children read
Book Review: A Servant Like Jesus
A Servant Like Jesus by Lee Ann Mancini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Charlie is a little crab at his first day of Fish School, and he’s too shy to join the other children in class. But when a schoolmate gets injured, it’s up to Charlie to pray for the courage to jump in and help.
The illustrations are so cute! I love the bright colors and adorable little fish friends. The best part is the hidden Bible symbol on each page. I love searching for hidden objects in pictures, and this will keep children engaged and interested through multiple readings.
This would be the perfect book for any children who are shy or feel overwhelmed by fear in new situations, because it teaches that if we pray for courage, and focus on helping others rather than focusing on our own fears or discomfort, Christ will give us the bravery to do good and serve others for His glory! Continue reading
MK Usborne BOok Haul
Usborne Books: https://w4455.myubam.com/
Donate now at http://www.gofundme.com/booksformks to help these missions children get reading material!
Books for MKs is a charity organization that donates books to missionary kids on the foreign mission field all over the world.
Book Review: Nooks & Crannies
Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When Tabitha receives a mysterious invitation to visit the reclusive Countess of Windermere, Tabitha leaves her life of isolation behind, and hopes to find new friends among the other five children who have also been summoned. Since her only friend is her pet mouse, Pemberley, Tabitha has difficulty at first keeping up a conversation with other children, but learns to relax and trust her companions as they begin to unravel the mystery of the Countess and her intentions.
Drawing on her literary experiences reading mystery novels, Tabitha leads the children’s investigation into the rumors of ghosts at Windermere, the ailing maid who has suffered a stroke, and the odd Countess herself who has many secrets. When things don’t add up, Tabitha is the one who discovers the truth that will change all their lives forever.
An exciting plot, wonderful writing style, and a whole cast of interesting characters! I love the humor and little aside comments in the writing. So funny! Continue reading
Book Review: The Anybodies
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fern is a magical girl with a secret parentage, and when she meets her true father, The Bone, and leaves her extremely dull adoptive parents, she is swept into adventure and danger. The Bone’s archnemesis, The Miser, is lurking in the shadows and plotting evil, and it’s up to Fern to discover the secrets of her parents’ murky past in order to puzzle through the future and find her true identity. Continue reading
Book Review: The Great Cheese Conspiracy
The Great Cheese Conspiracy by Jean Van Leeuwen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is an adorable little book about some mice living in a movie theater, who watch a lot of films about bank robbers. When they decide their gang is going to rob a cheese store, they come up with one hilarious plan after another and have several daring escapes, but no cheese. It’s up to their fearless leader to pull off the biggest cheese heist in mouse history!
I love stories about mice because they are the ultimate underdog characters! These little guys come up with some ingenious and hilarious projects, and I love the humor and silliness in the writing.
This would be the perfect book to read aloud to children, or for a child just starting to read chapter books. So cute!
Graphic Novel Review: Laddertop
Laddertop, Volume 1 by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Robbi and Azure are chosen from among their classmates to train for Laddertop Academy, a space station that hires gifted children to do maintenance work in the miles of tiny service tunnels. Laddertop space station was a gift from an alien race, but the aliens disappeared soon after. When Robbi begins her training, she finds out that Laddertop holds mysteries and enigmas that could destroy Earth or save it.
Robbi and Azure are excellent characters, with Azure providing some humor and Robbi being the serious-minded protagonist.
I really liked the interaction between all the children in training. They poke fun at each other, make friends and sometimes enemies, but it’s never boring!
The world building is very intriguing! The Laddertop space station is set up in such a unique way, and the humans who run it don’t really understand what it is capable of. I’m dying to know what those aliens are up to, and what role Robbi will play in their plans!
I really need to get my hands on the 2nd volume!
Book Review: Star Passage
Starpassage: Book One, the Relic by Clark Rich Burbidge
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
2.5 stars: It was okay. I enjoyed this story about siblings Tim and Martie who find an ancient Star relic that transports them through time. The teens are on a mission to find spiritual help for their father, who is suffering from PTSD after being wounded in the army, and for their mother, who is dealing with depression. With their family falling apart, they wander through history seeking answers, but mysterious Shadow men are trying to steal the Star from them, and Tim and Martie will need help if they are going to return safely to their own time.
I liked all the history in this book! Some of the plot points and settings are drawn from true history, and some of it is, of course, imagined. I was disappointed that one of the first places the characters travel to is Valley Forge where they meet General George Washington. Extremely trite.
But the rest of the historical settings, such as a WWI medical ship and a wagon train traveling the Badlands of the American West, are more diverse and interesting. Continue reading
Book Review: Murder Is Bad Manners
Murder Is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When Hazel Wong stumbles across the corpse of a murdered teacher, no one believes her except her faithful friend, Daisy Wells, and it’s up to the two girls to investigate the murder in between classes and still get their homework done. This 1930s British boarding school is the perfect setting for a murder mystery!
I love stories about boarding schools, and the little everyday goings-on of this school make for a hilarious story!
The plot has a lot of red herrings, so I never saw the solution until the very end. I puzzling and puzzling through the whole thing, and completely surprised at the end. Continue reading
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