Flippin’ Cool Flippy Books

My son loves to read. When I say “read” what I really mean is that he’s not quite two but loves to look at books, get books, have books read to him or pretend to be a grown-up and sit in his little easy chair curled up with a book. So when I got “Flippy and Toadpole” written by John Mese and Dawn Kelsey and illustrated by Chanler Holden, I was excited (Part of the Flippy and Friends network of awesomeness). New book, new chance to get cute kid reaction– good or bad. So I put the reviewing of the book in little Ben’s hands. I got it out, he grabbed it, examined it and handed it back to me. After the first reading, he said “Again!”— three times. The book was a hit. It’s quirky, sing-songy and with adorable, friendly, wide-eyed characters with poppy names. Big hit. Then I broke out a review copy of “Flippy Goes on a Road Trippy” (coming out in January) and Ben, well, flippy-ed out. This one was long, with lyrical rhymes describing an exciting cross-country road trip with friends including Crawdaddy, Eartha and others. He actually paid attention through the whole book, which reads for kids a little older than him. He loved scanning the pages filled with exciting animals, landscapes and cars and wanted me to read it to him twice more. Success! I love these books and they’re very cool and hip but with the mind of a child at the center of the narratives. Flippy Fantasteriffy.

Jana’s Ultimate Young Adult/Reader List

 

My friend Jana Christy, an awesome and accomplished illustrator, is one the coolest, smartest ladies I know. She loves books and recently shared with me her ultimate Young Adult/Young Reader reading list. Either she or her wonderful twins, Harry and Hugo, have put their seal of approval on these reads. I’ve read some of the classics, but now I’m interested in plunging into some new worlds!

The Letter, The Witch and the Ring by John Bellairs

The Boggart by Susan Cooper 

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeline L’Engle

Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett

I Was  A Rat by Philip Pullman 

Nicobobinus by Terry Jones

The House With a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs

The 13th Floor by Sid Fleischman 

The Black Pearl by Scott O’Dell 

Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman

Crispin, The Cross Of Lead by Avi

The Pool Of Fire by John Christopher

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Knight and The Squire by Terry Jones

The Firework Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman 

Strange Happenings by Avi

Skellig by David Almond

The Anybodies by N.E. Bode

The Great Brain by John D. Fitzgerald 

Woods Walk by Henry W. Art and Michael Robbins 

Crispin at the Edge of the World by Avi 

Robots Rising by Carol Sonenklar and John Kaufmann

Devil’s Storybook by Natalie Babbitt 

Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien

Science Behind Superheroes by Bode 

The Sand Walk Adventures by Jay Hosler

The Scarecrow’s Servant by Phillip Pullman 

Clan Apis by Jay Hosler 

Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards: A Tale of Edward Drinker Cope, Othniel Charles Marsh, and the Gilded Age of Paleontology by Jim Ottaviani, Zander Cannon, Shad Petosky, and Kevin Cannon

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Jack Plank by Natalie Babbitty.com