Guest Review from Ethan A.

Ethan's review is very sweet. I think maybe Ethan and Evie should start a book club, because they are both amazing. 

I'm posting this review with a major SPOILER ALERT. Read on if you want to see if Bear gets better 😉

Bear Feels Sick

By Karma Wilson

     Bear is sick. Friends help him. Make soup. Give him big hugs. Bear is all better. 

Mommy: "Ethan, do you like this book?"

Ethan : "I like bear."

Guest Review from Evie W.

This is the perfect review for every two-year-old who is looking for something new to read. Also, it's adorable! Thanks, Evie! Good luck in the drawing!

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Mouse is silly and likes chocolate cookies. Me too. Mouse likes milk. Me too. Mouse is messy. Mommy make mouse clean up. I want a chocolate cookie.

Harry Potter Stuff and Another Giveaway

Sorry this blog is so late. You know I love Harry Potter, I just haven't been feeling very well. Also...book reports. Ugh.

So, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. HP. The Boy Who Lived. The Chosen One. Where do I even start??

I guess I should start by saying that as much as I love this book, it's only my third favorite of the series. One of the best parts about this book is that it gets me closer to Prisoner of Azkaban. I live for Prisoner of Azkaban.

This was my fifth time reading Sorcerer's Stone, and I'm still not tired of it. I love annoying Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, meeting Ron and Hermione on the Hogwarts Express, and attending first year classes. Even Potions.

My favorite part of this story is when Harry becomes seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I would really love to play quidditch, but I would not like to get hit with a bludger. At all. Hopefully Fred and George would protect me.

I really hope you all enjoyed Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I think this book is a great pick for anybody who likes adventures, mysteries, or for any muggles who would like to become a witch or wizard. You know, just like me.

I would really like to hear how you all liked the book. Please comment here, and share your thoughts. I am still planning on having a wizard open house at the library. It probably won't be until after my spring break. I will keep you all posted.

And now that all that business has been taken care of, I have some exciting news!

ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!

After the article in the Burbank Leader, I had a lot of fans of the library leave donations. I got A TON of books. So. Many. Books. Some lovely and mysterious person even left a gift card to Barnes and Noble! (THANK YOU!) I used half of the gift card to buy new books for the library, and the other half...well...I'm giving it away! 

My birthday is Saturday, March 28th. The perfect day to give a present to one lucky reader! I'll draw the winning name as soon as I'm done eating my cake. 7pm, just like before.

Same rules as the last one. To enter, write a review of any book you choose, and email it to ELLASLITTLELIBRARY@GMAIL.COM. Leave your name, and address. Remember the review doesn't have to be crazy, or five pages long. Just tell me what book you read, why you liked it (or didn't), and who you would recommend it to. That's it! That's all you have to do to win $25 to Barnes and Noble!

I hope you muggles remember that the more reviews you give me, the more entries you get in my magical fish bowl! If somebody gave me ten reviews, then they would get ten chances to win!

Now, before I sign off, one last thing,

EXPELLIARMUS!!!

Book Club Open House and Other Stuff

I had a really fun time reading all your reviews, and giving away the gift card to Barnes and Noble! Congratulations on your big win, Penelope! I think we will definitely do another giveaway soon.

But in the meantime, we are finishing up the second month of Ella's Little Library's book club! Only a few days left until the new book is announced! I hope you are all enjoying Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I love really Harry Potter...

This is a picture of me loving Harry Potter.

...so we are going to be doing this book club a little differently than last month. We will still do the online discussion on 2/28, but this time I am also going to host a wizard's open house at the library!

Stop by between 11am-1pm on Saturday, March 7. Come in your finest wizard wear, grab a snack, check out a book, and get to know other witches and wizards...and maybe some muggles too.

I can't wait to see everyone in person to talk about my favorite stories!

EXPELLIARMUS!

Guest Review from James R.

James has made a trip to my library a part of his dog walking route. He stops by all the time. Thanks for all your support and for the review, James. Good luck in the drawing!

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

James and the Giant Peach is by Roald Dahl. It is about a young boy named James who goes on adventures inside a giant peach. My favorite part is when the centipede yells, "That was Sponge!" after the peach rolls over James' mean aunt.  I also liked when the creatures and James yell, "oh hooray he's going to play for us!" when the old green grasshopper pulls out his violin.  I like this book because it's inspiring and magical. You should read it because it's a nice, exciting, funny and kind story. You will love this story even if your name is not James!

Guest Review from Soraya G.

Soraya is Penelope's big sister. She's reviewing The Fault in Our Stars, which I haven't read, but I'm sure it's awesome because it takes place in Indiana. Thanks for your review, Soraya! Good luck!

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

The Fault in our Stars by John Green is a 5 star book for me! I absolutely love this book because it isn't a classic love story it is more original. Even though it is very sad and makes me cry every time it still has a great moral too it which I think is that, sometimes life isn't always great but if you make the best of it, it can be great even just for a little while. I highly suggest this book if you're a little older because it teaches you so many lessons, and it is just plain out great

Guest Review from Jill T.

Jill is awesome! Aside from being my aunt, she has taken care of lots of tiny people. It is really great to hear about a book that has helped her so much with her little ones. Thanks for the review, Chiabo! Good luck in the drawing!

IDO IN AUTISMLAND

For my book review, I chose a book of essays called Ido in Autismland. I usually like to read novels but I really loved this book.

It's written by a 13 year old boy who's nonverbal with autism. There is something so special about being able to read someone's words who otherwise wouldn't be able to voice them. It makes every word that much more precious.

I liked this book because it gave me insight into a world that I would otherwise know nothing about. I work with children who have a similar diagnosis. This book gave us hope and changed lots of things for us. I would recommend it to absolutely anyone. I loved it so much!

P.S. I feel like I should also mention how much I loved revisiting Matilda and her story. Miss Honey has always been such an inspiration to me. Her character showed me the type of caregiver I'd like to be. Thanks for suggesting it! I can't wait to revisit Hogwarts! I'm so very proud of you!

Guest Review from Milo C.

Milo is seriously one of the coolest first graders of all time. Thanks for the review, Milo! Good luck in the drawing!

LIONS AT LUNCHTIME

I liked it because they were traveling to Africa to find the lions. It was a fun mystery because they tried to find lions and we didn't know if they found them or not. Read this book to find out.

Guest Review from Daniela R.

What you need to know about Daniela is this: she is the coolest. Not joking. She knows all the best books, and comics, and crafts, and she always wears the best dresses. If she says a book is good, you should probably read it. Thanks for the review, Daniela.  Good Luck in the drawing!

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

Something Wicked This Way Comes is a creepy fantasy story written in the 60's . It is a story about two 13 year old best friends,Jim and Will,in a small town in the Midwest.  A very creepy traveling carnival run by the mysterious Mr. Dark comes to town and the carnival is not what it seems. Wish fulfillment, dreams of lost youth,desires to grow older when your not a kid but your not an adult, good vs. evil, creepy memorable characters this story has it all. What happens when we get what we ask for is it all we hoped?Is it worth the price?If you are or were a fan of Goosebumps then this book is for you. All the spooky creepy fun of a Goosebumps with the truly well written amazing world crafted by Mr. Bradbury . You won't find this one in the kids section, but it is worth a walk over to the fantasy section.

Guest Review from Julie N.

Julie is a lifelong book nerd, just like me. That means she's awesome. She read Matilda with me, and sent in her review when she was done. So, not only did she get to read an awesome book, but she might win a gift card for it! Good Luck, Julie!

MATILDA

I LOVE Matilda, both the girl as a character and the book as a whole.

I really like that Matilda is so kind and smart despite her parents, who are the exact opposite. I can't imagine being as independent as she is at five-years-old! It's such a relief when Miss Honey takes a liking to her.

Something I love about this book (and all Roald Dahl books, he's my favorite!), is how whimsical, dark, and sweet it is. That's a lot to pack in!

I give Matilda an A+, which is something I'm sure she's quite used to.

-Julie

p.s. I'm so so happy you have a Miss Honey teacher and not a Miss Trunchbull!! Keep up the great work, Ella! Can't wait for HP!

Guest Review from Jude P.

Jude has been my friend since first grade, so I already know she likes great stuff. She read this book, and really liked it. She wants you to read it too! Thanks for the review, Jude. Good luck in the drawing!

HOPE SOLO: MY STORY

I like this book. It's a biography about a soccer player. It's not just about her life on the field, but off the field too.

I liked it because she's not afraid to tell other people what her life was like. And, it's really interesting.

I would recommend this book to all girls who like soccer.

Guest Review from Devin C.

Devin is one of my library's biggest supporters, he's borrowed and donated books, and checks to see what's new almost every morning before school. Thanks for being awesome, Devin. Good luck in the drawing!

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN

The book I read was The One and Only Ivan. In this book Ivan (a gorilla) that was once a circus performer was sent to live in the zoo. While he was there a baby elephant named Ruby was brought in. She was taken from the wild to live in the zoo. Ruby and Ivan become very close friends. Ivan helps her make more friends at the zoo and helps her. One day Ruby is shipped to the circus. Ivan and Ruby are both torn apart and are very sad. In this book Ivan and Ruby taught me a lot about friendship and helping others. I believe this a book for everyone, young and old. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has a friend.....

Guest Review from Penelope G.

Penelope has been visiting my library since the very first day. I think she has borrowed more books than anyone! Thanks for your review Penelope, and thank you for loving to read. You make me smile! Good luck in the drawing!

Penelope!!

