Books | Page 70 of 82

Sleeping Bronty, updates the fairy tale with dinosaurs and chili

The story seems familiar, but Sleeping Bronty is the second in a series of the Once Before Time board books. Epic! Originals is an imprint of Andrews McMeel Publishing and are producing this very cute, left of center board books for young children. Board books are awesome for young readers because those pages can take a beating, either from hands that are practicing coordination or teeth that need something to chew on. Sleeping Bronty has the hardwired story of a sleeping princess, but throws lots of curve balls (and chili!) so that new audiences will enjoy its age-appropriate, slightly irreverent take.

Sleeping Bronty is the board book that follows the familiar tale of sleeping princesses, but modernizes it with dinosaurs and chili.

You know the story, but pre-K will love the twist that the book provides

Nothing Wee About Me!, imagination play that’s just OK

The title of the book flows off the tongue. On the cover we see a young girl who we’ll come to know at Liesel, she’s taunting a dragon ten times bigger than her with a ladle. Once we open the book we’ll also meet her younger brother and her grandmother. They all go into her seaside cottager where the kids set upon playing with their imagination as they visit a castle, volcano and meeting all manner of friendly animals. But whatever you do, don’t accuse Liesel of being a wee girl. Grandma does and her response becomes the rallying cry for her as she fights down pirates or anything else that seems impossible.

The art is great, but the text is too long for a good-night book

Creature Campers has the ticket for elementary aged kids

Creature Campers is a new series of early reader books by epic! originals and The Secret of Shadow Lake is the first release. It takes a novel look at the first day of camp through the eyes of a non-traditional camper. In this case the camper is a Big Foot style monster named Norm. He’s headed to summer camp where a human named Oliver and all sorts of other animals, fairies or aliens will also be having typical tween and teen summer fun.

Undersea Mystery Club has just the ticket for early elementary girls

Undersea Mystery Club, Problem at the Playground is the first in a series of books by epic! originals on Andrews McMeel Publishing. Violet is a purple mermaid who lives in Aquamarina with Wally, her narwhal. This is logical because if an early elementary reader series of books is going to have a fish in the story it had better be the closest real animal to a unicorn out there. They’re near the city’s new park for its grand opening, only it’s evident that something is immediately wrong.

Undersea Mystery Club is one that early elementary girls will want to join

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales Major Impossible gives explorers their due

Major Impossible is the ninth book in the bestselling series by Nathan Hale. Each book in this series takes a look at a real historical figure. Some of them you’ve heard of, whereas others aren’t as well known. Major Impossible falls in the lesser known category for us. It’s about John Wesley Powell, an explorer who fought in the Civil War and went on to lead the Colorado River Exploring Expedition in 1869. If you’re familiar with Hale’s storytelling you will love this book. If this is your first Nathan Hale book it’s one that will entertain you, educate you, make you squirm on a couple instances and make you curious about the rest of his subjects.

Nathan Hale’s go-to series for middle school explores The colorado river

Why We Love Star Wars, Chicken Soup for the Jedi soul

The fans. The fans have spoken. The fans approve or don’t approve, fandom is the backbone to many book or movie franchises and their future. Star Wars has certainly seen its share of movement. Some of its films weren’t received well, it was bought by Disney and then some of its films weren’t received well. The Star Wars fandom has its camps of die hard supporters and detractors. Ken Napzok is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on Star Wars and has written Why We Love Star Wars, The Great Moments That Built A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Why We Love Star Wars, a reverent, deep dive into the Force

One More Hug, feelings of déjà vu-both good and bad

One More Hug is a children’s illustrated book by Megan Alexander with illustrations by Hiroe Nakata. It tells the story that most parents have when they look at their child and can see them grow up right before their eyes. One moment you’re assuring them that the wind blowing outside is nothing to worry about and then before you know it you’re watching them drive off down the street on the way to college. This is a feeling that parents see in their mind’s eye or when they’re looking back at photographs that seem like they were taken yesterday.

One More Hug. cute premise, but nothing you haven’t seen before

Chirp, middle grade life & mystery, with a side dose of serious

Chirp is from author Kate Messner. She’s someone who your middle school student knows, who is probably chastising you for not buying this book or getting it from the library yet. For us, Chirp is a great representation of why middle school audiences love Messner’s books. They look at the life of an early teenager from a fun angle, but also address some of the serious things that might be going on in their life.

Crickets, growing up, friends and confronting the uncomfortable