Dalia's Wondrous Hair

Dalia's Wondrous Hair
Author: Laura Lacamara
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reviewer: Yolanda

Summary: A little Cuban girl named Dalia woke up with extremely tall thick hair. She pretended to be a tree and gave her mother opportunities to guess what tree she was. Time and time again her mother guessed wrong so Dalia went off into different environments to add on to her hair tree. Eventually revealing the true nature of it at the end.

Review: This is such a cute story that is filled with a lot of culture not only through writing, but there the depiction of the illustrations. I love the fact that the book is in both English and Spanish and how it shows a mother’s support in the decisions the main character, Dalia, has when it came to how she wanted her hair. It is a very beautiful mother and daughter story.

This Is A Ball

This Is A Ball
Author: Beck and Matt Stanton
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Gloria

 

Summary: The book was about making kids think about what they are reading as well as what they are seeing. It invites kids to participate, and have fun with the book.

Review: I really enjoyed reading this book, I liked how silly it was. The book was very fun to read, I think the way it has the children participate is a great idea. The story was short and simple, repetitive, and the illustration was very colorful. It causes them to also use their imagination. I think it would be a great story time book.

Letters to a Prisoner

Letters to a Prisoner
Author: Jacques Goldstyn
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Juan

Summary: A wordless story told entirely through illustrations, Letter to a Prisoner captures the power of hope and the freedom to express ones ideas. Inspired by Amnesty International’s Write for Rights campaign, the book shares the story of a man who has been detained for participating in a peaceful protest. While in solitary confinement, the man loses hope of ever being released and begins to despair. Amidst his sadness, a letter of support delivered by a bird arrives. Day by day letters are delivered to him from all parts of the world filling his cell up to capacity. The man is then released in the most unexpected way.

Review: Delivering a powerful message about freedom of expression, Letters to a Prisoner truly empowers and motivates the reader to take a stance and understand that every individual has the power to effect change in the world.

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (DVD)
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Reviewer: Christi

Summary: Rafe, an imaginative teenager, is tired of his school's obsession with rules at the expense of any and all creativity. Desperate to shake things up, he and his best friends have come up with a plan to break every single rule in the school and let the students run wild.

Review: How did this movie not get any notice at the box office? This was one of my favorite kid’s movies I’ve seen this year. Hilarious, laugh out loud hijinks will keep you enjoying this movie the whole way through. Everyone in this movie was so perfectly cast. I can’t even decide on my favorite character (the mom’s boyfriend probably with the principal coming in a close second).  I would say if your child loved the original Wimpy Kid movies - rent this!

The Puppy Place: Ziggy

The Puppy Place: Ziggy   

Author: Ellen Miles 

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Reviewer: Denise Z.

Summary: Charles agrees to be a foster owner for Ziggy, a dachshund pup, then Ziggy runs away.

Review: The Puppy Place series is great for a young reader who loves animals, especially dogs. Each book in the series tells the story of a different dog. Ziggy is a loveable, curious dachshund that is given to a young boy named Charles. Ziggy’s first owner has too many dogs and after seeing how much interest Charles has in Ziggy, she decides to give Ziggy to him until his family can find Ziggy  a new home. The story takes an exciting turn when Ziggy escapes Charles’ home.

This book shows how to properly treat animals, what to do if you lost your dog, and entertains readers with Ziggy’s silly antics and point-of-view.