This is the perfect transnational book series for kids in grades kindergarten through second. I, as an adult and librarian loved it. It has a little something for everyone and is great to recommend to reader's looking for books similar to the Magic Tree House Series.

 

Joe gets a book for his birthday. But its not just any book its a magical book! They are suddenly taken back in time to Camelot and his knights. There are giants, dragons and evil creatures trying to get into Camelot's castle. It's up to Joe and his friends to save the day and somehow figure out how to get back home!

 

Every kid dreams about going back in time to the dinosaurs, to medieval times and more. This is the perfect series that delves into that. Their short, funny and great for that reader that is not quite ready for a lengthy chapter book. Definitely going to be recommending.

Summer Wheels

by Eve Bunting

Illustrations by Thomas B. Allen

 

The "Bicycle Man" fixes old bicycles and loans them to the kids of the neighborhood. There are only a few rules to borrow one: sign in the bike on time, and help fix it if it breaks when you are using it.

The kids are generally very careful about respecting these rules, but one day Leon appears. Leon has problems being responsible for his actions. He signs the bike out as "Abraham Lincoln" and fails in bring it back at the end of the day. When he is given a second chance he breaks the bicycle being deliberately imprudent and neglecting. The kids are very angry at him, but the Bicycle Man never gets tired of giving more opportunities.

Leon will learn how important is to accept the consequences of his actions and will do his best to be responsible and change his ways.  He seems to appreciate the Bicycle Man intention of help him. 

He is not the only one who can learn something out of this situation. Lawrence and Brady will learn that being kind and friendly would bring a better outcome. I found this story really emotional. 

 

Allen's illustrations are done in charcoal, pastel and colored pencil. They are not full of details, but more in a diffuse style. I personally liked them.

 

*This review is part of my project Characters with character.

 

 

This is a cute story written in 1969. The farmer's wife cleans the mud puddle in the pigpen since she thinks is the dirtiest spot in the whole farm. Small pig is angry with her and decides to run away. Looking for a new mud puddle he arrives to the city, and ends into trouble... Thankfully those who care for him will be there to save Small pig.

Small pig learns that he is welcome in the farm, that is his home too. The farmer and his wife missed the pig they think is the best pig in the world. They promised to be more tolerant.

This story is good as a trigger to talk about how sometimes it could be differences between persons that love each other, and how it's possible to go over them. A little patience and tolerance could be the solution.

The illustrations (made by the author too) are simple (mostly in back, yellow, green and blue) but nice. Some of them are pretty funny. They don't distract the reader.

This is a transitional book. It is not divided in chapters but it has page numbers.

Transitional Arrangements - Ann Somervil... My goodness I loved this book, not liked but really really loved. I would not say that the writing in this one is just as top notch as in my absolute favorites of this writer's works, but it is still tons better than so many books by other writers that I have read. Most importantly together with the sequel A fresh start it has one of the best "enemies turned friends and lovers" trope that I have read in the long time. Those characters just tugged at my heart strings, all five of them and to see them finally getting their chance at happiness in the sequel indeed pleased me greatly.

I think though that as much as I loved the guys, Luis' character was just superb. I mean, especially in the sequel I found her the least sympathetic, however very realistic and I found myself if not liking, at least understanding all her choices. What a breath of fresh air from so many female characters in m/m fiction, who are for the most part so very one dimensional and fall flat for me. I mean, I know Ann writes wonderful female characters, had known since Interstitual, but it was great to see the confirmation of it.

I also always like the spiritualism in her books, it is so, I don't know, I guess appealing to me would be the best word.

Transitional Arrangements - Ann Somervil... My goodness I loved this book, not liked but really really loved. I would not say that the writing in this one is just as top notch as in my absolute favorites of this writer's works, but it is still tons better than so many books by other writers that I have read. Most importantly together with the sequel A fresh start it has one of the best "enemies turned friends and lovers" trope that I have read in the long time. Those characters just tugged at my heart strings, all five of them and to see them finally getting their chance at happiness in the sequel indeed pleased me greatly.

I think though that as much as I loved the guys, Luis' character was just superb. I mean, especially in the sequel I found her the least sympathetic, however very realistic and I found myself if not liking, at least understanding all her choices. What a breath of fresh air from so many female characters in m/m fiction, who are for the most part so very one dimensional and fall flat for me. I mean, I know Ann writes wonderful female characters, had known since Interstitual, but it was great to see the confirmation of it.

I also always like the spiritualism in her books, it is so, I don't know, I guess appealing to me would be the best word.