Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

"Yet another troll-fighting 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl" (tagline from the front cover).

Mirka lives in Hereville a small community of Orthodox Jews with her father, her step-mother and a gaggle of siblings. Most of her excitement in life is derived from finding ways to avoid doing her knitting, arguing with her step-mother and an irksome pig who keeps sneaking into the village and eating her homework. However, though Mirka's life seems quotidian her dreams are anything but. Mirka dreams of slaying a dragon. A dream that seems out of reach until she does a favor for a woman who turns out to be a witch. The witch gives Mirka instructions on where to find a magic sword and that's when Mirka's adventures really begin!

I love the way this book immersed me in a totally different culture. The book drops Yiddish phrases left and right (and fortunately translates them at the bottom the page), provides a loving description of Shabbos and even explains how you can tell which school girls are pious, popular or rebels just by looking at their nearly identical school uniforms. (click on the picture below). The book ends with a bang too! The way she fights the troll will certainly make you chuckle and maybe even burst out laughing. Give this one to feisty girls, fans of (Jewish) adventure stories and people who love to laugh grades 3 to 8.

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by Patrick

Just Grace by Charise Mericle Harper

"Just Grace" is one of four Graces in her class, there is Grace W, Grace F, Gracie and finally "just Grace." Just Grace didn't want to be called that, but when the teacher asked what she would like to be called she said "just Grace" and it stuck. Just Grace tries to make the most of it though, just like the people on her favorite TV show, Unlikely Heroes, a show about normal people who do extraordinary things to help others. So when she hears that her neighbor, Mrs. Luther, is in trouble she has to help! Mrs. Luther broke her leg and now her cat, Crinkles, (who is also her best friend in the whole world) is too scared of her bright orange cast to sit on her lap anymore. So Grace and her friend Mimi make postcards for Mrs. Luther by taking photos of Crinkles and then adding messages like "I miss being cozy with you" and "one of my favorite things is you." But when Crinkles goes missing will just Grace be lauded for cheering up Mrs. Luther or fingered as a cat-napper? Give this one to kids who like cats and books that make you laugh grades 2 thru 4.

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by Patrick

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Racza

Riding bikes, flying kites and pushing sisters in puddles, what do these three things have in common? They are all time honored traditions among boys! Guyku manages to capture an entire year of fun in just 24 haikus (that's only 408 syllables- if you were counting). Author Bob Racza emphasizes that haikus take place in present tense, which makes them perfect for boys, because boys are always interested in what's going on right now! The pictures support the text perfectly, each one illustrates the fun and excitement of the moment.

Every single haiku managed to make me either smile or laugh out loud! Give this one to anyone who enjoys wading in streams, climbing trees or having fun outside grades k thru 5.

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by Patrick

Jonathan Stroud Interview

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

Nathaniel is a 12 year old magician's apprentice, which means: he is being raised by a complete stranger, is forced to live in a small attic room and has the power to summon deadly demons of incredible power. Usually 12-year old magician's apprentices are content to summon small mites and minor imps- demons that are easily controlled. Nathaniel, however, is an ambitious one, so he summons the powerful and willful djinni, Bartimaeus. He then sends him on mission to steal an artifact from one of the most powerful magicians in England. What could go wrong? Oh did I mention that powerful magicians generally eat young apprentices for breakfast?

Nathaniel is a great character, but the real gem in this book is Bartimaeus the wise-cracking djinni. Bartimaeus is part shape-shifting action hero, part comedian and part celebrity insider for all of history (it's seems like he's met just about every important person who has ever lived). Combine Bartimaeus with an awesome magic filled adventure, conniving magicians and a deadly plot and you end up with one of the best fantasy stories that I've read in long time. Give this one to kids who love magic, adventure and good books grades 4+.

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Also check out this interview with author Jonathan Stroud!

by Patrick

Potato Chip Science by Allen Kurzweil

The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz

Flory is a tiny little night fairy (she is only one acorn tall) living in the forest. But after a bat breaks her wings and she crash lands in a garden she decides she will become a day fairy instead. In order to survive Flory: moves into a bird house, collects food from a bird feeder and trains a squirrel with an eternally voracious appetite (Skuggle) to carry her around. Now if only she could fly again....

The Night Fairy is a sweet book about fairies, but not too sweet! Flory does plenty of adorable fairy things like sewing cherry blossom dresses and frolicing with woodland creatures. But she also has a bit of an attitude. She fights a praying mantis and carries around a thorn dagger with her.

