The Distance to Home by: Jenn Bishop

Jenn Bishop's book The Distance to Home is one I won't soon forget.  In fact, I'm sure I will always remember the Donnelly family.

Quinnen loves baseball both playing and watching the local minor league team the Tri-City Bandits.  However, this baseball season is not like previous seasons.  Quinnen isn't playing and her family will be hosting a player from the Bandits.  Quinnen and her parents are dealing with the sudden death of Haley, Quinnen's older sister.  Without Haley cheering for Quinnen she doesn't feel that she can ever play the game again.  As Quinnen gets to know the player staying with her and other players on the team she begins to talk about her sister.  She hopes to talk about her more at home as well.  Everyone at the Bandits' ballpark is happy to see Quinnen and as the season continues the entire Donnelly family begins to heal.  Hopefully Quinnen will enjoy a future as a baseball player.

The chapters go back and forth between the current summer and the summer before, when Haley was still living.  I liked exploring the differences of the two summers and found that it made the family's story easier to understand.

I think anyone who enjoys baseball will enjoy this book.  We all have family and friends who love and care about us just as the Donnelly family does...getting to know the Donnellys through this book will be good for anyone as we can all relate to family life.

After reading this book go out a play a game of baseball!

Happy Daily Reading!
Deanna

Saltwater Taffy by: Eric Delabarre

Make sure you have some free time when you sit down to read this book once you start reading you won't be able to put the book down.  Saltwater Taffy written by Eric Delabarre is a story filled with adventure, fun, friendship and life lessons that you won't  forget.

Scott, Gary, Jaq, Jimmy and Zippy's  summer had begun as any other.  Hanging out in their secret clubhouse, riding bikes and playing baseball.  Their rag-tag baseball team has made it to the city championship but that takes second place when they once again begin a search for pirate treasure.

In Port Townsend, Washington there is rumored to be the treasure of pirate Jean Lafitte.  Each year the city celebrates this hidden treasure by seeing who can find and solve the next clue.  When Scott along with his brother Gary and friends Zippy, Jimmy and Jaq, find the next clue and are double crossed and lose the clue they don't give up on the treasure hunt.  They keep close eye on their rivals and are able to solve the clue leading them to the final piece of the treasure map that belonged to the pirate Jean Lafitte.  As they follow the may their summer is unlike any other they have experienced.   As they work together to stay ahead of other treasure hunters they learn more about themselves and each other.

They encounter a variety of adventures as they throw water balloons at their rivals, explore "old man Sheesley's property and sneak out to explore a nearby island.  They also find the strength to go on when things get a bit hard.  They are chased by a bear and have to get across a very old bridge.  I was very nervous for them all as they crossed this bridge.  What exactly does saltwater taffy have to do with anything?  The answer to this question will surprise you!  Will they finally find the treasure?  When they have to deal with a cave-in the reader will wonder if they will make it back in time to play the city championship baseball game?  This is a MUST read story!

I loved this story.  So much summertime adventure for these five friends.  I also loved all the "treasure tips" offered by the author.  I was able to learn life lessons as I came to know these children.  The life lessons are important to the characters and to the reader alike.  When your child finishes this book I'm sure they will be on the lookout for adventures of their own.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Randy Riley's Really Big Hit by: Chris Van Dusen

Like most young boys, Randy Riley struggles to hit the ball when playing baseball.  Chris Van Dusen creates an over-the-top solution for Randy in his book Randy Riley's Really Big Hit.

You have to understand that baseball isn't Randy's only love.  He also loves things from outer space.  So, when he strikes out again, he finds happiness in creating his own robot baseball team.  One night he discovers that a fireball is heading straight for earth.  Nobody believes him but he still goes to work to save earth, his family and friends from this fireball.  When the day arrives that the fireball is going to hit earth, you can imagine that there is chaos in his town.  Randy rolls out a giant robot.  What is Randy doing with a giant robot?  Perhaps this will be the time that he will finally get a hit.

This is a great story for all baseball or space fans!

After reading this book go outside and play a game of baseball.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna