jarmstrong@northshire.com's blog

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin - Book Review

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Little Fox in the Forest By Stephanie Graegin, Stephanie Graegin (Illustrator) Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780553537895
Availability: Special Order
Published: Random House Studio - February 28th, 2017

This wordless picture book is an absolute delight. The story, told entirely in pictures, alternates between full page spreads and small panels, providing an exciting mix of pacing and detail. A little girl takes her beloved stuffed fox toy to school for show and tell; on the playground, a little fox child steals the toy, and an anguished search and rescue mission begins. The girl and a friend eventually find themselves in a forest village populated by all sorts of animal families, and at last find the little fox child playing with the fox doll. I won't spoil the ending for you; trust me when I say that this tale has all the pathos, character development, and suspense you could ask for in a picture book. Full of charming details to spot in the artwork, and a storyline that is easy to follow while giving full credit to the emotional roller-coaster of childhood lost-and-found. This one can melt your heart. ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong


The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust, Volume 1) by Philip Pullman - Book Review

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The Book of Dust:  La Belle Sauvage (Book of Dust, Volume 1) By Philip Pullman Cover Image
$22.99
ISBN: 9780375815300
Availability: IN WAREHOUSE - Usually Ships in 3-7 Business Days
Published: Knopf Books for Young Readers - October 19th, 2017

Welcome, once again, to Pullman's extraordinary imagination. The master storyteller has brought us back to the world of His Dark Materials, but earlier on, with some familiar characters and most notably, a new hero in a sturdy canoe: Malcolm Polstead. Part Arthurian quest, part Noah's flood, part Odyssey, part flight into Egypt, La Belle Sauvage will take you for a wild ride that will leave you breathless and yearning for more. ages 10+ ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong


Pup and Bear by Kate Banks - Book Review

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Pup and Bear By Kate Banks, Naoko Stoop (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Kate Banks, Naoko Stoop (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780399554094
Availability: Special Order
Published: Schwartz & Wade - October 3rd, 2017

High in the Arctic a wolf pup gets lost, but a mama polar bear takes him in. The refrain, "I'm not your mother, but ..." lets us know that lost pup will be okay. When the wolf grows up, he has a chance to return the kindness. Ages 3+ ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong


Someday, Narwhal by Lisa Mantchev - Book Review

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Someday, Narwhal By Lisa Mantchev, Hyewon Yum (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Lisa Mantchev, Hyewon Yum (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9781481479707
Availability: Special Order
Published: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books - October 17th, 2017

This charming companion book to Strictly No Elephants easily stands alone. A tiny pet narwhal dreams of exploring the world outside, but is full of doubts and fears until a gang of friends comes to help allay all those worries. Very sweet! Ages 3+ ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong


Refugee by Alan Gratz - Book Review

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Refugee By Alan Gratz Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780545880831
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Scholastic Press - July 25th, 2017

Three intertwined stories of three refugee families - one, a German Jewish family fleeing Nazi persecution in the 1930s and heading to Cuba, another, a Cuban family facing the Florida Straits in a homemade boat to escape Castro's oppression in 1994, and finally a Syrian family risking everything to reach Germany today. These three stories, featuring three frightened but determined young protagonists, bring the refugee crisis vividly to life for readers in fourth grade and up. Families and classrooms will have much to discuss with this one. Highly recommended. ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong


A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge - Book Review

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A Face Like Glass By Frances Hardinge Cover Image
$19.95
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9781419724848
Published: Amulet Books - May 9th, 2017

Not since The Golden Compass have I been so completely enthralled by a fantasy world. This is an extraordinary adventure with a picaresque heroine you can't help cheering on. Highly recommended for readers eleven and older. ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong


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