Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr., Illustrated by Eric Carle

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.
Illustrated by Eric Carle
Henry Holt and Company
Published in 2003
ISBN 0805092927
32 Pages

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Amazon (Hardback)
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CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

APART OF THE GOODREADS 2011 READING CHALLENGE.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



Ease of Reading Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 2 out of 5
Plot: 1 out of 5

A dreaming child sees all kinds of endangered animals.

I love Eric Carle's books since they are always so cute and almost fun, even now, even though I am an adult. Though, this one of the first ones that I have read where he works with another author. However, this time, instead of Eric Carle of writing this book, Bill Martin, Jr.

This book was really too simple compared to other children's books. In order for your child to be interested in this book, I think that they will have to be under the age of five. Why? Because if they are any older, I think they will think it is as boring as I thought it was. I think the plot of showing different types of endangered animals was a very good idea, but it was poorly used to make it more interesting and less boring.

The illustrations are really very simple, but they are also kind of boring at the same time. However, I think it is creative how he can illustrate his own books with tissue paper, but it is still a little too simple for me to enjoy. The only thing that was well done for this book was how easy it was to read/see the text.

Anyways, I found this book kind of average and not really worth reading, but it is up to you if you think it is worth reading to your child. However, be warned that any child under the age of 5 might find it a little too boring. :|

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Bill Martin, Jr.
Eric Carle
Goodreads: Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr., Illustrated by Eric Carle
Library Thing: Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr., Illustrated by Eric Carle
Kids' Book Review: Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr., Illustrated by Eric Carle

The Trojan Horse by Emily Little, Illustrated by Michael Eagle

STEP INTO READING (5) SERIES

The Trojan Horse by Emily Little, Illustrated by Michael Eagle

Random House

Published in 1988

ISBN 0394896742

48 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

I OWN A SINGLE COPY.
BOUGHT AT AMAZON.COM.


APART OF THE GOODREADS 2011 READING CHALLENGE.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



A simple retelling of the Trojan War and how the Greeks won this war. The city of Troy lives in wonder, with a stone wall protecting it, while the Greeks live on rocky land and can't grow wheat. In order to get wheat, they have to trade with Asia, but they get past the channel because Troy won't let them pass without paying the toll (gold). After the Trojans kidnap Helen, Menelaus' wife, the Greeks declare war on Troy. The war goes on for years, until the Greeks finally have a plan to defeat Troy, which involves a wooden horse.

It is so simple with the facts and there is no really interesting facts put into the book --- in order to make it more engaging. They pretty much had all the information that you should remember from school. And it feels longer than what the history books mention for the age group of this book. And from what I remember from that age, they mentioned the same information in the history book, but less pictures. Also, even though the illustrations seem to be pretty, there seems to be less than the previous Step Into Reading book I have read. They also look a little bit more bland than the Trail of Tears' illustrations.

I think it would be more interesting if I read it myself, but the purpose of the children's book is to have your children read it to you. However, you help them when they having trouble with a word or page or have questions. Basically, you need to definitely participate reading with them with this one because of the names, but I found it boring. It had too many details of the history for little kids, at least to me, and I would have liked it better if it was told more fictionalized. >.>" Also, go over the pronunciation guide with your child, which is at the book of the book, FIRST before having them read it since most of the words will be hard for them.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Emily Little
Goodreads: The Trojan Horse by Emily Little, Illustrated by Michael Eagle
Library Thing: The Trojan Horse by Emily Little, Illustrated by Michael Eagle
Collingswood Public Library: The Trojan Horse by Emily Little, Illustrated by Michael Eagle

The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

 

The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

Pseudonym for Stephen Coonts

St. Martin's Press

Published in 2005

ISBN 0312323638

338 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



When Sam Neely graduates from State Police academy, he is assigned to the small village of Eden with the population of 47. He has been thinking that it is just a dull little town with nothing going on, but things suddenly get interesting when Ed Harris finds his wife in bed with his best friend, Hayden Elkins. Afterwords, Ed gives Hayden his wife and tells him that he now has two wives, but it then more things spin out of control. Can the community come together and bring peace back to their little town?

