Fun, nonthreatening read-aloud (or fairly early chapter book for reading to oneself). Paddington's sweet and has a great 'voice.' I have a hard time w...moreFun, nonthreatening read-aloud (or fairly early chapter book for reading to oneself). Paddington's sweet and has a great 'voice.' I have a hard time with the "darkest Peru" stuff, unsurprisingly. But I find the references to his aunt living in a retirement home for bears in Lima awfully charming.(less)
I loved Eager's novels as a child. This is the first one I've shared with Noah (6), and he was pretty much wild for it. Much fascinated talk of what t...moreI loved Eager's novels as a child. This is the first one I've shared with Noah (6), and he was pretty much wild for it. Much fascinated talk of what twice a particular desired outcome, or half a particular wish, might be ...(less)
This book is just completely itself: it does what it does to perfection, and it's unlike anything I've ever read. (Oddly, it feels rather like Henders...moreThis book is just completely itself: it does what it does to perfection, and it's unlike anything I've ever read. (Oddly, it feels rather like Henderson the Rain King in its laugh-out-loud humor, but it's kinder and gentler--and far more interested in the details of the natural world--and, um, less fictional--than that novel.) Nothing much happens in the whole book, and yet it really is a delight.
My Family and Other Animals combines lovingly detailed descriptions of the Greek island of Corfu's flora, fauna, and landscape with totally hilarious accounts of the author's "eccentric" family and friends. These anecdotes concern young Gerry's many interesting pets (most of which are caught during his ramblings) as well as his lovable and rather vague mother, his brothers (Leslie, the manly-man hunter, and Larry, the insufferably bossy and lazy writer), his sister Margo, their Greek protector and assistant Spiro, Theodore (who treats Gerry like an adult and shares his great enthusiasm for natural history and field expeditions), Gerry's various tutors, and assorted locals. Meanwhile, these people are living a wildly enviable life, lounging and rambling about on this gorgeous island without a care in the world. Sign me up!(less)
A more straight-up Regency romance (plus magic, of course) than the first Kim/Mairelon book. Great fun and extremely light; I wish there were more in...moreA more straight-up Regency romance (plus magic, of course) than the first Kim/Mairelon book. Great fun and extremely light; I wish there were more in the series.(less)
A playful and self-conscious narrator--a mock-Victorian narrator who speaks explicitly from our 'modern' day--makes this novel lots of fun. The childr...moreA playful and self-conscious narrator--a mock-Victorian narrator who speaks explicitly from our 'modern' day--makes this novel lots of fun. The children, while odd, are rendered lovingly and feel real as children to me; I'm particularly fond of Cassiopeia (though we had to look up how to pronounce her name!), her little fists thrust in the air shouting "Mayhem!," her Nutsawoo.
There are some scary overtones here, but its light tone and ultimate good outcomes (and Penelope's confidence and competence) meant it still worked well as a read-aloud for a much younger child than its core audience. Noah (6) loved it and is eager to read the next one. I'm curious and slightly suspicious about where that's going to head: does the ending suggest that the series will take a potentially-less-fun supernatural turn? We'll see ...
Awesome illustrations! They suit the text perfectly.(less)
A great beginning for a series of short novels for early-ish readers (more involved than the books labelled "readers" at libraries but far less comple...moreA great beginning for a series of short novels for early-ish readers (more involved than the books labelled "readers" at libraries but far less complex and long than what I think of as "actual novels," these feel like parts of a book rather than complete and shapely installments).
Noah is wild for these stories, as he is about pretty much all things magic. He also laughs a lot at the little goofy moments. When we're reading one it's the big topic of mealtime conversation: what would he do if he were a Keyholder? how would he deal with goblins? which link would he want? Etc., etc., etc. Interestingly, although these are far on the low end of his reading level, he wants me to read them aloud before he rereads them on his own time--he really, really enjoys talking about them and having us experience the stories along with him. They're not especially suited to reading aloud--the language is serviceable, not gorgeous--but it's not awful, either.
Meanwhile, we're all happy that these books seem to imagine both boy and girl readers and that they don't fall into sexist stereotypes and assumptions, unlike so many books for young readers. Even Luke's aversion to wearing a bracelet for fear of being teased for girliness is portrayed as bad judgment and silliness more than anything else. Bonus points for Penny pointing out that a boy can wear a tutu if he pleases, and implying that he won't be bullied if he's at a school that's run properly and has a healthy culture!(less)
A surprisingly funny book about copy editing. It's short and delightful--Saller's voice is just great, so likable and straightforward.
Beginning each c...moreA surprisingly funny book about copy editing. It's short and delightful--Saller's voice is just great, so likable and straightforward.
Beginning each chapter with a question from the CMS Q&A and ending with its answer is, though a small thing, rather brilliant. For folks new to the field, resources (and note on breaking in) at the end are useful.(less)
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