Anthony Ant Goes To Egypt, by Julie Bettendorf

Title: Anthony Ant Goes to Egypt

Author: Julie Bettendorf

Publisher: Outskirt Press

Date: November 30, 2014

Paperback: 31 pages

Genre: Juvenile Fiction/ Humorous Stories




About the Book
Where Will Anthony Ant Go Next?

Anthony Ant knows how to travel in style—since he’s so small, he can go just about anywhere, unnoticed! This time, he curls up in a suitcase and gets out in Egypt, ready for the fabulous adventure of a lifetime. Anthony Ant is in Cairo, Egypt…and luckily he meets an expert tour guide, Babu Beetle. Together they explore Egypt’s history, culture, and food, with adventures including a camel ride, and a visit to the famous pyramids…and more! The second book in the Anthony Ant series continues to introduce kids to the excitement of world travel, with an enjoyable companion who is ready to share his experiences.


My Take
This a really cute book. If your children like books that rhyme, which I am sure most children do, they will like this one. The story is about a little ant that travels through Egypt. While you follow the ant traveling through Egypt, your children will learn different things about the country. For starters, they will learn about the capital, different foods that can be eaten there, how they travel, some sights you would see, and what one would buy in the market place.

Another nice thing about this book are the illustrations. They are very colourful and the pictures will draw the attention of any child into the book. There are people of different nationalities in the book, which I fell will help children identify a little more with the story.

If you are looking for a nice book to cuddle with your child and read, this is the one.

This complimentary book was given to me by Bostick Communications and the author for an honest review.




About the Author
Julie Bettendorf is an enthusiastic world traveler, with a background in history and a degree in archaeology. Through her books, she shares the wonderful world of travel with children and their parents, as Anthony Ant teaches kids about other cultures, customs, and traditions. When Julie is not traveling with her daughter Erin and son Max, she lives in central Oregon.

Lift the Flap Bible, by Karen Williamson

Title: Lift the Flap Bible

Series: Candle Tiny Tots

Author: Karen Williamson

Illustrator: Louise Anglicas

Publisher: Candle Books (October 1, 2014)

Board Book: 16 pages

Age Range: 2 - 4 years old



About the Book

What's under the flaps? Find out in this collection of eight very simple Bible stories in a large cased board book format. Each story is told across a double-page spread and there are flaps on every page. Bright, quirky illustrations full of wit and color from Louise Anglicas are perfect for this engaging introduction to Bible stories.

Stories are: Noah and the Ark, Moses and the Bulrushes, Daniel and the Lions, Jonah and the Great Fish, Born in a Stable, Boy with Loaves and Fishes, The Lost Sheep, and Man Lowered Through the Roof.

My Take
Do you know any young kids that love to play and learn in the process? If so, this is the perfect book for them if you want them to get a head start on learning the stories in the Bible. The stories are the ones that most kids love to hear about. The ones we remember learning about when we were young. Each story is only two pages and there is no more than two sentences per story. So all the little kids with short attention spans will be able to sit through each story because it won't last long. Each story also has about three to four flaps for them to pull down. The pictures are very colourful, so your child will want to go through this book over and over again. It is very simple and to the point and worth including in your child's library collection.

About the Author/Illustrator
Karen Williamson worked as a London primary school teacher and publisher s editor before launching a successful career as a full-time writer. With three children of her own, she specializes in Bible stories for young readers.

Louise Anglicas holds a degree in Ceramics and Surface Design from Staffordshire University. Working as a designer, she was instrumental in securing the Harry Potter license for a local ceramic manufacturer! She applies her love of pattern and design to the world of children s illustration.

This complimentary book was given to me by Kregel Publications for my honest review.

                                                            

If You Were Me and Lived in...Greece, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Greece

Series: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: September 23, 2014

Paperback: 32 pages





About the Book
It’s never too early to start teaching children about the world around them. In If You Were Me and Lived in…Greece, early learners get a taste of what their life would be like if they lived in Greece while being introduced to the birthplace of democracy.

This book is the latest installment of the educational series about the cultures of the world that speaks to young children about the topics that interest them, such as the foods people eat, the names of boys and girls, and the activities that children their age living in a foreign land are likely to engage in. This exciting visit to Greece also introduces the important concept of democracy to children and highlights some of the other cultural contributions that Greece has made to Western civilization. Basic information is offered in a playful way that won’t overwhelm children.

My Take 
Like all the other books in this particular series, my daughter and I enjoyed this one just the same. It is so nice to be able to sit down with my child and have a book that she can understand and learn about another country. She is learning so much since we have been reading these books. 

All the books are set up the same. It is the pictures and information that are different. The fact that they do keep the same format is great, because you know what to expect. Like, you know at the beginning of the book you are going to see where Greece is on the globe and you are also going to see what the capital is and learn more about it. You will learn different names that children in Greece are given and what you would call your parents and grandparents. What I really love is how you learn about the important history through story and pictures. You also learn about the kinds of foods that they eat and special holidays. But let's not forget the most important of them all, you learn about the Olympics!

