Bookworm for Kids

Monday, November 4, 2019

Review: Ned the Nuclear Submarine by Demetri Capetanopoulos

NED THE NUCLEAR SUBMARINE

by Demetri Capetanopoulos

Proving Press

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 4 to 10

Ned the Nuclear Submarine is a story about overcoming fears, both real and imagined, to enable discovery and growth. Seldom featured in a children's book, the fascinating world of a submarine is introduced in a way that is both realistic and yet accessible, drawing upon my personal experiences as a U.S. Navy Submarine Officer. We journey with Ned on an epic voyage around the world that unfurls in rhyme, with true-to-life images and events taken from history.

MY TIDBITS

Learning to conquer fear sails along with fun moments, an exciting adventure and tons to learn as well as a little history. It's a great mix and includes a theme not often seen.

Lovingly illustrated with colored pencils, this book packs more than expected. First, there's the story about Ned. He's fun to root for as he heads out his first time into the huge ocean and discovers things he's never seen before. This entire big adventure scares him a bit too. Young listeners and readers will have no problem connecting with him as he explores the world and discovers animals and so much more. The fun tale alone makes it a great read...especially since there's enough fun sprinkled in that readers are sure to smile (and even giggle) every now and then.

There are several great messages in this book, which young readers can never hear enough about. Everyone is nervous about doing something new at one time or another, and this story hits upon this fear in an inspiring way. It also shows how exciting new things can be.

The writing in the book is done in a beautiful, more free-style poetic form. This was fun to read, and although sometimes unexpected in flow, works nicely. The words are clearly written—a plus when using it as a read-aloud. While some of the concepts might be a bit high for the younger end of the age group, older ones are sure to learn something too. The illustrations not only add to the story, but also help out on the technical end. These are well done, and it's clear the author not only knows what he's talking about but does it from the heart. As an added bonus, there are real photos of submarines at the back of the book as well as short glimpses into the historical events the book weaves around.

This is a lovely mix which takes fiction, fun and brings in history and the workings of nuclear submarines too. For the right reader, it's a great read.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Review: Why? by Adam Rex

WHY?

by Adam Rex

Illustrated by Claire Keane

Chronicle Books

Picture Book

60 pages

ages 3 to 5

A sweet and appealing tale for anyone familiar with the universal tendency of young children to always ask WHY? When supervillain Doctor X-Ray swoops in threatening to vanquish an innocent crowd, the only one brave enough not to run away is a little girl, who asks him simply, "Why?" He is taken aback—but he answers. She keeps asking. And he keeps answering—until a surprising truth is uncovered, and the villain is thwarted.

• A laugh-out-loud take on the small-and-determined-beats-big-loud-bully story, simple questions lead to profound answers in a quest that proves the ultimate power of curiosity
• Monochromatic illustrations with pops of color fill the pages and bring a uniquely captivating element to the storyline
• Adam Rex is an illustrator and author of books such as Nothing Rhymes with Orangeand Chu's Day. He lives in Tucson, Arizona
• Claire Keane is the illustrator of Love Is and is known for her development art for the movies Tangled and Frozen. She lives in Venice Beach, California

Fans of Nothing Rhymes with Orange, Love Is, and Grown-Ups Never Do That will also enjoy the relatable and heartwarming tale found in Why?

• Great family and classroom read-aloud book
• Books for kids ages 3-5
• Books for preschool and kindergarten students

MY TIDBITS

With a simple question and tons of visual action, what appears to be a humorous dialogue exposes deep meaning and clever thought.

A dangers, destructive super villain swoops into the mall and destroys everything in his path. The only thing which brings him to a halt is the question of one little girl: why? And the villain answers as honestly as he can, but each answer brings another 'why'. While the world rushes around, the little girl brings the villain deeper and deeper into an unexpected explanation of what his true goals are. The results are surprising.

