Happy Halloween

Yesterday we had our Halloween Storytime and Parade at the library.

It's one of my favorite days of the year! 

I LOVE seeing all the costumes.

We don't get Trick or Treaters at our house, so it's fun to see kids at the library.

Here's the costume:

Can you guess the bookish character?

And for the actual day:

Do you dress up? What was your costume?

Graphic Novel Review: Pumpkin and Beetle

Pumpkin and Beetle, two vampire cats, are super excited for the next installment of their favorite comic. But they don't have any money. Luckily their ghost friend has a few ideas to earn some extra money.

My Thoughts: This was a funny book as all their ideas didn't go as they planned. But they never gave up. I love how everything turned out. The illustrations use a very fall palette. Plus, there's also a recipe at the end of the book. I hope this is the start of a new series. 

* I had a cat named Pumpkin when I was little. She wasn't orange at all, but she was very sweet.

Also, she wasn't a vampire cat. 

** Book sent for review

Review: Troubling Tonsils

 

Jasper Rabbit has bad news - he has to get his tonsils out. But he has a plan, he's going to put them in jar and save them for show and tell. When he goes in for the operation, his doctor discovers something strange....

My Thoughts: If you've read the Jasper Rabbit picture books, you'll want to read this one. It's a little creepy and a little silly, but also a lot of fun. Being so close to Halloween, it's the perfect time of year to read it. 

* Book sent for review

Picture Book Review: Ripening Time

At the grocery store, the family buys plantains. But the sisters have to wait all week until they are ripe. Waiting is so hard. Finally they are ready!

I loved this story - waiting for something yummy is very hard. This is a sweet story about tradition and delicious food. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books for Halloween

 This week's topic is a Halloween Freebie. I'm not one for scary books, but here are some thrillers on my TBR that I didn't get to this year (yet).

Have you read any of these?

Middle Grade Review: Eternal Flame

 * Book 2 in the National Archive Hunters series *

Iris and Ike are back in action. The flame of the Statue of Liberty is missing, the one that was damaged in the early 1900s. It's vital that it's found quickly as the U.S. President and France are holding a ceremony in a little over a week.

Their research leads them to the National Archives, Paris, and New York City. The more they uncover about the statue, the more they realize that there's some very wrong. Archives have gone missing from multiple facilities. The item hasn't just been misplaced; it's been stolen.

Can the twins recover the lost flame?

My Thoughts: I loved the first book and I loved this one too.

Lots of:

Action

Danger

Research

Friendship Moments

There was one plot twist that I did see coming, but that didn't bother me. I'm looking forward to more in this exciting series. 

Cover Thoughts: Great

 Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school or public library collection.

Picture Book Review: At the Window

A young child goes on daily walks with the family dog. They always pass by this one house. Often, they spy a woman in the window working. As time passes, they start waving at each other and making small talk. But one day the woman is no longer there and the house if for sale. The house looks lonely, but it sparks something in the young child.

I really enjoyed this book. First because of the friendship between neighbors. Second because of the shift in perspective. I loved the ending. 

Review: Field Guide to Autumn

 

This nonfiction book is fascinating and full of information.

There are:

recipes

nature crafts

poems

nature questions answered

And the illustrations are beautiful

This is a fun nonfiction book to pour over.

* Book sent for review

Children's Review: Ivy and Bearlock Holmes

 

Ivy and Bearlock Holmes are excited about witnessing an agave flower. It only blooms every 100 years. But as they gather to see it, everyone's disappointed. The flower's been stolen! Ivy and Bearlock are on the case - will they find the flower in time?

My Thoughts: This was really cute - an interactive. The readers can solve puzzles and "help out" along the way. The illustrations are super charming. This is a book that readers can pour over. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A cute mystery for your collection and perfect for readers who like interactive books. 

Review: One Golden Summer

 

* The sequel to Every Summer After *

Alice and her grandmother are heading to the lake for the summer. They spent the summer there half a life-time ago. It was at the lake where Alice snapped that picture of three teens on a yellow boat. That's the photo that changed her life by jump starting her photography career.

Now she's having second thoughts about her career. She's been working too much. She's annoyed at her most recent job where they wanted real women and then asked her to edit them. She needs to reset her life. This trip could be the answer; she could get her life back again.

My Thoughts: This was a great sequel; I loved it. It was great to see more of Charlie. I loved Charlie and Nan together. They were adorable. I love the idea of summer on the lake with no rules. I love that idea. I love that Alice made list of what she would do if she was brave and carefree. I love the Charlie found the list and helped her achieve her goals. I loved how Alice took back her photography. A fantastic summer romance. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your romance 

Picture Book Wednesday: Halloween Books (4)

 

Another Round of Halloween Picture Books

This picture book alternates between look and find and "information" about things that might scare you on Halloween

Zombees invade small town. How will everyone survive?

A clever twist on zombies in this cute rhyming picture book.

In the vein of Twas the Night before Christmas comes a baking story about monsters.

This is a sweet story that's not really a Halloween story, but the monsters make it work. This story is a gingerbread man tale about friendship.

 No one on the beach wants a Halloween party. But each time the grown-ups try to force them off the beach, they have clever comeback. Will they get their wish?

While this is not a traditional Halloween story, this rhyming story is rather funny.

Top Ten Tuesday: Cozy Reads

 This week's topic is cozy reads - which to me means the book feels like a cup of hot chocolate.

Books read this year:

Have you read any of these? Did you like these were cozy too?

Middle Grade Review: The Trouble with Heroes

Finn is grieving the death of his father. He lashes out in the middle of a cemetery, kicking gravestones. Unfortunately for him, there's a camera in the cemetery and he's caught vandalizing the gravestones. Instead of paying for the replacement, the family decides that Finn should hike the 46 mountains of the Adirondacks.

Finn has the whole summer to complete the challenge, but there are some rules. The family dog has to go with him. Different volunteers will accompany him. Finn isn't thrilled with this ruling, but he has little choice.

He struggles with hiking, his grief, and his anger. 

My Thoughts: This novel in verse made me cry; I loved it. Finn struggles so much - both physically and mentally. I'm impressed with his hiking skills; those are some long hard hikes. I wanted to wrap him up in a hug. He's funny and sarcastic. I love how he started to enjoy the hikes and look more around him to appreciate nature. I love how everything tied together. I loved Finn's outlook on heroes. The dog is adorable. Another winner for Kate Messner! 

* There's a scary moment with the dog, but it turns out ok.

Why I Read This Book: I love Kate Messner's Books

Source: My Library

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Library Recommendation: A Must have book for your school and public library collection

Board Books: Halloween (2)

A few more Halloween board books:

It's Halloween and five black cats are walking the streets. They find all sorts of mischief.

A delightful rhyming board book that's full of almost scary moments. 

Grumpkin is a pumpkin that DOES NOT like Halloween!

He's so grumpy, it's rather funny. Things you imagine aren't always better; the twist at the end is cute. 

This board book is a twist on If You're Happy and You Know it! And it's really fun. 

The zoo is ready for Halloween and all the animals are participating!

This is a cute book with great photos of zoo animals combined with Halloween moments. The rhymes are fun and there are SO many pumpkins!

* this book was sent for review