We have finally gotten back into the swing of things around here and that means Five For Fun has returned to our daily reading! Abi was so excited this week to read these "surprise" books again. First on the list was The Adventures of Kitty Tom and Blossom written by Megan Bernadette Harrison. This is a collection of memories written by a local Eastern Shore author of her beloved cat "Kitty Tom" who was given to her when she was just 4 1/2 months old. This is book one in a three book series. Each page brings a funny new mishap for Kitty Tom and Blossom as they go through their days together.
Tuesday's read was a very funny book called My Sister's Rusty Bike by Jim Aylesworth. This book combines the elements of a tall tale with rhyme. The "hero" in this book borrows his sisters rusty bike to ride around America. In each state that he visits he meets "some folks I think you'll like." He also gets to meet the most interesting "critters too!" You 'll have to judge for yourself if "it's all true". This was a great way to sneak some funny geography into our day.
On Wednesday we were introduced to Lively Elizabeth by Mara Bergman. No sooner did the title spring from my lips I heard Abi say "That's just like Me". Well lively Elizabeth is quite the active character who chooses to do "what she knows she should never do" and starts quite a chain reaction. In the end, amends are made, and everything is OK again. I think my dear little girl saw herself first hand on the pages of this book which led to a great discussion on the effect of wrong choices even in jest.
Thursday we read The Curious Garden by Peter Brown. Liam lives in a very drab gray city. One day when he is out exploring he happens upon a struggling little "garden". Liam decides to secretly care for this little patch of green. One season leads to another and bit by bit the whole city is transformed. The illustrations are charming but the best tid-bit is found in the Author's at the back of the book!
Last but not least is Mrs. Mctats and her houseful of Cats. Mrs. Mctats and her cat Abner are living in a cozy cottage together.Every day Mrs. Mctats leaves the house at 8:00 sharp to go to the market to buy something to make for dinner. When she returns home there is a scratch at the door and two cats walk in....and then....a few more...and then...a few more....and...just how many cats will come to Mrs. Mctats? Find out in this enjoyable rhyming ABC book.
Abi's pick of the week is My Sister's Rusty Bike. (Shhh...don't tell her it was actually a geography book for school) My top pick this week is The Curious Garden and it is all because of the Author's note at the end!
Happy Reading!
I have been a bit behind on my reading due to January's end of year tax season! So this post is actually going to have 2 book reviews in it. The first book is Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson. This was a touching story about an elderly woman who lives alone and just despises her back-door neighbor. She is troubled by a sermon she heard at church about loving your neighbor and just knows that the Lord doesn't mean Jack. Out of the blue, a dog shows up in her yard to do his business, how rude! She is sure that the dog belongs to Jack so she brings him "home". In the mean time her step granddaughter, a runaway, shows up on her doorstep for a visit. I won't spoil the ending but it is a great "feel good" read. 
