Tuesday 28 September 2021

Book Review: "Pony" by R. J. Palacio


⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

If you've read any of my other book reviews, you'll already know that every book I read and review starts off with the full 5 stars and the hope that they are all fully standing firm by the end of the book.

Let's get started on this book, yeah?

I'm already confuzzled... there seem to be sections then chapters within each section that the numbering re-starts at 1 again, so if I'm already confused then it doesn't look good already, right?  I'm going into it with an open mind (and a mouthful of choccie biccies for my lunch lol) and will be happy to be proved wrong by the author and publisher.

Ah right, so the "chapters" within each section are more like scenes than chapters.  That fifth star is still in place, but the author should have chosen different words several times unless it's a book for older teens??  Just checked and apparently it's for 9-11 year olds and there's no way that they would understand some of the word choices, so that star is coming off after all.

It's such a boring book that I've skipped half way through it now and something pretty big seems to have happened in the pages I've skipped over but I'm really not feeling motivated to go back and read them, so would a child feel the same way?  I'm knocking off another star 'cos of flicking so far ahead, so we're down to three stars now unfortunately.

It hasn't gotten any better, so I've skipped even farther ahead now, unfortunately.

I give up... I've skipped through more than I've read because it's so dull, but the publisher obviously spotted something I've missed, but I can't help how I feel about this book.  It's a very reluctant 3 stars unfortunately.


Sunday 26 September 2021

News on 26th September 2021

Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

26th September 2021

Bringing children's literature authors together

Award winning authors to star at Book Festival in Falmouth

USAID Program Boosts Children’s Literacy in Rwanda

Pennsylvania school district reverses ban on books by authors of color after backlash from students

Local authors Nicole Magistro and Alice Feagan talk about new book

Neev Book Awards 2020: Here are the four winning books and their authors (and sneak peeks)

1,000 books donated ahead of Saturday’s Book Festival

Bebington teacher changes career and writes first book

Budget and books for children

Why firefighter Joe is hot property as the Sheffield author of a children's book

A diversity of kids' books shines at Neev Book Awards 2021

Amanda Gorman: ‘I wanted my words to re-sanctify the steps of the Capitol’

Author Linda Hagan: ‘Belfast and Carrickfergus are as capable of throwing up mysteries as Edinburgh or Oxford’

Two new children’s books, Aai And I and The World Awaits, explore identity and acts of kindness

Reviving the nostalgia around Soviet-era children's books

Bringing children's literature authors together

Canadian radio host reveals inspiration behind new children’s book, ‘The Science of Song’

Children's books inspire first concert of new season for Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra

Why firefighter Joe is hot property as the Sheffield author of a children's book

Notts dad created emotion posters and wrote book after son suffered mental health problems during pandemic

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry swamped by kids' hugs as Duchess stuns in vivid red coat

Upfront: Artist and illustrator Fatti Burke on the art of kindness, learning and collecting tattoos

Nonbinary characters like 'Gonzo-rella' are lighting up children's TV and encouraging self-acceptance

5 SUPERB Soviet children's books worth revisiting as an adult

Wilhelm: Remembering the works of Dr. Seuss

Bernardine Evaristo on a childhood shaped by racism: ‘I was never going to give up’

Pennsylvania school district reverses ban on books by authors of colour after students fought back

Pennsylvania school district reverses ban on books by authors of color after backlash from students

Auburn University EAGLES student, recent alumna publish children’s book about friendship, inclusion

Nonbinary characters like ‘Gonzo-rella’ are lighting up children’s TV and encouraging self-acceptance

New storybook to help children stay hopeful during COVID-19

‘Are you telling me that in 2021 stories about same-sex couples need parental guidance’

Local authors Nicole Magistro and Alice Feagan talk about new book

Hundreds take part in summer scarecrow trail

The Little Library That Could: Rahway Book Exchange Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary

Hugging Sea Horse Book Is Too Racy For Schools, Tennessee Moms Group Says