Thursday, August 31, 2017

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look


The second book in the Alvin Ho series is called Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters

Alvin is back and is preparing for the great outdoors. In this book, Alvin's Dad decides to take Alvin and Anibelly camping. Freaked out of his mind at what could possibly happen, Alvin prepares for any situation. But when things start to go downhill, Alvin starts to wonder if he is even going to live through the camping trip.


The second book in the Alvin Ho series was even better then the first book.  I just loved how he thought up every possible camping disaster and kept getting more scared.  I thought this was a great continuation of the series and I think fans of the first book will love the book as much as the first.

Monday, August 28, 2017

CatStronauts: Mission Moon by Drew Brockingham


I found this book while browsing through books at the library.  It looked kind of cute, so I decided to check it out.

CatStronauts: Mission Moon is the first graphic novel in a new series.  In this book, Earth has an energy shortage.  The best astronauts are sent to the moon to plant solar panels to collect solar power.  They have five day to train, build a rocket, and complete their mission.  But, by the way?  The whole world is made up of cats.  Can Major Meowser and his team save the planet?


This book was really funny.  It was a shorter read for me, but it really made me laugh.  I liked how everyone in the book was cats, from the President of the United States, to the astronauts, to regular citizens, but they also still had very "cat" names like PomPom and Waffles.  My favorite character was Waffles because he was always eating and he reminded me of myself.

Thursday, August 24, 2017

The Losers Club by Andrew Clements


In The Losers Club, a boy named Alec is enrolled in an extended day program because both his parents are working.  He is supposed to join a club while there, but all he wants to do is read.  Alec decides to make his own club--a reading club.  Since he does not want anyone else to bother him while he is reading, he names his club "The Losers Club" so no one will want to join.  How will he be able to prevent other people from joining him and just be able to enjoy his books in peace.

This book reminded me a lot of myself because I love to read and never want to stop.  I'm always finding new books, just like Alec in the story.  I liked how the books Alec mentions in the story are actual books, and that the author has a checklist at the end of the book listing the books in the story.  If I had a chance, I'd like to join a club like Alec's.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Almost Super by Marion Jensen


Almost Super is the first book in a new series that I found at the library the other day.

This book is about a boy named Rafter Bailey and his brother, Benny, whose entire family are superheroes. They are in a constant war with the Johnsons who are the supervillians. When Rafter and Benny suspect the Johnsons of stealing their powers, they know they have to try to get their powers back. But how will they fight the Johnsons without their true powers?

I thought this was a great book because Rafter and Benny were supposed to get good powers but they ended up useless ones. They still made the best of their powers and tried to help their family.  Even when their parents didn't believe in them, they kept trying to help save the day.

I can't wait to read the sequel!

Friday, August 18, 2017

The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman


The Gollywhopper Games is the first book in the Gollywhopper Games trilogy by Jody Feldman.

This book is about a boy named Gil whose receives a ticket to compete in the Gollywhopper Games.  The games are a puzzle scavenger hunt for kids, put on by the Golly Toy and Game Company.  Gil's dad promised him that, if he won, they would move to a different city to get away from the "incident".  Gil is more determined than ever to win this competition, but he has to get through puzzles, trivia, and other competitors first.

I really liked this book because it was full of the puzzles that Gil had to solve and the reader could try to solve themselves, if they can figure out the logic.  I also liked that each of the rounds of puzzles was completely different.  At the very end of the book, there is also a puzzle meant for the reader to try to solve.

This book reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Mr. Lemoncello's Library.  I think people who have liked those books will also probably like Gollywhopper Games too.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look


Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things is about a second grader named Alvin Ho. Along with his brother Calvin, his sister Anibelly, and his dog Lucy, he goes on adventures doing scary things (or at least to Alvin, they're scary). Alvin is afraid of everything, even simple stuff like school. He is so afraid of school, he can't even talk when he is there. How will he ever make it through second grade?

I enjoyed Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things because he is constantly afraid of one thing or another. I like how he is always looking for his family members (even his dog Lucy).  It's funny how, when Alvin is at home, he is fearless, but when he is anywhere else, he is a scaredy cat.

This funny book is good for elementary students. It is also the first book in the Alvin Ho series and there are 5 more titles after it.

Sunday, August 13, 2017

The Creature from My Closet: Katfish by Obert Skye


The Creature from My Closet: Katfish is the fourth book in the Creature from my Closet series.  This book is about a boy named Rob whose life has been ruined by other creatures that have come out of his closet in the prior books.  Rob has become an outcast at school, so his science closet sends a creature named Katfish to the rescue. With a little help from Katfish and his friends, will Rob earn back his life at school? Find out the answer in The Creature from My Closet: Katfish.


I thought The Creature From my Closet: Katfish was a great book because, just like the rest of the series, a creature came out of his closet that is a mix of two other popular book characters. In this book it was a mix of Ariel( from The Little Mermaid)and Katniss( from The Hunger Games). Other characters from the closet include Wonkenstein (Willy Wonka and Frankenstein), Potterwookie (Harry Potter and Chewbacca), and Pinocula (Pinocchio and Dracula).

This series is good for elementary and early middle school.  It's funny to read and a good mix of the story with fun drawings in between.

Friday, August 11, 2017

Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve


Pugs of the Frozen North is part of the "A Not-So-Impossible Tale" series, written by Phillip Reeve.

When True Winter comes, two friends, Sika and Shen, and their 66 pugs decide to enter the race to the top of the world.  If they win, they will get their wishes granted by the Snowfather.  One competitor will stop at nothing, even if it means cheating.  How will Sika and Shen reach the top and win the race?


I liked this book because of all of their funny adventures during the race. I also enjoyed it because of all the silly ways Sir Basil tried to trick Sika and Shen and the rest of the racers during the race.  I thought the pugs were adorable and it made me laugh to think about them being sled dogs.

For more fun activities about Pugs of the Frozen North, check out the website for the book!

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Story Thieves by James Riley


The first book in the Story Thieves series is about a boy named Owen.  One day, while at the library, he catches his classmate, Bethany, climbing out of a book.  Bethany is forced to reveal her secret to Owen and he learn Bethany is half fictional. Owen promises to not tell anyone if she takes him into his favorite book series. But once the characters find out Bethany and Owen are there, everything goes wrong. Can Owen and Bethany restore order while keeping their own lives?

Story Thieves was a great book because it told me about all the adventure you can have by just reading a book. It felt like I was really in the book as I read and I really liked Owen and Bethany's adventures. I think this book, and the series, would be a good choice for middle schoolers.

I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.  There are two more books out already and one coming out at the end of September 2017.