Welcome to our blog.

This is our new Mother-Son blog. I am Donna, (Mom), and Lucas is my 13 year old 7th grader. We both love to read and decided to create this blog to write about the books we enjoy. Lucas is very interested in science cannot wait to share his insights about the books he's reading and 7th grade.

Friday, January 25, 2013

STAY TUNED---IT'S COMING AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PART OF IT


 Nate Rocks the School Book Blast & Tour
March 4 - 24



According to Nathan Rockledge, fifth grade has plenty of perks. Oh sure, there’s more work, and he still has to deal with the know-it-all, Lisa Crane. Luckily, there is a lot to look forward to as well: a laser tag birthday party, baseball at recess, and even a cool Halloween dance. Of course, all of that means nothing without the biggest perk of all … the class trip to New York City in the spring. If his class can raise enough money to go, that is.

Give Nathan paper and a pencil, and watch as his imagination turns him into Nate Rocks, hero and fifth-grade super star. With adventures abound, Nate saves the day time and again. But will Nate be able to save the fifth grade trip?

Join Nathan, his hilarious family, and his friends, as he rocks the school in another fun Nate Rocks adventure.




Tuesday, January 22, 2013




“Two-headed monsters, giant tentacles, angry demons – Lovecraft Middle School is great creepy fun!”
–Ransom Riggs, author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

This second novel in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Professor Gargoyle ended.  Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension – a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts.  For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he'll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina.   Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it's too late?

The Slither Sisters features more bizarre beasts, more strange mysteries, and more adventure.  It's perfect for readers ages 10 and up. Best of all, the cover features a state-of-the-art “morphing” photo portrait – so you can personally witness the sisters transforming into their slithering alter egos.  You won't believe your eyes!






Our thoughts:

What a fun series!  Book two is a fantastic continuation of the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School.  A school being overtaken by monsters.   The characters are fun and engaging. The storyline is wonderful.  This is a series that will encourage middle grade students to read!  It is a unique story.   Kids, both boys and girls, will love the characters of Robert, Glen and Karina.  Pip and Squeak are fun, too- even if they are rats!  I'm anxiously awaiting the third installment in this series and I highly recommend it for anyone who likes different stories.



And don't miss book one of the series





Wednesday, January 9, 2013


My English class is reading THE CITY OF EMBER.  A book chosen by my teacher.  I think it's a fantastic book.  Haven't finished it yet, as I'm reading along with the class.  I did rent the movie.  Movie was good, but I'm liking the book so much better.  

about the book:
Many hundreds of years ago, the city of Ember was created by the Builders to contain everything needed for human survival. It worked…but now the storerooms are almost out of food, crops are blighted, corruption is spreading through the city and worst of all—the lights are failing. Soon Ember could be engulfed by darkness….

But when two children, Lina and Doon, discover fragments of an ancient parchment, they begin to wonder if there could be a way out of Ember. Can they decipher the words from long ago and find a new future for everyone? Will the people of Ember listen to them?

Mom tells me this is a DYSTOPIAN novel.  She's already bought books 2-4 of the series for me (I got a Kindle for Christmas--yay!!!!)  Can't wait to read them all!



Lucas here,
just finished a book report for my English class.
We had to write a report on a mystery novel. 
I chose MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (mainly because I love trains).  It's written by Agatha Christie.  Mom says her books have been around a while.  
Wow- what a great story.  It was twisted all around.  I was completely surprised by the ending.

about the book:
"The murderer is with us - on the train now..."

Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. One of his fellow passengers must be the murderer.

Isolated by the storm and with a killer in their midst, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer amongst a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again...

This Mr. P guy is a great sleuth.  He is able to figure things out with only a few clues.  If you haven't read this book, I recommend it.  If you have, do you agree with his (Mr. P's) decision at the end?




Saturday, January 5, 2013

Do you like the books of Britt Alcroft?

If so, we'd like to announce a new series of children's books.

Mumfie's Quest Book 1: The Beginning of Things
Join Mumfie on an epic adventure to bring happiness back to an island in great danger. 
Discover with Mumfie, new friends, mysterious events, curious places and a treasure 
beyond price.  Mumfie sets off on his magical adventure, meeting new friends, 
Scarecrow and Pinkey, a little pink pig with wings. Pinkey tells them of a strange island 
only reachable with the help of an amazing Whale. The adventure begins!



Mumfie's Quest Book 2: The Queen of Night
Mumfie and his friends meet the Queen of Night. Her island has been taken over by a 
Wicked Secretary. How can Mumfie help the island to be set free? More adventures and 
fun along the way!




Mumfie's Quest Book 3: Pirates Ahoy!
Mumfie must protect the Queen’s jewel from the Wicked Secretary. Mumfie’s quest to 
bring peace and happiness back to the island takes him to the bottom of the ocean. New 
friends, more mystery pirates!



