Title: The Spell Thief
Author: Tom Percival
Genre: fantasy
Similar Books: Moldylocks and the Three Beards by Noah Z. Jones
Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner
Rating:
 |
| Cute |
Summary (provided by publisher): Join Red, Jack, Rapunzel, and Anansi in this fun fairy tale mash-up chapter book series!
Life for Jack is great: he's got a magical talking hen called Betsy, he lives in a town where stories literally grow on trees, and all his best friends live there with him. That is, until Anansi, the new kid in town arrives...
When Jack sees Anansi having a secret meeting with a troll, everything changes. Trolls mean trouble and Jack will stop at nothing to prove that Tale Town is in danger. Even if that means using stolen magic.
My opinion: There were times reading this book that I felt like I had missed something, like there was a story that preceeded it that I had not read. Nothing so vital as to prevent understanding the plot, just little gaps. Apart from that this is an easily understood and interesting take on familiar characters. I especially liked the inclusion of Anansi. Tricksters are great elements especially since traditionally they are neither hero nor villain. The plot is decent, though the moral is a little heavy-handed. A solid choice for kids beginning to read chapter books independently, especially as the text is supported with a healthy dose of illustrations.
More Information: The Spell Thief releases December 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.
A few years ago I painted some peg dolls for a craft fair. After the sale, I had a handful of dolls left. Given that there were just a few I though I would reuse them later. This weekend, on a whim, I painted this one. Wonder Woman turned out so well I may have to do a whole series of female superheroes.
Hi friends. Between work and holiday preparations this week promises to be a busy one. So, I'm taking the rest of the week off from blogging. Join me again Monday for my regular blogging schedule.
Hoping this holiday finds safe, warm, and surrounded by people who care about you,
Martha
While most of my work with Sculpey is focused on Christmas, sometimes it's nice to try something a little different. Like these little turkeys I made for November craft fairs.
Title: A Boy Called Christmas
Author: Matt Haig
Genre: fantasy, humor
Similar books: Suddenly, the Milk by Neil Gaiman
The Extincts by Veronica Cossanteli
Rating:
 |
| a silly story with heart |
Summary (provided by publisher): Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Elf in this warmhearted Christmas caper.
Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he's happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him.
Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it's too late. . . .
Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould.
My opinion: Haig takes elements from the life of Saint Nicholas and a variety of Santa Claus stories to create this truly individual novel. While there is magic, it is magic with clear rules and limits. Its a truly funny story. The humor does tend towards the low brow (think reindeer ... releasing... mid-flight) but that will add to the appeal for young readers. It's not all fun and games though. There are some rather serious scenes, some rather grim in fact, which young readers might actually absorb better with a dose of humor. All in all, it's not a book that the average reader will spend much time contemplating or revisiting but with quirky line drawings and a sharp sense of humor it's pretty entertaining.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Chicken Big by Keith Graves
Given the title, one might expect this book to be a variation on the classic story of Chicken Little. While there are some elements of that story in this one it is so much more. Chicken Big is the story of an abnormally large chicken and his efforts to be accepted by the rest of the flock who don't know what to do with this oddity. So clearly, the heart of the story is accepting other's differences. Graves approaches this lesson not from a soap box but with a heavy dose of humor. The other chickens are, to put it nicely, rather dim, leading to hilarious speculations. I defy anyone not to laugh at their overreactions and speculations (like the assertion that the new chicken must be an elephant). The humor and heart hold up well to repeat reads and there is a heavy visual appeal as well.
Break the Siege by Rob Ives
What kids has never wanted his own catapult? This book makes it fairly easy for that desire to become a reality. The instructions are clear with plenty of illustrations for clarification. Materials are everyday items, meaning that any of the devices in this book are within the grasp of the average reader. There is a little historical background for each siege machine, so it has some education value as well. A great choice for most upper elementary kids.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
