JUDY MOODY MOOD MARTIAN by Megan McDonald

Judy decides she wants to be in a good mood for a whole week! This is not going to be easy for someone who gets "moody" so easily! This book is all about friendship, what to do when your friend acts like an alien, and finger knitting. A great addition to this fun series!

Judy Moody is always a winner in my book. Can't go wrong with this fun girl and her fun family and friends.

4 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at the time of this writing

JUDY MOODY AND STINK: THE BIG BAD BLACKOUT by Megan McDonald

* I received 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.

Judy and Stink and their family hunker down to wait out a hurricane and black out. Their grandma comes to wait out the storm with them. They play musical board games and everyone tells a hurricane story. They eat s'mores and live without electricity for a few days - and they love it!

I received an advance e-copy of this book from the publisher, Candlewick Press.  I enjoyed this story. It was a great story to read in the winter when snow days are always a possibility! The books that center on Judy and Stink (Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt; Holly Joliday) are extra fun because all the pictures are in full color. Those were available in my e-copy and they were excellent. The hurricane stories were probably my favorite part of this story, especially the ones from the grown ups. Musical board games is a pretty fun idea, too - I could see a classroom party including something like that! This story was a lot of fun!

4 out of 5 stars

This book releases on April 8, 2014.

Cautions: The kids' grandmother brings a Ouija board with her and the family plays it.

STINK AND THE SHARK SLEEPOVER by Megan McDonald

* I received 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.

Stink and his friends get to have a sleepover at the aquarium where they learn all about hermit crabs, jellyfish and sharks. There's a campfire, pranks and a spooky story to make the sleepover complete.

I received an advance e-copy of this book from the publisher, Candlewick Press. Final artwork was not available, but I don't think you can go wrong with anything drawn by Peter H. Reynolds. The story was cute and informative. I have so many shark-crazy kids at school who are going to LOVE this! This will be a hit with Stink fans as well as shark fans.

4 out of 5 stars

This book releases on February 11, 2014.

CHAPTER BOOK: Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout by Megan McDonald (GUEST POST)

[This is a guest post by my son who is blogging under the code name of "Steve Rogers."]

Who has spiky hair, is short and is mutating into a frog?

It's Stink E. Moody! Stink is a second grader who has an older sister named Judy (who has her own book series and movie). One day after swim lessons, Stink went to the showers and found a frog there. He named the frog King Otto. The frog only had three legs. Stink thought the leg had been eaten by a bird, but later a naturalist tells him it is because of fertilizer. Stink goes on a frog observation one night to count frogs. After that, Stink gets licked by a blue frog and thinks he is becoming a mutant frog - which would help him reach his goal of swimming underwater to get quarters. In the end, Stink makes his goal (without turning into a frog), learning about frogs from his adventure.

I give this three out of five stars. This would be recommended for first graders and older. It is a fun adventure and hilarious along the way. [There's no AR level at the time of this writing.]

MONDAY: Judy Moody Declares Independence

Summary 
A family trip to Boston inspires Judy to write her own declaration of independence. She hopes doing her chores without being asked and being nice to her brother will gain her a bigger allowance and more freedoms. But things don't quite go as she planned.

Review

I enjoyed the historical pieces about Sybil Ludington, the Revolution and the relationship between Judy and a British girl named Tori that Judy meets in Boston. Cute story.

3 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: Judy Moody fans, fans of the movie that came out this summer, kids who like reading about history.


Cautions: None.


[I am an Amazon Associate. If you link to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a small portion of the purchase price.]

MONDAY: Judy Moody, Girl Detective

Summary 
Judy is reading her way through the classic Nancy Drew mysteries which inspires her to start solving her own mysteries. When police puppy, Mr. Chips, goes missing from his locked cage, Judy and her friends and brother are on the case.

Review

Cute, fun story with great illustrations (I am a big Peter H. Reynolds fan!). I prefer Judy to Junie B. and recommend her books, without reservation, to readers between 6 and 12 years old.

4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for: Nancy Drew fans, Judy Moody fans, fans of the new movie in theaters now.


Cautions: None.


[I am an Amazon Associate. If you link to Amazon from one of my blogs and buy something, I receive a small portion of the purchase price.]

Waiting on WEDNESDAY: March New Releases, for kids

  Our household is particularly excited about these new releases for March!

Waiting on WEDNESDAY

These are some of the books I am waiting for in August.

[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.]

TUESDAY: Stink: Solar System Super Hero

The latest book from Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds in the Stink Moody series is a hit in our household!

