 | Thornton Youth Book Reviews |
Sandy Elliott, Thornton Branch Youth Services Librarian, has prepared book reviews to help children and youth of all ages find books they might enjoy.
Periodically, new reviews of recent books will be put on this page. Please look for new reviews.
Click on the title to see the Rangeview Library District Online Catalog entry for the book. This will show which branch has the book and if it is available or checked out.
October 2005 Reviews
Skippyjon
Jones in the Dog house by Judy Schachner
This is the second book about Skippyjon Jones, a kitten with a BIG
imagination! After decorating the newly painted hall with his best art
work ever, his mama sends Mr. Fuzzypants to his room to think. But,
instead of thinking about being a good Siamese cat, he thinks about being a
Chihuahua named Skippito Friskito, the great sword fighter. He puts on his
mask and cape and heads off to save his imaginary amigos, the Chihuahuas, from
the big Bobble-ito. Charming pictures and infectious verse add to the
enjoyment of reading this book. It comes with a CD of the author reading
both Skippyjon Jones books. If you want to start with the first one, it is
called Skippyjon
Jones. Both books are great fun, and I was happy to hear that more
adventures of Skippyjon Jones are in the works! Ages 4 to 10
Llama
Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
After Baby Llama goes to bed, he needs a drink, and because it's dark,
he misses Mama Llama. He yells for her, but she doesn't come. This
is a wonderful bedtime story full of llama drama. Parents and children
will recognize Baby Llama's need to see Mama Llama one more time before he goes
to sleep. The rhyming text is fun for adults to read aloud. Ages 2
to 7
Unlikely
Pairs: Fun with Famous Works of Art by Bob Raczka
Finding the funny connections between these famous pieces of art will
challenge kids and amuse adults. The book offers interesting ways to look
at art without a trip to a museum, with a bonus tickle of your funny
bone. Ages 9 to 13
Only
You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett
What if you found out that the computer game you were playing really did
destroy alien spaceships? And then, what if the aliens surrendered to
you? Johnny Maxwell is a about to have this experience in this humorous
look at computer games, saving Mankind from Galactic Hordes, saving Galactic
Hordes from Mankind, and learning about being a virtual hero. This is a
fun read for ages 9 to 13.
August 2005 Reviews
Too
Many Frogs
by Sandy Asher
Rabbit likes having his life just so. He is surprised to have Froggie
drop in uninvited on a rainy evening, but decides to read a story to Froggie,
since he was reading anyway. Froggie loves the story and brings his whole
family the next time. How does Rabbit get his quiet, simple life back
without hurting Froggie's feelings (and Froggie really enjoys listening to the
stories!)? The charming illustrations add a lot to the book. Ages 4
- 8
Messy
Bessey's Closet by
Patricia and Frederick McKissack
Messy Bessey has a room and closet full of things. After she
cleans her room and closet, she has a lot of stuff left over. How does she
solve the problem of what to do to with an extra Halloween costume, or a ball,
and a game? This is one in a series of Messy Bessey books designed for new
readers. It has a word list of 91 words. Ages 5 - 8
Beany
and the Meany by
Susan Wojciechowski
Beany finds herself partnered with the class bully, mean Kevin Gates,
for a science fair project. Kevin wants to do an experiment on boogers and
tells Beany she has cooties. Beany has to figure out a good experiment and
how to work with Kevin. Ages 7 - 10
Day
of Tears by
Julius Lester
Based on the true event of a slave owner paying off his gambling debts
by selling his "assets", Julius Lester has written the story from the
points of view of the many people affected by the sale of $300,000 work of
slaves. It is a touching story of the consequences that come with a
decision. Ages 10 - 14
June 2005 Reviews
Are you having a hard time waiting for the newest Harry Potter? So am I! Here are some suggestions of books you might enjoy if you like Harry Potter.
Midnight
for Charlie Bone
by Jenny Nimmo
Charlie is a descendant of the Red King. He has special powers that allow
him to hear voices of the people in photographs and paintings. He attends
a school for the gifted called Bloor's Academy where he tries to save a student
who was once a baby Charlie heard in a photograph. So far, there are five
books in this series. For 4th to 7th grade readers.
Inkheart
by
Cornelia Funke
When a stranger named Dustfinger shows up to visit Meggie's father, her life
changes forever. Suddenly Meggie and her father are on the run from a man
named Capricorn. When her father disappears, she needs to trust magical
Dustfinger to help her find her father. If you like excitement, you'll
like this book. For 5th to 8th grade readers.
Circle
of Magic: Sandry's Book
by Tamora Pierce
In this first of four books, we find four young people with no home who
posses strange powers. They are taken in by Nklaren Goldeye who takes
them to Winding Circle, a temple community and given training crafts and
magic. For 7th to 10th grade readers.
The
Dark Portal: Book One of the Deptford Mice Trilogy
by Robin Jarvis
Unless the mice figure out what the rats are up to, the city of London will
be destroyed! A mouse named Albert Brown can't let go of his curiosity and
slips through the Grill that leads to the sewers where the rats and some
mysterious power lives. Who is the rat, Jupiter, and why does everyone
fear him and his awesome powers? This is a series of three books.
For 6th to 9th grade readers.
Trickster's
Choice
by Tamora Pierce
Sixteen-year old Aly wants to be a spy, but when her parents refuse, she
runs away in her boat. Captured by pirates, she is soon sold into
slavery. She meets Kyrioth, a trickster, who teaches her magic. See
how this strong female character uses her wits to find a way to return
home. For 7th to 12th grade readers.
