MAY - FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING!

May flew by this year! But lots of fun books found their way home from the library. Sophie Blackall's Ahoy is very cute and a fun book for thinking creatively. And piratically? Sari-Sari Summers includes a yummy taste of the Philippines.  Several of the books dealt with death and grief. Otis & Peanut Forever and Ever finds Peanut dealing with the death of a sibling. It focuses on remembering loved ones. Anzu and the Realm of Darkness delves into Anzu coping with the death of her grandmother and being the new kid. It is a graphic novel and incorporates some really cool Asian mythology. Tree. Table. Book. is by Lois Lowry. Young Sophie's best friend is her much older neighbor who is also a Sophie. Older Sophie is in the beginning stages of dementia and Young Sophie decides to help her beat the tests so she won't have to go into assisted living. The memory tests encourage Older Sophie to share her World War 2 childhood memories with Young Sophie - focused on a tree, a table, and a book. And Kate DiCamillo's latest is about a young girl born beneath a Ferris Wheel - thus the nickname Ferris. The book is delightful and includes a ghost, the death of a grandmother and a very precocious younger sister named Pinky. I also highly recommend Kate's new series Orris and Timble about an owl and a mouse. You might not think that owls and mice could be friends but you haven't met Orris and Timble. If you like a mystery/sci-fi/fantasy mashup, I highly recommend The Tainted Cup.  Once I started reading it, I had a difficult time putting it down. Mr. Bennett is quite the world builder. There should be a second book - hopefully soon!