At the end of the book, you find a huge pronunciation guide, so that you can say the words correctly. The pictures are very colourful and give you an idea of what people and things look like in Greece.

Like I stated before, this is a really awesome series and if you collect all the books, your child will have a full knowledge of a lot of countries around the world.

About the Author

Carole P. Roman is an award-winning children's book author whose book, Strangers on the High Seas: A Captain No Beard Story, was named Best Children's Book of the Year by Reader Views in 2013. She is continuing to expand her children's world culture series to new and exciting countries. The author lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children and grandchildren.

The Christmas Cats Encounter Bats, by Constance Corcoran Wilson

Title: The Christmas Cats Encounter Bats

Author: Constance Corcoran Wilson

Publisher: Quad Cities Press

Date: September 13, 2014

Paperback: 24 pages








About the Book
The third book in the Christmas Cats adventure teaches us to honor life in all its forms. Love and accept all God's creatures. Some animals--(puppies and kitties come to mind)--are popular with nearly everyone. Others (spiders, lizards, bats, etc.) may not seem as worthy,  but all are small cogs in the universe. Bats serve a very useful purpose in God's grand scheme. All life should be valued. The bats of story three are just as deserving of respect and have as much right to life as any other creature on the planet.

My Take
This book happens to be just as cute as the other one I reviewed, The Christmas Cats Chase Christmas Rats. Just like the other book, this one has a lesson that one can learn. We all have issues with certain animals and some of us take drastic measures to make sure those types of animals are not to be seen in our dwellings. For instance, like the bats in this story. The cats must go on a journey to help figure out what is making a certain sound. They find out it is a bat. Of course they don't hurt the bat and explain that it can be helpful to have them around and so we should enjoy them.

I like the fact that the author doesn't drag the story out to make a point. I know the younger a child is, they don't tend to want to sit as long and hear a story. Another good thing is that it rhymes. This is also helpful for the younger ones. It can come across more or less like a song and so they tend to enjoy it more. The bright colours in the book will also attract a lot of readers. They make the pages stand out. Lastly, but not least, there is a colouring page at the end that has the reader or child interact with the story by colouring a page and adding to the "story". Once you are done, you can email them in and see it posted on the website.

Like I stated before. This book is cute and the lesson is just as good.

About the Author
Connie graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English and Journalism, but she began writing for her hometown (Independence, Iowa) newspaper at the age of 10 and was Editor-in-Chief of her high school newspaper. She continued her education, including a Ferner/Hearst Journalism Scholarship and a Freshman Merit Scholarship at Iowa, and then at Berkeley, WIU, NIU and the University of Chicago. Connie holds a Masters (+30) in English, Journalism and Education. Her career path led to teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts (Silvis, Illinois) and teaching writing at 6 IA/IL colleges or universities, including a class teaching film at Black Hawk Junior College. She then established the second Sylvan Learning Center in the state of Iowa and a Prometric Testing site, in conjunction with ETS of Princeton, NJ. She has taught writing and literature classes at all 6 IA/IL Quad City colleges.

Connie lives in East Moline, Illinois with husband Craig and in Chicago, Illinois, where her son, Scott and daughter-in-law Jessica and their newborn twins Elise and Ava reside. Her daughter, Stacey, a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, has been living and working in Australia since February of 2012.

This complimentary book was given to me by the author for my honest review.

The Christmas Cats Chase Christmas Rats, by Constance Corcoran Wilson

Title: The Christmas Cats Chase Christmas Rats

Author: Constance Corcoran Wilson

Publisher: Quad City Press

Date: October 22, 2013

Paperback: 32 pages







About the Book
The second book in the Christmas Cats adventure, the lesson to be learned is: In life, always keep an open mind. Don't accept stereotypes as true or let the unfounded opinions of others prevent you from finding out the truth for yourself. We all need to act without prejudice and learn to accept each other as individuals.

The Christmas Cats learn that rats, too, should be judged as individuals. Another message: all of us should try to help others.

My Take
When my daughter first saw this book, she wanted to read it. I will admit, the cover art really drew us in. It has bright colors and rats in a tub looking like they are having fun. Obviously, this was going to be a good book. Inside the book the artwork is just the same. It is very colorful and whimsical. The artist has "cartoon" life mixed with some everyday life. I like this because it helps kids identify with the story better. Not only do they see it as a cartoon, but they seem some reality in it.

The writing style Mrs. Wilson decided to take, is rhyming. This I think helps kids enjoy the story because they get a rhythm going with the story and it is easy to read the book. The words are printed in a larger format than you would see most stories and they alternate between red and green. Of course it would, it's a Christmas book!

Like I stated before, my daughter liked this book. I also liked it too. I think it is one that should be included on children bookshelves. Especially around Christmas time.

