chapter book

Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection

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The Engineer's Thumb by Stephanie Baudet

The Engineer’s Thumb (The Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection, #14)
by Stephanie Baudet  (Adapted by), Arianna Bellucci (Illustrations)

An engineer comes to Holmes with a terrible story to tell. He was lured to a house in the middle of the night and attacked, and his thumb was cut off! Holmes and Watson listen to his story with horror, and they quickly get the police on the track of the criminals, but only Holmes can make sense of the strange circumstances.

A Scandal in Bohemia by Stephanie Baudet

A Scandal in Bohemia (The Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection, #11)
by Stephanie Baudet  (Adapter), Arianna Bellucci (Illustrations)

When the royal family of Bohemia needs help, Holmes is on the case tracking down a photograph being used for blackmail. The blackmailer is the beautiful Irene Adler, and she might be the only person to ever fool Holmes and beat him at his own game.

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Book Reviews: Princess Minna #1-2

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The Unicorn Mix-Up by Kirsty Applebaum

The Unicorn Mix-Up (Princess Minna, #1)
by  Kirsty Applebaum (Goodreads Author), Sahar Haghgoo (Illustrator)

Princess Minna barely sleeps at night, and she knows something must be wrong with the kingdom. Princess Minna has some very special skills; she is good at taming unicorns, and kissing frogs, and fighting dragons. She goes out into the kingdom and finds that there is a unicorn emergency! A wild unicorn is trampling through the town. Princess Minna is so tired from getting no sleep that she gets all mixed up, and tries to fight the unicorn instead of tame it! When she is called on to kiss a frog, she gets mixed up and tries to tame the frog instead. What will happen if she sees a ferocious dragon? Will she try to kiss the dragon instead of fight it?

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Book Review: The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe

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The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe by Shannon Hale

The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe
by  Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author), Dean Hale, LeUyen Pham (illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Duchess Wigtower is fed up with her new kitten. It claws and scratches and destroys everything in sight. The Duchess leaves the kitten at the doorstep of Princess Magnolia, and the princess tries to make the kitten comfortable and happy. Princess Magnolia must disguise herself as the Princess in Black to battle against an evil monster who is threatening the goats. While she is away, the kitten gets bored and starts scratching at the wallpaper and clawing the pillows and tearing the curtains. Can the princess discover why the kitten and monster are both behaving so badly, and find a way to stop them?

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Book Reviews: Frank and Bean Series

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Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak

Frank and Bean
by Jamie Michalak (Goodreads Author),Bob Kolar (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Frank is seeking solitude and quiet in the great outdoors. He goes camping so that he can write poetry in his secret journal. But Bean shows up in a loud bus, with loud musical instruments, and a loud motorcycle. Frank begs him to be quiet, but Bean is always yelling and making noise. Finally Bean manages to be quiet for a little while and he hears the sounds of nature all around them. Frank gathers the courage to share his poetry, and Bean puts the words to music. Together the friends are able to write a new song to sing!

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Book Review: Anna Hibiscus

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Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke

Anna Hibiscus (Anna Hibiscus, #1)
by Atinuke, Lauren Tobia (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Anna Hibiscus lives in Nigeria, in a beautiful garden compound with all her aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and her wonderful parents and twin brothers. They are a very big loud family! Sometimes Anna wishes she could have a few moments alone, but when she goes on vacation with just her parents and brothers, she begins to miss all the rest of her big family. How can they manage without everyone to pitch in and help?

I loved this sweet book! Anna is so adorable, and I loved her amazing family. I especially loved learning about Nigerian culture and traditions. It’s so interesting and beautiful!

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Book Review: Death at Dusbar College

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Death at Dusbar College by Laura DiNovis Berry

Death at Dusbar College
by Laura DiNovis Berry (Goodreads Author), Lee Thompson (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars

Cristiano is visiting his aunt at the magical Dusbar College, where he hopes to learn more about magic. When the Grand Magician of the college dies, he leaves behind a riddle. Whoever solves the riddle will win the Grand Magician’s amazing sorcerer’s hat. Cristiano begins to investigate, looking for clues in the Grand Magician’s office.

I love how imaginative and funny this book is! The people and creatures in Dusbar College are so interesting and weird. The writing style is really funny and had me laughing!

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Book Reviews: Museum Kittens #1-2

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The Midnight Visitor by Holly Webb

The Midnight Visitor (Museum Kittens)
by Holly Webb, Sarah Lodge (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

Three kittens (Tasha, Boris, and Bianca) live with their family in the basement of a museum, where the night guard keeps them to scare away the rats. The kittens are intrigued when a stray cat brings in a black kitten, Peter, to live in the museum. Tasha, Boris, and Bianca are not sure they want to welcome Peter. He is so different, and no one knows where he is from. Peter will have to prove his worth if he wants to become a museum kitten.

This is such an adorable book! The kittens are so cute, and I love the little adventures they have. The plot is simple, but interesting. The writing style is perfect for this age group, and even enjoyable for an adult to read.

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Book Review: That Boy Johnny!

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That Boy Johnny! by Evelyn Ray Sickels

That Boy Johnny!
by Evelyn Ray Sickels, Jean Martinez (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

Johnny’s grandmother sews a new pair of pants for him, and hangs them up on the line to dry. But the wind is so strong that it blows the pants away, and Johnny is terribly disappointed. Johnny and his sisters get into mischief on the farm and have little adventures, until one day the peddler comes to the farm with a surprise.

I love this book so much! I read it over and over when I was a little girl. Johnny is so mischievous and full of energy. I love all the characters, from the delightful grandmother to the littlest sister. Their grandmother tells them stories about the days of the Civil War when her mother quilted a Liberty Quilt. Johnny’s father remembers the shenanigans he got into when he was a boy, and realizes how he and Johnny are so similar.

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Book Review: The Bobbsey Twins in Mexico

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The Bobbsey Twins In Mexico by Laura Lee Hope

The Bobbsey Twins In Mexico
by Laura Lee Hope
4 out of 5 stars

The Bobbsey Twins have some new neighbors in Lakeport, a Mexican family, the Castillos. The twins make friends with the Mexican children, and even learn a little Spanish. When it’s time for the Castillos to return to Mexico, they invite the Bobbsey twins to visit them on their hacienda.

I enjoyed this book a lot, because I grew up in Mexico as a child. The Bobbsey twins visit the same area in Mexico where I grew up, Mexico City D.F. They visit the pyramids at Tenochtitlan where I have been many times, and Bert even climbs the Pyramid of the Sun which I myself have climbed many times. Reading this book made me so homesick!

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Book Review: Egg Marks the Spot

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Egg Marks the Spot by Amy Timberlake

Egg Marks the Spot (Skunk and Badger 2)
by Amy Timberlake, Jon Klassen (Illustrations)
4 out of 5 stars

Skunk and Badger set off on a new adventure searching for Important Rocks, and they go camping in the woods. All Skunk wanted to do was eat a leisurely breakfast and read the Sunday “New Yak Times” Book Review, but instead he forces himself to trek miles through the countryside with a massive pack on his back. A simple rock expedition turns into a wild adventure with cats, rats, bears, and a very strange egg.

Skunk and Badger are so funny and adorable! I love the warmth of their friendship and how they laugh together. In this second book, their friendship is put to the test, and they have to prove their loyalty.

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