Stink finds out Pluto has been demoted and he refuses to accept it. The boy who is small in stature (but big in ideas) just has to defend the small underdog of the solar system. In the process of fighting for Pluto's planetary status (at least in his second grade classroom), Stink learns some things about how to win friends and influence people.

[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.]

Waiting on WEDNESDAY, part 2

For some reason, my links aren't all showing up, so I'm going to try to split the post.
 




















 The Laura Childs and Joanne Fluke mysteries are the latest books in series I enjoy. The Nancy Martin book is a new series from the author of the Blackbird Sisters mysteries. I posted a link a couple weeks ago to a site where you can read an excerpt from the book. Check it out.



Finally, the Megan McDonald book is the latest adventure for Stink Moody, a favorite series in our house. The illustrations for the books are done by Peter H. Reynolds who is one of my favorite illustrators. Stink is the younger brother of Judy Moody who has her own series. Occasionally the author puts out books that explore adventures involving both kids together. This book is probably the one I am most looking forward to reading!

[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.]

TUESDAY: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt

The Moodys are on vacation in North Carolina where they visit Ocracoke Island and get to take part in a pirate treasure hunt. They have two days to follow the clues and collect 16 "pieces of eight" to win the prize of a doubloon and a trip on a pirate ship. But if they are going to win, Stink and Judy are going to have to beat a lot of other treasure hunters to the final piece of eight. And Tall Boy and Smart Girl are hot on the trail!

This was a cute story that shows two heads are better than one. The kids make some good choices when it comes to the competition and good sportsmanship. Great illustrations from my favorite illustrator, Peter H. Reynolds.

[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.]

TUESDAY: Stink

Anyone who has talked to me about children's books will know I am a fan of Stink Moody (and his sister Judy). There are 4 books so far in the Stink series featuring Stink and his friends Webster and Sophie of the Elves. In the first, Stink thinks he is shrinking (not a good thing for a guy who is already frustrated about being short). In the second, Stink discovers the value of a well-worded letter... and the value of a good friend. In the third, Stink gets to be a professional smeller. And in the fourth, he and his friends help find homes for 101 guinea pigs. They are listed for grade 2 through 4.

Stink and his friends are a lot of fun for kids, but also for the adults who read to those kids. The sibling banter between Stink and Judy is realistic without being overdone. Stink makes an appearance in the Judy Moody series of books, and Stink and Judy also share some adventures. The first book featuring both characters was The Holly Joliday and the second will be The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt coming out August 11, 2009.

MONDAY: Ish

Another artsy bit of encouragement from Peter Reynolds that begins, "Ramon loved to draw." Ramon is going along, enjoying his art, when a critic causes him to second guess himself and give up. Encouragement to see his art in a new way comes from a source Ramon does not expect.

I think this is another beautiful little story about believing in yourself and about art for the joy of being creative. It is also a nice story about the power of family. If you are needing a little creative encouragement today, check out Ish.

MONDAY: The Dot

This is another favorite from Peter H. Reynolds. Young Vashti is struggling in her art class because she doesn't think she is good enough. Her art teacher encourages her to make her mark and claim it as her own. In the process, Vashti finds her artistic voice and then shares the gift with another young artist.

I love the message of this book that art is about creating from the heart - creating what is inside each of us - and claiming our art as our own. This is a message I want my son to learn and cherish in his own life.

TUESDAY: Judy Moody Goes to College

You may recognize the illustrations for Judy Moody Goes to College from yesterday's review. Peter H. Reynolds illustrates this series by Megan McDonald.

I have liked Judy, and her brother Stink, since we first discovered their stories a year or two ago. In this story, Judy's substitute teacher thinks she needs an attitude adjustment - and tutoring. So Judy heads to college to build some better math skills and discovers she loves the college life. In fact, she loves it so much, she is wants to be in college permanently. Her new collegiate outlook on life has an interesting impact on her third grade classmates.

Girls will love Judy's no-nonsense approach to life. Judy's school buddies and her little brother, Stink, will give boys plenty of guy stuff to relate to also. This is the 8th book in the series.
Recommended for ages 9 to 12.

MONDAY: So Few of Me

I am a huge fan of Peter H. Reynolds! I enjoy his illustrations in other books, and I have several of his picture books on my personal bookshelf. So Few of Me is a clever book for both adults and kids. It is about Leo, a boy with a to do list that will make yours seem insignificant. Some additional Leos come along to help him with his list, but instead of lightening his load, it makes Leo feel even busier than ever. Leo has to decide what is really most important in his life.

Kids will enjoy the extra Leos and the fun pictures of them working furiously. The busy among us might heed the message to step out of our busy lives and take a little time to dream.