Travel the World: Colin McNaughton

We're Off To Look For Aliens by Colin McNaughton boasts that it's "two books in one!" Personally, I wasn't all that impressed. It could have been an off day for me, of course, I haven't really seen what others think of this one. It was one of those books that was "just okay" for me. I didn't hate it. Didn't dislike it. But I didn't love it. I just am indifferent to it really. The first book, the framework story, is about an author-dad who is excited that his book has arrived in the mail. He's anxious to pass the book to his kids and see what they think of his book. Dad is too "nervous" to watch his kids read the book, so he takes the dog for a walk. The second book, found in the middle of the book, is WE'RE OFF TO LOOK FOR ALIENS. That book is about a young boy, or possibly young man, who goes off with his dog into outer space. He goes exploring here and there and whatnot. I *don't* want to offer any spoilers so I won't say much more about that. The rest of the book is just their response to their dad's book. Again I don't want to spoil it because there's a bit of a twist.

The text of the second book is fun and light and playful. It was rhythmic. It was repetitive. It was enjoyable.



So you might enjoy this one. You might really love it. You might have an enthusiastic response to this one. I didn't. But picture books are super-subjective. And an interest in aliens would be a big bonus. And I think being a kid would be too. Sometimes adults just are too grown up to really "get" a kid's book.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Beware the Babies!

So I was very very very happy to watch this one. I love Veggie Tales most of the time. But I tend to *really* like those more literary endeavors. The Big River Rescue features "Huckleberry Larry" and "Tomato Sawyer" though you can just call him "Tom." Big Jim is on the run. And though Tom and Huck had promised Big Jim's "owners" that they'd be on the look out for him, they soon realize that Jim's running away is justified. In fact, they agree--Huckleberry Larry enthusiastically with Tomato Sawyer being a bit more cautious--to help him on his way. Where are they going? And why? They're going to St. Louis, to the St. Louis World's Fair! Jim is on his way to his sweet singing Mama Belle whom he hasn't seen in years.

This one is fun and silly. Definitely recommended.

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From A Distance

Alexander, Tamera. 2008.   From A Distance.

Set in Colorado in the 1870s, From A Distance is the story of a woman photographer, Elizabeth Westbrook, and her quest to take the *perfect* photograph and in doing so thus earn the job of her dreams at her newspaper back in Washington D.C. (I mean "her" newspaper because she is employed there currently although not with much prestige and publishing under another name.) But life has a habit of getting in the way of dreams, and Elizabeth discovers as much almost immediately. First, her own health prohibits her from doing *exactly* what she wants when she wants to do it. Second, she is finding it a bit difficult to be taken seriously because she is a woman. Most of the folks see her and her camera as a joke. Including her own father, by the way, who is a senator or congressman, I can't remember which at the moment. Her biggest obstacle, through her eyes at the beginning, is a young man, a Southern man, named Daniel Ranslett.

Long story short, when Elizabeth captures something with her camera--a picture of a crime scene, a dead body she found when she was walking--she places her own life in danger.

Some mystery. Some romance. Some history.

I enjoyed this one.

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The Host Discussion

The Host by Stephenie Meyer is the selection for the month of July at Becky’s Online Reading Group.

The Host
by Stephenie Meyer
July’s Book-of-the-Month at Becky’s Online Reading Group

Day 0: July 2nd; Share thoughts on cover, flap, blurbs, prologue, first paragraph of chapter one. In other word–first impressions. Also might want to visit Stephenie Meyer’s website or the book website.
As “homework” between 7/2 and 7/7 read The Host 1-58 (Prologue through chapter 6)

Day 1: July 7th. Discuss chapters 1-6 (pp. 1-58 )
As “homework” to read between 7/7 and 7/9 read pp. 59 - 117 (Chapters 7 - 12)

Day 2: July 9th. Discuss chapters 7-12 (pp. 59-117)
As “homework” to read between 7/9 and 7/11 read 118-180 (Chapters 13-18 )

Day 3: July 11th. Discuss chapters 13-18 (pp. 118-180)
As “homework” to read between 7/11 and 7/14 read 181 - 243 (Chapters 19-24)

Day 4: July 14th. Discuss chapters 19-24 (pp. 181-243)
As “homework” to read between 7/14 and 7/16 read 244- 312 (Chapter 25-30)

Day 5: July 16th. Discuss chapters 25-30 (pp. 244-312)
As “homework” to read between 7/16 and 7/18 read 313-357 (Chapters 31-34)

Day 6: July 18th. Discuss chapters 31-34 (pp. 313-357)
As “homework” to read between 7/16 and 7/21 read 358 - 407 (Chapters 35-39)

Day 7: July 21rst. Discuss chapters 35-39 (pp. 358-407)
As “homework” to read between 7/21 and 7/23 read 408 - 456 (Chapters 40-44)

Day 8: July 23rd. Discuss chapters 40-44 (pp. 408-456)
As “homework” to read between 7/23 and 7/25 read 457 - 505 (Chapters 45 - 49)

Day 9: July 25th. Discuss chapters 45-49 (pp. 457-505)
As “homework” to read between 7/25 and 7/28 read 506 - 558 (Chapters 50 - 54)

Day 10: July 28th. Discuss Chapters 50-54 (pp. 506-558 )
As “homework” to read between 7/28 and 7/30 read 559 - 619 (Chapters 55 - epilogue)

Day 11: July 30th. Discuss chapters 55 - the epilogue (pp. 559-619)
Share closing thoughts and final impressions.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Presidential Reading Challenge

Presidential Reading Challenge
host: Becky (of Becky's Book Reviews)
dates: four levels, three different end dates
required books: four levels, four different requirements.

Level one: Commit to reading ONE book between July 4, 2008 and November 4, 2008. The book can be fiction or nonfiction, for adults or for children. It needs to be about a president or first lady or in someway connected to the President (children, pets, other relatives, friends, etc.) The book can be written from other points of view--from a servant, slave, friend, aide, employee, etc.--but the President and/or someone from his family would need to enter into it at some point.

Level two: Commit to reading THREE books between July 4, 2008 and January 20, 2009. (Inauguration day according to Wikipedia).

Level three: Commit to reading FIVE books between July 4, 2008 and July 4, 2009.

Level four: This one is slightly different. And I don't know if I'll have any takers at all. But I thought It'd throw it out there just the same. This one doesn't have you committing to read books. It has you committing to read primary documents--speeches and such. There is a website that has links to all sorts of goodies. George Washington for example. Abraham Lincoln. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. John F. Kennedy. All 43 Presidents are there to choose from. So this level asks you to commit to reading 10 items. This one would go July 4, 2008 through July 4, 2009.

No lists are required. No blogs are required to participate. To sign up just leave a comment on this post indicating which level you'll be aiming for (1, 2, 3, or 4)

Here are some sites you might find helpful:

American President An Online Reference Resource
First Ladies
First Ladies' Bibliographies
From Revolution to Reconstruction
Internet Public Library (Presidents of the United States of America)
National First Ladies' Library
Presidential Libraries
Presidents
The National Archives: Presidents
The Presidents' Children
Wikipedia: Children of the Presidents
Wikipedia: Presidents

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews