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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386027492016-07-29T12:56:31.703-05:00BooksForKidsBlogA blog which offers book reviews for young people of preschool to high school ages by a children's librarian with decades of experience in reading guidance.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-6346331481495732092016-07-29T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-29T08:29:53.057-05:00Talk About Your Invasive Species! Daisy-Head Mayzie by Dr. Seuss
It's hard to believe such a thing could be true.
And I hope such a thing never happens to you.
But it happened, they say, to poor Mayzie McGrew.

Mayzie McGrew is the sort of girl who doesn't stand out in a crowd. With average brown hair and prim but unremarkable garb, she seems a girl who will never surprise anyone.

But on a dull school day, it happens this way:

Maysie is busy at her desk at school, working away...

When she felt a small twitch on the top of her head.
Maysie looked up, and she almost dropped dead.
Something peculiar was going on up there.
A DAISY was sprouting right out of the air.

Her classmate Einstein Van Tas and her teacher Miss Sneetchen inspect the bloom. It seems well rooted in Mayzies' cranium. Principal Gregory Grummm, (as smart as they come,) summons Mayzie's mum and assorted experts--Finch the florist and Dr. Eisenbart--to second the diagnosis. The Mayor instantly sees a political angle in the situation.

"I promise, my friends, if I am re-elected,
This daisy on Mayzie will be disconnected.

But it's too late for that! Maysie's daisy goes viral and soon she's the object of a media frenzy, in Dr. Seuss' Daisy-Head Mayzie (Classic Seuss), restored from an incomplete draft discovered in a desk drawer and several cameo roles by Mayzie in a film and in a collection of Seuss stories, also narrated by versatile Cat in the Hat.

While some of the iambic quatrains may seem a bit strained, only Theodor Seuss Geisel could come up with a character like Mayzie, an ordinary humdrum girl, whose noggin sprouts a posy, and only Dr. Seuss could shape it into a parable of public paranoia, instant celebrity, and multiplying media mania of the sort first portrayed in earlier, gentler times in Geisel's first book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street. With the bare bones of the story and sketches from a film and several Seussian manuscripts, the editors have cobbled together the complete story of Mayzie into an offering with the familiar look of of a Dr. Seuss book with the versatile Cat In The Hat given the role of narrator.

While Seussian purists may dicker over resurrecting stories that Geisel seemingly found initially lacking, his images and irresistible rhyme scheme are still magic, from the mystified Mayzie regarding her daisy, the rest of the familiar cast of quirky everybody's-got-an-angle characters, and especially the doughty daisy itself, Mayzie's alter ego, just doing its thing in the midst of the hubbub. As Publishers Weekly says, "One great success is the daisy itself, which conveys much human emotion through its stalk, leaves, and petals," a skill that the mighty Dr. Seuss possessed in spades.GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-69080056520757926812016-07-28T00:30:00.002-05:002016-07-28T00:30:26.673-05:00Wild at Heart?: Wolf Camp by Andrea Zuill
MY NAME IS HOMER.

I AM A DOG...

BUT SOMETIMES I AM VERY WOLFISH.

ALL DOGS HAVE A BIT OF WOLF IN THEM. IT'S BEEN PROVEN BY SCIENCE.

Homer is just a home-loving Joe Dog, your average cozy canine, a lazy layabout whose exercise mostly consists of checking his food bowl and subduing his stuffed toy, Mr. Moose.

But Homer is convinced that deep in his heart there lurks an inner wolf, one that only needs a walk on the wild side to bring out his true nature. What he needs is a week in the woods under the tutelage of his primal cousins to release his untamed inner self.

So when a flyer turns up in his kibble bag from an outfit called Wolf Camp, Homer gets busy lobbying his humans to sign him up. Boarding the bus, Homer, er, sniffs out his bunk mates, and bonds with Rex, a typical goofball Lab, and Trixie, a petite but perky Chihuahua. They suffer through a boring orientation session with their counselors, Fang and GRRR, before they get down to their first wolf lessons--marking (Not on my foot, Rex!), howling (Trixie can manage only an unimpressive y-i-i-p), and tracking (Look! A bunny!!!). Then the intrepid campers get a taste of the fruits of the hunt:

"IT'S GOT HAIR ON IT!"

Homer writes home:

Dear People,

The food here is yucky. Please send me some of Grandma's Polly's Pampered Doggie Snacks (the bacon-flavored ones.) Also my flea medicine. Because there are a lot of bugs here, and they are gross!

Love, Homer

At last it's time to head to the bunkhouse. Homer is pooped and more than ready for his doggy bed.

WHEN IT GOT DARK, WE FOUND OUT HOW REAL WOLVES SLEEP.

(THEY DON'T. THEY HOWL!)

Will this trio of unlikely wannabe wolves wash out at Wolf Camp? Well, all's well that ends wild, and as the bus pulls out of camp and heads down the trail for home, they are singing their camp song--ARROOOOOOOOOOOO!--all the way home, in Andrea Zuill's hilarious romp on the wild side, Wolf Camp (Schwartz and Wade, 2016). Her cartoon canines are perfect for their roles as would-be wolves, and although it's unlikely that Homer, Rex, and Trixie have perfected being rapacious, predaceous, and voracious, they do manage to have a howling good time, as will young readers, especially those who have also put in some time in the wilds of sleepover camp.

Andrea Zuill's storytelling is toothsome, and her illustrations, with plenty of sight gags to extend the text, are wildly funny, incorporating clever camp signs and thought balloons to chronicle the canine transition to wolfdom along the way. A dandy debut picture book by author-illustrator Zuill, documenting every dog's dream of runnin' wild.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-41824889823893862742016-07-27T00:30:00.003-05:002016-07-27T07:00:23.908-05:00Back to School: Dad School by Rebecca Van Slyke
WHEN I GO TO SCHOOL, I LEARN HOW TO WRITE MY NAME, PAINT PICTURES, AND PLAY GAMES. MY DAD SAYS HE WENT TO SCHOOL, TOO.

I THINK HE WENT TO DAD SCHOOL.

And the endearing narrator Lucas approves of his dad's curriculum. He studies fixing boo-boos, making multi-decker ham-and-cheese sandwiches with pickles and potato chips for the lunch box, and how to toss his son and the air and never drop him (he practices with plush toys, of course, until he's error-free.) Of course, all that tossing requires BIG muscles, so all the dads have to spend some time in the Dad Gym pumping iron! And then there's that absolutely essential parenting skill--multitasking!

AT DAD SCHOOL, THEY EARN HOW TO DO MORE THAN ONE THING AT A TIME, LIKE MAKING BREAKFAST AND CHECKING MY HOMEWORK.

Dad can even play Go-Fish and pay the bills at the same time.

But Dad's education does have a few deficiencies--

DAD MISSED THE DAYS THEY TAUGHT ABOUT MATCHING COLORS, BRUSHING HAIR, AND CLEANING THE BATHROOM.

But what's a little messy hair and toilet paper and toothbrushes on the floor when your dad is so good at fixing your bike and climbing the monkey bars at the park?

Rebecca Slyke's delightful Dad School (Doubleday and Company, 2016) shows an adorable father and son, backpacks and lunch sacks and all, as youngsters learn how dads learn to do it all. Lucas is proud as Dad graduates in cap and gown and gets an appropriate trophy, all portrayed engagingly by artist Priscilla Burris's just-right illustrations done in blackline and flat intense colors. Burris even contributes winsome endpapers, with three-hole-punch lined notebook paper with repeat patterns of Dad's school supplies--from bandaids to wrenches to a deck of Go-Fish cards. This one is a sly way to approach the off-to-school jitters for preschoolers, pointing out that even Dads need their schooling. "Sweetly funny and full of paternal devotion," adds Publishers Weekly.

Pair this one with Van Slyke's and Burris's equally winning companion book, Mom School.GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-63354506267447291582016-07-26T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-27T09:31:50.419-05:00Tall Tail Tale? Tall Tale Tail?: A Tiger Tail (Or What Happened To Anya on Her First Day of School) by Mike Boldt
ANYA WOKE ONE DAY..

ONLY TO DISCOVER

THAT OVERNIGHT SHE HAD GROWN...

NOT A PIGTAIL OR A PONY TAIL...

A TIGER TAIL.

A long, striped, orange-and-black tail poses several problems. For one, wearing new jeans or fancy tights are sorta out.

Not to mention how she's going to explain her tail to her new class and teacher.

Mom and Dad are no help.

"IT BRINGS OUT YOUR FUN WILD SIDE," MOM SAID.

"I FELT THE SAME WAY WHEN I GOT GLASSES. YOU'RE STILL THE SAME WONDERFUL ANYA!" SAID DAD.

Anya tries to come up with outfits to conceal the tail, but they all come up, well, short. She even tries disguising the tail by wearing all the clothes in her closet. They hide the tail, but she realizes she'll never be able to go the potty. either. She tries to pretend to be too sick to go to school, but Mom perkily pushes her along with a reminder that she doesn't want to miss the bus. But just then the bus roars down the street.

"I GET TO DRIVE YOU TO SCHOOL ON YOUR FIRST DAY!" SAYS DAD CHEERILY.

Anya settles sadly in the back seat, sitting on her tail, and concludes that she has only one choice to avoid an embarrassing disaster of a first day. She's going to have to run away to join the circus.

It's a particularly wacky way to start the school year in Mike Boldt's brand-new tall tale, A Tiger Tail: (Or What Happened to Anya on Her First Day of School) (Simon and Schuster, 2016). Author Mike Boldt pokes gentle fun at the unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions or bad-hair days that are the usual stuff of first-day-disaster tales with the story of a girl who has a real, albeit fantastical, personal problem to deal with on the big day, with the wry pitch that Anya's not the only one who's a little, er, unconventional in her new class.

