What are YOU reading? #196

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Read

Humpfree The Humpless Camel by Julia Dweck and Young-Min Yoon

Children's, Picture book

10E/10E

(This story is hilariously sweet!)  

Looking At the Stars by Jo Cotterill

Children's, 11 years +

10E/10E

(A war story needing tissues to read it...) 

Usborne Princess Stories box set

Children's, 5 years +

10E/10E

(A super cute collection of 5 princess based fairy tales with colour pictures on every page...)

Watched 

Yumeiro Patissiere Professional

Anime, Japanese version

10E/10E

(Ichigo got to go to the Sweets Kingdom again - climbing a mountain there was the least of her problems!) 

Pretty Rhythm Aurora Dream

REWATCH! - Anime, Japanese version

10E/10E

(Aside from the bugs in my Youtube playlist that mean no matter what episode I pick I only get the last one...this is as awesome as ever and makes me smile ^o^...) 

Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live

Anime-Japanese version

10E/10E

(Grrrr to not all the episodes being out yet! That shouldn't be allowed!!!) 

Cinderella

film (Disney)

English version

10/10E

(So awesome to finally have this on dvd - I haven't watched films 2 & 3 but I've now got them. I fast forwarded the parts with the king as they are dull (I love Cinderelly as she is fondly known by the animals ^o^) 

Casualty

Drama, English version

8/10E

(A slightly disappointment end to a two-parter...) 

Card Captor Sakura: Season 2

Anime, French version

10/10E

(Still only watching this an episode at the time as it is cute but distinctly darker than earlier episodes...)

Winx:  Season 4 

Anime, French version

10E/10E

(So excited because Lovix & Sophix transformations are coming soon!) 

Aikatsu: Season 1

Anime, Japanese version

10E/10E 

(Finding this anime about the life of idols in training at an idol school (so many aspects to singing & dancing with all the training involved) totally cute & adorable! The outfits are funky, there's so much to the characters. This helps soothe my anger of having to wait for more Pretty Rhythm Rainbow Live episodes.)

Pretty Rhythm Dear My Future

REWATCH! -  Anime, Japanese version,

9/10E

 (Thought I'd give the second episodes a try: it's funnier on the rewatch, although I do hate how Aira is more indecisive...) 

A Little Snow Fairy Sugar,

Anime, English version

9/10E

(This is a smidge too slow for me, but it's a cute anime about friendships....) 

Other hobbies 

I have...sewed! Did a little bit of cross stitch on this cat picture... 

...and discovered I'd run out of thread on this picture, which you should recognise as it's the lovely Gorjuss range which I've used for my blog theme. (Oh and UPDATE...I now have MORE thread so I can continue!)

I haven't done cross stitch for so long (or should that be sew long - bad pun alert!) because I didn't think I could cope with it while my brain fog level is high. turns out I can do it! Happy Nayu. ^o^ 

Here's my progress on the Tink puzzle...

Plus I played a bit more of Final Fantasy 9 - not yet at the point where I have Princess Garnet in my party, but that'll come in due course....

Award Winner: Look Inside Space (Children's, Non-fiction, 10E/10E)

Squee news! This book won The Royal Society Young People's Book Prize 2013! How cool is that! Here's a summary of the prize from Usborne (received in publicist's email) 

The prize celebrates the best books that communicate science to young people. The judges said of the book that it was “fantastically interactive” with “really amazing facts”, and the final decision was voted for by over 1000 children in schools and youth centres across the UK.

Since the inaugural year of The Royal Society Book Prize in 1988, Usborne has been accoladed (either longlisted, shortlisted or won) 18 times over 25 years - a success rate of over 70%. 

