The Umbrella by Sylvia Walker

Today's read caught my attention not only because Spring's rains have been keeping things moist in our area, but it's marketed as a tale similar to The Mitten. This was one of my favorite stories while growing up and also one of the only books my parents had on their shelves for us kids. We read quite a bit, thanks to the weekly Saturday visits to the local libraries, so they didn't buy but a few reads over the years. Anyway, I could easily see the theme from The Mitten working under the idea of an umbrella and am excited to see how the author handles it.

THE UMBRELLA 

by Sylvia Walker

Denene Miller Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING JUNE 9th!!!

Getting caught in the rain at the park leads a little girl to discover a remarkable umbrella and, with it, the magic of friendship and community in this charming picture book inspired by Jan Brett’s classic The Mitten.

Zora’s fun day in the park is interrupted by a sudden rain shower, and she finds just the thing she needs to stay an umbrella big enough for one. When another child on the playground asks if he can join her, and then another and another still, Zora makes room for them all—and the umbrella does too!

But suddenly, a gust of wind blows the umbrella away, and Zora and her new friends must work together to find it, a search that helps them discover the true value of friendship and collaboration.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Sharing mixes with a big heart to create a touching read.

Zora is having a great time playing at the park, but a sudden rain shower has her looking for cover. Luckily, an umbrella is underneath the park bench. Zora immediately opens it up, glad for protection for the rain and realizes that others around her are searching for cover, too. Since the umbrella is easily large enough for more than just her, she invites everyone in.

This is a simple and, yet, potent read, which leaves all sorts of warm feelings inside. The setting is one that most young listeners can identify with, starting off the read with good vibes. These increase with each turn of the page as Zora's invitation stretches to everyone around her, friend or stranger. The strong sense of community, helping others, and working together come across loud and clear without even a dusting of preachiness or intentional messaging. It's simply a lovely tale to put a smile on the face and inspire to help out when one can.

The bright and cheerful illustrations invite in while bringing across the scenes with an every day atmosphere. Even the rain doesn't press down long thanks to the obvious warmth shown. The text is kept short and plays with the illustrations to add atmosphere while still working as a read-aloud. The words flow smoothly and make each moment clear without explaining exactly what is happening, so that the illustrations work to carry the story, too. This makes it also ideal for young listeners to pick up on their own and follow the story through the scenes.

It's a warming read, which is sure to get the word 'again'.

And here she is...

Sylvia Walker, a southern California native, brings a natural affinity to the artistic painting of diverse images, especially children. She expresses herself in a variety of media, including watercolor, pencil, ink, acrylic on canvas and wood, and recently digital images. After earning a BFA at California Institute of the Arts, she began a career in fashion illustration for department stores, fashion houses, and the Simplicity and McCall’s pattern companies. Sylvia has years of experience illustrating children’s books. The Umbrella is her author-illustrator debut. Sylvia lives in Bellevue, Tennessee.

Happy Book Birthday, Arty Too by Penny Schneider!

I'm celebrating another book birthday today...yay! This one, actually, hit the shelves earlier this week, and I just managed to squeeze it in by shifting things around a bit. It's the second book in a series, and I did read the first one (amazing, right?). You can find that review HERE. It's a graphic novel for those readers out there, who are pretty sure of their words but need a little more practice...and if it's anything like the first one, it is very entertaining. 

Let's see what this pair of friends is up to this time.

ARTY TOO

 by Penny Schneider

Monarch Educational Services LLC

Children's Fiction  /   Graphic Novel

136 pages

ages 5 to 12

Tune in for a celebration of friendship with Arty and Slug where more laughs are shared, a map is followed, secrets are revealed, music is made, and magical dreams come true. When a new friend steps into the story, Arty learns that the biggest surprise might not be on the map at all.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Arty and Slug swim into an unexpected adventure, which packs more friendship, surprises, and some music, too.

Arty and Slug are playing a round of hide-and-seek, but Slug ends up in an odd situation. After finding Slug, Arty notices a hermit crab hiding near by, and the two try to coax it out. This leads to a map, a dive into Arty's past, possible friendships, and an unexpected trip with tons of fun.

