Musing Mondays asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer each week…
• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!
• What are you currently reading? What do you think you’ll read next? What did you recently finish reading?
A sick child always deserves a new book and for one very poorly little girl aged just five I selected the amusing Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf by Catherine Storr complete with a set of bookmarks to decorate.
This was a favourite read aloud story to my children who loved to see Polly outsmart the wolf, which she does with alacrity every single time and I’m hoping that this book, first published in 1967 can work its magic once again.
I am currently reading The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths,
Blurb
When the body of a girl is found, cut into three, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens is reminded of a magic trick, the Zig Zag Girl.
The inventor of the trick, Max Mephisto, is an old friend of Edgar’s. They served together in the war as part of a shadowy unit called the Magic Men.
Max is still on the circuit, touring seaside towns in the company of ventriloquists, sword-swallowers and dancing girls. Changing times mean that variety is not what it once was, yet Max is reluctant to leave this world to help Edgar investigate. But when the dead girl turns out to be known to him, Max changes his mind.
Another death, another magic trick: Edgar and Max become convinced that the answer to the murders lies in their army days. When Edgar receives a letter warning of another ‘trick’, the Wolf Trap, he knows that they are all in danger… Goodreads
I have just finished Gone by Rebecca Muddiman
watch out for my review later this week
250,000 people go missing in the UK every year. 91% of those reported to police are found within 48 hours. 99% of cases are solved within a year. And 1% stay gone. 11 years ago, troubled teenager Emma Thorley went missing. The police assumed she was a runaway. But now a body has been found in woods near Blyth. DI Michael Gardner knows he didn’t take Emma’s disappearance seriously enough back then, and is determined to make up for it now. But when he and DS Nicola Freeman start to reinvestigate, they discover that nothing is as simple as it seems.
Next I plan to finally read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Schaffer and her niece Annie Burrows
Blurb
“ I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.” January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she’s never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb….
As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends—and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island—boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society’s members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways. Goodreads
What book would you recommend to cheer up a five year old? What are you reading this week?
To cheer up a five year old? I’m assuming she’s gone through Roald Dahl books? Mine used to love reading then over and over again, chuckling away. Hope your little girl gets better soon.
I’m waiting to read your reviews of Gone and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, both very different but books I enjoyed thoroughly!
LikeLike
Thanks for the suggestion, it is for a relative so I’m trying to steer clear of the most obvious choices. I’ve read Gone and was impressed and I’m really looking forward the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society 🙂
LikeLike
I’d recommend Milly Molly Mandy, Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl. There’s a magic to them that has lasted for decades and made many a child, poorly or not, happier 🙂
LikeLike
We loved those books in our household too – Milly Molly Mandy is a great idea and may well be the next choice!
LikeLike
Gone and the Zig-zag girl are SO intriguing. The Zig-zag girl made me think of the movie Now you See Me. it’s the magic, I think, I love it when a story incorporates it well into a story. Here’s mine http://editingeverything.com/weekly-events/monday-musings-3/
LikeLike
Thank you – I really enjoyed Gone, and the Zig-Zag Girl is proving to be an intriguing read too. Thank you for leaving your link 🙂
LikeLike
I’d be curious to read your review about the 1950s setting. I haven’t read one in that setting yet.
LikeLike
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein is awesome. Love his poetry and they are so much fun to read. Really, anything by Shel Silverstein is magic.
LikeLike
Thank you Cynthia that is a new one to me yet having checked it out sounds like it’ll fit the bill nicely.
LikeLike
How kind of you to want to help a sick child feel better. I’d suggest Enid Blyton as well. And I have to admit it: I’m a Dr. Seuss fan. Some of his work is exactly right for a five-year-old to read and have fun with.
LikeLike
We loved Dr. Seuss in this house too although my son more so than my daughter… another great suggestion, thank you Margot.
LikeLike
Not sure it’s still in print, but I loved the book Hamilton Duck when I was young.
And you can’t really go wrong for cheering up with Dr. Suess! Or a Beverly Cleary book!
LikeLike
I had forgotten Beverly Cleary books – thank you for a great suggestion 😉
LikeLike
Oh, I do hope you enjoy The Zig-Zag Girl – I liked it even better than her Ruth Galloway books.
LikeLike
Well I’m about a third of the way through and it’s going better than your last review 😉
LikeLike
😆 Glad to hear it! *shuffles off guiltily*
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry to read your angel is under the weather. Who Flung the Dung by Ben Redlich made my girls howl.
I’m still reading my knitting mystery. I’ve gotten to the dead body and am now getting to know his past.
LikeLike
Who Flung the Dung is another one that passed me by so another possibility to pop in the post as a surprise. Thanks for the suggestion 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, these books all look good…and I actually read and enjoyed The Guernsey book…that title is a tongue twister!
LikeLike
It is incredibly long to type out too many times, that’s for sure! Thanks for stopping by Laurel.
LikeLike
Oooh! books to add to my queue! And I loved The Guernsey book, my book group read that a couple of years ago and we had a lively discussion about it. Hope you enjoy it!
LikeLike
I should have read it years ago after all it is set on the sister Channel Island to where I live… better late than never 😉
LikeLike
Gone looks good, look forward to your review. I think the Pinkalicious books are perfect for 5 year old girls feeling down, hopefully she will be feeling pinkatastic after.
LikeLike
Tank you so much for your suggestion, I’d not come across Pinkalicious books but I’ve been to check them out and they sound like just the right kind of thing for a poorly girl.
LikeLike
I love Elly Griffiths and I also want to read Gone! Great books Cleo.
I hope your little girl feels better soon xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really enjoying The Zig Zag Girl, I’ve been looking forward to this for quite a while. I think you’d enjoy Gone – really good structure. The poorly girl isn’t my daughter – she’s all grown up having an adventure in Thailand at the moment 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting my MM! For a five year old, I would recommend some books I liked: Corduroy, Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Story of Ferdinand, and Curious George. I have read Gone (but not forgotten). I enjoy mysteries, so The Zig Zag Girl also sounds intriguing.
LikeLike
Ah good old Curious George, thank you for the recommendation. The Zig Zag Girl is really enjoyable – I’m reluctant to put it down and leave the 1950’s.
LikeLike
I just read The ZigZag Girl and liked it, although the other novels by the same author were not really to my taste. Now I want to read Gone. 🙂
LikeLike
The Zig Zag Girl is quite different to the Ruth Galloway series, although I enjoy them too, I’m enjoying the 1950’s setting and the Magic Men.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed The Zig Zag Girl. As to your request for books for a five year old – it depends if you want to something she can read on her own or have read to her. I always recommend anything by Graeme Base, Janet and Allen Ahlberg, Pamela Allen, Lauren Child or Giles Andreae for newly independent readers
LikeLike
Oh I do love (and miss) the Janet and Allen Ahlberg, they produced some truly amazing books. I will now check out the rest of your suggestions. Thank you!
LikeLike
Would be interesting to hear your view on the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society – I really enjoyed it and lot of that was due to the historical aspect of it – living there you might find that aspect very different to me:)
LikeLike
Yes Jersey was also occupied during WWII so I have quite a bit of background on that aspect – I’ll let you know once I’m done 🙂
LikeLike