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Monday: Books in the Mail

2009-11-09T04:33:00.002-05:00

Last week I started to feel like a bookstore or something with the rate of frequency and quantity of books that arrived in my mailbox! They came from a variety of sources and are not all review books though the majority of them are. Why the sudden influx of books? Cybils review copies!! A big thank you goes out to all the publishers who are supplying review copies for the Cybils panelists and judges. Plus I mooched a couple of books and won a book as well. Sorry, no pictures or descriptions today or it would take me all morning to write and format this post. Now on to the books!

ARCs and Review Copies

Spellbinder by Helen Stringer with a cool 3D bookmark (from Macmillan)
Claim to Faim by Margaret Peterson Haddix (from Simon & Schuster Canada)
The Gates by John Connolly (from Simon & Schuster Canada)
The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey (from Simon & Schuster Canada)
I am Not a Psychic by Richard Belzer (from Simon & Schuster Canada)
Irredeemable Vol. 1 by Mark Waid (from Harper Collins Canada)
The Dragon Book: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy (from Penguin Canada)

Cybils Review Copies
Hatter M: Mad with Wonder by Frank Beddor (from Automatic Pictures)
The 3-2-3 Detective Agency by Fiona Robinson (from Hatchette Book Group)
Binky The Space Cat by Ashley Spires (from Kids Can Press)

Books I Won
Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers (signed!) (from the author)

Bookmooched
Heartsick by Chelsea Cain
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Contest: The Line Painter by Claire Cameron

2009-11-08T17:07:00.005-05:00

I am giving away a wonderful dark Canadian noire novel, The Line Painter by Claire Cameron, which I really enjoyed reading almost one year ago. This is a trade paperback edition.

Contest will run until Nov. 20, with the winner randomly chosen and announced on Nov. 21. This contest is open to US and Canada only. Sorry, but International postage is too expensive for me.

To enter:

1) You must be a follower (over in the right bar) and let me know you are in your comment.

2) Leave your email address (if it is not in your profile.)

3) +2 Tweet or blog about this contest and leave me the link.

4) +1 Which would you rather be: the person stranded on the highway late at night or the person offering the stranger a ride to get help?

Please try to leave all your responses in one comment.

You can read my review of the book here and see how much I enjoyed it. Here is the publisher's summary:

It's 1:08 a.m. when Carrie's car breaks down on the highway somewhere north of Lake Superior. It's dark, the road is quiet, her cell phone is down, and she is alone. She took off from Toronto that morning, running from grief over the death of her boyfriend, and unable to cope with the truth about the events that led to it. The relief Carrie feels as a truck pulls up soon turns to fear after its driver offers her a lift. Frank, her would-be rescuer, is a line painter, putting lines on the road "to stop people from being killed." But after Carrie gets in the truck, she starts to realize that this will be the road trip of her life.

Written in spare, unvarnished prose that brims with menace against the forbidding backdrop of a northern landscape, The Line Painter takes us on a riveting trip down a twisted road of memory and redemption.

201. Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI

2009-11-08T04:45:00.006-05:00

Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat by Jeanne Perego. Illustrated by Donata Dal Molin Casagrande. Introduction by Father Georg Ganswein. Translated by Andrew Matt

Pages: 37
Ages: 7+
Finished: Nov. 6, 2009
First Published: Mar. 2008 (English Edition) (2007, original Italian edition)
Genre: children, picture book, biography
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

MEEEOOOOW! I'm Chico, and who are you?

Reason for Reading: read aloud to my son for our religion class. Received through ILL.

Comments: This is a "big kid's" picture book with a large amount of text and would be suitable for up to age 12. The vocabulary is also quite high, possibly on account of the translation, which would make me not recommend it for younger than 7. The story is told by a pet cat that the Pope once had and while I found the 'talking cat' angle a little strange myself I could see that its purpose of bringing the story closer to a child's understanding, adding a narrator and an off-beat sense of humour worked very well. My 9yo son responded very well to Chico's voice. The biography covers Joseph Ratzinger's life from birth until the day he is elected Pope. More detail is covered in young Joseph's life while his later life of teacher, bishop and cardinal is quickly covered. Detail is once again added very well at the end describing the process of when and how a new Pope is elected. The illustrations are beautiful and compliment the book nicely, done mostly in cool colours in what appears to be watercolours. A good book for a brief look at the topic that gives just the right kind of information that will help children understand just who the Pope is. I also think that the book would be perfectly suitable for an audience of any religion as it is not written specifically to Catholics or even Christians. Recommended.

I'm also pleased to say that this book came through Inter-library loan. It took the longest of any book I've ever requested (6 weeks) and came from our nation's capital, Ottawa, but I'm glad to see a public library somewhere come up with a Catholic press title.

PS - I don't normally count picture books in my books read totals but this one is text-heavy so I've decided it should count.

And the Winner Is ...

2009-11-07T05:40:00.004-05:00

And the winner of The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann is ...........................

Pam

If Pam could go back in time and travel with a famous explorer .... "Honestly, I think it would have been cool to explore with Christopher Columbus when he discovered "the new world".

You can read my review of The Lost City of Z here.

If you didn't win today, there is always another chance so stay tuned tomorrow for another giveaway!

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#200. Babymouse: Dragonslayer

2009-11-07T04:39:00.005-05:00

Dragonslayer by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm
Babymouse #11

Pages: 93
Ages: 6+
Finished: Nov. 6, 2009
First Published: Aug. 25, 2009
Genre: children, Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

In a distant kingdom ...

Reason for Reading: Cybils nominee.

Comments: Babymouse is daydreaming about being an epic dragonslayer as in fantasy books when she receives an F- on her math test. Her teacher helpfully signs her up for the Mathletes team in exchange for ignoring her abysmal grade. Babymouse and math just do not get along and while her team prepares for the challenge against the current champions, the Owlgorithms, Babymouse just can't stop daydreaming; transplanting herself into Narnia and Middle Earth. Another cute story for Babymouse! This time her klutziness isn't showcased as much as her just plain average student ability-ness is and how easily she is overwhelmed. Babymouse spends her time with a whole new cast of characters on the Mathletes team and the math theme is explored and made fun of from many angles. Whether you love math or hate it, you'll be inspired. One thing that I'm really enjoying in these books is how the narrator talks back to Babymouse. It's funny! I have to say I enjoyed #10 The Musical more than this one though. But now I have an urge to go to the library and scoop up #1 through #9 and furiously catch up with Babymouse!