That's rather impressive! Time to get on with the review for this fun book then ^o^

September 2012, Usborne, 14 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Themes: space, the solar system, planets, stars, galaxies, astronauts, space station, life cycles

Summary from Usborne

Nayuleska's thoughts 

I find space fascinating, and I'm delighted by the volume of info packed in this book. On most pages there are several flaps to lift revealing more info (some flaps have flaps of their own!). These are sturdy, easy to lift and should last a long time. The pages are relatively thick to support the flaps, increasing the lifespan of a book that can easily be viewed again, and again, and again, and...again! There is enough basic info to grab readers' interest and encourage them to find out more about particular topics. I didn't know how astronauts slept, or why the earth can be compared to pea! (Rather than be cruel and make you read the book for the answers, I'll tell you astronauts sleep in bags fixed to the wall, and if the sun was a beach ball the earth wohld be a pea. Quite a difference!)

Suggested read

Another fab space read is also by Usborne, See Inside Space by Kate Daynes (Children's, Non-fiction, 10E/10E)

Winter's Child by Angela McAllister and Grahame Baker-Smith (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

 October 2013, Templar, 40 pages, Hardback, Review copy

 

Themes: effect of winter, life in the country, supplies running out, friendship, how seasons change,

Summary from Templar

When Tom wishes winter would never end, he meets another boy who shares his love of snow and ice. Playing together every day, Tom hardly notices that spring doesn't come – until he realises the terrible effect the delay is having on the countryside and his sick grandma. His friend is Winter's child, and for the seasons to go on the friends must say goodbye until next year.

Nayuleska's thoughts 

Both the story and illustrations are captivating. I was hooked by the cover, and wanted to see more of the illustrations. They are out of this world! The level of intricacy is mindblowing. I felt the cold and excitement of the snow and ice. Each page I found myself struggling to decided what to look at first.

The more you look the more you realise how how each page has it's own little story which adds volumes to the main story which had me crying in a few places, such was the power of the message. I really felt happy for Tom and Winter's child, and was extremely worried about Tom's grandmother, for whom Tom sacrifices a lot. My favourite scenes were the horses with ice manes, and the last page with the girl spreading flowers everywhere. A book to get lost in its depth for hours.

Suggested read

Another heartwarming tale is Minnow and Bear by Ben Blathwayt (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

The Story Collector: The Emperor's Nightingale and Other Feathery Tales by Jane Ray (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)

 September 2013, Boxer Books, 176 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Themes: morals, royalty, religion, rich and poor, happiness and sorrow, generosity, helping others, greed,selfishness, envy, over-protection, magic, fate/destiny, over-confidence, beauty, joy, song,

Summary from Boxer Books

 This is the first extraordinary volume of tales collected, retold and illustrated by Jane Ray, one of the world’s leading artists of stunning picture books. This volume, The Emperor’s Nightingale and Other Feathery Tales, includes many favourites such as The Happy Prince, The Owl and The Pussy Cat, and lesser known, but equally enjoyable stories such as Jorinda and Joringel.

Nayuleska's thoughts 

I loved the unique style of illustrations that added an extra mystical element to the stories in this book, and I'm excited that Jane used the scratchboard technique in this and the other books which are forthcoming from 2014. The stories themselves deserve a mention:

The Happy Prince: 

 I remember watching a cartoon of this when I was little, and it always made me sad so I was apprehensive about reading it. However, this time I understood the generosity of the swallow and felt it's sacrifice was noble - I was less anxious about the swallow's family missing it.

Mulumgu Paints The Birds: 

I'd never heard this African myth of how birds got their colouring and it was a sweet and funny tale.

The Owl and the Pussycat: 

 My feelings on this poem hasn't changed since I was little - it's a bit too

bizarre and reminds me of Lewis Caroll's weird work (including Alice in Wonderland).

Noah's Ark:  

I belive in giving honest reviews and in truth when I first came across this I was really

annoyed it was in here as I firmly believe that Noah and the flood happened - it didn't seem right that it was in among fictional stories. However, after a minute or two of fuming I reread Jane's introduction to the story (each story started with her thoughts on it) and calming down I changed my mind. This is a vital part of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. It is an honour that it is presented for the reader to learn about, which may spark more interest in religious history. I love the depiction of the dove looking so pure.

Hope Is The Thing With Feathers: 

I have little experience of Emily Dickenson's work and found this poem utterly charming!

Jorinda and Joringal:  

A new story to me but one where good triumphs over evil eventually.

