Marvelous Middle Grade Monday

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette

By Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall is one of my favorites. I own the first three books of the Penderwicks, looking forward to the fourth and fifth when it comes out. I love these books because the Penderwick family is nearly perfect. The four motherless girls do the best they can for their absent-minded, Latin spouting father.

And Mr. Penderwick does the best for his girls, but having lost his beloved wife to cancer, it is hard for him to cope and he leans heavily on his oldest daughter Rosalind. We watch the whole family recovering and adventuring through the first book, “The Penderwicks, A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy,” the second back home, “The Penderwicks on Gardam Street,” which is a game changer. 

In the third book the three of the sisters have adventures when they go to Point Mouette, where Skye, the second Penderwick sister, is put in charge for two weeks. Skye has her hands full trying to keep everyone safe through one misadventure after another. This series is old fashioned, heartwarming, and the kind of family and childhood we all wish we had.

This book is highly recommended for middle grade students. 

More information on author Ms. Birdsall is at www.jeannebirdsall.com

Reviewed by:

Penelope Anne Cole

Multi-Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew and Magical Mea 
and Mágico Mateo (Spanish). Magical Mea Goes to School, and Magical Max and Magical Mickey

New:  What’s for Dinner?

For Halloween: Ten Little Tricksters
Web:  http://www.penelopeannecole.com/ 

Tags:

Jeanne Birdsall, The Penderwicks, Point Mouette, Skye, Batty, Jane, Rosalyn, Jeffrey, Alec, Hound, Aunt Claire

The Legend of the Tooth Fairy Tub

by Julie Bowman

Illustrations by Kevin Collier

 

“The Legend of the Tooth Fairy Tub,” by Julie Bowman, with illustrations by Kevin Collier, is about the Tooth Fairy failing to pick up all the jungle animals’ teeth for four weeks. Each of the animals wrote to the Tooth Fairy asking her why she hasn’t come for their teeth. When they don’t receive an answer back, they decide to have a party and wait up for the Tooth Fairy. But they all fall asleep before she gets there. The tooth fairy collects their teeth, leaves them a gift, and a note to explain her absence.

Kevin Collier’s whimsical cartoon illustrations will entertain the children as well as the story written in rhyme. The book is targeted for children aged 5 to 8. The author, Julie Bowman, has years of experience in the dental profession and enjoys teaching children about dental hygiene.

At the back of “The Legend of the Tooth Fairy Tub” is a fun page for kids to find the missing toothbrushes. The glow in the dark Tooth Fairy Tub is a helpful product marketed by Ms. Bowman that Dentists and parents may find helpful for children losing their baby teeth.

Information about author Julie Bowman is at www.toothfairytub.com.

Information about artist Kevin Collier is at www.kevinscottcollier.blogspot.com.

Reviewed by:

Penelope Anne Cole
Multi-Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew and Magical Mea 
and Mágico Mateo (Spanish). Magical Mea Goes to School, and

Magical Max and Magical Mickey

New:  What’s for Dinner?

For Halloween: Ten Little Tricksters
Web:  http://www.penelopeannecole.com/ 

Tags:

Julie Bowman, Kevin Collier, The Legend of the Tooth Fairy Tub, glow in the dark tub, baby teeth, dental hygiene, the tooth fairy