Stink and the Shark Sleepover
Stink Moody Book 9
Megan McDonald (Author)
Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)
Candlewick
ISBN 9780763664749
eISBN 9780763670337
My first introduction to either Megan McDonald or Peter H Reynolds were the Judy Moody and Stink books. I have since read all the books in both of those series and most of the other books by both Megan the Author and Peter the illustrator. After more than 30 books in this series it is still highly entertaining. I gave up on Xanth long before that and there are few series that keep me that long especially if written by one author. That is a testament to the craft of both McDonald and Reynolds. I still get excited when I find out there is another books in one of the Moody series. And this one the ninth Stink Moody book did not disappoint.
This story begins with Stink trying to stay up because his parents were out at a charity auction and he cannot wait to find out what they won. And they have bid on and won a sleepover for them and a friend at the local aquarium. But from the get go Judy is bugging Stink that he does not like sleepovers, even at their grandma's. When the big day comes The Moody's, Mom, Dad, Judy and stink along with Webster head to the sleepover. When they get there the meet up with Sophie of the Elves. There is an amazing scavenger hunt, a replica megalodon fin, shark feeding and so much more. A virtual campfire and of course ghost stories or in this case creepy Frankensquid story about Bloody Mary! Thor in a few pranks and we have a recipe for a great adventure.
This is yet another great read from McDonald and Reynolds. And now my kids are old enough that we have started reading these books together so it is fun for the whole family. In the Moody's universe we now have Judy Moody, Stink Moody Judy Moody and Stink, and a new series called Judy moody and Friends. And I can say they are all great books in amazing series, check them out for you and the young readers in your life.
Books by Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds:
Judy Moody books:
1. Judy Moody
2. Judy Moody Gets Famous!
3. Judy Moody Saves the World!
4. Judy Moody Predicts the Future
5. Judy Moody, M.D. The Doctor Is In
6. Judy Moody Declares Independence
7. Judy Moody Around the World in 8½ Days
8. Judy Moody Goes to College
9. Judy Moody: Girl Detective
10. Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer
10a. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (Movie Tie-In Edition)
11. Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm
12. Judy Moody Mood Martian
13. Judy Moody and the Bucket List
14. Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party
...
Judy Moody Activity Books:
Judy Moody's Double Rare Way Not Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Way Wacky Uber Awesome Book of MORE Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths
Stink Moody Books:
1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker
3. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
5. Stink: Solar System Superhero'
6. Stink and The Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown
7. Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk
8. Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout
9. Stink and the Shark Sleepover
10. Stink and the Attack of the Slime Mold
11. Stink hamlet and Cheese
...
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 1: Super Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 2: More Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Judy and Stink Books:
Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday
Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
Judy Moody & Stink: The Big Bad Blackout
Judy Moody & Stink: The Wishbone Wish
Judy Moody & Stink and the Grand-Slam Book-Bowl Jam
...
Judy Moody and Friends:
Stink Moody in the Master of Disaster
Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble
Rocky Zang in The Amazing Mr. Magic
Frank Pearl in The Awful Waffle Kerfuffle
Amy Namey in Ace Reporter
Triple Pet Trouble
Mrs. Moody in The Birthday Jinx
April Fools', Mr. Todd!
Judy Moody, Tooth Fairy
Not-So-Lucky Lefty: Judy Moody and Friends
...
Stink and Judy Moody a Visual Bibliography
Books by Megan McDonald:
Sisters Club:
Sisters Club 1
Sisters Club 2 Rule of Three
Sisters Club 3 Cloudy With a Chance of Boys
Books by Peter H Reynolds:
The North Star
ish
The Dot
Rose's Garden
I'm Here
Shift Work
Tie Domi and Jim Lang
Simon and Schuster
ISBN 9781476782508
This book was an interesting read. Never having been a Leaf's fan, I was always a fan of Domi. I do not recall his first few games with Toronto or even much of his early years playing for the ranges. But I became a big fan when he played in Winnipeg and continued to follow him when he was in Toronto. I was really intrigued when I first heard about this book and was excited to pick it up the day it came out.
Domi has always seemed like a stand-up guy. He was great to watch and some of his stories only confirm that assumption. The best stories in the book revolve around Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, or Matts Sundin. The first half of the book is amazing, I could not put it down and kept saying just one more section. However the second half of the book the post hockey part slows down a lot. There are some great stories and some great life advice but just not as gripping as the first half.
When a friend at work found out I was reading this he asked how much Tie flogged his son and his hockey. By that point in the book it had hardly been mentioned. There was a section on each of Tie's three kids and how proud he is of them but it did seem a little slanted towards Max.
One of the greatest things about this book is Tie's attitude towards how you treat people, and not just people of power or influence but everyone. Stories about friendships with parking attendants, people who shine shoes or even the barista's at the local coffee shop. From the earliest stories to then end one of the main focuses is the importance of treating everyone right.
This book is a collection of stories and for the most part they are well told. The stories are written in Tie's own words or from interviews done by Jim Lang. Overall it was a good read and very enjoyable. I would have like it to be longer. It felt more like reading a novella than a novel, but who knows maybe a volume 2 will come out and continue the stories. And I really would have liked a story or two about his time with Wendel Clark, but maybe that was just personal wish. Tie is open and honest about some of his biggest mistakes, some were already public and some not. His openness even more enforces his image as a stand-up guy.
A good book and if you are a fan of Domi's the Leaf's or even hockey in general I am sure you will get a lot out of the book.
Grabber
The Dragons of Wayward Crescent #4
Chris d'Lacey
Orchard Books
Scholastic
ISBN 9781408302354
I must admit I have had a number of Chris d'Lacey books on my to be read shelf for years now, and just never got around to starting them. It is a pity because they are wonderful books. In the last month I have read three from this series and most of two other from other series; and so far everything I have read by him has been simply wonderful. But there is something especially fun about this one. In fact my son and I have read it twice now, once just the two of us and once with his younger sister. There is currently 4 books is this highly enjoyable series. It was originally planned for 12 books but for now we must settle with just the four.
Grabber is very different than the other dragon's created by Liz Pennykettle, for shortly after his creation, before he could be schooled in the way of dragons he is pinched. And because his main influence is someone who has a habit of thieving things Grabber, having been named and influenced soon starts a life of crime! But Lucy with her view of the world and her daughter Liz soon find themselves working with the police to unravel a mystery and in the process Lucy enchants the officers and works towards a better result that reflects more truth and justice. Grabber is by far the most entertaining of the Dragons of Wayward Crescent.
This was an awesome read. It is rare for my son to want to reread a book as soon as we finish it, especially when we have the next one read. But this story was so fun he was willing to reread it and include his sister. Chris d'Laceys books are very well written, this series grabs children's attention and keeps it, some of his other books geared for older audiences are just as well written. I love this story and look forward to reading many more books by d'Lacey.
Judy Moody Mood Martian
Judy Moody Book 12
Megan McDonald (Author)
Peter H. Reynolds (Illustrator)
Candlewick
ISBN 9780763666989
eISBN 9780763675417
I have now read 30 books between Jody Moody, Stink Moody and Judy Moody & Stink books. That says a lot for the ability of Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds to tell a story. And to be honest this is one of my favourites out of all of them. Jody seems to be maturing, even though she is in the same class, with the same friends and the same teacher, in this book there is more to appreciate and respect.
In all of the books Judy or Stink learn a lesson, they grow of change but in this one Judy work really hard at not being moody. She develops techniques to help herself not have explosions. She is making changes. In fact Judy's changes are so complete that her brother and her closes friends begin to wonder if she has been replaced by a pod person and is not the Judy they know and love. This leads to some interesting encounters. As usual with the Moody's something always goes wrong and something very interesting always happens.
As someone with 3 young children, Judy's example in this book is awesome. It is a great little story and an awesome edition to the Moody canon. And in other exciting news there is a new series out shorter books in the new Judy Moody and Friends series.
Books by Megan McDonald and Peter H Reynolds:
Judy Moody books:
1. Judy Moody
2. Judy Moody Gets Famous!
3. Judy Moody Saves the World!
4. Judy Moody Predicts the Future
5. Judy Moody, M.D. The Doctor Is In
6. Judy Moody Declares Independence
7. Judy Moody Around the World in 8½ Days
8. Judy Moody Goes to College
9. Judy Moody: Girl Detective
10. Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer
10a. Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (Movie Tie-In Edition)
11. Judy Moody and the Bad Luck Charm
12. Judy Moody Mood Martian
Judy Moody Activity Books:
Judy Moody's Double Rare Way Not Boring Book of Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Way Wacky Uber Awesome Book of MORE Fun Stuff to Do
Judy Moody's Mini-Mysteries and Other Sneaky Stuff for Super-Sleuths
Stink Moody Books:
1. Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid
2. Stink and the Incredible Super-Galactic Jawbreaker
3. Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers
4. Stink and the Great Guinea Pig Express
5. Stink: Solar System Superhero'
6. Stink and The Ultimate Thumb-Wrestling Smackdown
7. Stink and the Midnight Zombie Walk
8. Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout
9. Stink and the Shark Sleepover
10. Stink Moody in the Master of Disaster
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 1: Super Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Stink-O-Pedia Volume 2: More Stink-y Stuff from A to Z
Judy and Stink Books:
Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday
Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt
Judy Moody & Stink: The Big Bad Blackout
Judy Moody & Stink: The Wishbone Wish
Judy Moody and Friends:
Stink Moody in the Master of Disaster
Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble
Rocky Zang in The Amazing Mr. Magic
Frank Pearl in The Awful Waffle Kerfuffle
Amy Namey in Ace Reporter
Triple Pet Trouble
Stink and Judy Moody a Visual Bibliography
Books by Megan McDonald:
Sisters Club:
Sisters Club 1
Sisters Club 2 Rule of Three
Sisters Club 3 Cloudy With a Chance of Boys
Books by Peter H Reynolds:
The North Star
ish
The Dot
Rose's Garden
I'm Here
This post has been redacted because of personal conviction. I would appreciate if you say a prayer for me.
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Gruffen
The Dragons of Wayward Crescent #1
Chris d'Lacey
Orchard Books
Scholastic
ISBN 9780545168151
I have had a number of Chris d'Lacey's books on my shelf for a while now. It really is my loss that I have not read them sooner. On a positive note there are numerous books by him for me yet to read. The greatest thing about the books in the Dragons of Wayward Crescent series is how much my children love them and how much I enjoy them. They are great reads for the whole family. I usually read with each of my children at bed time, often just a chapter or two, but with these books we keep reading 'just 1 more chapter' we have also pulled them out after a meal and just sat at the table reading. My youngest two love these books and I love reading them with them so all around it is a win.
We have read these books out of order. But that has not impacted the reading. We read this one book 1 second. They do tell a single continuous story but are written well enough that you can read them out of order without impact. But based on how popular they are in our house I have a feeling we will be rereading them soon and this time we will read them in order.
This is the first book in this series, and this series is a prequel to The Last Dragon Chronicles series. There are currently 4 books in this series but I have heard that 12 were planned. We can only hope the others come to bear as Chris has time. In this book we meet Gruffen, or we witness to some extent the magic of a special dragon coming into being. We meet Lucy and Liz Pennykettle, a mother and daughter that know that Dragons are real, and somehow Lucy can create dragons on her potter's wheel and they can be brought to life. We meet some of the other dragons in the house including the listening dragon who sits upon the fridge. And also, Guinevere who helps to bring them to life.
This story is about a new dragon and also overcoming fears. Liz is afraid of a monster, a monster that keeps appearing outside her window. So Lucy decided to make a guard dragon for her. This we are introduced to Gruffen. Gruffen has a great adventure for a very young dragon. It is a wonderful little book and a great introduction to the world of dragons as created by Chris.
These books are well enough written to keep both adults and children engaged. They are really fun reads. Great books that I highly recommend!
