Are You a DUFF? I Am. Review: The Duff

The Duff

The DUFF: (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) was one of my "To Be Reads" I wrote about this month, so when I finally started reading it, I didn’t waste any time.  In fact the book was read in one evening as I couldn’t put it down.  I see why YA readers, especially teens, are creating a buzz about this book and the author, Kody Keplinger.  The book is a impressive YA read that should be popular with readers who like a little sizzle, a lot of drama, and a fun school based story.

Bianca’s emotional rollercoaster starts when a rude guy from her high school, Wesley, calls her the Duff.  That’s right, the D.esignated U.gly F.at F.riend.  Ouch.  Bianca instantly hates the guy.  Things at home aren’t going well either, with her MIA mother and her father’s issues of his own.  How does Bianca react?   Well … a wild fling might take her mind off of things.  Unfortunately, it also takes her away from her friends, her family, and hides her true feelings.

This book is a good read.  I really did enjoy it and I look forward to reading the next of Kody Keplinger’s books.  I have read some of the other reviews about this book and some of the criticism reflects upon Keplinger’s obviously immaturity.  While I agree that some of the book lacks refinement, I liked Keplinger’s writing.  I thought the story was well developed and the characters were fun and likable too.  Bianca could be any one of us, in each of us is a Duff.  Teen readers will love this book and probably will feel a connection with not only the characters, but also the young author herself. 

Zoo-rific!! Review: Zoozical

Zoozical

ZooZical is a new picture book written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown.  This is the type of book that screams to be picked up and shared with children.  Those of you who love Marc Brown will really enjoy the illustrations too.  This hardcover is big and bright, so are the characters.

It all starts when the zoo animals get into a funk.  They don’t have any visitors and are in a bad mood.  When one little hippo and one little roo start jumping around, the other animals catch the excitement.  Soon there is singing, dancing, and a full-on musical.  The visitors start showing up and before you know it the animal funk is gone!  It’s a great voyage to go on with this zoo full of animals. The music is adorable too.  My favorites were: “Oh My Darling Porquipine”, “For He’s a Jolly Gorilla”, and of course “The Seals on the Bus”.  I admit I laughed out loud as I read this to my Lil Guy and he enjoyed the book too.  He was interested in the illustrations too.

This book is going to be an instant classic on my shelf.  I enjoyed it for the first read and I know that I will enjoy reading it again and again.  I think the book has wide appeal for all who love picture books.  I love, love, love the illustrations and think others will like it too.  I want a big groups of children sitting on a rug in front of me next time I read this one; it’s that kind of book.

A 16th Century Heroine Review: Alchemy and Meggy Swann

Alchemy and Meggy Swann

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman is a middle grade fiction book set in Elizabethan London.  Much like Cushman’s Newberry Honor winning  book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this book features old world musings, setting, and characters.  What is very different about this book was the main character who has a disability and a cast of other characters who are some likable and some loathsome.   The book tells the short adventure of a young girl, Meggy Swann.

Meggy Swan makes her way through life using rudimentary crutches that leave her winded and sore.  She has a sharp wit and good humor, which she needs to make her way in the dirty and crude world of London in the 16^th century.  Meggy has come to London to be with her father, an alchemist, who she hasn’t met until now.  Not only are the London streets cruel, her father is quite unkind as are many neighbors and strangers who fear the young disabled girl, fearing that she is a wicked girl scarred with her disabled legs.  Meggy finally does find a few friends including her father’s former apprentice, Roger.  The adventure in London is full of twists and turns, good times, but mostly bad times, plus humor and quick witted remarks.

I am not sure what I expected when I began this book, but it was a short read full of humor and period details.  Much of the story was told in dialogue, so at time it was somewhat slow.  It was great to see a character with a major disability played as a strong and beautiful young girl like Meggy.  I found myself, often needing to look up words from the book and trying to picture the scenes in my head.  I don’t know a lot about the time period so it was more interesting to me than distracting.  While I enjoyed the book, I found it not as wonderful as Cushman’s original favorite, Catherine Called Birdy.  That being said, if you liked Catherine, you will find this a good read.  I do have to say the cover isn’t too inspiring, or maybe just not my style. If you do enjoy period reads, strong female characters, and books by Newberry honor winners, this is a book you should check out.

Monsters ! ! ! Review: Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen is a Monster themed lullaby for little book-loving monsters. Yolen is also the author of the very popular series of books “How Do Dinosars _______?” We chose this book at our library because of the fun and cute cover showing 2 monsters playing ‘peek-a-boo’. The book is an oversized hardcover with shiny and colorful pages. The illustrations are somewhat muted, with dark backgrounds, adding to the eerie effect. There are plenty of scenes showing various monsters doing kid and family things, such as going to school, swinging on swings, eating dinner, and taking a bath. The monsters are drawn with soft fluid lines, lots of eyeballs, and smiling mouths (sometimes full of sharp, but not scary, teeth).

Each 2 page spread has only 2 simple lines, like this one: Monsters run, Monsters stumble. Followed by the next 2 page spread Monsters hip-hop, Monsters Tumble. The story takes you on a day with the monsters from beginning to end, ending with the monsters getting into bed and making some monster noises: gurgle, burp, and snarf. The last page showing the lil monsters finally asleep.

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters could have had a better name, it's such a cute book, and I am not sure I want to read something too creepy to my 2 year old! I think the illustrations are cute and they kind of remind of Ugly Dolls, which are just adorable. If little ones like monsters and think they are cute, this is a great book. I also think the use of monster sounds was fun. Because there were only a few words on each page with a very simple story, this book would be best for children ages 6 and under. I do wonder why the board book format wasn’t chosen. Enjoy this book, making monsters sounds, and watching the fun scenes with monsters.

Reader’s Theater at Home

Reader’s Theater is a teaching strategy in which students read a book or play as a script, having assigned roles and characters.  Unlike a full performance, props and physical acting are not generally used, instead focusing on the reading.  In the classroom students might act out a short story, a folk tale, a poem, or even a section of a novel.  Kids love this because it is interactive.  They get to step into a role without having to go up on stage.  Reader’s Theater also helps with fluency, one of the often missed components of reading.  As students read they are talking mostly in dialogue, adding expression and emotion into the spoken word.  Another aspect of Reader’s Theater is that the story is often familiar, read several times to allow students to practice and hone their roles.  Repeated exposure to the same text is recommended to students learning to read because it gives practice with fluency without having to worry about stumbling over unfamiliar words.  It also gives students a chance to study the literary devices and techniques employed by an author as they read the text a second or third time.  They already know the story, so they can dig deeper as they read.

All of this to say that Reader’s Theater can happen outside of the classroom too!  Even the youngest readers can begin to practice reading using this technique, even if your child is at the pseudo reading stage, meaning that your child just pretends to read, memorizes parts of the book, or retells a story from looking at pictures.   (All are excellent indicators that you are raising a child to read!)   We began to read one of our books at home in Reader’s Theater style quite by accident.  Here is a review of the book with some details about how we started our own Reader’s Theater at home.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

This book is a version of the popular folk tale The Three Billy Goats Gruff written by Stephen Carpenter.  While new books are often given a lot of time on book blogs, I will admit: this is a book published ten years ago, although it is still in print today.  The book is a simple 8 by 8; this means that it’s one of those small 8 inch paperbacks that are popular and cheap, albeit mass produced and sometimes …. not the best quality.   This book however is well written and illustrated.  It’s the same cast of characters: goat, goat, goat, bridge, and troll.  The dialogue is simple but with some humor.  (As an added benefit, the dialogue is easy enough for my Lil Guy to remember at age 2.)  The story is also short enough to be a successful little Reader’s Theater at home.

My Lil Guy liked this book enough that we were reading it a couple times a day.  He giggled when we would use funny voices.  In fact, my husband decided to add a Scottish brogue to the Billy Goats’ voices.  (Or at least I think that is the effect I think he was trying to accomplish.)  Soon, the Troll’s voice changed too, it was gravely and rough.  My Lil Guy began to imitate us reading the story and took over the part of the Troll.  By this point, I was being a narrator (or the reader as my son was calling me), Lil Guy was doing the Troll’s voice, and my husband was doing the Goats.   The best part of the story is when the Troll tells each Goat; “I am going to gobble you up!”  This always gets us all laughing.  After several days of reading the book in this manner, we were ready to go mainstream and share our Reader’s Theater at home with an audience.  Nana was our first critic.  Via Skype we read along with the story, each doing our part and I must admit the effect was very successful.

This is a great version of the classic folk tale.  I do enjoy bringing old favorites to life and this book does an excellent version of that.  I am always on the lookout for good versions of classic tales, because well, because there are so many bad ones!  This book stands up to the test and classic tale lovers and those of you who are new to the story will enjoy this book, the illustrations, and maybe even a little theatrical flair.  Great for toddlers and emergent readers.

Technology Alert!

Technology Alert!  I will admit, while I am a solid bookie, I love books, I read them, heck I even sleep with them!!  (Admit it, you have slept with them too!)  While I can’t deny my love of books, I also have a Nook Color.  That’s right, I am a Nookie.  Maybe I should add to my blog title:  Teacher.Mother.Reader.Nooker.  I have had the Nook for 3 months now and have read a ton of books on this format.  It’s not the same as a book, but it’s not half bad.  I also enjoy sharing my Nook with my Lil Guy.  He has about a dozen books/apps that he can manipulate with help.  I had read that e-books and apps were beginning to be part of KidLit Blogosphere, and thought I should find something to review.  Anyway, I decided to do a review for a e-book/app I recently bought on my Nook. 

 

My First Zoo: Sights and Sounds

My First Zoo: Sights and Sounds brought to you by Tipitap is a treasury of animals for young ones to explore.  Each page is a single photograph of an animal with the animal’s name clearly labeled over the photograph, like with many children’s e-books, as you turn the page the text is read to you.  The other feature of this e-book/app is that by touching the animal you can hear the animal’s sound.  Before I bought the app I saw that there was some issue with sound, but following the directions on the overview, provided by the developer, I was able to turn up the volume sufficiently.

The animals in My First Zoo are shown on big beautiful color photographs.  The animals range from domestic, such as cat and dog, to exotic, like cheetah and peacock.  There were enough animals to keep me and my Lil Guy tap, tap, tapping for quite a while.  My Lil Guy, at age two, was able to turn the pages and tap to hear the sound independently after the first few pages.  This is part of what makes e-books (especially interactive books like this) a good match for toddlers:  we made the app into a game.  First we would see the animal and hear the name, sometimes I would repeat the name or he would repeat it.  We would try to guess the noise the animal would make and listen, once, twice, sometimes several times.  We were howling and imitating lots of the animals.  Just like reading a book, Lil Guy is seated and cuddled on my lap as we read, talk, and share. 

I thought this interactive e-book/app was fun and even educational.  It would be a great fit for toddlers or young children interested in animals.  It is very well done and easy to manipulate.  If this was part of a series featuring other sight and sound collections, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase more.

Can You Imagine?

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski is a hot YA read and I had to read to find out what the buzz was all about. The title and the cover are both intriguing; from the beginning you can tell this is going to be a bit racy. The book does list 10 major ‘mistakes’ the main characters make and uses these as chapter headings. The book also spends a lot of time going back and forth using flashbacks to set the stage for various scenes. At times this was a bit distracting. Due to the content of the book I would rate it for older YA readers.

