Book 519

The Only Child, by Goujing, Schwartz Wade, 2015.

This book is heart-stoppingly gorgeously illustrated.  The wordless story is poignant and conveys the sense of loneliness felt by a child growing up under China's one-child policy.  But my son, who is an only child, did not understand the child's deep loneliness and longing.  I kind of wish that the US title had been changed to "The Lonely Child", because, 1) not all only children are always lonely; and 2) children with multiple siblings can feel this depth of loneliness.

Book 518

Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies, by William Joyce, Simon & Schuster, 2012.

I really enjoyed the Rise of the Guardians movie; so much so, that I went out to find these books.  The books and movie, however, are very different.  Toothiana is even better in the book than she is in the movie because not only is she as beautiful as a hummingbird, she is as fierce as a warrior.

Book 517

E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs, by William Joyce, Atheneum Book, 2012.

On very rare occasions, I watch a movie before I read the books.  In my defense, I didn't know about the books when I bought the movie The Rise of the Guardians for my son.  And, after the movie, I wanted to learn so much more about the characters.

I am LOVING this series.  E. Aster Bunnymund is rather different in the book than he is in the movie, but, in my mind, he still talks like Hugh Jackman.

Book 516

The Day Our Teacher Went Batty, by Gervase Phinn, Puffin Books, 2002.

I'm not sure where I picked up this little book.  Or when.  I do know the "why", though.  I picked it up because the humor seemed charmingly British -- Yorkshire, in fact. 

So, however long it has been sitting on my shelf, I read it last week when I was feeling quite "poorly".  I can't say I loved, or even understood, every poem in this book, but the poems I loved, I loved very, very much.

Book 515

The Trumpet of the Swan, by E. B. White, illustrated by Fred Marcellino, HarperCollins, 1970.

My first grade son and I were reading this book a few chapters a day for a class project.  It is actually a rather lengthy book to read in seven day -- there were about ten pages per chapter -- but my son was enthralled.  At the end of each day's reading, he would illustrate his favorite part of what he had read. 
I do love this book, but it also makes me a bit sad.  It is about sacrifices for love, and, although everything worked out fairly well at the end, I was still sorry for some of the things that had been given up along the way.

Book 514

Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, by William Joyce and Laura Geringer, Athenium Books for Young Readers, 2011.

I bought this book because my son and I love the movie The Rise of the Guardians and wanted to know more about the central characters. 

What a great book, and what a great start to a series.  I want more, more, MORE.

Book 513

Tales of Amanda Pig, written by Jean Van Leeuwen, illustrated by Ann Schweninger, Puffin Easy-to-Read Books, 1994.

My first grade son read this book for a Literature unit on family life.  He liked this book for two reasons:  1.  He could read it on his own, and 2.  It was funny, so he wanted to read it on his own.  

And those are two very good reasons for buying a book.