Ooh La La Polka-Dot Boots by Ellen Olson-Brown Illustrated by Christiane Engel

from goodreads

3 stars

March Break is here! Yay!!! While that means that all three children are home all day. I really don't mind. The older two play so nicely together I rarely see them except when they surface for some food. As for Miss P. well she does her own thing really. The only difference is there are more cries of horror from the older two when Miss P. touches some of their stuff.

I love March Break because it means no morning rush. People can get dressed when they want, brush their hair when they want and I can make lunch when I want. Which is at lunch time, not three hours before.

While we didn't have anything major planned for this week it is sure filling up. On the last day of school the girls spouted off lists of friends they wanted play dates with. And I mostly fulfilled their requests which means I'm super mom.

What do you like to do when the kids have a break from school?

Synopsis

This books shows how there are lots of different styles of dress and they are all good and how all styles get an extra humph from wearing polka-dot boots.

My Thoughts

Well, this book was rather mediocre. The illustrations are what really make it at all memorable. They are colourful and cute. Miss P. liked flipping the half page that showed the polka-dot boots.

As for the actual "story" well, it was fine. I just found the rhythm changed a lot so it was hard to get into a nice groove. It started off with a nice beat, but by the time you go to the part that was about the polka-dot boots it changed, and it changed differently every time. There was no continuity. While that is not a horrible thing, it bothered me as a reader.

I still recommend this book for younger readers as the illustrations are just so great.

The Cure for Death by Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

from goodreads

2.75 stars

There are books on my to-read list that seem to have been on there for eons. I don't know why I just don't hunker down and read them. Most likely because some other glittery fancy piece of literary art catches my eye and my to-read faithfuls get thrown back down to the bottom.

This was one of those books. I first heard about it when I was a teenager at Girl Guide camp (well I was actually a Pathfinder by that point, but I figured most people would know what a Girl Guide was rather than a Pathfinder). One of my tent mates was reading it and I was intrigued by the cover.

I didn't know anything about it. But I somehow built up an expectation of what the story would be. Well the story ended up being nothing like I thought it would be. It was darker then I thought and more magical. I don't know if this contrast in expectations clouded my judgement or liking of this book, probably. It's funny how we build up expectations on things we really don't know anything about.

Synopsis

Beth Weeks is a teen living on a farm in British Columbia during World War II. Beth is coming into her own and trying to figure out life. Her father is quite domineering and suffers from the shell shock of World War I. Her mother is also coping with being so far away from her family. When a young girl is found torn apart in the woods the townspeople suspect a bear. Others, including some of the nearby Native community suspect it is Coyote, who is notorious for his mischief.

This book looks at the challenges of farming, the challengs of war, the challenges of mental illness and the challenges of living in a small community, where neighbours and judgements abound.

My Thoughts

This was totally not the type of story I was expecting. For some reason I thought it would be a bit more light hearted, instead it was quite serious and dark. There is nothing wrong with serious and dark, it just threw me for a loop when I was expecting something different.

I liked how the author didn't shy away from the prejudices of the time. There was a character who I assume had Downs Syndrome. He was referred to as mongoloid and most of the towns people thought he should be sent to an asylum and be sterilized. While that is almost unthinkable now, it was thought of to be quite the normal thing to do back then.

I liked how the author sprinkled recipes throughout the book. Some of them seem quite yummy. I loved how the recipes even included how the woodstove needed to be set up. Baking today is so convenient. It doesn't involve too much planning. I take this convenience for granted. I forget how hard it would have been back then to keep the temperature consistent. All we have to do is push a few buttons.

I also liked the exploration of the idea of everyone needing a private place to figure things out. For the mother it was her scrapbook and talking with her dead mother. For Beth, it was her hiding spot. For me it is in the shower. I think I do most of my most awesome thinking under the nice warm stream of water.

The characters and town were vividly written and could be easily pictured. I just didn't care for them. The only character I really cared for was Filthy Billy. The rest seemed hard to figure out and ordinary. I guess that was the point, this was a book about ordinary people and how they all had some issue or other to deal with, but that didn't make me like them or feel sympathetic towards them. Frankly, with some of the things that happened to Beth, I'm surprised she didn't have even more issues.

All it all, the book was okay. I might have liked it more if I didn't have a preexisting idea. It took me a long time to get through. I almost gave up at one point because it wasn't holding my interest, but I kept going, and in the end I'm glad I did though I don't think this will be among my favourites.

Except If by Jim Averbeck

from goodreads

4 stars

We are in winter's home stretch. I can feel it. I am so sick of the revolving doors of sickness and the cold wind and feeling cooped up. I am so ready to get back into my morning walks, playing at the playground and going for bike rides.

Don't get me wrong. I love winter. I love all the winter activities you can do. The thing is, it kind of sucks when it is too cold do do those winter activities. I am also sick of trying to get Miss P. into her snow pants and then get me into my snow pants. I just want to put on my shoes and go. Oh well... it won't be too much longer.

