The New Issue of the TTLG Journal is online!

Happy May everyone, the May and June 2012 issue of Through the Looking GlassChildren’s Book Reviews is now online for you to look at.

May and June are the months when summer finally makes itself felt, at least around here in Oregon. Winter coats and sweaters are put into boxes or are tucked away on high shelves, and bathing suits are tried on to see if they still fit. The sun is warm, and children are happy to spend their play time out of doors. There is a delightful collection of books about summer on the TTLG Summer Days page, with books for readers of all ages.

Summer is also a time when many people are very busy in their gardens. If you want to share your love of gardening with the children in your life, take a look at the In the Garden Feature. You will find both fiction and nonfiction titles here that will interest children and young people who are eager to try out their green thumbs.

For this month's special feature I am looking at books that are about music and musicians. The books will include both fiction and nonfiction titles that explore the world of music, and that tell us stories about musicians of all kinds. You will find tales that will inspire you and amuse you, and who knows, you may even decide to try making some music of your own.

For this month's Editor's Choice title, I have selected Above World, by Jenn Resse. This novel will take readers ages 9 to 12 to a futuristic world where humans have new challenges to face if they are going to survive.

Finally, take a look at the new Bookish Calendar. Here you will find reviews about Nellie Bly, Mother's Day, Paul Gauguin, a horse called Seabiscuit, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

-:Bookish Events for May and June:-

May 13th - May 19th is Reading is Fun Week (USA)

May is “Get Caught Reading” Month (USA)

Children’s Book Week May 7th - May 13th (USA)

I hope you find a way to celebrate some, if not all, of these bookish events. If I have missed an important bookish event, please drop me a line to tell me about it.

Enjoy!

The new issue of TTLG is now online.

The  March and April 2012 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews. I have really enjoyed reviewing these books, though I am sad to have to say goodbye to Mercy Watson, Alex Rider, and the Ranger's Apprentice. I reviewed the final titles in these series in this issue. 

For this issue I have put together a special feature about Art and Artists. Though I am not much of an artist myself, I love dabbling with paints, colored pencils, ink pens, and other media. It is fascinating to read about the history of art, and to find out what inspired famous artists to create their paintings, drawings,and  sculptures. There are books in the collection that will suit readers of all ages, including adults.

Here in Oregon, spring is making itself felt already, and for many people March and April are the months when they start getting busy in the garden. Spending time in the garden gives children and young people a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature, watch things grow, and - of course - get dirty!

In March,  schools and libraries all over the United States observe  Women's History Month. This event celebrates the achievements of women over the years, and I have quite a large collection of books in the TTLG Women's History Month feature. In this feature readers will finds fiction and non-fiction titles that look at the lives and achievements of many great women from around the world.

April is the month when many Americans celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. For Earth Day you can look at the Earth Day feature and the Saving the Environment feature. For Arbor Day  I have put together a delightful collection of books that are about trees. Some of the books in these features are informative nonfiction titles, while others are stories that will amuse, touch, and delight readers of all ages.

For this month's Editor's Choice title, I have selected Pie, a novel by Sarah Weeks, which combines a mystery with some meaningful life lessons. And pie.

Finally, take a look at the new Bookish Calendar. Here you will find reviews about Michelangelo, St. Patrick's Day, Harry Houdini, the sinking of  the Titanic, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

-:Bookish Events for March and April:-

March is Women's History Month (USA)

March 2nd is Read Across America Day (USA)

National March into Literacy Month (USA)

April is National Poetry Month (USA)

April 2nd is International Children's Book Day

National Library Week April 8th - 14th (USA)

Young People's Poetry Week April 14th - 20th (USA)

National Week of the Ocean April 1st - 7th (USA)

I hope you find a way to celebrate some, if not all,  of these bookish events. If I have missed an important bookish event, please drop me a line to tell me about it.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is now online

Happy New Year! The January and February 2012 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews is now online. I have put together a wonderful collection of reviews for you for this issue, and I hope you enjoy reading the reviews as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

For this issue I have decided to review books that feature mice and rats. I know many adults have an aversion to these animals, but young readers all over the world love stories where the main characters are mice or rats. For generations Beatrix Potter has charmed us with her story of Hunca Munca and Tom Thumb, the two bad mice who raid a little girl's doll house. Then there are the mice who live in Brambley Hedge, Angelina Ballerina, and Maisy. I am also very fond of the Mouse and Mole books by Wong Herbert Yee, and the adventures of Babymouse. As for rats, well Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh is one of favorite books, and where would the stories of Redwall be if brave Martin the Warrior (a mouse) didn't have ferocious sea rats to vanquish.

