Book Review: Giant

Giant by Judith McQuoid

Giant
by Judith McQuoid

3.5 out of 5 stars
Davey comes from a poor Irish family. His mother works as a maid at the Lewis household, and when he comes to help with her work, he befriends a young C.S. Lewis, nicknamed Jacks. The boys bond over their love of stories and imaginative play. Jacks likes to write stories and Davey illustrates them with drawings and sketches. However, circumstances separate the boys when Davey has to take a dangerous job at the shipyard and Jacks is sent off to boarding school in England. Can their friendship survive despite their different paths in life?

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Book Review: Unicornia Cupcake Contest

Unicornia by Ana Punset

Unicornia: The Cupcake Contest
by Ana Punset, Diana Vicedo (illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

When Claudia signs up for the cupcake contest, she tries out new magical recipes and everything ends in disaster. The magical ingredients are more temperamental than regular baking ingredients, and Claudia is discouraged. But she knows that a boy in her school, Sasha, is an excellent baker, and she asks him to join her as a team. Together they try out several magical recipes until they find just the right cupcake recipe to bake for the judges.

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Book Review: Everything You Know About Bugs Is Wrong

Everything You Know About Bugs (and Other Tiny Creatures) is ... by Dr. Nick Crumpton

Everything You Know About Bugs (and Other Tiny Creatures) is Wrong! (Everything You Know About… Is Wrong, 2)
by Dr. Nick Crumpton, Gavin Scott (illustrator)

2 out of 5 stars

You probably have some misconceptions about bugs. Did you know that spiders aren’t actually insects? Centipedes don’t actually have a hundred legs. Not all bees die when they sting you, only some species and only the females. We learn about beautiful butterflies right alongside the lowly dung beetle.

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Book Review: The Greatest Stuff on Earth

The Greatest Stuff on Earth by Steve Tomecek

The Greatest Stuff on Earth: The Amazing Science of Sunlight, Smartphones, Microphones, Mushrooms & Everything In-Between
by  Steve Tomecek, John Devolle (Illustrator)

2 out of 5 stars

Starting with atoms, molecules, and energy, this book explains where all the “stuff” in the universe comes from and then takes us through various common objects and tells how they are made and what materials they are made of. We learn about paper, food, DNA, magnets, light waves, dirt, ovens, fabrics, and building materials like concrete.

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Book Review: How Do Fires Protect Nature?

How Do Fires Protect Nature? by Dinyar Minocher

How Do Fires Protect Nature?: A Book About Fire Ecology
by  Dinyar Minocher, Srimalie Bassani (illustrator)

Fires can be dangerous, but they can also be helpful. A controlled burn can revive an old forest and provide a new habitat for animals where new plants can grow. In this book we learn all about how ecosystems can bounce back after a fire and emerge better than ever!

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Book Review: Charley Mouse Cleans House

Charley Mouse Cleans House by Katerina Gorelik

Charley Mouse Cleans House
by Katerina Gorelik

3 out of 5 stars

Charley Mouse is a cleaning lady and she goes around the magical forest and wild wood to clean the homes of the other animals and magical creatures. She cleans the home of Mr. Fox, but is told not to go in the bedroom. We can see that he is hiding caged animals for his dinner. She cleans for Mr. Wolf, and doesn’t see the bones piled up in his pantry. The witch’s house is always filthy, and Charley Mouse knows to stay away from the poison potions brewing in the kitchen, especially one labelled “gin”. The unicorns are sweet clients, but Charley has to clean out their chamber pots. At least their manure smells like strawberry jam, so it’s not too unpleasant. Charley cleans for the gingerbread people, a dragon, the moles, and frogs and snails. But when she gets home, it’s time to clean her own little house!

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Book Review: High Top, Sole Mates

High Top by Tom Lacey

High Top: Sole Mates
by Tom Lacey

High Top is a shoe in Shoe Town. He loves to show his friends how much he cares for them. He does them favors, gives thoughtful gifts, helps them out, and gives hugs and high fives all the time. But he wants to do something REALLY BIG to show them how big his love is. He designs a HUGE sign to show the whole town how he really feels, but disaster strikes and High Top is discouraged…. until his friends show up to help!

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Book Review: Just One More Story

Just One More Story by Perry Emerson

Just One More Story
by Perry Emerson, Sean Julian (illustrator)

Two bunny siblings have very different tastes when it comes to stories. Pip loves to sit quietly and read about sunflowers and love and sunshine picnics. Bun wants stories about bag guys, pirates, and spies with plenty of action… and cake! Can these two siblings find a way to enjoy reading stories together?

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Book Review: The Armadillo Who Came for Dinner

The Armadillo Who Came for Dinner by Steve Smallman

The Armadillo Who Came for Dinner
by  Steve Smallman, Joëlle Dreidemy (illustrator)

When an Armadillo comes rolling into their lives, the animal friends aren’t quite sure how to befriend him. Little Lamb tries to give him a hug, but the Armadillo is too tough for hugs. Wolf is worried that the Armadillo will destroy every vase in the house when he rolls around smashing things. They go to visit the fair, but the Armadillo trips and starts rolling and knocks over everything in sight! He scares all the animals and destroys the ice cream cart and bouncy castle. But when Little Lamb is in trouble, they will be grateful for Armadillo’s tough hide.

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Book Review: At the Top of the World

At the Top of the World by Robin Jacobs

At the Top of the World: The greatest mountains on Earth (and how to climb them)
by Robin Jacobs

This book tells all about the tallest and most dangerous mountains in the world, including Mount Everest, The Mattherhorn, Chimborazo, Mount Fuji, Kilimanjaro, Denali, Puncak Jaya, and Vinson Massif. From Nepal to Tanzania to Antarctica, we learn all about these famous mountains and the people who climb them.

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