book reviews

Graphic Novel Review: Cici’s Journal

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Cici's Journal by Joris Chamblain
Cici’s Journal: The Adventures of a Writer-In-Training 
by  Joris Chamblain, Aurélie Neyret (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars on GoodREads


Cici loves a good mystery! When she and her friends see an old man lugging paint cans through the forest, Cici will do anything to unravel the enigma of the painter. But when she ignores her friends, lies to her mother, and takes advantage of her writing mentor, Cici could lose everyone she loves if she doesn’t learn to curb her wild curiosity.
This edition includes volumes 1-2 of Cici’s story. Continue reading →

Book Review: Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue

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Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue by Iain Reading
Kitty Hawk and the Icelandic Intrigue (Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency, #3) 
by Iain Reading

4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Kitty Hawk is visiting Iceland, and staying with a kind Icelandic family who work to find clean energy solutions. Kitty is excited to experience all the beauties of Iceland, touring around Reykjavik, swimming in hot springs, and flying over the enormous icefields. But she becomes entangled with the rising hostilities between violent environmentalists and corrupt aluminum companies, and must unravel the mysteries of the Viking legends and the mystical Hidden People (Icelandic elves and trolls) if she wants to escape and help her friends to save Iceland from the greed of foreign corporations. Continue reading →

Picture Book Review: How to Trick the Tooth Fairy

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How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell
How to Trick the Tooth Fairy 
by Erin Danielle Russell,
Jennifer Hansen Rolli (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads

Kaylee is a prankster who tries to trick the Tooth Fairy, but the Tooth Fairy has a few magical tricks of her own, and the two begin a prank war with disastrous results. Can Kaylee and the Tooth Fairy put an end to their endless pranks, become friends, and clean up the mess they’ve made?

The cuteness! The adorableness! The hilarity! I fell in love with this darling book the second I saw the glittery cover art. The illustrations are utterly delightful on every page, with cute little details that bring the story to life. Continue reading →

Graphic Novel Review: Chimera

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Chimera by Tyler Ellis
Chimera: Book One – The Righteous and the Lost 
by Tyler Ellis

1 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


I was unable to read past the first few pages because of all the profanity in this graphic novel. I’m very disappointed. So I guess I can’t really write a review, because I only read 5 pages.
The colorful artwork looks beautiful, which is mainly why I wanted to read this. Too bad it looks beautiful, but the dialogue is ugly.

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

Picture Book Review: This is a Taco!

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This Is a Taco! by Andrew Cangelose
This Is a Taco! 
by Andrew Cangelose, Josh Shipley (Artist)

5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads


Taco is a squirrel who loves to eat tacos, and he agrees to be in this book to teach young children about squirrels, with the understanding that there will be tacos in the book! But Taco gets more than he bargained for when he is mistaken for a flying squirrel, forced to eat tree bark, and hunted by a ferocious hawk. Can Taco take back control of the narrative before it’s too late?

I love books that break down the fourth wall, especially picture books. As Taco becomes increasingly anxious about the chaotic turn the story is taking, he does a beautiful job of addressing the reader directly and including the audience in the book narrative. The writing is quite clever, and similar to another favorite picture book, The Monster at the End of this Book !

The illustrations are so lovely! Colorful and funny, each page has a charm all its own. Taco is so cute!! He’s cuddly and adorable, and I love his funny facial expressions.
Continue reading →

Book Review: The Language of Spells

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The Language of Spells by Garret Weyr, also Freymann-...
The Language of Spells 
by Garret Weyr, also Freymann-Weyr
Katie Harnett (Illustrations)

3 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book about a dragon under an enchantment and the little girl who gives up everything to save him and his fellow dragons!

Grisha is still a young dragon when an evil sorcerer freezes him into the shape of a small teapot. Trapped within the teapot for decades, Grisha dreams of being free once more, but as soon as a friend breaks the enchantment of the teapot, Grisha is trapped in another kind of prison. The cruel bureaucracy of Vienna keeps a close watch on the few dragons allowed to remain in the city, and every aspect of Grisha’s life is locked between rigid rules and regulations, even restricting his thoughts and words. Continue reading →

Book Review: The Big Six

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The Big Six by Arthur Ransome
The Big Six (Swallows and Amazons, #9) 
by Arthur Ransome

5 out of 5 stars

Joe, Bill, and Pete are fixing up their boat, the Death and Glory, with bunks, cupboards, and a little stove, so that they can camp out on the river all winter long. When someone starts casting off boats in the middle of the night, it gets blamed on the boys, and they have to prove their innocence. With the help of Coot Club members, Tom, Dick, and Dorothea, they start their own detective agency to track down the real culprits.

As always, I adore this interesting story, full of nautical knowledge and adorable characters. The plot really keeps the mystery moving as each clue comes to light, and the desperation and anxiety of the characters keeps the tension high, even if some of the plot points are a little predictable. The story is not so much about the mystery, as it is about how the characters follow the mystery. Continue reading →