December 31, 2016
Women of the Otherworld 9: Living with the Dead
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Nope. Adele just kills this book. She is beyond creepy. I still like Hope and Karl. Robyn is okay but has a lot of really stupid moments. Some of the early ones can be forgiven as she's a human caught in a supernatural conflict, but not all. Still on the fence with Finn and Damon. They have potential, but I don't think it's much beyond that at this point. The whole Nast pact and kumpania are just too much. That is one can of worms that would have been better staying sealed or completely disappearing once opened.
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December 30, 2016
Women of the Otherworld 8: Personal Demon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This series is slowly growing on me. Hope and Karl make another interesting match. We also get to see a lot of Lucas and Paige as this case manages to do what most thought impossible - make Lucas lead the Cortez Cabal (in a temporary capacity). Carlos' final statement makes it sound like things are about to get a lot worse in the whole Cabal succession arena. This oddly seems to have proven that Lucas could lead the Cabal, and while he's not afraid of using known criminals, his brand of justice could be either similar or different depending on the crime and the individual (or their abilities). It is entirely possible we haven't heard the last from Jaz, and that's another scary thought.
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December 29, 2016
Women of the Otherworld 7: No Humans Involved
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I think this may be my favorite book so far. Jaime has been an amusing ongoing character from the beginning and dancing around the whole relationship question with Jeremy for awhile. Not only do we get a lot of great moments there, but a lot of discoveries about different types of powers and Jaime even finally figures out what Eve really is (as well as why she'said out of reach sometimes). There's just enough of all the main characters that you feel like the group is still together while focusing mostly on Jaime and Jeremy. It was also nice to see Jaime more involved without having to go behind someone's back to do something. They make a good, and interesting, central pairing.
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December 28, 2016
Wheels on the Bus
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My son got a rather sturdy copy of this book for Christmas this year. It literally is the Wheels on the Bus song in book form. Makes it easy for my daughter to "read" as she knows the general tune of the song and can generally guess which part is the action based on the pictures. My son just loves having a book he can cart around that so far he hasn't managed to chew a corner off or rip a page.
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Vengeance
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is one of Poulson's better books. It was a little slow in some places, but mostly it was engaging and I wanted to know what happens next. Most of the LDS emphasis was mild enough it didn't feel like the reader was choking on it, but was very much still there (especially in the epilogue). There are so many moving parts to this puzzle that it constantly has you thinking one thing and then changing to another direction as everything comes together. Stone and Reginald certainly turn out different than their first impressions would suggest, as do some of the other characters.
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Autumn Rain 5: Blinded
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I kept meaning to put this down last night, but I was so into the story that I was up until nearly 1:00 finishing the book. We get to see Cody take a more active role in things as Autumn is temporarily blinded, unable to use her gift to actually see imprints, though they still do a number on her in other ways. Shannon also steps things up nicely with their relationship at the very end of the book, which is a nice way to finish their multiple cases that all link in some way to each other. They thought they were just investigating suspicious deaths in an estate sales company. Instead they solve that, find 2 missing people (one previously thought to be dead), discover the truth about the O'Donnel and Hamilton family relationships, and catch Ace in a rather ugly situation. That doesn't even go into Eaton, who is a real piece of work. Cody was right to warn Autumn about him. The other nice thing I like about this series - for an LDS fiction book, there is no mention of religion or any faith being shoved down the reader's throat. Also doesn't hurt that this series largely takes place in Oregon, my home state.
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December 27, 2016
Maeve'ra 3: Bloodtraitor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I still struggle with this series. On the one hand, it's nice to finally get the full story about how the first Midnight fell. There are also a lot of names mentioned here that are referenced in the original Den of Shadows and Kiesh'ra series as well as the sakkari's foretelling linking to a lot of those events. As an actual book series, it falls short. There is very little actual development and nothing short of characters getting jostled to and fro resulting in a rather anticlimactic fall of Midnight. There is a lot of talk about slaves and how they often are inside and out of Midnight depending on their generation, which is seen more clearly in the very front and center actions of Malachi and most of the Obsidian clan.
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Walkin' Butterfly 1
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I read this because it came in an anime surprise box that was one of my Christmas gifts. The main character seems to have some major body and self worth issues that are rehashed on just about every page. Otherwise there is little to no character development or forward progress in the story. I don't know if that changes as the series continues given this left me with no desire to find the rest of the series to read.
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December 26, 2016
Maeve'ra 2.5: The Prophet
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Based on the numbering, I'm guessing this will be the equivalent of a flash back for the next full book, which is why I'm reading it first even though I have both on hand. Like The Rebel, this feels more like a teaser than a short story. It's enough to make you wonder what will happen without actually giving much of anything in the way of story progress. Somewhat enjoyable yet also slightly annoying at the same time.
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Maeve'ra 1.5: The Rebel
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I'm not really sure what purpose this short is supposed to serve. It really just gives more conversation and filler to Keeda'a backstory, which is already referenced in the main books. I guess it could act as a type of teaser, but still not sure it warrants it's own book.
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Christmas in Haggerty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My first copy of this book was actually a gift at a book signing where I met Betsy Brannon Green. My second copy was a gift from a friend when the first one was slightly damaged while she borrowed it. This is a very short and sweet, yet sometimes melancholy Christmas story with the favorite characters from Haggerty. Kate is struggling with the fact that she can't have any more children while being pushed to do family history (though her own is already finished) and Miss Eugenia has her own loneliness issues. Mark seems the most ambivalent of the group and even Miss Annabelle admits to going along with many of Miss Eugenia's plans just to humor her sister (amusing considering the way the two of them often snipe at each other in public). As a short story, this is very easy to read in a brief sitting once you get going on it.
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Women of the Otherworld 6: Broken
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Elena is definitely one of the easier characters to read in this series. Very little mention of Paige and Lucas, though Jaime does show up and there is a brief reference to Eve. Jaime and Jeremy seem to be a standstill, which is frustrating since every book has some commentary about the pair. There's a lot of repetition with the repeated zombie killing and talk about protecting Elena and why she has to take it easy because of this pregnancy. Clay seems a bit more human this time around, which is nice. Zoe is an interesting new character, though Hull is just non stop trouble. Really wasn't sad to see him go.
