Carnival Quest (The Candy Shop Wars #3) by Brandon Mull

Carnival Quest (The Candy Shop War #3)
By Brandon Mull
Published by Shadow Mountain

Publication Date: March 14th, 2023


 Watch the Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/Yg-s1DladC0

Synopsis:
The Blue Falcons is a secret kid’s club that fights against a family of villainous magicians. Using an impressive arsenal of magical candy, Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon defeated Belinda White, a sinister candy shop owner who almost seized control of their town, and her brother, Jonas White, a maniacal arcade operator who tried to turn the planet into his personal puppet.

 
Now, the Blue Falcons believe they must battle the third sibling—Camilla, who has brought the Dreams and Screams International Carnival to their town of Colson, California.

 
Rumors are spreading about the new carnival. Those who visit feel compelled to return. Some who enter the labyrinthine Fun House disappear for days. And the Big Top is said to bewitch audience members.

 
The Blue Falcons think they know who is responsible and are ready to fight, but the carnival blocks any outside magic. Without their favorite enchanted treats, how can the kids save their town?
When weird dreams start to plague everyone who has visited the carnival, the worlds of magic and reality collide. With the help of a new magical enforcer, the Blue Falcons will need to learn to use the magic of the carnival against itself, including a host of new magical carnival candies, and tap into the power of their own dreams to battle their greatest adversary yet.

 
Review:
When I saw this book was available for review, I decided to request it, even though I hadn't read the other books in the series, because my nine-year-old son had read them--and I figured he'd think I was cool if one of the books I reviewed was one he was interested in! Haha, I really did request it because of my son's interest in this series, and he really was impressed that I got to read an advanced copy of the third book--he excitedly told his friends at school about it. (I DID read the other two books before I started this one, although I don't think it would have been entirely necessary to understand and enjoy this one.) 

For me as a reader, this is probably a 3-star book: the plot and setting are well-developed and very detailed; the characters are relatively flat (I'm a character-driven reader so that was a bit of let-down for me) and the language/writing style is all right. It's great that there's a carnival map at the beginning of the book to help readers see where everything is. There aren't as many new magic candies in this book, which was something I really enjoyed about the previous books. (The ones in this book also didn't seem as appealing--clown lips? YUCK!) So, as an adult reader of a middle grade book, this book is good; as a parent, this is definitely a book I'd give to my kids. And for the intended audience (at least my son), this book is a hit.
For my son, this is a 5-star book. This is his review:
"I liked how it's exciting and they have to use their brains to figure out what's happening and how to solve the problems. I liked how the carnival expanded and that there lots of hidden things about it. I like the names of the characters, and I think Nate is funny. I like that they can use magic to turn into different things and have different powers. I like the stuff about dreams. I like that there's a bunch of different characters, and it's really interesting."
So, he really enjoyed it and has started asking when Brandon Mull's next signing event is so he can see him and get his books signed! So, with it getting 3 stars from me and 5 stars from him, we'll average at 4 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Author: 

BRANDON MULL is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in a happy little valley in Utah with his wife, Erlyn, their eleven children, and a dog named Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books. 

For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com 

Other Books by Brandon Mull: 

The Candy Shop War Series 

The Candy Shop War 

The Candy Shop War: Arcade Catastrophe 

Fablehaven Series 

Fablehaven 

Rise of the Evening Star 

Grip of the Shadow Plague 

Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary 

Keys to the Demon Prison 

Dragonwatch Series 

Dragonwatch 

Wrath of the Dragon King 

Master of the Phantom Isle 

Champion of the Titan Games 

Return of the Dragon Slayers 

Five Kingdoms Series 

Sky Raiders 

Rogue Knight 

Crystal Keepers 

Death Weavers 

Time Jumpers 

Beyonders Series 

A World without Heroes 

Seeds of Rebellion 

Chasing the Prophecy 

Advance Praise: “A fun fantasy novel in which plucky children explore an evil-infused carnival to save the world from its creepy embrace.” —Foreword Reviews 

