BOOK REVIEW: Simon's New Bed by Christian Trimmer and Art by Melissa van der Paardt

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Disclosure: Book received at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

Simon can't wait to try his new bed but the poor dog has a problem. He's not the only one who thinks his bed looks comfy. Miss Adora Belle, the cat, has made herself at home on Simon's bed. He tries to no avail to get her out. Howling and barking doesn't work. He even drags her around the yard  but Adora Belle just won't budge. Simon finally comes to the conclusion that sharing may be the only way he will get to try his bed. But will it work?

The digitally rendered illustrations capture perfectly the feelings of Simon from his upturned mouth at the happy thought of trying his new bed to his sad surprise in his droopy face in finding Adora Belle right in the middle. The sly and contented looks of Adora Belle add to the humor. While the lesson of making the best of what you have will resonate with the young reader, the illustrations will get them coming back for another lesson in reading expressions.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Aug. 25, 2015)

ISBN: 978-1481430197

Grades: P-3

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Book Review: Mysteries of Cove Fires of Invention

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Book received at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing gets thirteen-year-old, Trenton Coleman more excited than anything mechanical. If only the leaders in Cove felt the same way. Creativity is frowned upon in Cove and inventing anything new is prohibited. Trenton can't wait for his chance to attend mechanical school but to his dismay, he is assigned to the School of Food Production.

While Trenton excels in his new assignment, his curiosity leads him to Kallista Babbage, a repair technician and daughter of Leo Babbage, an inventor who died in an explosion. Together, the pair discover the secret project Leo was working on before his horrible accident. With the help of the clues he left behind, Trenton and Kallista slowly put together a machine that threatens to expose the truth their city inside a mountain is built upon.

Savage masterfully weaves steampunk and fantasy with relatable characters to create suspense that will have the reader glued to the pages for hours.

Rating ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing ( Sept. 29, 2015)

ISBN: 978-1-62972-0920
Ages: 10 and Up

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BOOK REVIEW: Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee, Illus. by Christopher Denise

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Disclosure: Book received at no charge for review purposes.

Firefly wants nothing more than to fly to the moon. Cricket wants to play baseball, not just sing about it. He hopes to become the cricket version of Yogi Berra, the greatest catcher in the world. In order for Firefly and Cricket to accomplish their dreams, they must venture beyond their nations. After disregarding the advice of their elders, Firefly and Cricket set off on their adventure and meet Vole, a river vole who also dares to dream. He dreams of sailing to where the river meets the sea. They also meet a boy named Peter they refer to as a "miniature giant" who desperately needs friends after the loss of his best friend.

Carefully developed characters come together to help each other accomplish their dreams and to catch each other when they fall short. Together, the unique mix of characters help heal a boy's broken heart. Denise's amazing artwork projects the warmth and friendship the sweet story deserves. A fitting classroom read aloud that belongs on the classics shelf with the likes of Charlotte's Web and The Wind in the Willows. I consider it an honor to recommend this novel to my readers.

Rating ★★★★★

Publishing Information: 

Publisher: Antheneum Books for Young Readers (Aug. 18, 2015)

ISBN: 978-1442423367

Ages: 8-12

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The Wand & The Sea by Claire M. Caterer BOOK REVIEW

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Book received at no charge in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a year since Holly, her brother Ben, and their friend Everett discovered the magical world of Anglielle and they're anxious to return. In Anglielle, Holly continues her training as an adept but also faces the task of rescuing her friends who have been locked up by the evil King Reynard. The rescue doesn't go quite as planned. Luckily, they end up escaping on Captain Morgan's ship, the Sea Witch. They set sail to find the missing adepts. Holly will have to learn to master the magical elements to succeed.

While Caterer has included plenty of fascinating creatures, the magical world lacks clarity at times. Add to the fact that the characters could use some deeper development makes the story feel long. The avid fantasy fan may be able to overlook the weaknesses while enjoying the pace and fantastical characters.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (June 23, 2015)

ISBN-13: 978-1442457447

Pages: 384

Ages Range: 8-12

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