if Wenders liked his work." Thus begins The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg. The introduction goes on to tell us that Harris Burdick was never heard from again. But what he left were 14 amazing drawings (eerily similar to Van Allsburg's own) to muse and ponder over for the next 25+ years. Now, an amazing group of fantasy writers have come together to give us the stories they feel go with these illustrations. From a house that blasts off into the unknown one day - to a dust bunny run amuck, we are treated to an astounding collection of imaginings worth of the mystery of Harris Burdick.

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Another Reading Challenge - Why Buy the Cow

I have taken up yet another reading challenge for 2012 - Why Buy the Cow sponsored by The Unread Reader. 

  It is to read as many FREE legal downloaded ebooks as I can in the year 2012.  I have become a download nut recently.  Anytime I see FREE I grab it.  I don't care what genre it is.  So this is a great challenge for me.  To join click on this link: http://www.theunreadreader.com/2011/12/why-buy-cow-reading-challenge-2012.html

Book Review - Spotty, Stripy, Swirly by Jane Brocket

Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What Are Patterns? by Jane Brocket
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Spotty, stripy, swirly - patterns are everywhere. You can find them in flowers. You can find them in food. You can even find them in socks. All you need to do is look around you to find patterns in everything. With colorful, eye-catching pictures of everything from tea cozies to sunlit benches, Jane Brocket shows us what a pattern is; how patterns are made; and how patterns can be simple or complex. This book will have your child running around finding patterns in everything.

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Book Review - The House on Dirty-Third Street by Jo S. Kittinger

The House on Dirty-Third Street by Jo S. Kittinger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When a young girl and her mother move into their "new" house, all the young girl can see are run-down, old homes all along the street, including the new one they are about to move into. She quickly dubbs her new street "Dirty-Third Street." But her mother sees the house through the eyes of faith and hope: clean and full of new friends. After joining a church down the street, the girl is soon surprised when neighbors and friends from their new church help to make this vision a reality.
The artwork in this story is amazing. While the whole book is done in beautiful watercolors, when the book begins we see grays, dark blues, tans and washed-out yellows. But as the story progresses, the colors soon change to bright yellows, bright blues, greens and reds. In the end, the house which was originally gray and drab, becomes a neat, colorful home complete with flowers. The message of the book is also shown through the changes in the coloration as the little girl's faith in her fellow man is brought to life by the help of neighbors and new friends from church.

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