Auntie Claus, Home for the Holidays

It is hard to make sense of this holiday-themed book. The moniker "Auntie Claus," splashed as it is across the cover, is attention-getting. Who is this Auntie Claus? What sort of modern Christmas tale is this, one might wonder? Unfortunately, the story itself disappoints. Sophie Kringle has to decide between being the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker at Miss Crumpet's School for Young Ladies and Gentleman or going on her annual seasonal "business" trip with Auntie Claus. But Auntie Claus does not see it that way. She decides to stay in New York for Christmas because, she says, "You can have your cake and eat it too. At Christmastime that is the rule!" Soon, Auntie Claus seems to be running Christmas from the hotel. Many strange visitors arrive, including the real Sugar Plum Fairy. Initially eschewing sweets, she is coaxed by Sophie to eat some cake and other goodies. Time passes and we are told that "Red is the new black! New York is the new North Pole!" Christmas snow falls, threatening Sophie's performance at her school. The Sugar Plum Fairy has eaten so many sweets that she can no longer fit into her tutu. Sophie feels guilty, knowing that the Fairy could fit into her tutu. It seems a moot concern when the tutu is blown out of her hands and onto the tip of the hotel. Fortunately, Santa arrives and gives Sophie a lift to retrieve her costume. She gives her tutu to the Sugar Plum Fairy so that Christmas in New York is not ruined but then cannot perform in her school play. Auntie Claus proclaims she has the solution to this problem and whisks Sophie off to the North Pole, where she dances around in her coat. It seems the book's inhabitants find this to be a most agreeable conclusion, but I felt it was a muddle. It is hard to see how the solution fits the problem at all, and that is not the only problem with this book. How is it that the adult Sugar Plum Fairy's overindulgence in sweets plumps her out to the size of a very young girl? Was the fairy ridiculously skinny before? Was Sophie unhealthily overweight? What does any of this mean? It must mean that sequels are all the rage. The star of Auntie Claus and its sequel, Auntie Claus and the Key to Christmas is back. Odds are good her longtime fans may pick up this title, too. But smart shoppers unfamiliar with this series will stop to read between the covers and will not be adding this book to their holiday traditions. This Christmas children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Auntie Claus, Home for the Holidays

Easter Mice!

Mother Mouse bedecked in her Easter bonnet takes her three children dressed in jackets and ties outside for an egg hunt. The two older ones begin to search right away but the youngest gets sidetracked. He thoroughly enjoys picking flowers ("Sniff! Whiff!/ Spring! Fling!"), rolling in the mud, swinging on a branch, and boating on a leaf. When Mother Mouse gathers her three boys, the youngest is upset because he is the only one with no eggs. He runs away but happens upon an egg that cracks and reveals "An Easter friend." Cushman's illustrations in springtime colors extend a spare but energetic text that is full of action words. The expressive faces of the little mice will engage the reader. There are a number of imaginative touches in the interior of the house, such as the pencil that serves as a curtain rod and the postage stamp that is a picture on the wall. A nice little holiday story with a reassuring premise for young listeners.

Easter Mice!

Ollie's Easter Eggs

The simple declarative phrases and gently humorous illustrations are just right for the age group...Stickers are included. Gossie and her friends are back, dyeing Easter eggs. As in the other "Gossie and Friends" books, the illustrations are bright watercolors against a white background. Fans and newcomers alike will be delighted with this latest installment. This Easter children's book is for kids ages 4-8.

Ollie's Easter Eggs

Happy Easter Gus!

Gus the hedge hog and his animal friends have fun adventures celebrating different holidays. This is a wonderful story of how holidays are celebrated differently. A great Easter children's book for kids ages 4-8. Your children will love this little holiday tale.

Happy Easter Gus!

