Scar Island by Dan Gemeinhart
Recommended for grades 4-7

Jonathan Grisby is the newest arrival at Slabhenge Reformatory School for Troubled Boys. We don't know what awful thing he has done, but we know it is bad. The school is on an island, an ancient crumbling fortress in the middle of the ocean. But because he has done something truly horrible he is willing to take his punishment, whatever that might be. After a few days as he gets use to his new surroundings and learns about the different boys on the island, something horrific happens and the boys are all left on their own on the island to fend for themselves. Are the boys actually in more danger now than they were before the accident? A gripping novel with much suspense, mystery and intrigue. Read how these troubled boys come together to help and learn how to live with their sins of their past before moving forward with their lives.

You won't want to put this book down!

****1/2 Stars

Audrey Bunny

Audrey Bunny 

by Angie Smith, Illustrated by Breezy Brookshire

Audrey Bunny isn’t perfect. She has a little hole above her heart. She wants nothing more than to be loved. But is she unworthy of being loved with her hole? When Caroline enters her life and takes her home from the toy shop, Audrey falls in love. But then is conflicted because she is worried that she will lose Caroline’s love when Caroline notices that she isn’t flawless.

Audrey Bunny is a sweet love story that proves nobody is perfect. Written with religious undertones, this story can be read over and over again. Thanks to Angie Smith, the author, for creating a lovable character and story that will touch your heart. Most importantly the message that the author builds on is differences make us unique and special. While there is so much more to this story that can be found on Angie Smith’s website, it is how she created the story and her spiritual closeness with G-d that makes this a gem. You don’t have to be religious to enjoy the story and share it with others. It can be a great tool for discussion with children on many levels and Angie has also included activities in the back of the book to do as well.

This is a love story, of a different sort. Recommended for children ages 4-8. 

All Too Much for Oliver

A Must Read for all Highly Sensitive Children!

Oliver is a very quiet little boy. He is sensitive and likes to avoid places that are noisy or crowded, which is a lot of places. Oliver likes to be by himself, or he thinks he likes to be by himself because it makes him feel comfortable. What happens when Oliver decides to try something new? And maybe that might even involve making a new friend too.  How will that make him feel? Will Oliver discover that crowded and noisy places aren’t so bad after all?

This is a wonderful realistic story for a child who is highly sensitive. And what is a highly sensitive child? This is a type of person that has an innate trait of high sensory processing sensitivity.

To compliment the story, the illustrations are simple, done in soft pastel pencils and watercolors, which are calming to the senses. This sweet enduring story allows any child to have feelings of being overwhelmed in different situations and understanding that these feelings are common. It can also help build self-esteem in sensitive children and guide them to learn coping strategies.

I look forward to seeing more books for highly sensitive children by My Quiet Adventures!

Recommended for ages 4-6

Under the Egg by Laura Max Fitzgerald

Check out this clever middle grade read. A mixture of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, to Chasing Vermeer and Masterpiece. This is one of the best books I have read this year! A possible Newbery Honor book, I don't know, but I couldn't put the book down.

Meet Theo Tenpenny. She is a young responsible girl who, un until now, was taken care of by her grandfather, Jack. She lives with her mentally ill mother but now that Jack is dead, all the responsibility lies on Theo. She is responsible for tending to the family's 200 year-old town house and caring for a flock of chickens that lay eggs. And Theo is only 13 years-old. But all Theo can think about are Jack's last words, "It's under the egg, look under the egg. A letter and a treasure." Now how is Theo to survive, pay the bills and take care of herself and her mother? Without Jack's job at the art museum, none of this seems possible. That is until she discovers a painting that looks like it could be worth a fortune. But how did her grandfather get such a painting? It seems odd being that he was a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Now Theo is worried that maybe her grandfather stole it and she is afraid of what the consequences for her family might be.

And so the adventure begins. Along the way, Theo meets a new friend, Bodhi, a wealthy young girl who has it all. Together the two solve the mystery of the masterpiece and learn a bit about art, history and friendship.

A great mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats while introducing them to the secret world of art. Recommended for grades 4-7.

Author Greg Foley

Meet Bear

Greg Foley, a creative author and illustrator has created a set of books about a little bear. In these four books, the author’s theme for his stories is about the importance of friendship. Since I’m a librarian, I don’t purchase a lot of books. I check them out and read them over and over again from the library. But if ever there were books to purchase, these would be the ones to have on your child’s bookshelf, all four of them in fact. They are wonderful!

Who is Greg Foley, he is a young guy who grew up in Austin Texas. He comes from a family of educators and is also one himself. His first picture book, Thank you Bear, won the prestigious Charlotte Zolotow Award for outstanding writing in a picture book. His background is art and his illustrations are done in line art, which are then digitally rendered from pencil sketches. While they are so simple and there isn’t a lot on each page, they are very sweet and really tell the story.

Thank you Bear  (Published in 2007)

Thank you Bear was Greg’s first book introducing the character bear.  Bear is a sweet little simple fellow. He finds a small box that he thinks will be perfect for his friend mouse. Unfortunately he gets a lot of criticism from his other friends about the box not being that great. It’s a box. But once mouse sees the box, he loves it. In this story we learn about the importance of true friendship. 

Don’t worry bear (Published in 2008)

In his next story bear befriends a caterpillar that is busy making her cocoon. Bear doesn’t understand the importance of the cocoon and worries about the caterpillar because he can’t see her while she is inside of the cocoon. She tells him not to worry, that he will see her again soon. But he just doesn’t understand. Will he ever see his friend the caterpillar again? Once again, the author has created another simple but lovely story about friendship. 

Good luck Bear (Published in 2009)

In Foley’s third story, Good luck Bear, we learn about luck. Bear is trying to find a four-leaf clover because he knows that will bring him luck. But none of his friends are willing to help him look for it, except of course mouse. Who in the end finds something even better than the four-leaf clover? You will have to read the story to see.

Make a wish bear (Published in 2012)

In Foley’s last installment of Bear, the importance of friendship is stressed yet again. Bear makes a wish upon a star and waits for his wish to come true. Try to guess what that wish might be. It has to do with all of his friends.

Truly these stories are just fabulous and I’m eagerly awaiting more bear books from this talented author and illustrator, Greg Foley.

If you want to know more about him check out his website at:

www.thankyoubear.com

Personally I can’t wait to see what Greg Foley creates next…

When No One is Watching

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy proof of this adorable book that is expected to come out in February. 

When No One is Watching by Eileen Spinelli & Illustrated by David Johnson

This is a sweet story about a shy little girl who loves to do many things when others aren’t looking. She likes to dance, growl and cheer, she even likes to play basketball and shoot the ball into the hoop. But when everyone is watching she hides behind the couch like a cat, she passes the basketball to her friend, and she won’t sing but rather hum.  This is a story about being shy and knowing that nothing is wrong with it at all. Written in rhyme with wonderful ink drawing illustrations with watercolor and some digital manipulation. You begin to fall in love with this little girl with the wild curly hair. I know I did.

Two wonderful stories about friendship

Vernon the toad has met a new friend, a small blue bird. But bird doesn't seem to be happy and Vernon isn't quite sure why. He asks little blue bird, but bird doesn't talk. He thinks that bird is lost from his home so he decides to introduce bird to his friends and try to discover where little blue bird's home really is. 

As the reader, we know from the start that the little blue bird has fallen out of a moving truck where he lived in a cuckoo clock. While Vernon doesn't know this, he tries everything to discover where little bird's home is. 

A very tender and thoughtful tale of friendship written by Caldecott winner, Author/Illustrator Philip Stead. The story is not only creative but the illustrations are richly colored in mixed media and truly display the emotions of Vernon and little blue bird. 

"Bird is shy," said Vernon, "but also a very good listener." Isn't that what friends are? A wonderful story that can be read over and over again. A story that can encourage discussions of what true friendship is and the importance of a home. 

A must for children ages 3 and up

Another very endearing tale of friendship. Meet Bear who is getting ready to go to sleep for the winter. Yet, he has a very important story to tell and he can't seem to find a friend who isn't getting ready for winter to stop and listen. He goes from friend to friend eagerly wanting to tell a story, but each time he gets more tired and each time his friends turn him away as they are busy getting ready for winter too.

Mouse is setting up his food supply in a tunnel, duck is getting ready to journey south for the winter, frog is seeking warm shelter, and mole is already fast asleep. As bear finds his spot for the winter he goes to sleep without ever telling his story.

Written by Philip Stead and illustrated by his wife, Erin, the Caldecott duo have done it again. The illustrations are done in pencil and watercolor and truly show the change in seasons. A wonderful story about friendship as well as the importance of patience. Ages 3 and up.