The Kid's Literature Lady

Reading 50 Middle Grade & Young Adult Books in 52 weeks to encourage children's literacy.

[kidlitlady]

Book #26: Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

Book #26: Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

Ages: 8-12  Pages: 190  Genre: Realistic Fiction  Back in the saddle and ready to review some awesome children’s literature. I’m opening back up with this selection from Lauren Child, “Utterly Me, Clarice Bean.” I first discovered Lauren Child’s work when I stumbled upon the “Charlie and Lola” series while working as a nanny. This British brother/sister duo is navigating life with vivid…

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[kidlitlady]

Book #25: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

#BookReview of #TheWonderfulWizardofOz #LFrankBaum

Ages: 8-12  Pages: 261  Genre: Fantasy It’s hard to step into a novel that’s been adapted into a film without having preconceived notions of how the story should unfold. Take the work from which one of America’s most iconic films was adapted and you will turn every page wondering where the plot diverges from the movie. I should start by noting that this particular novel is said to be the very…

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[kidlitlady]

Book #24: Letters from Camp by Kate Klise

Book #24: Letters from Camp by Kate Klise

Ages: 8-12  Pages: 178  Genre: Mystery This has always been one of my all-time favorite reads, so I thought I would revive the blog with a book that gets me really excited. Kate Klise is a master of writing in the epistolary format and her sister Sarah does an incredible job with the illustrations. “Letters from Camp” explores the wacky world of Camp Happy Harmony–run by the six lovable(?)…

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[kidlitlady]

Book #23: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Book #23: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Ages: 8-12, 12+  Pages: 176  Genre: Adventure Fiction This one is surely an oldie but goodie–I can remember first discovering this book in the 5th grade as assigned reading. I can remember being baffled by all of the word play in this book–in fact, most of the book is incredibly cerebral and deals a lot with jumbling meaning and facts. That’s because the Kingdom of Wisdom is completely devoid of…

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[kidlitlady]

Book #22: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning By Lemony Snicket

Book #22: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning By Lemony Snicket

I didn’t get a chance to snap a photo of this book before returning it to the library–the URL I obtained it from is clickable! Ages: 8-12  Pages: 176  Genre: Dark Fiction I figured it’s about time I dusted this blog off! I took a long blogging break but now I’m right back to it with the first book in the Middle Grade to YA series: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. WOW, does this…

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[kidlitlady]

Community Post: The Seven Commandments Of Celebrity Nannying

Do you have what it takes to be a celebrity nanny?

“What does it take to help raise the progeny of the rich and famous? A great deal of moxy and a strict adherence to the following Commandments:“

[kidlitlady]

Book #21: Ogres Don't Hunt Easter Eggs by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones

Book #21: Ogres Don't Hunt Easter Eggs by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones @Scholastic

(Excuse the photo quality–I’m out of town and had to make do!)

Ages: 8-12  Pages: 63  Genre: Fantasy

I’ve been waiting quite some time to choose a book from The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids” to profile on this blog. As a kid, this was hands down my favorite series of books (pre-Harry Potter, of course).

Liza, Eddie, Howie, and Melody are just your average elementary school students in a…

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[kidlitlady]

Book #20: The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse by Bruce Hale

Book #20: The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse by Bruce Hale

Ages: 8-12  Pages: 97  Genre:  Detective/Anthropomorphism

If the promise of a good, middle school detective drama sounds like a good time, then this book is for you. Chet Gecko, who is naturally a Gecko, is a fourth grader with a penchant for solving crimes during school time. His classmates, an assortment of birds, lizards, and rodents, either admire or loathe him and he’s a pain in the…

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[kidlitlady]

Book #19 The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide by Tony DiTerlezzi Ages: 8-12   Pages: 144   Genre: Fantasy If you delight in the idea of millions of fairies and other sprites roaming amongst our world, this book is definitely for you.

[kidlitlady]

#18 Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Ages: 8-12  Pages: 184 Genre: Classic Fiction/Semi-Anthropomorphic

Wow–talk about a piece of…

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[kidlitlady]

Woops.

Woops. http://wp.me/s2JOCJ-woops

Well, it looks like my deadline came and went and, obviously, I didn’t quite make it to 50 books.

I started this challenge after having relocated to a brand new city clear across the country.

I was on the job hunt, hadn’t met too many people, and could…

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[kidlitlady]

A MAGNIFICENT Children's Picture Book

Hey All!

I’ve spent so much time devouring my most recent selections that I’ve neglected to update!

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[kidlitlady]

Molly Magnificent Is My Nanny: A Children's Picture Book

Helping educate children about this unique family structure and the special bond between a great little dude and his magnificent nanny!

Check out this Kickstarter Project: "Molly Magnificent Is My Nanny!"-- I love me some picture books!

[kidlitlady]

Book #17 Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Ages: 8-12  Pages: 96  Genre: Anthropomorphic Fiction

Roald Dahl was, by far, my favorite author of…

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[kidlitlady]

Book #16 The Not-So-Great Depression by Amy Goldman Koss

Ages: Young Adult (13-18)  Pages: 266  Genre: Fiction

It should be noted that the full title of…

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[kidlitlady]

A Lesson in Language and Cookies

I've noticed, lately, that I have a few (read: many) friends on Facebook that consider themselves "Grammar Nazis". Horrible references to one of the most destructive and disgusting political partie...