Share a Scare!

Hello, Readers! This week we're sharing a few scary stories to add to the spookiness of October. Grab a mug of steaming hot cider, sink into a cozy chair, and fall into a story.

🍁🍂🍃

Here are a few books we've reviewed to get you in the mood

Read the full review

Lewis Barnavelt couldn't have prepared for life at 100 High Street in New Zebedee, Michigan. After losing his parents in a tragic car accident he was taken in by his eccentric Uncle Jonathan, whose mysterious three story stone mansion would be his home. Even though he's nervous, Lewis is excited to explore the interesting rooms and fancy parlors. But when strange occurrences start happening, he isn't sure what to think.


"Lewis shows that he can be brave in the face of chaos and uses his knowledge of stories to try to save the world from being destroyed by dark magic. I would recommend this book to readers ages eight and up or anyone who enjoys reading from the edge of their seat."

🍁🍂🍃

Read full review

Juniper Berry lives a very lonely life. Her parents are famous actors and keep her secluded from the outside world. Although there are constantly fans at their gate trying to get in, the only people Juniper gets to talk to are her tutors and people who work in her home. 




"I must say the cover first drew me to this book, but the interesting storyline kept me reading. October is the perfect month to huddle under your covers with a book that will make your heart race with fright."

🍁🍂🍃

Read the full review

Tragedy struck Nobody Owens' family when he was just a baby. In a twist of fate, he had managed to escape certain death. Unknowingly, he then crawled right into another kind. Now, behind lonely gates of an old cemetery is where he calls home. He spends his days and nights with his ghostly family among rows of headstones. Although, growing up in a cemetery does have its advantages.


"The story captivates throughout, feeding your need to find out what happens next. I would recommend this book to kids in 5th grade and up. It has certain scary elements to it, but they add to the quirky flavor of this peculiar story."

🍁🍂🍃

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Share a Scare!

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We'll be sharing a few scary stories to add to the ambience of October, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ~ F

Reading images? Do beware. There are those bound to scare. Autumn brings a shiver chill; leaves skitter by the window sill. Prep your mind, sink in a chair, allow words to raise your hair. Scenes twist and turn, your eyes follow— terrifyingly hollow. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Scary stories! 😱

*Stop by Wednesday to find out which scary stories we're talking about.

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 

Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations

Fairday's Riddle: Bound to Scare...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme. I am a big fan of these kinds of stories. ~F

Reading images? Do beware. There are those bound to scare. Autumn brings a shiver chill; leaves skitter by the window sill. Prep your mind, sink in a chair, allow words to raise your hair. Scenes twist and turn, your eyes follow— terrifyingly hollow. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Friday for the answer. 

I gave you a clue! 📖👀

Margo's Musings: What Will Frog Decide to Do?

My little sister, Margo, loves frogs and mimicked them all summer. It was no surprise when she went right for There’s Nothing to Do when she saw it on display at our local library. Not only does it have a big frog on the cover, but she’s already read I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty and loved it.   

Frog doesn’t want to do anything. Swimming, nah. Play with toys, nope. He has an excuse for every suggestion from his family. When he goes to his friends to help him find something to do, he's even more frustrated. Nothing anyone says appeals to him. It seems that just because a friend wants to do something, it doesn’t mean that Frog wants to do it too. He realizes the day is almost over, and he didn’t do anything at all. He's distraught until someone asks him why he has to do “something”. They tell him to put NOTHING on his to do list, and then check it off when he’s done. 

Will Frog like doing nothing? Will he get anything out of it? I bet you know the answer, but you should read the book to find out exactly what happens.

Image copyright Mike Boldt, 2017, text copyright Dev Petty, 2017

There’s Nothing to Do written by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt is a book that will make you laugh. We all know someone like Frog who can’t find something to do, but they won't take any suggestions. I love how Frog realized that doing nothing is not only okay, but a lot of fun! I look around and think people seem stressed, always busy doing something, but there is joy and peace in not being busy. People would be happier if they watched the sky or sat and enjoyed the sound of nature each day. 

