OMG (Oh My Godmother): The Glitter Trap

OMG (Oh My Godmother: The Glitter Trap

By: Barbara Brauner & James Iver Mattson

240 Pages

Lacey Unger-Ware isn't the most popular 12 year old at her school. But life is about the change for her. While delivering food for her parents' restaurant, Lacey accidentally makes off with the Fairy Godmother assigned to make Paige Harrington's dream come true. How could this happen? Let's just say glitter should be used with caution.

Promptly returning the Fairy Godmother to Paige would be the sensible thing to do. But sensible gets a new definition after Lacey's cat eats the fairy. Now with a sprained shoulder, the Godmother is unable to fulfill her duty. This spells out dire consequences for everyone: Paige's dream won't come true; Lacey will spend her whole life with none of her dreams coming true; and the Fairy Godmother will get demoted- possibly to a dryer fairy! There's only one thing to do: Have Lacey take the Fairy Godmother's place and act as Paige's Godmother. Hilarity ensues as Lacey learns how to be a Fairy Godmother. Note: Use a wand with caution! 

Readers will enjoy this story. Funny scenes are throughout the whole book. You've got mass pigeons flying overhead- doing what they do on poor Lacey. You've got World War Pea in the kitchen- the blue wears off at midnight. And you have an overwhelming task to be accomplished in 8 days. What could possibly go wrong? The Chapters aren't very long and they have pictures throughout. Fairy Tale fans will love this spin on the beloved Fairy Godmother.

MIssy's Super Duper Royal Deluxe Picture

Missy's Super Duper Royal Deluxe: Picture Day

By: Susan Nees

Ages: 5-7

Attention all beginner readers!! I have a fun new character to introduce to you. Please meet, Melissa Abigail Rose- but, please call her Missy. She is little girl who loves all the things fun and dressy, and super duper. Take her school picture day, for example. This is a BIG event in little Missy's life, and she's been looking forward to it all week. Visions of different outfits are dancing through her head. However, her Mom has a different plan.

The normal outgoing, energetic Missy doesn't go to school that day. But the grumpy, brooding Missy goes.  Gone is her overflowing excitement for picture day. Gone are her outfits. She has no plans to talk to anyone. But while she isn't talking to anyone, she'll chat with quiet classmate, Oscar. In fact, she talks to him so much they get in trouble while waiting in line to take their pictures. Being separated from the class gives Oscar the chance to think of a genious idea for he and Missy to do for their pictures. Missy goes from mad to ecstatic! 

This book was cute! It has tons of pictures on each page. Missy is a character young children can enjoy- especially girls who love dress up. I had a great time meeting Missy and reading about her picture day adventure. I know there are 2 other books already set to come out in this series, and I look forward to reading them. 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car

Alright adventure seekers of all ages! Fasten your seat belts and get ready for the ride of your life! Guess who's back....

 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car

By: Ian Fleming

Ages: 9+

She's back and taking you places you've never been before! Join the Potts family as they restore Chitty back to her old glory. With her in charge, never fret when your favorite beach picnic spot is full. Instead of sharing your lunch at an overly crowded beach, Chitty takes you to an island in the middle of the English Channel! However, just mind the tides and don't stay too long.

Once you're picnic afternoon is done, you won't believe what Chitty has in store for you next! 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car is a cute, fun read. It's perfect for bedtime reading. Going on all the adventures will be a wonderful addition to any family story time. I had so much fun exploring the cave and having a picnic on a remote island. Ian Fleming is known for his 007 writing, but he's great at children's works, too!

The Cupcake Club: Winner Bakes All

The Cupcake Club: Winner Bakes All

By: Sheryl Berk & Carrie Berk

118 Pages

Ages: 9-12

The third book in The Cupcake Club series has Saddie Harris, Kylie Carson, Jenna Medina, & Lexi Poole facing a challenge like no other: can they win a baking contest?

With business drying up a little, the girls are looking for a way to bring in money. Enter the contest Battle of the Bakers. With the grand prize being $5,000, the Cupcake Club is aiming to win. What they didn't count on was going against seasoned professionals. Nor would they expect the surprise guest judge to be a recent disgruntled client. Can they pull it off and win?