What can I say about this book? Hmmm... it was... ummm... odd --- in the good way, I guess. Though, I really don't know what genre to put on this book. It's mostly about life in the village of Eden, which has a population of 47, and how the community can come together through mostly gossip and trouble. So, I guess, it's mostly a slice of life genre. >.>"

The writing was almost like a diary telling the life of people in the village of Eden --- missing on some details, skipping some parts that would make it more interesting, and a lot of gossip things. ^^; It is told through the point of view of several characters --- Sam Neely, Ed Harris, Anne Harris, Hayden Elkins, Junior Grimes, Diamond Ice, and many more. :| For me, the book would have been better if it was told through the point of view of a couple of them. Though, through telling it through several characters, they were almost like real life people and very believable, and at times, sort of funny. So it has a good point and a bad point --- you got to know the personalities and descriptions through different eyes, but there were so many that it skipped some things that could have made the book better. :(

Also, I like the descriptions and details that the author used, and it seemed liked there was enough, but it could have been more enjoyable. It felt like the author skipped some major scenes that would have made the ending have more sense. It feels like he was trying to write it as a way to understand women since they were pretty much the focus of the books --- but it didn't succeed much. :| Even though some people won't believe that a spouse wouldn't take their other half back after they cheat, I believe it because it happened with my parents. :D Though, I don't think they pretend it never happened --- like the characters do in the book. Though, since I'm their kid (no matter how old I am), they won't discuss things like that with me ;)

So I like how he put the forgiveness in there, despite on how unbelievable it is. The author makes the characters seem human and not hold a grudge, but we all know that isn't likely in real life. Everyone holds a grudge against something --- whether it's another human, country, animal, etc --- sad, but mostly true. So, the no holding grudges and forgiving everything is not like real life, but kind of like utopia. Amazing thought, but with humans being unpredictable, it won't happen anytime soon. :)

Things I didn't like were the fast paced events, which didn't really satisfy you, the off topic things, and kept on adding new problems instead of focusing on just one and build on that (and then add more problems), the amount of God in there --- it's mentioned, then it goes poof, then it appears again (like the author couldn't decide really to add God in the solution of the problems), and how the author made the women's personalities --- gossips, cheaters, nagging, etc.

I will only rate it a two star because it was an enjoyable read, but no higher because of the problems above, which irritate me the most. :| It is pretty much a good summer read since it won't take that much time to finish it.

Oh, just a warning, there are some sex (smut) scenes, but they aren't describe in that much details. ;)

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Stephen Coonts
Goodreads: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams
Library Thing: The Garden of Eden by Eve Adams

Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

 

Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

Balzer + Bray (Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)

Published in 2010

ISBN 9780061853289

408 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



In the village of Salem, during the 1690's, several young women accuse many people of being witches -- which is now known as the Salem Witch Trials. In Wicked Girls, this book is told from the perspective from the lead girls: Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, and Margaret Walcott. Each having their own reason for doing so, they have to decide whether or not it is too late to tell the truth.

I really don't know what to say about this book without revealing too much about the book and spoiling it. However, like with most historical fiction books, if you know the history and the book is completely based on it, you already know how it will end. :( Well, that's how it is with this novel, but it is still kind of interesting. ;) I'll just compare this novel with the one I read back in high school. :|

Compared to The Crucible by Arthur Miller, which is a play and considered "non-fiction", Wicked Girls is told by three of the girls and is a fiction novel. Also, the person who leads the group of girls is different, it's Abigail Williams in The Crucible, and in Wicked Girls, Ann Putnam Jr. starts it, but it ends with Mercy Lewis leading them. There is also a difference in who seem to pity in them, in Wicked Girls, you pity the girls, and in The Crucible, you pity the people the girls accuse. I don't remember, but you also see a new side to how the girls are treated after they put an end to the accusing. In The Crucible, I don't think the author ends the accusing in the actual play part. Also, I think you don't even meet Isaac Farraer, the guy that Margaret Walcott marries, in The Crucible. As you can tell from the comparisons, there are some very distinct differences between books, even though they have the same topic.

Personally, I didn't really like this book, but I like the idea behind the book. However, it felt like something was missing from the book -- it could have used more substance, action, and plot. The way it was left and how it was written made it feel like one of the Dear America books, but lacked the descriptions and substance the Dear America books have. I definitely would have liked it even more if it expanded it with more description and substance to it. >.>" Oh, by the way, I finished this book in one day, that's how short, unfulfilled, and (a little) interesting it feels like. Also, it felt more like a junior fiction book, like how the Dear America books are, than a young adult book, despite having a little sex scene in it. >.< However, that scene didn't go that into detail, so you don't have to worry about it too much. ^^ I also hated how it was in verse format. Don't know why, but I just didn't like it. ^^;

The idea is worth reading, but the lack of descriptions, details, and action makes it feel too incomplete and short. >.>" Read at your own risk. ^^; It would have been rated an one if it weren't for the idea behind the book, but no higher than a two because the author failed to pull it off with the lack of the things I mentioned

