May 15, 2012, KKCO, NEWS 11 Today Recommendations

     Summer is just around the bend.  When I think of summer, I think of adventures, including adventures in reading.  Summer adventures and reading are like hearing the Star Spangled Banner and attending a baseball game at Suplizio Field, you can't have one without the other.
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     Before I go any further, I would like to invite viewers and readers to leave a comment about reading or the books or authors that I am sharing today.  Better yet, sign up and follow this blog.  When you do either, I will put your name into a random drawing for one of the three books that I talked about today.  I will announce the winner on May 31st on this same blog.

     Today, I shared three different books with similar themes for different age levels.  They are books about adventure, learning, and all ask questions.  These books are great for interaction with multiple readers creating discussion and further questions to explore!  These are great summer reads to add to your list.

WHAT DOES THE WIND SAY?  by Wendi Silvano

     A former educator, Wendi Silvano writes strong picture books from the understanding of where the child resides, developmentally speaking.  In WHAT DOES THE WIND SAY?,  Wendi mimics the age group the story is written for, inquisitive toddlers and preschoolers.  This playful lyrical story asks questions about the simple things children wonder about.  Wendi has created a book that supports child and a reader interaction with the potential of perhaps posing additional questions with fun answers.  The whimsical and colorful illustrations by illustrator, Joan Delehanty, marry the words to bring about emotional responses like "ah" and "oh" satisfying everyone.

I rate this a 4 apple book, good to very good.  

What Does the Wind Say? from Northword Press is for preschoolers and toddlers, both genders. 

     The themes of exploration and wonderment and questioning are what this book is about.

You can learnt more about Wendi,  her books and where to buy them at : Wendi's Website

You can find this through Barnes and Noble or Amazon.  Your local book store can also order this book for you.  On the West Slope of Colorado, our local independent seller is Grand Valley Books.

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FANTASTIC FLIGHT by Barbara Bockman

"What fantastic thing will we do tomorrow?"  This line is a great lead-in to looking for summer adventures including adventures in reading. Author, Barbara Bockman understands the theme of homesickness and how to avoid being hijacked by it when it comes to school age kids.   Often, summers include extended stays with relatives who may live up the road or across the country.  They even include relatives coming to a child's house for extended stays.  FANTASTIC FLIGHT is a book that parents, grandparents, and children can relate to.  Everyone gets homesick at some time or another.  Jessica is spending a whole week at her grandparents, and she is homesick.  Fantastic Flight takes you into a world of a fantasy adventure that brings in some unlikely characters. It is illustrated by Jack Foster.

I would rate this a 4 apple book minus a few bites out of 1 apple.  This book is good.   I think the story is well written but found the digital art did not enhance the story and made the fluid characters feel emotionally flat.  The manuscript for this book being placed in a sixteen page format restricted the story.  Both of my concerns were editing choices by the publisher.

    Fantastic Flight from Guardian Angel Publishing is for age 4 -8 and lends to having adult/child interaction.

     The theme of homesickness and adventure are what the book is about.

You can learn more about Barbara and her books and where to buy them at: Barbara's Website or Guardian Angel Publishing.  Your local book store can also order this book for you.  On the West Slope of Colorado, our local independent seller is Grand Valley Books.

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HERBY'S SECRET FORMULA by Sue C. Hughey

     Herby has taken on a big problem and created a little problem in doing so.  Local author/illustrator, Sue C. Hughey knows boys and knows them well. HERBY'S SECRET FORMULA  is action a packed middle grade adventure  that is full of twists with cliff-hanging chapters  and has Sue's readers on the edge of their seats, refusing to put the book down, and cheering Herby on!  My nine year old nephew, James left me a voicemail after receiving a copy for his birthday.  He said, "Aunt Diane, Thank you for the book.  I couldn't stop reading it!"  I won't spoil this story for anyone.  It ends with the question, "What if?"  Sue tells me the sequel is well underway and due out this year.

This book is 4 juicy apples, very good.  It is well written and humorous.  There is a solid knowledge of the age of the character displayed in the character and his development, including a great depiction of children who at that age that are focused on nature, science, and saving the world.  I love this age!

     Herby's Secret Formula from Associated Arts Publisher is a middle grade novel of 220 pages broken into 21 chapters.  It is a high interest book for boys, and tom-boys and girls who love the outdoors and science.  It would make a great family read-aloud, especially around the campfire!

     Some of the themes are family, friendship, doing what is "right", making choices that may compromise your parent's beliefs, and survival.

You can learnt more about Sue and her books and where to buy them at her website: Sue's Website.

This book is available through the author, Grand Valley Books in Grand Junction, and Amazon.