Violet has agreed to enter the local bicycle race for charity with Chief Rainwater. She's not much of a competitive cyclist, but how could she say no Violet has agreed to enter the local bicycle race for charity with Chief Rainwater. She's not much of a competitive cyclist, but how could she say no to her boyfriend? Their race gets derailed when one of the participants is found dead. A participant who was somewhat stalking Violet before the race, and is not registered as a racer. And whose brake lines were cut. The bike renter's assistant, one of Violet's students, has gone missing when the police start asking questions, but Violet can't believe she would have done it. Who else would have wanted the victim dead? Why was he even in town and in the race? Or was it more about disrupting the bike race to raise funds for Mayor Daisy's new project, a Cascade Springs Underground Railroad Museum? And why does the bookstore think Walt Whitman's books will help her solve the case?
Finally! Violet finally (view spoiler)[gets up the gumption to tell Rainwater her secret! (hide spoiler)]. It only took her 4 books. More about Violet and Daisy's family history and the bookstore's history is revealed in this book too, which was great for ongoing world building development and character development. The mystery kept me guessing. It was fun to see Grandma Daisy in her new mayoral role. And I like fellow professor Richard is working at Charming Books for the summer to help with sales and pretty much is spending his salary with all the amazing rare books the shop is providing for him and his crush, the college librarian. (And he's totally oblivious to the magical elements.) Overall, another fun mystery in Cascade Springs.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: Nothing beyond a little kiss. Violence: One person is shot and killed off page, and one person dies in a bike crash off page. Nothing gorily described. There are some perilous circumstances, but no one else is seriously hurt. Past physical abuse of a wife comes to light. Ethnic diversity: Rainwater is Native American. Violet is white American. One of the bakery owners has French ancestry. One of the side characters is described as Black. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: One of the murder victims was a physically abusive husband whose wife and child left him and are now safe. The bike shop assistant was in foster care and had a rough childhood. One person is a recovering kleptomaniac. Violet has further conversations with the father she never knew before....more
Tripti and Sam have very little in common except they both had a miserable time at Camp Dilloway and they both followed a shooting star and found glowTripti and Sam have very little in common except they both had a miserable time at Camp Dilloway and they both followed a shooting star and found glowing, unusual rocks the last night of camp together and discovered they both love The Dragon Gems fantasy series. After camp Tripti writes to Sam for a summer assignment. The two strike up a letter/email correspondence in which they talk about their unusual rocks which seem more and more like they are actually alive, their long wait for the new Dragon Gems book, friendship issues, and more. Interspersed among their communication readers also find out someone else is very eager to get his hands on their unusual rocks, and what fan sites are saying about the upcoming Dragon Gems movie and mysterious author.
I really like how even though Tripti and Sam are different, they find each other good friends. Tripti comes from an Indian American family and she tells Sam about the Hindu holidays they celebrate over the months. Sam is Jewish and he also shares about the holidays his family celebrates and the food he is learning to make with his grandmother over video chat. Tripti went to camp with her best friend, but her friend ditched her for former camp friends once they were there and their relationship has been rough ever since. Sam is starting at a new school and trying to find new friends. The rocks eventually start leaving them coded messages that reveal more about their mysterious origins and why they are acting weird. And the person after the rocks gets closer to finding both of them. I really liked the grand climax which had wonderful messages about true friendship, how actions speak louder than words, how apologies can be hard but powerful and restorative, and how acts of compassion can bring people together. I also liked that throughout the whole book Tripti and Sam trust Sam's grandmother with what is going on with the rocks and listen to her advice, and involve her in their more wild schemes. It is beautiful to see adults kids can actually trust and have fun with kids while still looking out for their best in middle grade adventures. The Dragon Gems books also tie into the grand climax, but I'm not telling how (though I did figure it out before it was revealed). This was a fun multicultural friendship tale with a touch of (view spoiler)[friendly alien contact (hide spoiler)].