Where I live, January and February are the coldest months of the year. Winter has a tight hold on the land, and crackling fires in the fireplace are welcome. This is the perfect time of year to read lots of books, and you might find that some of these seasonal wintery books hit the spot. If you live in a place where snow falls, then these Snowy Days books will be a perfect fit. If you don't get snow in your region, then you might enjoy being able to enjoy snow through the pages of a good book.

For this month's Editor's Choice title, I have selected The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio. This meaningful picture book explores the idea that the first step to tolerance is having an open mind.

Don't forget to look at the new Bookish Calendar. Here you will find reviews about Paul Cezanne, Valentine's Day, Buffalo Bill, the discovery of gold in California in 1848, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

There are several bookish events taking place in February that I would like to tell you about. They are:

·        February is National Black History Month - Find reviews that suit this event here.

·        February is Library Lover's Month - Find reviews of books about libraries here.

I hope you find a way to celebrate some, if not all,  of these bookish events. If I have missed an important bookish event, please drop me a line to tell me about it.

Last year I posted a review of a picture book for 365 days. This year I will be posting new picture book reviews on Mondays, new fiction reviews for younger readers (under the age of 12) on Wednesdays, and poetry book reviews on Fridays. Of course, I will also post interviews, book announcements, and other bookish articles as well. 

I hope you enjoy this new issue, and I look forward to hearing from you.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is now online

The November and December 2011 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews is now online. I have put together a wonderful collection of reviews for you for this issue, and I hope you enjoy reading the reviews as much as I enjoyed writing them.

In November and December, people start thinking about and getting ready for the holidays.  For this issue, I chose titles that would make excellent gifts, and therefore almost all the new books in this issue are stand-alone titles, or they are the first book in a new series. The one exception is  Goliath, which is the final book in a trilogy. I included it here because I think the complete trilogy would make a fantastic gift for young readers, and also for adult readers who have an interest in steampunk.

For this issue I have chosen to focus on books about Pirates. I know that many people think that pirate books are exclusively suited to boy readers, but this is no longer the case. It used to be that most of the main characters in books about pirates were men or boys. In many of the books I have reviewed for this feature, there are girls or women who are bold and brave pirates alongside their male brethren, or there are clever girls and women who find ways to outwit their piratical enemies. The books in this feature will suit readers of all ages because there are board books, novelty books, picture books, beginner readers, and novels.

In November and December autumn shifts into winter. During these months, we get serious about bundling up in warm clothes, toasting ourselves in front of warm fires and wood stoves, and finding ways to spend really wet or cold days. I actually really enjoy this time of year as I enjoy sitting under a warm blanket reading a book. What could be better?

For this month’s Editor’s Choice title, I selected In Search of Mockingbird  by Loretta Ellsworth. When I read this book, I could not put it down, and a week after I read it, I read it again. It is a truly extraordinary account of one person's journey of self discovery.

Don’t forget to look at the Bookish Calendar page for reviews about Claude Monet, Roald Amundsen, the mystery of the Mary Celeste, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

There are several bookish events taking place in November that I would like to tell you about. They are:

• November 1 is National Author's Day (USA) 

• November 8th is National Young Readers Day (USA) - National Young Readers Day is a day that was created by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in 1989 as a way to celebrate literacy in schools. 

• November 20th is Universal Children's Day

Some of the titles I reviewed several years ago are now out of print. Though you cannot buy these books in every bookshop, many of them are still available for purchase on websites like Amazon.com.

