The Girl Who Drew Butterflies, by Joyce Sidman

     Subtitled; How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science, Sidman's book chronicles the life work of Maria Merian, a young girl who turned her love and fascination of nature into one of the most famous works of insect research and art the world has seen! And she lived in the 1600 and 1700s! Back then, to be interested in things such as "summer birds", or butterflies, and their different stages (pupa and caterpillars) could get you labeled a witch...and killed! But Merian coupled her talent for drawing and painting along with her intense interest in insects - butterflies and moths, mostly - into a lifelong journey to seek out and catalog as many species of these beautiful creatures as possible, from various places in the world (another element of her amazing life that did not come easily...it's not like she could hop on a plane to another continent back then!). 

    I loved the idea of this book, and was curious to get my paws on it. Then, once I started it, it took a little time to really settle into the short chapters and the story, as fascinating as it is. The artwork is gorgeous, and by pushing myself a little to stick with the story, I found myself having a hard time putting it down! What a brave person Merian was, to follow this dream and turn it into something that has lasted for hundreds of years! If she could do it back in the 17th century, then surely we can follow our dreams, too, right?! This book won't take long to finish and is worth seeing for yourself. A really powerful story, even if butterflies and moths are not your "thing"! 5 paws!

Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play Among Figures of Speech, by Ted Kooser & Connie Wanek

     A picture book with wonderful illustrations! U.S. Poet Laureate Kooser and Wanek construct some fun poems using various word plays, showing how one might see something one way, while someone else may see it another...perhaps I see an empty nest perched on the branch of a tree, but you see a clown balancing a pie in a tree! The book of thirty poems is divided into four sections, one for each element (fire, water, air and earth). The poetry is simple in subject but really stays with you afterward, like a Shel Silverstein poem but with less silliness (or maybe just a different kind of silliness). If you enjoy words, poetry or otherwise, and are open to possibilities in the world around you, check this out! Our school library has a copy, just waiting for you to explore it! 4 paws!

The Ghoul of Windydown Vale, by Jake Burt

     A new book by author Jake Burt that is receiving rave reviews, so I couldn't wait to read it myself! The story of Copper, a teen living in a small mountain town that has been half-swallowed up by mud over the years. The only thing keeping it alive - and the rest of the world from overtaking it - is the ghoul that lives in the woods, the mud flats...everywhere people can't really go safely and easily. The ghoul is gruesome, scary, frightening, awful, terrifying, and rumor is that it has killed more than its share of people over the years. The ghoul keeps the town living in fear, but also protects the town from unwanted visitors.

    When a young girl is discovered, injured at the hands of the ghoul and missing her father (who it seems has been killed by the ghoul), some in town head out to finally kill the ghoul. But is the ghoul real? Does anyone know for sure? It seems some people in town know...but they aren't telling. And who is this girl? Is she really missing her father, and is he really dead at the hands of the ghoul? 

    Things are not what they seem in Windydown Vale. Even when I thought I had the whole story figured out early on, which I don't like to do because why finish the story if you already know what is going to happen, right? But I was wrong, deliciously so! Burt has crafted a fun tale that twists at the right moments and keeps you guessing until the end. For fans of Goosebumps books who are ready for another level of scary mystery, you have to read this! Be warned that the cadence of the writing takes a little getting used to. But it's worth your time to get a bit further into the story...at some point the cadence falls into place, and the story takes over....and it's a good one! 5 paws!