COVER LOVE: An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Kristilyn

Today’s cover …
An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green

Cover version: Audiobook
Language: English
Release Date: September 1, 2006
Publisher: Brilliance Audio

MY THOUGHTS:
This cover of An Abundance of Katherines not only appears on the audiobook, but also on the hardcover version of the book. I really like how it displays all of the girls — all of the Katherines — but also gives the reader a hint as to what else might be going on inside the novel. I mean, the mathematical equation has to pique some kind of interest, right? Of course, the girls on the cover could be any girl, not just Katherines. In a way I prefer the cover below because it tells the reader that there is a definite similarity between all of these Katherines besides a name. But my big problem with this cover is that it seems a little too … busy. There are lots of colours and noise going on. Sure, it’s symmetrical — and clever — but not as eye-catching as I would have liked it to be. Continue reading →

BOOK REVIEW: I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Kristilyn

RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2011
AUTHOR LINKS: WEB / TWITTER / GOODREADS / FACEBOOK
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
FORMAT: Hardcover
SOURCE: Library
BUY NOW FROM: Amazon

A picture-book delight by a rising talent tells a cumulative tale with a mischievous twist.

The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor– and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

MY REVIEW

I have a confession to make: I am 30-years-old and I love picture books. When I’m looking for a picture book, I want something unique, something that has great pictures (obviously), and something that’ll make me think at the end. Jon Klassen’s book, I Want My Hat Back, fits the bill. Continue reading →

DISCUSSION: Becoming a reader again

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Kristilyn

As I’m sitting down to write this, I’m recalling the fact that I’ve already recorded a video AND written a blog post in the past 6 days about why I’m cutting back on blogging. As the week’s gone by, though, I feel the need to further verify what I’m doing and why.

I really enjoy blogging. Really.

It might not seem like it right now, but there’s something so wonderful about writing something that comes from my heart, putting it out there on my blog, and having you–my readers–comment on it, showing your support. It seems that, lately, the support system is starting to crumble within the blogging community. Things have been going down and I’m not going to get into details (it’s nothing to do with me, but some prominent bloggers I’ve looked up to) or start talking about whose side I’m taking, but I do want to say that in the past months my outlook on blogging has been changing.

I’m not sure why, but it seems like it’s too easy for bloggers to go against one another. Maybe it’s because of the safety that a computer provides, because surely some people wouldn’t say the things they say if the exchange were to happen in person. At least, I’d like to think so. But lately, bloggers are pitting against each other, authors are bashing reviewers, and it’s just too common for fiascos to break out. It seems that something is happening every single week and it’s just not fun to be a part of it. Continue reading →