My Favorite Authors

Looking for a good read. A lot of these authors are fantasy authors and all are my favorite.


1. Jeniene Frost : The Night Huntress Series

2. Kelley Armstrong : Women of the Other world Series, The Darkest Power trilogy ( young adult book ) and the new Darkness Rising trilogy: first book: The Gathering.

3. Kim Harrison : Rachel Morgan or aka The Hollows series

4. Jim Butcher : The Dresden Files, The Codex Alera series

5. Ilona Andrews : Kate Daniels Series

6. Anne Bishop : Black Jewel books

7. Yasmine  Galernorn : Sisters of the Moon or AKA The Other world series

8. James Rollins : Thriller, Suspense, Mystery writer. Sigma series.

9. Jeanne C. Stein : Anna Strong series

10. Robert B. Parker : Virgil and Cole books. Starting with Appaloosa. Westerns.

11. Tanya Huff : Blood Book Series.

12. Carrie Vaughn : Kitty Norville Series

13. Charlaine Harris : Sookie Stackhouse Series. This is the series that True Blood is based on. Love the television series.

Hope Was Here Book Trailer

Blood and Chocolate Book Trailer

Al Capone Does My Shirts Book Trailer

Fresh Start

The only reason I had this blog started in the first place was for a class assignment, a Children's and Youth Lit class for my Master of Library and Information Sciences. So that is finally done and I figured since I had the blog space now, I would use it. I got an 80% on the blog assignment. In case you were wondering.

Module Fifteen : Draw Me a Star

This book follows an artist's journey as he creates his own world.

Bibliography:  Carle, Eric (1992). Draw me a star. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

I enjoyed the simplicity of the story and the illustrations, abstract and beautiful in their own right.

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

During his youth, this gifted authorartist explains in his newest book's afterword, his German grandmother would often draw him a star while chanting a nonsense rhyme. Taking that symbol as his foundation, Carle here creates a world pulsating with life and color-a world that bursts forth from a good star sketched by a young artist. This kaleidoseopic pentagram requests a sun from the artist's pen; the sun asks for a tree, and so on until a man and woman are living happily among Carle's characteristic collages-flora and fauna of all shapes, sizes and vivid hues. Meanwhile the artist, now a bearded old man, continues to draw and create. This unusual, practically plotless work seems to embody a personal scenario close to the artist's heart. His unadorned language, pulsing with a hypnotic rhythm, adroitly complements the familiar naive artwork. Though some may be disturbed by similarities between Carle's evolving world and the biblical creation story (the unclothed male and female figures, for example), this tale of imagination and creativity pays homage to the artist within all of us-and may well fire youngsters' imaginations. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)

Children's Literature

"Draw me a star. And the artist drew a star. It was a good star". So begins another of Carle's deceptively simple picture books. The star asks the artist to draw her a sun. Then the warm sun asks the artist to draw a tree and the tree puts in a request for some people. The people need a house which needs a dog and so on until the artist is asked by the moon to draw her a star and the cycle is almost complete. The artist starts out as a toddler drawing the star, and matures through the book. This unique version of the creation story can be interpreted on many levels. Carle's painted tissue paper collages are, as always, brilliant. 1998 (orig.

Children's Literature

This poetically dreamy story tells of an artist whose creations continually inspire until he actuates a universe bursting with dynamic color and life. Subtle themes are inscribed in the simple text. There is the life-long consuming passion of the artistic process, and the glory of an artist who holds onto a star and "together, they travel across the night sky."

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-- A young boy is told (readers are not sure by whom) to ``Draw me a star.'' The star then requests that the boy draw it a sun; the sun asks for a ``lovely tree,'' and throughout his life the boy/man/artist continues to create images that fill the world with beauty. The moon bids the now-elderly artist to draw another star, and as the story ends, the artist travels ``across the night sky'' hand-in-hand with the star. This book will appeal to readers of all ages; its stunning illustrations, spare text, and simple story line make it a good choice for story hour; but older children will also find it uplifting and meaningful. Especially pleasing is a diagram within the story, accompanied by rhyming instructions on how to draw a star: ``Down/ over/ left/ and right/ draw/ a star/ oh so/ bright.'' An inspired book in every sense of the word.-- Eve Larkin, Middleton Public Library , WI

