The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Okay, so there are many great reviews out there about this 2009 Newbery Award Winner. I really didn't read them because I didn't want to know anything about the book or read any spoilers. So this is just my opinion about the book. 

It was slow for me for a bit. The second half started getting more interesting. More adventure. Since it did win the Newbery I was expecting it to wrap up in a more incredible way than it did. I enjoyed the ending, and I even teared up a bit. That helped me to like the book more. Sometimes when books are not my favorite all the way through, but they have an ending I enjoy, then I appreciate them more. (I don't mean any offense to the author and those who love his work.) I'm just one person with my opinion that I share here on my blog.

Fablehaven News

Shannon Hale interviewed Brandon Mull on her blog. Of course, fans of the series know that the 4th Fablehaven book comes out this month. (Yipee!) 

Shannon was asking him about Fablehaven 5, which is due out in 2010. (Double Yipee!) That book will complete the series. 

This is what he said about book #5:

"Book five will probably be called Keys of the Demon Prison. Not many people know that yet. I've started working on it. I'm excited about the plan I have."

I am excited too! 

A Patchwork of Books is having a great picture book giveaway. Check it out, plus all the other cool stuff on her blog.

Savvy by Ingrid Law

This book is a 2009 Newbery Honor book. Just read it and you'll know why. 

For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a "savvy" - a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity, and now it's the eve of Mib's big day.

This well written book is about growing up, friendships, romance, family, lies, secrets and finding your true savvy. 

What is your savvy?  Hmmm....

On March 2, the National Education Association is calling for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult. 

Get ready for Read Across America Day (the birthday of Dr. Suess) by getting a free digital download of The Cat in the Hat. Go to www.kidthing.org/nea to download your copy. It's available for any teacher of any grade, including preschool, as well as librarians.

Click on their calendar of free books to see what's available. You can also download Hop on Pop, Green Eggs and Ham, Horton Hears a Who! and a Certificate of Achievement. FREE is GOOD!

For many other great ideas for celebrating this wonderful day, check out these sites:

 NEA

Apples for the Teacher

Abc Teach

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

This book is a 2009 Caledcott Honor book. It's a picture book with super cool pictures and a cute and funny story to go with it. 

When James and Eamon go to a week of Nature Camp and stay at Eamon's grandparents' house, it turns out that their free time spent staying inside, eating waffles, and playing video games is way more interesting than nature. But sometimes things work out best when they don't go exactly as planned.

In the morning, Bill took the boys to Nature Camp. The road was long and curvy. James and Eamon learned a lot of new vocabulary words while Bill drove.

On the way back that afternoon, James and Eamon described their first Nature Camp day to Bill.

"I thought you are supposed to walk on a hike."

"Yeah, not stand and look at some flower for an hour."

Of course, you must see the pictures that go with the text. A very enjoyable book!

Masterpiece by Elise Broach

Marvin is a beetle who lives under the kitchen sink of a family who has an eleven-year-old son named James. James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday and Marvin ends up drawing an incredible miniature picture. James gets all the credit of course since nobody knows he is now friends with a beetle who can't verbally communicate with him. 

Although this is an unlikely friendship, they make it work. They find ways to communicate which ends up solving the big mystery of stolen art. 

I was pleasantly surprised that I was so involved in a book that had a beetle as a main character. Sometimes those animal books end up being really full of some good stuff.

I very much enjoyed this fast-paced mystery about art, forgery, lies and most of all friendship.