While the club battles professionals  Saddie is fearing her parents are heading for a divorce. Money has been tight, and the stress has her parents fighting a lot more. Is Saddie worried about nothing, or is she fated to be the newest addition to the divorced family statistics at her school?

This book is the 3rd in the series, and the first one I ever read. Having said that, it doesn't affect the story line at all. The authors give you all the information you need, so you don't go through the book feeling like you're missing key details. Had it not been for a couple of instances in the book, you wouldn't know it's the middle of a series. 

I found the book to be cute and charming. I enjoyed meeting each of the girls. Mrs. Lila Vanderwall was a character written to be dis likable  and she is. I was mad when she refused to pay the girls for baking a ton of cupcakes at the last minute for her. Yes, they made a mistake with the decoration, but they fixed it. 

This is a series I would love to read more of. I'll definitely be seeing if my library has the first two books in the series. Very cute and enjoyable.

Odette's Secrets

Odette's Secrets

By: Maryann Macdonald

204 Pages

Ages: 10-14

Odette is a young girl when World War 2 breaks out. Odette's Secrets lets you see what life for her was like. From the very beginning of it when movie news reels featuring Hitler would receive cheers to posters showing up all over Paris. Maryann does a phenomenal job of telling Odette's story in a way young readers will understand and connect with. 

Through the book you get not only the war's affects on Paris, but how it affects the children. History comes alive in a way children can comprehend. Odette's Father goes to fight for France, but is quickly captured by German soldiers. Her Mother also goes to work for France, but in a more secretive way, by helping other children in trouble find places to hide. 

You travel with Odette as she is sent to live in the country- along with numerous other children, unbeknownst to her at the time. There she is kept safe, but must learn to take on an entirely different identity: that of a Christian, instead of a Jewish girl. You get to see what life was like for her- the good and the bad.

Odette's Secrets takes you through the entire length of the war. The whole time you feel as though you are there with her. You are with her as she leaves a dangerous Paris and you are there when she returns to it after the war is over. You embrace the beloved reunions and the heartbreaking losses of those Odette knew. Mostly, you are there as Odette tries to make sense of all that has happened to her and the world. Is she Jewish? Is she Christian? Can she be both? 

This book is a great learning tool about World War 2, but it will, no doubt, start conversations about all aspects of that time. While the devastating aspects of what Jewish people endured are glossed over, they are mentioned. Odette's story is largely true, which Maryann MacDonald tells you about in an author's note she includes in the book. 

The Hocus Pocus Hotel: The Return of Abracadabra

Hocus Pocus Hotel: The Return of Abracadabra

By: Michael Dahl

Summary:

Welcome back to The Hocus Pocus Hotel! This visit will find you searching for a boy who appears to have vanished during a magic trick. But did he really disappear or is it really just smoke and mirrors? You also get a front row seat to a battle over the hotel. Mr. Abracadabra is the owner, but if he can't tell how a fellow magician did a trick he'll become the former owner of the historic hotel.

Once again Michael Dahl delivers a truly magical story. Not only do you get to visit ones you met through The Hocus Pocus Hotel, but you get to interact with some of them a little more. All the magic and magic trick reveals that you loved from the first book are in this one, as well.

I loved reading The Return of Abracadabra. I didn't want to stop once I started. The illustrations were great, the chapters were the perfect size for young readers. The story was captivating and interesting for children and adults alike.

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares For Christmas

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares For Christmas

By: Melanie Watt

Ages 3+

 

Scaredy Squirrel is back and he's just in time for Christmas. With his help, your Christmas is sure to be a fun one.

 

Christmas is known for being a hectic time of year, but don't worry! Scaredy is on the case. He's so thoughtful as to give you a list of things you'll need- though recommends gathering them in August. (Sorry for the late notice)

 

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, get your football helmet ready (to protect from falling decorations, of course.). For those who love to use a red and green color theme, worry not. Scaredy has provided you with a list of things in these colors to avoid. He also suggests using solar powered lights.

 

Christmas is the perfect season for sweets. When setting your table, Scaredy says you should position the sweets clockwise on the table and in alphabetical order. Scaredy even includes instructions on how to build a Scaredy gingerbread house.

 

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares For Christmas is your go-to Christmas guide. With this book in your hands, you can't go wrong.