Reviews – Page 137 – BookBunnies

Caramel reviews We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller

Caramel reviews We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller, a book in the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading Series.

Caramel has already reviewed three books from the Elephant and Piggie Like Reading series (see his reviews of The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat, The Itchy Book by LeUyen Pham, and Harold and Hog Pretend for Real! by Dan Santat). Today he reviews a fourth book from this collection: We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller. (Can you see the little beak behind the book? Who is hiding there??) — Caramel reviews *We Are Growing!* by Laurie Keller. (Can you see the little beak behind the book? Who is hiding there??)

Sprinkles: What is this book about Caramel?

Caramel: Hmmm, I’m busy, I’m flipping through the pages.

S: Yes, you can do that of course, but you should also tell us about the book.

C: It is about eight leaves of grass.

S: The book is about grass?

C: Not exactly. The characters are grass leaves but the book is about one particular leaf.

S: So what is interesting about this leaf?

C: He doesn’t know what he is. Until the end.

S: What does that mean? He is a grass leaf. So he knows that, right?

C: Yes, but among his friends, there is the tallest one, there is a silliest one, there is a curliest one. There is a crunchy one, for some reason. And two pointy ones.

S: I see. So our hero leaf wants to be special like them too?

C: Yes! And in the end he figures out that he is the …

Caramel and his mysterious penguin friend are reading the preamble of We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller, where Elephant and Piggie tell the readers that reading this book is like watching grass grow ... because it is! But in the best possible way... — Caramel and his mysterious penguin friend are reading the preamble of *We Are Growing!* by Laurie Keller, where Elephant and Piggie tell the readers that reading this book is like watching grass grow … because it is! But in the best possible way…

S: Wait! Don’t tell. You’ll spoil it for our readers!

C: Aww…. That’s too bad… I really wanted to give it away.

S. Alright, let us not give it away though. Let us go back to what this book is really about. It is not quite about grass, is it?

C: No not really.

S: Can you think of the grass leaves as little bunnies in second grade?

C: Hmm, maybe.

S: Is there a tallest in your class? Is there someone who is the funniest? Is there someone who is the messiest?

C: Hmm… I don’t know. We don’t really compare ourselves to each other. And there is definitely not the pointiest. Or a curliest one.

S: There might be bunnies with curlier hair than you! But it is good that you and your friends don’t compare yourselves to one another. Do you think the little grass leaf would be happier if he did not compare himself to his friends?

C: Maybe.

S: So do you think the book is about comparing oneself to others?

C: Maybe.

S: Or maybe not.

C: I don’t know really.

S: All the leaves are unique in their own ways, right?

C: Not all! Two of them are the same! Practically. They are both the pointiest.

S: Yes but they too are special in some way and different from one another.

C: Their colors are kind of different I think. One is darker green and the other is lighter green.

S: Yes. So our little grass leaf friend also wants to be unique and special, right?

C: Yes! I think that is what the story is about! Being unique, right?

S: Right. And we are all unique, each of us!

C: Yes! And the little leaf figures this out too. And he is unique because .. ok, I won’t tell you.

S: Good idea Caramel! Readers can read and find it out themselves. Do you think it is time to wrap things up now?

C: Yes! Stay tuned for more book bunny adventures!

Caramel and his mysterious penguin friend really enjoyed reading We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller, and recommend it to all other little bunnies and penguins. — Caramel and his mysterious penguin friend really enjoyed reading *We Are Growing!* by Laurie Keller, and recommend it to all other little bunnies and penguins.

Marshmallow reviews You Have To Stop This by Pseudonymous Bosch (Book 5 of the Secret Series)

Marshmallow reviews You Have To Stop This by Pseudonymous Bosch (Book 5 of the Secret Series).

Marshmallow found the first couple volumes of the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch at her school library and then wanted to read all of them. Today she reviews for the book bunnies blog the fifth and last book of the series: You Have To Stop This.

Marshmallow’s quick take: If you like books about mysteries, then this might be the book for you.

The Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch is about three kids named Cassandra (Cass), Yo-Yogi, and Max-Ernest. Cass makes predictions all the time and no one believes her, just like in Greek mythology, but then again, her predictions don’t really come true. Yo-Yoji’s real name is Yoji, and he has a collection of shoes. When Max-Ernest was born, one of his parents wanted to name him Max, but the other wanted to name him Ernest, so they named him Max-Ernest.