This is a clever read, which takes a little humor and twists it into a deep psychological meaning. It's cute, especially the little girl and her endless question. And it's interesting that the villain takes the time to answer her each time, allowing himself to discover things he doesn't even realize himself. The reasoning is pretty understandable, although I think the slightly older end will first be able to start really grasping what's going on. Still, it's fun and leaves food for thought.

The illustrations are full of life and energy. The power of the villain is clear and yet, subtle enough to stay behind the meaning of the text. Still, the illustrations offer so much to look at and discover. It's fun to simply flip through them and explore the details. There's something new to find every time.

It's a funny read with so much depth, which is sure to grab the interest of not only young listeners but the older readers as well.

And here they are...

The Author...
Adam Rex is an illustrator and author of books such as Nothing Rhymes with Orange and Chu's Day. He lives in tucson Arizona.

The Illustrator...

Claire Keane is the illustrator of Love Is and is known for her development art for the movies Tangled and Frozen. She lives in Venice Beach, California.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Review: Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

LOOK BOTH WAYS

by Jason Reynolds

Caitlyn Dlouhy Books

Tween Contemporary

ages 10 - 14

208 pages

From National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a novel told in ten blocks, showing all they different directions a walk home can take.

This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. They were all too busy—

Talking about boogers.
Stealing pocket change.
Skateboarding.
Wiping out.
Braving up.
Executing complicated handshakes.
Planning an escape.
Making jokes.
Lotioning up.
Finding comfort.
But mostly, too busy walking home.

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life.

MY TIDBITS

I've read a few books from Jason Reynolds and have long become a fan...although his writing doesn't even fall into my usually favorite genre. And that says a lot. Every character and every situation leaves a lasting impression, one that touches the heart and means plenty of food for thought.

When school is over, kids are freed from the classroom and halls, but this means different things for different kids. Some are afraid of dogs, others of sick parents, and others need to find tricks to get by. Each tale is somewhat interlinked in so far that some of the characters are mentioned or appear in more than one situation, but each one tells a very individual story. Everyone faces life from a different angle with different challenges and hopes. This collection makes that clear.

There aren't many writers who can start a tale with a booger, change it into a philosophical debate between kids, and have the entire thing roll beside a very sobering sickness. Every day banter mixes with candor and harshness, while still holding the right amount of humor to make it almost sweet. The kids in these stories come across naturally and honestly. Their views on life are humorous even when they face situations which hit quite the opposite. It's fun to read and yet, forces the reader to think. This isn't only a book for tweens but for slightly older readers as well.

And here he is...

Jason Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author, a Newberry Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, National Book Award Honoree, a Kirkus Award winner, a two-time Walter Dan Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image AWard Winner, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors, The America Booksellers Association's 2017 and 2018 spokesperson for Indies First, his many books include When I Was the Greatest, Boy in the Black Suit, All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely), As Brave as You, For Every One, the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu), and Long Way Down, which received both a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com

Friday, November 1, 2019

Review: The Rabbit and the Motorbike by Kate Hoefler

RABBIT AND THE MOTORBIKE

by Kate Hoefler

Illustrated by Sarah Jacoby

Chronicle Books

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

A timeless fable of the journey from grief to acceptance that will touch every reader: Rabbit isn't sure he'll ever be brave enough to go on an adventure. He's a homebody who lives in a quiet field of wheat he dreams of leaving every night. His world is enlarged by his friend Dog and Dog's tales of motorbike adventures. But one day, Dog is gone, and with him, go the stories Rabbit loves so much. Dare Rabbit pick up the motorbike and live his own story?

• A touching tale for those confronting loss and those who are eager to explore and experience the world around them
• Rabbit's bravery in the face of sadness will console, nurture, and inspire young readers
• Author Sarah Jacoby grew up wandering the woods outside of Philadelphia. She now draws for many people and places, including the New York Times, and she is the author and illustrator of Forever or a Day
• Illustrator Kate Hoefler received her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan, where she studied as a Colby Fellow. She is the author of Real Cowboys and Great Big Things

Fans of Hungry Jim and Most of the Better Natural Thing in the World will enjoy the touching and meaningful storyline in Rabbit and the Motorbike.

