Happy Birthday to author A.A. Milne. Without him, we'd never have known Pooh and friends! I took this photo last fall when I visited the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston during a Winnie the Pooh exhibit.
Showing posts with label kid's books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kid's books. Show all posts
Friday, January 18, 2019
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Summer of Spies by Abigail Hornsea is a Tech-Savvy Children's Book that Promotes Girl Power!
Here's another AWESOME book that promotes girl power. I can highly recommend "Summer of Spies" to middle grade girls and boys!
Isabelle Bright (Belle for short) is
an eleven-year-old girl who loves spending time on her computer, which is
keeping her from enjoying her summer vacation. That is until Belle and her
brother Moz spy a satellite on their shed’s roof. Belle puts her techie skills
to work and leads the family on a magical adventure.
This story is told in first person,
present tense, which I usually dislike. But since this is a children’s book and
a strong sense of action is ideal here, it works. As I’ve stated many times in the
past, I love books that place female characters at the center of a story and
this one does that nicely. Belle is an extremely likable, strong character.
The plot is full of up-to-date
techie matter, which will be easily relatable to today’s tech-savvy kids. The
vocabulary is perfect for the intended age group and includes a nice mix of
easy and challenging words for children to learn. Some important environmental
lessons are included here as well. Highly recommended!
5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, DIY Mom Blog
Monday, April 9, 2018
Book Review of Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
Hollow City begins immediately where
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (Book 1 in the series) leaves off.
The children are adrift in rowboats on the ocean after rescuing Miss Peregrine
from the Wights and Hollows. The only problem is Miss Peregrine is stuck in her
current bird form. When the children finally reach land, they discover that
Miss Peregrine only has three days to change back to human form or she’ll be a
helpless bird forever. Thus begins the long, arduous journey of finding the only
other surviving Ymbryne, Miss Wren, who can help.
This book is long and, in many places,
it drags on quite a lot. It’s definitely a plot-driven novel, in that the seemingly
never ending series of events drag the children along and things simply happen
to them while they react. Therefore, we still see the same character traits
that we saw in Book 1. Nothing much new is happening with character development.
Basically, this book, from start to
finish, is a very long quest to find Ms. Wren. Like I said…long.
I didn’t like that, as with the
first book, this installment also ends abruptly with no real resolution.
Whenever an author does this, I get the distinct impression this is simply a
ploy to get readers to purchase the next book. Therefore, neither Book 1 nor
Book 2 is a standalone read.
I doubt I’ll go on to read Book 3. I’m
suspicious that it’ll be just more of the same drawn out storyline. The movie,
based on Book 1, was TONS better than either book. I’d see Book 2 in movie
version if it ever becomes available. Otherwise, I’m pretty much done with this
series.
3
of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton
Monday, June 5, 2017
A Trip Around the World with Children's Book Author Carole P. Roman with Book Series Giveaway
ABOUT THE “IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN…”
BOOKS:
The “If You Were Me and Lived In…” books
are an introduction to customs and cultures around the world. The series is a
collection of twenty-two books designed to help children experience life from
the perspective of a variety of other children from all around the world, in
the hopes that they’ll see how similar we all really are.
The idea of countries, borders, and
customs is sometimes difficult for youngsters to grasp. Carole breaks things
down into various topics that even the youngest child can identify with – what their
name might be, where the country is located, what they would call their
parents, what kind of food would they eat, what one thing identifies the
country, like a landmark. Children finish each book able to identify both
similarities and differences, and with the added of having multiple books, can
compare how life is all over the world.
The series includes books about the
following countries:
- Australia
- Brazil
- China
- Cuba
- Egypt
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- India
- Israel
- Italy
- Kenya
- Mexico
- Norway
- Peru
- Portugal
- Poland
- Russia
- Scotland
- South Korea
- Turkey
ABOUT CAROLE P. ROMAN:
Carole P. Roman
is the award-winning author of the Captain No Beard series. Both Captain No
Beard-An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life and Captain No Beard and the Aurora
Borealis have received the Kirkus Star of Exceptional Merit. The first book in
the series was named to Kirkus Reviews Best 2012. Captain No Beard and the
Aurora Borealis has been named to Kirkus Reviews Best of 2015. Each book in the
series has won numerous awards including the NABE Pinnacle Award, IAN Award,
Moonbeam Award 2014, National Indie Excellence Award Finalist, Shelf Media
Outstanding Series Award, ForeWord Review Five Star and Finalist in the Book of
the Year, and Reader's Views Children's Book of the Year 2013.
Carole P. Roman
is also the author of the award-winning non-fiction culture series, "If
You Were Me and Lived in...", that explores customs and cultures around
the world. She has co-authored a self-help book, Navigating Indieworld A
Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing and Marketing. She lives on Long Island with
her husband and near her children and grandchildren. Carole invites readers to
connect with her via her website.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE ENTIRE BOOK SERIES!
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Rosie and Friends Positively Different by Helen Hipp Book Tour Spotlight
Paperback: 28
Pages
Publisher: Different Kind of
Safari, LLC (August 17, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0989013421
ISBN-13: 978-0989013420
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Rosie and Friends is Helping
Children to Understand That Their Uniqueness Is Not a Weakness.
Rosie the Pink Hippo asks readers "What advice would
you give your friends who want to feel better about themselves" in this
adventure book to help readers see that being different can be positive. Join
Rosie the Pink Hippo, Olivia the Ostrich, and many others in this educational
and eye-opening 28-page illustrated children's book, Rosie and Friends
Positively Different, a creative and fun teaching tool intended for
parents, caregivers, teachers, and children who may have felt at some point in
their life that they were different from their peers.
ABOUT
HELEN HIPP
Helen Hipp has had her own kind of safari through the land
of a large family. She was always exploring new ways to define herself. There are many ways to
navigate the waters of life says Helen. “You may ride in a canoe, sailboat,
motorboat, or you may find yourself on the back of a pink hippo!”
With a mindset that centered on creating opportunities out
of obstacles, Helen explored career opportunities, by connecting her personal
experiences (parenting a child with special needs) with her beliefs,
professional skills, and aspirations.
Helen received her M.A. in counseling and began her career
as a psychotherapist to help people find answers for their life problems. Her
work eventually evolved into a coaching practice, WithinU Life Coaching,
focusing on individuals with special needs and their families.
Helen has authored articles for Family Works and Washington
Family Magazine and written multiple self-help articles published by ezine.com
where she is viewed as an expert in her field. She has been a contributor as a
special needs consultant to FOX44 News in Burlington, Vermont.
In addition to her work, Helen has written two children’s
books creating a very effective way to motivate kids of all ages to meet their
challenges with self-acceptance, confidence and understanding.
Her debut children’s book, A Different Kind of
Safari, released in 2013 addresses the many questions life asks by offering
up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that transform personal challenges
into opportunities. Once again, the engaging safari family, led by Rosie the
Pink Hippo inspires, and help you see your life differently in her new
book, Rosie and Friends Positively Different. With a cast
characters experiencing real-life issues such as anxiety, fear, physical
differences and poor self-esteem, Helen Hipp’s adventure books provide children
with the opportunity to identify, understand and feel supported by the
characters handling of similar fears, interests, and concerns.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Interview with Children's Book Author Helen Hipp
A few questions for author Helen Hipp:
Q: Your children’s
adventure books are based on some unusual true-life experiences, please explain
and give a brief description of your books.
A: While on Safari in Africa during 2001, my family witnessed
something few get to see – a pink hippo. Separated from the pod and barely
tolerated due to her differences, my son Ray, who has been diagnosed with
autism, felt an instant affinity to the hippo and he named her Rosie.
Rosie – the Pink Hippo knows a lot about being different,
and her adventures offer up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that
transform personal challenges into opportunities.
Q: What vision do you
have for your books and where do you want it to take you?
A: My adventure books have already taken me on a journey’s
that has given me the opportunity to meet a large number of wonderful people,
all of which I refer to as my “Safari Family”. I cannot imagine anything more
rewarding than bringing more of Rosie’s adventures and their powerful message
onto the stage and into schools to create an atmosphere of enjoyment,
understanding, acceptance and awareness.
Q: What appeals to
you most about children’s books?
A: I find the presence of innocence, imagination and
creativity that is woven into many of the children’s books very captivating. I
guess you can say I am a child at heart.
###
ABOUT
HELEN HIPP
Helen Hipp has had her own kind of safari through the land
of a large family. She was always exploring new ways to define herself. There are many ways to
navigate the waters of life says Helen. “You may ride in a canoe, sailboat,
motorboat, or you may find yourself on the back of a pink hippo!”
With a mindset that centered on creating opportunities out
of obstacles, Helen explored career opportunities, by connecting her personal
experiences (parenting a child with special needs) with her beliefs, professional
skills, and aspirations.
Helen received her M.A. in counseling and began her career
as a psychotherapist to help people find answers for their life problems. Her
work eventually evolved into a coaching practice, WithinU Life Coaching,
focusing on individuals with special needs and their families.
