10 book reviews in 12 days Part 5

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trent Stewart.

The four children who were recruited for The Mysterious Benedict Society come together again under happier circumstances. Their mentor, Mr. Benedict, has promised a "surprise" adventure and not too soon, either. Reynie is happy to be safe with his adopted mother; Sticky loves being safe with his parents; Kate works hard to keep the farm she shares with her newfound father going; and Constance enjoys living with Mr. Benedict - but - regular life is a little boring.

No sooner do the children leave the farm than Kate's father, superspy Milligan, gets a telegram warning the children to stay where they are. Mr. Benedict and his helper, Number Two, have been kidnapped. Too late! The children are already on their adventure

A trip across the ocean in a superfast cargo ship, run-ins with evil Mr. Curtain's henchmen, a seaplane flight to an uncharted island - riddles, packets of money, tunnels...the four youngest members of the Benedict Society are in for a hair-raising adventure.

10 book reviews in 12 days Part 3

Happy July! Time for my next book review. Before I do the review, take a look at this "book finding" website put together by Sylvan Learning Centers, Book Adventure! I looked at it yesterday and it lets the viewer enter exactly what he or she is looking for. Just check the Parkland Community Library's catalog (or your own public library's catalog) to see if the library has the book.

Ok, here's a review for the little ones! Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Spoon tells his mother of all the wonderful things his friends, Fork and Knife, can do. His mother listens and empathizes and then, she says just the right thing to help Spoon see how special he is.

Rosenthal is the artist behind the YouTube sensation, The Beckoning of Lovely, and the author of other great picture books such as Duck! Rabbit! and Yes Day.

Meet me here tomorrow!

10 book reviews in 12 days Part 2

Star Jumper : journal of a cardboard genius by Frank Asch. How can Alex build his cardboard box models when his little brother bothers him all the time? Alex plans to build a space ship and escape his little brother’s pestering questions but Alex’s other cardboard box machines cause a catastrophe. This book is a great chapter book for good readers entering grades 2 or 3.

10 book reviews in 12 days

I have thrown down the gauntlet. I promise to write a NEW book review every week day for the next two weeks! Ten reviews in 12 days!

The Trouble Begins at 8 : a life of Mark Twain in the wild, wild West by Sid Fleischman. Fleischman concentrates on Twain's life in Nevada, California and points West. Twain jumps from silver claim to gold claim and from writing job to writing job, embroidering everything that happens to him to maximize drama and humor.
Fleischman, no stranger to embellishment himself, adds a chapter at the end that untangles the myth from the facts of Twain's adventures - as well as can be managed.
This is a clever, well-written and amusing biography about one of America's most clever, and most amusing authors. Liberally illustrated with period drawings and photos, this book will be enjoyed by readers aged 9 and up.