About the Author
Connie graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in English and Journalism, but she began writing for her hometown (Independence, Iowa) newspaper at the age of 10 and was Editor-in-Chief of her high school newspaper. She continued her education, including a Ferner/Hearst Journalism Scholarship and a Freshman Merit Scholarship at Iowa, and then at Berkeley, WIU, NIU and the University of Chicago. Connie holds a Masters (+30) in English, Journalism and Education. Her career path led to teaching 7th and 8th grade language arts (Silvis, Illinois) and teaching writing at 6 IA/IL colleges or universities, including a class teaching film at Black Hawk Junior College. She then established the second Sylvan Learning Center in the state of Iowa and a Prometric Testing site, in conjunction with ETS of Princeton, NJ. She has taught writing and literature classes at all 6 IA/IL Quad City colleges.

Connie lives in East Moline, Illinois with husband Craig and in Chicago, Illinois, where her son, Scott and daughter-in-law Jessica and their newborn twins Elise and Ava reside. Her daughter, Stacey, a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, has been living and working in Australia since February of 2012.

Mickey and the Plow Horse, by Edward Dreyfus PhD

Title: Mickey and the Plow Horse

Author: Edward A. Dreyfus, PhD

Publisher: Edward A. Dreyfus

Date: September 30, 2014

Paperback: 172 pages








About the Book
Mickey Brandfield is a 12 year old self-proclaimed nerd who spends his time alone with his iPad, his iPod, and his countless video games. His ongoing struggle with asthma renders him unable to participate in the rough and tumble activities kids his age enjoy, including sports, but that doesn't stop his parents from packing him off to camp for the summer. There he meets Jackson, a lonely and beaten down plow horse that seems to need Mickey's friendship as much as Mickey needs his. The moment Mickey touches Jackson,something magical happens: he discovers that he and the plow horse share a gift that will change their lives forever.

My Take
I was lucky enough to ascertain a copy of the book Mickey and the Plow Horse. When I first received the book, I wasn't sure how great it was going to be. Whatever doubt I had was gone the minute I started to read the book. The author had me reeled in on the very first page. Within the first chapter alone, I was wondering how it was going to turn out and pretty much didn't put the book down until I was done. Once I had finished the book, I remember turning to my daughter and telling her she had to read the book. I actually started to tell her what the book was about after a couple of pages in and she told me to stop.

The book is set up for readers of all ages. Granted it was written for the younger group. I also really like how the words are spaced on the pages. It isn't jumbled up with small print like most books. I was able to easily see the words and move right through the book. I know this is going to appeal to my daughter as well. His writing is simplistic enough so that the younger readers will not have a hard time understanding the story. His style of writing is so amazing that I was able to visualize everyone and everything around "me" in the story. A good writing will make you feel like you feel like a part  of the story and that is exactly how I felt reading this book.

The characters in this story are all enjoyable. I don't think there was a character that I hated. I do know that you will feel for Mickey and "laugh and cry" with him all the way through the book.

Like I stated before, I really enjoyed reading this story and think everyone should include it in their home or school library.

About the Author

Dr. Edward A. Dreyfus was born and raised in The Bronx in New York City, attended City College of New York, and earned his PhD. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kansas. He has been a practicing psychologist for the past fifty years in Santa Monica, California where he offers individual psychotherapy, relationship counseling, sex therapy and life coaching. He has been married to his wife Barbara for thirty years, has three grown children and five grandchildren, and a pooch named Charlie. He has published five previous books, and has written several screenplays.

This complimentary book was given to me by the author for my honest review.

Charlie and Felicity Go Wild, by David Driscoll

Title: Charlie and Felicity Go Wild

Author: David Driscoll

Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing

Date: January 8, 2014

Paperback: 56 pages








About the Book
Charlie and Felicity Go Wild is the imaginative children's story about two fishcakes who meet on the river. Charlie is a male fishcake who wants to meet a female fishchake.

After Charlie meets Felicity, everything goes wild! First they take an exciting canoe ride down the river, where they have a dangerous encounter with a crocodile. Charlie takes on some elephants to rescue Felicity and just then, hippos pop up and say hello.

A slippery snake sticks his nose into things, Charlie loses so much weight, his swimming trunks fall down! Felicity has fun bouncing on giant mushrooms and Charlie falls asleep in the boat.

My Take
Do you want to go on an adventure? Why not read the book Charlie and Felicity Go Wild, by David Driscoll. You will meet two lovely fishcakes that meet up and go on a wild adventure. As you read this story to your child, they will get to learn about the different animals that can be encountered on a boat ride. For instance, they encounter a crocodile, snake, elephant, etc. You also get to see how much fun one can have not only on the waters, but also on land when Felicity decides to pull over and see what is in the woods.

The story itself is cute. The writing style is simple enough for a young reader to be able to read to themselves. They may need help on a couple of words, but for the most part they should be able to handle it by themselves. The book isn't too long either, so the younger readers will not get overwhelmed with the length. I feel like the ratio of pictures to words is spot on. I have encountered some books where you have more of one than the other, but this book has it balanced out just right.

