Review: This LIttle Dreamer

A fun board book that packs a big punch with an inspiring message that you too can change the world! This book features 10 people who dared to dream about changing the world. These people are diverse in terms of race, gender. and religion. The layout is easy - each person has a two-page spread with an illustration and short reason why they're inspiring. 

A great book to share with older kids. Ask them how they want to change the world

Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your public libraries.

Baby Shower Recommendation: Grab it for a book to read as the child grows.

Tween Tuesday Review: Persephone the Daring

* Book 11 in the Goddess Girls series *

When Persephone sees the results of a quiz from teen scrollazine, her heart sinks. Who wants to be known as dependable - isn't that just another word for boring. She needs to find a way to shred her image and fast!

When Persephone's dared to ask Orpheus (a rock star) for his autograph, she just might have found a way to be more spontaneous.  Soon Orpheus is staying at Mount Olympus Academy. Persephone get to know his girl friend. With her help, Persephone could soon become more daring. But is it for the best?

My Thoughts: I really like this series for the group of friends. They're sweet, thoughtful, and always have each other's backs. I felt bad for Persephone while she thought people found her boring, but I liked her working through her unhappiness.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Tween Tuesday Review: Pheme the Gossip

* Goddess Girls Book #10*

Pheme loves talking about people. She's even the source of Zeus' eyes and ears at the school. Sometimes she takes her job too seriously. She snoops in the fellow students' rooms, looking for safety issues - until she's caught red-handed by a spell.

As punishment, she agrees to go a whole day without gossiping. Every time she tries to spread the word about something, it comes out as gibberish. Normally, that would be embarrassing, but not a big deal.

But today, Pheme learns of a secret plot that might put the world at risk. Since she can't tell anyone about it, Pheme will have to save the day herself.

My Thoughts: Another fun addition to the series - I like how the series has branched out to include other girls. I loved learning more about Pheme and her need for gossip. While I think she learns a lesson in this book, I liked hearing her thoughts on why she has to gossip. I liked the lengths she was willing to go to share her knowledge of the situation. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Tween Tuesday Review: Pandora the Curious

* Goddess Girls Series #9*

**Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Join the fun! **   

Pandora's always been curious. As a mortal attending Mount Olympus Academy, she feels out of place. Her need to ask questions helps her feel more grounded.

When Epimetheus  carries a box down the hallway, it sparks interested. Most of the interest comes from the godboys bullying him with a game of keepaway, but for Pandora, seeing the box brings up lots of questions.

She wants to know what's inside. Pandora itches to have her hands on the box. Before long, it flies into her hand. It takes her seconds to open the locked box. Inside rests various color bubbles, which escape before Pandora can close the lid.

No one else notices the bubbles, but as they begin to pop, Pandora notices her friends acting strange. Could she have accidentally caused it?

My Thoughts:  Another fun installment of this adorable series. I felt bad for Pandora as she strives to fit in at school. White asking questions helps her, it doesn't endear her to the other students. It wasn't my favorite book of the series, however I was happy to read more about my favorite characters and to see the school from other perspective. 

I felt like Pandora should have made the connection between the bubbles and the strange behavior long before she did.  I liked how different her friends acted under the bubble's spells, especially Artemis. 

Cover Thoughts: Great - it really captures the book.
Source: Inter-Library Loan

Tween Tuesday Review:Girl Games

**Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Join the fun! **   

Artemis is so excited. Since the girls were not allowed to compete in the Olympic Games, they're hosting their own special games. The Girl Games are here!  Artemis has many last minute tasks to complete before the competition can start and she wants to make sure these games are perfect!

The visiting athletes are here to win, even going so far as to taunt their competition. The Goddess Girls need to bring their A games to these Olympics. However, thoughts about boys, feuding over a kitten, and getting into trouble with Zeus all hinder their training. Will the Girl Games come together at the last moment and will the Goddess Girls medal?

