Today's read... Chiller Thriller! by Joe McGee

It's IWSG day, and I still haven't caught up with the calendar. Where is time going? Anyway, for those of you who don't know...this is an awesome writers' group, which offers support, encouragement, a place to vent, friends, tips, opportunities, and so much more. Started by the just as amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh, this group meets every 1st Wednesday of the month. 

Special thanks goes to the co-hosts:  C. Lee McKenzie, JQ Rose, Jennifer Lane, and Jacqui Murray!

I just want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and amazing Holiday Season if I don't get around to 'seeing' you before the end of the month!

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To December belong snow-topped mountains and the dreams of pine trees. And let's not forget vampires and yetis. Okay, I've never spared much thought for monstrous creatures during the holiday season, but today's read seems to add that as a fresh twist. Although this one shouldn't be about Christmas...I don't think, anyway...it does promise tons of snowflakes and chilly fun. 

CHILLER THRILLER!

Junior Monster Scouts #7

by Joe McGee

Illustrated by Ethan Long

Aladdin

Chapter Book Fantasy

112 pages

ages 6 to 10

The Junior Monster Scouts befriend a lonely yeti in the hilarious seventh chapter book of the Junior Monster Scouts series!

It’s winter in the Village and a fresh blanket of snow means sledding, caroling, yummy hot cocoa, and fun for everyone. Everyone, that is, but a lonely Yeti named Igloo and cranky Baron Von Grump whose cabin is about to be whisked away by a scary avalanche! Can the Junior Monster Scouts—Franky, Wolfy, and Vampyra—save the day and make a new (and not-so-abominable) friend?

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MY TIDBITS

Friendship takes all sorts of interesting and silly twists with a group, which is everything but average.

A big snow fall means tons of outdoor and wintery fun for the Junior Monster Scouts, and they're planning on using the time well. But nothing goes as smoothly as planned. Not only is the grumpy Barn Von Grump at her complaining best...but then, her house is about to tip off the top of the mountain...but there's an unexpected guest. Alright, the yeti wasn't invited, but that only makes things more interesting.

This is the first book I've read in this series, which means I'm hitting this one pretty late in the game considering its book seven. Luckily, it wasn't too hard to dive in and figure out the characters and their personality traits. The fun starts from the very first page and continues the entire way through in the quirkiest and oddest ways. It's silly, it's a bit strange thanks to the original characters, and it definitely keeps the reader surprised until the end...because it's impossible to see most things coming.

The text is just right for the chapter book audience and great for those who are pretty sure of their words but not quite ready for true middle grade novels. The generous spacing and larger font make for easy reading. There are also illustrations every few pages to help readers visualize the scenes. The artwork does a good job at adding the right humor. The style wasn't my most favorite, but that's a personal taste thing. 

While silliness an humor are packed into every page, there are several encouraging messages, too, which guide in all things friendship (works even for those who aren't monsters). The author does speak to the reader and draws them in, which makes the tale come to life but also broke the flow, sometimes. Again, either a reader enjoys it or doesn't. It's a fun book with an original cast, which delivers a fun and silly tale from beginning to end. 

And here they are...

Joe McGee loves to write about monsters and magic and other strange, curious, and quirky things. He grew up with his nose in a book and his imagination exploring other worlds. He knew when he was ten years old that one day he would grow up to be an author! He has an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and an MFA in writing from Rowan University. Joe teaches at Sierra Nevada University’s low-residency MFA program and English at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College. He is a former Army officer and lives in the mountains of West Virginia with his wife (also a children’s author), Jessica Rinker. 

Ethan Long is the acclaimed author and illustrator of many books for children, among them the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner Up, Tall, and High. He is also the creator of the animated, Emmy Award–nominated series Tasty Time with ZeFronk, which aired on Disney Junior.

Today's read... Kid Christmas: Of the Claus Brothers Toy Shop by David Litchfield

 

KID CHRISTMAS:

OF THE CLAUS BROTHERS TOY SHOP

by David Litchfield

Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Picture Book  /  Holiday

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

This charming tale tells the story of little Nicky Claus, who wanted to make every child happy, if only just for one day.

