First line: "Charlie Asher walked the earth like an ant walks on the surface of water as if the slightest misstep might send him plummeting through the surface to be sucked to the depths below."

Hilarious quips intermingle an intriguing plot with distinct and fascinating characters.

Age: 4th-middle school
Recommended for kids that like Goosebumps
Audiobook narration: English and Irish

Suspenseful plot reveals keep the pages turning in this grim tale of a mysterious, gift-giving tree and its dangerous gardener.

Age: 4th-8th grade

A small town mystery is revealed through courtroom testimony and a first-hand account of a dangerous substance that spirals out of control. Fast-paced and suspenseful for readers, it also poses philosophical questions such as the dangers of scientific advancement, even if it's well-intentioned.

Age: Toddler-Preschool
Animals: Giraffe

Giraffe's normal resting pose looks remarkably like a chair, and the neighborhood animals are inclined to recline. Giraffe finally musters up the courage to speak out and declare that he is not a chair when a rather ravenous lion takes a seat and demands that the next animal he sees will be his dinner. Emotionally charged illustrations and a short story make this perfect for storytime. The only real problem I see with this book is the quick resolution.

Age: Toddler-Preschool
Toy: Cardboard boxes

Perfect delivery of lift-the-flaps as four toddlers discover items inside boxes and are left to create more fun with the actual boxes. Perfect for a cardboard box storytime.

Age: Baby-Toddler

Truly a missed opportunity for a touch-and-feel board book but the similes and vocabulary are perfect.

Bolden divides this book into three sections: preliminary planning of the museum, construction, and what is currently featured in the museum. Sometimes the text feels jargon and stat heavy but an otherwise interesting look at this exciting addition to our nation's capitol.

Age: Middle school-high school
Historical event: September 11th (briefly)

Although it had the potential to be a "white American girl eases guilt by sending money to Africa" book, this dual perspective novel shows a realistic transformation of both tweens lives through their pen pal correspondence across the ocean. It was annoying to hear about the girl's petty problems (so many boys to date!) in comparison to Martin's poverty-stricken life but it made the story all the more real and, perhaps, relatable for readers.

The greatest message of this book is to show readers that making a difference in the world can start by making a difference in one person's life by getting to know that person, being honest, and being determined.

Spoiler

And, PS, I always love stories that have a boy/girl friendship that doesn't end in romance. <\spoiler>

All in all, I loved the series and all it's mythology and world building. The third installment just felt a bit unnecessarily lengthy in Annith's trek across the country--like the transitions between place-to-place felt overly elaborated upon. The twists were pretty solid, though.

Lots of self-empowerment and mental care as opposed to right or wrong ways to raising your child. A quick or browsable read as baby takes her naps.

The CALM mantra is as follows:
Cancel negative thoughts: that focus on the idea that whatever is happening is wrong. Take a deep breath in and release any negativity as you exhale.

Allow your feelings: notice the physical sensations and any emotions that are present in your body, describing them with as much detail as possible. Take another deep breath into any areas where you are feeling tension or emotion.

Link up and listen: now connect with the baby via the invisible umbilical; share your love with her and gather information about what she's experiencing using both your physical senses and your sixth sense or mama instincts.

Mirror: back to the baby what you're noticing about her experience, rather than trying to fix her upset. This way the baby experiences you experiencing her in a calm way which helps her calm, too.