Jen Robinson's Book Page

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: March 11

As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers (people I trust, and generally have been following for some time), I take note of those reviews in which it is clear that the reviewer really, really likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books:

Susan Murray at From Tots to Teens recommends Bow-Wow's Nightmare Neighbors by Megan Montague Cash and Mark Newgarden, a 64-page wordless comic book style picture book. She says:

"this book is a perfect introduction to panels in graphic novels, but an experienced reader will also laugh out loud at some of the fun scenes. Bow-Wow's Nightmare Neighbors did a great job of surprising and delighting me. We enjoyed every moment with this book. "

Abby Johnson (aka Abby the Librarian) LOVES children's nonfiction. She is especially pleased with Earmuffs for Everyone: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs by Meghan McCarthy, saying: 

"On the surface, this may look like a straightforward biography of the inventor of earmuffs, but Meghan McCarthy takes this book to the next level, investigating why Greenwood is credit with the invention and explaining how easy it is for facts to be lost or misinterpreted in history."

Tiffa at The Picture Book Review adores Seaver the Weaver by Paul Czajak and The Brothers Hilts. She says: 

"Seaver the Weaver is an inspired and unconventional story of an unusual orb spider who weaves beautiful, original, and highly effective webs... From the dedication to the last sentence, the whole experience of reading this book feels wholly and perfectly complete."

Middle Grade:

I am eagerly awaiting the new Penderwicks books by Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks in Spring. Recently I was pleased to see positive reviews of this book by to of my go-to blogging friends, Melissa Fox from Book Nut and Tasha Saecker from Waking Brain Cells. Melissa said:

"It's a funny book -- the Penderwicks are witty and wonderful -- but it's also one that tugged at my heartstrings and made me cry in the end.  It's honest, and simple, and absolutely wonderful."

And Tasha said:

 "Birdsall’s writing pays homage to so many great writers, feeling both modern and vintage at the same time. Her writing is funny, wry and immensely comfortable. It’s a joyous mix of stories, chaos and noise. It is the pleasure of old friends and new adventures that you get to share. "

For a recent STEM Friday, Robert Gibson at Wrapped in Foil shared "a fabulous new book from Chicago Review Press", Zoology for Kids by Josh Hestermann and Bethanie Hestermann. She says:

"Anyone teaching a unit on animals will want to have a copy of this book on the shelf for project ideas. Librarians will want to have it as a go-to resource for information on animals and career options for those interested in animals, as well."

Katie Fitzgerald from Story Time Secrets calls Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens (releasing in the US on April 21st) "wonderful". She says:

"The setting is intriguing (like a real-life Hogwarts), the mystery is surprising, but solvable, and above all, the main characters are layered, complex and wholly interesting."

Charlotte Taylor from Charlotte's Library and I share a fondness for some of the same books from our childhoods. So when she compared Wish Girl by Nikki Loftin to Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The Velvet Room, she got my attention. She says:

"Give this to any introverted child who loves quiet places, or to a kid who appreciates being part of nature and making beautiful things!  Or give it to a kid who doesn't yet know that these things might be just what he or she needs...."

Young Adult:

Tanita Davis from Finding Wonderland is quite taken with Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman, sequel to 2012's Seraphina. She says:

"And the question on hundreds of young fans minds, fans who waited anxiously (and less than patiently, not gonna lie) the two and a half years for the perfected second book - the question is, "Is SHADOW SCALE worth the wait?"

UNEQUIVOCALLY, YES."

Karen Yingling from Ms. Yingling Reads isn't much of a personal fan of bleak books. However, she's also a librarian who understands that girls go through a particular developmental phase in which they want to read depressing titles. Hence she was "SO pleased" to find Stronger Than You Know by Jolene Perry, about the recovery of an abused teen, "pitch perfect" for her middle school audience. 

Closing Thoughts:

Personally, I am dying to read the new Penderwicks book. I also, from seeing it somewhere, had Murder is Bad Manners already on my wish list. Tanita also convinced me that I really should go back and read Seraphina (which I was able to pick up for $1.99 on Kindle). 

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know. 

Please let me know what you think of this new feature!

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: March 2

As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers (people I trust, and generally have been following for some time), I take note of those reviews in which it is clear that the reviewer really, really likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books and Board Books:

Amy Johnson at Sunlit Pages would "happily" read Cason Ellis' Home "again and again and again". She says:

"I've been trying to come up with why I like this book so much in spite of its not following the formula I traditionally like, and I think it comes down to this: it took something so basic and familiar but made me think about it in a new way."  

