Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery is a delightful story about an eleven year old orphan who goes to live on Prince Edward Island in Canada with the Cuthberts, Matthew and Marila, brother and sister, an old bachelor and old maid who have had very few dealings with children.

But the siblings decide they need help with the farm, and want to adopt a boy. Somewhere along the communciation trail, there is a mix-up, and a girl is sent instead. But the Cuthberts aren't as quick to send little Anne Shirley back to the orphanage as Marila at first thought. What adventures will Anne Shirley get into after she begins like at Green Gables in the small town of Avonlea?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Movie

The movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, directed by Alfonso Cuaron, follows the plot of the book by the same name.

While movies can't always include all the details of books, being a different medium, this movie did a good job keeping the most important parts of the plot intact. Harry Potter worries that Sirius Black is after him, and along with that, he has to deal with Draco Malfoy, and the bully trying to get an innocent hypogriph that belongs to Hagrid put down. How will Harry deal with that, plus the scary dementors floating around the school grounds?

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is the third book in the Harry Potter series.

It is Harry's third year of school, and while he looks forward to a school year at Hogwarts as a thirteen year old, he begins to worry about the notorious Sirius Black, a convicted murderer, who has escaped somehow from Azkaban prison, and is on the loose! Worst of all, Black seems to have one goal: to find Harry Potter! Will Harry be able to survive the school year? Read this exciting book to find out!

Muppet Treasure Island directed by Brian Henson

Muppet Treasure Island directed by Brian Henson is a hilarious, swash buckling adventure following young Jim Hawkins and his friends Gonzo and Rizzo as they come into possession of a treasure map and head off on an adventure to find said treasure with the help of Captain Smollet Kermit the Frog) and others.

But unbeknownst to them, there are a group of pirates who want the treasure too, and have devious plans of getting it back once they get to the island. But on the island, the good guys get the unexpected help of Benjamina Gunn, an old girlfriend of Captain Smollet's who was marooned by the bad guys. Will Jim Hawkins and his friends get the treasure, or will the pirates get it first?

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling follows twelve year old Harry Potter through his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His year starts off on the wrong foot when he and his friend Ron Weasley can't get through the barrier at Platform 9 and 3 Quarters, and decide, instead of sending an owl or waiting for Ron's parents, to take the magical car and drive it all the way to the school!

Of course they get in trouble for this, but this isn't Harry's worst problem. Something only Harry can hear, is going around the school petrifying students (and even 1 cat and a ghost!) Will Harry and his friends discover and defeat the monster before it kills someone, (like it did fifty years before)?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling is the first book in the exciting adventures of Harry Potter and his friends Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley at their Wizarding School, Hogwarts.

The first book has Harry figuring out he's a wizard and setting off for school and having to face all sorts of difficulties and dangers because of Voldemort and his followers. This story involves Harry and his friends following clues to find out what the three headed dog in the third floor corridor is guarding, and who Nicholas Flamel is. And somebody at the school is out to get Harry, but is the the person Harry thinks it is?

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien is a classic tale that most people are familiar with. It has had many movies based on it, and it will probably be read consistently for many hundreds of years.

Frodo Baggins, the relative of Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, becomes responsible for the One Ring which Bilbo just thought made him invisible, but is actually a very bad ring that is sentient, and wants to get back to Sauron so they can wreck the world together. Frodo Baggins is entrusted to take the ring back to Mordor where he must throw it into the lava of Mount Doom. To do this, he gets 8 companions, including his best friend, Sam Gamgee. But ring wraiths (bad undead guys in black cloaks) are after the ring! This book ends kind of in the middle of action, and is followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum, one of the most talented authors/editors I know, is an exciting fantasy/time travel story about a girl named Abby and her boyfriend Dante as well as Dante's brother Orlando, who are trying to stop the evil Zo (Lorenzo) from destorying time itself.

It is the third book in the series, and it is a great conclusion. Through devious ways, Zo tricks Abby into giving him her locket which contain's Dante's life force. But will Abby, Dante, and Orland be able to get it back and save the river of time from unraveling altogether? Read this exciting book and find out! This book is more for older kids and adults as it contains kissing. The scenes are clean and there is nothing more serious than PG in the book.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is one of my favorite books of all time. I just finished listening to the audiobook, and I really enjoy it. Though (obviously) lacking the amazing pictures that help tell the story in the book, the audio book, narrated by Jason Isaacs tells the story just as well as the paper book.

Young Conor is stressed, worried, grieving. His mom is slowly dying of some unnamed disease, though it is strongly inferred that it is cancer, and he doesn't know how to deal with his emotions. Along comes a tough-love, compassionate monster formed from a yew tree that grows on a hill behind Conor's house. It patiently walks him through his emotions through different stories it tells him. In the end, Conor needs to tell one himself. A true story. But will he have the strength to face himself enough to do so? Read this wonderful tale, and find out!

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is a delightful children's story about a little boy named James and how he goes on an adventure with some unusual friends.

Poor little James is forced to live with his wicked aunts, Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge after his parents are eaten by a rinoceros. One day, he encounters a strange little man who gives him a paper back filled with strange, wiggling cristals, and shortly after that, an old peach tree that didn't have so much as a leaf on it before, begins to grow an enormous peach! What happens after James discovers what (or who) is inside the peach? Read this fun book and find out!

Life After People DVD Directed by David De Vries

Life After People directed by David De Vries and put out by the History Channel is an interesting look at how the world and the animals on it would likely adapt if people were all suddenly to disappear and leave everything behind as it is, just without us.

Some species would have a really hard time, like mice, and domestic dogs, others would be just fine. Although I personally don't want to disappear any time soon, it is an interesting documentary to watch about how the Earth would move on without us.

The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency TV Series based on the books by Alexander McCall Smith

The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency TV series, which I watched on DVD, which are based on the books by the same name by Alexander McCall Smith, are really fun shows to watch. Mma Ramotswe and her no nonsense secretary, Mma Makutsu solve crimes and mysteries in their little corner of Botswana.

In one episode, Mma Ramotswe follows the trail of a kidnapped child whom she fears was taken to sacrifice for wicked voodoo reasons. In another, she investigates the disappearance of a man who had gone into a river with other church goers to assist with baptisms. In yet another, Mma Ramotswe bravely confronts her abusive ex-husband and realizes how much she appreciates the sweet and honorable Mr. J.L.B. Matakoni. It is a series that I strongly recommend.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart

In The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, book 3 in the Mysterious Benedict Society series by Trenton Lee Stewart, the kids, Renny, Kate, Sticky, and Constance, are off on their third adventure.

This time, Mr. Curtain, the nemesis of their benefactor, the kindly Mr. Benedict, is after The Whisperer, his sinster contraption that he used to influence the minds of children and adults alike before Mr. Benedict took it to keep Mr. Curtain from using it again. But because of government interference and Mr. Curtain's sneakiness, he and his cronies capture it again. As well as the children! Will they be able to escape? Will their parents and Mr. Benedict come to their rescue in time? Read the book and find out!

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart is a fun adventure for kids and adults who like middle grade. The young heroes are back with their adult supporters. Renny, Sticky, Kate, and Constance, and of course Mr. Benedict, Number Two, Ronda, Milligan, and the kids' parents and guardians.

This time, they don't expect any danger but a fun adventure. Instead, Mr. Benedict and Number 2 are kidnapped by the sinister Mr. Curtain and his evil henchmen, and of course the children dash off (without telling the other grown ups of course) to rescue Mr. Benedict and Number 2. The journey takes them over the ocean and over the terraine of an island. Will they be able to outsmart Mr. Curtain and his henchmen, or will the children be captured, too? Read the book and find out!

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is a fun mystery for kids as well as adults who enjoy children's stories. Renald Muldoon is an average looking boy with average height and average brown hair. But his mind is far from average.

