Reading with David – The Mystery of the Whispering Mummy

David says:
I gave this story four stars because I didn’t really like the beginning because it wasn’t interesting to me and it was a little too confusing.

I thought it was interesting that someone disguised the cat and how the two cases were intertwined. I also liked that Jupiter figured it out about the cat and helped him realize Sardon might be a disguise, too.

I didn’t like that Sardon/Freeman tried to steal the mummy and its case. The part where we found out how the mummy whispered was interesting and clever. I also didn’t like that Freeman stole the cat.

I liked that in the end everything went back to its right place. The thieves were caught. The jewels were sent back. And the cat went back to Mrs. Banfry. In the end, this book was fun to read but not as good as the other two we read so far.


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot

David says:
I gave this story five stars because I really like that they figured out the riddle and that they were able to find and return the parrots.

I liked that the parrots all had different funny names and messages and that one of hem was myna bird. I also like that Mr. Huganay congratulated them in the end (and that he didn’t win.)

I didn’t like Adam and the other guy who worked for Mr. Huganay because they captured the boys. I also didn’t like that Skinny Norris helped the art thief. I liked that Mr. Claudius apologized to the children (and the parrot owners) because he got so angry so quickly and screamed at them.

I liked that John Silver told Carlo’s uncle that he had a piece of gold at the end of the rainbow and he trained the parrots to say all those different riddles. It was super-cool that Blackbeard knew them all!


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – The Secret of Terror Castle

David says:
I gave this story five stars because I loved that they figured out the secret or Terror Castle and that it ended well.

I liked Jupiter the most because he was the master because he was the first investigator and he formed the club. He was also the most intelligent. I also liked Bob because he did all the research about Terror Castle. I like that they had cool adventures. I also liked the driver because he discovered the secret passage and he also saved Pete and Jupiter. He ended up helping the boys solve the mystery.

I didn’t like the scene where the birds attacked Bob and Worthington. I also didn’t like Skinny Norris because he stole their card. I liked that they took a picture of the skeleton and that they weren’t too scared. I also liked that they left question mark trails in chalk. I didn’t like the part where the boys got caught behind the rocks. But, overall, I really liked this story and want to read more of them.


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – Mr Popper’s Penguins

David says:
I gave this story five stars because I really liked the story about how they had the penguins as pets and I thought it was kind of funny and sweet.

I like that they named the first penguin Captain Cook, I thought that was funny. I also liked that he got to go on the boat with them at the end. I also liked the part where Captain Cook was building his nest and used all the things in the house as rocks. I like the first walk the go on in the neighborhood because the penguin keeps tangling everyone up and it’s funny.

I didn’t like the part where Captain Cook got fat and sad and then also the part where they all went to jail. Those parts were sad. I think Mr. Popper made the right choice for the penguins because they cold weather and they will be happier in the Arctic.


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – The Twenty-One Balloons

David says:
I had no idea what this book was about and when we first started reading it, I thought it might be boring. I almost stopped but we didn’t. And I am so glad because it turned out to be delightful.

I gave this story five stars because I like that in the end he built another balloon so he could travel for one year.

I like that the island has so many diamonds and that all the families were rich. I liked that the F family volunteered to help Mr. Sherman. I liked the balloon merry-go-round and I also liked that the second Globe had a seagull catcher. I really liked the platform because it could go up very quickly. I also liked the bed with the crank.

I think it’s funny that all their names are one letter of the alphabet and that each of the houses were also restaurants. I wouldn’t like living on that island though because I wouldn’t want to be there when the Volcano erupted. But I did like that the kids get to make inventions. I like that Mr. Sherman didn’t have to work, he was a guest on the island. And I thought the part where he takes off all his clothes (except his right shoe) when he’s crashing, was funny.


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – The Cricket in Times Square

David says:
I gave this story five stars because I like that they all became friends and that they want to visit Chester in Connecticut. And I liked that he was famous and there was a crowd listening to him.

I really liked Tucker because he gave his life savings to Chester so he could pay back Mario. I liked Harry because he tried to put out the fire. I like Chester’s story of how he came to New York City. I like that Mario found a house and some food for Chester and he adopted him as his pet. I like that the Chinese man gave Mario a fortune cookie and that he gave him the bell for Chester.

