Pokemon, Bricks, and Trains. Oh My!: Custom Creations #2

Pokemon, Bricks, and Trains. Oh My!: Custom Creations #2: Hello and welcome to my new series, Custom Creations. This is part two. Here I will post pictures and information about my custom LEGO crea...

Solstice Conspiracy

by Lee Rawn

synopsis from Goodreads

Two school-age children, Beth and Chris, deal with the challenge of moving to a new home, entering a new school, and then discovering that a garden near their yard has a number of mysterious inhabitants. As they begin to have strange encounters with the small residents dwelling close to their home, Beth becomes the target of some unfriendly creatures who begin to intrude on her daily life and cause her to seek help from unexpected sources

Our review 

by

Mom and Lucas

from Mom

An entertaining fantasy novel for young and middle grade readers. The main characters are Beth and her brother Chris. They live in a house with an old garden full of magical creatures. The fairies in the garden are full of mischief. 

The character development is obvious while reading the book. Beth is a likable character from the very beginning. Chris grown on the reader. You see him change as the story progresses. 

I love stories that involve fantasy elements, especially fairies. I was sad when this book ended. I would like to read more by this author.

from Lucas

Don't be deceived by the cover, this is a fun book.  I liked Chris and Beth.  The garden and the creatures were fun to read about.  

Guess who sent Mom  and email asking for us to review his book?
DEREK the GHOST!!!! 
We will be reading SCARY SCHOOL and reviewing it both here and on book lovers paradise
To give you an idea (a teaser) of the book:

synopsis (from Goodreads)

You think your school's scary?

Get a load of these teachers:

Ms. Fang, an 850-year-old vampire

Dr. Dragonbreath, who just might eat you before recess

Mr. Snakeskin—science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie

Mrs. T—break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry Tyrannosaurus rex!

Plus

Gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose The world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch

And

The narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost!

Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends—including Petunia, Johnny, and Peter the Wolf—and figures out that Scary School can be just as funny as it is spooky!

Mom and I read every night after dinner.  I can't wait to read this book!

BOOK LOVERS PARADISE: I would like to announce a new blogsite started by...

BOOK LOVERS PARADISE: I would like to announce a new blogsite started by...: I would like to announce a new blogsite started by Lucas (my 10 yr old- I oversee the site) He wants to invite anyone who may be interested ...

IT'S COMING:

book three in the Kane Series

THE SERPENT'S SHADOW

BY 

RICK RIORDAN

Kane Chronicles #3

Author: Rick Riordan

Release Date: May 1st 2012

Hyperion Books for Children

Summary: (from goodreads) He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sade Kane can’t seem to keep Apophis, the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone against the forces of chaos. 

To find the answer they need, the Kanes must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be able to lead them to the serpent’s shadow... or might lead them to their deaths in the depths of the underworld...

Platypus Philharmonic Orchestra

by 

Eliana Joy Barnett

synopsis (from Amazon)

Penelope is a 12-year old girl who lives in the United States. Her favorite animal is the platypus. During a previous vacation to King Island, Australia, Penelope discovered a secret, intelligent group of platypuses. They speak English, play musical instruments, and joke around with each other. The platypuses welcomed Penelope into their "family" and she told no one about them. Penelope is planning another trip to King Island. She can't wait to see the platypuses again and thinks it would be fun to create a platypus orchestra. But how can she make that happen while keeping the platypuses a secret?

review (by Donna)

What a wonderful book for children. Teaches a valuable lesson about friendship. The illustrations are truly wonderful. This is a children's story that will be enjoyed by all! Definitely a book to buy and keep on the shelves! You will read it over and over with your children.

EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHRIEKS

by Robert Gray

synopsis (from Amazon)

For fourteen-year-old Eve Hallows, life can be summed up in one word—horrible. She has the most horrible friends. She lives in a horrible old castle. Even her family is a bunch of horrible monsters. 

However, in the monster-inhabited world of Gravesville—a world where messages are sent through Ouija boards, jack-o’-lanterns get facials to suit their moods, and the worst thing Eve has to deal with are those annoying zombie tourists who overrun her favorite graveyard during the Halloween season—horrible means wonderful. And everything for Eve is perfectly horrible.

But her life is about to go head over heels when a mysterious group known as The Source starts terrorizing Gravesville. Now she must move to the human world—where everything is opposite ... and for Eve, that's absolutely adorable!

REVIEW BY DONNA AND LUCAS

WOW! What an absolutely horrible book (horrible meaning fantastic!)  Think The Munster's from the viewpoint of Marilyn- remember her?  The only strange and bizarre human in a family of perfect monsters!

Well, Eve's life is somewhat like that.  Mom is a Gorgon, Dad is a shapeshifter and brother Sam is a ghoul. Even the family pet Wolf is a werepig.  This book was laugh out loud funny.  I loved when Mom accidentally turned people to stone.  Dad's crazy attempts at running a pizza store were just hysterical.

Trouble began when the mysterious SOURCE started killing monsters and trying to steal the BOOK OF SHRIEKS.  Eve and her human friends had to help save the day.  I don't think the adventures are over for Eve and her buddies.  Looking forward to the next book in the series.  A wonderful book and we both recommend it to kids who love Halloween and funny/ghoulish stories.

My favorite laugh out loud quote from the book:::

"Zombies are the rudest, most annoying creatures.  And that whole brain-eating thing?  I don't care where you live, that's just poor manners."