Review: Diamond Ruby

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Ruby Thomas, newly responsible for her two young nieces after a devastating tragedy, is determined to keep her family safe in the vast, swirling world of 1920s New York City. She’s got street smarts, boundless determination, and one unusual skill: the ability to throw a ball as hard as the greatest pitchers in a baseball-mad city.

From Coney Island sideshows to the brand-new Yankee Stadium, Diamond Ruby chronicles the extraordinary life and times of a girl who rises from utter poverty to the kind of renown only the Roaring Twenties can bestow. But her fame comes with a price, and Ruby must escape a deadly web of conspiracy and threats from Prohibition rumrunners, the Ku Klux Klan, and the gangster underworld.

Diamond Ruby “is the exciting tale of a forgotten piece of baseball’s heritage, a girl who could throw with the best of them. A real page-turner, based closely on a true story” (Kevin Baker, author of Strivers Row). -- Touchstone

A few months ago, I was visiting my friends at Aaron's Books; and Todd and Sam couldn't stop raving about a book coming out in May called DIAMOND RUBY by Joseph Wallace. I am forever grateful to them for handing me their ARC because I have to tell you this book was amazing! I could not put this book down, and I think I carried it with me everywhere for two days including the dinner table. I'm positive that it's going to be one of my top reads for the year.

DIAMOND RUBY was just so good -- I wish I could just leave it at that because I'm afraid I'm not going to do it justice! I don't know if I can even express my excitement about this book, but I think you are probably getting the idea. There are so many positive things to say about this novel that I'm having a little problem putting my thoughts into words. But, here goes....

Probably the first thing that I loved about this book was the character of Ruby herself. When the book begins, Ruby is just a young girl who has to face a whole lot of sadness and tragedy. While some people can't recover from this much heartache, that wasn't the case with Ruby. Ruby became an incredibly smart, strong, and spunky young woman who was willing to do whatever it took to take care of herself and her nieces. I couldn't help but love her and root for her! I can assure you that Ruby is one of the most memorable female characters that I've encountered in quite awhile, and I think she's one of my favorite too.

Another thing I loved about this book was the basic storyline -- a young girl in the 1920s who could throw a baseball harder than most men! While parts of Ruby's character were based on a real person and parts of her story were based on real events, there is no doubt that Ruby's life experiences, as created by Mr. Wallace, made for a very memorable story. Ruby overcame multiple tragedies and became a successful woman in a man's world. The book was filled with heartache and hope, as well as the traditional story of good verses evil. In so many ways, DIAMOND RUBY was a coming-of-age tale for Ruby (and you know how much I love good coming-of-age stories!)

Lastly, I have to say that I loved how Mr. Wallace told Ruby's story. I thought he did an amazing job of writing a story with a female main character (but I'm always impressed when a male author writes an honest and believable account of a woman.) I also admired him greatly for incorporating so many historical events and characters into Ruby's story. Sometimes when a fictional character exists alongside real people, it doesn't ring true to me. That certainly wasn't the case with Ruby. I loved the scenes with Ruby and Babe Ruth (and the scenes with Jack Dempsey were great too), and I thought Mr. Wallace made these larger-than-life characters seem like real folks.

As I read DIAMOND RUBY, I couldn't help but think that someone should make this novel into a movie. I hesitate to say that because I'm one of those people that never think the movie is as good as a book, but I truly think DIAMOND RUBY is such a wonderful story that it needs to reach the masses (and unfortunately of fortunately depending on how you look at it, a movie does appeal to a lot of non-readers!) I also think Mr. Wallace's descriptions of the characters and their actions as well as his historical references were so well done that they brought this book to life for me. I could actually "see" the entire story play out in my mind as I read this.

DIAMOND RUBY is Mr. Wallace's first novel, but he has written other books including a children's book and some non-fiction titles. I can't imagine a much better debut novel that DIAMOND RUBY! I think Mr. Wallace is just a wonderful storyteller, and it was apparent to me that he has a real love of the game of baseball. I just hope that he continues writing fiction, and I'd be even happier if I had the opportunity to read more about Ruby. I admit that I think there is still more to her story, and I am desperately hoping that Mr. Wallace feels the same way.

