Classy Hamster

I have complained about books in which authors seem to kiss up to libraries and other authors.  I don't know why it bothers me, it just does.  When it doesn't seem to "fit" in with the rest of the story, it just seems like product placement.  Is it weird that a book about a talking hamster can get library-love right when so many "big time" authors get it so wrong?  There is a lot of library-love in Einstein the Class Hamster Saves the Library, I mean, it is even in the title!  But this book is not a kissy-uppy deal, it seems to me.  It is "ripped from the headlines" as we hear about more and more schools choosing to close their libraries or downsize them in the district, but this is just done so well.  And it just seems like something that Einstein, whom we have come to know and love from his previous books, would do.  It's no secret that I love all things Tashijan, but I really feel that my love for this book is not biased!

Not the Book's Fault

I have heard such good things about Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. It was published during my year of hardly reading at all and so I am just getting around to it.  Thing is, I wasn't all that blown away by the fun of it.  But I think that is because I listened to it instead of reading it.  I just couldn't get into the puzzle part of it.  I did feel bad, because I ended up reading the last few chapters and it did seem like a much more enjoyable way to experience the book!  So I think I will read the second one instead of listening!