Contest: The Lost City of Z ARC (Sticky)

2009-11-06T16:27:00.001-05:00

I enjoyed this book so much that there is no way I would give up my own ARC but fortunately for you the publisher sent me the ARC twice. This means I have an extra to giveaway.

I am giving away an unread ARC of The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann. Being an ARC, this does not include any of the photos or maps included in the final edition, but the text is the same. This book is currently being filmed for a 2010 release starring Brad Pitt!

Contest will run until Nov. 6, with the winner randomly chosen and announced on Nov. 7. This contest is open to US and Canada only. Sorry, but International postage is too expensive for me.

To enter:

1) You must be a follower (over in the right bar) and let me know you are in your comment.

2) Leave your email address (if it is not in your profile.)

3) +2 Tweet or blog about this contest and leave me the link.

4) +1 if you could go back in time and go on a great exploration journey, where in the world would you explore or which famous explorer would you travel with.

Please try to leave all your responses in one comment.

You can read my review of the book here and see how much I enjoyed it. Here is the publisher's summary:

After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed New Yorker writer David Grann set out to solve "the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century": What happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z?

In 1925 Fawcett ventured into the Amazon to find an ancient civilization, hoping to make one of the most important discoveries in history. For centuries Europeans believed the world’s largest jungle concealed the glittering kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands had died looking for it, leaving many scientists convinced that the Amazon was truly inimical to humankind. But Fawcett, whose daring expeditions helped inspire Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, had spent years building his scientific case. Captivating the imagination of millions around the globe, Fawcett embarked with his twenty-one-year-old son, determined to prove that this ancient civilization—which he dubbed “Z”—existed. Then he and his expedition vanished.

Fawcett’s fate—and the tantalizing clues he left behind about “Z”—became an obsession for hundreds who followed him into the uncharted wilderness. For decades scientists and adventurers have searched for evidence of Fawcett’s party and the lost City of Z. Countless have perished, been captured by tribes, or gone mad. As David Grann delved ever deeper into the mystery surrounding Fawcett’s quest, and the greater mystery of what lies within the Amazon, he found himself, like the generations who preceded him, being irresistibly drawn into the jungle’s “green hell.” His quest for the truth and his stunning discoveries about Fawcett’s fate and “Z” form the heart of this complex, enthralling narrative.

Two GNs for Kids - Greek Mythology & Babymouse

2009-11-06T04:48:00.007-05:00

#198 - Jason and the Golden Fleece retold by Nel Yomtov, illustrated by Gerardo Sandoval, 63 pgs, 8+, 2009, graphic novel. - I read this aloud to my son; it being a little too hard for him to read himself comfortably and he wanted me to read it to him. Ds is already familiar with the tale of Jason as I had read a lengthy retelling in Classic Myths to Read Aloud by William F. Russell but that book has no illustrations. This graphic adaption was all we hoped it would be! A well-told, detailed retelling written in chapters. Most of the exciting bits of the journey are there and the story keeps well to the original myth with the limited 63 pgs. The illustrations are gorgeous and it is wonderful to see the story brought to life before your eyes in this way. The illustrator's style is a very modern comic book look though Jason is drawn in an almost anime style though his features stay recognizably masculine. I highly recommend this book and others in the myth series, especially to boys who are reluctant readers; with the book being at a 2.4 RL it will appeal right up to early teens. I received this book for review from Stone Arch Books. 5/5

Other books in the myths series:
Perseus and Medusa (my review)
The Adventures of Hercules
Theseus and the Minotaur

#199 - Babymouse #10: The Musical by Jennifer L. Holm and Mathew Holm, 95 pgs, 6+, 2009, graphic novel. - This is a Cybils nominee and, dare I say it, my first Babymouse book. Sure I've seen them lined up at the library, even peeked inside them, but I don't have any daughters and my son freaks if the colour pink gets too close to him so I haven't had an excuse. Now, finally I have a real reason to read Babymouse! This was absolutely wonderful! Babymouse (as I'm sure almost everyone already knows) is an adorable character; she's a bit of a klutz and rather a goof at times but she's got lots of friends and has lots of fun. Well Felicia Furrypaws doesn't like her but then she's a cat. Babymouse gets the part of the understudy to Felicia in the school play and daydreams her way through the book going off into musical interludes that are hilarious. I'm not sure how much kids will get the musical scenes but I couldn't help singing the words as she dreamt up All That Jazz, The Phantom of the Opera, Grease, Pirates of Penzance and Annie though they will recognize The Lion King and American Idol. I'm thoroughly enamoured with Babymouse and kid's have proven they are too. If you haven't read Babymouse yet this is a great one to start with! 4.5/5

197. Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days)

2009-11-05T05:46:00.003-05:00

Arabian Nights (and Days) by Bill Willingham
Fables: Book 7

Pages: 143
Ages: 18+
Finished: Nov. 4, 2009
First Published: 2006
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

Well, we're here.

Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Comments: The main story takes a pivotal turn as the focus shifts to the Fables of the East. Here we meet folklore from the eastern part of the world who are living in Baghdad. Sinbad, is namely the main character introduced and the first 4 issues of this volume contain this story arc. Many of our favourite characters so far make appearances (some very brief) to show what's happening with their respective arcs or to show they haven't been forgotten. Then the final two issues switch to a strange story which has a completely different artist appearance to it and takes place in the Homelands. The story is interesting but appears to have to no real relevance to any story arcs, but hang in there for a surprise ending that will leave you waiting for the characters to turn up again. As a turning point in the series this book takes a bit to get into with all the new happenings, characters and leaving the old plots to fill in the background. But we can see here that while the many story arcs will continue there is now a new direction in the main overall plot. Interesting things are ahead for our friends. And onward I go with the series!!

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196. The Hunchback Assignments

2009-11-04T05:04:00.004-05:00

The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
first in a new series

Pages: 275
Ages: 10+
Finished: Nov. 3, 2009
First Published: Sep.8, 2009 (Can)/ Sept.22 (US)
Genre: children, YA, fantasy, steampunk
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Six hunting hounds had perished in previous experiments.

