Review: The Jolly Regina

Sisters Jaundice and Kale Bland live a very bland life. They stay in one place and repair stockings. Everything they need is delivered to them. Until one day when there is a knock at the door. Before the sisters can blink they are kidnapped and set to work on the pirate ship, The Jolly Regina. How unintended!

A fun family listen of blandness, adventure, and silliness. There is word play during the tale as well as definitions at the beginning of each chapter. The definitions play well in hand with the topic of the chapter as well as bringing in the Bland sisters only book, a dictionary. Yes, it is adventures on the high seas, but nothing terrifying for young listeners in the family. All's well that ends well. If you appreciate silliness, adventure, or pirates, give this story a go.

Rosalyn Landor narrates the first book in the new series The Unintenional Adventures of the Bland Sisters. This is the first time I have heard Landor narrate an audiobooks. I would listen to her again. I did read that there is a second book coming, The Uncanny Express. If the books is also made into an audiobook, I hope Landor returns to narrate. The girls are soft spoken characters while the pirates are boisterous. It listens well, but I did have to adjust my volume up and down in the car as I listened to the story. Dreamscape Media adds end of the disc notifications so it is easy to know when to change CDs.


Reviewed from a Dreamscape Media copy. Thank you, Audiobook Jukebox!
I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Book Details...

The Jolly Regina by Kara LaReau
Series: Book 1, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters
Read by Rosalyn Landor
Produced by Dreamscape Media
Number of Discs: 3
Total Time: 2 hours, 41 minutes
Release Date: February 2017
ISBN: 9781508227960

Music Review: Jim Gill Presents Music Play for Folks of All Stripes

Hello, again, Jim Gill! Here is another of Jim Gill's fantastic music CDs. This CD also comes with a DVD. There is no paper insert in the library case, so lyrics, credits, thanks yous are unknown. Song lengths are not listed on the CD. I italicized and bolded the tracks I have used during storytime. I italicized additional tracks that I like and added my thoughts and notes.

Track List --
1 - Beethoven's Five Finger Play - 2:10 - counting song - fingerplay song - classical music
2 - It Takes Some Friends - 2:45 - friends song - clapping, stamping, singing
3 - Truck Stop - 4:56 - story song / imaginative play song
4 - Have You Seen the Trampoline? - jumping song
5 - Johnny Cuckoo - traditional song adapted by Jim Gill
6 - Bagpipes - body song (knee, arm, head, body)
7 - The Onomatopoeia Pizzeria - pizza song - silly ways to sing the song (clap, hiccup, gargle, whisper)
8 - I Was Born a Horn - body song (thumb, tummy, arms, lips, fingers) - musical instruments (trumpet, drum, strings, reeds)
9 - Bananas - imaginative play song - food song - grow, pick, peel, eat, and go bananas
10 - Habanera La La La - singing la la la
11 - Bounces Abundant - jumping song
12 - I Changed My Mind - dancing song - slow and fast
13 - Two for Tea - counting song - fingerplay song
14 - Foot Notes - foot song / shoe song
15 - Living Inside of a Jar - bottle music - silly song

Reviewed from a library copy.

Album: Jim Gill Presents Music Play for Folks of All Stripes
Artist:Jim Gill
Label: Jim Gill Music
Genre: Kindie
Length: 46:09
Release Date: October 2011
ASIN: B006432EBA

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A to Z Challenge - Letter J - Jim Gill Presents Music Play for Folks of All Stripes

Music Review: Jim Gill Makes It Noisy in Boise, Idaho

Have you heard of Jim Gill? He is an author, musician, and a child development specialist. What an amazing man! I've had the joy of seeing him at a library conference for youth librarians and it was a blast. I would highly recommend going to one of his workshops for teachers and libraries if you have the opportunity. I would go back and see him!

He's one of my top storytime musicians. He currently has a six albums available, so there is a great number of songs to enjoy - quiet, loud, full body movement, and small body movement. You can preview his music on his website as well as purchase his CDs and books. He does run a collection special if you buy "all the things." (I don't get any payment for telling you to go buy his music. I just want to share the joyful and energetic music of Jim Gill with others.)

The CD insert has lyrics, occasional notes of song origins, credits, and thank yous. Song lengths are not listed on the CD. I italicized and bolded the tracks I have used during storytime. I italicized additional tracks that I like and added my thoughts as well.


