review

… Mama Pig’s surprise? In Piggies in the Kitchen by Michelle Meadows, you will see what can happen in the kitchen when Mama Pig leaves for the day. Her darling little piggies decide to make her a birthday cake, but they make a big mess instead.

…the fast-paced adventure starring Dan and Amy Cahill, two normal kids whose lives are thrown into a tailspin when their beloved grandmother dies? Their story is told in the popular 39 Clues series.

… the Scottsdale Food Festival? Jenn McKinlay’s newest book, Death by the Dozen*, has Mel, Angie, Tate and all of the DeLaura brothers back for the baking festival of the year. This one comes with a $10,000 prize and a lot of prestige.

… the military history of the United States? A tremendous amount of research went into Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power as Rachel Maddow historically follows the escalation of our country’s military might since the Vietnam War.

… riding the rails during the Depression? In this fantastic documentary about Riding the Rails, it sure makes today’s tough economic times look like a picnic. This film won awards for Best Documentary of 1997 from both the Directors Guild of America and the Los Angeles Film Critics.

… the sweet pet names parents call their children? Little Treasures, by Jacqueline Ogburn and Chris Raschka, looks at endearments used around the world.

…the Dead Detective?  Angel Interrupted is the really good second book in Chaz McGee’s series*.  Kevin Fahey was a drunk and a so-so detective in life and is now a ghost trying to help his replacement, Maggie Gunn. He can only guide Maggie in solving crimes through his thoughts, which are at times both funny and gritty.

…the stuck-in-a-time-loop orphanage that serves as a home for some very peculiar orphans? Jacob learns the truth about it in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. When Jacob’s grandfather is brutally murdered by monsters only Jacob can see, he is determined to find answers.

… the fun book of totally useless information? The Indispensable Book of Useless Information, by Don Voorhees, is a must for read for trivia fans and those who think they know everything. Did you know that the U.S.

… the powerful voice of Florence Welch? Florence and the Machine, a British indie-pop group, released their second album, Ceremonials, last fall, and it has been recognized worldwide as a strong, stirring follow-up to their debut album, Lungs.