Curious George Complete Adventures: Why Audiobooks are so great

Title: The Complete Adventures of Curious George with audio CD

Authors and Illustrators: Margret and H.A. Rey
Age Range: ages 4-9
Genre: Fiction, audio book

Over the weekend, my kids and I spent some time at our good friend's house.  While there, there was one point where the three older kids disappeared and became completely invisible for a very long stretch of time - almost two hours.  I became extremely suspicious, because quiet kids usually mean trouble so I tiptoed my way to the room where I thought they might be.  There, crowded around a book were two four year olds and a six year old, completely engrossed in a book and listening to a story.  At one point they looked up and realized that I could change the CD for them so they clamored for more.  I looked at them quizzically and said, "Umm...don't you guys want to do something ELSE?" to which they replied, "MORE BOOKS!  MORE BOOKS!  MORE BOOKS!"  I turned on the CD and bolted out the door as fast as my legs could go so that I too, could perhaps rest and read.  (It didn't happen as there are two younger children who love to bother their mommies.) 

Audio CD's are a wonderful way to encourage your child to read.  There has been research to support that kids who have fluency issues with reading benefit highly from following along in a book as it is read aloud to them.  This particular set offers a "with page turn signals" and "without page turn signals" and is extremely well-read by wonderful actors.  It also adds some fun and jazzy music, and elevates the reading experience to something a bit more rich than a harried mother or father trying to stay awake as she or he reads aloud to her children.  The selection of audio cds is slowly dwindling as most people use other websites like amazon.com to buy audible books. However your local public library should have a selection, (which I love getting because sometimes I don't want to read aloud to my kids) This particular Curious George Collection, I think is totally worth the money.

The Mysterious Benedict Society: Everyone's secret desire to be extraordinary at something

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society
Author:  Trenton Lee Stewart
Age Range: 9-14
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Adventure

This is one of the newer young adult fiction novels out there, meaning that it wasn't around when I was growing up.  The number of books that has been recently published for the young adult market is mind boggling, but not all of it is excellent or even all that good.  However, I really connected to this book as an adult, I think because I connected to the idea of people wanting to be special, or set apart.  I know growing up, I always wanted to have something that made me outstanding in contrast to others and I spent sometime trying to figure out what it was.  This book explores some of those emotions and makes you feel and sympathize with the characters and their struggles.

The book starts out with Reynie, faced with the opportunity to take a special exam for gifted children.  The exam is a puzzle, which he figures out and he ends up passing it.  There are a number of small interesting little "tests" designed by the test giver that also further help figure out which kids truly are gifted and have what it takes.  In the end there are four such people - Reynie, who is incredibly good at puzzles; Sticky, who has a brain like glue and everything sticks to it (he remembers everything); Kate, who has a bucket in which she carries handy little tools and also has an incredible ability to measure distances with her eyes; and finally Constance, who no one is sure why she is gifted, except that she is incredibly contrary. (Her true gift is revealed at the end of the book and it is both amusing and endearing.)

The four are selected by the somewhat eccentric and mysterious Mr. Benedict.  He needs children to help him infiltrate an evil plot being hatched by someone who wishes to brain wash the world.  Although Mr. Benedict has figured out some of the problem, he is unable to stop the evilness without the help of children.  He gives them ample opportunity to turn down the mission, as it is one that is dangerous, but all four kids take it upon themselves to do the job.  One funny note about Mr. Benedict; he is a narcoleptic, falling asleep at sudden moments, usually triggered by a powerful emotion, like sadness, happiness or humor.

The book is filled with little puzzles along the way, allowing the reader to participate in what is going on.  It is also an incredibly story of building friendship and loyalty and sacrifice.  It is one where you cheer on the four kids as they embark on their mission, because they rely on their wits and their knowledge, they are successful.  It is a fun read and one that makes you smile at the end.

Some things to be aware of - the children in the book are all orphans or abandoned in some way shape or form.  If you want a story about an intact family, you will not find it here.  Also, the "bad guy", Mr. Curtain, is evil enough that he makes your skin crawl.  Trenton Lee Stewart does a good job of making him seem very creepy and not normal.   There is the use of stun guns here, and there is also some hints at mental torture.



The next in the series, which I have not yet read


#3 in the series, which I also have not read (but will!)

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup: Reading can make you hungry

Title: Granny Torrelli Makes Soup
Author: Sharon Creech
Age Range: 9-12
Genre: Fiction, Stream of consciousness style

Okay, so maybe this book appeals to me because almost the entire book takes place in the kitchen.  Granny Torrelli and her granddaughter Rose spend time together cooking.  I like to cook and spend time with friends so this would appeal to me for that reason.  But the book has much more than meets the eye.  The print is surprisingly large and the book is divided into very short chapters.  Initial examination would lead one to think that this is a simple, babyish book.  But that is not what is there.

The book explores several relationships.  The first relationship is between granddaughter Rose and her Granny Torrelli.  This relationship is clearly one of love, affection and respect and it is a wonderful one to watch unfold.  Granny Torrelli is very aware of Rose's needs and her heart's desires and helps Rose to grapple with tough emotional situations by sharing experiences from her own life growing up.  She speaks with a charming Italian accent, which Sharon Creech does a marvelous job incorporating into the book.  The second relationship is the relationship between Rose and her best friend Bailey, who happens to be blind.  The two have been friends forever, since babies, and are fast friends even though they go to separate schools.  For Rose, there is no one else but Bailey, so when someone new comes to the neighborhood, her "tiger self" (as she calls it) comes out and she is jealous.  She has to fight the feelings of jealousy and understand what it means to have friendships.

The final relationship is Rose's understanding of herself.  One of the wonderful things that Sharon Creech does in the book show Rose's own inner conflict and tensions with her own character and desires.  I think it is wonderful to show that people are often conflicted and that choices are not always easy.  Rose's emotions are readily open for all to see, and not all the emotions are the simple ones.  She experiences jealousy, disappointment, pain, rejection and the reader can see how Rose feels as she goes through these situations. 

I love this book.  The reading is not difficult (unless someone has a problem figuring out what all the Italian means, but Creech does a great job with this), but the stream of consciousness style may be a bit difficult for some readers to follow.  This would be a wonderful bedtime read aloud book with your child as you could talk about what Rose is going through and use it as a jumping point for some honest discussion.

The Secret School: Historical fiction that is so charming

Title: The Secret School

Author: Avi

Age Range: 8-12

Genre: Historical Fiction

I might be a pushover about this book because it is about schools, teaching, and the desire for education.  I am, after all a former teacher.  It probably does resonate with me on that level which may color why I am so keen on this book.  But it is really charming, funny to read and heart-warming.  

The story follows a 14-year girl named Ida, who is the daughter of sheep farmers in rural Colorado.  Going to school is a luxury, and going to high school is far-off dream, but one that Ida intends to pursue.  Her parents, although they want to support her, remind her that the farm must come first, as it is the farm that supports the family and puts food in their mouths.  Ida understands that she must commit to the farm, but at the same time wants to pursue education and go to high school.   She attends school in a tiny one-room school house, and is preparing for her high school entrance exams when she learns devastating news.  Her teacher has to leave to take care of her mother and the head of the school board has decided not to hire a new teacher.

Ida is extremely affected by the news, as it means that she will not be able to take her high school entrance exam.  Also affected is her friend Tom who is also planning on taking the exam.  He suggests to her that she become the teacher, teaching the class so that the school can stay open, but without telling the Board of Education that she is doing it.  Ida discusses this idea with her parents and upon hearing the plan, gently remind Ida that the farm must come first, school or no school.  Ida decides to take on the challenge and she begins the challenge of teaching the different classes, studying for her own high school entrance exam and keeping on top of her chores on the farm.

The funniest part of the book to me was how Ida gets to school each day.  As it is a five mile trip, walking would be arduous.  Fortunately she has a car (no license but it doesn't seem to make a difference) but she is unable to reach the clutch and the accelerator.  She has her brother stoop by the foot pedals and she barks out orders so that he can help her change gears.  It is hysterical and made me laugh.  (Maybe because I don't drive stick either?)

It's a wonderful book to read, for both boys and girls alike.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: A book I missed in my childhood

Title: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Author: E.L. Konigsburg
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction

I thought I'd review this book even though it is an older classic, simply because I didn't read it as a child.  Somehow with all the extensive reading, reading under the covers with a flashlight, reading on the sofa for hours, I missed this book as a child.  It surprises me even now that somehow I didn't read this book.  I remember seeing it, and being a bit scared of it for some reason, not for any good reason, but just because I was a chicken.   I missed out.

It wasn't until about 3 years ago that one of my students wanted to read it, so I had to read it with her.  I finished the book really quickly, as it wasn't a hard read for me, but I remember being completely excited and drawn into the book, even as an adult.  In the book, a young girl, Claudia Kincaid, decides that living at home is too much of a cross to bear and decides to run away.  The only problem is that she has spent too much of her allowance and doesn't have enough of her own so she is forced to take along with her, someone who does have some disposable income, her younger brother Jamie.

She carefully plans their runaway, down to where they will run away to...the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.  They live there, hide there, sleep in there and roam the museum after it has closed.  While in the museum the fall upon a mystery, trying to figure out if a statue is actually real or a hoax.  In the investigation of this mystery they learn about themselves and meet some key people along the way.

The only minor parent warning that I have is that the Claudia runs away without even looking back.  She doesn't consider her parents' feelings and just leaves without worrying about what they will do.  It's a rather selfish gesture and one that shows that she isn't very considerate.  Some parents may find this a bit hard to swallow, but it's rather a minor detail in the book. More of the book is surrounding all the amazing things they see and learn about while at the museum.  They do take a bath in one of the museum fountains, so you may have to teach your child not to do THAT after they've read the book.

My Side of the Mountain: A book from my childhood

Title: My Side of the Mountain
Author: Jean Craighead George
Age Range: 9-12
Genre:  Fiction, Adventure

I read this book when I was a child.  Actually, I read it because my younger brother was reading it, and I figured since he said it was good, I should read it as well.  And I loved it.  I still re-read it when I'm at my parents' house as the story is one that is full of interesting ideas as well as a great story.  It is the story of a young boy named Sam, who is tired of his urban life, so decides to go and live in the Catskills Mountains, using his wits, his knowledge, and his guts to survive.  He lives in this fabulous tree and creates a life for himself in the woods.  It is fun and exciting to see what he can do with the resources he has.

It is a great book for boys and girls alike, but it is a book that is unlike modern young adult literature, in that it is not filled with a lot of dialogue, a lot of action, or a lot of drama.  It is really the thoughts and the plans of a young man who decides to live in a tree. I read it as a young person and just imagined what it would be like to live somewhere without parents and on my own, and it quickly made me think that I'd rather be at home with my family. It is slower paced compared to many of the books that I find kids reading now, but I think it is a wonderful book that should be read, even if the child may think it is boring. 

The only possible "worry" spot in this book is the idea of just leaving home and going out on your own.  Sam does it with his parents' blessing and his father even visits him at one point.  I'm pretty sure that most kids wouldn't read that and immediately think about how to do it and execute on that, but perhaps it would allow them to stretch their imagination and think of a life without the modern conveniences to which they have grown so accustomed.

There is a trilogy, but I've not read the other two yet.



Second in the series


Final, told from the perspective of a bird