I actually started composing a very insightful post about perseverance as I struggled emotionally and physically with biking this week, but I had a busy day yesterday and didn't finish writing it. How ironic. *sigh* And now it's Library Loot Day, so here it is . . .
Library Loot is a weekly blog event that encourages bloggers to share what books they borrowed from the library that week. To participate, simply make your Library Loot post on your blog and link it using the Mr. Linky link at Marg's blog Reading Adventures or Eva's blog A Striped Armchair. FYI, this week's Mr.Linky is at Marg's.
So last week I went to the library looking for the second Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich and spotted this brand new release in children's literature that I got ultra excited about.
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo!
If you have any young children in your life or have a love of children's literature, you really need to be reading Kate DiCamillo's works. Because of Winn Dixie is a beloved chapter book of many school age children and is actually used for reading group instruction at my daughters' elementary school. It's a very sweet story with a lot of life lessons that can prompt some great family discussion. DiCamillo also wrote Tiger Rising--which was a curious yet thoughtful novel about a boy and girl and a tiger in Florida and how they learn about trust and friendship. It's probably my least favorite of her works, but still a good read. Then there is The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo which won the Newberry Medal in 2004 and what a delightful read it is. It's fun and adventurous, and again full of some really wonderful life lessons about believing in yourself and finding happiness. Then came The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane in 2006 and it easily became my most favorite children's novel ever. It's a poignant story and does have some very sad parts, but it's also full of hope, friendship, love and perseverance. I can't recommend it enough. The Magician's Elephant is Kate DiCamillo's most recent work having just been released in late September 2009, and I was so thrilled to find it at my library.
Visit author Kate DiCamillo at her website http://www.katedicamillo.com/.
Finally, I picked up The Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. It is the second novel in the Spellman Files series that has come to me recommended by Li at Me and My Books and sounds really fun. The first novel in the series, The Spellman Files, is currently being borrowed by another patron, but as soon as it comes in, I'll check it out and read it before I read The Curse of the Spellmans.
Library Loot is a weekly blog event that encourages bloggers to share what books they borrowed from the library that week. To participate, simply make your Library Loot post on your blog and link it using the Mr. Linky link at Marg's blog Reading Adventures or Eva's blog A Striped Armchair. FYI, this week's Mr.Linky is at Marg's.
I actually picked up two of these books last week, but never got around to posting my Library Loot, and since I still haven't read them, they're counting as today's loot.
So last week I went to the library looking for the second Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich and spotted this brand new release in children's literature that I got ultra excited about.
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo!
If you have any young children in your life or have a love of children's literature, you really need to be reading Kate DiCamillo's works. Because of Winn Dixie is a beloved chapter book of many school age children and is actually used for reading group instruction at my daughters' elementary school. It's a very sweet story with a lot of life lessons that can prompt some great family discussion. DiCamillo also wrote Tiger Rising--which was a curious yet thoughtful novel about a boy and girl and a tiger in Florida and how they learn about trust and friendship. It's probably my least favorite of her works, but still a good read. Then there is The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo which won the Newberry Medal in 2004 and what a delightful read it is. It's fun and adventurous, and again full of some really wonderful life lessons about believing in yourself and finding happiness. Then came The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane in 2006 and it easily became my most favorite children's novel ever. It's a poignant story and does have some very sad parts, but it's also full of hope, friendship, love and perseverance. I can't recommend it enough. The Magician's Elephant is Kate DiCamillo's most recent work having just been released in late September 2009, and I was so thrilled to find it at my library.Visit author Kate DiCamillo at her website http://www.katedicamillo.com/.
Next up is Two For The Dough by Janet Evanovich, which is the second book in her very popular Stephanie Plum series. Fun stuff.
Finally, I picked up The Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. It is the second novel in the Spellman Files series that has come to me recommended by Li at Me and My Books and sounds really fun. The first novel in the series, The Spellman Files, is currently being borrowed by another patron, but as soon as it comes in, I'll check it out and read it before I read The Curse of the Spellmans.
That's my library loot for this week. Hopefully I'll be read one of them this week.
Now that I've gushed over how much I love children's author Kate DiCamillo, I want to know who your favorite children's author is (for ages 9-12), if you have one.
Now that I've gushed over how much I love children's author Kate DiCamillo, I want to know who your favorite children's author is (for ages 9-12), if you have one.
Ohhh, favourite children's author... *thinks* I love the authors from an earlier ear - CS Lewis and Edward Eager. Inching back to today, I love Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series :)
ReplyDeleteI just shelved a handful of books by Eoin Colfer while volunteering at my daughter's school library on Monday and wondered why my girls and or I never picked up that series. I'm thinking it came along just as Maria was growing out of that reading level and Anna simply isn't into the genre. Now I've just got so much on the shelf to catch up on that I'll probably not go back to a new, longish series.
ReplyDeleteEdward Eager I'm going to have to look up. Later, though... off to go watch Maria's volleyball game! :)
I guess I would have to say Garth Nix, but having said that I haven't read a lot of books aimed at that age group.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your loot!
Shel Silverstein's poetry books are fantastic at any age.
