tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70720622817086477762024-03-13T02:37:16.084-04:00Sister's LibraryInteresting books for curious children.Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.comBlogger547125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-21529794286231625522019-02-20T15:58:00.002-05:002019-02-20T16:16:46.843-05:00Now on GoodReadsThank you for visiting this blog. Do stay and browse for a while! I am no longer posting updates, but if you're interested in what I'm currently reading, here's a summary from my GoodReads page.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7354412-mary-esther-lee?shelf=read&utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;">Mary-Esther's books</a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2723241827?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow" title="Ru"><img alt="Ru" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344371007s/13642506.jpg" /></a>
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<span class=" staticStars" title="liked it"><img alt="liked it" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_active.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_active.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_active.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_inactive.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_inactive.png" /></span>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2723241827?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow">Ru</a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3152466.Kim_Th_y" rel="nofollow">Kim Thúy</a>
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Fleeting, yet lyrical.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2710733987?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow" title="It's Kind of a Funny Story"><img alt="It's Kind of a Funny Story" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1420629730s/248704.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2710733987?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow">It's Kind of a Funny Story</a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11672.Ned_Vizzini" rel="nofollow">Ned Vizzini</a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2704110339?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow" title="No Fixed Address"><img alt="No Fixed Address" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1518441561s/37683441.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2704110339?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow">No Fixed Address</a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4341021.Susin_Nielsen" rel="nofollow">Susin Nielsen</a>
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Susin Nielsen's an amazing writer. Her characters are always memorable and her stories heartbreakingly wonderful.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2702948494?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow" title="The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home"><img alt="The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1525499626s/38741029.jpg" /></a>
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<span class=" staticStars" title="really liked it"><img alt="really liked it" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_active.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_active.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_active.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_active.png" /><img alt="" src="https://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_red_star_inactive.png" /></span>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2702948494?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow">The Element in the Room: Investigating the Atomic Ingredients that Make Up Your Home</a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1066785.Mike_Barfield" rel="nofollow">Mike Barfield</a>
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Very good introduction to the periodic table and the elements that make up our world. Kids will appreciate the atomic comics and the book's brightly coloured layout. Good for teens and adults too!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2700210801?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow" title="The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge"><img alt="The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1525263946s/38526611.jpg" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2700210801?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget" rel="nofollow">The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge</a>
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by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31688.M_T_Anderson" rel="nofollow">M.T. Anderson</a>
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Very strange and funny. Good for those who like exotic worlds and fantastic beasts.
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Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-39376710483400583172016-02-10T11:29:00.000-05:002017-08-24T11:43:21.507-04:00Follow my nonfiction blog<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since there are many excellent blogs devoted to so many genres of fiction (picture books, YA, chapter books, etc), I've decided to concentrate solely on my nonfiction book blog <i>Interesting Nonfiction for Inquisitive Kids</i> - <a href="http://inquisitive-kids.blogspot.com/">http://inquisitive-kids.blogspot.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-46758219188488742452015-08-05T14:20:00.002-04:002015-08-05T14:20:35.260-04:00When humans become prey<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0076DFB2G/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B0076DFB2G&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0076DFB2G&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B0076DFB2G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0076DFB2G/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B0076DFB2G&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Zoo</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B0076DFB2G" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those who don't care for the television series, the book is better. A brief summary: amateur scientist Jackson Oz tries to warn the world about escalating human-animal conflict. The science may be iffy - it involves hydrocarbons and cell phone radiation - but Patterson makes it sound pretty plausible. Oz encounters the usual bureaucratic indifference as the animal attacks increase exponentially. The carnage is confined to short, quick chapters, while the rising suspense will keep readers riveted.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those who aren't keen on nearly 400 pages, try <i><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0316127604/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0316127604&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Zoo: The Graphic Novel.