November 2019 Reading Wrap Up

Hello bloggers!

November was cold and wet and busy and I probably won't have a moment to myself from here on out so I also had to rush to write up these posts! I spent most of the month catching up with things (reviews, travel journaling, craft projects, etc) and also lots of Fall cleaning to help the holidays be less stressful. There were a few beautiful days so, of course, we went out on walks and bike rides! Thankfully, November flew by with all the extra focus on other things. Christmas will be here before we know it! 


The books I read and finished in November:

Chapter Books I Read to My Daughter: 

Started but haven't finished yet:

Book Reviews I Shared This Month:

We read and reviewed A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel which was a beautiful picture book about perspectives, and Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers which is a nonfiction picture book all about the Statue of Liberty!

I shared my reviews for some of the horror books I read in October such as the graphic novel adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Coraline by P. Craig Russell and the super spooky adult historical fiction novel, The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell, which I loved!

Tunnel of Bones is the sequel to City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab and The Familiars by Stacey Halls is a historical fiction set against the Pendle Witch Trials.

We read nonfiction picture books like How Far Can A Kangaroo Jump? by Alison Limentani and Around the World in 80 Ways illustrated by Katy Halford.

A World of Pausabilities by Frank J. Sileo is a gorgeously illustrated picture book about mindfulness and W is for Webster by Tracey E. Fern is about Noah Webster and his American dictionary!

We received both 5-Minute Stories by Margaret Wise Brown and How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith from the publisher to review but adored both! How Winston Delivered Christmas is an advent story told in 24-and-a-half chapters that include lots of holiday craft activities as well!

I also shared my reviews for The Thief of Always by Clive Barker and Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire, which is the 3rd book in the Wayward Children series!


NOVEMBER MUSICI love music. Music heals.
I'm always on the lookout for something new and would like to keep track somewhere besides my bujo so here are my latest faves!

links to youtube
Power  by  Isak Danielson
He Don't Love Me  by  Winona Oak
Woman  by  Mumford & Sons
Five Cups  by  Foxing

What's next?
December is always a busy time but we have a few holiday-themed books we will be reading and reviewing soon! I'm going to attempt to be more active on bookstagram in December as well!

Are you ready for the holidays?

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Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3) by Seanan McGuire (YA Book Review)

Beneath the Sugar Sky
(Wayward Children #3)by Seanan McGuirePublished by Toron January 9, 2018Genre: Young Adult, FantasyLength: 176 pages
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Literary Awards:Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy (2018)World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novella (2019)Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novella (2019)
Synopsis:
When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can't let Reality get in the way of her quest--not when she has an entire world to save! 

If she can't find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn't have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests...

A tale of friendship, baking, and derring-do. 

My Thoughts:
This review may contain spoilers for earlier books in the series.

In the third book in the Wayward Children series, select students go on a quest to help Rini, the daughter of the previously murdered Sumi. Rini is from the world of Confection, where the Queen of Cakes has taken over, and Rini must find out how to save her mother, herself, and her world before it is too late. 

I am enjoying this series so much! 
I hadn't heard much about it beforehand and only knew of the first book, Every Heart Is A Doorway, at the time so I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't have high hopes but wanted to give it a try anyway and have fallen in love! Each story is pretty short but full of interesting characters, magic, and doors to magic worlds. The writing is fantastic and I am loving how the author includes so many topics that are usually seen as taboo and definitely need more representation in YA fiction. 

I read the first two books in this series right before Halloween and was pleased to find that both have horror elements that were especially fun to read about in Autumn. I put this third book off thinking it would be a lighter installment, and it was, but I couldn't wait long and found that it also had lots of all that lovely, dark, macabre stuff that I like. 

I've already borrowed the next book in this series, In An Absent Dream, and can't wait to read it! 