Boldt's inventive and bright artwork keeps the treatment of personal differences light by making them more than a bit far-fetched, while portraying poor Anya's all-too-real wardrobe dilemmas with wry but empathetic humor. And his closing page features a first-day photo of Anya's class that drives home the premise that we're all a little different in our own one-of-a-kind ways. Of this different look at first-day-jitters, Publishers Weekly says, "Boldt has a fine idea and the pictures to match: his digitally rendered images have a painterly, acrylic texture and sculptural exaggeration that dovetail well with the humorously over-the-top situation."GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-19289162751691180382016-07-25T00:30:00.004-05:002016-07-25T06:57:06.143-05:00"Sleep No More!" Good Night, Owl by Greg Pizzoli
OWL WAS SETTLED INTO BED WHEN HE HEARD A NOISE.

SQUEEK!

It's not loud. It's not unpleasant, actually. It's not even scary. But what IS it?

Somebody at the door? Exasperated, Owl puts on his robe and shuffles to the door.

Nobody.

Back in bed, he wills himself to drop off.

"GOOD NIGHT, OWL." HE SAYS TO HIMSELF.

 SQUEEK!

Now the sound seems to be coming from below him. Relentlessly, Owl peers under his bed. Nothing. It must be coming from under the floor. Systematically, Owl begins to pry up the floorboards, one at a time. Still nothing.

By now Owl is more than perturbed. He lies down, but by now his ears are tuned to hear nothing but that sound.

SQUEEK!

It must be coming from the cupboard. Owl takes everything out. Nothing. His comfy bedroom is in chaos. But as soon as his head hits the pillow, he hears that sound again.

SQUEEK!!

It's coming from the roof! With a wild look in his eyes, Owl grabs a sledge hammer and begins to demolish his roof Now surely he has vanquished whatever is making that sound at last!

Or has he? Owl's cozy cottage is reduced to shambles and he is one wide-awake and no wiser owl, in Greg Pizzoli's newest anti-bedtime story, Good Night Owl (Hyperion Books, 2016). With his usual puckish humor, Pizzoli's charming illustrations reveal the cause of his crazed insomniac activity--a small brown mouse, sometimes seen peeping from behind the head board or under the bed, sometimes from a facing page, always out of sight for Owl. It's a mouse who seems to want no more than a cozy place to snooze, as is revealed in the final pages as he and Owl finally say good night from their bed under the stars.

We've all had the experience of settling down in bed, only to hear that one strange noise that we just can't quite ignore. Being naturally nocturnal, owls are often chosen for the role of "night owl" in picture books, and this Owl is no exception. In fact, in his obsessive search for the source of the mysterious sound, Owl's eyes take on a comic, slightly manic look.

Kids will get a good giggle out of the mouse's stealthy appearances all over Owl's bedroom and Owl's silly measures to find him, and they will be soothed, despite themselves, by that final "Good night, Owl."

Pizzoli's soft and flat pastel illustrations, set against muted nocturnal gray-green and gray-blue backgrounds, belie the feverish activities of poor Owl while adding a comforting sleepytime mood to this story, a different take on bedtime. Greg Pizzoli is the master of wry, ironic humor for the preschool set, as evidenced in his earlier award-winning smash, The Watermelon Seed,  which answers that burning childhood question, what would happen if I swallowed a watermelon seed and it grew inside me, or that other compelling question, what would happen if I told my parents to leave me alone and they actually did, as in Pizzoli's Templeton Gets His Wish (read reviews here).

Pair this one for storytime or bedtime with that other sleep-resisting owl in Jonathan Allen's I'm Not Sleepy! (Baby Owl).GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-3608308814578329482016-07-24T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-24T07:23:30.759-05:00More Fun Than A Barrel of Monkeys! Chimpanzees for Tea by Jo EmpsonMum's in a swivet. The cupboard's getting a bit bare, and it's almost teatime! Vincent's engrossed in perfecting his soapbox racer, but Mum orders him off to the shops for a few groceries.

"A BUNCH OF CARROTS, A BOX OF RICE, SOME TASTY CHEESE, A BIG, FIRM PEAR, A CAN OF PEAS--AND HURRY HOME FOR TEA!"

Grabbing the list, Vincent jumps into the driver's seat of his racer and rolls down the hill toward town. But as he waves to his friend Mr. Singh, the list blows away. Oh, dear, he thinks. He runs through the list in his mind.

"... a big. firm pear, and... a trapeze?"

But just as he's almost back on track, he spots a circus parade, with a stilt walker in the lead. Momentarily distracted, he tries to repeat the list back to himself.... Let's see... "A bunch of carrots ... a big furry bear, and a trapeze?"

With each distraction, Vincent's mind comes up with a new substitution to Mum's list, all in perfect rhyme. Fortunately, the traveling circus comes up with everything on Vincent's mental list, and he leads them all back to his house for tea!

"A BRANCH OF PARROTS, A BOX OF MICE, SOME CHIMPANZEES, A BIG, FURRY BEAR, AND A TRAPEZE."

All present and accounted for just in time for a proper British tea, in Jo Empson's tale of a strangely riotous shopping spree, Chimpanzees for Tea! (Philomel Books, 2016). With an author's nod to the oft-used "telephone game" plot, and with page design that emphasizes the brawling, sprawling nature of the story, a cast of comic critter characters, all in a swirl of movement, this one turns what is usually a humdrum errand that is everykid's idea of a bit of a bloody bore into an outrageously fanciful adventure. A ho-hum teatime turns into a party, ending with an sympathetic furry bear serving an overwhelmed Mum a much-needed cup of tea! "... A perfect read-aloud for all ages and a great memory game to play with school-age kids." says School Library Journal.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-70390671764759078042016-07-23T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-23T06:52:46.364-05:00Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Derek Jeter Presents...Night At the Stadium by Phil Bildner
THE YANKEES WIN! "THAT WAS THE AWESOMEST GAME EVER!" GIDEON CHEERED.

TIME TO GET AUTOGRAPHS, DAD!" GIDEON LOVED AUTOGRAPHS, BUT ONE WAS STILL MISSING--THE ONE HE WANTED MORE THAN ANYTHNG.

"EVERYONE, STAY TOGETHER!" MOM SAID.

Giden follows his family, fumbling through his jacket pocket for his precious autograph book. But's it's GONE! He turns around to look behind him toward where he was sitting, but he hasn't dropped it there. And when he turns back around, his family is gone, too, out of sight in the crowd streaming toward the exits!

Gideon panics.

HE ZIGGED UP ONE RAMP AND DOWN ANOTHER.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" SAID A VOICE.

Everything looks strange, and the voice seems to be coming from a tangle of groundskeeping rakes and hoses in a corner.

"YOU TALK?" HE ASKED.

"WE ALL DO. SOME OF THEM TALK TOO MUCH," SAID THE HOSE.

Gideon feels as if he gone down that famous rabbit hole or through that looking glass. But he follows the directions from the talking rake and opens a door that says EQUIPMENT. Inside are some bossy yakking baseballs stacked in a pyramid. One of the bats hops into his hands, and in a wooden monotone croaks"Yer up, Kid!"

But Gideon isn't up to playing ball. Leaving the loquacious equipment behind, Gideon runs up some stairs, to where the food vendors' stocks are stored. He has to find his family!

THE HOT DOG SHOOK HIS BUNS, AND POINTED AHEAD.

"MONUMENT PARK!"

And inside the stadium's Monument Park Museum, it only gets stranger. Gideon meets Babe Ruth, who points his way to where Derek Jeter himself is waiting. Gideon gets his coveted autograph and directions to where he'll find his family from his idol himself, in Phil Bilder's takeoff on Night in the Museum, Derek Jeter Presents Night at the Stadium (Jeter Publishing) (Aladdin Books/Jeter Publishing, 2016). Fantasy-loving baseball fans will enjoy the inside tour of Yankee Stadium and get a chuckle or two from the wisecracking rakes and baseball bats in his latest of Jeter's baseball spinoffs. Jeter may inspire older readers of this one to move on to his popular semi-autobiographical boyhood baseball series, which includes Hit & Miss, (Jeter Publishing) The Contract, (Jeter Publishing) and his current hit (pun intended), Change Up. (Jeter Publishing)GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-85161738807828434882016-07-22T00:30:00.002-05:002016-07-22T06:59:57.005-05:00Something Wicked This Way Comes: Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty
"Never go into the forest," Pa had told her many times. "There are dark forces there that no one understands, things that ain't natural and can do ya wicked harm."

Pa has his reasons. He found the infant Serafina, a half-dead newborn at the place of a bloody struggle in the deep forest, a place that humans have feared since ancient times. And Serafina was not the usual infant foundling: she had only four toes and fingers on her feet and hands, her spine had extra vertebrae which make her unusually supple, and her collarbone is not joined, letting her squeeze into small spaces. And then, there are her large yellow eyes that can see as well by night as by day.

Pa's job is to keep the steam engines and giant electric dynamo running to keep lights on at the Vanderbilt estate in the North Carolina mountains, and at first it is easy to keep little Serafina hidden with him in the labyrinthine cellars beneath Biltmore. But Serafina is now 12, curious about the world above, and uses her small size and agility to squeeze through the air ducts and hide in dark corners upstairs to spy on the lives of the Vanderbilts upstairs. She even manages secretly to befriend the lonely young Braeden Vanderbilt, orphaned nephew of the masters of the house.

And when Serafina encounters an elderly guest, Mr. Thorne, wrapped in a frightful black cloak that seems to have a life of its own, she watches him seize the young girl guest, Clara Brahms, who seems to vanish in a black, stench-filled cloud inside the cloak. Serafina and Braeden watch other children disappear, first another wealthy guest, Anastasia Rostonov, and then Nolan, son of the stable master, taken from their carriage on a dim track through the forest.