Track List --
1 - List of Dances - sixteen different dances in a list - very helpful to make a poster of the different dance names
2 - YOW! - what you say when you're in pain
3 - Stick to the Glue - adapted version of "Skip to My Lou" - movement song
4 - The Night We Made it Noisy in Boise, Idaho - muscal instruments song
5 - All Filled Up - food song - body song - rhyming song
6 - Your Face Will Surely Show It - traditional song with more facial expression options (happy, sad, frightened, mad, sleepy, cold, surprised, silly)
7 - 5 Strings on My Banjo - musical instrument song - counting song
8 - Oh Hey Oh Hi Hello - hello song - Ohio song - differ ways of saying "oh hey oh hi hello" (quiet, loud, sad, mad, swimming, out of tune)
9 - Jim Gill's Lullaby - falling asleep as song is sung - "chorus" of WAKE UP!
10 - Doughnuts - food / recipe song (donuts, PB & J)
11 - Tickle Toe - body song
12 - The Effects Song - sounds of home - listen and make your own sound effects
13 - Let's Dance Now! - instrumental dance song
14 - If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out - words and music by Cat Sevens (not written in the CD insert)

Reviewed from a library copy.

Album: Jim Gill Makes It Noisy in Boise, Idaho
Artist: Jim Gill
Label: Jim Gill Music
Genre: Kindie / Educational
Length: 30:20
Release Date: August 1995
ASIN: B000FKOZR4

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A to Z Challenge - Letter I - Jim Gill Makes It Noisy in Boise, Idaho

Review: The Julian Chapter

The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio


The Julian Chapter follows August Pullman's story found in Wonder by R. J. Palacio. I would call is a sequel novella and encourage readers to read Julian's book after Wonder.

Julian was one of the first students at Beecher Prep to meet Auggie. From the first appearance in Wonder, Julian's attitude was off. Readers didn't like Julian and I didn't care for him either. When Palacio came out with the Julian chapter, I was intrigued. What would Julian have to say for himself? He's a mean kid!

Julian's story begins with him saying that he's not a mean kid. He addresses the reader and begins to tell his side of the story. He shares his reasoning behind his attitude. He also shares what happened in his past that played a part in his reactions and attitudes that appeared during Auggie's story. But when Julian leaves Beecher Prep, his story continues over the next summer before sixth grade at a new school.

I was very impressed with this sequel novella. It's under 100 pages, which is three discs for those you like to listen instead of read. It's a powerful story of discovering yourself. I was shocked to have such a strong reaction to Julian's story. I understood his journey of remorse. We've all been in his shoes in some way or another with a mistake we've made, but it's all about what we do after the mistake that's important.

Michael Chamberlain narrated The Julian Chapter. It took me until disc two to be comfortable with his voice. He sounded too old to be Julian for me. It reminded me of hearing Unshackled! on the radio when the adult actor is a child. I also think it's difficult to read youthful slang when you're older. "Peeps" and "dudes" just sound strange and humorous coming from adults. But at the same time, Chamberlain had distinct voices for each character and his French accent sounded believable to me. It's a well down performance for an adult.

Brilliance Audio also added music at the in and out of each disc as well as having another narrator telling the listener the change discs.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Audio Book Details...
The Julian Chapter by R. J. Palacio
Series: A Wonder Story
Read by Michael Chamberlain
Produced by Brilliance Audio
Number of Discs: 3
Total Time: 2 hours, 36 minutes
ISBN: 9781491524091

Jingo Django

Jingo Django by Sid Fleischman


Join Jingo, make that Django, as he travels South on a whirlwind treasure hunt. He is discovering more about himself as well as about his unknown family.

Jingo is "apprenticed" to General Dirty-Face Scurlock by Mrs. Daggett who runs the orphanage. Scurlock sets up Jingo to be a chimney sweep - crawling up flues to chip away soot. His goal is to escape as quickly as he is able. With the help of a fellow sweep, he escapes, but only to be captured when he returns to hideout at the orphanage. Fortunately, someone else offers to apprentice Jingo - Mr. Peacock. Mrs. Daggett hands over the boy for a handsome profit and Jingo leaves with Mr. Peacock. Mr. Peacock offers Jingo a safe haven in his traveling wagon and an opportunity to pursue a treasure hunt he discovered on a whale's tooth.

Fleischman's story is from the 70's, but his tale will be enjoyed by young listeners today. Themes of adventure, mystery, and treasure never get old.

Charles Carroll narrates Django's story with a mellow tone. The heights and depths of adventure are never too loud or too soft. The even read is very nice. Carroll reminds me of a teacher sharing a story during school. This would be excellent for a family of wide ages to enjoy.

Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, AudioGo!