Caramel’s reviews – Page 70

Caramel reviews Drawn Together by Minh Le and Dan Santat

Caramel reviews Drawn Together, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat.

Caramel has reviewed The Cookie Fiasco and Harold and Hog Pretend for Real! by Dan Santat before and enjoyed his quirky style. Today he reviews another book illustrated by Dan Santat: Drawn Together, written by Minh Le. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, tell me about this book.

Caramel: It is a very interesting book about this boy. He doesn’t really like his grandfather.

S: Or at least we know he doesn’t seem to enjoy spending time with him. Right?

C: Yes.

S: Why is that?

C: He thinks that time with him is boring.

S: How so?

C: They eat different things. The boy is eating hot dog with mustard. and the grandfather is eating noodles and eggs.

S: So they are eating different things. But there is a bigger problem, right? Can they communicate?

C: No. They speak different languages.

S: Yes, the boy speaks English and the grandfather seems to only speak Thai. That might make things difficult, right?

C: Yes.

S: You are lucky that you can communicate with your grandfather, but this boy’s grandfather seems to have difficulty speaking English. So they watch TV. How does that turn out?

C: The boy asks “Can we watch something else?” So he is bored.

S: Yes, so they don’t enjoy the same food and they don’t enjoy the same TV programs. That is sad a bit, right? You do like watching TV with your grandpa.

C: Yep, I sure do!

Caramel is looking at the front cover of Drawn Together, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat. — Caramel is looking at the front cover of *Drawn Together*, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat.

S: So the boy is staying with his grandfather and is bored because he cannot communicate with him and he doesn’t think they have anything in common. Then what happens?

C: The boy takes some crayons out of his backpack and starts drawing. Then the grandfather takes out a sketch pad and a brush. It looks old fashioned but he can draw amazing things with it.

S: Yes, the things he can draw are very intricate, very detailed, right?

C: Yes. And I am surprised that this book is illustrated by Dan Santat, because the drawings don’t look like the ones in his other books I reviewed: The Cookie Fiasco and Harold and Hog Pretend for Real!

S: Well, that shows that he is a versatile illustrator, right? He can draw things in many different styles.

C: Yes, he can draw amazing things! He draws awesome dragons!

S: Yes apparently Thai dragons, like Chinese and Japanese dragons, are magical and have super powers. We saw some impressive images on Google. And the dragons in this book are just as amazing!

C: Yes. And then the boy and his grandfather start making art together. And the boy has color but his grandfather’s brush is one color only. But when they paint together, they both have colors.

Caramel is pointing to some of the artwork that the boy and his grandpa create together in Drawn Together, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat. — Caramel is pointing to some of the artwork that the boy and his grandpa create together in *Drawn Together*, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat.

S: So what happens in the end?

C: They hug.

S: So even though they cannot communicate by talking …

C: They can communicate by hugging…

S: And by drawing! And when the boy’s mom comes to pick him up, it seems like the boy won’t be bored next time, right?

C: Right.

S: So did you like the book?

C: Yeah. It has bright colors and amazing drawings.

S: And a sweet story! So it is time to wrap up this review. What do you want to say Caramel?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunnies adventures!

Caramel enjoyed reading Drawn Together, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Drawn Together*, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat.

Caramel reviews The Hidden Kingdom (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes

Caramel reviews the graphic novel version of The Hidden Kingdom (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland (with art work by Mike Holmes).

Caramel has already reviewed the graphic novel versions of the first two books of Tui Sutherland’s Wings of Fire series. (See Caramel’s review of The Dragonet Prophecy here; his review of The Lost Heir is here.) Today he reviews the third book in the series that appeared as a graphic novel: The Hidden Kingdom (adapted by Barry Deutsch and Rachel Swirsky, art work by Mike Holmes, color by Maarta Laiho). As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions as needed.

Caramel reviews The Hidden Kingdom (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes. — Caramel reviews *The Hidden Kingdom* (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes.

Sprinkles: So this is the third book of the series you have read, right, Caramel?

Caramel: Yes. But I am not done. I’m still keeping busy flipping through the pages.

S: But you have read it at least once all the way, right?

C: Yes, I have. But I like reading these books over and over again.

S: Why is that?

C: I think these Wings of Fire books are really awesome. I love the pictures, the books are really very colorful.

Caramel enjoys reading and also looking at the pictures of The Hidden Kingdom, (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes. — Caramel enjoys reading and also looking at the pictures of *The Hidden Kingdom*, (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes.

S: What about the story? What is happening in this third book?

C: All of the books are about the five dragons we met in the first book. But of course there are always some new characters.

S: Tell me more. Who is the central character of this book?

C: Glory. She is a RainWing. They are supposed to be lazy and almost stupid, but Glory is smart. RainWings have venom, and can camouflage. They can also turn invisible.

S: So what is happening to Glory in this book? Is she also destined to be the queen of her tribe, like Tsunami from the second book?

C: She is.

S: So is trouble awaiting her when she comes home, like it did Tsunami?

C: Yes and no. Not quite trouble but there are some challenges she has to face.

S: Like what?

C: She has to find a specific flower in a flower hunt. They go through these challenges in teams.

S: So does Glory also make some good friends along the way?

C: Yes. Glory makes at least two good friends. One of them is Kinkajou, who is at some point in this book kidnapped, but they eventually find her. And another new friend is Mangrove. He is grumpy at first because his partner is missing.

S: So some RainWings are going missing. And Glory and her friends try to find them, right?

C: No, Glory has to do it alone. And she has another friend, too. I forgot. Her name is Tamarin. She is blind, but she wins the flower hunt. She has a very good sense of smell.

S: These books seem like a lot is going on in each of them. Lots of action, lots of mystery, right?

C: Yup. Do you want me to tell you who is kidnapping the RainWings?

S: No! We should not spoil it for our readers!

C: Well, ok. Then I guess we can just wrap things up. Stay tuned for more book bunnies adventures!

Caramel is still reading and rereading The Hidden Kingdom (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes. — Caramel is still reading and rereading *The Hidden Kingdom* (Book Three of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes.

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.

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%.