I'm posting this video thanks to a hot tip from loyal reader Eduardo. It shows Darko Milicic rubbing his nipples with what can best be described as a "sinister look" plastered across his leering face. Creepy.

Eduardo probably put it best when he said, "The expression on his face is priceless. Is the vaguely sexual act being directed to Turkoglou or Dick Bavetta? Does he do this in the locker room showers, with the same serial-killer stare, creeping the shit out of everyone? Was he simply readjusting nipple rings? We may never know."

Stars: ****

I recieved this book for review from Annick Press.

Shoe Shakes is a picture book for ages 4-5 although my 2 year old enjoyed hearing me read it. Instead of being one story it's a bunch of poems, both short and long. In this book, each one has to do with shoes or feet or walking.

It's a really cute book and really cute poems. I also own one of her other books, Nothing Beats a Pizza which is cute too but Shoe Shakes is much better, especially for preschoolers.

Stars: **** I received this book for review from Annick Press.

This is a non-fiction book about animal babies for ages 7-10. It would be interesting for ages 5 and 6 if you read it to them. Each double page spread is a different animal baby. There is a colour photograph of the animal baby, the name it is called, a sentence or two about the animal baby and some fun facts. There are also illustrations by Mariko Ando Spencer in each section.

Celebration Edition Over 20 Years in Print

Stars: *****

I received this book for review from Annick Press.

I've read a LOT of potty books lately as I'm trying to train my 2 year old but this one is different (in a good way.) Instead of showing how a child goes potty, it shows what would happen if different animals tried to use the toilet. For example, an elephant would crush it to pieces, a lion would think it was it's throne and a seal would slip right off the seat.

This new edition has new illustrations and a few new creatures added. The back says: "Guaranteed to bring on giggles, Toilet Tales is the perfect companion for both the toilet-ready toddler and kids who have passed this stage." I have to agree with that. Kids in the (anal stage ??) would love this book since they are so focused on toilet habits. My daughter loves it.

Stars: **1/2

Willie’s Dad is a picture book for children who have parents in Prison. Willie is a five year old boy whose father has been in prison almost his whole life and who will be there until he’s a grown man. Willie and his Mother don’t visit his Father very often and when they do, they go with Duane, who is growing attached to Willie’s mom. His father makes a selfless decision and tells Duane to go ahead and marry the mother because Willie needs a dad and he’s a good man.

The story is pretty good and it’s nice to see a book for children on a subject not often seen. Unfortunately there are quite a few children who have a parent in prison and who could use this book.

Stars: **** I received this book for review from Annick Press. This is a really short but sweet book about two sisters. My two year old girl (who has a 10 month old sister) loves it. It depicts the younger sister doing things like sitting in a box or sleeping on the older sister's bed. It shows the younger sister annoying the older sister as well as the two of them getting along and showing affection. What a cute book!

Stars: *****

I recieved this book for review from Random House.
Wow. Received for review and I’m so glad. This is similar to A Far Cry From Home but mostly the story of one girl instead of many. I have not read Girlbomb which is the author’s story of herself homeless.

I received this book to review along with two giveaway copies. Details on giveaway at end of the review!

Stars: ****

Stars: ****1/2

I watch the cartoon every year and thought it was about time I read the book. I counted this as a R.I.P. II Challenge book. I actually read it a few days before Halloween just forgot to review it till now. Oops.

I enjoyed the book although I enjoyed the cartoon more. There were a few parts that were a little wordy for me, (apparently Bradbury's style.)

It's a great Halloween book for those 12 and up to learn about the history and customs of Halloween. Where trick-or-treating and costumes come from. Very educational.

Stars: ****

I got this book for review from Annick Press. I also read it as part of the Baby Steps challenge.

This book was very interesting. I’m not usually one for Science Fiction type books, especially ones that depict a very high tech future, however this one intrigued me. In this “near-future” advertising has taken on a whole new meaning. Cars have ID so that when you go through a Drive-Thru, a sign overhead can greet you by name. It also automatically debits your account when you make a purchase. Children are outfitted with Safety Sentinel’s which is basically a GPS tracker to keep track of where your children are. There are ads on the back of cars so the car behind it can see them. There are large ads on the sides of buildings. Life-sized dummies just inside stores talk about the stores features and sales. It’s crazy!

