#BookReview of #ChildrensBook Mr. Hoopeyloops Meets Rex by Andi Cann

Mr. Hoopeyloops meets Rex, A Very Clumsy Boy by Andi Cann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rex is an accident prone little boy with good intentions. When he hears that Mr. Hoopeyloops needs an assistant, Rex decides he wants the job. Will the arrangement work out for everyone? Read along to find out…

This is a cute story about overcoming adversity, finding confidence and making friends. The illustrations are colorful and attractive. The story is a positive one.

The one thing I’d say is that this book is a little heavy on text, which might make it difficult to hold the attention of younger children. The intended age level, according to the book info, is 1 – 11, which in my opinion is a big age span. I plan to read this to a library group, so I’ll find out if toddlers appreciate the illustrations enough to follow along. However, I feel that older children should enjoy the story and have no trouble with the vocabulary included in the text. I think the book is worth the download.

4 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, https://ebookreviewgal.com

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Happy Birthday to A.A. Milne Author of the Beloved Children's Classic Book Series Winnie the Pooh!

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.

God's Love is the Message of Kristie Wilde's So Great a Love Children's Book

So Great a Love answers the question of whether or not God really loves us. Written in a manner that even very young children will grasp, this book explores the animal world and points out the many examples of God’s love for us all.

What a sweet and lovely children’s book this is. Although it’s short (perfect for young children), it’s filled with charming illustrations and positive messages for youngsters. In my experience, children are drawn to animal picture books. So Great a Love uses the animal kingdom as a way to show children just how much God loves us, and it works perfectly. I read this to a group of preschoolers and they were captivated.

I can highly recommend this book to parents, grandparents and caregivers of toddlers, preschoolers and early readers. So Great a Love is well worth adding to any children’s book library. Thanks to the publisher, Book Crash and the author for providing a complimentary copy!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, DIY Mom Blog

Another Adorable Bedtime Story for Toddlers and Preschoolers from Uncle Amon

HERE'S ANOTHER ADORABLE UNCLE AMON BOOK FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS. IT'S CURRENTLY FREE ON AMAZON, THRU 8/25/17

It’s nighttime and not just human children are getting ready for bed – cute and sleepy animals are being tucked into bed too. Patchwork Bear lives in Teddy Bear Hollow with Mommy Bear, who tucks him in bed and kisses his pink gumdrop nose. Rosie and Robbie bunny chat a bit before drifting off to sleep. Ollie and Cuddles the owls are off to dreamland as well.

This is another wonderful Uncle Amon book. I loved the illustrations! The various baby animals are colorful and adorable.

Goodnight Animals is sure to become a bedtime favorite for young children. It’s perfectly suited for its intended toddler/preschool audience. I’m sure I’ll be reading this book to my grandkids for many nights to come!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

This book is FREE on Amazon until 8/25!

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner Book Review

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner will be available for purchase on February 28! 

When God Made You is an inspirational book, designed to assure young children that they are indeed unique in his or her own way in God’s eyes.

The first thing that caught my attention about this book, and the reason why I wanted to read and review it in the first place, was the colorful, whimsical front cover. I LOVED that the cover illustration depicted an African-American girl – something we don’t see often in Christian-based books for kids.

Using simple rhyming verse, When God Made You lets children know just how special he or she is to God. There are very few (minor) challenging words, but this provides the perfect opportunity for adults to discuss the book further. I’m a great believer that books aren’t simply to be “read” to children – they’re excellent opportunities to have meaningful dialogue with children.

The author again interjects diversity with “Out of billions of faces from cultures, all races, people God made, from all different places, God knew your name.” This is an AWESOME message for children AND adults.

The illustrations are quirky, colorful and highly expressive.  The entire book is positive and encouraging. What more could you want from a children’s book? As an early childhood educator, mother, grandmother and caregiver I can highly recommend this book! Thanks to the publisher for providing a complimentary ARC of this book!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

Made for a Purpose by Kristie Wilde Teaches Kids About God's Purpose for Everyone

Made for a Purpose is a sweet and short book that teaches children facts about several different animals and why God made them the way He did. Frogs, turtles, ducks and more are all illustrated and discussed in a way that even very small children will understand.