Hack// Another Birth Volume 3

.Hack Another Birth is written by N.Kawasaki. It is a science fiction novel. I thought the book was awesome! It always kept me guessing and had a lot of surprise turns. Most of the time the book takes place in an online video game called The world. Other times it takes place in the real world. The major conflict is Akiras brother Fumakazu has fallen into a coma wile playing The World. Akira must find the reason why he is in a coma with the help of her online friend kite. Akiras online friend Mistral (whom she eventually meets in the real world.) has to quit playing The World because she it pregnant. Akira was ok with this and said it was best the she did quit due to all the stuff that'

s been happening in the game. Lios and Helba two characters in the story really dislike each other but they must join forces in order to help Akira and company to fix the world. Akira thinks of a plan to bring them together and work out a deal for Lios to join. This book is biased on Akiras point of view. There are a lot of big words that are hard to pronounce in this book. For people who like science fiction and online games .Hack would be the best choice. They will get a suspenseful and page turning book.

Hack// Another Birth Volume 3

If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King

Updated from the 1990 edition, this well-written, historically rich text deserves a spot in every school and public library collection. In the attempt to paint a portrait of key events, people, and beliefs associated with the civil rights movement in America, Levine refuses to oversimplify, conceal, or glorify. She is honest in the telling, sharing vividly but not gratuitously the physical and emotional violence that resulted in the attempt to enact equality in the United States—from the Birmingham church bombings to the attempts by Bull Connor to break up a children's protest using water hoses and attack dogs. Levine defines and provides contextual information for difficult concepts (segregation and nonviolent direct action, for example) and reveals lesser-known historical truths to fill in the gaps often existent in classroom textbooks. Readers learn, for instance, that teenager Claudette Colvin paved the way for Rosa Parks by first refusing to give up her seat on the bus and that President Kennedy gained support from black voters in his support of Martin Luther King, Jr. The illustrations capture well the strong emotions experienced by those on all sides, leaving readers sometimes uncomfortable but always inspired to think carefully and critically. The text is organized by key questions, making it easy to navigate, and ends with a time line of important events, list of places to visit, and music and lyrics to "We Shall Overcome."

If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King

(Crime Scene Science) The Body as Evidence

If there is one subject that keeps kids interested, it is science. They seem to be fascinated by all the aspects of this. In this kids book we turn to forensic science. There has been a murder. A victim is pronounced dead. The police have sealed off the crime scene and called in the Medical Examiner, this gives it the realistic feel of how things are really done. The author gives all the facts needed in a magazine style layout. Every page is loaded with awesome pictures and sidebar notes. This poses a great challenge to make your child think like a crime scene scientist. This was a great read and keeps your mind turning throughout. The reading level for this kids book is ages 9-12.

(Crime Scene Science) The Body as Evidence

A Not Scary Story About Big Scary Things

A boy lives near a regular, ordinary, standard kind of forest, except that along with the usual perils of cliffs, bears, snakes, and wolves, there is also an actual, awful monster with a habit for scaring children. That is what people said, anyway. But the boy isn't believing it and his belief proves to be a powerful defense when he finds himself standing toe to toe with the monster, who seems to live up to its horrible tale. I'm sorry, the boy says politely, but I can't believe in something that's not real. Confused by this precocious rationality, the monster slowly shrinks, until it becomes nothing more than a fluffy little kitty, suitable for adopting. It is hard to think of two artists better suited to one another. Sharing a surreal sense of logic and elegance, Williams and Swiatkowska convey a mood that is both dreamy and reassuringly matter of fact. Swiatkowska is in particularly fine form, with wry drawings that range from florid to schematic and clever collages that underscore the silliness of conventional wisdom. Ages 3–7.

A Not Scary Story About Big Scary Things

'Twas the Night Before Summer

This book is a lot of fun. The illustrations are great and colorful. It is very imaginative and adventurous. I highly recommend! The rhythm, borrowed from another favorite children's story is very soothing to a child. It always helps to send them to sleep. Such a beautiful book. I love the colors and illustrations and my kids loved it too. The story is nice, it isn't too long to read as part of the bedtime routine and we all enjoy it. Would make a lovely gift too. This children's book is for kids ages 4-8. Visit ChildrenBooks2U to see our great selection of other children's books.

'Twas the Night Before Summer