“Magical minions of various (and sometimes gross) abilities, Mull trots his twist-laden plot forward to a well set-up climax. He dishes up a crowd-pleaser as delicious—if not so weird— as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." —Kirkus, from book 1 

“A delectable fantasy adventure where magical candies give four friends super powers to save their town.” —Foreword Reviews, from book 1 

Blog Tour and Giveaway for Just in Time: The Rescue Begins in Delaware

The Rescue Begins in Delaware (Just in Time Book 1)
By Cheri Pray Earl and Carol Lynch Williams

Premise:
Dover, Delaware 1776: George and Gracie need to rescue their parents. Instead, they find themselves time-traveling into the middle of the American Revolution. Not only that, but one of the twins changes into an animal with each time travel. This time Gracie is a horse. They end up helping Caesar Rodney make his famous ride into Philadelphia to vote “yes” for the Declaration of Independence. But time is running out to rescue their parents.  

My thoughts:
This was a fun book to read; although I read it by myself, I can easily see this book being one my children will enjoy in next year or two. I particularly liked the historical information--I'd never learned about Caesar Rodney's hurried ride from Delaware to Philadelphia, so that was interesting to learn a little about him and his efforts to support American independence. I think my kids will find that interesting but also be really pulled in to the time travel and mystery elements of the story. Good start to a series; I look forward to reading the rest of the books.

I read a copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Authors: Cheri Pray Earl graduated with her master's degree in creative writing from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1995 and has taught creative writing and literature courses for the BYU Honors Program and the English Department for more than 25 years. She was awarded BYU Honors Professor of the Year in 2005 which she brags about every chance she gets. Cheri writes the middle-grade novel series, Just In Time, with Carol Lynch Williams and published a non-fiction children’s book for American Girl in 2009, co-authored with the late Rick Walton. But in real life she writes young adult and adult novels. She won her first real writing contest, the Utah Original Writing Competition, in 1994 for her YA novel, Flat Like Me, and took Honorable Mention in 1997 for her YA novel, The Swan. She’s currently working on an adult mystery novel and a contemporary adult novel. Cheri’s most recent children’s book, Mr. Dietsche, is a middle-grade novel based on her childhood in Dodge City, Kansas that her agent, Steve Fraser from JDLIT, is this very minute shopping around. That’s Secret Agent Steve. See more of Cheri's stories at dustingforfingerprints.wordpress.com 

 Carol Lynch Williams is the author of more than 30 books for middle grade and young adult readers. Her novels include The Chosen One, Never that Far, Messenger and Never Said. Her most recent book is the novelization of the movie Once I Was a Beehive. Carol has an MFA from Vermont College in Writing for Children and Young Adults and teaches creative writing at BYU. She runs Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers, a week-long writing conference for the not-faint-of-heart writer (www.wifyr.com). As well she is a mentor for those who want to write for kids and teens. Her best creative effort, however, are her five daughters.

Find the book here:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43895093-george-and-gracie-just-in-time
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Begins-Delaware-Just-Time-ebook/dp/B07ML8WJBD/

Connect with authors here:

Twitter Cheri Pray Earl 
 Twitter Carol Lynch Williams 

Check out the blog tour here:

Feb 18: Bloggin' Bout Books / Peggy Urry Writer

Feb 19: Min Reads and Reviews

Feb 20: LDS Writer Mom

Feb 21: My Book a Day

Feb 22: Literary Time Out / The Bibliophile Files

And finally, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants

Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants
By Andrea Beaty

Ada Twist is a scientist and she loves finding answers to all of her questions. When Ada's friend Rosie's Uncle Ned, wearing his helium pants, has a mishap and is floating farther away, Ada's questioning mind and her desire for answers are just what it takes to save the day.