BookList

In this large, brightly illustrated picture book, an artist draws a star, which asks him to draw a sun, which asks him to draw a tree, which asks him to draw a man and a woman . . . and so on. There are biblical overtones, with the man and woman next to the tree looking like Adam and Eve before the Fall, but within a few pages the house is built, the tulips are up, and the scene becomes modern, from houseplants to clothes. Soon, the night asks the artist to draw a moon, and the moon requests a star, bringing the text full circle. Then there's a switch. A drawing lesson demonstrates how to make an eight-pointed star. Next, the artist's star carries him, floating Chagall-like, across the dark, star-spangled sky. On the last page, Carle addresses a letter to his "Friends" describing how his grandmother showed him how to draw a star while reciting a nonsense rhyme, and how his trip on a shooting star inspired this book. The illustrations, in Carle's signature style, are collages of painted, torn, and cut papers. A free-spirited, original offering.

In the library, this could be used during a banned book week display. Or in conjunction with a teacher's art lesson.

Cover rights belong to Eric Carle

Module Fourteen: Awful Ogre's Awful Day

Follow Awful Ogre as he starts his day, his daily activities, and back to bed at the end of the day.

Bibliography: Prelutsky, Jack (2001). Awful Ogre's Awful Day. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

I really liked this book. At times, it could be a bit gross, but an ogre isn't a nice clean monster. I love how the poems had a rhythm that made them fun to read, and it felt a lot like a normal story, even in poem form.

Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

Prelutsky uncorks his latest collection of light verse, a divinely wretched celebration of subversity. Every detail of Awful Ogre's day offers possibility for gross-outs, from sunup ("I flick aside the lizard/ Clinging grimly to my chin,/ And now I feel I'm ready/ For my morning to begin") to sundown (a sly swat at Goodnight Moon as Awful Ogre drifts off to sleep with "Good night to furtive spiders/ That lurk in murky wells./ Good night to loathsome vermin/ With nauseating smells"). Whether he's writing a love letter to an ogress ("I long for the sight/ Of your craggy gray face,/ The might of your bone-breaking,/ Painful embrace") or puttering in the garden ("I'm growing carnivorous roses/ And oceans of overblown mold"), Awful Ogre proves an ideal agent for Prelutsky's oversize humor. Switching gears from the lushness of his Caldecott-winning Rapunzel, repeat collaborator Zelinsky presents Awful Ogre as a grotesque but goofy innocent, sillier than he is sinister. Awful may have only one eye and green hair, and a skunk might indeed curl up in his left nostril, yet he has a childlike sweetness as he dances (shown in a series of a dozen panels) or snuggles up in bed with his cactus. A virtuoso performance by two master funny-bone-ticklers. Ages 6-up. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

A series of eighteen imaginative verses, filled with gruesomely descriptive language, details the day of the ogre as told by himself. The rhythm of the rhymes changes with the subject, from disgusting meals and unusual love-letter to storm and bedtime, complete with reverse nightmares. The grisly, repulsive humor should appeal enormously to most kids; parents and teachers may find some hard to stomach through their laughter. Zelinsky draws the double-page scenes with devilish delight, tinting them with appropriate colors to enhance the graphic impact. Don't miss the borders, like that being torn on the jacket/cover by the ogre and repaired on the title page by tiny workers in hard hats. Many other inventive details are hidden throughout; both poems and illustrations will require many readings for full appreciation. 2001, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

Gr 1-5-This collection of 18 witty poems chronicles a day in the life of Awful Ogre. He towers over buildings and ordinary folk with his carpet of grass-green hair; red, bulbous nose; and single, large, green-and-yellow eye. He doesn't sound real cute, but underneath he's one swell guy. In "Awful Ogre's Breakfast," Prelutsky has fun with the normal breakfast routine. The spread depicts the ogre leaning back on his chair, gazing into his bowl of, yes, scream of wheat, complete with tongues and teeth. Children are sure to memorize Prelutsky's inventive verse and will avidly search the illustrations for their hidden jokes. Take for instance "Awful Ogre's TV Time," in which his favorite channel is the Chopping Network. In "Awful Ogre Dances," Prelutsky's prose stretches across the bottom half of the spread in perfect accompaniment to Zelinsky's dozen frames of Awful Ogre lithely (honestly) gliding across the top half. "I dance with abandon/Bravura, and zest,/I carom off boulders/And beat on my chest./I pirouette wildly/And leap into space/With power, panache,/And unparalleled grace." Even though Awful Ogre claims to be the awfulest of all, he remains awfully appealing throughout his rants and misadventures. Consider purchasing an extra copy-just in case he is checked out for an awfully long time.-Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

In a library setting this would be a good story time read to introduce kids to poetry. Or could be done with a teaching unit on poetry.

