Book Review: Coraline

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Book Review: 

Shhhh, don't tell! But I had never read Coraline all the way through before. Did I see the movie? Yep. Did I think I had read the whole thing? Yep. But the ending was a surprise for me!

The Good:

Coraline is a strong girl (nothing like Little Red Riding Hood, who I am researching right now) who does not need a hero, she is the hero! Her life is like your life (or your childhood life), she is bored, curious, and stuck in a house all alone (well, her parents are there). Her parents cook food she doesn't like, don't have time for her, and she has just moved. I love how strong Coraline is! When she first looks under the bed at the rats, I wouldn't have gotten any closer to those glowing red eyes!

The Not-So-Good:

Coraline is billed as the Alice in Wonderland of this generation. I don't mean to be rude, but I like to think that Alice is Wonderland is the Alice in Wonderland of this generation. Holding it up to such a high standard makes it fall a little flat. Now, this isn't some great literary work, so I understand that it isn't very multilayered, but at the end I really wanted Coraline to demand a little more of her parents. However, this features a bit of a non-ending that reminded me of Where the Wild Things Are (which is fantastic, don't get me wrong).

Over-All:

Should you read this book? Yes, because it is a modern classic. Not many people are writing Fairy Tale stories anymore and this is a great one. Who should read it? Well, sad to say, I'm an adult (but I loved this book) so I think anyone adults and below would really enjoy it. I would like to note that it is a little scary, and maybe even a little creepy, so maybe third grade and up is a good age range.

What I'm Doing With It:

After a very democratic voting process in the After School Program I do outreach from my library at, the kids chose to hear Coraline read aloud. These third through fourth graders are usually chatting, hitting, and moving around - but now, Coraline has settled them right down. This is really a great read aloud book!

Coming Soon: Book to Movie Review!

Musing Monday ... I wish it were Sunday

Okay, it isn't Monday yet, but after a lovely weekend of reading, organizing, and obsessing over children's programing ideas via pinterest, I don't want to go back to work in a few hours (okay, it is 12 hours from now, but still).

Something horrible happened today. As I was leaving Target, I was suddenly craving fried chicken (that isn't the stocking part), but when I drove through KFC real quick on my way home, they were out of biscuits. How does KFC run out of biscuits? That is like McDonalds running out of fries. Heavy Sigh.

Here are musings for your enjoyment!

Baby Elephant playing in the ocean, not book related, but SOOO cute!

This library is pretty awesome ... so is Harper Lee

Unplanned Harper Lee theme - love this!

Why Not?

Books make me happy and I like to share that with you. We can all smell like the library :)

Follow your heart and your soul, but use your brain too!

I'm on my second childhood, my life is so much better this way (except during this childhood I can drive)

Grow up, but not old.

Audrey Hepburn said, "I like Fairy Tales best" and Albert Einstein said that, "if you want your children to be smart, read them fairy tales"

These are such beautiful copies of these great books!

Most of these came from one of my favorite Tumblrs ... I Heart Classics ... the rest are ones I've had saved on my computer for a rainy day and I do not remember where I got them :( However, I know that I don't own theme and didn't create them. Enjoy!