When he reads about a special test being offered in the city for gifted children and his tutor Miss Paramol (I'm not sure of the spellings as I listened to the audiobook) encourages him to take it, he finds himself being recruited along with a few other children, for a special, top secret assignment by the kindly Mr. Benedict. Something strange is happening in the world, strange messages are being transmitted in subliminal ways, and Mr. Benedict needs the kids' help to find out what is going on and put a stop to it before the sinister Mr. Curtain (the evil genius behind the messages) can take over everyone's mind. Rennie teams up with Kate Weatherall, Sticky Washington, and Constance Contrair to stop Mr. Curtain, but will he figure out their plans before they can? Read this exciting book and find out!

The Spiderwick Chronicles movie directed by Mark Waters

The Spiderwick Chronicles movie directed by Mark Waters and starring Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, and others, was an exciting film suitable for families. It is PG so parents would want to preview it before smaller children watch it. It does have scary scenes, and green goblin blood visible. Siblings Jared, Simon, and Malory Grace move with their mother into their great aunt's house. The movie does not specify that she was actually their grandmother's cousin not sister.

Right away the siblings discover a dumb waiter and Jared finds a mystereous hand made Field Guide made by Arthur Spiderwick, their great aunt Lucinda's father. A mouse brownie makes himself known, named Timbletack who goes between being helpful to causing mischief as a boggart depending on his mood. The siblings struggle to stay one step ahead of Mulgorath and keep the book away from him as they seek for answers. With the help of Hogsqueal, a hobgoblin, they are able to do that. But when the goblins find a way to break down the protective barrier between them and Aunt Lucinda's house will their defences be enough to fight them back? Watch the movie to find out.

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi is an exciting story about three siblings, Jared, Simon, and Mallory Gracee, and their mother. The story begins when family moves into their great aunt's house (actually, their grandmother's cousin, not sister, so their more distantly related, but since the cousins grew up like sisters, they call her their great aunt).

Their parents recently separated, and Jared is having the hardest time of it. They get enrolled in a new school, and Jared begins to have problems again. But school problems are not the only difficulties they have. Jared and his siblings begin to discover that their new house is very unusual. Strange noises in the wall, and odd things happening to them convince them that something is living in the house with them that isn't normal. When Jared discovers a hand made field guide to fairies, things start coming together. But the family's danger increases, too. Goblins, including the sinister Mulgorath would do anything to get their hands on the book, including killing those who have it so that they can take over the world. Will Jared and his siblings be able to fight the goblins off with the help of other magical creatures? Read the books and find out!

Spells and Spaceships! Ebook Giveaway hosted by MyBookCave!

My book, Taigh~ A Flying Squirrel's Adventure, and 21 other books in fantasy, sci-fi, or other speculative genres, are part of a giveaway on MyBookCave! If you enjoy sci-fi and/or fantasy, check these books out. Each one is free though the end of March. And remember to enter to win the $25.00 gift card while you're looking at the books!

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary is a fun book about Ralph, a mouse who lives in the Mountain View Inn, an old, quaint hotel in the Sierra Nevadas who meets a boy named Keith.

They discover they can talk to each other, and Keith allows Ralph to ride his toy motorcycle, which is somehow magical and can move when Ralph makes the sound of an engine with his mouth. When Ralph accidentally loses the motorcycle in a pile of laundry, will Keith forgive him? And will the pair ever be able to find the motorcycle again? But even more importantly, when Keith becomes sick, will Ralph be able to find and bring him an aspirin tablet to bring Keith's fever down? Read the book and find out!

The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a sweet story about a little girl, Laura, who lives with her pa, ma, and sisters, Mary and baby Carrie in the Big Woods of Wisconsin.

She experiences life with her sister, mother, father, and relatives during the 1800s, and yet is still relatable to small children today who see life through the wondering, curious eyes that children have always looked at the world with. She visits her grandparents, enjoys Christmas, delights in going to the town, and seeing the big lake. There isn't a driving plot to the story, but each chapter has its own unique plot, and the book overall, is enjoyable. Children and adults who like to reminisce would enjoy this story.