I love the artwork in this book. It is a form of pencil drawing, which I like because it shows how much time and effort was put into the pictures. It is very detailed and colorful.

About the Author

David Driscoll is director at Homestead PDS Ltd commercial painting contractors in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. He writes and manufactures film scripts, and supports local charities. The author has written a body of work; this is his first published book.

This complimentary book was given to me for my honest review.

Garden Safari: Vegetable Soup, by Eluka Moore, Larry Puzniak and Marianne Walsh

Title: Garden Safari: Vegetable Soup

Series: Kitchen Club Kids

Author: Eluka Moore, Larry Puzniak and Marianne Walsh

Publisher: Bread & Butter Publishing

Date: May 6, 2014

Hardcover: 38 pages





About the Book
Explore numbers, colors and vegetables as you learn how to create a tasty soup in ten easy steps. Join the Kitchen Club Kids as they visit the garden to find fresh vegetables to eat. They search and count. They cut, dice and stir until the meal is complete. This rhymey-good-timey recipe adventure story offers basic cooking lessons and promotes healthy eating. The colorful illustrations and layered learning opportunities on each page will keep your child's interest from beginning to end. Kitchen Club Kids books are also real, hands-on cooking activities that help teach 2-6 year olds how to follow recipes. But, you don't have to be a chef to enjoy these books. Whether you're reading with your child before mealtime or before bedtime, Kitchen Club Kids books turn story time into a culinary, learning adventure. Gold Medal Winner - Mom's Choice Awards 2014 Book of the Year Award - Creative Child Awards - Creative Child Magazine

My Take
Every time I review a children's book, I seem to think that I am not going to find one to top it. I have to say, this one is at the top of my list right now. What an awesome idea for a book. Not only do your children get to hear a lovely story, but they also get to learn how to count (the ingredients are numbered in the book), learn their colors (each color "word" is in its particular color) and cook soup in the process. Now, this book is for children 2 - 6 years old, but I have to say, when my daughter saw the book, she was just as excited and she is 11 years old. I believe the whole "interactive" part of it and the fact that it rhymes, is what is going to draw a lot of young readers to it. And the fact that the soup had vegetables in it, made it so much better. At the end of the book you will find the soup in an actual recipe form (I am guessing this is for the parents) with cooking directions. There is also extra ways to make it taste even better.

The illustrations in this book are amazing! I love how they have kids of different races. It will allow the children looking at the book to feel a part of it because they can see "themselves" in the book. The colors are bright and vibrant. Even though it is in "cartoon" form, every thing is pretty realistic looking.

Garden Safari: Vegetable Soup (along with End of the Rainbow: Fruit Salad) is an amazing book in the Kitchen Club Series. I definitely will be getting the first one (End of the Rainbow: Fruit Salad) and purchasing the third one (Feed Your Senses: Homemade Bread) when it comes out.

About the Author

Eluka Moore
For over twelve years I worked as a marketing professional, developing campaign strategies for a variety of well-known consumer brands. Today, Kitchen Club Kids allows me to bridge my professional experience with my love for cooking and education. My hope is that our books give parents a reason to start cooking with their children and experience all the wonderful learning opportunities it has to offer.

Larry Puzniak
For me, the Kitchen Club Kids storybooks are an opportunity to apply count-and-identify lessons, making the learning real … real tasty. So, don’t be surprised if a “grill creations” adventure shows up in the collection at some point.

My favorite part of this venture is that it gives me the chance to bring the best of my professional career and personal life together, utilizing my brand savvy and communications skills to create ways to “dad” smarter.

Marianne Walsh
Currently working in the advertising industry, Kitchen Club Kids has allowed me to tap into my roots in education. My first job as a kindergarten teacher and later as a child behavior therapist continue to fuel my passion for children’s books.

Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis, by Carole P. Roman

Title: Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Plateform

Date: September 23, 2014

Paperback: 42 pages





About the Book
Captain No Beard's a brave pirate, with a loyal and hearty crew. Usually Hallie, Cayla and the rest of The Flying Dragon's crew are ready for any adventure, but as the captain sails ever-northward, they start to worry.

It's cold on the arctic seas. Icebergs float by, and every one's timbers are shivering. More alarmingly, Captain No Beard doesn't want to tell the crew where they're going or why.

When the crew finally learns their mission, they're shocked. The captain wants to steal something beautiful. The crew of The Flying Dragon may be pirates, but they all know stealing is wrong. Can they talk Captain No Beard out of his plan before he does something very bad?


My Take
Every time I read one of the Captain No Beard stories, I think this is a really great story. Can it get any better then this? Yes, each of the stories are great, but I have to say hands down, this is one of my favorite ones. I really like this story and the message that you receive when you read it.

Winter is coming and what better time to read this story with your children. On this adventure, the captain and his crew head north, while dealing with cold weather and icebergs. While traveling, they learn about the North Star, how it is wrong to steal, and the aurora borealis. Children will not only learn new things, but there is an art project that they do at the end that you can have your children do.

