Category: Children’s Books

Book Review: The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events #12) #BookReview #ChildrensBooks #Fiction

On By MischenkoIn Children's Books, Fiction, Reads, Series11 Comments

The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events #12)

By Lemony Snicket

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My review:

We’ve finally finished the 12th book in A Series of Unfortunate Events “The Penultimate Peril.” This turned out to be one of our favorite installments.

Mild spoilers

In the beginning of the story, the Baudelaires are traveling with Kit Snicket to the Hotel Denouement. Here they’ll take up positions as concierges to spy on some of the guests staying there. Their mission is to discern who’s working for and against V.F.D. and to investigate who this mysterious J.S. person is in the hotel.

“You’re not children anymore, Baudelaires. You’re volunteers, ready to face the challenges of a desperate and perplexing world.”

The children split up to assist guests of the hotel and all run into familiar characters from previous installments, eventually having a run in with Esme, Carmelita, Principal Nero, and Count Olaf once again. Count Olaf’s plan remains finding the sugar bowl (a mysterious object all the enemies want) and also the Medusoid Mycelium (deadly fungus that nearly killed Sunny) from the previous book The Grim Grotto. Continue reading “Book Review: The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events #12) #BookReview #ChildrensBooks #Fiction” →

Book Review: Frozen 2: Forest of Shadows by Kamilla Benko #ForestofShadows #Frozen2 #Frozen #BookReview #MiddleGrade

On By MischenkoIn Children's Books, Fiction, Movies, Reads16 Comments

Frozen II: Forest of Shadows

by Kamilla Benko

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My thoughts:

When a strange blight comes over the land and the animals fall into a deep sleep, Anna is convinced she can help find the cure. It needs to be done quickly because the food supply is in danger and Elsa will soon be departing on her grand tour. After Anna finds a magic door in the castle she never knew about, it leads her to a secret room where she finds magic books, herbs, and other mysterious items. The clue might be hidden within this room and Anna is convinced she can solve this mystery, but once a spell is cast, she finds herself and the entire kingdom of Arendelle in more danger than she could have ever imagined.

Continue reading “Book Review: Frozen 2: Forest of Shadows by Kamilla Benko #ForestofShadows #Frozen2 #Frozen #BookReview #MiddleGrade” →

This Week’s Children’s Book Reviews: The Pumpkin Smasher – It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – Home in the Woods – It Happens in the Month of October – The Cat at Night – Slinky Malinki – I Walk at Night #ChildrensBooks #HalloweenBooks

On By MischenkoIn Children's Books, Halloween, Reads9 Comments

This Week’s Children’s Books:

We’ve been reading all of our Halloween favorites and some new books too. Here are some books we’ve read this week.

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

By Charles M. Schulz

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We read this book multiple times a year, even when it’s not Halloween. It wouldn’t be Halloween without it either. Our copy is a 1972 printing, but this year we picked up the beautiful, bright orange 2018 deluxe edition. Both editions are wonderful, and this is a Charles Schulz childhood favorite. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is all about Linus and his belief in the Great Pumpkin. He gives up trick-or-treating to wait for the Great Pumpkin on Halloween night, and just about the only person who believes he might be on to something is Sally.

“Dear Great Pumpkin, I am looking forward to your arrival on Halloween Night. Everyone tells me you are fake, but I believe in you. “ – Linus

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Will the Great Pumpkin bring toys and visit Linus this year? Follow along to find out!

5*****

Continue reading “This Week’s Children’s Book Reviews: The Pumpkin Smasher – It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown – Home in the Woods – It Happens in the Month of October – The Cat at Night – Slinky Malinki – I Walk at Night #ChildrensBooks #HalloweenBooks” →

Hansel & Gretel by Neil Gaiman and other Versions…

On By MischenkoIn Children's Books, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Reads20 Comments

Hansel and Gretel was originally published in 1812 by the Grimm brothers. It’s a story of German origin. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm heard the tale “Hansel and Gretel” from Wilhelm’s friend at the time, Dortchen Wild. Wilhelm later married her and she became Mrs. Grimm.

It’s possible that this fairy tale originated in medieval times when the Great Famine caused people to abandon children in the woods due to lack of food.

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Arthur Rackham’s illustration of Hansel & Gretel from 1909.

Hansel and Gretel is one of my personal favorite fairy tales from childhood. I was so fascinated with the story as a child. I used to have a copy of the Disney book that contained a record I could listen to on my record player. I can still remember sitting in my room and reading along with the story. This version is from Disney and came out in 1967.

Here’s a picture of the one I had a child.

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Here’s my review for this edition:

This is a little book and record that I must have listened to a thousand times when I was little. I can remember listening to this on my little record player repeatedly. Side one of the record is the story and side two contains three songs from the opera Hansel and Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck.

I love the illustrations in this version and I’m amazed how clear the record sounds. As soon as it started playing it evoked nostalgia within me. I recently purchased it for my collection for my family to enjoy. It’s perfect for children to follow and it does have the page turn signal.

If you’re a Hansel and Gretel fan, pick this up online. There are a handful of other stories you can get to go with the series as well. You won’t be disappointed.

5*****

Continue reading “Hansel & Gretel by Neil Gaiman and other Versions…” →