A little witch with a big red pointy hat wants to take a late night flight on a broom but discovers that goblin is using it to sweep up spilled flour. After going back and forth about each needing the broom, the little witch helps goblin clean it up.  Afterwards, she takes goblin on a broom ride.

The text is very simple.  Most lines are only a few words.

“I want the broom.”
“I need the broom.”
“I want it.”
“I need it.”

Many spreads just have a single word.  Makes for easy reading for those with the shortest attention spans. The illustrations are also simple with large swaths of flat color. I wasn’t in love with the character illustrations but a story of friendship and working together which the youngest children should enjoy for it’s simplicity.

Links of interest: Sergio Ruzzier website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. August 10, 2010.
Hardcover, 32 pages. ISBN 1416991131
Source: Review copy for 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round  panelist.
Broom Zoom is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

In Shattered Dreams, Irene Spencer told the devastating story of her arduous life in a polygamous fundamentalist Mormon sect [Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times], sharing her husband with nine other women (and fifty-six children) in abject poverty and intense mental and emotional anguish.  As harrowing as the story was, it was only just the beginning.

Cult Insanity delves deeper into her story, focusing on the terrifying acts of Ervil LeBaron,, her brother-in-law and a self-proclaimed prophet who determined he had been called to set the house of God in order.

The older brother of Irene’s husband, Verlan, Ervil LeBaron had a zeal for living and teaching that was at first admired but soon took on a sinister tone.  Ervil’s ambitions quickly turned lethal when he uncovered a doctrine concerning blood atonement – the act of redeeming a sinners soul by taking his or her life.  Seeing himself as God’s Avenger, he used the role as a means to terrorize and destroy those who challenged him.

Irene quickly became enveloped in a dark cloud of fear and anguish.  Survival for herself and her ever-growing family turned into a constant flight from one desert camp to another across the harsh badlands of Baja, California.  Food was scarce and living conditions abhorrent.  Irene didn’t see her husband for months, never knowing if Ervil would make good on his vow to kill him.

I previously read Irene Spencer’s first memoir, Shattered Dreams, My Life as a Polygamist, two years ago and called it one of the best books I’d read all year.  While I would recommend that you read Shattered Dreams first, Cult Insanity can easily be read as a stand alone. Where Shattered Dreams focuses more on the intimate details of Irene’s feelings about living life as a polygamist, Cult Insanity dives deeper into the politics of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times and the LaBaron family.

There are a lot of people to account for in Cult Insanity and Irene jumps around a lot in her telling, making the not linear account sometimes a bit difficult to keep track of.  But the account that she gives is as the title aptly calls it, pure insanity.  Just like Shattered Dreams, I couldn’t put this book down.  Shattered Dreams felt a bit more personal to me and thus I liked it a bit more. Don’t get me wrong though, this book was just one bit as interesting and also just as appalling.

Even as I continue to read these types of memoirs, I never cease to be shocked with what kind of behavior goes on behind closed communities.  If interested in polygamy and religious extremist groups and wanting to read a personal, firsthand experience about life among the LeBaron group then Cult Insanity is the book for you.

Links of interest:  Irene Spencer website, Maw Books review of Shattered Dreams, My Life as a Polygamist,  more book blogger reviews. Other polygamist memoirs I’ve reviewed: Stolen Innocence by Elissa Wall with Lisa Pulitzer, Escape by Carolyn Jessop,
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publisher:  Center Street. August 12, 2009.
Hardcover, 352 pages. ISBN 0446538191
Copy source: Review copy sent from the publisher at my request.
Cult Insanity is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Sadly, as has been shown in my earlier posts about other potty training books, my sons love of potty training books does not necessarily translate to success on the potty.  I wish he had has much enthusiasm for the potty has he does reading his books.  I read Bear in Underwear three times back-to-back today with cries of “Again! Again!”  We would have kept going if I wasn’t sick and my voice gave out.  My husband also told me he read it a few times this morning as well.  I did notice my five-year-old pick up the book later and read the text to himself from memory (to clarify: he’s not the one in need of help, that would he his little brother).

In Bear in Underwear, Bear is playing with his forest friends when he finds a backpack full of underwear.  He tries on each pair looking for the perfect fit but they are either too big, too small, too loose, too silly, too girly, too dirty, or too itchy.  It isn’t until he tries on a pair of tighty whiteys that he finds the perfect fit.