Jennifer Wharton from Jean Little Library is "completely in love with" a new series of board books, Carol Thompson's Whatever the Weather series from Child's Play. She says: 

"These are the perfect addition to your board book section; they would work well as read-alouds for a small lapsit storytime or one-on-one reading. The diverse cast is just one more bonus for these delightful books that toddlers are sure to love. Highly recommended."

Middle Grade:

Katie Fitzgerald from Story Time Secrets declares that Moonpenny Island by Tricia Springstubb "is already (her) pick for the 2016 Newbery Award." She adds:

"this one is a true masterpiece ... There are so many small, salient moments that are just perfectly described. Each word is chosen with such care, and the details are delivered with such precision that you almost miss how brilliant they are." 

At Wands and Worlds, Sheila Ruth reviews Smek for President by Adam Rex (sequel to The True Meaning of Smekday, of course). She says:

"Science fiction for kids is rare enough; truly funny middle-grade science fiction is even rarer... this is a perfect middle-grade book, and fans of The True Meaning of Smekday will love it. Anyone who hasn't readThe True Meaning of Smekday would be well served to read it first." 

At Sprout's Bookshelf, Mary Kinser raves about The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (winner of this year's Newbery Medal), saying: 

"tonight's pick is one that will appeal to both boys who love to read and those who don't, and to pretty much anyone who enjoys a well-told, fast-paced story."

Young Adult:

Jennifer Donovan from 5 Minutes for Books likes Girl Online by Zoe Sugg, a book with an "awkwardly lovable" main character. She says:

"I loved so much about this book. It was funny and sweet and magical with just the right amount of teen angst and drama, but it’s not completely lightweight chick lit for teens. Like so much wonderful YA lit does, it also touches on issues that are so real to many teenagers today such as cyber-bullying, anxiety and panic attacks." 

Kelly Jensen from Stacked calls No Parking at the End Times by Bryan Bliss "a knock out". She says: 

"This is a tightly-written, engaging read and would make for an excellent next read for those who love Sara Zarr, especially Once Was Lost. Pass this along, too, to those readers who loved Blake Nelson'sThe Prince of Venice Beach -- the depictions of homelessness are worth looking at together -- and/or Melissa Walker's Small Town Sinners." 

Tasha Saecker from Waking Brain Cells finds Prairie Fire by E. K. Johnston "superb". She says:

"A riveting read with a powerful ending that I am working hard not to spoil in the least. This novel is beautifully written, bravely done and purely epic. Appropriate for ages 14-17."

At Bookshelves of Doom, Leila Roy links to her Kirkus Review of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, saying: "OH MY GOD I LOVED IT SO MUCH". Her conclusion in the full review of this young adult romance is:

"T’S A HUG IN A BOOK. DO NOT MISS IT."

Closing Thoughts:

I'm a bit heavy on young adult titles this week, for some reason, but there are lots of titles that look personally interesting to me (especially The Crossover, which I really must read soon). I hope that those of you stopping by here will find titles that pique your interest. 

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know. 

Please let me know what you think of this new feature!

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: Feb. 23

As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers (people I trust, and generally have been following for some time), I take note of those reviews in which it is clear that the reviewer really, really likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books:

Rosemond Cates at Big Hair and Books is "crazy about Rodeo Red" by Maripat Perkins and Molly Idle. She says:

"This will absolutely be added to the permanent collection at my house, and I highly recommend getting a copy for your library as well!"  

Jeff Barger at NC Teacher Stuff says that Joyce Sidman and Rick Allen's Winter Bees and Other Poems of the Cold combines "exceptional poetry, interesting nonfiction text, and gorgeous illustrations". He adds:

"Joyce Sidman's poetry creates wonderful visuals and makes it a pleasure to read lines aloud. I'm especially drawn to the adjectives that she uses. The poems are impressive on their own, but then you get fascinating nonfiction with great wow! facts."

Early Readers/Early Chapter Books:

At Libros [email protected], Ashley Hope Pérez reviews the Sofia Martinez series by Jacqueline Jules, three early readers available separately or in a single multi-story volume. Ashley says:

"The Sofia Martinez series is a lovely addition to the world of early chapter books....Suited well to the needs, interests, and sense of humor of early readers, the books will have broad appeal for the K-2 crowd."

Charlotte Taylor from Charlotte's Library adores Ursula Vernon's Dragonbreath series. Reviewing the 10th Dragonbreath installment, Knight-Napped!, she says: 

"If you want a book to offer a seven or eight-year old with a sense of humor, especially an eight-year old who is maybe a bit geeky and who appreciates the snarky absurd, a Dragonbreath book is the Right Answer!!!"  

Middle Grade:

Katie Fitzgerald at Story Time Secrets is undertaking a Children's Historical Fiction Reading project. She reviewed The Squire's Tale by Gerald Morris in the interest of including a book about King Arthur. She says:

"This book is one of those rare gems that manages to be both literary and laugh-out-loud funny. Gerald Morris has a very understated sense of humor that might not appeal to every young reader, but kids that get his subtle jokes will be endlessly amused by them and eager for more." 

Sarah Stevenson is posting her Cybils shortlist reviews for Round 2 Graphic Novels at Finding Wonderland. Reviewing Elementary/Middle Grade category winner El Deafo by Cece Bell she says:

"I see it as having that critical combination of kid appeal and literary merit that will make it both a memorable and enjoyable read... This one was one of my favorites AND it scored the highest on my rating system for the E/MG graphic novel finalists."

Tasha Saecker from Waking Brain Cells calls Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan "simply exceptional." She concludes:

"This book is a delight to read.  It marries the magic of the harmonica with more realistic historical fiction components very successfully." 

Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads features books that she especially likes for Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays. Last week she discussed Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting (And Lives to Tell About It), saying:

"'I've been a huge Charlie Joe Jackson fan for a long time, and this book is an excellent addition to the canon!... This can be enjoyed even if you haven't read CJJ, and I would bet that all of my boys will be eager readers of this one even though Katie is on the cover." 

Young Adult:

April at Good Books and Good Wine makes identifying her favorites easy for me by including a ranking from one to five stars on each review. She gave five stars to All the Rage by Courtney Summers, saying:

"If you are in the market for a book that is incredibly intelligent commentary on our culture and why we need feminism, you need to pick up All The Rage and rage right along with main character Remy at the unfairness of her situation as well as those of other victims. This book is well written. It’s a quick read. It is real and raw and painful. I absolutely recommend it."

Closing Thoughts:

Choosing books to include was exceptionally difficult this week, because so many of my blogging friends waxed enthusiastic about so many titles. I've tried to select books for a wide range of audiences (by age, genre, topic, etc.). I hope that all of youare able to find something of interest. 

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know.

Please let me know what you think of this new feature!

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: Feb. 16

As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers, I take note of those reviews in which it is clear to me that the reviewer quite likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books:

Stacey Loscalzo calls A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall (which I intend to review myself at some point) "The Best Picture Book Ever." She says:

"This book is quiet and probably will not catch the eye of a child walking by but it is a keeper. Any book that teaches a lot of history in a small space and brings two siblings together in conversation is worth a space on our shelves for sure." 

Jennifer Wharton at Jean Little Library looks at Buried Sunlight: How Fossil Fuels have Changed the Earth by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm. Her verdict:

"This is the best explanation of fossil fuels for young listeners and readers that I've seen - it even made sense to me! The text is clear and interesting and the inspired illustrations richly complement the text. A definite must-have for your collection."

Catherine Friess from Story Snug and her family are quite enamored of Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Thief. Catherine says:

"We love Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar. It’s a great story which celebrates reading, books and libraries in a very humorous way."

Amy Broadmoore from Delightful Children's Books is a big fan of Emmanuel's Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls. She says:

"There are very few books that feature characters with disabilities, and this is a good one.Emmanuel’s Dream will captivate children and broaden their view of the world."

Mary Kinser always keeps an eye out for diverse books at Spout's Bookshelf. She particularly likes Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson, saying.

"This title is brimming with spirit and distinctiveness, in its depiction of a young boy, his nana, and the world of their city... What de la Peña and Robinson have created is a fresh classic, a book that keeps giving with each subsequent read - and believe me, it's one you'll read time and time again." 

Susan Murray at From Tots to Teens adores Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award and Caldecott Honor winner Viva Frida by Yuyi Morales. She says:

"There are so many layers to the art included here, so many things to discuss in the words and pictures I could go on and on.  It is so lucky for all of us that Yuyi Morales chose Frida Kahlo new life here.  It is magic you'll never forget." 