Mumfie's Quest Book 4: A Treasure Beyond Price
The final chapter of the Mumfie’s Quest story series, Mumfie discovers a magic cloak of 
dreams. The adventure brings a joyful farewell to the Queen and his return home 
knowing, at last, the true meaning of a treasure beyond price!



Mumfie and the Snowbird: The Legend of Mumfie’s White Christmas
Mumfie’s Christmas wish is to have snow in the little wood where he lives with the 
friends he made in Mumfie’s Quest. He is told by the mysterious Black Cat that he must 
travel north to the cave of the North Wind. His journey, with loyal friends, Scarecrow 
and Pinkey becomes stranger than they ever imagined and the adventure brings new 
friends, laughter and a wonderful surprise.




from the press release:

Britt Allcroft, Award-Winning creator of the world famous 
children’s entertainment properties: Thomas & Friends, Shining 
Time Station and Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie
comes to Premier Digital Publishing with the launch of Britt 
Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie: Mumfie’s Quest eBook
series and a digital first holiday eBook, Mumfie and the 
Snowbird: The Legend of Mumfie’s White Christmas

Five eBooks available now for Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble 
Nook, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Sony Reader and Google Play
(Los Angeles/New York/Toronto) December 11, 2012  - Premier Digital Publishing 
announced today the launch of the beloved children’s series  Britt Allcroft’s  Magic 
Adventures of Mumfie – Mumfie’s Quest  as  eBooks by award-winning  author  Britt 
Allcroft, notable creator of Thomas & Friends and Shining Time Station. Britt Allcroft’s
Magic Adventures of Mumfie,  based on the works of Katharine Tozer, first came to 
television in the 1990’s to international acclaim in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Japan from critics and viewers alike. Mumfie has returned with an 
extensive series of new eBooks for fans of all ages, to delight, entertain and educate a 
whole new generation of readers.

Britt Allcroft is a household name in the children’s entertainment industry, as creator of 
a trio of world famous children’s entertainment properties – Thomas & Friends, Shining 
Time Station,  and  Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie. Britt is responsible for 
introducing Thomas to children worldwide. Britt’s goal with storytelling for children and 
her work is characterized by combining  adventure; fun and compassion with themes 
that help promote self-esteem and loving kindness. This is Britt’s first release with 
Premier Digital Publishing.

"My wish is to help make children happy through storytelling. I think in  today's 
challenging world, the nurturing power of stories is more important than ever,” said Ms. 
Allcroft.  “I'm delighted to be working with PDP to introduce the Mumfie stories to 
young children and the grown-ups who are still young at heart."
Thomas Ellsworth, Premier Digital Publishing CEO commented, “I am pleased to 
welcome such a seasoned and multi award-winning children’s author and entertainment 
producer to Premier Digital Publishing. Britt’s  Magic Adventures of Mumfie eBooks 
represent an exciting opportunity for existing fans of the Mumfie brand, such as my
family, and for fans of the new digital generation to experience Mumfie’s adventures in 
a whole new way with our eBooks.”



About the Author:
Britt Allcroft is the award-winning creator of a trio of world famous children’s 
entertainment properties – Thomas & Friends, Shining Time Station, and Britt Allcroft’s 
Magic Adventures of Mumfie. On TV at the age of 16, Ms. Allcroft was hired by the BBC 
where she trained as a writer/director where she went on to create many shows for 
British television including  Dance Crazy, Junkin,  and Mothers by Daughters.  She has 
worked with actors, musicians and dancers both in the London Theater and in the US 
where she now lives.
Britt’s priority remains with storytelling for children and her work is characterized by 
combining adventure, fun and compassion with themes that help promote self-esteem 
and loving kindness.  Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie, based on the works of 
Katharine Tozer, first came to television in the 1990’s to international acclaim in the US, 
UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Japan  from critics and viewers alike.  
Now Mumfie is back with an extensive series of new eBooks to satisfy existing Mumfie 
fans that are now grown and to a delight a whole new generation of readers.




About Premier Digital Publishing:
Premier Digital Publishing is a leading independent digital publisher and innovator in 
eBooks, enhanced eBooks and interactive content. Led by a team of digital media 
pioneers, the company ranks among the top publishers of quality eBook entertainment 
to the industry’s leading tablet and eReader manufacturers and eBook retailers. The 
company is based in Los Angeles with offices in Toronto and New York.

courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley, we've received a copy of
Mumfie's Quest Book 1: The Beginning of Things
we will review it on this blog as soon as possible.  I grew up with Shining Time Station and Thomas & Friends and can't wait to finish this book!

Stay tuned!