Review: Little Concepts: ABC Color Apricot, Burgundy & Chartreuse, 26 brand new colors are out on the loose! by Ingela Peterson Arrhenius

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

ABC Color combines learning the alphabet with colors for an educational and fun board book for young children. Each page of this beautifully illustrated book features a different letter and little-known color, so children can learn about both topics at one time! Parents will love spending time with their kids as they learn, and kids will learn the fundamentals of letters and colors. Makes a gorgeous keepsake as children grow! 

MY TAKE:
I enjoyed this book a lot. It's not often that I learn something totally new from a children's book, and I learned a few things from this one. I'm familiar with the word "razzmatazz" and the film "Xanadu", but I had no idea that there were colors named "razzmatazz" and "xanadu". The color and word "zomp" was also completely new to me.

I loved the illustration style and the solid colors used in the book. The style and use of color work well with the way the book is written.

My son and I read this book aloud together and it was a very easy task to me. Most of the book is just the letters and the color's names, so I didn't get tired. However, that doesn't mean it was boring. I don't think I could have asked anymore from this book.

MY SON'S REACTION:
He had a lot of fun reading this book. The first page of the story had the more common colors on it and when I pointed to each one, he cheerfully told me what they were. For the other colors in the book, I read the names of the colors, and then asked him what the colors were similar to. He answered every single color I pointed to, without losing any of his enthusiasm.

His attention didn't wander while reading, even though he couldn't read the names of the little-known colors yet, and it actually felt like he was surprised that he reached the end of the book already.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

But there are so many more colors in the rainbow! 

RATING:

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Review: The Waiting Song by Natasha Barber

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Nigel is a hedgehog. He's four years old, likes trains, cookies, and is a lot like other kids in class. Nigel is a little different too. Nigel is autistic. He doesn’t talk or say many words. Nigel is not very good at taking turns, or being polite and he really does not like to wait. Nigel thought and thought and came up with the Waiting Song… Now he is able to be polite and wait when he sings his Waiting Song! The Waiting Song is for kids like Nigel.

MY TAKE:
My son gets impatient sometimes, and while it's not that hard to reason with him and calm him down when he gets upset, I loved the idea of a Waiting Song he could sing on his own to help him wait patiently.

I liked the concept of the book. A lot of children do have moments of impatience and it's not always easy to teach them how to wait. Also, there aren't a lot of children's books with autistic main characters. I know a couple of autistic children who I think would love Nigel and enjoy the Waiting Song. If you're interested, you can hear the Waiting Song in the book trailer here.

The illustrations were just okay for me. I'm not sure if it was the coloring or the illustration style that didn't completely work for me, but that doesn't mean that it wouldn't work for you.

I read this with my son, and while most of the pages only included short sentences, by the end of the book, I was feeling a little bit tired and my mouth felt kind of dry. I think it might have been the page near the middle that had two paragraphs, one of which was a little longer than the others in the book, that contributed the most to that feeling.

MY SON'S REACTION:
My son liked the Waiting Song. He hasn't learned to sight-read "wait" yet, but he did sort of start to get it thanks to the lyrics of the song.

He enjoyed the start of the book. This was the first time he's seen a hedgehog, which aren't common in our country, so I searched for a picture of hedgehogs and showed it to him. It was a nice learning moment.

After the first instance wherein Nigel tried to take another child's toy, my son insisted we re-enact it. He didn't say "Mine!" though, he just pouted a little.

My son got a little restless about halfway through the book. He's just starting to learn to read, so I think some of the lengthier paragraphs may have intimidated him a bit. Some beginner and early readers may get restless too, so you may want to consider reading the book in sections or making your reading session more interactive.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Nigel thought and thought. "I know!" Nigel shouted. "When I have to wait, I can sing a song." 

RATING:

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Review: Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

Do you think Cinderella married the prince and lived happily ever after, and that the three little pigs outsmarted the wolf? Think again! Premier storyteller Roald Dahl twists the fate of six favorite fairy tales, in this picture book edition with vibrant new cover art by Quentin Blake. Fairy tales have never been more revolting!
Illustrated by Quentin Blake. 

MY TAKE:
I was looking for a light-hearted read and this certainly fit the bill.

In Revolting Rhymes, classic fairytales are re-imagined and takes on a slightly darker but funnier tone.

I wasn't actually sure at first if I'd like it. I decided to give it a chance, and I was pleasantly surprised. I laughed out loud a few times at the funny phrases and situations that were written. I liked that there were some more modern twists, like with Snow White's story.

There were some gory stuff here and there, though, and there were a few words (like "slut" and "hell") that I was surprised to see in a children's book.

For the most part, though, I enjoyed this book. It may be better suited for older kids and pre-teens, though.

THE GOOD:

1. There are plenty of funny lines.
2. The re-imaginings are mostly witty.
3. It may encourage kids to read more poems. 

THE BAD:

1. There are some words here that might have been innocuous back in the day, but which parents today may not approve of.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child likes gross rhymes.
2. You like fairy tale retellings.
3. You like funny rhymes.

RATING:


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Review: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven. 

MY TAKE:
I read this book because I read so many good things about it.

In All the Bright Places, Finch saves Violet from falling of a ledge. After they are paired together for a project (thanks to Finch), they end up becoming friends, and eventually something more. However, they both have inner demons, and while Violet's starts to fade away, Finch's slowly starts to get stronger.

Because of the summary, I was expecting all sorts of feels from the start. That's why I was a little disappointed at first. I mean, it was pleasant and hopeful, and I initially thought that it might turn into a road trip story of sorts. It wasn't until the third part of the book that I started crying, and when I did, it was of the ugly, sobbing sort.

The book's description of depression and how it affects the person and the people around him/her is pretty accurate, in my experience. I especially loved how the friends left behind reacted to the outpouring of sympathy and sentiments from the bullies. Absolute hypocrites.

THE GOOD:

1. The portrayal of depression and its aftermath is accurate.
2. It will make you feel things.
3. It's a beautiful story. 

THE BAD:

1. I was expecting to feel more intense emotions during the first parts of the book. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

The great thing about this life of ours is that you can be someone different to everybody.

READ IT IF:

1. You are looking for a good cry.
2. You have experienced depression or have ever thought about suicide.
3. You loved The Fault in Our Stars.

RATING:


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Review: Because I'm Worth It (Gossip Girl #4) by Cecily von Ziegesar

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

With the college applications complete and summer in full bloom, Serena, Dan, Vanessa, Blair, and Jenny have got an interesting vacation ahead in New York City before heading off to college where they plan to fulfill all of their dreams.

MY TAKE:
I've read this book before, but it's still fun to read the second time around.

In Because I'm Worth It, Blair flirts with a married man, Nate finds himself a new princess, Dan gets involved with another writer despite still being with Vanessa, and Serena lives her life to the fullest.

The thing I enjoy most about these books is being able to live vicariously through these teens. I mean, I don't want to have their lives exactly, but some of the things they get to experience are pretty cool. Besides the obvious stuff like living in New York, there's also things like Serena's surprise job and Dan's writing fame.

Is the book realistic? Well, it's a little far-fetched at times, but that's what's fun about it for me. I may also not like all the characters, and I might like some characters more in the show than in the books, but I did like this book enough for me to finish it pretty quickly.

THE GOOD:

1. It's a fun, quick read.
2. Their lives seem like a lot of fun.
3. Blair gets more likable as the series goes on. 

THE BAD:

1. It can be a little far-fetched sometimes. 

READ IT IF:

1. You love the show.
2. You are a Blair Waldorf fan.
3. You wish you lived in New York. 

RATING:


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Review: Descendants Junior Novel by Disney Book Group

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos are the offspring of some of the most terrible villains of all time. They're offered a chance to leave the Isle of the Lost, where they have been imprisoned all their lives, and go to prep school in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon with all of the 'good' kids. There, they must choose whether or not to follow in their parents' evil footsteps. Watch out Auradon--here come the Descendants!

MY TAKE:
For some reason, I enjoy reading novelizations of television shows and movies, even if I've already seen them and, as such, am not surprised by anything in the book.

In Descendants, Mal and her friends (all of whom are children of villains) are given the chance to study at Auradon, outside of the Isle of the Lost. Mal's mother is thrilled because this is an opportunity for Mal and the other kids to steal the Fairy Godmother's magic wand for her and give her more power.

I loved the movie, and I was curious to see how the song numbers would be explained or narrated here. As it turns out, some of them were treated as just part of the characters' thoughts/imagination, while some were described as they are.

It's a pretty straightforward novelization, and everything you see in the movie is here. This was perfect since I've only seen the movie once so far and there were a few moments I missed.
Sometimes, it felt like I was being told, instead of shown, what happened. It was okay, though, since I understand that this is a junior novelization and what I'm expecting isn't exactly practical for this version.

THE GOOD:

1. Everything in the movie is included here.
2. The characters are likable.
3. It's something younger and older fans can both enjoy. 

THE BAD:

1. There were a couple or so moments wherein I felt like I was being told instead of shown the action. 

READ IT IF:

1. You loved the movie Descendants.
2. You like stories that continue old classics.
3. Your child is a fan of the movie.

RATING:


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Review: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS:

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy
Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

MY TAKE:
I remember wanting to read this when it first came out, but I forgot all about it until recently.

In The Fine Art of Truth or Dare, Ella is a bit of an outcast at her school, but that's okay because she's got great friends. Aside from being an artist, she has a tiny obsession with Edward Willing. She's not doing well at school, though, and she ends up being tutored by her crush Alex.

I can't remember what it was exactly that drew me to this book years ago, but I'm glad I came across it again. It didn't wow me as much as I thought it would, but I certainly enjoyed it, and that's taking into account the fact that the popular guy-unpopular girl trope is not one of my favorites.

What carried this book for me were: Ella's family, Sadie and Frankie, and Alex and Ella's romance. The subplot related to Edward Willing was interesting and believable too, but it wasn't my favorite part of the story.

Ella's family seemed like a fun bunch. My extended family is huge and close-knit and reading about Ella's family reminded me of my own. As for Sadie and Frankie, I liked them both a lot too, even though there were times wherein they seemed larger-than-life and almost unrealistic.

My favorite thing about the book, I think, is Alex and Ella's relationship or, at least, parts of it. Alex has his not-a-great-guy moments, but he knows how to plan great dates and he seems to genuinely care about Ella. As for Ella herself, while I couldn't really relate to her, I did like her. Had she been real, I think we could have been friends.

THE GOOD:

1. The romance between Alex and Ella was sweet and believable.
2. Ella's family and friends are amazing.
3. The art subplot was certainly new to me. 

THE BAD:

1. Ella's lack of self-confidence can get painful to watch. 

READ IT IF:

1. You are an artist.
2. You like sweet romances.
3. You like romances about popular guys and unpopular girls.

RATING:


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