My Thoughts: The first super special and the first book in the series with multiple perspectives. I loved seeing the viewpoints of all the goddess girls. Of course, I LOVE the idea of the Girl Games. The goddess boys were very supportive helping the girls train, as the girls helped them train. I liked the girl touches to the games - the pink sand and the stuffed animals for the relay baton. These little touches helped make the games unique and girly. I loved the celebration of girls and sports as well as the combination of athletics and girly. 

Cover Thoughts: I like it!
Source: The library

Tween Tuesday Review: Medusa the Mean

 * the 8th book in the Goddess Girls series *

**Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Join the fun! **

Medusa wishes she were immortal - like her sisters. Instead, she's a mortal with green skin and thanks to a spell gone wrong snakes instead of hair. Medusa also believes in telling the truth. She doesn't think about the consequences of hurt feelings.

As a result, she doesn't have a lot of friends. She'd love to hang out with Athena, Aphrodite, Persephone, and Artemis. Being one of the only immortals at the school and not connected with a god/goddess, she's insecure. Could the Goddess Girls really want to be her friends? She has so many secrets, she's not sure if she has time for friends, but she's also lonely.

With Zeus and Hera's wedding coming up, Medusa might have a chance to be in the wedding. She only wants to walk down the aisle next to Poseidon, her secret crush. Could she win his contest and gain his attention? All her hopes and wishes just might be in reach with the purchase of a necklace. Will all her wishes come true?

My Thoughts: I love this series! The series changed course with Medusa as a new narrator. I liked seeing the softer side of her and reasons for her abruptness form the previous books. Her sisters are horrible to her simply because they're goddesses and she's not. Thus Medusa feels insecure most of the time. She doesn't believe that anyone would be nice to her.  Medusa spends the bulk of her time studying, which keeps her away from social activities. A great addition to a fabulous series. I look forward to learning more about Medusa and hope to see her blossom more.
Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Inter-Library Loan

Tween Tuesday Review: Artemis the Loyal

*Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. *

Artemis thinks the Olympics are unfair. She's not the only girl unhappy about the competition rule that only allows boys to participate.  She knows she could win the archery competition.

Artemis figures she can help her twin brother Apollo - so he might have the best chance at winning. But after she humiliates him in public, he's not interested in hanging out with her.

Still she worries about him entering the final game at the Olympics - defeating  the Parnassus Python. She hopes that he won't become injured in the process. It doesn't help that she visits the snake herself and might have spoiled his chance at winning.

Defeated, Artemis and her goddess girl friends create a petition against the sexist rules of the Olympics.  Will the godboys embrace her ideas or will they laugh at her?

My Thoughts: I loved how the girls stood up for themselves and how they wanted to participate in the Olympics as well. I'm so addicted to this series. I love the friendship drama, the school drama, and the slight romance drama. I love the strong female characters who are the perfect mix of strength and girly.



Cover Thoughts: Fabulous!


Source: Inter-Library Loan

Tween Tuesday Review: Athena the Wise

When a mere mortal arrives at Mount Olympus Academy Athena is called to her father's office. Principle Zeus asks her to keep an eye on Heracles. He doesn't mention that the boy has 12 impossible labors to complete before admission into the school.

Athena takes their talk as a sign to help Heracles perform his tasks. Athena being to care for Heracles and looks forward to spending time with him. However, she's concerned.

She's not able to hang out with her friends. She's struggling to keep up with her studies. Another mortal has challenged her weaving skills. Athena wants to keeping helping Heracles, but not at the cost of giving everything else up. Still she doesn't want to let Heracles or her father down. What's a Goddess Girl to do?


My Thoughts: I LOVE this series - it's sweet, charming, and funny. I love the blend of mythology, friendship, drama, and a touch of romance. It's hard to pick a favorite Goddess Girl because they are all so unique, but Athena might be mine. I liked how Athena influences Heracles and how he influences her. I liked how Athena found unique ways to complete the labors. I also liked how she pulled back when she felt everything spinning out of control. I love the friendship of the Goddess Girls and how they all come together.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable!