Serafina feels that she alone can stop the devastation of the Black Cloak, but to do so, she has to confront the horrible apparition deep in the dark forest.

On the other side of the two crossed, she came into a boscage of rotting dead snags, with rocks on the ground as sharp as ax blades. The narrow, overgrown track twisted and turned, and dove down into a rocky ravine, and she couldn't see what lay beyond.

As she gazed at the darkened passage, a shiver went through her spine. She had no idea where it would lead her, but she started down the path.

Like the sorcerer's stone that grants eternal life and unbridled power, the evil black cloak needs a human body to carry out its evil ends, and as Serafina confronts the decaying Mr.Thorne inside the cloak in the graveyard deep in the woods, even she must resist its attraction, its offer of all knowledge, all power, and life everlasting.

Robert Beatty's Serafina and the Black Cloak (Hyperion Books, 2016), only published last month, has become an instant best seller and a classic tale of the young hero or heroine called to go forth in the battle with good and evil. Like the Harry Potter stories, with which it shares many elements of fantasy, this new novel offers the same non-stop immersion into the narrative, the same seemingly flawed, halfling hero who confronts evil, that made Rowling's series iconic. Beatty's narrative in Serafina's voice is hypnotically engrossing, filled with action and insight that foreshadows great sequels to follow, one of which has just been published, Serafina and the Twisted Staff (A Serafina Novel) and looks to establish itself as an American classic in the vein of the English fantasy tradition that gave us Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, Lewis' Narnia books, and Rowling's Harry Potter series, with the eternal struggle against evil all wound thrillingly inside our own native Appalachian folklore. A strongly written novel and a killer-diller thriller for summer reading.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-2285689208996848792016-07-21T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-21T07:10:26.400-05:00Fun Time! Where's the Party? by Ruth Chan
 TO GEORGIE, THERE WAS NOTHING BETTER THAN A PARTY FOR HIS FRIENDS.

PARTIES WITH BALLOONS. PARTIES WITH LIGHTS.

PARTIES WITH CAKE!

Georgie wakes up with an idea for a party for his friends. He sits right down to make the plans.

1. MAKE A LIST.
2. GET CAKE.
3. INVITE FRIENDS.

Georgie makes his list and hits the pastry shop to pick up a large, festive cake. Then he initiates the invitations process.

Feta the dog declines. She's too busy making brine for pickles, she says. Georgie resigns himself to missing his best friend and consoles himself with a pinch of cake from his parcel.

Lester loves to dance, but he can't come because he changing the bulbs in his string of colored lights.

Ferdinand demurs. He just wants to be... alone.

Sneakers is too busy trimming his trees. And given the view of helium balloons seen through his window, it seems Rocco already has a party in progress.

Okay. Georgie moves on to his B list of invitees. One friend offers his itchy ears as an excuse. One pleads that he has socks to fold. One says her shorts are too tight. One implausible friend says the sidewalk is on the wrong side of the street!

Georgie is perturbed. There's a palpable supply of pretty lame excuses here!

But there's nothing for it. Georgie's cake is down to a morsel after he's consoled himself so many times, so he heads home disconsolate. Clearly, all his friends have something better to do.

And so they do, as Georgie the cat discovers when he opens his own front door, in Ruth Chan's new Where's the Party? (Georgie and Friends) (Roaring Brook Press, 2016). Although other authors have utilized the surprise party plot, author-illustrator Chan offers youngsters a truly charming little kitty and a crew of quirky characters with sorry excuses that will have most young readers suspicious and well primed for the final "Surprise!" Chan's little urban neighborhood is picturesque and and her curious critter characters are personable, with an engaging setting, done up in soft pencil, ink, and watercolors that are pleasing to the eye. Says Kirkus Reviews, " ... this uncomplicated feel-good debut is definitely a charmer."GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-28275615307702842092016-07-20T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-20T00:30:28.077-05:00Runnin' Wild! Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson
BOY: I love to explore!

BEAR: Exploring is my favorite thing to do!

BOY: There are so many neat things to see like over there! (Mother Quail and her chicks)

BEAR: So many strange things to find, like over here! (Weird worms under a log)

Two adventurers set forth on an expedition, the boy with flashlight and camera and notebook, the bear with a set of fireflies, a sturdy vine, and a flat rock for recording observations.

You'd expect these two to be comrades, even Best Friends Forever.

Except the the little boy has never met a bear, and the young bear has never encountered a boy.

Until one day they run into each other. Talk about strange sights. Suddenly they remember their parents' warnings about all the weird things in the wild!

BOY: I was scared!

BEAR: But then, I saw we were both explorers!

But the two intrepid wanderers can see that they share the passion for exploration, and combine their quest to discover more together.

Cale Atkinson's Explorers of the Wild (Hyperion Books, 2015) show two unlikely companions combining their quest and agree that together...

"No mountain is too big to conquer!"

Atkinson's sweet little parable of overcoming external differences shows that together is better than alone, and his style is to do more showing than telling in getting to the heart of his premise. Atkinson's illustrations of woods and mountains are inviting, and at the end of the day they have discovered a new world in the wilds."Beyond celebrating what nature has to offer, Atkinson leaves readers with the tantalizing and valuable idea that exploration of any kind, whether in the wilderness or not, can turn "I" to "we," points out Publishers Weekly.GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-48763418823074290332016-07-19T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-19T00:30:17.473-05:00In The Swim! Puppy Pool Party: An Underwater Dogs Adventure by Seth Casteel
TEST THE WATER!

DIP YOUR TOES.

BLOW SOME BUBBLES

THROUGH YOUR NOSE.

What's cuter than a speckled pup?

A speckled pup doing a cannonball into the pool and flashing an underwater grin as he swims up to the surface!

Seth Casteel's newest in his Underwater series, Puppy Pool Party!: An Underwater Dogs Adventure (Little, Brown and Company, 2016), is another underwater romp with a cast of dozens of darling dogs, from a few weeks old to a few years old, all clearly enjoying themselves with the other pups in the pool. They blow bubbles and smile underwater, dive from poolside and duck to the bottom to retrieve water toys. They go down the slide to make a splash, and they climb up the pool stairs to the side and give themselves a shimmy and a shake, and a good time is had by all.

Casteel's rhymes (Give it your all--cannonball!) trip off the lips as exuberantly as the pups take to the water, making this one a joy to read to a child or fun for a child to read solo. The incredibly funny full-bleed color closeups of the pooches' expressions and body language in and out of the pool, all shot with a waterproof camera with (what else?) a fish-eye lens, are also a joy for the eyes. Included for dog lovers is an appended list of all the canine swimmers, with their thumbnail photos, names, and ages.

Salute summer with your own personal puppy pool party and get in the swim.

"... "Sure to make a splash at storytime," bubbles School Library Journal's reviewer

Other books in this series by Seth Casteel are Underwater Dogs Kids Edition,  and Underwater Babies.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-33945147996265008652016-07-18T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-18T06:47:57.261-05:00Snack in the Shade: What This Story Needs Is A Munch And A Crunch by Emma J. Virjan
WHAT THIS BOOK NEEDS IS A PIG IN A WIG,
BAKING BREAD
POURING PUNCH,
MEETING FRIENDS FOR A PICNIC LUNCH.

And that's just what we've got, in Emma J. Virjan's newest Pig in a Wig book, What This Story Needs Is a Munch and a Crunch (A Pig in a Wig Book) (Harper, 2016). Our bewigged porker is the hostess with the mostest, packing up a bright, checkered blanket for the spread, plates, and lot of eats to treat her guests, rabbit, and squirrel.

There are savory sandwiches, crispy carrots, apples, and peas, and ketchup for the fries. And for fun there's a ball for playing catch and a kite to send up in the breeze, and of course...

FRIENDS TO MUNCH AND CRUNCH UNDER THE TREES.

What else have they got? A shady glade to set up their picnic spread and time to play, and

KA-BOOM! A sudden thunder shower drops in to share the fun.

What do they need now! A hasty retreat, dashing to shelter with whatever they can grab.

Now what?

All they need for a party is food and friends, and an indoor picnic is fine, in this latest beginning reader book hosted by the Pig in a Wig. This installment in Harper's venerable and justly famous I-Can-Read series concentrates on the vowel-consonant combination -UNCH with plenty of fun for the whole BUNCH! Pair this one with any of Virjan's jolly rhyming readers, What This Story Needs Is a Bang and a Clang (A Pig in a Wig Book), What This Story Needs Is a Hush and a Shush, (A Pig in a Wig Book) or the series opener, What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig (A Pig in a Wig Book) for a little reading review during those long summer days over a munchy, crunchy brunch!

GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-25312413833297226012016-07-17T00:30:00.001-05:002016-07-17T00:30:19.479-05:00Ban the Bot? Ray Bot by Adam F. Watkins
THIS IS RAYBOT.

HE LIVES ALL ALONE IN A JUNKYARD AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS.

Poor lonely Raybot lives in his very own rust belt. With not a pal in sight, Ray is forced to play both sides of his castoff checker board.

Poking around the place, he notices a handbill with a slogan that intrigues him:

Your puppy deserves the best, because he's your best friend.

BARK! BARK!

Raybot sets out of his junkyard into the wide world. If he can just find a puppy who says "Bark! Bark!" he will have a best friend. All he has to do is find him.

But as Raybot learns, there are a lot of creatures in the wide world. The first two he meets are quite friendly, but one goes BAA! and the other says BAWK BAWK!

Close, but no BARK BARK!

As Raybot wanders the world, he finds many amiable critters, who moo and oink, quack and growl. A hippo huffs out his HU-HU-HUURUUGH! A monkey comes out with a spirited OOO-OOO-AH-AH and a snake has nothing more friendly to say than a hisssssss!

