Friday, May 26, 2017

Margo's Musings: A Piece of Cake


"Surely Little Bird won't mind if I give Chicken some of her cake. " ~Mouse, A Piece of Cake


Margo couldn't wait to read our latest library find. With its bright colors and adorable characters it's easy to see why she picked this one out. Plus, she has quite the sweet tooth and loves dessert. 

A Piece of Cake by LeUyen Pham tells the tale of Mouse, who made a birthday cake for his clever friend, Bird. On his way to deliver it, other animals ask him to trade a piece of the cake for something they have. Since Mouse is so kind- he can't say no to any of the trades, even though he doesn't think Bird will want any of the items. Will Bird be upset when Mouse shows up at his door?


What makes this book so great is that it seems predictable, but it isn't. You think you know what every animal is going to trade for a piece of cake, but you don't. Margo had a blast looking at the pictures and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. She laughed when she found out what Bird did with each item after she had them.  


The vibrant illustrations and Mouse's facial expressions make this a book that will be fun to read over and over again. The predictable parts allow for a younger kid or sibling to chime in. I know Margo and I enjoyed reading this one together- and of course we had to get some of my dad's cake when we were done!

Has anyone else read A Piece of Cake? Or have you read another book by LeUyen Pham? We'd love to hear your thoughts. 


Happy Reading!
~F

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Answer to Monday's Riddle: Piece Of Cake!


Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Stop by Friday for Margo's sweet children's book review. See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

When you want to celebrate, I'm the sweet spot on the plate. Might it be your special day? Perhaps a baby's on the way? Should tiers of romance rise with love, your slice will be a cut above. I've many tastes to tantalize both your stomach and your eyes.

What am I? Answer: Cake! 

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats
 

Monday, May 22, 2017

Monday's Riddle: The Slice is Right...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? I'm A fan, for sure! ; ) ~ F

When you want to celebrate, I'm the sweet spot on the plate. Might it be your special day? Perhaps a baby's on the way? Should tiers of romance rise with love, your slice will be a cut above. I've many tastes to tantalize both your stomach and your eyes.

What am I? Stop by Wednesday for the answer!

I gave you a clue!





Friday, May 19, 2017

Lizzy's Review: Sailing a Shipwreck...


Six kids board the Phoenix in Guam, but not because they are going on a fancy boating trip. They’re all there for one reason- because they have a lesson to learn. Their parents or the court system has decided that the Charting a New Course program is what they need. A month on the water learning to sail and getting in touch with nature is expected to change all of them. Lyssa and Will are siblings, but JJ, Charla, Ian, and Luke have never met. Getting to know each other is better than any time spent with the first mate, who barks at them all the time and seems angry by everything they do. After a terrible storm sends the captain overboard and the ship starts taking on water the kids realize they are in way over their heads. Waking to find the first mate has taken the life boat and left them stranded makes them rise to the challenge. When an explosion causes the ship to catch fire and sink they must do what they can to survive. Only four of the kids are together and the fate of the other two is unknown. Did they get off the sinking boat in time? Staying afloat on a piece of the shipwreck is more work than the kids would have expected, and the thirst they have is like nothing they've ever known. Landing on what appears to be a deserted island seems like a stroke of good luck, but are they really alone? Do they have the skills to survive? Can the kids can be saved? Don’t wait to find out- go get this series!



What an action packed series! If you like adventure and survival stories, and haven’t read the Island series by Gordon Korman, then I highly recommend it for both boys and girls. There are three books in the series: Shipwreck, Survival, and Escape. The books are perfect for anyone in fourth grade and up. Not only will you learn skills that may help you survive on your own, you will be amazed at the ways the kids learn to believe in themselves. With so many characters, there is sure to be someone readers will connect with, and reading about them makes you see that there's more to people than we think. I was rooting for the kids and felt worried, happy, sad, and scared for them throughout the book. I hope I am never in a situation where I am on a shipwreck, but it was entertaining to read about!




Has anyone else read the Island series? Or have you read another book by Gordon Korman? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!
~L

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Answer to Monday's Riddle: Sunk In Deep!


Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Friday we'll explore a shipwreck for Lizzy's middle grade book review. See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Far beneath the ocean swell is where I went when I fell. Weather kicked me all around. Captain ran me into ground. Kracken took my wooden planks. Men abandoned noted ranks. Lost in time under the sea, now a clue in history. 

What am I? Answer: Shipwreck! 


Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats
 

Monday, May 15, 2017

Monday's Riddle: A Sinking Feeling...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? I love stories on this topic! ; ) ~ F

Far beneath the ocean swell is where I went when I fell. Weather kicked me all around. Captain ran me into ground. Kracken took my wooden planks. Men abandoned noted ranks. Lost in time under the sea, now a clue in history. 

What am I? Stop by Wednesday for the answer!

I gave you a clue!