Holidays & Celebrations – Page 3

The spirit of the season is never never too late to read about

Red and Green and Blue and White by Lee Wind

January 4, 2022 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

HannAfter I finished reading, Red and Green and Blue and White, I realized I have read it at least once before. It is a quiet book and one that did not seem to hit “hard” on mine, or I would assume a lot of peoples, radar after it first came out. Yet, it is a nice find regardless of when you do find Lee Wind’s holiday picture book. The two main characters are celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah when this based on a true incident starts. […]

I scream you scream for Halloween! (Or: Autumn books that can be Halloween books )

We're Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Mary Hogan Wilcox

She Wanted to Be Haunted by Marcus Ewert

The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen

A Unicorn Named Sparkle and the Pumpkin Monster by Amy Young

September 25, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

This is Halloween, this is Halloween/Pumpkins scream in the dead of night Okay, these four books are on the other side of Halloween. They are not spooky (or at least not to the level of The Nightmare Before Christmas) but they are fun, can acutely be an autumn read (or even anytime read) and can be absolutely perfect for the right audience. We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Mary Hogan Wilcox is probably my least favorite of the group. That’s not to say it is […]

Coming Summer 2020 to a Halloween near you

Frankenstein Doesn't Wear Earmuffs by John Loren

January 17, 2020 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Frankenstein Doesn’t Wear Earmuffs is an overly silly story about over concerned parents possibly ruining the Halloween of one boy with an overly active imagination. Our narrator cannot wait to go out spookin’ and a’ scaring, as after all, he is Frankenstein. And Frankenstein does not need to wear earmuffs, a coat, have a fanny pack and take with them everything but the kitchen sink! Of course, narrator and reader realize quickly enough that there is always middle ground to make all parties involved happy. […]

Naughty List

The House that Santa (Almost) Missed by Paul Laud

December 18, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

I am sure Paul Laud is a nice person. And if you are reading this Mr. Laud, please know that I respect and appreciate the hard work, effort and time that went into creating The House that Santa (Almost) Missed. I empathize with the dedication it takes to work at something you hope to share with others. And I know that creating a book is not easy. Far from it, in fact. However, if Santa asks you what I want for Christmas this year, please […]

He knows when you are sleeping and when you ate the cheese

Santa Mouse by Michael Brown

November 19, 2019 by BlackRaven 2 Comments

Originally written in 1966 Santa Mouse by Michael Brown certainly has a classical feeling tail…. tale. This came across before I realized it was a retelling. There is one lonely mouse, with a very active imagination. And a mouse who is a bit modern: some of his imaginary friends have tea parties’ others play cowboys, Inuit and a “Spanish-person” with him. However, this political correctness of using Inuit could be the editors doing an updated version to fit the contemporary reader. As I think he […]

A special time of year for everyone

The Tree That’s Meant to Be by Yrval Zommer

November 8, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

Christmas books are hit or misses. Are they “too Santa” or are they “too Spiritual” or are they trying too hard to mix the two? Or are they trying to be “cute” and fall so far from the mark that it is a puddle of mush on the page? During my morning rounds at work the other day, I spotted this book faced out. I was thinking either “too Santa” or “too religious” (and while neither is wrong, I just like books “in the middle” […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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