Reason for Reading: Arthur Slade had a new book out and I was thrilled to find out it was the start of a series. I had been wanting him to venture out into a series. I received a review copy from the publisher, Harper Collins Canada. It also qualifies for the Canadian Reading Challenge.

Summary: Modo is an orphan taken in by Mr. Socrates and kept house-bound for the first thirteen years of his life where he is trained in body and mind. Modo is a hunchback with a terribly disfigured face which is so repugnant to look upon that Mr. Socrates does not allow mirrors in the house until he decides Modo is old enough to see his reflection. Once Modo has been trained to be one of Mr. Socrates secret agents he is sent out into the world where he uncovers a diabolical plot of the mad scientist Mr. Hyde. While investigating he meets Octavia Milkweed and together they must save the orphans of London and the city itself.

Comments: My review could end here and now with one word, brilliant. Arthur Slade comes up with some absolutely amazing plots and this book tops them all. A compelling read, that kept me turning the pages almost faster than I could read them. Modo is a wonderful character, one whom the reader bonds with instantly and feels compassion for, making him a superb hero. Octavia is a strong, yet feminine female hero and the two make for a dynamic pairing.

Slade's writing is as strong as ever. The book contains some quite disturbing scenes which made for a scary read at times but at others the humour is high which gives this quite dark story an even balance of light moments. I loved everything about this book and could simply gush over it. It's got everything you could hope for in a great read. If you like dark tales set in alternate Victorian England featuring mad scientists working with steam engines, clockworks and human bodies this will certainly be a must read for you! I can hardly wait for the next book to see what direction the series takes. The Hunchback Assignments will appeal to both boys and girls (as well as adults) equally. Recommended

Monday: Books in the Mail

2009-11-02T09:24:00.012-05:00

Busy week for my mailbox last week! Lots of books and one non-book item. Books came from a variety of sources this time, a couple of review copies, a couple of books I won and a couple I bought. So now for the pictures of the goodies!!!

Review copies from Simon & Schuster Canada:

It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. The Leviathan is a living airship, the most formidable airbeast in the skies of Europe.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way; taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever.

More than a rock star, more than a celebrity, Paul McCartney is a cultural touchstone. As one half of the legendary Lennon-McCartney songwriting duo, he helped transform popular music, moving from the simplistic pop of "Love Me Do" to the avant-garde symphonics of "A Day in the Life" to generation-binding anthems such as "Hey, Jude" and "Let It Be." Along the way the Beatles ascended from the dank basements of working-class Liverpool to heights of fame and wealth no previous entertainer could ever have imagined.

McCartney's own ambitions fueled much of the group's progress. But even as he steered himself from childhood tragedy to his meeting with John Lennon to the gestation of the Beatles and their rise to international acclaim, the same appetites that drove the group to its greatest creative and commercial heights also served to tear the band members apart.

Still, McCartney's career didn't end with the Beatles' breakup. Nor, for that matter, did the bonds between the Beatles. And in this definitive biography, Peter Ames Carlin examines McCartney's entire life, casting new light not just on the Beatles era, but also on his years with Wings and his thirty-year relationship with his first wife, Linda McCartney. He takes us on a journey through a tumultuous couple of decades in which Paul struck out on his own as a solo artist, reached the top of the charts with a new band, and once again drew hundreds of thousands of screaming fans to his concerts. Carlin presents McCartney as a musical visionary, capable of crafting pop gems such as "Band on the Run" and "Maybe I'm Amazed." But he also reveals a layered and often conflicted figure, as haunted by his legacy -- and particularly his relationship with John Lennon -- as he was inspired by it.

Built on years of research and fresh, revealing interviews with friends, bandmates, and collaborators spanning McCartney's entire life, Carlin's lively biography captures the many facets of Paul McCartney and paints a vivid portrait of one of our era's living legends.

I was the lucky winner of this one from the lovely Wanda over at A Season to Read.

Consumption is a haunting story of a woman’s life marked by struggle and heartbreak, but it is also much more. It stunningly evokes life in the far north, both past and present, and offers a scathing dissection of the effects of consumer life on both north and south. It does so in an unadorned, elegiac style, moving between times, places and people in beautiful counterpoint. But it is also a gripping detective story, and features medical reportage of the highest order.

In 1962 at the age of ten, Victoria is diagnosed with tuberculosis and must leave her home in the Arctic for a sanatorium in The Pas, Manitoba. Six years will pass before she returns to the north, years she spends learning English and Cree and becoming accustomed to life in the south. When she does move home, the sudden change in lifestyle leads sixteen-year-old Victoria to feel like a stranger in her own family. At the same time, Inuit culture is undergoing some equally bewildering changes: Cheetos are being eaten alongside walrus meat, and dog teams are slowly being replaced by snowmobiles.

Victoria eventually settles back into the community and marries John Robertson, a Hudson’s Bay store manager, and they raise three children together. Although their marriage is initially close, Robertson will always be Kablunauk, a southerner, and this becomes a point of contention between them. When Robertson becomes involved in arrangements to open a diamond mine in Rankin Inlet, the family’s financial condition improves, but their emotional life becomes ever more fraught: their son, Pauloosie, draws ever closer to his hunter grandfather as their daughters, Marie and Justine, develop a taste for Guns N’ Roses. Several other richly imagined characters deepen Patterson’s unsentimental portrait of both north and south. They include Dr. Keith Balthazar, a flailing doctor from New York whose despairing affection for Victoria leads to tragedy, and Victoria’s brother, Tagak, who finds that the diamond mine allows him a success and maturity he could never attain within his traditional culture.

The novel deftly tracks the meaning of “consumption” in both north and south. Consumption is tuberculosis, an illness previously unknown among the Inuit that wrenches Victoria from her home as a child, changing her family relationships, her outlook on the world and her entire future. As such consumption is a harbinger of the diseases of affluence, such as diabetes and heart disease that come to afflict the Inuit over the four-decade span of the novel. Consumption also defines the culture of post-industrial, urban North America, captured here through Keith Balthazar’s troubled relatives in New Jersey. And when the diamond mine opens in Rankin Inlet, its consumption of northern natural resources seems to symbolize Canada’s relationship with the Arctic and southern encroachments on the Inuit way of life.

And I also won this that has been on my tbr for ages from Donna over at Fantasy Dreamer's Ramblings:

When we first meet Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. As she looks down from this strange new place, she tells us, in the fresh and spirited voice of a fourteen-year-old girl, a tale that is both haunting and full of hope. In the weeks following her death, Susie watches life on Earth continuing without her-her school friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her family holding out hope that she'll be found, her killer trying to cover his tracks. As months pass without leads, Susie sees her parents' marriage being contorted by loss, her sister hardening herself in an effort to stay strong, and her little brother trying to grasp the meaning of the word gone. And she explores the place called heaven. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. There are counselors to help newcomers adjust and friends to room with. Everything she ever wanted appears as soon as she thinks of it-except the thing she most wants: to be back with the people she loved on Earth. With compassion, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie sees her loved ones pass through grief and begin to mend. Her father embarks on a risky quest to ensnare her killer. Her sister undertakes a feat of remarkable daring. And the boy Susie cared for moves on, only to find himself at the center of a miraculous event. The Lovely Bones is luminous and astonishing, a novel that builds out of grief the most hopeful of stories. In the hands of a brilliant new writer, this story of the worst thing a family can face is transformed into a suspenseful and even funny novel about love, memory, joy, heaven, and healing.

Due to certain circumstances with the publisher I ended up buying these cybil nominees myself to review:

Get ready for the next big epic fantasy . . .

In a distant kingdom a growing darkness falls over the land.

One is called to defend . . . to bring hope . . . to slay the Mighty Dragon. . . .

Could it be . . . Babymouse? Find out when Babymouse leads her fellow Mathletes in the quest of a lifetime, a death-defying fight to win back both her school’s honor and the coveted GOLDEN SLIDE RULE. Our brave young hero must face not just the evil Owlgorithms but also her own personal dragon—MATH. Destined for glory, for greatness, for bookstores and libraries everywhere . . . this is the epic adventure fans have been waiting for!

Most people fear them, and a few people even hunt them, thinking they are horrible monsters to be destroyed at all costs. But young Hamachi wants to be friends with them! He sees them as mischievous creatures that could coexist peacefully with humans if only given a chance.

When his grandmother dies under mysterious circumstances, Hamachi journeys into the Yokai realm. Along the way, he encounters an ogre who punishes truant children, an angry water spirit, and a talking lantern. Will Hamachi be able to find his grandmother's killer, or will he be lost forever in another world?

And finally because whenever I order from amazon.ca I have to make sure I get free shipping I added a Christmas present to my cart and received this for my ds, which is now hidden away in the deep dark corners of the house.

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November Random Read

2009-11-01T06:08:00.003-05:00

This month I will be using random.org to pick a book for me. I'm going to enter the numbers 1-50 this time then I'll go upstairs and start counting the piles of unread arcs until I reach the appropriate numbered book. Here we go .... I got #24 ... be right back as I go up stairs to see what book that is ................ Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri!

A devilish debut by a brother-sister team invites us into the world of the elite Marlowe School, where some gifted students are having a hell of a year.

One night, in cities all across Europe, five children vanish — only to appear, years later, at an exclusive New York party with a strange and elegant governess. Rumor and mystery follow the Faust teenagers to the city’s most prestigious high school, where they soar to suspicious heights with the help of their benefactor’s extraordinary "gifts." But as the students claw their way up — reading minds, erasing scenes, stopping time, stealing power, seducing with artificial beauty — they start to suffer the side effects of their own addictions. And as they make further deals with the devil, they uncover secrets more shocking than their most unforgivable sins. At once chilling and wickedly satirical, this contemporary re-imagining of the Faustian bargain is a compelling tale of ambition, consequences, and ultimate redemption.

October Wrap Up

2009-11-01T05:50:00.005-05:00

October turned out to be a pretty good month. As I had expected the graphic novels I've been reading for the Cybils have helped the numbers come up (along with a wide selection of other children's books). Actual novels are still down (only 8 including a memoir) but I did read some good ones this month. Thanks to everyone for voting in my poll and picking "Testimony" as my October Random read. That was a lot fun and I'll certainly be running another poll for you to pick a book for me to read in the future!

October: 21

175. The Child Thief by Brom (5*****)
176. Fables: Homelands by Bill Willingham (5*****)
177. The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis (3***)
178. A Family Treasury: Classic Bible Stories retold by Lise Caldwell (4****)
179. A Pioneer Thanksgiving by Barbara Greenwood (4****)
180. The Bag of Bones by Vivian French (4****)
181. A.D. New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld (3***)
182. Alligator Stew: Favourite Poems by Dennis Lee (4****)
xxx. Little Bear's Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik (4****)
183. Testimony by Anita Shreve (3.5***)
184. Wonderland by Tommy Kovac (4****)
185. Up Till Now: The Autobiography by William Shatner (5*****) (FAVOURITE Book of the Month)
186. 20 Bible Verses Every Child Should Know with 20 original Bible memory songs on full-length CD (5*****)
187. Hoodoo Sea by Rolf Hitzer (Book Tour. review to come Nov. 15)
188. Perseus and Medusa by Blake A. Hoena (5*****)
189. Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero by Charise Mericle Harper (3***)
190. By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman (4****)
191. The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood (3***)
xxx. The Three Little Pigs by Lisa Trumbauer (5*****)
192. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon (3***)
193. Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman by Monica Kulling (3***)
194. Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli (4****)
195. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Tim Hamilton (4.5****)

And for the first time in months! I actually watched a movie!

October: 1

33. The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967) (borrowed through Interlibrary Loan) -We watched this right after reading By the Great Horn Spoon upon which the movie is loosely based. Many liberties have been taken with the book but the major plot points and action scenes are included. We all enjoyed watching the movie. Pleshette's character was an add on so I never really took to her I would have preferred they added on one of Jack's sisters to go with them but then of course the big love story would have been a flop. Still, Roddy McDowell is a fine actor and loads of fun in this part and Karl Malden is perfect for his part as the dastardly, yet cowardly Judge. The highlight of the movie though is the famous fight scene which uses a lot of pre-Matrix camera trick moves. My 9yo thought that was quite funny!

All Hallow's Eve

2009-10-31T17:58:00.002-04:00

Halloween or All Hallows' Eve is not a liturgical feast on the Catholic calendar, but the celebration has deep ties to the Liturgical Year. These three consecutive days — Halloween, All Saints Day and All Souls Day — illustrate the Communion of Saints. The Church Militant (those on earth, striving to get to heaven) pray for the Church Suffering (those souls in Purgatory) especially on All Souls Day and the month of November. We also rejoice and honor the Church Triumphant (the saints, canonized and uncanonized) in heaven. We also ask the Saints to intercede for us, and for the souls in Purgatory. Read more ...

195. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 Graphic Novel

2009-10-31T05:30:00.003-04:00

Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation by Tim Hamilton. Introduction by Ray Bradbury.

Pages: 149
Ages: 13+
Finished: Oct. 30, 2009
First Published: Jul.21, 2009
Genre: graphic novel, science fiction
Rating: 4.5/5

First sentence:

It was a pleasure to burn.

Reason for Reading: Cybils nominee

Comments: At this point I think it's fair that no summary of Fahrenheit 451 is needed. I'm a fan of the novel having read it a handful of time plus I've seen the 1966 movie a couple of times. Obviously, I was no stranger to the plot when I sat down to read the graphic adaptation. I was very pleased to find a very faithful adaptation to the novel had been rendered. It's amazing to see a novel transformed with a minimal amount of text and the addition of graphics to tell the same story. Though one hopes an adaptation will never replace the original, this is a beautiful compliment to it.

The illustrations are very interesting and match the mood of the story done in a limited palette of colours using a trio of colours plus black for the most part though occasionally going down to 2 colours plus black at times. He uses warm reds, yellows and oranges for the fireman scenes while reverting to cool blues, greens and purples for the rest of the book. It sets a dark, oppressive feeling without the need for a narrative to do so.

I can't quite give this a rating of 5 as I know Mr. Bradbury's work can't be equaled but Tim Hamilton has done an excellent job in bringing the novel to the graphic format in a stunningly faithful rendition.

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RIP IV Challenge - Completed

2009-10-30T09:55:00.002-04:00

Another year of the RIP is over. This year we only had to commit to 4 books but I managed to double that and read 8 appropriate books. This is the challenge I, and I think everybody elese, looks forward to all year long. Hosted by Carl, it's always a great 2 months of scary, creepy reads. Here's what I managed to read this year.

RIP IV Challenge (Sept 1 - Oct. 31, 2009) (4 books)
1. Wisconsin Death Trip by Michael Lesy
2. Haunted by Barbara Haworth-Attard
3. Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay
4. The Hanging Hill by Chris Grabenstein
5. My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
6. Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
7. The Child Thief by Brom
8. The Bag of Bones by Vivian French

I'm pleased with every single book I read this year!

194. Asterios Polyp

2009-10-30T06:16:00.005-04:00

Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli

Pages: 344
Ages: 18+
Finished: Oct. 29, 2009
First Published: Jul.7, 2009
Genre: graphic novel
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

mmm...oohh.. that's good...

Reason for Reading: Cybils nominee

Summary: The book opens with a man watching, presumably, a pornographic movie, when his building is hit by lightning and catches fire. Such is how we meet Asterios Polyp, 50 year old architect. He grabs a few trinkets and as he rushes out the door we see he has a room full of videos, each one marked with a consecutive day of the week which appear to go on for years back. Through a series of flashbacks we follow Asterios' past and present as with the cash he takes a bus to however far it will get him, ending up in a hick town where he gets a job as a mechanic and rents a room in the house of his boss.

Comments: The book is a study in self. It is hard for me to review this book critically as I have never studied philosophy and that is the main theme running through this book. The first thing to enter my mind was existentialism and after googling it, I found it fit the situation perfectly in my mind but I also saw the opposite happening as well, so another google brought up the term nihilism. The amazing thing about this graphic novel is that the illustrations follow suit in a gripping display a graphic brilliance to fit the atmosphere of the pages.

For characters, the book is sparse. Asterios himself is self-centered and egotistical. His Asian wife is his opposite: warm, tender and loving. Otherwise the book contains a handful of eccentric characters, who while also being wrapped in their own self manage to do so without the know-it-all, "I'm always right", attitude of Asterios. My favourite character was the garage owner's wife, Ursula Major a buxom, large, pipe smoking, luxurious blonde woman who follows all the Pagan religions and thinks she is part Indian because she was a Shaman in a past life.

I haven't read anything by the author before so I didn't know what to expect and I must admit I thought it was quite weird to begin with but then things started making sense, I started understanding Asterios' character and I really enjoyed the book in the end. Speaking of the end, it's quite a shocker too.

I would especially recommend this book to anyone who knows a thing or two about philosophy. You'll get a whole lot more out of it than I did but nevertheless, I took what I could from it and was pleased with the read.

As to this being nominated for a Cybil. This is an adult book published for adults and I don't feel it should be considered for the award. The theme is adult, the grown-up characters are not appealing to teens and there are many nude scenes showing full frontal nudity down to the pubic hair on both sexes, along with sex scenes, which I do not consider appropriate for a non-adult audience.

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Three Pigs, a Cybil & Harriet Tubman

2009-10-29T04:38:00.006-04:00

Today I have a three in one for you!

The Three Little Pigs retold by Lisa Trumbauer, illustrated by Aaron Blecha. (Jan. 2009) (33pgs) received a review copy from the publisher. - This graphic novel is label reading level 1, though I do say it is a but harder than that but nevertheless my son had no problems reading this out loud to me. The story keeps true to the traditional tale we are all familiar with with no watering down and tiny little twist at the end that is very clever. The illustrations are wonderful and creepy. You honestly have to give this book a read once you've had a look at the illustrations. Ds looked forward to reading it everyday. We have another in this Fairy Tale series and I've noticed my library has quite a few on the shelves as well, so we'll certainly be back for more of these. 5/5

192. Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon (jun. 11, 2009) (153pgs) Cybils nominee. Borrowed from my library. - Dragonbreath is a graphic novel-text hybrid. While the majority of the book is written in text, every so often it will venture off into anywhere from a single page to several pages of graphic novel format which are interwoven right into the story. An interesting use of the graphic novel format which makes the book read quickly. Dragonbreath is the only dragon in his reptile and amphibian school and he has yet to learn how to breath fire but that's not his only problem. He hates doing schoolwork and after receiving an F on a made-up report about the ocean he goes to visit his cousin a sea serpent who takes him on a journey beneath the sea where he has many adventures along with his iguana friend Wendell. Armed with this information he is able to re-write a much better report.

A cute little story; the illustrations are very cute and will appeal immediately to readers. The faces are very expressive. I think kids will certainly relate to the characters and have fun with the adventures. Personally, I found the story cute but not anything special. I'm capable of enjoying a just plain fun story but this lacked the element of that something special for me. If your child is attracted to the book go ahead and buy it for them but I wouldn't go out of my way to choose it for a child to read. 3/5

193. Escape North! The Story of Harriet Tubman by Monica Kulling, illustrated by Teresa Flavin. (2000) (48pgs) read as part of our history curriculum - An easy reader chapter book briefly tells the story of Harriet Tubman's life and her heroic deeds to save other slaves by bringing them to Canada and later on her part in the Civil War. A good majority of the book is spent on her life as a child, and life before she escaped slavery so children can get to know her as a person first before they learn she is a hero. My only quibble is that the whole Canadian connection is skipped. The word Canada appears once in the book "take the group on to Canada". 3/5

Fortunately we live very close to where she lived in Canada and were able to visit the church where Tubman brought the slaves on (I forget whether it was 17 or 19) separate journeys she made down south and back again via the Underground Railroad. The church doesn't have a website but here is a little info site about it.

191. The Year of the Flood

2009-10-28T04:25:00.005-04:00

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
(a parallel novel to Oryx and Crake)

Pages: 431
Ages: 18+
Finished: Oct. 27, 2009
First Published: Sept. 22, 2009
Genre: post-apocalyptic, science fiction (no matter how much the author denies it)
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

In the early morning Toby climbs up to the rooftop to watch the sunrise.

Reason for Reading: Atwood's new book. Qualifies for the Canadian Reading Challenge. Borrowed from my library.

Summary: A plague has wiped out the majority of the world and the God's Gardeners cult had been preparing for the end-times (the Waterless Flood) all along. Two women, who were members of God's Gardeners have survived the plague. One, Ren, because she was in an isolation unit (almost like an apartment) where she was recuperating after being abused by one of the patrons in the sex club where she worked and possibly contaminated. The other, Toby, had locked herself in the beauty spa (heavily secured corporation run) she was the manager of the night the plague hit full force. The story is told from three points of views. Ren's and Toby's with both of them telling their present situation and remembering their past life with the God's Gardener's. The third point of view comes from the past and follows the God's Gardeners year by year through sermons given by Adam One which end with a hymn.

Comments: I really enjoyed Oryx and Crake and dived into this book as soon as it came into the library for me. The book was a quick read. I always find Atwood's writing to flow so naturally her books are often hard to put down, and this was no exception. Ren and Toby are full, realistic characters, quite opposite in nature from each other but both emotionally draw the reader into their lives and thus the book. Atwood's feminist side shows through here as we see a comparison between the two women. Ren has been treated kindly then thrown aside and later used and abused by men because of her good looks while Toby has been used and abused and later ignored by men because of her plain looks.

The God's Gardeners cult was pretty creepy in my opinion. Atwood has created a religion which is Old Testament based, yet Pagan in nature and is full of Saint Days. While the group believes in an Old Testament God, they are eco friendly by worshipping animals and nature and are strictly vegan. Near the beginning she has a St. Mowat of the Wolves day and I said to myself, "Oh, Lord please do not let her have a St. David Suzuki day in here or I'm going to through this book across the room". He did appear, but fortunately it was near the end of the book and I held back my urge.

I would suggest reading Oryx and Crake first. The books are not dependant on each other but this one does reference many things from the first book and you are going to wandering around in the dark as either no explanations, or only brief ones are given. A very quick explanation of the events of the first book are summed up for you at the crucial point in Year of the Flood but a reader will be missing out on a whole book's worth of insider information if they journey into this without having read Oryx and Crake first.

Ultimately though, I was disappointed with book. It was a good enough book. Fans of Oryx and Crake will have to read it to find out the rest of the story. But I just didn't get into the story that much. It wasn't a page turner, even though it read quick enough. The plot kept moving forward but there never was any real suspense, reveals, moments of great emotion or climax even to satisfy. Well, there is a climax and an ending but they are small and weak and I ended the book with a "hmmph".

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I'm a Blurb!!!!!

2009-10-26T18:01:00.006-04:00

The latest trade paperback edition of Kenneth Oppel's Starclimber hit the stores this month. I've hinted a couple of times at a secret I've been keeping and this is it. I won a contest and came in as the first runner up! Harper Collins Canada ran the contest back in May and Kenneth Oppel himself chose the three winners. I was contacted in August but didn't want to spill the beans publicly until I'd seen the thing with my own eyes to make sure it wasn't some surreal dream. My blurb is printed on the first page when you open the book and just look at the company I'm keeping!! I also received a signed hardcover first edition as a prize (as if seeing my name and words in print wasn't "prize" enough! You can read my whole review here.

Click on the picture and select "All Sizes" to see the entire picture. If you live in Canada, run to your nearest bookstore and buy one! Heehee!

Now I can't wait to go the author's booksigning in November!

Monday: Books in the Mail

2009-10-26T09:22:00.007-04:00

Last week saw the arrival of two arcs and I actually bought a book as well, good excuse though as I bought it as a read aloud for school purposes. With two arcs coming in this past week, I'm very shocked to say I did not read any arcs in that time which makes the arc pile a total increase of 2 books. Well it was bound to happen sooner or later!

From Random House Canada:

Anne Rice returns to the mesmerizing storytelling that has captivated readers for more than three decades with this new novel — the first book in a new series called “Songs of the Seraphim.”

Angel Time is a dark, suspenseful novel about angels, reluctant assassins and a journey of redemption.

Toby O’Dare — a.k.a. Lucky the Fox — has fallen far from grace. He is a contract killer who carries out violence whenever and wherever he is told, a soulless soul who takes orders from someone he calls “The Right Man.” When a mysterious stranger comes into Lucky’s nightmarish world and offers him a chance to save lives rather than destroy them, Lucky seizes the opportunity to escape the darkness. He is lifted in (angel) time and carried back through the ages to the primitive and treacherous world of thirteenth-century England, where Jews live an uneasy existence. He begins a journey that leads him from the medieval villages of England to the cities of London and Paris as his quest becomes a story of danger and flight, loyalty and betrayal, selflessness and love.

The eagerly awaited second novel from the author of the widely acclaimed debut mystery The Calling.

DI Hazel Micallef is still recovering from back surgery when a report comes in that a body has been found in a nearby lake, snagged under several feet of water. But as DC Wingate says, the whole thing is way too eerie. The first installment of a story has just been published in the local paper: a passage that describes in detail just such a discovery. Real life is far too close to fiction for coincidence.

The second novel featuring Hazel Micallef is a stunning and suspenseful exploration of the obsessive far reaches of love. It will confirm Inger Ash Wolfe as one of the best mystery writers there is.

Purchased from Ignatius Press:

A Vision book containing the enthralling story of the great modern apostle of youth, Saint John Bosco, and his best-loved pupil who became a saint, Dominic Savio. Blessed with tremendous natural and supernatural gifts, including a wonderful sense of humor, Saint John Bosco overcame overwhelming obstacles to help deprived children find a better life.

Juggler, magician, acrobat, tailor, teacher and writer--John Bosco became all of these in his efforts to lead boys and girls to God. A prayer was the price of admission to his shows; a friendly contest to match skill or strength was his answer to the hoodlums who laughed at him. As a priest he was known as Don Bosco and built churches and schools.

Don Bosco's schools were cheerful places where the school spirit ran high. This story of Saint John Bosco and his pupil, Saint Dominic Savio, will appeal to the young readers of today.

190. By the Great Horn Spoon!

2009-10-26T05:19:00.008-04:00

By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman, illustrated by Eric von Schmidt

Pages: 193
Ages: 8+
Finished: Oct. 23, 2009
First Published: 1963
Genre: children, historical fiction, humour
Rating: 4/5

First sentence:

A sailing ship with two great sidewheels went splashing out of Boston harbor on a voyage around the Horn to San Francisco.

Reason for Reading: read aloud to my 9yo to go with our history studies.

Summary: Aunt Arabella is in imminent danger of losing her estate so Jack and the butler, Praiseworthy, leaving a note behind, stowaway on a ship to reach California where they plan to strike it rich with the other forty-niners. Thus coming home in time to save Aunt Arabella's estate. If only things worked out just as we planned them...

Comments: As historical fiction, the book's historical content is contained to life aboard a coal-fueled steamship, both above and below decks, the lifestyle of a gold miner and the drudgery of working on a gold claim with the likelihood of not finding any gold. Otherwise, the tale told here is far too tall to take seriously. Having read a handful of Fleishman's books, including some McBroom, I knew what to expect all along.

A delightful, over-the-top, rip-roaring adventure that both ds and I enjoyed immensely. The character of Praiseworthy is hilarious. Being the perfect 'stiff upper lip' butler he is completely out of his element in the dusty wilds but like the perfect butler he can fix any awkward situation in a jiffy. Praiseworthy slowly loses pieces of his butler's ensemble and with it his lip begins to loosen up as well. Undoubtedly, Praiseworthy is the star of this book. Oddly enough though, with the book being about the rush for gold, the first good half (maybe a bit less) of the book takes place aboard the steamship. We certainly enjoyed the exploits on board, and sailing books are a big hit around here, but we did start to wonder when the gold rush part of the book would ever start. To sum up the story simply put: good, clean fun with plenty of action and loads of laughs.

The only thing I didn't enjoy were the illustrations which are of the scribbled variety. I'm sure someone may appreciate them; they are detailed but to me they look like continuous line drawings that were scribbled up in two minutes. I'm not a fan of von Schmidt. But I am pleased the book keeps the original illustrations. There is nothing worse than ripping apart a piece of literature by implanting "new" illustrations. This brings me to the cover. Neither my son nor I were pleased with it. When reading ds always has a fun time placing the cover picture in the story and guessing what is happening in the cover. Since the cover illustration has been "updated" the characters look nothing like they do inside the book and he could not figure out who they were and when the fight scene finally came he was literally disgusted with the cover drawing, especially of Praiseworthy. "Doesn't look anything like him!" he said. I agree.

I can't find a picture of the original cover anywhere but here is a foreign edition with von Schmidt's artwork and a proper picture of Praiseworthy, perhaps it is the original cover artwork. Who knows?

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A Couple of Graphic Novel Mini-Reviews

2009-10-24T04:53:00.005-04:00

Today I have a couple of reviews of elementary/middle grade graphic novels which are Cybils nominees that I have read recently read.

#188. Perseus and Medusa by Blake A. Hoena, illustrated by Daniel Perez, 2009, 63 pgs - This retelling of the famous Greek myth is quite complete in its details including parts of the story not always included in children's versions such as the Gorgons which frequently get dropped. But I was most impressed with the inclusion of the sidestory of Perseus's return journey home including his saving of Andromeda before he returns to court with the head of Medusa. A very true retelling, keeping it suitable for children. There is a bit of violence, Medusa does get her head chopped off after all, and with that a few drops of blood are shown here and there over a few pages. Nothing I wouldn't deem suitable for an 8yo of my own. The illustrations are gorgeous! I always say this when I review a Stone Arch book but they always use top-notch artists for their books. Perez has worked for Marvel and Dark Horse comics and his illustrations beautifully bring the story alive. A must read for mythology fans! 5/5

#189. Fashion Kitty and the Unlikely Hero by Charise Mericle Harper, 2008, 106 pgs. - Kiki the cat is a super hero. Whenever there is a fashion disaster she turns into Fashion Kitty, has the ability to fly and can fix any fashion blunder. Her school changes policy and everyone must start wearing uniforms, what a tragedy! But is it? Fashion Kitty doesn't receive any calls. There is something bigger afoot here and maybe you don't have to be a super hero to be a hero. This was a cute little girly-girl story that I'm sure the intended audience will love. It pretty much reads like a cartoon show episode with a few good lessons thrown in. The artwork is simplistic, drawn with the basic shapes. It is the type that children will be able to sit down and copy their favourite characters and in fact there is a Fashion Kitty drawing lesson at the back of the book. The book is mostly what I call fluff, cute fluff though, and little girls with a flare for fashion will certainly enjoy Fashion Kitty. 3/5

And the Winner is ....

2009-10-23T10:38:00.004-04:00

And the winner of The Rapture by Liz Jensen is :

Sheila (bookjourney)

Sheila's favourite post-apocalyptic books are the Left Behind series.

You can read my review of The Rapture here.

If you didn't win today, there is always another chance as you can stay tuned tomorrow for another giveaway!

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Contest: The Rapture by Liz Jensen (Sticky)

2009-10-22T08:10:00.001-04:00

When I received The Rapture by Liz Jensen for review I somehow ended up with two copies! The Canadian edition I had been expecting and then shortly followed by an ARC of the American edition.

I am giving away here the unread ARC of the US edition of The Rapture by Liz Jensen.

Contest will run until Oct. 22, with the winner randomly chosen and announced on Oct. 23. This contest is open to US and Canada only. Sorry, but International postage is too expensive for me.

To enter:

1) You must be a follower (over in the right bar) and let me know you are in your comment.

2) Leave your email address (if it is not in your profile.)

3) For +2 extra entries tell me your favourite apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic book.

You can read my review of the book and while it is not exactly glowing, I do think many people will enjoy the book more than I did. Here is the publisher's summary

It’s a blazing hot summer in the not-too-distant future. Thirty-five-year-old psychologist Gabrielle Fox is painfully rebuilding her life after a terrible accident that has left her a paraplegic, and her lover dead. The effects of incapacitating memories and guilt have led to Gabrielle’s dismissal from her London job. Craving anonymity and a fresh start, she moves to the coastal town of Hadport and accepts the first post she is offered, as an art therapist at a lackluster institution for dangerously psychopathic teens.

Gabrielle’s predecessor is on emergency leave thanks to an unhealthy obsession with Bethany Krall, now Gabrielle’s patient. A punky and precocious wild child with matted hair and kohl-rimmed eyes, Bethany’s claim to fame is that she murdered her own mother with a screwdriver. Aside from a gift for rip-roaring verbal obscenities and a knack for intuiting the inner torments of strangers, Bethany has the uncanny ability to gleefully forecast the environmental catastrophes now befalling the earth at a terrifying rate. Though skeptical at first, Gabrielle finds herself preoccupied with Bethany, her alarm and fascination swelling with every accurate prediction.

Seeking a rational explanation, Gabrielle connects with the big-hearted Scottish geophysicist Frazer Melville, an expert on global weather patterns. Though Frazer is not able to give Gabrielle the easy answer she hopes for, she finds comfort in his presence, and perhaps even attraction. The two begin a tentative romance as Gabrielle realizes that the door to her sexual life may not be closed after all.

Meanwhile, the enormous human cost of each global cataclysm is tallied in advance by a jubilant Bethany, who likes to toss in a few snippets of scripture memorized at the knee of her father, the charismatic fundamentalist preacher Leonard Krall. Gabrielle suspects Krall of having more to do with his wife and child’s ruin than he admits to, but before she can fully investigate, she and Frazer must put their reputations on the line and find a way to warn humanity of the looming apocalypse.

Raved about in The Times as “an unputdownable eco-thriller” and already optioned for film by Warner Brothers, Liz Jensen’s The Rapture once again proves Jensen to be a master of page-turning suspense. Readers will be entertained by the pyrotechnics of this hugely intelligent and wholly original voice, while unnerved by the high-voltage ecological horror story that feels all too plausible in our time.

186. 20 Bible Verses Every Child Should Know with 20 original Bible memory songs on full-length CD

2009-10-22T04:55:00.004-04:00

20 Bible Verses Every Child Should Know with 20 original Bible memory songs on full-length CD illustrated by Christine Tripp, songs by Little Man Music. (text by various authors. Scripture taken from NIV)

Pages: 92 + CD
Ages: 4-10
Finished: Oct. 13, 2009
First Published: 2003
Genre: children, Bible, Christian
Rating: 5/5

First sentence:

Have you been looking for a fun, new resource to help your child learn Bible verses?

Reason for Reading: We spend time on religion every school day M-TH. This book came with our curriculum; I had not seen it before. We used it every other week.

Comments: I was not looking to use this book as a verse memorizing tool but more as a devotional and discussion starter with my son. I was impressed right away with the visual presentation and the everyday stories children could really relate to. The real test though was to listen to the CD. Would the songs be corny? I sat down and started to listed to it on my own and must say I was more than satisfied. The songs are sung in various combinations of a man, woman and children. Each song is a different style of music such as up beat, soft and slow, foot stomping, etc. International styles are represented as well, for example the first song has an African feel to it. The singing is good quality, the music is fun and the songs are not corny, in fact they get in your head and you find your self singing as you go about your day.

Each story follows the same format over 4 pages. A Bible verse is featured. The left hand side is a full colour illustration to accompany the story which illustrates the verse in action in a child's life today. Two "Memory Booster" activities are suggested. (These vary from word games to play in the car to actual crafts). Then the lyrics to the song follow.

How we used the book over a 4 day period: Day one, we would read the verse. (remember memorizing is not my goal but rather understanding and applying) We would discuss any words he might not know the meaning of and say the verse again now that he understood all the words. He would repeat the verse. Then I'd ask if he knew what it meant. And often he had very good explanations, and we'd discuss a little longer as interest held. Day two, we said the verse then read the story and applied the verse to the lesson the child had learned in the story. I skipped the "Memory Booster" section. Day three, We said the verse, then listened/sang the song usually more than once. As many times as he wanted within reason, as he sometimes really enjoyed a song and would have had me play it ten times in a row if I let him. Day four, We said the verse, sang the song, then I let him pick any previous songs he had enjoyed and we sang them until he had had enough singing.

The book is non-denominational, though obviously Protestant in nature, as a Catholic I was completely happy with the book as well. A great devotional for kids who love music!