Family Reads

Quick Pick: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick
© 2003, 550 pages Level 5 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

Don't let the length of this book scare you away. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a story told in words and pictures, so a large portion of the pages are illustrations that contribute to the plot. And what illustrations they are! Author/Illustrator Brian Selznick won the Caldecott Medal for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, a fascinating mixture that he describes as, "not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things." It's really worth experiencing this book simply for the groundbreaking format, but it's also a creative novel that weaves in mystery, history, and suspense. So what's it about? It's a hard plot to summarize, but it involves an orphaned boy who lives in the unseen world behind the walls of a Paris train station. Add one clever girl, an old man, a stolen key, and a hidden message, and you've got a very interesting read!

If the Shoe Fits...Cinderella Stories from Around the World (CD)

If the Shoe Fits...Cinderella Stories from Around the World

by Milbre Burch
© 2005, Audio CD Level 3 (all about levels) Learn More Reviewed by Emily Morgan

 

There are so many variations on Cinderella stories available in print that no little girl should think that the only Cinderella is the Disney version. This collection of six Cinderella-type stories is captivating and very well performed. The collection includes a simple 3-minute story as well as a 15-minute one about a boy Cinderella. The total running time is just over an hour and is recommended for ages 8 and up. My daughter and I loved these stories, listening intently over our lunch one summer day.

Other Cinderella stories to check out:

Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson

Cindy Ellen: a Wild Western Cinderella by Susan Lowell

What-the-Dickens

What-the-Dickens

by Gregory Maguire © 2007, 295 pages Level 4 (all about levels) Read Amazon Reviews

 

Gregory Maguire, the author of Wicked and The Hamlet Chronicles, now treats us to a brand new story about a rogue tooth fairy called What-the-Dickens. Orphaned at birth, this skibberee bumbles his way through his first days of life and tries to find out where he fits in. He'd really like to become the pet of McCavity, a cat who unfortunately lacks a soft spot for winged creatures. He knows he doesn't want to be adopted by the bird who sings off-key.  But when he meets Pepper, a tooth fairy on a mission, he thinks he must be on to something.

But skibbereen are suspicious sorts, and Pepper's colony isn't receptive to this stranger. Can he learn enough about their ways and prove himself worthy of belonging to their ranks?

The tale of What-the Dickens is a story-within-a-story and is told by Gage, an older cousin who has come to stay with three children during a natural disaster that cuts them off from power, food, and civilization. Their story runs parallel with the events in What-the-Dickens' life, and eventually intersects in a satisfying twist.

Lori

The writing in this book is truly delightful. As I read to Ben, we stopped often to appreciate Maguire's work—amazing descriptions, clever wordplay, ironic coincidences, etc. It was a teensy bit challenging as a read-aloud, only because of the frequent passages of dialog that don't indicate the change in speaker. It's no problem when you're seeing the pages, but a little trickier if you're only hearing it. However, in the hands of a skilled artist, I imagine that this would be a fantastic audiobook!

What-the-Dickens is wonderful modern-day fairy tale. Don't expect to get carried away by the plot, but instead enjoy the humor, the interesting characters, and the unique look at the world of a tooth fairy.

Ben

This is a great book. The plot moves along quickly, making for an easy read. The characters are charming and unforgettable—children and tooth fairies alike. Though easy to read, this novel is very exciting. I would recommend this to both young and old readers.

Dinosaur Habitat

Dinosaur Habitat

by Helen V. Griffith
© 1999, 96 pages Level 3 (all about levels) Learn More on Amazon Reviewed by Gina Clifford

 

Ryan is an absolute dinosaur fanatic but Nathan doesn't know the first thing about dinosaurs. One day, Ryan finds what he thinks is a real dinosaur fossil — a dinosaur egg, perhaps. As the brothers argue, the fossil ends up in Ryan's terrarium full of plastic dinosaurs and real swamp soil.

Suddenly, everything is wet, foggy, and buggy. As the fog clears, the boys quickly realize that they are in a prehistoric world that looks remarkably like the landscape in Ryan's terrarium. One by one, Ryan and Nathan meet the inhabitants of the terrarium and embark on an incredible journey of adventure and discovery.

Are the boys really in the terrarium? Will the volcano Ryan built erupt? How will the boys get back home?

Dinosaur Habitat is an incredibly fun book to read. With dinosaur facts weaved seamlessly into the story, kids get a feel for what it might have been like to walk among the dinosaurs. The author uses such detailed descriptions that the reader really feels like part of the story.

This book was a hit with our young reader. As a dinosaur enthusiast, he appreciated the author's portrayal of the various dinosaurs' personalities, especially the baby hadrosaur. The book was so engaging, our young reader begged to continue reading, even though it was bedtime!

First Day of School Books

Fresh folders, wide-ruled notebooks, and new packs of pencils are marching down the aisles of superstores across Texas as the first day of school draws near. Seasoned students like Ben are squeezing every last drop of lazy summer out of these remaining days, but families with younger children might be noticing a definite undercurrent of nervous energy around the house. If you find yourself with a fretful kiddo on your hands, it's time for a trip to the library! (Yes, that's my solution to everything ;) Including suggestions from our amazing guest reviewer Emily Morgan (who is a former teacher, so she knows what she's talking about), here are some picks to help quell first-day fears:

• Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate (this is a whole series of Kindergarten books)
• First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
• Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
• The Ticky-Tacky Doll by Cynthia Rylant
• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
• Mouse's First Day of School by Lauren Thompson
• The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
• Owen by Kevin Henkes
• I Don't Want to Go Back to School by Marisabina Russo
• How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague

If you've got a favorite back-to-school book, please share below!

Elbert's Bad Word

Elbert's Bad Word

by Audrey Wood
© 1988, 29 pages Level 2 (all about levels) Learn More on Amazon Reviewed by Emily Morgan

 

Young Elbert is at an elegant adult garden party when he hears a word that he had never heard before. Tucking it away and forgetting about it, he goes about his business. When a croquet mallet is dropped on his toe, Elbert lets the word out. Surprised by the response of the guests and the punishment he gets, he seeks advise on how to "cure" his bad word. With the gardener's help, he is able to turn the bad word into more creative and socially-acceptable words. Elbert is victorious over the word and it disappears from him forever. 

I have not stumbled upon a picture book that touches on the topic of profanity until this one. So very cleverly written, it's a lesson to all of us on the creative words that are available for our use when the rest of the world is stuck on the old, very ugly ones.

Quick Pick: Behind the Curtain

Behind the Curtain

by Peter Abrahams
© 2007, 400 pages Level 5 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

Behind the Curtain reminded me of just how much I enjoy a good mystery. The second novel in the Echo Falls series picks up right where Down the Rabbit Hole left off. Our hero, 13-year-old Ingrid, once again finds herself in the middle of a multi-layered mystery involving her brother, his friends, her Grampy, her father (and his job), and the local police. With an attempted kidnapping, car chase, and lots of close calls, it's hard to stop turning the pages in this action-packed book. Behind the Curtain is definitely at the older range of books you'll find on Family Reads, and there are some mature situations and profanity you should be aware of, but for the right reader, it's just too much fun to miss. If you're looking to share some reads with your older kids, this book is a great choice!