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December 25, 2016
Star Wars 3.5: Rogue One
Star Wars 3.5: Rogue One (2016)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was the story of the mission to get the Death Star's plans which Princess Leia then hid in R2-D2 on her mission to find Obi-Wan Kenobi. You know it's not likely to end well as it's a war story and they say in A New Hope that many of their best pilots died to get them this data. Despite all of this, you're left with a high action story that leaves you feeling like they accomplished something important even if they don't get their happily ever after. Added on top of that, they've gone above and beyond to make sure characters you would recognize from the original trilogy look the same in this movie, adding to the tie ins and putting a seamless tranisition in place that makes it feel as if this is just filling in a gap rather than being a side story.
The Itsy Bitsy Snowman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Similar to The Itsy Bitsy Spider, just changed to fit a snowman. This was a book my daughter picked out for baby brother. Good rhyme and cute pictures make for a fun yet simple children's book.
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December 22, 2016
Women of the Otherworld 5: Haunted
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This was a very difficult installment in the series. While I like Eve and Kristof as a pair, on their own, they bore me. This is especially true with all the repitition, especially on Eve'so part. A little confusing in the end when Eve "says her goodbyes" without anyone hearing or clearing up anything that happened during the whole possession fiasco. Wasn't the big perk of being an Angel the ability to interact with the living? Paige and Lucas have apparently moved on from figuring out details on working together to being married. Skipped some potentially big parts in their story with that jump. No real mention of Elena and her pack. There is Jaime'a brief call with Jeremy for information and that's it. Any other werewolves mentioned are of the ghost variety and end up being bad news. There's just too much happening with too little forward momentum.
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5-Minute Christmas Stories
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another of our Christmas advent books. We only read one story for bedtime and saved the others for story time today. This book contains 12 different stories, each only 5 minutes long. Perfect for the attention span of small children. Each one features different Disney characters, adding another bit of fun. What child doesn't enjoy Disney? The stories are the following:
1. Mickey & Friends: Santa's Little Helper
2. Wall-E: A Gift for Wall-E
3. Peter Pan: Christmas in Never Land
4. Alice in Wonderland: A Present for the Queen
5. 101 Dalmatians: Snow Puppies
6. Monsters Inc.: Christmas in Monstropolis
7. Winnie the Pooh: Merry Christmas, Winnie the Pooh
8. Sleeping Beauty: Aurora's Homemade Holiday
9. Lady & the Tramp: Christmas Traditions
10. Cars: Mater Saves Christmas
11. Pinocchio: A Meowy Christmas
12. Cinderella: A Perfect Party
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December 19, 2016
Frozen: A Frozen Christmas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is basically the same as Frozen: The Christmas Party from the Step Into Reading series. The descriptions are a little different, and this is in a simplified board book form. Seriously though, look at the artwork.... it's the exact same. Slightly different order and there are a few missing in this book from the other one, but what is there is duplicated. No originality on this author's work at all. My daughter still enjoyed it because it was Frozen, plus Christmas, plus glitter everywhere. I wasn't impressed. This is one that will probably be stealthily finding a new home in the future since we have the other book as well.
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December 18, 2016
Hunted
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This was my hard copy book sitting at home to read, which is why it took a long time to keep coming back to it. I kept losing my place too as my kids would ultimately end up moving or losing my bookmarks. Today I had some time in between baking with my oldest that I was able to really sit down and finish it, which was nice as I hate having unfinished books on my reading list. The story was both low key and high action at the same time as the main characters having to constantly stay in hiding and looking over their shoulders leaves a sense of something coming even when most of the action actually happens back in their little hometown. The teenagers also seem to have more than a few mixed signals to deal with. Leaves for more than a little surprise and mixed speculation. Can't really say that I was happy with the ending, but it was okay.
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Women of the Otherworld 4: Industrial Magic
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I ended up getting distracted by a lot of other books while trying to read this one, which is why it's taken so long. Once I finally dug into it earlier this week, it flew by quickly. This was probably helped by the 4 hours waiting at Les Schwab with my tablet on hand to read on and no kids to corral. The beginning is very slow, which is what I ended up re-reading several times over when I came back to the book. Once Lucas and Paige were in Miami and things started picking up though, it was hard to put it back down. Partially that was because now I wanted to know how it ended, and the other part was because I was sick of having this book still pending on my reading list. I wanted to finish it! I'm really not sure what to think about Lucas's dad, though I really don't like his brothers. Jaime and the rest of their motley crew are rather amusing and end up being a lot more reliable than original implied most often. Good to have someone you can count on when you need it. Lucas and Paige still have a rather in-depth conversation coming up in the near future.
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Paw Patrol: The Itty-Bitty Kitty Rescue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Like most Paw Patrol books, this follows one of the TV episodes. Precious is a lost little kitten who gets stuck floating out on the bay. She ends up taking Zuma's hover craft and Rubble's skateboard each for unexpected joyrides, but ultimately the pups are able to save the "itty-bitty kitty" and reunite her with her owner. We got this free through a rewards program as our daughter loves the series. She zeroed in on it pretty quickly this morning - it just arrived in the mail last night.
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December 17, 2016
Frozen: Olaf's Night Before Christmas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Another new Christmas book for our advent reading this year. This book starts off similar to the famous Christmas story by the similar title, but it changes to fit the narrator (Olaf) and how he might see things for a Frozen Christmas. The story still rhymes, and the story is still simple for small children. The overall content and meaning is much the same. Still, enough has been changed that it doesn't feel like just the same old thing and kids who love Frozen especially get a kick out of it. As a bonus, this book came with a read-along CD that Olaf is supposed to narrate as he tells this story. We haven't listened to it yet, but it's on the list for later this week already.
