Review: GRANDPA FOR SALE by Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum, illustrated by T. Kyle Gentry

Grandpa for Sale by Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum, illustrated by T. Kyle Gentry

What if all your wildest dreams could come true, and all you had to do was make one sale to make it happen?

Find out what Lizzie does!

Book Review: Princess Ben

Fifteen year old Princess Ben is heir to the throne but she does not want to learn what it takes to be Queen. When her mother and the King are killed and her father disappears, Ben has no choice. But it is her magic that will play a major role in averting an attack by neighboring Drachensbett. Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock is a marvelous fairytale, populated by wonderful characters. There is action, romance, witchcraft and more. One of the 10 best books of the year. Also read her other books, Dairy Queen and The Off Season. You won't be disappointed.

Review: Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

I mean, look at that cover. Can you resist?!

I want to go to Cat School too, just so I can hang out with Splat!

Revew: The Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman, illustrated by Ross MacDonald

The Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman by Marc Tyler Nobleman, illustrated by Ross MacDonald is a spectular nonfiction picture book for kids all about two average boys and the super man they created for America.

Review: Top Tips for Girls

If you want to find helpful advice on just about anything, including beauty, relationships, clothes, cars, travel, dating, makeup (and MUCH more), check out the fun-to-read Top Tips for Girls.

3 New Reviews

Two great board books, Beep Beep by Petr Horacek, and
Lulu's Shoes by Camilla Reid.

And for upper elementary aged readers there is the ever-fabulous Legend of the Wandering King by Laura Gallego Garcia.

Review: How to Build a House

Harper's life is like a tornado, just like the one that hit Bailey, Tennessee. So, in order to escape the home turmoil, she flies to Bailey and joins Homes from the Heart, an organization the builds homes destroyed in natural disasters. But rather than escape, Harper conquers her tornado of emotions and makes some good friends along the way. How to Build a House is a great book. Enjoy it.

Review: My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park

In My Most Excellent Year, T.C. is in love with Alejandra. Pops is in love with Lois. Augie is in love with Andy. Everybody is in love with Hucky, a cute six year old. It takes baseball and theater and trips from Cambridge to New York to make everyone happy. But, boy what a trip it is. One of my top ten favorite books of 2008, My Most Excellent Year, might very well be one of your favorites as well.

Review: Blue Moo: 17 Jukebox Hits from Way Back Never

I can't imagine that anyone at any age could resist the way-retro, too cool book-and-CD combo Blue Moo: 17 Jukebox Hits from Way Back Never. The CD features sock hop tunes with lyrics by acclaimed children's book author/artist Sandra Boynton, with many songs sung by famous musicians of the 50's/60's (like B.B. King, Brian Wilson, Davy Jones . . .) In the book, jazzily illustrated by Boynton, you'll find the complete song lyrics . . .all the better to sing along.

Violet by Design

Violet by Design is the second installment in Melissa Walker's Violet series, which I would definitely recommend reading. The third book in the series, Violet in Private, comes out on August 5th, and I'll anxiously be awaiting its release! Read my review of Violet by Design here.

Review: HOW TO BE BAD by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, & Lauren Myracle

How to be Bad by E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle

Road Trippppp!

Review: Little by Little

In the endearing picture book Little by Little, Otto is an otter who can't swim . . .until he's inspired to take just one tiny step at a time.

Review: Some Helpful Tips for a Better World and a Happier Life by Rebecca Doughty

Some Helpful Tips for a Better World and a Happier Life by Rebecca Doughty.

You couldn't hope for a book with more simple, easy, fun, and liberal advice.

Review: GROW: A Novel in Verse by Juanita Havill, illustrated by Stanislawa Kodman

Grow: A Novel in Verse by Juanita Havill, illustrated by Stanislawa Kodman

Plant yourself with this five star read and you won't be sorry!

HOT MESS: Summer in the City by Julie Kraut and Shallon Lester

Hot Mess: Summer in the City by Julie Kraut & Shallon Lester is perfect for fans of Sex and the City, so if you're looking for supplemental reading to make your movie-going experience last a little longer, pick this one up.

Book Review: Love & Lies: Marisol's Story

Marisol is smitten by Olivia. Lee is smitten by Marisol. Everyone knows who is better for Marisol, except Marisol herself. And even she can guess the answer. Olivia is Marisol's writing teacher; a little older and seemingly more accomplished. Lee is younger and less experienced, not that Marisol has that much experience. But, there is something unsettling about Olivia and everyone, including Marisol, feels it. Will she listen to herself and her friends? Love & Lies: Marisol's Story is a story of love and friends and change. It has wonderful characters and settings. All of Ellen Wittlinger's books are worth reading and this is no exception. It is a great read.

Review: See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House

For a hilarious yet informative book all about elections, I vote for the entertaining See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House. It's chockful of eye-opening tidbits, including scandals, animals (and I'm not talking humans) elected to official offices, presidential quirks . . .and how kids can get involved in the voting process.

Book Review: Peeled

Hildy Biddle and the staff of her high school newspaper are investigating the ghostly activity at the Ludlow House. Are there really ghosts? Is there something sinister afoot? What is threatening the serenity of Banesville, New York, the Happiest Town in the Happy Apple Valley? This fun story has all the elements of a great book-mystery, intrigue, romance, ghosts, down home fun. Once you pick up Peeled, you won't put it down, unless you're in the mood for a snack. An Apple, of course.

Book Review: After Tupac & D Foster

For two years, Neeka, her friend, and D Foster are inseparable. D arrives mysteriously and leaves the same way. But for those two years, they are Three the Hard Way, best friends. While they all love Tupac Shakur, it is D who really relates to his lyrics, who feels that he knows her life. After Tupac & D Foster is a wonderful, lyrical story of three eleven-year-olds growing up and dealing with the world around them. Don't miss it.

Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy

Fresh out of the box comes a fun new series of books by Carolyn Hennesy called Mythic Miss-Adventures. Aimed at tween readers, the books retell the Greek myth of Pandora's Box in a humorous way, utilizing fairly contemporary language while retaining the original setting of Ancient Greece and populating the story with gods and mortals.

As the legend goes, Pandora carried a box which contained the seven evils of mankind: envy, vanity, lying, greed, slander, pining, and hope. In the first book, Pandora Gets Jealous, a teenaged Pandora brings the ill-fated box to school for a project. After a popular classmate accidentally opens the box, Pandora meets the gods, accepts the blame, and heads out on her quest. Read my full review.

Related Booklist: It's All Greek to Me