Firstly, I can say I loved it. And secondly, I can’t stop thinking about it.
This is actually a review of a specific edition…the newly released Special Collectors’ Edition and it is, in a word, stunning!
A Monster Calls was first published in 2011, but I only recently heard about it. I read a review on a blog I follow, and I was about to purchase a copy when the opportunity to get a review copy came up. It really seemed like it was meant to be 🙂
In anticipation of the upcoming motion picture release, the Special Collectors’ Edition combines the original novel with bonus material including interviews with Liam Neeson, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones and Lewis MacDougall.
There is also additional material from Patrick Ness, Jim Kay and director J.A. Bayona.
The story behind the novel is as fascinating as the novel itself and I loved all the bonus material as well as learning more about Siobhan Dowd who drafted the original idea for this story but passed away before she could write it.
Drawing from Siobhan Dowd’s original idea and outline, Patrick Ness wrote A Monster Calls. Writing a book from another’s notes presented a daunting task and he worried about doing her idea justice. His goal with A Monster Calls was both to stay true to Siobhan’s original idea but not try to imitate her and instead write a story he felt she would enjoy.
I’m curious to read her books after learning more about her, and while I have no idea what type of book she would like, I feel A Monster Calls is a beautiful work and a moving tribute to her life.
A Monster Calls
A Monster Calls: Special Collectors’ Edition (2016, Candlewick Press, Middle-Grade Magical Realism)
The monster arrives outside Conor’s window just after midnight. He’s just awoken from his nightmare, so he can’t possibly be dreaming, and this is definitely not the monster from his nightmares. That monster has tormented his dreams each night since his mother started her treatments, but now this new monster arrives and though it is huge and wild, Conor finds himself drawn to it. But the monster wants something from Conor. It wants something terrible and real, and Conor doesn’t want to give what the monster wants.
A Monster Calls, written by Patrick Ness and illustrated by Jim Kay, will draw the reader into Conor’s world with the very first line.
“The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do.”
Patrick Ness writes beautifully, and every passage breathes magic. From the monster’s first words, to his last, he is a rich and developed character. This is magical realism at its best.
Conor is easy to relate to and sympathize with as he struggles with his mother’s illness. The interactions between him and the monster are moving, amusing, and at times heart breaking. Stubborn, willful, but at his core a very good child, the reader will suffer as Conor suffers.
There are not enough words to capture the magic felt while reading this book, and I think part of this feeling stems from the incredible illustrations. In this special edition, the illustrations are discussed in detail and I gained an even greater appreciation for the thought and time that went into the production of this work of art. For it truly is a masterpiece.
I highly recommend reading this book, however I do not recommend reading it on an airplane, at the bus station, at work, ummm… pretty much anywhere you wouldn’t want to be observed having a good, ugly cry. Because if you read this book, that’s what will happen.
This edition would make a beautiful and treasured gift for any book lover in your life.
5 stars and more to fill the midnight sky
The Movie
The movie released in Spain early in October, and in the U.S., a limited release of the movie is scheduled for sometime in December of this year.
The movie stars Liam Neeson, Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones and Lewis MacDougall. And the screenplay was written by Patrick Ness.
Thank you to Candlewick Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Can you believe there are only 38 days until Christmas?
I love Christmas so much and this year it’s even more fun because I have a blog where I can share books that would be perfect for….GIFTS!
I might be biased, but books are the best gifts 🙂
If you want to give your child the world, give them a book.
Is that an exaggeration? I think not.
I will be sharing lots of books leading into the gift-giving season and some books in particular that make good gifts (collector’s editions, activity books, etc.)
And today I have three new picture books to share with you. They are all fun but two of them are simply outstanding!
Happy Reading!
Also An Octopus (2016, Candlewick Press, Picture Book)
Every story starts with the same thing….nothing. But a story about nothing isn’t very interesting. A story can be about anything and what happens next is up to you!
In, Also An Octopus, written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Benji Davies, an Octopus plays a ukulele and attempts to build a rocket ship, but that is not really what this story is about. This story is about writing and creating tales of your own. Breaking down the mechanics of writing a story through the adventure of an octopus, is a fantastically fun way to spark imagination and creativity in children (and adults). While this is a great book to share with children who may struggle with creating stories, this is also an instructive text for older children, teens, and even adults who might overthink the writing process. This whimsical book reminds us that stories can be about anything if you follow some basic guidelines, and that every story starts from something we all have…nothing.
Highly recommended for children of all ages and others who enjoy writing.
5 stars to start your next story
We Found A Hat (2016, Candlewick Press, Picture Book)
When two turtles find a hat they must try it on. The hat looks good on both of them, but there is only one hat. What is a turtle to do?
We Found A Hat, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, is the third in his trilogy of picture books about animals with hats. Having not read the others, it can only be assumed they are as fantastic and funny as this book. With sparse text and expressive illustrations, We Found A Hat tells a surprisingly powerful story of friendship and sharing. Funny and clever, this book is everything a reader wants from a picture book, and made this reviewer laugh out loud. While the comedic value may be too subtle for very young readers, older readers and adults will enjoy this tale of two turtles.
Highly recommended for children and adults of all ages.
5 stars to put on your hat…or to share with all your friends.
The Bear Who Wasn’t There (2016, Roaring Brook Press, Picture Book)
Bear is missing! He’s supposed to be in this book, but no one has seen him. Will he ever show up? All the animals join in to help search for Bear.
The Bear Who Wasn’t There, written and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is a playful text about a character who is missing from the book. This book is supposed to be about a bear, but he is nowhere to be found. With a cynical duck narrator, the book proceeds to scour a new location with each page turn, as duck searches for bear but finds every other animal instead. This format of storytelling has been done before, but it is still fun and children will love the style. With comedic illustrations and lots of dialogue bubbles, children will enjoy reading through this book on their own, and it is sure to get lots of giggles.
Recommended for children ages 5 to 8.
4 stars to whoever finds the bear.
Thank you to Candlewick Press and Roaring Brook Press for copies of these books in exchange for my honest review.
Once again, I get to review a fun Berenstain Bears book 🙂
Growing up with the Bear family makes me nostalgic every time I review one of these new books from Zonderkidz. I love that there is a whole new series of Bear stories that can be enjoyed by our youngest generation.
As you know from previous reviews, the new Berenstain Bears books have a Christian theme to them. The messages focus on love, kindness, working together, and solving disagreements. All the same messages the original books encouraged, but now with a Bible verse tied in.
The Bedtime Devotional book is a great compilation of 90 devotions to be shared with your child at bedtime. Each page includes a Bible verse, a short Bear family story or reflection, and a small prayer. Some pages also include a paragraph encouraging children to think about something in particular as they fall asleep. Accompanied by an illustration featuring the Berenstain Bears, this book is perfect for short attention spans and for a quick read before bed.
Bound in a small hardback format with an attached ribbon for book marking pages, the size and format is perfect for small hands.
The book opens with a longer bedtime prayer and then the book is divided into nine chapters, each with a specific focus. For example, in the “Be A Good Friend” chapter, each of the devotionals relates in some way to being a good friend to others. If your child has had a trying day, the chapters make it easy to locate a devotion that might resonate particularly well.
Overall, a beautiful book that would make a great gift for little ones.
Thank you to Book Look Bloggers and Zonderkidz for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I have been reviewing books for my column every week, but then the week gets away from me and those reviews don’t make it to the blog. Sad day.
Anyway, I am trying to play catch up by posting a several reviews in one post. This is like a giant food baby book review post. Your head might actually explode, or implode…I’m not really sure.
Also, I went to a writing conference last weekend and it was glorious! I met so many wonderful, wonderful people and I have been feeling INSPIRED!
That is a topic for another day. Today is about books! I did get some good books at the conference too 🙂
Mostly picture book reviews today with a chapter book thrown in. I saved my favorites for the end 🙂 I hope you find something you like or let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought.
Happy Reading!
Last-But-Not-Least Lola: Going Green (2013, Boyds Mills Press, Chapter Book)
Lola Zuckerman seems to come in last at everything. Her last name does start with a “Z” after all. But Lola is tired of being last and sets out to win her classroom’s Going Green contest. There’s just one problem, Amanda Anderson, her former best friend, is first in the alphabet and first in most other things. Lola needs to win the contest but she needs to beat Amanda to do it.
Last-But-Not-Least Lola: Going Green is the first in a new chapter book series written by Christine Pakkala and illustrated by Paul Hoppe. While the story is cute, Lola’s narration feels a bit immature for her being in second grade. The classroom contest is fun and might give readers some great ideas for going green in their own lives, but Lola comes across as a poor sport and even rude at times. The dynamics with her former friend leave Lola looking like the worst friend in the world, and I don’t know that readers will have much sympathy for her at times. The story does get better toward the end, and nearly redeems itself. While adults will likely not find Lola amusing, first and second grade readers might enjoy Lola’s antics. This would be a fun read for Earth Day or to tie in with some other activity or celebration about caring for the Earth.