Last, but not least, this book has incredible illustrations. Each one captures a moment of mischief or whimsy as Flory makes her rounds of the garden. I particularly loved seeing her cherry blossom dress and also the scene where she faces down the praying mantis with her little dagger.

Give this book to kids who like fairies or hungry talking squirrels grades 1 to 4.

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by Patrick

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Liam is only twelve years old, but he looks like he's an adult (he's even been shaving for a year). Looking like an adult has some pretty sweet advantages like test driving a Porsche... almost, or being mistaken for a teacher on his first day of middle school. Best of all, after completing a phone survey he is invited to participate in the best dad in the world contest and the grand prize is a trip to a theme park ride with the greatest ride ever built. Of course, that's how he ends up trapped in space, so it's not all great.

Frank Cottrell Boyce has done it again, this book is equal parts comical and inspiring. There are times that Liam's attempts to learn the art of "dad-liness" made me laugh so hard I almost shot root beer out my nose and other times when it made me really think about what it means to be a dad. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Liam realizes that all dad conversations can be broken down into 5 essential themes. #1 How we got there. #2 What the parking was like. #3 What it was like in the old days. #4 Something thoughtful that really makes you think. #5 Something to do with last night's football match. Liam practices Dad speak by applying these 5 themes to something he likes to talk about, World of Warcraft, with hilarious results. Recommend this book to kids who like to laugh grades 4 to 7.

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by Patrick

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems

Trixie and Knuffle Bunny are back! This time they take a trip to visit her Oma and Opa in Holland. Unfortunately for Trixie she loses Knuffle Bunny (yet again) and this time she's left him on an airplane bound for China. Trixie spends her week in Holland distraught over the loss of Knuffle Bunny. The fair doesn't seem as fun, chocolate milk doesn't taste as sweet and a replacement toy definitely doesn't cheer her up. How will Trixie live without Knuffle Bunny?

The third and final installment Knuffle Bunny book is Willem's most endearing work yet. Everyone remembers a time when they finally had to part with a beloved toy either by choice or by misfortune . This book accurately illustrates that grieving process. For children this book may foreshadow an event yet to occur in their lives, but for adults it will bring back memories of childhood treasures. Willem's color illustrations on black and white photos continue to impress and this book represents the culmination of years spent mastering this technique. Though simple Willems' illustration convey a great deal of emotion.

Give this book to children (or adults) who have toys they can't bear to part with.

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by Patrick

Joey Fly Private Eye in Creepy Crawly Crime by Aaron Reynolds

"Life in Bug City isn't easy. Crime sticks to the city like a one winged-fly on fifty-cent swatter." And Joey Fly Private Eye and his assistant Sammy Stingtail are willing to creep and crawl right into the slimy bottom of it. It all starts when Delilah, a swallowtail butterfly, walks in with a case that needs to be solved- someone has stolen her diamond encrusted pencil box. Joey Fly and Sammy hit the streets looking for clues, but the more they investigate the more they discover Delilah's story just doesn't add up.

Joey Fly is a buggy film noir knock-off, full of hard-boiled puns and big laughs. Give this one to kids grades 2 to 5 who like bugs, mysteries and cheap laughs.

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by Patrick

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

What would happen if you discovered that your family was one of the most powerful in human history? What if you were told that the source of the family's power was hidden around the world, in the form of 39 clues. What if you were given the choice - take a million dollars and walk away... or get the first clue? If you're Dan and Amy Cahill, you take the clue - and begin a very dangerous race.

Wow money, mystery and danger, awesome isn't? The answer is yes, although with admittedly a few reservations. I really liked the adventure and all the traveling in the book. I'm trying not to spoil anything, but the "maze of bones" is a real place and it's awesome. I've been there and it made me want to go again so bad.

One thing that did bug me about the books were the really obscure clues that the kids instantly knew how to solve. Maybe it's just because I'm bad at that time of thing, but "Seek out Richard S" would never make me think of Richard Sanders of Poor Richard's Almanac.
This book will be a hit the adventure junkies out there though. Great book for grades 3 to 7.

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by Patrick

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

Moxy Maxwell and Stuart Little had practically been best friends all summer, the two of them had been inseparable. When Moxy Maxwell was in the car on her way to swim practice, Stuart was there, when she was on the porch drinking lemonade, Stuart was there and last Monday at swim practice Stuart Little fell in the pool with her, that's how close the two of them are. No, the reason that Moxy hasn't read Stuart Little all summer long has nothing to do with a lack of time spent together, the problem simply was that Moxy's in-betweens kept getting interupted. You see the perfect time to read a book is when one thing ends and the next thing hasn't begun yet, an in-between. However Moxy's in-between keep getting interrupted by more pressing matters, for example lemonade spills. Unfortunately tomorrow is the first day of fourth grade and if Moxy doesn't read Stuart Little this afternoon, her mom won't let her participate in the water ballet she's been practicing all summer.

This book was a HILARIOUS examination of summer procrastination. A must read for any child who has ever put off doing anything. For grades 2-5.

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by Patrick

Nation by Terry Pratchett

"When much is taken, something is returned." Nation is the latest book by Terry Pratchett (best known for his adult sci-fi series Discworld). The book is set in an alternate universe South Pacific and follows 13 year old Mau as he copes with the aftereffects of a tsunami, which kills everyone else on his island. As weeks pass, refuges begin to arrive from the surrounding area, because Mau's island (though tiny) is one of the largest in the area and holds religious significance for the people of the area.

This book is part survival story and part coming of age story, it's about rebuilding a society and young love, it explores issues such as belief and the responsibilities of leadership. It also explores the possibilities of tree climbing octopuses and irreverent parrots "AWK - show us your drawers!", that is to say this book does it all. The only part I didn't enjoy was the last chapter (no worries no spoiler here) which suddenly jumps hundreds of years in the future and acts like this whole thing had been a story told to children by an old man. That would have been okay with me if the book had begun with the storyteller, or even if he had been referenced somewhere in the middle of the story. An unfortunate end to an otherwise great story. Offer this book to fans of survival and adventure stories grades 6+

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by Patrick

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

An unscheduled airplane arrives at an airport terminal, on board are 36 babies and no one else! Who are they? Where did they come from? No one knows. Now skip forward 13 years to suburban Ohio, Jonah had never thought much of being adopted, but when he starts getting creepy letters that say things like "you are one of the missing," he starts wondering about his past. His adoption records have always been sealed, but maybe its time to investigate a little bit of his own. You see where this is going? Down a one way to street to freakin' awesome that's where!

I loved this book start to finish. Some authors just flat out know how to write and Magaret Haddix is one of those authors, she could write a book about making toast and it would turn out awesome- with this kind of subject matter of course the book is great.

Give this book to Sci-Fi lovers grades 5 thru 9.

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by Patrick

The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

"Perhaps miracles only happen to human beings... perhaps I should just bury myself and become a diamond after thousands of years of intense pressure."

This is the story of lump of coal hoping for a Christmas miracle told in Lemony Snicket's usual hilarious and slightly dark manner. The coal is brooding, grumpy and ultimately lovable. Never before have I felt such a connection with a lump of coal. This book is short, but it packs a lot of punch per page. Offer this one to youngsters who love to laugh. For grades K thru 4.

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by Patrick

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath is Nick Bruel's chapter book sequel to his picture book Bad Kitty, aka one of the funniest picture picture books ever! The sequel, however, fails to meet expectations. The illustrations are still hilarious and reluctant readers will love the way the pictures break up all the text (It's 120 pages long, but reads like it's 30). But the prose lacks the punch and off the wall humor of the original, if this had been the first book I would have never Bad Kitty and that would have been a shame.

Give this book to cat lovers and children who like to comedy and mayhem combined, for grades 1 to 4.

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by Patrick

Peak by Roland Smith

"My right ear and cheek were frozen to the terra cotta wall.
"To reach the top you must have resolve, muscles, skill, and...
"A FACE!"

Peak is the oddly named son of the world's most famous climber ("It could have been worse. My parents could have named me Glacier, or Abyss, or Crampon,") and a great climber in his own right. So great, in fact, that he starts climbing New York City skyscrapers and tagging them. When he gets busted tagging his sixth building, the judge threatens to throw the book at him (3 years jail time) to prevent copycats from endangering themselves. However, his lawyer and father come up w/ a plea bargain, Peak has to leave the country immediately to live w/ his father, Josh, (who he hasn't seen in 7 years) until all the media attention surrounding "spider-boy" (Peak) blows over.
Peak ends up in Tibet with his father on the slopes of Everest, but it turns out Peak's father has an ulterior motive, he wants to get Peak up the mountain making him the youngest climber up Everest and (hopefully) making his fathers climbing company rich.

This book was fast paced and exciting cover to cover. Life and death climbs, multiple visits from the Chinese military and yaks. Lots and lots of yaks. What more do you need? Give this one to adrenaline junkies Grades 6+

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by Patrick

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

It's Rapunzel, but set in the wild west and as a graphic novel.

Rapunzel spends her young life blissfully unaware of the world beyond the walls surrounding Mother Gothel's estate, until one day she decides to find out what's over the walls. Beyond is a rocky wasteland of dusty stone, smoky chimneys and sad times. Rapunzel also just happens to run into a worn down old miner who turns out to be her birth mother, (what are the chances?) who had been forced to give up Rapunzel at birth by Mother Gothel. Rapunzel, of course flips out and then Mother Gothels counter flips out and sends Rapunzel off to live in a tower made out of a tree (Mother Gothels has growth magic, which lets her wilt or grow vegetation at will). So Rapunzel lives in the tower for 4 years with nothing to do except grow her hair and play with it. Anyway, eventually she grows it long enough to turn into a giant lasso and she rescues herself. The rest of the Graphic Novel she goes around as some kind of cowgirl superhero fighting for good and trying to stop Mother Gothel's tyranny. Oh and she also meets Jack (the guy who climbed the beanstock) and he follows her around helping out.

The Graphic Novel was an interesting idea and the art was great (although i didn't care for the way Rapunzel's red braid looked like hot dog links), but it was somehow lacking. About half-way thru I started looking for excuses to stop reading "Gee, I really should vacuum right now" and "Hmm, I think I've got some dishes in the sink that I ought to wash." When washing the dishes starts sounding more appealing than reading, I know something is off with the book. However, I finished reading it and all in one sitting too. I wouldn't say this book was bad, but I would say this book was a disappointment, great potential with only fair execution.

For wild west enthusiasts grades 5-9.

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by Patrick

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

Kenny Rabbit loves books, especially fairy tales, so when his father comes in hollering about a dragon up the hill Kenny has to go investigate. After arming and armoring himself as best he can with a variety of cookware and household cleaning utensils he goes to meet the dragon. The dragon proves to be shockingly urbane and introduces himself as Grahame, like the cracker, but with an 'e' on the end. Kenny finds that he has a surprising amount in common with this gentle dragon and the two soon become fast friends. The trouble starts when the townspeople discover a dragon is living nearby and call in the king's men to slay "the vicious beast."

Kenny and the Dragon is a charming story about unexpected friendship. It features Tony DiTerlizzi beautiful drawings and witty prose. Give this one to Fantasy Buffs grades 2-5.

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by Patrick

Brisingr by Christopher Paolina

Christopher De Paolini's third book in the Inheritance Cycle is a marked improvement from his last book Eldest, but ultimately suffers from the same flaws.

First let me start by saying Eragon was wonderful, the book pulled me in and left me wanting more. Eldest on the other hand was only satisfying because I was desperate to hear more about Eragon, the plot in Eldest was forgettable at best and groan worthy at worst (the whole Luke- I am your father rip-off, c'mon really?) Brisingr, also has some groan worthy surprises (don't worry I won't tell you what they are I'll let you suffer thru them on your own terms). Also, like Eldest the story seems to drag on without any clear direction at time (I cite the lenghty foray into dwarven politics as a shining example- and if you're wondering no nothing surprising happens feel free to skip those 100 pages if you like). However, the story had it's strong points as well. For example Eragon's character is pretty freakin' rad. I enjoyed all the battle sequences with him punching thru shields, leaping over walls and cleaving things in half. He also has a dragon and she's always blowing fire and eating things, that's pretty sweet too. *Mild spoiler alert, skip to end of paragraph to avoid* His new sword, also freakin' rad. It lights on fire whenever he says it's name (disappointingly it's name is fire) and it plays an integral role in the aforementioned cleaving things / enemies in half.

If Eldest had been the first book in the series, I wouldn't have read the next book, Brisingr however, is good enough it to pass the first book test and I would continue reading the series based on it's merits alone. Give Brisingr to fantasy buffs, dragon aficionados and people who like saying words like "oathbound," "shadeslayer," or "aye" grades 6+

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by Patrick