Tag Archives: books

Bad Kitty School Daze By Nick Bruel AND A GIVEAWAY!!!

4 Feb

Let’s start off February a little bad…BAD KITTY that is!

The newest Bad Kitty book is out and I can’t wait to tell you about it! Plus, Mr. Bruel gave me a signed copy of Bad Kitty School Daze to giveaway to one lucky reader! Read on to learn more!

badkittyschooldazeBad Kitty School Daze

By Nick Bruel

160 pages – ages 7+

Published by Roaring Brook Press on January 8, 2013

Bad Kitty and Puppy have crossed the line! With Kitty’s grumpiness and Puppy’s drooling problem, (and their constant fighting) it’s no surprise that they are sent to Diabla Von Gloom’s School for Wayward Pets. There, the dueling duo meet Miss Dee, a very kind teacher, Petunia, a very tough bull-dog who HATES!!! cats, and DR. LAGOMORPH, a diabolical mutant supervillian bunny whose arch-enemies are Captain Fantasticat and Power Mouse (A.K.A. Weird Kitty and the little mouse). Kitty and Puppy go through events at school, like Arts & Crafts and Story time. Puppy seems to be trying his best but Kitty is not cooperating (plus she is really scared Petunia will figure out she’s really a cat and not a cow ;) ). Miss Dee likes Kitty and tries to help her be good, but Kitty is not sure she wants to be friends with the other pets in obedience school.

First I have to say I am a HUGE fan of Mr. Bruel’s books. I have met Mr. Bruel a couple of times at book signings I went to and he is a very nice person and is always very kind and takes time to talk to me. My favorite Bad Kitty adventure so far is “Bad Kitty Vs. Uncle Murray” and I have to say – this one is my new favorite! I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! I love the humor! Mr Bruel seemed to have packed even more humor into this Bad Kitty adventure. I love the pictures and Uncle Murray’s fun facts (Uncle Murray is the school bus driver)!  I love the awesome characters of Dr. Lagomorph and Petunia, they are hysterical! I think Dr. Lagomorph is the best character in the book (besides Bad Kitty and Puppy), and probably the funniest! Like all the other Bad Kitty books, this one has a nice message in it. Bad Kitty really ends up helping all the other pets in school and is kind to them. I love how Mr. Bruel always has a good message in his books.

I give “Bad Kitty: School Daze” 100 out of 5 bookworms! … ERR… What? my rating only goes to five?  *sigh* Well, it still gets the highest rating! :D fivebooks

NOW for the giveaway!!! Mr. Nick Bruel has generously sent me a signed copy of this book to giveaway! Along with the signature there is also a hand-drawn illustration of … DR. LAGOMORPH!!!!! (MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (that felt good! I haven’t used my evil laugh in a while!)) Please comment on this post from now until Sunday the 10th to get an entry! I will announce the winner on Monday the 11! Josie will pick the names from “The Hat”! :) Good luck!

To learn more about Mr. Bruel and his awesome books, please visit his website by clicking HERE.

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Two Great Graphic Novel Series from Papercutz

10 Dec

Today I am reviewing two comic book/graphic novel series from Papercutz, a great graphic novel publisher. I really like that Papercutz has a huge selection of comics and that they make comics for every age group. Check out all the titles they have at their website by clicking HERE. As you may know, I really like comics and graphic novels and I think they are a great way to get kids into reading.

The first series combines one of my favorite things – LEGOs with another of my favorite things – READING!

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The Papercutz LEGO Ninjago books are based on Ninjago (LEGO ninja warriors)  toys (and there is a LEGO game called Spinjitsu that you can play). The graphic novel series has 7 volumes so far. The story starts in book 1. Kai (the red ninja)’s sister, Nya, was kidnapped by Lord Garmadon, so Kai joined a team of ninjas led by Sensei Wu: Cole (black ninja), Jay (blue ninja) and Zane (white ninja). Together they gather the four golden weapons of Spinjitsu (their martial art). They get the weapons and go to stop Lord Garmadon… or will they?!?

The adventure continues through the other books. The story plots are connected and they are super fun to read (you don’t have to like LEGOs to love these graphic novels). The art work is really great! Here is an example from the Papercutz website.

Ninjago_Interior_P1.indd

The books are written well for younger kids. There is a lot of excitement, good vs. evil and super ninja action! There is also a lot of humor mixed into the stories. I think that makes it even better.

I think this LEGO based graphic novel series would be a great gift for any kid who loves LEGOs AND it gets them into reading! I’d recommend this series to kids 5+.

I give the Ninjago Comic books 5 out of 5 bookworms! fivebooks

The next series I want to tell you about is called “Dance Class.”

**I know you are saying, “Erik, isn’t this a series for girls?” Answer: Yes it is, but I like the stories anyway. ;)

dance_header

The main idea of the series is the main characters, Julie, Alia, and Lucie, LOVE to dance. They are also friends and go to school together. The girls practice, compete and try to be the best dancer.  This also means that sometimes there is some trouble like when a cute boy is made the lead in Romeo and Juliet and all the girls want to be Juliet! The girls have usual teenage issues that they deal with too (school, parents, boys).

There are four books in the series so far -

danceclassbanner

I think this is a great series. Julie, Alia and Lucie are nice girls that love dance and do it well. I like how they work hard to get what they want. I do like seeing perseverance in characters. Sometimes a character can be a bit mean to another one and there’s some jealousy (like if one girl gets picked for a part that another one wanted), but it adds to the story plot.  There is a ton of humor in the books. The illustrations are great and also add to the humor of the books -

I recommend this series to kids 10+ because it seems to be meant for a little older kid. I think girls (and some boys ;) ) would love these books!

I give the Dance Class series 4 out of 5 bookworms. fourbooks

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Of Giants and Ice by Shelby Bach, Author Interview, and GIVE-AWAY!

26 Sep

Of Giants and Ice
By Shelby Bach
352 Pages – Ages 9+
Published by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers on July 24, 2012

Rory Landon wasn’t sure if she understood the Ever After School (EAS) program. Everything is weird there. Rory didn’t understand why everything there is related to fairy tales. She soon makes friends with Lena (AKA Jacqueline), a girl her age and Lena helps Rory around EAS. Rory is amazed to learn that everyone there is a character from a fairy tale, including herself! Every kids at EAS eventually gets matched up with a “Tale”. When you are matched with a Tale, you have to go and live it out. The Tales can be dangerous,  or really nice. It takes a while, but Rory really starts to enjoy life at EAS. When Lena is matched with her Tale, Jack… err… Jacqueline and the bean stalk (a Tale that can get pretty dangerous), she picks Rory and a boy named Chase to go with her. Rory thinks the Tale may be a GIANT disaster! Will the friends make it through?

This was a really exciting and adventurous book! I loved the uniqueness! The idea of the students all being characters in fairy tales is great! I really enjoyed Ms. Bach’s writing style. She mixes a lot of humor and sarcasm in the story. I think the cover is cool. I like the colors and how it is laid out. Rory was a great main character, she makes a great heroine. I am adding her to The Awesome List of Awesome Heroines! She had a great personality and I think girls will like having an adventure story with a girl hero. Boys will also like her because she’s cool I recommend this book to kids 9+.

I give “Of Giants and Ice” five out of five bookworms!

I interrupt this review to bring you an author interview— Introducing Ms. Shelby Bach!

Thank you for agreeing to do this interview Ms. Bach!

Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in Charlotte, NC, reading every book I could find and writing stories in battered notebooks. After graduating from college, I worked in publishing for a while, but in 2009, I left New York to follow my dream of becoming a writer. Since then, I’ve lived in Charlotte and Big Sky, MT, and I’ve recently moved to Portland, OR, where I like to explore my new city, discover tasty new restaurants, and take random craft classes (I can now etch my own glass and carve my own rubber stamps!).

 Cool! Making your own stamps must be fun! When did you start writing stories? Did you always think you would write kids books?

–

I wrote my first book inside my desk during fifth grade. I was ten. I really should have been paying attention to my teacher, but I felt epically sneaky and rebellious (more than one time, that same teacher took away our recess and forced us to march up and down stairs for a half an hour instead).