Raybot continues his globe-trotting, and finally finds himself in a rain forest. He spots a gorgeous parrot and tries his hopeful greeting:

BARK??

And at last he hears what he has been hoping for:
BARK!

A puppy! A best friend at last!

And ironically, with his best friend "puppy" on his shoulder, Raybot meets up with an equally friendly critter who says "WOOF!"

Friends come in all shapes and voices, in Adam F. Watkins' latest, Raybot (Price Stern and Sloan Books, 2016), a promising premise, and a plot that helps youngsters learn to recognize animals and animal sounds along the way. Watkins portrays his charming little Raybot and his potential animal friends with jolly verve, and preschoolers will chuckle at his adoption of a parrot who just happens to be able to sound like a puppy. Pair this one with Watkins' earlier R Is for Robot: A Noisy Alphabet.GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-16389154345610470692016-07-16T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-16T07:19:15.517-05:00No Crystal Ball Required: Mira Forecasts the Future by Kelli Andrews

MIRA COULDN'T TELL THE FUTURE.
That wouldn't bother most people, but Mira's mom is the famous Madame Mirabell, the Miracle by the Sea.

WHEN MIRA GAZED INTO HER CRYSTAL BALL, SHE ONLY SAW HERSELF.

Mira tries faking it, but her predictions always seriously miss the mark. When she tells a boy that good fortune is about to drop in his lap, the scoop of ice cream in his cone comes in for a landing--where else?--right in his lap.

Mira is morose about her future career options.

But then one day Fisherman Fred asks for a forecast for the day's fishing. Mira notices the steady wind moving the pinwheel and windsock pinned to her mother's booth. She notices the small fleecy clouds in the sunny sky and foretells good weather all day. Fred is grateful.

Mira thinks she's on to something and borrows a few books on weather from the library. And the next day Mira hangs out her shingle:

WEATHER FORECAST

FREE FOR ALL
The regulars on the boardwalk and beach--Sam the Pizza Man, Taylor the Lifeguard, and Ms. O'Mooney the Beach Shop manager--become her daily patrons. Mira feels good about her job.

But then push comes to shove. The day of the annual surfing contest dawns bright and sunny, but when Mira consults her barometer, her wind direction indicators, and her cloud formations book, she realizes that they all point to an approaching storm--a BIG STORM.

"GET EVERYONE OFF THE BEACH!" MIRA ADVISES.

"DON'T LISTEN TO HER!" SAID THE JUDGE.

Will Mira's prognostications prove proficient? It won't be hard for young readers to foresee what happens next, as Kelli Andrews' new Mira Forecasts the Future (Sterling Books, 2016) proves that meteorology trumps magic every time in a sunny story of a girl who finds that a talent for science is also helpful in predicting the future. Lissi Marlin's illustrations of a retro beach town are bright and cheery as befits a summery beach story, and all's well that ends well down on the boardwalk.GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-13156724172460723992016-07-15T00:30:00.001-05:002016-07-15T07:00:13.413-05:00Great Expectations! I Wanna Be A Great BIG Dinosaur! by Heath McKenzie

"MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD, I WANT TO BE A GREAT BIG DINOSAUR!"

A precocious preschooler has big aspirations! And it fortunately this must be his lucky day, a terrible Tyrannosaurus Rex appears to be his mentor! Gasp!

"YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING TO A BE A GREAT BIG DINOSAUR?

FIRST, YOU MUST . . .

ROAR!"

And once the boy masters roaring, his tutor demonstrates. . .

"STOMPING!"

Roaring and stomping are great fun, and the boy and his visitor have a good go at both. But then the T. Rex brings up another required behavior.

"EAT!

LOTS OF MEAT!"

His mentor demonstrates, devastating the provisions in the fridge.

"JUST MEAT?"

The boy tries to distract his dinosaur pal with some alternative and less carnivorous activities--eating pizza, reading, soccer, video games? To his dismay the dino takes to all of them, He has a great time, without a single roar or stomp! The kid can't even get him to stop gaming. He suggests that maybe it's time for his guest to go home for dinner.

But T. Rex looks heartbroken. Sadly he confesses that his secret wish, He just wants to be...

A LITTLE BOY!

And in Heath McKenzie's I Wanna Be a Great Big Dinosaur (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky Press, 2015), there's soon a compromise in the works. Romping, stomping, and roaring is fun for kids, but a T. Rex needs a little variety in his life, too, and a little ice cream, a good read, and a bit of fun playing pirate or spaceman is a nice change of pace for a sauropod! Heath McKenzie's ebullient illustrations add to the fun in this meeting-of-the-minds playdate which offers exercise for the imagination along with plenty of active playacting.

Pair this one with McKenzie's equally exuberant wish-fulfillment fantasy on the distaff side, My Rules for Being a Pretty Princess. (See my 2015 review here.)GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-32107779877117265772016-07-14T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-14T07:02:18.876-05:00Sleepytime How-To! Good Night Like This by Mary Murphy
YAWNY AND DOZY,
TWITCHY AND COZY,
GOOD NIGHT, LITTLE RABBIT.

Little ones meet sleep in many ways, in Mary Murphy's adorable little book in praise of drowsing off to dreamland, in her Good Night Like This (Candlewick Press, 2016).

FLITTY AND SHINY,

FLASHY AND TINY

GOOD NIGHT, FIREFLIES. SLEEP TIGHT.

Author Murphy uses evocative rhyming adjectives to describe how a variety of creatures go to rest, some at night, and some, like the firefly, snuggled safely away during the day. Beetles, bears, and birds, kittens and caterpillars, frogs and fireflies, most have Mama close by to wish them a "Good night"or a "Sleep tight" to ease the way to sleep. Artist Murphy's two-page spreads of each creature settling down to sleep are lovely, with parent and child shown in soft, muted shades of brown or gray, with textured blackline outlines, a glowing pastel sunset, (or in the case of the firefly, a dawn), or a twilight or deep night, with their chosen resting place shown surrounded with silhouetted flora set against the blue or purple sky. Each double-page spread also has a half-page flap, in which a turn reveals the young one drowsing off to a sweet wish for a sweet sleep. Soft and gentle text and illustrations set the mood magically for going gently into a good night, which is, after all, what all parents wish.

"Move over, Goodnight Moon. There's a new star on the bedtime bookshelf," says Kirkus in its starred review.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-82471833313507400002016-07-13T00:30:00.002-05:002016-07-13T07:16:02.484-05:00Wait for It! The Teeny-Tiny Woman by Paul Galdone
ONCE UPON A TIME...

THERE WAS A TEENY-TINY WOMAN--

From her teeny-tiny house in a teeny-tiny village, the little woman sets out for a small stroll. It's autumn, and the chilly winds are loosening the last leaves from the trees as she opens the filigreed gate in an iron fence around a quaint old churchyard.

And there, on one tiny grave, there lies... a teeny-tiny bone.

Should she pick up that bone? Should she take it home in her teeny-tiny pocket?

Of course not.

So, in the best tradition of such stories, of course she does.

"THIS TEENY-TINY BONE WILL MAKE ME SOME TEENY-TINY SOUP FOR MY TEENY-TINY SUPPER." SHE SAID TO HER TEENY-TINY SELF.

Back home, she feels like a bt of a lie-down, so she stashes the teeny-tiny bone in a similarly-sized cupboard in her similarly small bedroom and climbs into her teeny-weeny bedstead. Soon her teeny-tiny snores fill the room, but her dainty nap is soon interrupted by a tiny but disturbing voice:

"GIVE ME MY BONE!"

Does this diminutive woman fork over the bone? Of course not! She burrows her head under her teeny-tiny quilt. Well, who wouldn't? And just as she begins her smallish snooze, she hears, a teeny-tiny tad louder....

"GIVE ME MY BONE!"

Does the little woman jump up and return the teeny-tiny bone to its proper teeny-tiny resting place?

Of course not! She huddles even further under the bedclothes and finally falls into a teensy sleep. But then comes that voice from the cupboard once more, now not so teeny-tiny at all:

"GIVE ME MY BONE!"

And then what happens?

What? You want a spoiler?

Suffice it to say, this old English folktale is one of a venerable genre known as the "jump tale," in which the reader or storyteller shouts a surprising something that makes the listeners startle or jump in their seats. This brand-new edition of Paul Galdone's beloved The Teeny-Tiny Woman (Folk Tale Classics) (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016), is perfect fare for pre-Halloween storytimes for first-graders, especally if they are already familiar with Jill Bennett's and Caldecott artist Tomie de Paola's simpler and charming preschool classic, Teeny Tiny (Puffin Books) and followed up by Joanna and Paul Galdone's homespun all-American version, The Tailypo: A Ghost Story (Paul Galdone Classics) (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

These are delightfully slightly scary stories meant to be performed with gusto, with just the right ambiance in their illustrative atmosphere to hold a few kids or a crowd open-mouthed as the suspense builds to the final page-turning climax. For a class these stories are great for asking the kids "Why is this called a "jump" tale" and "What is alike and what is different in these stories?" Savvy readers (or ones with older siblings) may even recognize the, er, bare bones of these stories as forms of the more frightful fireside summer camp staple, "The Golden Arm" or the oft-assigned literary horror story, Edgar Allan Poe's The Monkey's Paw.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-71636611533289989642016-07-12T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-12T00:30:13.930-05:00Keep Away? Don't Touch This Book! by Bill Cotter
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING: THIS IS A PRETTY COOL-LOOKING BOOK. BUT....

DON'T TOUCH THIS BOOK! (Don't even try it, bub.)

It's Larry, the big purple monster with the little green horns, and you know he doesn't mean it. He's dying for you to join him in playing with his new book!

Now that he's got your attention, he relents, making a big deal out of his first caveat. He opens his shiny yellow book (with his picture on the front, as he hastens to point out, and turns to a page with not much on it.