Nicky Claus works with his three uncles in the Claus Brothers Toy Emporium. Uncle Hanz makes the toys, Uncle Louis checks them and Uncle Levi adds the… what's the scientific term for it? Ah, yes. The magic! For each toy made at the Emporium has a special sparkle that means it will find the child it is perfect for.

One day, Nicky notices a young girl with her face pressed up to the glass. When she disappears, he follows her and finds her living on the streets with lots of other children, none of whom can afford a toy. Nicky vows that for one night only, every child will have the toy of their dreams and – with the help of his uncles and some flying reindeer – the legend of Father Christmas is born.

This magical and heartwarming story from best-selling author-illustrator David Litchfield is a true festive treat centred on kindness, generosity and looking after each other.

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MY TIDBITS

A breeze of nostalgia and tradition sweeps along with festive meaning in this original tale about Santa Claus.

 

Three uncles run an almost magical toy store, where each toy is made with exceptional love and care. When Nicky, the young nephew who works the front, realizes that a group of orphans aren't able to purchase a toy, he convinces his uncles to make one for each of them as well. Soon, the uncles and Nicky are spreading good cheer, but there are many more children in the world, who never receive a gift. The uncles and Nicky want to help but aren't sure how. 

With traditional, Christmas story flair, this is a tale which inspires and warms the heart. Nicky's desire to spread joy through toys is inspiring, and his uncles' support beams with family togetherness and love. Even when problems arise, they never give up and do the best they can.

The illustrations are done with as much care as the story. The details of the toy store bring smiles, while the scenes with the orphaned children touch the heart. All of this is balanced with a pinch of humor to keep the story light.

The messages spin around family, friendship, empathy, giving, and team work to create a well-rounded read. It's a lovely read to pick up and explore, while waiting under the Christmas tree.

Today's read... Worst Broommate Ever! by Wanda Coven

Today's read is so shiny and glittery! So when looking at the cover, imagine lots of sparkle and shine. That's not the only reason I was happy to get my hands on a copy, though.  This series settles right between beginning chapter book readers and full-fledged middle grade reads. It should offer middle school drama but with magic, too. I'm hoping it doesn't get cliche, since this could be a cute read.

Let's open it up and see if it casts a spell!

WORST BROOMMATE EVER!

Middle School and Other Disasters

by Wanda Coven

Illustrated by Anna Abramskaya

Simon Spotlight

Middle Grade Fantasy

352 pages

ages 6 to 10

Heidi Heckelbeck is going to middle school! Longtime fans of the chapter book series and new fans just meeting Heidi for the first time will love this hilarious first book in the Middle School and Other Disasters series—featuring black-and-white illustrations and doodles throughout!

It’s goodbye, Brewster Elementary and hello, Broomsfield Academy when Heidi starts middle school at the only school in the country that has secret classes for witches in training! Heidi is excited but nervous about living on her own and making new friends (and new crushes)! Her first day takes a turn for the worse when Heidi discovers her roommate is none other than her old rival, Melanie Maplethorpe! Melanie is also less than thrilled, and the two find themselves engaged in an epic prank war. But when magic enters the mix, will the reluctant roommates go too far?

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MY TIDBITS

With a dusting of magic, middle school life hits unexpected roommates, new friends, and a touch of homesickness, too.

Heidi is off to boarding school, which would be awful (she does love her regular middle school) if this wasn't the only school where she can learn more about magic. Plus, she won't have to hide her abilities from everyone anymore, since among the regular usual students, there will be other witches and wizards there, too (duh!). Leaving home does make her anxious, and her nerves shift into high gear when she discovers who her roommate is. Any hopes of having a good year shatter as now she wishes she could find a way to ditch the worst roommate ever.

This is a great book to hit that middle path between those first chapter books and longer reads. At 300+ pages, it looks thick, but the text is written in larger font (sometimes, very large font) with lots of spacing in between to keep the feeling of being bogged down by words far away. There are many illustrations to break it up and bring scenes to life, and these are sprinkled in every few pages (not every page). The chapters are longer from page length as well. So, it soothes nervous readers, while preparing them for larger readers.

Heidi narrates this one almost like a diary entry or speaking with the reader like a best friend. She's open, has understandable thoughts (even when she's not always right), and is genuinely a kind person...but also has her slightly mischievous side. The interactions with her family are wholesome and fun, while the ones with friends and classmates invite in. It's easy to feel part of the group and experience the familiar settings and issues. The problems she faces are pretty straight-forward and fit the age group very well. 

