Day #1 Picture Books Marathon Month

Since this month is the Picture Book Marathon, I'm going to feature and chat about my favorite picture books every day. Yes! Every day! (But that doesn't mean I won't post other random things...oooooh! I've actually been making som fun things from Pinterest....I know. Crazy idea, right? Not just pinning? No! Actually making things! Oh....and when I say every day, I mean...most days? Or maybe every day?  Hmmmmm...we'll see.)

So, here we go...

Gossie and Gertie by Olivier Dunrea

I haven't read the other books in this series, but my girls have loved this book. It is a sweet and simple story about two wee goslings who are very best friends.

Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem by Adam Rex and Mac Barnett

Ok. I've mentioned this book before. But I don't care. I LOVE it. These guys are all kinds of brilliant. This book is so funny that I had to read it to the whole family at dinner one night. And I had such a hard time getting through it....I was laughing so hard!

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

This is a sweet book all my children have loved. It's the cutest thing when they learn the phrase, "I want my mommy!" said Bill.  And I feel like flapping and dancing when the mommy comes home, too.

So, why do I love these books? Why do I want to read them over and over again?

#1: It's simple and concise. It's perfect for wee ones. And it has a cute little message about branching out and choosing your own path, whether or not your gosling friend is yelling "Follow me!!" at you. And I love their boots.

#2: It's so stinkin' funny. I mean....wow. If you haven't read this....you MUST get yourself a copy. Now! And every other book Adam Rex has written. Really....every home in the world must own them.

#3: It's sweet and you worry about and feel sad for those little tiny owls missing their mommy. There is a big problem (even though it's not a whale) in this book and so when the mommy finally comes home, when she swoops through the trees back to Sarah, Percy and Bill, you really do want to cheer along with her babies. And then you want to read it again. And so does your child!

What I read this summer...

Alright, here is another installment of my itty bitty book reviews. These are most of the books I've read in the past while....I'm not very good at remembering to jot down titles and then I quickly forget what I've read.

I also started many many other books, but put them down mostly because they didn't hold my interest. These are the ones I loved and finished.

Human .4 by Mike A. Lancaster



Wow. So weird and creepy and suspenseful. My 12 yo sat down and read it in one sitting. A boy and three others from his town are hypnotized during a town talent show and when they snap out of it everyone in town is frozen in place. What happened while they were under? Oooooh! You'll just have to read it!  It's so great.

But the cover kind of freaked out my kids. :)

Larklight by Philip Reeve
This was a rereading. Steampunk, Victorian space travel, an orphan turned pirate, giant spiders trying to take over the universe...I love this book.

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
Really great. A princess discovers she isn't the true princess and is sent back to the small town her real aunt leaves in.  She tries to find her new place in the world. There's some magic. And a sweet romance with a childhood friend who is also a noble. Loved all her struggles.

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt


This was another rereading. I love Lindsey's sense of humor. Oh. My. I would not be surprised if this series gets made into movies. Nope. Not at all.  I need to get my hands on the next book. Such a fun premise...a girl substitues for princesses who need a break....throw in some magic, an unrequited crush, mean girls and ooooh....a taboo romance....yep. See? Totally fun.

But hey....where's the person to substitute for moms that need a break, eh?

The Roar by Emma Clayton
Animal plague that makes the people of the world take refuge behind a giant wall around London? Goodnight Nurse. This was an interesting premise. And the surprising ending? Brilliant.

The Candleman by Glenn Dakin
Oooooh, what a scary power! The kid can MELT people. Well, not just anyone.  Murderers. Yep. You heard me.  He can MELT them. Really great book.

The Clone Codes by Fred McKissack

The whole idea with clones totally fascinates me. This is a brilliant story of a world where the clones are second class citizens. They're considered dumb menial servants. But then a teenage girl learns she's actually a clone and the government wants to snag her.  Wow. World-changing, eh? As if being a teen isn't hard enough as it is. :)  And then the chase is on. So great.

Fame, Glory and Other Things on my To-do List by Janette Rallison
I love Janette's writing. She's witty and clever and her books are just so fun.  This one is no exception. A teen who dreams of being a famous actress. An unhappy son of a celebrity father. A big school play.  When the girl tries to manipulate the boy into getting his dad at the play (so he can see what a fabulous actress she is) there are some major problems. And a sweet romance.

Ivy's Ever After by Dawn Lairamore
Ok. This one was more toward the beginning of the summer.  I know I really enjoyed it. And it was about a girl who has to go into a tower guarded by a dragon when she's...16?...and then a prince is supposed to slay the dragon and win her hand in marriage. Spunky Ivy has other plans. This was a super fun read.

Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind by Heidi Ashworth

Miss Delacoart Gets Her Day by Heidi Ashworth


Alright, I just have to say that I love me some good clean fun and fluffy romances that keep me turning the pages in anticipation of the characters finally smooching. Especially if there are big ball gowns, tea parties and carriage rides.  And these two fit the bill perfectly.  Loved them.

The Viscounti House by Elsbeth Edgar

This was different and interesting. A spooky old house with secrets. A curious girl trying to make friends. An outcast boy willing to help her with the mystery. Loved the relationship between the girl and boy. And the story of the past they unearth. And it's set in Australia. Cool, right?

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

I could reread this book endlessly.  I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I love Karen Cushman's writing. She is so funny. I've read all her books and loved everyone of them. Birdy is a young girl in medieval times desperate to keep from being forced into marriage (and she's like...13? 14? ack!) The lengths she goes to discourage the possible suitors is hilarious.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Mmmmm, love it. Such a great world she created. Love the curse and the adventure and the romance. Just brilliant.

Warp Speed by Lisa Yee



I don't usually read a lot of contemporary fiction. But I love Lisa's blog. She seems like a super fun person. And so when I stumbled across her latest book at the library I picked it up and started reading.  Needless to say, I had to bring it home and finish it. A geeky boy whose obsessed with Star Trek deals with bullies, a cute girl that seems to like him and the fact that the coach has discovered how fast he can run (it's all that practice while bolting away from the bullies). The voice of this book was highly enjoyable. I love the main character. I love his family and how well they love each other. I love how the boy discovers that people aren't always who you think they are.  Brilliant.

February's Itty Bitty Book Reviews

Alrighty, it's the end of the month.  It's time for my Itty Bitty Book Reviews (ok. sometimes it's hard for me to keep them itty bitty....). These are just the books I finished and the ones I loved.  I read a lot of books. But I didn't like all of them. I didn't even finish some of them.  I'll talk about some of those after this...

Young Adult and Middle Grade Novels:

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Schulman

Super fun! Seven-league boots, romance, mystery, a flying carpet and the best after school job ever. A unique book with a very likable main character who I wanted to see save the day and her new best friend (not to mention get the cute boy!)

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

A teenage girl's birthday wishes all start to come true.  A different one every day. So so funny! And sweet and romantic and brilliant. And who wouldn't love a book with a life-size My Little Pony prancing around?

Dear George Clooney, Will You Marry My Mom? by Susin Nielsen

Great title, right?  And it's a great fun read. I really felt the MC's pain and loss. But I love how she tried to find the perfect man for her mother...albeit George Clooney.  And I love the twisty ending.  So clever!

Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Glass by Brandon Sanderson

Oh. I don't know if I can even begin to write a review about this book or any of the Alcatraz books. It's virtually impossible to write an Itty Bitty Book Review for it or any of these books.  But. I. Will. Try. 

THESE ARE THE FUNNIEST BOOKS EVER!
(ok. that was short and to the point, right?)

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

Ah, so great, so awesome, so.....like crack. I couldn't put it down. 

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Luckily when I had to put down the Princess of the Midnight Ball I was able to pick this one up.  Jessica Day George, you are a magical writer. But could you please hire someone to do my housework when I read your books? Because, really, nothing gets done. And I'm holding you entirely responsible.

The Reinvention of Moxie Roosevelt by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Cute! And clever! And I love all the trouble this girl gets herself in as she tries to recreate her personality but goes a bit too far and creates a few too many personalities! Haven't we all dreamed about reinventing ourselves? I love how the MC solves the problem.  Great ending.

Worldshaker by Richard Harland

Wow. Such an interesting book. That is one intense world you created, Mr. Harland. Victorian society? Wildly different social classes? The lowest (a filthy) and the highest (one of the elite upper deck) meet and start to get all gooshy eyed over each other while planning a crazy-big rebellion?  Yep, it has all that AND it takes place on a Juggernaut.  (what's a juggernaut?  well, you'll just have to find out now, won't you?)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Mmmmmmm.  I should have put one in the freezer.  Ack! It was so scary!  I had no idea it was about a Zombie Apocolypse.  I am just not a scary book girl. But the writing was fantastic! I stayed up waaaaay late curled up on the couch, tearing through the pages. I had to know what would happen. There was ZERO chance I could put it down and go to sleep. But I thought about that poor zombie baby for days...