 I read this book aloud to my five-year-old twins, and they both said they liked it and it was funny and they think lots of people should read it. My son said readers will think the pants are funny, and my daughter said she likes Ada because she does experiments. As an adult, I also enjoyed the book. It was a fun story, and I'm looking forward to seeing the final version with the finished illustrations. My kids and I have enjoyed both of the chapter books in this series, as well as the picture books, and will definitely be reading more about Ada, Iggy, and Rosie in the future.
4 stars.
I read an ARC via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Louisiana's Way Home

Louisiana's Way Home
By Kate DiCamillo
Louisiana Elefante is cursed--it's a curse of sundering passed down through her family, and because of that curse, her grandmother wakes her up in the middle of the night and drags her to the car. Louisiana's granny has pulled plenty of stunts before, but when Louisiana realizes Granny plans to leave Florida behind for good. When they get to Georgia, they wind up in a motel as Granny recovers from having all of her teeth removed, and it's there that Louisiana's life falls apart--and comes together again.

Kate DiCamillo is one of the best storytellers of our day, and this book is just as fantastic as all of her others. First-person-narrator Louisiana is fabulous--I love her life lessons and getting the chance to follow her on her journey. There are humorous moments, bittersweet moments, heartrending moments, and hopeful moments. There are characters you'd like to slap upside the head and characters you wish you could take right off the pages into your own family. This is a beautiful book, and I highly recommend it.

5 stars. One of my picks for best of 2018.

I read an ARC via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Giggly Guide

The Giggly Guide: How to Behave at School by Phillipe Jalbert
& The Giggly Guide: How to Behave by Phillipe Jalbert

Each spread in these book contains a bright, colorful page with a rule for good behavior accompanied by a colorful, giggle-inducing illustration that shows what happens when you DON'T use good manners.
How to Behave at School covers things like  properly using supplies and respecting property, how to behave at lunch, and bathroom etiquette, while How to Behave covers things like basic manners (cover your mouth when you sneeze, don't pick your nose), safety (not playing with matches or knives), interacting with others (ask before you borrow something), and more. These books lived up to their titles--my kids were very giggly as we read them. This is a fun way to remind kids about good manners, allowing you to get across the message without making it feel like a lecture.

I read a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

How to Spot a Sasquatch

How to Spot a Sasquatch
Written by J. Torres
Illustrated by Aurelie Grand

Jay is determined to find a Sasquatch on his camping trip even though his fellow campers and leader tell him there's no such thing. While the others may be skeptical, Jay is certain someone is out there. Sass the Sasquatch and her friends keep their eye on the campers, pilfering their snacks and playing tricks. But when Jay falls into the river, Sass can't just stand back and watch anymore.

This is a fun story about friendship. Kids will enjoy the camping adventure, Jay's determination, and Sass's playfulness. This is a good graphic novel for children who are just getting started with graphic novels--not too long or too wordy.

I read a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars.

The Dollmaker of Krakow

The Dollmaker of Krakow by R.M. Romero

Karolina lived peacefully in the Land of Dolls until rats invaded and she had to flee. She is carried by a good wind to Krakow, Poland, where a former soldier turned dollmaker has created a perfect body for her. Just as the Dollmaker has brought Karolina to life in a sense, she too starts to bring him to life--bringing him out of the despair that surrounds him. The two of them become friends with Jozef and his daughter Rena, and life is happy for them--until the Germans invaded Poland. Jozef and Rena are Jews, and Karoline and the Dollmaker must find a way to help their friends.

This book is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy and alternates between Karolina's experiences in Poland and flashbacks to her experiences in the Land of Dolls. The premise of a living doll is fascinating, and I think there will be lots of readers who enjoy it. I thought the parts set in Poland were written and developed better than the parts set in the Land of Dolls; while the descriptions of the doll world were pretty, I also feel like in some ways, that whole element could have been reduced to a few paragraphs and it wouldn't have been missed much. The story of the Holocaust, however, was more powerful and poignant. This is a sad story--realistically so--but also has a hopeful note. Definitely one that would be a good discussion-starter, not only about the book but about hate and prejudice, choices and consequences, and so much more.

4 stars.