</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0316127604" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-59357077412705262272015-07-15T11:19:00.001-04:002015-07-15T11:19:26.810-04:00Dear as Salt<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0590249894/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0590249894&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0590249894&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0590249894" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0590249894/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0590249894&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Dear as Salt</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0590249894" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Rafe Martin</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">illustrated by Vladyana Krykorka</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One day, a king became angry because he thought that his daughters didn't love him. His eldest daughter said she loved him as dear as bread, his middle daughter said she loved him as dear as wine, but Zizola, his youngest daughter, said she loved him as dear as salt. Incensed, he wants her dead, but Zizola's mother hides her in a giant candlestick shaped like a rooster. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The similarity to <i>King Lear </i>is obvious<i>, </i>except that this version is definitely stranger. Yet it's also more delicious, and with a happier ending!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A surprising, enjoyable read.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-65281849558471483032015-06-24T12:28:00.002-04:002015-06-24T12:38:29.574-04:00A family of shape-shifters<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1849822301/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1849822301&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1849822301&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1849822301" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1849822301/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1849822301&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Aesop's Secret</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1849822301" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Claudia White</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melinda is a ten-year-old girl who one day discovers that she can turn into a horse! She and her family are Athenites, an ancient race of shapeshifters who can take on the form of any animal. Melinda revels in her newfound ability, but her brother Felix wants nothing to do with it. He's more interested in science and goes off to study at the Stumpworthy School of Science in Paris. But things take an ominous turn when Felix falls into a coma, his father disappears, and his mother starts acting strangely. It's up to Melinda to find out what's really happening in order to save her family. She is helped by her pet rabbit Aesop, who is more than what he seems.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">White does a good job of blending the mythical with the real, but doesn't allow her story to properly develop. Everything happens too quickly and conveniently, with adult characters explaining key plot points. I find it disappointing that Melinda and Felix are the only children in the story. Another puzzling aspect are the characters' reactions to various situations. They laugh when they should be scared, are reckless when they should be cautious (Melinda makes no attempt to hide her shapeshifting), and seemingly unconcerned at bad news. Part of the problem may be White's attempt to use a word other than "said." So Melinda sneers or drawls or giggles, which often doesn't fit with the serious conversations that she's having. It's also a major letdown that the villain, Professor Stumpworthy, is the boastful type who enjoys revealing his nefarious plans.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surprisingly, <i>Aesop's Secret</i> has spawned two sequels, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00IJGQ91Q/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00IJGQ91Q&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Key to Kashdune</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00IJGQ91Q" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i> and <i><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1849822328/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1849822328&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Servalius Window,</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1849822328" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </i>each with beautiful cover art by Larissa Kulik, which is what initially attracted me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">White has another book on the way, so she does have her fans. But sadly, this reader isn't one of them.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-3035881881198155122015-06-17T12:42:00.000-04:002015-06-17T12:44:06.505-04:00Dream of diving horses<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0142402788/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0142402788&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0142402788&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0142402788" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0142402788/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0142402788&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Girl on the High Diving Horse</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0142402788" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Linda Oatman High</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">illustrated by Ted Lewin</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ivy Cordelia and her photographer father spend summer 1936 in Atlantic City. Of all the sights and sounds, Ivy most loves the Steel Pier and the high-diving horses. She watches the act every day and dreams of being the girl on a high-diving horse. Will her dream come true?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poetic words and old-fashioned, postcard-style pictures make for a nostalgic, magical read.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-63327834622787415602015-05-20T11:40:00.000-04:002015-05-20T11:40:13.540-04:00Summer island adventure<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00T5D7UBK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00T5D7UBK&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00T5D7UBK&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00T5D7UBK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00T5D7UBK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00T5D7UBK&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Shack Island Summer</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00T5D7UBK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Penny Chamberlain</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Twelve-year-old Pepper and her older brother Everett are spending the summer with their grandmother, who lives on tiny Shack Island. Feeling neglected by Everett, her parents and the knowledge of being adopted, Pepper starts dreaming about her real family and of being special, especially since she seems to have psychic ability. She sometimes has slightly scary dreams that tend to come true. These dreams lead her to Ray, a draft dodger who's hiding out in one of the shacks. Pepper quickly decides that Ray is her real brother and is determined to help him. Her poor judgment leads her into danger, but it somehow works out in the end. Along the way, Pepper gains a new appreciation for her life and her family.