Book Review: The Patron Thief of Bread

The Patron Thief of Bread by Lindsay Eagar

The Patron Thief of Bread
by Lindsay Eagar (Goodreads Author)

3 out of 5 stars

Duck has always lived on the streets with a gang of urchins who call themselves the Crowns. They pick pockets and steal food to stay alive. Their leader, Gnat, comes up with the idea for one of them to masquerade as a baker’s apprentice to steal from the bakery, and Duck is chosen for the job. Duck uses forged apprenticeship papers to begin working at the bakery, and then passes stolen bread and coins to the rest of the street urchins. But the longer Duck works at the bakery, the more she begins to settle into her new life. The baker lady is kind to her, and they become a weird sort of family. Duck’s loyalties are divided. Will she choose the baker who loves her like a mother would, or her ragtag family of pickpockets?

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Board Book Review: I Can Be Creative like Leonardo da Vinci

I Can Be Creative Like Leonardo da Vinci by Christopher Robbins

I Can Be Creative Like Leonardo da Vinci
by Christopher Robbins, Susanna Covelli (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars

This board book has a little finger puppet of Leonardo da Vinci sticking out of the book! It’s so cute and fun to play with! The story inspires little readers to be imaginative like da Vinci was. He invented new things, studied nature, and drew beautiful paintings and sketches.

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Graphic Novel Review: Pixels of You

Pixels of You by Ananth Hirsh

Pixels of You
by Ananth Hirsh, Yuko Ota, J.R. Doyle (Illustrations)

3 out of 5 stars

Indira is not thrilled when she has to team up with an android to put together an art show, but she quickly learns that Fawn is more than just a android. They learn to work together and explore their artistic sides through photography. Eventually, the two girls discover that friendship is possible no matter if you are cyborg, human, or android. They begin to have romantic feelings for each other as well.

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Book Review: Aunt Jane’s Nieces on the Ranch

Aunt Jane's Nieces on the Ranch by Edith Van Dyne

Aunt Jane’s Nieces on the Ranch (Aunt Jane’s Nieces, #8)
by Edith Van Dyne (Pseudonym), L. Frank Baum

3 out of 5 stars

Louise is married, living happily on the ranch with her new baby and adoring husband. Patsy, Beth, and Uncle John come to visit and see little baby Jane. Uncle John worries that the local nurse that Louise has hired will be incompetent, so he brings along a trained nurse from New York to care for the little baby. However, the local Mexican nurse is upset and jealous, causing drama in the family. When both nurses and baby Jane go missing, the whole house is in an uproar to find them.

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Book Review: Dragon Rain

Dragon Rain by Vonnie Winslow Crist

Dragon Rain
by Vonnie Winslow Crist (Goodreads Author)

3 out of 5 stars

Each short story in this collection features dragons; some benevolent, some dangerous, and all of them mysterious and magical. There are dragons with mystical powers. Some dragons will bargain with humans, exchanging magic for goods. Baby dragons just out of the egg need protection. Dragons in captivity will exact their revenge. And there are some dragons who are looking for their soulmate.

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Book Review: Tales of Fearless Girls

Forgotten Fairy Tales by Isabel Otter

Forgotten Fairy Tales: Fearless Girls Around the World
by Isabel Otter, Ana Sender (Illustrations)

This collection of fairy tales features stories from all over the globe. Each story has a fearless woman or girl who dives into adventure with courage and resourcefulness. The stories have a wide range of settings in different cultures, including Germany, Mexico, Siberia, Japan, Fiji, Nigeria, and India. Some of the tales include magical beings like elves and sorcerers, and some have magic gods and giants.

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Book Review: The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass

The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass by Anna Priemaza

The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass
by Anna Priemaza (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars

Vera has this strange empty feeling inside her, as if something is missing from her life, but she can’t remember what is missing. She finds herself crying at odd things. She seems to half-remember random objects, but can’t remember why they are important. When Vera realizes that her family and some of her classmates are also experiencing that same empty feeling, she begins to investigate what she can’t remember.

This plot completely broke my brain! It was so exciting and masterfully constructed. It was amazing to see how the plot unfolded, since the reader CAN remember all the people and things that Vera is gradually forgetting. The reader has so much more information than Vera does, and that made it really interesting to see how Vera tries to reconstruct the facts from what is left over after a memory is gone.

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Classic Review: Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates

Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge

Hans Brinker: The Silver Skates
by Mary Mapes DodgeMay Audubon Post (Illustrator)
4 out of 5 stars
Hans and his sister Gretel are poor. Their father was injured years ago and left with brain damage, so it is up to their mother to support the family. Hans tries to get work, but there are no jobs available in the winter time in Holland.
All the children in their village are excited for a grand skating race that will be held after Christmas, but Hans and Gretel only have cheap wooden skates that Hans made himself.

One of my favorite books as a child! Love it! There are so many elements to the story, and yet it is simple and pretty. The writing is so charming and sweet! The plot kept my interest, and I got so attached to the characters.

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Favorite Books of 2021

Reading with Sam: https://www.youtube.com/c/ReadingWithSam
I had such a great reading year and a ton of favorite books in 2021. I have divided this video into books that were new-to-me this year and books that were favorite rereads. I read some great classics, fantasy, middle grade books, and classic children’s literature that I really loved!

What was YOUR favorite book that you read in 2021? Leave me a comment!

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