Agnes and Clarabelle

Agnes and Clarabelle
By Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel; illustrated by Sara Palacios

This short chapter book follows best friends Agnes the pig and Clarabelle the chicken throughout the year. In the spring, the two of them plan a surprise birthday party for Clarabelle; in the summer, they confront Agnes's fear of the beach; in the fall, they survive a mishap at a store; and in the winter, it's time to make a special treat.
With cute characters, adorable illustrations, and funny stories, this is a great book for kids who are ready to move on from early readers. I received a copy through Net Gallery. All opinions are my own.

4 stars.

The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation

The Princess in Black Takes a Vacation
By Shannon Hale and Dean Hale; illustrated by LeUyen Pham

After fighting fifteen monsters this week, the Princess in Black is exhausted, so when a new monster-fighter, the Goat Avenger, suggests that she take a vacation while he watches out for monsters, the princess heads for the beach to rest and relax. When a sea monster threatens the people at the beach, though, Princess Magnolioa must transform into the Princess in Black once more.

 The Princess in Black books are so much fun. The illustrations are awesome; they are cute and fun, and the fact that they are on nearly every page helps make the book extremely readable. The text is funny and simple but not baby-ish, making this a great choice for readers who ready to move beyond easy readers into short chapter books. Totally adorable and tons of fun!
*Although this is the fourth book in the series, the books don't really have to be read in order to be enjoyed.

 I read a copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

The Pigeon series by Mo Willems

The Pigeon series by Mo Willems

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2003. 1 vol. (unpaged). Picture book
When the bus driver has to leave for a minute, he asks you to watch the bus--but make sure the pigeon doesn't drive it. The pigeon tries begging, pleading, bargaining, and throwing in some trickery and a tantrum to try to get his way.
Ah. What's not to like about Mo Willems? It takes a tough reader not to want to give into the pigeon, but it's fun to see how the story progresses--and what that naughty pigeon does at the end!

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2004. 1 vol. (unpaged). Picture book
The pigeon is ecstatic when he finds a hot dog...but before he can enjoy it, the duckling interrupts and asks him what a hot dog tastes like, citing his curiosity as the reason for his questions. The pigeon quickly sees through the guise and has no desire to share his hot dog and goes through all the emotions that come when you know should probably do something but don't want to. Once he has worked through those emotions, he is ready to do the right thing.
I like how in just a few pages, Willems can capture so much of realistic human emotion. The pigeon's justification process is so true to human nature, and then when he doe the right thing, the readers can feel the happiness that comes, right along with him.

The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. 1 vol. (unpaged) Picture Book
When the bus driver suggests that the pigeon show his "happy face", the pigeon refuses and instead rants about how the driver makes him mad and sad. But when the driver uses a little reverse psychology, the pigeon plays right into his hands.
Ah, Pigeon. So easily upset, and so easily tricked...but in a good way. A good book for kids, this is also a good one for parents who need a little chuckle at all the reverse psychology they have to practice on their kids.

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2006. 1 vol. (unpaged). Picture book
The pigeon doesn't want to go to bed--he's not tired, after all, so he uses all of his persuasive powers to try to get permission to stay up late, from saying studies show pigeons don't need much sleeping to invoking the cuteness of his stuffed rabbit to soften you up. But despite his protests, maybe he's just a little bit sleepy after all.
Willems has captured the child versus bedtime battle perfectly, as the pigeon needs his sleep but doesn't want to give into it. While that battle probably isn't so fun when you're dealing with a real child, it's sure fun to read about in this book.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. 1 vol. (unpaged) Picture Book

The pigeon has wanted "forever" or "At least since last Tuesday" a puppy. He promises to take care of it and will have lots of fun with it, of course...but when a puppy actually arrives, Pigeon isn't so sure after all.

