Gloom and Bloom by Nancy Loewen

It's time for a little spookiness...which doesn't really seem to fit to July. Unless it's ghost story time, of course, and today's read is a story about ghosts! I was captured by the idea of a ghost school, and the title already had me smiling. I'm getting Little Shop of Horrors vibes from the cover...although I highly doubt that this goes in any direction even similar to the movie. But what do I know?

I'm hoping that this group of ghosts is one that readers would like to meet and go to school with themselves. I'm expecting some mishaps, humor, friendship, and more.  Let's open it up and see what ghostly adventure lies inside.

GLOOM AND BLOOM

Ghost School

by Nancy Loewen

Illustrated by Mike Moran

Picture Window Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 5 to 8

COMING AUGUST 1st!!!

Welcome to Ghost School—where young ghosts learn how to float, fright, and find their spirit! In this adventure, Glint is excited to grow his very own ghostly plant. But when his Floating Forget-Me-Not sprouts into a spook-tacular flop, he feels like the odd ghost out. With help from a quiet friend, Glint discovers that sometimes the strangest plants—and the most unexpected friends—are the ones that truly shine like the moonlight.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Pressure to avoid failure slides into ghostly surprises in a classroom to enjoy.

Glint can't wait to see his own plant sprout and grow in this ghost school class, but his plant isn't cooperating. The others have long seen their seeds shoot up into all sorts of odd vegetation, but his is stubborn. When it finally does produce some leaves, they are very droopy and nothing like the radiant flower pictured on his pack of seeds. So, he does the only thing that can make him feel better and hides the plant so he doesn't have to be reminded of how much he's failing.

This ghost school carries a fun mix of familiarity while bringing in the uncertain atmosphere of paranormal fun. The scenes of a teacher, an assignment, and the fear of failing will connect with many readers and their own lives, while the colorful ghosts and their unique plants adds imagination and humor. The illustrations help readers along while offering enjoyable scenes. And at only 30 some pages, the book doesn't immediately feel overwhelming. This works great for those beginning readers, who are pretty sure of their words, but need a little more practice before heading into slightly longer reads.

The book begins with a quick vocabulary list and definitions of a few words. Then, the book dives right in. The author makes sure to let the silly moments shine while working in a message about not immediately meeting expectations. This message comes across smoothly and never preachy as it melds right into the tale. The illustrations keep the ghosts light and in a cheerful pastel direction, while the plants add a dab of creepy. At the end of the book, there's an activity, a discussion question, and a quick, reading comprehension exercise. This makes it great for solo-readers, groups, and even homeschoolers, too.

And here she is...

Nancy Loewen grew up on a farm in southwestern Minnesota, surrounded by library books and cats. She's published more than 140 books for children and young adults. The LAST Day of Kindergarten and Four to the Pole (co-authored with polar explorer Ann Bancroft) were Minnesota Book Award finalists. Her Writer's Toolbox series received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. Nancy has also received awards from The American Library Association, the New York Public Library, and the Society of School Librarians International. Nancy lives in St. Paul and has an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University. She likes to read, cook, take long walks, and photograph oddities from thrift stores. Please visit her website at nancyloewen.net.

 

What's Coming in July?

Well, here we are, July! June, actually, seemed to drag for me. There was quite a bit going on...planned and surprises. We helped my oldest daughter with a move, my oldest son paid a surprise visit (so amazing since he's in the army and we rarely see him!), my sister and her family popped by (another very rare event), and my back deck suddenly collapsed. That was not so amazing and means a new project for me in July. Add the never ending weed control and mowing and cows and chickens and....and....and... Oh, hay season is in a week or two, too!

July is picture book heavy because I'm not going to get in as much reading time as I usually do. But that's not a bad thing. I do love a good picture book. I also seem to start out the month in the realm of dogs. So, furry friend fans be ready for that. At the end of the month, I'm heading into more young adult and middle grade reads, since I should have more time by then. Otherwise......(taking a look at the list)...there's some science fiction, fiction which incorporates knowledge building (fiction which works in nonfiction facts)....ummm....

Actually, the themes are all over the place. Spooks, beach adventures, romance, mystery, humor...all sorts of things. So hopefully, you'll see something you like and find a book to take outside and enjoy!

GLOOM AND BLOOM

This one immediately caught my attention when I saw it. Not only did the title make me smile, but the idea of a ghost school opens up all sorts of adventure possibilities. Considering that this one is for beginning readers, I'm thinking it could be quite fun. I'm hoping for some silliness and friendship. We'll find out more tomorrow because I'm hitting this one right away on the 1st.

