Game Night- Settlers of Catan

by Carol1 Comment
Settlers of Catan Designer: Klaus Teuber Manufacturer: Mayfair Games Year originally published: 1995 Players: 3 - 4 Ages: 12 and up Description: In Settlers of Catan, players try to be the dominant force on the island of Catan by building settlements, cities, and roads. On each turn dice are rolled to determine what resources the island produces. Players collect these resources to build up their civilizations to get to 10 victory points and win the game. My thoughts: I'm amazed I haven't mentioned Settlers yet. It's a classic, well maybe not Scrabble classic, but a classic nonetheless. I actually won last weekend when we played, with 10 solid points, no longest road, largest army or victory point cards. I was pretty happy. In reality, I should be bad at this game. I'm not really good at cooperating with other players, and this game does encourage trading, especially how we play, but I manage, mostly because I try to only make trades that are advantageous to me. I rarely if ever...
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Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival

by Carol3 Comments
I don't know if anyone out there is local, but the Pittsburgh International Children's Festival is being held May 13-17. The reason I mention it is one of the performances is based on a story I remember from my childhood and that I read to Amber when she was little, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, pictures by Clement Hurd. Two of Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s beloved bedtime classics, Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny come to life on stage with whimsical puppetry and evocative music. Both tales feature endearing rabbit characters, and the soothing rhythms of bunny banter, while dream-like imagery never fails to infuse young readers with a reassuring sense of security and peace.  You can find ticket prices and the performance schedule at the Children's Festival website, www.pghkids.org....
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The Reader by Bernard Schlink

by Carol8 Comments
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink,translated from the German by Carol Brown Janeway Description: The Reader is a brief tale about sex, love, reading, and shame in postwar Germany. Michael Berg is 15 when he begins a long, obsessive affair with Hanna, an enigmatic older woman. He never learns very much about her, and when she disappears one day, he expects never to see her again. But, to his horror, he does. Hanna is a defendant in a trial related to Germany's Nazi past, and it soon becomes clear that she is guilty of an unspeakable crime. As Michael follows the trial, he struggles with an overwhelming question: What should his generation do with its knowledge of the Holocaust? My thoughts: I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. I wasn't emotionally connected to either of the characters, but at the same time, I couldn't stop reading it. Michael and Hanna's relationship is complex and fascinating in its way.  Guilt, love, shame, anger,...
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Moonlight on the Magic Flute by Mary Pope Osborne

by Carol1 Comment
Moonlight on the Magic Flute (Magic Tree House #41) by Mary Pope Osborne Description: Jack and Annie head to 18th-century Austria, where they must find and help a brilliant artist. Decked out in the craziest outfits they’ve ever worn—including a wig for Jack and a giant hoopskirt for Annie!—the two siblings search an entire palace to no avail. Their hunt is further hampered by the appearance of a mischievous little boy who is determined to follow them everywhere. But when the boy lets the animals out of the palace zoo, Jack and Annie have to use the only magic at their disposal to save themselves and the naughty little fellow. My thoughts: Amber and I read this together, like we have all the Magic Tree House stories. I'm going to be sad when she gets too old for them. Heck, I might just have to keep reading them on my own. In this one, Jack and Annie are off on another great Merlin mission....
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Game Night – Pirate’s Cove

by Carol2 Comments
Pirate's Cove Designers: Paul Randles, Daniel Stahl Manufacturer: Days of Wonder Artist: Julien Delval Year: 2003 Players: 3 - 5 Time: 60 - 90 minutes Ages: 8 and up Description: Come aboard and sail to Pirate's Cove... the legendary hideaway of thieving pirates and cutthroat buccaneers. The tales of those legendary pirates of old who've fought and survived these mysterious waters still haunt all those who yearn for a life at sea. Armed with a secret map and starting with a modestly outfitted sloop salvaged from last winter's storm, you set sail to Pirate's Cove -- your eyes filled with visions of treasure and fame, your lungs filled with the salty air of the High Seas. Your objective: to battle for the rights to plunder and become the most famed and feared Pirate the world has ever seen. To do so, you will need to navigate shrewdly, fight recklessly and pillage mercilessly. You will gain fame by winning battles; burying gold and treasure; and bragging about your exploits at the...
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The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick

by Carol2 Comments
The Perfect Poison (Arcane Society #6) by Amanda Quick From the dust jacket: Plagued by rumors that she poisoned her fiancé, Lucinda Bromley manages to live on the fringes of polite society, tending her beloved plants — and occasionally consulting on a murder investigation. For the notorious botanist possesses a unique talent: she can detect almost any type of poison, especially ones that have their origins in the botanical kingdom. But the death of a lord has shaken Lucinda to her core.  To keep her name out of the investigation and to find the murderer, Lucinda hires a fellow Arcane Society member. Caleb Jones runs a psychical investigation agency. A descendant of the founder of the Society, he is very good at protecting its secrets — and frighteningly good getting at the truth. But as a nearly overwhelming desire blooms between Caleb and Lucinda, they are drawn into the dark heart of a deadly conspiracy that can be traced to the early days of...
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