An astounding difference...

Book Review: Lindbergh

Lindbergh:
The Tale of a Flying Mouse

written by Torben Kuhlmann

96 pages, children's picture book
published in 2014

If you're looking for a new picture book to share with your family, Lindbergh is the one to pick.

Before the Spirit of St. Louis became an airplane... before Charles Lindbergh flew across the ocean... THERE WAS A MOUSE WHO LIVED IN HAMBURG.

This mouse, a courageous inventor and pilot, dared to go where no four-legged creature had aspired to go before.

To the skies.

Studious and intelligent, this mouse has been presented with a problem: the appearance of metal contraptions to which his other furry friends, one by one, have succumbed to.


He decides his best chance at survival would be in America -- but how? Although ships could take him to his desired destination, he runs into predicaments at the docks... leaving him nowhere else to turn to except the uncharted, faraway clouds.

With a Victorian-era steampunk elegance, the illustrations in "Lindbergh" are stunning and beautiful. You'll find richly fascinating and tasteful details throughout the pages. (Oh, and the mice are so cute and cuddly!)


The imagery truly "makes" the book, for the pictures alone speak volumes even without the accompanying text. Consistent with the vintage ambiance of the plot, the sepia-toned artwork beams with brilliance.

Overall, young readers will pick up on historical cues and the pioneering aviation ideas. The story is about exhibiting fortitude and ingenuity against the odds... and innovation in the face of failure.


You couldn't ask for any more from a book. It is PERFECT.

The hardcover copy comes with a full, striking 96 pages of wonderfulness.


Author bio (via publisher): Torben Kuhlmann was born in Germany. Creative as a child, small airplanes, strange machines and steaming railways made their way into his drawings and later into his acrylic and oil paintings. He studied illustration and design at the University for Applied Sciences in Hamburg. He works as a freelance illustrator. Lindbergh - The Adventurous Tale of a Flying Mouse is his first children's book.


Thanks to NetGalley and NorthSouth for the free book.

Book Review: Zane and the Hurricane

Zane and the Hurricane:
A Story of Katrina

written by Rodman Philbrick

184 pages, children's fiction
published in 2014

Zane Dupree, a boy from New Hampshire, is visiting relatives in Louisiana when a disastrous storm strikes: Hurricane Katrina. The tragedy leaves his life forever changed, but it allows readers a glimpse of the details of the horrific tragedy. But Zane knows nothing of the forthcoming tempest.

His father died before Zane was born. When, out of the blue, word arrives that his father's relatives are living in the New Orleans area, Zane's mom is eager for him to meet his great-grandmother, Trissy. He sets off on his summertime journey, although without much enthusiasm about making the trip. At least Bandit, his trusty dog, will be with him. Soon after, the fatal winds start to pick up in the Gulf Coast.

The aftermath of the 2005 hurricane, as told in the book, sound pretty gruesome sometimes, especially for younger readers, I'd expect. Through Zane's eyes, you are centered in the midst of the chaos and trauma, with horrible sights and smells, particularly in concerning the lives that Katrina took. I think for many readers, the scenes are eye-opening to the intensity of the hurricane situation and the wreckage it produced.

"Zane and the Hurricane" is a story of triumph through tragedy. It shows how, when in the depths of despair, banding together with the people around you can lead to great victory. It is the story of the human instinct for survival.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for the free book.

Sharing Our Bookshelves {June 2014}

"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time."
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's time for the June book link-up!
Let's share our book reviews, and thoughts about the great books we're reading! I'm sure there is plenty to discuss for summer booklists.

Sharing Our Bookshelves is open all month long!
Do you have any bookish posts on your blog?


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