April is a high school teen with a steady boyfriend who so is totally in love with. She is ready to take things to the next level, but her family decides to move quicker than she can and relocates several states away. Somehow, (and by somehow I mean by lying, cheating, and breaking some laws) April and her friend Vi convince her father that April should be allowed to stay behind, on her own, living with Vi and her very absentee mother. That’s right, April and Vi are a junior and senior in high school with a house, an endless supply of both money and alcohol, and zero parental supervision. Can you imagine?

Everything you can imagine does happen in the book, including … everything. I really did think the concept of the book, albeit a little farfetched, was cute, but for me at least, a little too over the top. Between the drinking, bad boys, lying, and irresponsibility, it just wasn’t a fun read for me. There were times the book was a nice, fun read and some of the characters were good to get to know, but if teens read this book and find it realistic, I am not convinced. Overall I liked the style of the writing, I think the set up was unique, but I couldn’t get past the flat characters that only had one thing on their minds. If you are a older YA reader looking for a book that is exciting, easy to read, and a bit unrealistic at times, you might want to give this one a try.

Character Spotlight: Duck & Goose

For today’s character spotlight, we are meeting Duck & Goose, two lovable characters created by Tad Hills. Duck & Goose are both fun and silly, and they are best friends. Each of these books featuring this duo are sturdy board books with colorful illustrations, simple text, and laughable humor. All of the books follow similar patterns in text, very predictable and easy to read. Along the way, you will also meet Duck & Goose’s friends Thistle and Bluebird who are just as cute and sweet.

My Lil Guy loves Duck & Goose. This series was one of the first books he felt comfortable holding and ‘reading’ on his own. (And that was a big accomplishment!) As you read the dialogue between the two friends, you can’t help but read with a expression, even my Lil Guy says, “Come On, Goose!!” at the end of the Christmas book. The opposites book and feelings book are great examples of how an author should tackle these topics for little ones. The opposites are clear and have the cutest pictures that match each pair, same with the feelings. I love the feelings book too because my Lil Guy is starting to develop a vocabulary to really express himself. Being patient is a virtue that every mother of a two year should hope for, right?

Duck & Goose are perfect storybook friends for toddlers. Reading one book or all of the books in the series, these books are a must have for a little one’s library. I should also mention that author Tad Hills has another book in the series coming out this coming spring, so those of us who are already fans have something to look forward to from him.

A Must Read for 2011

The Berlin Boxing Club

The Berlin Boxing Club is a powerful new YA book written by Robert Sharenow. The book is a solid YA read that will draw readers into a historical fiction story set in World War II. This is only Sharenow’s second novel and he drew his inspiration from some real-life stories about World War II.

Karl Stern is a teenager living in Berlin in the 1930’s. He wasn’t raised in the Jewish faith, but that doesn’t stop his classmates and others in his community from identifying him as a Jew. He is bullied as is his family. Karl turns toward 2 secret loves: boxing and cartooning. In the 1930’s boxing was a worldwide phenomenon. Karl is introduced into the boxing world by a very famous German boxer, none other than Max Schmelling. Schmelling teaches Karl about boxing and gives the young teen advice when he is in town, which isn’t often. Schmelling, however, remains somewhat neutral to the political turmoil that is turning Karl’s life upside down. Throughout the book we are also shown illustrations of Karl’s work and see comic strips created by the character.

I hope this book gets noticed by other YA readers, librarians, bloggers, and teens. It’s on my list of must-reads for 2011. I have read other books that have similar themes, but none that were from such a strong perspective of a teen living through the devastating changes that Hitler and his Nazi party brought to Berlin. If you know a teen or even an adult that is interested in WWII history or fiction, this book is a great read. I really appreciated the amount of historical scenes we are given as we read the book as well. All of this plus the dramatic world of boxing are brought together in a well written book. The descriptions of the boxing are well done and easy to follow when the action gets intense. The book is amazingly true to life in the portrayal of a teen dealing with something so unreal, so unfathomable, so devastating, that it tears the character (and reader) apart. I would have to say, for me, this was a difficult read because of the subject matter. At times I had to put the book down and walk away because my emotions were riding a little too high. I will just recommend that if any part of this review interested you; you won't be disappointed by the read.