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: None that I remember Ethnic diversity: Tripti and her family are Indian American and Sam's family are white Jewish American. LGBTQ+ content: None that I remember Other: No one believes Tripti or Sam about the rocks moving on their own and they are ridiculed and punished for telling the truth. Friendships changing and hardships. A greedy person gets very desperate to get his hands on the rocks, but this ends with a positive turn....more
Eva and her mother are visiting Carrick Hall, home of her maternal grandmother, for the first time in Eva's life. Eva is enchanted by the grand mansioEva and her mother are visiting Carrick Hall, home of her maternal grandmother, for the first time in Eva's life. Eva is enchanted by the grand mansion, the stories of fantastical worlds, and the midnight romps she goes on with her grandmother (during which her grandmother thinks Eva is her long, lost sister). Some people tell Eva the place is magical and children have gone to other worlds from the Hall, and Eva thinks the former owner wrote about the adventures of these girls from her grandmother's generation in her fantasy books. Her grandmother firmly denies it, however, her mother hates being there for some reason, the household staff are sworn to not tell Eva anything her mother or grandmother don't tell her, and Eva is very frustrated with all the secrets she's both asked to keep and that are being held from her. What happened during her grandmother's youth that left secrets galore and a pall over Carrick Hall?
This was a delightfully different portal fantasy story, in that it asks what happens to the children who went through portals and came back to the real world as they grew up. How would it change and impact their lives? And the lives of their kids and grandkids? Sarah Arthur has made her story very atmospheric. Much of it has a magical realism feel, and you aren't 100% sure if the fantasy world is real or not until the very end. I liked exploring the grand mansion and grounds with Eva. I found it tragic how long it takes some old wounds to be reconciled, but also found it realistic. And it was very clever to have the little bits of the fantasy story being referenced interlaced between the chapters about Eva's adventures to slowly bring readers up to speed on the book being referenced. I don't want to say too much more, because part of the magic of reading this for me was in not know a lot going in. I did find Eva and the abundance of secrets a tad annoying at times, but again, it was realistic that some were stubborn in letting down their walls.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: Nothing beyond some hand-holding. Violence: A fall results in the need for stitches. There are battles referenced in the fantasy story sections and people being killed but not really described. Death from old age. Ethnic diversity: Characters are from various places in England and America. LGBTQ+ content: None Other: Family secrets, bitterness, and lack of forgiveness caused rifts. There's some discomfort on Eva's part on the way her grandmother sometimes talks to the staff (in an old fashioned master and servant way), but it doesn't stop Eva or her mom from being friends with them....more
A certain book is a bit cranky today. It does not want to be read, but when the reader decides to pick something else up for story time, will it stillA certain book is a bit cranky today. It does not want to be read, but when the reader decides to pick something else up for story time, will it still be cranky?
A humorous concept with innovative illustrations. This book with a tough exterior shows that sometimes a cranky book (or person) just needs some love to wear them down into a more friendly book (or person). I think some good talking points for kids that could spring from this book are the consequences of how you treat others, and that sometimes the best response to crankiness is just kindness and love. I like that the cranky book apologizes before the end of the book....more
Jina and her class are determined to win the food drive competition at school. They are united on the goal but divided on what books to get for the clJina and her class are determined to win the food drive competition at school. They are united on the goal but divided on what books to get for the class if they win. Jina and some other girls are campaigning for more books in the Animal Talkers series, while Ethan and Jerome are campaigning for the Space Corps series. Jina may be a bit too focused on getting her way and winning the competition than focusing on why they are doing this, but when someone they know has a family crisis they realize some things are more important than winning.
I like that this was a combination of kids learning what it means to help others in need a bit but also talking up books to friends. Jina takes maybe too much of their family perishables which leads to a learning meal of making do without. I liked the resolution in the debate of which series is better. I also liked the multicultural makeup of Jina's classroom. She is Korean American, Ethan is Black, and another girl is Latina, and in the full color illustrations others have a variety of skin tones.
Notes on content: Language: None Sexual content: None Violence: None Ethnic diversity: As mentioned: Korean American, Black, Latina, and more. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: One kid's house is damaged in a fire. Jina is a bit sneaky about how much food she takes; between that and how she feels about the books, she realizes her motivation needs to be realigned and refocused. ...more
Little Lobo and others in his community are headed to the Libro Love book festival. Can they each get the book they are hoping to find? And what otherLittle Lobo and others in his community are headed to the Libro Love book festival. Can they each get the book they are hoping to find? And what other kinds of fun can they find at the festival?