Helen has authored articles for Family Works and Washington
Family Magazine and written multiple self-help articles published by ezine.com
where she is viewed as an expert in her field. She has been a contributor as a
special needs consultant to FOX44 News in Burlington, Vermont.
In addition to her work, Helen has written two children’s
books creating a very effective way to motivate kids of all ages to meet their
challenges with self-acceptance, confidence and understanding.
Her debut children’s book, A Different Kind of
Safari, released in 2013 addresses the many questions life asks by offering
up lighthearted, ever-changing perspectives that transform personal challenges
into opportunities. Once again, the engaging safari family, led by Rosie the
Pink Hippo inspires, and help you see your life differently in her new
book, Rosie and Friends Positively Different. With a cast
characters experiencing real-life issues such as anxiety, fear, physical
differences and poor self-esteem, Helen Hipp’s adventure books provide children
with the opportunity to identify, understand and feel supported by the
characters handling of similar fears, interests, and concerns.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Oliver and Jumpy's Latest Book Installment is Another Wonderful Children's Book!
I LOVE children's author Werner Stejskal's Oliver and Jumpy book series! Stories 52-54 continue this awesome story collection.
These stories are the latest three
in the Oliver and Jumpy series. They include:
- Oliver the Babysitter
- Smoke Over the Sea
- Raindrop
As before, readers follow the
adventures of Oliver the dapper black and white cat, and his best friend Jumpy
the Kangaroo. In Oliver the Babysitter, Oliver learns he’s about to become an
uncle again. His sister is expecting her fourth baby and needs Oliver to
babysit her three current little ones while she's in the hospital. Oliver
soon finds that minding children is a difficult job. Young readers will be
amused by Oliver’s adventures and mishaps. There’s a lovely ending and some
valuable lessons for children.
In Smoke Over the Sea, Oliver finds
that someone is sending SOS smoke signals. As usual, Oliver and his friends are
quickly willing to help out. When things don’t exactly turn out as expected,
Oliver uses his smarts and ingenuity to save the day.
In Raindrop, readers follow an
imaginative story about Droppy the raindrop and her friends. There’s some
wonderful kid-friendly science lessons at play here!
As always, I enjoyed these three new
Oliver and Jumpy stories. Werner Stejskal continues to write wonderfully
engaging, clever and educational books for children. I’m always so impressed by
the detailed and gorgeous illustrations too. I highly recommend the Oliver and
Jumpy series of books for children, parents, grandparents and caregivers.
5
of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton
This book is currently FREE on Amazon:
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Orphan Dani by Simon Driscoll Book Spotlight and Excerpt
- File Size: 7031 KB
- Print Length: 124 pages
- Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
- Publisher: Az Publishing Services, LLC; 2nd edition (December 15, 2015)
- Publication Date: December 15, 2015
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
- Language: English
- ASIN: B019EYKWKA
Dani is a young orphan girl, living on the streets of a medium-sized border town. Her only friend in the world is a dragon. At fourteen years of age, she should be starting her apprenticeship, but all her schooling has come from a dragon. The same day he promises she can some day become a dragon herself, a Mage finally comes looking for her. But is he there to help her, or control her?
Simon Driscoll loves fantasy adventure books and spent years researching magic in many worlds. Now he's created a world of his own, where dragons, swords and scorcery cross paths in this exciting young adult adventure series.
PURCHASE ORPHAN DANI ON AMAZON.COM
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Simon Driscoll has published several books, including the Dragons’ Bane Chronicles, and the Warriors & Watchmen series. Writing is his passion, as well as his hobby. He studied creative writing in college to learn the mechanics of written stories. He has been influenced in his writing by great authors such as Sir Isaac Asimov, Terry Brooks, and Orson Scott Card, to name only a few.
Simon has been a student of the scriptures all his life, and feels passionately about helping others understand them better. The most difficult aspect of scriptures to comprehend is prophecy. That is why Simon has combined his passions for writing and the scriptures to create a fictional account of the fulfillment of End Times Prophecies. The first book in the Warrior and Watchmen Series was published in 2015.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
- BOOK EXCERPT -
Two miles south lay Barrington, a village sandwiched between the kingdom of Puji and the mountains of Goldoon. Almost five thousand people lived in the village, including the families who had taken me in. Every winter for the past six years one family or another had taken me in as a housekeeper or cook, and shared what little food they had with me; rarely enough to truly satisfy me, or them. Eventually they would start to resent having me there. Thus every year, around the start of spring, I would find some reason to leave.
This year, the reason had reached out and grabbed me by the throat, literally. There was no real love for me there, and hadn’t been since my nanny died almost six years ago. Why should they care about a little orphan girl?
