Review: Project Superhero by E. Paul Zehr

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Join 13-year-old Jessie as she keeps a diary of her class’s yearlong research project on superheroes, which culminates in the Superhero Slam: a head-to-head debate battle in front of the entire school. It’s shy, comics-obsessed Jessie’s dream come true . . . and worst nightmare. She decides to champion Batgirl, a regular person (albeit with major talent and training under her utility belt), and soon Jessie wonders what it would take to be Batgirl. Will she prove to her best friends, Cade and Audrey, that she’s more than a sidekick? Can she take down archenemy Dylan at the Slam?
Combining science facts, lively illustrations, and comic-book trivia with actual correspondence from superhumans such as NYPD Sergeant Mike Bruen, Olympian Clara Hughes, and Captain Marvel writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, Project Superhero is a celebration of the heroes among us and of one girl’s super-secret identity: herself.
E. Paul Zehr, a professor at the University of Victoria, is the author of Becoming Batman (2008) and Inventing Iron Man (2011) and he writes for Psychology Today, Scientific American, and Discover. He lives in Victoria, BC. Veteran animator Kris Pearn co-directed 2013’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.

MY TAKE:
I'm not the biggest comic book fan in the world but I found the premise of this book to be quite interesting.

In Project Superhero, Jessie and her class have to do a year-long project on superheroes. At the end of it, they will face off in a Superhero Slam wherein they debate the merits of their chosen superhero. Jessie has chosen Batgirl and wonders what would it take for her to be like Batgirl?

As you would expect, this book had a lot of comic book references, history and trivia. There are mentions of certain origin stories and specific comic book issues, which I thought was pretty cool. The superheroes mentioned on the book, though, are not obscure. Most, if not all, of the superheroes are ones that you've probably heard of. This is great because comic book fans will appreciate all the comic book and superhero references while those who are only moderately interested will not feel alienated.

The book is written in a diary format. There are also some illustrations of Jessie and the things she's describing in her diary entries. I thought that was a little strange, in the sense that I wasn't quite sure if they were meant to be photographs or Jessie's drawings.

Anyway, I really liked the interviews (via letters) that Jessie did with people whom she thought were amazing, inspiring and could help her on her quest. My favorite was the one she did with Nicole Stott, a NASA engineer who had been in space.                                                                                    

There were some parts that were a little predictable, but overall, thanks to the interviews and the comic book stuff, I liked this book a lot.

Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. You'll learn a lot about comic books and superheroes.
2. The interviews are interesting and insightful.
3. The book really reads like the diary of a young girl. 

THE BAD:

1. There were some predictable parts. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like superheroes.
2. You like learning about amazing women.
3. You've wondered how feasible it is to become a superhero. 

RATING:


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Review: Born Reading Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age -- From Picture Books to eBooks and Everything in Between by Jason Boog

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

A program for parents and professionals on how to raise kids who love to read, featuring interviews with childhood development experts, advice from librarians, tips from authors and children’s book publishers, and reading recommendations for kids from birth up to age five.
Every parent wants to give his or her child a competitive advantage. In Born Reading, publishing insider (and new dad) Jason Boog explains how that can be as simple as opening a book. Studies have shown that interactive reading—a method that creates dialogue as you read together—can raise a child’s IQ by more than six points. In fact, interactive reading can have just as much of a determining factor on a child’s IQ as vitamins and a healthy diet. But there’s no book that takes the cutting-edge research on interactive reading and shows parents, teachers, and librarians how to apply it to their day-to-day lives with kids, until now.
Born Reading provides step-by-step instructions on interactive reading and advice for developing your child’s interest in books from the time they are born. Boog has done the research, talked with the leading experts in child development, and worked with them to compile the “Born Reading Essential Books” lists, offering specific titles tailored to the interests and passions of kids from birth to age five. But reading can take many forms—print books as well as ebooks and apps—and Born Reading also includes tips on how to use technology the right way to help (not hinder) your child’s intellectual development. Parents will find advice on which educational apps best supplement their child’s development, when to start introducing digital reading to their child, and how to use tech to help create the readers of tomorrow.
Born Reading will show anyone who loves kids how to make sure the children they care about are building a powerful foundation in literacy from the beginning of life.

