Book Babble

Books again, maybe some sleepers, oft overlooked titles that are really good. A favorite for the younger kid needing a historical fiction title for school is Snow Treasure by McSwigan, based on an incident from WWII where a freighter showed up in New York harbor laden to the point of sinking, it's cargo gold. How the gold, belonging to Norway, is sneaked out of their country under the noses of Nazi's is the story premise, fun for boys and girls alike.

A Crooked Kind of Perfect, and Waiting for Normal are girl stories where day to day life for some preteen girls offers more than normal challenges and experiences that will make audiences grateful for uncomplicated lives. On My Honor an integrity story where lying has some awful consequences. Leap of Faith by Bradley, ' tis rare for religion to be treated so respectfully in a kid book, and this one goes way beyond respectful and gets it's Catholic facts right as well, great read on top of it all.

When the Whistle Blows by Slayton, I thought this one deserved a Newbery Honor at least last year. An amazing story told in vignettes that take place on All Hallow's Eve, through these snapshots of life you get to know a town, a man, a family, what life was like in simpler times, and that heros don't always look like heros. Harris and Me, everybody reads Hatchet but this one is Paulsen at his finest. Harris defines family and fun and is one of those few kid titles that make you laugh out loud often. Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree, a quirky kid, Emma Jean must be on that ASD list somewhere but even quirky kids deserve and need friends, Emma learns this in her own special way.

Rash, a great boy read and discussion starter, is a sci-fi story years in the future where the USA is now the USSA, United Safety State of America. Football is illegal so are large dogs and most anything deemed unsafe, walking helmets keep you from hurting yourself, in even the most mundane of activity. But if you have an anger management problem and a bit of a rebellious streak you aren't long for life out of prison and prison is as unregulated, as the outside is constrained. Read at your own risk.

For the wee ones Three Tales of my Father's Dragon by Gannett, get this and read it out loud while they are young as your children will never pick this up on their own, and while at the library do the same with Homer Price by McCloskey of duckling fame, another romp through a small town that leaves you wistful for days gone by.

Those should keep you busy for this month, enjoy. In the meantime I am going to find out how to post photos, all this black needs some color.