The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

"My name is Calpurnia Virginia Tate, but back then everybody called me Callie Vee. That summer, I was eleven years old and the only girl out of seven children. Can you imagine a worse situation?"
Callie is an eleven year old girl growing up in 1899 Texas. As the only daughter among six brothers she is often expected to accomplish more than she cares to: piano, cooking, embroidery, lace, conversation, etc. But Callie has no interest in the "domestic arts." She'd rather be swimming in the river, studying and classifying plants, insects, or animals, and spending time with her Grandfather. Grandfather is a naturalist (studies nature) and a friend of Charles Darwin. Callie spends her summer with Grandfather trying to learn everything she can, but her parents have different ideas for her. They want Callie to buckle down and get serious about preparing to run a house. It is so unfair that Callie can't follow her dreams just because she's a girl!
First of all, I have to say I love the cover of this book. Isn't it gorgeous? Doesn't it make you want to devour what's inside? I'd totally hang this on my wall. :) This book was recommended by Design Mom. She's been reading it to her daughters so I thought I'd give it a try.
At first I had a hard time getting in to this one. There was too much talk about species of grasshoppers and bats and I'm just not terribly interested in that. But the more I read the more I liked it. I think we can all identify with a character who is forced to be one thing when her heart desires something totally different. And even though I couldn't care less what kind of plant Callie and her Grandfather find, I was really rooting for a new species! I also love how Callie discovers what she wants in this story, but I was annoyed that (SPOILER ALERT!) you don't really find out if she ever gets it. The story just... ends. I wanted things to resolve! I wanted her and her mother to work out a compromise - or at the very least for her Grandfather to declare his intention to leave her all his money so she could follow her dreams! But I didn't get ANY of that! Sheesh!
I still think this is a worth while read. Fun, funny, and really heart felt. I absolutely found myself cheering for Callie and her Grandfather! And it may have inspired me to keep a "scientific notebook" too.
Question for the notebook: why do I have such a thing for silhouettes of birds in trees?

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub

I spend the majority of my reading time reading to Grace and Noah, so why not review those books as well?

"Help! King Bidgood's in the bathtub and he won't get out! Oh who knows what to do?"

The King's entourage tries to lure him out with promises of battles, lunch, fishing, and a party, but the King won't budge! The King's young Page knows exactly what to do!

Another great book from Don and Audrey Wood (authors of such famous works as: Silly Sally, Piggies, The Napping House, and The Big Hungry Bear). I've read a few reviews on this one that call it an odd book. And my second-grade-teacher-mother (that's mother who teaches second grade) doesn't like it either. But we adore it at our house! The pictures are beautiful!!! BEAUTIFUL! The facial expressions illustrated on each page tell the story by themselves. And there is such detail in the pictures. The story is cute too. I love that it is a quick, easy to understand read. My 3 year old stays interested and understands what's going on (except I had to explain the words "battle" and "trout" to her). And she always reads the last page for us, "Glub. Glub. Glub." You'll love reading this one with your kiddoes!

I'm back... I hope

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been... and I don't even have a good reason for it. It all started with The Historian and The Importance of Being Earnest. Read them. Loved them. Wanted to write about them. Complex plots intimidated me. I couldn't possibly summarize the plots. Didn't write. Felt like I couldn't just skip two of the best books I read and pick up on later books... So, here I am. It's a new year and I'm starting again! I never stopped reading, just writing. But I am "determined to start afresh." (any of you Jane Austen die hards know what that line is from?)
New plan: I will continue reading and reviewing, but you may or may not get a summary from me. You can always read one on Amazon, right? I'm in the middle of a few good reads right now, and I hope to be posting again soon!