The Ghost of Opalina, or Nine Lives, by Peggy Bacon

The Ghost of Opalina , or Nine Lives, by Peggy Bacon (1967), is an utterly charming cat ghost fantasy story. It starts in my most favorite w...

Hilda and the Midnight Giant, by Luke Pearson

Hilda and the Midnight Giant , by Luke Pearson (Nobrow Press, April 17, 2012, ages eight and up, 40 pages) is another fine addition to the g...

to dream a little dream

ethan and i got away this weekend.  it was really for only a day, but it was everything i needed. the air on Saturday morning was cool and t...

Waiting on Wednesday--Freakling, by Lana Krumwiede

Perhaps, like me, you have a twelve-year old boy kicking around the house who is a picky reader of frustrating randomness, and you are alway...

Bridge of Time, by Lewis Buzbee, for Timeslip Tuesday

So this morning I had an actual time travel experience--I woke up and it was already eight thirty and we had missed the school bus, but then...

Robotics: Discover the Science and Technology of the Future

Robotics: Discover the Science and Technology of the Future , by Kathy Ceceri (with 20 projects) (Nomad Press, August 2012, 128 pages) is a...

I've labeled my dragon book posts--and they are few in number. I ask why, and don't come up with an answer.

I just went through all 1927 of my posts to label ones about dragons as " dragons ." So if anyone wants some nice dragon books (a...

This Sunday's round-up of middle grade fantasy and science fiction from around the blogs (8/26/2012)

Good morning, and welcome to another Sunday morning round-up of all the posts I found in my blog reading of interest to fans of middle grade...

The Scorpions of Zahir, by Christine Brodien-Jones

The Scorpions of Zahir , by Christine Brodien -Jones ( Delacorte , July 2012, middle grade) Eleven year old Zagora Pym is named for a town ...

tgif:)

currently:   +it's friday. cue happy dance. +it's gloomy outside and i'm OBSESSED with it.  i LOVE this weather. +just had the ...

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl, by Ben Hatke

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl , by Ben Hatke (First Second, September 4, 2012, ages 8 and up) is the sequel to the utterly charming Zita the...

Splendors and Glooms, by Laura Amy Schiltz

Splendors and Glooms , by Laura Amy Schiltz (Candlewick, August 28, 2012, middle grade) In late 19th century London, a lonely rich girl name...

il dolce far niente

back in june and july, i mostly stopped writing.  my life was crazed with preparing for the end of ethan's deployment and homecoming.  m...

Caterpillar Hall, by Anne Barrett, for Timeslip Tuesday

Back in the spring, a friend of mine reviewed Caterpillar Hall , by Anne Barrett (1950) on her blog, Staircase Wit , and I was intrigued as ...

on last weekend and doing nothing

on Friday, i discovered that i may have what is known as burnout. that was the day i took off from work.  and it was a really nice day. i sl...

This Sunday's round-up of middle grade fantasy and science fiction from around the blogs (8/19/2012)

Here's what I learned this week: wall paper is not easier than plastering and painting. Unless your house is new. This is why I am ...

The Brixen Witch, by Stacy DeKeyser

The Brixen Witch , by Stacy DeKeyser (Margaret K. McElderry Books, June 26, 2012, middle grade) is a fresh and fun re-telling of the story o...

stream of consciousness

i'm convinced that this is the way i should do my blogging from now on. you see, we don't have internet at my house currently.  whic...