Children's Books, and Other Cool Stuff

What makes you think about when you hear the word Reference Books. A dusty pile of books that are never used standing on a library shelf? The books that are used often but cannot be taken out. Actually there is much more to them than that. I used to work in several libraries and worked closely with this collection. From cataloging them to placing them on the library shelves. Reference book play an important role in any library. In this update I decided to dedicate a post to Reference Books.   Reference Books   "Scholastic Children's Dictionary- This book was put together by  many people. Scholastic Books Inc. Published USA 2013. This Dictionary is a wonderful tool for both children and adults. It is full of wonderful illustrations and detailed word meanings. It is divided into many sections and covers everything from Thesaurus to different facts. It is very easy to follow and is a wonderful reference tool not only for ...

      That Time I Joined the Circus- Written by JJ Howard, published by Scholastic Inc. New York 2013. It is a well told life story of a 17 year old girl.  After her father's untimely death and a misunderstanding with her two best friends, she is forced to run away south and join a traveling circus that her mother was a part of once. This journey enriches her with a new outlook on life, and helps her discover her passion for the arts and acting. From a circus clean up crew to a fortune teller with her own act, Lexi's character develops over the course of the book, and discovers her true passion. I highly recommend this book for the dreamers living inside everyone.     Ship Breakers- Written by Paolo Bacigalupi, published by Little Brown and Company, New York 2010. Winner of Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. National Book Award Finalist. The action ...

Welcome all to my first Author Spotlight feature where you will get a chance to meet a well known author and learn about the writing process.   Interview     1) What were your favorite children books, when you were growing up?   I read practically every Nancy Drew there was, plus Harriet the Spy, The Little White Horse, and I gobbled up all of Phyllis Whitney’s mysteries , A Wrinkle in Time, etc . I could go on, but I won’t. Basically, I read a book a day all during elementary school.Maybe that’s why I love writing for the middle-grade audience.   2) What was the inspiration behind writing your book?   Several things! The magical, mysterious world of butterflies . . . spooky Louisiana swamps, old plantation houses, islands in the South Pacific . . . and a girl who is connected to all those things through her Grammy Claire. I love mysteries; too, as you can tell from my childhood favorite books, and I wanted to try my h...

Hello everyone, first I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year. It has been a hard year for many of us and lots had happened. Now is the time to start a fresh in 2013. I want to welcome Scholastic Inc. to my every growing publisher list. I am very happy to have them aboard. Last update I reviewed three Young Adult Novels. In this update I will be reviewing three picture books.  Picture Books 1) " The Never- Ending Greenness. We made Israel Bloom ."- The book was written and illustrated by Neil Waldman. Published by Boyds Mills Press Inc. 1997. Originally published by: NY Morrow Junior Books 1997. Summary: "When his family comes to live in Israel after the end of World War II, a young boy begins planting and caring for trees, a practice that spreads across the whole Country." The author tells us the story of one Jewish family who escaped the horrors of the Holocaust and settled in Israel. After witnessing the terror of World War II and the bareness of hi...