The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

This lump of coal can think. He really wanted to become an artist. He thinks he can do it if there is a barbeque but it is in the heat of winter and he has been forgotten.

So he tries to move around. He rolls out the backyard and into the center of town. Window shopping helps him find an art gallery with pictures that looked like they were made by other Lumps of coal. He was so surprised. When he goes inside he gets kicked out and told only humans paint here.

So he moves on. He finds a Barbeque place in a Korean restaurant. They said they don’t need any coal.

Just as he was about to give up, he meets Santa Clause. But, this Santa was just an employee of a drugstore. He told them that he did have a disobedient stepson and he wanted to put the lump of coal in his stocking as punishment.

Then the stepson, Jasper, says he wanted coal to create art. The lump of coal is happy to help. Jasper is surprised the lump of coal can talk. They create art together and make a fortune.

With their fortune, they open up a restaurant called “Yi Sang’s Korean Barbeque Palace and Secretarial School. So during the day they cooked genuine Korean food and in the evening they created works of art. Then it talks of miracles.

The illustrations in this book are great. I just love the lump of coal character. He almost makes me giggle when I see him. The story is cute too, it is a fun adventure. I really like the compact size of the book. It is appealing.

Milly and the Macy's Parade by Shana Corey

The story takes place in 1924 in New York City. Milly had came to America from Poland. It is Milly’s first year in America and it is the holidays.

Milly’s dad works at Macy’s. Macy’s is a very busy this time of year. There was magic in the air. Thousands of people came in the store, but some only put their nose against the window to look inside. Then they’d say, “It’s not like home.”

Milly remembers Poland and misses it. She listens as her dad and his buddies are sad and homesick. It is as she is listening to them that she has an idea!

She runs to Mr. Macy’s office. Mr. Macy’s has noticed that his workers were all frowning. He realizes this depresses the customers. Mr. Snidely, his assistant suggests firing them all. Milly runs in and tells him he can’t fire them. They ask who she is. So she told them her idea to bring everyone’s home to America.

So the next day, a sign announces there will be a parade on Thanksgiving. Everyone is excited because it will be just like back home. The word gets around quick.

On the day of the parade, all the employees are dressed up. They all strolled down the street and made a parade. Milly rode an elephant borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. Milly suggested doing it every year. Mr. Macy agrees.

This picture book is very fun. I love the illustrations and it is such a fun idea.

Roger, the Jolly Pirate by Brett Helquist

I think this picture book is really fun. The illustrator and author of this book is the same illustrator that has illustrated the "Series of Unfortunate Events" series.

This book tells us how Pirates came about having the flag with the skull and bones on it.

Roger is a jolly pirate and his fellow buddies call him Jolly Roger, but they are not nice about it.

Anytime they do their pirate work, they send him down underneath. He doesn't like that.

So one day while the enemy has attacked their ship they send Roger underneath. Roger decides he is going to bake a cake so that they won't be so mad at him.

In making the cake he looks for a pot to cook it in. You see him putting his ingredients into a cannon. He lights the wick at the bottom to watch it cook. It explode and he gets blown through the ceiling and up on deck. He has soot and flour on him and looks like a ghost. The attacking enemies sees this and abandon ship.

His fellow pirates are so happy that they make a flag for him.

This a fun picture book. The pictures say so much even when the words don't say it. I love the explosion.

They have a song at the end that is just fun.

I really enjoyed this Children's Picture Book

Lost and found by Andrew Clements

Ray and Jay have noticed that people look at them as one person. So when their new school, loses one of their files on the first day when one is sick, the twins decide to use the situation to be thought of as one person instead of a twin. This book is just simply FUN!! It is well written and a super fun read. Cute story.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

What a fun, little adventure of a book. Claudia decides to run away and Jamie is her brother of choice to go with her. Together they find themselves living inside a Museum. This book is surprisingly intriguing and fun to follow. The story is sweet and full of good secrets.

Smart Dog by Vivian Vande Velde

Amy happens upon a dog who can talk. He is trying to escape the college that he tells her has used him as an experiment. Amy tries to help him.

A talking Dog? The book makes it seem quite logical that this could happen in real life. The book feels very real.

The story is one of courage that Amy learns and of friendship. This is a very sweet book.

Black Potatoes by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

I really liked this book. It seemed incredibly full of facts about this period of time. I have a deep respect for the Irish and all they’ve been through. I don’t know how people could ever survive amid such lack of food…or perhaps lack of access to the food.

I must admit, I was less than pleased about the help they received. Irish seem to be a very hard working group of people. Their ill fortune should not have been so tragic. If other countries, especially England, would have been less selfish they could’ve helped prevent such a massive desolation. England wouldn’t let Ireland handle its own problem. It was like their hands were tied. It makes me wonder what the outcome would’ve been if the Irish’s hands weren’t tied. If they were able to use some of their own resources instead of being taxed to death and left without their other major resources that were exported to England. It is a sad time in Ireland and England’s history.

I would definitely recommend the book. It gave me such a desire to feel grateful with what I have and sorrow for those who didn’t have much. Even though it is sad to know some of the details, it helps to be informed. Being informed may just prevent it from happening again.