The RAHM Report for 4/30/18

What I Finished Reading

• Running Through Sprinklers by Michelle Kim (ARC)
  This is a newly published middle grade novel set in 1990s Canada. I reviewed it on Friday.
• Stiffs and Swine by Ellery Adams (ARC)
  This is my least favorite of this series so far. My review for NetGalley is coming soon. 
• Al(exandra) the Great by Constance C. Greene
  This was another entertaining installment in the quirky Al series. I'm behind on reviewing these, but I do plan to review the whole series. 
• Death's Door by Betsy Byars
  This is the fourth book in the Herculeah Jones series and one of the more suspenseful and exciting mysteries so far. I'll review the whole series when I've read the rest of it. 

What I'm Currently Reading

• Rosetown by Cynthia Rylant (ARC)
  This is a gentle middle grade novel set in a small town in the 1970s. It's very quiet and introspective so far, and I'm especially enjoying the role of a used bookstore in the plot. 
• By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman
  I got off to a slow start with this book, but things are picking up a bit now that I'm a few chapters in. It's the story of a young boy and family's butler who stow away on a ship in order to travel from Boston to San Francisco to find gold.
• Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman, audiobook read by Deborah Hazlett
  I'm really enjoying this recording of the first book in the Tess Monaghan series. Not since discovering Sue Grafton's books have I enjoyed a private detective main character so much. 

What I'm Planning to Read Next

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
  My husband had me watch the film adaptation of this book this weekend, and I've never read it, so now I want to make it a priority. I have the audiobook and plan to listen to a chapter a day over the next couple of weeks.
• The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny
  I've been itching to get back to this series, but wanted to finish one mystery before beginning another. It usually takes me a while to finish these, but I want to at least get started this week.
• The Secret Science of Magic by Melissa Keil
  I received a review copy of this one and it looks like my kind of book. I've been walking around with it everywhere for over a week, so it's time to start reading. 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge: April 2018 Link-Up

This is the official Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge link-up post for April! In comments, please share your reviews and posts about any "old school" books you have read this month. (Even if you're not officially signed up for the challenge you're welcome to participate with anything you've posted about a book published in the decade of your birth or before.)

Here are my "old school" reviews for the month:

• Story of the Presidents of the United States of America by Maud and Miska Petersham (1953)
• Ellen Grae by Vera and Bill Cleaver (1967)
• I Know You, Al by Constance C. Greene (1975)
• Zucchini by Barbara Dana (1982)

Book Review: Running Through Sprinklers by Michelle Kim (2018)

Sara loves living next door to her best friend, Nadine Ando on their cul-de-sac in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. The two girls are inseparable, and Sara is looking forward to starting grade seven and experiencing all the milestones of the last year of elementary school with her best friend by her side. It comes as a huge shock, therefore, when Nadine drops the bombshell that she will actually be skipping a grade and going to high school (grade eight) a year early. Sara feels utterly betrayed by this news, and, over the school year, makes a host of mistakes as she tries to come to terms with the changes happening in her life.

I really like the writing style in this middle grade novel, a review copy of which I received from the publisher via Edelweiss. The writing is descriptive, but also conversational, and the author (herself an actress and occasional screenwriter) writes many sections as though she is writing stage directions in a play. There are lots of details about Korean culture (Sara's family) and Japanese culture (Nadine's family), including food and family traditions associated with both, and Sara's city of Surrey also comes to life as wonderful place to grow up.

Sara herself is very much like I was in seventh grade: annoying without meaning to be, clingy to friends in an irritating way, and convinced of her own maturity despite being very immature. Though some reviews have indicated that this immaturity makes it hard to believe in Sara as a realistic character, I found her completely (and embarrassingly) authentic. Especially true-to-life is Sara's use of her friendship with Nadine's one-year-younger sister, Jen, to make Nadine jealous, and her brief flirtation with the "in" crowd.

The only thread of the story that gave me pause was the subplot involving a local boy who goes missing. I thought early on that this was going to be a main part of the plot, but it wound up being just part of the scenery. I think the way the author uses it works well enough, but because it caught my interest early on, it was a little disappointing to realize that there really wasn't a mystery element after all. I think it's also important to note that this book is set in the 1990s. There is a reference to Cabbage Patch Kids in chapter one that tipped me off, and other things, including some of the slang the characters use, and the lack of mobile devices, confirmed my suspicion. I don't think the time period has much impact on the ability of kids to enjoy the story, but it's worth pointing out to kids who might be particularly interested in preteen life 20 years ago.

Running Through Sprinklers reminds me of The Battle of Darcy Lane, Tara Altebrando's novel about the struggles of female friendship in early adolescence. It also reminds me a little bit of Judy Blume's books (especially when it comes to bras and periods) and Carol Weston's series about Ava and Pip. I would probably recommend it for ages 10-13, as this is the age group most likely to be going through difficult transitions in friendships for the first time.

