Summer Reading: Week Four

For a week when I wasn't working, I was working a lot this week, so I didn't read as much as I would have preferred.

I did read a couple of graphic novels, including Bone, which is one that a lot of middle schoolers enjoy and I've been meaning to check out for a while. It was light, and a quick read, but clever and enjoyable as well. I can see why it's popular with middle school readers.

Most of my reading time was focused on another beta read for another writing friend. We're going to have to talk about the ending, but otherwise, it was a really amazing book. She's a very talented writer.

NJ, on the other hand, has read up a storm! We picked up an audio book of Cornelia Funke's Ghosthunters series. We'd already listened to The Incredibly Revolting Ghost and The Gruesome Invincible Lightning Ghost sometime this past year. This one is #4: Ghosthunters and the Muddy Monster of Doom! Like all the books in this series, it features Tom and

his ghosthunting partners Hetty Hyssop and Hugo (an Averagely Spooky Ghost). I enjoy listening to these audiobooks, too. They are longer and more in depth stories, and are well performed by John Beach. I like how important knowledge is in the series. Tom and Hetty always figure something out through research and applying past knowledge rather than by luck.

The series is the right kind of spooky for my seven year old, too. She feels like she's hearing a scary story, but she won't have nightmares. There's plenty of comedy in the series as well. It's also nice that the main pair of ghosthunters are an eleven year old boy and a woman old enough to be his grandmother.

Besides Ghosthunters, Norah has begun to enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. She found book one in her sister's discard pile and snatched it up. Just like her mama, NJ enjoys a good graphic novel and Kinney's school situations make her laugh a lot.

She also returned to an old love this week: Mo Willems. NJ loves Mo Willems books, especially Elephant and Piggie books. Currently nearly all our library's collection is in our library book basket. She loves to read them aloud with someone, taking turns playing the part of Pig and Elephant.  There are great fun to read, with wonderful positive messages about friendship without being preachy. And if you read with expression, you'll find plenty to smile about.

M bought something at Barnes and Noble last week, but since she is still with the bio-Dad for her summer visitation, I don't yet know what it was or how she is enjoying it.

So, that's our summer reading this week. I can't believe it's already been a month!