Caterwaul caper5/13/2023 It was thirty years ago that a small black dog stepped out of the imagination of author and illustrator Lynley Dodd and onto the pages of a picture book. This is not only a marvellous story, but a superb aid for early learning and literacy development. Hear the barking dogs and the ferocious yowl of Scarface Claw, all part of the interactive experience, giving children and parents’ hours of fun. You can even colour in pages of the story and record your own voice. Run your fingers over the text to hear the story and touch any word to hear and see it spoken and spelt. Young children will love to join in making all the different noises. The noise is terrible - so terrible that it draws Hairy Maclary and all his friends from Donaldson's Dairy to investigate. Scarface Claw, the biggest cat in the neighbourhood, is out exploring when he gets stuck up a tree.
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Woven into this coming-of-age saga is the terribly intense love Carlos cherishes for his friend’s young mother, which has the effect of driving the general cruelties further under the reader’s skin. This landmark novella-one of the central texts of Mexican literature, is eerily relevant to our current dark times-offers a child’s-eye view of a society beset by dictators, disease, and natural disasters, set in “the year of polio, foot-and- mouth disease, floods.” A middle-class boy grows up in a world of children aping adults (mock wars at recess pit Arabs against Jews), where a child’s left to ponder “how many evils and catastrophes we have yet to witness.” When Carlos laments the cruelty and corruption, the evils of a vicious class system, his older brother answers: “So what, we are living up to our ears in shit anyway under Miguel Alemán’s regime,” with “the face of El Señor Presidente everywhere: incessant, private abuse.” Sound familiar? This heartbreaking novella is a key work of 20th-century dystopian Mexican literature and sadly all too realistic today She is stopped in her tracks by an astonishing sight that not only interrupts her dash toward ruin but eventually alters her life: trees transformed by what appear to be flames or manifestations of a bizarre disease. One autumn morning, the restless protagonist, 27-year-old Dellarobbia Turnbow, runs headlong into the forest near her home, on the verge of throwing her life away for an impulsive romantic assignation. From that catastrophe Kingsolver, a biologist by training, extrapolates a series of imaginary but plausible consequences.Ī different kind of “flight behavior” sets the story in motion. In 2010, extreme rainfall in the mountains near Angangueo, Michoacán, Mexico - better known as the gateway to the overwintering site of North America’s major population of Monarch butterflies - resulted in “mudslides and catastrophic flooding” that led to the deaths of numerous people and partial destruction of the butterflies’ habitat. The circumstance upon which Flight Behavior pivots is an actual event. It is to Barbara Kingsolver’s credit that in Flight Behavior, her eighth novel and 14th book, climate change serves as the precipitating factor in an absorbing story that blends science, religion, media exploitation of newsworthy events and the human effects of an unprecedented natural phenomenon. The subject of global warming rarely makes its appearance in the world of mainstream fiction. Stolen book lucy christopher5/13/2023 The perspective and overall style of the book really sets it apart from other kidnapping stories. The storyline itself is dark for the YA market - definitely targeted towards the older end with its swearing, drinking and the overall abduction premise. The narrator’s gruffer voice for male voice and higher one for the other women is a bit startling at first, but even when handling the different accents the narration is clear and easy to listen to and never distracting. Listening to the “you” makes this a bit startling at first to listen to, but it really makes it easier to identify with the villain, too. The novel’s format is that of a long letter from the abducted sixteen year old, Gemma, to her captor, Ty. The audio version is narrated by one woman, who has a pleasant voice to listen to. At first the slowness of listening frustrated me as Christopher’s novel is certainly a gripping story! But as I grew accustomed to letting my ears paint the pictures, I started really looking forward to those quieter moments when I could listen to it. This marks the first fictional audiobook that I have ever listened to! And it is quite an enjoyable experience! Although I probably would have read this book in one evening, listening to it for the last few weeks has really brightened those slow hours at work. She has two adult children, Natalie and Gordon and lives in Port Hope, Ontario and also has a home in the Beeches Toronto. She has written three episodes of the TV documentary series, Creepy Canada, and has just finished writing a full-length feature film, Loving Mrs. She has been a columnist for Homemaker's Magazine, written for Canadian Living, Chatelaine and Today's Parent and she provided the concept and initial research for "The Bee Talker" which aired on CBC TV's The Nature of Things. Paulette has also written dozens of non fiction books for children including the Amazing series, the In My Neighbourhood series, The Sun, and The Moon. Read reviews and buy Franklin Goes to Day Camp - (Franklin (Kids Can)) by Paulette Bourgeois (Paperback) at Target. She is also the author of Changes in You and Me, books about adolescence, the Oma's Quilt was developed as a short film by the National Film Board of Canada, Big Sarah's Little Boots and more. After Franklin in the Dark was illustrated by Brenda Clark and published in 1986. Inspired by the Season 7 episode of M*A*S*H, C*A*V*E, where Hawkeye Pierce admits that he is claustrophobic and refuses to go into a cave, "If I were a turtle I would be afraid of my own shell", he said. Franklin the turtle is going to day camp and isnt sure if he will like it. After the birth of her first child, Natalie, she decided to write a children's book. Includes a profile of Franklin author Paulette Bourgeois, reproducibles. The Blue Day Book for Kids: A Lesson in Cheering Yourself Up. Book the dunwich horror5/13/2023 Old Whateley, an old man with a beard stands by a cobwebbed window.Ī well dressed woman stands alone in the hall of a large mansion with gothic decoration. He has his palms facing toward his ears.