Showing posts with label Childrens literature and YA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Childrens literature and YA. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls: Book Review


Started: April 29, 2025

This is a reread.  As I mention in the video, I think I read it around 4th grade.  However, as this is my first time reviewing this book on this blog, according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.





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Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Peter Pan by James M. Barrie: Book Review


This is the novel, and not the stage play.  As I mentioned in the video, my understanding is that originally the novel was called Peter Pan and Wendy and the stage play was called Peter Pan.  But nowadays most reprintings of the novel just call it Peter Pan, so that's the name I'm going with here. 

Started: April 22, 2025

This is a reread.  I read this book for the first time when I was in 6th grade.  I did it again as an audiobook in 2010.  (2010 was before I started reviewing rereads on this blog, so I didn't review it at that time.)  So this is be my 3rd time going through this book.  (I have also revisited parts of this book in 2014 in my lessons-- here and here, but I did not reread the whole book at that time, only selections from it.)  However, as this is my first time reviewing this book on this blog, according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.



Addendum: One of the disadvantages of doing these video reviews unscripted is that sometimes I'll just forget to talk about something until after I've shut off the video camera.  In this case, I had meant to talk about the last chapter, but it slipped my mind.  
The last chapter is really heartbreaking.  It's where James Barrie reminds his readers that there's a tragic side to the story of Peter Pan, and it really hits me everytime I read it.  I was noticing this time around that the emotional punch in the last chapter is done by the author doing an expert job of describing the reactions of the characters.  It's very well-written, and calculated to produce exactly the reaction that it produces.





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Wednesday, April 16, 2025

R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH by Jane Leslie Conly: Book Review


Started: April 12, 2025

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)




The quote I alluded to is from Nicodemus from Chapter 21 of Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.  The exact quote is as follows:
Surely rats would have developed reading and writing, judging by the way we took to it. But what about machines? What about cars and airplanes? Maybe not airplanes. After all, monkeys, living in trees, must have felt a need to fly, must have envied the birds around them. Rats may not have that instinct.
In the same way, a rat civilization would probably never have built skyscrapers, since rats prefer to live underground. But think of the endless subways-below-subways-below-subways they would have had.





I was able to read this book thanks to the Michigan statewide state-wide interlibrary loan service called MeLCat, which may be in danger thanks to a Presidential executive order.  If you, like me, enjoy using MeLCat, contact your local representatives and let them know. 

Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/JoelSwagman

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Sunday, April 13, 2025

Racso and the Rats of NIMH by Jane Leslie Conly: Book Review


Started: April 9, 2025

(This is a reread.  I originally read this book in 5th grade, as I mentioned before in this post here.  However, this is the first time I'm reviewing this book on this blog, so, according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)








I was able to read this book thanks to the Michigan statewide state-wide interlibrary loan service called MeLCat, which may be in danger thanks to a Presidential executive order.  If you, like me, enjoy using MeLCat, contact your local representatives and let them know. 

Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/JoelSwagman

Check out this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cqWvwt            (This is an Amazon Associate's Link.  If you buy anything through that link, I get a commission.)
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Sunday, April 06, 2025

The Visitors from Oz by L. Frank Baum pictured by Dick Martin

According to the Oz Wiki, this book was adapted by Jean Kellogg. 

(Book Review--Land of Oz, Fantasy, Children's Books)  

Started: April 4, 2025

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)




Related Playlists: 






I was able to read this book thanks to the Michigan statewide state-wide interlibrary loan service called MeLCat, which may be in danger thanks to a Presidential executive order.  If you, like me, enjoy using MeLCat, contact your local representatives and let them know. 

Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/JoelSwagman

Check out this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4i3zq4c       (This is an Amazon Associate's Link.  If you buy anything through that link, I get a commission.)
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Sunday, March 09, 2025

The Second Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling: Book Review


Started: March 4, 2025

This is a reread.  As I mentioned in the video, I originally read The Jungle Books (which combined The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book into one volume) back in 6th grade.  However, since this is my first time reviewing this book on this blog, according to my new rules, it gets a video only review.





Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

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Saturday, February 22, 2025

Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson: Book Review

(Book Review--Land of Oz, Fantasy, Children's Books)  


(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.) 