Stars: ****

I received this book for review from Annick Press. I also read it for the Planet Earth 2008 Challenge.

“Burn explores the potent and dynamic role of fire over the course of human history, from facilitating communication, as a powerful agent in the natural world, to its use as an instrument of war.”

This book is marketed for young readers ages 10-12 but I wouldn't recommend it for the under 12’s as it talks about death, natural disasters, war, guns and other sensitive issues. In fact the first two paragraphs of the whole book talk about a very sad and upsetting disaster that had ME upset so I’d be careful with sensitive kids.

Stars: ***

I was sent this book to review from Annick Press and chose to read it during the read-a-thon.

I was excited to read it because I like explanations of how math is used in real life. However I was a little dissapointed, the whole idea was great, it wasn’t just non-fiction, it was fiction too as everything was told as a story. However the explanations weren't very simple and I was lost on a few of them and I’m an adult!

Stars: *****
I received a copy of this book to review from Tundra Books back in the Fall but it slipped into the back burner of books to read. Now that I’ve read it, I wish I had read it sooner! I'm counting it towards the Book Around the World challenge too.

Summary: The setting is Sri Lanka, 1980, and it is the season of monsoons, Fourteen-year-old Amrith is submerged in the cheerful, well-to-do lifestyle in which his vibrant Auntie Bundle and kindly Uncle Lucky have raised him. Still, Amrith can’t seem to shake the blurred memories of his life “before,” when his doting mother was still alive. School is out for the summer and Amrith’s holiday plans seem unpromising. Until, like and unexpected monsoon, his cousin arrives from Canada, and his life suddenly becomes storm-tossed. Shakespeare’s Othello, with its powerful them of disastrous jealousy, plays in the backdrop of the drama in which Amrith finds himself immersed.

Stars: **** This book was read for the Jewish Literature Challenge.
Basic storyline is a child who has a well-loved blue blankie. It gets so worn out that the mom says it has to go but Grandpa makes it into a coat. Then it wears out and mom says it has to go and Grandpa saves it once again by making it into a vest. This continues all the way to a button. Although I’ve seen this idea before (can't find the name of the book. This one was read and I think a bathrobe first,) this one is nicely written with beautiful illustrations. Also if you look closely, at the bottom of the page mice are shown in the space below the house and they are using the scraps cut off the blankie/coat/vest etc… to make their own clothes. By the end of the book. All the mice are clothed in blue.

Stars: ***1/2

I received this book for review from Annick Press. I am counting it towards the Great Canadian Book Challenge.

Summary: "Every kid is good at something. But imagine doing it so well that grown-ups flock to see you in action. Meet nine prodigies who were born with extraordinary gifts - and worked like demons at their passions. Phillis Wheatley, a black slave in colonial Boston, was 14 when her first poem was published. Stevie Wonder wowed audiences with his harmonica solos at the age of 12. And future film star Buster Keaton was hurtling through the air in a family stage act when he was only three. But the life of a wonder kid is not necessarily an easy one. Find out about how they were discovered, the struggles that shaped their lives and how their dazzling talents stunned the world.”

Stars: ***

I received this book from Tundra Books for review and read it during the Read-a-thon.

First Times is a collection of stories about “first times” but not the usual ones you read about, with a few exceptions. First time falling for pervert’s trick, first crime, first time seeing a dead body etc.. Not for young children that’s for sure. I’d say 13 and up at least.

Stars: *****

I chose this book because I picked it up at a library sale but I’m 95% sure I’ve actually read this once before. This is also the first 5 Star book of 2008. (Even thought it's not the first 5-star review posted.) I also read this for the Casual Reading Challenge.

It’s the story of Lauren and her friend Andrea who both feel too fat and want to lose weight. Only Andrea takes it too far. It’s the story of Anorexia and a teen girl’s pressure to be thin. It’s told very well and I think it would be the perfect book to read along with your teen and discuss. I think if more parents discussed this book with their teens, we might make teens more aware of anorexia and the warning signs.
I HIGHLY recommend this book to all teen girls ages 12 and up.

Stars: ****

I received this book for review from Annick Press.

Summary: When Gus’s mom asks what he did at school today, he gives his usual reply: “Nothing.” But his soaking shoes and socks indicate otherwise. Mom pushes for details, so Gus begins a remarkable tale of a school gone wet.