And kids books are definitely my first love. When I first decided I wanted to be a writer, all the books I was reading were kids books. I just naturally assumed that I would write the same kind of book, and even when I grew older and I was expected to read books for adults, kids books were still my absolute favorite.

I get into trouble for reading in school, so I know what you mean! The idea of the “Ever After” school is really cool. I like how you have references to fairy tales we all know in “Of Giants and Ice” but they are altered a little, like Puss-in-Dress and Sarah Thumb. How did you get the idea for your book?

Thanks! I’m so glad you like it!

I’ve always loved fairy tales. I loved it so much that I actually took a fairy tale class in college, where we read hundreds of stories from Hans Christian Anderson, the Brothers Grimm, and Andrew Lang. Our professor encouraged us to do writing projects to make the fairy tales our own, and I actually wrote a short piece about “Puss-in-Dress” for the class.

Then, one day, years later, I found myself thinking about how when I was a kid, I didn’t want to meet a fairy tale Character – I wanted to be one. I thought about how cool it would be if a bunch of kids were waiting to grow up to be fairy tale characters in the same place, like maybe an after school program, where they could talk about it together, and bam! The idea for Ever After School exploded in my head. It was like all the stories I read in that college fairy tale class were just waiting to get used for the series.

Which character can you relate to the most? Do you base your characters on real people?

–

The only real person I’ve ever based a character on is myself. Which means that a lot of the Characters in the book have a piece of me in them – I can’t narrow it down to one. So, I relate the most to Rory, Chase, and Lena. Like Rory, I’m sometimes very aware of what other people are feeling, and since I don’t want to hurt anyone or cause trouble, I often don’t know what to say. Of course, when I was in sixth grade, I was just as show-offy and loud as Chase among my friends, and if I was having a hard time, sometimes I acted even more show-offy to hide what I was feeling, just like Chase does. I was also focused on following my dream, like Lena is focused on following hers – the same way she always has an invention in the works, I was always writing a story in one of my notebooks.

What is your favorite fairy tale?

–

“East of the Sun, West of the Moon!” It’s a Norwegian fairy tale like “Beauty and the Beast,” except when the heroine makes a mistake and loses her prince, she goes on a quest to get him back. In my favorite version, she visits each of the four winds to ask them for directions.

I actually couldn’t resist mentioning this fairy tale in Of Giants and Ice. Rory’s mom says that “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” is her favorite fairy tale on page 126.

I’ll have to read “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”! I read that “Of Giants and Ice” is the first book of the “Ever Afters” series. Are you working on a sequel? If so, can you give us a preview?

I am working on a sequel! The Ever Afters 2: Of Witches and Wind comes out on July 23, 2013. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can give you much of a preview yet.

Let’s just say – it’s spring break of Rory’s seventh grade year (about a year after Of Giants and Ice), and Rory’s excited to spend it at EAS with her best friends Lena and Chase. Then the Snow Queen sets a new plot in motion, endangering the whole Ever After School. Rory and Chase must go on another quest, this time to Atlantis, a Hidden continent filled with cranky magical creatures and other terrors. They’ll have to face witches, trolls, long lost villains, and even the Unseelie Fey Court if they ever want to get home safely.

Thanks Ms. Bach! I really enjoyed learning more about you!

I interrupt this interrupted review to bring you a give-away!—

I have a great deal for YOU, you awesome readers! I am giving away ONE SIGNED COPY of “Of Giants and Ice” to a lucky commenter! All you have to do is comment to enter! The contest ends on October 2nd and I will announce the winner on my Wednesday post (Oct. 3rd)! Good luck!

To learn more about Ms. Bach and her books, please click HERE.

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All Mixed Up! A Motley Horde of Funny Poems by Shane D. Williams

24 Sep

All Mixed Up! A Motley Horde of Funny Poems
By Shane D. Williams
64 Pages – Ages 7+
Published by Brio Bound Books on April 20, 2012

This is a very mixed up poetry book, so in honor of it, I am writing a mixed up review.

Here it goes…

“I fell into the mixer, and met a Gorillagator, found out I am you, got squished by my bed, and wrote about nothing!”

