The Mother-Daughter Book Club

The Mother-Daughter Book Club
By: Heather Vogel Frederick
Pages: 236 (hardcover book)



Summary:
"... what begins as a mom-imposed ritual of reading Little Women soon helps four unlikely friends navigate their way the drama of middle school." - The Mother-Daughter Book Club



Megan is the lover of fashion. Cassidy is the tomboy who's mother was a Supermodel. Emma is the poor girl who is teased for wearing hand-me-downs. Jess is the girl who's mother goes off to New York to be a soap star. All 4 girls have entered the world of middle school and experience the pitfalls it comes with. Their mothers form the book club as a way of spending some time with their daughters. What better book to help them deal with teasing, and exposed crushes, and ruined dreams than Little Women? The mothers are excited, the girls...not so much.

I have wanted to read this book for awhile, but never got around to it. I was thinking the book club would have a more prevalent story line, but it wasn't as front and center as I hoped it would have. You get to know the characters and watch them survive the highs and lows of 6th grade- as you should. I was able to relate to each of the girls and remember being in each of the girls shoes.



I thought Little Women was a great pairing. I never really thought about it until I was reading this book, but it had lessons and characters the girls could identify with. Each girl found her own sister to relate to and take comfort in.



This book is the first in a series that, as of current, is 4 books strong. I think I'll give the second book a try. Each book has the club reading a book, and book 2 has them reading Anne of Green Gables, a favorite book of mine I discovered in 7th grade.



Rating: Borrow From The Library

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

By: Betty MacDonald

130 Pages

Ages: 8-12

Summary:

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle lives in an upside-down house and smells like cookies. She was even married to a pirate once. Most of all, she knows everything about children. She can cure them of any ailment. Patsy hates baths. Hubert never puts anything away. Allen eats v-e-r-y slowly. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a treatment for all of them. -- bn.com

This book was recommended to me by my blog partner, Rose. She told me I would like it and she was right!! I loved reading this book so much that I read the whole thing in one day, which isn't easy with two small children!

I loved her "cures" for common childhood "diseases" like 'The-Won't-Pick-Up-Toys Cure" or "The Radish Cure". She puts a new spin on common childhood behaviors. I wish I was this creative and inventive!! Through giving the child exactly what they want she gets them to realise they don't really want it after all. It's brilliant!!

One child decided she didn't want to take baths anymore. OK, so out with the baths... Until she's got enough dirt on her to plant radish seeds on her and they grow! Another child decides he doesn't want to share anything that's his anymore. Alright... Until he gets picked on for having labels on everything that's his and looses the keys that go to the locks on everything that's his. And they only to way to cure a child suffering from the "Answer-Backer" disease is to get a parrot involved.

Each chapter is a separate child suffering from a "disease" that Mrs. Piggle- Wiggle has the perfect and guaranteed cure for. I can't wait to read this book to my girls when they're old enough. It's perfect for those family readings or bed time stories.

Rating: Buy It!!

Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins & Other Nasties

A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate

As told to Lesley M. M. Blume

Illustrated by David Foote

To: The children of the world

From: Miss Edythe McFate

Re: The wondrous, dangerous world of modern fairies-READ IMMEDIATELY!

My names is Miss Edythe McFate, and once you've read my practical guide to modern fairies, you will never see the world around you in the same way again.

Perhaps you think fairies are figments of the imagination, or even relics of a ancient past. You may even think that all fairies are lovely winged creatures who dance in bluebell fields, granting wishes to anyone who encounters them.

You would be wrong on all counts.

Fairies are very much alive today, and they are everywhere-in our cities, our backyards, and even our kitchen cupboards. Some of them are indeed the sweet-tempered winged creatures of folklore, but the fairy family also includes goblins, trolls, brownies, and other strange creatures- some of which are revealed in this book for the very first time. While many fairy breeds are harmless, others can be quite nasty or even dangerous.

In my luxuriously-illustrated guidebook, I share my knowledge of the modern fairy world and include practical advice on matters such as:

-How to tell a good fairy from a bad one,

-How to spot a "fairy ring",

-How to tell the difference between dwarves and trolls (one species is far deadlier than the other),

-How to defend against fairies who would do you harm,

......and much, much more. Also included: eight true cautionary tales about children your age who have encountered deadly fairies in ultramodern New York City. You would be advised to read my book closely, lest you find yourself in your own fairy encounter.

After all, forewarned is forearmed.

-from www.lesleymmblume.com

I just finished up this book today while waiting around at jury duty. I'll say this- it was certainly amusing enough to keep my mind off the boredom of waiting around. I absolutely loved this book! It had an old-fashioned quality to it. The eight cautionary tales are very much modern fairy tales. Some of them turn out well, but many of them not so well for the children involved. Of course, that's only because those particular children are selfish, nasty, or just all around mean. There are also the poor innocent children who don't know what they're getting themselves into. Lesson learned-don't mess around with fairies!

