Book Review: Island of the Aunts
Island of the Aunts
by Eva Ibbotson
5 out of 5 stars
The aunts need help, so they decide to kidnap some children and train them up. But these will have to be special children; children who can be trusted with the greatest secret of the island.
Fantastic and imaginative! I loved it! I had me gasping in surprise, and laughing and crying and laughing some more.
Update: Reading this the second or third time is just as enjoyable and magical.
I love all the weird and wacky characters! The aunts are just hilarious, Minette is utterly sweet, and Fabio is such a brave little fellow.
I love all the magical creatures, the mermaids, and selkies, and other wild creatures. It’s all so imaginative and interesting. The details make it all feel real and exciting.
Continue readingMixed Tape Book Tag: English and Spanish
Board Book Review: Made for Me/ Naciste Para Mi
Made for Me
by Zack Bush (Author), Gregorio De Laurentis (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars
A loving Dad tucks his baby child in at night, plays games, and washes their hair at bathtime. The Dad tells his child how much they are loved and cherished. Every new day is an adventure of discovery as the Dad watches their child explore their little world.
I really like that the toddler in the book could be a girl or a boy, so it will appeal to all children! The text is very sweet as the Dad describes how much they love their little baby. It’s a rhyming text, and the rhymes are good and the meter fits.
Continue readingBook Review: That Hideous Strength
That Hideous Strength (The Space Trilogy, #3)
by C.S. Lewis
4 out of 5 stars
Jane and Mark are caught between the forces of good and evil. As the N.I.C.E. corporation offers Mark a job to lure him into their wicked schemes, Jane is approached by a very different group of people who have gathered around Ransom. They each have to decide what they believe in when it turns out that archangels and ancient legends are real.
This book has a very different format from the other books in the series, and Ransom is a side character in his own story. The trouble with Jane and Mark being the main characters, is that I don’t really like either of them. They are so wishy-washy and both their personalities are unattractive. However, they do both have extreme character development and really interesting internal journeys.
Continue readingThe Worst Turkish Delight in History
Board Book Reviews: Things that Go, and What are Unicorns Made of?
Things That Go
by Lauren Crisp, Thomas Elliott (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
This board book helps little readers to explore the different types of planes, ships, and cars. As you lift each flap on the page, a new type of transportation is revealed. There is a hot air balloon hidden behind some clouds, and a surprise submarine hiding under the waves.
I think it’s very cool that all the flaps are different sizes. There are big ones and little ones to help develop hand-eye coordination in little baby readers. The flaps are fairly thick and sturdy, but the smaller ones are still liable to get torn if you aren’t careful.
Continue readingNon Fiction Book Reviews: 101 Life Hacks and Surprising Stories behind Everyday Stuff
101 Life Hacks: Genius Ways to Simplify Your World
by Aubre Andrus (Goodreads Author)
4 out of 5 stars
This book has amazing hacks and tips for all kinds of things from making your own crafts to reusing objects in unexpected ways. You can make your own tablet holder, pom-poms, or tote bag out of old materials. You can reuse carbingers, rubber bands, or binder clips in new ways. There are recipes to cook, activities to do, and crafts to make. There are even studying hacks to help you do well in school.
Continue readingBoard Book Reviews: Rosa Bilingual Series
All About Rosa Series: https://www.goodreads.com/series/262295-all-about-rosa
by Jessica Spanyol, Yanitzia Canetti (Translator)
4 out of 5 stars
Rosa plays with her dinosaur toys, learns to play different types of sports, has a race with her toy cars, and tries to go down a ramp on her scooter.
These board books are so adorable! The illustrations are really cute and colorful. Sweet little Rosa has a lot of fun playing and learning. It’s a simple story that will appeal to little readers, especially if they love dinosaurs or cars as much as Rosa does.
KEEP READING TO SEE THE REVIEW IN SPANISH!
Continue readingBaby Board Books: Batch Reviews
Baby’s First Farm
by Danielle McLean, Craig Shuttlewood (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
As we visit the farm, we can lift the flaps to discover what animals are hiding in the sheds. The sheep with her little lambs, the hen with her chicks, and the cow with her calves all greet us with animal sounds. At the end there is a large fold-out of all the animals together in the barn.
I love this cute book! My little niece is just learning all the farm animals, so I’m very excited to share this book with her.
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Luminous Libro 