Just like the other books, this one has great artwork. The cover alone made me want to read the story. When you open the book, you get that nice winter feel from the pictures. The little snowflakes, the icebergs, and the warm clothes the characters wear.

I really enjoyed this book and do think that it should be added to your shelf.

About the Author

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turn businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband.

Her first book, "Captain No Beard - An imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" has been named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 as well garnered the star of remarkable merit and was just named as one of Children's Indy Best - The Pinnacle Award of 2013. "Strangers on the High Seas" was named Readers Views Kids Award - Best Children's Book of the Year.

This complimentary book was given to me for my honest review.

Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life, by Carole P. Roman

Title: Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life

Series: Captain No Beard

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 

Date: July 3, 2012

Paperback: 40 pages





About the Book
Captain No Beard and his pirate ship The Flying Dragon set sail for a voyage of the imagination with his fearless crew of four: First Mate Hallie, Mongo the Monkey, Linus the loudmouthed lion, and Fribbet the floppy frog. Normally a young boy named Alexander, his cousin Hallie, and three stuffed animals, once they board his bed their world is transformed into a magical vessel sailing the seven seas on dangerous and exciting adventures!

My Take
This is another cute series that my daughter and I have been lucky enough to read together. The adventures they go on are amazing and you will find some sort of message in each one of them. The story is written simply enough to where your child can read the book to you or by themselves. With a little imagination and  your child jumping onto their bed, just like Alexander (Captain No Beard) and his cousin Hallie (First Mate Hallie), they can be taken on a journey along with their "stuffed" friends.

In this story, they go on a trip and the waters get rough. In order to make sure everything goes well, they have to work together to make sure everyone makes it to safety. Captain No Beard learns that being the main person in charge isn't as easy as he thought it would be.

The graphics are just as amazing as the story. They are so cute. You can really feel what the characters are going through because of the expressions on their faces. They are very detailed. The colors are very vibrant, which will keep your children wanting to read the story.

I really like this series and think that you will too. So, go out and purchase it and add it to your collection.

About the Author

Captain No Beard An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life is Carole P. Roman's first book in this series and was named to Kirkus Best 2012, received the Star of Remarkable Merit, the Pinnacle Award for 2012, and just recently The Erik Metzroth Award for Best Children's book 2013.


I received this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review.

Come Back Dear Sun, by Geena Bean

Title: Come Back Dear Sun

Author: Geena Bean

Illustrator: Cheri Webber

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Date: January 3, 2013

Paperback: 36 pages





About the Author

In 2003, Geena Bean graduated from Rutgers University with an English degree. For the past ten years she has been in the nanny industry, working with children and journaling her experiences with them. She has observed that the age of technology, including television, video games and computers, has often stifled the creative imaginations of children and discouraged them from going outdoors to engage in innovative free play. Her interaction with children encourages them to use imaginative play outdoors, which was the norm years ago before the age of advanced technologies.

About the Book
When the sun disappears for a long time, curious Kaylee cannot wait to have the sunshine back. her imaginative plan unfolds like only an eight-year-old can conceive, and the wonder and smiles begin. She ans her six-year-old sister, Mattie, along with their two friends, Fran and Lilly, plan an adventurous sleepover in an attempt to coax the sun into shining again. In a very imaginative way, they talk to the moon only to discover that the moon is very tired due to working overtime during the sun's absence.

Follow Kaylee and her friends on their energetic quest to learn why the sun has disappeared and where it has gone. The insightful message of this story impresses both parents an children alike in order to grow appreciation of the world around us.

My Take
I really like this book. I found it to be extremely cute. It has a really great message that gets inserted into the story. I do believe that children need to spend more time outside and not indoors. We have gone from sunshine to TV time and not enough outside time. I think that if parents read this book with their children, they can find a way to get them to go back outside and play rather than spending most of their time indoors. It can also get parents to go outside and spend time with their children. The story can bring out creativity in your children. When you see how creative the children are in the story when trying to get a hold of the moon, children can take that and use it in another way.

The graphics in this book are just as cute as the story. It is very colorful and bright and will draw any child to the book.The characters are very expressive and you really understand how they feel in the situation they are in.

This complimentary book was given to my by the author for my honest review.

Paws in the Piazza, by Jerilyn Mcntyre

Title: Paws in the Piazza: Harley's Venetian Adventure

Author: Jerilyn McIntyre

Illustrator: Ken Shuey

Publisher: Bristlecone Books

Date: December 11, 2013 (1st ed.)

Paperback: 96 pages

Ages: 10 - 14 years old



About the Book
“Back home, I was content to be just an ordinary house cat. I didn’t get out much. But it’s different here in Venice.” How different? Harley quickly finds out after his family arrives in Italy. He takes up with a group of local cats who roam wild in the alleys and neighborhoods of Venice, and meets the mysterious Angela, a beautiful white Angora who steals his heart. Then he becomes embroiled in a fierce and ongoing war between his friends and a rival band of cats, and discovers the magical order that underlies life in the enchanting and historic city that is his new home.