MY TAKE:
I've been reading to my child since he was less than a month old, but I still worry that I'm not reading to him enough or I'm doing it wrong.

In Born Reading Bringing Up Bookworms in a Digital Age -- From Picture Books to eBooks and Everything in Between, parents learn techniques to improve the way they read stories to their children and ensure that they get the maximum learning experience they can from each book. The chapters are divided by the child's age, from birth until kindergarten and beyond.

Before reading this book, I didn't know that there were best practices when reading to kids. The author has a Born Reading Playbook guide at the start with the basic things that the parents should do or remember when reading to kids. They're pretty basic and easy to remember, so they should be easy to put to practice. The key is to remain consistent and try to make the experience as enjoyable and interactive for kids, even those who can't reply to your questions yet.

Some of the advice in the book were things that I already did, which is probably why my son has known for months now how to turn pages by himself. Oh, and if you're wondering if this is just some guy making things up or assuming things, it's not. There are plenty of interviews with authors, researchers and other professionals who can back up what he says.

Aside from the tips for interactive reading, the things I liked most were the book and app recommendations which were grouped by age. It's a great way to find new books and apps that your child may enjoy. There are also digital resources and audiobooks you can try.

Thanks to NetGalley and Touchstone for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It's well-researched.
2. You'll discover lots of new books and apps your child may like.
3. You'll learn techniques that will enhance your child's reading experience. 

THE BAD:

1. Some may be tempted to skip ahead to the chapter that is relevant to their child. 

READ IT IF:

1. You want to instill a love for reading in your child.
2. You want to find more books and educational apps your child may like.
3. You want to be a better bedtime story reader for your child.

RATING:


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Review: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and SunNeko Lee

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The first release in UDON's new Manga Classics line!
Adapted for stage and screen, loved by millions, Victor Hugo's classic novel of love & tragedy during the French Revolution is reborn in this fantastic new manga edition!
The gorgeous art of TseMei Lee brings to life the tragic stories of Jean Valjean, Inspector Javert, and the beautiful Fantine, in this epic adaptation of Les Miserables!

MY TAKE:
It's been awhile since I've read a manga, but any future manga adaptations of classic literature that I read will be held up to the standard set by this book.

In Les Miserables, readers are treated to the manga version of the French classic by Victor Hugo. The story centers around the lives of Jean Valjean, Fantine and Cosette and how they lived and survived during the time of the French Revolution.

This book reads like a typical manga, back to front and right to left. Since it has been years since I read a manga, there were moments in the beginning where I would read left to right and wonder what happened before realizing that I read the panels and dialogue in the wrong order. For those who don't read manga, there's a guide at the start of the story.

The illustrations are amazing, and if you watch a lot of anime or read a lot of manga, you will feel right at home reading this book. The font used for the narration at the start is different from the typical font I'm used to but the font for the dialogue is just like the mangas I've read before.

Believe it or not, this is the first time that I've read the story of Les Miserables. I didn't watch the movie nor did I want to. I was familiar with the characters and I've sung On My Own quite a few times before, but something kept putting me off reading the book. I didn't think it was my cup of tea. Now that I've read it, I know why. There are a lot of evil people in that book! I especially despise the Thenardiers. I didn't think that they're final fate was enough punishment for them. They should have gone the way of Javert. At least I came to like Javert eventually, but those Thenardiers are now on my list of least likeable characters ever.

Thanks to NetGalley and Udon Entertainment for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The style is true to manga.
2. You get to read a classic story but at a pace that won't bore you.
3. You really feel something for the characters. 

THE BAD:

1. If you're not used to reading manga, you may get confused sometimes. 

READ IT IF:

1. You've always wanted to read Les Miserables.
2. You like Les Miserables.
3. You like manga. 

RATING:


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Review: Where in the World Will We Go Today? by Heather C. Toner

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Let's go on a journey! A tour of the world exploring Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, and the Middle East! Follow along on these pages to learn more about countries from all over the globe---countries that each have a story and a place on the map. The fascinating facts and hand-painted maps and landmarks from each country make learning about the world exciting. Won't you come exploring? There's a whole world waiting for you! Where in the world will you go today?

