Dragon Skurfers
L. J. Libiran
1stBooks Library (2002)
ISBN 9781403314314
Fiction, Fantasy, Teen, Young Adult
Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 10) for Reader Views (6/08)

Synopsis: Most young adolescents only dream of great deeds and wild adventures. What if a couple of typical 21st century teens suddenly found themselves in a strange and fantastic world?

In Dragon Skurfers by author L.J Libiran, Gabriel Hunter and his younger brother Zach were spending a perfect day snowboarding the half-pipe and checking out trails. The last run of the day would be down Demon’s Gate. A Black Diamond trail due to open in a couple of weeks. They never made it to the end of that trail. Instead, they were plunged into an unimaginable ride, into a world where elves, dragons and demons are part of everyday life.

After being hunted and threatened by the inhabitants of this new world Gabriel and Zach must decide if the bond they are developing with some of the dragons is worth fighting for. The balance of power is shifting, and Gabriel and Zach discover that the skills they once took for granted could change the future of an entire civilization.
Read review of Dragon Skurfers
Visit author's website http://dragonskurfers.com/

Now For My Next Number!: Songs for Multiplying Fun (with CD)
Margaret Park; Pictures by Sophia Esterman
Great River Books (2007)
ISBN 9780915556380
Reviewed by Matthew Feliciano (age 7) for Reader Views (3/08)

Synopsis: Now for my Next Number! by Margaret Park presents a collection of colorful, easy-to-sing, easy-to-memorize songs that will help children practice and learn multiplication. Each song features a number and its multiples and tells a story in rhythm, rhyme, melody and pictures, making math a lively and multi-sensory activity.

Imaginative full color illustrations set the scenes and show coherent groupings of objects that show the number and the number of times it is multiplied. By counting the objects in the pictures children will understand how each multiplication product is derived.

Original music and vocals on the CD will have children singing along and effortlessly absorbing the products of the times tables. When it's time to know the times tables in school, children will already know the answers and have an easy way to practice while singing these songs.

Kathy Jardine, the creator of the Durples stories and characters, is the wife of Ron, the mother of three grown girls and the grandmother of a special little boy named Brayden. Kathy has spent many years selflessly working with special needs children and throughout those years was inspired by those same children to write and share her stories. Kathy's most significant message is to judge nobody by their appearance, as it is what is on the inside that really counts. It is quite clear that she values how special each and every child in the world is and spreading that message has become very important to her.

Ashley Jardine, the daughter of Kathy Jardine, is inspired by her mother's passion for children.  After reading Kathy's ideas for the Durples, and having such a deep appreciation for the importance of Kathy's message, she dedicated herself to ensuring the project was complete with writing, re-writing and eventually illustrating the story. 

Meet the Durples. Cindyloo, Mollyboo and Woodroo invite you to join them on their adventure in Elkton Forest where they meet many new and unique friends. One of their new friends, an outcast named Odalee, teaches them how to play his musical instrument; the mookaluke. 

When confronted with bullies, the Durples show their new friends a unique way of dealing with them. Children will learn the importance of acceptance and understand how 'cool' each and every character is despite any physical hindrances they may appear to have. The Durples: Get Lost in Elkton Forest is the first book of the Durples series. You don't want to miss out on any of these fun filled learning adventures!
Listen to interview with Ashley & Kathy Jardine