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December 16, 2016
Little Blue Truck's Christmas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another of our Christmas advent books this year, this is a jumbo print board book. The reason becomes obvious when you reach the back page - where the Christmas tree literally lights up. Overall, the story is simple and cute. There's actually a big emphasis on counting you can capitalize on with small children as the trees are picked up and then delivered one by one. The book itself feels very sturdy, which is great for little hands.
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Black Dagger Legacy 2: Blood Vow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This series seems a little more mild than the original while still being in the same vein. The real pairing here is Elise and Axe with a huge side dose of Bitty's story when her uncle, Rhun, comes looking for her. Rhage and Mary don't have an easy time of things, but it would seem everything works out for the best. Peyton even seems to be wising up a bit, which could be very good for Novo depending on how things work out there. At least might cut some of the tension with Paradise of nothing else.
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December 15, 2016
The Polar Express
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We got this award winning book as a deal from my daughter's school book fair in hardback. The artwork is beautiful and the story is a classic. I remember hearing it as a child myself, though I did not have a copy of the book. We've since seen the movie as well, which has a lot of added details to flesh it out into a full length film. Still, it's a fun story. The kids loved the train and my daughter kept asking questions about Santa and belief making the bell work at the end. She's only four, so I can only imagine the questions she'll come up with or the comments she'll make as we keep reading this over the years for her and her brother.
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Kate Daniels 9: Magic Binds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I can't really decide what I think of this book. As usual, it seems to be one emergency after the next thanks to Roland and this whole prophecy thing going on. The events really do follow the prophecy, and all the subsequent ones from Kate trying to change things to a different fate, as the story unfolds. Clear down to the final line of the book. Kate won't be needing an ultrasound either. Some unexpected turns, especially with her aunt. Never seems to be a dull moment, especially with all that magic flinging around. On the plus side, at least some of Kate's friends prove to be more than what they seemed and not complete idiots.... unlike Jim who seriously needs to get things straight. Paranoid is one thing... he's a class act of his own league.
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Fantastic Beasts 1: Where to Find Them
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a unofficial prequel series to the original Harry Potter by the same author, J.K. Rowling. The book that this movie derives it's title from is actually one of Harry's textbooks in the original series. This specific movie follows the author of the textbook (before the book is written) as he travels to the United States to free some of his "fantastic beasts." Some of his creatures get loose while New York is already dealing with some magical mayhem, resulting in a rather awkward and strange adventure that both boggles and amuses the mind at the same time. The creatures they created for this movie truly are fantastic.
The Christmas Kitten
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My daughter's pick for her special advent book as it came with a kitten plush. What they don't tell you is that this is sort of an Elf on the Shelf in disguise idea.... read this story early in December when "kitty" is supposed to show up at the house to keep track of how naughty or nice the children are. The cat is then supposed to disappear on Christmas Eve with Santa only to return again the next year. Yeah.... don't think that's happening. She'll either get tucked in with the Christmas ornaments or just stay with the rest of the stuffed animals. The second is more likely since said cat also comes with a bell attached, making it difficult to move her without hearing it. The story itself is cute, and the art is pretty. It's simple and pretty straight forward, which is good for kids. I guess at least it's a stuffed cat and not a lure to actually adopt a kitten, which is what I was slightly afraid of at the start of the book when it says the cat will come to live with the children. Well, okay then. We already have two cats; that's enough.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was my daughter's pick for baby brother's new book on the Christmas book advent. It came with a little reindeer plush as well. This is the classic Night Before Christmas rhyme with beautiful artwork to help tell the story. The kids both loved it.
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 24.5: Wounded
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
On the plus side, this is one of the more tame stories. On the other side, it still has a lot of issues. Anita comes off as both happy and condescending to those not a part of her group, which seems in bad taste at a wedding. It's been well established that she never goes anywhere without her personal arsenal, but it still seems in poor taste to be flashing it at a wedding. I guess you could liken it to a cop carrying his sidearm, which I have seen, but it doesn't have the same ring to it. There's also the obvious lack of follow through. Mrs. Conroy states very clearly she's going to send her husband over and talk to Manny and Rosita about Anita carrying concealed at the wedding..... but we never see any of this. In fact, Anita and her two leopards decide not to disturb Manny and Rosita's dancing about Tomas and instead talk to the sister. Okay....
I guess the whole side conversation with Tomas helps him, or it seems to, but really it seems like an excuse to hash out everyone's bad histories again. Granted, the purpose is supposedly to highlight the benefit and possibilities of actually following doctor's orders and working to improve yourself, but that seems to be the icing on the proverbial cake.
Then of course Jean-Claude has to show up. Of course it's this big deal because he's the American king now and Anita's public fiance out of the whole group, but does he really belong in this scene otherwise? His past is tied in neatly to the whole bad past/having to survive bit with reference to his scars, but again, it's add on. Not to mention the whole hash about the gossip/media circuit and how careful they all have to be.... as they take over the center spotlight at someone else's wedding. Classy. Of course everything has to revolve around Anita and her men or it wouldn't be an ABVH story, right?
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December 14, 2016
Barbie: Horses to the Rescue
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Okay, I realize this is a early beginner learning to read book, but it is seriously abbreviated. Short choppy sentences only, making the story rather abrupt and lacking any flow at all. My daughter still loves it because it's Barbie, has animals, and there are stickers in the back. Personally I'd be fine not reading it for a very long time. This is based of the movie, Barbie & Her Sisters in a Puppy Chase, which is why this book technically has two titles.
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Paw Patrol: Look & Find
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As a paperback giant book, this is rather flimsy. As a look & find book, it is pretty much in line with other similar books, just based on Paw Patrol. Some of the pages are fairly easy (like finding the pups or their vehicles). Other's are a little more difficult (like finding different birds or pastries). Similar to many other look and find books, there are also additional optional finds listed in the back. It's fun mostly because it makes kid's think and is a popular show that children love. Otherwise it wouldn't have much going for it.
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Frozen: Look & Find
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As Look and Find books go, this is pretty standard. Most of our books from this line are board books, or giant board books. This is the first one in our collection that is a giant paperback. Thankfully it's also mostly for the oldest of our children, so it's safe as long as she keeps it away from baby brother. Some of the items seem harder to find than in some of the previous books as well, and there are two pages in the back of additional items to look for in each scene.
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What Was I Scared Of?
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We got this for our daughter because she's had a lot of issues with nightmares or saying she's too scared to go to bed. Often, she'll wait until we leave the room and then sneak out to try and sleep in ours. As with most Dr. Seuss books, it's a simple story, somewhat silly, told with made up words and rhymes. It made her giggle and smile though, so maybe between that and the message of the story, it will help things click into place for her.
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December 12, 2016
Lego Frozen: Northern Lights
Lego Frozen: Northern Lights (2016)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Like most Lego movies, the animation is odd to say the least. I know it's because everything is designed to look like real Lego pieces come to life, but that doesn't make it seem any less strange. The previews for this TV special/movie touted that it brought back the original voice actors. However, it appears they went cheap with the production as it's short, has no new music to speak of, constantly drops one liners from the original movie (could say they were trying to be clever, but it just comes off as if they have no originality), and feels like a never ending bit of filler. It's amusing, in a watching-a-train-wreck sort of way.
December 11, 2016
Paw Patrol: The Night Before Christmas
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is essentially the same story as the Holiday Helpers book, just with less words and lift-flaps added in a board book style. The story is told very concisely and simply in a rhyming method that makes it fun for the kids. Some of the lift-flaps make sense along with the story line, but most of them are just cute little Christmas decorations to give it the 24 total flaps for the countdown to Christmas. The kids loved it, so that's good. Not something I'd want to read every day, but it's cute and feels pretty sturdy, especially for a lift-flap book.
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December 9, 2016
Frozen: Sparkle Magic!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This short children's book is very brief in it's synopsis of the movie's events before moving on to other brief descriptions of activities Anna and Elsa do after everything is over. It's written so that everything is positive. The pictures are fun and covered in raised glitter that makes it even more appealing to young girls (or so I'd gather from my daughter's reaction). It also has a poster in the back you can pull out. So many of these books do these days though, that we often leave them inside. In fact, my daughter was very upset when two of them fell out accidentally. Now she'll unfold them to look at them, but then folds them back up and tucks them back inside the books.
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December 8, 2016
The Wild Christmas Reindeer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was originally one of my books as a child and this is the first year I've been able to read it to my own children. At first glance, you might think it's a more difficult children's book as the text is in a larger paragraph. However, there is typically only one "larger" story section per two-page spread in the book. This, and the flow of the story, make it a much easier book overall. The artwork is simply stunning, and has always stood out. While the story is about preparing for Christmas, most specifically about gathering and training the reindeer, it's really more about the effort and emotions Teeka displays and learns as she goes through the process. The Christmas ending is just kind of the bonus icing on the cake.
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December 7, 2016
Disney Princess: Winter Fun for Everyone!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A little more lengthy when it comes to the story than Sweets & Treats, which has a similar set up to this book. Still, it is a cute and fun book for small children. All the glitter certainly didn't hurt with my little girl. My son wasn't so enamored of it, but he was also cranky and wanted his bed more than his bedtime story. With only 3 princesses highlighted, it isn't the most inclusive of the Disney Princess books, but it's still more than sufficient for it's purpose and length.
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Paw Patrol: A Very Puppy Christmas!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I somehow missed that this is largely a coloring book when ordering it online. Still, it is cute and relates completely to the Christmas Paw Patrol episode, as does the Holiday Helpers book. There are an insane number of ornament and card extras in this book as well. My daughter would need her own tree for the number of cardstock decorations she now has between this and the few in her most recent Frozen book. If nothing else, this is a great activity book for children, especially during the holidays.
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Where the Wild Things Are
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
We've heard enough about this book and it's awards to want it for our kid's shelf. I was a little surprised when reading it for the first time, however. There is no punctuation in this book to speak of. The entire story is one long run on sentence. That alone is a little disorienting. Really, the artwork is the highlight of the tale. It is also amusing to think that this little human boy in a fox suit can so easily tame and rule all of these "Wild Things." I guess that just goes to prove the power of the imagination; especially that of a child. Overall it's a cute book, but I wouldn't say it's a favorite.
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December 6, 2016
Paw Patrol: Holiday Helpers!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was one of our new books for our Christmas book advent with the kids. Our daughter loves Paw Patrol, so it was an instant hit for that reason alone. It follows the Christmas TV episode when Santa gets caught in a blizzard and needs the Paw Patrol to help fix his sleigh, find the fallen gifts to deliver, and round up his reindeer. Cute and familiar for any young Paw Patrol fan to follow along with. As a bonus, the book also included stickers, a poster, and gift tags. That's a pretty fancy collection for a small holiday book.
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December 5, 2016
Care Bears: Share Bear's Christmas Wish
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a cute little Care Bear story featuring around Share Bear. As usual, Share is so busy helping everyone else that none of her own to-do list gets done. Lucky for her, the Care Bears are all about caring and helping, even poor Grumpy Bear. A good, simple story for children about the helping others and how it isn't the things that matter so much for the holidays, but the people (or bears) who make it great.
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Moana
Moana (2016)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The story is different, and as with most Disney movies, there is a lot of fun music. The artwork is the same style as Tangled and Frozen (you can especially tell by looking at their noses of all things).
It has been thought since Frozen was released and Moana first announced that Moana would join the Disney Princess lineup, especially after Elsa and Anna did not end up doing so after claims they would from Disney itself. Even Disney talked as if Moana would be joining the lineup, but now they are backpedaling and saying she will not. Personally, I think it's because they're hoping she's enough for her own franchise like how Frozen has taken off. Why lump them in with everyone else if they do better on their own? Slightly disappointing as the lineup has needed an overhaul for awhile. Merida and Rapunzel started in that direction. You could even claim Mulan did as well, though I still personally believe she should not be in the lineup as she's the only one with no sort of royal title. Pocahontas is a stretch as a "chief's daughter," but as Maui points out in Moana, "chief's daughter, princess; it's the same thing."