My Take
I thought this was a cute book. It made it seems like the cat was experiencing life like we would. It takes you on the journey of a cat that goes on a trip with his owners. We learn about how life in another country is for a cat. This cat gets to experience the ups and downs of meeting new cats. Some are good and some are bad. He gets in fights and for his safety joins a group. He also finds another cat that he falls for.

The story is not a hard read. Most children can get through it pretty fast. My daughter is 11 and she didn't have a problem reading it at all. There aren't that many pages, so they won't get too discouraged about it lasting forever. I did feel as though the story was more of something an adult would enjoy over children, but who is to say they won't like it also. After all it is a story about a cat. Also, the illustrator has a couple of hand drawn pictures to give you an idea of what the place looks like and the different cats in the town. What I would have loved to see, would have been a picture or two when the cats were underground having their meeting. That would have been cool.

All in all, it is a book that I am sure young readers would really enjoy.

This complementary book was given to me by the author for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World, by Carole P. Roman

Title: If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: October 24, 2013

Paperback: 30 pages



About the author: 
 Carole P. Roman is the award-winning author of the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, which won the NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in 2012. She collaborated on this installment in the series with her five year old grandson, Alexander. Roman also writes the Captain No Beard series, the first of which was named a Kirkus Best of 2012, received a Star of Remarkable Merit, and won The Pinnacle Award in 2012.

About the book:
If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World is back with a brand new expedition. This amazing children's series by Carole P. Roman is heading to Africa! Focusing on what life could be like for children in another land, this series continues to show the customs and cultures that inhabit our great globe.

My take:
It has been another great adventure for my daughter and me, as we take a trip to Kenya through the If You Were Me and Lived in...Kenya book.

Just like the other books in the If You Were Me and Lived in... series, there is enough information to let us know a lot about the particular country. The book starts out with the shape of the country of Kenya with a location of the capital, Nairobi. Then it shows on a globe where it is located in Africa. Through the different cartoon drawings, we are shown what Kenya looks like, from the city parts to the country parts. We learn about the different foods they eat, like chapati and samosa and how they like to play cricket and celebrate Mombasa Carnival.

I don't know if this was in the other books, but I did like how one of the colors of Africa was used on the pages and then how there was a tiny little giraffe at the bottom of the pages. There is also a pronunciation guide in the back of the book to help out with words that one might not know how to say.

This is a really cute book and like I said before, they are great learning tools and I feel like every school and home library would benefit from having this series in them.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

Stuck in the Doldrums: A Lesson in Sharing - A Captain No Beard Story, by Carole P. Roman

Title: Stuck in the Doldrums: A Lesson in Sharing

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: March 20, 2013

Paperback: 36 pages






About the author:
Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher who now works in her family's business and publishes works in the Captain No Beard series. The first Captain No Beard- "An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" was named to the Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 and received the star of remarkable merit.

About the book:
When the wind stops blowing, Captain No Beard and his crew, including First Mate Hallie, Linus the Lion, Fribbet the Frog, Mongo the Monkey and Polly the Parrot, are stuck on a desert island. Maroon with nothing to do, they begin to play and enjoy themselves. However, Captain No Beard has other ideas, bossing his crew around and making playtime cheerless for everyone. Soon, Captain No Beard decides he has had enough and storms off. When his ship is attacked by a giant squid, he realizes he needs his crew more than ever. Captain No Beard and his crew show young readers that's it's important to cooperate and share your belongings. The crew teaches us that if you want to have friends, then you must be a friend too.

My take:
I really like this series. Any book that has a learning lesson for a child is good. This particular one is based on learning how to cooperate and not be bossy. This is a lesson that a lot of children need to learn (adults alike). The story shows what will happen if you try to boss your friends around and how to show forgiveness and help someone in need.

The author's writing style is very carefree and lively. Just enough dialogue mixed with the story keeps children interested. The wittiness of the interactions make the story very interesting. Also, the artwork is very cute. You can see the expressions come out in all the characters through the drawings and it helps you empathize with the just a little more. The book is very colorful, so it is appealing to the eyes.

If you haven't read one of these books in the series, you need to pick one up now. Not only will your child like it, so will you.

This complimentary book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

The Treasure of Snake Island: A Captain No Beard Story, by Carole P. Roman

Title: The Treasure of Snake Island

Series: A Captain No Beard Story

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Date: January 30, 2014

Paperback: 37 pages





About the Author: Award-winning author Carole P. Roman has produced another book for her "Captain No Beard" lineup. The first book in the series, "captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012, with a Star of Remarkable Merit, and was presented with a National Association of Book Entrepreneurs Pinnacle Award in 2013. Roman, a former teacher, is the mother of four and grandmother to many. She currently resides on Long Island with her husband.