This is a really cute story. Gus tells a whopper of a story as to why he's wet when he comes home. Very creative storytelling. After reading this with your child, you could have them come up with stories explaining how something happened and have them be as creative and wild as possible. You could always write it down for them.

I could see the author making more books like this with just a different explanation for something simple. *hint hint*

Stars: ****

I was sent this book to review by Annick Press.

It is a short children’s non-fiction book about the songs that animals sing. I was surprised to find out fruit flies, damselfish, mice and moths “sing” The book is divided into the ways music/song is used in animal kingdom such as recognition of family, attracting a mate, scaring away predators etc…. Colour photos are a great touch.

Stars: *****

I recieved this book from Annick Press for review. I also read it for the Baby Steps challenge.

Red Rage is a translation of a German book. It is about a teen girl with a violent temper and an unstable home. It is a very good book but very hard to read. It made me angry when she was angry and feel depressed when she was depressed. Don’t read if you are already depressed, definitely not if you are severly depressed. What is says on back of book is totally true: “Filled with raw emotion and unflinching honesty, Red Rage is a vivid portrait of one teen lost in the vortex of her own aggression.”

Welcome, Little Baby by Aliki
Stars: *****
The perfect first book for baby. It’s not a board book (at least the version I read) but it’s perfect for reading to your newborn, before they can even hold and chew on a book. The text is directed at the baby saying things like you are very small and all you want is to sleep and eat. Also how you’ll grow up and learn to walk and talk etc… It’s a breasfeeding friendly book which means it shows a nursing baby, no bottles. It’s also gender neutral. The baby is in yellow clothes and could be a boy or girl.

Stars: ***1/2

This book was read as part of the R.I.P. II challenge. It was an extra book.

I'm glad I got to this book. It was a good book, but I rated it 3 1/2 stars because it wasn't what I would want in a ghost-hunting manual. Most of it was about different kinds of ghosts and lots of case stories. Although I imagine you would need to know about types of ghosts to be a ghost-hunter I do think more information would be needed on actually looking for ghosts. There was a section on making and using some tools to find ghosts but there should have been much more. This book was more of a guide to types of ghosts.

We saw Walk Hard with the family tonight. It was really funny. There was some parts that I had to look away : )
The weeks is going by too quickly. I am almost done with book 52! While some parts of Eat, Pray, Love are interesting it is just as equally boring.

Stars: *****

I received this book for review from Annick Press. Although it’s not by the same author, it’s similar to Cheetah Cubs and Beetle Grubs and Naturally Wild Musicians. This book shows us the past and ancient past of six modern animals: Dragonflies, Crocodiles, Camels, Sloths, Armadillos and Beavers. It covers the first known type of that animal, how it evolved into what it is now and why it may have changed. The book also explains how ancient time is explained (Mesozoic era, Precambrian eon, Pleistocene epoch, cretaceous period etc….

Stars: *****

I received this book for review. It was also read for the Pub in 08 and In Their Shoes challenge.

Stars: ****

This book was read for the Unread Authors Challenge and because I won it in a contest.

I actually read this a few months ago but didn't get a chance to review it.

I really enjoyed this book, the storyline was very well thoughtout and very interesting. My only problem with this book was it was a little long. I like books that cut to the chase and don't have a lot of insignifcant detail (like Ray Bradbury.) I think a few chapters could have been cut from this book and it would still have been fine.

**GIVEAWAY!!! DETAILS AT END OF REVIEW**
Stars: *****

I received this book for review and I also read it for the Four-Legged Friends Challenge.

I’ve read lots of dog training books (although they haven’t been reviewed here) and have tried different training plans as well as none. Although I know what needs to be done, I don’t have the ambition and determination required to properly train my dogs. However their misbehaviour is getting to me so I’m going to start working with them.

Collected by Zora Neale Hurston, Adapted by Joyce Carol Thomas, Illustrated by Ann Tanksley

Stars: ***

This book was read for the Zora Neale Hurston Challenge.

“During her travels in the Gulf States in the 1930’s, Zora Neale Hurston recorded stories told by the people she met, to preserve their rich oral legacy. The Six Fools is one of the stories collected in Every Tongue Got to Confess, her third volume of folklore. It has been masterfully adapted for children by National Book Award winner Joyce Carol Thomas.”