Book Review Rosanne Parry’s: A Wolf Called Wander

 

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

 

With A Wolf Called Wander Roseanne Parry has written a fun, page turning, nature novel. This is a work of fiction which was inspired by an Oregon wolf called OR-7 who took an epic hike. Monica Armino’s beautiful black and white illustrations enhance the story. First published in 2019 by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, Ms. Parry’s book became a New York Times best seller. While it may seem disingenuous to review such a book, today’s third graders would have been only two or three years old when this book debuted. Swift, a wolf pup, grows with his siblings to a yearling and then events force him to migrate the length of Eastern Oregon, a long journey. By forming a friendship with a raven, he gains survival and social emotional skills.

A Wolf Called Wander is recommended for grades three through seven although many adults will also enjoy it. The paperback story is 209 pages long with an additional 30 pages of extensive back matter including habitat and animal definitions, a map, photographs and additional resources.

 

Visit author: Roseanne Parry

Visit illustrator: Monica Armino 

Visit cover artist: Cindy Derby

Learn more about cover designer: Sylvie Le Floc'h 

Visit Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Learn more about map illustrator: Ryan O'Rourke 

Visit Greg Pattridge host of: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Visit your local bookstore: Boulder Bookstore 

Book Review: Avi's Crispin: The Cross of Lead

Crispin 2021 cover by Keith Robinson

 

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi was first published in 2002 by Disney Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group, and awarded the Newbery Medal in 2003 for distinguished contribution to children’s literature. The paperback version was published in 2021 by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group. The book is over 20 years old, still relevant and new to today’s middle graders who were not born in 2003. Crispin a 13 year old orphaned serf lives in 1377 England. This is a tale of survival with themes of death, skills, adoption, and freedom. In spite of its rather grim circumstances this is a fun book to read. The descriptions of thirteenth century England are engrossing and Crispin’s character is captivating. I tend to reread this book during Arctic cold fronts and feel incredibly comfortable as serfs’ houses were cold, wet and drafty as they lacked doors, floors, chimneys and watertight roofs.

Warning: There is a graphic description of a decaying corpse on the gallows.

The back matter includes a Historical Note by Avi, an Interview with Avi and a Glossary. The paperback version is 310 pages long.

 

Poetry

 

Blue sky and Snow photo by ET Charles

 

 

 

  Honored to have my poems published on The Dirigible Balloon

 

Red Fox, The Dirigible Balloon, December 2024

Winter Day, The Dirigible Balloon, December 2024

December Lights, The Dirigible Balloon, December 2024

 

Osprey Chick, The Dirigible Balloon, June 2024

Ruby Throated Hummingbird, The Dirigible Balloon, June 2024

 

 

Book Review: Avi's Ragweed & Poppy

 

Ragweed & Poppy illustrated by Brian Floca

I purchased Ragweed & Poppy by Newbery Award winning author, Avi a few years ago and have read and reread it. In an ideal forest adventurous mice, Ragweed and Poppy, form friendships, solve problems and exhibit leadership. This middle grade novel published in paperback in 2021 is 288 pages long. Caldecott winning artist Brian Floca rendered engaging depictions of mice and a tedious baby racoon in black and white throughout the book. While this is Book 2 in a series of 7, I read it first and as a stand-alone book; it is a fun book for all. Advanced readers will read above grade level and reluctant readers will enjoy the illustrations and mouse antics.

Visit Avi

Visit illustrator Brian Floca 

Visit Greg Pattridge host of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

Visit your local bookshop Second Star to the Right 

Review: Polly Holyoke's Skyriders

 

Skyriders cover illustrated by Brandon Dorman

             Polly Holyoke has written a fantasy adventure, Skyriders which is published by Viking an imprint of Penguin Random House, with skysteeds, winged horses, and a young central protagonist named Kie who battles with winged monsters called chimerae. Ms. Holyoke draws the reader in with her first sentence and continues to entertain throughout the book. Brandon Dorman has beautifully illustrated the cover depicting Kie riding her skysteed, N’Rah. Many strong adolescent female and male characters populate this book which has won multiple awards.

Skyriders was designed by Lucia Baez and published in 2023 with 291 pages of story and marketed for readers who are 8 – 12 years old and in grades 3 – 7. This is the first book in the Skyriders series and is a well written fantasy for middle graders with themes of flying and caring for skysteeds and family.

 

Visit: Polly Holyoke

Visit cover illustrator: Brandon Dorman

Visit book designer: Lucia Baez 

Visit Greg Pattridge host of: Marvelous Middle Grade Monday 

Visit Your Local Book Store Second Star to the Right