alizontheamazon's reviews
1350 reviews

This is a unique and fresh ABC book that goes a little further by featuring different varieties of animals for the letter they start with. For instance, b for bear has illustrations of different kinds of bears along with their names.

It's called an "almost alphabet" book because for some letters like "u" or "x" no animal is featured. It's really cute though and as I said a fresh way to tackle an animal ABC book -- something that is so frequently done.

Lara is the school's friendship matchmaker. She goes around pairing people based on common interests, much like a regular matchmaker would do. Because she is so busy with this work, she doesn't have time for friends of her own. But Lara's rules for friendship matchmaking often involving changing aspects of oneself and morphing into someone you're not. When Emily Wong moves to the school and starts questioning Lara's methods, Lara challenges her to a matchmaking contest. Each girl has to find a friend for someone on Lara's Total Loner list by the end of the month.

This book was fairly predictable. At first I couldn't stand Lara. She was an annoying, condescending, know it all. But this changed as the story developed. I still didn't end up feeling sorry for her, but the reason she acts the way she does is revealed and understandable. It was a good light read.

When I first started this book I didn't really like it and put it down many times before powering through, but I ended up getting to a point where I did like it. I have to say I'm not sure how many kids would read it and if they did how many could get through it and get a lot out of it.

I think this book does have a lot to offer. I've described it to people as a quiet book. There are a lot of things going on from cultural customs, to Jaz's undiagnosed psychological problems, to the big issues about love and relationships. I think this book is worth the read, but you have to really try.

I loved Summer's obsession with Mosquitos. I thought her connection with them after they almost kill her was a really fascinating and unique way to bring up death that you don't normally see in children's books.

I really enjoyed this book. It's definitely a page turner and addresses a very interesting subject: what would have happened if Russia had nuked the US in the 1960s.

There are a lot of issues addressed in the book: race, authority, drinking, relationships, growing up, sexuality. While the main character is 11 I would say this is a 7th grade and up book. A lot of the topics I mention above are brought up in a subtle way at first and then discussed a little more thoroughly as the book progresses.

Highly recommended

This is a great book to explain color blindness to kids. There is a lot of information provided in the back, but the actual story does a great job all by itself. And it encourages those who are color blind to be happy about their individuality and the way they see the world.

A very simplistic overview of racism and the Civil Rights Movement. Good for lower grades. Has a nice timeline in the back.

Cute book, the boy blames a gorilla for all the mess and damage that has been caused in the house while his mother was upstairs waiting for the pizza delivery boy. Had a "If You Give a Mouse a Muffin" feel, or "Jeremy and the Monster"

This is a great book about the power of friendship. Brian doesn't have any friends in his class and just blends into the background, until the day that he leaves a note for the new kid Justin and they become friends. The illustrations play a big part. Brian is drawn in black and white until Justin touches his shoulder to invite him to join his group in a class project at which point Brian becomes colorful.

One day Julie notices that the penguins are sneaking off with props from a dance show. Determined to see them dance, Julie tries everything she can think of to get the penguins to open up to her. A very cute, imaginative book.

When mom and dad go out the get robots to take care of their daughter. But one mistake during bath time leads to a whole lot of trouble for the entire house.