Middle Grade:

Tasha Saecker's reviews at Waking Brain Cells are generally pretty positive. But it's not often that she says things like "I adored this novel." Her rave review for The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley says:

"Bradley’s writing is exceptional. It reads easily and beautifully. She captures Ada perfectly ... Brilliant characters shine on the page as this book looks at war, abuse, and love in a complex and heroic way.  Appropriate for ages 10-13."

At Random Musing of a Bibliophile, Brandy likes Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai even better than she liked the author's previous National Book Award / Newbery Honor winning title. She concludes:

Going with Mai and her grandmother on their journeys of discovery and closure is a privilege every reader will enjoy. I laughed and cried with them, and felt like I was a part of their family when I finished.

Charlotte Taylor from Charlotte's Library tends toward understatement. So I pay attention when she says: "One Witch at a Time, by Stacy DeKeyser (Margaret K. McElderry Books ,February 10, 2015) is an extremely satisfying middle grade reimagining of Jack and the Beanstalk". She adds this:

"What sets DeKeyser's books apart is that they are the only younger middle grade fairytale retellings (9 to 10 year olds) I can think of that have a boy as the central protagonist (feel free to let me know I'm wrong!)."

Young Adult:

Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads also tends to be relatively understated in her reviews (and she's excellent about pointing out weaknesses, not just strengths). Karen seemed to like Inherit Midnight by Kate Kae Myers, though, saying:

"This was one of the better books I have read in a while. Lots of action and adventure, a nice touch of romance, fun family history, and traveling. Nothing was pat, and the ending had some very nice twists."

Reviewing Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, Brandy from Random Musings of a Bibliophile says:

"This book is one that needs to be read. It begs to be read. Nothing I say in this review is going to do this book justice. It's one of those books you simply have to experience... This is my favorite read of 2015 so far and I've really liked all the books I've read this year so that's saying something." 

Closing Thoughts:

I'm grateful to all of the bloggers listed above, and to many others who I follow, for reviewing a breadth of children's and young adult literature that I could never / would never cover on my own. 

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know. 

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: Feb. 2

This is a relatively new series here at Jen Robinson's Book Page. As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers (people I trust, and generally have been following for some time), I take note of those reviews in which it is clear that the reviewer really, really likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books:

Betsy Bird from A Fuse #8 Production is pretty thrilled with Mr. Squirrel and the Moon by Sebastian Meschenmoser, calling it "truly delightful" and "delicious". She says:

"Taking a trope we’ve all seen before and then improving upon it, this is a lovely story of fur, false accusations (or fear thereof), guts, glutted field mice, and glory. Everything, in short, that a good children’s picture book should be."

Early Readers/Early Chapter Books:

When Jennifer Wharton from Jean Little Library gives a positive "verdict" to a book, you can count on it being worth a look (particularly for library purchase). Reviewing the beginning chapter book fantasy title Beasts of Olympus: Beast Keeper (first in a new series) by Lucy Coats she says:

"I enjoyed reading it and can't wait to introduce it to my patrons. Ideal for strong 2nd grade readers up through 4th grade, although older and younger kids will enjoy it as well. Highly recommended."

Middle Grade:

Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads is my go-to source for middle grade/middle school book recommendations. In a recent Middle Grade Monday post she recommends what sound like two fun titles: Masterminds by Gordon Korman and Countdown Zero (The Codename Conspiracy) by Chris Rylander. Of Masterminds she says:

"Really don't want to give away the twist in this because it was SO good, and much darker than the beginning of the book would indicate.... Korman is awesome. This book was not only exciting, but thought provoking as well. Definitely buying a copy and waiting avidly for the sequel!"

And of Countdown Zero she concludes:

"Perfect middle grade novel ... Rylander fully embraces the joys and possibilities of being an unlikely teen spy. I have two copies of Codename Zero (the first book in the series) because it's such a popular read with so many of my students."

Young Adult:

Charlotte Taylor from Charlotte's Library tends to be relatively understated in her reviews. And she reads a lot. So I take notice when she says:

"Stranger, by Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith (Viking Juvenile, YA, Nov. 2014)--is the most beautifully character-focused adventure set in a damaged Earth I've read in years." 

Closing Thoughts:

Speaking of Charlotte Taylor, another great source for collected reviews is her weekly roundup of links to middle grade science fiction and fantasy reviews from around the Kidlitosphere. Here's the one from January 25th.  