Source: Inter-Library Loan

Tween Tuesday: Artemis the Brave

While Artemis loves archery, she doesn't always feel brave. There's now way she can confide in her friends. She doesn't want them to know she feels insecure sometimes. She puts on a brave front.

However, she does ask their advice when it comes to boys. Before Artemis met Orion, she never admired a boy. Now she wants to gain his attention. Orion's used to having a fan club. He's asking Artemis for all kinds of help. Artemis is afraid he sees her only as one of the guys. What can she do to show him she likes him than just a friend?

My Thoughts: I really love this series. I love how the authors mix mythology with issues facing tweens. I love the friendship between the four girls and how each girl is unique. I like how the godboys are drawn out as well, I really had strong feelings against Orion. Mythology really comes to life in these books.

Cover Thoughts: Cute and fun

Source: Inter-Library Loan

Up Next:
Book Five: Athena the Wise: out in April

Book Six: Aphrodite the Diva: out in September

Tween Tuesday Review: Aphrodite the Beauty

When Aphrodite walks into a room - all conversation from godboys stops. They all turn to look at her. While she loves the idea of love and matchmaking, she hates all the attention.

She decides to help Athena and give her a makeover. Aphrodite does such an amazing job that soon all the godboys flock to Athena instead. Aphrodite isn't sure she likes the change in behavior.

In fact, she might be a tad bit jealous of all the attention her friend's getting. How can she get things to change back to normal without causing a rift with one of her best friends?

My Thoughts: A cute tween tale that focuses on jealously and boy mixed with friendship. Aphrodite and Athena have plenty of misunderstandings and miscommunication- including eavesdropping between them. I love this series for the potential romance between the goddess girls and the godboys, for the strong friendship between the goddess girls, and for the fun twists on mythology.

Cover Thoughts: Really cute and fits in with the both the series covers and the story. I love the differences between the two boys and the pink ribbon weaving through Aphrodite's hair.

Source: Inter-Library Loan

Up Next: The fourth book Artemis the Brave

Review: Persephone the Phony

Persephone likes to make her friends and her mother happy, but it's often at the expense of her own happiness. She isn't interested in going shopping, or knitting, or having a makeover. She just doesn't know how to tell her friends without them becoming upset. She does meet one godboy who understands, Hades.

Unfortunately, Hades has a bad rap. Neither her mother nor her friends approve of their new friendship. Suddenly, Persephone can't stand it anymore. She meets Hades in secret, in a gloomy cemetery. Will she stand up for her new friend so they can hang out in public or will she go back to making everyone but her happy?

My Thoughts: This is the second of the Goddess Girl series - from another girl's perspective. I like how the goddesses/gods are portrayed as tweens. The first two books portray one goddess finding her true self while dealing with everyday issues plus magic.
The Cover: Super cute!

Source: Loaned from Jessica at I READ TO RELAX

Review: Athena the Brain

Athena believes she's a mere mortal, until a message from her father Zeus commanding her to Mount Olympus Academy. She's excited at the chance to learn something more challenging than her current studies, but she's sad to leave her foster family behind.

When she arrives at the school, she realizes that she's behind in her education. She has no idea how to perform magic. She doesn't want to mess with mortals for entertainment. Athena doesn't want her father to consider her a failure.

When she realizes she's on the wrong side of friendship with Medusa, she's not sure what to do. But she's not about to let Medusa and her sisters ruin her chance. Luckily, she does make friends with Aphrodite, Athena, and Pandora. Will she make a stand against Medusa and find her place at the Academy?


My Thoughts: The start of a new series for tween girls is amazingly cute and seriously fun. I love the combo of brains and fun in making a well rounded goddess girl.

The Cover: Very Cute

Source: My friend Jessica from I READ TO RELAX loaned this to me.