Monday, September 30, 2013

Alyssa Recommends.....

Today's Reader Recommends is done by 7 year old Alyssa! This 2nd grader wanted to share with you a book she recently read and loved. 


Jasmine the Present Fairy
(Rainbow Magic, The Party Fairy Series #7)
By: Daisy Meadows
80 Pages
Age Range: 6-9

It's party time! A big bash for King Oberon and Queen Titania is underway in Fairyland. The Party Fairies keep everything running smoothly, until Jack Frost's goblins steal their magic party bags. Now parties everywhere aren't festive --- they're a flop!

Jasmine the Present Fairy is in trouble. The goblins are after her magic party bag! Can Rachel and Kirsty get things all wrapped up in time for the block party?
Find the magic party bag in each book and save celebrations everywhere!


Jasmine is one of the Party Fairies. She's come to help her human friends, Rachel & Kirsty, with their block party. However, Jack Frost wants Jasmine's party bag. Sending his little goblins (cranky ones, not scary ones) to steal it, the fairies now have get it back. Will they get it and ruin the party?

As a fan of fairies, Alyssa likes this series. She especially liked the part when humans, Rachel and Kirsty, got to see their fairy friends. She also liked reading about how the fairies got everything ready for the party. ("They really know how to decorate!") However, she didn't like how Jack Frost's goblins were trying to steal Jasmine's party bag. ("That's just not nice.")

In this book, you mainly spend time with Jasmine. According to Alyssa, she's very sweet and fun. She feels that Jasmine is a "fantastic fairy friend". She's looking forward to reading the other books in the Party Fairy series. In fact, she will be starting the book about Jasmine's friend Cherry, Cherry the Cake Fairy, tonight. 

Alyssa recommends this series to anyone who loves to read about fairies. She's sure you will enjoy your visits in Fairyland. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Classroom Review- Apples Galore

Fall has arrived!! Cooler weather is upon us, Halloween is right around the corner, and Fancy Nancy's class is going apple picking! 

Apples Galore!
By: Jane O'Connor

Fancy Nancy, and her classmates, are taking the fun and learning on the road! In this adventure, the class goes apple picking. Nancy is determined to find her Dad's favorite apple, a Gala apple! However, Lionel, is determined to spend the field trip playing practical jokes. When Lionel tells one too many lies, will anyone believe him when he tells the truth?

While Kids Book Korner is a big fan of Fancy Nancy, we decided to turn over the review to Mrs. Duvauchelle's 2nd grade class. After all, who better to tell you about Nancy's newest adventure than them?!

On a scale of 1-4 stars, the class gave it an overwhelming 4 stars!!! They loved learning new words, and that the book included French words. While they loved the vocabulary Nancy uses, Lionel's lying didn't escape their attention. They knew he shouldn't have been tricking everyone and was glad he learned his lesson. 

Here's some of the comments the class had to say about Apples Galore!

Olivia- "... inspired by Fancy Nancy" (us, too!)
Scarlett- "Nancy helped him even though you knew he was moody" (so nice of her!)
Anneliese-"I really liked it because there was a lot of commotion, big words, & it was very funny"
                    (so true!!)
Michael- "It teaches us a lesson to not lie." (very important lesson!)
Jake K.- "I learned that new words are fun to use in stories. I like to learn new words." (we do, too!)

There you have it! Apples Galore is a 4 star winner with this bunch! One is never too young to learn fancy and new words! Thank you for your opinions, kids! We will be passing them on to Miss Fancy Nancy, herself! 

Mrs. Noodlekugel and Four Blind Mice

Mrs. Noodlekugel And Four Blind Mice
By: Daniel Pinkwater
90 Pages
Ages: 5-9 yrs

The ever lovable Mrs. Noodlekugel is back! Mr. Fuzzface, her cat, and the four mice from her first book join her in this newest adventure. This time, the mice take center stage.

While having tea, Mrs. Noodlekugel notices the mice spilling their cups. There is only one thing to do about this. Why, strap them onto her hat, coax Mr. Fuzzface into a cat carrier, and go into the city so the mice can get glasses. However, nothing is just your regular trip with Mrs. Noodlekugel. No, while riding on the bus, you get to find out how Mrs. Noodlekugel and Mr. Fuzzface met. I'll give you a hint: it involves trains and a gold medal. 

Mrs. Noodlekugel and four blind mice also reunites one of the characters with a long lost family member. 

This book is as adorable and fun as Mrs. Noodlekugel was. From the characters and their personalities, to the adventures they all share. The writing is easy to understand. The chapters are short and to the point. Readers are in for a treat. At the beginning reader stage, readers can enjoy this book on their own, or it can be part of a story time. Perfect fit either way!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Icing On The Cake

The Cupcake Club: Icing on the Cake
By: Sheryl & Carrie Berk
Pages: 115
Ages: 9-12

Summary:
Jenna has a full plate: a 5th grader, cupcake business & club, plenty of friends. Suddenly, her life is about to change. Jenna isn't happy about all the new changes, either. See what takes her, and the rest of the club, to Las Vegas, what connection they have to an Elvis impersonator, and why the club would be baking pupcakes.

Jenna's life may not be perfect, but she's happy the way it is. So when her Mom announces she's now engaged to her boyfriend, Leo, Jenna is less than thrilled. The impending nuptials may have many supporters, but Jenna isn't one of them. Still, Jenna goes along with it when her Mom asks Peace, Love, and Cupcakes to bake them a tower of cupcakes for the wedding- in a month and across the country.

The girls find themselves baking the night away in the kitchen of the fancy Venice Hotel- but not just for Jenna's Mom. Upon their arrival, they meet an Elvis Impersonator with quite a problem. His 100th show is that night and he can't find anyone who can bake a cake big enough for his 250 person audience. Nor can he find someone who can make it a peanut butter and banana cake. Thankfully the girls come to his rescue.

As if all that isn't enough, Jenna falls in love. Her school Community Friends project takes her to Rescue Rover, a dog shelter. Promptly, Jenna meets a puppy she names Dulce. 

The Mother-Daughter writing team of this series brings you another fun adventure to read. I loved seeing what fun things the girls would be doing in this book. It will find a home on my bookshelf. 


Sunday, September 1, 2013

Rifka Takes A Bow

Rifka Takes A Bow
By: Betty Rosenberg Perlov
36 Pages

Rifka introduces you to the world of Yiddish Theater. With her parents being actors in it, she's able to give you a backstage tour of it all. From the trip the family takes to the theater, to the backstage happenings while everyone is getting ready for the show to start. With Rifka as your guide, you get to see a world you may not otherwise get to see.

Follow Rifka as she and her Dad go under the stage and look at the many props stored there. And no tour of a theater would be complete without an impromptu performance. That's exactly what happens when Rifka  moves from her chair by the stage. She follows the stairs and ends up right in the performance. When an audience member wants her to say something, Rifka makes a prediction for her future.

This book was such a cute read. I loved the story and the illustrations. Rifka Takes A Bow allows it's readers to learn about a world beyond theirs. After the story, Perlov gives a brief history of Yiddish Theater and includes pictures. A fun read!!!