Soupy Saturdays With the Pain & the Great One by Judy Blume

Meet first grader Jake, aka "The Pain," and his third grade sister Abigail, aka "The Great One".  These lovable, funny characters first appeared in a picture book over 20 years ago and now they are the stars of Judy Blume's Soupy Saturdays with the Pain & the Great One. If you have a brother or sister, I bet that you can relate to the humorous sibling rivalries that occur over haircuts, bike riding, soccer, and birthday parties.  Jake even tries to wash a dog with his shampoo and brush the dog's teeth with, of course, his own toothbrush.  Yuck!  Early readers can enjoy the short chapters and the adorable illustrations that truly bring the characters to life.

Reviewed by Carol C, Youth Services Library Assistant

O God Ganesha! and O God Ganesha, Volume 2

 The first review I ever did for this blog was on a book about the Indian god Ganesha, The Broken Tusk.  I never mentioned that the Library has two cartoon DVDs, which tell stories and sing songs about him, O God Ganesha! and O God Ganesha, Volume 2.  These two one-hour episodes, which tell many stories, were created because stories about Ganesha are not very well known even though he is the most worshiped Hindu god.  Some of these stories surprised me because they are different than the tales I knew.  For example, Ganesha doesn’t lose his human head in a fight with his father, Shiva, as I reported in my first post.  Here he loses it when the god Shani looks at “Baby Ganesha” with his evil eye and the baby's head vanishes!  You’ll have to watch the video to see the next step in how he gets an elephant head.  There are loads of other stories. I thought it was most interesting how Ganesha came to have a mouse as his "Number One Devotee."  The second DVD even includes an animated Ganesha pooja, a religious ritual.  It has a song so catchy that you might be humming it to yourself all day no matter what you believe in.  Oh, one word, the voices are very cute – in English, no less - but somewhat hard to understand until you get used to the accent.

Review submitted by Steve B., Youth Technology Librarian

Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters by Patricia McKissack

Gather ‘round the front porch for the sights, sounds, and tastes of a summer evening in the South, with “whippoorwills, lightning bugs, homemade peach ice cream,” and a “porch lie” or two. The amusing tellers and tales told in Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and Other Wily Characters by Patricia McKissack are cleverly larger-than-life, with the right amount of mystery to keep you wondering just who you should believe.  The charming (or is it scheming?) Pete Bruce flatters a baker out of a coconut cream pie and a pint of milk.  Mingo Cass may or may not have a 100-dollar bill in his pocket.  And Mr. Cake Norris wakes up dead one day–again.  These and other tricksters, slicksters, and outlaws seem to be winking, or maybe poking fun, at us foolish readers.  But, as wise Aunt Gran slyly told Frank and Jesse James, some folk believe these stories, some don't.  You decide for yourself.

Book reviewed by Erin E., Youth Program Coordinator

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

For some reason, I wasn't expecting The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall to be very exciting because it seemed like a plot similar to many other books.  Was I wrong!   This is a surprisingly entertaining book about four mischievous sisters spending several weeks of their summer vacation at a posh cabin.  It explores both the differences and the ties that bind them when faced with loss, danger, and the mean Mrs. Tifton.  However, Mrs. Tifton’s prim and proper son, Jeffrey, joins the girls and takes on all the challenges that his new friends dish out.  This story is filled with humor and drama while demonstrating the roles that each of the girls takes on as part of the Penderwick family.  It was really a very enjoyable story and can also be a great family read-aloud.

Book reviewed by Michelle T., Youth Outreach Coordinator