Not Gonna Write Poems is a whimsical and quirky
collection of poems written by Michael A. Lee. The author wrote these poems for
his daughter. The collection is truly the perfect introduction to poetry that
any child will adore!
In this humorous, and down to earth, collection of poems, the
subjects include things like: Homework, Slime, Hair, and the Boogey Monster.
All subjects that will no doubt appeal to all discerning young readers. All the
poems are no more than a page long; therefore, even the most restless child can
enjoy these. There are drawings for kids to accompany all the poems too.
One my favorite poems
in this collection was The Gator Waiter. I found myself chucking at the idea of
an alligator serving guests their food. Another favorite was King of the Castle.
In this poem the King finds out he is not truly in charge, imagine that! I could
go on, but in short, this is a funny, whimsical collection for children and I thoroughly
enjoyed reading them.
Not Gonna Write Poems will appeal to children of all
ages, even those over grown children such as myself. I especially recommend this poetry collection
for all adults who like to read to their children.
I received a free copy from the author in exchange
for my honest review.
This picture book, We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, honors the Cherokee way of being grateful for the many blessings received. In a sense, it is a celebration of all things Cherokee. The author, being Cherokee herself, has brought her special brand of insight to the views of her people and how they celebrate throughout the year.
It is beautifully illustrated by Frane` Lessac in the folk
art tradition. The colors are vivid, imaginative and want to jump off the page.
You can see that special care was given to each scene depicted in order to make
this book special.
I liked that the text is in both English and in Cherokee and
how the author explained the Cherokee celebrations in such a way that all can
understand. There is really not a plot here. It read more like a commentary,
which I am not faulting, because it is a picture book after all.
This is a lovely picture book for ages 3 to 8 years that is
thoughtfully done. My granddaughter and I have already read it several times
and I think this will be one of her favorites. I highly recommend this to all
young readers.
I received a free copy from the author at BEA in
exchange for my honest opinion.
Fearless Mary by Tami Charles (illustrated by Claire Almon) is a nonfiction early reader about Mary Fields the first African American Woman to drive a stage coach. It is an incredible story about a larger than life figure that helped pave the way for others of color and women in general.
The story tells how Mary Fields, a former slave, hitched
horses faster than any man to be awarded the job of stage coach driver. It also
gives us a glimpse of what it was like to be a stage coach driver. The daily
challenges Mary would have faced and the pride she took in doing her job.
The whole book was thoughtful done. While it is nonfiction mixed with fiction, the story is presented in such a way that all young readers will enjoy. The illustrations are well done and suit the story nicely. I think most young readers will connect with Mary in some way. We need more role models like her today.
I recommend this book to young readers (6 to 10) who are
interested in the history of the American West and African American history.
The book is appropriate for readers as young as 6; yet, because of the subject
matter some older readers may also enjoy. I think it will especially appeal to
girls because the story has such a positive message about women and women of
color and Mary is such a strong female character that young girls will identify
with.
I received a free copy at BEA from the author in exchange
for my honest review.
Lumber Jills by Alexandra Davis (illustrated by Katie Hickey) is an early/beginning reader book about the British women that filled the lumberjacks’ place during WWII. The prose is lyrical in nature and simple enough for a very early reader. Each page is beautifully illustrated and my favorite part of this book.
While I wished the story contained more history, I am not
the intended audience. This book is meant to show young girls (target age of
5-7) that they can do anything a boy can do. This is a valuable lesson and one
young girls do not hear often enough.
I loved that the book also referenced numbers in several of
the passages. When my granddaughter and I read it together, we counted along
with the story. I also liked that this book invites the child to ask questions.
Because the back page gave a little more history about Lumber Jills, I was able
to answer questions that came up. Kudos
to the author for giving the adult reader that information.
I recommend this book for an early reader because it shows
women in a role other than a princess. I think we have plenty of those kinds of
books already. I for one want all young girls to realize they can do anything
and their gender should not stop them from fulfilling their dreams. By the way,
my granddaughter enjoyed this book!