I hope you enjoy this new issue, best wishes for the holiday season, and I look forward to hearing from you.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Reviews is now online

The March and April 2011 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews is now online. I have put together a wonderful collection of reviews for you for this issue, and I hope you enjoy reading the reviews as much as I have enjoyed writing them.

Here in Oregon, spring is making itself felt already, and for many people March and April are the months when they start getting busy in the garden. For this issue's special feature, I look at books about gardens and gardening for readers of all ages. Spending time in the garden gives children and young people a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature, watch things grow, and - of course - get dirty!

In March,  schools and libraries all over the United States observe  Women's History Month. This event celebrates the achievements of women over the years, and I have quite a large collection of books in the TTLG Women's History Month feature. In this feature readers will finds fiction and non-fiction titles that look at the lives and achievements of many great women from around the world.

April is the month when many Americans celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day. For Earth Day you can look at the Earth Day feature and the Saving the Environment feature. For Arbor Day  I have put together a delightful collection of books that are about trees. Some of the books in these features are informative nonfiction titles, while others are stories that will amuse, touch, and delight readers of all ages.

For this month's Editor's Choice title, I have selected a fascinating novelty title called Will Shakespeare: His life and times. This book will give readers an in-depth picture of William Shakespeare's achievements and, as they look through the book, readers will get a sense of what it would have been like to live in England during Shakespeare's lifetime. 

Finally, take a look at the new Bookish Calendar. Here you will find reviews about Michelangelo, St. Patrick's Day, Harry Houdini, the Titanic, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

-:Bookish Events for March and April:-

• March is Women's History Month (USA)
• March 2nd is Read Across America Day (USA)
• National March into Literacy Month (USA)
• April is National Poetry Month (USA)
• April 2nd is International Children's Book Day
• National Library Week April 10th - 16th (USA)
• Young People's Poetry Week April 12th - 18th (USA)
• National Week of the Ocean April 3rd - 9th (USA)

I hope you find a way to celebrate some, if not all,  of these bookish events. If I have missed an important bookish event, please drop me a line to tell me about it.

At the beginning of last year, I launched the new website, and all the new content for every issue is on this new website. However, a large part of the old content is still on the old site. You can still get to this content, but it is not integrated into the new site. Moving the 4,000 reviews over is going to take some time, and I appreciate your patience while I work on this. 

Some of the titles I reviewed several years ago are now out of print. Though you cannot buy these books in every bookshop, many of them are still available for purchase on websites like Amazon.com.

I hope you enjoy this new issue, and I look forward to hearing from you.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is now online

Dear Book Lovers:

The November and December 2010 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews is now online. I have put together a wonderful collection of reviews for you for this issue, and I hope you enjoy reading the reviews as much as I enjoyed writing them.

In November and December, people start thinking about and getting ready for the holidays.  To make it easier to select gift books, all the new books in this issue are stand-alone titles, or they are the first book in a new series.

For this issue I have chosen to focus on Arts and Crafts Books and Kits. For these months leading up to the holidays, I have put together a collection of books that encourage children's creative sides. There are coloring books, how-to books, and craft kits for young people of all ages.  All of the books and kits reviewed here would make great gifts for the holidays. Many of them are the kind of gift that will last many hours or even days, and hopefully they will give children the opportunity to explore a new skill, or to expand on their own creativity.

In November and December autumn shifts into winter. During these months we get serious about bundling up in warm clothes, toasting ourselves in front of warm fires and wood stoves, and finding ways to spend really wet or cold days. I actually really enjoy this time of year as I enjoy sitting under a warm blanket reading a book. What could be better?

For this month’s Editor’s Choice title, I selected Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. This coming of age novel is funny and poignant, and it beautifully captures the confusion that comes with growing up and falling in love.

Don’t forget to look at the Bookish Calendar page for reviews about Claude Monet, Roald Amundsen,  the mystery of the Mary Celeste, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

There are several bookish events taking place in November that I would like to tell you about. They are:

November 1 is National Author's Day (USA)

November 9th is National Young Reader's Day (USA) - National Young Readers Day is a day that was created by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in 1989 as a way to celebrate literacy in schools.