I definitely think DIAMOND RUBY is going to be a hit with book clubs over the next few years. Needless to say, I thought the story was terrific and I loved Mr. Wallace's writing style. However, DIAMOND RUBY would also be a great book to discuss with a bunch of friends. There is a reading guide available in the back of the book with some thought-provoking questions, but I also liked the "Tips for Enhancing Your Book Club" section. One of the things that I appreciated the most about DIAMOND RUBY is that there really is something for everyone in this story -- there is most definitely universal appeal. I think women as well as men will enjoy this book; and I think it's a book that will resonate with the young and old alike! I could talk about Ruby and her actions for hours, but there are lots of other characters worth talking about too. Some of the themes you might want to discuss further include the importance of sports, how the characters coped with tragedy, the definition of success, and the symbolism of Ruby's nickname. But of course, there are a lot more.

I feel as if I've just gushed about this book, but I really was blown away by it! I highly recommend grabbing a copy of DIAMOND RUBY and then sharing it with all of your friends!

Thanks to the folks at Aaron's Books for sharing their copy with me!

Mother Daughter Book Club #21

Summary: This is the story about a secret. but it also contains a secret story. When adventurous detectives, Cass, an ever-vigilant survivalist, and Max-Ernest, a boy driven by logic, discover the Symphony of Smells, a box filled with smelly vials of colorful ingredients, they accidentally stumble upon a mystery surrounding a dead magician's diary and the hunt for immortality. Filled with word games, anagrams, and featuring a mysterious narrator, this is a book that won't stay secret for long. -- Little Brown

This month, we read THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET by Pseudonymous Bosch. All of the girls seemed to love it, and many of the moms enjoyed it too. I'm wasn't sure how much there would be to discuss, but our hostesses did manage to come up with some fun discussion questions. I also found this Educator's Guide which has a lot of questions and suggested activities.

This book wasn't really like any other book that we've read -- the narrator interjected himself into the story, and there were also footnotes on many of the pages. There were also clues and puzzles that the girls could figure out along the way. I liked that the main characters were a little different (and almost social outcasts) because it allowed us to talk about why they acted the way they did.

Most of the girls agreed that they would be reading more of the books in this series, and a few of the girls have already done so. Overall, it was a great meeting!

Next month, we will be reading the Newbery Award winning novel WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead. I am very excited about this selection because I loved this book when I read it last summer (my review.) I hesitate to get too excited though. Often times, I find that the books I love don't resonate with Booking Daughter. In fact, I'm a little afraid to hear what she thinks about this one!

I think our discussion should be excellent because this is truly a very special book. I can't wait!

Summary: Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.

The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late. -- Wendy Lamb Books

Review: The Threadbare Heart

Summary: A photo of her sons. A doormat from Target. Twenty-three tubs of fabric. Somehow it comforts Lily to list the things she lost when a wildfire engulfed the Santa Barbara avocado ranch she shared with her husband, Tom. He, too, didn't survive the devastating fire. His last act was to save her grandmother's lace from the flames-an heirloom she has never been able to take scissors to, that she was saving for someday.

As she negotiates her way through grief, mourning both the tangible and intangible, Lily wonders about her long marriage. Was it worth all the work, the self-denial? Did she stay with Tom just to avoid loneliness? Should she have been more like her mother, Eleanor-thrice- married and, even now in her elderly years, cavalier about men and, it seems, even about her daughter's emotions?

Now, it's up to Lily to understand what she could still gain even when it seems that everything is lost. -- Berkley

I consider myself to be a pretty big fan of Jennie Nash. I really enjoyed THE ONLY TRUE GENIUS IN THE FAMILY (my review) and I think her writing is just so good. So when I heard that she had a new novel coming out called THE THREADBARE HEART which explores love, marriage, and mother-daughter relationships, I knew I wanted to read it!

THE THREADBARE HEART deeply touched my heart. There were so many universal themes in this book which I found myself relating to, but I absolutely loved how Ms. Nash delved into the topics of love and marriage. She showed how there are many different types of marriages (love, convenience, obligation, etc.) and how they worked or didn't work for the couples involved. She also demonstrated that different people have different expectations about marriage and different needs as well. I can't remember ever reading a book that explored marriage and love like this one.

All too often in today's books, I read about the "love" which is really passion in relationships. But realistically, five, ten, twenty years down the road, most relationships that survive aren't based on that passion. I'm not saying that the passion still isn't there in some form; but in my opinion, as you grow older together, you realize that love and marriage are about so much more than that. THE THREADBARE HEART really made me take a look at myself and my marriage. I'm thrilled that the book really made me think, and I'm happy (and content) with the decisions I've made in my life.

