This little library on a beach in Greece is my idea of paradise!

 

 

 

The One and Only Ivan, a delightful novel by Katherine Applegate

This book is listed as a kids book, but both my husband and I really enjoyed it!

Ivan (a large silverback gorilla) narrates his own life story, focusing on his friends and experiences. His best friends are Stella, a large elephant, and a stray dog named Bob. They all live in the aging Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade in a stationary roadside circus attraction, Stella and Ivan in cages for the public to view, Bob comes and goes as he pleases. 

While Stella performs tricks for the people crowded around her cage, Ivan spends most of his time watching TV and creating artwork that is sold to the public. Ivan is mostly content in his cage but Stella wishes she could live in a large zoo when there is nature and fresh air and other elephants.

When Ruby, a baby elephant, is moved in with the group, Stella is tasked with teaching her tricks, and takes Ruby under her wing. When Stella falls ill she asks Ivan to look after Ruby and she passes away before her dream of the zoo is realized.

Ruby is heartbroken, first from being taken from the wild and her family then again when her new friend and only source of security dies.

Ivan and Bob begin a plan to help Ruby find a new and safer home, in the end, through their courage, hope and loyalty, also help themselves.

With beautiful illustrations, this sweet story of friendship (with an excellent animal rights theme) was inspired by the story of a real silverback gorilla named Ivan who was held captive for 27 years. 

 

Curious George, a classic children's book written and illustrated by Margret Rey and H. A. Rey

And it's such a good thing they did!

Curious George is the classic children's picture book about a mischievous and curious little monkey and his travels and the trouble he got himself into. Beautifully illustrated, it is a staple for every little one's library. 

 

Books = Happiness

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

While I really enjoyed this novel, I am struggling to summarize it as it is quite unusual. The first in a series, at times I was reminded of Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Twilight, Hunger Games, Beauty an the Beast, even Labyrinth, but it is still absolutely unique story itself.  

It is the story of a mortal human young woman named Fayre who is tasked with keeping her father and sisters alive in a bleak world full of misery and poverty. She has become a master huntress in order to keep her family from starving. 

One day while hunting in the woods that border her human world with the faerie, whom humans hate and fear, she encounters a deer, and while hunting it, she discovers a wolf who also has interest in the deer. Not wanting her hungry family to suffer, she kills them both, meaning they can eat and sell the pelts. 

It isn't until later, when a monstrous creature appears, furious, at her home, that she learns the wolf she killed was actually a faerie in disguise. She has broken an ancient treaty the humans had with the Fae. As retribution, the beast insists that Fayre come to his land (called Prythian) to live the rest of her life away from her family. 

Once there, she discovers that the beast is actually an immortal and magic faerie named Tamlin, one of the high lords of Prythian. Over time, she discovers that everything she has always been taught about the "evil faerie" is untrue, and that perhaps the humans are the real treacherous creatures. The more that she learns about Tamlin and Prythian, she comes to feel at home and her mistrust turns to love.

All would be perfect in her new world... except for an ancient curse that threatens all of Prythian.

A thoroughly fun and entertaining read! I think teenagers would like this book as well. Girl Power.