TELL YOU WHAT. YOU CAN USE JUST ONE FINGER.

Now that Larry has your full attention, he orders you to drag one finger down the page.

YOU MADE BLUE!

Now you're hooked, and you're off! Before you know it, the pages are turning and you are spinning, swooshing, roaring, flapping, and floating with Larry in a space suit. Yowza! How did this happen!

As he did in his 2013 hit, Don't Push the Button! (see review here), Bill Cotter lets his alter ego Larry take young readers on an interactive, between-the-covers adventure in his newest, Don't Touch This Book! (Sourcebooks/Jabberwocky, 2016). With those big, bold, and bright colors and free-form shapes, even the very young will not be able to resist touching and tracing their way as Larry directs them through the book. Graduates of Cotter's books should also try Herve' Tullett's even more delightful and best-selling adventures, Press Here and Let's Play!GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-81500363624385109152016-07-11T00:30:00.001-05:002016-07-11T00:30:26.205-05:00Mum's the Word! Fancy Nancy: The Worst Secret Keeper Ever by Jane O'Connor
I AM ENRAGED! (THAT'S FANCY FOR REALLY, REALLY MAD!)

JOJO KEEPS TELLING ALL MY SECRETS!

Clearly, Nancy's got a problem with her little sister's big mouth! The sign on Nancy's door says

SECRET SPOILERS, STAY OUT!

Last week, before Nancy could pull out her spelling test to show Mom and Dad her perfect score, JoJo beats her to the punch line:

"NANCY GOT ALL HER WORDS RIGHT!"

That wasn't so bad, but when Nancy confided to her sister that she was anxious about dancing the swan role in her recital, JoJo reveals Nancy's fears to the whole ballet class. Nancy is embarrassed.

"I KEEP TELLING HER, IF YOU KEEP BLABBING, NO ONE WILL WANT TO TELL YOU ANYTHING!"

Nancy decides to write her sister off her confidant list forever!

But then, when her best friend is there for a sleepover, Nancy discovers that Bree has never seen her favorite movie. JoJo joins them, and Bree is really into the movie a lot, but just as the film gets to the most exciting part, Nancy can't help blurting out what happens next:

"THIS IS WHERE SHE FINDS THE MAGIC UNICORN AND SAVES... !"

Oooops!

The movie's ending is ruined, and one look at Bree's face makes Nancy realizes that she can be guilty of secret spoiling, too, in Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy: The Worst Secret Keeper Ever (Harper Festival, 2016). It's a mea culpa moment for Nancy Clancy and in her usual way, she owns up to it.

For young readers O'Connor's stories have the grace of insight into other people and self-insight on the part of their winsome main character, even when it is not as clearly stated as it is here. Artist Maggi List does a workmanly job of portraying this flamboyant heroine in all her pastel fanciness in the familiar style of Robin Preiss Glasser, and this inexpensive little paperback is a great choice for the Fancy Nancy Fan Club.GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-8824694025443953282016-07-10T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-10T08:43:13.493-05:00Just Jammin'! Bears in the Band by Shirley Parenteau and David Walker
MUSIC MAKERS

ARE ON THE CHAIRS.

IS THERE A BAND?

WHERE ARE THE BEARS?

The four chairs are lined up in a row, each one with a waiting instrument. But when will the concert begin?

Then in comes the band--Fuzzy, Yellow, Calico, and Floppy! Calico hugs his trumpet and tootles--Toot Toot! Fuzzy warms up by banging his cymbals--Klang Klong! Yellow tries out the string of bells--Ding-a-ling-ling!--and Floppy beats a quick Rom-pom-pom on his little snare drum.

Now it's time to strike up the band!

THE BEARS ALL PLAY

A NOISY SONG.

THEY DON'T CARE

IF THE NOTES ARE WRONG.

But over the "music", the little bears hear another sound.

SNORE!

It's Daddy! BIG BROWN BEAR!

OOPS! Big Brown Bear peers sleepily from under his blanket and grumpily asks what's going on out there! The "music" suddenly switches to silence.

Is this the end of the four little bears' jam session?

Not with Big Brown Bear taking the podium. Wielding a kitchen ladle as a bear-y big baton, he gives the downbeat for the band, in Shirley Parenteau's newest in her Bears In Chairs series, Bears in a Band (Bears on Chairs) (Candlewick Press, 2016). Parenteau's rhyming quatrains set the bouncy beat, as David Walker's exquisite pastel-toned tubby Teddies bounce out of their familiar chairs and march behind Dad to make music to their heart's content. Walker's plushy little bears are all curved lines with charmingly childlike body language, each figure delicately outlined in smudgy yellow and set mostly in spot-art style against white backgrounds, with occasional pastel double-page spreads. A perfect story book prompt for impromptu family or preschool music-making sessions!

A great pairing for this one are any of Parenteau's and Walker's books, Bears in Beds,  (See review here), Bears on Chairs, Bears in the Snow (Bears on Chairs), and Bears and a Birthday (Bears on Chairs).GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-35104393228622116152016-07-09T00:30:00.003-05:002016-07-09T07:30:16.977-05:00Yes, I Can!: With Any Luck, I'll Drive A Truck! by David Friend and Michael Rex
AT TWO, WHEN I COULD REACH THE SEAT,
I TAUGHT MYSELF TO MAKE CONCRETE.

WHEN I GOT OLDER, 3 OR SO,
I LEARNED TO RUN A BIG BACKHOE.

This precocious young driver is living a kid's dream to drive all the big machines. From combines on the farm to firetrucks at the rescue, big-rig kings of the road to bulldozers at the construction site, this kid grows up behind the big wheel. No machine is too big for him.

A HUGE JACKHAMMER? WRECKING BALL?BULLDOZER, TOO? I MANNED THEM ALL!

From hay bailer to street paver to snow plow, he's the master of them all!

WHEN I GROW UP..., YOU KNOW WASSUP?

WITH ANY LUCK I'LL DRIVE A TRUCK!

In his first picture book, With Any Luck I'll Drive a Truck (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2016), author David Friend drives the narrative with his rhythmic couplets, covering quite a catalog of all those monster movers that are every kid's dream machines. And dream machines they are, as on the final page readers will see the would-be wheel man in his bedroom, surrounded by all his toy vehicles.

And riding shotgun with author Friend is noted artist Michael Rex (for his best-selling Goodnight Goon: a Petrifying Parody,  and Furious George Goes Bananas: A Primate Parody) who skillfully mixes cartoons of our young easy rider and his critter good buddies, with realistic and highly detailed illustrations of all these rigs. For the preschool and primary set who dote on heavy equipment, this is just about the best vehicle book there is. "A delightful ode to trucks goes above and beyond the usual churning, wrecking, and pounding," says Kirkus in their starred review.GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-11861002289401932842016-07-09T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-09T00:30:15.920-05:00Clap If You Believe!: A Fairy Friend by Sue Fliess
THERE ARE FAIRIES IN THE SKY
ALL AROUND YOU, FAIRIES FLY.
FLIT AND FLUTTER, TUMBLING, TWIRLING,
WHEN THE WIND BLOWS, FAIRIES SWIRLING.
The vision of a miniature world all around us, one not easy to see unless you are in the know--this is the flight of fancy that has through the ages drawn us to find the fairy world.

A girl sits down in a cozy porch rocker with an enticing book all about fairies and how to find them. With gauzy pictures of tiny fairies floating on the backs of dragonflies, the book draws her into the quest for a fairy friend.

YOU MUST KNOW JUST WHERE TO LOOK,
SEARCH EVERY NICHE AND NOOK.

At first the girl and her bulldog see nothing of the fairies partially concealed in the illustrations, hiding in the forks of trees and riding the breeze inside curled-up leaves. But as she leafs through the book, she finds directions for how to lure her own fairy friend--by building a fairy house.

BUILD A FAIRY HOUSE WITH TWIGS AND BLOOMS.
DECORATE HER FAIRY ROOMS.

The stuff of fairy decor naturally runs to the soft and fleecy--feathers, thistle fluff, willow fuzz--and a resident fairy will not say no to a tiny swing made from a half of a walnut shell, or a bath from an upturned mushroom cup. And don't forget a tiny helping of fresh flower petal stew!

Sue Fliess' A Fairy Friend (Henry Holt and Company, 2016) sets a respectfully nostalgic mood in this how-to story for finding your own fairy friend. The delicate artwork of Claire Keane takes the lead, with old-fashioned pen-and-ink drawings washed with hues of lavender and teal and dainty feminine fairies who look as if they might be friends of Disney's Tinkerbell. From Edmund Spenser's faeries to Cinderella's fairy godmother, tales of the fairy world that might be all around us have been staples of literature. An enticing flight of fancy indeed, for those who can believe....

GENTLY OFFER YOUR HAND...
NAME YOUR FAIRY AND SHE'LL LAND.
GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-12168747436910150052016-07-08T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-08T09:00:45.431-05:00Getting Away From It All! Herman's Vacation by Tom Percival
THE DAY WAS WARM AND SMELLED OF SUMMER. HERMAN AND HENRY WERE PLANNING THEIR VACATION.

Despite the stacks of travel flyers and posters, Herman and Henry are not having a meeting of the minds. Henry desires a deluxe vacation to some tourist mecca--Cake World, for example. Herman wants something... well, cheap! He claims that a camping vacation is all they can afford.

Henry is NOT happy, as the enthusiastic Herman packs up tents and cookout gear in what seems bulky backpacks and rents a couple of pack donkeys to ferry them to backwoods campsites at Camp Lucky Well. Even the donkeys balk at the long walk and Herman has to resort to the old-carrot on the stick trick.

Getting there is NOT half the fun for the recalcitrant Henry.

