Rainbow Magic: The Ultimate Fairy Guide

This became a check out from the Library for two reasons.  

One, my daughter would not have let me leave without it and two, I like the idea of getting her interested in chapter books!

Author/Illustrator: Daisy Meadows
Series: Rainbow Magic Series
Publisher: Orchard Books (UK) Scholastic (US) (August 26th, 2014)
Prices: Hardcover, $9.25
Reading level: 7 to 10 years
Interest level: Lower and Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 5.5 x 7.8 inches, 128 pages
ISBN: 0545622174
Genres: Series, Chapter Book, Handbook

Subjects:

Fairies

Magic and Supernatural

Friends and Friendship

Annotation:
A whimsical, full color handbook to all of Daisy Meadows’ Rainbow Magic fairies.

Summary:
This book is a guide to all the Rainbow Magic fairies, who have individual books about them. There are 150 fairies in this book and for each one you get an illustration, including their fairy friends, hobbies, unique magical powers, and anecdote from their fairy lives.  This guide gives an index of all the fairies in the front, and has illustrations of all the covers of the individual Rainbow Magic Fairy books.

Evaluation:
This book is sold as the “ultimate must-have for any fairy fan”.  And it really is.  We have had to check this book out three times in a row so my daughter could pour through it.  She loves the illustrations, the fairy names, their descriptions and stories relating to them.  I love the book because it is engrossing to her, and is building her love of reading.  I also love that there is a wide variety of fairies.  They are not all girly girl.  Instead there is a range from Costume Fairy, Soccer Fairy to Black Cat Fairy.  The big negative I have is that this series is a rabbit-hole of merchandising and I may be suckered in to spending tons of money on fairies if my daughter keeps this love alive.

Similar Titles or Authors:
The Fairy Bible by Teresa Moorey
Rainbow Magic Sugar & Spice Fairies Set by Daisy Meadows
Stacey the Soccer Fairy by Daisy Meadows


Websites:
http://www.rainbowmagiconline.com/uk/books/

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/bookwizard/books-by/daisy-meadows#cart/cleanup

www.rainbowmagiconline.com

Awards & Recognition:
The Rainbow Magic series is a New York Times bestselling series.  

Professional Reviews:

Bookseller

PublishersWeekly

Notes

Daisy Meadows, does not exist.  The Rainbow Magic books are written by a number of authors under the "Daisy Meadows" name.  Each title carries a dedication including a "special thanks" indicating the primary author.

All images (c) Orchard Books

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones (Book One) Audio Playaway

Author: Rick Riordan

Narrator: David Pittu

Publisher: Scholastic Audiobooks

Prices: Playaway sets are free in Libraries.  Audiobook, 17.95

Reading level: Ages 8-12 years 

Interest level: Middle and Upper grades

Physical Characteristics: small playaway device with extra battery in case and a standard headphone plug.  Inclusion of strap to wear around neck.  5.25 hours, 2 ounces

Series: The 39 Clues

ISBN: 9781606400432

Genres:  Audiobooks, Juvenile Fiction

Subjects:

Interactive Adventure

Mysteries and Detective Stories

Action and Adventure

Family Secrets



Annotation:  Young Amy and Dan Cahill are orphans, after the death of their grandmother they find out that their family, the Cahills, is the most influential family in history and begin a quest to find a mystery item.  

Summary: This book begins with the death of a very wealthy woman, Grace Cahill.  As her family gathers to read the wil we meet her orphaned grandchildren Amy and Dan Cahill and the rest of their large and extended International family.  As the will is read, everyone is given a choice: you can immediately take a million dollars, or burn the money and compete to find 39 Clues. The clues will lead the searchers to a mystery that will make the finder the most powerful person in the world.  The first Clue is related to Benjamin Franklin, and takes the Cahills from Boston, to Philadelphis to Frtance.  There is peril, puzzles and humor along the way.

  

Amy Cahill, Dan Cahill, and two of their competing Cahills

Evaluation: I was engrossed by this audiobook.  I am not a huge reader or listener of much older children’s fiction or YA.  But, I loved this story and am looking forward to listening to more.  The narration was great.  Mr. Pittu was able to do subtle vocal shits that did not disctract, but instead clearly defined each of the many characters.   As for the format, I loved the neck string.  I was able to pack boxes, as I am moving, and listen to the story at the same time.  It really made moving a tad bit less mimserable!



