Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
2008 Apr 14
Some days are just like that: everything goes wrong from the beginning.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Review: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Review: Mr. Wuffles!
Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
2014 April 24
Wiesner is astounding. Mr. Wuffles! is hyper-realistic, just amazing to look at, so vivid on the page. Wow. And also, it's an amusing little story. But that cat! We have an enormous jellicle cat that resembles Wiesner's and I am in awe of every picture. Even if you hate picture books, even if cats give you hives, you should take ten minutes out of your life to look at these pictures.
***
2021 July 15
This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For an explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.
Sad bit in spoiler which you can skip if you don't like that sort of thing.
(view spoiler)
Mr. Wuffles! however is not sad at all so it was lovely to read it and stay in the happy memory place.
Library copy
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Review: Anatole
Anatole by Eve Titus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My brother owned Anatole, so I didn't get to read it a dozen times. Oh, how I long to look at it again.
***
Almost worth the wait.
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Friday, April 17, 2026
Review: Here One Moment
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
17 April 2026
Liane Moriarty is an interesting writer: the stories are unpredictable, and are therefore not books I tend to reread. I enjoy reading each one enormously, admiring her skill. This one was particularly pleasing for characters I can relate to. It's a marvelous thing to make a large cast, with a broad range in page time, all equally fascinating. It's also worth looking at how successfully the author manages to create tension and foreboding while, at the same time, writing with empathy, and with a cozy sense of humor.
As a person who forgets everything it seems like, I recall who recommended the author to me. It's not weird that I can remember when I first read one of her works, but rememberibg the source of a recommendation isn't common. So just in case you ever drop by, Erin, thank you again! I hope I've managed to mention a book or an author you've enjoyed as much. Maybe even Jaclyn, the Moriarty sister I had been reading devotedly for some time. I am grateful that one family produced three strong and popular novelists; for the leisure to read just for fun; and for the libraries and technology that make it possible for me to get a reading copy of almost every book I'd maybe like to read. A superabundance of reading options is one of the few ways the 21st century has dramatically improved my life. Like a child of the Great Depression I will never forget the horror of living in the middle of nowhere and having nothing new to read, and not having sources to recommend more books I would probably also enjoy. It seems unlikely I ever will lose my gratitude on this score, but I have to testify from time to time. Thank you public libraries, and bless the librarians, every one.
Library copy.
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Saturday, April 04, 2026
Monday, March 23, 2026
Review: Tiny & Wild: Build a Small-Scale Meadow Anywhere
Tiny & Wild: Build a Small-Scale Meadow Anywhere by Graham Laird Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lots of helpful guidance and the pictures are so inspiring
Library copy
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Saturday, February 21, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Review: Diary of a Wombat
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Given the PandaBat's interest in all critters great and weird, we read and loved this. Not as much data as her inquiring mind desires, but all the cuteness you can stand.
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Saturday, February 14, 2026
Review: Fluffy chick
Fluffy chick by Catherine McCafferty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Not going to recommend this, although it won't make your eyeballs burn if you have to read it. This series is way to pointed for my tastes.
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Review: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mo Willems has breathed new life into the early reader field. If you don't have a child of the appropriate age you should go out and find one to read this to. Read it to yourself, and it's funny, but with a kid, it's something more.
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Thursday, February 12, 2026
Monday, February 09, 2026
Saturday, February 07, 2026
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Review: A Lot Like Christmas
A Lot Like Christmas by Connie Willis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Yesterday (Nov 27) I was amazed that I hadn't read Miracle many times. But today I have no trouble believing it. "Miracle" I remembered only a few aspects of, forgetting most of the plot. "All About Emily" and "Inn" same. "All Seated on the Ground" I had confused with something else entirely. The only thing that my memory seems really valid on is how great these are: Willis is great at screwball comedy, at poignant drama, at empathy, really.
I figure it can go immediately on the Beloved shelf since I've read much of it already. But the newer material is really good, too!
***
Even though I have only managed to finish the introduction in a week of picking this up, and then having to do, or look up, something or speak to someone because the holidays are like that, I have managed to read several of the stories she lists in the beginning. Just now I finished Saywr's "The Necklace of Pearls," which doesn't have its own entry in GR, and thus, doesn't get its own review blurb.
**
20 January 2926
Library copy
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Sunday, January 11, 2026
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Tuesday, January 06, 2026
Saturday, January 03, 2026
Thursday, January 01, 2026
Review: Mend & Make Fabulous
Mend & Make Fabulous by Denise Wild
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
31 December 2025
The kids these days are perforce a thrifty lot, and they are also creative and eager to take up new manual skills. I am no adept at sewing, and have never been much interested in learning more. My clothes must be functional and comfortable, but I've never cared if my soft t-shirts have holes.
So, while I admire the creativity and skill demonstrated in the Fabulous bits, I shan't be attempting any such upgrades.
But for anyone who has beloved clothes they want to keep using, I can't recommend the Mending sections enough. Having read this book I now at least know what damage I'm looking at and how it needs to be repaired. A great reference to have handy.
Library copy
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