The Snow Bear

Author: Miriam Moss

Illustrator: Maggie Kneen

Title: The Snow Bear

Publication: September 24, 2001

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile 

Genre: Children

Pages: 32

Audience: 3 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Purchased

Synopsis :
 This is a story of a little white bear who has lost his mother. Instead of 

panicking, he decides to build a snow bear. While he is building the snow bear various forest animals show up to help him build the snow bear. As dusk approaches all the other forest animals are called home by their mothers. Baby bear is left alone.


My thoughts:
Yes, another snow book. I guess I wish we had snow or the weather would cool off a bit. The heat has been suffocating down here in the south! I saw this book on the shelf at a Friends of the Library Bookstore. I have no idea why I was pulled to it or why I had to buy it, but it was fifty cents well spent in my opinion. The images in my book are textured. The moon has a texture, the animals, the snow, the trees, and the snow flakes all have a texture. It isn't fabric, but the paper used for the story is textured. The illustrations are beautiful and is the main thing that drew me to the book.  The story is adorable and is good for animal lovers. All kinds of forest animals are in this story like a goose, fox, hare, ox, moose, wolf, and of course bear. I really enjoyed this. The story is cute and shows how different animals come together as a team and help baby bear build a snow bear. It is a super cute story to share with any child. I hope to share this one with my nephew soon.

Review: The Magical World of Flower Faires by Buddy Mays

Title: The Magical World of Flower Fairies

Author: Buddy Mays

Publication: July 16, 2012

Publisher: Earthworm Publishing

Source: Author

Genre: Children’s

Audience: 6 and up

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Summary: Did you know that every time a caterpillar laughs out loud, a flower fairy is born? Or that Butterfly Tag is a favorite flower fairy game? Or that flower fairies are all girls because if there were boy flower fairies, they would always be sweaty and muddy and stinky and have worms in their pockets, and nobody would like that! 

Most people don’t realize it, but these tiny magical creatures—the most common of all fairies—inhabit many well-tended flower gardens—possibly even yours. In this delightful, beautifully-illustrated children’s book, fairy expert, author, and prize-winning photographer Buddy Mays, provides young and old readers with secrets to successful flower fairy watching.

My Thoughts: This is a very cute book. My assistant reviewer (my daughter) absolutely loved this book. We were both drawn to the book because of the intriguing cover. My favorite part is the beautiful and well thought out photography on every page. It is refreshing to see kind and generous qualities being encouraged. The tips on how to seek out flower fairies will keep a child busy for hours. Jessie wants to start a flower garden so that the flower fairies will move in. This will also make a cute personalized book. A child will love having their picture placed throughout the book. This is available as an e-book at a great price. `

It's My Birthday Giveaway!

Yep, it's my 23rd birthday today and I would like to giveaway some books as a gift to you... even though technically you should give them to me. Tomato tomahto, potato patahto. I have a list of books below that I would like to give away. There will be two winners and they will get to pick ONE book from the list below. Good luck! -- USA/CAN only please!!

 Goodreads Summary

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Goodreads Summary

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Review: American Hip Hop: Rappers, DJs, and Hard Beats by Nathan Sacks

Title: American Hip Hop: Rappers, DJs, and Hard Beats
Author: Nathan Sacks

Publication: August 1, 2012

Publisher: 21st Century

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Genre: Non Fiction

Audience: 10 and up

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Summary

A rapper spits rhymes into a microphone. A DJ scratches a record back and forth against a turntable needle. Fans' feet stomp along to a stiff beat. These are the sounds of hip-hop. 

Hip-hop music busted out of New York City in the 1970s. Many young African Americans found their voices after stepping up to the mic. In the decades afterward, rappers and DJs took over the airwaves and transformed American music. In the twenty-first century, hip-hop is a global sensation. 

Learn what inspired hip-hop's earliest rappers to start rhyming over beats, as well as the stories behind hip-hop legends such as Run-D.M.C., 2Pac, Lauryn Hill, and Jay-Z. Follow the creativity and the rivalries that have fueled everything from party raps to songs about social struggles. And find out how you can add your own sounds to the mix.

My Thoughts:  This book describes Hip Hop's journey from somewhat of a joke in the music industry to the mega powerhouse it is today. Hip Hop is the sound that changed the music world forever. This is a great book, especially anyone interested in the History of Rap/Hip Hop. There are so many great aspects of this book. Great Photography, "Must Download Playlist", detailed descriptions.  I learned so much about the music that is an integral part of our nation (I mean who doesn't know who Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Tupac are?). Even the most controversial aspects of Rap/Hip Hop are discused and analyzed (East Cost/West Coast, controversal language and behavior.) One of the best things about this book is the length. There is a lot of information packed in the short, 70 page, book.

Matched by Ally Condie

Author: Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Publication: September 11th, 2011
Publisher: Speak
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 4 out 5

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Synopsis: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Thoughts:  Matched is about 16 year old Cassia needing to make a dire choice. Does she want to live in her world -- safe and sound -- forever, or take a chance at her true love and break all the rules. The problem with breaking rules are the horrible consequences. Exile, taking memorable posessions away, swiping minds clean... there's no stopping the government from taking control. Everything starts out great. Cassia is about to find out who her one true love is, and when the image is on screen Ky (a quiet boy she doesn't really know) pops up, then the screen goes blank. Once the computer turns back on, her best friend Xanders face replaces Kys. She has a feeling (a correct one) that this isn't the government -- also known as the "society" -- messing up because the government NEVER make flaws. Cassia has to dig deep down and find her true feelings. Is everything really what it seems? Can Ky or Xander give her the answers she seeks?


This plot is amazing! The main character has grown up to be naive and relient on the Society. Reading how her views change through out the book was interesting... it makes you want to learn more. I really don't like characters that makes stupid decisions and don't learn from them, and Cassia is a prime example of it. BUT, it's understandable. She literally doesn't know any better, and I would make the same mistakes in her situation. It's confusing when you think everything is happy and controled, then realize controling isn't the best way to live, so I forgive her actions. In a way she does learn from them. Well, kind of. The whole book she's scared to think differently and takes her a while to come out of her bubble (hence, she's in a green bubble on the cover).


I take one star away because of how terrible the writing is. It's very childlike and hard to get used to. An example of one of her paragraphs: I said yes. He shook his head. I didn't know why. Then he looked at me. I looked back. We looked at each other. -- That's not a quote from the book, but it's very close. There are. So many. Periods that aren't. Necessary. And the grammer. Is very. Childlike.

It was hard to get used to and I had to ignore the sentence structures after a while. It just doesn't deserve to be taken half a star away, it's that bad. I looked her up and the interwebz said she's an english teacher which worries me. I don't have great grammar and spelling and am totally owning up to it. I probably put commas that aren't necessary and forgot apostrophes multiple times through out this review, but you know what? I'm not a published author, I'm a reviewer. Millions of people are not reading this review.

If you forget about the horrible writing, I say go for it! The books plot really sucks you in, and I can't wait to start the third. It's a trilogy so the first book leaves you in a cliffhanger.

UPDATE: Last Survivors Series by Susan Beth Pfeffer

I'm so excited that Publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has accepted The Shade of the Moon for publication. There is not a publication date as of yet. If you are as excited and interested as I am check out the first chapter that Susan beth Pfeffer has kindly released. First 10 pages. The rest of Chapter One. You can check out my review of the other books here.

Bounty Hunt

Bounty Hunt is a list of our most anticipated reads. 

What are you looking forward to reading?