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Stephanie Hemphill
Goodreads: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill
Library Thing: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill
Book Envy: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill
Simply Books: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill
My Reading Room: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill
Book Whisperer: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill
Dog-eared and Well-read: Wicked Girls by Stephanie Hemphill

Fallen by Lauren Kate

FALLEN SERIES BOOK 01

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Delacorte Press
Published in 2009
ISBN 9780385738934
452 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Hardcover)
Barnes & Noble (Hardcover)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



After an accidental death of a friend, Luce Price is forced to go to Sword & Cross, a boarding school where problem students go. There she meets the mysterious Daniel Grigori, and she is immediately drawn to him. In a world of no outside communication, Daniel is the only good thing about her being forced to go to Sword & Cross. However, she's confused as to why Daniel goes out of his way to avoid her. Though, that won't stop her from pursuing or thinking about him. Luce is dying to find out why, but, will she even live long to regret it?

Okay, a fallen angel book. I mostly read adult fiction books that have fallen angels in it, so this will be the second "angel" book that I have read that's young adult. Compared to Eternal, this book and series is definitely lacking in details and exciting events at the moment.

Fallen starts out with a prologue, which, in my opinion, isn't really needed. Why? Because later on in the book it talks about Luce's past lives, so the beginning is just something that will confuse you more. Also, it takes out some of the suspense as to why he doesn't want to kiss her later on. So, it starts out with something that's not needed, but with the book, it doesn't have enough details --- and it gave me a headache with all of the useless and lack of details.

Also, it reminded me so much of Twilight, and no that's not a compliment, that it wasn't funny. The way that Luce just obsesses over Daniel and doesn't really care or notice anything else was creepily like Twilight, so I kind of lost my patience with this book. One thing I really hope with this book is that it doesn't end up like Twilight, where it doesn't tell you why the girl is different from others.

Translation: I really didn't like this book. The only reason why I would read the sequel to this book is to see if more details are more thoroughly explained than it was in this book.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Lauren Kate
Goodreads: Fallen (Fallen, #1) by Lauren Kate
Library Thing: Fallen by Lauren Kate
All Things Urban Fantasy: Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate
All Things Urban Fantasy: 2nd Opinion Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate
365 Days of Reading: Fallen by Lauren Kate

Silver World by Cliff McNish

THE SILVER SEQUENCE SERIES BOOK 03
[LAST ONE IN SILVER SEQUENCE]

Silver World by Cliff McNish
Cardrhoda Books, Inc.
Published in 2008
ISBN 9781580138796
247 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



The Roar has finally made it to Earth. Will these children be able to stop the Roar from destroying their world? Or, will they end up like all the over worlds devoured by her?

This book isn't as short as the first book, but it is still short compared to other books. You can pretty much read all the books in this series in one to three days.

Basically, this book like the first book is not that well thought out. In this book, there are not that many details and it feels like it had a lot plot holes. At first, the books are kind of strange while you reading it. Though, it is kind of more interesting than the first and second book, but not by much.

What would make this series better is better description, more detail and background, and more of a plot to go by. So, I would not read this series unless you are truly bored.

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Cliff McNish
Goodreads: Silver World by Cliff McNish
Library Thing: Silver World by Cliff McNish

Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea

 

Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea

The Penguin Press

Published in 2007

ISBN 9781594201219

286 Pages

PLACES TO BUY FROM:

Amazon (Paperback)
Barnes & Noble (Paperback)

CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Review/Rating:

2 out of 5



Sending anonymous yahoo group mass e-mails, a Saudi Arabain woman tells a story of her four friends about how they are trying to survive their country's ways on how women should behave and do things.

This book wasn't my cup of tea, but I read it so I can find out if I would like it, though, I didn't like it in the end. :P Anyways, you would like this kind of book, if you're into "girl power", love sucks, but I'll hang in there, type of books.

What I liked: The cultural information, some parts of the romance --- which is not much, and the way it was written --- yahoo group e-mails --- which is kind of original.

What I didn't like: It had information about love that should be obvious, but no woman wants to really know. It had the boringly common themes about love lives and how women go at lenghts for love, the cultural point of view was nice, but the love point and problems in the book are common pretty much everywhere, and there were too many point of view changes --- it played any-miney-money-moe with who told the part of story.

Well, if you like those types of books --- where they talk and give pity parties about love lives (bleh!) :( This book didn't have that many of my interests, but the culture parts were pretty the only things that were interesting to me. Also, I added the smut tag because it talks about sex --- a lot. ^^

Other Reviews/Author Site:

Rajaa Alsanea
Goodreads: Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea
Library Thing: Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea
Bookshelf: What We're Reading: Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea
Booklove: Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea
Lotus Reads: Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea