Early Reader Review: Poppy and Sam and the Leaf Thief by Cathon

Source: From Netgalley and OwlKids Books in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Poppy and Sam  and the Leaf Thief by Cathon

Publisher: OwlKids Books
Publication Date:  August 15, 2018

 

Format:  Ebook


Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

It's a beautiful day in the garden when Poppy and her panda friend, Sam, hear a commotion. Their friend Basil--who has always been known for his elegance--is in tears, because somebody nibbled his leaves last night!

Poppy puts her detective skills to work, with help from Sam, and together they set out to find the culprit. They start by interviewing the insects, but Ms. Honeybee, Madame Ladybug, and Mr. Bumblebee all have contradictory suspicions of their own. So Poppy and Sam test some creative methods to catch the vandal red-handed. After a few misadventures, they find the remorseful nibbler--and Basil helps him understand that everything tastes better when it is freely offered.

Illustrated with charming details and lots of kid appeal, this is an easy-to-read graphic novel with friendly characters and a suspenseful story line.

Review: 
Poppy is a little girl with a friend panda named Sam and today they are on the hunt for whomever is stealing Basils leaves in the middle of the night. The book is a fun mystery for young readers about which insect might be the thief.

The book has a few good lessons too, including the need to ask before taking something that isn't yours and also can lend to a good discussion about how people see others. 

The story was very cute and the images were good too, and while they addresses the thief issue there was not really anything said about how each insect they interviewed essentially called out their friends for being sketchy and out of sorts. I think there could have been a lot more done with that aspect and it would have been a great teaching tool. 

Building the Book Pile #266

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Good Morning! I hope that everyone had a wonderful week. I was pretty busy reading, working, and we have family visiting this weekend! Today we are hosting the August Family Dinner with our friends and I am excited to see everyone and catch up - we are all so busy. Over the past few days with family we have visited a place called the Polar Caves, which has rock caves that you can walk through, it was a lot of fun but also kind of scary. We also drove through the White Mountains and saw a bear cub while we were out. We got a bunch of cheese and visited Ben and Jerry's too. It has been a fun few days.

This upcoming week I have SO much reading to get done but also a lot of work at work so it is going to feel extra busy. How are your weekends going? How is this upcoming week looking for you?


If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!

More coming eventually..blog tours in the works for the week of the 20th 😜


Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Poppy and Sam and the Leaf Thief by Cathon (Youth)
Waiting on Wednesday
Recent Reads w/ Giveaway! Everywhere You Want to Be by Christine June (YA)

Books Received this Week

         

For Review:
Begone the Raggedy Witches by Celine Kiernan from Librarything Early Reviewers Program and Candlewick Press for review. 
Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica by Paul Dini from Netgalley and DC Entertainment 
The Moons of Barsk (Barks #2) by Lawrence Schoen from Tor Books and BookNerd Tours for Blog Tour. 

Other: 
Dive Smack by Demetra Brodsky (Hardback finalized copy) from the Author and Tor books for helping with the Blog Tour.


   
Have you missed anything lately?

Week of August 5 - August 11
Recent Reads: Jake, Lucid Dreamer by David Naimen (MG)-5 stars
Movie Time: 44 Pages -5 stars
Waiting on Wednesday: A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan (YA)
Early Reader Review: Giant: The Panda of the Enchanted Forest by Xuan Loc Xuan (Youth)- 4 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Early Reader Review: Giant by Xuan Loc Xuan

Source: From Netgalley and Happy Fox Books in exchange for review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Giant: The Panda of the Enchanted Forest by Xuan Loc Xuan

Publisher: Happy Fox Books
Publication Date:  August 14th, 2018

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

This engaging children's picture book tells the wonderful story of Giant, a panda bear. Giant is lounging in the majestic Sichuan forest, chewing on his bamboo shoots. Suddenly a forest fire starts because people from the city are clear-burning the forest for development! Giant seeks help and tries to extinguish the fire, but everything seems lost. It will only be by the heroic sacrifices of Giant and his friends that the forest and its inhabitants are saved. Featuring charming illustrations from talented Vietnamese artist Xuan Loc Xuan, Giant: The Panda of the Enchanted Forest is an invitation for kids to get in touch with nature and respect unfamiliar animals and trees at risk of extinction.

Review: 
I really love pandas, one of my first stuffed animals (that I still have) is a panda. So I love seeing them in books. This was a cute tale about a panda and his forest and friends.  The story is about a fire that threatens Giant and his home and he has to get people to help him put it out. There is problem solving and the ending is very cute but the illustrations were so pretty too.

The pictures while seemingly simple are very nice and the colors pop to keep the attention of younger ones. Another nice thing is that there aren't too many words, so the story is fairly short and parents can keep those pages moving to also keep attention. 

