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Maw Books Blog
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Blogging about all things books! I review every book I read and tell you how it is. Topics include book reviews, book lists,book recommendations, reading challenges, reading group guides, and how books play a part in my daily life.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'fiction'
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
So Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is one of those books where perhaps not reviewing it in a timely manner ultimately creates the final judgment: it’s a pretty forgettable book. I hate to say that because I remember thinking that the book wasn...
My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, Illlustrated by Catherine Stock
After reviewing three books this week about Sudan, I conclude with one last picture book: My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed and illustrated by Catherine Stock. Sangoel, his mother and his little sister are all refugee...
Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
I’m excited today to recommend to you another book about the Lost Boys, Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams, Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Mary Williams is a name that I have heard often when reading...
Thanksgiving at the Inn by Tim Whitney
I hope that everybody had a great Thanksgiving holiday if you are here in the states! I had a fantastic time sluffing all of my blog responsibilities and not posting a thing! (That’s not to say that I wasn’t working hard on a new rea...
Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Krull, Illustrated by Timothy Ladwig
Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Krull and illustrated by Timothy Ladwig is a lovely new book on the importance of prayer and gratitude for our blessing. Although saying grace or blessing our food wasn’t a new idea among ear...
Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico! Americas’ Sproutings, Haiku by Pat Mora, Pictures by Rafael López
Yum! ¡MmMm! ¡Qué Rico! Americas’ Sproutings is a fantastic collection of haiku by Pat Mora accompanied by illustrations from Rafael López. Have you ever thought about where some of your favorite foods come from? This Thanksgiving as you s...
Gracias Thanks by Pat Mora, Illustrated by John Parra
My father-in-law has often joked (but totally serious) that Spanish is the language that we speak in heaven. He loves the language.  He’s fluent in Spanish and uses it on a daily basis in his work and my mother-in-law recently learned it as...
A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker, Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
When I last reviewed A Visitor for Bear and interviewed the author, I was ecstatic to know that there were more books about Bear and Mouse in the works and A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker and illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton is one of those...
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is the perfect realistic fiction book with a fantasy twist. It’s a mystery too. As well as a coming of age, friendship book. In fact, When You Reach Me dabbles a little in many genres. In a short 197 p...
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
Okay folks. Surely you’ve seen this book around haven’t you? Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld. I’d seen the cover before but had never taken the time to pick it up and so I was a tad excited when it wa...
The Book That Eats People by John Perry, Illustrated by Mark Fearing
My boys LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. The Book That Eats People by John Perry and illustrated by Mark Fearing is the book that they have been picking out of my huge stack of picture books all week. We read it at least three times straight through the...
A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
I really want to share A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis with you. It’s so fun. Great story, great design, great color. It was so much fun to read. But how can I even begin to review it when Betsy at Fuse #8 has already written a rev...
Always My Brother by Jean Reagan and Illustrated by Phyllis Pollema-Cahill (with a giveaway)
Always My Brother by Jean Reagan and illustrated by Phyllis Pollema-Cahill is a very touching book and fills a need for books written for grieving children. In this lovingly written story, Becky and her brother John do everything together. Like r...
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown had me in love as soon as I laid my eyes on it.  See, my other love is gardening. If I wasn’t blogging about books than I probably would be blogging about gardening. I’m not a pro by any means but I...
Standing Still by Kelly Simmons
In Standing Still by Kelly Simmons, Claire trades in the life of a journalist for that of a stay-at-home mom. Late one night Claire hears a noise on the roof, goes upstairs and discovers an intruder in her daughters room trying to abduct her. Cla...
The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinksi (Come Share Your Life List!)
In The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinksi June Parker attends a Weight Watchers meeting that will change her life – but not how you would think. She gives a ride home to Marissa whom she’s only met for the first time that night. ...
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, Illustrated by Marla Frazee
How can I not love All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon when it’s illustrated by Marla Frazee? I adore Frazee. And All the World is no exception. How does Frazee do it? I discovered Frazee last year (links to other reviews at end of post)...
Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty
I picked up Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty at the library because I couldn’t resist that adorable cover. Brought it home to discover that it’s a Cybils nominee. Score! Poor shy Jeremy lives on the top floor of a three-story a...
Goodnight Goon, A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex
Goodnight Goon, A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex is a parody off of Goodnight Moon which I must admit we don’t have in this household nor is it a book that my kids are familiar with. In fact, I think I’ve looked at Goodnight Moo...
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
My boys can not get enough of Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems which we’ve been reading in anticipation for Halloween although I would stress that although great for Halloween with its monster theme is a great everyday picture book.Â...
Where’s My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi, Illustrated by John Manders
I am SO buying Where’s My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi and illustrated by John Manders. I’m going to be really sad to see it returned to the library because my boys and I have been reading this one every day for two weeks. My little two-yea...
A Very Hairy Scary Story by Rick Walton and Illustrated by David Clark
My boys LOVED A Very Hairy Scary Story by Rick Walton and illustrated by David Clark. As soon as we finished reading it they wanted to read it again. Over and over.  I think we read it at least four times in a row the first time. Ann has staye...
Dear Vampa by Ross Collins
Dear Vampa by Ross Collins is such a cute Halloween book although I admit that I didn’t think so on first impressions from thumbing through it. Once I sat down and read it, I thought it was fun. The Pires, who live in Pennsylvania aren’...
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis has one of the strangest main characters I’ve ever read. Mazzy is just so quirky. No doubt about it. To tell you the truth, it’s been months since I read this book (yes – shoot me, I’m...
Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal
In Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal, the home of thirteen-year-old Pinky is full of secrets. Having lost her mother in infancy and given up by her father, Pinky lives with her aunt and uncle and three boy cousins in Bombay, in what used to be a be...
Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
I had no idea what Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman was about when I put it on hold at the library. It was chosen for my Children’s Literature Book Club (we were reading all Beehive Award nominees) and being the dutiful member that I ...
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo is in the same magical vein as The Tale of Despereaux. Although the book doesn’t start out with the words “Once Upon a Time,” it certainly has that fairy tale feeling with the first li...
Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf
Loved this book. Loved it. Read on . . . One of my favorite types of books to read are books that take place around World War II and the Holocaust. There will never be a drought of stories to tell from this horrific part of history. But I was sho...
Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
I picked up a copy of Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines when I was at Book Expo America in New York City earlier in the summer. I must admit that I was intrigued with the book but I was afraid it was a copycat of The Hunger Games, so I didn’...
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman (Skeleton Creek Series)
Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman is the follow up book to Skeleton Creek. I love this series because of it’s creativity . If you are not familiar with Skeleton Creek (which you can check out my review and details here), it’s a b...
