book review

Picture Book Review: Penpals Forever

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Penpals Forever by C.K. Smouha

Penpals Forever
by C.K. Smouha, Jürg Lindenberger (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars

Freddy the mouse and Annabel the elephant become penpals and write letters back and forth. Freddy tells Annabel about the bullies in his neighborhood who stole his skateboard, and when Freddy stops writing altogether Annabel is worried that something must have happened to him.

I love that Annabel’s letters are humongous and taller than Freddy. And Freddy’s letters are tiny, and Annabel has to read them with a microscope. That made me laugh! Nothing can stop those two from being friends!

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Picture Book Review: Now You See Me, Now You Don’t

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Now You See Me, Now You Don't by Patricia Hegarty

Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
by Patricia Hegarty, Jonny Lambert (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
Chameleon uses his disguise skills to play tricks on the other jungle animals. He plucks feathers, steals food, hides away during chore time, and even makes poor sloth fall out of his tree. But when Frog plays a trick on Chameleon, he learns that it’s not so fun when the tables are turned.

I love the positive messages in this book, and how Chameleon learns a good lesson about playing tricks on people. The moral in the story is not too preachy, and the story is light and fun.

I LOVE the rhyming text in this book!

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Non Fiction Book Review: 5 Minutes Really True Stories for Bedtime

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Britannica 5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime by Britannica Books

Britannica 5-Minute Really True Stories for Bedtime
by Britannica Books
4 out of 5 stars

This book gives true stories about the history of sleeping, nocturnal animals, interesting bed designs from around the world, the largest bed and the biggest sleepover, with a dozen other amazing facts about the nighttime.

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Picture Book Series: Why Do We Worship, Sing, Pray?

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Why Do We Worship? by Miranda Nerland

Why Do We Worship?
by Miranda Nerland, Hayley O’Neal (Illustrator)
3 out of 5 stars

This book details all the reasons why Christians should worship God for his goodness, his power, and his love. God is strong even when we are weak and tired. God is good and loves us even when we make bad choices. God is big and all-knowing so we can ask him for help with anything we need.

Why Do We Pray? by Miranda Nerland

Why Do We Pray?
by Miranda Nerland, Hayley O’Neal (Illustrator)
This book gives reasons why Christians should pray, and ways that prayer helps us to become closer to God. Prayer brings us peace, and is a way for us to talk with God and tell Him our wants and needs. Through prayer, we can thank God for everything He has given us. We can confess when we are struggling to do right, and ask for forgiveness. We can pray with confidence that God always hears us.

Why Do We Sing? by Miranda Nerland

Why Do We Sing?
by Miranda Nerland, Hayley O’Neal (Illustrator)

This book details all the reasons why Christians should sing together and learn lessons and tell stories through song. Singing together helps us to worship God and thank Him for His blessings to us. Songs about God’s goodness and power can make people more courageous and happy. Sharing our joy through music can comfort people who are sad.

I love how these books take big spiritual ideas, and puts them into simple language that a child can understand.

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Picture Book Review: The Three Wishes

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The Three Wishes by Alan Snow

The Three Wishes
by Alan Snow
5 out of 5 stars

A young man living in the far North stumbles into a hidden land of summer where time stands still. He is only allowed to return to visit his family in the dead of winter each year, and he leaves gifts for them so that they know he is alive and well. He is given a magic feather that allows his deer to fly.

I loved this myth of the origins of Santa Claus told in an old-fashioned style. The story is so imaginative and charming! The plot is sort of strange, until you start to realize that all the components of the plot are adding up to the red suit and the flying reindeer and the gifts. Then it all begins to make sense, and it’s like a wonderful discovery.

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Game Review: Build a Skyscraper

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Archicards by Paul Farrell

Archicards: Build a Skyscraper
by Paul Farrell
5 out of 5 stars


This game has 64 cards that are designed with the towers, windows, roofs, and decorative doorways of a city skyscraper. Each card has cut-out slots so that you can connect them with each other to build a 3D puzzle of a skyscraper in any shape you want! The cards are sturdy cardboard, and printed with bright colors and a simple design.

