Margo's Musings: Lines? Scribbles? Both?

As soon as we walked into our town library, my little sister, Margo, was drawn to a table with award nominees on it. She looked and pointed at a few and then spotted Line and Scribble written by Debora Vogrig and illustrated by Pia Valentinis. Margo grabbed it off the table and tucked it under her arm. I have to admit I was curious about it too. 

When we got home and started reading it together, we both loved it. The story involves Line and Scribble. As the story is told we see the different things each can draw or do. Sometimes we see them used to create the same object, but with their own style (like the cover). I especially love when the two friends start joining together and creating artwork that is a mix of both of them. Margo thought the pictures were fun and sometimes funny, while I was also thinking about the relationship between Line and Scribble. Definitely a clever book. The style draws your eyes in, and I especially like the red accents that could be found on the pages. 

I like that this is a book that can be read over and over again because it is both simple and complex. I would definitely recommend Line and Scribble to kids who like a great story and who like draw. I know the story inspired Margo and me to do some drawings with different styles. This was definitely an awesome find at the library. Now I will have to check back to see if it wins the award it was nominated for! 

Has anyone else read Line and Scribble? Or have you read another book written by Debora Vogrig or illustrated by Pia Valentinis? We'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Creating Lines...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers. We'll be casting our lines for fun. Tune in next week to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

You can cast one out or pick one up, drop one over a coffee cup. Twist it here, swirl it there, lead it almost anywhere. There's nothing much for you to see until it's known what it will be. Stretch it on or zig zag through; it serves its purpose on your cue.  

What is it? Answer: Line. 

Fairday's Riddles: Tow the...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess the riddle answer? I love playing with them in different ways to create new things. ~ F

You can cast one out or pick one up, drop one over a coffee cup. Twist it here, swirl it there, lead it almost anywhere. There's nothing much for you to see until it's known what it will be. Stretch it on or zig zag through; it serves its purpose on your cue.  

What is it? Stop by at the end of the week for the answer.

I gave you a clue!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand by Donna Galanti

In volume 2 of the series, twelve year old Samantha Sea Wells is amazed at how much her life has changed since she arrived at Foggy Harbor. Once she discovered that unicorns are real, she feels happier and more at home. After their last adventure on Unicorn Island, she and her new friend, Tuck, are learning to be unicorn protectors. How lucky are they! Sam is happy to have the time with Uncle Mitch learning all she needs to know to keep the unicorns safe. It's even better spending time on the island and learning about unicorns with a friend. But when the unicorns' horns start shrinking, real danger erases the comfort and joy Sam has been experiencing. What is causing their horns to shrink? Will the unicorns still have their magic if their horns disappear? Is there anything that can be done to reverse the damage? Sam and Tuck don't have a lot of time to sort it all out. They need answers! You will have to read the second volume in the Unicorn Island series to find out what happens to the unicorns. 

Over the years I have read and loved many books by Donna Galanti. I read the first volume in the series about a year ago, so I was excited to catch up with Sam and Tuck and find out how things were going on Unicorn Island. I love the purple cover and the illustrations on the cover. It's really eye-catching and would make anyone want to pick it up and check it out. Like volume 1, there are color illustrations by Bethany Standcliffe throughout the book. The illustrations definitely make the story even more magical, and when I was done reading I went back and looked at all the pictures again. Just beautiful! I liked that Sam is feeling happier and more settled. You can tell by her behavior, and it was nice to see her enjoying herself more. It's great to see a character grow! Tuck is still an awesome friend, and I think his kindness makes him someone we'd all like to have in our corner. I was curious about the mystery and wondered if and how it would be solved. It is always a thrill to piece together clues along with characters. I think other kids would enjoy trying to solve the mystery too. What an experience it would be to see unicorns in person! I would recommend this book to anyone eight and up who loves magic, unicorns, mysteries, and adventure. I have enjoyed both volumes and hope there will be more in the series! 

Has anyone else read Unicorn Island: Secret Beneath the Sand? Or has anyone read anything else by Donna Galanti? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Horns A Plenty!

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~ F

They honk to go or run to crash- signaling a mad dash. A horse with one isn't seen. When one is full, you'll not be lean. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Horns!

Fairday's Riddles: Beep and Bop...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess the answer? Some of my favorite characters have these. ~ F

They honk to go or run to crash- signaling a mad dash. A horse with one isn't seen. When one is full, you'll not be lean. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Sunday for the answer

I gave you a clue!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

Virgil, Valencia, Kaori, and Chet are four kids growing up in the same town, and their lives are more intertwined than any of them know. Summer break may just change all of their lives. Virgil isn’t as happy as he should be for the start of summer vacation. He’s happy not to see the bully at school, but he regrets that he didn't do something he had tried to get up the nerve to do all year. Virgil is very quiet and comes from a family full of loud and chatty people. Only his grandmother seems to really get him. He sets of some regular appointments with Kaori, a self-proclaimed psychic who lives in his neighborhood. Maybe she can help him. Either way, Kaori loves having Virgil over so she can show her younger sister how to read signs and tell the future. Valencia loves the woods and likes to record her observances in her journal, just like other scientists. She would like to find a friend to talk to and confide in. Life would be a little bit easier for her if her parents would learn sign language, but she makes it through reading lips and using her hearing aides, which give her some help. And then there is Chet, a kid who likes to make fun of others and who can't stand all the "weird" kids in his town. He just wants to get better at basketball and get a snake picture to brag about. But when Chet throws Virgil's guinea pig down a well, things change in more ways than one. Will Chet get in trouble for his antics? Will he get his snake picture? Will Virgil be able to save his guinea pig? Can Kaori tell the future? Will Valencia find the friend she desperately needs? You will have to see what happens when four lives intersect and a well changes everything.

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly is a book that made me really care about the characters. I was rooting for Virgil to become a little braver right from the very beginning. I could understand that he was afraid to speak to a lot of people and stand up for himself, but it is sad to watch someone have opportunities pass them by. Valencia is a great character. I loved how she told people around her what she thought and wasn't afraid to be herself. When Virgil went in the well to save his guinea pig, I kept wishing he would stop and get help. I was so stressed out for him. He didn't have any food, water, or a cell phone to call for help. I am a big fan of books that have multiple characters whose lives are intertwined, so this book  was right up my alley. I loved seeing the way things unfolded  and the way things eventually turned out. Very interesting! I didn’t know when I started reading this book that it received the Newbery Medal in 2018. I found the story very compelling, and I still think about Virgil, Valencia. and Kaori. I would recommend this book to kids in fourth grade and up who like stories about friendship and brave people. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Has anyone else read Hello, Universe? Or have you read another book by Erin Entrada Kelly? We’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy Reading!

~L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.