Penelope is starting school for the first time but she’s having trouble making friends….because she keeps eating her classmates.
All in Dr.Bookworm Book Rec
Book Vs Movie: The Sun is Also a Star
“Carl Sagan said that if you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. When he says ‘from scratch’, he means from nothing. He means from a time before the world even existed. If you want to make an apple pie from nothing at all, you have to start with the Big Bang and expanding universes, neutrons, ions, atoms, black holes, suns, moons, ocean tides, the Milky Way, Earth, evolution, dinosaurs, extinction-level events, playtupuses, Homo erectus, Cro-Magnon man, etc. You have to start at the beginning.”
~from The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Carmela Full of Wishes
Carmela Full of Wishes is full of heart and has stolen MY heart in its rendering.
Dear Boy
Dear Boy is an anthem for little boys to be who they are, but not in a boys will be boys old-school way
If I Was the Sunshine
Julie Fogliano has woven together a lovely soft sort of ode to a loved one in a call and answer format. It’s a quiet melody that is not quite predictable, but depicts an ongoing relationship that draws two people (or things) together. Loren Long’s gorgeous illustrations are vibrant and full of flight, ocean waves, changing seasons, and always, always the ways we interconnect with each other and beyond.
What If It's Us
What I loved about What If It’s Us is that Albertalli and Silvera realistically portray the voices, the angst, the humor, the friendships, AND the awkwardness of teen relationships.
First Pages: A Darker Shade of Magic
“Kell wore a very peculiar coat.
It had neither one side, which would be conventional, nor two, which would be unexpected, but several, which was, of course, impossible.
The first thing he did whenever he stepped out of one London and into another was take off the coat and turn it inside out once or twice (or even three times) until he found the side he needed.”
~ A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Who Do I See in the Mirror?
When I heard that the premise of Who Do I See in the Mirror? is all about loving one’s self, I was already sold.
Another
Another is destined to become one of my top ten picture books ever.
This Moose Belongs To Me and Kohls Cares
First off, this is not an ad. This is just about my love for books and stuffed animals. And community charities and non-profits.
But mostly this is about my love for MOOSE. One moose in particular, that may go by the name of Rodrigo or Marcel. Or another name we don’t know about. But he most certainly does not belong to me.
I might belong to him though.
Hibernate With Me
On first read, Hibernate With Me, written by Benjamin Sheuer and illustrated by Jemima Williams, is a lullaby for convincing your child to go to bed. On further re-reads, I’m enamored with the constant refrain that this mommy or daddy bear will always, always, ALWAYS be there for their baby bear.
National Women Physicians Day 2019 and Dear Girl
Dear Girl is a love letter to all the little girls out there, to let them know that they are not alone. To let them know that it’s okay to say no, to let them know that it’s okay to be strong, to cry, to be themselves.
Multicultural Children's Book Day 2019: Alabama Oh
For Multicultural Children’s Book Day this year, Dr Bookworm reviews the Alabama Oh picture book trilogy, written by Andi Cann and illustrated by Micaela Stefano. #readyourworld
First Pages: The Lightening Thief
“Look. I didn’t want to be a half-blood.
If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life.
Being a half-blood is dangerous. It’s scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.”
The LIghtening Thief by Rick Riordan
Lola's New Year (Book) Raffle
My Lola (my grandma on my mom’s side) and I were close. She had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. Still, even after she’s been gone for 18 years, I can picture her smile (with bright red lipstick!) and hear her laughter and it makes me smile too.
How to Be a Viking
I love hearing ‘origin’ stories about books, especially about beloved series in our house. Cressida Cowell opens How to Be a Viking with an explanation that the series was inspired by a drawing she did in her sketch book about a little Viking prone to seasickness and his relationship with his father, who happens to be chief of their tribe. Thus Hiccup and Stoik the Vast are born (and later spun into the How to Train Your Dragon series).
Dragonology
If you haven’t guessed by now, it’s REALLY hard for me to resist buying books. Even as our house is overflowing with them.
So when Little Lion and I were out Christmas shopping last weekend and I was fairly good at convincing her to put most things back on the shelf, when it came time to put back Dragonology by Ernest Drake and Dugald Steer, I was torn.
First Pages: Anna and the French Kiss
“Here is everything I know about France: Madeline and Amelie and Moulin Rouge. The Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe, although I hav eno idea what the function of either actually is. Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, ad a lot of kings named Louis. I’m not sure what they did either, but I think it has something to do with the French Revolution, which has something to do with Bastille Day.”
~ Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
For Everyone
Jason Reynolds starts off For Everyone with the words “Dear Dreamer”. Not Dear Reader, but Dear DREAMER.
It’s a message straight to my heart.
Drawn Together
My Lola was one of my kindred spirits. I think she understood me in a different way than my mom does.
So you can imagine that when I heard that Dan Santat was illustrating a picture book about a boy’s relationship with his grandfather, I leaped at the chance to read it. I mean, it’s Dan Santat, right?