2 stars I went into this without realizing it has a Christian focus. That’s my bad for just looking at the title and cover, and not going any further before checking it out from the library. Note: I am not a Christian so this will be a biased review. Good for what it is: a…
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5 stars A touching story with exceptional artwork. Follow Finn as he builds a boat and sets out to find the place of his grandfather’s stories. Taking the trip they’d always talked about going on together, Finn sees fantastic sights, travels to remarkable places, and deals with the loss of his grandfather. The Fan Brothers…
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4 stars Another adorable adventure featuring Auggie, Fen, and Willa. In this one, the gang saves a town from a band of Tattle-Tails… and vice versa. I loved the message of helping others, even after they’ve caused trouble. Auggie promises to take care of all creatures, even those “hard-to-love” and he does just that. The…
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2 stars What the first book lacked in originality, this one certainly makes up for. I’ve never read anything even close to this. However, for me, this one felt pretty random. It tries to throw too many elements together (amusement parks, androids, aliens). Much more sci-fi than the first book but seemed to portray itself…
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3 stars I’ve seen musical and film adaptations of the story, each choosing different details to include. But I never knew all the intense drama of the original. Despite my reservations, I was pulled in by the extensive details of the characters I only knew a simple version of (Esmeralda’s marriage, Phoebus’ womanizing antics, and…
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3 stars A spooky tale for young horror fans. The story follows the Finn family. Having recently lost their mother, Liam and Kelly aren’t thrilled about moving to Upstate New York. Then odd things start happening around their new home and they quickly learn its more than just a fixer upper. Some great lines and…
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5 stars It feels slightly odd reviewing this audiobook as it isn’t quite a traditional audiobook. Prelutsky’s poems are set to music complete with a banjo, mandolin, saw, percussion, fiddle, slide trumpet, guitar, bass, keyboard, and kazoo. This makes the it feel more like a music CD than a book, but provides a wonderful listening…
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4 stars A fast-paced story that pulls the reader into a magical world of fascinating creatures. Auggie lives on an island and uses his talent to care for the wonderful animals who roam there. Though helped by Fen, Miss Bundt, and the unseen Professor Cake, what Auggie really wants is a friend. The artwork pairs…
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4 stars Weird and wonderful. Exactly what I’ve come to expect from Tan. As always, he creates a fascinating world, filled with mystery and wonder. Through mistakes, fights, and reconciliation, follow two boys through their adventures. Each page has its own story, depicting an event in one remarkable summer. From parades and parties to undercover…
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4 stars A hilarious collection of poems that taps into the whimsey, humor, imagination, and oddity of childhood. Great for those who enjoy Shel Silverstein or as an introduction to poetry. These poems are wonderful to read aloud and are paired with fun drawings from James Stevenson that really bring them to life. Throughout the silliness, there are also…
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