Synopsis

There is an egg. It is a baby bird except if it is a dinosaur! This is a fun story about how our imaginations can change things up and how things are not always as it might seem.

My Thoughts

I really liked this book. The pictures were vibrant yet simple and the idea was really fun. Just when you think you know where the story is headed the words "except if" change it up. So fun!

I liked how the author came full circle so the book felt like it had some sort of completion to it. My kids liked all the possibilities that the egg had. They looked forward to seeing what was going to change next.

This is a great book to cuddle up and read together.

Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

from goodreads

5 stars

I picked out this book purely based on the covered bridge on its cover. I love covered bridges. I live about 20 minutes away from one, out in West Montrose. It is the last remaining historical covered bridge in Ontario, at least that is what wikepedia is telling me. Pretty cool. Even though I knew it was there, and saw pictures of it, and I have a friend who lives out there, I had not been on it until just a couple weeks ago. It is kind of embarrassing really. But there you go. It was quite fun when we finally drove over it. It was only one lane and it was dark, and the kids were like "why are we driving into a building?" Oh the memories.

Covered bridges just look so beautiful. They hearken back to when times were much simpler. I guess the word I'm looking for is nostalgic. Covered bridges are definitely nostalgic. Therefore, why wouldn't a book with a covered bridge on the cover pique my interest. They are a rare thing of beauty.

Synopsis

Truly Lovejoy's, yes that is a most unfortunate name, life has been flipped upside down. Her Father was injured in Afghanistan meaning what she thought was a permanent home in Texas is not. Instead the family is moving across the country to Pumpkin Falls to take over her grandparents book store.

While helping going through books, Truly finds an interesting letter in an original copy of Charlotte's Web.  With the help of her knew friends Truly sets out to decode clues and find out where this letter came from.

My Thoughts

This was a joy to read. I had so much fun.

I loved how the author dealt with real issues that happen in families. The Father is injured and trying to readjust to his new life out of the military. He and his family have to navigate that new reality together. The sibling dynamics were believable and relatable. The nicknames and the embarrassment when they are used in public, classic. The sacrifices that the whole family has to make sometimes were great to see. It was refreshing to see a family who struggles but does not call it quits, a family that was not all glamourous and happiness, but you could still feel their love and connection. It was so nice.

I loved the setting of Pumpkin Falls. I think I would like to live there forever. It seemed large enough that the stores on main street could stay open but small enough that it still felt quaint. The cast of characters, though not unique, held their own and seemed a right fit. The bookstore is my kind of heaven. I would love to curl up in one of the comfy chairs in the reading nooks and just escape for a day. Everything about it sounds awesome. 

Truly, despite her unfortunate name, is a lovely character. She is one I think most kids could find something relatable in. She is flawed, but she doesn't always let that get her down. She seems to make the best of most situations and she is a real kid doing real kid things.

I loved how the author talked about different books, and introduced different genres of books as well as how she referenced older movies (like from the '50s). High Noon and To Catch a Thief are among my favourite movies. This book will help broaden the readers horizons and look to the awesomeness of the past and how that can help them appreciate what is created now and help them create in the future. Some of the books referenced are definitely on my to read list now.

This is more than just a mystery book. It is a great and timely story. It is a story about a girl and her family dealing with change. It is about friendship and dealing with twerps. It is about learning to feel comfortable in your own skin. Despite the crazy names of the characters, trust me, Truly is just the beginning, this was a great book. I think kids 10 and up will enjoy it and I think parents will enjoy this as well.

Take the trip to Pumpkin Falls, you won't regret it. I am hoping to visit there again soon. Until then, I will have to make the recipe that can be found at the end of the book to tide me over.

Fix This Mess! by Tedd Arnold

from goodreads

4 stars

I'm not very good at keeping my house tidy. I would much rather read my book then put things away. I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels that way. But, I am beginning to understand the importance of putting things in their rightful place, especially when it comes to the kids lunch things and their clothes. Nothing is more frustrating then when the kids come out of their rooms freaking out that they can't find that particular shirt that they must have or else their outfit is ruined and life is over! (And the kid who does this the most is only 5! It gets easier and less dramatic... right?)

As I already struggle with my things and the things of the house at large I have passed off some of the responsibility onto them. Hopefully this will help them learn responsibility for their own stuff, allow them to blame me less, and help them not to have the same issue I have when they get older. So far it hasn't bit too bad. But Miss G., she does everything in her power to do as little of her chore as possible. It is amazing the excuses she comes up with for not putting away her clothes in a timely manner. She needs them sorted into piles, she can't open the drawers, no one is helping her, Miss V. isn't putting away her clothes (usually that is because Miss V. has already put away her clothes), and my personal favourite, she is a kid not a maid.

Hopefully as I get better my kids will get better too. I know things can't change over night, but that would be super awesome. Maybe I need to find a wishing star tonight to make that wish come true!

Synopsis

The Robug that Jake ordered finally arrived. When Jake tells him to fix this mess, Jake gets more than he bargained for.

