Good Night, I Love You - Caroline Jayne Church

Good Night, I Love You
Caroline Jayne Church
Cartwheel Books an Imprint of
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545392150

Caroline Jayne Church is one of our favorite children's illustrators, but among our favorites from the books she illustrated are some of those she wrote also. This book falls into that category. It is a wonderful bedtime story, with CJC's characteristic illustrations. The joy and emotions she captures in her illustrations are wonderful; my children and wife love her books and this will be a new favorite.

Books by Caroline Jane Church:
Leaf Trouble
Here Comes Halloween!
Here Comes Easter!
Here Comes Christmas!
The More We Get Together
You Are My Sunshine
Goodnight I Love You

Books Illustrated by Carolyne Jayne Church:
I Love You Through And Through
How Do I Love You
A Kiss For You

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl - Barry Lyga

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl
Barry Lyga
Haughton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 9780618723928

This book was the first novel published by Barry Lyga and it is the first of four in the Brookdale High series, which I just happened to read in reverse order. The strength of Lyga's writing is evident from this first novel and gets better with every book he writes. Lyga has an incredible gift as a storyteller. He captures life in and around high school in this series in a wonderful way. His stories are about real people with real problems and real life. Each of his books has something the reader can take away and it will help them be better at being. But I think the greatest testament to Lyga's craft as a writer is that even though I just finished this book, I am already planning to reread it.

Brookdale High or South Brook High is an interesting school. Not the worst school and not the best. There are cliques, and jocks, and geeks - all the usual groups you would find in and around a high school. And like most high schools, some of them get it and some do not. For Kyra Sellers and Fanboy (aka Donnie) it is just putting in time. Both want to be somewhere else. Both need things to change. Kyra witnesses Fanboy being punched repeatedly in gym class and wonders why he allows it to happen. Soon they have a strange friendship developing. They both have a love of Graphic Novels but prefer different styles. Fanboy is working on one and Goth Girl wants to help make it better. But as we all know, life in high school or life in general is usually not easy and things often go wrong or at least not the way we expect, and in this story that is definitely the case.

There are a number of strengths that make this novel so good. First, there are the characters. Readers cannot help but become fans of Kyra and Fanboy; they are so well written and capture much of the spirit of being an outsider in high school you can't help but root for them. Second is the story itself. It has a sinister darkness to it, but at the same time provides some hope. It is not a fast-paced novel but it will definitely keep your attention and interest turning the pages. Third is the essence of both high school and life that Lyga has managed to capture. This was an amazing novel to read and after reading it I now plan to go back and reread the whole series!

Books by Barry Lyga:
I Hunt Killers:
I Hunt Killers (2012)
I Hunt Killers #2 (2013)

Brookdale High:
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (2006)
Boy Toy (2007)
Hero Type (2008)
Goth Girl Rising (2009)

Archvillian:
Archvillain #1 (2010)
The Mad Mask - Archvillian #2 (2011)
Archvillian #3 (2013)

Other Books By Barry Lyga:
Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A definitive Guide (with Alison A.W. Lyga - 2004)
Wolverine: Worst Day Ever (2009)
MangaMan (with Colleen Dorren 2011)

Contributed to:
Geektastic (2009)

Author Profile and Interview with Barry Lyga

The Etch-A-Sketch Book - Klutz

The Etch-A-Sketch Book
Klutz
ISBN 9781570540509

This is a great little toy and book from the Klutz team. It starts by teaching children to make basic shapes then takes them through more and more complicated projects. It also has a series of overlays that you put right on the etch-a-sketch screen, they are lessons and games. It's an amazing little book. Thanks Klutz and Scholastic for coming up with such awesome products for kids.

From the Ashes - Jeremy Burns

From The Ashes
Jeremy Burns
Fiction Studio Books
ISBN 9781936558322
eISBN 9781936558339

This story is the debut novel from Jeremy Burns. It is a thriller novel, but more than that it is historical fiction with a twist. It was a fast-paced race from the beginning to the end. It was more enjoyable than the Dan Brown books I have read and almost reads like a cross between Tom Clancy and John Grisham. The writing was superb and the story excellent. The greatest strength though was probably the characters. Once you start reading about Jonathan Rickner you will find yourself wanting more. The cover of the book has a sub title "A Jonathan Rickner Thriller" and I, for one, hope it is the first in a long line of novels featuring this character. Not since I first read the Jack Ryan or Spencer for Hire novels 20 years ago have I found a character I liked so much in the mystery or suspense genre.

Jon cannot accept that his brother's death was a suicide, and as he begins to look into his brother's thesis research, he uncovers the tangled threads of a deadly Depression-era conspiracy - one entangling the top levels of the Hoover Administration, Rockefeller, and the rise of Nazi Germany. Joining forces with Michael's fiancée Mara Ellison and with Michael's thesis advisor Professor Leinhart doing research from the background, Jon and Mara travel to New York to discover Rockefeller's deepest secret and hidden clues to a secret that could rock the nation. Maybe even the world.

With an attempt on his life and then encountering the assassin again in New York, the pressure is on. A secret government agency known only as The Division is after a few pieces of paper, paper they have been trying to track down for over 70 years. Jon, relying only on his brilliance and following his brother's clues, is on the hunt and he will either uncover a buried truth or be buried along with it. In a chase that crosses the country and travels all over historic sites in New York City, the story will catch you and keep you reading as you cannot wait to find out what happens next.

This story was very well written and as I stated earlier, I can only hope it will be the first in a series!

Chuggington Dinosaur Adventure - Ian Carney

Dinosaur Adventure!
Chuggington
Ian Carney
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545368636

At first I was worried that Chuggington would be a modernized version of Thomas the Train. Boy was I wrong. Both the TV show and the books are great. In this particular book, they encounter a new dinosaur - a Photosaurus. It was part of a display for a new museum exhibit. But soon they realize the dinosaur is a great height for taking pictures. So with the help of friends and a friendly exhibit, Wilson gets his pictures for the new posters. We have only read a few of the Chugginton books but the colors are super bright and vibrant. The stories are fun and this book will get kids by having both trains and dinosaurs. Awesome story for Chuggers young and old.