The cave before me wasn’t the adventure others might see. I wasn’t here in a vain attempt to gain treasure or impress someone with my bravery. No one else in the village knew there was a dragon nearby. For me, this was my one escape from the cruelty of the world. The only place left where someone showed me kindness instead of hatred and violence.
The last few feet were the trickiest of all and my injured ankle gave out. I scraped my hand on the cliff in a failed attempt to stop my fall.
“Cortiban’s bones!” The curse escaped my lips. Frustration boiled over and I had to close my eyes to contain the anger. Pulling myself up by grabbing the face of the cliff before me, I put all my anger to the task of overcoming the pain. I kept my eyes shut as I limped through the protective magic hiding the mouth of the cave. If someone watched as I entered, they would see me walk through solid rock. A protective spell hid everything inside. Now the magic hid me as well.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Charlie Bingham Gets Clocked by Maggie M. Larche is a Fun and Silly Read for Kids
Charlie Bingham Gets Clocked is a fun and silly book for middle-graders. It's currently FREE on Amazon!
Charlie Bingham Gets Clocked is a
middle-grade chapter book that centers around one school day adventure. Charlie
has a crush on his teacher, Miss Walker. When Miss Walker’s antique clock goes
missing, Charlie and his friends have to find it before one of them ends up in
detention. What follows is a series of slapstick antics, mishaps and wacky kid-friendly
escapades.
This is a silly story that will
appeal to both boys and girls between aged 8 and 10. It has plenty of action
and I was happy to see that it models some excellent problem-solving skills for
this age group. The vocabulary is ideal for this group and the book is fairly
short (just eight chapters), so it’s a book that can be enjoyed by youngsters
quickly and easily. Recommended!
5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton
Monday, August 8, 2016
Ellie the Elephant by Uncle Amon is Another Wonderful Children's Book
There are five wonderful children’s
stories in this book:
- Ellie the Elephant
- The Monkey Who Cried Crocodile
- Tough Guy Rex
- A Flamingo of Many Colors
- Prince of the Jungle
Ellie the Elephant is a sweet and
caring elephant who enjoys helping her friends. Yet, no matter how much she
cares for the other animals, she remains a sad little elephant who never
smiled. Four of her closest friends decide to find out why Ellie is so sad, so
they follow her around to observe her throughout her typical day. They soon
learn that Ellie has a very sad story to tell indeed. The Monkey Who Cried
Crocodile is a fun retelling of The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf. Tough Guy Rex is
about a rhino that is far too friendly for his family’s expectations. A
Flamingo of Many Colors centers on Fatima the flamingo who’s unhappy being the
same old boring color, pink. In Prince of the Jungle, Lyle the lion is
surprised to suddenly find out he’s a prince.
These are five more exceptional
children’s tales for parents and kids to enjoy together! In particular, the
story of Ellie the Elephant is a lovely tale about family, friends and
overcoming difficulty and tragedy. All of the stories are charming and
kid-friendly. Each tale subtly and effectively deals with issues that concern
children in terms that they can easily understand.
I love Uncle Amon’s stories. There
are always wonderful activities included at the end for kids to explore further.
Older children should have no trouble reading these stories alone and younger
children should enjoy having them read to them.
5
of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton
Friday, July 1, 2016
S.A.V.E. Squad Dog Daze by Lauraine Snelling and Kathleen Wright is a Positive Book For Preteen Girls
Are you looking for an uplifting and positive book for a pre-teen or young teen girl? I've found a wonderful book that's just the thing to keep your youngster happily reading along!
Aneta is an eleven-year-old girl who’s
having some trouble fitting in. Although she was adopted by a loving mom and is
now part of one large and quirky family, Aneta still feels like an outsider. After
being teased at school about her Ukrainian accent, Aneta remains shy and
withdrawn. When Aneta’s mom enters her into a community fundraising contest
Aneta is less than excited. But when she’s grouped together with three other
girls to work on their fundraiser, Aneta begins to come out of her shell.
Motivated by her quest to save Wink the Basset Hound, Aneta puts her plan in
motion.
This is a wonderful book for girls.
The characters are well developed and the storyline is full of action, laughs, nice
girls, mean girls and girl drama – all the essentials for an engaging pre-teen/young
teen book. The writing is intelligent, appealing and descriptive.
The concept of forever homes is at
the heart of this charming book. I’ve no doubt that most young girls will find
this an irresistible plot. Helping homeless dogs find forever homes is a
wonderful undertaking and this book admirably promotes a spirit of stewardship
for youngsters. This is a book with many positive messages and I highly
recommend it!
5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton
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