Wednesday, March 27, 2013

"The Secret of Maggie's Swamp" by Paul A. Barra {Book Review}


Book Description:



In this middle-grade mystery-adventure, a twelve-year-old girl discovers a grave injustice in the 1980s South when a neighbor is convicted of a crime he didn't commit. Penny must find the courage to use her unique gift - her uncanny ability to foresee the future - to thwart a crazed desperado and find a treasure that will prove her neighbor's innocence.

Poor Penelope Andrews. Her neighbor is being hunted, her friend is comatose after encountering a rogue alligator in a black-water swamp, and her mother has formed the wild impression that Penny has some sort of special gift from God! What else could go wrong? Oh yes: the FBI wants to speak with her. And, a dangerous criminal is stalking her.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

"The Adventures of Blue Ocean Bob - A Journey Begins" by Author Brooks Olbrys & Illustrations by Kevin Keele {Book Review}



Synopsis:

Young Bob lives on an idyllic island, yet he yearns for a greater sense of purpose. With his guardian Xena, a cautious hummingbird, by his side, Bob seeks guidance from the wise and
happy creatures of the sea. Al the dolphin, Doc the turtle, Earl the clam, and Wallace the walrus all give him great advice, but Bob’s true test, like all true tests, requires strength from within: to achieve his dreams, he’ll have to overcome his fears and the boundaries that could otherwise prevent him from becoming a marine biologist and devoting his life to protecting the ocean.

 This is no small problem. After all, Bob must prove himself to the renowned marine scientist Mary Marine. A Journey Begins highlights the importance of purpose, vision, goals, attitude, and persistence, all of which are required to make Blue Ocean Bob’s dream, and every other dream, come true.

Friday, March 22, 2013

"Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard" by Lars Guignard {Book Review}


Book Description:



Imagine you're totally lost in a strange city with no idea where you are and no way home.

Now imagine that elephants and snake charmers start telling you that you've been chosen to save the world.

Would you even believe them?  What would you do?

Zoe Guire isn't sure. Having that elephant talk to her was really weird, and, as a rule, Zoe doesn't do weird. Except the thing is, when Zoe goes along on her mom's business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. Soon after she arrives, Zoe finds herself tagging alongside a kid named Zak, lost in a crazy city, with no money and no way home.

And those are the least of Zoe's troubles. Because if she's to believe the scary-looking snake charmer guy sitting in the corner, she and Zak have been chosen -- chosen to protect some kind of mythical animal called the Ghost Leopard from who knows what.

Now, the further they get into the mountains, the more crazily impossible things get. Carpets fly and statues talk and if either Zoe or Zak want to make it back to their parents, or the sixth grade, or anything even close to normal, they're going to have to make some new friends, learn some new tricks, and listen, really listen to that talking elephant. Because if they don't, the world will never be the same again.

Join Zoe and Zak as they journey high into the Himalayas to a place few have been and even fewer have returned to tell about it.

Live life beyond the edge.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

"The Night Horses" by Anaka Jones {Book Review}


Book Description:



The Night Horses follows the animals’ daily lives. Each morning, the horse herd takes their breakfast at the hay feeder. Mulling around, they exchange gossip and share their plans for the day. There’s May, an old mare whose giddy-up spirit fuels her energetic personality. She wants to challenge Cloud to a race even though she is three times his age. Frisco and Bella are an inseparable married couple, and plenty of young foals timidly hide behind their mothers’ legs amongst the group.

After a long day of work, the horses clean up, head to their stalls for dinner, and wait in the barn until their owners head back to the  house. With humans out of the picture, the horses get busy creating their own rural night life, effectively turning the farm into their own little three-ring circus.


"Captain No Beard Series" by Carole P. Roman {Book Reviews & Giveaway}


"Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life"

Book Description:

Captain No Beard and his pirate ship The Flying Dragon set sail for a voyage of the imagination with his fearless crew of four: First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the loudmouthed lion, and Fribbet the floppy frog. Normally a young boy named Alexander, his cousin Hallie, and three stuffed animals, once they board his bed their world is transformed into a magical vessel sailing the seven seas on dangerous and exciting adventures!






"Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience - A Captain No Beard Story"

Book Description:

The crew of the Flying Dragon are sailing again. This time, new crewmember, Pepper Parrot is having a hard time keeping up with the drills. Captain No Beard and his mates join together to help Pepper achieve her goals with patience and tolerance.