The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood

Maryrose Wood's series The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (J WOOD) has been likened to a cross between Jane Austen and A Series of Unfortunate Events. The books in the series, which is set in 19th century England, are:

1. The Mysterious Howling
2. The Hidden Gallery
3. The Unseen Guest

Having read the first two Incorrigible books, I'd characterize the series as a kinder, gentler, but no less stylish and whimsical choice to Lemony Snicket's immensely popular Unfortunate Events.

Fifteen-year-old Penelope Lumley, newly hired by Lord Fredrick and Lady Constance of Ashton Place to serve as a governess, arrives to find a rather bewildering scenario: Her three charges — Alexander, Cassiopeia and Beowolf — were actually found running wild in the nearby woods. The children have been taken in by the couple, but it's Penelope's job to civilize and educate the feral youngsters.

As a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, the practical-minded Penelope quickly overcomes her shock and devotes all her efforts to seeing to her charges' well-being. The children, though occasionally given to bouts of howling and squirrel chasing, blossom under Penelope's attentions.

However, Wood's first book right away hints that not all is at it seems. Lord Fredrick, who seems to enjoy hunting more than he does his wife's company, has an odd compulsion to constantly check an alamanac. His colleagues, whom Penelope first meets at the Ashtons' Christmas party, seem to have shadowy motives. And something — or someone — possibly lurks on the fourth floor.

These questions only multiply as you continue into the second book, The Hidden Gallery, when Penelope and the Incorrigibles journey to London.

I admire the pluck and determination young Miss Penelope Lumley (or "Lumawooo!", as the Incorrigibles call her) shows. Penelope comes across as bright, mature and level-headed, but not to an unrealistic degree. (The only thing I found slightly jarring was the ambitious curriculum she sets for the Incorrigibles: She soon has them appreciating great literature, spouting Latin and tackling advanced math — quite the absorption rate for a pack of half-tame grade-schoolers!) With few allies — Lord Fredrick comes across as uncaring and Lady Constance, a flake — Penelope does her best to protect her charges while solving the mystery of the Incorrigibles' origin as well as her own.

Alexander, Cassiopeia and Beowolf themselves are endearing. The rapidity at which they learn also lends the story much of its humor as we see Penelope's lessons pay off. Each of the siblings has a distinctive personality, though it's clear all of them adore and trust Penelope. Still, this is Penelope's story to tell, and it's one I think all ages will find entertaining.

Here's a video of author Maryrose Wood discussing the books:

Books about Going to the Doctor or Dentist

For most kids, going to the doctor or dentist can be scary, but reading a book or two about doctors and dentists can help them feel better prepared and less worried. 

 
Froggy goes to the doctor by: Jonathan London
E LONDON 
A useful and funny book in the Froggy series about Froggy realizing going to the doctor is nothing to worry about. Froggy is nervous about going to the doctor, but after some hilarious things happen there, he realizes that the doctor’s office isn’t that bad!

  


Time to see the doctor by: Heather Maisner

E MAISNER

Ben goes to the doctor because he has an earache, but he is scared to let the doctor look at his ear. That is, until his big sister Amy volunteers to get a check-up to show him there’s nothing to be scared of!

 




Katie goes to the doctor by: Liesbet Slegers

E SLEGER

Katie feels sick, so her mother takes her to the doctor and Katie learns all about getting her temperature taken, having her heart listened to with a stethoscope, and more. She also learns that going to the doctor is nothing to be scared of!

Harry and the dinosaurs say "Raahh!" by: Ian Whybrow

E WHYBROW

Harry’s first dentist trip is less scary because he brings along his dinosaur toy friends. One of them, Tyrannasaurus, is a little scared still, but Harry helps him feel better.

 






ABC dentist by: Harriet Ziefert

E ZIEFERT

Teaches about words you might hear at the dentist, like appointment, cavity, and x-ray. Great way to ease your child’s fear about the dentist by empowering them with knowledge about the words they might hear.

Fun, Weird, and Mind-Boggling Fact Books other than Guinness World Records Books

If you’re a fan of weird and mind-boggling facts, information, and trivia like in the Guinness World Records books (J 031 GUINNESS), here are some other books that have strange information guaranteed to amaze you (if they don't amaze you, we'll be amazed by that!)

 

The everything kids' book of outrageous facts : explore the most fantastic, extraordinary, and unbelievable truths about your world! by: Beth L. Blair

J 031.02 BLAIR

This book has plenty of weird and fascinating facts that you almost won’t believe about various topics, from outer space to American history.

Every day on Earth : fun facts that happen every 24 hours by: Steve Murrie

J 301.02 MURRIE

This one is a little different than a typical fun facts book because it is all about amazing things that happen every day. For instance, 77 million pounds of tomatoes are eaten every day in the United States! 

Scholastic book of world records 2010 by: Jennifer Corr Morse

J 301.02 MORSE

Cool facts about anything and everything, from which country eats the most chocolate to which U.S. state has the most waterparks. Lots of pictures go along with the information.

That's awesome! : the world's most amazing facts & records!

J 032.02 THATS

The title of this book is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s worth adding that this book covers weird facts about size, price, animals and plants, sports, food, arts, space, weather, jobs, technology, the human body, and a lot more.

Thanksgiving Books

Thanksgiving is almost here! The books below are just a sampling of the Thanksgiving books we have for kids (as always, if you need help looking for a particular book, please ask us, we’re glad to help).

 

A Turkey for Thanksgiving by: Eve Bunting

E BUNTING (in Easy Holiday Season section)

Mr. and Mrs. Moose decide to invite a turkey to their Thanksgiving celebration. Will it end up being a good plan?

 

I spy Thanksgiving : riddles by: Jean Marzollo

ER MARZOLLO

Rhymes and pictures that help you find hidden objects in Thanksgiving-related photos.

This First Thanksgiving Day: a counting story by: Laura Krauss Melmed

E MELMED (in Easy Holiday Season section)

Twelve simple poems combine telling the story of Thanksgiving and counting.

 

Thanksgiving with Me by: Margaret Willey

E WILLEY (in Easy Holiday Season section)

On Thanksgiving, a girl asks her mother to tell her about what Thanksgiving was like for her when she was a girl.

New Touch and Feel Alphabet Book and Number Book

Touch and feel books are a category of books for young children that have texture on each page, like actual fluffy fake fur a child can touch when being read a story about bunnies or a rough sandpaper texture they can feel when reading about the desert.  The texture is a wonderful way for children to stay engaged with the story. Two new board books, Montessori Number Work and Montessori Letter Work, both by Bobby and June George (E GEORGE) show that touch and feel books can also be a great way to help them learn numbers and letters. The books are simple: each letter or number is slightly textured for your child to trace over it with their finger. There are also simple and crisp-looking illustrations related to each letter or number to further help them learn.  As with all new books, if they are not on the new books shelf, they will be on their normal shelf location: E GEORGE (in the board books section).

Example inside page. The letters are textured!