Fortunately, the Milk

We're back with a brand new book review! Today, we're going to tell you all about Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (illustrated by Skottie Young). 

The Basics:

Published: September 17, 2013

Length: 128 pages

Reading Level: Age 8-12 (grades 3-7)

Synopsis:

""I bought the milk," said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: thummthumm. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road."

"Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened."

Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal."

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

"It was really silly and funny! I liked Professor Steg and the Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier!"

My Thoughts:

It's no great secret that I'm a big fan of Neil Gaiman and his work, so I was incredibly excited to read this with Guinevere. We both enjoyed it so much that we finished it in a day. Gaiman is an expert storyteller and this book certainly did not disappoint. It has everything you could want in an adventure story: time travel, aliens, pirates, dinosaurs, "wumpires", space police, a volcano god named Splod and, of course, milk. Fortunately, the Milk is like Hitchhiker's Guide for the younger set.  It's fast-paced and full of funny one-liners and outlandish situations, and the illustrations are a perfect addition to the story. It was such a good time, I'd like to read it again on my own.

Read it or Leave it?:

Read it now! If you're looking for wacky, far-fetched humor that will make you laugh along with your child, Fortunately, the Milk fits the bill! Pick it up from your local library or add it to your Neil Gaiman collection!

Happy reading, everyone! 

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread

It took us awhile to finish this one, but here is our review of The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering).

The Basics:

Published: August 25, 2003

Length: 272 pages

Reading Level: Age 7-10 (grades 2-5)

Synopsis:

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out. 

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts: 

"I loved it! My favorite parts were when Despereaux met the threadmaster and found out his name, and when Despereaux saved the princess."

My Thoughts:

While I did like this book, the story did not grab me the way I had hoped it might. Perhaps my expectations were set a bit too high, but for whatever reason, I was not enraptured by the tale of this very small mouse. For one thing, I expected at least the majority of a book titled The Tale of Despereaux to actually be about Despereaux. This is not so. The book is divided into smaller books, each focusing on a different character, and while I understand that those characters are integral to the story, I did not really care to read entire books about them. I found myself wondering, while reading the books about Roscuro and Miggery Sow, when we'd be getting back to Despereaux's story (Guinevere actually voiced this question a couple of times). The story is not without merit, though I did find it a bit too long and mature for a 4 year old. There are many positive themes and messages including standing up for what's right, being true to yourself, love, courage, empathy, forgiveness, and redemption. There is a strong focus on the juxtaposition of light vs. darkness, good vs. evil, and the reality that sometimes things aren't always nice, fair, and just. I found the description of the treatment of Miggery Sow to be quite cruel and perhaps not age appropriate ( she is sold away as a child and treated terribly, having her ears boxed to the point of having cauliflower ear and being mostly deaf, and being callously informed that nobody cares what she wants) and I also grew quite tired of reading Miggery's favorite expression: "Gor!". The vicious nature of the rats and their focus on torment and suffering was a bit over the top, as well (we get it; the rats are the bad guys) and Despereaux's parents were absolutely vile characters who were willing to allow their son to be imprisoned for the sake of propriety and tradition. Before you start thinking that I hated this book, I did appreciate the overall message and I did find Despereaux himself to be very endearing; I only wish that he had been the main focus of the entire story.

Read it or Leave it?:

If you are considering reading this to your preschooler or kindergartener, leave it. Wait a few years until they are a bit more mature. If your child is a bit older, go ahead and pick it up from your library and read it. You or your child may love it, as my opinion regarding this book does not seem to be a popular one.

Happy reading, everyone! ❤️

Charlotte's Web

Today we're reviewing Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (illustrated by Garth Williams).

The Basics:

Published: First published in 1953

Length: 184 pages

Reading Level: Age 8-12 (grades 3-7)

Synopsis:

"Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. "

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

"I liked it when Charlotte's babies were born and I liked it when she wrote all those words in her web to save Wilbur's life."

My Thoughts:

This was our second book by E.B. White and I was relieved to find it to be a much more enjoyable read than Stuart Little, despite the author's tendency to ramble excessively at times. The illustrations are wonderful, the prose is lovely and the themes are complex, ranging from the concepts of unconditional friendship and loyalty to greed and mortality. Though much of the story focuses on the simple pleasures and ideals of childhood, this is also a tale of the sometimes harsh realities of farm life (and life in general). It is not unrealistic, as Wilbur's life is balanced on a knife-edge and it is only Charlotte's valiance and intelligence and the gullibility of humans that ensures his safety. Also true to life is Fern's ardent obsession with Wilbur which wanes as fern grows older and her interests shift to less childish things which, though honestly portrayed, annoyed me and made me like Fern less as the story progressed. Charlotte did, at times come off a bit condescending and as a know-it-all, but she was no less kind and charming for all that. Wilbur is sweet and endearing, but at times whiny. Templeton is easily relatable to real life, as well, as he does not experience any life changing epiphanies which prompt him to become less of a gluttonous grump. He's perfectly content to remain so for the whole of the story. The characters are multi-faceted which brings them to life and draws the reader into the story. Overall, it's easy easy to see why Charlotte's Web is considered a work of classic children's literature.

Read it or Leave it?:

Absolutely, read Charlotte's Web with your child! Enjoy the experience of  finding it together on your local library's shelf and bringing it home, or just go ahead and add this children's classic to your collection!

Let me know your thoughts about this book in the comments. Happy reading!

Ramona the Pest

Here's our next Ramona book review,as promised: Ramona the Pest (Ramona Quimby #2) by Beverly Cleary.

The Basics:

Published: First published in 1968

Length: 192 pages

Reading Level:  Age 8-12 (grades 3-7)

Synopsis:

"Ramona Quimby is excited to start kindergarten. No longer does she have to watch her older sister, Beezus, ride the bus to school with all the big kids. She's finally old enough to do it too!

Then she gets into trouble for pulling her classmate's boingy curls during recess. Even worse, her crush rejects her in front of everyone. Beezus says Ramona needs to quit being a pest, but how can she stop if she never was trying to be one in the first place?"

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My Rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

"I really loved it! I liked it when Ramona met her teacher and when they played Gray Duck."

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book a great deal, though not quite as much as the first book.  Ramona, now a kindergarten student, is still charming and true to life in this installment. From her struggles to behave at school, and her wall-kicking tantrum because her family is being "mean" by laughing at her interpretation of the lyrics to "the dawnzer song" that is sung at school (known by most people as the national anthem), to her exuberance about her Halloween costume, and the excitement of losing her first tooth, Ramona could be any typical 5 year old around today.  

This book did not receive 5 stars from me because I felt that the notion of chasing someone every day in order to catch and forcibly kiss them when it's clear they do not wish to be caught or kissed, as Ramona does to Davy, is one that is less likely to resonate today as more parents are trying to reinforce the concepts of consent and bodily autonomy, though this does provide a good discussion opportunity. 

Overall, this was a fun reading experience for Guinevere and I and I'm sure we'll be reading more Ramona books together in the future.

Read it or Leave it?:

Read it! If you enjoyed Beezus and Ramona or any of the other Ramona books, be sure to read Ramona the Pest. Head over to your local library or buy it for your child's collection!

Let me know what you liked or didn't like about this book in the comments!

Beezus and Ramona

Today we'll be reviewing Beezus and Ramona (Ramona Quimby #1) by Beverly Cleary.

The Basics:

Published: First published in 1955

Length: 160 pages

Reading Level: Age 8-12 years (grades 3-7)

Synopsis:

"Nine-year-old Beezus Quimby has her hands full with her little sister, Ramona. Sure, other people have little sisters that bother them sometimes, but is there anyone in the world like Ramona? Whether she's taking one bite out of every apple in a box or secretly inviting 15 other 4-year-olds to the house for a party, Ramona is always making trouble--and getting all the attention. Every big sister can relate to the trials and tribulations Beezus must endure. Old enough to be expected to take responsibility for her little sister, yet young enough to be mortified by every embarrassing plight the precocious preschooler gets them into, Beezus is constantly struggling with her mixed-up feelings about the exasperating Ramona."

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

" I LOVED it! I liked Beezus' birthday cake and I liked when Ramona invited all the little kids over for a party."