In the first book titled The Name Of This Book Is Secret, the children learn about the Midnight Sun, an organization of alchemists who are trying to become immortal. They are all really really old (over two hundred years!) even though they all look very young. All members of the Midnight Sun wear gloves and they do not hesitate to hurt people if it means that they will be closer to immortality.

Each book is organized around one of the five senses: taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell. The first book, The Name Of This Book Is Secret, is about smell. The second, If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late, is about sound. The third book is called This Book Is Not Good For You, and is about taste. The fourth is called This Isn’t What It Looks Like, and it involves sight.

This review is about the fifth and last book of the series, You Have To Stop This, which is about touch.

Marshmallow’s summary (with spoilers): While on a school field trip to a museum, Cass accidentally breaks off the finger of a mummy. Then Cass, Yo-Yoji, and Max-Ernest have to work at the museum overnight to redeem themselves. When they go to look at the mummy, it is not there. But then they are found next to a missing mummy, so they are blamed for its disappearance.

The friends soon realize that the mummy was taken by the Midnight Sun. Things get a lot more dangerous after that.

Marshmallow is reading You Have To Stop This by Pseudonymous Bosch (Book 5 of the Secret Series). — Marshmallow is reading *You Have To Stop This* by Pseudonymous Bosch (Book 5 of the Secret Series).

Marshmallow’s review: I enjoyed reading this book. One thing I liked about it is that the narrator speaks to the reader and he is very funny. And the author picks titles that seem to want to discourage you from reading it. This is probably because when children are told not to do something, they do it anyways.

This is a confusing book, so I would say that it would be more appropriate for 8 and up. Even then, you might need to reread this book a few times to understand everything, but in the end everything fits in and the author neatly ties every loose string. For one example (spoiler alert!), in the end the author reveals himself as Max-Ernest.

This is a funny book: the narrator is crazy about chocolate and keeps trying to make the reader stop reading the book.

Marshmallow’s rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates You Have To Stop This by Pseudonymous Bosch (Book 5 of the Secret Series) 100%. — Marshmallow rates *You Have To Stop This* by Pseudonymous Bosch (Book 5 of the Secret Series) 100%.

Caramel reviews The Lost Heir (Book Two of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes

Caramel reviews the graphic novel version of The Lost Heir (Book Two of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland (with art work by Mike Holmes).

Last week Caramel reviewed the graphic novel version of The Dragonet Prophecy (Book One of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland (adapted by Barry Deutsch, art work by Mike Holmes, color by Maarta Laiho). This week he wanted to talk about the second graphic novel in the series: The Lost Heir. As always Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Sprinkles: So how do you want to start this review Caramel?

Caramel: This book is good if you like graphic novels and if you like dragons, too. All of the Wings of Fire series is great for bunnies who like dragons.

S: I can see that! You haven’t dropped this book since you picked it up. Can you tell me a bit about what happens in this book?

C: Let me see. First let me tell you the characters.

S: Aren’t they the same characters as in the first book?

C: Yes, many are the same, but there are some new ones. I think there are four new characters actually.

S: But in your first review you did not really tell us much about the characters. We only heard about Oasis, Blaze, Burn, and Blister. And the five types of dragons: SandWings, MudWings, SeaWings, NightWings, and RainWings. So you can tell us about the characters a bit this time. For example do you have a favorite character?

C: Riptide is probably my favorite of the new characters. He is the nicest. He is a SeaWing. SeaWing dragons can see in the dark and breathe under water. And some of their scales can glow in the dark. But we learned all that in the first book.

Caramel has been reading and rereading the graphic novel version of The Lost Heir (Book Two of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland (with art work by Mike Holmes). — Caramel has been reading and rereading the graphic novel version of *The Lost Heir* (Book Two of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland (with art work by Mike Holmes).

S: So what happens in this second book?

C: Tsunami is a SeaWing dragon who returns home. She’s apparently a lost princess.

S: How does Riptide come into the picture?

C: They are in the same tribe. And he is one of the patrol guards. He and Tsunami become friends.

