Stars: ****

I was interested in reading this book ever since I first read a review of it. I’ve seen so many reviews for it since that I can’t remember where I first saw it! I finally was able to fit time in to read it for the Bibliography challenge and Book Around the World challenge and I’m glad I did.

Red Rage by Brigitte Blobel (Translated by Rachel Ward)
The Christmas Revolution by Barbara Cohen
Season of the Witch by Natasha Mostert
Baby Be Mine by Diane Fanning
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Have You Found Her by Janice Erlbaum
Leaving Simplicity by Claire Carmichael
Looking for Juliette by Janet Taylor Lisle
Nim's Island by Wendy Orr
My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen

Total: 11
Fiction: 6
Non-Fiction: 5
Best Book: Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Least Favourite Book: Looking for Juliette by Janet Taylor Lisle

Total Page Numbers: 2400

Stars: ****

This book was read for the Celebrate the Author challenge.

I remember reading one of two books by Beverly Cleary as a child but I didn’t read them as much as other kids. I had never read this one.

It is a really cute story of Socks the cat from a few weeks after he’s born when he’s being sold on throughout the first few years of his life. The story is told by Socks himself, so we get a picture of what cats may think, or at least would think if their brains worked like ours.

Socks is happy with his life until his new family brings home a wriggling bundle wrapped in blankets and soon his life is turned upside down. Socks isn’t the favourite anymore, what’s he to do?

I really enjoyed hearing the story from Socks point of view, very creative. Everything he said seemed believable. It was what I would expect my cat to say. I can see why this is a favourite of children.

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 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: **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 recieved this book from MotherTalk.

I asked to review this book because I’ve been intrigued by life in Muslim countries. I’ve read other books on Muslim culture so I asked to review this one.

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 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.”

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 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.

Art by Heather Collins
Anniversary Edition 20 Years

Stars: *****

I received this book for review from Annick Press.

Toddlers and Preschoolers are by nature interested in the human body. It's all pretty new to them and it's interesting. Bodies are something to be proud of and we shouldn't be teaching them that certain parts of their bodies are something to be ashamed of. Sure we don't want them parading around nude in public but that doesn't mean we should change the subject when they ask what the names of their privates are.

Stars: *****

This book was read for the Reading the Author challenge.

I had major Deja Vu when reading this book. I think I may have read it before but I couldn't remember what happened before it happened so if I did, it was many years ago. This is the first Richard Peck I've ever read and I loved it.

Stars: ****1/2I read this book for the Celebrate the Author challenge and the Reading My Name challenge.

Celebrate the Author Note:
Dr. Seuss is one of my favourite children’s authors so I didn’t want to cheat and just re-read some of his books that I’ve read a million times. So I decided I’d read a few of this books I haven’t read yet as well as a book about his life.

This book is a Children’s Non-Fiction book about he early life of Dr. Seuss, before he was known as that. It explains who he was as a boy and how he came to be an author and artist. The story itself is written like a picture book and ends when he is 22 and his writing life is taking off. After that is an explanation of how he came up with the idea for some of his books as well as information on his life after 22 such as when he was married and how The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham were the result of bets by his publisher.

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 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.

Stars: **** This book was read for the Celebrate the Author challenge.

Celebrate the Author Note:
Dr. Seuss is one of my favourite children’s authors so I didn’t want to cheat and just re-read some of his books that I’ve read a million times. So I decided I’d read a few of this books I haven’t read yet as well as a book about his life.

This book is the second book Dr. Seuss ever wrote. It was published in 1938. It’s one of the longer ones, for ages 6 and up. It’s the story of Bartholomew Cubbins, a poor country boy, who removes his hat for the King only to find another hat in it’s place. Each time he takes a hat off, an identical one magically appears on his head. He is arrested and brought to the King’s Throne Room where many people try to get his hat off, to no avail. Will they ever stop coming?

