We'll Always Have Paris

     Ray Bradbury is one of favorite authors, so I was very excited to buy a copy of We'll Always Have Paris.  It is a collection of short stories.  I wish I could say that it was as amazing as The Illustrated Man or Dandelion Wine, but the stories weren't very good.  There were lines I liked a lot and some parts of stories I liked, but the stories as a whole seemed old and tired.
     If you haven't read this literary master before, pick up one of his earlier works.  If you love him like I do, it's better to remember him the way he used to be rather than from these stories.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School

     Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar is one of my favorite children's books.  Wayside School is a silly school that holds thirty classrooms, thirty stories high.  The students in Mrs. Jewls class are on the thirtieth story. 
     I love the kids in the class, but my favorite story is Mrs. Gorf.  She is an evil teacher that hates children and turns them into apples.  Everyone thinks she is a wonderful teacher because she always has so many apples on her desk.  Everyone knows that kids only bring apples to good teachers, right?  The apples and the last few children fight back in a surprising way.
     The stories are short, have great illustrations by Julie Brinckloe, and are funny.  It is a great book for kids just getting into chapter books or reluctant readers who have low reading levels.  It's also good just to enjoy as a quick read with your favorite child - my favorite way to read it!