Welcome to Day 9!
I’m going to catch up on responding to your comments today/tonight
and I’ll start compiling entries for the next giveaway,
which will be TOMORROW!
Stay tuned!
For today’s book I have no story.
I was NEVER a vampire for Halloween.
I read Twilight,
but I was ALWAYS “Team Werewolf”
And dancing?
One time I had to teach a dancing class at a Little Gym that I worked at.
Oh my goodness it was hilarious.
I was VERY thankful that they were only three years old,
so it wasn’t too bad.
But I still had fun reading this book!
I know some people read it for last year’s 31 in 31,
and I scooped it up when I saw it at the library!
Title: Vampirina Ballerina
Published by: Hyperion Books, Disney, 2012
Written by: Anne Marie Pace
Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham
Word count: 381
Pages: 40
In one word: Charming!
In one sentence: Have fun following and dancing along as Vampirina goes through the trials and tribulations of learning how to become a dancer!
Favorite pages:
Likes:
- I love the illustrations! LeUyen does such GREAT facial expressions.
- Page layouts…sometimes the illustrations and text dance across the page!
- The pull out section of the dance…very fun.
- I love the DIY style of the book, the “guide to being a ballerina” feel.
- Second person! My favorite tense!
- The font! (21 point Rolando Opti) is a nice marriage of fancy and functional
Learns:
- A How to kind of guide book is a cool way to present a story
- A mashup (vampires and ballerinas) can result in a pretty hilarious story!
- Um, all about dancing! (I didn’t know ANYTHING really before I read this book!)
I know, you feel like dancing now, don’t you?
You’re welcome 🙂
What did you read today?
Until tomorrow,
KE and SS
Oooh, I read that book this summer when I was in the states and enjoyed it. Today I reread a classic for research for another story I’m outlining–The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper. Wow, it was published in 1930 and still going!
I hope I can create a timeless book!
Today I read Limelight Larry by Leigh Hodgkinson – perfect for any kid (or adult) who believes the world does – or should – revolve around them!
And now I’m off to dance like a vampire!
This book is on my TBR list. I just ordered it through the library’s ILL system. Can’t wait! I was a dancer — tap, ballet, jazz, and even baton lessons for years. I have a feeling I can relate to this story, especially since I’m a night owl. (I said OWL. Those other rumors are just…rumors.)
Today I read IN THE TREE HOUSE by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Dusan Petricic, 2013, Kids Can Press. Wordy, but worth every one of them! (This is the second book not listed in AR BookFinder, so I can’t post the word count.)
This author has three picture books published, all based on real events. After reading IN THE TREE HOUSE, I’m nearly desperate to read the other two. I loved this book!
The blanket of leaves design on the inside covers, with just bits of white space at the bottom edges, gives the sense of looking down from a tree house. Lovely.
The story is heartwarming, and it’s so true to life. It’s about two brothers in a new house. They finally have a yard of their own. The younger begins drawing designs for a tree house. The older joins in. Then Dad reveals that he did the same when he was a kid. The tree house is built and the boys spend the summer enjoying it. The story is told from the younger boy’s POV during a day in the second summer, when his brother no longer has time for his too-little brother.
The power goes out. Larsen describes the events — the neighbors, the stars, the… (oh, I don’t want to spoil it for you, so no spoilers here) — perfectly, creating such a vivid, real sense that illustrations aren’t needed.
The best line: “The neighbors blow out their candles and go back inside like nothing has happened, like it’s just another night.”
Carol, I read that book a few months ago and LOVED it! So glad you brought it up, now I want to look for his other two as well!
Forgot to post what I read yesterday…Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo. Very heartwarming story of a little girl having the true Christmas spirit. Today I read one of my faves, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. A true classic where the message stands the test of time.
I personally don’t care for “The Giving Tree” because it’s too depressing and the message does not seem positive to me. What do you think the message is?
Hi Lily, I think the message is about unconditional love. No matter how much he takes from that tree, the tree still supports him as an old man and provides a place for him to rest. That tree loves him until the end. The tree was always there for him. I can see how you would think it is depressing since the man takes and takes and doesn’t give back.
Today I read another recent teddy bear book, “Theodore: The Adventures of a Smudgy Bear.” This one is written by Edward Ormondroyd, illustrated by Juli Kangas, and published in 2009 by Dial Books For Young Readers. I won’t give too much away; all I’ll say is it shows us the importance of being smudgy for a bear, with the help of simple but adorable illustrations.
Today I read “The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!” by Mo Willems
I read “The Picture of Morty & Ray” by Daniel Pinkwater. It is a take on the classic “The Picture of Dorian Gray”. And well, how can you not adore a book by Daniel Pinkwater, even if it is a bit creepy? It was a good read to get into the Halloween spirit.
Today I only had a few minutes in the library so I just grabbed some books where liked the cover art. So I read Bird, Butterfly, and Eel by James Prosek, who is both author and illustrator. The illustrations are paintings and are beautiful. Published in 2009 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. Don’t know the word count, but definitely more words than I know we’re told we should write! He describes the migration and life cycle on a barn swallow, monarch butterfly and eel from his farm on the New England coast to where they go in the winter.
Today I read Superhero ABC, written and illustrated in clever comic book style by Bob McLeod. Each letter of the alphabet is used to introduce an original superhero (or team) and some commentary. Some are gross: V is “The Volcano vomits on Villains (He’s Vile! He’s Valiant!)” It fits the stereotype of a good “boy book”, but my girls like it too. My disappointment with the book is that it could have easily been written/illustrated with more diversity. Of the 34 superheroes, only 8 are female. Of the 29 heros with human faces, only 2 are non-white.
I copied you and read VAMPIRINA BALLERINA! I’d seen it around bookstores but hadn’t ever picked it up to read until today. I liked how the text left so much room for illustrations and how the vampire part was told mostly through LeUyen Pham’s art. My favorite illustration was the one with the word “reflection.”
So here is my book from yesterday (I’m a little late). I read Rude Giants by Audrey Wood. My kids are going through a little bit of a giant craze after reading Jack and the Beanstalk, so we have been reading lots of giant books. This one was really cute and the kids loved it.
Ay ay, I am running behind. My excuse: two sick kids. I have been reading, sick kids like to listen to stories thankfully, just not getting much online time. I think my middle son would love today’s book!
I have read ‘The Money Tree’ by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small (I love his art work). A gently story with a real money tree and a subtle moral.