3 stars for Lola’s going green idea.
Look for reviews of other books in this series coming soon!
Cat Knit (2016, Fiewel and Friends, Picture Book)
Cat and Girl have always been friends. Then Girl brings home Yarn and Cat has a new friend! Cat and Yarn do everything together but Girl wants to play with Yarn too. Cat doesn’t like this new friendship between Girl and Yarn. He just wants his Yarn back.
Cat Knit, written and illustrated by Jacob Grant, is a cute tale of friendship and change. The crayon and charcoal illustrations are lovely and help move the story forward. The story is absolutely charming until about three quarters of the way through, then the pace suddenly picks up and the story is over just as Cat decides maybe the new Yarn is okay. While the ending is satisfying, and the plot is both slightly predictable while also being clever, the change in pacing really throws off the whole feel of the story. Children will likely enjoy this story and it’s a fun winter tale, but adults may be left feeling a bit let down.
3 stars – one each for Cat and Yarn and Girl
The Night the Stars Went Out (2016, Capstone, Picture Book)
Alien has an important job. He must shine all the stars every night. His job is so important he never has time for fun, but that’s OK because Alien loves his job. Then one night, the unthinkable happens….all the stars go out! Alien tries everything he can think of but the stars stay out. How will Alien ever turn the stars back on?
The Night the Stars WentOut, written and illustrated by Suz Hughes, reiterates the message that all work and no play makes for a dull life. The tale starts out beautifully with the unique world of Alien polishing stars and hilariously trying to fix them, but then Alien leaves for Earth and the story loses a bit of its magic. The story wraps up a bit too neatly after such a brilliant set up and, while the ending is cute, the reader might feel a bit dissatisfied.
4 stars to keep Alien busy
The Quiet Book (2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Picture Book)
Whimsical animals quietly come together in this charming book as the reader learns there are many kinds of quiet.
In, The Quiet Book, written by Deborah Underwood and illustrated by Renata Liwska, the reader goes on a wonderfully quiet journey through many everyday activities. With fun twists on kinds of “quiet” the reader will look at the world in a new way. From “Making a wish quiet” to “top of the roller coaster quiet”, adults and children will think of silent moments, and emotions, in new and fun descriptive terms. Brilliant and beautiful, this book is sure to be a favorite at bed time. Gorgeous illustrations add weight and charm to the clever text, creating a book that needs to be read again and again. Highly recommended for children of all ages.
5 stars hanging in the sky quiet
Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems (2016, Penguin Random House Canada, Picture Book)
A girl and her dog run into all sorts of problems as they go about their day. Luckily they have solutions too! Some solutions are better than others but as long as they are together they can handle cold feet and other little problems.
Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems, written and illustrated by Carey Sookocheff, is delivered in simple, short sentences and carried by the illustrations. The text is perfect for beginning readers to tackle alone, while the story is engaging enough for parents to enjoy reading it with their children too. This is a great read as winter approaches and the weather gets chilly. The story is soft and lovely, and will warm your heart and your feet.
5 stars to shine on a cold winter night
Books Do Not Have Wings (2016, Sleeping Bear Press, Picture Book)
A book is more than just a book…because books do not have wings. Take a wild ride where anything is possible and climb ladders into the clouds. Sail a ship, see a dragon, and fly high with your imagination. Where will this book take you?
Books Do Not Have Wings, written by Brynne Barnes and illustrated by Rogerio Coelho, is simply stunning in words and in pictures. The text of the story will carry the reader away on a magical journey made even greater by the fantastic and whimsical illustrations. With bold strokes and an incredibly imaginative flair, each spread of this book is breath-taking.
The premise of this book about books, is that a book is just a book until the reader picks it up. Once a book is read, it becomes so much more than just a book. Books are flat objects of paper and ink, but the stories on their pages have wings to carry the reader anywhere. And this book fulfills that promise and will carry the reader far.
Children and adults will linger on every page taking in the elaborate and intricate illustrations or reading the poetic lines again and again.
With nods to fairy tales and traditional characters, this book touches on a multitude of children’s literary staples. If any book could inspire a child to seek out other books, this one will.
5 beautiful, brilliant stars to light the reader’s way
Thank you to all the publishers for copies of these books in exchange for my honest review. Each of these reviews also appeared within my newspaper column sometime in the past month.
Looking for some fun Halloween stories for the whole family?
I’ve been reading spooky stories all month and some are more sweet than spooky, perfect for sharing with even the youngest book lover.
The Mystery of the Haunted Farm (2016, Nosy Crow/Candlewick, Picture Book)
Something spooky is going on at Farmer Greg’s farm. Ghosts, zombies, and slimy things are everywhere! Farmer Greg calls in the Ghost-Hunters and those three pigs get to work. But when they get out their Scare-O-Meter, it doesn’t detect anything unusual at the farm. Something really scary is going on!
The Mystery of the Haunted Farm, written and illustrated by Elys Dolan, is silly, spooky fun just in time for Halloween! The layout is similar to a comic book with speech in bubbles and some illustrations framed in sequence. There is a lot going on in both the illustrations and the text, and little ones will likely want to examine each illustration closely. While this might not be the most read-aloud friendly book due to the vast number of speech bubbles on some pages, it could definitely be a fun book to enjoy with beginning and independent readers where you and the young reader take turns reading pages. The format of this book isn’t for everyone, and some may find the pages too chaotic with the number of random words and dialogue. But for those who like comics or non-traditional formats, this book is a fun and silly read, perfect for sharing with children on Halloween.
4 stars to scare away the zombie ducks!
Hubble Bubble: The Super Spooky Fright Night (2016, Nosy Crow/Candlewick, Chapter-Book)
When Pandora’s Granny tries to help, things never go as planned. And since Granny is a witch, her magic makes even the most mundane situations ridiculous. From dancing pumpkins at a party, to teddy bears coming to life, to a flat tire turning into a circus, life with Granny is always an adventure!
The Super Spooky Fright Night, written by Tracey Corderoy and illustrated by Joe Berger, is the first book in a fun new series for young independent readers. It’s difficult to find beginning chapter books that are both easy to read and have an engaging storyline, and this book definitely delivers. The characters are fun, and the situations are sure to get lots of giggles. Broken down by chapters and divided into three parts, this book is actually three short books in one. The format is great for those with short attention spans or as a quick story before bed. The length makes young readers feel like they are reading a book for older children, but it is still fully illustrated to keep their attention. This is a book parents will enjoy reading aloud, and can also be enjoyed by independent readers ages six to eight.
5 stars for Granny’s next magical potion!
Thank you to Net Galley and Candlewick for copies of these books in exchange for my honest review.
I’m excited to present you with a wonderful new middle-grade dark fantasy! I had planned to do several spooky posts all month long, and while I achieved that goal in my newspaper column, I can’t say the same for the blog.
But, to make up for it….I will be posting Halloween posts every day starting today through Monday!
This might cut into my Hocus Pocus watching time, but I’m willing to make that sacrifice…only for you.
I’m kicking off this fun weekend with a big post! I have a review, a publisher interview and an author interview to share. Get excited 🙂
And now…on with the show!
The Midnight Glass
When I first heard of this book, I was immediately intrigued by the title. And I’ll admit, I did judge it by its cover…because I loved the cover!
Then I watched the book trailer….
And I knew I had to read this book!
I love that this book is from a new publisher and they have put forth a fantastic first book. The cover design, layout and feel of the book is fantastic. I would not have known this was a publisher’s first attempt if they hadn’t told me.
The Midnight Glass (2016, Branford Books, Middle-Grade Dark Fantasy)
When Wyatt’s mom accepts a new job, their family moves to the mysterious town of Davenport. Secretive and secluded, the town exists deep in the woods locked behind a gate. Wyatt is excited for the move, until they actually arrive. He thinks he must be seeing things when his classmates have green skin, gills, fangs and more! But the residents of Davenport aren’t the only mysterious thing…Wyatt learns the greatest mystery of all is that Davenport hasn’t seen the sun in over 400 years. As he adjusts to life in eternal darkness, Wyatt learns more and more about Davenport’s deadly secrets.
The Midnight Glass, written by D.T. Vaughn, is a great dark fantasy for Middle-Grade readers. With just the right amount of creepiness, readers will be eager to learn more about Davenport without being too scared to read in the dark. Readers will identify with Wyatt as he is bullied at his school and then doesn’t quite fit in at his new school in Davenport either. As Wyatt makes friends and stands up to bullies, children will root for him. Adding in all the fantasy elements, including curses and weird creatures, plus the normalcy of middle school, moving, and fitting in, makes this a book that touches on many popular themes. Some may find the pacing a bit slow, but most will be drawn into the rich world crafted by the author. Fantasy seems to be a popular genre for Middle-Grade, and adding the darker elements will likely appeal to many readers.
This story has all the elements to make it a hit with readers ages 9 to 12. For the hard to please pre-teen boys, this is an especially good choice.
Imaginative and fun, this book will have readers imagining their own Davenport, and all the adventure they might have there.
4 stars to hang in the brilliant night sky of Davenport!
Interview with Branford Books
I’m excited to introduce you all to a new face in the publishing world. Branford Books has debuted with a strong title in The Midnight Glass, and I’m excited to help spread the word! They were also kind enough to sit down and answer some questions about their new company and the future of Branford Books.
When was Branford Books established and what is your mission?
Branford Books began in 2016 with the idea of starting something fresh for the publishing industry. Our goal is to bring new and exciting fantasy books to readers of all ages. We started our mission with one of our favorite genres, middle-grade.
Who is the owner/founder of Branford Books?
Branford Books is comprised of editor Shawn Conley, publicist Lauren Ruggles, and D. T. Vaughn, our first author.
What kinds of books do you publish?
Fantasy is at our forefront for books we’d like to publish, and that really umbrellas all of the subgenres from urban to high-fantasy to more subtle themes. Ultimately, we love books that spark the imagination and have well-designed characters to tug at our heart strings.
Congratulations on the release of your first novel, THE MIDNIGHT GLASS! Do you have any more releases planned for the near future?
Thank you for the well wishes for THE MIDNIGHT GLASS. We really hope the book captures readers like it has captured us! We are putting a lot of our energy behind this project because we feel that it deserves it; but as soon as 2017 rolls around, expect to see some enchanting new stories.
Are you open to submissions? And if so, how can an aspiring (or established) author submit to you?
At this time, we are not taking unsolicited material. However, that may change. We invite authors to visit our website and subscribe to our mailing list for updates.
What have been the biggest struggles with starting a publishing company?
The publishing industry is constantly changing and that can be a challenge. We love this business and we’re stockpiling new and exciting ideas to spark reader interest.
What do you hope for the future of Branford Books?
We aim to establish followings of fantasy readers who are always looking for the next exhilarating read. We also intend to have some of our books shift to new media like movies and television. It’s a process we’ve already begun, and it’s more thrilling than we could have ever imagined!
Anything else you’d like to say about Branford Books or THE MIDNIGHT GLASS?
If you’re a reader who loves Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Louis Sachar’s Holes, or Ransom Riggs’ Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, we couldn’t recommend a better book for you than THE MIDNIGHT GLASS. It’s the dark fantasy novel about a lovable boy against the deadliest of odds. Get it in print and eBook on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or our site, BranfordBooks.com.
Interview with author D.T. Vaughn
The author of The Midnight Glass was kind enough to answer a few questions about the writing process and life as an author. I’m excited to share this interview with you and hope it offers some valuable insight into the writing process.
How long have you been writing and when did you publish your first book?
I started writing when I was about eight or nine years old. I would create little short stories in class and read them aloud to the other kids during story time. The first set of little books I wrote were called The Homework Stealer series. They were about a little man who secretly crept in at night and stole kids’ homework! Come to think of it… that might make a really good series now. The Midnight Glass is my first full-length book. I’m both the writer and the illustrator.
Where do you find your writing inspiration?
I often find myself coming up with ideas while I’m on the treadmill. It’s a funny place to think of them, but I just blank out to the world and imagine characters interacting with each other. My nephews are also huge inspirations for my middle-grade ideas. They have a lot of energy and it really sticks to me when I think about kids and how they experience the world.
What inspired you to write THE MIDNIGHT GLASS?
For THE MIDNIGHT GLASS, I pulled ideas from my past and present. As a kid I was obsessed with the idea of living amongst werewolves and mermaids. So, I decided to create a world based on that. My family also gave me a lot of inspiration to write this book.
How long did it take you to write THE MIDNIGHT GLASS?
The first draft took about a month. However, there were many, many more drafts after that and the book took about nine months to complete.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A rock star! And I was! For years I wrote music in a band and toured the nation. It was a lot of fun and I met a lot of great people. Maybe one day I’ll write about that, too.
What was your favorite book as a child?
That’s a tough one to answer! I was a huge fan of Roald Dahl, but I also loved Louis Sachar’s Sideways Stories from Wayside School. I think I’ve read that book more times than any other. He did a fantastic job of bringing to life each student and giving them an identity, wish, and purpose.
