books
Classic Review: The Island of Dr. Moreau
The Island of Dr. Moreau
by H.G. Wells, Alan Lightman (Goodreads Author) (Introduction)
3 out of 5 stars
Mr. Prendick is cast ashore on an island, where the evil scientist, Dr. Moreau, engages in animal vivisection and terrifying experiments. Gradually Mr. Prendick begins to realize that the other humans on the island are not all they seem to be. They have animal instincts and strange behavior, and Mr. Prendick has to fight for his life and find some way to escape this island of horrors.
The plot moves rather slowly, with more attention given to analyzing the morality and implications of Dr. Moreau’s work. A lot of time is spent scrutinizing different themes and ideas, like interesting explorations of what it really means to be human, but all the philosophizing does slow down the plot. However, when there IS any action, it is exciting and dramatic…. and violent. I did find the themes extremely interesting and well thought out.
Continue readingBook Trib Children’s Picture Book Reviews
The Lost Astronaut
by Diana Bella
5 out of 5 stars
An astronaut is lost in space and the reader must help him to find his way back to his spaceship and eventually home to earth. The reader has to shake the book, tilt the book, push “buttons”, and blow on the pages to get the astronaut home.
I loved this cute book! It’s so clever the way the interactive instructions make the reader feel like they are part of the story. It just proves that you don’t need a bunch of bells and whistles and fancy things attached to a book to make it interactive and fun!
One of the things I liked about this book is that there is a “happiness meter” at the bottom of the page, showing the astronaut’s mood. I actually felt happier when I saw that the astronaut was happy and safe!
Continue readingGraphic Novel Review: Miranda in the Maelstrom
Miranda in the Maelstrom, Vol. 1: Enter the Maelstrom
by Riley Dashiell Biehl
4 out of 5 stars
Miranda was caught in an interdimensional storm and separated from her parents. She learned to survive all alone on a barren planet, until another storm lifted her onto the decks of a pirate ship. She travels to different worlds, looking for her parents and having adventures with her trusty dog, Noodles. Sometimes, she makes friends, but Miranda has learned to be wary of who she can really trust.
I loved this exciting plot! There are so many imaginative worlds and dimensions with crazy stuff happening. The characters are all so different and weird-looking. It’s really imaginative and fun!
Continue readingGraphic Novel Review: Inkblot
Inkblot, Vol. 1
by Emma Kubert, Rusty Gladd
4 out of 5 stars
A librarian sorceress knocks over some bottles of ink and accidentally creates a powerful cat that has magical properties. Like all cats, this inky feline does whatever it wants whenever it wants, and it seems unbound by the laws of time and space. The sorceress begins to realize that the cat could cause the unravelling of the universe, or could save her family and bring the realms together.
The plot is excellent, full of adventure and magic! I really loved the mixture of action and funny scenes. The writing is so clever and hilarious, but also touches on some more somber and serious subjects.
Continue readingClassic Book Review: Dr. Wortle’s School
Dr. Wortle’s School
by Anthony Trollope
5 out of 5 stars
Dr. Wortle has hired Mr. Peacocke as a teacher in the boys prep school, but learns that Mr. Peacocke and his wife are hiding a terrible secret. The Peacocke’s are not to blame, but circumstances are against them. Dr. Wortle must decide whether to throw them out, or assist them in finding a solution to their difficulties. The ensuing scandal might be enough to close down the school unless Dr. Wortle can act quickly to silence the wild rumors.
I loved this book so much! What an exciting story! One of the characters travels to America and has some dangerous encounters there, while Dr. Wortle is at home having milder adventures of his own trying to keep vicious rumors out of the press. The plot is really interesting and full of surprises.
Continue readingPicture Book Review: Moose’s Book Bus
Moose’s Book Bus
by Inga Moore
5 out of 5 stars
Every evening, Moose tells a story to his family. One night he can’t think of any new stories, so the next day he travels in to town and goes to the library to get a book to read aloud to the family. Moose’s storybook readings are so popular that the animal neighbors want to come listen to Moose reading out loud, but there are too many of them to fit in the house! Bear, Fox, Badger, Hare, Mole, and the Beavers, and the Wild Pigs all bring their children to hear the stories. Moose will have to think of a new solution so that everyone can enjoy reading storybooks.
I LOVED this book so much! It spoke to my soul in a deep way, since I love reading and I think reading together out loud is so important as a family. The way the Moose family came together and connected with all their neighbors was so beautiful! They really help each other out, and they support and celebrate each different family in the forest. What a positive and inspiring story!
Continue readingPicture Book Review: Twas the Night Before Christmas
Twas the Night Before Christmas
by Clement C. Moore, P.J. Lynch (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars
This Christmas classic is beautifully illustrated in a new edition with artwork by P.J. Lynch. The well-known poetry about St. Nick comes alive once more when accompanied with such lovely illustrations!
I just adore this sweet poem! It’s never quite Christmas until someone says Santa has “a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.” This poem makes “visions of sugar plums danced in their heads” the rallying cry of all Christmas joy.
Continue readingGift Book Reviews: The Magic of You, and Yes You Can
The Magic of You: A Colorful Book of Happiness
by Laura Jane
4 out of 5 stars
This cute little book is full of inspirational sayings that encourage the reader to dream big and create beautiful things! Each affirmation or mantra guides you to make your dreams and goals a reality, pushing aside fear and embracing faith.
The book is divided into sections for Self-Love, Dream, Believe, Grow, and Create. The artwork in each section has a main color scheme: pink for Self-Love, orange for Dream, green for Grow, etc…
It’s a clever way to give some structure to the otherwise random little sayings.
Manga Review: Othello
Othello
by Stacy King (Goodreads Author) (Adaptor), Crystal S. Chan (Contributor), Julien Choy (Illustrator), William Shakespeare (Original Author)
5 out of 5 stars
General Othello is newly married to the beautiful Desdemona. Iago is jealous of Othello’s high position in the military, and pretends to be Othello’s friend, but swears to get his revenge by making Othello miserable any way he can. Iago spreads lies that Desdemona has been unfaithful to her new husband, and plants a seed of suspicion in Othello’s mind. Once Othello’s heart is poisoned by Iago’s lies, it means tragedy for everyone involved.
I am so impressed with this graphic novel! The artwork is beautiful and each panel shows a clear story. The classic story of Othello retains all its integrity, and the characters are powerfully depicted. This edition uses the original words of Shakespeare, and I enjoyed revisiting this beautiful play in a new format.
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