What you can’t tell from the cover illustration is that the underwear on the cover is plush.  My boys thought that was hilarious. But their most favorite part of the story is seeing a back shot of Bear’s bum.  They would laugh and laugh over that one a good long while.  Overall, a good book for my boys.  I told my youngest later, “Hey, you’re wearing underwear just like Bear!” to which he responded proudly, “Yes, I am!”  A nice success until I found him in his bedroom slyly changing that wet underwear into a new dry pair.  Sigh . . . off to hunt for another puddle somewhere.

Links of interest: Todd H. Doodler is a pseudonym for Todd Goldman (no surprise there – as soon as I saw the last name Doodler for a children’s author, I figured it was too good to be true). More book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction Picture Book, approx age 4-8.
Publisher: Blue Apple Books. March 1, 2010
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 1609050169
Source: Library copy.  A 2010 Cybil’s nomination for which I am a 1st round  panelist.
Bear in Underwear is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

We recently had a dinosaur themed birthday party for my now five-year-old boy. I collected all of my dinosaur books and stood them up all around the room.  As kids came in and played many of them found books to read.  This one was really popular and so I decided to read it out loud to several of the kids.  They were totally into it.

Nothing can stop this dinosaur.  He takes on a pile of leaves, a big slide, a bowl of spaghetti, talking grown ups, bath time and toothbrushing and he always wins the battle.  But can he beat bedtime?

A fantastic bedtime book.  Which admittedly might get your kids more riled up when you want them calming down but this book is just too good to miss. Love this character.


Links of interest: Bob Shea website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction picture book. Approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH September 9, 2008.
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 1423113357
Source: Library
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Dinosaur is having a great time making lemonade, splashing in the sprinklers, taking on a three juice box lunch, splashing in the rain puddles.  Nothing can beat him! He does a victory dance.  But wait, that might not be a victory dance after all.  Will he make it in time?  Will the potty win?

Such a fun, fun book to read aloud.  High energy and lot’s of roaring.  Both of my kids LOVE it.  As soon as we finished, the three-year-old said “Again!”  And then after a second reading “Again!”  We could go on and on reading this book over and over.  On just the second exposure to the book my 5-year-old was already reciting and anticipating  the text.

Love the big bold lines, the bright color, and one heck of a cute dinosaur.  Seriously love here for Bob Shea.  Thrilled that I met him at Book Expo America.  Loved the look on my kids’ face when they saw their names on the inside of the book signed by the author.  A bit confused to tell you the truth, “How did that get there?!”

Add this one to your potty training book collection.  It’s a must have.


Links of interest: Bob Shea website, more book reviews.
Genre: Fiction picture book. Approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH. September 28, 2010
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 1423133390
Copy Source: Review copy picked up from 2010 Book Expo America.
Dinosaur vs. the Potty is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

What a cute book! And a perfect book for new parents.

What happens when you get a new boss?  He puts you on a round-the-clock schedule with no time off, sets up office smack dab in  the middle of the house, makes demands and when they aren’t met right away has a fit. He conducts many, many meetings and loves to have them in the middle of the night.  No matter that nobody understands him. The boss loves the perks: the lounge, the spa, the gym, and drinks 24/7.  But one day his employees are so tired that they don’t respond to his latest demands.  He’s not getting results!  What’s a boss baby to do?

I can so relate to the demands of the boss baby in this book as well as being the tired, overworked employee.  I think that this is one of those picture books which parents just might enjoy more than their own little bosses in their lives.

Illustrated in Marla Frazee’s traditional style, it’s as usual amazing.  Love it!

Links of interest: Marla Frazee website, also reviewed on Maw Books and illustrated by Marla Frazee: All the World, Santa Claus, the Number One Toy Expert, Walk On! A Guide for Babies of All Ages and The Clementine series.
Genre: Fiction picture book.  Approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Beach Lane Books. August 31, 2010.
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 1442401672
Source:  Review copy from BEA 2010.
The Boss Baby is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Tim’s birthday is just a week away, and more than anything he wants a skateboard.  But money is tight, and Tim knows his family cannot afford to buy him a board.  As Tim ponders how he might earn money for a skateboard, he hears The Can Man down the street collecting empty soft drink cans.  The clang of the cans in the homeless man’s cart gives Tim an idea. He will collect cans too, and cash them in for the redemption money.  By the end of the week, Tim has almost reached his goal – until a couple of chance encounters with The Can Man change everything.

There were several things that I liked about this picture book.  One – the oil paintings.  I really like the look of fine art where you can see the canvas texture and brush strokes. It’s warm, simple and straightforward.

Two -  Tim’s mother is Asian and his father African-American.  I liked that.