The characters from the various ¡Vamos! books get to experience a variety of fun fair events, attractions, foods, and book vendors. It is definitely the most exciting book fair I've ever seen. Occasional labeling of objects helps those learning/refreshing their Spanish skills (and there's a glossary in the back of the book in case you aren't sure which item the terms went with). ...more
A picture book memoir of the author's brief time in Battle Creek, Michigan after they moved off the family farm and before they relocated to CaliforniA picture book memoir of the author's brief time in Battle Creek, Michigan after they moved off the family farm and before they relocated to California. Tricia may have trouble reading, but she excels at art and, thanks to her Grandpa, identifying birds. A teacher who encourages the class to get out in nature, Tricia's love for birds and art, a librarian who sees Tricia's passions and nurtures them,and a special class project all came together to launch a legacy at Fremont Elementary School.
This is an immediate prequel to the events that happen in Thank You, Mr. Falker which I'm now debating moving into picture book biographies along with this. Library of Congress has this as fiction, but the back of the book provides primary documents that prove this all revolves around real events in the author's childhood. I love how this book shows the impact a grandparent can have on a child, how love for creatures can be contagious, and how books are for everyone (even those who struggle to read...Patricia had undiagnosed dyslexia and other reading disabilities at the time of these events and couldn't read but she still loved books...how she learned to read is told in Thank You, Mr. Falker). ...more
A collection of comics about librarians, authors, readers, book characters, and various other tangentially-related bookish things.
The title comes fromA collection of comics about librarians, authors, readers, book characters, and various other tangentially-related bookish things.
The title comes from one specific comic and doesn't really indicate how many comics are about librarians. There were many more comics about authors than librarians, so perhaps Gauld should have made one extra comic about Revenge of the Authors (though half the time it is about the struggle to write, so maybe even Would-Be-Authors would be more apropos). A good number of these comics came from during the pandemic, so they document satire on Covid life (which will someday be fascinating to future generations I'm sure). For those who lived through it, these comics can now be both a reminder of how far we've come and what we made it through. As a librarian and avid reader, I most enjoyed the comics that were about librarians or reading or book buying or his clever twists of well-known titles or imagined author inspiration (the Jane Austen potential opening lines for Pride and Prejudice was hilarious). Hand this to your favorite bookish person and they will likely enjoy it quite a bit.
Notes on content: Language: No swearing Sexual content: There's a comic about elements of a story an author can add and two are related to romance but nothing graphic or explicit. Violence: Deaths in books or violent ends of characters are eluded to but nothing graphic in illustrations really. Ethnic diversity: A wide array of authors from various backgrounds are referenced, illustrations are black stick figures so that doesn't really come into play. LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Some consumption of alcohol and smoking in a few comics....more
Using stories from her own life as inspiration, Ruta Sepetys models for readers how their own life experiences can provide inspiration for writing proUsing stories from her own life as inspiration, Ruta Sepetys models for readers how their own life experiences can provide inspiration for writing projects and lend authenticity to writing. She talks about plot, character development, voice, perspective, setting, dialogue, research, revision & input, and courage.
I had a hard time getting into this, mainly because I felt like the intro and plot sections were some of the weakest of the book. It got way better from there, and in fact, after I got those sections I pretty much devoured the rest of the book in one sitting. Her chapter on voice was amazing, as was dialogue, and you know she's one of the queen's of research so that chapter is exceptional. Overall, I felt like I got to know Ruta Sepetys a bit more, and walked away with some fantastic writing advice. I'm going to be recommending this to our high school English teachers, especially the creative writing teacher, and I have a handful of teens who love to write I'll be recommending it to. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for below teenager because of some of the stories from her past (see below) that Ruta bravely shared.
