* * *
Now onto MMGM. And it's a two-fer this time! For other MMGM posts, visit Shannon Messenger.
I enjoyed each of these younger middle grade novels, for different reasons. So I'm featuring them both. The source for both: arcs from Penguin Random House.
Hamster Princess 1: Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon (August 2015, Dial Books, for ages 8 to 12)
Synopsis (from Indiebound): Harriet Hamsterbone is not your typical princess. She may be quite stunning in the rodent realm (you'll have to trust her on this one), but she is not so great at trailing around the palace looking ethereal or sighing a lot. She finds the royal life rather . . . dull. One day, though, Harriet's parents tell her of the curse that a rat placed on her at birth, dooming her to prick her finger on a hamster wheel when she's twelve and fall into a deep sleep. For Harriet, this is most wonderful news: It means she's invincible until she's twelve! After all, no good curse goes to waste. And so begins a grand life of adventure with her trusty riding quail, Mumfrey...until her twelfth birthday arrives and the curse manifests in a most unexpected way.
Why I recommend it: Normally, I don't lean toward series books and never read Dragon Breath, Vernon's first series. But I found this hamster parody of Sleeping Beauty hilarious. Guaranteed to make you giggle. Harriet is a sassy and spunky main character, who personifies Girl Power. Give this to readers who like Babymouse.
Appleblossom the Possum by Holly Goldberg Sloan, illustrated by Gary A. Rosen (August 2015, Dial, for ages 8 to 12)
Synopsis (from Indiebound): Mama has trained up her baby possums in the ways of their breed, and now it's time for all of them, even little Appleblossom, to make their way in the world. Appleblossom knows the rules: she must never be seen during the day, and she must avoid cars, humans, and the dreaded hairies (sometimes known as dogs). Even so, Appleblossom decides to spy on a human family and accidentally falls down their chimney. The curious Appleblossom, her faithful brothers who launch a hilarious rescue mission, and even the little girl in the house have no idea how fascinating the big world can be. But they're about to find out.
Why I recommend it: A sweet story about a family of actors--er, possums. Appleblossom is the curious one and her curiosity gets her into trouble. She's a lively and endearing new character. If you like animal stories (especially when the animals quote Shakespeare), this one's for you.
Bonus: This would be a terrific read-aloud.
(Be forewarned that Appleblossom isn't the least bit similar to Counting By 7's. If I didn't know they were both written by Holly Goldberg Sloan, I never would have guessed.)
Read any good animal tales lately?
I'm always looking for good read-alouds. Thanks for your review as I often miss reading books with animals as the main characters. Love the covers. too.
ReplyDeleteThese are both perfect for anyone who loves animal stories. Lots of kid appeal in those covers!
DeleteI don't read a lot of books with animal characters, but when I do, I usually enjoy them. I will try to check these out. Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Rosi. They're not usually the first books I reach for. But these are cute.
DeleteI actually really enjoy books with animals as main characters (I liked the movie Ratatouile). Both stories sound like a lot of fun, though in real life, possums are not so cute.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, Andrea. The possums I've seen are not cute at all!
DeleteI don't read many books with animals as the characters, but on occasion I can enjoy them. These sound cute.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many animals stories on my TBR list, Natalie. But when I was growing up, I loved books like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little and The Rescuers.
DeleteThey sound like great books! :D
ReplyDeleteThey're both fun reads, Erik. If you ever have time!
Delete