Jake's Review: This book is really long and it doesn't have a story (Mom's note: Yes I did explain to him non-fiction afterward s) I still liked it though, but I didn't want to read it all at once. There were lots of great ideas on how to write and also some fun games. I really, really liked all the illustrations (Jake learned a new word, used to call them pictures). I wish it was a bit shorter but with some more fun activities. I would like to keep it though, to help me with writing in school. I have a question though if the person who wrote this book is a boy, why are there girls on the cover. (Mom's note -- hmm I think a conversation on sexism is in order). I liked the silly questions with the authors. You can tell this guy is a Librarian because he has the same weird sense of humour as you.

Jake's Rating: 8/10

Mom's Review: Ok, I would like to start out this review with the fact that I now have a crush on this author. Don't worry Joel, I am not going to hit on you if I ever meet you for two main reasons. Reason 1, I am a married women with two boys -- I have enough testosterone in my life thank you very much (not to mention huge repertoire of fart and pee jokes already). Reason #2 you are a Librarian and I am only a mere Library Technician (hmm, any of my readers know the difference) and I have enough psychological issues due to my experience working in this library field. OK., OK. now that I have got that confession off my chest, YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. I wish I had this when I was young, it would have made writing so much easier and fun and who knows it might have helped me get into University where I could have become an ACRUAL Librarian (hee Hee). Seriously though, this is a great book on helping kids to write and encourage them to read more. It is done in such a way that the little heathens (sorry rough week with my kids) won't even know they are learning. The advice he gives is easy to understand and the writing games are lots of fun. The writing is quirky and fun and kids will feel like he is actually talking to them. The Silly interviews with the author are fun and informative and include some of my fav Canadian Authors (Robert Munsch, Melanie Watt, and Helaine Becker). The author also has an interview with Sean Cullen who I saw many times in my college days in Corky and the Juice Pigs. This is a MUST HAVE resource for all School, Class and Public Libraries.
Mom's Rating: 25/10 (He is a Librarian -- and a cute one at that -- I have to give it a high rating, it's part of my contract as a slave to the all mighty Librarians I work for)

We received this book from Scholastic in exchange for an honest review. Thank Nicole - I owe you HUGE for this one ( )