This is a high-spirited graphic novel with characters to enjoy. Arty and Slug's friendship is inspiring, and their openness to new situations is contagious. They swim through unexpected situations with finesse and a dab of humor to keep the atmosphere cheerful and light. There's just enough depth to make them likeable, and readers will wish they could dive in and join them. It's a quick-paced read with quite a bit of heart and surprises. Everything is very fitting to the intended age group and hits upon themes, which readers can identify with. 

The illustrations are lively and let the personalities shine, while making the situations clear. The text is kept short and works with the images to bring across the scenes with emotion. Even reluctant readers are sure to enjoy the tale and can strengthen their reading and word skills along the way. Every now and then, the reader is asked to join in on the fun and draw something which connects with the tale. This interactive aspect adds a nice touch and gently feeds in a little food for thought. There is also goodness at the end surrounding a few sea creature facts, some simple sign language, and more to make this a read to enjoy in many ways. Still, it's the golden friendship of these two characters, which really makes this book shine.

It's a lovely addition to the series, and I can't wait to see where these two are headed next.

Really Rubie by Maddie Frost

I'm going to stick to middle grade reads for one more day and am excited to pick today's read up. It's giving me Wimpy Kid vibes on the cover, and I'm hoping it holds more than just a little humor and cute sketches or doodles. I'm hoping it doesn't get overly message drive, but then, I don't think it will.  A little drama... a little fun... a few smiles and giggles...

Let's see if it holds all of these things, shall we?

REALLY RUBIE

by Maddie Frost

Aladdin

Middle Grade Humor

240 Pages

Ages 8 to 12

COMING JUNE 2nd!!!

Fans of Dork Diaries will love this hilarious new diary-style series featuring black and white illustrations. In this first book, Rubie has to face sleepaway camp without her BFF!

Hello, summer! Eleven-year-old Rubie Fox can’t wait to go to sleepaway camp for the very first time. She and her best friend Riley Swisher will go away for an entire month TOGETHER, and they’ll even be able to spy on Riley’s crush Owen, who will be across from Camp Pineview, over at the boys’ camp, Moose-Ridge.

But when Riley drops a bomb—she can’t go to camp because she broke her ankle—Rubie has to go by herself. Which sort of makes her feel RAGE…how can she go to camp without Riley?! But her mom has already paid for it, so she’s stuck with her plushie chicken Jim the Duck and a cabin full of girls she doesn’t know.

But Rubie just might another BFF, break out of her shell, and even meet a boy…all without Riley. Camp might be more eventful than Rubie ever thought it could be—will she sink or will she swim?

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Summer camp and friendship take unexpected twists with a girl, who tries her best to have fun and stay true to her friends.

Rubie is off to summer camp and can't wait to spend time with her best friend doing all sorts of things...that is, until her best friend brakes her ankle and can no longer go along. Although Rubie doesn't want to go to camp anymore, either, she has no choice because it's already been paid for. Instead, she makes a pact with her bf, agreeing to only do certain things with her and not with anyone else during those weeks. At camp, Rubie feels a bit lost and has a hard time meshing with the other campers, even though one of them is her bf's cousin. When Rubie finally finds someone she clicks with, things take a fun turn, but now Rubie is facing even more problems.

This read reminds of Wimpy Kid with its notebook-like formatting and many doodles and sketches. This creates a very relaxed atmosphere, which fits wonderfully to Rubie's scattered personality. Especially in the first pages, her thoughts are a bit all-over-the-place which makes her endearing and full of energy. While this light-hearted peppiness continues throughout the read, the author stuffs all sorts of familiar, middle school drama in between. This not only surrounds Rubie's golden friendship with her best friend, who has to stay at home and is, obviously, disappointed and jealous to an extent, but also the problems involved in meeting new friends. The bullying aspect doesn't hit, which I was happy to see, but it's still difficult to find a person to completely connect with...and even then, there are misunderstandings. Rubie also deals with first crushes and heart breaks, and discovers something new about herself. So, there's quite a bit of goodness for school/life drama fans.

