Lawn Boy Returns by Gary Paulsen

Lawn Boy Return's picks up with the narrator's prize fighter, Joey Pow, wins a big fight and a television interview makes him famous.  But now, more people want to get in with the action.  More people get hired for his lawn care business and all of the other arms of his businesses, his parents take a vacation, and now he has tax problems.  He becomes surrounded by lawyers and accountants and the mob is still chasing him down to get what they think they rightfully deserve.  Although Lawn Boy is still 12 years old he continues to blow us away with his childlike, boy-like behaviors that are still believable even though the content is that of which is not usually felt by this age group.  It is believable.

The book is hard to put down because of it's quick details and fast-paced action, making it an easy read for students in grades 6-9. 

Gary Paulsen's second book to the Lawn Boy series was a success.  He continued to entertain the reader without becoming repetitive.  This book continues to get great reviews.http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7556643-lawn-boy-returns

Due to Gary Paulsen's broad broad knowledge of subjects (which I thought was only of the wilderness) he captures the readers interests and won't let go.

Tulip See's America by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant's, Tulip See's America, is a children's book focusing on colorful scenic images, using repetitive oral dialuge as the narrator drives in his little green Beetle with his dog Tulip throughout the mid-west states.

"There are no farms like Iowa's
There are no sky's like Nebraska's
There is no wind like Wyoming
There are no mountains like Colorado's
There is no deserts like Nevada's
There is no ocean like Oregon's."

Each of these images are expertly crafted through the illustrating works of Lisa Desimini.  Lisa Desimini's characters are critized as looking too young to be driving cross country.  Also, "Tulip See's America" only really see's six states, another critisizm from Publishers Weekly http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-590-84744-5 . 

Westlandia by Paul Fleischman

Paul Fleischman creates another fascinating reading experience in this story of a young boy who has not fit in with his peers.  His parents know, he knows, just about everyone knows.  He has been teased because of his eccentric ways.  One day when Wesley was reading outloud his school lessons his father prompted him, in a teasing way, to start his own garden and this is where the whole idea of creating a garden of his own was created.

Wesley grew all sorts of exotic fruit-bearing plants that taste of "peach, strawberry, pumkin pie, and flavors he had no name for."  He eventually used these fruits to make juice.  He then uses a flower stalk as a sundial to tell time (he no longer uses a watch) and he invented a new language based on a 80-letter alphabet.  Now he had the classmates that once tormented him curious about all the new inventions he was creating.  Wesley's parents noticed that he was now happy and when he returned to school in September he had no shortage of friends (they all learned to appreciate his talents).

Paul Fleischman dove deep into an area that the "not-so-cool" kid falls into.  Fortunately, like Bill Gates and other such entreprenors kids can now explore there needs to be essentric because those are the children that conquer the world.

The illustrator, Hawk, uses acrylic paints to capture the organic feeling this book gives you as Wesley makes hats out of the plant stawks and grows these vibrant fruit-bearing plants.  "It's difficult to imagin a better pairing than Fleischman and Hawk to bring this a one-of-a-kind kid and his universe vividly to life." (Publishers Weekly).

Kevin Hawk, the illustrator, says, "It seems that all of my characters come from places whre the lampposts are never straight, the hills impossibly steep, and the skies impossibly blue." I can't imagine a better illustrator to team up with Fleischman because that is exactly how he writes.

Boris by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant's, Boris, is one of those books that if your an animal lover (even just a cat lover) you can relate by the time you get through the first chapter. 

The narrator begins by explaining why she swore up and down she would never own another cat again.  She is very happy with her dogs because they don't howl and hiss all night long, and they don't spray and spit up hair balls.  The author "Promises" no more cats.   But........, now that a shelter opened just doors down from where she worked it was difficult not to look at the two cat that occupied the window space.  She'd give it a try, even after all the promises!

Boris is the name she gave one of the two cats she brought home to her new house.  Boris wasn't the cat's original name, which was Hunter, it was the name the she felt fit her new cat best.  Until.......mice, birds, feathers, and different animals began showing up on the porch.  Hunter was fitting, but she liked Boris. 

The narrator talked about the video's Boris enjoyed watching (cat video) in front of the television, Boris enjoyed staying out multiple evenings prowling around, and Boris capped fingernails (but still can climb a tree). 

One day the narrator moved, and so did each and everyone of her five animals (two cats and three dogs).  And she comments, "Every place is worth trying."

Cynthia Rylant charms the reader with this soft, well-written piece.  There was anything exciting occuring, but you wanted to know what Boris was doing (as seen through her eyes).  Cats are so complicated.  If you've owned one you know that your life revolves around theirs.  Dogs want your company every second.  Cats will ignore you one minute and the next minute they are jumping out at you to play a game or maybe just to steal a pet.

Reviews on this book were top-notch.  Is it a children's book?  The School Library Journal says it is for students in grades 8 and up.  I would say that this book is for ages 20 and up.  I can picture people giving this book as a gift for a friend when their cat passed away or when they own a cat that is dear to their heart.  Either way, it was a good read.

