This book is personal to me. Applause to Rosemary Wells!
Yes, it's a triumph that Yoko stays in school, even when the other kindergarten kids make fun This book is personal to me. Applause to Rosemary Wells!
Yes, it's a triumph that Yoko stays in school, even when the other kindergarten kids make fun of her for writing her name in Japanese, and reading a book Japanese style -- back to front.
Yoko receive helps from her Mama, some assistance from Yoko's teacher Mrs. Jenkins, and good will from her classmates as they grow and learn.
WHY PERSONAL TO ME?
Because I made 15 round trips to Japan, teaching workshops for VOICE (the seminar company) and facilitating sessions -- all with the help of talented interpreters.
My life has been immeasurably enriched by my time in Japan, and the people I met.
Japanese children would not be so shockingly rude as Yoko's classmates were to her, early in this story.
Another superbly written, tautly paced thriller by Nora Roberts.
The character vignettes were, as usual, my favorite part.
The audio narration by Janet Another superbly written, tautly paced thriller by Nora Roberts.
The character vignettes were, as usual, my favorite part.
The audio narration by Janet Erickson was terrific, too.
SO WHY DO I GIVE THE BOOK FOUR STARS
On a minor note, I couldn't stand the character Nixie. She was a plot convenience yet, in terms of the Survival of the Fittest, she was a candidate for early death. Grrr.
On a major note, the cartoonish-and-grotesque violence toward the end of the book was practically akin to violent movies. Gross and disgusting. Nora could heve made better choices. I wish she had.
We can enjoy fabulous stories without such scenes. I don't believe they are good for us. They are not okay....more
Another beautiful, straight to the heart, picture book by Rosemary Wells.
Milo is scared to start kindergarten. The night before that dreaded event, hiAnother beautiful, straight to the heart, picture book by Rosemary Wells.
Milo is scared to start kindergarten. The night before that dreaded event, his dreams are scary.
He worries about all the ways that things could go wrong when he starts school.
Before leaving for school on that momentous day, Milo practically begs Mama and Daddy to come with him. But no such luck. How can Milo face kindergarten all on his own?
Yet he does.
RATING THIS BOOK
FIVE STARS because I just love it. Adults may forget how frightening big milestones can be to a kindergartener, but don't we adults work ourselves up just as much when we have a new milestone to face?
Rosemary Wells is becoming one of my favorite writer-illustrators of picture books....more
What a mess Dolores makes when she disobeys authority, sneaks around, and never seems to feel a twinge of remorse!
Personally I'm not a fan of that. I What a mess Dolores makes when she disobeys authority, sneaks around, and never seems to feel a twinge of remorse!
Personally I'm not a fan of that. I really dislike the ending, too.
Dolores causes havoc wherever she goes. Not that she ever offers to pay for the wreckages.
Also: Why is this positioned as a "gift book"? I don't get it.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers. I don't exactly loathe this one. It's so clearly not for me.
How about the intended readers? They may think it's cute to lie and to "borrow" things that don't belong to them. Dolores might even be a hero to them. On their behalf, FIVE STARS.
What don't these hypothetical readers know? Any more than the author knows it, evidently . . . .
We get karma for everything we say and do. No matter how clever and hilarious our deceptions; no matter if we believe that other people's rules will never-ever have to apply to us....more
Here's a picture book with a great message, and not just a great message for kids.
Some little ones want to be princesses; others want to be dragons. THere's a picture book with a great message, and not just a great message for kids.
Some little ones want to be princesses; others want to be dragons. The message of this book is that you can actually be a bit of both!
And then there's the larger message: Many a false choice may tempt you, but get wise to fake alternatives. Sometimes you do better with a bit of this and a bit of that.
There is only so much pink that even princesses can take.
Let's begin with the synopsis provided by our Goodreads blurber:
It’s kitten delivery day, but—SURPRISHow delightful is the humor in this book? To you.
Let's begin with the synopsis provided by our Goodreads blurber:
It’s kitten delivery day, but—SURPRISE. Congratulations on your new LION! We know you ordered a kitten, but we ran out of those. Fortunately, the big cat comes with instructions—like, try very hard NOT to look like a zebra. Or a gazelle. And give your lion PLENTY of space to play. But soon the feathers and fur start flying and everything’s in chaos. Is there any way a lion could actually be a child’s purr-fect pet?
Now for my personal thoughts.
In life, humor isn't always delightful. It can be used as:
* A weapon * A way to put down somebody who talks to you * How to waste your life, due to excessive detachment
I think author Tammi Sauer really crossed a line in this book. Sometimes I like her picture books, sometimes not. This is the first time, though, I've thought this prolific author crossed a line.
Lions are dangerous animals. It's unthinkable that a kind would get a lion by mistake.
Although I appreciate the attempt at satire, it falls really flat to me. Children need to learn certain words from adults, like:
1. Danger 2. Not funny 3. Overly detached from reality
Everything in life is NOT a joke, not for a responsible adult. Or even for a sensitive, thoughtful child.
RATING THIS BOOK
2 stars. When we write books for children, or read them aloud, we are teaching those kids about life. Let's not raise them to be excessively jokey....more
Tammi Sauer may have withheld the more interesting story. See what you think by the end of this review.
Mia and her mama used to live in an apartment wTammi Sauer may have withheld the more interesting story. See what you think by the end of this review.
Mia and her mama used to live in an apartment with just a few windows. This, of course, was part of a big building where many other people also rented apartments.
Now, with no explanation, the two of them have a house. Their own house. A huge house.
That house has many more windows than the apartment. There's also a yard, and that yard has a mango tree.
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS HOW? AND WHY.
The heck with the mangoes already. What happened? Where did the money come from?
What, what, what?
I grew up in an apartment too. By now I live with my husband in a small house in the Virginia suburbs. It didn't just happen. Our house isn't huge, either. It has maybe eight windows, not eleven.
Back at cute little Mia and her surprisingly resourceful Mama, who did what that landed them in a house with so many windows??? Inquiring minds want to know.
Instead we're given a blandly sweet tale of a little girl who discovers mangoes. Okaaaay.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers. I imagine these readers as very young children who like to eat fruit and are generally pretty clueless about money or other aspects of adult reality.
Finally, a picture book for cat lovers! Droll and delightful, with illustrations that match her narrative. Thank you, author-illustrator Barbara SamueFinally, a picture book for cat lovers! Droll and delightful, with illustrations that match her narrative. Thank you, author-illustrator Barbara Samuels.
* Dolores is a cat expert, the owner of Duncan. * Hillary is the proud -- make that VERY proud -- owner of Harold, a Siamese kitten.
A useful quotation for a turning point in the plot:
Another minute passed. Harold's cries grew louder.
"Do you think Harold could be stuck, dear?" asked Ms. Feeny.
This book had potential, but was weighed down by platitudes presented as solutions.
Lost steam and lost me!
I'm thrilled to have found "A Week in WinterThis book had potential, but was weighed down by platitudes presented as solutions.
Lost steam and lost me!
I'm thrilled to have found "A Week in Winter" by Maeve Binchy at my beloved Loudoun County Regional Library in Northern Virginia. Although I've read many of her novels, this one is new to me. I'll report here on Goodreads, from time to time.
Her characters are drawn with such sensitivity. Her plots don't feel like plots, more like LIFE.
I'm in for a treat. Hope some of you other Maeve Binchy fans will read what I find and add your own thoughts. Happy reading!...more
Most delightful were the introductions before each story: witty and clever introductions by Mark Gatiss and SIngenious writing marred by casual racism
Most delightful were the introductions before each story: witty and clever introductions by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat.
The stories were clever, the characters memorable, and the audiobook performances were just superb.
Not since high school had I reread any of these stories. So entertaining!
Yet the casual racism insinuated itself into every single story: Heaping teaspons in every cup of a story, between the social Darwinism, using "yellow faces" as shorthand for "evil", yeccch!
Being immersed in the world of these good ole boys -- the group of wealthy, educated, upper class white men of England at this time -- it felt suffocating.
RATING THIS BOOK, HOWEVER
Although I often cringed at that racism and classism, the stories still were excellent. Of course, FIVE STARS....more
A superb novelist, this time, not on the top of her game
The writing talent is evident early on, then limps all the way through this overly long saga oA superb novelist, this time, not on the top of her game
The writing talent is evident early on, then limps all the way through this overly long saga of Meary, growing up. And how her hometown in New Jersey is shaken by airplane crashes.