ALA Awards

The ALA Youth Media Awards were announced today. There are lots of great titles among the honorees, including a good representation of diversity and poetry. Here is the official ALA press release listing the winners in the various categories. While not guaranteed to be kid-friendly in the way that Cybils honorees are, the ALA-selected titles are a good source of high-quality children's and young adult literature. I reviewed the Caldecott Medal Winner: The Adventures of Beekle: An Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat just last month. I also reviewed Caldecott Honor winner Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.  

I also reviewed the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award winner: The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. 

And finally, I reviewed both the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner, You Are (Not) Small by Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant, and the two honor titles in this distinguished beginning reader category. I loved both Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page by Cynthia Rylant and Arthur Howard and Waiting Is Not Easy by Mo Willems. 

But do check out the full ALA press release for all of the award-winning titles.

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know. 

Please let me know what you think of this new feature!

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

#KidLitFaves: Recent Children's and YA Books that Bloggers Love: Jan. 26

This is a relatively new series here at Jen Robinson's Book Page (see the inaugural post here). As I travel about the kidlitosphere, encountering reviews by other bloggers (people I trust, and generally have been following for some time), I take note of those reviews in which it is clear that the reviewer really, really likes the book. I share links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves) and Facebook and round them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

All Ages:

At A Fuse #8 Production, Elizabeth Bird shares her thoughts on Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, collected by Elizabeth Hammill. Betsy especially appreciates the attention given to diversity i this compilation, saying:

"Tsimshian and Creole, Jamaican and Australian, Chinese American and Chippewa, this is a book that not only speaks to a wider audience than nursery rhyme collections of the past, it’s cleverly constructed and perfectly illustrated to boot. Hammill has clearly created the very first nursery rhyme collection of note for the 21st century."

Picture Books:

At Story Snug, Catherine Friess shares Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson, calling Otto "a lovely celebration of reading, writing, libraries, books and friendship". She adds:

"This is a lovely story to stimulate a discussion about children’s favourite book characters and what children think that they get up to when nobody else is looking!"

Early Readers/Early Chapter Books:

Joyce Grant at Getting Kids Reading recommends Guinea PI(g): Pet Shop Private Eye: Hamster and Cheese, spotlighting "a reluctant PI with a mystery to solve." Here are her reasons for recommending this series for newer readers:

"1) The aforementioned fact that IT’S ABOUT A GUINEA PIG DETECTIVE.
2) It’s got a bit of an edge.
3) The dialogue is not only realistic, but it’s actually funny.
4) You can almost feel the fluffiness of these guinea pigs. I mean, really."

Middle Grade:

Jennifer at Jean Little Library quite likes Sniffer Dogs: How Dogs (and their Noses) Save the World by Nancy F. Castaldo. Noting that "THIS is what a nonfiction book should look like", her decisive verdict for librarians is:

"A high-interest subject, with sensitive subjects delicately handled, well-written, and a beautiful layout. This will fly off your shelves and I highly recommend it."

Young Adult:

At Random Musings of a Bibliophile, Brandy raves about This Side of Home by Renee Watson, calling the protagonist's voice "perfect". She says:

"What attracted me to This Side of Home by Renee Watson was the cover. The story hooked my interest. The characters made me fall in love... This is a great book to spark thoughts on what defines a person." 

April at Good Books and Good Wine stayed up late into the night reading Emery Lord's Open Road Summer, calling it "exactly my favorite kind of contemporary book". She concludes:

"The friendship between Dee and Reagan is excellent and the sort of friendship where there is give and take in equal amounts... I’ll just say that the romance in this book is super adorable and I think you guys totally will enjoy those bits when you read this book." 

Tasha Saecker at Waking Brain Cells calls Holly Smale's Geek Girl "hilarious, geeky and great fun." She says:

"The first book in a trilogy, this book came out in the UK in 2013 and was nominated and won several awards. It certainly lives up to the hype with its wit, strong heroine and inherent joy. Appropriate for ages 13-15."

Closing Thoughts:

I do hope that you'll click through to read the full reviews if any of these titles pique your interest. Quite a few reviews pass through my screens each week. The seven highlighted here stood out as being particularly enthusiastic examples of each reviewer's work.  

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID, mainly as a convenience to readers so that I can include the cover images. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know. 

Please let me know what you think of this new feature!

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

New KidLitFaves series: Recent Children's and YA Books that my Friends Love!

I'm kicking off a new series here at Jen Robinson's Book Page. People come here (I hope) in the expectation that I will help them in their quest to grow bookworms. And one of the ways that I can help parents, teachers, and librarians in this quest is by pointing out great new children's and young adult titles.