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set in 1969, this is an innocent, almost idyllic novel with a nostalgic feel and a happy ending.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-10119430842376453132015-05-13T12:55:00.001-04:002015-05-13T12:55:15.849-04:00Farmerettes<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00UAXAOU8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00UAXAOU8&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00UAXAOU8&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00UAXAOU8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00UAXAOU8/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00UAXAOU8&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Farmerettes</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00UAXAOU8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Gisela Tobien Sherman</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Farmerettes are a group of girls who, during the summer of 1943, live and work together on an Ontario farm as part of the Farm Service Forces. Most abled-bodied men have enlisted to fight in the second World War and there's not enough of them left to tend to the crops. It's up to the Farmerettes to pick fruit and hoe vegetables. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The novel follows the stories of six girls from different backgrounds - Helene, whose wages support her single mother; flirtatious Peggy, who tries to keep her German background a secret; Isabel, pining for her soldier fianc<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">é; rebellious Binxie, trying to escape the constraints of her rich family; Jean, whose family owns the farm; and X, the mystery girl. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">The work is hard and the hours long, but they still have time to laugh and sing and dance with boys. Moments of heartbreak and romance shape their lives, changing them from girls to women. The action ebbs and flows like real life and readers have their choice of characters to root for, whether it's watching Helene gain confidence, Isabel strength, or Binxie a new path. Of all the girls, X is the least mentioned, but her story is the saddest. She gives readers a lot to worry about; thankfully Binxie helps her a lot. Binxie supports all the girls, which is why she'll be a favorite.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full of caring, heartfelt moments, this is a tender novel that will appeal to girls who like quiet romances and sensitive secrets.</span><br />
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment-->Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-82611517047998119632015-04-15T11:35:00.001-04:002015-04-15T11:35:36.228-04:00New posts in May<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog will be on hiatus for a few weeks. Look for new posts in mid-May.</span><script type="text/javascript">
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Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-88046044173656116362015-04-01T12:25:00.000-04:002015-04-01T12:25:26.614-04:00Teenage con man<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1459804341/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1459804341&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1459804341&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1459804341" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1459804341/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1459804341&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Who I'm Not</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1459804341" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Ted Staunton</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A young con man takes on the identity of a missing teen named Danny, who disappeared three years ago. Reunited with his "family", he's amazed that they're accepting of him, even though he looks and sounds nothing like the Danny they knew. Only Officer Griffin suspects that something's not right. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Danny only plans on staying for a short time, before the police can figure out the truth. But his sister Shan and her kids are so happy he's back. Plus, he meets Gillian, who makes him want to be a better person. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This very intriguing story raises interesting questions about identity, hope, and desperation. Worth checking out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-23167125518506734592015-03-18T14:45:00.001-04:002015-03-18T14:45:13.267-04:00Gabe's lucky number<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1770495754/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1770495754&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1770495754&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1770495754" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1770495754/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1770495754&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Highest Number in the World</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1770495754" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Roy MacGregor</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">illustrated by Genevi<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">è</span>ve Despr<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">é</span>s</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gabe (who hates being called Gabriella) is a new player on The Spirit hockey team. She's always worn number 22, the number of her favorite player Hayley Wickenheiser. Unfortunately, the jersey numbers only go to twenty. Gabe is stuck with number 9. Devastated, Gabe buries her jersey at the bottom of her closet. But a visit from Grandma makes her realize that the number 9 is very special.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A sweet story that warms the heart.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<!--EndFragment-->Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-63260173083735928612015-03-04T11:10:00.003-05:002015-03-04T11:10:29.709-05:00New publisher, new series<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0993935109/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0993935109&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0993935109&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0993935109" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0993935109/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0993935109&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Fragile Bones: Harrison and Anna</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0993935109" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Lorna Schultz Nicholson</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This book is part of a new series by <a href="http://www.clockwisepress.com/">Clockwise Press</a>. Each book in the series, called <i>One-2-One</i>, tells the story of a different pair of teens participating in the Best Buddies program at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. Best Buddies is a real program, but the stories are fictional. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In <i>Fragile Bones</i>, we meet Harrison, a fifteen-year-old who has high-functioning autism and his Best Buddy Anna, a graduating senior who's aiming for med school. Harrison is fascinated by bones and tends to recite every bone in the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">skeletal system whenever he gets anxious. Anna is hoping to pad her </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">resum<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">é and get closer to Justin, the Best Buddies president. Together, Harrison and Anna embark on a rocky relationship with more than its share of ups and downs. Told in alternating voices, Nicholson does a good job of showing a scene from two different perspectives, allowing readers to really understand what Harrison and Anna are going through. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although the book ends a bit abruptly, it manages to instill a great deal of empathy towards its characters. A very worthwhile read.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<!--EndFragment-->Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-27089264827355659922015-02-25T15:09:00.000-05:002015-02-25T15:09:10.499-05:00Lives at stake<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00MSS1N8K/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00MSS1N8K&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00MSS1N8K&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00MSS1N8K" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00MSS1N8K/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00MSS1N8K&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Best Friends through Eternity</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B00MSS1N8K" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by <a href="http://www.sylviamcnicoll.com/">Sylvia McNicoll</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fourteen-year-old Paige, in an attempt to avoid the school bullies, takes a shortcut across the railway tracks and is hit by a train. Suddenly, she finds herself on a sandy beach where she meets her former best friend Kim, who died seven years ago. Not willing to give up her life and wanting to help her current friend Jazz, who is also threatened by the bullies, Paige is granted seven days to fix things up and maybe change her fate.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">McNicoll has tackled the afterlife conundrum previously in an earlier book, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1554552710/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1554552710&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Dying to Go Viral.</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1554552710" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></i></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> While the protagonist in that book tries to enjoy the time she has left and ensure that her family will be able to go on, Paige has to deal not just with saving Jazz, but with coming to terms with her own past. Abandoned as an infant in China and adopted by a Canadian couple, Paige struggles with her cultural identity and the knowledge that her parents haven't always been truthful with her. At the same time, she tries to be nicer to people; even to Vanessa, the mean head bully. Paige's efforts aren't entirely successful, so she needs multiple tries to get it right. Events culminate in one final, desperate scene.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full of twists and turns that mirror the uncertainty of life, this is a heartfelt, emotional novel. Teens will readily relate to the strong, believable characters and situations that so many of them encounter in real life.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highly recommended, this is one of McNicoll's best.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-82833393600577325732015-02-18T14:11:00.003-05:002015-02-18T14:12:48.892-05:00Young Rumpelstiltskin <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0307977935/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0307977935&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0307977935&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0307977935" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0307977935/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0307977935&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0307977935" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Liesl Shurtliff</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In The Kingdom, your name is your destiny, and twelve-year-old Rump's destiny really stinks. His mother died before she could say his full name making Rump small and short and the target of everyone's jokes. But his luck starts to change when he finds his mother's spinning wheel. With no wool at hand, he tries spinning straw and is astounded when the straw turns into gold. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first, Rump's gift seems wonderful. He can now trade his gold for whatever he needs. His friend Red warns him that magic causes trouble, but Rump discovers this too late. He finds himself trapped in a curse that can only be broken by a purer, stronger magic. So Rump sets out to break his curse, with many adventures along the way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shurtliff's unique take on the Rumpel fairy tale is a refreshing delight. Her characters are sympathetic, appealing and funny, even the villainous ones. And her trolls steal the show.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highly recommended.