National Hairballball Awareness Day

Well folks, it's that time of year again!  Break out the tuna flavored hairball medicine you have to glop onto your cats paw because it's National Hairball Awareness Day!  Now I hardly think that hairballs need an "Awareness Day".  I mean, yes hairballs can be a serious issue if you are a cat owner, but I'm pretty sure if your cat has hairball problems, you are plenty aware of the situation; no alotted day is necessary.  Anywho...in honor of this um...holiday? The Book Buff is featuring some famous fictional felines, starting with...

The Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

"`But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'
`How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
`You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
Alice didn't think that proved it at all; however, she went on `And how do you know that you're mad?'
`To begin with,' said the Cat, `a dog's not mad. You grant that?'
`I suppose so,' said Alice.
`Well, then,' the Cat went on, `you see, a dog growls when it's angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased. Now I growl when I'm pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry. Therefore I'm mad.'"

Crookshanks from The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

We all hated him.  His bad attitude and his ugly face made for a pretty unlikable combination.  But then we got to know the ugly little devil, and when his half kneazle side helped us learn the identity of the true traitor, we all hated that squash faced animal a little less.  

The Cat in the Hat from The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Honestly, I was never a big fan of this guy, he just seemed like a big ol' troublemaker to me.  I do love Dr Seuss though, I mean, who doesn't, right?  Hop on Pop was my own personal favorite of Seuss, that is until I actually jumped on my poor unsuspecting father as he innocently lay on the ground.  He banned that book for a while, and I can't say as I blame him :)

 

The cats of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Elliot

I think the awesome names of the cats alone are enough to make this book worth mentioning.  You've got Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer, Old Deuteronomy, Mr. Mistoffelees, Macavity, and Skimbleshanks. 

Did I miss your favorite literary feline?  Hit the comments to inform me of my egregious error!

100 Greatest Children's Books

Do you have Junior Book Buffs at home?  Trying to raise a good solid reader?  Me too, and I stumbled upon an awesome list to arm you with some great material to get your child reading.  The folks over at Scholastic have put together a great list of what they believe to be the 100 Greatest Books for Children.  It's a really cool page, you can also search the list by age to effectively find exactly what you are looking for.  Some of my childhood favorites made the list:

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Who doesn't love a good story about a suicidal tree?

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

 My intro to dystopian literature, and I never looked back! (Check out my Giver post here)

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Still a favorite I enjoy re-reading to this day.  The White Witch still freaks the crap out of me!  How about you?

See if your favorite made the list: http://www.scholastic.com/100books/

Don't see your favorite book on the list?  Maybe it made the "15 Books that Almost Made the List" list.  Here are some of my favorites from that list:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I understand why this one didn't make it.  Yes, I believe it to be one of the absolute greatest and most important books of all time, but it isn't a kid's book.  In fact I find it a bit odd that it was even considered for the list.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

As a kid I always felt Roald Dahl was a kindred spirit, good-natured and happy, but still a tad twisted :)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

See commentary on To Kill a Mockingbird, p.s. who is getting pumped for the new movie!?! *raises hand enthusiastically*

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

One word describes my opinion on the fact that this book was left off of the list: travesty.

For the rest of the list, click here: http://www.scholastic.com/resources/collection/15-books-that-almost-made-it

You can also see the Reader's Wish List on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150722011392952.457697.41884262951&type=1

And lastly, here is the list, with covers, on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150519316007952.428537.41884262951&type=3

What did you think of the list?  Hit the comments!

Better Book Titles: Round 2

A few months back, I did a post on an awesomely irreverent blog called Better Book Titles.  Basically the blog takes reader submissions on names that they feel suit the book better than the original.  It is hilarious!  As I stated in my Better Book Titles: Round 1, the original blog is not family friendly, strong language and sexually charged titles are not uncommon, but don't worry, my favorites that I've selected for Round 2 here on The Book Buff are family friendly :)  Read on intrepid Book Buffs!

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

I'd be willing to bet that anyone who read this book in high-school still takes a second thought when eating prepackaged food.  I find myself completely unable to even think about what is in that ubiquitous cereal dust at the the bottom of every cereal bag.

The Princess and the Pea

I have to say, I've never really cared for this story.  Even as a little kid I often wondered why the prince would want such a whiner for a wife.  I'm sorry, but speaking as a person who has born children, I cannot understand why a man would choose a woman who can't even sleep due to a pea, as the mother of his children.  Just sayin...

Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce

Yup.  That about sums up my experience with the book.  Has anyone reading this ever finished the book?  I'm dying to know a.) how you managed to muddle through and b.) what did you think of it?

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This one basically made me spray my drink all over the place.  Having a reference to the uber secret "terrible awful" thing mentioned only in whispers throughout the entire book right there on the cover was priceless.  Hilarious!

Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

I'm not poking fun at the belief, just at that prophet that keeps making all of the doomsday predictions, and that people keep believing him.  I understand the first time, but fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...well, you know :)

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

I have a funny story to tell you guys about a certain guy I'm married to having a certain club where they did stupid guy stuff back in high-school, but of course, I can't tell you said story, because it would be breaking rule #1. Y'all know what I'm sayin' *wink*wink*elbow*elbow*

 The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Great book, but as pointed out here, a misleading title indeed.

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Best.  Books.  Ever.  (tied with Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Pride and Prejudice, and Hunger Games but shhhhhhhh!  don't tell my favorites that they share the #1 spot, I don't want them to think I'm cheating on them!)

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Sadly, the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer was better than the Demi Moore's version of The Scarlett Letter.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

And still, with all the musical numbers and dancing gangs, I still found West Side Story to be twice as sad.

Kylie Jean Drama Queen

Written by Marci Peschke and Illustrated by Tuesday Mourning

Kylie Jean's class is performing Alice in Wonderland! Kylie Jean knows she'd be just perfect as the Queen of Hearts. But mean girl Paula wants the part too . . . .

 

My Take:

Well, my favorite little pink lovin', hard workin', beauty queen aspirin' girl is back in Kylie Jean, Drama Queen.  Her last adventure was Kylie Jean, Rodeo Queen, where she learned the value of hard work and perseverance.  Her mama always tells her pretty is as pretty does, and this time around she's learned that lesson through learning to be nice to the new, mean girl in class.  I really love these Kylie Jean books, she's such a good example to little girls, she always works hard at her goals, and she always tries to be nice.  She doesn't always accomplish that last goal, but watching her learn and grow is the fun of the books.  Aside from learning to be nice to someone she doesn't like, she also learns how to handle the disappointment of not getting the part she wanted in the school play.  I've been there, and while as an adult it doesn't seem like a big deal, as a kid, it is devastating.  But Kylie Jean puts on a smile, and keeps on truckin'.  Of course, the ending of the book turns out picture perfect, but its a book for little girls, so it works just fine.  This is a series that I truly love and would recommend to just about any little girl.  I would say however, that the books might not appeal quite so much to the tomboy set, but Kylie Jean is so endearing, I think even they won't mind the pink overload in this book :) I whole heartedly rate this book, 1, Pay Full Price.

Tell me what you think!  Do you enjoy the Kylie Jean books?  Do they seem like something your little girl would enjoy?  I love the cover of this book, what do you think of it?  Hit the comments!

If Kylie Jean, Drama Queen was a movie, it would be rated G, appropriate for all audiences.

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Kylie Jean, Drama Queen, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Kylie Jean Rodeo Queen

Written by Marci Peschke and Illustrated by Tuesday Mourning

My name is Kylie Jean Carter.  Here are some things you need to know about me: I live in Texas.  My color is pink.  I have two brothers, but one of them is a dog.  And my number-one dream is to be a beauty queen!

The rodeo is coming to town!  I want to be Rodeo Queen just like Nanny was when she was a girl.  But if I want to be Rodeo Queen, I have to be in the rodeo.  Rope tricks, bull-riding, barrel-racing...I'll try everything to win that crown!  It would look just perfect on top of my pink cowboy hat--just you wait and see!

