Emmaline and the Bunny

I randomly saw Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan on a shelf at the library and was so surprised to see a book with my daughter Emmeline's name.  It looked like a cute book (an easier chapter book with some illustrations in there), so I told Emmeline about it, and we checked it out.  It is about a little girl named Emmaline who lives in Neatasapin where everything is tidy--but she doesn't like being tidy.  She wants a pet bunny, but bunnies are not allowed because they are too dirty.  But Emmaline is lonely, and she wants to find a way to get a bunny somehow.

I read this book aloud to Emmeline over a few days.  It's the first time I've attempted a chapter book with her, and she was actually quite interested in it.  (I only did attempt a chapter book because it was an Emmaline book, but now maybe I'll try again sometime.)  Each day when we read more, I just reminded her what had happened before, and I asked her some questions throughout to see how she was following it and to help her understand.  It was fun to read it with her, and she really liked the plot--a girl named Emmaline, bunny rabbits....that's about all it takes to interest a 3-year-old.  I didn't actually love the book that much though, which surprised me since the author's book Ida B is fabulous.  I think the book was just kind of random.  I also think I would've liked it slightly more if I didn't read it aloud because it had a kind of odd writing style that I think would have come across better in my mind rather than spoken aloud.  But I think it was actually a pretty good first chapter book to read to Emmeline.

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)

The Spiderwick Chronicles

A 17-year-old avid reader who lives two doors down from me lent me her copies of The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DeTerlizzi and Holly Black. These 5 books follow Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace, three kids who move to a new house where some old relatives used to live. Once they arrive, they come across an old field guide about faeries and other creatures and realize that they are in the midst of these creature--who all want the guide book.

This was a fun series. It really seems like it should be just one book--but I think it was purposefully split into five, probably to make it more manageable for the young readers it is written for. The books were super, super quick reads with lots of action and well-defined characters.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Salt

I saw Salt by Helen Frost on the new-book shelf at the library, and something it said on the front caught my eye: "A Story of Friendship in a Time of War." Since I really like historical fiction, I picked up the book and then noticed that it was about the War of 1812--which like never has historical fiction books--so I decided to read it. This book switches points of view between Anikwa (a member of the Miami tribe) and James (an American whose family lives at the trading post). The two boys are friends, but when the war comes to their land, everything changes.

This was a really good book. It is beautifully written--the language and such is just very well done. The story is sweet and thought-provoking, and I think it well portrays the different sides of the story. It was a pretty short read and just a nice book.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)