Journey of a Book-Addicted Librarian: monsters

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: How do you know what's good?

While there are many places (especially on the internet) where you can read book reviews, how do you really know if it's a good book or not when a single book might receive anywhere from one to five stars?
The answer: read the reviews of a book-addicted teacher librarian.

NOTE:
** The age recommendations are guidelines only; whether or not a certain book is suitable for a particular child depends on multiple factors, including their maturity, reading level, interests, and in some cases their experiences.
** While the ratings are largely based on my own personal appreciation/enjoyment of the book, they are also influenced by my experiences as a teacher and the potential attraction for the target-aged child (acknowledging that what one child may love, another may find exceptionally boring). A rating of 5 indicates the book is likely to be popular with the majority.

Showing posts with label monsters. Show all posts

Friday, October 18, 2013

Have You Seen Who's Just Moved In Next Door? (PB)

AUTHOR: Colin McNaughton
PUBLISHED: 2013, c1991

PLOT:
Meet the neighbours - Mister Thing and the Dumpty's (he's in bed; he cracked his head). There's a school for birds and a wig shop for pigs, King Kong lives at number 50, the churchyard is full of ghosts and ghoulies, and there's a houseful of pirates at number 94. But you'll never believe who's just moved in next door to us! The answer lies behind a gate-fold page, but can you guess before you get to the end?
REVIEW:
A fairly typical aliens-are-normal/humans-are-strange stories that kids love. The pictures are detailed, and would be a great "find the answer" book for a guided reading activity (i.e. create a list of questions that children need to use the book to answer: Who lives on the left of King Kong? Who lives at number 12? How many birds are in the school? etc). AGE: 4-8
RATING: 4 stars

Sunday, August 1, 2010

The Elsewhere Chronicles (GN)

AUTHOR: Nikko Bannister (U.S.)
PUBLISHED: 2007.

PLOT: Rebecca, Noah, Max and Theo discover a passageway into another world in the abandoned house of Grandpa Gabe, Rebecca's grandfather. When Rebecca and Max are trapped on the other side of the passageway, Noah and Theo rush to their aid. In ElseWhere they meet monsters - wicked spies called Shadows, - and strangers who become friends. They use their wits, brawn, and light to fight off the Shadows - and to protect our own world.

REVIEW: A 4-book graphic novel series by Lernerbook publishers. Linked to a website. Excellent illustrations. Story takes some understanding and interpretation (some links between the dialogue and the illustrations need to be made by the reader).

AGES: 8+.
GENRE: Adventure, Horror, Graphic Novel.
RATING: 5 stars.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Series: Deltora Quest

AUTHOR: Emily Rodda (AUST) (2000)
PAGES: ~ 120 pages, 16 chapters.
PLOT: A group of young people search for the keys to release their land from the clutches of the evil Shadow Lord. In their travels they must discern good from evil, and learn that what you see initially is not always the truth.

NOTES: Deltora Quest 1: 8-book series. The characters must solve puzzles that children will delight in (mirror-image writing, people talking backwards, riddles). Some parts could be quite scary for some young children.
There are several sub-series. Deltora Quest 2: 3 books; Quest 3: 4 books.
Also includes How to Draw Deltora Monsters/Dragons books, Deltora Quiz book, Tales of Deltora, Deltora Monsters.
Includes a website, card game, video game, cartoon (anime).

ISSUES: good vs evil, friendship, trust, responsibility, courage, coming-of-age.

AGES: 8-13.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure.
RATING: 5 stars.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Series: Goosebumps (Jnr Fic)

AUTHOR: R.L. Stine (USA)
PAGES/ILL: 20+ chapters/100+ pgs per book : some ill.
REVIEW: This is a set of horror stories, dealing with every topic from voodoo and satanism, to haunted dolls, ghosts, vicious animals, and made-up animals/monsters, to simply kids playing tricks to scare others.

An endless series made up of 3 bands: "original", "HorrorLand", and "Choose-your-own-adventure"
some books "continue" into the next book.

Similar to The Midnight Library series and Anthony Horowitz Horror series.

AGE: 10+, but I know some 7 year olds who read them. Remember, some of the books ARE genuinely scary and may give sensitive children nightmares. Other kids will enjoy the adrenaline rush of reading thrillers.
GENRE: Horror.
RATING: 4 1/2-5 stars.