November 20th is Universal Children's Day

I hope you enjoy the new issue of TTLG

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is now online

Dear Book Lovers:

The July and August 2010 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews is now online. I have put together a wonderful collection of reviews for you for this issue, and I hope you enjoy reading the reviews as much as I enjoyed writing them.

   For this issue I have chosen to focus on books about Zoos. Most children love visiting the zoo, and these days zoos are not just places where one can look at animals from around the world. They are also places where we can learn about animals and their habitats. In addition,  many zoos have programs to help visitors better understand why so many animals around the world are in danger of disappearing, and what we can do to try to reverse this trend. This feature has a delightful collection of books of various kinds for zoo lovers of all ages.

   In July and August most schools are closed for the summer vacation and children all over the world get ready to enjoy family holidays, days at camp, and many other summer activities. When I was growing up, we would escape the heat of town by going into the mountains for a few weeks, or we would camp at the seaside. These camping trips were wonderful, and I still remember the hours I spent snorkeling, looking for pretty stones on the beach, and watching the fishing boats chug past. You will find a large collection of books about going to the beach on the Days at the beach page.

   For this month’s Editor’s Choice title, I selected Keeping the Moon written by Sarah Dessen. This young adult novel beautifully captures a young woman’s uncertainty about who she is.

Don’t forget to look at the Bookish Calendar page for reviews about Henry David Thoreau, volcanoes, the moon landing, Amelia Earhart, and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

   At the beginning of this year, I launched the new website, and all the new content for every issue is on this new website. However, a large part of the old content is still on the old site. You can still get to this content, but it is not integrated into the new site. Moving the 4,000 reviews over is going to take some time, and I appreciate your patience while I work on this. 

   I hope you enjoy this new issue, and I look forward to hearing from you.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is now online

The May and June 2010 issue of Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews is now online. I hope that you enjoy this issue and find lots of books that interest you.  

For this May and June issue I have chosen to focus on books about farms and farm life for the special feature.  Young children in particular love to learn about farm animals, to explore life on a farm, and to read stories about what it is like to live on a farm. The In the garden feature also ties in with the farm feature, exploring books that look at gardens and gardening.

May and June are the months when summer finally makes itself felt. Winter coats and sweaters are put into boxes or are tucked away on high shelves, and bathing suits are tried on to see if they still fit. The sun is warm, and children are happy to spend their play time out of doors. There is a delightful collection of books about summer on the Summer Days page, with books for readers of all ages. Of course, if you live in the southern hemisphere you might prefer to look at our Winter Days feature!

For this month’s Editor’s Choice title I selected The Story of Cirrus Flux written by Matthew Skelton. Matthew wrote Endymion Spring a few years ago, and he is definitely an author to watch in the years to come.

-:Bookish Events for May and June:-

May 12th to 18th is Reading is Fun Week (USA)

May is "Get Caught Reading" Month (USA)

Children's Book Week is May 10th to 16th (USA)

I hope you find a way to celebrate some, if not all, of these bookish events. If I have missed an important bookish event, please drop me a line to tell me about it.

Don’t forget to look at the Bookish Calendar page for reviews about Walt Whitman, hurricanes, fairies, Anne Frank and much more. This calendar is a great tool to use at home and in the classroom to help children incorporate books more fully into their lives.

At the beginning of this year, I launched the new website, and all the new content for every issue is on this new website. However, a large part of the old content is still on the old site. You can still get to this content, but it is not integrated into the new site. Moving the 4,000 reviews over is going to take some time, and I appreciate your patience while I work on this. 

I hope you enjoy this new issue, and I look forward to hearing from you.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is online

                                       

The March and April edition of Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews is now online. Please come and visit the site to see the new issue.

For this issue I have chosen to do a special feature about saving the environment, in part in honor of Earth Day. Many children are passionate about doing their part to keep Mother Earth beautiful and green. They are often the driving force behind family recycling programs, and children all over the world have created and supported all kinds of environmental organizations and programs. The books in this feature will educate, inspire, and entertain young readers of all ages.

