Alice, Author at UrbanMoms

Of Mice and Men and Birds

April 7, 2011 by Alice

This super-charming read-aloud has me wanting to read more of this author's work:A Nest for Celesteby Henry ColeHarperCollinsISBN: 978 0 061 70410 9Audience: ages 4-10This small but thick book would be an easy one to pass by, with its quiet cover and unusual format. I left it on my shelf for a while … [Read more...]

Scholastic Decoder: April 2011

April 4, 2011 by Alice

It's April! There's Spring! And Easter! And Poetry Month! And some good stuff to find in this month's Scholastic flyers, too, if you know how to look...Elf* Favourite Authors Library - there are some GREAT books in this batch, and the price cannot be beat. This is a seriously good buy if you don't … [Read more...]

The Best Part is Coming Home

March 31, 2011 by Alice

These little, safe adventures for little people reinforce the idea that coming home is the sweetest part.Little White Rabbitby Kevin HenkesGreenwillowISBN: 978 0 06 200642 4Audience: 1-4 yearsLittle White Rabbit wonders about many things, and as he hops, he imagines what they would be like, until he … [Read more...]

The Way to a Heart…

March 28, 2011 by Alice

Anyone for cupcakes? How about a pie? These tasty books about young bakers pair treats with rules to live by.Close To Famousby Joan BauerVikingISBN: 978 0 670 01282 4Audience: grade 6 and up, maybe a mature grade 5Foster and her mom leave town fast to get away from a sleazy, abusive boyfriend, and … [Read more...]

Little Mysteries

March 24, 2011 by Alice

Looking for some fun new mysteries?Sophie Simon Solves Them Allby Lisa B. GraffFarrar, Straus, and GirouxISBN: 978 0 37437 125 8Audience: grade 2-4There are lots of great early chapter mysteries for the grade 2-4 set, many of them in series. That's the perfect audience for this short and sweet … [Read more...]

Back with Susan Juby

March 21, 2011 by Alice

An addiction memoir with a lightness to it - and the author talks with me about The Woefield Poultry Collective.Nice Recoveryby Susan JubyVikingISBN: 978 0 670 06917 0Audience: Teens and adultsYA author Susan Juby came out with something a little different this year - aimed at teens and adults … [Read more...]

Bedtime Stories for Bears – and Chickens

March 17, 2011 by Alice

Two books about bedtime, two very different flavours! A Bedtime for Bearby Bonny BeckerCandlewick PressISBN: 978 0 7636 4101 6Audience: ages 3-7Not - surprise! - a hibernation story, this very cute story is actually about a bear who needs things just so and his friend Mouse, who comes for a … [Read more...]

Parent Time: Zeitoun

March 14, 2011 by Alice

I hosted this month's book club, and my pick was Dave Eggers' Zeitoun. I picked Zeitoun because it deals with the collision of two large-scale American disasters - Hurricane Katrina and the "war on terror."I had hoped that this month's smallish group would mean we could sit up in the family room, … [Read more...]

13 Little – or not so little – Words

March 12, 2011 by Alice

This unusual book introduces thirteen surprising words - and a few twists.13 WordsLemony SnicketHarperCollinsISBN: 978 0 06166 465 6Audience: 3 to 8 years13 words:1. Bird 2. Despondent 3. Cake 4. Dog 5. Busy 6. Convertible 7. Goat 8. Hat 9. Haberdashery 10. Scarlet 11. Baby 12. Panache 13. … [Read more...]

Crossing Over

March 7, 2011 by Alice

Susan Juby, a notable teen author, is moving into adult novels, and bringing her keen sense of humour along for the ride.The Woefield Poultry Collectiveby Susan JubyISBN: 978 1 55468 744 2Audience: older teens and adultsAn earnest young woman from Brooklyn with little to no experience in the world, … [Read more...]