THE KICKS: WIN OR LOSE

I just finished reading The Kicks, it was amazing! This book was about a girl named Devin and her Best Friends/Teammates, as they get ready for their soccer league championship. I think that this book was really good because it was written by an Olympic soccer player, so it seemed very realistic like it could have actually happened to her when she was in middle school. This book is easy to relate to because everyone has problems with friends, school, and teammates. So if you like soccer I would recommend that you read this book, because it is very interesting and makes you want to keep reading until the end!

Guest Review from My Mom

My mom wrote a review of her favorite books. She's right about these books, they are the best. But since she's my mom, she can't win the gift card. Besides, if she did, I would just make her spend it on me anyway! Thanks for the review, Moo.

My mommy and me, being witches. Because that's what we do.

HARRY POTTER

I know that the Ella's Little Library book of the month is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and I'm so excited that Ella is encouraging her friends to read this series. I think that these books are important. Not just because I'm still waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter (but seriously, I am.), but because I think these books offer great lessons to everyone who reads them.

In the Potter series, JK Rowling teaches children the value of dedication, loyalty and cleverness. She teaches that things aren't always as they seem, and she teaches the importance of tolerance. That everyone matters, despite their differences. These lessons are priceless, and will benefit kids (and their nerdy parents) throughout their lives. And the greatest part? The story is so good, they don't even know they're learning.

Aside from the lessons, there is the beauty of Harry Potter's universe. In my opinion, imagination is the most important part of a happy childhood. In reading these books to my little witch and wizard, I saw their imaginations come to life. They entered a world of magic and mystery, and so did I. When talking about these books, they mentioned the Forbidden Forest and Diagon Alley like they are places that could be pointed to on the map. Ron, Harry and Hermione became their friends. Their imaginations developed more and more with every page turn.

Loving these books made both of my kids eager to read more. Percy Jackson, Michael Vey, The Hunger Games, The Lord of the Rings, etc...have all been favorites because Harry Potter taught my children to love reading. For that, I'll be forever grateful for JK Rowling, and the train ride that gave birth to the Hogwarts Express. She has given our family many fun nights of reading (really. many. like tons.), some very magical birthday parties, and countless priceless memories.

If you're a parent, nerdy or otherwise, I highly recommend introducing the Harry Potter Series to your little ones. Unless you want them to grow up to be muggles. And that's ok...I guess. But, if you don't read them Potter, please, read them something.

Guest Review from Evie W.

Evie is a tough but smart two year old who loves books and girl power, so this story is the perfect choice for her. She's definitely a superhero (she even wears a cape!), and now she's entered to win a gift card from Barnes and Noble! Good luck Evie <3

Evie! Photo by Bailey Smith

MY FIRST BOOK OF GIRL POWER

Evie read My First Book of Girl Power. She loves this book because it's all about girl power. Evie says that she likes Black Canary because she keeps people safe. She likes Supergirl because she is strong girl power (she normally growls this because when you're strong you growl). She likes Batgirl because she reads books just like Ella. And she likes to say 'shazam' like Mary. She thinks everyone will like this book because girl power.

Reviewed by Evie
Written by Jennie

Book Club: Matilda

If you guys didn't get a chance to finish Matilda yet, you should! Because I don't want to ruin anything for you, I am going to limit the spoilers as much as I can.

I loved this book! Matilda is clever, talented and kind, like so many girls I know. Matilda is special. She loves books. She read all the books in a library in one month. (I'm jealous of that). Matilda is also magical. I'm not talking Hogwarts magic, but she's still pretty cool.

I liked Miss Honey the most. She was nice, and she saw how smart Matilda really was. I think my teacher is a lot like Miss Honey. I am sooooooooo happy that my teacher isn't a Trunchbull. She's the nastiest. She's so mean, that when my little cousin talks about her, she just growls. It sounds like this, "Truummmbow!" It's amazing.

I think everyone my age should read this story, because it teaches you that books are better than TV, that it's best to be kind to everyone, and that you can wind back a car's mileage using a screwdriver. And don't forget the sawdust in the engine!

I can't wait to see how everyone felt about Matilda. Please comment here or on Facebook, and let me know what you thought.

Our next book club selection, if you haven't already figured it out from my fantabulicious clue, is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone!

I've read this book a few times, and can't wait to read it again. If you haven't read it yet, I am so excited for you. It's like entering a whole new world! And, I have one copy waiting for you right now in my library!

One more thing: Start working on your book reviews to enter to win a gift card to Barnes and Noble. Email them to ellaslittlelibrary@gmail.com. You have until February 15!

An Ella's Little Library Giveaway!

National Readathon Day was amazing. I raised $250 by myself, and readers everywhere raised over $100,000 for The National Book Foundation! They're going to use that money to spread a love of reading to kids all over the country. That's FANTABULICIOUS! People stopped by throughout the day, giving us books and taking a few home with them. And, we ate a lot of cookies. I think we'll be doing a lot more library open houses!

