Saltwater Taffy by Eric Delabarre

Do you get a thrill when hearing about hidden treasures being found by everyday people?  Do you wish that your age didn't keep you from making history?  Then you can relate to Scooter, Gary, Jaq, Jimmy, and Zippy, a group of kids that are happy with who they are, and don't really want to be part of the popular crowd.  Their hometown, Port Townsend, Washington, was founded by the grandson of the great pirate, Jean Laffite.  Every year during pirate week, a new cipher is released in the paper, giving a new clue to finding the hidden Laffite treasure.  As the five friends get caught up in the treasure hunt, they face unexpected complications, life threatening situations, and just plain old hardships of being a thirteen year-old!

  I would definitely consider this a must read for most reluctant readers.  It might open up the world of reading to them in a way they didn't think possible.  This book has some good philosophy on living life as a teen and gives good advice about things such as believing in yourself and never giving up.  This book is what I consider a 5 star book, and I highly recommend it.  Eric Delabarre has a way of pointing out new ideas and looking at things in a way in which they have never been looked at before.  His way of showcasing thoughts and inner emotions will leave you looking at the world in a whole new way!  Read this saweet read today!

  I would recommend this book for readers 10+
 Check out http://www.whatagreatbook.com/ and become a Taffy Head today.
 Saltwater Taffy is available in print and for Kindle at Amazon.com

*A promotional copy of Saltwater Taffy was provided for review at no cost.  No compensation was received for this post.  The review and opinions expressed are funsmart's honest opinion.

5 Great Books For Elementary Aged Students

Hello book lovers! My friend and follower Ann, from http://ann-crabs.blogspot.com/, asked me to suggest books for her elementary aged daughter. So I agreed! All of the books listed here are books I read and enjoyed when I was younger. I hope you enjoy these too!

1. "Family Stories You Can Relate to, A Reading Rainbow Readers book", by Marc Brown, Arnold Lobel, Cynthia Rylant, and many more wonderful children's books authors:

This book includes many entertaining stories for the whole family! There are other books in the Reading Rainbow Readers series also, but I chose this book because I love books that will get the whole family laughing! The Reading Rainbow Books are kind of old, so they might be hard to find in stores. If you can't find it in stores, you can buy it at amazon with the link right here!



2. The Junie B. Jones Series, by Barbara Park and Janet Brunkus:

This book is very funny! You will follow Junie B. through Kindergarten and 1st grade in this great book! The only down side to it is that sometimes Junie acts mischievous, and I'd hate for your child to pick up bad behavioral habits because of this book, so if your child picks up habits from books and movies, I'd say no to this book. Personally, I didn't pick up any habits when I read the books, but it all depends on the child. You can read the books in any order you like.


3. The Magic Tree House Series, by Mary Pope Osborne and Sal Murdocca:

These are good books that tell about times in history, so it is learning, with a splash of fun fiction! Jack and Annie are smart children that love to go on fun adventures in their Magic Tree House. You can read these books out of order at the start, but it is better to read them in order later on in the series. This is a book that is good for classes to read together because of the educational value.


4.The Puppy Place Series, by Ellen Miles:

These books are great for children who love animals. It is about a brother and sister who keep dogs as foster pets and try to find them homes. It is a very detailed book that your child will love. I did get emotional when I read the first book, but I still liked the series a lot, and I always looked forward to buying the next book at the school book fair.


5.The Janette Oke's Animal Friends Series:

Last but definitely not least, these books teach lessons and provide entertainment for animal loving kids! It talks about a variety of animals, most of them living in the forest. Janette Oke also writes adult books.


I hope this answers your question, Ann. I also hope it provide information for anyone needing new reading matterial for their little ones! All of these books would be good for both boys and girls. Remember, whenever you need movie, book, cd, or game suggestions, just comment on my blog and I will try my best to answer your request!
*If you would like to buy these books on Amazon, follow the blue underscored links for each suggestion.