I can’t stop playing this game! Every day for the last several days, I sit down and construct something new.

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Non Fiction Review: Weird But True: Halloween

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Weird But True by Julie Beer

Weird But True: Halloween 300 Spooky Facts to Scare You Silly
by Julie Beer
5 out of 5 stars

This Halloween book combines colorful illustrations and photos with tid-bits of weird information about spiders, vampires, pumpkins, candy, ghosts, and a million other subjects!

I read through the entire book in just a half hour, fascinated with every wacky statement and attracted to each page by the stunning photos. I learned so many freaky things, like the loudest scream ever recorded, the largest jack-o’-lantern, and the craziest costumes!

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln is the most commonly sighted ghost in the White House? Or that you can make edible pumpkin play-dough? haha! There is even an asteroid that is shaped like a skull. Weird and random and hilarious!

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Book Review: Ogre Enchanted

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Ogre Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Ogre Enchanted (Ella Enchanted, #0.5)
by Gail Carson Levine (Goodreads Author)
3 out of 5 stars

Evie is a teenage healer, always concocting potions for her best friend, Wormy. When he proposes, she says no, and the fairy Lucinda curses her to be an ogre until she accepts a marriage proposal. Any marriage proposal from anyone. Evie travels to the Fens, hoping to learn the art of persuasion from the ogres who live there. Life as an ogre is more difficult than she imagined, but Evie becomes known as the healer ogre. She searches for someone who will awaken her ability to love, and hopes that someone will propose to her. But she isn’t even sure what love is supposed to feel like.

I was disappointed in this book.
The story was oddly disjointed, and there were several things that seemed exceedingly far-fetched, even for a fairytale world. The ending was rushed, and the relationships felt forced. The characters are okay, but I wasn’t amazed with their personalities or the bland character development.

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Book Review: Skunk and Badger

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Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake

Skunk and Badger (Skunk and Badger #1)
by Amy Timberlake, Jon Klassen (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars

Badger has a simple and quiet life studying rocks and doing Important Rock Work. One day Skunk shows up on Badger’s doorstep as his new roommate, and Badger’s quiet life is thrown into chaos. Skunk cooks delicious meals, but dirties up the kitchen. Skunk moves furniture around and recycles all the cardboard boxes that Badger was saving. Skunk invites guests over for a story-time popcorn party until the house is overrun with chickens! Badger is torn between enjoying all the excitement and being angry with Skunk for his wild behavior. How will these two roommates ever find a way to live together in harmony?

I loved this book so much! It reminds me of one of my favorite animal books, “Wind in the Willows”. There is a quiet character and an adventurous character, and they learn to be friends.

The character development is fantastic! Badger goes through a whole internal journey as his world begins to open up and he realizes just how isolated he has become. He is initially dismayed at Skunk’s antics, but also enjoys the good food and companionship that comes into his house. Skunk makes him think differently about his life and see things from a new perspective. I love the warmth of their friendship and how they laugh together.

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Book Review: How to Get Away with Myrtle

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How to Get Away with Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

How to Get Away with Myrtle (Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery 2)
by Elizabeth C. Bunce 
5 out of 5 stars

Myrtle is traveling by train for a holiday at the seaside, when a priceless tiara is stolen and one of the train passengers is murdered. The local police are incompetent, and only Myrtle and her irrepressible governess, Miss Judson, can solve the case and bring justice to the murderer. But how is a Proper Young Lady supposed to adhere to the Rules of Etiquette AND have the freedom to run around the beach solving crimes? Especially with mean Aunt Helena criticizing her every move.

I cannot describe how much I loved this second book in the Myrtle series!
One of the things that made me fall in love with this book is the incredible character development. I love how the main characters change their minds, discover new information, grow in their personalities and abilities, and suddenly realize that their relationships with other characters can be different.

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