About the book: This time the mateys of the Flying Dragon are threatened by a serious looking set of storm clouds. While the friends gobble their sandwiches, the storm comes to a head and everyone has to help bail out. Since they were forewarned, they are forearmed and are able to get through the storm in ship-shape. When the dust settles, the Captain leads his crew to Snake Island in search of buried treasure. As X marks the spot, the crew starts digging and starts flying until a solid thud stops the excavation. So, what's in the treasure box?


My take: Just like her other children books, this is a keeper. I really like her style of writing. She really knows how to keep children engaged in a book.

First of all, the characters in this story are cute. The use of animals and humans is a real attention grabber. They are very colourful and their expressions are priceless. When they are suppose to be exasperated, whether it be an animal or a person, their expressions go right a long with the story.

The story is written simplistically, but with enough action and adventure children will want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Not only is it just a story, it has a bit of learning in it also. Within this story, it speaks highly of books and why they are so important. I thought this was a good thing for children to read. Another thing children will learn from reading this story is how to overcome their fears.

This is a really cute series that I think everyone's child will benefit having amongst their other books.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea: An Introduction to Learning About Other Cultures, by Carole P. Roman

  

Series: If You Were Me and Lived in...

Author: Carole P. Roman

Publisher: CreateSpace

Date: June 14, 2013

Paperback: 28 pages


Ages: 3 - 7





About the author:

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. She just finished the first of six books in a groundbreaking new nonfiction series about culture around the world. "If You Were Me and Lived in..." combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us.

About the book:

"If You Were Me and Lived in...South Korea: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World" is the third installment in Carole P. Roman's remarkable series about countries all over the globe. Roman opens up a world of wonder while highlighting the fact that underneath it all we are far more alike than we might have imagined. Like a children's version of The Travel Channel that is filled with entertaining and educational facts, this astonishing journey to the southern end of Asia's Korean Peninsula will captivate our child with amazing and fun filled facts!

My take:

Just like the other books in this series, this one starts out with a picture of South Korea and shows what and where the capital is located while going into a small history. The next thing you learn is the different names one might have depending on if you are a boy or a girl. Your children will also learn about the different shops they go to, what type of foods they eat, a holiday that they have and information about their schools. Like the books before this one, it also contains a pronunciation guide at the back of the book.

I also really like the colorful cartoon like drawings that are in the book. It contains just the right amount of pictures to keep our children interested, but not too much to leave them without knowledgeable information about the country.

I am a big fan of this series and so is my child. Every time she sees one of these books she gets really excited because they have created a strong yearning of cultural knowledge in her. I do believe that teachers should buy them and put them in their classrooms.

This complementary book was given to me for my honest review.

I Love Grass, by Maria Boston

Title: I Love Grass

Author: Maria Boston

Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Date: March 27, 2014

Paperback: 24 pages



About the book:
There are so many things to love about grass. We can love the way it looks, the way it smells - even the way it changes its green from season to season! Read on to add to your experiences with grass.

About the author:
Maria Boston has always written children's stories. She pulls on her rich experiences from her own and her daughter's childhoods. "I Love Grass" is her first published book. She lives in Virginia with her two daughters and their dog. 

My take:
I just received this book and had to review it right away. I absolutely loved it. I review a lot of children books, so I think I know when I see a good one, and I have to say, this is a good one.

First, I have to say I really love the art work in this book. All the pictures are designed out of yarn. The houses, bench, grass, sky, ground, flowers, etc. It really adds to the creativity of I Love Grass. Each time the "grass" changes, you get to see from the different colors of yarn. I believe this will really hold a child's attention when they see it. There is also a little grass design on all the pages with words. It is just a beautiful book.

Second, the story. It is just as cute as the book. You can really tell how passionately the author feels about grass and how much she really wants one to love it just the same. Her words are simple, so a younger reader can read it to themselves. One can also learn from it as the author explains the different changes and seasons and shows it along with the pictures in the book. The book isn't very long so young children's attention span won't be lost.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think everyone should get I Love Grass for their kids. They will love it and want to read it over and over again.

This complementary book was given to my by the author through Bostick Communications for my honest review.

Get to Know Mary, by Nancy I. Sanders

Title: Get to Know Mary

Series: A Biography For Kids

Publisher: Zonderkidz

Paperback: 112

Date: July 8, 2014

Age: 6 - 10 years old

About the author:

Nancy I. Sanders is the bestselling children's author of over 80 books including Old Testament Days: An Activity Guide with over 80 hands-on projects. Her award-winning nonfiction children's books include D is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet, America's Black Founders, and Frederick Douglass for Kids. Nancy delights in making history come alive to young readers. She lives with her husband, Jeff, and their two cats in sunny Southern California. Nancy and Jeff have two grown sons, Dan and Ben (with his lovely wife Christina). Visit Nancy's website at www.nancysanders.com.

About the book:

Mary was more than just a girl growing up in Israel. She was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus!  Learn about the life and times of this brave young woman and how she became a hero of the Bible.

