Thursday, May 4, 2017

Zacktastic, not fantastic.

Zacktastic Zacktastic by Courtney Sheinmel
My rating: 2 of 5 bites

All books by the same author aren't created equally....unfortunately.

Oh this book had potential. Zacktastic is written by the same author as the Stella Batts series, so I figured this is going to be good! Zack is a genie. He's also got major OCD, which was quite frankly annoying and giving me a little anxiety myself. But that's my problem! So Zack gets called on his first 'mission', 'request', whatever they call it and had a few boring parts I skipped/skimmed and then by the time it was getting good, the book was just getting to the ending phase. The action parts just weren't that exciting or engaging, perhaps because there was bullying involved and I hate bullying. I felt like the part about his father's death (that we learn about early on) was a foreshadow that this book is meant to be one of a series, just because the author didn't tell us enough yet about the dad.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I was hoping to. I feel like this was geared more towards the boy crowd, and while I love reading those too (hello Artemis and Gregor) if it's well done, Zacktastic just wasn't written well enough for me to give it more than 2 bites. Fortunately it was a freebie from kindleunlimited. If you feel so inclined to give this book a chance, check it out. It still got 5 stars from many on amazon.  Let me know if you read it and your thoughts!

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Stella Batts Needs a New Name...TEN book series!!!!

Stella Batts Needs a New Name Stella Batts Needs a New Name by Courtney Sheinmel
My rating: 4 of 5 bites

The best thing about a fun book is when it doesn't end...or in this case lasts through at least 10 books! Ten fabulous and fun books. I assume, I've only read 8. The 9th came out a year ago and the 10th one just last month! Each of these books is "written" by Stella herself. Or Courtney Sheinmel...but that's easy to forget. Stella writes in her journal and we get to enjoy each of her journals in each of her books!


Stella isn't annoying!

She acts age appropriate!

She goes through real life situations that many could relate to-having a friend move away, embarrassing accidents, annoying classmate, foolishly not listening to parents, getting cast in a tv show...okay maybe not that one.


These are clean reads, no swearing, nothing inappropriate that I would be embarrassed reading it to my own elementary school kid! And you've got to love a series that makes it obvious which number book it is! Right on the cover! Thank you thank you thank you.....Am I right or am I right?!


As an adult I give this 4 bites! Delicious! Not a life changing books, but super fun! Many of these titles are FREE on kindleunlimited. I hope your 6-8 year old loves them!

Friday, September 28, 2012

More Bears! and Cat Secrets

 More Bears
By Kenn Nesbitt
Sourcebooks, Nov 2010
Hardcover, 32 pages
Rating: 5 Bites. More bears please!

"Once upon a time there was a story. It was a lovely story with absolutely NO BEARS in it—not a SINGLE BEAR anywhere."

If you haven't read this book-stop everything you're doing and go get it. The book is about an author who's writing a book that has no bears in it. Or does it? What?

Love this book. Kids will love it. LOVE it. AND the book is cheaper from Sourcebooks! They have some cheap titles there that are better priced than Amazon (though for me it says there's $6 shipping). So if you buy a few it would be "so worth it!" Oh if I were made of money!

More Bears will be one that is loved for sure!


Cat Secrets
By Jef Czekaj
Balzer and Bray, Jan 2011
Hardcover, 32 pages
Rating: 5 Bites

"I'm sorry—this book is not for you. This book is for CATS ONLY.
What's that you say?
You are a cat?
Okay . . . get ready to prove it!"

You know those books that are perfect for bedtime. Well this one is perfect for naptime. Interactive. And fun. See how well you can pretend you're a cat! And while you're at it...take a nap.

Both books I really liked. We actually have the More Bears one from (paperback from Scholastic) and we got Cat Secrets from the library. Both giggling interactive books.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Bridget Fidget

Bridget Fidget and The Most Perfect Pet
By Joe Berger
Dial Books for Young Readers, June 2009
Hardcover, 32 pages
Rated: 3.5 bites, not life changing, but a cute book

"When a big box arrives one morning, Bridget Fidget leaps out of bed and spins down the stairs. She knows what's inside - a unicorn! After all, she's always wanted a pet unicorn, so it must be a pet unicorn. But inside the box is just another . . . smaller . . . box. And it's buzzing. This is no unicorn. But could it possibly be something even better?"

This was a cute little book I found at the library. I love the drawings. And Bridget's a curious little girl. Perhaps toddlerish-she's got some good emotions in there! And ends up happy with what she's got. A great story for girls!I mean, seriously, she wants a unicorn. How fun is that?





Thursday, September 20, 2012

Series to try out!

Series are wonderful! It's like a story that doesn't end...until it does. But at least it's lengthened out. The only bummer is waiting for the next book it's not all published.

Here's some series I've read and loved...or read and loved and then didn't.

Artemis Fowl
By Eoin Colfer
April 2001
Hardcover, 277 pages
8 books in the series

"This rip-roaring, 21st-century romp of the highest order is a combination of folklore, fantasy, and a fistful of high-tech. These two crime caper fantasies feature anti-hero Artemis Fowl, a twelve-year-old boy-genius and the last of a clan of international underworld figures and con artists. Rough 'n' tumble storytelling with plenty of attitude.
From a strikingly original new voice comes the story of Artemis Fowl, a very unusual hero. Artemis is a genius, a criminal mastermind, and a millionaire...and he is only twelve years old! A combination of Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, and Attila the Hun, even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy — because these fairies are armed and dangerous, and don't play by any rules!"

I love this series....except for # 7. Can you have a favorite series and not finish one of the books? Ahh! And since I haven't read #8, the last one, that came out July 2012 I can't tell about that one. So, at least the first 6 books are great. So...I'd still suggest reading this one. Criminal mastermind 12 year old. It's just fun! Recommended for ages 11-14.

By the way, his book signings/shows are entertaining. Though as he's gotten BIG, it seems that there's not that "quality" time with the readers as they're passing through the conveyor belt. I believe I'd asked him about adding a book to his Supernaturalist one, which he said he would. But we're still waiting for that.

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1)

Gregor the Overlander
By Suzanne Collins
Scholastic, 2003
Paperback,  310 pages
5 books in the series

When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.

Usually I'm not so into book that have animals in them, but Suzanne Collins (you know, the author of The Hunger Games, in which I'd suggest that it would be a great read....for older kids. Of the mature age. There is a lot of violence. I might just say that would go in the "young adult" category, perfect for zombiemommies.net)

Anyway- I read this one long ago, after I had read the first book in the Hunger Games trilogy and it was nice to know that Suzanne Collins knows how to write entertaining books.

I've been to one of her book signings as well. And I was able to get a picture with her.
Recommended ages 11-14.

Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, #1)

Mercy Watson to the Rescue
By Kate DiCamillo, Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen
Candlewick Press, August 2005
Hardcover, 80 pages
5 books in the series

"Have Mercy! Get ready for an exciting new series from Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo
To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig -- she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash -- "to alert the fire department," her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind -- like a sudden craving for their neighbors' sugar cookies? Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson -- an ebullient new character for early chapter-book readers in a series that's destined to be a classic.
From the one and only Kate DiCamillo comes an irresistible new hero for early chapter book readers, brightly captured with comic nostalgic flair by Chris Van Dusen."
This is a larger sized book...about 7 x 8 inches. It's colorful and has larger type letters with many pictures. It's great for children transitioning from picture books to chapter books. It is a book with an animal as the main character and is silly! Recommended ages 5-7. The pictures are great inside. The cover doesn't do it enough justice.

Mercy Watson to the Rescue (Mercy Watson #1)

By Margaret Peterson Haddix
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Sept 2008
Hardcover, 160 pages
7 books in the series

"Luke has never been to school. He's never had a birthday party, or gone to a friend's house for an overnight. In fact, Luke has never had a friend.
Luke is one of the shadow children, a third child forbidden by the Population Police. He's lived his entire life in hiding, and now, with a new housing development replacing the woods next to his family's farm, he is no longer even allowed to go outside.
Then, one day Luke sees a girl's face in the window of a house where he knows two other children already live. Finally, he's met a shadow child like himself. Jen is willing to risk everything to come out of the shadows -- does Luke dare to become involved in her dangerous plan? Can he afford not to?"

I'm a fan of Margaret Peterson Haddix. Her stories are creative and mysterious...well some...not all. This is series seems like a popular one among kids ages 8 and up.

Among the Hidden (Shadow Children, #1)

If you like fairytales, you should check out Just Ella by Haddix for ages 11-14. It's not a series, but could have been the first book I read of Haddix's. A retelling of Cinderella, but not exactly as you'd think.



Well if you like series, there's a few to entertain! What are some series you like?

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Regarding the Fountain

Regarding the Fountain
By Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise
HarperCollins, April 1998
Hardcover, 144 pages
Rating: 5 Bites. Must read!


"The Dry Creek Middle School drinking fountain has sprung a leak, so principal Walter Russ dashes off a request to Flowing Waters Fountains, Etc.
...We need a new drinking fountain. Please send a catalog.
Designer Flo Waters responds:
"I'd be delighted...but please understand that all of my fountains are custom-made."
Soon the fountain project takes on a life of its own, one chronicled in letters, postcards, memos, transcripts, and official documents. The school board president is up in arms. So is Dee Eel, of the water-supply company. A scandal is brewing, and Mr. Sam N.'s fifth grade class is turning up a host of hilarious secrets buried deep beneath the fountain."   

I told you I'd have an "old" book update soon! This one could have worked too for the Under the Sea giveaway....fountain....water...good enough!

This book is so clever. If you have reluctant reader, this one should help entertain. It's a SILLY novel and since it's written in letters, memos, postcards, etc, it's mostly just "conversations". I'm the type of person who sometimes gets bored with overdescriptions but loves the talking parts, so this book was much more that....talking.  

The ending had some newspaper clippings and other documents ("documents" for fear of sort of spoiling) that weren't as "conversationy" which bored me a little, but you could skim through those to get to the good parts.

Everyone's name in the town also has a water theme, so watch out for that....Sam N. ... Minnie O.

This book is just the first in a series of "Regarding the....." presumably about fixing up their school. It's funny. Not your laugh out loud, but entertaining! I mean they wanted a new drinking fountain....how will they end up with a FOUNTAIN fountain?

And it's a clean read. For ages 8-12, says the publisher, but I'd think even high schoolers could like this one. It's just so different than the usual and fun!

Paperback is also available on Amazon here

Regarding the Fountain <---and at it to your goodreads by clicking that!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Under the Sea Giveaway!


For our Under the Sea Giveaway Little Zombies is giving away a copy of 
Dolphins at Daybreak by Mary Pope Osborne











"Morgan le Fay will make Jack and Annie masters of the tree house if only they can solve four riddles. "Dolphins at Daybreak" begins the third set of four books in the magical series, as Jack and Annie embark upon solving riddle number three in a whole new world under the ocean!"

  
I believe I listened to this one driving on the return trip from vacation. I needed something to entertain me and keep me awake. Well, I can't remember too much what it was about...but I didn't fall asleep. One to add to your child's bookshelf! Some kids enjoy this series more than I! Let's be honest.





      Dolphins at Daybreak (Magic Tree House, #9)