Mini Reviews: How to Catch a Mermaid, The Know-Nonsense Guide to Space, Dungeons & Dragons: Big Trouble (Endless Quest series)
How to Catch a Mermaid
by Adam Wallace
Children's Fiction
Amazon Goodreads
Summary
How do you catch a
mermaid?
You must be very
clever.
With mirrors,
crowns, and pearls galore,
this quest can't
last forever!
Review - 4 stars
The illustrations in this book are gorgeous. They're so crisp
and colorful, they make the book a joy to read.
The story is told in a ABCB rhyming pattern, with a
"verse" on each two page spread. A problem a see a lot with books
that try to tell a story in verse is with an awkward flow, but the rhythm of
the verses in this story is wonderful and fun to read.
The story is fun, about two kids (and a dog) trying to catch a
mermaid, but then they run into some trouble with some sharks and the mermaid
ends up saving them. It's a cute, fun read and just happens to be an excellent
length for a bedtime story.
The Know-Nonsense Guide to Space
by Heidi Fiedler
Children's
Non-Fiction
Summary
You'll
learn something new about this huge universe of ours every time you turn the
page in The Know-Nonsense Guide to Space.
Start by learning
about the different planets in our solar system, all the way from Mercury to
Neptune (and even dwarf planet Pluto!). Then reach out further and discover
about the Milky Way Galaxy and other neighboring galaxies (and what is in
them).
On the journey
through space, learn about different terms like asteroid belt, nebula, and
supernova. Even learn about mysterious black holes!
The Know-Nonsense Guide to Space turns what can at times be
dry topics into something approachable and fun. Full of quirky and hilarious
illustrations, kids will love learning so much they might even laugh out loud.
Review - 5 stars
This is a very
engaging introductory guide to space, including information about the sun,
stars, and galaxies, as well as one page info sheets on each of the planets, as
well as on space related things like astronauts, robots, satellites,
telescopes. The pictures are fun and funky, drawings of the planets personified
with smiling faces and sunglasses and the like, rather than actual photographs
or realistic depictions of the topics being discussed. That's part of what
makes this book seem more accessible to a younger audience, because it's fun
and cool rather than cold and clinical. This is a great variety of information,
and I (at age 32) definitely learned some new things. Definitely for older
children, though I think my 4 year old might sit still and let me read maybe a
page or 2 at a time to him (but he'd never sit still through the entire book).
I can see someone aged 8-12 being really interested in this book.
Dungeons & Dragons: Big Trouble: An Endless Quest Book
by Matt Forbeck
Middle-grade
Fiction/Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
Summary
Welcome to the
Forgotten Realms Endless Quest books, where you don't just read a fantastic
tale. You become the hero -- and choose your own fate.
When evil giants
attack your home in Ardeep Forest, your parents think you're dead and they go
hunting for your missing little brother. You wake up and set out after them,
helped by a giant wizard who lives in a flying tower. You don't know where
they've gone, but you know that if you don't find them, you're all in big
trouble. Wield your magic wisely against the giants, wizard.
Review - 4 stars
This is a great
choose-your-own-adventure style book. You're chilling at home minding your own
business when giants attack! There are lots of choices for you to make, and
most of the paths lead to a pretty bad ending. Have fun trying to find the path
that leads you to a victorious end!
I love how many
options there are, and how sometimes when you think you're choosing the
"safe" option there's a plot twist and it wasn't so safe after all. I
read through this about three times and then gave up trying to survive this
encounter with the giants. I sure wasn't able to find a path to a happy ending,
though in flipping through and reading some of the endings there ARE a few...
well, it not HAPPY endings, at least less horrible ones that don't result in
your death.
Warning that there
is a fair amount of death and dismemberment in this book (plus giants eating
people and choking to death), so it's not for a very young audience.
That space book looks so adorable!! I am definitely ILLing that.
ReplyDeleteUpdate: noooo its not available for interlibrary loan in MN.
ReplyDeleteWell it was just published July 3rd. Clearly you need to order this for your library...
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