The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker

The Frog Princess

ABOUT THE BOOK: It's about Princess Emma, a princess who isn't graceful and who laughs strangely.  Emma lives near a swamp, and her aunt is a witch. Emma's mother expects her to be a certain way, but Emma just can't help being herself. The Queen chooses an obnoxious prince to marry Emma, instead she kisses a frog who claims to be a prince. She figures she'll either see a prince or a frog, but Emma could never guessed what happened next.

WHAT I LIKED: Aunt Grassina; the storyline; Lil' Stinker, the bat; and  the magic. Lil' Stinker was awesome because she's sort of like Grimalkin from the Iron Fey series -- she just is; I like her attitude. She is a bat who lived in the rafters in the house of a young witch who really didn't have any actual magic. She could only do really basic magic, but she thought she had a gift.

MY FAVORITE CHARACTOR: Aunt Grassina. She is magic, and understands Emma. Grassina had a boyfriend, but her mom turned him into an animal the first time Grassina brought him home. Grassina has glass flowers, and she turned her brother-in-law's favorite dog into a duck. Just for a little bit.

MY FAVORITE PART: When Emma frees a snake. I like it because snakes can be very dangerous. They can eat frogs.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Prince Jasper was extremely vain and rude.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You should  read this book, and if you like it, you can watch the movie it inspired, "The Princess and the Frog."

MOM'S TAKE: I liked this, it was light and funny and should appeal to girls 8 to 12, if they're reading chapter books. It did remind me of Patricia C. Wrede's Enchanted Forest series -- and I've just thought of more books Hannie needs to read!

FIND IT ON THE WEB: E.D. Baker's website.

The Complete Book of Dinosaurs by Dougal Dixon

 

Okay, my little brother wanted to do a guest blog about dinosaurs. So here he is.

ABOUT THE BOOK: It tells an array of facts about dinosaurs. It also includes information about pterosaurs, placodonts, northosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, and ichthyosaurs. Inside are pictures of possible environments, photos of actual fossils, and time-lines with watercolor paintings to express each stage. Dino eggs and footprints are discussed in this book as well.

THE BOTTOM LINE: It's one of my favorites. People should definitely read it. Dino fans will love it.

SIS'S INTAKE: I've looked at it, and children in grades 1-4 who are interested in dinosaurs will enjoy it.

FIND IT ON THE WEB: Dougal Dixon's website. 

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wicked Lovely

ABOUT THE BOOK: It's a modern faerie tale about a teenage girl, Aislinn. Aislinn and her grandmother can see faeries through their human disguises.  To protect themselves they make three rules: Don't stare at them, don't speak to them, and never ever attract their attention. These simple and incredibly important rules have  always protected Aislinn -until Keenan comes along. How can she keep her freedom but stay safe when only she can see him?

WHAT I LIKED: The Winter Girl; Grams-her grandmother; Seth's house; and Boomer, the snake.

MY FAVORITE CHARACTER: Donia, the Winter Girl. She helps Aislinn

MY FAVORITE PART: When Aislinn told off Keenan.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Keenan was trying to force Aislinn to do something she didn't want to do.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE: You may want to read this book. Parents may want to take a look through it before giving it to your kid.

FIND IT ON THE WEB: Melissa Marr's website.

Septimus Heap Series by Angie Sage

ABOUT THE BOOK: It`s about a boy named Septimus Heap, youngest son of Sarah and Silas Heap. He is the seventh son of a seventh son, and therefore is supposed to have extremly powerful Magyk. But the night he is born, he is taken away and pronounced dead by the midwife. Silas and Sarah never forgot their son.


WHAT I LIKED: The wolfhound; the castle; Stanley the Message Rat; the magyk; the mirror; the Heaps; and the Wizard Tower.

MY FAVORITE CHARACTOR: Jenna, a little girl born the same day as Septimus. She was friendly to
Boy 412.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: The Darke Magyk. It caused a lot of problems.
CHARACTOR I DIDN`T LIKE: DomDanial, a former ExtraOrdinary Wizard. He used the Darke Magyk to harm others.

THE BOTTOM LINE: You should take a look at these books, if you like magyk, odd charactors, and mysteries.

FIND IT ON THE WEB: Angie Sage`s site.