Cover rights belong to Paul O. Zelinsky

Module Thirteen: Stormbreaker

Alex Rider has been raised by his uncle, in England. After the death of his uncle, Alex discovers he was a spy for British Intelligence. Whether he likes it or not, Alex's life is about to take another turn, he is about to become a spy, and finish what his uncle started.

Bibliography: Horowitz, Anthony (2001). Stormbreaker. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

This book is pretty good. Its a nice action or thriller read. A dash of James Bond, and a mix of good spy story makes this a series, one could enjoy getting lost in.

Reviews:

VOYA

Alex Rider becomes the first fourteen-year-old MI6 agent when his uncle is assassinated. Alex is forced to take over the case involving a suspicious computer baron who has donated thousands of his newest, top-secret modules to British schools. This action-packed spy novel, the first in the projected Stormbreaker series, has all the clichés: a stony-faced hero, plenty of preposterous stunts—including using the rappelling cord to catch an airplane—terse dialogue, and the evil Egyptian, Russian, and Fräulein. There is not much else to the story, however, nor to Alex's character. Horowitz draws him out a little in the beginning as a reluctant spy who is unwilling to kill—although plenty of other people do kill each other in this story—but then loses him as the movielike plot predictably and explosively unfolds. This uncomplicated novel is fun fare enough for the Young Indiana Jones fan or reluctant reader. Although it offers little that a B movie does not, sophisticated readers will find it simplistic. Those readers looking for intrigue and suspense will be served better with John Marsden or Peter Dickinson. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2001, Philomel, 208p, $16.99. Ages 12 to 15. Reviewer: Nina Lindsay SOURCE: VOYA, August 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 3)

Claire Rosser - KLIATT

To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, May 2001: Agent 007 comes to the middle school! Horowitz, a British writer of thrillers and mysteries for the BBC and a successful writer of children's books, offers here a nonstop thriller featuring Alex Rider, 14 years old, who is enlisted in the British Secret Service to investigate the reason his uncle was murdered. From the first chapter, Alex manages stunning escapes from near-death situations. Like James Bond, he has all manner of skills and intelligence to call upon, and some useful toys (like those gadgets given to 007 before each mission) that are used just in the nick of time throughout his adventure. In this first mission, Alex is called to investigate why a multimillionaire is donating advanced computers to all the schools in Great Britain. Alex impersonates a boy who won a contest to go to the secret compound in Cornwall where the computers are assembled. It turns out that the crazed tycoon is planning to use the donated computers to spread deadly germs throughout the country but Alex single-handedly prevents the disaster. Thrills all the way. KLIATT Codes: J Recommended for junior high school students. 2000, Penguin, Puffin, 192p.,

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-Alex Rider's world is turned upside down when he discovers that his uncle and guardian has been murdered. The 14-year-old makes one discovery after another until he is sucked into his uncle's undercover world. The Special Operations Division of M16, his uncle's real employer, blackmails the teen into serving England. After two short weeks of training, Alex is equipped with several special toys like a Game Boy with unique cartridges that allow it to scan, fax, and emit smoke bombs. Alex's mission is to complete his uncle's last assignment, to discover the secret that Herod Sayle is hiding behind his generous donation of one of his supercomputers to every school in the country. When Alex enters Sayle's compound in Port Tallon, he discovers a strange world of secrets and villains including Mr. Grin, an ex-circus knife catcher, and Yassen Gregorovich, professional hit man. The novel provides bang after bang as Alex experiences and survives unbelievably dangerous episodes and eventually crashes through the roof of the Science Museum to save the day. Alex is a strong, smart hero. If readers consider luck the ruling factor in his universe, they will love this James Bond-style adventure. With short cliff-hanger chapters and its breathless pace, it is an excellent choice for reluctant readers. Warning: Suspend reality.-Lynn Bryant, formerly at Navarre High School, FL Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

In a library setting it could be used in a book talk with a focus in getting boys interested in reading. This could also be used to make a book trailer.

Cover Rights belong to John Blackford.

Module Twelve : Harvesting Hope: the story of Cesar Chavez

This is a biography on the life of Cesar Chavez. Chavez organized peaceful marches to get better pay and working conditions for migrant farmers.