Grades 8 and up.

Weekend Theme: Autumn

This week here in the Midwest (and all over the Western hemisphere) we welcome Fall.  Fall or Autumn is so wonderful here in this part of the Midwest with the chill in the air and the beautiful changing of the leaves.  We won’t see the full colors for a couple weeks, but I couldn’t resist making Autumn my weekend theme and share these books with you.  There are 2 picture books and one middle grade fiction book.

Fall Mixed Up

Fall Mixed Up is written by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Chad Cameron.  The book is available in hardcover and is a large book with bright colorful pages.  This silly story is told in rhyme and fits perfect with the start of the season.  The books would make a perfect read aloud for ages 3 to 8.

Throughout the book Fall Mixed Up, the scenes and characters are mixed up indeed, wearing gloves on their ears and eating apple syrup.  My Lil Guy, age 2, was giggling at the pictures of the squirrels flying south for the winter.  The illustrations are cute and add much to the story since the text moves fast and it might be difficult to visualize the scene the author is trying to create. 

This book screams, READ ME ALOUD!  It’s colorful, funny, and set to rhyme!  I can see it being used in a primary classroom to introduce the season.  (A teacher could take  post-it notes to re-arrange the words to make sense after reading to the students, or even , in have the students create their own silly spoofs on the season.)  I really enjoy books like this and would recommend this for a fun seasonal read.

Leaf Man

Leaf Man comes from popular children’s Author and Illustrator Lois Elhert.  Elhert is known for her collage style of illustrating, using found objects to create colorful and beautiful scenes.  Leaf Man is available in a hardcover edition with glossy printed pages, each scalloped on the top to create a layered effect within the book.

Leaf man has landed in your yard, that’s right, look carefully and you will see the outline of a little man in the leaves.  His body is a bright maple leaf and his hat is an acorn, do you see him now?  Yes, that’s right; it is just like looking for shapes in the clouds.  Each page tells an adventure of the leaves creating movement and shapes out of nature.  The story is very simple, but the story is more than beautiful with the collages and your imagination.

Not only is Leaf Man a beautiful book, it’s the perfect jumping off point for exploring nature and creating your own nature crafts.  Elhert simply introduces how delicate leave can set the scene for anything, just add imagination.  I plan to re-read this with my Lil Guy and go on a leaf hunt in our own yard.  The leafs guys we create will be so much fun!  This book would be perfect for all children who like nature, like to create, and like to imagine.  (That’s all children, right?)

The The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. 

The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. by Kate Messner is a middle grade fiction book that deals with a very real family situation.  Gianna is a very likable character who loves to run and doesn’t enjoy science class.   When her class is assigned one of those, leaf collection assignments, Gianna quickly gets overwhelmed.  Personally she is dealing with a lot in her family.  Her mother is distant and cold, her father is not understanding and business focused, her little brother is annoying, and her grandmother is loving, but more than forgetful.  Nonna, Gianna’s grandmother, is so forgetful that she wanders away from the family in a farmer’s market in Montreal, she leaves cookies in the oven and goes to take a nap, and she seems to be caught up in her own little world.  All of this scares Gianna, but why doesn’t her family seem to think this is important?

There are not enough books like this that deal with real family issues like memory loss of elderly grandparents.  This book deals with the emotions of the entire family, Nonna’s daughter (Gianna’s mom) being distant and not wanting to face the facts, and Gianna being scared and feeling responsible.  The story is full and emotional, rushing towards a climax that brings everything in Gianna’s life together, and forces her to focus on what’s important.

I liked this book for several reasons.  First, there are not enough family based fiction books that deal with tough subjects like this.  I would recommend it to 5^th grade and up.  This book would benefit from a book talk that mentions Alzheimer’s disease, as some readers may already be struggling with this in their family life.  On a side note, the cover really reminds me Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, I thought I had already read it in fact!