ReplyDeleteJim Benton's Dear Dumb Diary series are hysterical.
Garth Nix is one of my favorite authors ever. I especially love the Abhorsen series.
My daughter is a huge fan of Liz Kessler's mermaids books, Rick Riordan's Olympians series and Rachel Robert's Avalon series.
Christine, I recently read the Riordan series... Percy and the Olympians and I loved it. All the kids (and some adults, lol) in my family (also friends) are reading it and loving it.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in the DiCamillo's books you are recommending. The younger ones might really like these. Thank you. :)
Hi Christine:
ReplyDeleteHmm, well for my sons I would have to say the CS Lewis stories were really wonderful.
And my eldest loved a female author, whose name escapes me - I know very bad. When I remember it I will come back.
Tolkien's "The Hobbit" was also a favorite here. The Lord of the Rings trilogy came later.
Great question Christine!!
L
Marg ~ I read the Abhorsen books by Garth Nix a few years ago and thought they were absolutely amazing. I recall thinking they were at quite a high reading level for YA.
ReplyDeleteMariana ~ Shel Silverstein is awesome. I usually name The Giving Tree as my all time favorite children's book. Let's say it's tied with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane. ;)
We have a few Dear Dumb Diary books on the shelf, although only the 10 year old has read them.
I've only read the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix and as I stated to Marg... I loved them. Very intense.
We also have Kessler's mermaid books! And I've heard so many wonderful, wonderful things about Rick Riordan's Olympians. I may read that one because I think it's going to be adapted into a movie and I always like to read the book first!
I'm going to look into Rachel Robert. I'm always looking for something new for my 5th grade girl.
Thanks for all the recs!
Hilcia ~ Another vote for Riordan's Olympians! You should definitely check out DiCamillo!
Lea ~ Oh yes, The Chronicles of Narnia is a favorite on our shelves!
Are you thinking of Tamora Pierce as the female author whom your eldest loved? We have a few of her books as well.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy is also a classic for the home library. I saw a set of three paperbacks for $10 on the used shelf at the library but had no money with me at the time. I went back a few days later and it was gone. I was so bummed.
Sweet! Fun books.
ReplyDeleteOh Well, what's a direction if you can't veer from it now and then?
Hey! My daughter really likes Liz Kessler and Rachel Roberts. She's funny; she says, mom you read Nora Roberts and I have Rachel Roberts :)
ReplyDeleteAs before, my library is open to you and your daughter, if you so please.
Thanks for visiting my blog this week and your kind words. Nothing with the pinecones yet. It rained but I will collect some and do something?
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of Library loot. I'm on the hold list for Janet E's latest Stephanie Plum on audio.
Thanks for the children's recommendations.
Oh, I hope you like the Spellman books!
ReplyDeleteI second the Eoin Colfer rec - love his Artemis Fowl books.
I'm not 100% sure this would be age-appropriate, but I would also rec Megan Whalen Turner's Thief books. The caveat around age-appropriateness is really because of one scene in the second book, but it's a fantastic series!
Hey Christine!! when you get the first one Spellman, want to buddy review it with me?
ReplyDeleteLOL, I also picked it up because of Li :D
Are you enjoying Stephanie Plum?
Carolyn ~ Thanks for checking out my loot!
ReplyDeleteMariana ~ You and your daughter can have your own "Roberts" read-a-thons! How cute! :)
Kwana ~ I love the wreath idea. I've got my eyes out for fallen pine cones in my neighborhood. I really want to make a door wreath or table top candle wreath with pinecones now.
Li ~ I'll be sure to let you know how I like the Spellman books. I peeked inside and love the format--it looks so fun!
I definitely think Megan Walen Turner's Theif books walk the line between children's literature and young adult. I've only read the first book in the series and am looking forward to reading the others. Thanks for the rec!
nath ~ That would be awesome to do a buddy review of the first Spellman book! Thanks for asking. I'll email you as soon as I get the first book.
I haven't started the second Stephanie Plum book yet, but I did like the first one.
My library doesn't have The Magician's Elephant. :/ Maybe I'll tell them to purchase it! (And I'm off to check for other titles by her in the catalogue.)
ReplyDeleteI think L.M. Montgomery would be my fave children's author if you make me pick just one!
Thanks for the recommendation, Eva. L.M. Montgomery's "New Moon" Trilogy looks really good. I'll have to look for it at my library.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't read The Magician's Nephew! ACK! Things have been busy at home and I haven't been reading as much as I like.
Thanks for directing me back to this post. I'm so glad you are a fan of Kate D. I also see here that you checked out Lisa Lutz, Curse of the Spellmans.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this series, really do. So much fun to read. I have read all three of them and just received yesterday the ARC of the fourth and final!.
I rarely laugh out loud from books but these got me! I'm curious to know what you think!
Michelle ~ That is so awesome that you received an ARC for the fourth Spellman book! I just started reading the first one last night, but it was very late and I didn't get very far before I started to fall asleep. Hopefully over the weekend. Although I have so much on my To-Do list, so I'm not promising anything! LOL
ReplyDelete