What Joa is Reading & Other Stuff

Book reviews...from picture books to adult books, as well as books-to-movie info, and other stuff I think is interesting. Note: Not all books reviewed or recommended are appropriate for all ages.
FEBRUARY 14, 2007
Read new picture book: Best Buds
It's always one of our favorite times of the week when new boxes of books come...and Teresa and I enjoy looking through and finding good books to recommend. Our recent favorite from yesterday's box is a short picture book called Best Buds (from what we hope will be new series called The Adventures of Max and Pinky Best Buds is a really cute book about a little boy (who looks a lot like a younger version of Charlie Brown) and his best friend Pinky. While very brief and simple in storyline, it is one of those books that has a remarkable humor that the adults reading aloud will enjoy, too.

The story follows their daily activities which they do together, until a day when Max can't find Pinky...and is worried, until he thinks of the perfect place to look. I won't ruin the suspense, but let's just say marshmallows are involved.

Add a comment  (2 comments) posted by joa

Categories: Joa RecommendsPicture Books

----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEBRUARY 9, 2007
Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix
I just finished reading Double Identity, one of the Battle of the Books titles. It was okay, although not nearly as good as Among the Hidden, the first book in the Shadow Children series by Hadddix. Both books are science fiction books that take current scientific ideas and explore possible future consequences. I have to say, though, that my all time favorite Haddix book is not sci fi at all, but a realistic "problem" novel called Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dumphrey, about a teenage girl who is dealing with some major family challenges (for awhile, she is the primary caregiver to her younger siblings...with both parents absent.) It is written in the format of a journal she keeps for her English teacher, Mrs. Dumphrey. It's a great book...much like another favorite of mine, A Door Near Here by Heather Quarles. Both of these novels can be found in the young adult section.

Add a comment  (0 comments) posted by joa

Categories: Battle of the BooksJoa Recommends

----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEBRUARY 5, 2007
Saw previews for Bridge to Terabithia
I have seen the previews now for the Bridge to Terabithia movie, and am a little surprised by the way it is being portrayed as almost an action movie. I think it is a little odd, that the wonderful thing about Terabithia in the book is how it really celebrates the kids' (especially Leslie's) imagination...and then the movie makes it look like these imagined creatures, etc. are all really there.

I thought the preview made the movie look more like a fantasy, than a movie about friendship...I pictured it more like Because of Winn Dixie or My Girl. Anyway, we'll wait and see. If you want to see more about the book, the story, and the movie, including a contest, go to Walden Media's web page for Bridge to Terabithia.

Add a comment  (3 comments) posted by joa

Categories: FYIMovie Tie-ins

----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEBRUARY 1, 2007
Last Harry Potter book release date set
The release date has finally been announced for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the 7th and last Harry Potter book in the series by J.K. Rowling. The book will come out on July 21st. The library will be getting multiple copies, and reserves are already being accepted. We will also get an audio version, released the same day. As has been our tradition with this popular series, we will hold one copy back from the reserve list and have a special Harry Potter event on the release morning where we will draw one name to be the first person to check-out.

Add a comment  (2 comments) posted by joa

Categories: SequelsFYI

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe via RSS
Search