Who has most inspired you in your writing career?
In college, I worked at an elementary school full of amazing kids. They loved my weird drawings and stories about things like gluttonous hamsters and thieving goldfish. That was about ten years ago, and I still remember it like it was yesterday. I often pull inspiration from what they liked the most.
What struggles have you faced on your way to becoming an author?
At first, the hardest part was the risk. I’m a full-time writer and I freelance various projects. However, starting a business can be scary. I worked nonstop for months before taking the leap and doing it full-time. Now taking risks is just part of the job and it’s crazy to see how they can work out.
What advice would you give to young writers?
First, writing is a career. If you love doing it, then you should go for it! Second, write as much as you can to improve. Third, ask for both praise and constructive criticism from peers and professionals. The praise will help determine your strengths and the constructive criticism will help you improve the gaps.
Name one interesting fact about yourself unrelated to writing 🙂
I’m a self-described sloth enthusiast! Even just seeing a sloth makes my eyes water with joy. Okay, that makes me sound crazy, but I don’t care–I love them!
Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
I invite everyone to visit TheMidnightGlass.com to watch the stunning book trailer and to read more about me. I’m also available for readings and lectures if you want to meet me in person, just visit BranfordBooks.com for the contact.
Anything else you’d like to mention about THE MIDNIGHT GLASS or your writing career?
Thank you to everyone who has read this interview. Branford Books is a small business, which means that word of mouth means the world. If you liked THE MIDNIGHT GLASS, please tell your friends and family. Maybe even order a copy for a kid you know for the holidays. Hopefully, they’ll enjoy it, too! Again, thank you for your support. I greatly appreciate it.
Thank you to Branford Books and D.T. Vaughn for taking time participate in my interviews and for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I requested this book when it first became available on Net Galley, and it has been a struggle not to start reading it right away. But I have to keep to my schedule if I want to get all my reviews done, and so I had to put off reading this for months and months while it continued to taunt me from my virtual shelf.
Then Lerner Publishing put out this great behind-the-scenes blog post about the editing process and they used The Secret of Goldenrod as their example.
As you can see by my comment on their post, I’ve waited since April to read this book!
I loved their post for two reasons:
1. It had an outstanding (and super short) excerpt from the book, and 2. It’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the publishing process.
But now, at last, I have read The Secret of Goldenrod and get to share it with you all.
With an October 1st publishing date, this is the perfect tale to kick off Halloween season.
A lonely girl…
A mysterious old house…
An antique doll.
So many things intrigued me about this book, but the antique doll really did it. What’s not to love about a possibly haunted house and creepy antique doll?
There are many things I loved about this book, but let me start with the one thing I didn’t love. I’ll get that out of the way, and then the rest of the post will just be a profession of all the wonderful things about this book.
For a book centering around a haunted house, the story was not very scary. I realize this is a middle-grade novel, so we don’t want to terrify young children, but a few times the story had the opportunity to crank up the scariness, and it fell just short of the spine-tingling mark. As it shied away from delivering truly scary scenes, it also shied away from dealing with heavy issues faced by the main character and her father.
And that’s all I’m going to say on that note, because overall I thought the book was great, and it will be a fantastic Halloween read for many young readers. In fact, the lack of terrifying scenes probably makes it better for many readers (and their parents).
These are a few of my favorite things
This book is chock full of fantastic middle-grade themes.
Loneliness
Family
Making Friends
Fitting In
While Trina is not your average fifth grader, she is someone children will still relate to. The only daughter of a single father, she loves school but faces “new kid” challenges nearly every year as her father moves a lot to fix up old houses.
This year, her new school jitters are compounded by the fact the whole town thinks Goldenrod, the house her and her father are living and working in, is haunted. With no friends, and no desire to return to school, Trina throws herself into the work with her father and ends up finding a mysterious and beautiful antique doll.
Trina is headstrong and adventurous, but that doesn’t get her into quite as much trouble as the reader might expect. As I mentioned before, the book shies away from anything too dastardly, so Trina approaches, but always stays well away from crossing the lines of temptation and trouble making. That’s not to say she doesn’t find herself in precarious situations, its just that the situations always work out a little too perfectly.
With a small cast of main characters, Trina and her doll take the spotlight with the house also featuring as a major character in its own way. Trina’s dad is a lovable character and the changing dynamics between him and his growing daughter are amusing and sweet. While Trina is the most developed character, the other characters don’t feel flat or act as fillers. Each character serves a purpose, and ultimately plays an important part in the story arc.
