The Snake Scientist by Sy Montgomery

by Carol2 Comments
The Snake Scientist by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop Amber (9) loves animals and says she want to be a wildlife biologist. One problem I run into, though, is that it's hard to find good, interesting non-fiction animal or science books that are actually at her reading level. So many seem to be aimed at younger kids or teenagers. This one was perfect, though, one that we both learned from and enjoyed. The Snake Scientist is Bob Mason, a zoologist at Oregon State University. The book discusses his research projects at the Narcisse Wildlife Management Area in Manitoba, where in the spring over 18,000 red-sided garter nakes come out of their dens. For about six weeks each April and May, thousands of these harmless snakes awaken from eight months' sleep beneath the earth. They pour out of the pits like water—a river of writhing reptiles. At any of the three big dens here, you can see more snakes at a glance than...
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The Widow’s Broom by Chris Van Allsburg

by Carol4 Comments
The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg I read this aloud with Amber (9) on Halloween night, but it really is perfect for any day in October. It's truly a magical book. A witch's brooms loses its power of flight suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving the witch to fall to the ground. A kindly widow takes her in. Once the witch heals, she flies off with another witch, leaving her old broom behind. The widow discovers there is still some magic left in the broom. She peeked in and saw something that made her heart jump. There was the broom, sweeping the floor all by itself. Unfortunately her neighbors are afraid of the broom and determined to destroy it. The widow and the broom out wit them in the end, though. The sepia-toned illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and the story is captivating, from the witch falling to the broom's abilities. And the bigoted neighbors are the real villains, not the witch. It makes the point that...
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M is for Magic

by Carol4 Comments
Vicki of Reading At The Beach hosts A-Z Wednesday. Today's letter is M. I read this one in July of 2008. It's an urban fantasy, the first in a series. It  has a slightly different spin on creatures like vampires and weres and how they co-exist with humans. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake. Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles. The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the...
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Teaser Tuesday

by Carol9 Comments
Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from...that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given. Please avoid spoilers! My teaser: I perceived, as the shape came nearer (sight tremendous and abhorred!) that it was the wretch whom I had created. I trembled with rage and horror, resolving to wait his approach, and then close with him in mortal combat. He approached; his countenance bespoke bitter anguish, combined with disdain and malignity, while its unearthly ugliness rendered it almost too horrible for human eyes. -pg 99, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. My copy was borrowed from the library. I am an Amazon Associate.....
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ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes–Year 1 by Susan Helene Gottfried

by Carol6 Comments
Shapeshifter : The Demo Tapes -- Year 1 by Susan Helene Gottfried This is a collection of short pieces that were originally published at the author's blog between April 2006 and March 2007. I didn't start reading the West of Mars - Meet and Greet until early this year, but have come to adore Trevor and his band Shapeshifter. I was delighted to read this book, because I missed all of these the first time around. As a teenager, and even now to be honest, I was a fan of  the big hair, hard rock bands. This was like peeking into their world, seeing all the fun and disasters that happen behind the scenes. Even though ShapeShifter is fictional, these glimpses into the characters' lives are funny and occasionally touching.  I fell in love with Trevor, Mitchell, Kerri and the rest. I have to admit to having a few favorite bits, like Green Hair Week, simply because I was at a loss...
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October Wrap-up

by Carol8 Comments
October was a really good month, reading-wise and just all-around. I read or listened to 25 books. A couple of the reviews aren't up yet, but will be this week. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón The Lost Years of Merlin by T. A. Barron Penny and Rio: The Locked Dog House Mystery by Jennifer Swanson Charlie and Mama Kyna by Diana Rumjahn Sex, Drugs & Gefilte Fish edited by Shana Liebman Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains by Dawn Menge Poetry for Young People: Edgar Allan Poe edited by Brod Bagert Briar Rose by Jane Yolen The Weeping Werewolf by Bruce Coville (audibook) Ansel Adams in Color edited by Harry M. Callahan The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis Permission Slips by Sherri Shepherd Runaway Mummy by Michael Rex Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman The Guns of Avalon by Roger Zelazny The Frandidate by Jim Benton Zathura by Chris Van Allsburg Frantastic Voyage by Jim Benton ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes Year...
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