Review: The Big Bad Wolf Goes On Vacation by Delphine Perret

The BIG BAD WOLF is back—and funnier (but not scarier) than ever!
 




Doesn't a wolf deserve a vacation, too? Bernard, the clever, cookie-munching hero of Delphine Perret's award-winning book, certainly thinks so. So when he learns that his pal Louis is vacationing by the sea with his grandpa, Bernard wants to go too. Soon they're off on a wacky road trip that ends with the perfect day on the beach. This much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning The Big Bad Wolf and Me is every bit as delightful as the first…and well worth the wait.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review

This story is just in time for warm weather and vacation season. Told in short chapters by a little boy who is taking a trip with his secret best friend (a wolf) and his grandfather. The Big Bad Wolf isn't quite so scary when he's going to the beach! In fact, in this book he's full of all kinds of surprises. Almost every page has multiple illustrations - line drawings in comic book style.  The text is fairly simple and silly describing their adventurous day. Somewhat long by children's book standards (64 pages) this book is enjoyable for the young and young at heart. It made my granddaughter and I both giggle!

Author Delphine Perret has numerous books published in France. Her first book in the U.S. was published seven years ago. I'm happy she decided to do a sequel!

The Big Bad Wolf and Me
 




Author-illustrator
Thank you to Sterling Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

Release date: 3/5/13
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 64 (hardcover)
Type: children

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Mari Reads this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
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During this last week I've finally been able to sit outside in the sunshine and enjoy a book. Finally! I haven't dared put up the hammock yet but I did sweep off the porches and get most of the outdoor furniture set up. It feels so good to feel the sun and breath the fresh air while I read. I can't wait for the trees and hills to turn green! I hope you are having a terrific Spring and plenty of good books have found their way to your home!

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
For review from Crown Publishing (arc excerpt)

Arclight by Josin L. McQuein
For review from HarperCollins (arc)

The Breath of God by Jeffrey Small
Free from Barnes & Noble Free Friday (ebook)

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
For review from William Morrow (arc)

The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
For review from LibraryThing Early Reviewers (paperback)

The Ghost and the Graveyard by Genevieve Jack
Bought from B&N (ebook)

The Emperor's Knife By Marzarkis Williams
Free from B&N Free Friday (ebook)

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
For review from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (arc)

Saturday Snapshot

 Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home with Books. To participate in this meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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FINALLY! My first flower of the spring arrived! Three years ago I bought different colored pansies and planted them in pots and arranged them around my porches. A few must have escaped because since then I find pansies popping up in all kinds of places around my house. I rescue them and transplant them into a flower bed. These purple beauties keep coming back and this year they were the first to make an appearance at my house. Welcome - and it's about time!

And here's a few special effects, just because it's fun to play with!

Mini Review - Real Mermaids series by Helene Boudreau

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings (Real Mermaids #1) 
First zit. First crush. First…mermaid’s tail?
If she hadn’t been so clueless, she might have seen it coming. But really, who expects to get into a relaxing bathtub after a stressful day of shopping for tankinis and come out with scales and a tail?
Most. Embarassing. Moment. Ever.
Jade soon discovers she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mom. But this revelation raises a serious question: if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown?
Jade is determined to find out. But how does a plus-sized, aqua-phobic, mer-girl go about doing that, exactly? And how will Jade ever be able to explain her secret to her best friend Cori, and her crush, Luke?
This summer is about to get a lot more interesting…

Real Mermaids Don't Hold Their Breath (#2)
Jade begins her summer confused. Yes, there's that whole "will this be a leg-day or a tail-day" kind of confusion, but Jade's got even bigger problems: it's been three weeks since Mom returned to the ocean with no news of her whereabouts. Plus, it's been twenty-one days since Jade first kissed her mer-boy Luke and now-nothing.
Will Mom find the enchanted tidal pool that will allow her to become human? And why is Luke acting so weird?
The SEAquel to Helene Boudreau's critically acclaimed Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings is as energetic and fresh as a salty sea breeze.

 Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels (#3)
The only thing that terrifies Jade more than the ocean is dancing at the Fall Formal. Because Jade has two left feet—er, flippers. Who knew being a high school freshman is even more awkward than being a plus-size aqua-phobic mer-girl? At least her only drama is of the human variety...
Or not.
The Mermish Council has just declared that all land-dwelling mers but return to the ocean. Pronto. But there's no way Jade is going to let her mom, or Luke, her...boyfriend? mer-guy-friend?, disappear into the deep, dark ocean. Again. After all, a girl's got to have a date to her first dance.
If Jade can stop mer-mageddon, finding a plus-size dress that doesn't look like a shower curtain should be a piece of cake.
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Mini Review
 What a cute series! Do I believe in mermaids? Not really. Would I like to? Sure! 
I won these three books recently from In the Hammock and started leafing through the first book the day they arrived. Although I have plenty to read already I couldn't put it down. It was just the right book at just the right time. A cute, quirky, light, easy read. When I finished the first book I immediately read the next two in the series.  The characters are likeable and their little town is interesting and has plenty of action. I would have loved this series as a kid and I'm happy to say I still enjoy it now. I look forward to reading the next book (and more from this author!) coming out later this year.

 Real Mermaids Don't Sell Sea Shells (#4) 
 Release date: fall 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabborwocky
Type: Middle Grade/ Young Adult

Author
Publisher
 

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Mari Reads this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
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We are having a rainy April but that's an improvement. It's time for muddy boots, muddy dogs, muddy everything. April showers bring May flowers! (If they don't get washed away first.) But any weather is good for reading and I have lots of goodies. I hope you have beautiful weather and great books to keep you happy too!

 Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Won from Just Another New Blog (ebook)

My Half of the Sky by Jana McBurney - Lin
Won from Just Another New Blog (ebook)

Eolyn by Karen Rita Gastreich
Won from Just Another New Blog (ebook)

Storybound by Marissa Burt
Free from Barnes & Noble Free Friday (ebook)

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
For review from NetGalley (ebook)

Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
Free from B&N Free Friday (ebook)

Saturday Snapshot

 Saturday Snapshot is hosted by At Home with Books. To participate in this meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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We finally got some warm weather and sunshine and it lasted two days. This week it's been colder and very rainy but no snow. At least now we know Spring is really coming! In the  meantime I wanted to share some photos from Easter. It's so nice to have little ones around again to enjoy the fun!

Coloring eggs

The Princess is carefully choosing her colors

Monkey Boy abandoned his washable markers for the good stuff. Who needs a dipper when you can use your hands?

Beautiful Easter dress

Egg hunt with cousins (He's wearing a tiny neck tie!)

Help from big sister (Her cowboy boots make the outfit!)

Blog Tour: Lisa Loeb's Songs for Movin' and Shakin'

The air band song
 and other 
toe-tapping tunes

This spectacularly fun songbook will get kids off the sofa—guaranteed!

Singer Lisa Loeb will have kids movin' and groovin' with her sparkling second collection of songs and activities—plus a CD with five all-time children's favorites and another five original tunes. It's sure to stir up some fun, as budding musicians discover the joys of playing in an air band (“Turn it Down”); see how to face down scary creatures (“Monster Stomp”); and practice relaxing yoga poses (“Hello, Today”). Ryan O'Rourke's whimsical illustrations light up Lisa's lyrics—and will delight young readers, movers, and shakers.

Songs include:
Turn it Down (The Air Band Song)* •  Father Abraham  •  Miss Mary Mack • Monster Stomp*  • Going Away* •  Do Your Ears Hang Low? •  Everybody Wake Up* • Hello, Today* •  Peanut Butter and Jelly  •  Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
(*original song)

(Goodreads.com)

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Review

This book and CD have plenty of "toe-tapping tunes", some I was familiar with and some were new to me. All of them get you moving! The book has the lyrics and whimsical, colorful illustrations to go with each song. They can be enjoyed together or apart. My five year-old granddaughter recognized some songs from preschool and sang along. My one year-old grandson loved to dance to all of them and their little cousins joined in too! 

Doesn't it look like fun? This is enjoyable for all ages and will get everyone moving! We look forward to reading and dancing to these for years to come. We'll also be looking for more from this artist. Join the party and get this set for your family!

Excerpt - Monster Stomp

Lisa Loeb

Author

Illustrator

Publisher

Purchase from Barnes & Noble

Release date: 4/2/13

Publisher: Sterling Children's Books

Pages: 24 (hardcover)

Type: Children (ages 4-7)

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :
1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3 . Share 2 "teaser" sentences also citing the title of the book and the author and in that way people can have great recommendations if they like the "teaser".
4. Please avoid spoilers!

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And this was Akiva's new hell: to have everything change and nothing change...
It was absurd that he should find himself back in his old life as if he were the same creature before a blue-haired girl brushed past him in a narrow street in another world.
~page 28
Days of Blood & Starlight (book 2) by Laini Taylor

Review: The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck by Emily Fairlie

 

 Tuckernuck Cluckers, 

brave and true!

 




Tips for solving the treasure challenge created by your crazy school founder over eighty years ago

By Laurie Madison and Bud Wallace, Grade 6

1. Be suspicious of student journalists. And maybe janitors, too.
2. Make friends with your ancient school librarian. If her blue hair freaks you out, get over it.
3. Be prepared to sing like an angel or, at the very least, like a pirate.
4. Never underestimate the usefulness of furry rodents (especially flesh-eating ones).
5. Avoid the English wing. Seriously. You don't want to go there.

Using a unique blend of notes, lists, and classic prose, The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck tells the story of Bud and Laurie's quest to find the infamous Tutweiler Treasure. They're hot (or at least lukewarm) on the trail of clues, but time is running out—the school board wants to tear down Tuckernuck Hall. Can Bud and Laurie find the treasure before it's lost forever?

Emily Fairlie's memorable caper combines timeless mystery with humor in a treasure trove of wry wit, thrilling adventure, and undeniable heart.

(barnesandnoble.com) 
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Review
This is an enjoyable middle grade read that includes humor and mystery. With a chicken for the school mascot (the Tuckernuck Cluckers!) you know there are going to be some funny moments. Laurie and Bud are new 6th graders at this unusual school and not off to a very good start.  In fact, Laurie is planning to transfer to another school as soon as possible but coming from a family of Clucker alumni makes that tough. When she and Bud as forced into an unlikely partnership they discover the first clue to the school's hidden treasure. As an exciting adventure unfolds, Laurie develops a new outlook on the school and their quest is off at a frantic pace with a deadline looming for demolition day. 

The details of the treasure hunt are quite interesting and the characters begin to adapt and grow. The more they learn about the history of Tuckernuck Academy the more their priorities change and the less selfish their motives become. The references to famous authors and artists, as well as the illustrations and copies of notes and emails, were a fun addition. The quirky humor was my favorite element. This is an enjoyable story for adults as well as young readers! 

Author
Publisher 
Thank you to HarperCollins for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 9/25/12
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Pages: 256 (hardcover)
Type: Children's fiction/middle grade