More from this series:

Every Heart A Doorway
Down Among the Sticks and Bones

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You Are My Friend: The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood by Aimee Reid (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

You Are My Friend:
The Story of Mister Rogers and His Neighborhood
Written by Aimee Reid
Illustrated by Matt Phelan
Published by Harry N. Abrams
on August 6, 2019
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Biography
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 5 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository


Synopsis:
A heartwarming picture book that celebrates the work of Mister Rogers and carries on his legacy of kindness.

Mister Rogers is one of the most beloved television personalities, but before he was the man who brought us Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, he was just little Freddie Rogers. Though he was often sick and had trouble making friends as a child, his mom and grandfather encouraged him to ask for help and explore the world. With their support, he learned how to better say what he was feeling and see the beauty around him. As he grew up, he realized he could spread the message of compassion, equality, and kindness through television. You Are My Friend is a gentle homage to Fred Rogers and shows how his simple message still resonates with us today:  "There's no person in the world like you and I like you just the way you are." 

Our Thoughts:

Fans of Fred Rogers will enjoy this picture book biography of the boy who would grow up and create the beloved children's television show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.  

Starting in his younger years of playing with puppets and learning the piano, this picture book gives us glimpses into Fred Rogers' life and how he came to be the incredible man he was.

Having been bullied as a child, Fred found a positive way to express himself and his feelings; through music. He also had people in his life that accepted him and urged him to look for the good in the world. 

 

His childhood takes up a good portion of the story and focuses on how Freddie learned and grew to be the amazingly kind and accepting man that we knew him to be from his tv show. 

The watercolor illustrations are warm and friendly and do a wonderful job of reflecting the joy, wonder, and kindness that Mister Rogers has spread to the world.

This picture book includes a brief biography of Fred Rogers in the back along with a select bibliography of other works about Fred Rogers.

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The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz (Picture Book Review)

The Ugly Pumpkin

by Dave Horowitz
Published by Putnam Juvenile
on August 18, 2005
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 40 pages

Ages: 2 - 6 years

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Synopsis:
No one wants to take home the Ugly Pumpkin. Sure, he doesn't look like any of the other pumpkins, but why does everyone have to tease him so much? The poor, lonely pumpkin goes in search of a place where he'll fit in - and finally discovers the truth about who he is and where he belongs.

Our Thoughts:
This is a touching story about an ugly pumpkin that never gets picked to be a jack-o-lantern. He's tired of being teased and tricked so off he goes to find his place in the world, leaving October behind and heading into November where he finds where he truly belongs and celebrates Thanksgiving with a group of great new friends.

The Ugly Pumpkin reminds me so much of Hans Christian Andersons' 'The Ugly Duckling' has important themes about kindness, self-esteem, and finding where you fit in. I think it's a great story to teach kids about bullying and acceptance.

This story is set between October and November (and the two popular holidays within each,) with illustrations that reflect the season and holidays, making this a great Autumn read! I think it would be a great story to read before going to a pumpkin-picking farm that has both pumpkins and squash!

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How Winston Delivered Christmas: An Advent Story by Alex T. Smith (Children's Picture Book Review)

We received a free physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

How Winston Delivered Christmas:
An Advent Story in Twenty-Four-and-a-Half Chapters
by Alex T. Smith
Published by Silver Dolphin Books
on September 17, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Holidays
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 6 - 8 years
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
An advent story told in twenty-four-and-a-half chapters!

When a mouse named Winston finds a lost letter addressed to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, he sets off on an unforgettable journey to personally deliver the letter to Santa! How Winston Delivered Christmas is a heart-warming story, organized in twenty-four and a half chapters, to share during the countdown to Christmas. Starting on December 1st, children can read a chapter a day, and each chapter is followed with a fun and festive holiday activity to complete. This illustrated advent story tells of the adventures of an adorable mouse and how a good deed can lead to a very happy ending.

Our Thoughts:

Told in 24 and a half chapters to read every day of December leading up to Christmas, How Winston Delivered Christmas will fill the month with good cheer and festivity with its' gorgeous illustrations, endearing tale, and fun holiday activities.

Winston the mouse is out in the snow looking for something to fill his rumbling belly and somewhere warm to sleep when he encounters a stray letter that is addressed to Santa Claus! Having recently learned all about Santa, Winston senses the importance of the letter and vows to deliver it. 

This heart-warming story will get you into the Christmas spirit and help you count down to the 25th every day, offering a fun, memorable, and reusable alternative to the single-use advent options!

Each chapter can be read in just a few minutes so it is perfect for busy families but it also has lots of fun and festive craft activities included between the story chapters for a more interactive experience that kids will love. The activities include writing a letter to Santa, creating a Winston finger puppet, making snowflakes and paper chains, and more, and also include lists of materials needed and well-written instructions!  There are also a few well-known Christmas songs/poems at the back of the book in case anyone wants to sing carols!

How Winston Delivered Christmas is such a beautifully crafted book with a gorgeous holographic title, adorable illustrations, and a green ribbon to keep track of your place! I honestly just can't get over how beautiful this book is! I think anyone would be thrilled to own this beauty!

I will be reading this to my daughter for the first time this December and am looking forward to doing the art activities with her! I adore crafts, especially during the holidays, so this is going to be a blast for us!
(I will be sharing some of our creations throughout the month of December, either on Instagram or here on the blog on Sundays!)

Do you buy or use advent calendars during the Christmas season?

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The Thief of Always by Clive Barker (Middle Grade Book Review)

The Thief of Always
by Clive Barker
Published by Harper Trophy
on February 5, 2002
(first published in 1992)
Genre:
Middle Grade, Horror, Fantasy
Length: 224 pages
Ages: 10 and up

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
Mr. Hood's Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming countless children into its embrace. It is a place of miracles, a blissful round of treats and seasons, where every childhood whim may be satisfied...

There is a price to be paid, of course, but young Harvey Swick, bored with his life and beguiled by Mr. Hood's wonders, does not stop to consider the consequences. It is only when the House shows it's darker face--when Harvey discovers the pitiful creatures that dwell in its shadows--that he comes to doubt Mr. Hood's philanthropy.

The House and its mysterious architect are not about to release their captive without a battle, however. Mr. Hood has ambitions for his new guest, for Harvey's soul burns brighter than any soul he has encountered in a thousand years...


My Thoughts:
Ten-year-old Harvey Swink is just plain bored, so when a strange man offers him a fun vacation, he takes it. He is led to Mr. Hood's Holiday House where every day plays through the seasons and holidays and starts all over again. Harvey can eat what he likes, do what he likes, and stay as long as he likes, but he soon learns there are consequences to all the fun.

The Thief of Always is a fun cautionary tale for young readers that is perfect for the Autumn season. Though this book features all four seasons and could be read any time of year, I think it's an extra special read for the 'spooky season' because of it's the inclusion of the Halloween holiday but also because it's more horror than anything.

This book reminded me so much of Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline' (though this one was written first) with its big, beautiful house with its magic and secrets and its overall plot. I would definitely call this Coraline for boys but either story is suitable for any gender and The Thief of Always is a great story on its own without the comparison! 
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5-Minute Stories by Margaret Wise Brown (Picture Book Review)

We received a free physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

5 Minute Stories

by Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by
Kirsten Richards, Charlotte Cooke, Stephen Gulbis, Henry Fisher, Julie Clay, Gabriel Alborozo, and Linda Bleck
Published by Silver Dolphin Books
on September 3, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books
Length: 200 pages
Ages: 3 - 5 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
This collection features eight beautifully illustrated tales from Goodnight Moon author Margaret Wise Brown that are crafted for reading aloud to your little one in five-minute chunks so that you can read them at bedtime... or anytime.

Our Thoughts: 

Silver Dolphin Books has put together a beautifully illustrated collection of Margaret Wise Brown's picture book stories that take only about 5 minutes each to read, making it the perfect book to grab for bedtime!

This wonderful collection of Margaret Wise Brown stories includes 'Count to 10 With A Mouse', 'A Song for All Seasons', 'Sleep Little Angel', 'Away in My Airplane', 'Wish Upon A Dream', 'Sleep Tight, Sleepy Bears', 'All the Families', and 'The Tickly Spider'. 