The magical end is like icing on a cake. The story is well-grounded in normal life as are the interactions. The moments of magic are enough to spark the imagination but don't go to the extreme. There is the secret door to the magic school, which adds a nice bit of mystery. There's an original atmosphere to this school, which sets it apart from many magic-academy-reads. For example, the school store is located in what was once a barn. Since the humans aren't supposed to know about the magic, even these aspects are as usual as usual can be. It creates an easy world to connect with and sink into, while adding just the right pinch of fantasy and dreams.

And here they are...

Wanda Coven has always loved magic. When she was little, she used to make secret potions from smooshed shells and acorns. Then she would pretend to transport herself and her friends to enchanted places. Now she visits other worlds through writing. Wanda lives with her husband and son in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have three cats: Hilda, Agnes, and Claw-dia.

Anna Abramskaya was born in Sevastopol, Ukraine. She graduated from Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts in 2006. Then she moved to US where she’s currently living in the beautiful city of Jacksonville, Florida. Anna has loved art since she was little and has tried different materials and techniques. The process of creation and seeing beauty in the simple things around her always brings her joy and the wish to share that feeling with everyone. Anna wants to believe that art can help bring more love into people’s hearts. Find out more at AnnaAbramskaya.com.

Today's read... The Bone Wars by Jane Kurtz

Today's read just hit the shelves a little over a week ago...so almost a book birthday. I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy, since I'm always on the look-out for good, nonfiction reads. And this one appeared to be 'good'....dinosaurs, bones, and that with the promise of a war between fossil hunters. Let's just dive in and see if it might be something young dinosaur fans will enjoy seeing under the Christmas tree

THE BONE WARS

by Jane Kurtz

Illustrated by Alexander Vidal

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book  /   Nonfiction

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

Discover the true story of the race between two paleontologists to find the best dinosaur fossils in this fascinating, fast-paced nonfiction picture book. Who will win the Bone Wars?

Did you know that many of the dinosaur skeletons you see in museums are rooted in a scientific battle between two paleontologists? O. C. Marsh and Edward Cope met in 1863 and bonded over their shared love of fossils, becoming the best of friends…until the day Marsh discovered an error in Cope’s work, and the Bone Wars began!

Marsh and Cope stopped collaborating and started competing, excavating fossils as fast as they could, and trying to find the most important never-before-seen discoveries. They each wanted the biggest, best dinosaur bones. And fast! They used code names and disguises, they snooped and tricked, and did everything possible to keep their finds secret. The race was messy and there were many mistakes along the way, but in the end, Marsh and Cope discovered all kinds of new dinosaur skeletons to share with the world—fossils we still get to see today!

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MY TIDBITS

While dinosaur bones are already interesting, a historic fight between two men over ancient bones grabs even more attention.

O.C. Marsh and Edward Cope were two lead paleontologists around 1860, and they happened to become good friends. Each ones' new discoveries made the other one cheer...until one of them made a mistake while puzzling the latest bones together. What was once friendship turned into a determined race, each one trying to discover more new dinosaurs than the other. But the surprise can be found in who truly won their ruthless competition.

These pages prove that history isn't boring...but of course, dinosaur bones already will win more than a few readers over. Beginning with the warmth of an inspiring and fun friendship, this book launches into the interesting relationship between two men as they hunted for bones, discovered many new locations, and named more than a couple of their finds. While this doesn't go into depth about dinosaur facts or excavation, it does give a general idea about what happened when bones were discovered, what dinosaurs these men found and named (brontosaurus, stegosaurus, etc), and a glimpse at the competition, which surrounded these finds. It also demonstrates how mistakes were made when piecing these bones together.

The author does a great job at keeping the text and story interesting. Readers will have no problem identifying with the frustration when friendships sour, and they will wonder and shake their heads (and even giggle) at the nonsense the two caused as they tried to out-do each other. The ending does bring in a message about these types of fights (very subtly), but more importantly, carries an uplifting surprise.

As if the story itself wasn't well written for the age group (and older readers), the illustrations will have young dinosaur fans gazing at the pages. These aren't done in great detail but are easy to identify. Plus, the couple mistakes made by the men will have dinosaur fans smiling and show that these discoveries weren't always easy. 