This is a fun read, which keeps humor high while weaving in messages for the middle grade audience, which they can identify with. It's an easy read, keeps the pacing up pretty well, and creates more than a few smiles on the face thanks to Rubie's vibrant personality. It will be interesting to see what she'll be up to next.

And here she is...

Maddie Frost is an award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator. She has been praised as a “powerhouse creator,” making over a dozen books for kids. You might recognize some of her books like the WOMBATS! series, Cats on Cats on Cats, and Little Boo. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and daughter. Really Rubie is her first middle grade novel. For more about Maddie, visit her website at Maddie-Frost.com. Or on Instagram @HelloMaddieFrost.

Montgomery Bonbon 4: Sabotage at Sea by Alasdair Beckett-King

Today's read is the 4th in a mystery/detective series...and I'm so sad this didn't land on my radar earlier because sounds amazing. I'm expecting some quirky characters, hair-raising situations, clever twists, and situations to make readers smile or keep them on the edge of their seats. After all, to hit book four, this should be a fun read.

Let's tighten down those sails and see what the horizon brings in this read.

SABOTAGE AT SEA,

Montgomery Bonbon #4

by Alasdair Beckett-King

Illustrated by Claire Powell

Candlewick Press

Middle Grade Mystery

288 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING MAY 26th!!!

As the witty murder-mystery series continues, Bonbon returns for a pyrotechnic display aboard ship—until a shocking demise puts a damper on the festivities.

Shenanigans are once again afoot in the town of Widdlington, and this time they're on board the Dreadnowt—a galleon that’s set to host a fireworks display for the town. Bonnie Montgomery and Grampa Banks are on board as guests, but just after sundown, a fog rolls in and a terrible cry is heard over the crash of the waves. Captain Valancourt stumbles out of the mist, dripping wet and covered in red welts the like of which a sea monster would leave behind, and is soon pronounced dead by the doctor on board. The crowd is shocked, and Bonnie's fishy-o-meter is off the charts. While Inspector Sands takes over as captain, Bonnie transforms into Montgomery Bonbon, and it’s not long before she’s laid anchor on her prime suspects. Can Montgomery Bonbon hoist his moustache and figure out which scallywag is responsible for the death of the ancient mariner?

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Mystery balances with humor and a pinch of tension to create a fun read.

Bonnie can't wait to be a VIP with her Grampa on the reconstruction of Dreadnowt, a once renowned pirate ship. Better yet, her mother is in charge of setting off the fireworks on the ship for the other festival members, who are still on land, to enjoy. But something goes terribly wrong. Not only is the captain killed in the mishap, but Bonnie's mother is arrested for his death. The entire thing stinks to the high-seas, and Bonnie is determined to get to the bottom of it.

This is my first look at this series, and I'm sorry I didn't discover it earlier, since it is a fun read with just enough bite to make it interesting. Bonnie is an energetic character, who acts her age but is very clever and observant. Her transformation into the detective, Montgomery Bonbon, with a simple moustache comes across with just enough silliness to create a smile but manages to skim past complete disbelief thanks to the cast of quirky characters. The entire tale rides on a constant wave of humor, which works as a counterbalance to the murder mystery. The author manages to weave the two in such a way, which makes it very appropriate for the intended audience. It's quick-paced, holds plenty of surprises, and carries heart as well.

The illustrations bring each scene to life, while the text keeps the pacing high. The mix of the two make it entertaining the entire way through. The tale fits especially well to the lower and mid-range of the middle grade audience, and even reluctant readers will enjoy the easy-to-read font and quick-paced mystery. Along the way, the author works in a few vocabulary-building moments to help improve reading skills. But this book is all about fun, and Bonnie is just the detective to pull that off. I'm looking forward to visiting the adventures I missed and see what she'll be up against in the future.

And here they are...

Alasdair Beckett-King is a multi-award-winning comedian and writer. He studied at the London Film School, and since then he has performed critically lauded solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, written for BBC radio, appeared on comedy panel shows such as Mock the Week, co-written an award-winning video game and created numerous viral sketches for social media, including an interactive whodunit.