Notes on content: Language: About 15 minor swears. Sexual content: Ruta talks about dating foibles but no kissing or anything else involved (usually just bad opening lines). She tells about being on guard around some people, but that's it. Violence: Ruta shares her mom's tendency to share tragic/violent news as part of the voice chapter (it's more funny than gross or gory). Ruta talks about missing her mom since she's passed away. Ruta mentored a young woman in jail who told her that crime rates go up on rainy days. She briefly mentions a drunk driver crashing into a house. Brief mention of a former resident of a house dying of an illness. Ethnic diversity: Ruta's parents were Lithuanian immigrants (she talks about their stories a tiny bit). LGBTQ+ content: None specified Other: Ruta's mom was a heavy smoker. After college, Ruta was offered a free place to stay, but she talks about leaving quickly after realizing the main renter was a partier with drugs and alcohol, and a bit creepy. Ruta shares she won an award in high school of most likely to (view spoiler)[become an exotic dancer (hide spoiler)] but doesn't say why, just that her dad wasn't thrilled but her mom thought it was funny. The first story is about a disastrous gig for a rock band Ruta repped when she was in the music business, it involves the band members consuming drugs, alcohol, running from the police, and nudity (of a guy in the band...not described, just told he stripped on stage). Casual alcohol consumption (only the band guys get drunk that I remember). Ruta shares about going through an emotional stage as an early teen. A rather harsh comment from a bigwig in Hollywood about her face, hit Ruta hard (later she learned he didn't quite mean what she thought)....more
Ellie and Meg Christie have inherited the family's Book Chalet in a ski town of Colorado. They keep the book shop running, and especially love their mEllie and Meg Christie have inherited the family's Book Chalet in a ski town of Colorado. They keep the book shop running, and especially love their mysteries and their shared name with a certain mystery author. When a book club on one of Agatha Christie's books is interrupted by a strange man who is later found dead in the gondola in front of them, Ellie and Meg are the buzz of the town for being the last people to see the man alive. But who is he? Why was he looking for a person named CeCe at the Book Chalet? Who stabbed him before he got on the gondola? And why did someone break into the Book Chalet to steal the Mary Westmacott book he left there? Thanks to a crazy driver and the first blizzard of the season, the road out of town is closed so the murderer is most likely still among them. With the help of Meg's teen daughter, their still spunky Gran, and of course the new police chief, can the Christies figure out who done it?
I really liked the wintery ski resort town setting of this book, so different from the predominant East coast/West coast settings of many cozy mysteries. You can tell the author knows what it is like to live in a snowy mountain area from the descriptions of outings. Ellie has just returned to the small town to help her sister run the shop, so she's getting reacquainted with locals and how things have changed around town which provides a natural way to introduce readers to the setting and local cast of characters. I could have done without the use of a seance to help draw out the killer (though it is obvious no one takes it seriously, and it only gets brought up originally because it mimics a scene in the book club's most recent Agatha Christie read). I do like going around with Ellie. She's a likable character, Meg is a good friend as well as sister and business partner, her niece and Gran are excessively entertaining, and of course the cat Agatha is a delight. I did figure out who done it several chapters before the characters, but it was still a fun ride and I didn't feel it was so glaringly obvious that I was doubting the Christies' intelligence. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books in this series.
Notes on content: I don't remember any swears, but there might have been a couple minor ones. No sexual content. There is a stabbing and another attack, but neither happens on page and no descriptions of wounds or blood. The break in at the book store has Ellie understandably nervous since she lives upstairs.
Emma Bland Smith shares the lengths Robert McCloskey went to to make sure the ducks in Make Way for Ducklings were just right.
The notes in the back ofEmma Bland Smith shares the lengths Robert McCloskey went to to make sure the ducks in Make Way for Ducklings were just right.
The notes in the back of the book from McCloskey's daughter and the author are super interesting reads. I didn't realize what a perfectionist McCloskey was, how much McCloskey used live models for his books, or how often his daughters Sal and Jane showed up as characters in his books. I also like how this story shows the role of an editor in the picture book making process, something that doesn't get highlighted for kids that much. I adored McCloskey's books as a child and still enjoy them today so this was a very nostalgic read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kids will love the idea of someone living with ducks in their apartment, and then hopefully they'll go pick up Make Way for Ducklings....more
Violet Waverly dropped everything in Chicago and raced to Cascade Springs after her grandmother's call hinting she was at death's door. She arrives toViolet Waverly dropped everything in Chicago and raced to Cascade Springs after her grandmother's call hinting she was at death's door. She arrives to find a very lively Grandma Daisy who isn't at all ashamed of lying to get Violet back home from graduate school. Violet might have turned right around for Chicago but for the deep fatigue after driving numerous hours to Upstate New York. So she stays the night and finds her grandmother's boyfriend dead in the driveway in the morning. Some of the police see Grandma Daisy as a prime suspect, and Violet knows from experience what it is like to be falsely accused of murder in Cascade Springs. So she's sticking around until her Grandma's name is cleared, and then she's back to her doctorate on 19th century American authors.