PHEW!

This book has a huge variety of poems, but all are really funny!

I literally laughed out loud when I read this! It is SO funny! The poems are all so different from each other! I like how the illustrations are drawn. They are really simple, but add a lot to the book. I think boys would really like this book. I recommend this book to kids 7+! It is a good way to get kids interested in poetry.

I give this book 5 out of 5 bookworms!

To learn more about Mr. Williams and his poems, click HERE to go to his website!

To hear an adult’s opinion on this book, click HERE to go to Sue Morris’ Kid Lit Reviews!

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Tyler in Trouble – The Last Place You Look by Ella Kennen

17 Sep

Tyler in Trouble – The Last Place You Look
By Ella Kennen
45 pages – Ages 7+ (ebook reviewed)
Published by Perfect Sense Productions on July 26, 2012

Tyler’s mom told him not to lose their only house key while he and his sister, Casey, are at Karate. When it is almost time to leave, Tyler realizes that he doesn’t have the key! He looked everywhere, but couldn’t find it. Not in the dojo, not in Casey’s class, not in the hallway, not at the front desk! Not anywhere in the building! Will Tyler get in trouble? Will his mom find out? Will they be locked out forever?

This was a pretty funny book. It was written well for younger kids. The story was a quick read for me and I think it would be a good choice for advanced readers because it is a clean read. I found the fact that they only had oner key to their house a bit unrealistic. But, I also think the plot is very simple because the book was written for younger kids. I like the cover and the little pictures that are in the book here and there. Overall, I thought it was a good book worth reading! I recommend this to kids 7+.

I give “Tyler in Trouble” three out of five bookworms.

To learn more about the author, Ms. Kennen, and Tyler, visit Ms. Kennen’s blog HERE.

*I received this as a free ebook in exchange for an honest review*

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Stout Hearts and Whizzing Biscuits: A Patria Story by Daniel McInerny

31 Aug

Stout Hearts and Whizzing Biscuits
By Daniel McInerny
114 Pages – Ages 8+ (Kindle edition reviewed)
Published by Trojan Tub Entertainment on March 8, 2012

When Oliver Stoop was riding a lawn mower, he accidentally drove into the Kingdom of Patria (unknown to Oliver, a regular American kid, there is a secret, hidden country called Patria smack in the middle of the USA). While he is there, he finds out that the land that his father is going to build a house on belongs to Patria. Sir Hector, the general of the army in Patria, declares war on Mr. Stoop (Oliver’s father). Oliver tries to convince both sides that they don’t need to go to war, but his dad and Sir Hector both won’t listen! Oliver realizes that the only way to stop this war is to find the long-lost treaty between the US and Patria. With the help of his new friends Farnsworth and Rose, Oliver goes to find the treaty before it is too late.

This book seriously made me laugh out loud! It is full of something for everyone – jokes, puns, sarcasm, action and much more! It also has some mystery, action and excitement in it! I loved this book! It has all the things I like! Even the title was great! I really like Oliver’s cleverness, Rose’s smartness, and Farnsworth’s ability to act without hesitating (unless if it could badly hurt him!)! I like the cover a lot. I also like how the author describes Oliver’s hair -

“…With a head of brown hair that perpetually looked like it had been hanging out the window of a car going ninety miles per hour.”

I recommend this awesome book to kids 8+.

I give “Stout Hearts and Whizzing Biscuits” five out of five book worms!

To learn more about the Kingdom of Patria, Stout Hearts and Whizzing Biscuits, and the second Patria book – Stoop of Mastodon Meadow (that I can’t wait to read), please click HERE.

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The Absolutely Amazing Adventures of Agent Auggie Spinoza By Steven Stickler

22 Aug

Wish me luck, today is my first day at my new school! :D

The Absolutely Amazing Adventures of Agent Auggie Spinoza

By Steven Stickler

Publication Date: March 21, 2012 by Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

177 pages – Ages 8+

Not every almost-ten-year old gets to be a secret agent. Auggie Spinoza discovers he is not only a secret agent, but he’s a Time Watcher. Time Watchers travel through time to keep bad guys from changing history. Auggie went back in time and met Emily Nicole Emerson, another Time Watcher who apparently was there for the same reason as Auggie - to stop the evil Time Vultures from taking over the world! Emily and Auggie need to go back in time to stop the Time Vultures from taking over. They will have to crack codes, find clues, try to end up at the right place in history and fight off bad guys. Along the way they find out about history and get to meet famous people from history like Plato and Thomas Jefferson.