Book Review: Zucchini by Barbara Dana (1982)

Zucchini, a ferret who lives in the rodent house at the Bronx Zoo, is convinced there must be more to the world than what he can see from his cage. When he sees an opportunity to escape, he takes it, hoping to make it to Oklahoma, where creatures like him live together in the wild. When he runs into danger on the streets, however, he is rescued and brought instead to the children's zoo at the local ASPCA. Here he meets Billy, a shy boy who longs for a pet but lives in a pet-free building. Billy comes each day to see Zucchini, and the two form a strong bond which draws Billy out of his shell and gives Zucchini the feeling of belonging he so desires.

I typically don't enjoy animal stories, especially when they are told from the animal's point of view, but I made an exception for this book because one of my reading challenges requires a book for each letter of the alphabet and Z is a tricky letter.  For the most part, though the subject matter was not my favorite, I thought the writing was strong, and in some sections, exceptional. There were a few things that didn't work for me, such as the fact that, despite not knowing his name upon his arrival, the zoo at the ASPCA still comes to call him Zucchini. Overall, though, I did not find the story as much of a chore to read as I expected.

Though this book is over 30 years old, it didn't really feel dated in any way. Billy is a realistic and believable child protagonist, and though his relationship with Zucchini feels contrived, it is the type of thing that appeals to kids who are ardent animal lovers, regardless of how old the book is. This book is out of print, but it is available on Open Library, and I would consider having my girls read it when they get older, provided they haven't inherited my distaste for animal books. It's not Newbery-quality literature, but it is still a worthwhile book to read for pleasure. (There is also a sequel, Zucchini Out West, which does not seem to be available to read online, but which has a laughably awkward cover.)

The RAHM Report for 4/23/18

What My Kids Are Reading

In this week's Read-at-Home Kids Report: The Happy Hollisters, Mr. Gumpy, and the toddler poetry collection I'm getting tired of reading aloud.

What I Finished Reading

• Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
  I finished this just in time for book club on Thursday. My review on Goodreads explains why I gave it five stars.
• Dandelion Cottage by Carroll Watson Rankin
  This was a really sweet vintage tale about four girls who are given a playhouse to furnish and use as their own in exchange for weeding the dandelions from the property. I was thrilled to learn there are multiple sequels available from Project Gutenberg.
• Wilde Lake by Laura Lippman, audiobook read by Kathleen McInerney and Nicole Poole
  This audiobook really hit the spot for me this week, and I'm planning to read more by the author (and more by these narrators as well.) My four-star review is on Goodreads.
• The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip by Jerry West
  I read this aloud to my four-year-old. It was a bit predictable, but I enjoyed the old-fashioned feel, and it's funny to see my daughter beginning to understand suspense and cliff-hangers.

What I'm Currently Reading

• Running Through Sprinklers by Michelle Kim (ARC)
  This book came out this past week, so I'm a bit late getting to my ARC, but it's a friendship story set in Canada in the 1990s, and I'm really enjoying it so far. I hope to finish it in the next day or two.
• Stiffs and Swine by Ellery Adams (ARC)
  This ARC expires on Tuesday, so I am also hurrying to get the book finished. I've read four chapters so far, and it's another quick installment in this series, so I should be able to get it done by the end of tomorrow.
• Al(exandra) the Great! by Constance C. Greene
  I'm jumping back into this series after a few weeks off. I've only just borrowed it from Open Library and skimmed the first couple of pages, but it already seems as good as the previous volumes.
• Death's Door by Betsy Byars
  I need to get going on reading more Betsy Byars books for the Author Love challenge. This is book four in the Herculeah Jones series. I'm planning to finish reading the series ASAP so I can post about the whole thing and then move onto her other books. 
• Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman, audiobook read by Deborah Hazlett
  This is my next audiobook. I've listened to about 20 minutes, and I like the main character and the audiobook narrator so far. 

I'll be linking up today with Unleashing Readers/Teach Mentor Texts and Book Date for It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

The RAHK Report for 4/22/18

We've been potty training Little Bo Peep (2.5 years) this week, so we've stuck close to home and read a ton of books. Here are the highlights:

