#42   
Title:    Mattimeo
Author: Brian Jacques
Narrator:  author and full cast
Genre:  Kids Series
Rating:  B
Published:  1999
Date read:   5/3/13 - 5/25/13
CD:  #/hours    12/13.5

From the back cover - “The young mouse Mattimeo should have been named ‘trouble’.  Always getting into mischief and quick to lose his temper, he seems an unlikely candidate to take up the great sword once wielded by the legendary Martin to defend Redwall Abbey’s peaceful way of life.  But when Mattiemo and his friends are kidnapped by the fierce fox Slagar the Cruel, the bold little mouse starts to change.  And as hope for rescue dims during the long march toward slavery in the evil land of Malkariss, Mattimeo learns that there is far more to becoming a true warrior than simply brandishing a sword.

“Brian Jacques’ Redwall books -- including Mossflower and Triss have sold millions of copies worldwide, delighting fans from ages 9 to 90.  The full-cast reading, led by the author, brings the adventure of Mossflower’s animals to life as never before.”

#41
Title:    Krong!
Author:  Garry Parsons
Genre:  Kids Picture Book 
Rating:  B
Published:  2006
Date read:   5/14/13

An alien has landed in Jake’s backyard and he only speaks gobbledygook.  Jake unsuccessfully tries out different languages besides English - French, Spanish and Japanese until his parents let him in on some astonishing news!  You have to look for clues to crack the code in this humorous introduction to languages.

After we were finished reading this book twice a lady came over and asked the name of the book.  She was the story lady at Porter’s neighborhood library.  She’s also a Spanish Tutor and gave me her business card and told us that twice a month on Saturdays she does story telling and invited Porter to come. 

#40
Title:    Can You Guess?
Author:  Ann H. Matzke
Genre:  Kids Non-Fiction Picture Book  E519.544
Rating:  B
Published:  2011
Date read:   5/7/13

This is a Little World Math Concepts book about more or less.  We are taught that guessing an amount is estimating.  You guess, it is more or is it less.  Each problem involves things like How many blocks make a house?  Five different shapes in five colors are the options.  One little boy guesses three.  Porter guessed five.  Answer is two so Porter’s answer was more, even though the possibility, as her mom pointed out, was that it could be any amount.

#39   
Title:    The Man from the Land of Fandango
Author:  Margaret Mahy
Illustrator:  Polly Dunbar
Genre:  Kids Picture Book
Rating:  B
Published:  2012
Date read:   5/7/13

He only comes around every 500 years to you’d better see him while you can.  In rhyme Mahy has the Man sharing his treats and feats with his friends -- kanagroos, dinosaurs and children alike!

#38   
Title:    All Creatures Great and Small
Author: James Herriot
Narrator:  Christopher Timothy
Genre:  Biography
Rating:  B
Published: 
Date read:   4/23/13 - 5/3/13
Cds/hours:    12/16

James Alfred Wright, who writes under the pseudonym James Herriot, was a British veterinarian who practiced for more than 60 years.  Presented here are stories based on the diaries he kept as a young doctor working in the Yorkshire Dales.  I just love this series, especially with Christopher Timothy narrating.  He played James in the PBS television series.

#37
Title:    The Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Author:  Jimmy Kennedy
Illustrator:  Alexandra Day
Genre:  Kids Picture Book
Rating:  B
Published:  2000
Date read:   4/30/13

Written in 1907 this story was actually a theme song of a popular children’s radio program called No School Today that aired every Saturday morning and was hosted by Big John and Sparky.  Like the illustrator Alexandra Day and I remember those days and enjoyed singing this song.  When husband and I were in Friday Harbor, Washington, earlier this month I bought the book in the Friday Harbor Book Store.  I couldn’t wait to share it with my daughter and granddaughter.  And enjoy it, we did.  I’m wondering if the radio program was only local because Day and I are Seattleites.  Looking forward to doing a bit more research!

#36   
Title:    Happy Mother’s Day, Mami!
Adapted by:  Leslie Valdes
Illustrator:  Jason Fruchter
Genre:  Kids Picture Book
Rating:  B
Published:  2003
Date read:   4/30/13

Porter’s mom (my daughter Aubrey) has been joining us for coffee on Tuesday mornings and read this to Porter today.  It’s so appropriate because Mother’s Day is upon us.  In this Dora book, she’s going to make her mami a banana, nut and chocolate cake.  So it’s off to pick bananas, nuts and get the last piece of chocolate from the chocolate tree.  Mami declares the cake !delicioso!