The news releases have said really good things about Disney's accuracy portraying the people in this movie. As I know nothing beyond basics from long-ago school days, I have nothing else to go on. I will say that if it is as accurate as claimed, they did an amazing job with it. Plenty still ranges out into the unbelievable, but what is a Disney movie without a little magic?
December 4, 2016
Disney Princess Storybook Collection
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a gift to my daughter from my brother-in-law. She loves Disney, princesses, and books, so that makes this an instant win with her. The stories are a little long for young children though. Really, she does better with the 5-minute stories rather than the storybook collections, though she still loves them. I expect this will be more fun to read with her when she is older, has a better attention span for the stories, or can even read them herself.
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December 3, 2016
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: Rudolph Helps Out
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a cute little short board book about Rudolph helping with Christmas preparations. It follows the animated movie, including the elves and other reindeer, so it is best if you have seen that as well. My kids have been too young to watch it previous years, so it is on our list of Christmas films to watch this year. We'll have to pull this back out again after so the character references make more sense. Either way, they are already singing about Rudolph in school, so it still got a smile.
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December 2, 2016
Frozen: The Christmas Party
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This ended up being the first book unwrapped for our Christmas book advent this year. Lucky pick as it was the book my daughter most wanted to start with (I think because it was also the most recently acquired and fresh in her mind from wrapping). The story is cute, simple, and fun, though the ending does not follow the flow of the rest of the book. It also focuses on sisters, which my daughter does not have. She does have a brother though, so I told her we could replace "sisters" with "siblings" for the same meaning. The little paper ornaments in the back are a cute as well. She wanted to make them right then, but we didn't have any ribbon or string to tie them with, so we'll need to find something for that I suppose. Her copy also came with a snowflake necklace that she wants to wear all the time. It is very cheaply made however, especially the chain as I've already had to fix that twice from the links coming apart.
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November 30, 2016
Little Blue Truck's Halloween
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The kids love the original Little Blue Truck, so of course they asked for the holiday editions. Didn't expect it to be so big, especially since our original story is in a traditional board book size. Still, it is sturdy and feels durable, which is great for small children. Even the lift flaps (something else I didn't anticipate) feel thick and sturdy. Each spread finds a new animal in costume and lifting the flap reveals which animal and their sound as they travel through the farm. Of course the ultimate costume for the Halloween party is the Little Blue Truck. Cute and simple book for children.
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Disney Princess: Sweets & Treats
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is an overly simplified children's book, making it best for the younger ages. Each page spread features a simple one line description of a different princess's Halloween celebration. The book also included Halloween party invitations and stickers. Cute for my little girl who loves the Disney Princess line. Not sure that it's something my son will grow to like as well.
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Barbie: Happy Howl-o-ween!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was one of my daughter's Halloween picks for her school book club. She loves Barbie, so of course she was all over this. It does come with 2 punch-out masks and a couple of sticker pages, which are also big hits. The story is all about Barbie and her friends setting up and going to a Halloween party. Of course it wouldn't be a Barbie book without the happy ending, though for once it's her friend in the spotlight and not Barbie herself. Cute and simple for a children's book.
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The Berenstain Bears: Learn About Strangers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Very wordy if you're thinking of reading to small kids. My 4-year-old got it pretty well, but she also really wanted story time, so she was paying attention. I doubt my son (1.5 years) would have any interest in it beyond tearing at the pages. It does teach an important lesson though, which is why we bought it as both of our kids are very much friendly social butterflies. Hopefully this will help teach them caution as they grow.
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Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
We realized we were sadly lacking in our Thanksgiving book collection with only one lone turkey book, so we picked this up from my daughter's school book fair catalog. While the concept is cute, I'm not sure the title fits as it seems to be more of a story of one disaster after another results in a community Thanksgiving dinner at the end. We'll see if this ends up being one to go back to or not in the future.
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Cuddles for Mommy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
There are definite highs and lows in this book. Haine pulls off some great things and the brothers actually being brothers is a definite plus. The whole shooting bit and living as a threesome after the wedding is rather disconcerting given Shiizun's prior obsession. It's also a little strange that they'll all live in Toguu house despite Takanari becoming the heir for Kamiya house. This whole series is rather strange and convoluted overall. Cute, but definitely strange.
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November 28, 2016
Kubo & the Two Strings
Kubo & the Two Strings (2016)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
The story is okay overall, but not as engaging as I'd hoped from the rave reviews. It deals fairly well for a children's movie with what could be considered some fairly heavy concepts. Really though, I just can't get behind this style of animation. It looks strange and even more artificial to me, adding a layer of distance that keeps me from really feeling like I'm engaging in the tale. So why it may have a good message, I can't see this as one I'll be wanting to watch again in the future.
November 14, 2016
Equestria Girls 4: Legend of Everfree
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The girls go on a camping trip expecting to be far away from anything magical. This time, we don't even see a tail end appearance of the original Twilight. All the girls focused on this round or originally from this same reality. There is, however, hints of more power seeping out from Equestria and into this world. This is proven even more with the discovery of the crystals and the girl's new enhanced powers. It wouldn't be an Equestria Girls adventure without the Mane Six ponying up to save the day.
November 13, 2016
Trolls
Trolls (2016)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I remember troll dolls being popular when I was a kid. Plain ones, one that clipped onto pencils, ones in costumes, and ones with jewels as their bellybuttons. Even dug them out of my parent's attic when we started seeing the movie previews for my daughter. While she loves the little McDonald heads that go on the colored pencils, she wanted nothing to do with the old ones I used to play with. Of course, this lead to her wanting to see the movie.
The movie itself is surprisingly good. Trolls are not something that I was ever overly fond of, so I wasn't really prepared to either like or hate the film. While the overly abundant happiness mixed with song and dance can be a little irritating, mostly at first, it ends up on a rather cute and happy note with an assortment of simple lessons sprinkled in. I do have to admit, DreamWorks might not have nearly the quantity of animated films that Disney does, but what they do have is largely made of decent to good quality materials and enjoyable on some level for pretty much everyone.
