Review: The Demigod Files

The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Nice mid-series add-on...and I wish I had known about it before I finished the series! Interviews were interesting enough and the stories were nice ways to enjoy something of a mini-quest without committing to an entire book.



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Review: Awful Ogre Running Wild

Awful Ogre Running Wild by Jack Prelutsky

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Excellent 'big kid' poetry. Definitely well-suited to my 8 and 9 year old. I loved the ogre bake off and liked many of the other poems, as well. We'll check out the other ogre book soon!



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Review: Veracity

Veracity by Laura Bynum

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I didn't expect this to be so 1984-ish. I didn't like 1984 in it's original form and couldn't finish this copycat version.



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Review: What a Day It Was at School!

What a Day It Was at School! by Jack Prelutsky

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This book had quite a few cute poems in it. Some were amusing and some were a little too true, but most were a hit with my kids. I loved the "I Wish I'd Studied Harder" poem and plan to tape a copy on the basket with our spelling flashcards. Kids' favorite was "I Made a Noise This Morning."



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Review: Where the Sidewalk Ends

Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I love Shel Silverstein's poems as a kid and was thrilled when my 9 year old came home from school and asked me to check "Where the Sidewalk Ends" out for him!

I've had page after page, poem after poem, read to me. He's filled with giggles and I love it. His favorite is Lazy Jane.



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Review: Skipping a Beat

Skipping a Beat by Sarah Pekkanen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Any book that makes me cry through the last chapter gets at least 4 stars. It's just a fact of life. This book made me cry. Not just sniffles, either.

The rest of the book had bad moments blended with the good. Bad childhoods, bad marriage, lots of love but no one that says it. I have a glimpse of how the other half lives and am happy in my middle class world :)



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Review: Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun!

Big Little Felt Universe: Sew It, Stuff It, Squeeze It, Fun! by Jeanette Lim

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Awesome, awesome, awesome. I would have loved to have this book when my kids were younger. For anyone out there that wants their kids to play with natural toys - things that have no plastic, no paint, no batteries and no sounds, this book is brilliant. The items are easy to sew and will give kids make-believe toys they will love. I am thrilled to have a young niece and nephew to sew for!



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Review: One World, One Day

One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I'm spoiled by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio, I think. Amazing pictures and the text to describe them. This was a GoodReads recommendation based on their books and it led me to consider them as similar in style. This is a picture book for children with minimal text and actual photos instead of drawings. I would have loved the book if there was information on where the pictures were taken or the story behind the snapshot. I need more.



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Review: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I wish that GoodReads had an option for "not my style" because that would be my score. I want the record of what I've read and enjoy the recommendations but don't like that I'm reducing the reviews of a book simply because it wasn't what I expected.

This is a foodie cookbook. Think gourmet. Cognac ice cream. Sweet basil and honeyed pine nut ice cream. Olive oil ice cream. I have an ice cream maker and enjoy using it but I prefer family-friendly, kid-approved flavors. Boring but true. If I ever want goat cheese ice cream, I know where to look...but it's not likely to occur in my current lifestyle. The book is gorgeous and appears easy to follow...just not my style and I didn't like it.



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