But mostly, this being a Judy Blume novel for any readers past puberty, it's about characters who mainly live for sex.
WHICH READERS WERE IN BLUME'S AUDIENCE?
Teenage girls? Adults?
Hard to tell. Maybe Judy Blume tried to reach everyone this time. With mixed results.
Sometimes, early on, it was such a page turner that I was totally absorbed in the story. Many, many, many chapters later, I found most of the characters predictible and tiresome.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers.
I'll assume the intended readers were teenage girls, like Meary, and maybe some single mothers like Rusty, who had been wronged. In which case, FIVE STARS.
Personally, I'm still glad I read it. Although I wouldn't say that I liked it as much as I hoped to, early on....more
What the Goodreads blurber (and book publicist?) see in this book is very different from what this Goodreader sees.
According to the blurber this is a:What the Goodreads blurber (and book publicist?) see in this book is very different from what this Goodreader sees.
According to the blurber this is a:
Hilarious picture book about a super-sassy bunny who tries to save himself and his cotton-tailed pals from a wolf by conning him into thinking they are not bunnies, despite the fact that a.) they are very clearly bunnies and b.) more and more (and more!) bunnies keep showing up. How many bunnies are in this book? A LOT!
By contrast, this Goodreader encountered:
A book that was trying so hard to turn itself into a funny cartoon, it's a wonder the bunnies weren't visibly sweating.
Books, even picture books, can help thoughtful readers to expand their understanding of life. Nothing of the kind happens here, between the formulaic ideas and the frantically funny style of drawing.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers. Seems to me, these readers want a book to resemble watching a fast-paced cartoon.
They may thrill to questions like these, as if these are deeply profound:
* Being a lone wolf is lonely?
* And you really want a friend?
May they find much inspiration from this FIVE STAR book, then -- even if this Goodreads reviewer decidedly didn't....more
Learning about the special talents of grandparents -- what a lovely topic for an elementary school project!
This concept is such a switch on the travaiLearning about the special talents of grandparents -- what a lovely topic for an elementary school project!
This concept is such a switch on the travails of young picture book readers. In reality, travails keep us growing throughout life: whether we're kids, trying to find out what we can do -- or else we're seniors, making adjustments so we can keep doing some things (if not others).
Assessing Grandma's talents is a hoot when Jeremy tries to learn about them:
Can you juggle? No it turns out. Do any magic tricks? Not really.
The humor is delightful, the premise deeply humanistic.
Definitely, this sweet book rates FIVE STARS....more
Given Tammi Sauer's prolific career as a picture book writer, I'm not surprised that she has written a lighthearted book about performing.
In this storGiven Tammi Sauer's prolific career as a picture book writer, I'm not surprised that she has written a lighthearted book about performing.
In this story, the performers are Marge and Lola. A dancing duo of chickens.
They are touring with Elvis Presley. Excuse me, they are touring with the great Elvis Poultry.
Surprisingly -- though not if you have read many other picture books with a similar plot -- stage fright sets in.
The language and cultural references, the so-clever plays on words, are clearly aimed at Tammi's intended audience. So let's get to rating.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers.
Tammi Sauer's intended audience is clearly young children, and their caregivers, who find it important to introduce youth to pop culture, worship of stardom, and language that will help them start to yearn toward being cool.
For them, I see how this could be a FIVE STAR book.
Personally, as a mother, there are a ton of other things I'd prefer my impressionable child to learn about. But undeniably, this book is intended to be super-cute....more
A clever premise inspires this book. It's hilarious.
Dad's antics are more appropriate to the narrator, his horrified son.
This is so funny, and in waysA clever premise inspires this book. It's hilarious.
Dad's antics are more appropriate to the narrator, his horrified son.
This is so funny, and in ways that can equally delight caregivers of toddlers . . . and the toddlers being read this delightful book.
KRIS DI GIACOMO is actually the author. To be clear.
CORALIE SAUDO is the illustrator.
FIVE STARS, because KRIS and CORALIE both did a superb job. KRIS deserves credit for the concept, the story, the dialog. Highly original, brilliantly done....more