Another fantabulicious (that's a word now) thing is coming up at Ella's Little Library: We are having a Giveaway! I'm looking for book reviews. Everyone who emails me a book review to ellaslittlelibrary@gmail.com will be entered to win a $20 gift card to Barnes and Noble!

It doesn't matter what she says, you don't have to use the gift card to buy your mom coffee at the cafe. It will be all yours!

Every review is worth one entry, so the more you write, the better your chances are of winning. All of the reviews I get will be featured on my blog. But, remember a review isn't just "This book was good." You have to tell me what you liked or didn't like, and why you want other people to read your book.

The winner will be chosen at random on February 15. Make sure your mailing address is in your email, so I know where to send your prize! Adults, you can enter too! (But, if you win, you definitely have to buy your kids cookies at the cafe.) I can't wait to read all of your reviews.

Remember, you only have three more days to read Matilda before our first Ella's Little Library book club. I'll be announcing February's book on January 31. Here's a hint for you, if you want to get started a little early: It's about a school, a stone, and a boy with a scar.

Peace, muggles :)

National Readathon Day at Ella's Little Library

Saturday, January 24 is National Readathon Day!

The National Readathon is doing the same thing that I'm trying to do with Ella's Little Library. They want kids to love books just as much as I do! So, I am going to participate in the readathon this year. I would love it if you would read with me!

Between 12 and 4pm, I am hosting an open house at Ella's Little Library. Come by for snacks, pick out a book, and flop yourself down in a bean bag to read for a while!

The readathon is a fundraiser through FirstGiving and RandomHouse Books. All the donations will go to the National Book Foundation. They're they guys who give out the National Book Award, and they run the BookUp program. They help hundreds of kids become readers each year. That's fantastic, because nerds who are readers are amazing!

AMAZING!

 

You don't have to fund-raise to read with me on Saturday, but you are welcome to donate through my page. You can find me here. My goal is to raise $100.00. I know it will be hard to do in just one week, but I'm going to try!

Books Make the Best Weekend Plans

As I was walking home today, I saw some girls from my school visiting the library. It makes me feel fabulishously awesome to see people taking books! That was a great way to start the weekend.

They're smart AND stylish! Thanks for visiting, girls.

Speaking of the weekend, if you're looking for something to do, I have a suggestion. Make your parents take you to The Last Bookstore! Start out by asking nicely, but if that doesn't work...whine and cry. If you like books, it's worth it. Trust me.

This place is one of my favorite spots. It has a CRAZY amount of books. So many that they form a labyrinth. You should walk through the maze up stairs, and check out all the book sculptures.

Cool, huh?

That's my mom and her friend hiding in the labyrinth. Weirdos.

They even have a tunnel you can walk through! And, yes, that's made of books too!

 

This is the best!

When you're done exploring on the top floor, there is a kid book section downstairs. I bought a bunch of my Children's Illustrated Classics there. They have everything. Even Matilda. (You only have 22 days left before the book club!)

Remember if you're whining doesn't work, and you aren't able to go to The Last Bookstore this weekend, you can always stop at Ella's Little Library to pick up something to read until your parents finally give in.

Books, Friends, and Hot Chocolate

The grand opening of my Little Free Library went great! So many friends came to donate books, and check out the library.

Donation Basket before...

Donation Basket after!!

 We had hot chocolate, and (my favorite) book-reading gingerbread cookies!

I am the one with the bowtie.

I have a lot of new stories ready to be borrowed, like Junie B. Jones, a lot of Romona books, The Lightning Thief, and the Stink series. It took me a long time to check in all those books!

That's me checking in books, in a bow tie. Bow ties are cool.

 I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came over today. It made me really happy to see everybody looking at, and talking about books. I also want to say thank you again to BurbankMom for sharing my library with her readers. It's so great to know that other people are as excited about my library as I am!

I hope that you are all busy reading Matilda for this month's BOOK CLUB! If you still need a copy, there is one left in my little library. Come and get it before someone else does!

My mom is making me go to bed now.

ADIOS AMIGOS!!!!!!!!!!!

My Grand Opening!

Ella's Little Library is open for business! 

I LOVE IT!!

I have so many books to choose from: some great classics like Little Women, The Story of King Arthur, Tom Sawyer, and Moby Dick, and also some new favorites like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dork Diaries, Captain Underpants, and Super Diaper Baby.

My library's Grand Opening is on Sunday, January 4 at 3:00 pm. We're going to introduce Ella's Little Library to the neighborhood. We're having hot cocoa and making book marks, and our neighbors are opening their Little Free Library AT THE SAME TIME! I can't wait!

If you are interested in adding a Little Free Library to your neighborhood, you can find more information here.