Bibliography: Krull, Kathleen (2003). Harvesting Hope: the story of Cesar Chavez. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Inc.

Before reading this book, I hardly knew anything about Cesar Chavez. For a children's book, the reader gets to know enough about Chavez and his life. The illustrations are also well done, adding to the tale of a man who deserves so much more recognition than what he gets.


Reviews:

Publishers Weekly

Krull (Wilma Unlimited; the Lives of... series) turns readers' attention to Cesar Chavez (1927-1993), founder of the National Farm Workers Association and champion of migrant workers. A lyrical portrait of a glorious early boyhood on his family's Arizona ranch opens the sympathetic narrative and explains that drought forced the family off their land in 1937 and consigned them to the grueling life of itinerant manual farm labor. Krull selects details that the target audience will readily understand; for example, she notes that Chavez attended 35 schools (he left after eighth grade) and that a teacher once hung a sign on him that read "I am a clown. I speak Spanish." The author also stresses Chavez's struggles to overcome extreme shyness and his commitment to nonviolent means of protest, demonstrating the latter in a climactic account of the landmark farm workers' strike and protest march led by Chavez in 1965. Debut illustrator Morales's mixed-media, full-bleed art taps into folkloric qualities that enhance the humanity of the characters. Using the bright colors of Mexican art, she skews the landscapes to reflect the characters' emotions. Sweeping, organic brushstrokes often angle diagonally, painting purple skies above green California fields or dividing rows of brown earth. The visual statement is as powerful as the story. Ages 6-9. (May) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-The dramatic story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farmworkers in California is the centerpiece of this well-told biography. Readers meet Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. The historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa" are vividly recounted, and Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay-is palpable. While sufficient background information is provided to support the story and encourage further research, focusing on one event makes the story appealing to younger readers. The text is largely limited to one side of a spread; beautifully rendered earth-toned illustrations flow out from behind the words and onto the facing page. A fine addition to any collection.-Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

In a library setting could be used with a display during Hispanic history month. Could also be used in a story session to introduce children to other famous reformers, besides Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cover rights belong to Yuyi Morales.

Module Eleven : Butterflies and Moths

This book is about butterflies and moths. It covers all aspects of the life of these insects, from egg to adulthood, even mating.

Bibliography: Bishop, Nic (2009). Butterflies and Moths. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

I really liked this book. The photographs are gorgeous, the information isn't over whelming, and the author even tells his story about getting the pictures for the book.

Reviews:

Children's Literature

Do you know how to tell the difference between butterflies and moths? It is not always easy. But after reading this book, you will have a better idea...and you will have learned quite a lot about these amazing insects. Did you know that the world's largest butterfly, the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, has a wingspan of almost a foot? Or that there are moths that feed on the tears of sleeping animals? Stunning photographs trace the life cycle of butterflies and moths as they grow from eggs no bigger than a grain of sand into hungry caterpillars (kids will be fascinated with the close-ups of the caterpillar's body) and then into adults. The extraordinary photographs on every page are spectacular—bright, colorful close-ups that will delight readers young and old. A four-page foldout shows, through photographs, a butterfly's flight. Straightforward, easy-to-understand and informative text introduces young readers to just a few of the almost 170,000 different types of butterflies and moths. At the end of the book, readers will find an index, brief glossary and author's notes. A book for younger readers but one everyone can enjoy. Highly recommended. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5
"There is no mistaking a butterfly," begins this striking, beautifully crafted exploration of these intriguing winged insects and their "more secretive" brethren. There's also no mistaking the loving care with which this book was made, setting gorgeous photographs against jewel-toned pages, with fascinating, meticulously captioned close-ups and new angles on a familiar subject (such as spectacular fold-out pages showing the mechanics of a butterfly's flight through a seamless series of photos). Bishop has received much well-deserved acclaim for his stunning photographs, but his text, too, stands out, with information-packed prose that shimmers like butterfly wings, capturing the sense of wonder that infuses his photographs. That passion also shines through in an afterword in which he shares the story of how he took the pictures (including a years-in-the-making mad dash to Costa Rica to photograph a caterpillar that can puff its body up to look like a poisonous snake before turning into a pupa). This book is an example of the very best kind of nonfiction-the kind that inspires as well as informs.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

 In a library setting this book could be used in a teaching unit about insects, or in a display about animal books.

 
 Cover rights belong to Nic Bishop.