Georgia Ward-Fear has always loved animals. As a kid, when everyone else wanted to avoid the snakes slithering through the bushland, Georgia only wanted to get closer. She took her fascination with wildlife with her as she grew older. It led her around Australia as she studied and worked in conservation to find ways to […]
Review: Traces of Sulfur by Madeline Freeman
TRACES OF SULFUR Blade Keeper Academy, #1 by Madeline Freeman Laurealinde Publishing LLC Young Adult Paranormal 228 pages I’m not who they think I am. If they learn the truth, I’ll pay with my life.Blakethorne Academy is the premier training ground for warriors. Every person here will one day be a member of the […]
On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander
Summary: Emily Dickinson’s life story is told from beginning to end, with her poetry woven into almost every page. Her internal life is explored, how she loved books and sought answers when confronted with deaths of people near her. As she grew older, she withdrew more, focusing on her writing and only interacting with a […]
Wild Symphony by Dan Brown, illustrated by Susan Batori
Published by Rodale Kids Summary: Maestro Mouse is your guide through this musical romp starring the animal kingdom. Each page includes a poem or two about the featured animal, concluding with a sign held by Maestro Mouse offering a lesson that can be derived from the poem. Sharp-eyed readers will also spot letters in each […]
Review: Grow: Secrets of Our DNA
What is DNA and how does it work? Grow: Secrets of Our DNA is a simple explanation of this scientific concept which is responsible for the growth of all living things. Written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Emily Sutton, it’s pitched at early primary aged children (although also suitable for all ages) and explores […]
Review: Who is at the Zoo?
A delight to look at and to read, this highly entertaining book turns daily situations on their head. Imaginative, humorous and creative, and with charismatic characters, everyone who opens this book will discover a magical world whose reality is limited only by their imagination. Rhyme and rhythm make it the perfect book for reading out […]
Turtle Walk by Matt Phelan
Published by Greenwillow Books Summary: A family of turtles sets off for a walk one spring morning. “Turtle walk. Nice and slow. Here we go. Are we there yet? No.” This refrain is repeated as they continue to travel through a landscape that turns into summer, fall, and then a snowy winter. On each page […]
The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lam
Published by Owlkids Books Summary: Thao Lam and her family escaped from Vietnam in 1980 when she was two years old. This wordless book shows her family’s journey, starting with a dinner in their Vietnam home where they’re planning their escape. The author’s note explains how, as a child, her mother used to rescue ants […]
Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander
Published by Jimmy Patterson Books (Little, Brown) Summary: Round One: Cassius Clay’s friend Lucky and the rest of Cassius’s friends and family are awaiting the results of the 1958 Golden Gloves championship. 16-year-old Cassius is in Chicago, 300 miles from his home in Louisville, KY. The phone rings, and the story shifts to Cassius’s voice, […]
Review: The Map From Here To There
This coming of age novel centres on the last year of high school for Paige Hancock and her friends. Paige seems to have it all mapped out – she has a part-time job she loves at the local cinema, the perfect boyfriend in Max and her close friends. Everything seems so perfect, Paige doesn’t want […]
Review: None Shall Sleep
Emma Lewis and Travis Bell are both teenagers who have had survived encounters with serial killers. They are therefore recruited by the FBI to interview a convicted teenaged serial killer in order to gain some clues about an ongoing investigation into another serial killer, who is targeting teenagers. The jailed killer, Simon Gutmunsson, is a […]
Catching Emotions by Artun Bekar
CATCHING EMOTIONS by Artun Bekar Middle Grade Fantasy 92 pages ages 8 to 12 Willy, a very rational boy, is forced to grapple with his unpredictable emotions on an adventure with a classmate. On a journey through a nearby forbidden forest, he discovers nine primary emotions that put him in hazardous situations, then help […]
Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers Summary: When Felix and Benji find a wallet belonging to billionaire Laura Friendly, they return it–after first “borrowing” $20.00 to buy themselves hot dogs and ice cream. As a reward/punishment, Ms. Friendly offers the boys $10 million. But there’s a catch: first they have to spend $5,368,709.12 […]
Don’t Judge Me by Lisa Schroeder
Published by Scholastic Press (Released November 10) Summary: When Hazel finds an abandoned pet tortoise, she discovers that the two of them are alike in some ways. Both want to hide when they are scared, and Hazel finds herself feeling anxious about almost every aspect of middle school. She’s shy and wants nothing more than […]
Love Is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Published by Candlewick Summary: Mari and her mother get out crayons and poster board to make signs: “Be Kind”, “Love Is Powerful”. From their apartment, they can see crowds gathering in the streets. Mom explains that they are sending a message to the world. “How will the whole world hear?” asks Mari. “They’ll hear because […]