Links to stuff mentioned:

Related Playlists: 






Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/JoelSwagman

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Thursday, February 20, 2025

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl: Book Review



(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)




Related Playlists: 




Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/JoelSwagman

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson: Book Review

(Book Review--Land of Oz, Fantasy, Children's Books)  


(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)



Links to stuff mentioned:
* Dane Cobian's review of this same book: https://youtu.be/SPqqENvpQfU?si=ifzMx3A2QsLKMvPY

Related Playlists: 





Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Support me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/JoelSwagman

Check out this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jw1VsY       (This is an Amazon Associate's Link.  If you buy anything through that link, I get a commission.)
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Saturday, January 18, 2025

Bone: Quest for the Spark Trilogy by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith: Review

 

(Book Review--Bone Series)

Bone: Quest for the Spark Trilogy by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith: Review


Related Playlists: 





Did you enjoy this review? Consider supporting me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Check out these books on Amazon:

(These are Amazon Associate's Links.  If you buy anything through these links, I get a commission.)

Playlist HERE: 

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Bone: Quest for the Spark Book Three by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith: Book Review



(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)



Related Playlists: 





Did you enjoy this review? Consider donating to me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman

Check out this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/42cMW0T   (This is an Amazon Associate's Link.  If you buy anything through that link, I get a commission.)
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Thursday, January 16, 2025

Bone: Quest for the Spark Book Two by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith: Book Review



(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)



Related Playlists: 





Did you enjoy this review? Consider donating to me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/joelswagman


Check out this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gQNDS5   (This is an Amazon Associate's Link.  If you buy anything through that link, I get a commission.)
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Saturday, January 11, 2025

Matilda by Roald Dahl: Book Review



(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)



Links to stuff mentioned:

Stephen Roxburgh is the editor whose name I forget in the video.  He worked on Roald Dahl with The Witches and Matilda.

As for the altered text, according to Wikipedia, this is an example of the original version: 
It is a curious truth that grasshoppers have their hearing-organs in the sides of the abdomen. Your daughter Vanessa, judging by what she's learnt this term, has no hearing-organs at all.

And here is the altered version (this is the version that was in the book I read): 
It is a curious truth that grasshoppers have their hearing-organs in the sides of the abdomen. Judging by what your daughter Vanessa has learnt this term, this fact alone is more interesting than anything I have taught in the classroom.

Wikipedia article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(novel)

Related Playlists: 




Check out this book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DZyjnu        (This is an Amazon Associate's Link.  If you buy anything through that link, I get a commission.)
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Thursday, January 09, 2025

Bone: Quest for the Spark Book One by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith: Book Review



(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)



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Saturday, August 17, 2024

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling: Book Review


On my shelves: May 22, 2022
Started: August 12, 2024

This is a reread.  As mentioned in the video, I originally read this book when I was in middle school (*). But since this is the first time I am reviewing this book on this blog, according to my new rules, it gets a video only review.




Notes:
(*) Also as I mention in the video, the edition I originally read in middle school was actually The Jungle Books (A), which combined The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book (W) into one volume.
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Friday, June 14, 2024

Robin Hood by Henry Gilbert: Book Review


On My Shelves: May 12, 2024 
Started: May 14, 2024

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.) 



[This is, alas, yet another video review that isn't very good.  As is so often the case, it was late at night and I was tired when I filmed this.  Plus, I had the camera facing at the book, because I wanted to show things from the book while I talked.  But I'm beginning to think this style doesn't suit me so well.  I have a hard time maintaining my train of thought and flipping through the book at the same time.  I think I'm probably more coherent when I'm just talking to the camera.]

Links to stuff mentioned:
My previous reviews of Robin Hood books:

Links to the other booktuber I mentioned: 
Such a disappointment | Robin Hood by Henry Gilbert | Book Review: https://youtu.be/0QAAXG8vN1k?si=xg_1lXLfrwAphYa0

May 19, 2024 Robin Hood p.1-52
May 26, 2024 Robin Hood p.52-118
June 2, 2024 Robin Hood p.118-152
June 09, 2024 Robin Hood p.152-238

Playlist HERE: 

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Monday, May 13, 2024

The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green: Review


On My Shelves: March 26, 2023 
Started: May 07, 2024

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.) 




May 12, 2024 p.1-242

Playlist HERE:

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Friday, February 02, 2024

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney: Book Review


Started: February 01, 2024
Finished: February 01, 2024

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)

 

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Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney: Book Review


Started: January 30, 2024
Finished: January 31, 2024

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)



Addendum: One thing I dropped the ball on in this review--according to Wikipedia:
Kinney commented that he enjoyed writing the book because "there’s so much humor to be mined in the world of middle school romance."[2]
I should have talked more in my video about the school dance and the angst about getting a date which was the focus point of much of this book, but I didn't. 
If I had talked about it, however, my commentary would have been much the same as the rest of the book--i.e. some of it was funny, but mostly the situations were pushed too far so that it took me out of the book.
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Friday, November 17, 2023

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules by Jeff Kinney: Book Review


Started: November 17, 2023
Finished: November 17, 2023

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)


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