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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten (based on interest)
Fantasy: Fairies
A remarkably good take on a popular subject that is oftentimes saccharine or eye-rolling. What gives this story extra oomph is the main character's DIY attitude toward attracting fairies by constructing a house for them. Hopefully this will motivate listeners to build their own fairy houses out of found objects. Also a sweet idea is not trapping the fairy forever but setting her free and waiting patiently for her return.
Fantasy: Fairies
A remarkably good take on a popular subject that is oftentimes saccharine or eye-rolling. What gives this story extra oomph is the main character's DIY attitude toward attracting fairies by constructing a house for them. Hopefully this will motivate listeners to build their own fairy houses out of found objects. Also a sweet idea is not trapping the fairy forever but setting her free and waiting patiently for her return.
Fairly subpar as a story goes. Not much of value except maybe culinary exploration and experimentation. Pizza loving kids will like it.
Age: 2nd-5th grade
I felt pretty meh about this one, especially as an audiobook, but the storyline moves fast without feeling meaningless and their is a lot of interesting discussion surrounding namesakes and fate. The ending is particularly empowering for all children that are trying to identify who they are and what they can become.
I felt pretty meh about this one, especially as an audiobook, but the storyline moves fast without feeling meaningless and their is a lot of interesting discussion surrounding namesakes and fate. The ending is particularly empowering for all children that are trying to identify who they are and what they can become.
A longun, but a goodun. If big books and detail-oriented books don't bother you then you are in for a treat. Bray provides another dimension to her writing style (does she want to tackle all literary genres?) with a 1920s x-men-esque, paranormal murder mystery.
I loved Evie. She was incredibly witty, daring, confident, and full of personality. I haven't read many female-driven books where the main character loves fashion and parties but isn't frivolous, grating, or weak. Her character felt real and I loved her for it.
And the 1920s lingo was so jake! I love the research that Bray puts into her novels and it shows with exemplary skill.
Even though this book elaborated in great detail on setting and characterization, there were important plot points bowled over in one sentence. One murder felt dull in comparison to the others, that being Daisy's murder where the focus was on Theta escaping--oh and then daisy dies.
There were a few questions that I had. Why did they have to wait until the comet was overhead to banish the monster? I think they said that they needed to play along with his rules but that seemed like a really illogical way to explain a major plot point. But, this was the only flaw in logic that I found. Also, why does what's-his-face have to be part man, part machine? There was nothing else in this book about advanced technology and it felt incredibly out of place.
I loved Evie. She was incredibly witty, daring, confident, and full of personality. I haven't read many female-driven books where the main character loves fashion and parties but isn't frivolous, grating, or weak. Her character felt real and I loved her for it.
And the 1920s lingo was so jake! I love the research that Bray puts into her novels and it shows with exemplary skill.
Even though this book elaborated in great detail on setting and characterization, there were important plot points bowled over in one sentence. One murder felt dull in comparison to the others, that being Daisy's murder where the focus was on Theta escaping--oh and then daisy dies.
There were a few questions that I had. Why did they have to wait until the comet was overhead to banish the monster? I think they said that they needed to play along with his rules but that seemed like a really illogical way to explain a major plot point. But, this was the only flaw in logic that I found. Also, why does what's-his-face have to be part man, part machine? There was nothing else in this book about advanced technology and it felt incredibly out of place.
Horror: Supernatural
Powerfully written multi-perspective tale with an eerie twist at the end.
Powerfully written multi-perspective tale with an eerie twist at the end.
Age: 3rd-5th grade
Very scary--may induce nightmares.
Never quite noticed by the adults in her life, Coraline likes adventures outside the house. But when a torrential rainstorm forces her adventurous spirit in the house, she explores what little she can. In the drawing room, she finds a door that leads to a brick wall. Over the next few days, her mind never wanders far from the possibilities on the other side of the door. Alone in the house one day, Coraline opens the door and the brick wall is gone. She walks through and finds her house on the other side--except it's not quite her house. Things are slightly off. She mistakes a woman as her mother but sees that her eyes are replaced with tiny black buttons. Although this other house appears to offer all that Coraline has wished for, she is slightly scared by the oddities and leaves. Returning to her real house, her parents have gone missing. Knowing that her Other Mother must be keeping them, Coraline must trick the Other Mother into giving back her parents--and some lost souls locked away in the other house.