• Great read-aloud book for families/children experiencing loss or heartbreak
• Books for kids ages 3–5
• Children's books for kindergarten–third grade

MY TIDBITS

Bitter-sweet longing mixed with hope glide together in this gentle tale about loss and reaching beyond comfort zones to ride with dreams.

Rabbit has never left his field, and he likes it there. Sometimes he feels alone. Quite alone. But dog comes by every day to tell him his tales about him and his adventures on his motorbike. Rabbit loves listening to these tales until, one day, they end. Instead, Rabbit is left with a motorbike and a wish he could hear the stories again.

This is one of those reads which pulls at the heart and offers dreams wing to fly. Rabbit is a careful bunny, and it's easy to like him. He's kind but feels a little captured. Young listeners can identify with him easily—everyone has things they would like to do but feel uncomfortable about really stepping up and doing it. So, when Rabbit dares to try, smiles will break out and it's hard not to feel happy right with him.

The loss of a loved one is another theme in this book. While it isn't clearly stated what happens to Dog, most young listeners will understand (others might ask, so be prepared for that). While their is a sense of sadness, the tale hits more on the empty spot Dog leaves behind and the constant reminder (and positive temptation) of the motorbike. It is a lovely way to help explore the feelings such a loss bring, but this tale is about more. It's about memories, living and repeating the entire cycle again.

And here they are...

The Illustrator...
Sara Jacoby grew up wandering the woods outside of Philadelphia. She now draws for many people and places, including the New York Times, and she is the Author and Illustrator of Forever or a Day. She lives in Philadelphia now.

The Author...

Kate Hoefler received her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan, where she studied as a Colby Fellow. She is the author of Real Cowboys and Great Big Things. She lives in a quiet village in Ohio where she can hear the distant sounds of the highway.

Happy Book Birthday, When Wishes Bleed by Casey L Bond

When Wishes Bleed

by Casey L. Bond

YA Fantasy

Edited by Stacy Sanford/ The Girl with the Red Pen

Cover Designer: Melissa Stevens/ The Illustrated Author Design Services

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

One Prince. One Witch. One Fate.

The upheaval in my life began the moment a prince stumbled into my house and asked me to read his fortune. Any other night, I might have made an excuse to get him to leave, but this was no normal visit. My fingers prickled to touch him. So, I granted his request by handing him a single wishbone. When he snapped it, the wish … bled.

Hearing me suck in a shocked breath, he asked what it meant. Such an ominous omen could only mean one thing: his death was imminent. Fate revealed that he wouldn’t die of natural causes. Someone wanted him dead. Stunned by the revelation, the man I now knew as Prince Tauren disappeared into a night I feared he wouldn’t survive. The following day, I received an invitation to the castle. While it seemed the prince believed I could intervene and uncover who was plotting his death, his motives didn’t stop there. I was being summoned to join twelve other women in vying for the opportunity to be his wife and future queen.

Going could mean jeopardizing my plans to reclaim my heritage and resurrect the House of Fate. But staying would guarantee Tauren’s death, and the blood of his wish would be on my hands.

NOW LIVE ON ALL MAJOR RETAILERS

Casey Bond lives in West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters. She likes goats and yoga, but hasn't tried goat yoga because the family goat is so big he might break her back. Seriously, he's the size of a pony. Her favorite books are the ones that contain magical worlds and flawed characters she would want to hang out with. Most days of the week, she writes young adult fantasy books, letting her imaginary friends spill onto the blank page.

Casey is the award-winning author of When Wishes Bleed, the Frenzy series, and fairy tale retellings such as Riches to Rags, Savage Beauty, Unlocked and Brutal Curse. Learn more about her work at www.authorcaseybond.com.

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