I also appreciated that the book brought up the question of how well do you ever know someone? Even though Lily and Tom had been married for around 25 years, she still had doubts and insecurities about their marriage. I think many readers will relate to this part of the story, but I also liked how the author made me question how well I know others in my life. In THE THREADBARE HEART, Lily and her mother Eleanor were extremely different and seemed to have little in common. Much of Lily's ideas about her mother had existed for many years -- some even since Lily's childhood. Throughout the years, both Lily and her mother made many assumptions about each other; and they didn't really take the time to talk (and listen) and get to know each other.

Another part of this novel that really affected me was the theme of loss. Eleanor had lost a few of her husbands (although she didn't seem to really mind), Lily lost the love of her life; and because Eleanor was elderly, she saw many of her friends pass away. I think all of the loss in this novel was kind of a wake-up call for me. I see the value of visiting family, sharing my thoughts and emotions, as well as never taking anything for granted. I'm telling you...this book will touch your heart!

THE THREADBARE HEART really is an ideal book club selection. There are some great discussion questions included in the book (but I couldn't find them on-line yet.) I also thought the two behind-the-scenes moments written by Ms. Nash that were in the back of the book enhanced the meaning of the novel. Some of the themes that you might want to explore further with your group include mother-daughter relationships, happiness, contentment, expectations, and of course marriage and love. There is also some symbolism in this novel which I thought was very well done, and I'd love to hear how others interpreted it.

THE THREADBARE HEART is just a beautiful book about relationships and especially mother-daughter relationships. If you are interested in winning a copy of this book or even a book club in a box, then make sure you check out the contest for "Who is Your Favorite Fictional Mother-Daughter Pair?"

Thanks to the author for sending me a review copy of this novel.

Review: The Icing on the Cupcake

Summary: In this delectable novel—complete with recipes—Jennifer Ross frosts a sweet story of a young woman fulfilling her dreams, one delicious cupcake at a time.

In Ansley Waller’s world of Southern belles and gentlemen, getting a diamond ring isn’t just important—it’s the ultimate goal. So when her fiancé, Parish, unceremoniously kicks her to the curb and cancels their upcoming wedding, Ansley is so ashamed that she decides to leave Dallas and make a fresh start. In a surprise move, she heads to New York City to live with her recently widowed grandmother, Vivian, whom she’s never met. In turn, Vivian gives Ansley a no-nonsense ultimatum: Rather than wallow in misery, either get a job or go home.

The Waller women have a tradition of baking their way out of sorrow. So Ansley mixes batch after batch of creative cupcakes—Black Bottom Heartache, Moving Blues Banana Caramel, Tres Leches Made Small. Before long, she’s opening up her own cupcake shop and even trying her hand at dating. But the ways of Manhattan’s eligible bachelors are altogether different from their Southern counterparts, and Ansley’s nearly fail-safe tactics fall flat. And worse, someone’s got a half-baked scheme to sabotage Ansley’s new life. It’ll take a cup of courage and a dash of Southern charm, plus a few secret ingredients, if Ansley hopes to pull off her recipe for success. -- Ballantine Books

You know by now that I do tend to judge a book by it's cover, and I absolutely love the cover of THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE by Jennifer Ross. Talk about cover appeal -- it's absolutely gorgeous! And then, when I started reading the book, I saw that there were recipes included. I immediately knew that I was going to have a good time with this book.

THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE was just the type of book I was in the mood for. It was a light, fun, chick lit type book that just allowed me to escape for a few hours. While I did thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I admit that I was craving cupcakes the entire time I read it. Just thought I'd warn you -- the book will make you want to bake and it will make you hungry too!

THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE is a cute story about a Southern bell named Ansley. She has everything a deb is supposed to want -- she's graduating from Baylor and getting married to "the perfect man." But when her fiance realizes that she isn't a very nice person (she's actually pretty mean), he dumps her. Ansley decides to head to New York City -- partly to escape and avoid embarrassement. She moves in with her wealthy grandmother whom she doesn't really know because her mother and her grandmother have been estranged -- but that's another story!

In quite a few ways, THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE is really a coming-of-age story for Ansley. And believe me, Ansley acted like a child and definitely needed to grow up. Once she hits rock bottom (or at least rock bottom in her world), she is forced to start over. She realizes that she can no longer depend on a man, and she starts evaluating herself and her skills. She ends up deciding to open her own cupcake bakery (thank goodness for the mini-trust fund!); and in the process, she turns into an independent woman who also happens to care about others. It's a very sweet story.

I really enjoyed Ansley's story and I grew to love her character, but I also liked the side story about Ansley's grandmother. Ansley's grandmother was recently widowed, and her husband left her with a mess of tax problems. She also had zero relationship with her daughter (Ansley's mom.) There is no doubt that she made quite a few mistakes in her past, but she was a very strong woman (and in many ways very similar to Ansley.) I really enjoyed seeing how she dealt with Ansley, and ultimately how she resolved her relationship problems with her daughter.

THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE was definitely a cute book, but it also had some substance. There were some twists and turns in the plot that caught me by surprise, and I thought the relationship aspects of the novel were interesting. There were definitely themes about mother/daughter relationships, romantic love relationships, as well as friendships. In fact, I think this book would make a good pick for book clubs, especially if your group wanted a lighter read for the summer. Plus, just imagine the yummy cupcakes you could make for the meeting -- you could even do a cupcake swap with all of the members!

Speaking of which, I absolutely adored all of the cupcake recipes in this book. The author is an avid baker and included cupcake recipes at the end of each chapter. I also really appreciated all of the little baking tips that appeared throughout this novel -- like preheating techniques and the benefit of potato starch! I thought it was so creative how the author tied each of recipes to the prior chapter. All of the recipes looked delicious (who am I kidding?), but one really stood out for me (plus it seems perfect for this time of year.)

Heartbreak with a Strawberry on Top

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup (or 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 egg, room temperature
6 ounces vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons potato starch
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine ground salt, either sea salt or iodized
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup diced fresh strawberries

To make the cupcakes:
1. Place baking stone in middle rack of oven. Place mixing bowl in freezer for 5 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
3. Cream the sugar and butter together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Add the egg and beat for 2 minutes.
5. Add the yogurt and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
6. Whisk the flour, potato starch, baking powder, salt and baking soda together.
7. Add the flour mixture to the batter. Mix until just blended.
8. Fold in the diced strawberries using a rubber spatula.
9. Pour the batter into the paper-lined cupcake holders. Fill three-quarters of the way to the top.
10. Turn heat down to 350. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean after it is placed in the middle of a cupcake.
11. Cool for 5 minutes. Place on baking racks.

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Frosting

2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
2 fresh strawberries, about 2 tablespoons mashed

To Make the Frosting:
1. Cream the butter, powdered sugar, and mashed strawberries with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Chill frosting for 15 minutes or until thick.
3. Frost cooled cupcakes.

Ms. Ross also has a fabulous blog where she posts recipes and photos of creative cupcakes!

If you are a fan of chick lit or cupcakes (and who doesn't love a cupcake?), then I recommend checking out THE ICING ON THE CUPCAKE!

Thanks to the author for sending me a copy of her book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

Contest: Who is Your Favorite Fictional Mother-Daughter Pair?

I recently read THE THREADBARE HEART by Jennie Nash and I loved it -- my review will be up shortly! It was a beautiful story about love and loss, but I think what most captured my heart was the way the author portrayed the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship. But I'm always a sucker for a good mother-daughter story, especially this time of year!

If you're a regular follower of my blog, then you know that some of my favorite books are about the relationships between mothers and daughters. There have been so many wonderful books out there with memorable mother-daughter pairs that I'm hard-pressed to name a favorite (but THE THREADBARE HEART is right up there.)

If you are like me and love books about mother-daughter relationships, then you are definitely going to want to keep reading. Jennie Nash has partnered with some book bloggers to host a fantastic Mother's Day Writing Contest, and she wants to read about your favorite fictional mother-daughter pair. (Hopefully, you can do a better job than I can narrowing down your favorite!) If she loves what you have to say in your essay, then you could win the awesome Grand Prize for your book club -- 10 copies of THE THREADBARE HEART, a call from Jennie, and a homemade rum cake!

Here's the scoop straight from Jennie:

The Threadbare Heart is a story about a mother and a daughter torn apart by grief, jealousy and misunderstanding — and the family heirloom that finally brings them together. To celebrate its publication, and in honor of Mother’s Day, I’m running a ―Favorite Fictional Mother & Daughter contest with the fantastic bloggers. We want to know which fictional mother-daughter pair made you laugh? Made you cry? Made you cringe? Which pair revealed something true about your own mother-daughter relationships? (And yes, mothers and daughters in film are eligible. Fiction is fiction, right?)