The illustrations are really really cool. The artist, David Foote, used pen and ink (which is my favorite style of drawings), then smeared the ink with water in many illustrations for an almost Ralph Steadman-like effect. He also draws round circles of blush on his faces, which I find to be endearing. (Although it can look sinister on the evil fairies).

I like that Miss Edythe McFate gives exact locations in New York City of various fairy dwellings (for example, the exact tree in Central Park that the brownies relocate to from the Algonquin Hotel). I can just imagine being a kid, begging my parents to take me to New York so I can go look for the fairies. Heck, even as an adult I want to go look for the fairies. Who am I kidding?

My verdict is-this book is a great book for kids who liked The Spiderwick Chronicles or fans of magical realism. It would be a great read-aloud!

Rating: Buy it! You will need it for reference!

Beezus & Ramona Review

Beezus & Ramona

By: Beverly Cleary

159 Pages (my hardcover book)

Summary:

Starting with a fairly mild encounter with the librarian, which is harder on Beezus than anyone else, Ramona goes from strength to strength, winding up by inviting her entire kindergarten class to a part at her home without mentioning it to her mother. The riot that ensues is probably the most hilarious episode in this extremely funny book, which proves that Mrs. Cleary's imagination is almost as lively as Ramona's. -- bn.com

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. Never having had a sister ( I was the youngest in my family) I was spared all of this. However, my 2 daughters will probably relate to this book once they are older.

Ramona is such a little fireball of energy. From embarrassing her sister with the bunny ears to "writing" her name on every page of a library book, the first chapter was entertaining. When Ramona crashes her older sister's art class more hilarity ensues. However, I got exhausted just reading what happened when Ramona decides she wants to have a party and proceeds to invite all her friends-- without telling her Mom first.

Beezus is an amazing character. She thinks of ways to handle whatever her sister throws at her. This book is only the first in the Beezus & Ramona series, and I think I'll be reading more of them. You never know what will happen when Ramona is involved.

Rating: Buy It!!

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society
By: Trenton Lee Stewart

512 Pages* (actual story is shorter)

Ages 8-12

Summary:
4 children are the only ones who pass bizarre tests advertised in the newspaper. All are orphans and all are chosen for a specific reason. Now they must go undercover to find out the secrets that lie in Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. What is going on and can they save the day in time?

My first impression is that this book is meant for the higher range of the ages it's directed to. This story itself is over 400 pages long- a bit long for younger children. While it's a good read, even I was ready to be one half way through the book.

The tests the children take were interesting and fun to read about. Each child uses their own reasoning and methods for accomplishing the tests and it was fun to see how they did it. I have to say I liked the character Constance the least. Like the other 3 children in the book she worked my nerves with her attitude. Reading how they each bring their unique thinking to the table to solve this mystery was my favorite part of the book.

This book is the 1st in a series that is currently 3 books strong. And while it's says 8-12, I think the older kids from that range would get more out of it than the younger ones.

Rating: Borrow From The Library

It's Raining Cupcakes (Ages 8-12)

It's Raining Cupcakes

By: Lisa Shroeder

193 Pages (including recipes)

Summary:

Isabel is a 12 year old girl who wants to travel. She desperatly wants to see what the world has to offer beyond her town of Willow, Oregon. Her family recently decided to support her Mother's dream of opening a cupcake store and Isabel is among those trying to keep her Mother from throwing in the towel before the store even opens. Sophie, Isabel's best friend, tells her about a baking contest in a magazine. The finalists will be flown to New York to participate in the bake off. Now all Isabel has to do is decide what recipe she'll submit, the one she wants or the one her mom wants her too. That and help her Mother see the dream come she dared to dream of.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I eagerly waited for it come in once I requested it from my library. Sadly, I didn't like the book. To begin with, the book description and the the actual story are not the same. The baking contest isn't the main story at all. The vast majority of the book is about the cupcake store Isabel's Mom wants to open and all the emotions involved with it. The baking contest is a minor charcter.

I had a hard time dealing with the dynamic between Isabel and her mother, which is dealth with heavily in the first half of the book. According to Isabel's Grandmother, the mother lacks "gumption". To me, the Mother came off sounding like she needed to be on anti-depressants. Isabel's Mother sees the contest as a great way to get publicity for the new store while Isabel sees at a chance to do something all her own, and possibly travel. In fact, Isabel eventually chooses to submit a cupcake recipe so that her mom will be happy. To me, that defeated the purpose of her entering the contest all together.

Overall, the book just was not the fun, cute, and enjoyable read I thought it was going to be. It was a downer in so many ways. My breaking point was when Isabel's Mother is ready to sell the store (that hasn't even opened yet) because she's convinced she can't make it work. This despite the front page story done on her store. I'm no stranger to how overwhelming insecurity and fear can be- I struggle with them A LOT. However, there is only so much one can take. It's a sad reality to come to when a 12 year old decides she doesn't want to be like her Mother, which is exactly what Isabel did. I felt like instead of showing the readers ways to deal with these emotions and giving what you started a chance, they were shown examples where an adult wallows in their fear. It's not an example I'd want for little girls and boys who are experiencing those feelings themselves.

Rating: Borrow From The Library