The
Once and Future King
by T. H. White
This is the best re-telling of the legends of King Arthur, in my
opinion! If you haven't read this book, you should RUN to the library to
get a copy. Everything is packed into these stories -- great adventures,
moral dilemmas, friendships, magic, evil, heroism, loyalty, and love. The
book follows the life of Wart, an orphan, who through the tutoring and power of
the magician, Merlin, becomes the king of England. A number of movies have
been inspired by these legends, including Sword in the Stone, Camelot, and
Star Wars. Even Monty Python was inspired to do Monty Python and
the Holy Grail, and the current Broadway play, Spamalot. For
8th grade to adult readers.
November 2004 Reviews
Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow
Ages 3 – 8
If you have dinosaur enthusiasts in your family, they’ll enjoy reading about Harry. Harry finds an old box of dinosaurs in his Gran’s attic, rescues them, and gives them a new home in a blue bucket. With gentle humor, the author tells about how the dinosaurs get lost and then found. Adrian Reynolds’ illustrations show how, in Harry’s imagination, the dinosaurs have their own sweet personalities.
George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl
Ages 9 – 13 (and older, if you’re a Roald Dahl fan)
If you have a very grouchy, grumpy, miserable grandma, perhaps you can improve her mood by cooking up some new medicine. At least, that’s what George hopes. George’s medicine has surprising and amazing effects, not only on his grandmother, but also on all the nearby animals. Roald Dahl fans will recognize his expressive, unique language. There is an interview with the author at the end of the book where he explains his love of chocolate and where he gets ideas for his characters.
Firmament by Tim Bowler
Ages – Teens
Life is not easy for fourteen-year-old Luke. His father has died, he’s drifting apart from his mother, and he desperately wants to fit in with a group of guys. The only thing that seems to be working for him is his gift for music. When Luke is coerced into breaking into the home of an elderly neighbor, he makes a discovery that changes his life forever. This book is a page-turner!
September 2004 Reviews
My School’s a Zoo by Stu Smith
You know it’s not going to be an ordinary day if you wake up because a giraffe pulls off your blankets. After a field trip to the zoo, a young boy finds that things are not the same at home or at school. Things are, well, beastly, and we’re not just talking about spelling bees or computer bugs. David Catrow’s delightful illustrations show just how strange a school can be. This is a great book for kids who have some experience going to school.
Diary of a Wombat
by Jackie French
We don’t meet very many wombats in Colorado, but this little wombat’s diary gives us a clue about wombat life in Australia. Life is not too exciting until she finds she has some new neighbors—humans! They are, she finds, trainable, and life gets a little more interesting (especially for the humans). This is a fun just-before-bed book.
Max by Bob Graham
What if your grandparents were super-heroes, and your parents were super-heroes, but you were a boy who couldn’t fly? Max’s family tries all kinds of things to help him get off the ground, from tossing him in the air, to bouncing him on a trampoline. But, finally, it’s Max’s kind heart that helps him lean to fly. This is a good book for 3 to 7 year olds.
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
Although this is not a new book, it’s a powerful coming-of-age novel for those of middle school age. The main character is a young farm boy growing up in Vermont. The book follows some of the hard decisions he has to make as he grows up to take his place as the head of his family. The chapter about his Auntie Matt deciding to be his “tooter” will make you laugh out loud!
August 2004 Reviews
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
The pigeon really, really wants to drive the bus, but the bus driver wants you to watch the bus until he gets back. How many ways will the pigeon try to get you to let him drive the bus? Kids and parents will recognize all the wheedling phrases the pigeon uses to get his own way. The simple, yet expressive, drawings are wonderfully appealing. It’s written for children 2-6, but the librarians have been seen reading it and laughing out loud. The book is a Caldecott Honor Book. (And, if you like the pigeon, wait until you read
The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog!)
The Zack Files: Great-Grandpa’s in the Litter Box by Dan Greenburg
Are you ready for chapter books? Try the Zack Files series for some good laughs. Zack goes to the pet store to buy a kitten, but is talked into buying an old cat by the cat himself. The cat claims to be Zack’s “wonderful dead Great-Grandfather Julius”. This sure isn’t the kind of pet Zack’s family is expecting! Julius takes Zack on an interesting adventure that includes baseball cards, money, and a bank. Written for ages 6-9.
Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age by Raymond Briggs
English author, Raymond Briggs, gives us a picture of what life was like in the Stone Age. Ug, a genius, always asks questions of his not-too-patient parents. Ug’s blanket is made of stone and his pants are made of stone. He’d like something softer. Breakfast is always bits of dead animals, but Ug would like something hot. His parents think he’s ungrateful, but he’s just looking for a better life. Parents will enjoy the illustrations and humor in the book as they read it to their children.
The Canning Season by Polly Horvath
Here’s a book for middle school and older readers. This is the strangest book I’ve read in a long time! Ratchet Clark received her name because her parents had an argument about a tool left on the windowsill of the hospital room where she was born. After that, her father leaves her living with her unusual mother, and it’s downhill for Ratchet. That is, until the summer of her thirteenth year, when she’s shipped off to Maine to live with twin elderly cousins, Tilly and Penpen. Their home is remote, and they seldom have visitors (because bears seem to eat them), so they are all surprised to find another 13-year-old named Harper on their doorstep. Things get stranger and stranger. If you like offbeat, wacky characters, this is a book for you!
Last updated: 15 October 2007 11:16 AM Mountain Time
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