HOW TO ENTER:

• Write 250 words about your favorite fictional mother-daughter pair.
  

• Anytime before May 8th at 11:59 p.m. ET, email me your essay at bookingmama(at)gmail(dot)com with Jennie Nash Contest as the subject.
  

• On Mother's Day, I will post the entry I like the best. The winner will receive a signed copy of THE THREADBARE HEART and will be entered in the Grand Prize Giveaway.

• On May 16, Jennie will choose a Grand Prize winner from all the winning blog entries. (How will she pick? Whichever entry just hits her as being heartfelt and true.) The Grand Prize will be announced on the participating blogs, on her website and on twitter.

WHAT YOU WIN:

The Grand Prize winner will receive a ―Book Club in a Box — ten signed copies of The Threadbare Heart, a call-in from the author, and a delicious rum cake to share with your book-reading friends. (Why rum cake? You’ll have to read the book to understand! Jennie has picked out a cake by a baker named Kelli because she started selling rum cakes when she lost her baking buddy to cancer and she loved her story - and Jennies happens to think that good stories are a big part of a good life.)

I am so excited that Jennie Nash asked me to participate in this contest. There are quite a few wonderful blogs participating (you can see the complete list here), but the rules stipulate that you can only submit your essay to one of these blogs -- so please pick me! This contest is also open to those of you in the U.S. only.

I am really looking forward to reading your essays about fictional mother-daughter pairs and I wish you the best of luck with this awesome contest!

NOTE: I EXTENDED THE DEADLINE!

2010 EW Summer Book Challenge Reviews

Welcome to the 2010 EW Summer Books Challenge -- this is where you can post your review links. I am looking forward to reading all of your reviews!

If you don't have a blog, no worries! You can leave your review on a public site (amazon.com, LibraryThing, GoodReads, etc.) and link to that review. Or you can leave your review in the comments of this post. (If you hover over the date/time of the comment, that is the direct link to the comment. You can then use that as your link in the Mr. Linky.)

Please leave your link in the following format: Name (Book Title) – e.g. Booking Mama (The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake).

Kid Konnection: Graphic Novels

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a (hopefully) regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. Today, I am going to share with you some great new graphic novels especially for kids!

Summary: Big Nate is in a class by himself!

But things don't always go your way just because you're awesome.

• Nate barely survives his dad's toxic oatmeal before rushing off to school—minus his lunch.
• He body slams the no-nonsense principal.
• He accidentally insults his least favorite teacher, the horrifying Mrs. Godfrey (aka Godzilla).
• And school has barely started!

Nate keeps his cool. He knows he's destined for greatness. A fortune cookie told him so.

For fans of the ever popular, ever hilarious Diary of a Wimpy Kid series: Get ready to meet Big Nate!-- Harper

I have two words for BIG NATE: IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF by Lincoln Peirce -- LOVED IT! Before reading this graphic novel, I wasn't familiar with BIG NATE, but you might already know him as the comic strip character who appears in newspapers nationwide. One thing's for sure, now that I've "met" Big Nate, I won't soon be forgetting him. Big Nate is just a hoot!

Nate seems to be one of those kids who is always getting in trouble. When he opens a fortune cookie and reads that "Today you will surpass all others," he is very excited about all of the possibilities! Throughout the course of the day, Nate keeps getting into trouble with all of his teachers and served with detention notices. Since he's having such a bad day, he clings to the hope that he is destined for big things!

The ending of the book was pretty predictable but terribly funny nonetheless. In fact, I laughed the entire way through this book and so did Booking Daughter. The book is told in Big Nate's words and pictures, and I have to say that he is one hilarious kid -- I think he has a future in writing comics! His insights (and lack thereof) are extremely entertaining!

Like Big Nate, author Lincoln Peirce began drawing comic strips back in the sixth grade. There is no doubt that he is a very funny person and has his pulse on middle graders. What I love about this book is that it appeals to boys and girls alike -- just like the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID books. And I think that kids who aren't big readers will still be drawn to Big Nate's adventures!

There is a great website devoted to the Big Nate Books! There are links to interactive games and the Big Nate online comic strip. Fans of Big Nate are going to have a blast!