Similar Titles or Authors:

Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket



Websites:

the39clues.scholastic.com



All images (c) Scholastic

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

I am waiting on pins and needles to start reading the Harry Potter series with my daughter.  She is only 6 now, so I have a year or so until we can start reading them together.  In anticipation, I have started reading the books again in my limited spare time.

Author:  J.K. Rowling

Illustrator: Mary GrandPre’

Publisher: Arthur A Levine Books (1997)

Prices: Hardcover-$16.85, Paperback-$7.48, ebook-$5.99

Reading level: Ages 9 to 12

Interest level: Middle and High Grades

Physical Characteristics: 5.2x7.8 inches, 320 pages 

Series: Harry Potter Series

ISBN: 9780590353427   

Genres: Fantasy 

Subjects:

Wizards-Juvenile Fiction

Witches-Juvenile Fiction

Harry Potter



Annotation:  A young boy being raised by a mean aunt and uncle discovers that he in fact is a wizard and goes on a life-changing journey to a wizarding school.

Summary:   Harry Potter is a young orphan living a hum drum life underneath the stairs in his aunt and uncles house.  At the age of eleven he discovers that he is a Wizard and he is invited to attend Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.  This first book in a series of seven introduces readers to the Houses at Hogwarts, the friends and enemies of Harry, the teachers and the magical world in which Harry lives.

Evaluation: There is not much that can be said about this book that has not already been said.  Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone was and is a remarkable and magical book.  So many universal themes are handled by Ms. Rowling with ease; loneliness, finding ones’ self, friendship, adventure, and acclimating to a new environment.  I love this book, and have since the first time I read it.  I will never forget finishing the first chapter while riding on the #6 train in New York.  I sat on the train crying as I read the line, “Harry Potter, the boy who lived”.



Similar Titles or Authors:

Any of the other books in the Harry Potter series are natural compliments to this book.

Websites:

http://www.jkrowling.com/en_US/



https://www.pottermore.com/en-us/



http://www.arthuralevinebooks.com/book.asp?bookid=32



Awards & Recognition:

ALA/YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 1999
ALA/YALSA Best of the Best 100 (Selected from BBYA 1966-99)
ALA/YALSA Top Ten Books for Teens, 1999 (Ranked #1)
ALA Notable Children's Books, 1999
Book Links Lasting Connections, 1998
Booklist Editors' Choices, 1998
Booklist: Top Ten Fantasy Novels for Youth
CCBC Choices, 1998: Fiction for Children
Publishers Weekly Best Books 1998
School Library Journal: Best Books 1998
School Library Journal: One Hundred Books that Shaped the Century
Parenting magazine: Book of the Year, 1998
Voice of Youth Advocates: Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, 1998
Anne Spencer Lindbergh Prize for Children's Literature
American Booksellers Association Book of the Year (ABBY)
International Reading Association: Children’s Choices, 1999
International Reading Association: Teacher’s Choices, 1999
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year (NIBBY), 1997
Shortlisted for the 1997 Guardian Children's Award
New York Public Library’s 100 Best Children’s Books from the Last 100 Years



Professional Reviews:

Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy



Kirkus



New York Times



Notes: In England this book was published under the title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.



All images (c) Mary GrandPre’ 

Titanic: A Nonfiction Companion to Tonight on the Titanic

After buying the Magic Treehouse book Tonight on the Titanic, I wanted to see what the research guides about.  Also, I am a bit obsessed with the Titanic, and wanted to learn more.

Author:  Will Osborne and Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Sal Murdocca 
Historical Consultant: Karen Kamuda, Vice President, The Titanic Historical Society
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers 
Prices: Library Binding-$11.69, Paperback-$5.99
Reading level: Ages 6-9 years 
Interest level: Middle grades
Physical Characteristics: 5.2x7.6 inches, 70 pages
Series: Magic Treehouse Research Companions
ISBN: 9780375813573  
Genres:  Juvenile Non-Fiction
Subjects:
Titanic – Juvenile Non-fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction
Time travel
History

Annotation:  A Nonfiction Companion to Tonight on the Titanic, a Magic Treehouse book.

Summary: This book gives factual information about the Titanic.  Areas that are examined are details about the vessel, the crew, passengers, icebergs, and the actual crash of the Titanic.    

