Walk Two Moons - Book Review

by Carma Dutra

Walk Two Moons is the tale of thirteen year old Salamanca (Sal) Tree Hiddle and her trek from Euclid, Ohio to Lewiston, Idaho with her zany grandparents. Through humor, wit and poignancy Walk Two Moons addresses dying, loving and grieving. I loved this story. The plot twists, satire and charming characters come alive on every page. Another great facet about Walk Two Moons is how the main character, narrates a parallel story of grief and love while she sorts out her own heartaches.

Sal's mother leaves home without warning and Sal experiences a feeling of abandonment even with all the post cards her mother sends to her. When Sal's father announces her mother will not be coming home, Sal is devastated. Still, she and her father move to Euclid, Ohio against Sal's desire.

Sal's grandparents, Grams and Gramps Hiddle are determined to help Sal get to Lewiston, Idaho before her mother's birthday. However instead of following a direct route they follow the scenic tour bus route.

In order to pass the time and keep her mind off of her Gramps crazy driving, Sal narrates the story of her friend Phoebe's mother who also left home. Phoebe is adamant her mother did not leave home on her own accord rather Phoebe believes her mother has been kidnapped by a lunatic who delivers notes with strange messages like "Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."

Additionally, Walk Two Moons provides a glimpse of how families can react differently to similar circumstances and still hold on to a solid foundation of love and warmth. As you begin to learn about Sal's grandparents and the deep love they share you also learn about Sal's friend Mary Lou and her family who are openly rambunctious and affectionate with each other in comparison to Phoebe's family who are uncomfortable with outward signs of affection.

Author Sharon Creech's talent to write two storylines simultaneously is the essence of Walk Two Moons. There are so many things to admire about this book that a mere few lines of plot description will not do it justice. However, just when you think you know where the plot is headed, Creech drops a few surprises on you and a curve ball is thrown right between the pages. Walk Two Moons speaks on a level that all middle grade students can relate too. The plot unfolds nicely and yet the end is still a surprise. Don't be surprised if a small tear trickles down your cheek too.

Learn more about children's writing tips and award winning book reviews by visiting Carma's Window at http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com. Download the free EBook, "Unite to Write," a compilation of thirteen top expert authors as read on Ezine article directory and "Free Tips on Freelance Writing."

Christmas Books For Children - Some Favorite Picks

by Karen Gallagher

A wonderful way to share the Christmas spirit with a child is to read special Christmas books together. You may even start a tradition of giving your children new Christmas books every year in advance of the holiday, so that you can enjoy these books in the days or weeks before the celebration.

There are many terrific Christmas books for children, and new titles are published every year. It can be overwhelming to try and find the really good ones, so here is a list of ten recommended Christmas books to get you started:

(1) Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree: Told in perfectly rhyming verse, this is a charming story about a wealthy man whose Christmas tree was a tad too tall for his soaring ceiling. And so begins the journey of the treetop as it spreads Christmas joy down the line.

(2) The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy: A lonely puppy named Petey is in search of a boy to take care of him. Just when he was about to give up, Petey finds the perfect home and an abundance of love just in time for Christmas.

(3) A Wish to be a Christmas Tree: After years of being passed over, a large pine tree comes to the sad realization that he will never be a Christmas tree. His forest friends show him that he plays an even more important role all year long by providing shelter and protection. In the end, they thank the pine by turning him into a beautiful Christmas tree with berries, icicles and other decorations of nature.

(4) Olive, the Other Reindeer: In a silly, lighthearted story, a dog named Olive misunderstands the lyrics to the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." When he hears the line "All of the other reindeer...," Olive comes to the false realization that he is a reindeer, not a dog. So off he goes to help Santa deliver presents, and despite his inability to fly, Olive's canine talents come in handy.

(5) Snowmen at Christmas: Snowmen come to life at night after the children are asleep and engage in their own Christmas activities, like visiting with Santa and Christmas caroling. The illustrations are so magical that readers yearn to jump in and join the snowmen in their frolicking.

(6) Bear Stays Up For Christmas: Bear's friends wake him from hibernation so that he can participate in the Christmas festivities. Long after everyone else has fallen asleep, Bear continues baking, wrapping, and decorating. And along the way, he learns that giving is the best present of all.

(7) Santa's Reindeer: For inquiring minds, this wonderfully illustrated book explains everything a child would want to know about reindeer. Every question is answered, such as how they land so quietly in the roof and what they do the rest of the year. This beautiful book is a keeper for the coffee table at Christmastime.

(8) Auntie Claus: Sophie is very curious about her Auntie Claus who serves Christmas cookies throughout the year and takes mysterious annual trips right before Christmas. So she decides once and for all to figure out what is going on, and finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime.

(9) Olivia Helps With Christmas: The beloved Olivia is so busy watching everyone else prepare for Christmas. She is especially tied up waiting for Santa so that she can open her presents. In a richly illustrated Christmas book, Olivia is true to her endearing and comical form.

(10) The Mouse Before Christmas: In this luminously illustrated Christmas book, an excited little mouse gathers cookies for Santa and sits up to wait for his arrival. When the jolly man arrives, mouse peaks into his sack of toys, accidentally falls in, and takes a wild ride on Santa's sleigh.

Start growing a collection of beautiful, humorous, and touching Christmas books that you can enjoy with your children for years to come. The time you spend together enjoying these special stories will be an invaluable part of this special holiday season.

Karen Gallagher has a BA from Bucknell University and an MBA from Rider University. She is the founder and owner of The Lollipop Book Club, a company specializing in the gift of high quality books for children.

http://www.lollipopbookclub.com

Review: Window Boy by Andrea White

by Neha Kashmiri

Bright Sky Press (2008)
ISBN 9781933979144

To me, "Window Boy" was a sad, but strangely uplifting, novel in hectic times. Sam Davis is a twelve-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. His father has abandoned him; his mother is too absorbed with her new boyfriend to notice Sam most of the time. In all this, his three beams of light are his prim, if talkative nurse, Miss Perkins, the imaginary voice of Winston "Winnie" Churchill, and the basketball court almost in his backyard.

Sam gets the chance to go to school with the other children. At first it is a disaster but Winnie tells Sam to keep a stiff upper lip. Soon, as his teacher starts to understand him, Sam writes an essay on his hero, Winston Churchill, for a contest. On his twentieth and last day of school, he gets out the words to tell the captain of the basketball team to appoint Micky Kostov, a Russian boy no one likes, as point guard. Then he is taken to an institution by his mother who is leaving to Europe to marry her boyfriend.

Sam starts to slowly fade away when the news reporter comes to take his picture and write an article about him. The essay he had written long ago had won him the contest and $1,000. Finally, his mother, betrayed and deceived by the man she was about to marry, comes back and saves him. Later Sam goes on to become a basketball coach to the team he helped become tournament champs.

No words I could say or write could convey the impact of the book on me. As a librarian's assistant, I had read to special-need children and this book made me feel incredible guilt and anger at myself for the revulsion I felt at the sight of some of them. "Window Boy" by Andrea White is meant for kids and teenagers, but I think adults could benefit just as greatly from it. I give a high, high recommendation to someone looking for a break from action/horror/fantasy.

http://www.readerviews.com/

Books For Boys - Appealing Stories For Active Little Guys

by Karen Gallagher

Experts suggest that children should read at least 10 minutes a day, though striving for a solid 20 minutes is even better. Reading is the single most important cornerstone for learning, so establishing good habits early on will set your child up for success in school and in life.

But it can be challenging sometimes to get little boys to sit still long enough for a single book. They seem to have a limitless supply of energy that works against them during story time. For this reason, it is important to seek out books for boys that are appealing, entertaining, and interesting. When you do find the right books, you will be pleasantly surprised at how engaged they become and how quickly reading time passes.

Here are some book categories to consider when looking for good books for boys:

• Books about Superheroes: Many little boys love superheroes and the awesome powers they possess. They watch movies, collect action figures, and demonstrate their own superhero abilities when playing. Some books for boys about superheroes include: Dex: The Heart of a Hero, Superhero ABC and Traction Man is Here.


• Books about Sports: All of the excitement and action that takes place in the field, court, or rink can be captured in great books about sports. And the lessons learned through these stories are invaluable. A few suggested books for boys about sports include: The Magic Hockey Stick, Roasted Peanuts, and Game Day.


• Books about Pirates: Young boys are drawn to the mystery and intrigue of pirates. The lifestyle of a pirate is fascinating and dangerous, appealing to the active minds of little boys. A few good books for boys about pirates include: How I Became a Pirate, Do Pirates Take Baths?, and The Night Pirates.


• Books about Adventure: A little boy's imagination can take him to far away places without ever leaving his bedroom. Good books for boys about imaginary adventures will have him begging to read more. Some suggested titles include: Jimmy Zangwow's Out-of-this-World Moon-Pie Adventure, Zathura, and The Secret Shortcut.

By surrounding boys with books they enjoy, reading will become a fun activity that they choose to do voluntarily. This love for reading should be cultivated at an early age by choosing books for boys that are entertaining and appealing. In doing so, you will cultivate a love for reading, the fundamental building block for learning and growth.

Karen Gallagher has a BA from Bucknell University and an MBA from Rider University. She is the founder and owner of The Lollipop Book Club, a company specializing in the gift of high quality books for children.

http://www.lollipopbookclub.com

A Wrinkle in Time Book Review

by Tonia Jordan

I recently read A Wrinkle in Time for the second time in my life. Meg Murray's father is a scientist, and he's missing. Along with the help of her brother (Charles), a school friend (Calvin) and some other-worldly friends (including Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatsit), they're seeking to find and retrieve the missing scientist.

The three children must travel through time and space and confront many opposing forces, including one another.

Children will love this book, especially those with interests in science fiction. I read this book when I was young, and to this day I can remember exactly where it sat on the library's shelves. I re-read it as an adult, and I can still feel its magic!

I like the very basic introductions to physics ideas in this book. Time travel is just one of the ideas touched upon here, and it's explained in a way that children can begin to understand some of the larger forces in the universe. A Wrinkle in Time presents an interesting story with complex vocabulary and ideas in such a way as to introduce them to children.

Meg Murray is an outcast with a strong will, a child who feels like she doesn't belong. She does have a very supportive family that encourages curiosity and intelligence and one that sticks together no matter what. A Wrinkle in Time can be a great book for any child (especially a girl) who feels like they aren't quite "normal" or the perfect fit for mainstream society.

A Wrinkle in Time is just the first book in this interesting universe. The saga continues with A Wind in the Door, then A Swiftly Tilting Planet and finally Many Waters (which follows the adventures of Meg's younger twin brothers). It's obvious that the first novel in the series was a successful one. It's a classic amongst children's literature and is re-read by many adults who wish to recapture the magic of their childhood reading.

When I read A Wrinkle in Time as a child, I remember feeling its magic, thinking the book was fantastic. Reading it again as an adult, the book seemed very simple. I found the story to be lacking just a little, but I still enjoyed it. If you're reading this for the first time as an adult, remember that it is a book intended for a younger audience. If you can stay in touch with that magical feeling of being a child, you'll see the magic of this book.

Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/spidergirl so stop by and read for a while.