S: So the back of the book says:

Tsunami can’t believe that she’s finally returning to the SeaWing Kingdom after spending her life under a mountain. She’s desperate to feel the water on her scales and to be reunited with her mother, Queen Coral. The queen welcomes her long-lost daughter with open wings, but a vicious assassin has been killing the heirs to the throne and Tsunami may be next.

S: This sounds scary!

C: Yeah. But don’t worry Sprinkles, things do work out alright in the end. She survives.

S: Ooo, we should not give away too much Caramel.

C: Aw, but I wanted to tell you all about it. The whole entire book!

S: Maybe after we are done with the review… For now let us think about what more to say that won’t give away too much.

C: Alright. Can I rate the book at the end? Like Marshmallow does?

S: Sure. Why not?

C: Yay! My rating for this book would be 100%.

S: Wow! So you like it so much that you think it is almost perfect!

C: It is perfect! In fact it’s more than perfect. Awesome super duper perfect!

S: Why though? Why do you like it so much?

C: I love dragons. And I like the characters, and the story. It’s awesome! And now I can say the last words!

S: Yes, Caramel. Go for it!

C: Stay tuned for more book bunnies adventures!

Caramel rates the graphic novel version of The Lost Heir (Book Two of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland (with art work by Mike Holmes) 100%. — Caramel rates the graphic novel version of *The Lost Heir* (Book Two of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland (with art work by Mike Holmes) 100%.

Marshmallow reviews Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins

Marshmallow reviews Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins.

Marshmallow got a couple books from the Upside-Down Magic series at a book fair on her school campus and read them over and over for a while now. Below she reviews the first book in the series: Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins.

Marshmallow’s quick take: If you like books about people who are different from others, and if you like magic, then this might be the book for you.

Marshmallow’s summary (with spoilers): Nory Horace (Eleanor Horace) is the daughter of the schoolmaster of Sage Academy, so when she fails to get into the Academy, she and her father are very disappointed. Instead Nory goes to another school, Dunwiddle Magic School.

In this book everybody has magic. They can either have the ability to light fires (a Flare), the ability to make friends with animals (a Fluffy), the ability to transform into animals (a Fluxer), the ability to fly (a Flyer), or the ability to make oneself and other things invisible (a Flicker). You get your magic when you are ten. You don’t get to choose your magic. You find out what you are when you are ten.

Nory finds out that she has the ability to transform into animals, but unlike most people with that ability, she transforms into animals that are half and half, like a kitten that has dragon wings (a “dritten”) and a puppy that has squid legs. You get the idea.

Marshmallow is reading Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins. — Marshmallow is reading *Upside-Down Magic* by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins.

Nory’s friend Elliot, instead of creating fire, freezes objects. Andres can fly much higher than an average kid who is a Flyer, but he can’t come down. Instead of transforming into live animals, Bax turns into inanimate objects like rocks or pianos. Pepper is the opposite of the type of person who makes friends with animals; instead she terrifies all animals, including humans transformed into animals. Marigold is like a type of Flicker; she makes things shrink. Willa can make it rain indoors. Sebastian can see sound waves.

This is the full class of the Upside-Down Magic class, for kids who do not have typical magic, or as they like to call it, kids who have upside-down magic.

In their classroom, lessons are unconventional, students are unpredictable, and magic has a tendency to turn wonky at the worst possible moments. Because it’s always amazing, the trouble a little wonky magic can cause . .
https://www.sarahm.com/upside-down-magic

Nory has an exciting time in this class.

Marshmallow’s review: This book is the first of a series of six, a hexalogy like Soman Chainani‘s School for Good and Evil series.(See my review of the fourth book here and the fifth here.) So far in the series I only read a couple, but I really enjoyed this first book. It shows how tough it is to be different from others, but how sometimes it can also be beautiful and unique and that you can enjoy being unique. For example, Nory eventually likes turning into a dritten. Being different can also be hard though. Elliot has some friends (Lacey, Zinnia, and Rune) that tease him because he freezes objects instead of burning them. They are very mean.

Marshmallow’s rating: 90%.

Marshmallow ranks Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins 90%. — Marshmallow ranks *Upside-Down Magic* by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins 90%.