And Henry is not pleased with the budget attractions when finally they cross the ramshackle rustic bridge and put up their pups tents. Toasted (i.e., smoked) marshmallows are not cake! And it gets worse. A hooting owl scares him and his sleeping bag is lumpy. And then when he finally falls asleep, Henry's tent falls on his face, and in fighting his way out of it, he lands in the freezing brook.

Dear Aunt Winifred.
Have you ever been camping? Don't! It's awful.
P.S.: Please mail me some chocolate cake.

Meanwhile Herman is exulting in the outdoor experience. He, too, sends a post card home:

Dear Uncle Harold,
Wish you were here! Guess what? We're on a camping vacation and having the best time! Well, I am. Henry seems a bit quiet. I'm sure he's fine. Everyone LOVES camping, right?

But all is not fine. Henry does not love camping and he's making no bones about it. He keeps the mail busy with cards to his Aunt Winifred, requesting everything from hot chocolate to his living room sofa and television set. It's hard to get away from it all when you have it all shipped to you!

Poor Herman hates to see his friend unhappy. He throws all his energies into trying to please Henry. Sending for tools from Uncle Harold, he builds a deluxe but rustic log inn (Hotel Henry,) more up to Henry's standards, and constructs an exciting log flume water slide. Henry is at last pacified and the rest of the vacation pleases him.

Dear Herman,
Thank you for making my camping trip so fantastic. I had the best time ever! Same place next year?
--Your Best Friend, Henry

Young readers may be excused from wondering why the easy-going Herman continues to cater to his persnickety, wet-blanket buddy, but then, best friends, however hard to please, are hard to find, in Tom Percival's Herman's Vacation (Bloomsbury Press, 2016).

As in his earlier epistolary tale of this odd couple of pals, Percival's undeniably comic artwork carries the load (unlike the donkeys), dropping rib-tickling sight gags (a bale of hay is labeled "Donkey Fuel" and the "Free Donkey Ride" comes with the dangling carrot on a stick to get their mount moving), and interspersing the narrative with flaps composed of the vintage post cards home add a lot of fun to the story. This one, and its companion book, Herman's Letter (see my 2015 review here) make a great pair for summer reading.GTChttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-13940486242931507982016-07-07T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-07T07:28:29.379-05:00Pal in the Wild: Sniffer and Tinni: A True Tale of Amazing Animal Friends by Bend Helberg
MEET SNIFFER, A FEARLESS RED FOX, AND TINNI, A PATIENT AND KIND GERMAN SHEPHERD, THAT LIVE IN THE SMALL NORWEGIAN TOWN OF SKI.

DESPITE THEIR DIFFERENCES, THEY HAVE BECOME BEST FRIENDS.

Walking in the forest near town with his owner one warm summer morning, Tinni, a dignified grown-up dog, found himself being suddenly tackled by an enthusiastic bundle of red fur--a baby fox who seemed to have lost his mother and litter mates and who really seemed to need Tinni for a playmate.

TINNI DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF HIM!

The bemused dog allowed the little fox to climb all over him, sniffing and licking his nose, until he couldn't resist the invitation! The two started to play--chasing and tumbling like puppies through the grass. Tinni's owner named the little guy "Sniffer."

And surprisingly, during the next morning's walk, the little fox appeared again. The two were off on a chase through the woods. The agile little Sniffer was hard for the big dog to catch, running up fallen tree trunks and hiding in the branches, or dashing behind trees, jumping out to ambush his big friend. After a few days of morning meetings, Tinni's owner brought along food treats for Sniffer and toys for the two to play with. Sniffer was frustrated when he couldn't mouth a big ball in his little narrow jaws like Tinni could, but Sniffer could reach way down into a hollow stump until only his tail was visible, and was quicker at chasing squirrels through the underbrush. And when the winter came, the two rolled in the snow and curiously inspected their own upside-down reflections in the ice on the pond.

Berit Halberg's Sniffer & Tinni: A True Tale of Amazing Animal Friendship Sterling Books, 2016), illustrated gloriously with Torgeir Berge's up-close-and-personal color photos of the two unlikely buddies. Sniffer is an irresistible little orphan who will charm young readers as easily as he charmed the big German shepherd, and Halberg's simple narrative tells the sweet story of this unexpected friendship between two animals whose usual roles are to be lifelong foes.

Halberg's account joins the many fine accounts of unusual animal pairings that readers may also love to share, such as the photo-essay stories of the giant tortoise and young hippo, Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship (See my reviews here) or the story of dog and elephant best friends, Carol Buckley's Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends. (See my review here.) GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-38602749.post-77382466175219008552016-07-06T00:30:00.000-05:002016-07-06T09:37:56.427-05:00Beach or Book? That Is the Question: Surf's Up! by Kwame Alexander
"SURF'S UP, DUDE!"

 "NOT YET, BRO!"

 "DUDE! YOU'D RATHER READ A BOOK THAN GO TO THE BEACH?"

 "SHHHHH! I'M ALMOST DONE."

 "DUDE. READING IS BOOOO-RING!"

"WOWEE KAZOWIE! HE FOUND THE WHALE!"

Already clad in swim shorts, Bro is all set to hit the beach, but his buddy Dude is a no go. He just wants to finish his book. While Dude is obliviously turning those pages, Bro just loads him up on his board and runs for the beach.

But what Bro doesn't get is that he's already hooked by the book. He can't help asking....

"DID THE WHALE EAT HIM?"

And Dude keeps feeding him strategic details from the story. Booyah! The ship's captain find the whale again and goes for the gold for bringing him in. A storm at sea rises suddenly. The wind howls. The ship's main mast shatters and the captain goes overboard as the ship sinks!

Bro's eyes get big as he envisions everything that is happening, his imagined images filling the scene and blocking out everything else on the beach.

And then Dude turns that last page, drops the book on the sand, and grabbing the board, hits the waves.

"TOTALLY AWESOME BOOK!"

But Bro has to know what happened. Did the captain harpoon the whale? Did the whale swallow the captain? What about the gold?

But Dude's not telling. He's already catching his wave. COWABUNGA!

There's only one thing for Bro to do. He picks up the book and starts reading.

Newbery winner Kwame Alexander's Surf's Up (North/South, 2016) chronicles the total transformation of his reluctant reader as he becomes hopelessly caught up in the pursuit of Melville's classic, Moby Dick. Daniel Miyares' illustrations are full of sunshine and movement, proceeding left to right across the page as the two surfing buddies move toward the waves and through the pages of the novel. Glowing colors and flowing movement for the two frogs fit the terse dialog of the comic characters, and Miyares cleverly foreshadows with the spouting whale on the cover where the story is going. Says Publishers Weekly's starred review, "It's a wild ride on the sea of imagination, and a rousing high-five to the power of reading."GTChttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


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Caught between the forces of Chaos and those she once counted as both friends and allies, Vampirella seeks comfort and common cause with old enemies instead. But as the Scarlet Legion pursues and Chaos' heavy shadow grows, can she trust the Mad God's former servant... Ethan Shroud?
BEST BETS: "Jessica Jones," "Big Trouble/Escape from New York" & More October 2016 Highlights
Comic Books

subset: commoncrawl


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It only takes a minute to get started. Fill out our simple sign up form and login to the site.
This step is elective but will dramatically multiply your chances of getting interest from other over 40s members on the site. Tell people about yourself, your hobbies and upload some good photos of yourself.
Utilise our website's state-of-the-art search to locate over 40s members who suit your criteria. Or just flip through listings and locate singles that you find attractive.
Discovered someone who is attractive to you? Send an email to them or just a wink and let it develop from there. With a little luck you'll be on your way to finding the love of your life.
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text:
I use the Facebook Like Box with the Javascript SDK and my own CSS stylesheet.
The CSS link is here.
What I want is to change the link color to #D90000 to match my site color. I tried everything but I just displayed like it is. So what should I add to the CSS to change my link colors? Thanks ;)
We started with Q&A. Technical documentation is next, and we need your help.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, you can contribute.
I use the Facebook Like Box with the Javascript SDK and my own CSS stylesheet.
Because Facebook loads its stylesheets dynamically (via a JS call), they'll always end up the last declared styles on the page - as such, you cant override any styles declared in their stylesheets unless you add them to the elements directly. Your stylesheet will work for styles which are not already declared in the facebook stylesheet, but will not override any declarations which are included.
Instead, you need to force your style declarations to take precedence using
The facebook like box is loaded from a iframe with its own code. As far as I know it's not possible to modify its classes.
You can use all of those to control the various states of the link. Replace color and text-decoration with whatever properties you want.
Edit: made it more specific so it matches your other declarations.


text:
Established Oil and Gas manufacturing company in electronics. Great Benefits for employees. Good opportunities for growth NW Houston location
Browse vp sales jobs in Houston, Texas:
FoodEmployment.com in Houston, TX
Posted 15 days ago on ZipRecruiter
Client Growth Consultants, Inc. in Houston, TX
Posted 22 days ago on ZipRecruiter
Encore Search Partners in Houston, TX
Posted 27 days ago on ZipRecruiter


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Captains of Crush Grippers: designed and built for performance.
Known around the world as the gold standard for building and testing hand strength, Captains of Crush Grippers are the single most important grip strength tool you can choose--for the fastest route to the strongest grip.
What's special about Captains of Crush Grippers?
Made in the USA.
No. 4: The top of the ladder. Nobody has been certified on this gripper since Magnus Samuelsson in 2004*--who will be next?
Need more help? See IronMind videos on YouTube: Meet and choose Captains of Crush grippers.
Download Captains of Crush instruction booklet here.
You'll find more information about Captains of Crush grippers here.
Take a look at the Captains of Crush grippers FAQ.
No. 1272 (1 lb.) No. 4 @365 lb. $22.95
You'll find the Rules for Closing and Certification on Captains of Crush grippers here.


