Woods Runner, Gary Paulsen, Revolutionary War

WOODS RUNNER By: Gary Paulsen
Samuel is only thirteen years old, he loves the woods and spends
many hours hunting in them. While he is out hunting his settlement
is attacked. His carefree days are now replaced with survival and trying to find
his parents who were captured. Not only does Paulsen make you
feel like you were part of the frontier, but he tells you a part of
history that is often sugar coated. Yes there are graphic scenes, but
he doesn't dwell on them. A perfect read. Ages 12 up Random House $15.99
Gary Paulsen was one of our favorite authors when my son was growing up. We read Hatchet together before it was published. If you have a young person who loves adventure you must have them read his books.

Piggie and Elephant, Mo Willems, Easy Reader

I AM GOING By: Mo Willems

This series is one of my favorites. The text is easy to read, yet so very funny. Piggy tells Gerald that he is going. Gerald gets all upset thinking he is leaving forever. Only to find out he is going to lunch. Gerald invites himself along as usual. I know your child will love these characters too. Ages 3 up Hyperion Books $8.99

Things to do with your grandchildren

Hello everyone, so sorry I haven't written, have been moving. I have muscles where I didn't know any existed. But I am almost done. Yipee! Todays books is for all of us Grandmas.
TOAD COTTAGE AND SHOOTING STARS By: Sharon Lovejoy
A charming book that has oodles of ideas to do with your grandchildren. Worm hotels, firefly laterns, faerie houses, super snacks, and a lot of other fabulous things. I know you will enjoy using this with your grandchildren. I can't wait to try it out on my three. Workman Publishing $14.95

Roly Poly Pangolin

ROLY POLY PANGOLIN By: Anna Dewdney
Being published by Viking in March
I know I am reviewing something that isn't even out yet, but it is so adorable I want you to put in on your list of must have books for your child. This little Pangolin would rather stay with his mother than meet anyone new. He might see an ant, or a monkey, or hear a loud noise and roll into a ball with fright. But one day when he rolls into a ball, he encounters another Pangolin peeking back. This gives him the courage to make new friends. From the same author as Llama Llama Red Pajama.
Ages 2 up $16.99

Food, children

EAT THIS NOT THAT FOR KIDS By: David Zinczenko

With our families eating out everyday it is so important to feed our children's nutritious food. I found this book very helpful as it gives choices of what foods to avoid in the supermarket or when you are eating out. It helps guide parents so they can raise children without adding wasted calories in out children's diet. It is off the beaten path to reading to your children, but I thought in this fast paced society you might like to know that there is help available. $19.99

Mystery, young adult

HEIST SOCIETY By: Ally Carter
Hyperion
What a fun book for young adult readers. Kat has been raised by her family as a thief. The book starts off with Kat being called into the office for pulling a prank at a private school. She soon learns that even though she didn't pull the prank, she was needed by her family to help her father who was sought after by the mob for stealing from them. Will Kat be able to steal the goods back in time? It is a fast paced who-done-it. Sure to intrigue everyone. Age 11 up $16.99

Valentines Day, Amelia Bedelia

AMELIA BEDELIA'S FIRST VALENTINE By: Herman Parish
Greenwillow Books
Well I am still laughing after reading this book. Amelia Bedelia is a young girl, not grown up like her other stories. She still takes everything literally. And when she gets cards to give to her friends she fixes them up. "She put a bandage across a broken heart." You can just imagine the fun when you read this aloud to your child or the class. I don't want to spoil the fun. Just pick up a copy today, you won't be sorry. Ages 4-8 but anyone would love it! $16.99 I can't wait to read it to my Grandson's classrooms. I think I might just have to pop into a few more, so the kids don't miss out.

Faerie World, Victorian London, Great Children's Fantasy

THE INVISIBLE ORDER
BOOK ONE
RISE OF THE DARKLINGS By: Paul Crilley
If you love the fantasy of world of Faerie, then this book is for you. Emily is twelve-years-old and on her way to market to bring home food for both she and her brother. On her way to market in Victorian London, she sees things that she thought were only in books. Piskies, faeries and many fey folk. Because she witnesses something she shouldn't have been able to see, terrible things begin to happen. Her brother is kidnapped and in order to save him she has to solve a riddle. This book will be a welcome edition to your child's library. Comes out in February 2010.
Ages 10 up $16.99 On another note, I couldn't put it down.

How I love to read aloud to children of all ages, but especially to the little ones who are just discovering the magic a book can provide. This book WHO'S THAT SNORING
By: Jason Chapman is one of those fun little books to captivate a small child. "It was quiet in the barn. Everyone was fast asleep. Then someone started snoring--that was loud and very deep." The children will participate by pulling the tabs as each farm animal wakes up. Then they find the culprit. Birth to 3 $9.99
Please call me anytime to order books. If you live in Sylvania, Ohio or close by I will deliver the book to you free of charge. Have fun reading to your little ones.

Vietnam, war

A MILLION SHADES OF GRAY By: Cynthia Kadohata

Sometimes a powerful novel comes along that takes you by surprise. This a such a novel. The setting is Vietnam mostly after the Americans have left. Y'Tin wants to be an elephant trainer and he starts with an elephant named Lady. All things are going pretty well until the North Vietnamese attack their village. What happens to Y'Tin and his family is heart wrenching. You learn the price the village took when they befriended the Americans. You also see a history of a very loving tribe whose lives were changed in an instant. A must read. Ages 10 up, some very hard things for some children to imagine. Use your judgement of your own childs feelings. A good novel to teach at school. $16.99

Groundhog Day, spring

Just when the weather couldn't be colder I find myself looking forward to spring. Which leads me to the book that just arrived the other day. The Putnam box arrived and in it was this wonderful book that lets us hope for spring.
GROUNDHOG WEATHER SCHOOL By: Joan Holub
Groundhog can't be everywhere so he creates a weather school for groundhogs. He has a fabulous quiz that will make you laugh. This book is filled with facts, "If a pinecone's leaves fold forward, it may rain. In dry weather they fold outward." So learning is fun. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
$16.99 Ages 6 up

Fabulous Lift a Flap Book

Where's My Sweetie Pie
By: Ed Emberley

What a wonderful book. It has lift the flap pages to find your Sweetie Pie. The surprise is a mirror in the end where of course your child is the Sweetie Pie. When my grandson, Aidan, got to the end of the book his smile was priceless. What a fabulous book for little ones. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we have. Birth to preschool. $7.99