Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautifully written story about a young girl, Lucy, that moves into a new house on a lake in New Hampshire. The family that lives next door are regular summer vacationers with a young boy about the same age as Lucy. While her father is away on a long photo shoot, Lucy learns about the local loons from Nate and his family. The loons also spend every summer on the lake. Lucy wants to enter a photography contest that her father is judging but is afraid he won't accept it because others will think it is unfair. Her and Nate find a way to enter and enjoy their time together working on the contest as well as protecting the loons and their babies. While working to protect the loons they also learn a lot about their own families.

View all my reviews

Locomotive

Locomotive by Brian Floca
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little bit longer than I would like for a picture book but quite amazing. I found myself rereading the pages to make sure I didn't miss anything. Be sure to read the notes on the end-pages for even more information. The engines on the covers are illustrations of the two locomotives that met when the first transcontinental trains met. This book will be loved across age groups and I know just the perfect train-loving boy I will recommend it to first.

View all my reviews

Counting by 7's

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great book! Of course there were tears, the main character loses both her parents early in the story but there is also many laughable moments. Willow Chance is a gifted middle school student that finds a way to touch the lives of everyone she meets. There were so many great quotes in this book. A must read for 4th grade and up...

View all my reviews