The Oldest Trick is part of Brezenoff’s Library of Doom graphic novel series. Each installment can be read as a standalone. In this installment, illustrated by Patricio Clarey, Dace and his family enter an antique shop looking for a dresser. Each installment has one line–life lesson, if you will–that sticks with the reader long after … Read more
What the Hex is Book 2 of the Witches of Brooklyn graphic novel series by Sophie Escabasse. Effie is a young witch who is learning her trade. She lives with her two aunts, Selimene and Carlota, in Brooklyn. We join Effie on a very stressful day–she’s meeting the rest of the family. Who knew witches … Read more
I must confess that Teddy Roosevelt is not one of my favorite presidents, but I love Dan Gutman’s writing, and the cover drew me in. And… I’m glad I read it. This is a fantastic book for curious children (or kids working on research papers who don’t like traditional nonfiction books). The story opens with … Read more
I absolutely loved Book 1 of No Place For Monsters, and Merritt really outdid himself on Book 2. We join Levi and Kat in early March, and life has returned to normal at least until snowmen start popping up all over town. In this installment, we get to see more family dimensions as the kids … Read more
If you (or your child) are a fan of quirky short stories, this is the book for you. Capobianco starts our journey in the Etherwood, a medieval, magical place where Barry, the worst bard, is sent to destroy a dragon only to end up their honored guest–for a while, at least. The stories in this … Read more
The Ghoul Next Door, written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Cat Farris, is a fantastic graphic novel that explores how far kids will go to be friends. The story begins one morning as Grey and Marshall are walking to school. Grey’s history presentation, a near-scale model of the Artimage Cemetery, is awkward to hold, … Read more
Oh my, where to start with this amazing story? Woods throws the reader immediately into a coastal town, Allora, where the fish jump right out of the sea, which is struck by the plague. As people drop like flies, the coffin maker sees to their needs until so many people begin dying at once, they … Read more
I have to get this out of the way: WHY END THERE!?! Who do you get when you mix Magic School Bus’s Miss Frizzle, Wayside School’s Mrs. Jewls, and a touch of Doctor Who? Mr. Bambuckle is who! The 6th grade class in 12B (because what school has a 13th classroom) are disconnected from themselves … Read more
Smith hit a home run with this one! Mr. Penguin, a penguin from the South now living in the Northern city of Cityville, loved reading adventure stories and one day decided to invest everything he had in becoming an adventurer. He had the office, the hat, the faithful partner, but the only thing he didn’t … Read more