My Take:

I cannot tell you just how much I loved this little book!  Well actually, maybe this can give you a clue:  I am very cheap/broke (aren't we all right now?) and after reading the digital copy from NetGalley I am going to head straight out to the book store today to get the print edition of this book and the rest of the series (reviews to come later) to give to my little nieces for birthdays and Christmas.  I'll probably get a set for my daughter too, even though she is too young for the series :)  The writing is completely engaging, Kylie Jean's Texas twang practically jumps out of the pages and is adorable.  The character of Kylie Jean is definitely a kid you want your kids reading about.  She is a pretty little girl who listens to her mom's advice of "pretty is as pretty does."  She works hard to achieve her goals, and is happy and positive.  While her perfection might be a bit grating to a cynical adult, a child will love her.  Aside from the great story, there are fantastic illustrations and great features at the end of the book.  There are discussion starters to get you and your daughter talking, there are creative project prompts, a rodeo term glossary and recipes.  Kylie Jean is 8 years old, which seems to be about the right age of the audience.  It is a good introduction to chapter books and a good challenge for young readers.  Now I will say that Kylie Jean is a big girly girl, and little girls that tend to lean away from princess and pink will likely still enjoy this book, because it has horses and such, but perhaps not as much others who really embrace that which is ultra girly.  1, Pay Full Price

Tell me your opinion!  What do you think of my review?  What are your first impressions based on the cover and description?  Does this seem like a book your little girl would enjoy?  Hit the comments! 

If Kylie Jean Rodeo Queen was a movie it would be rated G, appropriate for all audiences

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Kylie Jean Rodeo Queen, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Petunia Pepper's Picture Day

By Cathy Breisacher and Christian Elden

Poor Petunia Pepper! Every year disaster strikes her on school picture day. Puffy hair, pumpkin-style smiles and pink eye help create pictures that only her family could love. But this year, Petunia promises herself things are going to change. She plans carefully for the perfect picture day. Unfortunately, she misses the school bus and begins a series of misadventures that lead to yet another picture day fiasco. In the end, Petunia spots her picture on the front page of the local paper, featuring her heroic rescue of a runaway poodle. Now that's a picture everybody in her class will love!

My Take:

I really enjoy well done children's books.  Some people think you can just slap a couple rhymes together, add in a few colorful illustrations and bam! done.  Well, tis not so.  A book needs to have substance, as a children's book it is simple substance but substance just the same (phew!  Don't know if I've ever used the word "substance" so many times in one sentence.  Here's one more for good measure: substance)  The book should be relatable, (Petunia Pepper just can't seem to get a good school picture taken, is any kid ever happy with their school picture?  For that matter is any adult happy with their driver's license picture?  So,  relatable? check.) humorous, (the main character's name is Petunia Pepper.  Humorous? check.) easy on the eyes (look at the cover. check.) and finally have something of a message (learn to be happy with yourself and your appearance.  Message?  check.)  Petunia Pepper's Picture Day was a sweet little book that really put a smile on my face, and my daughter's as well.  She enjoyed it even though she is only 3, and my nieces enjoyed it (ages 5 and 8)  If it passes the kid test, it's good enough for me!  1, Pay Full Price

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Petunia Pepper's Picture Day was a movie it would be rated G

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Petunia Pepper's Picture Day, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

I, Emma Freke

Elizabeth Atkinson

"I, Emma Freke, am not a freak.  Or maybe I am.  I just don't know."

There are five thing Emma Freke does know.

1. Her mother didn't bother to say her name out loud before she signed the birth certificate.

2. That might not be such a big problem if she weren't almost 6 feet tall at age 12,

3. And if her mother would take a break from being a New Age weirdo and give her a straight answer about who her father is,

4. And if she didn't find it impossible to talk to someone her own age.

5. There has to be a place somewhere where she fits in...doesn't there?

When a mysterious letter comes inviting Emma to The Freke Family Reunion, to be held at a campground in the wilds of Wisconsin, Emma thinks she may just find out why she is the way she is.  But once she meets her fellow Frekes, things aren't at all what she expected.  Maybe it's better to be her own freak than someone else's Freke.

My Take:

This book is absolutely wonderful!  There were so many things I enjoyed about this book, so I'll get started with my favorite: Emma.  Feeling completely out of place in the world and not fitting in with anyone in her life, including herself, she feels lost and frustrated.  Being abruptly thrust from her New Age free spirit mom's guidance into her Stepford-esque family reunion allows her to carve her own existence in between the two.  She is a very strong girl who doesn't realize how brave she is until she has someone to stand up for, because she never stood up for herself.  After asserting herself, she learns to become comfortable in her own skin, which isn't an easy feat for a 6 foot tall 12 year old girl.  This is a great book for any girl who feels like she is too adult to relate to the kids her age, but not quite adult enough to relate to grownups (that was me!) The plot moves well, and is predicable, but the book isn't so much about the events but about Emma's character evolution.  I, Emma Freke is really a timeless book for anyone to enjoy who was ever less than confident during the preteen and teen years.  Aside from the great characters in this book, I loved the writing.  It was funny, simple, subtle, quirky and fully engaging.  It's all told from Emma's point of view, and the author does a great job of sucking the reader right in and feeling what Emma is feeling.  I can't wait to read more from this author!  This book was easy to rate: 1Pay Full Price.  Everyone can relate to this book, because we all have a bit of a Freke in us.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If I, Emma Freke was a movie, it would be rated PG

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing I, Emma Freke, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules

Lauren Brown

From head of the pack to lone, lone wolf!

Roxy Davis is in the dog house.  Big time.  After kissing her BFF's crush over summer break, Roxy finds herself banished to the company of Monroe Middle School misfits Georgia and Kim.  And when things can't get any worse, the town dog walkers go on strike.  Dogs are running wild, giving Roxy the bright idea to recruit her fellow outcasts to start their very own dog walking business.

Roxy soon learns that pampering pooches will not only earn her points for cleaning up the neighborhood, but will also teach her a thing or two about friendship.

My Take:

I really enjoyed this syrupy sweet little book.  The plot focused on the classic "popular girl falls from grace and discovers true friendship with underdogs" storyline that is so common in books of this genre.  But plot isn't everything, the writing is much more important, and this book is very well written.  It is obvious that the author of this book is very in the know on what technology kids are embracing, namely Twitter and Facebook.  The author is also very in tune with tween girls and I felt that the book was quite authentic in the dialogue.  She didn't go overboard with the teenspeak, which is good, because when an author does that, they don't make their book sound younger but instead end up aging themselves.  There were lots of cute things about the book, but my favorite parts were the "Doggy Confessionals" which were featured at the end of each chapter.  The dogs were observant,very insightful and sassy, much more so that their human counterparts.  The Doggy Confessionals are definitely what sets The Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules apart from other books with similar premises.  Overall I really enjoyed this book, but as with many of the books written for those of a younger demographic, there were definitely some logic leaps where you have to force yourself not to over think.  I don't really mind this, as I believe it to be a perfectly acceptable writing device in a book for a 9 year old girl. I tried not to think too hard on why a dog walker's strike would lead to dogs freely roaming the halls of the local middle school (why not just lock them up in cages and dog runs?), because ultimately, it didn't really matter.  The book isn't meant to be a deep character study into the human condition blah blah blah, its just meant to be fluffy fun, and it absolutely is.  This book is a great price and a good book for a young girl, I'd say, 2 Borders with a Coupon.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I''d love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules was a movie, it would be rated G, appropriate for all audiences

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Doggy Divas: Roxy's Rules, please consider supporting The Book buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

If you enjoyed the review, feel free to leave a "tip" in  Kate's Tip Jar found on the sidebar.  All tips are anonymous and in no way affect my reviews, thanks!

Quest for the Simurgh

Marva Dasef

The village magician has gone missing. His star pupil Faiza leads her classmates on a quest to find him. Gods and demons confront the four, who are unaware they will be facing a much greater task than finding the magician: saving the world from Armageddon. 

My Take:

This book took me a few minutes to figure out.  It is key, when reading a book for reviewing purposes, to identify the targeted audience.  When I read a book for preschoolers, I don't say, that cartoon duck lacked depth!  What was its motivation behind asking for grapes at a lemonade stand?  This is ridiculous because what does my 3 year old care about motivation?  You must always appreciate a book for what it is intended to be.  Anyway, it was tough to figure out if Quest for the Simurgh was for little kids, or teenagers.  I never really did find out for sure, but putting that confusion aside, I really enjoyed the book.  It featured interesting concepts and the plot flowed well.  Many fantasies are centered around fairies or dwarfs or elves, but the cool thing about this book was that it centered around mythology from ancient Persia.  Intrigued?  You should be.  I would really recommend this book to a fantasy lover looking for something a little different.  I really enjoyed it, but if you aren't already a fan of fantasy, I don't think this will be the book to convert you and thusly (my favorite word that does not exist yet I will continue to use it forever) I give the book a rating of a 3, Find a Used Book Store

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG for intense situations

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing Quest for the Simurgh, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing fro the following Amazon link, thank you!

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The Adventures of the Thundering Whales: The Dreaded Weaved Catcher

Stephen Vadakin

The Weaved Catcher is the first book in Stephen Vadakin's series "The Adventures of the Thundering Whales."  The books follow the exciting adventures of the three young dolphin friends Thunder, Flukie and Sapphire.  In The Weaved Catcher, Thunder becomes caught in a fishing net and falls far, far down into the ocean depths.  How can he ever escape?  What happens when his friends rush to rescue him?  When you read the answers to these questions in the book, you will meet some massive and amazing sea creatures.  Blue whales, humpback whales. a giant squid and the Swordfish Police Patrol are all part of the fun and adventures.

My Take:

It seemed like when I was growing up, every kid wanted to be a marine biologist.  Just because that's what everyone wanted to be was exactly why I didn't want to be it.  That's about as far as my rebellious streak ever got, but that is beside the point :)  Now that I'm older and have actually been to the beach, I would say I am much more interested in what the ocean has to offer and I think that if I had read this book as a kid, I might have been much more interested then.  The Adventures of the Thundering Whales is a fun story about...you guessed it...whales, that intermingles plenty of marine facts with a cute and fanciful story line.  I really loved the illustrations as well.  They were bright, fun and simple.  I really hate overly flashy kids books, I feel like it distracts from the words, which should always be top priority.  This book lacks a little polish, but I don't think a kid will notice and/or care.  I will say, at first I thought this was a preschool age picture book, but after I began reading it I discovered there are actually chapters, and it is more of a book for kids aged 6-8.  This is definitely a book for the young marine biologists out there, and maybe even a few pseudo-rebellious kids like me. I rate this book a 3 Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would be rated G and appropriate for all audiences

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Adventures of the Thundering Whale: The Dreaded Weaved Catcher, please consider supporting he Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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It's a Book!

Lane Smith

Can it text?

Blog?

Scroll?

Wi-Fi?

Tweet?

No...It's a book.

My Take:

Why oh why did this cool children's book have to ruin itself on the last page???  I thought this book was awesome, it was funny, the illustrations were cute and it had a good message.  Until the end.  The last page says "It's a book, jacka--"  (it's a family friendly blog, hence the dashes :) Granted one of the main characters is a donkey, so yes, it is intended to be a lighthearted joke, but I don't think that word is appropriate for the young audience of the book.  I know that the word is a technical term for a donkey, but as the English language is ever evolving, words take on different connotations, and this word is one.  Especially in recent history, thanks to Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O, this word is has grown into a word I don't want my kids using.  Call me a prude, but "mean" words are banned in my house: shut up, stupid, I hate you, swear words and borderline words like that the one mentioned in the book.  I just feel like our kids are going to hear so much of that negativity in school and elsewhere, they don't need to see or hear it at home as well.  This book was written and illustrated by the brains behind classics such as The Stinky Cheese Man and the illustrator of many Roald Dahl books, so visually speaking, my high expectations were met.  If you are a parent trying to raise a child to appreciate books in a world overrun by techno gadgets, this is definitely a book you'd want.  It's a Book was cute, but felt very much like a lengthy mismarketed comic strip. 3 Find a Used Book Store.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given. all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing It's a Book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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The Duck Song

Bryant Oden

A one-of-a-kind musical picture book, this comical story tells the tale of a determined duck who pleads for grapes at the most unlikely of places: a lemonade stand.

My Take:

My daughter loved this book!  It is big and bright and the story is funny and appealing to very young kids (my daughter is 3, I think that is about the age for this book).  There isn't really any lesson to be learned, it is just fun and entertaining.  You can read the book to your child, or, you can turn on the CD that comes along with the book and they can read along themselves.  A word of warning: The Duck Song is VERY catchy and might get stuck in your head all day!  The song featured in the book is on the CD along with 11 other original silly songs.  I really enjoyed experiencing this book with my daughter, and I'd recommend it to very young kids.  The book also has a little button on the front that will play music as well.  So to recap: a really fun, hardcover kid's book, a great CD and music built right in to the book, I'd say this book is a great deal.  I think kid's books are overpriced in general, but since this one has so many extras, I'm going to give it full marks and rate it a 1, Buy Full Price.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

This book is appropriate for all audiences

*** FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Duck Song, please consider supporting The book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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The Best For You

Kelsey Stewart

Adoption is about love for the child, not that the child was not wanted,  This heart warming book is aimed to help children and parents understand what one birth mother was thinking when she decided to place her child for adoption.  Written in her perspective, she tells her child the reasons why she chose adoption.  A great conversation starter for parents, or companions book for adopted children to discuss with other children, this is a unique journey for any child of any age.

My Take:

The Best for You is a heartfelt message for adopted children.  I can't say the book is the most professionally done, or has the best illustrations I've ever seen.  But you know what?  I think this book is the better for it.  The imperfections, and handmade feel, make this book feel much more personal.  As a mom who is considering adopting, I can say this is a book I would love my adopted blessings to have.  The book illustrates that many moms who give up their children do so because they love them, not because they didn't want them.  I think this is such an important fact for an adopted child to know.  This is a wonderful book, and easy to rate.  If this is applicable to your life, definitely 1, Pay Full Price.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel.

***FTC Disclosure: This book was provided by the author for an honest review, all opinions are my own, no other compensation was given***

If you are interested in purchasing The Best for You, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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Saving Sailor

Renee Riva

A story set in 1968 about a quirky girl, a faithful dog, and one unforgettable summer...

  Set in a simpler time, Saving Sailor is a heartwarming tale of how hearts can change and relationships can be restored through love and forgiveness.

  After spending the first half of summer driving her Italian family crazy with her fake southern accent, A.J. finds a soul-mate on the other side of the island to divert her attention to. She is intrigued to learn that Danny shares her same love of star-gazing, and the bigger mysteries of life. Together they share an enchanting summer, along with A.J.'s faithful dog, Sailor. As A.J. and Danny endure family hardships together, they learn a lot about the price of betrayal. Set in a simpler time, Saving Sailor is a heartwarming tale of how hearts can change and relationships can be restored through love and forgiveness.

My Take:

This book was a sweet little coming of age story, following a young girl full of spirit and compassion as she  tries to navigate the waters of her crazy Italian family, boy crazed older sister, and scariest of all?  Her very own growing up and budding womanhood.  My favorite thing about this book were the characters, the main character, AJ, was such a good solid kid, the kind of kid you read about and hope your children can emulate.  Her family, aside from the humor you know is going to come out of a heavily Italian family, is totally hilarious.  You've got a mom that loves to pretend to be Raquel Welch, signing autographs and causing an uproar, a dad that isn't afraid to show off his bright pink boat, and a grandma with so many statues of Saints littering her floor, one might confuse her house for the White Witch's domain in The Chronicles of Narnia.  The book is set in the 60s, a more innocent time, narrated by an innocent girl.  Throughout the book, we see AJ transform from the naive little girl, to the maturing adolescent as she attempts to make sense of events going on around her.  The events range from serious in nature, such as trying to figure out why a man would "have a sleepover" with a woman other than his wife, why her sister would subject herself to heartache after heartache, and overcoming the sadness that accompanies death and loss.  Many of the events are humorous, being locked in a confessional (AJ's greatest fear), or accepting the fact that she is having her first crush.  All in all, I think this would be a really great book for any young girl to read, it will help her figure out who she is, and learn to accept and love herself.  I rate this book a 2, Borders with a Coupon.

 Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG.  While it has elements of death and infidelity, it is designed to teach girls of that age how to deal with such themes in an appropriate way.  There is nothing graphic, for example, as mentioned before, the infidelity is described as "having a sleepover"

If you are interested in purchasing Saving Sailor, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

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How to Help Parents and Kids Get Over the Fear of Math

Saundra Carter

In my family, I am the brains behind English, History, and Writing.  My hubby is the brains behind math, science and computers.  I always figured he'd be the one helping our kids with their math homework when the time came, and I'd help them with their essays.  Well, after reading this book, I'm still totally intimidated by math, but I feel like with the help of this book, I'll be more able to muddle through and help the kids.  Its broken down into useful sections such as Time Saving Techniques, Areas that Give Math Students the Most Difficulty, and also Careers in Mathematics.  I found this last section to be really great.  She goes into detail about jobs such as Actuary, Statistician, Economist, Geoscientist, and Surveyor.  As you can see from my blog, I'm a books and words kind of person, so you'd probably have to pay me triple to work any of those jobs, but I showed my nephew those pages (he LOVES math) and he was really interested and really excited to see the opportunities in pursuing math.  I also let my sister, who is a former elementary school teacher, current homeschooling SAHM, borrow the book to get a good look at it.  As a former teacher and mom of kids the age appropriate for the book (my daughter is 3, we don't need the book for her quite yet :)  I was anxious to get her opinion.   She and her home school group have found it to be a great book to have on hand in class to help students get through tough spots. Coming up with the right rating for this book was tough, I found this book to be a really great resource, and if is something you think you'd be able to use, then 1, Pay Full Price. However, if you are just fine in math and don't need the additional help, 5, Don't Even Bother. 

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

This book is rated G for all audiences

Now a few words with the author, Saundra Carter:

The Book Buff: When and why did you begin writing?

Saundra Carter: After tutoring young people in math for more than 15 years, I noticed that many of my students forgot their math lessons over summer break or after long absences. Writing the book provided a permanent record of our sessions together that they carry with them to college and in life to help their own children with math.

TBB: What was the hardest part of writing How to Help Parents and Kids Get Over the Fear of Math?

SC: The most difficult part of writing the book was knowing when to finish. There are so many more math concepts that cause young people to struggle.  I did not want to re-write a text book, but an inspirational, educational, and entertaining book for parents and their children.

TBB: Is this book inspired by events in your own life?

SC: By sharing my own struggles with math as  a youth, I can let people know that they can move from fear to ferocity in math.

TBB: Is there a specific message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

SC: There is nothing to fear about math, but fear itself.

If you are interested in learning more about Saundra Carter, or her books and upcoming projects, check out the following link: http://www.math1on1.net

If you are interested in purchasing this book, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

The Adventures of Harvey The Wonder Dog: Harvey the Hungry Dog

Lise Dominique

 My Take:

I love reviewing children's books and The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog: Harvey the Hungry Dog was a joy to read.  The book isn't super educational, but it is a lot of fun.  It teaches kids to have a love for animals.  The book has great entertainment value.  The little storyline is cute, and the illustrations are bright and fun.  My 3 year old gave this book her seal of approval as well.  She thought is was funny when Harvey got a time out for eating the couch.  The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog: Harvey the Hungry Dog also comes with CD of the book as read by the author.  I'd love to give this book full marks, but my rating system is based on asking price vs. value.  With the cost of the book in mind, I would have to rate this book a 2, Borders with a Coupon.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

Harvey is suitable for all ages, and thus rated G

A few words with the author, Lise Dominique:

The Book Buff: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Lise Dominique: Sure! An absolutely  voracious appetite for reading anything and everything at a very early age set the table. Several excellent and very encouraging teachers moved me in the right direction and let me know that I had great potential.

TBB: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

LD: Yes, definitely. This book embraces, albeit lightly, the tenets of a healthy lifestyle both through food choices and exercise as a fun activity year-round. A deeper and more subtle message is that ultimately, it's love that will fill you up the most and the best.

TBB: Do you have something you are working on at the moment that you’d like to share with readers of The Book Buff?

LD: Well, I am about to begin work on the next in The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog series, "Harvey Finds His Smile"

TBB: What book are you reading now?

LD: ( laughing)....Well, believe it or not, I am reading a book that was given to me by a friend for my birthday, " Why my third husband will be a dog".

TBB: What is the interview question you always dread being asked?

LD: How did Harvey get his name? The answer has to do with the ex-boyfriend who gave him to me as one of my  Christmas gifts . Harvey is his middle name. He is also an 'ex' for a very good reason. 'Nuff said.

If you are interested in learning more about Harvey the Wonder Dog or Lise Dominique, check out http://www.lisedominique.com/

***FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all reviews are my own***

If you are interested in purchasing The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog: Harvey the Hungry Dog, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Batty Malgoony's Mystic Carnivale & The Mystery of Journey's Crowne

K. Michael Crawford

 Batty Malgoony's Mystic Carnivale is a wonderful little book for the kids out there who love to draw and show off their creativity.  The book is formed around a simple, yet awesome, concept.  The book takes you through a carnival and offers prompts as to what to draw.  It has outlines of bodies and shapes, so that your child's pictures will fit and blend well with the other illustrations provided by the author.  This book allows your child to express their creativity and have a lot of fun.  The illustrations included in the book are gorgeous.  They are colorful and delightfully haphazard.  This is a book I would enjoy getting for my child.  However, since my rating is based on whether or not the book is worth the asking price, I can't give this book a 1, as the asking price is just a bit too high for my taste.  This being said, I rate Batty Malgoony's Mystic Carnivale a 2, Borders with a Coupon.  Awesome book!

As for The Mystery of Journey's Crowne, I can't say I loved it as much.  This book is an "Adventure Drawing Game" filled to bursting with prompts for drawings, puzzles, games, and riddles.  I have to say that this book was not "Delightfully haphazard" as I described Batty Malgoony, rather, it was just plain old haphazard.  There was too much going on on each page, and it was a bit confusing to the eye.  There wasn't really a clear path through the adventure game.  I really think the puzzles could have been toned down, and a bit more linear, rather than scattered all over every page.  There also was not a place to check you answers.  This was the main complaint of the children I had check out this book to back up my opinion.  They wanted to know if they were right before moving on, and there was no way to do that.  Of course, while the illustrations were a bit all over the place, they were gorgeous and colorful, just like Batty Malgoony.  The author/artist is definitely one to watch.  His art is gorgeous and he has such a talent for cartooning.  Due to the feeling of chaos I just couldn't shake while going through The Mystery of Journey's Crowne, I rate it a 3, Buy at a Used Book Store, as it just wasn't up to par with the other book.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

These books are suitable for all ages.

Now a few words with the author, K. Michael Crawford:

The Book Buff: What is the interview question you always dread being asked? 

K. Michael Crawford: “Where does your creativity come from?”  Since I don't know exactly, I tell them that Fred lives in my head and he quite frequently whispers strange things in my ear for me to hear.

TBB: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

KMC: When my Mother stopped asking me when I was getting a real job.

TBB:  If you had to choose something besides writing, what career would you choose?

KMC: Astronaut or Royalty would be good. Then again I would make a great Spy. Why would I choose these?  Because they would be full of adventure. Every creative person needs to have lots of adventure to put in their work.

TBB: Which writer would you consider a mentor?

KMC: To pick one writer would be like trying to pick one flavor of ice cream. It's better if you get a scoop of each and mix them together. Every time I read a book there is an influence that goes on with every writer. Some stronger than others.

TBB: If you could mirror the career of any other author, who would it be?

KMC: I don't want to mirror the career of another author, I am having too much fun writing my own life story.

TBB: Did you learn anything from writing your book?

KMC: With every book I write and every piece of art I create, I learn something. Sometimes not sure what I learn, but I know the next time I will do something better. My creative voice gets stronger.

TBB: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

KMC: I hope that they enjoy the books I create and Waahoo!

If you are interested in learning more about K. Michael Crawford, his books, and his upcoming work, check out his website, http://www.happilyeverart.com/

**FTC Disclosure: These books were given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own.**

If you are interested in purchasing these books, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon links.  Thanks!