I am finding all kinds of really great time-travel books lately! I really liked the idea of this book. I liked how Auggie was kind of a secret-agent-spy, but he also time-travelled. The book was just fun to read. Mr. Stickler mixed humor and action together in the book. I also liked the history in the plot. I liked Auggie. He was really nice, cool, and was casual (still kind of an ordinary kid even though he is a Time Watcher). He seemed to always do the right thing. Emily was a good character too. They made a great team. I like how it is a “Good Vs. Evil” type of book. I recommend this book to kids 8+.

I give this great book (or, as we say in Latin, optime liber (I think that is how it would be worded)) five out of five bookworms!

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Elliot Stone and the Summer Vacation Sea Monster – Author Interview and GIVEAWAY!

8 Aug

Today is a SUMMER VACATION CELEBRATION! Woot Woot Woot!

(you have to read to the bottom of the post to see how many books I read on my summer vacation :D )

Elliot Stone and the Summer Vacation Sea Monster

By LP Chase
Illustrated by Carl DiRocco
165 pages – ages 8+
Published by Blue Marlin Publications; First edition (November 14, 2011)

Elliot Stone is a kid who had his summer vacation ruined because he has to spend the whole thing at some boring lake in Vermont…well, at first Elliot thought it was boring. Elliot and his friends, Jake and Marly soon find themselves tracking a sea monster to get proof he exists!

A little while ago I reviewed the book “Elliot Stone and the Summer Vacation Sea Monster” (see my complete review HERE) and I liked it so much that I asked the author, LP Chase if she would do an interview with me. Ms. Chase said she would and also offered to give away THREE copies of her book to lucky readers of my blog!!

 

NOW ON TO THE INTERVIEW!

Thank you for agreeing to do this interview! I really loved your book, Elliot Stone and the Summer Vacation Sea Monster! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

-

Thank you so much, Erik.  It’s my pleasure! I wouldn’t be where I am today without dedicated fans like you.  First, I want to commend you on your website and book reviews. Not many kids your age would put the time an effort into developing such a wonderful resource for others your age.   Okay, now, let’s see… I’ve been writing since I was in first grade and always wanted to be an author.  But I’m also a social worker and the mother of three great children who help me with ideas and such. I love to bake and cook, I love to run and exercise, and mostly, I love to be kooky. That’s why I love writing children’s books so much – I get to be silly through my characters.  I also have the pleasure of visiting many schools so I can talk to children about reading and writing.  It’s the best job in the world!

That is so cool that you started writing in the first grade! I know a lot of kids who love to write. :) I was surprised to find out that Lake Bomoseen (where Elliot Stone went on vacation) is a real place. Have you ever been there?

Yes. Lake Bomoseen is absolutely a real place in Vermont.  My aunt and uncle used to rent a cabin there when I was little and they would sometimes take my brothers and me.  The lake is beautiful and tranquil and there are so many fun things to do, like kayaking, swimming, boating, water-skiing and tubing.  In fact, I was just there on July 8th doing book signings at the Harbor View General Store (which is Myron’s in the story) and at the golf course.  My favorite part was getting a tour of the island (Neshobe Island), which I have wanted to do for my entire life.  You should check it out some time. It’s a wonderful place!

Lake Bomoseen and Neshobe Island seem like great places to visit! I have been to Vermont but never there I sure would like to go! Seeing how you wrote a book about a sea monster, I wanted to ask you if you are a fan of cryptology (because I am). Are you? How did you come up with the idea of Bo the Sea Monster?

I have always been intrigued by stories of the Loch Ness Monster. I always watch documentaries on the topic when I get the chance, and thought it would be fun to set a story on Lake Bomoseen and incorporate a sea monster theme.  My husband actually helped me come up with the idea (particularly the part with Soggy Joe), but, I don’t want to give away the story by telling too much.

