Bonnie Ferrante's Blog, page 68

Gabel, Lee. Noah’s Noodles. Book Review.

Noah’s Noodles tells the story of a toddler enjoying a plate of spaghetti. He ties the noodles in knots, winds them around his thumbs, and spins them like a lasso. The child’s delight is clear. The illustrations are bright, simple, and cartoonish. The zany noodles dominate each page. Noah is presented as a happy, endearing […]

Hacking, Norm. When Cats Go Wrong. Illustrated by Cynthia Nugent. Book Review.

This wacky book includes a CD with Norm Hacking singing the words in a deep, folksy style. The story features a little boy who’s afraid to leave his cat alone at home because it breaks ornaments, rips apart furniture and licks the butter. It introduces some interesting vocabulary such as strewn, disarray, mournful, and traumatized. […]

The INFJ Writing Personality: Eloquent Vision

Originally posted on Write with Personality:
Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.—Eleanor Roosevelt Can knowledge of personality type help you as a writer? If you’re an INFJ, the writing strategies you learned in school likely worked well for you. INFJs take…

Burton, Jessie. The Miniaturist. Book Review.

I really wanted to like this book. I like historical novels and I love miniatures, especially houses that are replicas of real buildings. I read to page 106 but just could not continue. The pace was slow, the characters had potential but failed to hold my interest, and the plot was threadbare. Because I did […]

Ibbotson, Eva. The Secret of Platform 13. Book Review.

The reader may find the magical entrance on platform 13 in one of London’s busiest train stations to be an echo of the entrance to Hogwart’s, but that is where the similarity will end. This fun little book introduces the author to an original and fascinating magical kingdom with mermaids, ogres, mist makers, harpies, and […]

McStay, Moriah. Everything That Makes You. Book Review.

An ambitious, inventive, and daring book. This is McStay’s first novel and I am impressed. This is the story, or should I say stories, of Fiona, a teenager whose life seems destined to derail no matter what her choices. The author simultaneously tells two stories of Fiona’s life as if we are watching her live […]

Win a Free Copy of “Tell Me Where: Animals and Babies”

THREE FREE PAPERBACKS TO BE GIVEN AWAY https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh... Tell Me Where: Animals and Babies Who doesn’t love babies and animals? Help your little one learn spatial concepts like above and below with this endearing and humorous collection of pictures. Also included are ten tips to extend your toddler’s learning. ENTER NOW

Stinson, Kathy. The Man with the Violin. Illustrated by Dušan Petričić. Book Review.

This gentle book is a joy to share with a child. This told from the point of view of Dylan, a little boy who notices things. As his mother hurries him through the subway, Dylan pauses to hear a musician playing a violin. The author, Kathy Stinson, explains beautifully how the music affects the child. […]

Oliver, Lauren. Vanishing Girls. Book Review.

I have loved Lauren Oliver’s books in the past, especially her Delirium trilogy. However, I felt this book was not at the same level. The point of view jumps felt disjointed. Instead of being intriguing, I found the plot muddled. What should have been a suspenseful story became tiresome to me. The love interest, Parker, […]

Mueller, Robin. 13 Ghosts of Halloween. Book Review.

This book is a fun filled romp through all the scary things of Halloween. It is based on the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. It starts with a group of children entering a fun house. Each page begins “On the blank stroke of midnight/Oh, nothing frightens me!” One by one the children run away […]