Flora and Ulysses

By Kate DiCamillo

The 2014 Newbery Medal winner. Holy unanticipated occurrences! This is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing characters and featuring an exciting new format—a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in black and white by K.G. Campbell.

Tackling hard themes, Kate DiCamillo introduces little Flora, a girl with a big imagination, divorced parents, intriguing neighbors, and a super-powered squirrel she names Ulysses. Be ready to follow the meeting and friendship of Flora and Ulysses with a ready smile and a thoughtful heart. This is a story of belonging, loyalty, and learning just what really matters in life. There’s a definite reason this book won a Newbery. My only disclaimer is that the mother smokes quite heavily and also is a writer of romance novels, which comes into play in a few minor instances. I suggest this book for older kids at least 12 and up just for some of the more mature themes of divorce and relationships.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Fortunately, The Milk

By Neil Gaiman

“I bought the milk,” said my father. “I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: Thum thum. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road.”

“Hullo,” I said to myself. “That’s not something you see every day. And then something odd happened.”

Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie Young.

I have decided that aside from being crazy in a fantastic way, Neil Gaiman should write more short stories. This was fabulous. I was smiling and laughing at the premise, and at the fantastically expressive illustrations by Skottie Young. I’d love to have this ‘big fish’ story on my personal bookshelf. It’s on my list. If you’ve got half an hour, pick this up and read it, and remember all those whoppers you, or your family have told in your life.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5