Night in the Barn by Faye Gibbons illustrated by Erick Ingraham

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT.......That's the first thing that came to mind when I opened up to the first page of the book Night in the Barn by Faye Gibbons.  "Bet your afraid," says Willie to the narrator and his cousins, Julius and Dan.  This was the night the four boys planned to spend the night in the barn.  Leaving their dog behind in the house, the four guys packed up what they needed.....sleeping bags, snacks, and coats.  Off to the barn they went. 

I remembered back to the times that we had sleep over parties outside in tents.  Not only would just the nightime elements scare us, but for some reason neighbors (other kids) would find out what we were doing and would try to scare us, too.  We were all exhausted from staying up all night long, afraid to fall asleep.

Shadows, the pillars and planks of the barn squeeking, the idea that there maybe ghost lurking behind corners just finding the right moment to pounce was weighing heavy on the boys.  Just as the boys got settled in there sleeping bags, a rustle was heard getting closer and closer.  To their relief, it was their faithful K9.  Sleep was next.

Varnished watercolor illustrations were used to create a dark and mysterious mood.  Perfect!  The illustrator, Erick Ingraham, published his first children's book in 1977.  His talent for drawing won many awards to include the American Book Award and BIB for Porcupine Stew in 1983 and a Boston/Horn Award for Cross-Country Cat.

Faye Gibbons, the author, was born in the mountains of north Georgia.  No running water, indoor toilets, and electric lights.  It's not wonder why she wrote a great story about the outdoors.  She remembers riding in wagons pulled by mules and playing out in the woods.  Her stories start with a picture in mind.  From there a main character is developed and the setting unfolds. She comments that most of her stories are about family because family was so important to her.

The Great Big Enormous Turnip by Alexei Tolstoy

The Great Big Enormous Turnip is a picture book written by Alexei Tolstoy.  It is a simple book about an old man growing a turnip.  It was time to pull it up but he wasn't strong enough.  He pulled and pulled but needed to get help.  He ended up getting his wife, granddaughter, the dog, the cat, and finally the mouse to assist.  The turnip finally came up and they put it on the table.  That's it!  But....., the illustrations were so good.  As the reader, you could have looked at the pictures and figured out the meaning even without the text.

The author, Alexei Tolstoy, was a Russian author.  He was also a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and a member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR.  His books, Peter I (1940), Road to Calvary (1943), and the play Ivan Grozny (1946) were awarded Stalin Prizes.

The illustrator, Helen Oxenbury, was highlighted on the cover of this book.  Her name was in bold and was placed directly under the title of the book, where the author was listed much smaller.  I wondered about this, in fact, I thought that there wasn't an author at first until I looked more closely.  She is the illustrator of many classic picture books including We're Going on a Bear Hunt and The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.  Today, Helen Oxenbury is among the most popular and critically acclaimed illustrators of her time.  The colored pencil and pen & ink illustrations along with the great (bright) colors on full bleed pages make the story come alive.

Buffalo Before Breakfast by Mary Pope Osborne

Another Magic Tree House Series book #18, Buffalo Before Breakfast by Mary Pope Osborne takes Jack and Annie on another exciting adventure.

Arf! Arf! Arf!  A Small dog was outside of the house when Jack looked out his bedroom window.  "Teddy's back, it's time," Annie exclaimed to Jack.  Another adventure was about to begin.  This time, after heading to the Magic Tree House, they were heading to the Great Plains.  When the tree house swirled and swirled around and finally stopped, Jack looked out amongst the grassey land.  He opened his Great Plains Reference book and read:
                    The Great Plains are in the middle of the United States.
                    Before the 20th century, this vast prairie covered nearly a fifth of America's land.
                    Some called it "an ocean of grass."
Annie was ready and already pulling Jack outside.  They saw tepees, busy people dressed in buckskins, and horses and ponies grazing nearby.  Jack, of course, looked up tepees in his research book.  He read about the Lakota tribe that inhabited mostly in the areas we now North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota in the early 1800's. 

The two explorers introduced themselves to a warrior that was riding close to them.  The kids made him a peanut butter sandwich and they enjoyed it together with their new warrior friend.  All of a sudden a stampede occurred as large bison began to run in all different directions.  The kids were mortified!  Little Teddy ran off and Annie ran after him.  She put her hands up and just like that the stampede calmed!  Everyone was relieved!

Jack and Annie were taken back to the warrior's village were they learned about the culture and ways of the tribe. 

This fun pact small book is so kid friendly.  It's easy to read, it's short, and the chapters are "kid friendly."  It is no wonder that this book is so popular.  The series involving Jack and Annie's adventures consists of 28 books.  Mary Pope Osborne started a second series called the Magic Tree House "Merlin Missions."  Jack and Annie still run the show but they are now taken to places of fantasy.  There are 46 books combined to complete the Magic Tree House collection.

The illustrations are black and white pencil and watercolor.  I enjoyed these illustrations, but I wish there were more.  I thought this about the first book as well!