Bear's House of Books by: Poppy Bishop

As someone who loves books when I saw this book at my local library I knew it was a MUST read.  Author Poppy Bishop's book Bear's House of Books will be a picture book that all book lovers will cherish.

Four animal friends who love stories read the same book every night at bedtime.  They love their book but wish they had more books.  They begin to explore the forest looking for books and they find one!  It states that it belongs to Bear so they are now searching for Bear's home to return the book.  Once they find Bear's home they find many many books and they love them all.  When Bear returns he is not happy to find others touching his books but he learns that he enjoys reading with them.  Now there are 5 friends who enjoy books.  Will they continue to find more book loving friends?

After reading this book go and visit your local library.

Happy Daily Reading!
Deanna

Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard by: Jonathan Auxier

"Once Upon a Time" is the beginning to many wonderful stories but I really love the beginning of author Jonathan Auxier's newest book Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard.  This book begins with "It has often been said that one should never judge a book by its cover."  This book has a nice cover but the story is so great that once you begin reading you won't want to put it down.  You might still admire the cover but you will LOVE the story within the pages.  

Sophie is a young girl who works repairing books at her family's bookstore.  She doesn't remember her mother since her mother's death occurred when she was very young.  When a mysterious book (the Book of Who) is brought to Sophie to repair and she finds her mother's name in the book, Sophie begins a life changing quest to find out more about her mother.  Peter Nimble and his friend Sir Tode are the two that bring the book to Sophie from Professor Cake.  Professor Cake advises the trio that they must work together to find and protect four books (The Book of Who, The Book of What The book of Where and the Book of When) that will save the world, not just Sophie's town of Bustleburgh.  Professor Cake tells them that "worlds and everything in them are made real by the stories that inhabit them...stories are a type of magic spell...the impossible becomes a little more possible.  When a populations loses its stories, it loses its capacity for wonder...what remains is a life of drudgery and toil."  You see the inquisitor of Bustleburgh is insisting that all the books be burned on Prye day.  He believes that the "nonsense" of books is not needed in the world and he will stop at nothing to make sure all the books are destroyed.  He even wants to find the books that Sophie, Peter and Sir Tode are trying to save.  

Many times Sophie and others face death to fulfill their quest.  They find friends and enemies as they travel near and far.  I think one of the best parts of the story is when the books begin to fly and tell their own stories.  Imagine so many books sharing their marvelous stories at once!  Can Sophie really be the last Storyguard?  Can she really do this important job?  She must because if we lose our stories we lose "what if" and we don't want that to ever happen.   

There is advice from the author too!  He suggests that if the reader ever meets an author he/she should shower the author with gifts and praise.  I haven't had the chance to meet Mr. Auxier but I hope he accepts my praise for this book in my review and perhaps a gift if we ever do meet.  

Happy Daily Reading

Deanna

The Right Word Roget and his Thesaurus by: Jen Bryant

Peter Mark Roget spent most of his life creating lists, lists of all kinds and from his lists we now have easy access to many words.  Words that create stories, words to teach and inspire, words that we speak.  The Right Word Roget and his Thesaurus is the story of Peter and the creation of the very first Thesaurus which was printed in 1852.  Author Jen Bryant does a great job at sharing with young readers the life of Peter Mark Roget.

I really enjoyed this book and the style of making lists to describe things in the story.  I learned many things about Peter Mark Roget and his many accomplishments.  I marvel that the first Thesaurus was arranged by the meaning of the words instead of the words in ABC order.  I imagine I would have a hard time looking for the just right word in the first edition.  I'm thankful for his hard work and his sharing his lifetime passion of making lists.  Because he has shared his lists made into a book it is easy for all of us to find just the right word in all we say and write.

This book is a Caldecott Honor book and a Robert F. Sibert Medal winner.  It is one I'm sure you and your family will enjoy.

After reading this book go outside, just like he did, and create a list of your own.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna