Monday, February 22, 2010

Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Plum Fantastic by Whoopi Goldberg with Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Maryn Roos

 

Alexandra Johnson despises ballet.  She wants to be a speed ice skater, like her hero Phoebe Fitz.   But it is her mother's dream that she take ballet classes and become a little ballerina.  So she goes to class.

When Alexandra and her mother move from her home in Georgia to Harlem in NYC, she isn't thrilled.  New home, new city, and a new ballet school...one her mother has always dreamed she could attend. 

Alexandra quickly makes friends in the class, and as they prepare for their upcoming recital (where Alexandra was chosen to be the Sugar Plum Fairy in a solo dance), her new friends help her overcome obstacles to dance her best!

What I Thought:
This is a new series we got at the library and I couldn't wait to give it a try.  I am a fan of Whoopi Goldberg, which further peaked my interest.  I found the books to be quite good and I am sure that they will have a good reception with lots of ballet loving little girls! 

The books include a glossary at the end with "Al's Guide to Ballet Terms" helping those of us who are not so educated in the terminology. 

I found Alexandra to be a lovely character.  At first she hated her new life and begged to return to her home in Apple Creek, GA; but once she found some friends, began to enjoy her new ballet school, and became accustomed to her new life she doesn't want to ever leave.

This is a great book for the elementary crowd!   I can't wait to read further installments of the Sugar Plum Ballerinas! 

Recommended.

Want to see more?  Check it out on Amazon: Whoopi Goldberg with Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Maryn Roos.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw & Tom Douglas, illustrated by Abigail Marble


Katie can't decide what her talent should be for her school's talent show.  Should she sing?  Dance?  Do cartwheels? 

Each one is a great talent, but when it comes time for the talent show, Katie demonstrates something more important than her talent, being a true friend.

What I Thought:
What a sweet book!  Katie is a spunky little girl who has a genuine heart.  It is so sweet to see the special relationship she and her father share in this second book about these characters.  (My Little Girl by Tim McGraw is the first book that features this duo.)

This is a wonderful inspiring book, perfect for little girls and their daddies to share. 

Recommended. 

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Love Your Heart by Tim McGraw & Tom Douglas, illustrated by Abigail Marble.

Reviewed from a copy provided by the Thomas Nelson Publisher Book Review Bloggers program. This book will be donated to my local public library. 

Is she lost?

No, I'm not lost. I'm reading! And doing homework, and working, watching FHU basketball, working on making our new house our home, and doing an internship in the public schools on top of it all. Plus the Olympics are currently in progress, and I'm a HUGE Olympic junkie.

I haven't been blogging.

It's on my list of things to do, I promise.

In the meantime, you should run out and read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. I just finished those and they are superb novels. You won't be sorry.

Go Team USA!