</span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-30961315163291270712015-02-11T11:16:00.002-05:002015-02-11T11:18:16.832-05:00How the armadillo came to be<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0152063803/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0152063803&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0152063803&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0152063803" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0152063803/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0152063803&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Beginning Of the Armadillos</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0152063803" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Rudyard Kipling</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stickly-Prickly the hedgehog and Slow-and-Solid the tortoise live along the banks of the Amazon River. Also living there is Painted Jaguar, whose mother teaches him how to eat hedgehogs and tortoises. He must drop hedgehogs into water and scoop tortoises out of their shells. But since he can't tell the two animals apart, Stickly-Prickly and Slow-and-Solid have no trouble getting away. To further ensure their safety, Stickly-Prickly practices how to swim and Slow-and-Solid practices how to curl up. Eventually, they both discover that they are no longer the same animals as they were before. They have become armadillos.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very fanciful creation story told in uniquely affectionate prose. However, armadillos are actually not related to hedgehogs and turtles. Their closest relatives are sloths and anteaters! To learn more about armadillos, visit my other blog <i><a href="http://inquisitive-kids.blogspot.com/">Interesting Nonfiction for Inquisitive Kids</a></i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-91439808931129605242015-02-04T11:21:00.001-05:002015-02-04T11:21:16.559-05:00Real snow people<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0152020950/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0152020950&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0152020950&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0152020950" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0152020950/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0152020950&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Snowballs</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0152020950" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Lois Ehlert</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lois Ehlert's snow people fill vertical double-page spreads in her wonderful book, <i>Snowballs</i>. Made in her signature collage-style, she shows her young audience how to create fun pictures out of paper, buttons, twigs, seeds, bottle caps, popcorn, and mittens. She ends with a brief definition of snow and why it snows. She also includes photographs of actual snow people with all their natural charms (much better than using those generic, fake snowman decorating kits you buy in a store).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn how Ehlert creates her wonderful books, read her autobiography, <i>The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life</i>. A review of the book can be found on my other blog, <i><a href="http://inquisitive-kids.blogspot.com/">Interesting Nonfiction for Inquisitive Kids</a></i>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-48205323067342591272015-01-21T11:26:00.000-05:002015-01-21T11:26:51.469-05:00Lighten your load<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1770494030/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1770494030&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1770494030&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1770494030" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1770494030/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1770494030&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Whimsy's Heavy Things</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1770494030" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Julie Kraulis</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whimsy's heavy things are weighing her down. She tries hiding them, hanging them, sinking them, and ignoring them, but she can't make them disappear. Shaped like bowling balls, the heavy things sap her spirits, making sad-eyed Whimsy even sadder. So she tries something different: she breaks them down into smaller pieces. As she does, she begins to feel lighter. In the end, Whimsy discovers that heavy things are just light things in disguise.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes life's burdens can get us down but, as Kraulis shows us, we can find a way to deal with them. Her message is cleverly conveyed through her sensitive pictures and simple words. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The text also mirrors the action as they sink and float across the pages</span>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But as Whimsy slowly lightens her load, the pictures become brighter and the words gain strength. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lovely book that provides reassuring hope to those in need.</span><br />
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Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-225867847241426912015-01-14T11:40:00.002-05:002015-01-14T11:40:16.902-05:00Dogs save the circus<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0143184164/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0143184164&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0143184164&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0143184164" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0143184164/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0143184164&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Circus Dogs of Prague</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0143184164" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Rachelle Delaney</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JR the Jack Russell terrier and his human, George, are on vacation in Prague. With them are JR's friends - Robert, Pie, and Beatrix - and George's girlfriend, Nadya. Besides touring the city, JR also meets the animals of Circus Sergei. Nadya's brother, a trapeze artist, is also a member of the troupe. His future and that of the circus itself is threatened by the modern, more exciting Circus Magnificus. When JR discovers that the circus animals are unhappy - the dancing chimpanzee would rather swing, the kangaroo does not like boxing, and the elephant just wants to be free - he dreams up an unlikely idea that could help save the show. But to really wow the crowd, he'll need the services of a tightrope-walking cat named Kisa, whom Nadya has adopted. Since dogs and cats don't get along, JR has his work cut out for him.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast-paced and funny, this amusing novel is sure to be loved by anyone who owns a pet or has ever dreamed of owning one. Sure to be an especial favorite of dog-lovers.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also read <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0143184148/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0143184148&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Metro Dogs of Moscow,</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0143184148" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> JR's first adventure.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-56049317655429672512014-12-18T09:57:00.000-05:002014-12-18T09:58:28.499-05:00Antarctic rabbits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3alTWqbjj_pXmn5Jy1pkdBtoa_8QhcGhNfXfx8dCz2b85m_-pWjrzFqFAmvGlIuAHGJorO3Y0pBgthkCJ70if62omEerHTTtcSpSR3zsycznzvPCGQnrJHluVL7GF1VT0bthBfLGUtrk/s1600/rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3alTWqbjj_pXmn5Jy1pkdBtoa_8QhcGhNfXfx8dCz2b85m_-pWjrzFqFAmvGlIuAHGJorO3Y0pBgthkCJ70if62omEerHTTtcSpSR3zsycznzvPCGQnrJHluVL7GF1VT0bthBfLGUtrk/s1600/rabbit.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/tom-creans-rabbit-a-true/9781845073930-item.html?ikwid=tom+crean%27s+rabbit&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0">Tom Crean's Rabbit: a True Story from Scott's Last Voyage</a></b></span><script type="text/javascript">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Meredith Hooper & Bert Kitchen</span></div>
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Tom the Sailor is trying to find a nest for his pet rabbit. It can't share a hammock with the cat, sit on a perch like the parrot, or live in the cold, dark hold. Eventually he finds Little Rabbit a nest in the hay, next to the ponies. It's Christmas in Antarctica, and Little Rabbit has a present for Tom - seventeen babies!</div>
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Crean was part of Robert Falcon Scott's fateful 1910 expedition aboard the Terra Nova. This story is based on an entry in Scott's diary. </div>
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The Antarctic landscape is the perfect backdrop for an appropriately wintry holiday read. </div>
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Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-59481997524920563612014-12-16T11:13:00.001-05:002014-12-16T11:13:12.499-05:00Mexican Christmas legend<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are two different versions of a Mexican Christmas legend. They tell the stories of two young girls who do not have a gift for the baby Jesus. Both gather weeds to bring into the church and since they are gifts from the heart, the weeds miraculously transform into the brilliantly-coloured poinsettia.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0698115678/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0698115678&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0698115678&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0698115678" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0698115678/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0698115678&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Legend of the Poinsettia</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0698115678" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Tomie DePaola</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lucida is the young girl whose prayer at the altar turns weeds into flowers. De Paola's folk-style artwork lend warmth to his words.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1841482455/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1841482455&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1841482455&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1841482455" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1841482455/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1841482455&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1841482455" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Joanne Oppenheim</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">illustrated by Fabian Negrin</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Oppenheim's story, the transformation occurs as Juanita carries the weeds down the aisle. Negrin's beautiful pictures are dark and luminous. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both stories are wonderful additions to any holiday-themed library.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-88618171231380832732014-12-10T12:19:00.001-05:002014-12-10T12:19:26.877-05:00Fishy Christmas story<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/155143329X/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=155143329X&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=155143329X&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=155143329X" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/155143329X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=155143329X&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Carl the Christmas Carp</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=155143329X" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Ian and Vladyana Krykorka</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not everyone eats turkey for Christmas. In Prague, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Czech Republic, the usual fare is fish. In this tale, a boy named Radim helps his father pick out a nice fat carp for Christmas dinner. They keep it in the bathtub. Radim soon names it Carl and starts feeling sorry for it. When Christmas Day arrives, he decides to set Carl free. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A charming holiday story that will appeal to those who love animals. As well, the lovely, wind-swept pictures cheerfully evoke the scenery and people of Prague.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-69012398332514104962014-12-03T11:14:00.001-05:002014-12-03T11:14:14.282-05:00Rabbits celebrate the season<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1554983207/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1554983207&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1554983207&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1554983207" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1554983207/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1554983207&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Winter Moon Song</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1554983207" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Martha Brooks</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pictures by Letica Ruifern<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria;">á</span>ndez</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you look carefully at the moon, you may see the image of a rabbit. How the rabbit got there is revealed in this quiet, thoughtful picture book. A young rabbit prepares to sing in an annual concert to lighten the darkest time of the year. The song is performed beautifully, but the rabbit feels that it can be better. So begins a new tradition.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Martha Brooks' version of the Moon Rabbit creation story has the tone of an ancient story told by a wise elder. Meanwhile, the serene watercolors by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Letica Ruifern</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>á</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ndez provides an air of timelessness. The combination makes for a tender bedtime story.</span><br />
