Agent Llama: Double Trouble
by Angela Woolfe, Duncan Beedie (Illustrator)
Charlie is a fabulous spy. She is hot on the trail of evil drones that are shooting meatballs and pasta noodles at cities all over the world. People are drowning in tomato sauce, but Charlie will save the day! She surfs through dangerous waters. She climbs the cliffs of a volcano. Her teddy bear has a laser gun inside. She outwits the bad guys, and does it all with style.
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Olive
by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
4.5 out of 5 stars
Olive is born with a deformity in her spine. Her parents are devastated to have a humpback child, but try to show Olive compassion. Her childhood is peaceful, but as Olive grows up she begins to realize that she will never be able to live like other people. She is unlikely to ever marry or have a family. Uneducated and without resources, Olive must lean on her faith to help her through the difficulties of her life. She finds solace in nature and art, and in supporting her friends and family with a patient and kind spirit.
The Mayor of Casterbridge
by Thomas Hardy
In a drunken rage, Henchard sells his wife and baby daughter to a sailor for five guineas. Once he is sober, Henchard bitterly repents of his deed and searches for his wife and child, but to no avail. Over the passing years, Henchard’s fortunes change and he becomes a successful businessman and mayor of the town of Casterbridge. He is well-respected and lives a peaceful life, until his wife returns with a teenage daughter, Elizabeth-Jane, and his old secrets begin to haunt him.
I love Hardy’s writing style! He really knows how to tell a dramatic story in a beautiful rural setting. There is something so vivid and immediate in his writing that draws you into the emotions of every scene.
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The Lady of the Lake
by Sir Walter Scott
5 out of 5 stars
As a result of a feud between her father and King James, Ellen Douglas must live a secluded life in hiding on a small island in a Scottish loch. There she meets the mysterious James Fitz-James, a knight who has lost his hunting party in the highlands. Ellen is distressed by the romantic intentions of two highland lords, Malcolm Graeme and Roderick Dhu. Her father, the Douglas, refuses to lead his clan into war with King James, but Roderick Dhu calls together an army for a bloody battle.
I loved this beautiful poetry! There is such a wonderful balance in the writing between flowery phrases and powerful emotions and good plain storytelling. All these things come together for a delightful reading experience.
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Scrap Metal Swan
by Joanne Linden (Goodreads Author)
The people of the town gather to help clean up the river. They pull trash and old junk out of the water, recycling most of it. An artist takes some of the scrap metal for a special project; she will sculpt a beautiful statue of a swan from all the old bits of scrap metal! When the artist unveils the lovely swan, other artists get inspired to do the same. Soon the park has many lovely statues made from old repurposed junk. The river is clean, and the townspeople are proud of their new statue park.
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Beneath the Trees: A Fine Summer
by Dav
An owl is disturbed by little animal children playing noisily in the pond. They are always shouting out, “Yeah!” when they score a point in their water-basketball game. They accidentally kick the ball through his open window and he is so annoyed that he refuses to give it back. That evening, when the animal children are all gone, the owl throws the ball out the window, and accidentally makes a basket! He is intrigued by the game, and starts to practice by himself at night. Will the kids ever find out?
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Cats Cats Cats
by Stephane Lapuss’, Philippe
4 out of 5 stars
Cats are really silly. You give them food, they don’t want it. You give them toys, they play with the box. They eat a butterfly that tastes gross, but they still eat another one. They meow to be let out, but when you open the door, they won’t go out. Dogs don’t scare them, but a ladybug does. Cats are the most illogical animals! And the most adorable.
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Marvelous Body
by Jane Wilsher, Andrés Lozano (Illustrator)
Using the “magic lens” you can explore the human body! There are sections all about bones, muscles, skin, eyes, and hair. You will learn about the nervous system, the digestive system, and your lungs and brain. Have you ever wondered how your brain interprets sounds through your ears, or how the tongue can taste different foods? Did you know your heart pumps your blood all the way around your body in about 60 seconds?
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The Hotel for Bugs
by Suzy Senior
5 out of 5 stars
When the new hotel opens, all the bugs are ready to relax by the pool, eat the delicious buffet, and get a steam at the spa. But when a slug tries to book a room, the manager points out that it is a Hotel for Bugs, not slugs! One little bug guest protests, and says that all bugs are pretty weird and different, so they should be able to include a slug in their group. The manager realizes how silly she has been, and invites the slug to take the most luxurious room in the hotel!
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