The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley

by Carol7 Comments
The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley Amber (10) and I read this together and both really enjoyed it. It's a fun read, full of familiar fairytale  characters whose lives have been re-imagined in the contemporary world. Daphne and Sabrina Grimm finally start school at Ferryport Landing Elementary. Daphne's lucky and has Snow White as a teacher, but Sabrina is stuck with Mr. Grumpner and a group of sixth-graders who are either asleep or just plain mean. The mystery starts when Mr. Grumpner is found murdered, dangling in a huge spider's web. What is going on at the school? The Grimm sisters and their grandmother have to investigate, and this time Mayor Charming actually admits the town needs the Grimms' help. "This conversation must be an absolute secret," [Charming] said as he stood before them. He leaned down and pinned a shiny tin star on Sabrina's coat. It looked like the kind sheriffs wore in old black-and-white western movies. She peered down at it...
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Mailbox Monday and Library Loot

by Carol17 Comments
Thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday. I got one in the mail this week. Escapade by Walter Satterthwait (from Paperbackswap.com) Amber received one in an early birthday package. The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder I also picked up a couple at the library this past week. Library Loot is co-hosted by Eva and Marg. Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Heart of Stone by C. E. Murphy Let's see. There's two more on the stack. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (I bought with a gift certificate.) More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell (for our Sunday School class at church.) What books found their way to your house this week?...
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Fuzzimal Puppies by Theresa Hutnick and Megan Smith

by Carol8 Comments
Isn't he adorable. Amber (9)  made him with a Klutz book she got for Christmas, Fuzzimal Puppies by Theresa Hutnick and Megan Smith. The book has directions to make these adorable puppies and give each their own flair and personality. Everything you need to make five is there, including super-shaggy terry-cloth pipe cleaners, fuzzy-wuzzy novelty yarn, felt for ears and collars, googly eyes, glue, and a supply of shiny jewels. There are also pop-out carriers, adding to the cuteness factor. The directions were simple, easy-to-follow and look how perfect he turned out. The suggested age is 9-12, and Amber did it with no help from me....
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The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald

by Carol10 Comments
The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald, illustrated by Mercer Mayer (Suggested reading level: Ages 9-12) Amber (9) and I read this together. It was first published in 1967 and set in Utah in 1896, but if Amber's any example, today's kids will still find plenty to enjoy. The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald and the story is told by J.D., his admiring younger brother. Tom is an expert at making money from his friends, but he does help a lot of people along the way, even if his motives are not entirely unselfish. Each chapter is like a mini-adventure. Tom gets a mean teacher fired and then rehired, finds two kids lost in a cave, helps a Greek immigrant boy fit in, saves a friend from committing suicide by teaching him that he's not useless even after the lower part of his leg is amputated. Tom really is a brilliant kid, and it's a fun book. As soon as it was...
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Mailbox Monday

by Carol13 Comments
Marcia at The Printed Page hosts Mailbox Monday every week. Everyone at our house got some great books this week for Christmas. First, we have Amber's gifts. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (The Complete Series) by Rick Riordan The Unusual Suspects (The Sisters Grimm, Book 2) by Michael Buckley The Problem Child (The Sisters Grimm, Book 3) by Michael Buckley Mythology by Lady Hestia Evans The Ugly Guide to Being Alive and Staying That Way by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim The Gospel of Luke (The Illustrated ICB Bible) David got two books. Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton The Real Wood Bible by Nick Gibbs And I got a few gifts and one for review. The Autobiography of Santa Claus as told to Jeff Guin (Received as a gift.) The Total Brain Workout by Marcel Danesi (Thanks to Harlequin Ambassadors.) The Cowboy's Christmas Miracle by Raeanne Thayne (Thanks to Harlequin Ambassadors.) Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer (Received from the publisher for review.) Did you get any good books over this week?...
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Brigid’s Cloak by Bryce Milligan

by Carol2 Comments
Brigid's Cloak by Bryce Milligan, illustrated by Helen Cann (Suggested reading level: According to Amazon, ages 9-12. I think it should be closer to ages 6-9.) This story based on an ancient tale about on of Ireland's most beloved saints. On the day she is born Brigid receives a brilliant blue cloak from a mysterious Druid. Years later, the young girl still wears the now tattered cloak while she tends sheep.Then one night in December, when she is ten, after saying a prayer of thans at the end of the day, Brigid is transported to Bethlehem in time to help Mary and Joseph find the stable and make it comfortable. After she returns home, she is asked what happened. Brigid pulled the old blue cloth from her shoulders only to find it changed. It was a deep rich blue again, blue like the easter sky at twilight, and on it were dozens of tiny glowing start. "I was in Bethlehem...," she began I had never...
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