I picked this book up because I needed a pick-me-up and knew Willems would deliver. Also, I want a puppy--and as I'm trying to convince my husband that we should get one, I sound remarkably like the pigeon! In Pigeon's conversation (we only see his side) with someone, he goes through the begging process, the promising to take care of it (although, he clearly doesn't understand what a puppy needs), the guilt trip process after he's been denied, and then the process of changing his mind once it looks like he's gotten what he wants. It's an excellent example of a what a kid would do when begging for a pet, or a particular toy, but it's done in a way that's very funny and entertaining. I highly enjoyed it...and unlike our beloved Pigeon, I still want a puppy :)

The Duckling Gets a Cookie?!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2012. 1 vol. (unpaged). Picture Book
Pigeon is aghast when he sees the duckling has a cookie--with nuts. When he finds out the duckling got the cookie simply by asking, he is even more indignant, since he asks for things all the time and never gets them, like to drive the bus, to have a hot dog party, to have a walrus, and more. Just as the pigeon is having a full-on tantrum about the unfairness of life, the duckling saves the day.
I'm not entirely certain this book has a good message, since it could teach kids that throwing tantrums can lead to them getting what they want...but it's still super fun and cute, so I would totally let any kid read it (and then make sure they knew not to try the tantrum thing to get their way.) You can't help but feel for the pigeon--since I'm sure we've all felt like he does and that the answer is always no and that life is unfair.

4 stars. Clean reads. Don't like this series quite as much as Willems' Elephant and Piggie series, but still, you can't help loving the Pigeon, too.

Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie Books

The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems 

Summaries and reviews

Today I Will Fly!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Piggie insists that she is going to fly; Gerald insists that she is not. Determined to find a way, Piggie seeks out help and surprises Gerald with what she can do.
Ah, the last two pages of these books are always so funny!. The rest of the book is, too, but there's always a little some extra at the very end that makes these books extra awesome.

My Friend Is Sad

Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Piggie notices that Gerald is sad, so she tries on various costumes--cowboy, clown, and robot--to cheer him up, but nothing seems to work.

This is one of my favorites of the series. Gerald is so cute as he's experiencing his sadness, and Piggie is so cute as she is trying to cheer him up.It's such a sweet story about friendship...and of course, has a little bit of humor thrown in.

I Am Invited to a Party!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. 57 pgs. Easy reader
When Piggie gets invited to a party, she asks Gerald to go with her. Gerald, insisting he knows all about parties, tells her they must be ready--for a fancy party, or a pool party, or a costume party. Although Piggie is a little skeptical, she decides to trust her friend, since he's supposed to be the party expert.
So funny. I love it.

There Is a Bird on Your Head!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Gerald is quite distraught when a bird lands on his head, and is joined by another bird...and the two of them proceed to make a nest, and lay eggs, and hatch babies! He's hysterical as Piggie is describing what's happening. Piggie finally suggests a solution, which ends up working well for Gerald, but not so well for Piggie.

This is the least realistic book of the series, since obviously birds couldn't build a nest, lay eggs, and hatch eggs all in such a short period of time, but it's still a funny look at problem solving and coming up with a solution rather than freaking out, so it's got the emotional truth even if the timing is a little warped :) (If Gerald could have seen how adorable the birds were,though, he would have let them stay!)

I Love My New Toy!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Piggie has gotten a new toy and she loves it. When she lets Gerald have a turn playing with it, he breaks it and then she is sad and mad. and both friends begin to cry. When a squirrel points out that the toy is actually a snap and break toy, Gerald and Piggie realize that what is really important is friendship.
Good book, good message. I think this would be great for taking children through the emotions of dealing with possessions and friendship and conflict.

I Will Surprise My Friend

Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Piggie and Gerald decide to surprise each other by hiding on opposite sides of a rock and then peering out at each other--except they keep looking the wrong direction. Beginning to worry about each other, Gerald worries that Piggie has fallen off a cliff, been grabbed by a bird, or eaten by a monster, while Piggie thinks Gerald has gone off to get lunch. As Gerald sets off to save Piggie, and she sets off to find lunch, they finally manage to surprise each other.
This has the typical fun twist at the end that will have kids laughing. 

Are You Ready to Play Outside?

Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Gerald and Piggie have just begun to plan what fun they will have outside when it begins to ran. Piggie is quite unhappy with the rain and how it has ruined their day; Gerald provides coverage for Pigge with his ear, and that gesture helps Piggie to cheer up. Soon the two friends are enjoying the rain--just in time for the rain to stop. Piggie is unhappy once again, but Gerald comes to the rescue again.
This is a cute story about friendship. (Okay, they all are, but I just liked how Gerald tried to make his friend happy and cheer him up on a rainy.)

Watch Me Throw the Ball!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2009. 57 pgs. Easy reader
When Piggie finds Gerald's ball, she wants to give it a toss. Gerald isn't convinced that Piggie will be able to throw it as far as he can, but Piggie wants to try. Her throw doesn't turn out quite as she expected, but she teaches Gerald a lesson in the process.
I didn't like this one as much as most of the other titles, maybe because we don't see that extra dose of sweetness between the two friends, but it's still a fun book, and it has a good message.

Elephants Cannot Dance!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2009. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Piggie offers to teach Gerald to dance; he tells her elephants can't dance. She tells him he can still try, so he tries...and tries...and tries.
I love seeing Gerald's efforts and his frustrations and then finally a resolution that makes him feel better. It's a great message for kids--or even adults--that it's okay to have fun and not do things perfectly.

Pigs Make Me Sneeze!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2009. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Gerald is quite upset when he can't stop sneezing, because he things perhaps his allergic to pigs, which is problematic since "Piggie is a pig!" and that means they can't be friends. Heartbroken, Gerald must leave his best friend behind...until Doctor Cat comes to the rescue.
I think kids will love seeing how Piggie keeps getting bowled over by Gerald's sneezes. This isn't my favorite of the Elephant and Piggie books, but it's still cute.

I Am Going!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2010. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Gerald and Piggie are having a nice day together--until Piggie announces that she is going, which causes a case of hysteria in Gerald, who begs and pleads with his friend not to go.

So many cute illustrations, of course. I like when Gerald tries to persuade Piggie not to go until tomorrow, or next week, or next year, that he shows her a pig calender :) The small details like that, combined with the spot-on voice of someone who is overreacting, make this book a lot of fun for readers of all ages.

Can I Play Too?

Hyperion Books for Children, 2010. 57 pgs.
Piggie and Gerald are just making plans to play catch when a snake asks if he can join in the fun. Piggie and Gerald don't know how a snake can play catch--since of course, he doesn't have arms--but they are determined to find a way. Just when it seems like none of their solutions will work, Piggie comes up with an idea of how they can all play catch.
Piggie's solution made me laugh out loud. I'm not sure it's a solution that would translate well to human children, but this would be a good book to use to discuss differences and acceptance--a good message wrapped up in all the normal sweetness and humor of the Elephant and Piggie books.

We Are in a Book!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2010. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Gerald and Piggie notice that there is someone watching them--a reader in fact. They are so excited to be in a book, and even try to get the reader to say things out loud! But when they realize that the book is coming to an end, panic sets in.
Of course all of these books are great read-alouds, but I love how Willems invites the reader to be an active participant in the book here. I can just imagine kids giggling right along with Gerald and Piggie--and wanting to read the book again, and again, and again.

I Broke My Trunk

Hyperion Books for Children, 2011. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Gerald has broken his trunk, and Piggie wants to know why, so he starts to tell the story...which begins when Gerald thought it would be a good idea to balance Hippo on his trunk....
I love looking at Piggie's expressions in this book, which range from horrified at what Gerald decided to balance on his trunk to impatient as the story drags on. The unfolding of story is super cute and happens in such a child-like way, showing how one thing led to another and then having unexpected twist at the end.

Should I Share My Ice Cream?

