Posts Tagged: favorite children’s books

Book Review-Baba Yaga The Flying Witch

04 Feb, 2010 by in book review, usborne 1 comment

Published February 29th 2008

by Usborne Publishing Ltd (first published January 2008)

details Hardcover, 48 pages

isbn 0746085605

4 stars

Story summary from the back cover


In this fantastic Russian folktale, Baba Yaga zooms through the forest on her flying pot. Her hair is greasy, her hands are arty. Her nose reaches down to her chin. And poor Tasha has been sent into the forest to find her…

First of all, let me say that Usborne Books are my very favorite in the whole world. Their editions are sturdy and withstand my children’s manhandling, chewing and reading. This one I picked up from the library. It has a cushioned hard cover and a ribbon inside to hold your place. I was interested in the subject because of the YA fiction book “Dreaming Anastasia” by Joy Preble. The folk tale of Baba Yaga was introduced within the story and I wanted to learn more.
The Usborne version is easy to read with beautiful illustrations and my children have all passed it around.  They are picky readers, so any book that holds their interest is impressive for me!  I can’t wait to pick up the other fairy tale book in the Usborne Easy Reader series.
To see images of Baba Yaga and the matryoska doll on Flickr see the photo galleries here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherzahngardner/galleries/

Mom’s Monday "Otis" by Loren Long

11 Jan, 2010 by in Otis, picture books Leave a comment


published September 22nd 2009 by Philomel

details Hardcover, 40 pages

isbn 0399252487

From Goodreads…” New York Times bestselling author/artist Loren Long creates an unforgettable children’s classic.

Otis is a special tractor. He loves his farmer and he loves to work. And he loves the little calf in the next stall, whom he purrs to sleep with his soft motor. In fact, the two become great friends: they play in the fields, leap hay bales, and play ring-around-the-rosy by Mud Pond.

But when Otis is replaced with the big yellow tractor, he is cast away behind the barn, unused, unnoticed . . . until the little calf gets stuck in Mud Pond. Then there is only one tractor—and it’s not big or yellow—who can come to the rescue. It is little old Otis who saves his friend. It is Otis who saves the day. In a wonderful new palette, and in the tradition of classics like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Story of Ferdinand, Loren Long has crafted an unforgettable new story—and character—celebrating the power of friendship and perseverance. “

I picked up Otis a couple of weeks ago at Barnes and Noble because I have a special spot in my heart for anything red and retro, not to mention I frequently photograph tractors near my home. The illustrations are priceless and the story is heart warming teaching the importance of special friends. Sometimes old is in fact better than new. Five out of five stars for this soon to be classic!

Frozen Fire Giveaway

06 Jan, 2010 by in free stuff, giveaway, tim bowler 10 comments

Frozen Fire by Tim Bowler
The title grabbed us…
From Booklist

Winner of the Southern Schools Book Award 2009

Read what others have to say about the book here:http://www.timbowler.co.uk/frozenfire.html
“In this atmospheric, British supernatural thriller, a stranger comes to town. Fifteen-year-old Dusty first hears his voice on the telephone, and she is startled by his words—last said to her in similar language by her long-missing older brother, Josh. As snow falls on the remote English countryside where Dusty lives, she searches for the mysterious boy, and the closer she comes to him (and he to her), the more danger surrounds her. Bowler’s writing chills, both in the way the author heightens the tension, chapter by terrifying chapter, and through his descriptions of the relentless snow beating down, brightening and frightening—the frozen fire of the title. Sometimes the descriptions burden the story, because readers will be anxious to get back to the compelling interplay between Dusty and the boy. Both spectral and powerful, the boy sends messages (by phone, in person, even through the snow) that propel Dusty forward, always hoping the boy will lead her to Josh. The tension doesn’t wane until the last possible moment.”

I am going to give away a hardback copy of Fozen Fire for our lovely blog followers. All you need to enter is tell me the name of your favorite Children’s book ever in the comments below. Additional entries as follows:
+3 for old blog followers
+2 for new blog followers
+2 for Facebook fans of Fire and Ice
+2 for new twitter followers @fireicephotos
+2 for entering our other two contests below
+2 for tweeting our blog site (post the link)
Contest ends January 20th, 2010 and winner will be randomly selected. Open to US and Canada only this time (but check out our Facebook Follower and Twilight contests still going on the blog)