Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life

I picked up this book because of Molly Bang's name and her knowledge of picture book illustrations. I was not disappointed. There are vibrant images that accompany this non-fiction text. The book, designed for children P-Gr. 3, describes the process of photosynthesis and why it matters to them. The narrator is the sun (as in Bang's picture book My Light). There are also four pages of appended notes in the back. Excellent addition to a library collection.

The Graveyard Book

Felt obligated to read this book because it won the Newbery award. Bod's parents have been murdered by the man Jack. As a baby, Bod escaped and was raised in the graveyard by ghosts and other cemetery inhabitants. He must navigate between life among the dead and the living. There is suspense as Jack continues his search for the baby who escapes. Gaiman, of course, is a great storyteller - it's just not my "cup of tea."

Lucky Breaks

Lucky Trimble is back and looking forward to her 11th birthday. Bored with her best friend, Lincoln, who is an expert knot tyer, she is pleased when Paloma comes to visit. Lucky tries to appear interesting but it gets her into trouble when she finds herself at the bottom of an old abandoned well. , Lucky gets them both in trouble. This is the sequel to the Newbery Award winner, The Higher Power of Lucky. Yes, the word scrotum appears again but truly is overshadowed by the theme of the importance of friends and families - especially families that are created rather than those we are born into. Maybe it's because I feel better acquainted with Lucky, but I liked this one better than the award winner. Grades 4-8.

The Lucky One

Couldn't let the whole spring break go by without reading at lease one adult, light novel, and Sparks is always good for that. Logan Thibault has spent three tours of duty in Iraq and attributes his luck to a photograph he found. Determined to locate the woman in the photo, he and his dog, Zeus, travel cross country to Hampton, North Carolina. There he meets Elizabeth and becomes involved in her dog training facility. He is there to help Elizabeth and her son overcome issues with her ex-husband and a near tragedy when the river floods. Typical Nicholas Sparks - romance, danger - quick read.

Masterpiece

Marvin, the beetle who lives beneath the kitchen sink in the Pompaday household, surprises 11-year-old James with an exquisite cityscape "painted" in the style of Albretcht Durer. His artist father and the Metropolitan Museum of Art curator, certain that James painted the picture, enlist his services to catch an art thief. He and Marvin become embroiled in an intriguing art heist mystery. The friendship between the two characters is believable as they help each other deal with family issues. A little bit Charlotte's Web, a little bit From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

The Underneath

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt should have won the Newbery award. It was an honor book and also a National Book Award finalist. Read it in one night. The story of Ranger, the old hound, who "adopted" a pregnant calico cat and later her two kittens is riveting. An ancient story of Grandmother Moccasin and King Alligator is interwoven into the story of Gar Face, the abusive alcoholic who has chained Ranger under the porch of his ramshackle shack in the Bayou. As my own faithful hound sat by my side, I couldn't imagine how anybody could mistreat dog so badly. Reminds me of Shiloh series. Grades 4 -8.