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<!--EndFragment-->Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-71391795483604007322014-11-26T14:58:00.001-05:002014-11-26T14:58:41.589-05:00Teen spy<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1419704249/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1419704249&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1419704249&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1419704249" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1419704249/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1419704249&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Shadow on the Mountain</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1419704249" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Margi Preus</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Shadow on the Mountain</i> takes place in Norway between 1940 and 1945. The Germans have invaded the country and are issuing all sorts of ominous directives. But the Norwegians have found many ways to resist. Fourteen-year-old Espen is one of the resisters. He and his schoolmates find many ways to show their displeasure - wearing red hats, staging walkouts, stealing ration cards. But Espen goes one step further. He becomes a courier, delivering secret messages by ski or by bicycle. Then he becomes a spy.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dangerous missions, compromised friendships, thrilling chases; readers will be on the edge of their seats. Another bonus: it's based on a true story!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highly recommended.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>For more books about spies, go to my nonfiction blog at <a href="http://inquisitive-kids.blogspot.com/">inquisitive-kids.blogspot.com</a>.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-88227923932985375702014-11-19T11:57:00.001-05:002014-11-19T11:57:30.399-05:00Missing in action<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0888999356/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0888999356&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0888999356&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0888999356" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0888999356/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0888999356&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">Against the Odds</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0888999356" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Marjolijn Hof</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kiki's father likes to go to far and dangerous places. He's a doctor who treats people injured in war zones. Kiki would prefer that he stay home, but her mother assures her that the odds of his being killed are small. She points out that Kiki only knows of one child who does not have a father. But Kiki's anxiety only increases. She decides to lessen the odds. Her reasoning goes something like this:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I knew three children with a dead cat. And two children with a dead dog. And one child with a dead mouse. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I looked at Mona [</i>her dog<i>]. I did not know anyone with a dead dog <b>and</b> a dead father. A dead dog </i><b style="font-style: italic;">and</b><i> a dead father! That almost never happened. My mother would say that it was against the odds. And it would be even more against the odds for someone to have a dead mouse, a dead dog and a dead father.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Kiki gets a pet mouse. When it doesn't die, she gets another mouse that will die. That way, she's increased her odds that her father will be okay. However, when her father really does go missing, Kiki thoughts start turning in a startling new way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Originally written in Dutch, this English version is translated into simple prose that children can easily relate to. The descriptions of a family going through an extremely stressful situation is believable and honest, and Kiki's feelings of fear and anger are real and sensitively portrayed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A very thoughtful book.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7072062281708647776.post-29457402867349169542014-11-12T09:50:00.000-05:002014-11-12T09:50:09.587-05:00The horror of war<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0143167685/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0143167685&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0143167685&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0143167685" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0143167685/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=0143167685&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20">War Brothers</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=0143167685" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Sharon E. McKay</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jacob is the son of a wealthy landowner. Oteka is a night commuter - one of the many children from villages or displacement camps who sleep on the streets of Gulu, where Jacob lives. They fear the Lord's Resistance Army (the LRA) who kidnap children and turn them into soldiers. Jacob believes he will be safe at school because of the extra guards. But the very first night back, the LRA invade the dorms and take Jacob and his classmates away. Beaten, starved, and forced to walk unendingly through the jungle, Jacob fears for his life and those of his friends, especially Tony, who wanted to be a priest. It is Tony who is broken and forced to kill. As the weeks pass, Jacob realizes that no one is coming to rescue them. With this knowledge, he and his friends, along with Oteka and a young girl named Hannah, plan an escape.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A gripping, disturbing book that focuses on the continuing plight of child soldiers. Its depiction of violence and brutality is unflinching, destroying any fanciful beliefs that war is exciting. An important book that deserves a wide audience.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1554514886/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=1554514886&linkCode=as2&tag=aunmarestboot-20" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1554514886&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=aunmarestboot-20" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-ca.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=aunmarestboot-20&l=as2&o=15&a=1554514886" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>War Brothers</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is also available as a graphic novel, with images that convey the horror with searing immediacy. Unforgettable.</span>Mary-Estherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12825782502135569129noreply@blogger.com0