When I'm Not Reading YA: Chapter Books

Guys, we have some very excited news in my household. My son has finally started reading chapter books with me. I am thrilled, because, as you know, this is where it starts to really get good. I am already counting down the time till I can read Harry Potter with him.  But until then, here are some of the early reader/chapter books that we have been reading together.

Meet the Bigfeet, Monsters on the Run, and Attack of the Kraken (Yeti Files series) by Kevin Sherry - Publisher: Scholastic

  

My Thoughts:  This book is all about Blizz Richards, a yeti, and a cryptid.  He works in secret with his other friends who are cryptids to make sure they are kept in secret. Not sure what a cryptid is? Think Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, Dragons, etc.  Enter the bad guy, George Vanquist, who is always trying to expose these creatures.  Each book in the series tackles a different type of cryptid, so if you have a monster loving son or daughter in your life, they will get a kick out of The Yeti Files.  The illustrations are similar to comic books, which only adds to its enjoyment.

Oona Finds an Egg (Oodlethunks #1) by Adele Griffin - Publisher: Scholastic

My Thoughts: I have enjoyed Adele Griffin's YA novels, so I was excited to check out her children's book, Oona Finds an Egg.  Oona Oodlethunk and her family live in prehistoric times. They are similar to the Flintstones.  Oona, like most young kids, wants a pet, but her brother, Bonk, is allergic.  On one of her adventures, she finds an abandoned egg and takes it home.  Will it be a new pet for Oona? Oona becomes a good caretaker and protects her egg, but things take a turn for the worse when her egg goes missing. My son and I loved this book and have plans to continue with the series.  My son, who is a dinosaur fantastic, especially appreciated the time period and Griffin's writing style is easily accessible; plus, it's laugh-out-loud funny!  The illustrations are also well done and add to the story.  Both boys and girls can really enjoy this series; you don't have to only be a fan of dinosaurs or prehistoric times to appreciate it.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey - Publisher: Scholastic

My Thoughts: So, I guess it was inevitable that my son would come across these books. I cringed at the thought of reading them aloud to him. I hate potty jokes and the whole book seemed rather silly.  But with some reservation on my end, I started this series with him.  I wasn't sure if it was a bit too "old" for my son, but since I was reading it aloud to him, I thought we would give it a try. Man, he lapped it up like free ice-cream. He absolutely loved it and I have never heard him laugh so much reading a story before.  

If you are new to The Captain Underpants series, it's about Harold and George, two best friends and major pranksters.   They created a comic book hero, Captain Underpants, and they hypnotize their principal into thinking he is this superhero. Chaos ensues. The bad guy in the series is Dr. Diaper. I mean I will admit it that it did make me smirk a bit. The cartoonish illustrations definitely added to the story; my son loved them and the "Flip-o-Rama" section of the story my son went bonkers over.  So, I will admit it. Any book that can make reluctant readers fans of reading is a winner in my book.  My son immediately demanded the next book in the series, which is unfortunately titled Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets.

Rise of the Earth Dragon and Saving the Sun Dragon by Tracey West  (Dragon Masters series) - Publisher: Scholastic

My Thoughts:  My son loves all things dragons and knights, so the Dragon Masters series definitely got us both interested right from the start.  Drake and his family live on an onion farm until one day a knight comes for him and takes him to King Roland.  Drake is being recruited as a dragon master.  He is one of a few children that are in charge of training King Roland's dragons.  Each dragon has a secret power and Drake can't wait to meet his dragon and find out what his power is.  This is a fun start to a new fantasy series for young children and an introduction to the fantasy genre.  There is an evil wizard that is up to no good and my son and I have been guessing his motives. I like how even though this book takes place in a fantasy world, it includes some real-life issues as well, especially when it comes to Drake interacting with the other dragon masters.  We are loving this series and it's perfect for newly independent readers, too.

Dinosaur Trouble by Dick King-Smith - Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

My Thoughts:  My son wanted me to read him Dinosaur Trouble, because, well, dinosaurs, and I have to share I am not a fan.  The main characters are pterodactyls and apatosauruses who, initially, don't like each other.  But their children bring these two opposing families together and they unite to fight off a menacing Tyrannosaurs Rex.  The vocabulary in this book was challenging at times (due to an intelligent mother pterodactyl) and I found the overly obvious message on friendship and prejudice to be a little too pushy.  The illustrations are done by Nick Bruel (who we love from the Bad Kitty books), but there weren't enough illustrations to really make an impression on either of us.  We just thought this book was ok.  Fans of dinosaurs or prehistoric times should check out The Oodlethunks series instead.

So, what chapter books do you recommend for early readers or for read-alouds? We are always not the hunt for our next favorite read. Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments below.

Book Review: Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani

Pages: 544

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: June 20, 2017

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books by Author: All the Stars in the Heavens
Brava, Valentine, The Shoemaker's Wife and Viola in the Spotlight

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "It’s 1949 and South Philadelphia bursts with opportunity during the post-war boom. The Palazzini Cab Company & Western Union Telegraph Office, owned and operated by Dominic Palazzini and his three sons, is flourishing: business is good, they’re surrounded by sympathetic wives and daughters-in-law, with grandchildren on the way. But a decades-long feud that split Dominic and his brother Mike and their once-close families sets the stage for a re-match.   Amidst the hoopla, the arrival of an urgent telegram from Italy upends the life of Nicky Castone (Dominic and his wife’s orphaned nephew) who lives and works with his Uncle Dom and his family. Nicky decides, at 30, that he wants more—more than just a job driving Car #4 and more than his longtime fiancée Peachy DePino, a bookkeeper, can offer. When he admits to his fiancée that he’s been secretly moonlighting at the local Shakespeare theater company, Nicky finds himself drawn to the stage, its colorful players and to the determined Calla Borelli, who inherited the enterprise from her father, Nicky must choose between the conventional life his family expects of him or chart a new course and risk losing everything he cherishes.  From the dreamy mountaintop village of Roseto Valfortore in Italy, to the vibrant streets of South Philly, to the close-knit enclave of Roseto, Pennsylvania, to New York City during the birth of the golden age of television, Kiss Carlo is a powerful, inter-generational story that celebrates the ties that bind, while staying true to oneself when all hope seems lost.  Told against the backdrop of some of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies, this novel brims with romance as long buried secrets are revealed, mistaken identities are unmasked, scores are settled, broken hearts are mended and true love reigns. Trigiani’s consummate storytelling skill and her trademark wit, along with a dazzling cast of characters will enthrall readers."

It's 1949 and Calla Borelli's father owns a run down theater in South Philly that only shows Shakespearean plays, so obviously, it is struggling a bit.  Calla works there, because along with her father, it's her passion, but she is not sure how it will stay open much longer.  Nicky Castone works at the theater and also his family's cab company.  He is an orphan and his aunt has taken him in, so he lives with his extended family in South Philly.  His Uncle Dom's cab company competes with his estranged Uncle Mike's cab company in true South Philly fashion as they haven't talked to his other family in years due to a feud.  Things seems to be going well for Nicky. He is engaged to be married to Peachy, he works at the theater which brings him joy, and he has a steady job at the cab company. One night during the Twelfth Night play at the theater he replaces an ailing actor and he is in a scene with Calla. Sparks fly, but what should he do about it? Should he go against his family's expectations and follow his heart and his dream of acting or should be marry Peachy, live in South Philly and the rest is history?  Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani has it all. It has family drama, hilarious moments, quiet moments, and reflections of family life from days gone by.  It even has similar characteristics to Shakespeare's plays, which I especially appreciated it.

Trigiani has a way of developing characters that just feel so real in Kiss Carlo.  Calla is such a memorable character and I enjoyed every aspect of her.  Her desire to keep the theater going is an admirable one and I adored the fact that she was a non-conformist, which is a big deal for the time period.  Then there's Nicky who I also liked. Even though I didn't always agree with his decisions, he was a really well-rounded character that tugged on my heartstrings.  While I enjoyed Nicky, I LOVED his extended family. I seriously wanted to go to their house for dinner and sit around and talk to them all. What a cast of characters!

The setting of South Philly and 1949 is spot on in Kiss Carlo. Even though I don't live in Philadelphia (I live in a suburb outside of it), I was able to appreciate all the references to famous places, streets, and traditions from yesteryear.  I have family members that grew up in the city, so it was as if Trigiani brought to life Philadelphia in 1949. I felt like I was sitting in my grandmother's old dining room listening to some of her stories. More than once it brought a tear to my eye, as it felt like Trigiani reached into my grandmother's mind and shared some of her stories about life in the city as Italian immigrants.

But Kiss Carlo isn't all family drama. There are some hilarious moments involving planning a wedding, mistaken identity, and of course there's the whole rocky road to true love.  Trigiani has a way of making me laugh out loud. Her dialogue is pretty fantastic and accurate for a large Italian family. People with large extended families that tend to meddle in everyone's business, will especially enjoy Kiss Carlo.

If you are a fan of family dramas as well as Trigiani's previous novels, you won't be disappointed with Kiss Carlo.  It would be a great addition to your beach bag this summer.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Library at the Edge of the World

This is a weekly meme hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine.  "Waiting on Wednesday" spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

Pub. Date: November 14, 2017

Goodreads says, "In the bestselling tradition of Fannie Flagg and Jenny Colgan comes Felicity Hayes-McCoy’s U.S. debut about a local librarian who must find a way to rebuild her community and her own life in this touching, enchanting novel set on Ireland’s stunning West Coast. As she drives her mobile library van between villages of Ireland’s West Coast, Hanna Casey tries not to think about a lot of things. Like the sophisticated lifestyle she abandoned after finding her English barrister husband in bed with another woman. Or that she’s back in Lissbeg, the rural Irish town she walked away from in her teens, living in the back bedroom of her overbearing mother’s retirement bungalow. Or, worse yet, her nagging fear that, as the local librarian and a prominent figure in the community, her failed marriage and ignominious return have made her a focus of gossip.  With her teenage daughter, Jazz, off travelling the world and her relationship with her own mother growing increasingly tense, Hanna is determined to reclaim her independence by restoring a derelict cottage left to her by her great-aunt. But when the threatened closure of the Lissbeg Library puts her personal plans in jeopardy, Hanna finds herself leading a battle to restore the heart and soul of the Finfarran Peninsula’s fragmented community. And she’s about to discover that the neighbors she’d always kept at a distance have come to mean more to her than she ever could have imagined.  Told with heart, wry wit, and charm, The Library at the Edge of the World is a joyous story about the meaning of home and the importance of finding a place where you truly belong."

How gorgeous is this cover? I adore the setting of Ireland's West Coast; it's so beautiful there! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. What do you guys think?

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2017 (so far!)

I'm sure this list will change as I read more novels this year, but here are my preliminary picks for best books of 2017. Something I've noticed is that my list is light on YA reads. Hmm. Not sure what that's about, but I haven't been enjoying YA reads as much this year. I am hoping the second half of 2017 will produce more compelling YA reads.

Adult:

1.  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

2.  The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon

3.  The Book of Summer by Michelle Gable

4.  Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey

5.  Purple Hearts by Tess Wakefield

6.  The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White

7.  The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner

8.  Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani (Review to come!)

YA:

1.  Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

2.  Letters to the Lost by Brigid Kemmerer

3.  Once and for All by Sarah Dessen (Review to come!)

Backlist:

1.  The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

2.  Mariana by Susanna Kearsley

3.  Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

4.  The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Children's Books:

1.  Dad and the Dinosaur by Gennifer Choldenko

2.  Little Excavator by Anna Dewdney

3.  Mighty, Mighty Construction Site by Sherry Duskey Rinker

4.  Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney

5.  Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel by Adam Rubin

6.  The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow (Republished this year!)

What are some of your favorite books of the year so far?  Let me know in the comments below.  This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 

Book Review: The Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer

Pages: 464

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: May 16, 2017

Publisher: Touchstone

Source:  Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Goodreads says, "Accomplished neurosurgeon Beatrice Trovato knows that her deep empathy for her patients is starting to impede her work. So when her beloved brother passes away, she welcomes the unexpected trip to the Tuscan city of Siena to resolve his estate, even as she wrestles with grief. But as she delves deeper into her brother’s affairs, she discovers intrigue she never imagined—a 700-year-old conspiracy to decimate the city.  After uncovering the journal and paintings of Gabriele Accorsi, the fourteenth-century artist at the heart of the plot, Beatrice finds a startling image of her own face and is suddenly transported to the year 1347. She awakens in a Siena unfamiliar to her, one that will soon be hit by the Plague.  Yet when Beatrice meets Accorsi, something unexpected happens: she falls in love—not only with Gabriele, but also with the beauty and cadence of medieval life. As the Plague and the ruthless hands behind its trajectory threaten not only her survival but also Siena’s very existence, Beatrice must decide in which century she belongs.  The Scribe of Siena is the captivating story of a brilliant woman’s passionate affair with a time and a place that captures her in an impossibly romantic and dangerous trap—testing the strength of fate and the bonds of love."

Beatrice is a dedicated neurosurgeon who hasn't had a vacation in years.  Her brother, Ben, is studying the history of the plague in Siena, Italy. He has encouraged her to come visit, but before she gets the opportunity, he suddenly dies.  Now she is headed off to Siena to go through his stuff and get his things in order. Surprisingly, she is intrigued by some of his theories surrounding the plague.   While continuing his research, she somehow time travels back to Siena during the 1300s.  She assimilates surpassingly well into medevial of life and even finds a job as a scribe where she copies manuscripts.  While there, she meets Gabriele and sparks fly.  This poses a problem as to which time period Beatrice truly belongs. Plus, there's the looming cloud hanging over them that is the plague, which can't be stopped. Melodie Winawer's debut, The Scribe of Siena, is an fanciful jaunt into medieval Siena. Fans of time travel novels as well as historical fiction will appreciate this book the most.

Beatrice is an interesting character and one whom I immediately liked in The Scribe of Siena. She is highly educated and has many interests, which I appreciated.  I loved how she jumped right into her brother's research surrounding the Black Plague. Some of the theories he proposes are pretty thought provoking as well.

When Beatrice sees her own face in one of Gabriele's paintings, that's when the real mystery starts brewing in The Scribe of Siena.  Although I didn't feel their blossoming romance quite as strongly as I would have liked, I still enjoyed the whole concept of their meeting.

Beatrice time travels to Siena right before the plague strikes, so that is always a cause for concern when reading The Scribe of Siena.  Even though Beatrice knows all about it, there's really no way to stop it.  What she is confused by is the fact that Siena suffered so much more from the plague than the other important Italian cities of the time. But why? And this is the overarching question her brother was researching and he had some possible theories. 

The best parts of The Scribe of Siena are Winawer's descriptions of Medieval Siena. They were some of the best that I've read in historical fiction. She truly brought the time period to life. It felt real and her descriptions were extremely vivid. I could tell that Winawer did an extensive job researching it all. 

My only gripe with The Scribe of Siena is the fact that it took me quite sometime to get into it. I think I was expecting more of an initial pull since time travel/time slip novels are my thing. Also, some critics are comparing this debut to Outlander and although it has a few similarities, it is a different type of novel in every sense.  So, fans of Outlander should be forewarned.  Nonetheless, if you love historical fiction and enjoy smart reads, I urge you to give The Scribe of Siena try this summer. 

Sunday Post (33)

Children's Book Roundup 

Book Review: Beach House for Rent by Mary Alice Monroe 

Waiting on Wednesday: More Than We Can Tell

It's Not You, It's Me

Book Review and Giveaway: It's Always the Husband by Michele Campbell

I will be sharing my thoughts on the historical novel, The Scribe of Siena, which has time travel and a really vivid setting of Medeival Siena, Italy.  If you like historical reads that are smart, you'll definitely want to check out my review.  I will also be sharing my favorite books of 2017 so far as well as my thoughts on Adriana Trigiani's latest delightful novel, Kiss Carlo.  

Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne  - Thanks to Disney-Hyperion

The Lake Effect by Erin McCahon - Thanks to Dial 

  

The Dream Keeper's Daughter by Emily Colin - Thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley

No Easy Target by Iris Johansen - Thanks to St. Martin's

Once and For All by Sarah Dessen

My son has started to show an interest in chapter books for the younger crowd, especially ones that have fun illustrations. Here are are the latest we have been reading together:

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Dinosaur Trouble by Dick King-Smith

The Yeti Files: Meet the Bigfeet  by Kevin Sherry

The Yeti Files: Monsters on the Run by Kevin Sherry

The Yeti Files: Attack of the Kraken by Kevin Sherry

Rise of the Earth Dragon (Dragon Master #1) by Tracey West

Saving the Sun Dragon (Dragon Master #2) by Tracey West

Have you read any of these books? Are they on your TBR list? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for visiting. This meme is hosted by Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

Children's Book Roundup

Summertime means more reading with my little guys, which I absolutely love. We've been reading some new releases as well as some older backlist titles.  Here's a round-up of some of the latest books that we have been enjoying together. 

Board Books:

The Very Berry Counting Book by Jerry Pallotta  (May 2, 2017 - Publisher: Charlesbridge)
Summertime is synonymous with delicious fruits, especially fresh berries. My one year old loves this board book and not only does it expose him to different types of North American berries, it is an introduction to counting. The book is sturdy enough that he is able to flip the pages and we love looking at the beautiful illustrations together. The illustrations definitely have a vintage appeal to them. This book is a great addition to our collection of counting board books and is perfect for summertime.


Baby's First Book of Birds and Colors by Phyllis Limbacher Tides (May 1, 2017 - Publisher: Charlesbridge)
My little guy has just started to notice the various birds that visit our backyard bird feeders. He has started to point them out to me and has become very curious about them.  This board book is perfect for his age group, because not only does it introduce the various types of birds that a person may encounter, it also goes over colors.  We love reading this book together and looking at the vivid illustrations. With the warmer weather arriving and more birds visiting our garden, this makes for a perfect summertime read for little ones.

