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Both books I read this week looked unbelievably magical. But that’s why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The Giant Slayer by Iain Lawrence depicted a massive giant and a tiny boy — a fablelike cover that conjures so many magical possibilities. And while the book was decent, it didn’t reflect the same feel as the cover. Fairy Godmother Academy #1: Birdie’s Book by Jan Bozarth looked and sounded magical. I mean, its about a school for Fairy Godmothers right? Well, it fell a little short for me. The structure for a truly magical story was there, but I felt like the author didn’t deliver. It was too cookie-cutter, too typical, despite the fact that a fairy godmother academy is a new spin on magical stories (as far as I’m aware).

I would recommend The Giant Slayer to those who like sad stories with symbolism. But if you’re just looking for a light, escape read, the book isn’t for you. It takes place in the 1950′s, and illustrates the horrors of the Polio epidemic. The “giant slayer” part is merely a story told by the main character.

As for the Fairy Godmother Academy, I wish I had something better to say. It’s definitely for the younger half of the YA audience, and would likely only appeal to girls who’ve slightly outgrown the Rainbow Magic series. The dialogue is unrealistic in some parts, and at times I found the plot hard to follow. Maybe Jan Bozarth will deliver a winner in book two, Fairy Godmother Academy #2: Kerka’s Book.

One of the most important things today is finding a balance between being online, eating healthy and excersing. The KW Crew has come up with some great advice for kids on what to do to stay healthy while hanging out in the Zone.

It’s way more fun to chomp on chips while surfing for a free online contest or celebrities bios, but is that really the best thing to do? Probably not. It’s ok to munch on chips once in a while, but instead of snacking on chips, why not try something a little healthier, like low-fat string cheese or air-popped popcorn.

Worried that your friends aren’t eating healthy while in front of the computer? Why not try checking out some of the healthy snacks for a gift ideas guide.

It’s also important to keep excercising. Even though you have gym in school, it’s usually not enough to balance everything out. Ask the Coach for some tips on what excercises you can do while at the computer to stay fit. Checkout the recent book reviews to see if there might be information on staying fit.

It’s important to maintain a healthy balance between all the things we love to do and all the things that will keep us safe and healthy. If you’re not sure if you are on the right track, ask the Coach or an adult you trust. You could even ask other kids your age what they think on the kids message boards.