Posted in Books Miscellaneous

Call me a purist.

I remember fondly thinking how cool it would be to get books for free in exchange for reviewing them. I…

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Here Be Monsters! An Adventure Involving Magic, Trolls, and Other Creatures by Alan Snow, copyright 2005

“Strange sounds were filtering through the woods–scrabblings, bleatings, growlings, and, strangest of all, a sound closely resembling bagpipes, or the…

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Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, copyright 2005

The chapter titles alone intrigue: 1. What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? (Cheating!) 2. How is the…

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Here’s a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry, copyright 2007

Perfect as a baby gift, a present for a new parent or grandparent, or a surprise for an emerging reader,…

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Melvin Beederman Superhero: The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine, art by Rhode Montijo, copyright 2006

The Superhero’s Code 1. Never say no to a cry for help. 2. Find a good hideout. 3. “Just doing…

Continue Reading... Melvin Beederman Superhero: The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine, art by Rhode Montijo, copyright 2006
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The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, copyright 2007

Hugo thought about his father’s description of the automaton. “Did you ever notice that all machines are made for some…

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Absolute Trust in the Goodness of the Earth by Alice Walker, copyright 2003

“Grace”: Grace Gives me a day Too beautiful I had thought To stay indoors & yet Washing my dishes Straightening…

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The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti, copyright 2007

“Some guys give you the edgy feeling of dogs behind chain-link fences, and some give you the nervousness of high…

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Clementine by Sara Pennypacker, Illustrated by Marla Frazee copyright 2006

“Hey, Bill!” I yelled. Bill is my dad’s for-other-people name. “Where’s your razor?” Dad came skidding into the bathroom so…

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Jazz by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers copyright 2006

With fluid, sinuous illustrations and red hot poetry, Jazz, a collaboration between award-winning author Walter Dean Myers and his son,…

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