Weaving in generous amounts of traditional fairy tales, the story has a magical charm about it that is reminiscent of childhood, when anything seemed possible. I left this book wanting to read old fairy tales and renovate a Victorian house….and possibly play with antique dolls.
A beautifully told tale of family and home, this story is full of thought-provoking moments and poignant quotes. While I wish heavy emotions had been dealt with more directly and openly, this book still has resounding messages of love and forgiveness, which will resonate with readers of all ages.
This is a book children will adore. Highly recommended for children 8 and up.
5 stars for the book to wear forever and ever.
“What is more special than forever and ever?”
Thank you to Net Galley and Lerner Publishing for a reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Hello to all and I hope you had a wonderful and rejuvenating weekend!
I’m bringing you a new review today thanks to Book Look Bloggers and Zonderkidz!
I received a copy of Love Letters from God Holy Bible NIrV, and once again, I am impressed with the Bibles Zonderkidz produces for children.
This book contains the complete text of the New International Reader’s Version of the Bible alongside letters for the reader which are formatted to be “written by God”.
The idea of God writing letters directly to the child is fun and a creative way to engage young children with Biblical text. Unlike some other children’s Bibles that only have a few inserts throughout, there are 80 letters throughout the book plus other bonus content like full-color inserts and writing prompts.
The letters encourage personal reflection and offer greater understanding of selected verses. By encouraging children to write their own letter to God, children are offered a different way to connect with God and the scripture.
Something to perhaps keep in mind, is to make sure children understand the letters aren’t really from God and those aren’t his true word, but they are a lovely way to facilitate his word and interpret it for children.
This Bible would be great for church libraries, children’s church and other church lessons for younger children.
Thank you to Zonderkidz and Booklook Bloggers for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Christmas is coming slightly early with this week’s Christian book review.
I received a new book from Tommy Nelson publishing and I’m happy to welcome Christmas a little early to share it with you. 🙂
One Small Donkey
Written by Dandi Daley Mackall
Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens
One small donkey dreams of being big and important. But one small event is much bigger than a small donkey could have ever dreamed. When one small donkey plays a part in the first Christmas, he gets to be part of something that will change the whole world.
I love Christmas and I love Christmas stories, so I just had to review this book when I saw the chance. The cover is precious and the illustrations continue to enchant the reader throughout this charming book.
Christmas always strikes me as a magical season when it feels like anything can happen. In a way, this book captured that feeling with the small donkey getting his chance to do something big. And the illustrations capture the wonder of the first Christmas with Mary and Joseph surrounded by sweet animals.
The text is written in a rhyming scheme that sometimes feels a bit off, but overall the story is cute and fun for kids. The message is clear, that being little doesn’t mean you can’t do big things, and it gives parents a chance to talk to kids about big or little things they can do to help others.
Some readers may not enjoy this book as much as I did, but if you love Christmas stories you’ll likely enjoy this lovely tale.
4 stars that won’t shine nearly as brightly as the Christmas star.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing and BookLook Bloggers for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Today I’m sharing my review of The Storybook Knight and some fun bonus book content. Plus, I had a chance to interview the author/illustrator team behind this fun book!
The Storybook Knight (2016, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Picture Book)
Leo is a knight, but he doesn’t like to fight. He would rather read than seek out danger. His parents have a different view of how a knight should behave so they send Leo away on a quest to fight a dragon. Leo embarks upon his quest with his faithful horse, saddlebags full of books, and a story in his heart.
The Storybook Knight, written and illustrated by Helen and Thomas Docherty, is a tale of following one’s heart and believing in oneself. Children will love the clever rhyme and adorable illustrations as they root for Leo and his books. The concept of Leo knowing his heart, but being forced to try something different by his parents will resonate with young readers. Leo carries his love of books with him on his quest and it serves him well. He goes on a great adventure as his parents wished, but he always stays true to himself. A beautiful and subtle lesson of trying new things, but maintaining one’s integrity at all costs. Especially relevant in this age of social networking when children are bombarded with messages from all sides and face more peer pressure than ever.
Wonderful read! A book for children to carry in their hearts, or saddlebags, when facing life’s obstacles.
Interview With Helen and Thomas Docherty
Thomas and Helen Docherty are the husband and wife team behind The Storybook Knight. They were kind enough to answer a few questions about their newest book, the creative process, and working together as a team.
Where did you get your inspiration for THE STORYBOOK KNIGHT?