April is also the month when many Americans celebrate Arbor Day. I have put together a delightful collection of books that are about trees. Some are informative nonfiction titles, while others are stories that will amuse, touch, and delight readers of all ages.

Here in Oregon spring is making itself felt already, and for many people March and April are the months when they start getting busy in the garden.  Spending time in the garden gives children a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature, watch things grow, and - of course - get dirty!

In honor of National Poetry Month, I have reviewed several splendid poetry titles. One in particular is quite delightful. It is called A Mirror to Nature: Poems about Reflection with poems by Jane Yolen and photographs by Jason Stemple.

This month's editor's choice title is Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies. This is a splendid collection that readers of all ages will enjoy.

-:Bookish Events for March and April:-

March is Women's History Month (USA)
March 2nd is Read Across America Day (USA)
National March into Literacy Month (USA)
April is National Poetry Month (USA)
April 2nd is International Children's Book Day
National Library Week April 4th - 10th (USA)
Young People's Poetry Week April 12th - 18th (USA)
National Week of the Ocean April 4th - 10th (USA)


I hope you find a way to celebrate some, if not all,  of these bookish events. If I have missed an important bookish event, please drop me a line to tell me about it.

Don't forget to look at the Bookish Calendar page for a lot more reviews about Harriet Tubman, Saint Patrick's Day, Thomas Jefferson, William Shakespeare,  Leonardo da Vinci, and much more.

At the beginning of this year I launched the new website, and all the new content for every issue is on this new website. However, a large part of the old content is still on the old site. You can still get to this content, but it is not intergrated into the new site. Moving the 4,000 reviews over is going to take some time, and I appreciate your patience while I work on this.

I hope you enjoy this new issue, and I look forward to hearing from you.

   

New Issue of Through The Looking Glass Book Review

The new issue of the Through The Looking Glass Book Reviews is now online, and when I say new I mean really new. After months and months of work, the new site for TTLG is now ready. I hope you will find the site easier to use and navigate. One thing to keep in mind is that not all the content of the old site has been moved over to the new one. Manually tinkering with almost 5,000 (I kid you not) reviews is taking me a long time to do.   I hope everything will be moved over by the summer. The good news is that you can still get to the old content without any difficulty.

This month I chose to special feature books about pigs. I have a fondness for these animals (having had a pet pig for many years) and thought that it was high time that I focused on some piggy books. I hope you enjoy my selection. As always I have a Bookish Calendar full of interesting material, a list of author and illustrator birthdays and much more.

Happy New Year everyone.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is online

Happy November everyone. The new issue of Through the Looking Glass is now online. At the moment I am working on building a new site for TTLG, so I am doing bimonthly issues to give myself time to learn the new system, and to enter the many thousands of old reviews into the site. Therefore, the new issue is for November and December, and in it you will find lots of gift suggestions for the holidays. There are wonderful picture books, some delightful works of fiction, and some great novelty titles. There are also audiobooks and nonfiction titles. I hope you enjoy the new issue and I really look forward to being able to bring you the new and improved website in a few month's time.

The April Issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review

Hello everyone. The new issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review is now online. This month the Special Feature is "Books and Libraries" - in honor of all the book related events that are taking place this month. One book that I read for this feature was especially notable. That Book Woman by Heather Henson looks at the impact that the Pack Horse Librarians had on rural communities in America during the 1930s.

The Bookish Events for this month are:

April in National Poetry Month (USA)
April 2nd is International Children’s Book Day
National Library Week April 12th - 18th (USA)
Young People’s Poetry Week April 13th - 19th (USA)

I hope you will be able to enjoy some of these events with the children in your lives.

In addition to the "Books and Libraries" feature I looked at books about spring. Then there are the titles that are linked to the Bookish Calendar. If you want to read about Easter, Thomas Jefferson, or Earth Day, you will find links to books about these subjects - and many others - here.

The book that I chose for the Editor's Choice for April is Trainstop by Barbara Lehman. This superb wordless picture book is a joy to look at, and children will have great time talking about the magical story. Readers will see that doing others a kind turn can be wonderfully rewarding, and in this case at least, the giver is given a priceless gift to thank her for her kindness. By the by, all of Barbara Lehman's books are memorable and magical.

I hope you enjoy this month's issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review.

The new issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review

March, with its tempramental weather and its promise of spring, is here. I had a great time putting together the new issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review becasue I did a feature on Women in History. To be honest I often review books about strong fictional and factual women, but this month I made a point of finding books that would show my readers what women of all kinds have done to make the world a better place. Take a look at this feature to find books that are about women who were artists, musicians, scientists, and more. You can find more biographies about women in the biography feature section.

Spring officially begins on March 20th, and there are lots of books in the Spring Feature to choose from. Share some of these books with the children in your life and you will find that you will start to get a springish bounce in your step - even if it is snowing outside!

For those of you who like The Wind in the Willows, I have posted a profile about Kenneth Grahame, who wrote this splendid book. I try to read about Mole, Rat and Toad at least once a year. I find that this magical story grounds me and reminds me that the simple things in life really are the most important.

Other new items on the site are:

Publisher Spotlight: Charlesbridge - a splendid smaller publishing house that puts out some wonderful books including Jerry Pallotta's interesting and entertaining alphabet books.

Series Spotlight: The Thief Trilogy - a trio of stories that explore some of the most most important emotions that we humans struggle with. Beautiful writing combined with vivid characters makes this a winning series.

Don't forget to look at the Bookish Calendar and the Author/Illustrator birthdays as well.

The New Issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review

Hello everyone. The new issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review is now online. I hope you enjoy looking through it. It was a challenge to put out because I was trying to juggle moving house, preparing for the holidays, and one hundred and one other things. Still, I managed. Here is a sample of what is in this new issue:

This month's special feature: Penguins - If you like black and white birds that waddle then this is the book collection for you.

This month's seasonal features: Winter Days and Snowy Days. The latter includes an large collection of books that will allow you to enjoy some of the pleasures of snow without leaving your home.

This month's Editor's Choice: How to get rich in the California Gold Rush by Todd Olson. This excellent title will help young readers get a sense of what it was like to go to California seeking gold there during the gold rush. The book is packed with period illustrations and it's narrative brings this historic event to life.

In the Bookish Calender we look at, among other things, the birthdays of Benedict Arnold and Alexander Hamilton; Appreciate a Dragon Day, and Chinese (lunar) New Year.

Some of you will enjoy reading my review of Brian Jacques' book Doomwhyte on the 12+ Fiction Page. Give a Goat is a very meaningful title that is reviewed on the Picture Book Page. For little children there is How big is a pig and several other board books on the Board Book and Novelty Books Page.

I hope you enjoy this new issue. If you have any questions or comments please drop me a line.

The New Issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review is online

Good morning everyone. I just wanted to let you know that the new issue of Through the Looking Glass Book Review is now online. This month, because of the holiday season, I decided to do something different. Rather than have my ususal Special Feature I reviewed books in the various different genres that I thought would make great gifts for the holidays. There are board books, pop-up books, craft kits, picture books, books for young readers and books for teens - all of which would make a great gift for someone.

Of course there are lots of Christmas titles as well. I always have a bit of a struggle choosing the ones I like best. Then I find myself reviewing late into the night to get them all done in time - because there are so many of them! Though most of the Christmas titles are picture books there are some like Grimble at Christmas and The Dog who thought he was Santa that are for older readers.

In addition there are some wonderful Hanukkah stories to enjoy as well.

As usual I have the monthly Bookish Calendar full of links to interesting books of all kinds. Here you will find books about Ludwig van Beethoven, Rosa Parks, and much more.

For this December issue I chose a deliciously funny teen vampire book as my Editor's Choice of the month. Sucks to be me: The All-True Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (maybe) by Kimberly Pauley would make a great gift for a teen who has an appreciation for vampire tales. You can see my interview with the author of this entertaining book on the November 13th, 2008 blog entry.

I hope you enjoy this new issue and that you are able to use it to buy lots of splendid books!