The book has beautiful pictures with bright colors and appealing images. I think that parents, teachers and babysitters would want this book on hand for the times that kids are feeling anxious to be busy. Best of all- I think after reading the book people everywhere should put “NOTHING” on their to do lists. What an accomplishment! Next time my sister is feeling antsy, I can tell her to be like Frog and do nothing! I am sure she'll give a few "ribbits" while she does it, but she'll do it and feel happy. 

Image copyright Mike Boldt, 2017, text copyright Dev Petty, 2017

Has anyone else read There’s Nothing to Do?  Or have you read another book by Dev Petty? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Listen to the story being read aloud here!

Happy reading!
~ F

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Nothing To Do

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! This week we're sitting with boredom. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into the story. See you all around the book block. ~F

Feeling antsy? Nothing to do? Twiddling thumbs for your cue? Having no plans set in motion amplifies a lack of commotion. It seems without this tumultuous buzz ping pong energy is static and fuzz. Focus wanes like the sliver moon, but sit with it still and it's full soon. No care to silence nor word to wind— by law of creation, ennui must rescind.

What am I referring to? Answer: Boredom

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 

Make time to riddle and rhyme!

62 original riddles and illustrations

Fairday's Riddle: What To Do?

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? I don't have this problem often, but when I do, I just think about photons for a second and the feeling passes. :) ~ F

Feeling antsy? Nothing to do? Twiddling thumbs for your cue? Having no plans set in motion amplifies a lack of commotion. It seems without this tumultuous buzz ping pong energy is static and fuzz. Focus wanes like the sliver moon, but sit with it still and it's full soon. No care to silence nor word to wind— by law of creation, ennui must rescind.

What am I referring to? Stop by Friday for the answer. 

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday #MMGM Book Review: Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks

Joe has been going to the same school in New York for a long time, only now that his best friend moved, he'll be all by himself. Of course, his mother will be working in the cafeteria, but Joe isn’t happy about it. His parents tell him they need the money, and that he won’t “even know” his mom is there. Ravi and his family just moved from India, and he’s excited to start school so he can impress his teachers and classmates with how smart he is. Once the boys get to school things don’t go the way either of them expects. Joe’s year is off to a bad start, especially when he finds himself being targeted by the school’s biggest bully. His mom blowing him a kiss doesn’t help. Ravi just knows the good looking Indian boy in his class wants to be his new best friend. He will definitely save Ravi a seat at his lunch table, Ravi can just tell. But, what Ravi can’t figure out is why no one understands him; after all, he is speaking English. When Joe and Ravi end up in the same special education room, Ravi is furious. He does not belong there and when he takes a unique blue M & M from the jar, Joe believes he did it on purpose. Joe and Ravi come from different places, but they have more in common than they realize. Sometimes what brings two people together is something they never saw coming. Where will things stand at the end of the first week of school? You will want to read this realistic fiction book in one sitting to find out!

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan is a fast read. I really liked the alternating chapters switching between Ravi and Joe’s point of view. It was so interesting to see how often they thought they understood a situation or a person’s motives and how often they weren’t right at all. It made me realize that sometimes we think someone else did something mean or to hurt us and they may not have been meaning to do so. This is why it can be important to talk to others and communicate. Of course, sometimes people pretend to be nice who aren’t, but hopefully we learn to look for signs that someone isn’t being truthful. Seeing school from Ravi’s view made me think about how hard it would be to go to school in another country where traditions and expectations are different.  I really liked both Ravi and Joe and I was upset when they misread each other. Finding out how their problems were solved was one of my favorite parts of the book (no spoilers). I would recommend this book to anyone in third grade and up who likes school stories or realistic fiction. You definitely don’t want to miss this one!

Has anyone else red Save Me a Seat? Or have you read another book by Sarah Weeks or Gita Varadarajan? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~L

 Stop by Always in the Middle to check out all the MMGM reviews