Īn older man, Dr Armitage, sits in a chair. Wilbur wears rings on his two pinky fingers. The sun is obscured by the trunk of a dead tree. We see she is on a bed in a field with a purple duvet wrapped around her that has a gold symbol on it. Men in body paint with strange costumes try to wake her up. Lovecraft's terrifying tale of those who explore the unspeakable.Ī blonde woman, Nancy lies on an orange blanket. Wilbur has his hand over the goblet.Ĭome back old one. On top of the woman is a book with a goblet resting on it. He stands over a blonde woman who is laying down. Wilbur as in a trance stares at a large dagger in front of him. Theremin music with drumming begins to play. The screen is red with a pink graphic of an almost naked woman lying on a stone cross.Ī large pink hand appears in the graphic over the woman. Wilber holds his hand over a metal object which begins to rotate without him touching it. The Stepmonster by Joanna Nadin5/13/2023 * Varied sentences * Detailed illustrations to enjoy * Chapters * Interesting characters and themes * A rich range of vocabulary * More complex storylines to stretch confident readers All Reading Ladder titles are developed with a leading literacy consultant, making them perfect for use in schools and for parents keen to support their children's reading. Level 3 Reading Ladder titles are perfect for fluent readers who are beginning to read exciting, challenging stories independently. It's the first step towards a lasting love of reading. It features well-loved authors, classic characters and favourite topics, so that children will find something to excite and engage them in every title they pick up. The Reading Ladder series helps children to enjoy learning to read. (She likes all of the same things that Tom does - manatees and moles and woodlice and playing Snap for hours.) But maybe that's just a clever disguise. (Her hair looks like it's been spun from gold.) And she might not act like a stepmonster. They are StepMONSTERS! So when his dad's new friend Lulu comes to tea, Tom is convinced she will turn out to be a stepmonster. In fact, they aren't really stepmothers at all. Tom knows all about stepmothers from the books he's read. A funny, poignant family story by bestselling author Joanna Nadin, perfect for children learning to read. Star fish lisa fipps5/13/2023 True joy comes in watching Ellie gain confidence in herself and standing up to the bullies, even when they're family. Ellie's story is heartbreaking and raw at times, and Fipps paints a realistic picture of bullying in a world that equates thinness with beauty. Once readers start, it will be difficult for them to put this book down. "A charming novel in verse about a girl struggling with self-worth. Fipps's use of verse is as effective as it is fitting Ellie dreams of becoming a storyteller and poet 'to help people feel what it's like/ to live in/ someone else's skin.' A triumphant and poignantly drawn journey toward self-acceptance and self-advocacy." - Publishers Weekly, starred review Make room in your heart for this cathartic novel" - Kirkus Reviews, starred review The text places readers in Ellie's shoes, showing how she is attacked in many spaces-including by strangers on public transit-while clearly asserting that it's other people who need to change. "Fipps' verse is skillful and rooted in emotional reality. "Fipps bursts onto the middle-grade scene with her debut, a verse novel that shines because of Ellie's keen and emotionally striking observations.Ellie's story will delight readers who long to see an impassioned young woman seize an unapologetic victory." - Booklist, starred review The untethered soul negative reviews5/13/2023 More than a few times I struggled to comprehend what he had said, forcing me to rewind the audio and re-listen. At times, his volume is normal, and easily received, While other times, when he seems to be attempting to do the author justice, he lowers his voice for dramatic effect. My concern with his reading of this work lies solely in his volume level. For instance, the author, at the very beginning, relates to the reader by admitting that he has tried to tell the voice in his head to 'Shut Up.' This relatively regular theme of intermittent candor is refreshing.ĭid Peter Berkrot do a good job differentiating all the characters? How? The story did nothing, if not to help you find that other people are experiencing the same inner nuance you are. If the God themes are your thing, you'll also be just fine. If the God themes aren't for you, you'll be ok. The author does bring this point around in its own chapter near the final points of the book. While this is not for everyone, many people relate to this concept. I kept waiting for the book to give more credit to divine intervention. However, I feel the Allegory itself could serve as a stand-alone. The single greatest element of this book was the "Allegory of the House." Essentially, one will gain greater insight into the concepts shared after having progressed through the book up to the Allegory itself. What did you like best about The Untethered Soul? What did you like least? Jane had sent it to me and I didn’t think I’d hate it, given my previous experience with your work. So I didn’t have high expectations when I opened your latest, When Beauty Tamed the Beast. Not for Me because I like dark and angsty, and you write light and funny – at least that was the impression I had. You see, even though it was a decent book and I gave it a B, it cemented my impression of your books as Not for Me. But I think that book is why I haven’t felt too compelled to read your other books (2005 anomaly aside). I actually do remember a bit about Duchess in Love, which is surprising given how long ago I read it. I think the second observation must have been accurate, because I remember nothing about Much Ado About You. (BTW, my log is celebrating its 10th anniversary! Thanks for the memories, Microsoft Excel! I can barely remember what I read yesterday these days, so the log has been a lifesaver.) It turns out I’ve read two of your previous books: in 2003, I read Duchess in Love (grade: B observation: silly fluff, but fairly entertaining) and in 2005 I read Much Ado About You (grade: C+ observation: readable but forgettable). A trip down memory lane, via my book log, proved me wrong. I was under the impression that I had previously only read one book by you. Jennie A- Reviews doctor hero / Eloisa-James / Wales 21 Comments FebruREVIEW: When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James |