My take:

I have been given the opportunity to review the Get to Know series. I think it is a great series for every child to have. It helps them learn a little more about certain Bible characters. Most people probably feel as though they know Mary the mother of Jesus already. But to really get to know her, one should read this book. 

Just like the other books, it starts out at the beginning and takes us on the journey of her life. We learn about how she became the "chosen one", became engaged/married, her trip to her relatives house/to Nazareth and so forth. While all this is being told, it is backed up with pictures, maps, pictures of artifacts, timeline, dates, fun facts and a glossary. The fun facts have little symbols by them so you can recognize what type it is. For example, Scriptures ~ oil lamp, Bible Hero ~ sandal, and Eyewitness Account ~ hieroglyphic eye.

The book itself is made to be very engaging. Not only are the pictures and timeline interesting, but also the picture on the cover is nicely done. The author used simple enough words to where a younger person can read and understand the book on their own. Get to Know Mary has a ton of colors in it, which helps liven the book up also.

I think the Get to Know full-color biography for kids series is one that should be included in most children libraries. They are very informational and your children will cherish every single one they read. I know I really like them and I am not even a child.

I got this complementary book from Zonderkidz and Booklook Bloggers for my honest review.

Get To Know Jesus, by Nancy I. Sanders

 Title: Get to Know Jesus: A Biography For Kids

Series: Get To Know

Author: Nancy I. Sanders

Publisher: Zondervan

Date: July 8, 2014

Age: 6 - 10 years

 

About the book: Jesus - part of the Get To Know series - is a unique biography about Jesus, the Son of God. Focusing on the life and character of this Biblical Hero, using color photographs, maps, and other visual resources to tell the whole story, young biography fans will come to learn more about this man of God and the role he plays in history. Featuring a bibliography and scriptural references throughout, this is sure to become a favorite for young readers and for first book reports.

About the author: Nancy I. Sanders is the best selling children's author of over 80 books including Frederick Douglas for kids. She lives with her husband, Jeff, and their two cats in sunny Southern California and has two grown sons. Visit Nancy's website at www.nancyisanders.com.

My take: This is a very good book. I really love this series and so does my daughter. Everyone knows about Jesus, but not everyone knows his journey. This book will help you learn about his life and the journey he took.

Get To Know Jesus, has icons all throughout the book to help them learn extra information. For instance, an oil lantern means Scripture, a foot means Bible Hero, and a hieroglyphics eye means Eyewitness Account. There are pictures of maps, buildings, and artifacts. There is even a family tree and timeline for Jesus. At the very back of the book is a glossary to help you know what some of the words mean.

This full-color biography has a lot of pictures for the kids to look at along with all the information they are learning. The book takes you from when he was young all the way up to his death/resurrection. Along with that are stories of his miracles and some parables.

I feel as though this is a great series for every family to own. Especially if you have younger children. Not that an adult wouldn't enjoy the series also.

I received this complementary book in exchange for my honest review.

The Bling Fairies of Junkett Falls

Title: The Bling Fairies of Junkett Falls

Author/Illustrator: Maureen Sky

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Date: April 21, 2014

Pages: 44

Language: English

About the book: This book is a fun book for the reader as it displays a handful of emotions, a bit of quirkiness, perhaps some knowledge, some lessons to be learned and the feelings of pride and contentment. The colourful illustrations provide the perfect visual that definitely makes this story come to life.

About the author:  Maureen Sky, wife, mother, and grandmother, who lives in Bernardston, Massachusetts with her husband, Eddie, and their male tiger cat, Grueby. Maureen, (now retired), has always been very creative throughout her life, sewing and painting, having won ribbons at local county fairs for her crafts and paintings, etc. She worked many years in the public sector as a school secretary for two local high schools. Just recently, she has taken another creative path to become an author. The "Bling" Fairies of Junkett Falls, is her first written book illustrated by her, as well.

 

My take: I was just recently given the cutest book, The Bling Fairies of Junket Falls, by Maureen Sky. Everyone likes fairies, right? Well, if you want to learn more about them (the Bling ones) then this is the book you should get for yourself or your child. The difference is these aren't just any old fairies, they are jewelry fairies.

The Bling Fairies of Junkett Falls is about a teen fairy named Velvy. She is from Junkett Falls with her family, who happen to be well liked. It tells of how they (Bling Fairies) live in your jewelry box and spend their time spinning jewelry at night. They live just like the rest of us, just not "amongst" us. The animal jewelry you have are actual animals in their community. Same with flowers that are in your box. They have to deal with summer and winter, the dust bust (when powder and perfume is used near the jewelry box), and the Nuds (the ugly pieces of jewelry).

This is a really cute book that has hand drawn pictures. As the author tells the story of Junkett Falls, she also describes who different fairies are and the different things that go on in this little town. I think it is a book that a lot of people will like. I just think there might be too much writing in ratio to the amount/size of pictures for children. If you are a fairy fan and want to know what is going on in your jewelry box, this is the book for you.

This complimentary book was given to me by Bostick Communications in exchange for my honest review.