Penelope in Retrograde; a Novel - Book Review

 

Title: Penelope In Retrograde; A Novel

Author: Brooke Abrams

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Length: 247 Pages

An Amazon Prime First Reads Selection

About the Author
Brooke Abrams lives in the Sonoran Desert with her husband, three children, three dogs, and a cat. This is the author's first novel.

A Family Thanksgiving
Romance writer Penelope Barnes travels home for Thanksgiving to make amends with her estranged family. She is shocked to discover her ex-husband on the same ride-share van traveling to his childhood home right across the street from her parent's house. She experiences hilarious (and a few serious) situations with her perfect twin sister, her match-making mother, her workaholic father, her weed-growing grandmother, and her fake boyfriend.

My Thoughts
I have always been a nonfiction book reader. I read memoirs, art, history, self-help, and Christian books. I also like to read children's picture books. I have decided to start adding some adult fiction to my reading list. I chose this book from the group of Amazon Prime First Reads in September. 

This was a delightful book to read. I think almost everyone can relate to the family drama that happens around holidays. The humor in the story was outstanding. I loved Penelope and the way she handled problems and conflicts with laughter and a positive attitude. 

Family relationships were emphasized and that made the story really come to life. Penelope eventually took responsibility for her part in the family conflicts and vowed to make things right. 

The nicest thing about this story is that the ending is just the way I was hoping it would be. Everything came together for a Thanksgiving that would be cherished and remembered for many years to come.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

Clever and Humorous Little Book for Dealing With Anxiety

 

Title: It's Hard To Be A Person; Defeating Anxiety, Surviving The World and Having More Fun.

Author: Brett Newski

Publisher: Ramshackle Press

Publication Date: June 21, 2021

About the Author
When a couple of doodles he’d posted to social media making light of his struggle with anxiety and depression garnered a surprising and overwhelming response, Brett Newski decided to make his relatable coping mechanism of drawings into a series. Now, Newski presents three years' worth of drawings in his book.

Humorous Thoughts for Dealing With Life
The author uses doodles and simple line drawings to shed light on anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. This is a comic book for teens and adults that offers some light-hearted advice for dealing with life's challenges.

My Thoughts
This is both an art/comic book and a self-help book rolled into one great package. The doodles and drawings are so much fun! I have read this book several times and enjoy it more each time I experience it.

The author faces the challenges of life with a healthy sense of humor. Each new page brings smiles and even laughter. There is serious advice mixed in with the humorous drawings and doodles.

"When you're down and out, It's normal to feel like you'll be stuck there forever. Please note, EVERYTHING is temporary."

If you could use some positivity in your life, this book is for you!

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital review copy of this book from NetGalley. 

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Life is Like a Balloon Card

Click on the image to enlarge. 

"Life is like a balloon...if you never let yourself go, you will never know how far you can rise."

Isn't this an uplifting quotation? It is perfect for birthdays, graduations and other occasions where encouragement is appropriate.

The base of this card is a light pink blank Recollections card (Michaels) that measures 5" by 6.5".

The background paper is from the Que Sera Sera paper pad by K and Company.

I chose the digital stamp/sentiment "Life is like a balloon" from Mo's Digital Pencil. I used Microsoft Word software to merge and resize the images and sentiment. This was a little tricky, but I think it turned out OK. If I make another card with this image, I might make the girl a little larger.

I hand-colored the images with Copic Sketch markers and Winsor and Newton Promarkers/Brush markers. I cut/embossed the image with my die cutting machine and mounted it on a piece of dark pink patterned paper. I then attached it to the card.

I embellished the card with a balloon die cut from Recollections Signature Glitter Paper and attached it in the upper right corner of the card. I made a paper flower and attached it to the lower left side of the card. The balloon and flower dies are by Sizzix (thrift shop finds). 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #98
Craft-Dee Bowz August 2019 Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #66
The Creative Crafters Challenge #19
Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #282
Sweet Stampers Challenge #35

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Roosevelt Banks; Good Kid in Training - Children's Book Review

Title: Roosevelt Banks; Good-Kid-in-Training

Author: Laurie Calkhoven

Illustrator: Debbie Palen

Publisher: ONE ELM Books

Publication Date: January 7, 2020

Length: 128 Pages

Recommended for Grades 3 - 5.