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Michelle Caruso-Cabrera is CNBC's chief international correspondent. When not covering her beat, Caruso-Cabrera will appear throughout CNBC's Business Day programming anchoring and reporting for the network.
In 2011, she covered the European financial crisis. Reporting live from Athens, Rome and Frankfurt, Caruso-Cabrera warned viewers and users early on about the rising risk of default and the consequences for the global economy.
Previously, she was co-anchor of "Power Lunch" (M-F, 1-2PM ET) with Sue Herera and Tyler Mathisen.
Caruso-Cabrera has reported one-hour documentaries for the network, including "Liquid Assets: The Big Business of Water" and "The Race to Rebuild: America's Infrastructure."
She reported for NBC News from Baghdad, covering the elections and its impact on Iraq's post-war economy. She has also traveled to Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela to report on and produce groundbreaking stories about those countries' economies.
Caruso-Cabrera joined CNBC in 1998 from WTSP-TV in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she spent four years as a general assignment reporter. Prior to joining WTSP-TV, she was a special projects producer for Univision, where she earned an Emmy Award for a five-part series on children with AIDS, as well as an Emmy nomination for a report on sexual abuse by clergymen. At Univision, she gained extensive experience covering Latin America. She began her career in 1991 as a stringer for The New York Times, reporting on education issues.
Caruso-Cabrera wrote her first book, "You Know I'm Right: More Prosperity, Less Government," in 2010. Previously, she wrote a personal finance column for Shape en Español focusing on issues of particular importance to Latinas and was a monthly contributor to People en Español.
She has also been awarded Broadcaster of the Year from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and was named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in the country by Hispanic Business magazine. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Wellesley College.
Follow Michelle Caruso-Cabrera on Twitter @MCaruso_Cabrera.
S&P has cut Greece's credit rating to B- from B, reports CNBC's Scott Wapner Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and FM trader Josh Brown.
CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera reports the latest details on the showdown between Greece and the European Central Bank.
How the ECB is putting more pressure on the new Greek government, with CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera reports the latest details on the meeting between Greek's finance minister and Mario Draghi to discuss the country's debt plan. And a look at China cutting its reserve requirement for banks.
Greece is softening its stance on a debt write-down, reports CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera reports on how the falling price of oil is impacting Venezuela.
CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera reports the newly-elected Greek leaders are hiking the country's minimum wage and rolling back deals that were part of the bailout agreement.
Former chief tax collector Harry Theoharis discusses his election to Greek Parliament, with CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
Former chief tax collector Harry Theoharis discusses his election to Greek Parliament, with CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera talks with Yanis Varoufakis, new Greek Finance Minister about his country's plan to find agreement with the ECB and its European partners to pay back its debt.


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- Arnage Brakes & Rotors
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- (2)Line Lock & Roll ControlBentley
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- (5)Brake PedalsBentley
Featured Brands
Bentley makes some of the most famous cars in the world with performance, comfort and luxury that most manufacturers probably dream of. However, a Bentley is like any car in that when you own one you start looking for the right upgrades to get even more from it or restore an older one to its former glory. We have everything you need to achieve your goal and our Bentley brakes, pads and rotors are a very important starting point since the way your vehicle stops can determine how you get to drive it.
Since we offer all the big brands like Brembo, Hawk and EBC you know that you're going to get high quality components by some of the most trusted names in the industry which is important considering what brakes do for you. We have all the components you need so you can completely rebuild your braking system to use the latest and greatest technologies or just replace the parts that have worn out and aren't working at their best. We have the information you need to make the right decision and our prices will give you serious value for your money!
- Brembo® GT Series Slotted 2-Piece RotorsGT Series Slotted Brake Rotors by Brembo®. Rotor Type: 2-Piece, Quantity: 1 Pair. Don't put up with brakes that fade. The sophisticated design and superior construction of these 2-piece slotted discs will give you enhanced...Optimum heat dissipation and fade resistanceLightweight construction reduces unsprung weight$1,435.20 - $2,683.20
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- StopTech® Slotted Sport RotorSlotted Sport Rotor by StopTech®. StopTech Sport Rotors - the new name for one-piece performance upgrade rotors from StopTech. Formerly known as Power Slot or SportStop rotors, StopTech Sport Rotors are still the best aftermarket...Engineered to look good behind the wheel and perform at the same timePower alloy metallurgy$50.87 - $756.85
- StopTech® Sport Performance Brake PadsSport Performance Brake Pads by StopTech®. StopTech Sport Performance brake Pads are engineered to meet the demands of high performance driving while maintaining the refinement and comfort expected in everyday driving conditions....Formerly known as Street Performance PadsHigh MOT to Eliminate Fade$36.02 - $156.30
- Chrome Brakes® Ceramix Brake PadsCeramix Brake Pads by Chrome Brakes®. These replacement brake pads are designed for aggressive street driving, and feature a composite blend of ceramic and metallic materials to achieve the lower dust and longer life of a ceramic...$62.52 - $200.00
- Brembo® GT-R Series Slotted 2-Piece Rotor Brake KitGT-R Series Slotted Brake Kit by Brembo®. Rotor Type: 2-Piece, Quantity: 1 Pair. The GT-R Brake Kit will give you the very best braking performance, on the road or on the track. This system is designed for aggressive braking...Ultimate brake performance, balance, heat dissipation and fade resistanceDesigned specifically for your vehicle and driving conditions$7,291.20 - $9,595.20
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- Earl's Performance® Solo BleedSolo Bleed by Earl's Performance®. Standard automotive flexible brake hoses are manufactured from synthetic rubber and reinforced with multiple layers of fabric braid. They were designed and developed for use with drum brake...Use Of Extruded PTFEStainless Steel Outer Braid$3.03 - $271.95
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- Centric® C-Tek™ Standard Brake RotorC-Tek™ Standard Brake Rotor by Centric®. Manufactured using quality G3000 metallurgy and designed with a non-directional finish, this rotor provides superior braking power, high durability, excellent pedal feel, and quiet...OE style replacement rotorNon-directional finish$12.51 - $158.43
- Centric® Premium Brake RotorPremium Brake Rotor by Centric®. This Centric brake rotor is manufactured using double disc grinding to eliminate taper and run-out, and ensure parallelism for excellent braking performance. The grinding process leaves a...Double disc grinding eliminates run out, provides near perfect disc thickness variation (DTV), and leaves non-directional finish to reduce pad-disc brake-in period100% fully machined finish for better rotor balance$18.58 - $753.48
- Akebono® EURO™ Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake PadsEURO™ Ultra-Premium Ceramic Brake Pads by Akebono®. These pads provide the confident control and responsive performance intended by European car manufacturers. EURO brake pads are created to fit precisely on each vehicle and are...$33.59 - $179.21
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Guides & Articles
- Caliper CoversHow To Install Caliper CoversIf you've fitted a set of aftermarket wheels on your car or truck, you've probably noticed how they show off everything behind them in a way your OEM ones simply couldn't. Your factory brake calipers are now suddenly visible to the world, and odds are they do not live up to the high standards of crisp visual appeal your new wheels and tires have set. Or you may have a nice set of factory wheels which expose the brake hardware, and it's a look that you feel could stand some improvement.
- Performance Brakes, Pads & RotorsBig Brake Kits Bring The Biggest Stopping PowerHave you thought about upgrading the brakes on your car or truck to performance brakes? You likely have, as most car enthusiasts consider that sooner or later. This desire may be because of your more aggressive driving style, your dissatisfaction with OE brakes, your vehicle being used to tow a trailer, or even your weekend stints at the track.
- Performance Brakes, Pads & RotorsWhy is it important to do a brake fluid flush?If you've ever visited an automotive dealership service department, you may have been told that your vehicle needs a brake fluid flush. Or you might have received a coupon mailer offering this service for a discounted price. Maybe you thought it was an attempt on the part of the dealer to separate you from your money for something you don't really need. After all, you have made the effort to learn more about your brakes, and you understand that occasionally, the brake pads and rotors will wear out and need replacing. However, you've never heard of a "brake fluid flush".
- Replacement Brake PartsHow To Replace Disc Brake PadsDisc brakes have been the most common setup on modern vehicles for decades, with just about 100% of today's vehicles using them in the front, and many cars and trucks also equipping the rear with disc brakes. The brake pads are the wear items which will need attention sooner or later; there will be wide variations in brake pad life depending on the vehicle, driver, driving style, etc., but rough estimates are that front pads will need attention every 15,000-30,000 miles, with rear disc pads lasting 50,000-100,000 miles.
- Performance Brakes, Pads & RotorsWhich Performance Brake Pads Work Best On My Car?The brake pads which were installed on your car or truck when it was new are "fine" - fine for the average Joe who is driving an unmodified vehicle. But YOU, the auto enthusiast, you know better. You have made various drivetrain mods, or have converted your truck into a towing rig. You've added bigger wheels and tires and now want brakes which won't leave such a mess on the shiny rims. You recognize that you need to improve the "stop" to accompany the "go". The first, and easiest, item to move up to is a set of performance brake pads.
- Performance Brakes, Pads & RotorsGlossary of Brake TerminologyWhether you're looking to replace worn brake pads and rotors or delving into more detailed brake repairs or upgrades that involve new calipers, proportioning valves, master cylinders, vacuum boosters, and more, you will come across a lot of different terminology when it comes to brake components. Depending on your knowledge and experience, a lot of these terms may be elementary. However, because many of them use similar words but represent completely different things, we've created this glossary to help you understand exactly what you need, and what you don't.
- Replacement Brake PartsDisc Brakes and Drum Brakes Explained!If you have owned a car or truck for more than a few months, you are undoubtedly aware that your vehicle's brakes occasionally need replacing. Let's face it, we can be hard on our brakes. Highway speeds, stop-and-go traffic, and heavy cargo loads are some of the more significant factors which increase brake wear.
- Replacement Brake PartsSpecial Tools Used In Brake ServiceIn this article, we'll introduce you to the specific tools designed to be used when replacing brake components and servicing your brake system. Having the right tools BEFORE you start working on your vehicle makes these types of jobs quick, easy, and doable for the home mechanic. It also prevents having to put things back together before the job is finished because a tool needs to be purchased. Owning the right tools and doing the job yourself will save you hundreds of dollars by sparing you a visit to the repair shop – and much more over the course of a lifetime of brake work.
- Performance Brakes, Pads & RotorsBest Brake Rotors For Your Driving StyleDisc brake rotors (aka 'rotors') are the actual discs that brake pads clamp onto, creating friction that slows a vehicle. Disc brake rotors bolt on over the axle hub and contain holes that allow wheel mounting bolts to pass through and rotate with the wheels. Since there are many rotor styles and designs specially created for every budget and need, we've listed the advantages of each disc brake rotor so that you can make the right choice and get the best for your vehicle. All rotors, except ceramic brake rotors and two-piece rotors with aluminum centers, are typically one piece and crafted from iron for maximum heat absorption.
- Performance Brakes, Pads & RotorsIs It Time For New Brakes?Squealing noise upon brake application is actually caused by a high-frequency vibration of metal rotors, drums, or brake pad backing plates. Excess corrosion that forms over time on non-contact, outer perimeter areas of rotors and drums is a prime cause because rust is looser and less dense in nature – therefore, more likely to create resonation.
- Performance Brakes, Pads & RotorsTips To Get The Maximum Life Out Of Your Brake PartsIf you've had to replace brake pads or rotors on modern vehicles, you know how expensive the parts and labor can be. Because extending your brake pad life puts real money back into your pocket, we offer some tips for those who are interested in doing just that. While it's a general rule that brake pads designed with aggressive grip levels and performance driving will result in faster wear, the following suggestions will help you extend your brake life significantly no matter what type of brakes you have on your vehicle.
Popular Products
Bentley Performance Brakes Reviews
2013 Chevy Silverado


