Bedtime Story: Just a Little Critter Collection

 

Synopsis: "Celebrate 30 years of Little Critter® with seven classic stories in one book! This 176-page hardcover collection is a wonderful way to introduce Mercer Mayer’s beloved tales of growing up to a whole new generation."

My Review: All the best Critter books combined into one. Both my hubby and I loved Critter when we were kids and are now enjoying sharing them with our Munchkin. There are so many lessons wrapped into the Critter stories and young children relate well to them. The images are very cute and it is always fun trying to find the mouse, spider and grasshopper on each page. Even my Munchkin who is only 6 months old gets excited when I pull this book out. The only issue I had with it is the fact that the book is so big, it is hard to juggle it and a squirming child while turning pages. The stories included are Just For You, When I Get Bigger, I Was So Mad, All By Myself, Just Go To Bed, Just A Mess, and I Just Forgot.

 

My Rating:  A combination of some of the most memorable books of my own childhood. I give this one a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

 

 

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

 

 

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Ten Apples Up On Top by Dr. Seuss (Bedtime Story)

Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

NONE
 

Currently Reading:

Last Regress by Rachel J. Thorne - Nook - on page 118 of 212
October Night by Theresa Oles - Kindle - 2%
Life of Pi by Yann Martel - Audio Book - On Disc 3 of 9


 Books to be Read Soon:

True Grit by Charles Portis (Book v. Movie)
Twelve Months by Steven Manchester (Requested Review)
Luminaire by Ciye Cho (Requested Review)

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Gosh am I slacking off or what?!  And you know the worst part, I have nothing for you, no update, no excuse, heck I don't even know where my time went! Oh well on to another week!!

Bedtime Story: Ten Apples Up on Top

Synopsis: "Since 1961, Ten Apples up on Top has been helping preschoolers learn to count and read simultaneously. Simple illustrations and even simpler rhymes make this apple-balancing competition between a dog, a tiger, and a lion a fun, easy place to practice sight words and phonics. Siblings can even take turns reading phrases like "Seven apples up on top. I am so good they will not drop." The inevitable tumbling crash is a great climax for busy toddlers to enjoy, and parents will appreciate the cooperative lesson the last page offers."

My Review: I recall this being a favorite of both myself and my brother. Now that I read it to my Munchkin though it seems to encourage 'one-up-manship' and bragging, but I guess little ones won't pick up on that (at least I hope). It does a great job of encouraging counting though and of course you can count on the rhyming. The images are such classics and are bold, simple and bright enough to attract the youngest eyes. I think Munchkin did enjoy this book and may enjoy it better when he starts learning his numbers.

My Rating: A favorite from my childhood and will probably be one of Munchkin's favorites as he starts counting. I give it a rating of Three Paws.

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Teeny Tiny Monster by Janet Bloss (Bedtime Story)

Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

NONE
 

Currently Reading:

Last Regress by Rachel J. Thorne - Nook - on page 118 of 212
October Night by Theresa Oles - Kindle - 2%
Life of Pi by Yann Martel - Audio Book - On Disc 3 of 9


 Books to be Read Soon:

True Grit by Charles Portis (Book v. Movie)
Twelve Months by Steven Manchester (Requested Review)
Luminaire by Ciye Cho (Requested Review)

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Can you believe it?! I got absolutely no reading done last week! I don't think I have had a week like that in a very long time :(  It was a very busy week, between the office and Munchkin and then throw in cleaning the house for company I had no time to spare. 

Oh well, on to another week and hopefully some reading and posting gets done this week :D

Wait, don't go yet, I have an uber adorable picture to share with all of you! This weekend I was playing with Munchkin on the floor and had Lady and the Tramp on TV.  Niko came to hang out with us and my friend captured this too cute moment!

 

So there is you Awee moment to get you through the week ;)

 

Bedtime Story: Teeny Tiny Monster

Synopsis: Teeny Tiny wants to make friends with Danielle but he lives with other mean monsters who like to scare her. Will Danielle be brave and allow Teeny Tiny into her home and heart?

My Review: Apparantly this is not a very common book, but it was one of my favorites growing up. I had won a summer reading contest and this was one of my prizes. I love the adorable illustrations and the cute story about overcoming peer pressure for what you believe is right. It is a cute story and hopefully Munchkin will cherish it like I did!

 

My Rating: I love this book and am so glad I won it all those years ago, its too bad it doesn't seem to be very common. I give it a rating of Four Paws!

 

 

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Wednesday Writing

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).

Current Active Project:

Tamlyn Marie's Grace -

Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)

Other Works in Progress:

The New Old Home - 17,193 words

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.

Princess Bs - 32,131 words

A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Night Rider - 17,229

Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?

The Last Mountains - 13,468 (handwritten) = 15,766 (typed)

A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?

Other Ideas Plotting:

Bloodsoar's Story

A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.

The Assassin's Assassin

A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.

Angel Story

Angels battle out an age old feud in a parallel world

 

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You guessed it, still nothing new to report on this front. We will see if Hubby sticks to his promise of allowing me a day to work on all my projects! I am back to work now and I think once every thing settles down I will get a few minutes here and there to work on some stories. I am kind of feeling the Princess Bs!

Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

The Marriage Bargain by Jennifer Probst
The Marriage Trap by Jennifer Probst
The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst (After Dark)
I Love You More by Laura Duksta (Bedtime Story)
A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks (Book v. Movie)
Cowboys, Babies & Shotgun Vows by Yoshiko Hanatsu (Graphic Novel)
The Other Guy by Cary Attwell
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
Dancing with the Duke by Suzanna Medieros
When First They Met by Debbie Macomber
Little Grunt and the Big Egg by Tomie dePaola (Bedtime Story)
How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (Book v. Movie)
 

Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

Cowboys, Babies & Shotgun Vows
The Other Guy
For Darkness Shows the Stars
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way
Teeny Tiny Monster
Ten Apples Up On Top
Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel
Dancing with the Duke
Just a Little Critter Collection
When First They Met
Armadillo Rodeo
Grimm Fairy Tales Vol. 1
 

Currently Reading:

Last Regress by Rachel J. Thorne - Nook - on page 118 of 212
October Night by Theresa Oles - Kindle - 2%
Life of Pi by Yann Martel - Audio Book - On Disc 3 of 9


 Books to be Read Soon:

True Grit by Charles Portis (Book v. Movie)
Twelve Months by Steven Manchester (Requested Review)
Luminaire by Ciye Cho (Requested Review)

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Boy was February a whirl wind or what!?! I hope you all enjoyed my Lust and Love Event, and found something you would like to try. I really enjoyed reading all those books but after squeezing out a book every day for the month I need a little slow down (I can't really take a break from reading when I am on such a roll now can I).

So guess what, we are now into March and that means it is my special month.  While I would love to be able to share each and every book I love with all of you, I can't possibly do that in a month! So instead I will make a post each week sharing some of the books that I have loved over the years and some of the books that well, not so much. 

Just a little update on my non-book life, Munchkin is now 6 months old!! I can't believe how fast time is going and how big he is getting! I am happy to say he has made a lot of progress with his physical therapy and his helmet. We are hoping only one more month of physical therapy and maybe another 6 weeks with the helmet. I really can't wait since it is definitely the helmet that is bothering him and we still aren't getting to sleep through the night.

Well I am back to the office now, and swamped with work (both the other assistants in the office quit last week, leaving me as the only one and only back part time).  So I hope you all have a great week!!

Book v. Movie: How to Train Your Dragon

So How to Train your Dragon was suppose to be the Book v. Movie for January but I just couldn't get it all done and last month was just a crazy month around here. So here it is finally.

NOTE: There will be Spoilers involved (otherwise how would I be able to compare the two?)

 

Synopsis: "Chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon."

My Review: I loved this movie so had to read the book as soon as I found out there was one. It is actually quite a bit different than the movie, but I really enjoyed it. I think that it is great that the boys have something to get them into reading. I really enjoyed the Viking personality along with the dragon attitude. Hiccup & Toothless are fantastic, underrated heros. It was a great adventure to read and I want to read more (can't wait for Munchkin to get into these books so I can read them along with him)!        

 

My Rating: I enjoyed this book and it will definitely appeal to Munchkin when he gets older, a great adventure for little boys. I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

 

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Synopsis (From Wikipedia): "How to Train Your Dragon is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated fantasy film by DreamWorks Animation loosely based on the English 2003 book of the same name by Cressida Cowell. The film was directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the duo who directed Disney's Lilo & Stitch. It stars the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, T.J. Miller, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, and David Tennant.

The story takes place in a mythical Viking world where a young Viking teenager named Hiccup aspires to follow his tribe's tradition of becoming a dragon slayer. After finally capturing his first dragon, and with his chance at finally gaining the tribe's acceptance, he finds that he no longer has the desire to kill it and instead befriends it."

My Review: I loved this movie! Toothless is so awesome, I kind of want a Night Fury for myself. The Sub-characters are fantastic too. The story line was great, Hiccup learning secretly about dragons and developing a relationship with Toothless.  I loved watching the training as Hiccup used his secret methods against the dragons. The animation in this movie was fantastic as well, so much detail and brilliant colors! All around I loved this movie.

My Rating: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and am glad I have it so I can watch it again and again! I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

 

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To say that the movie is loosely based on the book is really an understatement. All the movie took from the book is the setting, names, title and the fact that there are dragons. While the story lines were completely different, I think they were both fantastic in their own ways. With that said I think I might have liked the movie a little better. I enjoyed the dragons more, and the drastic change in the tribe's take on dragons better.  However, I think Hiccup becomes even more of a hero in the book than in the movie (and considering they had to defeat not one but two giant dragons made it even more fantastic).

 

I definitely preferred the movie Toothless to the book Toothless. In the movie he is clearly a very special dragon, a Night Fury, but in the book he is a common dragon that they had to make up a name so Hiccup could look like the chief's son. I also think that Hiccup was a more likable character in the movie as well, he made a much bigger change in the tribe than the book Hiccup did.

 

While I did really prefer the movie to the book this time, both were great stories in their own respects. I really did like how the book will encourage young boys to become readers.

 

 

So have you read the book? Seen the movie? What did you like or didn't you like? Which did you like better?



Bedtime Story: Little Grunt and the Big Egg



Synopsis: "A boy brings home a big egg that hatches into a dinosaur."

My Review: This was a favorite of mine as a kid (I had won it in a summer reading contest). It is great that I get to share it with Munchkin now. A very cute story about a boy and his dinosaur who won't stop growing and gets too big for the families cave. It is not only a great story for little kids but a little reminder to parents not to make any promises you can't keep and to research to be sure the pet you get your kids is one that suits the whole family and living situation (ok animal rescue volunteer lecture done). The illustrations are cute. It is more appropriate for kindergarten aged kids as it is a little long. This is also great for either boys or girls.

My Rating: I still love this book after so many years and I hope Munchkin will love it just as much as he gets older!  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

Good Night, Sweet Dreams!