November 4, 2016
The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 11
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
There are definite highs and lows in this book. Haine pulls off some great things and the brothers actually being brothers is a definite plus. The whole shooting bit and living as a threesome after the wedding is rather disconcerting given Shiizun's prior obsession. It's also a little strange that they'll all live in Toguu house despite Takanari becoming the heir for Kamiya house. This whole series is rather strange and convoluted overall. Cute, but definitely strange.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 10
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Okay, Shiizun is turning into a creep, but apparently has some reason for it if the backstory is any indication. Still majorly wrong, but it's nice to know more about the source of all this. Haine just can't seem to get out of the cross hairs in any of this. It's surprising how many people, even inside the family, are wanting to help the two, but somehow everything still falls apart in the end. It's getting a little predictable in that way.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 9
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well, so far this is the best installment as far as how people react and pull together as well as moving the story along at the same time. Even Shizusama and Takanari appear to be working together of sorts when it comes to Haine. Haine learns a lot about her family, but they also appear to learn a lot about each other too. It's good to see she has so many people pulling for her, especially for how lonely and isolated she appeared to feel before. It would seem that her story is finally winding towards a positive ending if that is indeed how it will end.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 8
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Well now. Just when things are falling into a rhythm and improving all around, another wrench in the system. Haine's family is apparently more of a mess than anyone thought until now. We also get a bit of backstory on her parents, which is interesting as it mirrors what Haine is going through a lot. Takanari also finally stands up to Shizumasa for the first time, which is interesting. Haine appears to bring out a lot of unexpected emotions and reactions from the people around her. Hopefully for the better.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 7
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Looks like it's Ushio's turn to get some back story and growth this time around. Once again, everyone is focusing their emotions on Haine. Another set of bad timing for Takanari too, just when it looked like he was making progress. With this much trouble in such a small group of friends (and council members), it's a miracle they aren't constantly breaking down or fighting all the time... oh wait, they basically are. How do the every actually manage to sort anything out this way?!
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 6
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Haine is stepping up in some ways and running away in others. She needs to come to terms with things with the twins, but it is good to see her standing up for Takanari and trying to help her friends grow. It would appear she managed to impress her father in the process, which would be saying something from the little (and not so great) things said about him. One thing is for sure, everything and anything seems to be set on making this relationship difficult for Haine and forcing her out of her comfortable little shell trying to hide who she was.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 5
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Well that backfired spectacularly. Definitely starting to feel bad for Takanari. Still can't decide what I think of Shizumasa for a variety of reasons. Haine is both predictable and surprising in her naivety and steadfast focus on her love. However this is going to play out, no one can claim it's boring. This is one series you really do have to pay attention to or you're going to miss a lot of details.... and those details are likely important later on.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 4
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I'm not sure who to like or dislike at this point. "Shizumasa" seems to be caring yet incredibly cruel at the same time, which is odd to wrap your head around. The "shadow" (as that's apparently the only alternate name given at the time) is becoming nicer and more of a character you want to like, but then ends up being intentionally cruel (though for understandable reasons that only he knows). Makes you kind of feel bad for everyone and yet wonder at their cruelty and stupidity at the same time. Cinderella's ball sure didn't turn out as planned.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 3
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Just when you thought things couldn't get any more confusing. Now we get to meet Haine's siblings, one whom apparently didn't even know about her or at least failed to make the family connection and the other who acts as if she hates her all in a vain effort to protect her. Rather twisted family dynamics if you ask me, not that it's saying much given the behind the scenes in the "emperor's" home. That's a whole other mess waiting to explode.... though it does seem that things at school and with the current pairing are getting better at least.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 2
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
We finally get a little bit more of Haine's backstory here, even going so far as to when she was "sold" and how she first fell in love with Shizumasa and how he "saved" her. There's still a lot of friction happening at school though, though the "emperor" appears to have softened up a bit if the way he protects Haine is anything to go by. Reading this still feels a bit like watching a train wreck. I know a little bit about what to expect from my friend's talking about the series, but I can't for the life of me see how they're going to get to that point. Should be interesting to untangle.
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The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross 1
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I finally sat down to read this as it's one of my friend's favorites and still can't tell what I think about it. Haine seems incredibly naive and yet unpredictable when it comes to her advice and strength. On the other hand, her "emperor" seems about as friendly as rock, though he does have a few surprising moments. The rest of the council and Haine's friend are all a mixed bag of tricks as well with varying degrees of hyper activity, melancholy behavior, or outright insanity. How this group manages to get anything done just might be the biggest mystery of all.
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October 28, 2016
Race to Witch Mountain
Race to Witch Mountain (2009)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
The last thing a cab driver expects to be dragged into is a race against government organizations and extraterrestrial ships to protect two children with unusual talents. A UFO "expert" gets pulled into the mix as they race to Witch Mountain to try and find a way to protect these unusual children and explain the odd phenomenons reported on the mountain. This series was told in a trilogy spanning from 1975-1982 originally. I haven't seen the originals to compare, but the new version combines excitement with the impossible and a bit a lot of the unbelievable.
The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
My Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Based off the Disney ride by the same title in the theme parks, this literally brings the Haunted Mansion to life. It's both twisted and tries to teach the importance of family all at the same time. As I really don't enjoy the ride, I didn't expect to like the movie either. It was enjoyable, but not a favorite by any means. A good fit for our current Halloween themed movie run with the holiday coming up.
Preschool Day Hooray!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is an adorable little book about a day at Preschool. Each description is kept to a short and rhyming sentence with correlating picture. Well designed and laid out for small children. It's a fairly accurate description of a small child's school day too from what I can remember and have seen. My kids love their school and routine.
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The Noisy Egg
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
As a "Little Scholastic" book, this is made specifically for 1-3 year olds. The story is that of a mother duck making her nest and her eggs hatching. Major emphasis on all the "quacks" for the duck sounds. Perfect timing as a wellness visit gift for my son as he just learned how to say "quack" the Saturday before. Can't say the actual story or art is overly thrilling, but as a simple yet informative book for small children, it serves its purpose well.
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October 23, 2016
God Never Leaves Me
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This book is a very short board book style about prayer and never being alone. As the title indicates, it's heavy on the faith aspect. Cute art and very short story. Not something that will go on our favorites shelf or that I see being an often request despite having a good message.
Toy Story 2
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is essentially the story of the Toy Story 2 movie, just very abbreviated. It is chopped into sections, which make it possible to read it one part at a time. Given it's condensed nature, there are a lot of details that are changed or omitted to keep it a good length for a child's attention span. The pictures are the real highlight of this book, which are beautifully done.
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October 20, 2016
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter 25: Crimson Death
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I used to love this series, but it has been waning for me. Several times I've considered dropping it, but I hate not knowing how something ends... except it doesn't appear to be anywhere near ending. There are so many extra characters now that just seem to take up time and space without moving things along or serving a purpose beyond filler, cannon fodder, and/or sex that it's aggravating. Eventually the story does get back into more work scenes, but Anita essentially has her hands tied from the start before even getting to Ireland, which does no one any favors when it comes to the final showdown. We even get a very brief glimpse of Asher which shows he might be coming back into the picture (hopefully in a more positive light). I originally loved Asher when he was introduced, so his character turns have been a big letdown. If anything in this book, the real highlight is the wedding talk and the improvement between Anita, Nathaniel and Damian in too many ways to count. Edward usually helps move things along in his own way, but he seemed to mostly be peripheral filler to keep place of the actual "investigation" in Ireland. At the end, I enjoyed it, but it definitely won't be hitting my re-read or favorite list.
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On the Night You Were Born
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
We actually have this in a soft book edition that was a gift from Nana. I've seen in stores in the board book edition a lot recently. The story is a little wordy for young children, but it is sweet and my daughter loves the bears. I expect my son will like it more as a book as he grows older where now he mostly prefers turning the pages and playing with it. Luckily it is very soft and a quiet book for him to play with, so he gets free reign with it (especially as Nana bought it for him to begin with).
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Good Night, Teddy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a wonderful soft book for small children that is nearly impossible to destroy and lots of fun. The teddy bear is attached by a string that can double as a bookmark as he moves through the story to participate in activities on each page or just for your child to play with. He even has a cute little set of pajamas he can wear or put in one of his activity pages. It can also double as a quiet time book with the soft pages and lots of teddy bear play time. Both of our kids enjoy this book on their own, together, or with an adult to read the story to them. It is simple enough that they can make up their own words that stay fairly in line with the story for each action presented without aide.
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I Want My Daddy!
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This goes hand in hand with the I Want Mommy! book, which is part of why we got them as a set. This time it isn't Mommy that little Arthur wants all day, but he keeps calling for Daddy. While the toy dragon is in this book again, he wears a knight costume and Daddy helps him build and play. Our little boy is all about Daddy while our girl is all about Mommy. Thought these would be great respective books for when they want to be clingy and get a good story out of it too.
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I Want My Mommy!
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We just got this from my daughter's school book fair with the other matching book I Want My Daddy! They came together in a set and are absolutely adorable. In this one, Arthur is playing he is a dragon and isn't all that impressed when Mommy drops him off at Grandma's for the afternoon. Of course it ends up to be a grand time for everyone, but he's still excited when Mommy comes to pick him up. My littles are always excited to see their grandparents, but are usually just as glad to see us come home, too. Makes for an especially cute read when one of them is having a day where one parent or the other is all that will make it better.
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October 13, 2016
Minnie: Tie Your Shoes!
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As a book it isn't the most engaging. They do try to make it a sort of cute story while being educational. The instructional design with the built in "shoe" is adorable however, and made it an instant hit. It's the first time my daughter has really shown an interest in learning how to tie something herself, so if this helps, we're all for it.
Paw Patrol: Ready, Set, Write! ABCs & 123s
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a wonderful learning to write, read and problem solve book. Not only does it have practice pages with writing lines and examples as guides, but it also incorporates games (connect-the-dot, mazes, counting, etc) to teach children how to write, read, and understand letters and numbers. As a bonus, this is a dry erase book, so it is entirely self contained and reusable!
Disney Princess: Five Enchanting Tales
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was my daughter's choice as her book from Nana for her school book fair. It isn't just a book, but a collection of 5 early reader "step into reading" books (mostly stage 2 with 1 stage 3 story). While some story collections share short stories from their respective movies that you otherwise would not know, these stories come straight out of the films. Stage 2 readers are ideal for preschool-grade 1 children, and stage 3 for grade 1-3, so it's ideal for those early years. Heavy on the illustrations and lighter on the wording, as is typically best for those ages. The stories included are:
1. The Princess & the Frog: Kiss the Frog
2. Cinderella
3. The Little Mermaid
4. Tangled: Outside My Window
5. Brave: A Mother's Love
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Disney Baby: Look At Me!
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was baby brother's book from Nana for the school book fair. It takes classic Disney characters, shows various expressions, describes those expressions, and has a little mirror for the character's face on the opposite page for baby to imitate. It's adorable and engaging. What baby doesn't love mirrors?!
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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I remember enjoying this book when I was a child, so when I saw it for a jaw dropping price in the school book fair catalog, I had to add it to our library. There is only about a sentence per page or description of a picture if there happens to be more than one on that page (rare, but there are a few). Between that, an amusing story that just builds on itself in a roundabout way, and cute illustrations, it's no wonder this is a fun kid's book for many ages. My daughter is only in preschool and was in giggles by the end of the book.
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Care Bears: Halloween in the Fa-Boo-lous Forest
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was another school book fair pick; just in time for Halloween. Being a Care Bear kid's book, it has big pages of pretty illustrations with short paragraphs to tell the story on each page. More wordy than a lot of learning to read books, but still good for small children. As a lot of it is dialogue or description, it's easy to paraphrase if needed to keep the story whole and still interesting for short attention spans.
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The Kissing Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We first read this book with my daughter's preschool class for her first day of school. It was adorable and the kids obviously enjoyed it. When we found it for an excellent price in her school book fair flyer, we couldn't resist adding it to our library. The kids even made their own "kissing hands" that they carry to and from school with them. It's an adorable story and craft idea to help little ones ease into being away from parents for the school day.
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Luke Cage
Luke Cage (2016)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
We briefly saw Luke back in Jessica Jones, which makes sense given their future connection if the story follows the comic lines at all. Another Netflix hero pick up, they are doing wonderfully with their Marvel adaptations. Supposedly these will all be brought together for the Defenders, which is still in the same MCU as the Avengers. There are also references to events happening in the Avengers movies as well as seeing a familiar face from the Daredevil series. Iron Fist is also promised to join the line up, leading to some high potential on Netflix/Marvel end for another promising arc to their current film set.
Barbie Shorts 6: Dreamtopia
Barbie Shorts 6: Dreamtopia (2016)
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
According to the packaging, this short is a Walmart exclusive. The art style for the dreamscape is vastly different from any of the other movies or artwork so far. The characters, however, are largely familiar, especially during their normal interactions when they aren't dreaming. I guess the changed art style does help differentiate where the story is taking place, though the imagination portion is so much different that I'm not sure there would be any need to worry about confusion regardless. A cute piece that mostly focuses on Barbie's younger sister, Chelsea. The other two sisters are nowhere to be found.
Barbie Shorts 5: Land of Sweets
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This is a cute short that ties in with The Pink Shoes. Unfortunately, it's only available in German. So while it is cute, I can't understand a word of it. Would be nice if at least it had been released on the website with a subtitles option or something, but no such luck.
Barbie Shorts 4: A Camping We Will Go
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Better than the My Scene shorts as far as animation style goes. This brings us back to what we traditionally expect of the Barbie series. Nature doesn't always agree with the best laid plans, but the Roberts sisters make the best of it and end up having a rather interesting hiking experience, complete with luxury camper.
My Scene 3: Goes Hollywood
My Scene 3: Goes Hollywood (2004)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
When one of the girls lands an unexpected lead part, the rest get left in the dust of her new fame and boyfriend time.... or is he? Turns out Hollywood might not be the fun it's cracked up to be and true friends are always just that... friends. The same flat animation style as the other My Scene shorts and also number 3 on the Barbie short films list. Can't say it'll be a fave any time soon.
My Scene 2: Masquerade Madness (2004)
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Like the first one, this is also listed as another Barbie short and completely different at the same time. This time, it's all about a fashion show and surprise birthday party. The art style is a little hard to get used to as the characters appear too thin, too tall, and very flat overall. There's none of the dimension rampant in the movie line.
My Scene 1: Jammin' In Jamaica
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Literally the only reason we watched this is because Barbie is one of the main characters and my daughter currently loves her. Online, it's listed as one of the first Barbie short films, but it's actually part of another series called My Scene. While Barbie is certainly recognizable, and we do see some of the names as her friends or rivals in future films (like Delancy is Princess Charm School), there is nothing else really tying it in with the Barbie franchise. The art is totally different, and even her boyfriend is different - no Ken in sight. It's interesting, but not really anything big.
Barbie 34: A Puppy Chase
Barbie 34: A Puppy Chase (2016)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This movie takes place after The Great Puppy Adventure, with the same character design and the same pups which you meet in the first movie. Unlike most other Barbie movies however, Barbie keeps messing up in this one... a lot. It's only by some rather strange chances and a lot of intervention from other people (and animals) that the group ever gets out of the woods (literally) and back to Chelsea's dance competition.
September 25, 2016
The Usborne Book Of Princess Stories
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This collection has 4 short stories.
1. The Princess and the Pig
2. The Little Dragon
3. The Tournament
4. The Royal Broomstick
None of the stories are exactly what you would expect from the titles. For example, you might think The Princess and the Pig would follow along the same vein as The Princess and the Frog, however it does not. While the pig does turn into a prince, they actually want him to stay a pig and make it happen.
The stories are told with short and descriptive sentences and large full page pictures, making it a great short story book for small children. Even if you only read one or two at a time, it makes for lots of fun. It'll be interesting to see at what point our little boy gets tired of all of big sister's princess books.
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Usborne Phonics Readers: Bee Makes Tea
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As a phonics reader book, it has a bit of catchy rhyming to the phrases as it rushes through the story (and I say "rushes" more because the bee is in such a hurry to get everything made and set up just so more than the length of the actual book). It's cute and funny, and perfect for little girls especially. My daughter enjoys playing "tea time" now, so having a book that sets just the right stage like this is a bit of extra fun.
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Usborne Beginners: Dogs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Like Penguins and Horses & Ponies, this is a children's informational guide focusing on a specific animal type. In this case, dogs. For how small and short they are, these beginner books pack a punch, including a glossary, index, and reference sites to visit for further information. Being a common animal that is often seen and come in contact with, even though we don't have one as a pet, makes it an instant win for further learning. I suspect these books will be of more interest when the kids can read and understand them better themselves, but for the moment they still are appealing.
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Usborne Beginners: Penguins
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is similar to the Horses & Ponies book, only about penguins instead. We received this as part of my daughter's summer reading program with Usborne Books. One of the stuffed animals she attached to around 1 year old and still clings to, is a penguin from Uncle Thomas. She also loves visiting the penguins at the zoo. These all combined to make this book an instant hit with her. Even if she isn't asking to read all the information this little book includes, she'll still sit and flip through the pictures and charts all on her own.
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A Treasury of Tales: Christmas Storybook Collection
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
With 18 different Christmas tales, each one from a different Disney movie, it's no wonder that this Treasury collection was a big hit the day we found it. While it's not Christmas time yet, I can see this being requested often as we work through the stories again coming up on the holiday and after. Of course, what Christmas collection would be complete without some rendition of A Christmas Carol. The stories are a little longer and more detailed than most children's books as they are probably meant for older kids overall. Still, if limited to one or two stories at a time, it is no problem for our 4-year-old to follow along. The toddler will take awhile to catch up.
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