About the Author
Laurie Calkhoven is a children's writer and editor living in New York City. She has written many historical children's books, including George Washington: An American Life and Harriet Tubman: Leading the Way to Freedom. You can visit her at lauriecalkhoven.com.

A Good Kid...EXCEPT When He Isn't
Roosevelt Theodore Banks is 10-years-old and in the fourth grade. His little sister's name is Kennedy and his dog's name is Millard Fillmore. Roosevelt's dad is a history professor at a local college and loves to talk about presidential trivia.

Roosevelt is an average kid who likes to have fun with his friends. He has two good friends that he hangs-out with every day after school. When his friend's father plans a thirty-mile bike ride and camping trip, Roosevelt will not be included because he does not have a bike.

The only way Roosevelt will get a new bike and go camping with his friends is to be "good" for two weeks. His parents promise him they will get him a bike if he passes the good kid requirement. That means he can't get in trouble at school and he must help with chores at home. 

Everything seems to go wrong while Roosevelt is trying to act right. There are lots of unexpected twists and turns before the end of the two weeks. Will his behavior be good enough?

My Thoughts
This is a good fast-paced chapter book for middle school readers. Boys will relate to the problems that Roosevelt faces in the story. The humor is outstanding and will have children laughing out loud while reading about some of Roosevelt's escapades.

The primary theme of this story is friendship. It is very important for children this age to be accepted by peers and have loyal friends. Roosevelt has to face rejection when his friends are preparing for the bike ride/camping trip and he no longer has a bike (his bike was wrecked while doing a science fair project).

Roosevelt's parents are supportive and help him resolve a problem that almost costs him the bike. Roosevelt learns that honesty is important in any relationship and taking responsibility for your actions is the best choice for success.

The illustrations add value and humor to the story.

I applaud the author for adding a few historical references to this story. I hope this will make young readers curious enough to head for the library and search for more information about U.S. presidents.

Recommended for students in grades 3 - 5.

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI - I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review from NetGalley.

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Skipping Christmas by John Grisham - A Review

Skipping Christmas

Author: John Grisham

Publisher: Doubleday

Publication Date: November 6, 2001

Pages: 177





About the Author
John Grisham is an American bestselling writer, attorney, politician, and activist best known for his popular legal thrillers. His books have been translated into 42 languages and published worldwide.

"And it's just for one year. Let's take a break."
Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip all the traditional Christmas activities and take a ten day Caribbean cruise. Their daughter leaves the Sunday after Thanksgiving for a year-long stint in a Peruvian village as a Peace Corp volunteer. Christmas will not be the same without Blair, so the Kranks plan to take a break from Christmas decorating, gift giving, parties, etc. and enjoy a much-needed vacation. They will leave at noon on Christmas day.

Unfortunately, the peer pressure from the Krank's neighbors is sometimes hilarious and sometimes downright scary. This upscale suburban neighborhood demands unquestioned conformity. It does not go over very well when Luther Krank refuses to mount a Frosty the Snowman decoration on his roof.
Things really get interesting when the Kranks get a phone call from Blair on Christmas Eve saying she is on her way home with her new fiancé and is expecting a traditional Christmas like the ones she remembers from her childhood.

Will Luther and Nora tell Blair about their plan to skip Christmas and go on a cruise or will they give their daughter the old-fashioned Christmas that she is dreaming about?

My Thoughts
This book has been setting on a shelf in our house for many years. I decided that my husband and I would both read the book and then watch the movie "Christmas with the Kranks." My husband is a huge John Grisham fan and has read all of his legal thrillers, but he never read this book. On the other hand, I am not much of a fiction reader and have only read one Grisham book..."The Firm."

Dean and I read the book last week and then got up early yesterday morning and watched the movie on Amazon Prime. We both got some good laughs from both the book and movie. We could relate with many of the feelings the Kranks expressed about commercialism during the Christmas season. We could also understand the peer pressure from the neighborhood leaders (bullies) when the Kranks refuse to live up to the unspoken expectations and rules that were long-standing and deeply ingrained. 

The real value of this book comes to light at the end of the book. The Kranks have some serious decisions to make. Will they put their vacation plans on hold and go all out to give their daughter the kind of Christmas she is dreaming about? The answer to the question is YES!

However, what will happen to the cruise? It is not possible to get a refund, so will that money be thrown away OR will the real meaning of Christmas shine through all the frivolity? 

This is a light-hearted and humorous Christmas read that will put a smile on your face and remind you of the spirit of generosity and love during the holiday season. The movie is a nice bonus after you read the book.

MY RATING: 4 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI - I purchased a print copy of this book with my own funds.

Thank you for reading this book review. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below or tweet me @JanetteFuller.

A Message For Grandma - Children's Book Review

A Message for Grandma

Author and Illustrator: Carol Breckenridge

Publisher: First Edition Design Publishing

Publication Date: March 27, 2017

Pages: 36 Pages




About The Author
Carol Breckenridge is an artist, illustrator, and art therapist. A former elementary school teacher, she worked for 20 years as an art therapist in mental health centers, and continues to supervise art therapy interns at Ursuline College.

German Heritage
This is a gentle story about Alice, a young girl living in western Pennsylvania in the 1890s. Alice's mother sends her with a message to her German-speaking Grandma on the other side of the family farm. Alice speaks only English. As she walks across the farm repeating the message so that she will remember, she mangles it more with each new experience. Happily she gets it right at Grandma's house.

My Thoughts
I am always excited when I find a children's book that helps the reader learn about his/her heritage. I grew up on a farm with my German-speaking grandmother living nearby. Luckily, my grandmother could also speak English so I did not have to speak German to communicate with her.

The author makes it clear that each member of the farm family had to work hard to support the family. Alice and her nine brothers and sisters all had chores to do each day. Alice's mother needed flour to bake bread, so she asked Alice to walk to the other side of the farm and give her grandmother the following message, "Kann ich Mehl borgen". 

It is no surprise that Alice had trouble remembering these German words. The German phrase soon turned into, "Ich kann my burden?" and "Kann is meal burger," and "I kann itch my bottom." 

By the time Alice arrived at her grandmother's house, she remembered the German phrase her mother gave her. Unfortunately, the grandmother answered in German and the reader is not given the English meaning. The story ends with Alice getting a big hug from her grandmother, so I assume she got the flour and was soon on her way home.

The story is illustrated with soft watercolor paintings that add value to the story. 

I am giving this story a four star rating because of the uncertain ending. It is a good story to share with children to teach about immigrants and American history. Kids will love the humor and relate to Alice's memory difficulties.

MY RATING: 4 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI - I received a digital review copy of this book from Net Galley.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below. I will reply to all comments and questions.

Book Review: Sober Stick Figure by Amber Tozer

Title: Sober Stick Figure: A Memoir

Author: Amber Tozer

Publisher: Running Press

Publication Date: May 31, 2016

Length: 272 Pages




About The Author
Amber Tozer is a stand-up comedian and comedy writer. 

One Day At a Time
This is a memoir of a young woman's struggle with addiction and recovery. 

The book is illustrated with simple stick figures drawn by the author.

My Thoughts
This book begins with the following words;
"This is a dark and funny story about alcoholism. I hope it helps anyone who needs it."

I like this book. It informs, enlightens and entertains the reader. 

Amber Tozer grew up in a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and codependent mother. It is no surprise that she began drinking at a young age.

The problem was, she did not realize that her drinking was a problem until her life was spinning out of control and she was on the verge of despair. 

After seven years of binge drinking and destructive relationships, Amber finally admitted that she was an alcoholic and needed help. This decision changed everything.

The stick figure illustrations really cracked me up. Ms. Tozer has the ability to keep the reader laughing even through the most heartbreaking and tragic situations.   

I believe this book will be very beneficial to anyone wanting to learn about the devastation that alcohol (or any drug addiction) can have on an individual. This book contains profanity (including some F bombs), so I recommend it for adult readers.

MY RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI - I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Book Review: Fashionably Dead by Robyn Peterman

Title:  Fashionably Dead: Book One of the Hot Damned Series (Volume 1)

Author: Robyn Peterman

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Publication Date: September 2, 2013

Length: 322 Pages



This book review was written by guest blogger Cindy Phelps Thomas.

About The Author
Robyn Peterman, writes because the people inside of her head won't leave her alone until she gives them life on paper. She writes snarky, sexy, funny paranormal and snarky, sexy, funny contemporaries.

Laugh-Out-Loud
Astrid is wandering through life at 29 years old with little to show for herself, except her love of expensive clothes. She deems it time to quit smoking, as she has many times before, but, this time, goes the route of hypnotism. One minute a beautiful Amazon woman is hypnotizing her, the next she’s a Vampyre!

Her day just got a whole lot worse. Thankfully her best friend, Gemma, is still around to help (although there is something not-so-mortal about her too!)  And Astrid’s not just any Vampyre, she’s The Chosen One. Being The Chosen One comes with a lot of responsibility, and a lot of Prada.

Astrid has to be trained by a foul-mouthed Guardian Angel, a muscle building/actor look-a-like fairy with a bad sense of style, and more. She is supposed to take out the rogue Vampyres, but who are they?

Is this super-hot, hard to resist Vampyre, named Ethan, one of them?  She has a lot to learn in a short period of time, but with enough Prada, she may be up for the task!

My Thoughts
This book was laugh-out-loud funny and unlike anything I’ve ever read! Peterman takes the reader on a paranormal journey with action, adventure, comedy, and some steamy romance. When I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had to read it. I was NOT let down. From the beginning, I was drawn in and couldn’t wait to read more. I recommend this book for a mature audience. There is A LOT of foul language and several R-rated scenes.  I give it 5 stars and I look forward to book 2 in the series.

MY RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book during a promotion on Amazon.com.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Children's Book Review: The Wild Texas Stampede by Margaret McManis

Wild Texas Stampede!, The

After her father leaves for Austin, Texas, Ima Hogg is left in charge of their unique farm and taking care of her mischievous little brother.


Author: Margaret McManis
Illustrator: Bruce Dupree

Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company

Date: September 1, 2008





About the Author
Margaret McManis, a former children's librarian, serves as a guest lecturer at schools, museums, libraries, and bookstores. She has written two other books for children; Ima and the Great Ostrich Race and Ole! Cinco de Mayo.

Ima Minds Her Little Brother
Ima Hogg's father was a 19th century governor of Texas. He had to travel to Austin for the election, so he left Ima in charge of "minding" her little brother, Tom. They lived on a ranch with many exotic and unusual animals.

Ima took her responsibility very seriously and was determined to keep her brother in line while her father was away. Tom liked to "bother the buffaloes, outrage the ostriches, and panic the pachyderms."

Ima was at her wit's end when Tom caused the animals to stampede and put their safety in danger. She knew she had to do something to get Tom to leave the animals alone.

Ima came up with a "sticky" plan that would keep Tom away from the animals and out of danger.

My Thoughts
This is a historical fiction story based on the lives of a real Texas governor and his family. The author included a page at the end of the book that tells about the real Governor James Stephen Hogg and his delightful family that included Ima and her four brothers. Since their mother died when Ima was thirteen, she was often left in charge of her younger siblings.

Ima's father knew that he could trust her to take care of Tom while he was away. Ima was up to the task. Her little brother was "all boy", but Ima came up with an ingenious idea to keep him out of trouble until their father returned.

Children will notice the loving care that Ima gave her brother...even when she was angry with him! The antics with the animals will have children laughing out loud. Can you imagine a stampede of buffaloes, ostriches and elephants?

The full-page color illustrations complimented the text and added a great deal to the enjoyment of this book.

This book makes Texas history fun and will have children begging to learn more about Ima Hogg and her family.  The book is perfect for read-aloud to young children or independent reading for more advanced readers. Highly recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I checked out a print copy of this book from my local public library.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Children's Book Review: Ima and The Great Texas Ostrich Race by Margaret McManis

Ima & the Great Texas Ostrich Race

Author: Margaret McManis
Illustrator: Bruce Dupree

Publisher: Eakin Press

Date: September 1, 2003





About The Author
Margaret McManis is a retired school librarian and a children's book author. She loves interesting characters in history and hopes to introduce kids to fascinating people like Miss Ima Hogg.

"Girl, You've Got Mettle!"
This is a fictionalized account of the life of young Ima Hogg, the daughter of Governor James Hogg of Texas.

The story is told from a first-person perspective and tells about a crazy race between Ima and her two brothers. Ima is riding her ostrich named Ossy and her brothers are riding their fastest quarter horses.

Ima's father encourages Ima by saying, "Girl, you've got mettle!" She remembers these words as she climbs on Ossy's back and confidently begins her attempt to show her brothers that she indeed has "mettle."

My Thoughts
Ima Hogg was a real person and became widely known for supporting the arts, historical preservation and mental health programs. Ima was eight years old when her father was elected governor of Texas in 1890. Their home was filled with famous people and exotic animals, including two ostriches named Jack and Jill.

The author exhibits her marvelous imagination by taking these facts and creating a picture book that children will find fascinating and hilarious. This book will wet children's curiosity about this period in Texas history and the captivating world of ostriches.

I especially like the way Ima's father encourages her and uses the word "mettle"
to describe her. The word "mettle" means courage, valor, vigor and ardor. These are wonderful words for young women to treasure and live by.

The color illustrations add a great deal to the humor in this book. Mr. Dupree did an excellent job capturing the heart of the story.

This book was published over ten years ago but I honestly believe it should have a permanent place in your children's book collection. I hope the author will make this book available in digital format so a new generation of techie children can enjoy Ima and her antics!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out of 5

FYI ~ I checked out a print copy of this book from my local public library.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Fun in the Sun Greeting Card

Summer is here! It is time to go to the beach, lake, pool...or anyplace that is cool.

I made this card for Mo's Challenge #192 ~ F is for...."  I decided that "F" is for "FUN in the sun!!!" and made this card to enter in the challenge.
I used the digital stamp "Little Umbrella" from Mo's Digital Pencil.

 I colored the image with Copic Sketch markers and highlighted the edges with Versa Magic Chalk Ink. I embellished the card with two stickers from Recollections.

Thank you for taking a look at my card. Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Children's Book Review: Ole! Cinco De Mayo! by Margaret McManis

 

 

Olé! Cinco de Mayo!

Author: Margaret McManis
Illustrator: David Harrington

Publisher: Pelican Publishing Company

Date: February 27, 2013











About The Author
Margaret McManis, a former children's librarian, serves as a guest lecturer at schools, museums, libraries, and bookstores. Ms. McMannis is a graduate of the Vermont MFA Writing for Children and Young Adults Program and a member of the Writers' League of Texas, Texas State Historical Association, and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Cinco De Mayo Fun!
Pablo takes his pet calf, Rodeo, to school for the Cinco De Mayo celebration. Rodeo makes a mess of Pablo's classroom, the gym, the library and every other part of the school building that he visits.

The teachers and principal are very angry because Rodeo is ruining Cinco De Mayo for the entire school. When he makes a mess of the celebration stage, it is the last straw for the frustrated principal. Finally, the music teacher finds a way to calm Rodeo and the little calf leads the festive Cinco De Mayo parade down the school hall.

Readers are encouraged to sing the words of this story to the tune of "B-I-N-G-O".  Here is the first verse of the song;

Pablo has a little calf,
Rodeo is his name-o.
R-O-D-E-O
R-O-D-E-O
R-O-D-E-O
Rodeo is his name-o.

There is a Glossary of Spanish words used in the text at the end of the book. There is also an "Easy Flan Recipe" and a short explanation of the Mexican Army's 1862 victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867).

My Thoughts
When I worked as an elementary school librarian, I was always looking for books like this to share with students during story time. This book has a wide variety of learning opportunities for students. The story is entertaining and humorous. Children and adults can join together in singing the joyful song...some of my happiest memories are singing with the children in the library.

There are many Spanish words in this story that should be introduced and the meanings discussed. There is a recipe at the end of the book for a dessert that little Rodeo found very tasty when he visited the school cafeteria. Finally, the historical events that led to to a yearly Cinco De Mayo Celebration can be shared with the children.

The full-page color illustrations in this book are just delightful. My favorite picture is the angry "book boss" in the school LMC...she was not happy about Rodeo making a mess of the library.

I highly recommend this book for all elementary school students. Children in bi-lingual and ESL programs will fall in love with Rodeo. This book is perfect for read-aloud and sharing with large or small groups the year round.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ The author gave me a print copy of this book to read and review. This book will be dedicated to a library so children will have an opportunity to enjoy it as much as I did.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Kindle Books For Kids: The Snake Who Wanted To Be A Horse by Valerie Harmon

The Snake Who Wanted to Be a Horse (Wants To Be)

Author: Valerie Harmon
Illustrator: Carol Stevens

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Date: February 10, 2013



About The Author And Illustrator
The concept for the WantsToBe Series (and this is book #1 in that series) came about when the illustrator, Carol Stevens, told bedtime stories to her youngest son. He'd pick two animals and she'd make up a story about them, ending with a mashup of the two animals. He loved those stories and they turned out so hilarious that Stevens wanted to share the story with more children.

She approached author Valerie Harmon, and together they are writing and illustrating stories about animals who imaginatively solve their problem with lots of hard work and sacrifice.

A Snake and a Horse
A colorful snake is not happy with his life. He has a tender tummy and he hates to crawl on rough and rocky roads.

One day the snake meets a friendly horse. The snake thinks that if he could become a horse, he could travel across the dirt and stones without any pain. The horse tells the snake that he needs to eat grass, neigh and gallop if he wants to be a horse. It is very hard for the snake to change but he is very determined to be a horse.

The snake is just about to give up when something magical happens! He does not exactly change into a horse, but he is much closer than he was before. The snake's hard work and determination pays off and he lives happily ever after as a "Snorse".

My Thoughts
This is a very imaginative story about a snake and a horse. Kids always love to read about these animals and I believe this story will be very popular with young readers.

The color illustrations are excellent and add a great deal of value to the text. I read this ebook on my Kindle Fire. The illustrations filled half the screen on my ereader. I would love to see this book formatted so that the illustrations fill the entire screen. 

The determination of the snake and the encouragement of the horse are great examples for young readers. I look forward to reading more books in the "WantsToBe" Series. Highly Recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a digital copy of this book during a free promotion on Amazon.Com. Please check the current price before purchasing.

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Kindle Books For Kids: Where Are The Dinos? by Julia Dweck

Where Are The Dinos?

Author: Julia Dweck
Illustrator: Bob Ostrom

Publisher: Kite Readers

Date: March 28, 2013



About The Author
Julia Dweck writes children's stories for digital and traditional publication. Her stories span the spectrum of humor, fantasy, and edutainment in rhyme and in prose. Julia's background in elementary education affords her the opportunity to be in touch with what children want to read about and what makes them giggle.

Questions and More Questions About Dinosaurs!
A young pup goes to the zoo in search of dinosaurs. He asks the tour guide many imaginative questions about where the dinos are and what they are doing.

• Where do dinos shop for food?
• What do dinos find in shops?
• Where do dinos head at night?

The tour guide is confused and annoyed by all these questions because dinosaurs are EXTINCT....or are they?

My Thoughts
Kids love dinosaur books. When I worked as a school librarian, I could never keep the dinosaur books on the shelves. "Where Are The Dinos? is a delightful picture book in rhyme for young boys and girls. Children learn by asking questions and this book is full of questions about DINOSAURS!

I read this ebook on my Kindle Fire. The landscape orientation makes the full-page color illustrations very appealing. Bob Ostrom's humorous illustrations add a great deal of value to this story. Each screen view features a full-screen illustration with two or four lines of text.

Young children will be delighted with all the "dino" questions in this book. Older readers will also enjoy the enthusiasm, persistence and inquisitiveness of the young zoo visitor in this book.

Kids should be encouraged to ask questions. This book will entertain and teach children that questioning is very important in the learning process.
Highly recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author to read and review.

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Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.


Children's Book Review: Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man by Kumar Sathy

Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man: A National Test Prep Adventure

Author: Kumar R. Sathy

Publisher: Student Solutions, Inc.

Date: May 16, 2011



About The Author
Kumar Sathy is an experienced educator and school administrator. He joined Teach for America after receiving an undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology from Earlham College in Richmond, IN. Kumar taught in K-5 classrooms in Atlanta, GA, where he often used his own stories and unpublished children's novels for reading instruction. He received his teaching certification from Georgia State University and a Masters in School Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Test Prep Can Be Fun
This book is an entertaining and educational book driven by the Common Core State Standards developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices. The book focuses on second through fourth grade concepts and can be used as a remediation tool for fifth graders.

The story tells about the Chris Robb, a frustrated third-grader, who was trying to pass a standardized test. Chris had all kinds of crazy experiences in his chaotic classroom.

Chris thought the name of his teacher was the silliest name he had ever heard. Chris always seemed to forget how to say it right. One time, he called his teacher Ms. Bubblegum instead of Ms. Bubblebrain. Her name was not the only silly thing about Ms. Bubblebrain. She also shouted the names of really gross foods when she was mad or surprised. Ms. Bubblebrain would yell things like "hairy cricket biscuits" and "soggy salmon salami".

Chris was terrorized at school by the dreaded Chicken Nugget Man. This was a creature that ate children and caused all kinds of frightening experiences for the kids.
Chris learned that the children with the highest scores on their standardized tests would be in charge of the Anti-Chicken-Nugget Task Force. Chris decided it was time to turn his life around and try harder in school.

My Thoughts
I really like the concept of providing educators with a resource that makes learning fun. This book is absolutely loaded with questions and exercises that will reinforce both language and math educational standards.

I think kids will recognize and enjoy the humor and satire in this book. Here is an example of a clever play on words;
"Preston stole a kindergartener's yellow Captain Stinkypants Thermos and drank out of it."
Most kids will immediately remember the popular "Captain Underpants" books and smile at the similarity.

The only problem I have with the book is sometimes the humor was a bit extreme and OVER THE TOP for my taste. I know that I am not a child but I think the humor could be toned down to be more appropriate for classroom use. Here is one example:

"The room was silent. Ms. Bubblebrain stared at Chris. Her mouth opened so wide that a family of flying gorillas could have flown inside. Her jaw dropped to the floor. Then she said it, one word at a time. It was the longest, grossest food she had ever named. 'Holy peanut-butter-and-donkey-lasagna-covered, spinach pretzel-filled, beef-and-boxer-shorts donuts with brown sugar skeletons and banana-covered battery frosting! Chris, you actually remembered something!'" 

This book fills a need for kid-friendly test prep material.  Mr. Sathy has produced a resource that can be used by both teachers and parents to improve their student's test scores.

My Rating: 4 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary digital copy of this book to read and review from NetGalley.


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Kindle Books For Kids: Zombie-Kids Go Green by Julia Dweck

Zombie-Kids Go Green (KiteReaders Monster Series)

Author: Julia Dweck
Illustrator: Mark Draisey

Publisher: KiteReaders

Date: February 2, 2013



About The Author 
Julia Dweck writes children's stories for digital and traditional publication. Her stories span the spectrum of humor, fantasy, and edutainment in rhyme and in prose. Julia's background in elementary education affords her the opportunity to be in touch with what children want to read about and what makes them giggle.

Zombies Save The Planet
The 3R's....Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

This is a rhyming story about a group of Zombie kids who are green all over.
Their skin is green but they are also dedicated to preserve the earth's natural resources.

Each night, these kids go all over the community cleaning up trash, turning off dripping facets and taking care of the young plants in their gardens.
A zombie kid's age is marked and recorded by Earth Days. They celebrate with a birthday cake that is shaped like the earth.

The book is illustrated with beautiful full-screen color "zombie pictures" by Mark Draisey.

My Thoughts
I am totally blown away by this author's imagination. This is the kind of story that kids will love. They always want to find a "scary book"....the more monsters and zombies the better.

The nice thing about this story is the zombies stay very busy doing good deeds for our planet. There are many examples of reducing waste, reusing worn items and recycling discarded materials in this story. 

This book would make an excellent science lesson about ecology and conservation. It is both educational and entertaining (edutainment?).

I read this book on my Kindle Fire and found the formatting (landscape orientation) appropriate for sharing with a group or individual reading. The illustrations fill the entire screen and are very entertaining. Children need to take extra time just to enjoy these pictures! Each screen view features twelve lines of rhyming text in white print that contrasts with the background illustration...very easy reading.

*Parent Alert ~ It seems like young kids go crazy when they read/hear a story with a reference to "passing gas" in it. This book has one page that refers to a "zombie-kid's fart". There is a pictures of a girl zombie passing gas and a boy holding his nose. I think this is appropriate for a story like this and kids will find it hilarious.

I highly recommend this book for children of all ages. This is a perfect selection for Earth Day (April 22). 

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5  

This book is available as a FREE Kindle book at Amazon.Com TODAY! These promotions don't last very long so grab your copy NOW.

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Kindle Books For Kids: Eville, USA by Julia Dweck

Eville, USA (KiteReaders Monster Series)

Author: Julia Dweck
Illustrator: Fian Arroyo

Publisher: KiteReaders

Date: September 30, 2012


About The Author

Julia Dweck writes children's stories for digital and traditional publication. Her stories span the spectrum of humor, fantasy, and edutainment in rhyme and in prose. Julia's background in elementary education affords her the opportunity to be in touch with what children want to read about and what makes them giggle.

Monsters On Vacation 

Question: Where do monsters and zombies go to play?

Answer: EVILLE, USA!
 

Monsters and zombies need a vacation just like the rest of us.

"Evil-doers cross the nation
take a sinister vacation,
away from plotting, planning, lurking,
These villains need a break from working".

The monsters have all kinds of fun in Eville, USA. They relax by a swimming pool with a refreshing beverage, they attend a monster's convention and they compete in athletic contests. 
 
This rhyming story with colorful full-screen illustrations will have children laughing out loud and begging for more. 

My Thoughts 
I worked as an elementary school librarian for 30 years and read many, many, many monster picture books. This ebook is right up there with the best of them! 

Ms. Dweck writes original, entertaining and humorous text that will delight young readers. The monsters in this story have unique personalities that children will find playful and even lovable. These are NOT frightening monsters. 

Mr. Arroyo has done an outstanding job with the illustrations. Children will be captivated with the details in these monster drawings. I spent an extra 20 minutes looking at these pictures after I read the book.

I read this book on my Kindle Fire HD. The formatting is superb and a perfect fit for the Kindle. There are four lines of rhyming text with each full-screen color illustration. The text is bright and an appropriate size for easy reading.

Kudos to Julia Dweck! She is one of the bright shining stars in the digital publishing revolution. She is taking children's book publishing to the next level and I applaud her.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out of 5

This book is available as a FREE Kindle book at Amazon.Com TODAY! These promotions don't last very long so grab your copy NOW.

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