I highly recommend BIG NATE: IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF! Both Booking Daughter and I thought this book was hilarious and we can't wait for the next one in the very fun series!

Summary: Dee, Terrence, and Hector are very excited about Author Visit Day. Lewis Scribson is the author of the famous Flippy Bunny books, and Hector is a huge fan! And it gets Dee and Terrence out of math class. But something is a little off about this special guest. And Coach Birkby, the gym teacher, mysteriously disappears the day of his visit. What evil designs does this world-famous writer have on his agenda? Lunch Lady’s going to get to the bottom of it, even if she has to kick some bunny butt! -- Knopf

Last summer, I reviewed the first two books in the Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. I thought they both were cute and perfect for reluctant readers. I recently read the latest book in the series, LUNCH LADY AND THE AUTHOR VISIT VENDETTA, and I'm happy to say that it was just as good as the first two. I love it when books live up to my expectations!

LUNCH LADY AND THE AUTHOR VISIT VENDETTA is a graphic novel and very similar in format to the first two books. It is a very funny and action-packed story about a famous author who comes to visit the school. When the gym teacher goes missing the same day as the visit, Dee, Terrance and Hector become suspicious and the Lunch Lady ends up coming to the rescue!

I love that these Lunch Lady books make reading fun for kids. There are lots of pictures and just a few words on each page so it doesn't take kids long to read these books. Not only will they enjoy the story, but they will also feel a sense of accomplishment when they can read these books on their own. I also think kids won't get frustrated because the words are relatively simple and the pictures do a great job of explaining the story.

I really appreciate these books and I think most youngsters will agree. And, I can't wait to see the film version either. Universal Pictures is making a Lunch Lady movie starring Amy Pohler -- just perfect!

Summary: Benny and Penny hide every toy and tell Cousin Bo he can’t play with them. Will the three mice find a way to play without something getting torn, ripped, or snatched away? Best-selling author Geoffrey Hayes thrills us with this hilarious tale of tiny cousins who discover a game that can’t ever be ruined. -- Toon Books

Some of you might already know that Booking Son and I are huge fans of the Toon Books (reviews and more reviews.) We recently received BENNY AND PENNY IN THE TOY BREAKER by Geoffrey Hayes, and we thought it was extremely cute. Booking Son went so far as to say that he loved it!

Brother and sister team Benny and Penny are back in THE TOY BREAKER. This time, their cousin Bo is coming over to play, and Benny and Penny are afraid that Bo will destroy all of their toys. (I know I remember hiding my favorite toys when a few kids came over, and I'm sure other kids will relate to Benny and Penny's feelings.) The three little mice have to find something to play together that makes everyone happy!

THE TOY BREAKER is ideal for beginner/early readers. It's classified as a level 2 Toon book and it has a great mix of pictures and easy-to-read words. This book is also filled with lots of humor to keep the readers entertained as well as a cute message. As a mom, I just love that the graphics reinforce the story and that kids can use all of the adorable pictures to help them figure out the unfamiliar words.

Summary: Zig and Wikki land on a planet full of strange creatures like flies, frogs, and raccoons, just when it seems to be lunchtime! In their hilarious search for a pet, the two friends, imagined by Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler, go on adventures that are out of this world. Young readers learn about nature in our world thanks to the fascinating wikki’s fun facts woven into every twist of the exciting plot. This innovative science-based early reader comic book, filled with bugs and hugs, is sure to please both boys and girls. -- Toon Books

ZIG AND WIKKI IN SOMETHING ATE MY HOMEWORK by Nadja Spiegelman and Trade Loeffler is another terrific early reader book. The graphic novel tells the story of two aliens who fly to Earth in their spaceship. Once they land, Zig and Wikki encounter some animals including a dragon fly, frog and raccoon; and they end up receiving a mini-science lesson about them.

I think kids, both boys and girls alike, are going to love Zig and Wikki! The characters are cute and funny, and their adventure is very entertaining. I like that the book is also educational because it teaches kids a few things about animals and nature. The publisher even claims that ZIG AND WIKKI is "the first science-based early reader comic!"

ZIG AND WIKKI is considered a level 3 Toon book, and it is a little longer than some of the other Toon ones. It still has relatively few words per page as compared to the graphics, but it is divided into short chapters. I think it's just perfect for early readers, especially those interested in science!

Thanks to the publishers for sending me review copies of these books.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!