Pre-School/Picture Books:

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber (June 6, 2017 - Publisher: Charlesbridge)
Although this book is being republished as a board book, it is perfect for preschool age children. The language is very poetic and it would be ideal for an end of summer/introduction to fall read aloud.  I love that it covers the various types of leaves that a person may come across. I especially appreciate this, since I definitely can't answer all my son's questions about various types of leaves. I also love how this book highlights one of my son's favorite fall activities: jumping in leaf piles. We will definitely be reading this book a lot come this fall.

The Seashore Book by Charlotte Zolotow (May 16, 2017 - Publisher: Charlesbridge)
This book tugs on my heartstrings big time and I am so glad that Charlesbridge has republished this classic. I couldn't think of a better picture book about the beach that captures the beauty and the magic of a beach day. I also love that the story is all about a mother telling her son about the beach and imagining they are there. I know I have done this almost every winter myself, so I could relate to this story wholeheartedly. My son really likes the illustrations and the vivid details.  Zolotow describes the sound of the beach, the wind, the seashells, and other vivid details so well. If you are looking for a beach read for a little one this summer, look no further. This is a memorable tale for both the reader and the child.

 

We are in a Book! by Mo Willems (September 14, 2010 - Publisher: Disney-Hyperion  )
I can see why this particular book in the Elephant and Piggie series is so popular and has an award. It feels very interactive and my son absolutely loves the humor.  He says it almost feels like Elephant and Piggie are talking to you.  You can't go wrong with this series.

Groovy Joe: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs by Eric Litwin (August 30, 2016 - Publisher: Orchard)
This is such a fun book, especially if you have a little one who loves dinosaurs as well as music. This story definitely has a musical quality to it. I also appreciate the overall message of sharing.  Apparently there are even Groovy Joe songs that you can download. How fun!

Pirates Don't Take Baths by John Segal (March 3, 2011 - Publisher: Philomel)
This is a fun read-aloud about a pig that really doesn't want to take a bath and his mom convinces him otherwise. The back and forth between the mom and her son is definitely something we can relate to here in my house. It made us smile. This book is now available as a board book, which I think is just perfect.

The Kraken's Rules for Making Friends by Brittany R. Jacobs (August 30, 2016 - Publisher: POW!)
I absolutely loved this picture book. It's not often that I fall in love with a book and my son does as well. The Kraken wants to make new friends, so the charismatic shark gives him some advice on how to make new fishy friends. Kids can really relate to this story and appreciate the overall message. The author gives young ones advice, but in a funny way, so it's not overly preachy. 

 

Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry Pinkney (May 9, 2017 - Publisher: Little, Brown Books)
Pinkney has really outdone himself with this picture book. We absolutely loved it and the illustrations are fantastic. Pinkney has taken the classic Three Billy Goats Gruff tale and put a twist on it by addressing the important issue of bullying. It's perfect for a read aloud and a must-have for children's bookshelves and classroom libraries. Highly recommended.

Strega Nona Takes a Vacation by Tomie DePaola (May 12, 2003 - Publisher: Puffin)
My son loves the Strega Nona books (I do too!) and they make for fun read alouds.  I thought this book much be particularly fun to read this summer right before our own family vacation. Strega Nona is feeling overworked and one night she dreams of her Grandmother. In the dream, she is at her Grandmother's cottage by the sea.  So Strega Nona decides to go on a vacation there. It's a cute read for the summertime.

Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel by Adam Rubin (May 2, 2017 - Publisher: Dial)
My son absolutely loved the first book, so we were thrilled to check out this sequel. This one of course involves tacos, spicy salsa, and dragons, but this sequel has a time machine! It's a lot of fun and my son wanted to read it again and again. It also made him laugh hysterically.  It's a little bit on the silly side, but no complaints here.

The House Takes a Vacation by Jacqueline Davies (March 1, 2007 - Publisher: Two Lions)
This book was in the "Summer Reads" pile at the library, so of course it caught our eyes.  The people who live at the house take a vacation and in turn, the house decides he wants to go on vacation as well. The various parts of the house can't agree where to go though. It was an odd read that I really wasn't a fan of. The only thing that I truly appreciated were the very nice illustrations.  

Strega Nona Does It Again by Tomie dePaola (September 26, 2013 -  Publisher: Puffin ) - Normally I enjoy the Strega Nona books, but this one was a bit odd. It deals with an unwelcome guest and it happens to be Strega Nona's cousin's daughter. But she's wretched and straight up horrible. Of course Strega Nona has a solution, but it wasn't working for me at all. I didn't think this book was as good (or as funny!) as some of the other Strega Nona tales that we have read in the past. 


Have you read any of these children's books? Do you have any recommendations for me? We are always on the hunt for our next favorite read.