Once Upon A Crime

Once Upon a Crime is the fourth installment in the Sisters Grimm series. Buckley has not lost his talent in combining fairy tale and classic literature characters into an amusing mystery tale. My long held suspicions about the character of Oz have been fulfilled in Buckley's imaginative tale. The story moves outside of Ferryport Landing and arrives in New York City to bring Puck back to his family to get help in healing him. Along the journey, they encounter Sinbad the Sailor and a very interesting take on Scrooge and Tiny Tim. Not quite the character you remember from the Christmas Carol.

Thanks to the library reservation service I already have Magic and Other Misdemeanors ready to begin. This is a great series for teachers or parents who want to provide children with examples of using characters in different settings.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is often a surprise to those only familiar with the The Wizard of Oz Movie.

This book is one of those that teachers love to assign. It is very easy to discover which students have read the book and those who are depending on multiple viewings of the movie to get through the required readings. Those familiar with the movie and the book can quickly provide a list of background and plot information that differs. The ruby red slippers that most people associate with the Wizard of Oz are in actually from another Baum story. Dorothy's shoes were not ruby but silver in the original story.

The political relationships among the kingdoms in Oz are far more complicated than the movie ever hinted at during Dorothy's journey through Oz. Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion have political ambitions that never seem to be hinted at in the movie.

If you have not explored Baum's original work, it makes an interesting read aloud. It also is a great chance to explore the ideas of compare and contrast with children who are familiar with the original movie. If they have not seen the movie, try reading the book first and then watch the movie. It is a great chance to practice these skills in an informal way.

The Name of This Book is Secret

The Name of this Book Is Secret is a fun series that combines humor, mystery, fantasy, and the current craze of inserting a narrator that promises not to tell, while revealing the information the readers want to know.

Children are encouraged to substitute their own hometown names and to make up names for the characters since he will not give them any of the real names. He eventually settles on names to make telling the story possible.

Cass and Max Earnest are two children who become engaged in a mystery that the narrator tries to convince you he cannot tell you about, but begins to tell the story to captivated readers.

Fans of the voices found in Alcatraz may enjoy Scholastic's Secret Series.

Marlborough's Labor Day Parade

Marlborough, Massachusetts’ annual Labor Day Parade kicks off on Monday, September 5th at noon. You can visit their website if you have any questions about the event.

Growing up in this area, I am ashamed to admit I never knew Marlborough had a Labor Day parade until about eight years ago. Now we have come to enjoy it as an annual end of summer event.

It is one of the shortest parades in the area. Having walked it a few times, this has never been an issue for me.

If you are looking for something fun to do with your family in the Metrowest area of Massachusetts, the parade is always a fun free event.

The parade route follows from the intersection of Pleasant and Lincoln Streets, down Lincoln and Broad to West Main Street, through the downtown area, turns on to Route 85, finishing on John Street. We always arrive early to set up a good spot.

This year’s theme is "Our Children Our Future."