My Thoughts

Oh, how this book spoke to me, on so many different levels. It spoke to my desire to cut tidying corners. It spoke to my frustration when my kids, instead of putting clothes away from the floor,  just pick up the pile and throw it all in the laundry whether it is dirty or not. It spoke to the importance of just getting on and dealing with the crap yourself. My goodness what a deep book.

Tedd Arnold is the master of keeping things simple yet telling a great tale. I love his illustrations. There are so many little things to see in them that bring a smile to your face. In this book I especially liked the cat.

I'm not sure who will enjoy this book more, the parents who are sagely nodding along with it or the kids because they know that what Robug is doing isn't really what Jake meant. So if you are dealing with kids who don't help with the mess, this book might just be for you and your family. The words are ridiculously simple but that helps with the message. I think this is one you will enjoy.

The Bat by Jo Nesbo

from goodreads

2.5 stars

It is always nerve wracking when you are reading the book club selection that you have picked. Especially if you haven't read the book before. It really is a crap shoot. Either people will love it or hate it. It is really nerve wracking if your first choice of the year totally tanked, and your second choice is up. No one wants to be labeled with being the worst book chooser of the year.

The Bat was my choice this month. This is a series I want to read and so I thought, let's start with the first one. I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have. Oh well. Hopefully my next book choice will be better received, especially by me.

That is what I like about book clubs. You often get to read a variety of books. Books that stretch you as a reader. In my book club, we vary in our reading comfort zones, yet we are willing to embrace others choices and are willing to give them a try. So I encourage you, whether you are in a book club or not, to break out of your reading comfort zone this month and read something you might not regularly do. Let me know how it goes.

Synopsis

When a Norwegian expat is found dead in Sydney, Norway sends Harry Hole to help look into the death. What he finds is more intrigue than what he bargained for.

My Thoughts

I probably should have started with a later book in the series. From what I have read, this wasn't the first book in the series translated into english. When it finally was translated there was some excitement of finally being able to read the first book in the Harry Hole series. Many people were disappointed. I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but I was expecting a bit more. Now that I know seasoned fans of this series also didn't like this book as much, I will probably continue on with the series.

What this book did do is set up the character of Harry Hole. We now know his weakness, alcohol. We know his past life a bit, his mother is dead and an ex-lover committed suicide. And we know that Harry was involved in a deadly cover up which helped him clean up and sober up. I think now that those bookkeeping items are out of the way the rest of the series will be able to unfold without to much trouble. Because of these bookkeeping items the book definitely wasn't as action packed as it could have been and sometimes when he was reminiscing it read a bit disjointedly.

I found the language to be a bit abrupt as well. I am not sure how much of that is due to the translation or how much is the actual author being more crisp and concise. It is definitely not a lyrical masterpiece. It often felt jarring. But then, that is the type of character Harry Hole seems to be, concise and to the point. He does not mince words.

For all that the book did keeping me guessing until the end. I had so many different theories going through my head that it was kind of neat. I felt bad about Birgitta and I found the actual ending to be a bit anti-climatic.

All in all, it was what it was. I neither loved it or hated it. I think I will stick it out with the series. I'm just not sure when I'll get to the next book. My to read pile on my night stand seems to be piling up!

You Wouldn't Want to Live in a Medieval Castle!: a home you'd rather not inhabit by Jacqueline Morley Illustrated by David Antram

from goodreads

4 stars

I know I seem to go on and on about the weather, but dang! It's cold. It's not so much the actual temperature. It is the wind chill that get's you. Just like in the summer. It is not so much the temperature, but the humidity. Oh well. Southern Ontario will probably be my home forever so I better stop the griping and just get on with it.

I think that is what we do. We always think the grass is greener somewhere else. If I only lived there, life could be perfect. But then, when you take a closer look at it, things might not be better at all. Example, Hawaii. It looks beautiful, the beaches look great, but, there are giant cockroaches. Eww. Sweden sounds cool, but I don't speak swedish. No place is perfect, so you make due with what you have.

It is the same with time periods. Some people would love to live in some era in the past. Meanwhile I am quite happy to be living here. Women have more rights, their are no rigid social conventions, we have antibiotics and know about the importance of sterilization and sanitation. It is quite nice. To quote Dorothy, there's no place like home.

Synopsis

Ever want to live in medieval times surrounded by knights and in castles. Well you might want to rethink that. This book takes a look at the Rochester Castle, just before and during a siege. It gives great detail to what life was like back then for the ordinary person. I'm glad I don't live there.

My Thoughts

This is one of a series of books that look at different places to live and different historical times. It seems like a great series.

This is a well researched and I would say fairly accurate representation of what life was like back then. Though the pages are full of details and information it does not feel overwhelming. The layout of the page allows you to read as little or as much as you want about castle life.

I liked how the author wrote from the perspective of a young girl. You are better able to grasp what everyday life was like. It was also cool how she based all the information around a real life event. It gave the book just that much more historical context.

This would be a great book/series to look at if your older child has to do a research project. This book would give them enough information to be a launching pad to other books and facts to look up. It is great for background information. This book would be great for ages 8 and up.