Hyperion Books for Children, 2011. 57 pgs. Easy reader
When Gerald gets an ice cream cone, he's super excited....until he begins to wonder if he should find Piggie and share. She is, after all, his best friend...but she's not there, and maybe she won't know, and...Gerald makes excuses until he pictures Piggie being sad somewhere, and then he's determined to use his ice cream to cheer her up, but by then, his ice cream has melted. Just as he's feeling down about blowing it, Piggie comes along with some ice cream of her own and saves the day.

Yet another great story about the complexity of friendship and how something that should be as simple as sharing can be easily justified away. Gerald's internal struggle is one that kids (and adults) will go through time and time again. Once again, I'm so impressed by how Willems captures human emotion so well using so few words.

Happy Pig Day!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2011. 57 pgs. Easy reader
Piggie is ecstatic that it's Happy Pig Day--a great day for pig food, pig games, and all sorts of pig fun. However, when Piggie's pig friends show up, Gerald feels left out because he is not a pig. Luckily, Piggie can reassure her friend that Happy Pig Day is for everyone.
Is it silly how a 57 page children's book can touch my heart? I really liked the little twist at the end of this one as Piggie realized Gerald was feeling bad and gave him just the right information to let him know he was included? I just thought it was so sweet, and I love seeing these two characters care for each other.

I think it's cute how the inside back cover illustrations in these books have a guest appearance from our favorite pigeon.

Listen to My Trumpet!

Hyperion Books for Children, 2012. 57 pgs. Easy reader
When Piggie gets a trumpet, she quickly invites Gerald to listen to her play...but her playing isn't exactly musical. Gerald doesn't want to hurt Piggie's feelings, but when she asks what he thinks of her trumpet, he faces a tough decision about what to say.
Aw, so cute. I know, I've way over-used the word cute in this post, but Gerald and Piggie ARE SO CUTE. I love their friendship, and the lessons we learn from them, and the little twists Willems always gives us.

Quick series list (in publication order):
Today I Will Fly!
My Friend Is Sad
I Am Invited to a Party!
There Is a Bird on Your Head!
I Love My New Toy!
I Will Surprise My Friend!
Are You Ready to Play Outside?
Watch Me Throw the Ball!
Elephants Cannot Dance!
Pigs Make Me Sneeze!
I Am Going!
Can I Play Too?
We Are in a Book!
I Broke My Trunk!
Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Happy Pig Day!
Listen to My Trumpet!


5 stars. What's not to love about them? Nothing. You must love everything, or clearly you have no heart or are broken in some way :)

City Dog, Country Frog

City Dog, Country Frog

By Mo Willems and Jon J. Muth

Hyperion Books for Children, 2010. 1 vol. (unpaged). Picture book

Summary:

In the springtime, Country Frog meets City Dog and shows him how to play frog games. In the summer, City Dog teaches Country Frog to play dog games. In the fall, Country Frog is too tired to play so instead they just remember. In the winter, City Dog can't find Country Frog. In the springtime, City Dog is waiting sadly for Country Frog when Country Chipmunk shows up

Review:

AH! I don't like sad books! And even though this captures the truth of life--that sometimes people leave or die or whatever and then you have to learn to recover from it--it still made me plenty sad. It's a sweet story of friendship, and the pictures are beautiful...but I'm still upset that it's a sad book :(

4.5 stars. Clean read.

SkySisters

SkySisters
Written by Jan Bourdeau Waboose
Illustrated by Brian Deines
Kids Can Press, 2000. Picture book.

Two Ojibway sisters head out to check out the Northern Lights, which they call SkySisters.

This book is beautiful! The illustrations are really, really well done, and the story is sweet. I would definitely share this book with children.

Since the characters are Native American, whether or not is culturally accurate is important, but the author is Ojibway, and the book has been praised by scholars of Native American literature, such as Debbie Reese. (Check out her review here.) The fact that the book takes place in the present day is another selling point for me--so much Native American children's literature takes place in the past, and while stories of Native American history are important, it's especially important to find portrayals of contemporary life so that we don't pass along the idea that Native Americans are dead, that they only existed in the past.

Five stars!