The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon

The Tower Treasure by Franklin W. Dixon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It's fine. There's a mystery or two and the boys solve them: a stolen car and the contents of a safe. I can barely tell the boys' personalities apart and there's nothing else that jumps out to make it memorable or wonderful.

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The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was tough getting into it because there were a lot of characters introduced in the first few pages, but once I got past the first few chapters it was a lovely story. The characters are unique and reasonably well-developed for a kid's book, and the story involved everything from following the rules, being polite, and kids recognizing that the adults are also complicated people.

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Cottontail Rabbits by Christina Leighton

Cottontail Rabbits by Christina Leighton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is very difficult to get but short and informative. I read it because James is doing a report in his 4th-grade class.

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Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A dangerous and exciting adventure in San Francisco as two friends try to break codes and solve a literary puzzle. Slow start, but fun exciting midway on.

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Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger by Louis Sachar

Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger (Wayside #3) by Louis Sachar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not as good as the first two but nice to see the adults’ lives progress.

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Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar

Wayside School Is Falling Down (Wayside #2) by Louis Sachar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t expect the sequel to be as good as the original. I wish I’d read it as a kid.

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Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first grade teacher, Mrs. Doscher, read this out loud to us in class, and I think it was the first time anyone read out loud to me as a kid. In my memory, it took us a few months to read it, chapter by slow chapter. I don't remember crying in class, but this book is still one of the saddest books for me.

As an adult though, it doesn't make a lot of sense. Why would the people in the book assume a pig was writing on a spiderweb? Wouldn't they rightfully assume it was the spider doing it?

Update from 2020: I'm rereading this to my kids and I realized I'm such a dummy! The farmer characters in the book thought God wrote in the Spiderweb! It totally took me 35 to get that. Maybe because I never really thought about the literature of miracles when I was younger. I have been humbled by my own stupidity. Haha.

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Merhorses and Bubbles by Asia Citro

Merhorses and Bubbles  (Zoey and Sassafras, #3) by Asia Citro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series is solid for new readers! Miranda and I are three books in and all three have been great! (Kindergarten to first grade.)

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Monsters and Mold by Asia Citro

Monsters and Mold (Zoey and Sassafras, #2) by Asia Citro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It took a lot of tries this time, but Zoey persisted!

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The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another 10 stories. Tigger steals the show in this one as his 2 (3?) stories are the best.

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Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ten cute stories. My favorite is the story of Eeyore’s birthday, though the switcheroo of Roo and Piglet has a lot to recommend it.

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Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Citro

Dragons and Marshmallows (Zoey and Sassafras, #1) by Asia Citro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mrs. Srb has been reading this virtually to Miranda these last two weeks and I've been listening too. Fantastic book for Kindergarteners and 1st graders. It's magical but also teaches scientific concepts and age-appropriate emotional lessons. Loved it! Read this instead of that treehouse junk.

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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I like this book because it's fundamentally about how powerful just trying to do something helpful can be. It's about the things that motivate us to try. It's about love and sacrifice! It's about the natural world and what we owe it. Really enjoyed this one!

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Sounder by William H. Armstrong

Sounder by William H. Armstrong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is not a book about a boy and his dog. It ripped my heart out. The writing is excellent. It feels too heavy and possibly subtle for children, but maybe for high schoolers.

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Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very good kids' book about what it's like to have dyslexia and learning disabilities, how to be a good friend, and how to get help when you need it. Well-developed characters. Strongly recommend for middle grade.

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Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3/10: I liked it. Didn't rock my world though and there were definitely a bunch of animals getting drunk on cider. 3/15: I reread it and now that I'm on coronavirus quarantine, it appears to be all about thriving under quarantine now... adding a star.



Here's my 8-year-old son's review which was obviously my review of what he thought:

James's review

Mar 10, 2020

really liked it

bookshelves: 1970s, 3rd-grade, childrens, fantasy, fiction, own

I like how Mr. Fox has to find ways to beat Mr. Bean, Boggis, Bunce. There was nothing I didn't like about the book.

Mom: What did you think about the stealing?
Me: I thought it was an interesting way to live.
Mom: You didn't think it was wrong?
Me: I don't know, they had to survive somehow, plus they had to get the farmer back for trying to kill them.
Mom: Ummmm.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3226090543 

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A to Z Mysteries #1-3 by Ron Roy

The Absent Author by Ron Roy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I finally read this and it's pretty cute. Twists and turns! I'd recommend this for early readers, 1st-3rd grade depending on reading ability.

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The Bald Bandit by Ron Roy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It’s fine but not as interesting as the first one.

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The Canary Caper by Ron Roy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I decided this children's series is the kind that is only good for kids and not for adults, so this is my last one. My best to Ruth Rose, she was the only interesting one.

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Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grandma gave this book to James, so I read it. I think it's a nice book especially for people who love horses. Despite the girly name, it's not winning any feminist awards, but it's okay.

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Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sweet and funny children's book about inclusion, friendship, environmentalism, and best of all- a busybody tree. Highly recommend.

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Laugh out loud funny in parts but the “wimpy kid” is such a little jerk.

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