• The Bull Beneath the Walnut Tree and other stories by Anita Hewett, illustrated by Imero Gorbato
  Miss Muffet has been enjoying reading stories from this collection after nap time (which, for her, is more like quiet time these days). I have not read any yet myself, but my husband has, and he asks her questions at the dinner table that confirm that is comprehending what she reads.
• Busy Water by Irma Simonton Black, pictures by Jane Castle
  When Miss Muffet asked about evaporation this week, we read this basic introduction to the water cycle. It's more about the way water flows from smaller brooks, to larger rivers and oceans, but it does talk a little bit about water returning to the clouds and then brought down again as rain. It does not mention the word "evaporation," however, so we'll be consulting a science book or two to get a little more detail.
• The Happy Hollisters on a River Trip by Jerry West
  This second book of the series is on OpenLibrary, so I decided to read it aloud since Miss Muffet enjoyed the first one so much. One day this week, Bo Peep smacked Miss Muffet with a large wooden block and bruised her finger. While she was upset about this, I took Miss Muffet to my bed and tucked her in for a bit, and we ended up finishing the book! I am probably going to go ahead and buy book 3 for the Kindle app on my phone so we can continue reading in order.
• History Can Be Fun by Munro Leaf
  Miss Muffet has been reading this on and off for months. It was both a good challenge for her reading skills and an appropriately basic introduction to the history of the world. It seems her favorite topics were the Roman Empire and barbarians, as she keeps telling people, including her grandmother, that "Some people who came before us were barbarians!"

• Good for You! Toddler Rhymes for Toddler Times by Stephanie Calmenson
  I have to admit that I don't like this poetry collection that much now that Bo Peep is asking to hear the entire book multiple times a week. I used to like some of the poems for toddler story time, but the more I read them aloud, the more I realize how off the rhythm is in each poem, and how many rhymes just don't quite fit. But it does cover some good concepts - colors, manners, numbers, letters, parts of the body, etc. - and she is picking up new information, so I can probably stand it a bit longer.
• Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, illustrated by Polly Dunbar
  I presented this to Bo Peep as an alternative to Good For You! and she took to it pretty well. I read it with her and Jumping Joan, and she kept snatching at the illustrations saying she was catching the babies in the pictures. She especially took a liking to the little girl on the swing in the image that accompanies "The Swing" by Robert Louis Stevenson and the little curly-haired girl snuggling her cat alongside "Cat Kisses" by Bobbi Katz.
• Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham
  This book falls in and out of favor around here, but Bo Peep was interested in it this week, especially after we realized we have finger puppets to match all of the animals in the story. We stuck them and a few peg dolls in our little wooden bus and acted out the story, which Bo Peep thought was a very fun idea.
• What a Wonderful World, illustrated by Tim Hopgood
  This book was given to Jumping Joan, and she enjoys it, but Bo Peep has been the one to learn the song and start singing it to herself. There is something very sweet about her little voice singing out, "And I think to myself, what a wonderful world." It's also funny how she imitates every nuance of my singing.
• Black Bird Yellow Sun by Steve Light
  Jumping Joan spent a lot of time pawing at this book during tummy time this week. She seems to be drawn to the bold colors of the illustrations, and I'm sure the corners of the front cover are tasty too. 

Poetry Picnic: April 12, 2018

The tradition continues! This week, we finally got some warm spring weather, meaning we were able to head to the park for a poetry picnic on Thursday. I brought sandwiches, apples, brownies, and milk for the big girls, a bottle for the baby, and four books. We spread out a blanket, and the girls ate while I read aloud. Here's what they heard:

• "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer from Great Story Poems edited by Theodoric Jones, illustrated by Frank Bolle
  I've been wanting to read this poem to Miss Muffet (age 4 years, 4 months) because even though I knew she wouldn't understand the whole thing, I thought she would love the way it sounds. I was right. This book also has line drawing illustrations to accompany each poem, so those helped contextualize what was happening. It occurred to me when I was reading it that, despite having gone to see the Durham Bulls every summer since birth, she doesn't know the concept of "three strikes and you're out." We'll have to work on that when we go to a game this summer, and then we can read the poem again.
  
• Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by Paul Galdone
  Miss Muffet has a developing interest in the Revolutionary War, so that prompted me to choose this picture book. The illustrations are great - even Bo Peep (age 2.5) enjoyed them - and the rhythm of the poem appealed to all three girls, including Jumping Joan (6 mos.)
  
• All That Sunlight by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Walter Stein
  Miss Muffet received this book as a gift from my mom for Easter. The poems are very short, so we read the entire collection. Poems include child-friendly meditations on colors, friendship, flowers, and weather. A few were familiar to me, but many others were new. This is also a book Miss Muffet is able to read independently, so I may invite her to read to us from it again on a future picnic.
  
• If Not for the Cat by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Ted Rand
  This collection of haiku about animals was the hit of the picnic. Miss Muffet and Bo Peep loved calling out the name of each animal as its poem was read, and the illustrations were very engaging for them as well. 

The girls are all at great ages for poetry picnics this year. The older two are great at sitting and listening and the baby isn't big enough yet to get into much trouble. So I am hoping we'll be able to do this twice a month or even weekly as we get into the summer.