Review: In a Blink

Are you a Disney fan? Are you a Disney fairy fan? The Never Girls series could be the series for you!

Characters from Disney's Tinker Bell movies are going about their lives in Never Land when human girls arrive. The four girls traveled in a blink. They have to stay in Pixie Hollow until a solution arrives to sent them back home.

It's a fine story that has a touch of suspense. There is a small cliff-hanger at the end. The book is categorized as an easy or early chapter book. There are currently two audiobook collections of the Never Girl series from Blackstone Audio / downpour.com. Each collection contains six titles in the series for a complete collection of twelve books.

I enjoyed listening to narrator Eileen Stevens. I did recall seeing / hearing some of the characters in the Tinker Bell movies. I thought she captured the Pixie Hollow fairies pretty well. The four girls have different personalities and Stevens gave each girl a slightly different voice. I would listen to Stevens again. I doubt I'll listen to the entire series. I am not passionate about Disney Fairies, just wanted to hear a taste of the series. They have been popular books at my library.

Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Blackstone Audio!

Audio Book Details...
In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe
Series: Book 1, The Never Girls series
Read by Eileen Stevens
Produced by Disney / Blackstone Audio
Number of Discs: MP3 download (11)
Total Time: 1 Hour, 27 minutes
Release Date: October 2016
ISBN: 9781504752831

Music Review: Kids in the City

Singer Laura Doherty is a new and old artist name for me. In addition to producing her own music, she is the director of the Wiggleworms program at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. At the library, we have a Wiggleworms CD and love it for storytime. I stumbled upon Doherty's "solo" albums while reading through librarian blogs. I wish I could remember which blog, but I can't recall. If I find it again, I'll try to tag the post!

Laura Doherty is creative, mellow,Kids in the City is a great CD for family listening or listening in the car on a roadtrip. The CD case is out of cardboard with production notes and thanks printed on the inside. The back cover lists the songs on the disc. There are not printed lyrics included. I added my notes to the track list below. I italicized some of favorite songs on the album. I also added a star to song I think have storytime potential for me. Kids in the City also was named a Parent's Choice GOLD winner. I look forward to hearing more Doherty albums!
and fun. I think





Track List --
1. I Spy -- game song
2. Kitty Cat* -- an invitation to sing along with the hummingbird, bee, pigeon, dog,
3. Hot Dog* -- food song -- colors song -- I could see this done as a flannel board!
4. Uncle Ukulele's Band -- musical instruments -- ukulele, bass, banjo, guitar, mandolin
5. Rockin' at the Zoo -- animal song -- movement song -- lions, monkeys, seals, penguins, elephants
6. Farmer's Market -- food song
7. Hello Hippopotamus -- imaginative song -- animals acting like people around the city
8. Wheels in the City -- I spy song -- impressive list of wheels and a catchy tune
9. El Train* -- transportation song -- smooth song with an element of a freeze song (clickety, clackety, STOP) -- added tidbit at the end of colors (the blue line is connected to the green line, etc)
10. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head -- classic song
11. Uno Dos Tres* -- counting to ten in Spanish -- echo song -- I appreciated the slower speed of this  counting tune for better learning for littles.
12. Elevator Escalator* -- up and down song -- counting song (1-10 and count down at the end)
13. Sweet Home Chicago -- song originally by Robert Johnson, MPCA, LLC DBA King of Spades -- counting and alphabet song
14. Firefly -- lullaby song

Reviewed from a library copy.

Album: Kids in the City
Artist: Laura Doherty
Label: CD BABY.COM/INDYS
Genre: Kindie / Family
Length: 34:24
Release Date: May 2009
ASIN: B002APNO5G

Review: All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

A long title for a quick read!

Meet Perry, a 12-year-old who grew up in a minimal security prison in tiny, tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mother, Jessica is close to parole. They have dreams when they exit the gates. Their timeline is coming to a close. But Perry is forced to leave Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility without his mom and before the parole hearing. Something isn't right. Someone is turning their lives inside out. It's the new District Attorney.

I could not stop listening to this audiobook. It's up for an Audio Award this year and I can hear why it made the short-list for Middle Grade. Author Leslie Connor has written a story that grabs the reader and draws them into the world of Blue River. Perry's family turns into your family. The ups and downs, the joys and heartache become your own. You want to see everyone succeed! This is a story that after you hear it, you want to share it with everyone. You should hear this book!

Extra notes ... I want to hear more about the Blue River family! There are a couple curse/swear words in the story, but it is very minor. Other themes besides family and prison include friends, school, forgiveness, and truth.

Michael Crouch and Kathleen McInerney narrate All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook. I was intrigued about having two narrators. It fits the story well. Most of the book is narrated by Perry (Michael Crouch) while Jessica (Kathleen McInerney) narrates a couple chapters here and there. It's Perry's story, but it's Jessica's too. Both voices are needed to share the history of the Cook family. They don't take away from each other, but build on each other to create depth of character and understanding. Crouch and McInerney sounded good together in the story. The characters are on the younger side (11 and 29), and both narrators gave very believable voices for each main character. The supporting characters were given vocal depth as well, so they could be distinguished from one another. It was fantastic! I would listen to this book again.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
Read by Michael Crouch and Kathleen McInerney
Produced by Harper Audio
Number of Discs: MP3 download (8 parts)
Total Time: 9 hours, 41 minute
Release Date: March 2016
ISBN: 9780062448187