Sunday Salon --Looking Forward ~ Looking Back... This Week In Books

Had some good reading this week and for once I was ahead of the review curve.

Adults should take note of Clinch's book which I've finished this week: Kings of the Earth has beautiful use of language and great character development -- BUT it is definitely not kidlit.

ON THE NIGHTSTAND:

	It's a Book is one of the funniest books I've read in awhile. I described it thusly: "Intellectual slapstick humor wherein a tech-savvy jackass tries to understand the noble low-tech book." You can read the review and see a vid here.
	Join the Rebels is a newer release from DK. Written at the 4th Grade level, the language is stilted, but for some readers --like those who are reading way above level, or who are normally reluctant-readers, it will be a good choice. Reviewed it here.
	Ook and Gluk has been read and re-read by my 8 yo son about a dozen times thus far. The book is from the author of Captain Underpants -- Dave Pilkey -- but he pretends it was written by George and Harold, the mischievous characters of CU series. Because of this Pilkey has used a great many misspellings. I thought it might be problematic for my son, but he didn't have any problems. What can I say, it's not great lit, but it forces kids to read and love it.

INCOMING:

	We loved Pout-Pout Fish, and now our buddy is back in his next big adventure.
	Just starting this series by James Dashner, who stunned me happy with Maze Runner. About 50 pages in and The Curious Journal of Letters is a good MG read.

OUTGOING:

	Adult fair here. Kings of the Earth is brilliant. The writing is rich and the characters are so well drawn that I feel like they live down the street from me. The story is told from multiple perspectives in short chapters that take the reader back and forth across time. The transitions were seamless and what grows out of the journey is an amazing portrait of a family lost in time.
	What can I say. Thought Mockingjay was a great end to the series. And I want to thank Jeff Bezos at Amazon for sending a courier to hand deliver my copy a day early. I'm not sure what you expect in return, but I await your email.
	It's more or less what you would expect. ABC book based on the images from Goodnight Moon. And while I don't necessarily recommend running out and buying it, it's definitely worth picking up if you have a small one learning their ABC's. Reviewed it here.