We've previously read and reviewed 'Count to 10 With A Mouse' and 'Sleep Tight, Sleepy Bears' this year if you're interested in reading those reviews separately!

Each of these lovely stories is around 25 pages long and takes about five minutes each to read. The prose is lyrical, short, and often rhymes so they could be rushed through in a much shorter time if needed.  

The stories are illustrated by a handful of different artists so each is unique with its own style but all are soft and dreamy with lots of color, texture, and detail. The switch-up made each story new and exciting!

Fans of Margaret Wise Brown will adore this collection!

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W is for Webster: Noah Webster and His American Dictionary by Tracey E. Fern (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

W is for Webster:

Noah Webster and His American Dictionary
by Tracey E. Fern
Illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Published by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux
on November 10, 2015
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, History, Biography
Length: 40 pages

Ages: 4 - 8 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
From an early age, Noah Webster was an odd fellow who liked to talk big and loved learning. He thought America needed its own national language and knew he was just the man to create it. He started with a speller, including everyday words like "scab," "grub," and "mop," and moved on to create a small dictionary.  He rode around on a horse, selling his books by hand. Then Noah decided to compile a complete and comprehensive dictionary of American English. He thought the book would take him five years to finish. It took twenty, but his dictionary today is the second-most printed book in the English language. 

My Thoughts:

Noah Webster grew up on a farm in a small town that had a one-room school with few books and no homework. But Noah loved books and homework and words most of all, and when he was 16, his father sent him to Yale. He enjoyed it so much that he eventually began to teach there, which fueled his motivation to create a new American dictionary. His obsession with words never ended and he collected and bound them into 'spellers' and then eventually his famous dictionary.



W is for Webster portrays the life of Noah Webster and his dedication to the idea of creating an American dictionary that he worked on throughout his life. No matter how long it took him to finish, his dictionary became the second most printed book in the English language!

The illustrations in this book are wonderful to look at, with neat perspectives and lots of texture. I loved the watercolor elements that made it look like ink was spilled here and there as well as all the words artfully placed into the illustrations. If you're worried about this biography being a bore, at least check it out for the entertaining art and typography! 

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A World of Pausabilities: An Exercise in Mindfulness by Frank J. Sileo (Picture Book Review)

A World of Pausabilities:

An Exercise In Mindfulness

Written by Frank J. Sileo
Illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
Published by Magination Press
on February 28, 2017
Genre: Children's, Picture Book
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Synopsis:

A pausability is taking a pause just for you, to stop and notice what you feel, think, and do.
A pause is being in the moment and giving yourself a break.
There's no wrong way to pause so it's hard to make a mistake.

In our increasingly hectic world, even children are often inundated with responsibilities and activities and end up feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Mindfulness helps focus our attention on the present--without judgment, and without worrying about the past or future. It can help us to enjoy the moments we might normally miss, as well as cope when emotions are hard to handle. We just need to take a pause!

Our Thoughts:

Do you know what a pausability is?

This wonderful rhyming picture book teaches us about mindfulness and taking a moment to do something quiet and peaceful to help keep our minds and bodies healthy. 

Take a deep breath, go for a walk, listen to silence or go outside and listen to the sounds of nature. Hug a loved one or give yourself a compliment! Pay attention to what is happening right now. 

 Life can be quite hectic and stressful for kids today and that can take a toll on their mental and physical health. A World of Pausabilities is the ultimate self-care checklist, giving us many examples of ways we can pause, live in the moment, and enjoy life.

The peaceful rhyming prose and soft and lovely illustrations made this such a wonderful read! I felt like a was taking a pause from the usual bedtime story rush This is definitely not one to rush through! 

There's an extensive note to parents and caregivers included at the end that explains mindfulness in more detail, giving us more ideas and helping to remind us that we must also practice pausing and mindfulness in order to teach our little ones!

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