My rash, excessive and exuberant joining of challenges in the last few weeks has had an unexpected effect: it has spawned a new and fascinating challenge which I now must be a part of. It's the Science Book Challenge, hosted by Bearcastle, who is a newbie to the book challenge world. As part of his company Ars Hermeneutica, besides the previously mentioned Sun Truck project, there is a great area of his website called Book Notes; this challenge wants people to contribute to that area. If you like reading science-related books, of any kind, join up and check out some of the book notes which already exist on his site.

Stars: ***1/2I read this book for the Four-Legged Friends and In Their Shoes challenges.

This book wasn’t exactly what I was imagining it to be. With a title of Dog Years and a genre of memoir, it was obvious it would be about someone’s life with dogs. However it’s more than that. It delves into the author’s life more than the average memoir and in fact, it’s labelled with a biography sticker at my library. The first 4 chapters I found quite dry and hard to follow. The antedotes about the dogs were interesting but he seemed to ramble on about his life and his view of life. From chapter 5 on however it got better. The stories got more interesting and I could tell there was a shift in style so that the story flowed easier.

Jeff has introduced the Science-Book Challenge. Read 3 non-fiction books that related to the theme "Living a Rational Life." They should be science related.

Muses, Madmen and Prophets: Rethinking the history, science and meaning of auditory hallucinations by Daniel B. Smith

A Clone Of Your Own: The Science and Ethics of Cloning by Arlene Judith Klotzko

Quirkology: How We Discover The Big Truths In Small Things by Richard Wiseman

Extra/Alts: (More to come)

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.

*Note: I read this in December for the Searfaring challenge but as it was the only book I got around to reading for it, I didn't bother posting a review. Boy was I shocked and delighted to see they've made a movie about it, and it's in theatres now!

So in light of this, I thought I should review the book.

Stars: ****1/2

Summary: Nim lives on the most beautiful island in the world (its location is a closely guarded secret) with a marine iguana, a sea lion, and her scientist dad, Jack. When he goes off to explore the world of plankton, the child occupies herself with typical Swiss Family Robinson-like chores and keeping her dad's batteries charged so she can check his e-mail on the laptop computer. When his boat becomes disabled, Nim's link to humanity becomes Alex Rover, the author of the novel she's reading, who has e-mailed Jack with some scientific questions.

Stars: ****

The author of The Bare Naked Book and Red is Best has a new book!

Summary: The farm is the perfect place for a little girl's playful - and sometimes surprising - observations of the things found "inside" other things. With questions that encourage preschoolers to chime in, this delightful picture book is an ideal read-aloud.

My daughter likes this book, marketed for ages 2-5. Children of this age love repetition and while the things keep changing, the fact that they are inside something else doesn’t and I think that’s what will attract children to it. Also a question is asked first (Can a tree have a cow in it?) which encourages children to interact and give an answer. My daughter found this fun.

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

Stars: *****
This review is part of a Blog Tour by Multnomah Books. I also read it for the Pub in 08 Challenge.

Summary: When a man turns up dead in a teddy bear costume, Ginger and the other ladies of the Bargain Hunters Network learn a lesson about trusting in God rather than in wealth as they try to solve the crime and clear one of their own

First of all, I gotta say, that when I got the offer to review this book, I had a good laugh. After all, how often is it do hear a book title like this one? There was no way I could say no to this one, I just HAD to know what it was all about. I’m sure glad I did say yes because I relished every moment I was reading this book.

It’s not too often you have such humour mixed in with a murder mystery. I could definitely see the two being mixed in such a way that detracts from the book but Sharon Dunn put them together spectacuarly.

Stars: *****

I read this book for the Bibliography challenge.

I'm glad I found and read this book. Dunning is a great author and I thoroughly enjoyed his writing. Reading about buying and reselling books was very interesting and makes me want to learn more about it so I can make some money finding good deals. There is some really good information on the hobby too, not just a passing mention. The way the book is written, it could almost pass as a memoir. It all sounds so real, I kept having to remind myself it wasn't.

The story was very intriguing. The plot was well thought out. I had trouble stopping reading for the night

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.