Three – The Can Man wasn’t some crazy homeless guy on the sidewalk who everybody was scared of.  He was just a really nice guy who happened to be down on his luck.  In fact, Tim’s parents knew him prior to his collecting cans, when he used to live in their building.  He was somebody who in tough times was being resourceful and trying to do whatever he had to do to support himself.

And four – I liked that The Can Man didn’t get upset with Tim when he began to take his cans.  Tim probably should have known better but The Can Man took it all in stride.  And when Tim decides to think twice about his redemption money and that The Can Man likely needs it more than him, The Can Man is very thoughtful in saying thank you.

And last – It’s a book which easily could turn into a lecture but rather it brings the social commentary about homelessness and poverty to the forefront of the story without being in your face.  It’s a story of kindness and respect.  Of doing the right thing when perhaps you didn’t know that’s what you set out to do in the first place.

Links of interest: Laura E. Williams website, Craig Orback website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Fiction picture book. Approx ages 4-8.
Publisher: Lee & Low Books. April 30, 2010
Hardcover, 40 pages. ISBN 1600602665
Copy source: Review copy from the publisher.
The Can Man is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

But the next morning, there is a blue whale blocking the front door and it’s his responsibility to take him wherever he goes.  So he takes him to school where Mr. Wembley notices and launches into a lecture on blue whales.  His blue whale makes his life difficult on the playground.  At home he has to wash and wax the whale, and check him for barnacles according to The Blue Whale Owner’s Manual.  And let’s not think about trying to feed it.  Billy really doesn’t care much for his blue whale, it is an awful lot of work.  But then things begin to look up when Billy realizes that the blue whale just might be the answer to all of his problems.

I always pay attention  to the end flaps of picture books.  Most admittedly are boring and I love it when extra attention is paid here.  The end flaps are old fashioned ads are funny and each tells a story on their own.    The illustrations by Adam Rex are very entertaining.  I do admit though that Billy Twitters looks very sickly.

Many of the spreads are wordless which just enhances the story while children take on part of the storytelling.  This book is full of whale facts which kids will enjoy but they are seamlessly woven into the story.  The illustrations also convey a lot of facts as well:  size comparisons and a baleen explanation (you’ll just have to read the book or know a thing or two about blue whales for an explanation of that one).

A very unique picture book.  Well worth taking a look at.

Links of interest: Mac Barnett website, Adam Rex website, more book blogger reviews.
Genre:  Fiction Picture Book, approx ages 4-8.
Publisher:  Hyperion Book.  June 23, 2009
Hardcover, 48 pages. ISBN 0786849584
Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

From the back cover:

Ever since he can remember, Robin, child of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman.  He must learn the ways of knighthood.  but Robin’s destiny is changed suddenly when he falls ill and loses the use of his legs.  Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him and Robin is left alone.

A monk named Brother Luke rescues Robin and takes him to the hospice of St. Marks, where he is taught woodcarving and – much harder – patience and strength.  Says Brother Luke, “Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it.”

Robin learns soon enough what Brother Luke means.  And when the great castle of Lindsay is in danger, it is Robin, who cannon mount a horse and ride to battle, who saves the townspeople and discovers that there is more than one way to serve his king.

Shortest book review ever. But really, not much else to say.  Noteworthy in the aspect that I don’t often read books set in the Middle Ages. A perfectly fine book.

Links of interest:  More book blogger reviews.
Genre: Historical Fiction, approx ages 9-12.
Publisher:  Yearling. July 1990 later printing. Original publication date 1949.
Paperback, 128 pages. ISBN 0440402832
Source copy: Own
The Door in the Wall is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.

Nikki still has a crush on Brandon, and things are looking up when he asks her to be his lab partner in school.  But Nikki is heartbroken when she discovers that Brandon is taking mean girl MacKenzie to the upcoming Halloween dance.  So it’s no problem when she agrees to spend the night instead helping out a kids’ Halloween party for her little sister.

It ends up that MacKenzie lied about the whole thing.  Can Nikki’s dream of going to the Halloween party with Brandon come true?  Can she juggle two parties?  Combine that with the natural adventures that Nikki manages to get herself into, and life is always interesting.

Dork Diaries is funny, easy to read, and has adorable illustrations.  Nikki’s full of spunk and her diary is certainly one entertaining read.  Can’t wait to continue with this series as they continue to be published and hope that they have a long life.  Hilariously good.

Links of interest: Dork Diaries website and blog.  Maw Books review of Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, approx ages 9-12.
Publisher: Aladdin. June 8, 2010.
Hardcover, 288 pages. ISBN 1416980083
Source copy: review copy
Dork Diaries is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.

Copyright 2010. Maw Books Blog

Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell’s, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.