Frightening images of severed hands, scary chase scenes, and mutated bodies, this story would be great for reading aloud but it may be too scary for reading alone.
Very scary--may induce nightmares.
Never quite noticed by the adults in her life, Coraline likes adventures outside the house. But when a torrential rainstorm forces her adventurous spirit in the house, she explores what little she can. In the drawing room, she finds a door that leads to a brick wall. Over the next few days, her mind never wanders far from the possibilities on the other side of the door. Alone in the house one day, Coraline opens the door and the brick wall is gone. She walks through and finds her house on the other side--except it's not quite her house. Things are slightly off. She mistakes a woman as her mother but sees that her eyes are replaced with tiny black buttons. Although this other house appears to offer all that Coraline has wished for, she is slightly scared by the oddities and leaves. Returning to her real house, her parents have gone missing. Knowing that her Other Mother must be keeping them, Coraline must trick the Other Mother into giving back her parents--and some lost souls locked away in the other house.
Frightening images of severed hands, scary chase scenes, and mutated bodies, this story would be great for reading aloud but it may be too scary for reading alone.
Audiobook read by Neil Gaiman
Age: Middle School-High School
"Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy" (Goodreads review).
Gaiman addresses the idea of the infallible authority of adults through a short and harrowing tale about a magical family as seen through the eyes of a 7-year-old boy. I feel like I didn't give this book the attention that it deserved as I listened to it over a longer period of time while doing chores around the house. I think when you enter Gaiman's worlds, you need to be fully invested in the sinister hopefulness that he weaves throughout his tales.
Age: Middle School-High School
"Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy" (Goodreads review).
Gaiman addresses the idea of the infallible authority of adults through a short and harrowing tale about a magical family as seen through the eyes of a 7-year-old boy. I feel like I didn't give this book the attention that it deserved as I listened to it over a longer period of time while doing chores around the house. I think when you enter Gaiman's worlds, you need to be fully invested in the sinister hopefulness that he weaves throughout his tales.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Barnacle is certainly a boring one as he recaps his lackluster days until he notices a spotted fish and imagines all the fun he gets into. A sharp ending (with some sharp teeth) leave Barnacle happy for his boring, yet alive, existence. Adorable jab at mortality in a fun and lighthearted way.
Barnacle is certainly a boring one as he recaps his lackluster days until he notices a spotted fish and imagines all the fun he gets into. A sharp ending (with some sharp teeth) leave Barnacle happy for his boring, yet alive, existence. Adorable jab at mortality in a fun and lighthearted way.
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Animals: Snake +many others
A little boy finds himself eaten by a snake--but is certainly not defeated. With his clever mind, he convinces the snake to keep eating and eating until he's fit to burst. But surely the snake could manage to fit one more teeny tiny fly inside? Fan-TASTIC artwork and delightfully rolling text make this an absolutely pleasure to read-aloud.
In the midst of my love for this book, I cannot wrap my head around the repeating Eucalyptus line. I've tried a variety of beats (including There Was an Old Lady) but I can't find one suitable. Any suggestions out there, oh internet world?
Animals: Snake +many others
A little boy finds himself eaten by a snake--but is certainly not defeated. With his clever mind, he convinces the snake to keep eating and eating until he's fit to burst. But surely the snake could manage to fit one more teeny tiny fly inside? Fan-TASTIC artwork and delightfully rolling text make this an absolutely pleasure to read-aloud.
In the midst of my love for this book, I cannot wrap my head around the repeating Eucalyptus line. I've tried a variety of beats (including There Was an Old Lady) but I can't find one suitable. Any suggestions out there, oh internet world?
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Art: Origami folding
Joey finds inspiration to direct his love of folded things into the artwork of origami. Showing perseverance by helping in the community, Joey finally learns to fold an origami crane (which, oddly enough, isn't as complicated as some of his napkin folding artwork). The endpapers offer directions for folding paper not into a crane but a ladybug, which was a little weird.
Art: Origami folding
Joey finds inspiration to direct his love of folded things into the artwork of origami. Showing perseverance by helping in the community, Joey finally learns to fold an origami crane (which, oddly enough, isn't as complicated as some of his napkin folding artwork). The endpapers offer directions for folding paper not into a crane but a ladybug, which was a little weird.