My Thoughts:

Ramona Quimby was one of my favorite childhood characters and I am relieved to know that I still enjoy her precocious antics, though I appreciated certain aspects of the story from the perspective of an adult and a parent this time around, such as relating to Mrs. Quimby's weariness when her to-do list never seems to end thanks, in part, to Ramona's shenanigans. As I am attempting to type this, I've been interrupted no less than 10 times (and counting) by my own little troublemakers, so I fully understand the theme of exasperation with small children which runs throughout the story. Guinevere saw a reflection of herself in the way Ramona attempted to write her name, which was really just a series of scribbled 'i's and 't's. She looked at the illustration and said "That's how I write!".

Though this book was first published in 1955 and has some antiquated aspects, like Beezus' hobbies which include sewing and embroidering potholders, a 4 year old being left in the care of a 9 year old, and the outdated notion that girls shouldn't like books about construction equipment (a sentence which I omitted), the story manages to remain relevant to children and adults today by the sheer relatability of the characters and the predicaments in which they find themselves. Children behave like children whether it's 1955 or 2017 and that is a great comfort when you stop to consider that parents have been trying to find ways of dealing with curious, troublemaking children for generations.

Since Guinevere and I both enjoyed this book so much, we are moving on to the next installment in the series at her request. So, look for our review of Ramona, the Pest soon!

Read it or Leave it?:

I don't think I really even need to tell you that I definitely think you should read this book with your child.As usual, I recommend heading over to your local library and bringing home Beverly Cleary's Beezus and Ramona to share with your child. Or just take my word for it and go ahead and add it to your child's library so they can enjoy it for years to come.

What did you think of Ramona and her antics? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Reading! ❤

Stuart Little

Today's review is of Stuart Little written by E.B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams.

The Basics:

Published: First published in 1945

Length: 131 pages

Reading Level: Age 8-12 years (grades 3-7)

Synopsis:

"Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Though he's shy and thoughtful, he's also a true lover of adventure.

Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend?"

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts:

"My favorite part was Stuart imagining all the things he would do with his canoe."

My Thoughts:

While I enjoy the premise of a story told from the vantage point of a small mouse, I don't feel that this book was the best choice to read with a 4 year old. From turning on lights and faucets, to shopping for doll-sized clothing and luggage, reading about the ways in which Stuart managed to live in a house and world full of normal-sized humans was charming, but it was heavy on 1940s lingo and boating terminology which made it feel a bit unrelatable for a modern child. The ending seems rushed, almost as though the author had just tired of writing the story and wanted to be done with it since the conclusion is left open-ended and ambiguous. If you are hoping to learn the answer to the question posed in the synopsis, you are entirely out of luck. Stuart's actions and demeanor are at times off-putting and I have other minor quibbles with the story that I won't delve into now, so as not to give away plot lines for those still interested in reading this book.

Read it or Leave it?:

Leave it. Unless you are reading to or buying for an older child, I would pass on this one. If you feel that my unpopular opinion must be way off base and you want to see for yourself, go pick up a copy at your local library or buy it to read at your leisure.

Do you have thoughts or opinions to share about this book? Let me know in the comments!

Mercy Watson to the Rescue

Our next book is Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo (illustrated by Chris Van Dusen)

The Basics:

Published: August 23, 2005

Length: 80 pages

Reading Level: Age 6-9 (grades 1-4)

Synopsis:

"To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she's a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons' bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash — "to alert the fire department," her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind — like a sudden craving for their neighbors' sugar cookies? "

Our Ratings (out of 5 stars):

Guinevere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lindsay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Guinevere's Thoughts: 

"It was funny how Mercy got BIG stacks of toast with lots of butter because she loves toast so much. It was really tall!"

My Thoughts:

This was a fun, silly book with plenty of colorful illustrations. The chapters are quite short, and at just 80 pages it's a very quick read. I enjoyed this book and found it amusing that Mr. and Mrs. Watson placed so much faith in their darling pet pig in their time of peril, but all Mercy wanted was to eat some delicious cookies! I can relate as cookies are an important part of my diet too. 

Read it or Leave it?:

Read it! For a quick, lighthearted read you can't go wrong with Mercy Watson to the Rescue. As always, I encourage you to support your local library and go check out this book! If you'd rather keep it forever, the paperback and Kindle editions are a real steal right now!

Did you enjoy this book? Let me know in the comments!