Beginning Readers

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE YOU CAN LEARN FROM A DOG

I'm just going to stay in the pet theme a little bit longer as we see what this read is all about. I'm hoping for some dog facts and all sorts of furry-friend goodness. Maybe, it will get readers involved, too? It heads toward the youngest listeners out there and will, hopefully, make more than just dog fans smile. We'll be visiting this one on the 7th.

Picture Book

OPERATION: TRUE LOVE

What's summer without a little romance? Combine that with graphic novel goodness, and I'm hoping that this read will make teens smile. The cover caught my attention first...and I'm not sure whether it's for good or bad. He definitely sets the scene for promised tension. I believe it centers around a girl who like her boyfriend more than he likes her. And what that really means is something we'll discover on the 10th.

Young Adult Romance

SQURREL AND DUCK'S AUTUMN ADVENTURE

I'm definitely into animals this month! This pair caught my attention right away, and I'm hoping they will bring all sorts of friendship excitement. I'm hoping for a touch of adorable with nature adventure, too. Oh, and we can't forget friendship, can we? Let's see if this book is as wholesome as it appears to be on the 12th.

Picture Book

BEATRICE AND THE DIRTY DIGGERS

This is the 4th book in the Far and Away series. Nope, I have not read the first three, either. But I'm hoping that doesn't make a difference. These pages follow a girl as she joins a summer camp to learn to discover secrets from the past...archaeology. There is some mystery involved as well, and it simply seems like an unique twist...oh, and it's only 150 pages or so. I'm digging into this one on the 14th! And yes, the pun is intended.

Middle Grade Historical

KINGDOM UNRAVELED

I picked this one up due to the instant, unique vibes. It's a graphic novel and holds a very, original character...a 70-year-old woman. She's joined with even more unique friends as she's chosen to...ummmm....save a kingdom? I'm expecting humor and adventure and tons of fun. I'm, actually, really excited to dive into this one because I think it might be quite entertaining. See if it meets my expectations or not on the 18th.

Middle Grade Fantasy   /   Graphic Novel

TOOFER & THE GIBLET

I just loved the cover and title on this one and decided to give it a whirl. It's a story collection aimed at different age groups depending on how it is used: younger for story time and older for self-reading. I'm excited to meet these two characters since they are supposed to have very different personalities. I'm hoping that opens the door to all sorts of adventures and situations. Let's see if this is a book that is placed on the shelf and read again and again on the 22nd.

Children's Story Collection

THE SOLARBALL SLIP-UP

Does anyone remember The Jetsons? Yes, I'm aging myself with that question, but this book is kind of giving me those vibes. It's about a family in the future, and this kid has a problem to solve before he gets into tons of trouble with his dad. There are pop-up pictures and humor too. I'm just interested to see how this tale goes and hope it's as entertaining as it seems to be. Let's head into the future with this one on the 26th.

Beginning Reader Science Fiction

DANGEROUS INFLUENCE

I was won over by the blurb on this one...see, it's not always the cover! It hits upon the timely topic of children, who were starred in their parents' vlogs/influence videos, and have become teens. This girl isn't comfortable with always having her life presented online and needs to convince her mother of the problem. But it also involves a stalker and some thriller story threads, too. So, I'm curious to see where this one leads on the 29th. 

Young Adult Thriller (?)

TICKET TO MARS

We're heading to the future in this book and following a boy, who wants to escape Earth for a better life on Mars. It promises to hold tension, space excitement, mystery, and adventure. I'm looking forward not only to the scifi aspects but am delighted that it has a boy as a main character...I always feel like I have to search for these. Anyway, I'm ready to head off to the stars and see what the universe holds on the 28th.

Tween Science Fiction

Happy Book Birthday, Through the Black Gate by Alfredo Cáceres!

Yay! I have another book birthday to shout-out to the world! This one releases tomorrow, carries graphic novel goodness, and might be the beginning of a new series....I'm not sure on this last one, though. It involves an orphaned girl and a boy, who happens to be a musician. I thought that twist was interesting and can't wait to see what music lies in store. It should swing around fantasy, although I'm not sure how far it dives in this direction.

Let's open it up and see if this music weaves a spell or how it works!

THROUGH THE BLACK GATE

by Alfredo Cáceres

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Middle Grade Fantasy   /

Graphic Novel

272 pages

ages 8 to 12

Thirteen-year-old orphan Irene believes her father’s soul is trapped inside her cat, Moses. Living at her caregiver Ruth’s hostel, Irene spends every waking hour studying a mystical book that her parents left behind in the fire that took their lives. Irene thinks the book can help her see them again, if only Moses will give her a clue.

Then, just as a strange fog sweeps over their quiet Chilean town, a mysterious young musician named Francis moves into the hostel. Irene and her new roommate don’t particularly get along, but Moses soon leads them both through the fog to a strange tear in reality: an entrance to the Land of the Dead.

Believing this is the key to seeing her parents again, Irene and Francis cross to the other side. There, they encounter the Ferryman of the Dead, who is desperate to escape into the Land of the Living. The Ferryman offers to return Irene and Francis’s loved ones in exchange for their help. In the face of such a massive promise, Irene and Francis must decide whether to risk the fate of both the Lands of the Living and the Dead or be braver than they ever thought possible.

GOODREADS   /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Determination, family love, and the magic of music mix together to form an exciting adventure.

After loosing her family to a fire, Irene has reason to believe that her father's soul is trapped inside the family cat. While Irene does her best to hold on to this last thread of her family, the cat is determined to escape the new home at a hostel. When a boy, Francis, moves in with the intention of improving his guitar technique at a local academy, him and Irene immediately hit like fire and ice. But then, Irene notices that his music seems to be having a positive affect on her father's soul. When the cat escapes again, she drags Francis along, hoping he can help her get her father to cross over. Instead, they open a portal to the land between life and death, and discover that the entire realm has been corrupted by a very dangerous Ferryman.

I promised myself not to do any grief books this year after last year's overwhelming supply in that direction, and yet, here I am. And I'm glad I took the leap into this book. While the loss of Irene's family and the determination to help her father crossover into the afterlife drive Irene's every decision, the tale doesn't weigh down in loss and grief. Irene has accepted her parents' fate and heads into danger out of sheer love for them. Well, mostly as the ending pulls a last twist of emotional goodness...but adventure, danger, and forming friendship drive the plot forward and keep this read exciting. There are dangerous foes, sticky situations, misunderstandings, secrets, unexpected friendships, and secrets to be discovered. The land in-between offers a dive into pure fantasy with many unexpected moments. It was also nice to see that while Francis' music could act like a golden ticket, this was by no means a guarantee, and he had to struggle with his own side-plot. 

 

I'd recommend this to readers who enjoy quite a bit of adventure and dives into the afterlife. 

And here he is...

Alfredo Cáceres is an author and illustrator from Santiago, Chile. He has worked in picture books, magazines, newspapers, and video games, including the acclaimed Blight Harbor series and New York Times bestseller The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science. His debut graphic novel Through the Black Gate is based on the city of Valdivia, Chile, where he grew up between rain and moss. Visit him on Instagram @RedoLaf.

Happy Book Birthday, Sundays Under the Lemon Tree by Julia Busuttil Nishimura!

 

It's time to shout out another book birthday—yay! It hits the shelves tomorrow, but that's definitely close enough for me. The moment I saw today's read, I snatched it up. Yellow just happens to be my favorite color, so it caught my eye. Also, lemon cake sounds amazing, right now. Add the content girl smiling away and this invites to calm, enjoyable hours outside in the shade. Lemon tree shade, obviously. So, what's not to like? 

I'm betting that this one will rotate around family goodness...although it might hold some surprises??? I have no idea. The only way to find out is to open it up and take a look!

SUNDAYS UNDER THE LEMON TREE

by Julia Busuttil Nishimura

Illustrated by Milo Yim

Scribble US

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 4 to 8

A heartwarming picture book celebrating family, tradition, and culinary adventures.

Julia Busuttil Nishimura, known for her acclaimed cookbooks and heartwarming food stories, teams up with talented illustrator Myo Yim for their debut picture book collaboration, Sundays Under the Lemon Tree. The book, filled with family moments and culinary discovery, will captivate readers of all ages.

Sundays Under the Lemon Tree follows a young child’s memorable Sunday, with the smells and sounds of family cooking, the adventure of collecting seawater to make ricotta, and the triumph of learning to bake a special family apple cake. Busuttil Nishimura’s prose and Yim’s illustrations bring to life the comforting rituals and loving bonds that make Sundays special.
With themes of connection, heritage, and simple pleasures, this collaboration between Julia Busuttil Nishimura and Myo Yim celebrates the multigenerational bonds between food and family history. The book will also include the cherished apple cake recipe and promises to be a beloved addition to any child's bookshelf.

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Family traditions and togetherness warm with the thoughts of sunshine, ocean water, and a lemon tree.

