I'm a huge fan of Jon Klassen so I was excited to see this title releasing. Unfortunately, I didn't get to it last year, but finally got to it this yeI'm a huge fan of Jon Klassen so I was excited to see this title releasing. Unfortunately, I didn't get to it last year, but finally got to it this year.
The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale is a retelling that takes a little darker perspective than the original tale. It follows main character Otilla who escapes from a terrible danger and finds herself at this large castle where she meets a skull that is the owner. What follows is a rather macabre, but beautiful friendship between the two.
What Worked: The artwork is STUNNING. If you've never encountered any work by Jon Klassen, I highly recommend checking it out. It never fails to blow me away. It worked so well with this darker tale. At the end of the book, Klassen reveals the plot of the original tale and I must say I'm much happier with his twist. It's dark, but not scary and really illustrates this idea that people (including children) are never what they appear to be on the surface. The friendship between Otilla and the skull was sweet and endearing.
Overall, this was a quick, quirky, and fun read. I definitely recommend checking this one out if you're looking for something that is a little darker but doesn't necessarily cross the line into horror....more
Another great installment in the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series! This is easily becoming one of my favorite children's book series and I see why kidAnother great installment in the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series! This is easily becoming one of my favorite children's book series and I see why kids love them so much. This installment pretty much picks up where the last one left off. Readers get to see Andres' passion for riding bikes and the fun he wants to have at the bike park. Unfortunately, while there Andres learns that there is a particular jump in the park that no one can complete. Of course, it's a ghost who's messing things up. Readers follow Andres and Desmond as they attempt to solve the mystery. The ending is so incredibly cute and charming. What I love most about each one of these books is the illustrations and how Miedoso takes what would typically be scary and makes it fun and interesting for the reader. This one to share with readers young and old. If you haven't thought about giving these a try please consider it! You don't want to miss out on this AMAZING series....more
This was such a freaking cute read. I know that the kids at the library love it, so I wanted to give it a try and it didn't disappoint.
The Haunted HouThis was such a freaking cute read. I know that the kids at the library love it, so I wanted to give it a try and it didn't disappoint.
The Haunted House Next Door is the very first book in the Desmond Cole series (it's currently at 18 books). Unlike the name of the series, the actual story follows a young boy by the name of Andres who moves into a new house in Desmond's neighborhood. At first, Andres tries to keep his distance from Desmond because he believes that Desmond is strange. However, before he knows it, he needs Desmond's assistance to help deal with a little problem AKA a ghost.
What Worked: So many things worked in this book! I can see why it has such great appeal amongst younger elementary readers. The story itself is fascinating and then the artwork just made the story even more fun. This is definitely for younger readers who enjoy longer books or reluctant readers who need just a tad more encouragement. The addition of the illustrations provide a certain level of comfort that transitional readers may need. Naturally, it was a quick read for me as an adult but I didn't enjoy it any less than. The contrasting between Desmond and Andres as characters was also something that I enjoyed about the text. They are polar opposites in terms of interests and they balance each other out. There is plenty of humor as well some gross moments that kids will enjoy.
Overall, I'm invested in finishing this series out. They are quick reads and fun. I definitely could see my own child reading this one when she gets older....more
Bookishrealm
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Books:
children-paranormal
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