The Apprentices takes the world as we know it, but sprinkles fairy tale dust on it. Well, not fairy tale dust, but fantastical plant pastes, elixirs, and concoctions.

There’s more, but I won’t tell you because I want you to read this book.

             The Apprentices is the sequel to The Apothecary, which I also enjoyed. Once again, the heroes must stop the enemies from developing an unstoppable nuclear bomb. But there’s more to the book than this. I felt I learned something about myself as the characters changed and grew. Even though the events are supernatural, the story and the people felt real.

             I think you’ll have a hard time deciding which character is your favorite: there’s Janie and Ben, amazing wise teenagers, Jin Li, the psychically scarred brilliant Chinese scientist, Ben’s father, the original Apothecary, who has in his possession a book with amazing plant cures.

            At the end, you’ll wish Maile Melloy’s created world were true.

Read this and you'll know why Peter Sis is a treasure!

Dinosaur!   was a big hit in the bookstore (Anderson’s Bookshop)I worked at when it came out in 2000. So, I was happy to stumble across it in the library. It begins quietly. A little boy takes a bath with his plastic dinosaur. But, within a page, they’re joined by a Jurassic cast of pteranodon, iguanodon, stegosaurus and more. What I loved best was when the cartoon creatures morphed into the beautiful artwork Peter Sis is known for. All I can say is,what a way to take a bath!
Ages: 2 and up

Have I got a treat for you! 

You don’t even have to read to love this book. Just look at the pictures. (Which, may I remind you, most preschool kids do.) I got this from the Iowa City Public library.
 Ice by Arthur Geisert.
Honestly, I had no idea of where the story was going when I began. (I like to be surprised, don’t you?)
 I’ll get you started. On a teeny tiny dot of an island lives, you guessed it, a colony of pigs. There’s a ship, a few shelters, and a reservoir with a little water. The pigs are hot, and so bothered, that they launch their ship in search of…icebergs.

He’s written lots of others, so just walk to the “G” (for Geisert) section in picture books for more.

Recs for Anyone Who reads books to kids on Skype or Facetime

Recs for Anyone Who reads books to kids on Skype or Facetime

Have you ever read a book to a two-year old using Skype or Facetime? You’re sneaking peeks at the text, and at the same time, jiggling the pictures into focus. By the time you finish, you’re exhausted and your audience is long gone.

After many months of failure, I’ve finally found books that entertain for 32 pages!

The first book I’m recommending is an oldie-but-goodie. It’s The Story of Little Babaji,  by Helen Bannerman. The story is simple and the artwork rich and detailed. In short, Babaji outsmarts four ferocious tigers. The silly tigers chase each other round and round a tree until there’s nothing left but puddles of melted butter. Who comes along and collects it? Babji’s father, of course. In the end, everyone has a pile of Mamaji’s  pancakes, topped with tasty tiger butter.

I am a late comer to the fantasy fan club. His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman captured me and now I look for fantasy in the library, bookstore, friend's houses, everywhere!

What do get you mix a fairy and a human? A "Peculiar." Bartholomew is one, and so is his little sister, Hettie. They live in the slums of a "Steampunk" city, just getting by. No one respects them, in fact, their mother tries to hide the fact they're  different. It's to no avail. When something supernatural starts killing "Peculiars, "  Bartholomew is marked for death.

The Peculiar by  Stefan Bachman will appeal to ANY kid, age 8 and up.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

by Ransom Riggs

This isn't as scary as it looks. Well, maybe the photo are a bit unnerving. But, it's a rousing fantasy/ghost/adventure. Upper elementary and Middle school are the appropriate ages.

The Ogre of Oglefort

 Eva Ibbotson’s books twist and tangle fairy tales. So, when I picked up The Ogle of Oglefort, I knew the Ogre wouldn’t be a flesh-eating villain. But, I didn’t expect him to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown! Happily, Ivo, the boy hero, is every bit as brave and resourceful as any orphan should be, and the other characters (a princess, hag, banshee, troll, and mad scientist) are zany and fun.


PS I’ll write about more of her books. She is one of my favorite writers.