This is my first Amanda Flower cozy mystery and I really enjoyed it. A lot of cozy mystery sleuths can start to feel the same after a while, but Violet is refreshingly different in a couple ways. She goes about her sleuthing in a more open, honest, and natural way for one. Her past and why she hasn't been back to Cascade Springs for so long is also slowly being revealed to the reader which added depth to her character. I liked the touches of magical realism that made it feel a touch whimsical but not cheesy. The bookstore her grandma runs is lightly magical (it makes certain books appear in front of readers and "helps" with the case by having certain passages fall open in front of Violet). There's also the resident raven in the bookstore and newly adopted cat that seem to have uncanny ways that hint they might understand more than the average animal. Grandma Daisy is a hoot who also has a tender side. And the town is full of all sorts of lively and interesting characters to flesh it out. I had my suspicions about who the murderer was but I couldn't figure out why for a while. It was just the right mix of being able to figure some out and still being kept guessing. I'll definitely be picking up more in this series and other series by Amanda Flower. Highly recommended to cozy mystery fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a kiss. Two murder investigations are part of the plot, neither of them is very bloody. There is violent intent at one point, but someone steps in to stop it....more
A girl who has had a little too much of her rowdy family crowded into their tiny city apartment imagines a train that could take her far away, she imaA girl who has had a little too much of her rowdy family crowded into their tiny city apartment imagines a train that could take her far away, she imagines the magical and wondrous things she'd see, and adventures enough she's glad she can come back to her home and people who love her.
This is for the kids who wish they could get away but are stuck at home. The girl helps her imagination with books along this story and readers can do the same thing. An encouragement to embrace where your imagination can take you and also appreciate what you have in reality....more
Anna Mary (rhymes with library) and her trusty horse Sand give readers a taste for what life was like for a horseback librarian in the Appalachian hilAnna Mary (rhymes with library) and her trusty horse Sand give readers a taste for what life was like for a horseback librarian in the Appalachian hills in the 1930s.
I like this slice of life story that showcases the kinds of families who depended on a horseback librarian and how she would travel from place to place, where she would sleep, and how those she visited helped her out with food and shelter. Yolen and Badiu have done a splendid job of bringing to life a bygone era, but bridging it to the present with titles that are still popular and the love for reading. Reread Aug 2024: The art really struck me on this 2nd read through. It's simple but stunning....more
A little girl who wishes she were somewhere other than her home, is invited by a book to come in. As she ventures through different biomes through booA little girl who wishes she were somewhere other than her home, is invited by a book to come in. As she ventures through different biomes through books, can she find the perfect spot?
This celebrates how books can transport you all over the world and also that travel is nice but home is great too. A delightful little read with fabulous illustrations. But of course, I expected nothing less from Grace Lin and Kate Messner....more
A celebration of all the different types of things to read, the different places you can read, the different ways you can read, and how reading can beA celebration of all the different types of things to read, the different places you can read, the different ways you can read, and how reading can benefit you.
I like that they included Braille, ASL, and audiobooks in here as ways to read. I also liked the ideas of how to slip in little bits of reading time into a busy day. The artwork helps show how reading can spark the imagination and portrays a vast array of children from with all sorts of skin tones....more
The library is putting together a display about old classic girl detective stories, and they want to feature local author's Veronica Thane books. WhenThe library is putting together a display about old classic girl detective stories, and they want to feature local author's Veronica Thane books. When they find out that the author is still alive and willing to meet them even though she's almost 100, Charlie and the library director jump at the chance. They even get her to agree to make a public appearance for the launch of the display. But as soon as they announce the author's soon to be appearance, book collectors pop up in town demanding to know where she is, a small time publisher wants some alleged unpublished manuscripts, and then the president of the author's fan club newsletter is killed. But who killed a lady everyone seemed to love?
This was my favorite Cat in the Stacks book yet. Along with the fictional Veronica Thane books, the story brings up a lot of other classic girl detectives like Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames and the authors behind them. There's a lot of real book history mixed in with the fictional Veronica Thane history. Detective Berry has come to reluctantly appreciate Charlie's help, especially since the murder deals with books and authors and book collectors, and it was nice they weren't butting heads as much. I figured out who done it and why pretty early, but it was still a fun read.