I like that Chester played songs that Mama Bellini liked so he could make her feel happy. I like that Mr. Smedley wrote a letter to the paper so everyone else could find out about Chester. I also liked the ending because even though Chester leaving was sad, he would be happy there and his friends were going to visit him soon.


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – The Land of Oz

David says:
I gave this story five stars because it was a fun book to read because it had adventures.

My favorite part was when they found out Tip was Ozma. And I liked that the witch got caught. I liked Ozma because she was a nice Queen. I also like that the Scarecrow is filled with money. I thought it was funny when the TinMan thought he could get the girls with his axe but then there was no one at the entrance. I like Glinda because she is just. I like that the saw-horse goes fast. I think Jack Pumpkinhead’s smile looks cool and I like Tip because he taught the horse all the words and what they mean. I didn’t really care for the Bug.

I didn’t like Jinjur because she didn’t let Scarecrow or Ozma be the ruler of Emerald City. I like that they caught Mombi because she was mean.


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – Holes

David says:
I gave this story five stars because it had a happy ending.

I liked Zero because he helped dig Stanley’s hole when Stanley was teaching him how to read. I liked Stanley because he taught Zero how to read. I also liked that Zero dug Stanley’s hole when Stanley said he stole the sunflower seeds (even though he didn’t steal them) and got in trouble.

I didn’t like the Warden because she made them all dig. I liked Mr. Sir and Mr. Pendanski because they filled the kids’ canteens with water.

My favorite part was when Stanley and Zero got a lot of money. My second favorite part was that they found all those jewels. I also liked that they found the treasure box. And that Zero found his


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – From the Mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

David says:
I gave this story five stars because it was funny because they washed themselves in the water fountain. I thought it was funny that they stuck their dirty laundry in their pockets and wore it.

I liked both Claudia and Jamie because they talked to each other in a funny way (the royal way). I didn’t like that they ran away from home because it’s sad to do that because your parents are worried that you ran away.

My favorite part was when they got the sketch of the Angel because Claudia really wanted to know the truth and she got to find it out. I like Mrs. Frankweiler, too, because she shared her secret with Claudia and Jamie.

I think it was cool that they found the M under the statue and wrote a letter to the museum head. I also loved the happy ending!


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

David says:
I gave this story three stars because it was a sad book because the witch was turning people into stone and she tried to kill Aslan.

I loved Aslan because he was nice and the saved all the people who were made into stone. He sacrificed himself for Edmund and then he died and then didn’t die because he came back. I like Santa because he gave them presents. I like Peter because he had a sword and he was brave and killed the monster. I like Edmund because he killed the witch in the end. And I like that they became kings and queens.

I didn’t like the witch because she turns people into stone and she tricked Edmund and was going to kill him. I also didn’t like the dwarf because he handcuffed Edmund.

But I liked that it was a happy ending!


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – Ralph S Mouse

David says:
I liked that Ralph got a sports car and it was nice for Brad to give it to him. I also liked that the paper fixed the lie they told the first time around. I like that Matt scared the relatives away so they left Ralph alone.

I didn’t like when Brad broke the motorcycle by mistake. He didn’t mean to do it and I like that he apologized.

My favorite characters were Ralph, Brad and Ryan. I also like Matt. I like Ryan because he took Ralph to school when he asked him to. I like Brad because he gave Ralph the sports car. I like Matt because scared the relatives away so they left Ralph alone. I like Ralph because he was trying to make sure Matt didn’t lose his job.

And I loved the ending because Ryan’s mom married Brad’s dad and they became brothers!


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.

Reading with David – The Tale of Despereaux

David says:
I liked this book because the little mouse saved the princess. I think it was wrong to have soup be illegal so I am glad that at the end it wasn’t illegal.

I didn’t like that they stole the princess because that’s mean and bad. I also didn’t like that they chopped off the mouse’s tail. I also didn’t like that Mig got hit in the ears so often.

My favorite characters were Despereaux and the princess. The mouse was nice and brave and the princess was kind to everyone. My least favorite characters were the rats, the brother, Roscuro, and Botticelli because they were all mean. The two rats lied and tricked people.

But I did like the ending because no one died and I love how Despereaux and the princess ended up friends in the end!


Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.