Prinsoners of the Palace: How Princess Victoria became Queen with the Help of Her Maid, a Reporter, and a Scoundrel by Michaela MacColl

I'm not much of a historical-fiction book lover. I love Karen Cushman's books. And there's some others I've enjoyed. And I'd probably love more of them if I wasn't so enthralled with the fantasy/science fiction genre. HOWEVER, this book has a great cover and caught my eye.  I read the blurb and decided to give it a shot.  And I was thrilled with it.  I love the spunky main character, a Lady who becomes an orphan and has to go into service as the then Princess Victoria's maid.. I love Victorian society and this book is a big brilliant puddle of victorian loveliness!

Picture Books and Early Readers:

Wild  Boars Cook by Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall


So, funny.  Espcially the part where Doris tries to add broccoli to their massive pudding.  I still need to try the recipe in the back for the massive cookie. And I love the first book, too, Meet Wild Boars. 

My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems


I heart Mo Willems. His sense of humor is...is...is...Just Wow. He is a genius. And I love the characters he creates.

There is a Bird on Your Head by Mo Willems


Ha ha ha! These books are so fun to read aloud. If you haven't read any Elephant and Piggie books then you're really missing out.  Maybe I'll start buying these for myself so when I have a bad day I'll just pull out one of these....I'd be smiling in no time!

Billy Twitters and his Blue Whale Problem by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex

Speaking of funny.  HA! I had to read this to my family at dinner one night.  I couldn't even make it through it without giggling and guffawing.  Luckily I didn't shoot dinner through my nose (although my kids would have loved that.) Billy Twitter's mom threatens him, "If you don't clean your room we're getting you a blue whale!" He doesn't believe they'll do it.  He figures you can't just get a blue whale delievered overnight.  Apparently Billy didn't know about Fed-Up "Delivering Punishment Worldwide". 

Children Make Horrible Pets by Peter Brown

Funny! And cute!  I love the illustrations in this book.  I got looking at it and he used paint and CARDBOARD in the pictures.  Cool, right?  This is a funny twist on kids wanting pets.  The girly bear finds a little boy in the forest and begs to kep him. Unfortunately her mom is right. Children do make horrible pets.

Chicken Cheeks by  Micheal Ian Black, Illustrated by Keven Hawkes


Ha! My kids have loved this one. And they now know a whole slew of new words for bum. Great. Just great. :) Clever and cute.

Big Rabbit's Bad Mood by Ramona Badescu, Illustrated by Delphine Durand


We love Big Rabbit's big bad booger-whiping Bad Mood and all the rotten things it does. And I love how Big Rabbit's finally figures out how to send that Bad Mood packing.

*********************************************************************************
Now for the...

Itty Bitty Books-I-Didn't-Like-So-Much Reviews:

Of course, I will not be naming any books here.  But this is a good exercise for me, to figure out why I didn't like or didn't even finish some books.  I won't go around slamming books though, so I'll have to give them code names. And I think I'll use a produce theme this month. And, no, the titles are not at all clues to the real books. I'm just being a dork and coming up with dorky titles.

Rutabagas in Love
I had to put this one down. And it wasn't hard to do (that's a bad sign, right?) It was a young adult novel.  And I didn't like the languauge. I don't like profanity. It doesn't make me happy.  And, yep, I like books that help me feel happy. Also, it just wasn't hard to put down.  I think this was mostly due to the fact that the plot wasn't all that mysterious. I felt like I already knew what was going to happen and...now that I think about it.  The MC really should have known what was going on, too.  Dumb girl.

Silence of the Swiss Chard
This middle grade novel is part of a series I love. LOVE. But this book...meh. There wasn't enough of a conflict. The main characters were already in love. There wasn't any of that "Will they ever fall in love?" thing. I like to call this the Moonlighting Effect. Anyone remember that old show Moonlighting?  I don't really even know what it was about. Bruce Willis was in it.  I was pretty young when it was on. But I just remember knowing that Bruce Willis and the leading lady were always trying to get together but they could never quite manage it. Because when they do...the show is over! So, back to the book...just not enough of a problem to keep me turning the pages.  (This was a bit of rambly review. But I'm tired. So, I'm not fixing it.)

Of Mice and Melons
Oh sad! I liked the premise of this young adult book. Clever! Fun! But...such crude language!  Blech.  Enough said.

The Scarlet Tomato
This picture book had such a fun title, a zany beginning and such promise. But then it just flopped. It had a boring ending. It's not one I'd read to my kids again.

Where the Red Strawberries Grow
It was a weird confusing picture book. It had such a fun refrain. That was the best part. My 3 yo loved that. But the rest was strange and disjointed. I don't know. I'm wondering what I missed.