CINDERELLA STAYS LATE by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Cinderella is the new student at The Grimm Academy. She connects with Red, Snow and Rapunzel, and they become great friends. The step-sisters are there, too, looking to cause as much trouble for Cinda as they can. Someone else is trying to cause trouble at the school, too. Can Cinda and her friends figure out what is really going on at The Grimm Academy?

This was excellent! This would be perfect for readers who already enjoy the Whatever After series and fans of the Ever After High book, Storybook of Legends. The characters are likable. The fairy tale elements aren't cheesy - something I worry about when I start a book like this. The world-building is fantastic; I especially loved the magical library. Some issues are left unresolved for book two, and I personally can't wait to read it. I told my students about this book when we previewed some of the books that will be coming in our Scholastic book fair later this month. I predict this will be one of my best sellers - and I'll be the first in line to buy it because my nieces are going to love this one. Photos of the next two books are shown below.

5 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at this time. Books one and two release on March 25th, but may be available through Scholastic sooner. Book three is scheduled to release in June 2014.

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

      

CHAPTER BOOKS: Heroes in Training series by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

   

This is a fun new series for kids interested in reading about mythology from the team that writes the Goddess Girls series. In these books, the Olympians - Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia are fighting the Titans, like King Cronus. These are the first two books in the series (book three, Hades and the Helm of Darkness releases April 2), and they focus on the original myths (unlike the Percy Jackson series which takes place in our world with the mythology as the foundation for a new story).

AR Reading Levels of 3.8 and 3.7 respectively.

These books would be good for kids who love Percy Jackson and want to read stories that reference the original mythology. They would also be good for kids who are a little young for Percy but they are intrigued by mythology.

TUESDAY: Cybils Update

Awhile ago, I posted a list of books I want to read that came from the Cybils list - a list of outstanding books for young readers. I have completed a couple of the books from my list:

Cute rhyming easy reader about a group of dogs going to the groomers so they'll look nice for a group picture. Their grooming is disrupted by some cats sneaking into the shop which leads to a whole lot of chaos for the groomers.









Sherlock Holmes Baldwin - Sherry - is a tween on Spring Break in SanDiego. Not too unusual... except that she's trying to solve a mystery with her mother, who is a ghost, and her grandpa, whose spirit now inhabits a bird.

I liked this one, but didn't love it. I thought it was a great light-hearted paranormal story for kids - much better than the vampire-fare that is flooding the book market lately. The romantic subplot was sweet and fun. Sherry is a resourceful sleuth who adjusts well to the paranormal elements in her life. I would read the next book in the series, I So Don't Do Spooky.

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BONUS BLOG: Groundhog Weather School

In honor of Groundhog Day, I read Groundhog Weather School

yesterday at the library. Groundhog's weather forecast is challenged (by a bunny), leading him to recruit students for Groundhog Weather School so more groundhogs can more accurately predict the weather in different parts of the country. 

The "story" of weather school wraps around a book full of fun illustrations and loads of facts about groundhogs, "famous" groundhog forecasters, seasons, weather and shadows. This is a great picture book for teachers, librarians, or parents looking for a way to tie into the holiday. 

Happy Groundhog Day! 

[I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you click to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.]