MY TAKE:
It's never too early to introduce your kids to the joy of travel.

In Where in the World Will We Go Today?, readers get to read about some of the nicest things to see and experience in different countries around the world.

For those who are interested to know, the countries mentioned in the book are Canada, Portugal, Peru, China, Mexico, Israel, Australia, Ireland, Greece, Tanzania and America. Because the book uses rhyming verses, and there's only about a couple of paragraphs for each country, there's only so much that can be mentioned. Children will have to go elsewhere if they want details on the specific sites mentioned.

The illustrations appear to have been done in pen and then colored using watercolors. I liked that the drawings tried to accurately show the shape of the country and its different provinces. As a while, though, the illustrations weren't my style and I thought that it may not be the most suitable style for this kind of book.

The concept is nice, however, and has plenty of potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and BQB Publishing for the e-ARC. Publication date of Where in the World Will We Go Today? is on September 30, 2014.

THE GOOD:

1. It features a number of countries.
2. The maps are pretty accurate.
3. It's a good introduction to traveling the world. 

THE BAD:

1. There's only so many things that can be included in the verses allotted for each country. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Travel through Sydney; It's the capital city.
Go swimming or snorkel the Great Barrier Reef,
And see fish and sharks that may cause you to shriek!
Kookaburras and kangaroos are a must see, for sure;
They live in the bush land, away from the shore. 

READ IT IF:

1. You are teaching your child about different countries.
2. You want to instill a love of travel in your children.
3. Your child likes books that use rhymes.

RATING:


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Oh Baby! Book Blast

Title: Oh Baby! (Diary of a Real Payne, Book 3) | Author: Annie Tipton | Publication Date: September 1, 2014 | Publisher: Barbour Books | Pages: 195 | Recommended Ages: 8 to 12


Summary: In this final fabulous release in the Diary of a Real Payne series you’ll find yourself ROTFL with EJ’s hilarious adventures with a new little Payne. The Payne family has just adopted a roly-poly package of pudge with bright eyes and a sparkling smile. In true sisterly fashion, EJ can’t wait to teach baby Faith how to be amazing at everything (just like her big sis!). But when EJ learns that she’s losing her role as flower girl to the adorable newcomer in an upcoming wedding, it’s almost more than she can handle. In classic EJ form, she dreams up even more fantastic adventures for herself—promising colossal fun as you become part of her daydreams in Oh Baby!

Purchase

Amazon | CBD | The Book Depository | Barbour Books | Barnes & Noble

You can purchase the first two books in the series through Amazon by clicking the book covers below.

The Buzz About Books 1 & 2

Book 1: "I am 7 years old, and I loved this book because of EJ's imagination and how it focused on the real meaning of Christmas. The book made me laugh, and I especially liked the part when EJ used the shopping cart to pretend to be a race car driver. She thought her mom's scarf was a yellow flag, and she stopped just before she crashed into the display of glue bottles. I liked EJ's character, and I read the book in about 5 days. When we had "Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character Day" at school, I dressed up like EJ Payne. I can't wait for the second book in this series!" ~ Emily E., Amazon

Book 1: "My 9-year-old foster daughter loved the book! She related well to EJ and her spunky personality and humorous outlook on life and what it hands you. Great lessons for her to learn, as well as entertaining. She read it in a matter of days and even chose reading it over playing Nintendo, which is a huge endorsement! I also enjoyed it and found it a fun and comforting read for this 40-something adult. Great job. We're really looking forward to Book 2 of EJ's adventures at camp! Thanks, Annie!" ~ Lfierbaugh, Amazon

Book 2: "Church Camp Chaos is a delightfully funny look into the highly imaginative workings of a tween girl, EJ Payne. The book cleverly uses a combination of diary entries, narration, and hilarious passages peeking into EJ's daydreams. The story is originally clever and, at times, very poignant. I thoroughly enjoyed this fantastic book and I highly recommend this series to young girls in particular between the ages of 8 and 12 who also love Clementine, Judy Moody, and Ramona Quimby." ~ Renee @ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

Book 2: "Curly, my 8-year-old bookworm, loved this book. The day it arrived in the mail I let her look through it. By that evening she brought the book to me to thank me and tell me she was finished. She read the entire book in one day and I don't think she ever put it down! She enjoyed EJ's adventures and the fun times she had at church camp. She told me the book was "funny." I appreciated the way the book treated family relationships and showed a loving family who works together and endures different situations together. EJ and her brother don't always get along but their parents encourage them to be kind and EJ grows to appreciate her brother and even his slightly obnoxious attempts at humor. I enjoyed the life lessons that EJ learned about trust, faith, and friendship and am glad that I can find books for my daughter to read that are humorous and fun while still promoting good values." ~ 5 Star Review, Lextin Academy, Amazon

About the Author

Award-winning author Annie Tipton made up her first story at the ripe old age of two when she asked her mom to write it down for her. (Hey, she was just two—she didn’t know how to make letters yet!) Since then she has read and written many words as a student, newspaper reporter, author, and editor. A native of Wooster, Ohio, Tipton received a bachelor’s degree in Communications at Milligan College in Northeast Tennessee. She currently resides in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

Facebook Fan Page | Goodreads

* $25 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash prize (winner's choice)

Contest Ends: September 30, 11:59 pm, 2014

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If a winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Barbour Books and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com.

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Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I'll tell it fast and true to get it gone, right now, while darkness deepens over the icy North and the bitter stars shine down.

Review: Excavate! Dinosaurs Paper Toy Paleontology by Jon Tennant

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The ultimate gift for dinosaur-loving kids ages 7 and up! With fun text and colorful illustrations, paleontologist Jon Tennant explains the anatomy, habitat, and diet of 12 dinosaurs from the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic eras and then provides pop-out pieces of their skeletons for kids to assemble into stand-up paper models. However, the pieces are mixed up! Before the puzzles can be completed, kids must apply their new knowledge about the dinosaurs to figure out which pieces go together. Kids will love the challenge of sorting out which bones belong to which dinosaur -- just like real paleontologists do!

MY TAKE:
This may not be the best dinosaur book I've ever read, but it's definitely the most fun.

In Excavate! Dinosaurs Paper Toy Paleontology, readers learn more about dinosaurs from the different periods of the mesozoic era. The book features a number of dinosaurs and includes facts about their scientific name, where they were found, and what kind of fossils and bones (complete or incomplete skeletons) were found. The second half of the book features the dinosaur parts that the readers need to assemble to form complete dinosaurs.

Given the amount of space allotted for each dinosaur, the book was able to provide the most important facts about each featured dinosaur. I liked that the place where they were found, as well as what kind of fossils were found were also included, since it helps me get a sense of what kind of climate they lived in, as well as how accurate the complete model probably is. Obviously, with an incomplete skeleton, there's probably some level of inference that was used to figure out the missing pieces, which may or may not be correct.

The paper toy parts at the end had rocks and shells, making it seem more like an actual dig site. It was also arranged from most recent to least recent, like what you would expect when you go through layers of earth. There are also clues included for some of the parts.

Since I received an e-ARC, I don't know how easy it actually is to pop out the parts and assemble the pieces. It does look like fun, though, so even if it takes a little effort, it should be worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing, LLC for the e-ARC. Publication date of Excavate! Dinosaurs Paper Toy Paleontology is on October 1, 2014.

THE GOOD:

1. It is able to include a lot of facts, given the limited space.
2. It works as a reference book and an activity book.
3. The parts are arranged much like you would find at an actual dig site.

THE BAD:

1. The layout, colors and font choice could have been a little bit better.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Reconstructing a complete dinosaur is like doing a 3D puzzle - without a picture.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child likes dinosaurs.
2. You're looking for an activity book for your child.
3. Your child is interested in becoming a paleontologist.

RATING:


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