Claire Powell is a best-selling children’s book maker, character designer, and illustrator. She is the author-illustrator of Marty Moose: First Class Mischief, the first book in a series for young readers and her authorial debut. Her collaborations with Beth Lincoln, Kes Gray, and Simon Farnaby all topped the charts. She has also illustrated books for Dermot O’Leary, Jeanne Willis, Peter Bently, and Michelle Robinson. Claire Powell lives in Derbyshire, England.

Happy Book Birthday, Notre-Dame by Lynn Curlee!

It's time to celebrate with another book birthday! Today's read hits the shelves tomorrow (I'm a smidgen early) and covers an architectural gem, which has hit the news over the last years due to a fire and reconstruction. My husband, actually, had the chance to visit the 'rebuild' of it last year and was impressed with what was done. I still remember it before the fire and will, probably, just keep that memory as a treasure and not revisit. I'm a bit old-fashioned with that sort of thing. Anyway, my husband already took a peek at the book, since he was really inspired by his visit to the new cathedral. I, however, haven't looked at it, yet. He absolutely loved it. 

So, let's open it up and find out!

NOTRE-DAME

The World's Cathedral

by Lynn Curlee

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Middle Grade Nonfiction

48 pages

ages 8 to 12

A fascinating visual history of Notre-Dame, “the World’s Cathedral,” that highlights the burning and reconstruction of the cherished building from award-winning author-illustrator Lynn Curlee.

On April 15, 2019, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris was almost destroyed by fire, an event that shocked and riveted the entire world as it played out in real time on TV and across the internet.

The story of the fire and its aftermath, along with the rebuilding of the historic cathedral, offers an exciting narrative around which Lynn Curlee builds an illustrated story for middle grade readers about this internationally cherished monument.

In the way that only he can, Lynn illuminates captivating information about cathedrals, gothic architecture, French history, restoration of old buildings, heroism under fire, and even Quasimodo, the famous Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

GOODREADS      /      PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Well-rounded, information richness combines with a story-like atmosphere and lovely illustrations to open up the door on the history of the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

After a foreword, this book immediately dives into the fire, which almost destroyed the Notre-Dame before turning to the history of the cathedral, interesting events, facts, and then, the reconstruction. The author brings the information across in a smooth, narrative style, which makes sure to hit the highlights in an interesting way. It's not only about dates and facts but includes the emotional and human aspects to keep the reader connected to the material. Plus, it goes into needed depth to add reasoning and understanding, and this also guarantees that even Notre-Dame gurus will come out knowing more than before. At the very end, there's a quick rundown of information (height and more) for a compact overview of those numbers and such.

The illustrations are well done and make the details clear while adding atmosphere. These work well with the text to create a balanced read. The text itself is on the heavier end and works best with the mid and upper end of the age range. I'd even suggest this one to older readers...all the way through adults (a lighter read for them, but still interesting). This would work nicely in classrooms, for themes surrounding the Notre-Dame, or for homeschoolers. It, of course, is a gem for anyone who enjoys learning more about the Notre-Dame as well. 

It was also soulful to read the editor's note at the end, which explains how this will, unfortunately, be the last work put out from this author. As someone who has enjoyed several of his books, I am sad to hear of this, wish him the best, and am glad to have run across his works.

And here he is...

Lynn Curlee was educated as an art historian and worked as a fine artist for many years before he began to make children’s books. Three of his books, Capital, Liberty, and Rushmore, were chosen by the Barbara Bush Literacy Campaign as their Book of the Year in three consecutive years. Mr. Curlee has won numerous awards for his work, including but not limited to a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book (Brooklyn Bridge), Orbis Pictus Award (Rushmore), ALA Notable Books for Children (Liberty), and Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year (Parthenon). His other books include Ballpark, Trains, Mythological Creatures, and Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. He lives in Norwich, Connecticut, with his partner and two Great Danes. Find out more on Instagram @LynnCurlee.