 I really liked Elliot as a main character. He was someone I would like to be friends with. How do you come up with your characters?

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I come up with my character names based on people I have met, or characters on television shows and switch them up a bit.  Then, as I write, their personalities begin to develop and they take on a life of their own.  Many of Elliot’s characteristics are borrowed from my son, Stephen, and I see a LOT of myself in the goofy Jake character.  While I was writing the ending of the book in Vermont, I almost felt like I would see Elliot and Jake running around. It’s so amazing to watch characters come to life.

Thank you very much Ms. Chase! I really enjoyed learning about you and how you came up with your ideas for your book and characters!

-

What was your favorite summer vacation place?

To learn more about Elliot Stone and the Summer Vacation Sea Monster please visit Blue Marlin Publications HERE.

You can learn more about LP Chase and her other books at her website HERE!

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

All you have to do is comment and you are entered to win a copy! Three people will be chosen by random drawing on August 15th to receive the book! The contest ends on August 14th.

NOW HOW MANY BOOKS DID I READ?!?

In my Monday’s post I challenged you to guess how many books I read on my summer vacation. I brought 12 books with me…

and I read EIGHT! I read “The Wednesday Wars,” “Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians,” “Wonder” (which is a TOTALLY awesome book you have to read), “The End of Infinity” (check out my review of this book tomorrow!),  ”My Side of the Mountain,” “The Phantom Tollbooth,”  “The City of Ember” and “XOR The Shape of Darkness” (review coming soon)!

Lynn Davidson was the only person to guess eight :D I am sending you a cyber celebration Ms. Davidson!

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The Pet Washer by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez

6 Jul

The Pet Washer
By Jennifer Lynn Alvarez
202 pages – ages 9+
Published by Dreamcatcher Books on December 2, 2011

Cianna was a pet washer at the Pet Palace and Day Spa on Windym, an island where all the Royal families vacationed during the Spring. She was the best pet washer on the island, even though she was born blind. Cianna was super busy at work because all the princesses and princes wanted their pets to look their best while they were on vacation. One day, Princess Polly, who was vacationing with her family on Windym, saw Cianna and realized she was a perfect replacement for a sick princess in a dance she and the other princesses were planning. Cianna wasn’t sure she would fit in with all the other Princesses or be able to dance well. After a sleep-over at Polly’s family’s castle and a recital with the princesses, Cianna goes to her work and has a terrible thing happen to her, she gets suspended from work after someone switched hair remover for pet shampoo! Now, she can practice for the dance all she wants but she knows her work and the pets needs her.

This is the kind of book I wouldn’t normally pick up (princesses, pet spas – not really my favorite topics), but I read the description of it on Sue Morris’ blog – Kid Lit Reviews and she recommended it. Well, I really enjoyed this book! I really cared about what happened to Cianna. I loved Cianna’s ”never-give-up” attitude. Ms. Alvarez described the setting of Windym really well, I really felt like I was there and could see everything that was happening! I also really like the cover art. I know my description of the plot of the book makes it sound like a total “girl” book, but I think it is really a great book about friendship, opening your heart and eyes to other people and accepting yourself for who you are. I think boys would like the book too! I recommend it to kids 9+ and young advanced readers.

I give “The Pet Washer” 5 out of 5 book worms!

You can learn more about Ms. Alvarez and the Pet Washer Series HERE!

This is the redesigned cover for the book :D

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Quote of the week – C.S. Lewis

4 Mar

This week’s quote was sent to me by Cindy Pierce A.K.A. cookiejarprincess. To visit Ms. Pierce’s blog Bookworms Read More Books, click HERE.

I really like the quote! The quote is from C.S. Lewis, the author of the fantastic Narnia series!!!

“No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.”

― C.S. Lewis

To learn more about Mr. Lewis and his awesome books, please visit his official website HERE or the C.S. Lewis Foundation HERE.

To visit Ms. Pierce’s blog Bookworms Read More Books, click HERE.

If you have a great quote about books or reading for my quote of the week please email it to me at Erik@thiskidreviewsbooks.com !

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