Notes on content: Just a couple minor swears. No sexual content beyond a kiss. It is mentioned several characters are couples, most are m/f, there is one minor m/m couple mentioned who don't get any page time together. One non-bloody murder only stated after the fact, not described. Charlie helps a drunk character get to his hotel room at one point. The recurring characters drink a little but not to excess. Charlie's son likes cigars but Charlie disapproves. ...more
Birdie is a Tragical. That means she is doomed to a dreadful end, and according to the Chancellor and Council, there's nothing she can do to change heBirdie is a Tragical. That means she is doomed to a dreadful end, and according to the Chancellor and Council, there's nothing she can do to change her fate. Birdie never questioned her status in life until she found a book that wasn't one approved by the Council. It was a book that talked about friendship, which started Birdie wondering if her fellow Tragicals could be friends, and when a strange letter from a Ms. Crunch arrives on the Winds asking about a book, prompts her to reply. Birdie is a bit surprised when she discovers that Ms. Crunch is none other than a witch and didn't mean to send the letter to her. Regardless, the two continue to write letters back and forth, and both of them are changed drastically in the process.
This is a lighthearted dystopia with a rather dreary setting that is given a good dose of perkiness by the narrator (which is the book), a one-eyed mangy kitten named Pooky, a friendly rat, and the little sparks of friendship going around. I really enjoyed the tone of the book, and the plotline is delightfully surprising with some great messages woven in about the power of friendship, sacrificial love, and how your past does not have to define your future choices. Lots of splendid talking points, and Birdie and her fellow Tragicals are such heart-warming protagonists to follow around. Pooky was a stroke of brilliance. (The way a kitten can take over a person's life was hilariously woven in.) And Ms. Crunch grows on you. Don't hand this to kids whose imaginations will take the wicked witches in the background and the very unfriendly matron of the Tragical house too much to heart. But for those who can handle the sinister dressings, there's a beautiful, magical story waiting to be found.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Tragical deadly endings are threatened, such as witches eating children after they are roasted or drowned, but nothing happens on page....more
Roy is guarding his clover patch, which is just about to reach perfection and bloom. Roy is drooling just thinking about it. But Jarvis the gopher hasRoy is guarding his clover patch, which is just about to reach perfection and bloom. Roy is drooling just thinking about it. But Jarvis the gopher has helpful books that lure Roy away from his clover patch and before he knows it, it's gone! What will Roy do?
This was amazing. I love, love, love how Roy gets so sucked into his books (and nonfiction books at that). I love, love, love the solution to Roy's problem. (Yay, for the power of books and knowledge!) And the humor is paced perfectly. There's an outstanding balance of clever text and humorous illustrations that combine to be that much better, and more hilarious, together. The mystery elements are just perfect for littles too. Can they figure out who stole Roy's clover before the big reveal at the end? Highly recommended!...more
This is a compilation of 4 Yasmin books in 1. In Yasmin the Librarian Yasmin helps the librarian shelve, and shares one of her favorite books with her This is a compilation of 4 Yasmin books in 1. In Yasmin the Librarian Yasmin helps the librarian shelve, and shares one of her favorite books with her and the rest of the class. In Yasmin the Scientist Yasmin has a science fair coming up. Her Baba suggests doing a volcano, but Yasmin accidentally discovers a tastier project. In Yasmin the Recycler the school isn't doing so well in separating their trash and recycling, so Yasmin helps come up with an idea for an incentive to motivate classes to do better and recycle more. In Yasmin the Singer Yasmin goes with her Mama and Nani to a bridal party, but Yasmin is kind of overwhelmed by all the people. Can she have fun and enjoy the singing?
I like the mix of American and Pakistani cultural bits all blended together in this collection. Yasmin the Singer will introduce many readers to Pakistani pre-wedding traditions, and Yasmin the Recycler may have kids hunting down Pakistani treats that Yasmin hands out. That story also highlights a very common problem and points out the importance of throwing things in the correct bins. The accidental lemonade discovery is something kids can easily try themselves (though it may make the lemonade taste funny). All in all, a fun collection of quick stories with a likable main character that is full of full-color, lively illustrations....more