text:
News |
KABUL Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned a shooting rampage by Western soldiers in southern Kandahar province on Sunday as "intentional murders" and demanded an explanation from the United States.
The victims of the shooting spree, which left up to 16 civilians dead, included nine children and three women, Karzai's office said in a statement.
(Reporting by Rob Taylor; Editing by Dean Yates)
Our top photos from the past 24 hours. Full Coverage
Trending On Reuters
Patents & Entrepreneurial Universities
Measuring and evaluating academic innovation


text:
Digital Forensic Specialist (Audio)
- London
- Circa £37,305 plus £3,406 location allowance
You'll contribute to a wide range of research and development activities.
- Recruiter: Met Police
MetOp-SG Receiver Project Manager
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire
- £37,213 - £50,926 (depending on experience)
Project Manager to oversee the development, production and test of spaceflight components and integrated receiver systems
- Recruiter: Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Systems Engineer
- Abingdon, Oxfordshire
- Competitive + Benefits
Perform general systems engineering tasks as necessary with specific focus on electronic systems and instrumentation.
- Recruiter: Reaction Engines Ltd
Production Manager
- Abingdon, Oxfordshire
- Competitive + Benefits
An amazing opportunity to plan, direct and coordinate all manufacturing operations and activities in line with company strategy and business plan.
- Recruiter: Reaction Engines Ltd
Navigation Sensors Principle Engineer
- Stevenage
- Competitive Salary & Benefits
What?s the opportunity? An exciting opportunity has arisen in a rapidly evolving international team with increasing capabilities. The Navigation Sensors Group is responsible for the...
- Recruiter: MBDA
Technology Manager - External Communications
- Frimley, England, Surrey
- Negotiable
Technology Manager - External Communications Would you like Lead the technical delivery of the External Communications System (ECS) capability sustainment & evolution projects within the common ECS (cECS) Baseline Design Management (BDM) programme? Th
- Recruiter: BAE Systems
Graduate Process Engineer
- Brixham, Devon
- £20,000 to £25,000
Join our exciting journey to deliver new standards in the availability of data bandwidth.
- Recruiter: EFFECT Photonics
Senior Principal Materials Engineer
- Stevenage
- Competitive salary & benefits
What?s the opportunity? A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced materials engineer/scientist specialising in non-metallic materials and processing. You will be given responsibility for...
- Recruiter: MBDA
Postdoctoral Research Associate
- Liverpool, Merseyside
- £32,600 - £37,768 pa
Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in a brand new area of communications.
- Recruiter: The University of Liverpool
Test Engineering Opportunities
- Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes
- Salary offered will depend on skills and experience
Push incredible innovations beyond their limits. Opportunities for Software, Hardware, EMC, Test and Inspection Engineers!
- Recruiter: HMGCC
China ready to discuss cyber security with US
Chinese assistant foreign minister Zheng Zeguang has said Beijing is ready to come to the table to discuss cyber security
China says it is ready to discuss strengthening cyber security at a top-level forum with US officials next week.
Chinese officials said next week's two-day Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington would include talks on finance and climate change and the inaugural gathering of a US-Chinese cyber security group.
Beijing is under US pressure to crack down on cyber spying after security consultants tracked a wave of hacking attacks to China and assistant foreign minister Zheng Zeguang said Beijing was ready to work with the US to build a "peaceful, secure, open" online environment.
But Beijing wants Washington to help settle territorial disputes in east Asia and Zegaung said he wanted Washington to "do more to contribute" to settling tensions over the East China Sea and South China Sea.
"We are ready to work with the United States and engage in dialogue and communication and, on the basis of mutual respect and mutual trust, enhance understanding and consensus and work with the international community to build a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative cyberspace," said Zheng.
The US delegation is to be led by Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew. The chief Chinese envoys will be State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Vice Premier Wang Yang. They are to be joined by finance, military, energy, environmental and other officials.
The annual talks are aimed at heading off trade and other disputes between the world's two largest economies and to promote cooperation on managing the global economy, climate change and other issues.
Security experts say China is a base for a large share of the world's cyber-spying, some of which might be carried out by its military. Beijing has rejected that, saying China is a victim of computer hacking.
On regional issues, Zheng said Beijing wants Washington to "do more to contribute" to settling tensions over territorial disputes.
Referring to China's conflicting claims with the Philippines, Vietnam and other governments over the South China Sea, Zheng said "the United States should do more to contribute to a proper settlement of the issue".
As for Beijing's dispute with Japan over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, Zheng said Washington "should send correct instead of wrong signals and do more to contribute to the cooling of the situation".
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text:
Born of the Sun
Written by Gillian Cross
Illustrated by
Lovereading4kids Price £4.79
£5.99 saving £1.20 (20%)
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As soon as this book is back in stock we will send you an email.Compare book price We'd love you to buy your books from Lovereading - especially if we helped you to choose them! But as our mantra is guidance, and that includes guidance on price, please do use our 'Compare Book Price' service to discover if the best value deal is from Lovereading or another specialist bookstore.
Born of the Sun by Gillian CrossFor years, Paula and her father have dreamed and talked about trying to find the lost city of Atahualpa. And now, without warning, Paula is taken out of school and finds her dream come true. Together with her parents and Finn, the photographer, she travels to South America to begin the journey. But as they descend towards the jungle, Paula senses that all is not quite as it should be. Why is her father so moody and impatient? And why does he insist that the expedition is being shadowed by sinister enemies? Paula realizes that her loyalty to her father is not enough - she must discover for herself what the truth is about the journey she is making.
About the Author
Other Formats
Book Info
256 pages
Interest Age: 12+
Gillian Cross
More books by Gillian Cross
Author's Website
Publication date
6th September 2001
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Antique Mall of Creve Coeur
Phone: (314) 434-6566 1275 Castillons Arcade Plz, Saint Louis, MO 63141 http://www.neonexchange.com
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- Length of time business has been operating
- No complaints filed with BBB
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Additional Information
Business ManagementRenee Castillon, Manager
Contact Information
Business Category
Antiques - Dealers


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HOME > The Next Food Network Star > The Next Food Network Star 3
The Next Food Network Star 3
'The Next Food Network Star 3' sets Food Network ratings records
The Next Food Network Star's third-season finale broadcast on Sunday night was the highest-rated, most-watched telecast in Food Network history. Full Story
Amy Finley crowned 'The Next Food Network Star' third-season champ
Amy Finley, a 33-year-old mom, freelance writer and caterer from San Diego, CA, was revealed to be The Next Food Network Star's third-season winner during last night's live finale of the Food Network reality competition series.
Josh 'Jag' Garcia withdraws from 'The Next Food Network Star 3'
When The Next Food Network Star's third season finished production earlier this year, Josh "Jag" Garcia was still one of two finalists in the running to be crowned the competition's winner. However once allegations that he fibbed about his military background and education emerged following the show's June premiere, Garcia -- presumably realizing that his lies had likely already cost him any chance of winning the home viewer vote that will determine the competition's winner -- decided to withdraw from the culinary competition.
Report: 'Next Food Network Star' finalist lied about military, schooling
Food Network billed Josh "JAG" Garcia as a Marine Corps "grunt-turned-cook" when he was revealed as one of the 11 finalists on The Next Food Network Star's currently airing third season, a resume that would presumably mean the 25-year-old chef de cuisine from Havelock, NC was well-equipped to win the competition. However, according to a military newspaper, there are some significant embellishments in his story.
'The Next Food Network Star 3' reveals cast, series to debut June 3
The Food Network has announced that it has begun production on the third season of The Next Food Network Star, a reality competition in which 11 contestants will compete for the chance at their own six-episode Food Network television show. The series will premiere on Sunday, June 3 at 9PM ET/PT.
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