I enjoyed this cute and quick book. The illustrations are lovely and remind me of soft watercolors. The vocabulary is simple and age appropriate. It combines some interesting facts about animals with a positive Christian message for children. I read this book to a group of three, four and five-year-old children and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended! Thanks to Book Crash for providing a complimentary copy.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

Oliver and Jumpy by Werner Stejskal - New Stories Are FREE for a Limited Time!

Oliver and Jumpy are back and FREE for a very limited amount of time. Grab this awesome children's book of three stories while you can!

DIY Mom Book Review:

Oliver the dapper cat is back with his best friend Jumpy the Kangaroo for three more action-packed adventures:

1. Flood
2. Lazy Squirrel
3. Unexpected Lory 

In “Flood”, Oliver and his friends are waiting out a powerful storm in the treehouse. Things get scary, but Oliver, as usual, is the voice of reason and jumps into action to help his friends stay calm and safe. There’s plenty of excellent role modeling and lessons for children in this one! There’s also a sweet poem at the end.

In “Lazy Squirrel”, Oliver is visited by a distraught squirrel. Of course, Oliver compassionately listens to the poor little squirrel and he soon agrees to help. Children learn about caring for others and apologizing when we’ve done wrong.

In “Unexpected Lory”, we begin with Oliver chasing Mausi the mouse, but all is not as it seems. Oliver is far too kind to cause any harm. When Oliver returns after a hard day of chasing Mausi, he’s intrigued to find that he has a very beautiful visitor named Lory in his treehouse. Oliver listens to Lory’s story and wonders what to do about this new visitor.

I loved these new Oliver and Jumpy stories. Werner Stejskal’s books are always a joy to read and look at! The stories are engaging, filled with action, and the illustrations are colorful and beautiful. I highly recommend this and all of the Oliver and Jumpy books to children, parents, grandparents and caregivers!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

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:

1. Oliver the Babysitter
2. Smoke Over the Sea
3. 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:

Oliver and Jumpy Stories 49 – 51 by Werner Stejskal is Another Wonderful Book for Children

There are three adorable stories in this installment of Werner Stejskal’s children’s book series, Oliver and Jumpy. We follow Oliver, the dapper and clever cat, and his best friend Jumpy the Kangaroo with these new stories: 

1. Ice
2. Mice Chase
3. Dragon Heat 

In Ice, Oliver wakes one cold morning to find a beautiful ice scene outside his window. Oliver decides to go ice skating with all of his friends. His friend Joey is having a difficult time skating, so Oliver helps him and the two friends end up in an action-packed and scary adventure.

In Mice Chase, we find out that, although Oliver is a cat, he’s a cat that doesn’t eat mice because he’s allergic to them. Mausi the Mouse is one of Oliver’s friends and needs some help. He knows he can count on Oliver to keep him and his family safe from all the other cats by teaching them some escape techniques.

In Dragon Heat, Oliver and Jumpy come across a blackened and charred forest, and wonder what’s happened. A very large mail carrier ant explains it’s the work of a destructive dragon. Oliver and Jumpy enlist the help of a giant and the three friends search for the dragon to stop him from causing any more damage.

As before, I enjoyed these Oliver and Jumpy stories. They’re fantastically illustrated, full of action and adventure, and are sure to become favorite go-to stories for children. I highly recommend Mr. Stejskal’s Oliver and Jumpy book series for children, parents, grandparents and caregivers!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

The Three Stuffed Bears by John E. Dorey is a Sweet and Creative Story for Children

This is the story of three stuffed bears – no, not real bears – three adorable stuffed bears who find themselves suddenly living in the forest with no idea how they got there. But Little Bear, Big Bear and Missy Bear set out to make do with their new life. Each little bear has his or her own unique trait and they work well together to build a house, make friends, work and play.

What a sweet and creative story this is! It’s full of imaginative play, adventure, puzzle-solving, teamwork and problem solving. The pictures are colorful and cute.

