book
Picture Book Review: Gorgeous Ruth
Gorgeous Ruth
by Albert Chang, Caroline Attia
by Albert Chang, Caroline Attia
2 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Ruth has a chipped tooth, and a chipped tea cup, but she doesn’t let it bother her, preferring instead to play and run on the beach.
This picture book has beautiful illustrations with billowing lines and colorful figures. I really loved the movement in the pictures, and how cute Ruth looks! She looks sweet and cheerful on every page. The sweeping wind and rushing waves are the perfect backdrop for the energetic Ruth, but I also enjoyed how peaceful the artwork is as Ruth lays down to sleep.
This picture book has beautiful illustrations with billowing lines and colorful figures. I really loved the movement in the pictures, and how cute Ruth looks! She looks sweet and cheerful on every page. The sweeping wind and rushing waves are the perfect backdrop for the energetic Ruth, but I also enjoyed how peaceful the artwork is as Ruth lays down to sleep.
The one thing I did NOT enjoy was the actual story. It was not exactly clear what the relationship was between Ruth’s chipped tooth and the broken cup. Did she chip her tooth on the cup? Or is she just comparing her tooth to the cup?
The story is told in really terrible poetry. The meter is off. Some of the words don’t rhyme. I don’t know why people think children’s picture books should be in rhyme. It would be a much better story if they just told the story, instead of painfully attempting to rhyme “beach” with “feet”, and “sea” and “dream”. *cringe*
Continue reading
Explorer Academy Book Reviews + Giveaway
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT!
Grand Prize: Denise Morse
2nd Prize: Nicole Martin
3rd Prize: Kelly W.
CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS!!
Picture Book Review: William Sheepspeare
William Sheepspeare
by Courtney Acampora, Maggie Fischer, Zoe Perisco
by Courtney Acampora, Maggie Fischer, Zoe Perisco
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
“To baa or not to baa… That is the question.”
The cuteness factor in this board book is through the roof! Reimagining the life of William Shakespeare as a sheep, everything is transformed into animalistic phrases, words, and illustrations. William Sheepspeare writes “ram-ances” instead of “romances”, and “shearious” tragedies like “Lamblet, MacBleat, and Julius Fleecer”.
Introducing young children to the beautiful Globe Theater and Sheepspeare’s home in Stratford with his family (his “ewe, Anne Hoofaway” and three “lambs”), the simple story-telling is the perfect style for little readers to learn about this historical figure. Continue reading
Picture Book Review: Wind in the Willows Jigsaw Puzzles
Wind in the Willows Jigsaw Book
by Kenneth Grahame, Ernest H. Shepard
by Kenneth Grahame, Ernest H. Shepard
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
A beautiful board book with jigsaw puzzles on the pages. I will NEVER take those puzzle pieces out. They are too perfect! I adore Shepard’s whimsical illustrations, and enjoyed reading the little excerpts from the Wind in the Willows book that accompany each puzzle.
So cute!
So cute!
Manga Review: MacBeth
Manga Classics: Macbeth
by Crystal S. Chan ,William Shakespeare, Julien Choy
by Crystal S. Chan ,William Shakespeare, Julien Choy
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Despite its popularity, MacBeth has never been one of my favorite Shakespearean plays. Too bloody and gory and gloomy for my taste. But if you like a dismal adventure with plenty of violence and mayhem, MacBeth has plenty of that! And this manga adaptation rings true with the moods and poetry of the original play. I like that the exact dialogue of the play is used in this manga, and the artwork beautifully illustrates all the action and drama. Continue reading
Book Review: Tehanu
Tehanu (Earthsea Cycle, #4)
by Ursula K. Le Guin
by Ursula K. Le Guin
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Tenar is living as a poor farmer’s widow in the valleys of Gont, and adopts a disfigured child who was beaten and burned. When Ged, the Archmage Sparrowhawk, comes back into her life, Tenar must face the mystery behind the magic that has followed her all her life.
As with most of Le Guin’s books, I’m not quite sure what to think. It’s masterfully written with truly beautiful prose, and a deep story full of meaning and emotion. But it’s just so strange and other-worldly and odd. There are so many questions and few definitive answers. The best thing about her writing is that it makes you think about things… really think and ponder. Continue reading
Book Review: Falcon’s Feather
The Falcon’s Feather (Explorer Academy, #2)
by Trudi Trueit
by Trudi Trueit
5 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Cruz and his friends are searching for clues left behind by Cruz’s mother, on a quest that will take them to Norway and Iceland. The team stops along the way to do some underwater diving, help some whales in trouble, and tour the beauties of Norway in between their Academy classes and explorer training. Cruz and Emmett soon discover that there are spies on board the Academy’s flagship, Orion, and they don’t know who to trust. When Cruz’s diving equipment fails and puts his life in danger, it only makes him more determined than ever to find some answers.
I didn’t think it was possible for this book to be even BETTER than the first one, but WOW! I am so crazy impressed with this series.
The plot is non-stop action with tons of wonderful adventure, mystery, puzzles, spies, betrayal, high-tech gadgets, and of course, the fascinating characters.
Picture Book Review: Frida Catlo
Frida Catlo
by Courtney Acampora, Maggie Fischer, Lindsay Dale-Scott
by Courtney Acampora, Maggie Fischer, Lindsay Dale-Scott
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
This adorable board book tells the story of Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican artist reimagined as a cat with nine lives. The simple story-telling is perfect for young little readers, and a wonderful way to introduce them to this well-known artist. The book includes Diego Rivera as a dog, making him “Doggo” Rivera, and animalistic versions of some of Frida’s most famous paintings.
The cartoon illustrations are full of vibrant colors and cute animals. The writing hilariously uses animal made-up words, like “purr-fect”, “furgotten”,”Meowxico”,”mewseum”, and “paw-traits” instead of portraits. Continue reading
Classics Review: Laughing Cavalier
The Laughing Cavalier
by Emmuska Orczy
4 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
Diogenes is a carefree swordsman who lives by his wits, known as the Laughing Cavalier in 1600s Holland. He is hired to kidnap the lovely Gilda Beresteyn, because she has overheard a plot to kill the Prince of Orange, and the assassins, one of whom is her own brother, want her out of the city for a few days so she can’t divulge their evil plans. All goes according to plan, until Diogenes begins to fall in love with the beautiful Gilda, won over by her gentle ways.
I love the sword-fighting, political intrigue, betrayal, secret plans, adventure, and mystery. The plot is almost non-stop action, and every situation seems impossible for the heroes to survive, but somehow, amazingly, incredibly, they pull through. Every plot twist is a surprise! I love the agile writing style, because it keeps the reader interested through every page. Continue reading
Luminous Libro 