Books, Movies, Theatre Etc...

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Movie 19 ~ Jersey Boys

JERSEY BOYS

2014 * R * 1344 min *

Directed by Clint Eastwood

Screenplay & Musical Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice

January 2016

Movie 18 ~ Scarface

SCARFACE

1983 * R * 170 min *

Directed by Brian De Palma

Screenplay by Oliver Stone

January 2016

Movie 17 ~ When Calls the Heart

WHEN CALLS THE HEART: Lost & Found S1E1 and Cease & Desist S1E2

2014 * NR * 84 min *

Directed by Michael Landon Jr.

S1E1 Written by Michael Landon Jr. & Cindy Kelley

S1E2 Written by Brian Bird

Book by Janette Oke

January 2016

Movie 16 ~ The Walk

THE WALK

2015 * PG * 123 min *

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Screenplay by Robert Zemeckis & Christopher Browne

Book by Philippe Petit

January 2016

Book 10 ~ Pros and Cons

PROS AND DONS: Fox & O'Hare #0.5
By Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
© 2013 Bantam Books / Random House - NY, NY

ISBN# 978-0-345-54943-3

74 pgs

January 2016

Pros and Cons by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Short vignette about Kate O'Hare first near miss at catching Nick Fox attempting a heist.

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Book 9 ~ The Shell Game

THE SHELL GAME: Fox & O'Hare #0.25
By Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg
© 2014 Bantam Books / Random House - NY, NY

ISBN# 978-0-8041-8081-8

68 pgs

January 2016

The Shell Game by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute short story about Nick Fox and Kate O'Hare.

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Friday, January 29, 2016

Book 8 ~ Miracle on 133rd Street

MIRACLE ON 133RD STREET
By Sonia Manzano
Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
© 2016 Atheneum Books/Simon & Schuster - NY, NY

ISBN# 978-0-689-87997-9

48 pgs

January 2016

Miracle on 133rd Street by Sonia Manzano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The author Sonia Manzano more widely known as Maria from Sesame Street tells the story of Christmas Eve and Jose's family celebration. There is a problem, Mami is the kitchen and the roast does not fit in the oven! Mami begins reminiscing about when they lived in Puerto Rico and how small and cramped everything is New York. Jose and Father set out to take the roast down the block and around the corner to Regular Ray's Pizzeria with hopes that he will let them cook it there. On their way they encounter all their neighbors who are very much not in the Christmas spirit. Jose and Father are successful and convince Ray to return with them to celebrate, as well as all their neighbors who upon smelling the heavenly magical aroma of the roast find their Feliz Navidad spirit. Everyone gathers and a fantastic celebration is had by all.

A fantastic diverse picture book spanning ages and cultures sure to delight youngsters at Christmastime!

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Book 7 ~ The Left Behinds: Abe Lincoln and the Selfie that saved the Union

THE LEFT BEHINDS: Abe Lincoln and the Selfie that Saved the Union
By David Potter
© 2016 Penguin Random House - NY, NY

ISBN# 978-0-385-39061-3

295 pgs

January 2016

The Left Behinds: Abe Lincoln and the Selfie that Saved the Union by David Potter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was so cute. This the second book in the series so far and I can't wait to read the first one.

The premise are three kids left behind at school during vacation that time travel via their iPhones and help save the past. This installment takes them to meet President Lincoln and family and the battle of Gettysburg.

To further extend the fun/learning at the end of the book the author lists bibliographies for further fiction and nonfiction reading, websites to visit, and historical places and museums to visit.

I think this would appeal to both middle school boys and girls that have an interest in history.

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