There are only so many titles that I can review myself, however (particularly without burnout). But every day I see reviews on my friends' blogs. So I've decided to try to keep an eye out for those reviews, by people I trust, in which it is clear that the reviewer really likes the book.

I'm going to start sharing links to those reviews on Twitter (with hashtag #KidLitFaves, first used by Australia mom @SquiggleMum) and Facebook, and rounding them up here. Hopefully over time this will become a useful resource. I welcome your feedback! 

Picture Books:

Here is Mary Kinser's conclusion on Imani's Moon at Sprout's Bookshelf (a book that I also reviewed):

"Don't miss Imani's Moon, a great addition to collections for its focus on bravery, honoring oneself and never giving up. Let the magic sweep you up, as it does Imani, to touch the moon. Imani's Moon by JaNay Brown-Wood, published by Mackinac Island Press."

At Waking Brain Cells, reviewer Tasha Saecker calls A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat by Emily Jenkins and Sophie Blackall an "exceptional picture book". She concludes:

"A joy to read and share, this book has all the delight of a great dessert but is also packed full of historical information and detail.  Appropriate for ages 6-9."

The Picture Book Review calls Thank You, Octopus, by Darren Farrell "Crazy Good!". This in-depth review includes several sample illustrations from the book (provided to The Picture Book Review with permission of the author), so you really should click through to see. There are also links to professional reviews of the book. The reviewer concludes:

"t’s really wonderful!  It’s a joy and I am sure you’ll love it!"

Early Readers/Early Chapter Books:

At A Year of Reading, Franki Sibberson discusses Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelman. She says:

"I get so happy when I find new early chapter books that are perfect for our transitional readers... It's a great book for first graders who are strong readers and need something they can relate too. It is also great for 3rd graders who will catch some of the subtle humor."

Middle Grade:

Over in Australia, the @BookChook, Susan Stephenson, raves about Legends of Zita the Spacegirl + Return of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke. She says:

"I recommend that librarians looking for graphic novels suitable for primary schoolshould snap this series up. It’s perfectly pitched at the primary level, is light-hearted and action-packed."

Reviewer Ms. Yingling Reads quite likes A Plague of Bogles (sequel to How to Catch a Bogle) by Catherine Jinks. She says:

"This was delightful, mainly because all of the characters were so plucky and undeterred... Like Jonathan Stroud's Lockhart and Co., this series is an action packed sojourn in a rather seedy, but somehow still delightful London."

Young Adult:

At The Book Zone (a blog focusing on "boy-friendly" books), Darren Hartwell recommends Big Game by Dan Smith. Published by Chicken House in the UK, this book is available in the US in audio and digital formats. The Book Zone says:

"Big Game could be added to the dictionary as the definition of 'edge of your seat thriller'. The short chapters and fast-paced and relentless action make it one of those books that is incredibly difficult to put down"

At Bookshelves of Doom, Leila Roy shares her thoughts on re-reading Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak. She says:

"I love that, despite all the pain, it is also, at moments, an incredibly funny book. And I love that it's funny without minimizing Melinda's pain, without being disrespectful to her or to it or to any other survivor ... So. If it's been a while, I suggest that you revisit. There's a reason it's become a modern classic."

Closing Thoughts:

Long ago, I did a series on my blog called Reviews that Made Me Want the Book. That series was similar to this, in that I would link to other people's reviews. However, back then I was focused on reviews of books that met with my own particular taste. Here, I'm focusing more on the other reviewers' tastes - on the books that other bloggers seemed to particularly like. I think that this focus will be more useful to readers, and help me to be able to recommend books that don't fall into my personal areas of reading. I do hope that if you find these blurbs useful, you'll click through and discover the blogs that they come from. 

Two other notes about these review excerpts:

1. If I have quoted from one of your reviews, and you prefer that I not do so in the future, just let me know. No worries.
2. The book covers that I have included beside each blurb include my personal Amazon affiliate ID. This is mainly done as a convenience to readers who might wish to purchase these titles, and so that I can show the book covers without copyright issues. If you don't want your reviews to be included in future because of this, just let me know. I am not looking to get rich off of other people's work - merely trying to help get more books into more readers' hands. 

Please let me know what you think of this new feature!

© 2015 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate, and purchases made through affiliate links (including linked book covers) may result in my receiving a small commission (at no additional cost to you).