Bedtime Story: Love Monster by Rachel Bright

Read for: Children's Book Challenge

 

Synopsis: "Featuring the only Monster in Cutesville, LOVE MONSTER is a wonderfully warm and witty look at how sometimes, when you least expect it, love finds you… From a phenomenal picture book talent.

It can be tough being the only funny-looking Monster in Cutesville, but this Monster is not one to hang around and feel sorry for himself, so he’s off – out into the big wide world to look for someone to love him.
He looks high, he looks low and he looks everywhere in-between, but it’s only when he’s just about to give up that he finally finds what he is looking for…

Featuring an instantly charming main character who will appeal to children and adults alike, LOVE MONSTER is a warm and witty tale about the power of taking action from a terrific talent new to the HarperCollins list."

My Review: I picked this book up for Munchkin for Valentine's day and it came with a cute little plush Love Monster. This is a very cute book about finding someone to love and love you back. Munchkin really enjoyed the story and was so sad for Love Monster until he found his special someone. The illustrations were as cute as the story too. We will definitely be re-reading this one often.

 

My Rating: This was such a cute story, both with the story itself and the illustrations (and of course Munchkin loves his plush too). It is a great book to read year round, it doesn't need to be around Valentine's Day.  We give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

 

 

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Early Reader Review of Tony Baloney: Pen Pal by Pam Munoz Ryan

Read for: Early Reader Challenge

 

Synopsis: "Award-winning author Pam Munoz Ryan brings us another adventure starring Tony Baloney, a macaroni penguin. Tony Baloney is so excited to have a pen pal named Sam. They seem to like all of the same things. But Tony is in for a surprise when they finally meet!"

My Review: This one doesn't say but it is along the lines of the leveled beginning readers, though I would say it is probably either a level 3 or maybe even a 4. This book has simple sentences but a lot of text on pages, it also introduces short chapters for those readers ready for it. It is a fun story about school pen pals and developing friendships based on interests and not on looks. Munchkin really liked how Tony Baloney has a stuffed friend like he does too. It is a good book though I don't know if we will be re-reading it as often as some of our others.  

 

My Rating: This was a cute book, though it is definitely more for children starting chapter books. Do they still do pen pals in school? I sure hope so! We give this one a rating of Two Paws and a Stump Wag.

Top 5 Wednesday: Reading Slump Breakers

Top 5 Wednesday is a group on Goodreads hosted by Sam from Thoughts on Tome on Youtube.

 

 

 

So again, I have really been enjoying the Top 5 Wednesday subjects, while I may not post every week but I will be participating a little more frequently.  This week's subject are books to get you out of a reading slump. 

Now this was a bit of a tough subject because I really haven't found myself in a reading slump for quite some time, I am always reaching for another book.  But I do have some suggestions on what could get someone out of a slump or if you feel yourself slipping into a slump what to try to stop it.


1. Re-Read a Favorite Book - nothing will get you out of a slump faster than revisiting favorite characters and stories. You are already familiar with the plot and events so you can just settle back and enjoy the ride.
Some of my favorite re-reads:

  

 

2. Pick a Short Book - choose something that is easy to read, doesn't take much brain power and you can get through quickly so you don't feel discouraged. You know how it feels great to check things off your to do list, this is the same idea, when you turn that last page you feel accomplished.

Some ideas for short books:

   

 

3. Try a Different Format - if picking up a book just isn't working, maybe try an ebook, or audio book. If that still isn't working maybe try a graphic novel or a book in verse.

Some different formats:

In Verse:

 

 

 Graphic Novels:

     

 

Audio Books:

  

 

4. Pick Emotional Books - one sure bet way to get out of a slump is to connect with the characters. With a character driven story you aren't having to concentrate on plot lines or world building, just the characters. So pick a book that will make you laugh or cry.

Some emotional books:

  

 

5. Try a Different Genre - one of the reasons you might end up in a slump is that you are tired of reading such similar plot lines, cliché characters, etc. Try to step out of your comfort zone and something might just spark your interest again.

Some great books I found outside my normal genres:

  

 

 

 

So of course I cheated and gave way more than 5 books but I gave you five ideas with book suggestions to illustrate my point, so I kind of got it.   Anyway, I have been very fortunate not to have had a book slump in the past couple of years. I think the main way I avoid them is by having a lot of books on hand, as well as a wide variety of genres and formats.  I hope that if you are in a slump or get into one that this post will help you out of it!

 

What books have helped you get out of a slump? What is your favorite method of getting out of a reading slump?

Review of Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly

Read for: New book purchase/ Look at that Cover!

 

Synopsis: "An original addition to the beloved Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, Lost in a Book follows the lonely, bookish Belle as she finds an enchanted book in the Beast’s library called Nevermore that carries her into a glittering new world. There, Belle is befriended by a mysterious countess who offers her the life she’s always dreamed of.

But Nevermore is not what it seems, and the more time Belle spends there, the harder it is to leave. Good stories take hold of us and never let us go, and once Belle becomes lost in this book, she may never find her way out again.

This deluxe hardcover novel expands upon the beautiful story and world seen in the new Walt Disney Studios' film, Beauty and the Beast."

My Review: I have always loved the Beauty and the Beast movie, and am very excited for the new release coming up, so of course I had to pick this book up. It seems to be meant for middle grade readers, but all ages will enjoy this story. It does a wonderful job of combining the original tale with the movie version we all know and love, it also fills in the missing time in the movie without interfering with that storyline. If you are a fan of re-tellings or the Beauty and the Beast story in general, you will love this book.

 

My Rating: I bought this book because of the cover and of course my love for the story. While this wasn't the most complex of stories, and we all know how it goes so there really isn't any surprises but it was still an enjoyable book to settle down with.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

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

Guilded Cage by Vic James
Blaze Loves to Race by Mary Tillworth (Early Reader)
Driving Force! by Nickelodeon (Bedtime Story)
Will & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge (Graphic Novel)

 

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Foreman Farley has a Backhoe
Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm
Making of a Duchess
Happy Valentine's Day Little Critter
Love Monster
Love Monster and the Perfect Present
Vienna Nocturne
Winner's Curse
Winter Studs
Beauty and the Beast Lost in a Book


 

Currently Reading:
 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling - Print - on page 337 of 734
Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski - Audio - 62%





 Books to be Read Soon:

 

Pages Read/ Time Listened
44:50 Hours Listened (8:24 listened this week)
8,400 Pages Read (1,447 this week)

Books Added to Shelves This Month
Viking Warrior Rising by Asa Maria Bradley
Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
Bubble Trouble by Mary Tillworth
Blaze Loves to Race by Mary Tillworth
Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly
Heartstone by Ella Katharine White
Beauty and the Beast by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling
Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Library by Walt Disney Company
Trapped by Michael Northop
Samurai Rising by Pamela Turner



Books Read From My Shelves
Vienna Nocturne
Making of a Duchess
Winner's Curse
Winter Studs


Interesting Tidbits on the Web:


 



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another surprisingly good reading week, finished a lot of the books I had started. I did go on a little shopping spree though so have a lot of books that got added to my bookshelves that need to be read soon!  I do have today off so I hope to get caught up on the Harry Potter read along today and also get most of my chores done for the week so I can read more this week.  I am in the middle of two trilogies that I am really enjoying and can't wait to read more!

Right now Munchkin and I are off for a walk because the snow has nearly melted and the sun is shining and warm! Hope you all have a wonderful week!