It's Sunday, and that means it's time for the extended family to meet under the lemon tree and share food and time together. Mother is already cooking in the kitchen, father is watering the plants, and grandmother is podding the peas. Too bad the little girl isn't allowed to help, but everyone claims she's too small. Then, something extraordinary happens and her father asks her to help him get a bucket of ocean water to make the fresh ricotta for the apple cake. 

This is a warming read in so many ways. Every page is as bright and cheerful as a lemon tree. Then, the strong bonds of family act like a caring embrace as everyone works together. Even when the little girl feels left out, she's right in the middle of the lively atmosphere and surrounded with love and care. Young listeners/readers will understand her feelings and connect with the situation. When she does, finally, get the opportunity to assist her father, a little tension and uncertainty grab in before the book slides into more family goodness. To round the entire experience off, the author has included the apple cake recipe at the end so readers and caretakers can also work together and create the warm treat.

The illustrations are bright and bring across the family excitement nicely. It's easy to sink into the familiar scenes. A little humor is also built in as necessary and the details give plenty for listeners to discover when they flip through the book on their own. The text makes a lovely read-aloud and works for those readers, who are mostly sure of their words. 

And here they are...

Julia Busuttil Nishimura is the bestselling author of four cookbooks. She writes for Good Weekend Magazine and Gourmet Traveller. Julia's work  celebrates the joy of family meals, drawing inspiration from her Maltese heritage, time spent living in Italy and Japanese family. Sundays Under the Lemon Tree is her debut children's book.

Myo Yim has worked as an illustrator of children’s books. Her work has appeared in more than fifteen books, including Wilder Child, Dorothy, Shoes Off, Please and Rajah Street. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Myo now lives in Byron Bay, Australia, with her husband and two boys.

(Biographies take from publisher's website)

Luz Makes a Splash by Claudia Dávila

Today's read seems to be perfect for the heat in upcoming July. It's the second in the Luz series, and I did not read the first one. I'm pretty sure this won't be an issue, though. Also, this series hit the shelves already in 2012 and is getting a slightly new look. That's great because I wouldn't have noticed it otherwise. Not only do I love the theme... I mean, who doesn't love to splash in water outdoors when it get warm outside? But I also like the short length of under 100 pages, especially for the middle grade audience. And it's a graphic novel, which is also fun. Add that this book is still being published, and it's sure to be a treat.

Grab those towels because it looks like we're in for tons of fun.

LUZ MAKES A SPLASH

Luz #2

by Claudia Dávila

Kids Can Press

Middle Grade Fiction

Graphic Novel

96 pages

ages 8 to 12

With a heat wave and a drought threatening the city's water supply, Luz and her friends dive into the fight to save the swimming pond and Friendship Park. This graphic novel includes a guide on how to make a water-wise garden.

AMAZON    /     GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Summer heat mixes with water conservation ideas and working together to create an entertaining read.

Luz and her friends are practically melting thanks to the hot summer heat. Unfortunately, the constant high temperatures are also putting a strain on the local water supply. When Luz and her friends head on a day trip, they discover that the swimming pond is going dry thanks to a nearby cola company, which is using the water for their manufacturing process. When Luz returns home, she learns that the water shortage is now causing more problems: no day showers, dying gardens, and more. She knows she has to do something to help this disaster but isn't sure where to really start.

This book dives head first into environmental issues and concentrates on water conservation. While one plot has Luz and her family trying to figure out the bigger issue with the manufacturing company and the swimming pond, other problems such as a dying plants create a multi-layered tale. The message is very clear and melds with the tale to grab, especially, environmentally minded readers. Some situations are a bit exaggerated, but this also raises the tension and keeps those pages turning. It hits on solutions such as filtering gray water, mini-wetlands, and rain barrels. So, there's a nice learning factor involved.

The illustrations stick to blues, whites and blacks, and they bring across each scene nicely. Some graphic novel readers might wonder why full colors weren't used since this tends to be more standard, anymore. The text drives the story forward and doesn't weigh down. Add the shorter length, and this is very fitting for the younger end of the middle age group. 

All in all, it's an entertaining tale with some inspiring ideas and awakens awareness for the importance of handling water wisely.

And here she is...

In a world that’s becoming ever more digitized, Claudia Dávila remains a believer in and appreciator of books you can hold in your hand. She writes, illustrates and designs books for kids of all ages, with stories and themes that encourage children to be strong, thoughtful, compassionate and responsible people.

Claudia is the former art director of Chirp and Chickadee magazines, the author-illustrator of the award-winning graphic novel series Luz Goes Green and the picture book Super Red Riding Hood, and she is the illustrator of the Nansi graphic novel series and Thunderboom. Claudia was born in Santiago, Chile, and now makes her home in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and their two children.