MONTHLY BOOK REVIEWS
2009-2010
The book reviews on this web page are designed to introduce children to reading, encourage non-readers to enjoy "the other channel" READING, and to reinforce reading comprehensive skills.
Among the many advantages of reading for pleasure, students often learn how to find solutions to everyday problems - or even less common ones. Reading books about the activities of others their age, children may come upon and benefit from how someone else dealt with a stiuation that troubled them.
Booktalk
The Fearful Fairy by Sheri Hood
Dixie is a fairy who has a challenge among all of the graceful fairies in the Land-of-Pixie: she has only two wings while all the others have four. Dixie tries and tries but is unable to stay up in the air when her two wings get jumbled in the wind.
One day Dixie finds herself in a situation where she must face up to her fear of failure in order to save someone in danger. In the process she deals with her doubts about whether she's a worthy fairy or whether she should keep wishing to be something she's not.
Sheri Hood's story is imaginatively sweet and the rhymes are unpredictable and appealing. The message of challenging oneself and facing one's fears gives the book depth and allows the story to be more than just pretty pictures and catchy rhymes. M. Faith Shaheen's illustrations are delicately whimsical and flow elegantly with the story. As a whole, a pleasure to read.
Tales of Glarney by Julie Liddell
Simon is a quiet young man who lives with his Aunt Emma and collects bugs. Ever since his mother died, he has felt isolated and misunderstood. When some of his collected cockroaches escape from the antique teapot where he'd hidden them, Simon comes up against his cold Aunt Emma and decides to escape to the garden.
While inspecting the inside of a hollow log, Simon finds himself transported to a world where he is suddenly the same size as the insects, and thus begins his adventure in the world of Glarney.
Filled with unlikely heroes and misunderstood villains, this book subtly tackles the big issues in a young child's life. Why am I afraid? Why are people mean? How do I learn to trust myself? Come to think of it, this charming book tackles the big issues in everyone's lives.
This is a perfect book to read to your kids on a rainy day. They will love the adventure, and so will you.
The following titles are good reading: