A Farmer's Life for Me

A Farmer's Life for Me by Jan Dobbins and Laura Huliska-Beith is a terrific sing a long produced by barefoot books.  The song talks about what happens on the farm and stars a great multicultural group of kids.  The song can be found on youtube if you need a copy.

I recommend this book for kids 3-7

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Take Me Out to the Ball Game by Jack Norworth, illustrated by Amiko Hirao including a CD Performed by Carly Simon is a delightful illustrated version of the classic Song Take Me Out to the Ball Game.

My students adored this book, the illustrations fit perfectly with the song which is sung beautifully and they love to sing along.  I recommend it for kids 4-8

You Look Different in Real Life

You Look Different in Real Life follows Justine who has spent her life on display.  She's been in a documentary that followed her and a group of her classmates every five years since she was five and Justine somehow was the star.  When the filmmakers come back for another movie now that the kids are in high school Justine isn't sure that she wants to do it. 

This is an interesting book that I enjoyed.  The downfall of Justine's friendships along with her real life (as opposed to the character the movie turned her into) are examined as she's forced to examine what's gone on in her life until now.  I enjoyed the real mix of characters and the reality show plot and I was entertained until the end.

I recommend this book to readers 13+ 

A Stranger Thing

A Stranger Thing by Martin Leicht and Isla Niel is the second book in the Ever-Expanding Universe series.  The first novel ended with our pregnant heroine Elvie is about to give birth with her hot alien Baby Daddy by her side.  This book begins with the childbirth and then Elvie and her baby (who is shockingly a girl) are sent to Antarctica, a prison for the Almari.   When a group of hybrid aliens show up Elvie must fight to save the world and her baby.

I adored the first book because it was totally hysterical while maintaining an exciting plot.  This book followed well in it's footsteps, giving the reader delightful absurdity along with an exciting plot full of twists and turns.  Elvie's status as a teen mom means that she has someone beside herself to worry about and the babies needs have to come before everything else.  I sped through this book and adored every twist and turn (and every super hot alien babydaddy).

Appropriateness:  I'd recommend this book to readers 14+.  There was no sex (or other adult content) in this book (although there's a bit in the previous book as the main character is a teen mom).  Elvie learns that substance matters as much as looks and that her indiscretion means that she's forever stuck to the beautiful but dimwitted alien babydaddy (which is a nice thing to talk about). 

Nail Candy

Nail Candy by Donnie and Ginny Geer is a great book full of nail art pictures and directions.

I bought this book for my daughter and she just loved it and looked at it a lot and even used it to get ideas for nail art for herself.  For real directions I think youtube is more beneficial but this is great to find ideas.

Optical Illusions

Optical Illusions published by DK is a fantastic activity book filled with pages of illusions along with activities and how they trick our minds.

I bought this book for my daughter to read while on a very long road trip.  She adored it and it kept her busy for hours figuring out how everything worked.  It was a perfect car book.

I recommend this book for readers 7 and up.  It's a great gift book for older kids.

There Was an Old Monkey Who Swallowed a Frog

There Was an Old Monkey Who Swallowed a Frog is a delightful retelling of the Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly song by Jennifer Ward and Steve Gray.  I have probably eight thousand retelling's of this story (well that's probably a bit of an exaggeration) and my students have yet to tire of them, sometimes having me read multiple editions in one class period.  Needless to say the kids loved this book, laughing at each additional thing that the monkey swallowed.  It's a great addition to the collection.

I recommend this book to kids 4-8

Countdown

Countdown by Michelle Rowan is a dystopian adventure book that follows Kira Jordan, who wakes up chained next to known killer Rogan.  She's told by a voice that she's part of a game and with each level she and Rogan must complete certain tasks or die.

This is an interesting book that gets readers thinking about the entertainment of playing games with people.  The pace is quick and the romance believable.  I couldn't put the book down and it was fantastic until the end.

Appropriateness:  This book is very violent.  I would recommend it to readers 13+

Something Real

Something Real by Heather Demetrios follows Bonnie Baker (who goes by Chloe when she's not at home) who grew up on national television with all her brothers and sister.  The show she was on A Bakers Dozen was cancelled after her parents divorced and she had a suicide attempt.  Bonnie has finally recovered from being on the show and learned to relax in public when she comes home to find that her mother and stepfather have allowed the cameras back into her home and are not giving her a choice in having her life videotaped.

I really enjoyed this book and spent most of my snow day today unable to put it down.  I felt outrage for Bonnie having to put up with every parental conversation being taped and broadcast to the world.  It also delved a bit into the idea of how cameras change how you act with several references to the book 1984.  The romance and Bonnie's relationship with her brother are both well written and the author did a fantastic job of exploring a girl who feels powerless over her environment.

Appropriateness:  There is a lot of drinking in this book and some smoking, usually as a crutch to deal with the problems that they're facing (they always call a designated driver).  So this is a good book to talk to your child about alcoholism and drinking to try to dull pain.  There's no sex but there are several (mild) make-out scenes and discussions of other characters sleeping around.  I recommend this book for readers 13+

The Fallout

The Fallout by S.A. Bodeen is the sequel to The Compound.  The first book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.  This book begins with Eli's family hiding from the public after escaping the compound. He has to reconnect with his twin brother who was living in the real world and figure out how to get control of his father's company again.

This book was interesting enough but as with The Compound it takes a while to get started and then rushes towards an ending after the big twist is revealed.  I would recommend it to fans of the original book who remember the attachment for the characters but not for new readers.

Appropriateness:  I would recommend this book to readers 12+  

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Not a kids book, but a review of a book for mom

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy follows our dear friend Bridget years after we left her last.  She's widowed with two children and as much a mess as she was when we left her.  She decides to start dating, joins twitter and is writing a screenplay.

I enjoyed this book because it brought me back to the Bridget that I fell in love with years ago but it also reminded me why I don't typically read chic lit anymore.  It's now all about depressing women with young kids looking for love (because the authors all got older).  Bridget is a mess and seemingly can't balance the simplest things even though her kids are in school, she has a nanny and enough money that she doesn't have to worry about a thing which just made me roll my eyes.  I did enjoy the book and did laugh throughout but what was funny for a girl in her early 20's was just absurd for one in her 40's with two small children.  I think I would have appreciated the story more if she had more realistic obligations.