I thought this a fun book, I really loved the panda main character and I think that younger readers will enjoy listening to this story.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan

A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan
Publisher: Blink
Publication Date: August 14, 2018

Synopsis:  

King Midas once had the ability to turn all he touched into gold. But after his gift—or curse—almost killed his daughter, Midas relinquished The Touch forever. Ten years later, Princess Kora still bears the consequences of her father’s wish: her skin shines golden, rumors follow her everywhere she goes, and she harbors secret powers that are getting harder to hide.

Kora spends her days locked in the palace, concealed behind gloves and veils, trying to ignore the stares and gossip of courtiers. It isn’t until a charming young duke arrives that Kora realizes there may be someone out there who doesn’t fear her or her curse. But their courtship is disrupted when a thief steals precious items from the kingdom, leaving the treasury depleted and King Midas vulnerable. Thanks to her unique ability to sense gold, Kora is the only one who can track the thief down. As she sails off on her quest, Kora learns that not everything is what it seems—not thieves, not pirates, and not even curses. She quickly discovers that gold—and the power it brings—is more dangerous than she’d ever believed.

Midas learned his lesson at a price. What will Kora’s journey cost?

Why I Am Waiting:
A King Midas retelling/ tale... I haven't read one of these so I am very interested in this one. I love all retellings and mythology ones always catch me.

Movie Time: 44 Pages

Sometimes I watch something that is not a comparison for Movie Monday, but I want to share my thoughts about it, so Movie Time!

44 Pages

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Watched: on Netflix, August 3

Website  

Rating:

Review: 
44 Pages is a documentary that I had no idea existed. It is all about Highlights magazine - you know the kids one that is always in doctors and dentist's offices. I would have given my left arm for a subscription when I was a kid, but it wasn't something that I ever had. I loved seeing them in doctors offices and I loved doing the puzzles - especially when you found one that wasn't already all circled and written on. I never wanted to write in them so that the next kid could play too and I used it as a weird memory exercise, could I remember the ones I already found?...

But back to why we are here, Highlight really does hold a place in so many children's lives and I was so excited to watch this movie about them. I learned so much, for example: 

• They are still family owned.
• They get about 3,000+ letters a year and reply back to all of the children that write them!
• They are geared for ages 6-12, and have other magazines for younger audiences.e
• The reason they are in doctors and dentist offices is because they almost had to close down and it was a clever idea one of the sons had.

  It is just amazing to me how well they have done over the years and how much impact they have on the kids that read their magazine. The people that work there seem genuinely happy. The movie shows their process and it looks like a lot of work and thought go into these 44 pages and it is amazing the dedication they have to it. 

I had such a wonderful time learning about the magazine that I really adored as a kid and I hope they are around for a long time.

Recent Reads: Jake, Lucid Dreamer by David Naiman

Source:  From the Author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Jake, Lucid Dreamer by David Naiman
Publisher:  Kwill Books
Publication Date:  May 4, 2018

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

12-year-old Jake has been suppressing his heartbreak over the loss of his mother for the past four years. But his emotions have a way of haunting his dreams and bubbling to the surface when he least expects it. When Jake learns how to take control in his dreams, he becomes a lucid dreamer, and that’s when the battle really heats up.

Using his wits to dodge bullies by day and a nefarious kangaroo hopping ever closer by night, Jake learns about loss, bravery, the power of love, and how you cannot fully heal until you face your greatest fear. This uncompromising novel is a magical yet honest exploration of emotional healing after a devastating loss.

Review: 
I was very surprised by this book, after reading the synopsis I was intrigued but still didn't really know how it was going to go. This short book follows Jake, who is still dealing with the passing of his mother and through his dreams must overcome his emotions. 

What struck me was how unique this take was. Often times dealing with emotions of loss and grief in young adult/ middle grade books brings the reader into a depression spiral or bad behavior. This book instead did something different. Jake is dealing with bullies, but not fighting back, he is having some outbursts at home but really they are minor and he is just trying to get though his days. 

In the dream world, Jake is having some crazy ones but controls them too. He realizes that there must be something to it and most of the emotional battles are dealt with there in the dreams. 

This book was very emotional but a unique way of handling a plot with loss, it make it a little more upbeat for what it was, but it was still sad. It ended nicely and I really enjoyed the overall story.

Building the Book Pile #265

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Good Morning! How was your week? Ours was a bit rainy again, so much rain lately, but we had a few nice days. I had a busy work week but I did manage to get some reading in. I actually have a bunch of reading to do for this month for tours and things and I (again) may have taken on too much but I am going to push through it. I think I am getting nervous because the World of Warcraft expansion comes out on the 14th and I know that is going to take over life... just being honest with myself... it is going to throw a wrench in my reading plans.

This weekend I am spending the time cleaning (note: Magic erasers are amazing, buy them, use them- be amazed), we have the hubs family coming to visit next weekend - we are excited and obviously not prepared. 


Anywho.... what else, OH! I am trying something out, not sure how it will go, but if you are interested and have a few bucks laying around (I know I don't), you can buy me a coffee via Ko-fi, I will have the link in my About Me box as well in the sidebar.

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog!

More coming eventually 😜


Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: Jake, Lucid Dreamer by David Naimen (MG)
Movie Time: 44 Pages
Waiting on Wednesday

Early Reader Review: Giant: The Panda of the Enchanted Forest by Xuan Loc Xuan (Youth)

Books Received this Week

   

 

For Review:
The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff from the Publisher for review and tour.
Father Christmas and Me (Christmas #3) by Matt Haig from Netgalley and Canongate Books for review.

      
From the Library:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes edited by Kazu Kibuishi
Explorer: The Lost Islands edited by Kazu Kibuishi
Explorer: The Hidden Doors edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Have you missed anything lately?

Week of July 29 - August 4
Monthly Re-Cap: July 2018
TBR Pile: August 2018
Let's Compare: Recent Reads: TV Show - The Carnivorous Carnival (#9) by Lemony Snicket (MG)- 5 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Let's Compare: Recent Read/ TV Show - The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

Compare Book 1 and the first few episodes HERE!

Compare Book 2 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 3 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 4 and those episodes HERE! 

Compare Book 5 and those episodes HERE!

Compare Book 6 and those episodes HERE! 

Compare Book 7 and those episodes HERE! 

Compare Book 8 and those episodes HERE!

 

The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #9

Publisher:  Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date:  October 2002

 

Format: Hardback
Source: Borrowed from the Library

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Dear reader,

The word "carnivorous," which appears in the title of this book, means "meat-eating," and once you have read such a bloodthirsty word, there is no reason to read any further. This carnivorous volume contains such a distressing story that consuming any of its contents would be far more stomach-turning than even the most imbalanced meal.

To avoid causing discomfort, it would be best if I didn't mention any of the unnerving ingredients of this story, particularly a confusing map, an ambidextrous person, an unruly crowd, a wooden plank, and Chabo the Wolf Baby.

Sadly for me, my time is filled with researching and recording the displeasing and disenchanting lives of the Baudelaire orphans. But your time might be better filled with something more palatable, such as eating your vegetables, or feeding them to someone else.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

 

Compare Book 1 and the first few episodes HERE!
Compare Book 2 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 3 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 4 and those episodes HERE!  
Compare Book 5 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 6 and those episodes HERE!
Compare Book 7 and those episodes HERE! 
Compare Book 8 and those episodes HERE! 
 

 

The Vile Village: Episodes 9 & 10 of Season 2

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Network: Netflix
Publication Date:  January 13, 2017- present

Review:  
AHHHH why do they always end finale TV shows this way?! A cliffhanger both for the show ending and in the book. I know that I could pick up the next book and read more but I want to wait for Season 3 and the episodes so that I have good comparison time.

Aside from that I really loved this book and these episodes, though they were very different. In the last book/episodes we followed the Baudelaire kids into Count Olaf's trunk so that they could get out of a fire and now they have arrived at their next location - a carnival. This is a sad carnival in the middle of nowhere and it is pretty much falling part but there is a fortune teller and a caravan of freaks (which are people that are just a bit different in their own ways). And already the book and the show divide - in the book Olaf has been visiting the fortune teller, Madame Lulu, for some time now and at every turn she has told him where the orphans would be. In the show, the Count is meeting Madame Lulu for the first time and learning about her powers. This is a big difference because the children interact with Lulu very different in the book versus the show - but I don't want to spoil it all too much, it is very sad though and does change a few of the other escape plans throughout both.

Another difference is that in the show, the children FINALLY learn what VFD stands for - I'm not going to spoil it here because in the books we still have no clue at all. I like that I finally know what it means, but at the same time I wonder if it will change my reading of the rest of the series...

Both end at about the same point, which is a crazy cliffhanger (maybe pun intended? I need to read the next book! ). This installment of both the series and the show were so much fun, there was more suspense and more outright craziness from Count Olaf that it made it all the more fun.

Happy reading and watching!

Let me know what you are thinking of the show so far if you have been watching it too!

 

August 2018 - TBR Pile

THE BOOKS
These are the books I need to get to...And I think I will probably have at least 2 more for tours as well :/ 

    


     

What do you want to read this month?
Have you read any of these yet? 
If so, let me know what you thought!