Heron and the Hummingbird:  

Think tortoise and the hare and you have the main theme of this story.

The Emperor's Nightingale: 

 This is the second retelling that I've read this month of this tale and I love

Jane's version except for the death illusration - too scary! Thankfully it was small rather than a full page

The Jackdaw of Rheims: 

 I felt ashamed of people's thoughts towards the jackdaw as well as being sorry for the bird's misfortune.

The Firebird: 

 A wonderful tale - the tower scene illustration made me think of Rapunzel and Sleeping

Beauty fairytales.

Magpie Song:  

A rhyme which I knew most of the lines from when I was little.

Minus the points already touched upon I thoroughly enjoyed this book full of tales accompanied with exquisite illustration, as both a reader and a bird owner.

You can find out more about this new series on Jane's website.

Suggested read

For more fairytales including a retelling of the Emperor's Nightingale check out Royal Fairy Tales for Bedtime retold by Mairi Mackinnon & illustrated by Lorena Alvarez (Children's, 7 years +, 10E/10E)

Peppa Pig: The Story of Prince George (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

October 2013, Ladybird, 24 pages, Hardback Review copy

Themes: bedtime routine, bedtime story, royalty, favourite foods, bravery, making friends

Content: Lots of laughs

Summary from Puffin

Granny Pig is telling Peppa and George a bedtime story, and this time it's the story of Prince George the brave knight. Prince George lives in a castle with his sister Princess Peppa and a cook and a wizard. But when a fearsome dragon appears, it's up to George to save the day.

Nayuleska's thoughts 

This is my first ever Peppa Pig book and I love it! It gave me a warm glowing feeling as I read about

Peppa and George starring in their own royal story. I loved Prince George's expression of sheer delight when he spotted the dragon (which can be seeen in bed with him earlier on). Peppa seems a down to earth princess, who is gracious to the dragon once Prince George realise what the dragon's problem is. The end was a surprise too, one that made me laugh some more. I recommend Peppa Pig to everyone who likes to smile!

Suggested read

Another sweet tale Nat the Cat's Sunny Smile by Jez Alborough (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

Young, Gifted & Dead by Lucy Carver (Young Adult, 9/10E)

 October 2013, MacMillan, 320 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: boarding school life, being an orphan, intelligence, horse mad friend, crazy friend, an awful tragedy, mysteries, secrets, hatred, searching for the truth, being in danger, grief, trying to remember things, never giving up,

Content: some teen romance, lots of tension, occasional violence, a few laughs, a tissue is needed

Summary from Pan MacMillan 

Don't go down to the woods today . . .

You can’t get into St Jude’s Academy unless you’re gifted, talented and supremely rich. New girl Alyssa is on a scholarship and feels like an outsider - she's not even that smart, apart from her photographic memory (and that's cheating, right?). Then one day her room-mate Lily is found floating face down in the lake. It looks like suicide, but, torn apart with guilt and grief, Alyssa is convinced that things aren't as they seem. Soon a jolted memory puts her on the trail of a sinister secret that might hold the clues to Lily's suspicious death. But Alyssa is in too deep, and she's being watched . . .

Nayuleska's thoughts

I nearly stopped reading 50 pages in as I wasn't entirely gripped by Alyssa's story - it's probably more a case of me enjoying happier reads at the moment. However I'm glad I carried on because the pace picked up and the increased danger to Alyssa as she fought to find the truth about her friend's death gave me the shivers. Anything could have happened at the end. One incident in particular took me unawares and I was horrified by it. The full truth, when it gets unravelled, is nice and twisted- all is never what it seems at St Jude's. I liked Alyssa's aunt's attitude, I envied Alyssa her photographic memory, althoguh there are some events she would rather forget. The romance side wasn't too mushy or angst-ridden, and was definitely not the centre of the plot. All in all a fun read if you can bear the slower paced beginning.

 

Suggested read

Another Young Adult boarding school read full of intrigue, deception and danger is Firespell by Chloe Neill (Young Adult, 10E/10E)