Dear Mr. Henshaw is Beverly Cleary’s highest award-winner, capturing the Newbery and Christopher Awards in the early 80’s, yet it is one of my least favorites. Written as a series of letters and journal entries, with absolutely no narration, Mrs. Cleary somehow, miraculously, weaves together a plot, a central-California setting and a well-rounded character. This accomplishment […]
Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater, 1938, Book Review
I really liked this book! I was hesitant at first, not knowing what to expect. The sentences seemed a little simplistic, the details redundant, and the humor a bit corny. But I quickly realized this is not a middle grade novel but one aimed at a slightly younger audience, unusual for a Newbery winner. It’s […]
Why Animals Talk, by Eric Pullin, illustrated by Chris Davis, ebook review
I was encouraged by other kids-on-Kindle enthusiasts to try out Eric Pullin’s Why series, so I purchased a .99 download. I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I was happily surprised. Why Animals Don’t Talk is sixteen pages of versed rhyme slightly below my usual range of expertise. This one’s a charming read-aloud for the […]