Review of Little House on the Prairie: The Musical--It was a book first

I got to see this musical at TPAC (Tennessee Performing Arts Center) in Nashville, TN on October 31, 2009. Yes, I went to the theater instead of trick-or-treating this year. I was totally okay with that!

I didn't really have an expectation of what to expect of this show going in. I LOVE the books, enjoy the television series, but had no idea of any aspect of this show except that Melissa Gilbert was playing the role of "Ma." (She played the role of Laura in the television series.)

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised! The show spanned pretty much the entire series of books, beginning with the Ingalls family leaving Wisconsin and their big woods, ending with Laura and Almanzo's wedding. Many of the most cherished and well known story lines were included, like the girls attending school for the first time and meeting Nellie Oleson (who has quite a prominent role in this musical), Mary falling ill and losing her sight, the girls' first Independence Day celebration, the horrible winter and the blizzard that almost killed the entire town, Laura heading off to nearby town to teach and her experiences there, her courtship with Almanzo, and others.

The songs were catchy and fun. All of the actors did an amazing job and the costumes were quite realistic. Laura was wonderfully portrayed as having a "wild heart" which stayed true to the books.

Overall, I'd say this was worth missing trick-or-treating for! It was definitely a treat. If it comes to a town near you and you are at all a Little House fan, it's worth the price of admission.

You can find out more about this show at their website.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

It's summer break and Greg Huffley has big plans of sleeping, watching TV, and playing video games ALL. SUMMER. LONG. He also enjoys swimming at the local country club with his friend Rowley, but that ends after the two have a little tiff and part ways.

But Greg's mother has different plans for him: lots of family time...especially with his father, visits to the local public pool, she even started a reading club!

Sigh.

How will Greg ever survive this summer?

What I Thought:
Well, it's no secret that I'm a fan of this series. I think I've discussed most, if not all, of the books on this site.

And honestly, these books don't even need to be booktalked or "pushed" in a library because kids are clamoring after them all on their own. In fact, we've just ordered additional copies of each for the library collection!

But anyway, I think Kinney hit a home run once again. Greg is still an indoor kind of guy, someone who would rather play video games and sleep than do anything else. He is your stereotypical self-centered tween.

Like in the previous books, it is written in a journal-like style including both text and simple illustrations.

Hand this to any kid 4th grade and up and they will worship you.

Very highly recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney.

Reviewed from a library copy.

The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin

It all started with a box. A wooden box. A simple but thoughtful gift for his little sister's birthday. What he didn't realize was the hidden compartment in the bottom of the box that held three wooden strips with letters.

A puzzle.

Winston is a puzzle fanatic. He loves word puzzles, number puzzles, logic puzzles, even creating puzzles. So when these puzzle pieces stump him, everyone is a bit surprised.

Then, it is discovered that the wooden strips are actually clues to a treasure left behind by a prominent business man to his children who refused to talk to each other. However, the children also refused to work together to find the treasure. Now it is years later and all the siblings have died, except one. Their chips are in the possession of a couple treasure hunters. And everyone wants to find the treasure.

Will they find it? Will they solve the puzzle of a lifetime?

What I Thought:
Super fun book! I read the second book about Winston a while back, when I didn't realize this one existed. So this book went right on the list.

Winston is a great character who loves puzzles and the neatest thing about this book is that every puzzle Winston solves or comes across is included in the book to solve right along with Winston. If you don't want to write in your book, you can go to a website and print out the puzzles to work. (And please, don't write in the book if it is a library copy!)

The story has a perfect mix of mystery, suspense, and even a bit of danger. And of course...puzzles!

Overall, a great book. Give to any tween who likes mysteries and anyone who likes to solve puzzles.

Recommended.


Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko

Moose is back, along with the whole Alcatraz gang! Moose's family lives on Alcatraz where his father is an officer at Alcatraz prison. When we last left Moose in Al Capone Shines Does My Shorts, his special needs sister Natlie had just been accepted into the Esther P. Marinoff School...perhaps with some pull from prisoner Al Capone!

Now, Natalie is doing well in school, but it seems Al Capone wants a favor in return.

What I Thought:
A very strong historical fiction novel. This book is set in 1935 when Alacatraz was a busy prison filled with mobsters that remained in the headlines. Choldenko once again does a fantastic job bringing her readers into Moose's world and what it was like to grow up on this island.

There is a lot more interaction in this book with the inmates, as Moose gets to meet Capone and some of the other inmates as they are working on the island. Baseball is still plays a vital role in the story and there's even a little romance!

I don't know if Choldenko plans to continue Moose's story, but I sure hope she does!

Book also includes an author's note regarding her research and her characters.

Highly recommended, but make sure that you have read Al Capone Does My Shorts first!

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Roscoe Riley Rules #6: Never Walk in Shoes that Talk by Katerine Applegate, illustrated by Brian Biggs

The newest fad in town are Walkie-Talkies, shoes that have function allowing its wearers to communicate with others who are wearing the shoes.

Sounds neat right? EVERYONE in Roscoe's class wants a pair, unfortunately there are limited pairs available. Which makes them even more desired!

Two kids in Roscoe's class scores some, and though Roscoe asks her parents nicely, no luck. Well, that is until some show up in the mail! Roscoe is suddenly one of the most popular kids in class.

But Roscoe's best friend feels left out, and Roscoe helps to destroy his "Ruff and Tuff" shoes, since Roscoe's father says he has "Destructo Feet."

Can you figure out how Roscoe landed in time out?

What I Thought:
Super fun book! It reminded me of the many fads that found its way to my school as a child...slap bracelets, paint splattered jeans, crimped hair...

This is a story that everyone can relate to in one way or another!

This is another solid story in the Roscoe Riley series.

Highly recommended!

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Roscoe Riley Rules #6: Never Walk in Shoes that Talk by Katerine Applegate, illustrated by Brian Biggs.

Reviewed from a library copy.