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.