And here they are...

Jane Kurtz was born in Portland, Oregon, but when she was two years old, her parents decided to move to Ethiopia, where she spent most of her childhood. Jane speaks about being an author at schools and conferences—in all but eleven of the United States, so far, and such places as Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, France, Germany, Romania, England, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Japan. She helped start Ethiopia Reads (EthiopiaReads.org), a nonprofit that has opened the first libraries for children in Ethiopia. She is the author of many books for children, including What Do They Do with All that Poo? illustrated by Allison Black, Do Kangaroos Wear Seat Belts? illustrated by Jane Manning, Anna Was Here, and the American Girl book Lanie.  

Originally from New Mexico, Alexander Vidal studied cultural anthropology and spent time living in Africa and Asia before starting his career in illustration. Travel, exploration, and a love of animals and wild spaces continue to drive the themes of his work. He is the illustrator of the board book So Many Feet; nonfiction family activity book I Love Birds!: 52 Ways to Wonder, Wander, and Explore Birds with Kids; and picture books Cougar Crossing!, Just You and Me, and The Bone Wars. He is a graduate of ArtCenter College of Design and lives in Los Angeles.

Today's read... How to Decorate a Christmas Tree by Vikki VanSickle

 It's the 1st of December, and I'm going to launch the month with a book, which mirrors our own activities today—decorating the Christmas tree. We did put it up last weekend, and during the week, I managed to get the lights on, but the true decorating starts today. We always have a chaotic tree...something my kids are insisting I change this year....thanks to our 'special' ornaments. This book is all about these keepsakes and memories, and should show a more atmospheric angle to Christmas tree decorating. 

HOW TO DECORATE A CHRISTMAS TREE

by Viki VanSickle

Illustrated by Miki Sato

Tundra Books

Picture Book  /   Holiday

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

A little girl shares the steps for the perfect tree trimming — a holiday picture book for fans of Pick a Pine Tree and The Little Christmas Tree .

In this charming Christmas tale, readers will follow along with the main character as she shares all the things that go into decorating a

Lights
Ornaments
Popcorn
Hot chocolate
Taffy the cat
Memories
And, most importantly, family!

With stunning three-dimensional art by Miki Sato and a delightful story by wordsmith Vikki VanSickle, including a twist ending, this book will quickly become a Christmas tree decorating tradition of its own.

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MY TIDBITS

The fun and warmth of decorating a Christmas tree comes across with lovely illustrations and a few surprises.

It's time to decorate the Christmas tree! From hauling the tree into the house to unpacking decorations, drinking hot chocolate, discovering memorable ornaments, and a few antics in between, the ritual of putting up decorations becomes a celebration all of its own.

This read goes beyond the basic tree decorating. Instead, it follows a young girl as she carefully unpacks the ornaments and discovers those, which have special meaning and history. Each one carries a little story...simple ones such as a small cat sent from an aunt in Japan or the first ornament made after the little girl's birth with her name on it. Each memory is told in a couple quick lines, making this great for even those who have shorter attention spans. These memories are, for the most part, familiar enough for listeners to connect with and realize what makes them special.

There's a little bit of humor and quirks sprinkled in to keep the read from becoming too serious. The cat adds a few antics as well as the uncle and father with their jokes. Plus, there's a surprise at the end, too. 

The highlight of this read rests in the illustrations. By using images with layered, textured items, the scenes carry a hint of realism, which makes the details grab. Especially the Christmas tree benefits from this style and makes these pictures worth revisiting time and time again.

And here they are...

VIKKI VANSICKLE is the author of a number of acclaimed novels for children including Words That Start With B; Summer Days, Starry Nights; the award-winning The Winnowing; and picture books If I Had a Gryphon; Teddy Bear of the Year; and Anonymouse. Vikki started her career as an independent bookseller and worked in children’s publishing for twelve years. In addition to writing, she curates and presents regular book segments for CTV Your Morning. Currently, she lives and writes in Toronto.

MIKI SATO is a Japanese-Canadian illustrator who uses a variety of different papers and fabrics to create layered, three-dimensional illustrations. Born and raised in Ottawa, she currently resides in Toronto, where she attended the Ontario College of Art and Design to study illustration. More examples of her work can be found at: www.mikisatoillustration.com