HD: It was Tom who came up with the idea of a knight who didn’t want to fight, but he wasn’t sure how to develop the story, so he passed it on to me. I decided to give our knight a passion for reading and some pushy parents who send him off on a quest to ‘prove’ himself… but of course, he ends up proving that the word is mightier than the sword. I think that’s an important message for us all!
How many books have you published together?
HD: Four, so far: The Snatchabook, Abracazebra, The Storybook Knight and an earlier book which we co-wrote (and Tom illustrated), Ruby Nettleship and the Ice Lolly Adventure.
What is the creative process like working as a team? Do you develop the story together or does one part develop more fully before the other (writing before illustrations or vice versa)?
HD: When we work together on a book, the writing always comes first, as a story has to be commissioned by a publisher before Tom can start work on the illustrations. In some cases, as with the Storybook Knight, we work on the initial story idea together before I start writing.
TD: By the time I come to illustrating Helen’s stories, I’ve had a long time to watch Helen develop the text, so I often have quite a few ideas in my head of how the characters and scenes might look. And as the illustrations progress I’m always showing the rough drafts to Helen and getting her feedback and advice – I really appreciate her input.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
HD: An author! I spent most of my childhood writing stories and making them into little books, which I also illustrated. But I put that ambition aside for a long time; I was a language teacher (French, Spanish and English) for many years before I finally started writing again and became a published author.
TD: I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to do when I grew up. I think I was too busy climbing trees and playing ball with my brothers to give it much thought. Having said that, I always liked drawing and as I got older it became clear that I was going to end up doing something creative. But it wasn’t until after I had graduated from Art College (where I studied sculpture) that I thought back to all the amazing illustrated books I had enjoyed as a child and begun to think that I might like to do something like that myself.
As a child, what was your favorite book?
HD: I had so many favorites! But some of the books that I loved and re-read the most were Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr, Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce and a series of books about a girl called Aurora by the Norwegian author Anne-Cath. Vestly.
TD: I am dyslexic and really struggled with my reading when I was young, so picture books and comics were very important to me because I could ‘read’ the pictures, instead of the words. My favorite books were the Asterix comics, and I spent hours looking at and often copying the pictures. It was Asterix books that eventually got me reading, and I’ve never looked back since!
Which part of the writing or illustrating process do you enjoy the most?
HD: The part I enjoy most is when I’ve got a really exciting, complete story idea and have worked out the rhyme scheme I’m going to use. Usually I’ll start with a sentence – not necessarily the first one – which establishes the rhythm of the story in my head. Then I’m ready to start writing… the fun bit!
TD: I love the start of a project when I’m doing lots of quick sketches and you can see the characters and the world around them grow. I also love thinking about the colors that I will use to add drama and atmosphere to the story.
What struggles have you faced as a writer or illustrator?
HD: The hardest part is coming up with a watertight idea for a story. The best stories have their own internal logic; you may not see the end coming when you’re reading the story, but when it does, it all makes complete sense. But of course, those brilliant ideas don’t come every day. The other challenging aspect of being an author is that not every story you write ends up being commissioned – I’ve had plenty turned down by my publishers. You have to learn to get over the disappointment and keep going!
TD: I have good and bad days, just like everyone else. I still do most of my work by hand, using paper and inks and watercolor. A large page can take me a couple of days to paint, and sometimes I mess up and have to start all over again. This can be quite stressful!
Anything else you’d like to add about your work or THE STORYBOOK KNIGHT?
HD: A little known fact is that the original storybook knight was called Gareth, after my dad (and also after one of the Knights of the Round Table). However, our UK publishers wanted a more universal name, so I chose Leo instead – which is our nephew’s name, and works well in lots of languages. The Storybook Knight has been translated into Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian and Slovenian so far.
TD: My favorite character in the story is Ned, Leo’s faithful horse. He doesn’t say anything, so I had lots of fun giving him a personality of his own: loyal, brave, and always on the lookout for a tasty snack.
Are you sharing The Storybook Knight in your classroom or looking for more ways to engage your child? Download an educator or activity kit for even more adventures with Leo and Ned.
Rafflecopter: Enter for a chance to win an original sketch of Leo and Ned by illustrator Thomas Docherty! Comment on this blog post plus tweet about the giveaway for two chances to win!
Click on the link below to go to the rafflecopter entry page.
Thank you to Thomas and Helen Docherty for taking the time to answer all my questions and to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for letting me be a part of the blog tour and providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Three Show Saturday 