As the book progresses, the story of how the stuffed bears arrived in the forest comes to light. The magical ending is a delight! Mr. Dorey has written a lovely tale that is sure to capture the attention and imagination of children of any age!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

Take the Dog Out! by Lynne Dempsey is An Adorable Children's Book with An Important Message

The dog, whose name is never mentioned, has boundless amounts of energy. He makes the rounds, barking to his family members but they’re too busy to take the dog out to play. That’s okay, because the dog uses his imagination and energy to get into all sorts of trouble inside the house. Making a mess in the kitchen, spilling dad’s coffee and wrapping poor granny up in toilet paper are just some of the things he gets into. Will someone finally take the time to take the dog out and let him play? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

© 2013 Lynne Dempsey, Mandy Newham-Cobb

This is an adorable book. I can see this book being read to youngsters who are on the verge of choosing a puppy. Dogs need attention, exercise and love, and this book illustrates this beautifully. The pictures are cute, expressive and colorful – sure to hold the attention of even the smallest child. There isn’t much text, as the book relies mainly on the eye-catching graphics – which is fine since the pictures pretty much speak for themselves. This is a wonderful little story for children!

© 2013 Lynne Dempsey, Mandy Newham-Cobb

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

"Little Bird, Little Bird, It's Time For Bed" by Adam Lewis Provides Plenty of Teachable Moments for Kids

Little Bird, Little Bird, It’s Time for Bed follows the story of several friends who are looking for their friend, Little Bird. It seems it’s bedtime and Little Bird is nowhere to be found. Where could she be?

This book is not only adorable, it provides some important teachable moments. The author has found a clever way to open the doors of communication with this book. I love books that can be used as a jumping off point to having meaningful discussions with children and this book has done just that.

© 2016 Adam Lewis

As we follow the growing number of concerned friends, adults can instill the concept of caring and concern for others. Children can interact with the storytelling by being asked to offer their own guesses as to where Little Bird might be, thus introducing problem-solving skills. Teamwork is also a key element in this book. These are all valuable things we want our children to learn.

© 2016 Adam Lewis

The illustrations are vividly colorful and attention getting. They’re sure to hold the attention of even the youngest child.

I love that the author has dedicated this book to his own children. It’s a lovely way to begin a children’s book and shows that, as a parent, he takes care to create books that children will enjoy. I would highly recommend this sweet little book!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review of The Ant Thief by Gita V. Reddy

Noira is a lazy ant who refuses to do any work, unlike all the other ants. Instead, she steals whatever she desires and has no regard for anyone but herself. She even has the nerve to steal a diamond ring and claim it was given to her by the king as a reward for her bravery. Noira continues to steal, until one day she makes an enemy of a queen bee. Will Noira change her thieving ways?

 

I love Gita Reddy’s children’s stories. They always have a valuable, yet subtle moral message to them. I also love that she mentions that the idea for The Ant Thief came about as a suggestion from her nephew. Children have the best story ideas! Who better to let an author know what stories to tell than a child?

Once again, Ms. Reddy has written a book that can be used as a conversation starter, to open a dialogue with children about hard work and honesty. The illustrations are adorable and colorful, which will surely hold the attention of even the youngest children. Highly recommended!

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review of Bala-Gala the Brave and Dangerous by Gita V. Reddy

Bala-Gala lives among a variety of animals in the forest. Some of these animals are dangerous and Bala-Gala must find a way to avoid being eaten. Morphing into dangerous and brave animals is Bala-Gala’s specialty and readers will enjoy following the changes.

 

This was an imaginative and entertaining story. Readers will think the tale is going one way, but in the end, there’s a lovely surprise. Bala-Gala the Brave and Dangerous should hold the attention of even the smallest children, as they wait to see what happens. The illustrations are vivid, colorful and eye-catching. I could see this book being enjoyed not only at bedtime, but at anytime. Recommended!

Book Review of God's Good News by Billy Graham

Billy Graham is a well-known Evangelical Christian Minister with an incredibly huge following. Mr. Graham is reported to have encouraged more than 3 million people to accept and follow Jesus Christ over the decades.

God’s Good News is certainly another one of his admirable accomplishments. This book is substantial and well made. It’s clear that no expense was spared during publication, ensuring it will stand up to daily use. And, daily use is what comes to my mind with God’s Good News, since it’s filled with Biblical stories to be shared every single day.

Unlike many other Bible books, geared towards children, God’s Good News uses actual Bible text and never oversimplifies things for readers. Accompanying each story is Billy Graham’s own words, which encapsulate the stories beautifully. I can definitely see this book being used by Sunday School and VBS teachers. Parents can read a story each night at bedtime to small children and early readers should have no problem reading alone. The illustrations are colorful and eye-catching.

I would highly recommend this beautiful book. It would make a lovely Christmas gift and would certainly be a welcome addition to any Christian household.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.