Evaluation: I think I enjoy the Research Guides that correspond with the Magic Treehouse books even more than the Magic Treehouse fiction itself.  The companion book has so much information for children including pictures, maps, information about ships of the day, icebergs, kids on the Titanic.  There are wonderful illustrations by Sal Murdocca that tie the companion to the Fiction books.  The illustrations also make aspects of the titanic more approachable to children.  This book would be wonderful a as companion to any children’s book about the Titanic or as a stand-alone for research purposes.

Similar Titles or Authors:
Tonight on the Titanic by Mary Pope Osborne

Websites:
http://www.magictreehouse.com/bookdetail-Titanic#bookdetail-Titanic

http://www.randomhouse.com/author/22894/mary%20pope-osborne

All images (c) Sal Murdocca 

Tonight on the Titanic (Magic Tree House, No. 17)

Well, the kids in these books are named Jack and Annie Morgan, and since I go by Annie Morgan people are always telling me about these books.  I had to check them out!

Author:  Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrator: Sal Murdocca 
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers 
Prices: Library Binding-$11.69, Paperback-$3.82, Kindle-$3.62
Reading level: Ages 6-9 years 
Interest level: Middle grades
Physical Characteristics: 5.2x7.6 inches, 70 pages
Series: Magic Treehouse Series
ISBN: 9780375808548  
Genres: Chapter Book, Juvenile Historical Fiction
Subjects:
Titanic – Juvenile fiction
Children’s Fiction
Time travel

Annotation:  Annie and Jack are transported to the deck of the Titanic by the magic treehouse.

Summary:   Morgan Le Fay sends Annie and Jack on an adventure through time back to 1912.  She asks them to get a gift from the Titanic, the gift will help break a magic spell.  On the ship they are assisted by a dog named Teddy. This is book one in the mystery of the enchanted dog arc.

Evaluation: I am a huge fan of historical fiction for adults and think that it could be a useful tool for kids as well.  This book does a fairly good job of giving historically accurate details without being too heavy on the sadness and complete truth of the sinking of the titanic.  In fact, I think the things that are most appealing to younger kids will be the enchanted dog, and the adventure aspects of the book.  When my daughter is a bit older and starts reading chapter books, I will definitely start her on the Magic Treehouse series.

Similar Titles or Authors:
Magic Treehouse Research Guide: Titanic by Will Osborne and Mary Pope Osborne

Websites:
http://www.magictreehouse.com/#BookDetail-Tonight_on_the_Titanic

http://www.randomhouse.com/author/22894/mary%20pope-osborne

All images (c) Sal Murdocca 

Beautiful Oops!

My mother inspired a love of books and reading in me, and has passed that down to my daughter.  Most gifts we get from mom are books, and that makes us very very happy indeed.  This book came to us from Bas Blue, one of my favorite booksellers, for Christmas a few years ago.

Author/Illustrator: Barney Saltzberg
Publisher: Workman Publishing (2010)
Prices: Hardcover - $10.76
Reading level: Ages 3-10
Interest level: Lower Grades and Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 7.1x7.1, 28 pages, interactive page folds
ISBN: 978-0761157281
Genres: Toy Book
Subjects:
Art
Toy and Moveable Book
Persistence
Mistakes

Annotation: This book inspires kids to celebrate the oops both art and in life.

Summary: Beautiful Oops! Shows the reader several different ways in which perceived mistakes in art can actually become an adventure in their creativity.   

Evaluation:  I cannot tell you how many times my daughter and I have read this book.  We started with me reading and opening the interactive features, then we moved to me reading and she would do the interactive aspects, and now, she reads the book alone while holding it and uncovering the tactile features.  Her reading progressed every step of the way since we received this book for Christmas when she was 4.  I love the creativity in Mr. Saltzberg’s drawing and the creativity it inspires in my daughter. I am looking forward to checking out more by Mr. Saltzberg!

Similar Titles or Authors:
Press Here by Herve Tullet

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

The Dot by Peter H Reynolds

Websites:
http://www.beautifuloops.com/

http://barneysaltzberg.com/?q=node/103

Awards and Recognitions:
2010 NAPPA Gold Award

2010 Playonwords.com PAL Award (Play Advances Language) 2011 Teacher’s Choice Award for the Family

Professional Reviews:
Arts and Activities

Kirkus

School Arts

All images (c) Barney Saltzberg