I received a free copy from the author at BEA in exchange
for my honest opinion.
Picture a place where any kid can dive into a storybook and become the main character, step into a painting at a museum for a closer look, or hop on the back of a bear to take a wild ride. By digitally imposing photographs of diverse children into fairytale illustrations, classic works of art, and outdoor photography, Chicago Treasure creates a whimsical world as rich as a child’s imagination.
In the first section, Just Imagine, starry-eyed youngsters become the heroes of their favorite fairytales, folk tales, and nursery rhymes brought to life through Rich Green’s lush illustrations. Clever original poems and playful newspaper articles tell fresh, condensed versions of classic stories, often through a contemporary lens. Beloved gems like Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, The Three Little Pigs, and Peter Pan are interspersed with lesser known tales like Tommy Tucker, Pear Blossom and the Dragon, and Polly Put the Kettle On.
In the second section, Now Showing, photographs of contemporary kids are digitally placed in paintings by Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, Paul Gustave Fischer, Jean Beraud, Gustave Caillebotte, and others. Some of the expressive children examine their odd new locales with inquisitive delight. Others seem right at home in their old-fashioned, brushstroked surroundings.
In the final section, Sightings, courageous youth, often accompanied by exotic animal sidekicks, explore cultural landmarks in bold ways that may not be possible in the boring confines of reality. A tiny tot triumphantly rounds third base at Wrigley Field. A group of daring children jump a bridge rising over a river while riding on the backs of graceful African impalas. Two young ladies take an afternoon stroll with their pet tiger on a leash. Brief text accompanying each amusing image provides readers with key information about the history of famous tourist destinations.
The theme of inclusion is prevalent throughout Chicago Treasure. Every child, regardless of ability, ethnicity, gender, or age is free to see themselves take on great roles in literature and art or let their imagination run wild by exploring iconic locales. While youth from all walks of life, ranging in age from babies to teenagers, populate Chicago Treasure, many are students at the Judy and Ray McCaskey Preschool at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Disabled. In the introduction and afterthoughts, photographer and author Larry Broutman shares some of his most transformative moments with these incredible kids, along with behind-the-scenes photographs and poetry inspired by these touching interactions.
All author proceeds are donated to the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Disabled, and Access Living, Chicago-based nonprofit service agencies. You may use coupon code CTBLOG15 for a 15% discount on your entire order at Everything Goes Media (https://www.everythinggoesmedia.com/product-page/chicago-treasure).
Title: Problems in Prague Author: Alba Arango Pub. Date: 10-May-2018 Rating: 4 Stars
Problems in Prague: JJ Bennett Junior Spy by Alba Arango is a middle grade book that reminds me of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books I loved as a kid; Of course, with more modern lingo and cell phones, etc. It is an exciting adventure story about kids as spies and secrets that must be protected at all cost.
Jeremiah Bennett, aka JJ, is currently living in Prague where his father works as a computer tech for the CIA. With the Bennett’s are JJ’s tutor Ms. Hernandez and her daughter Maggie who is the same age as JJ.
During a sightseeing tour at a castle, JJ and Maggie, run into a young Russian girl, Ivana, who JJ had an encounter with, at the airport, the day before. He wants to ask her some questions but she runs away before he has a chance. JJ and Maggie decide to chase after her. Ivana leads them into the Black Tower and they slip inside unseen. A short time later they caught a glimpse of Ivana leaving a room but she manages to slip away but not before telling them she is a member of the P-KGP.
They decide to investigate the room she exited from. Inside a book they find a cryptic note to a Josef left by a person called Kangsly. Later they find out that Josef is Joseph Stalin and Kangsly was an American defector in the early 1950s. They are now determined to figure out what this P-KGP is and what the note means. What they discover is a secret that must be kept from the Russians and so the adventure begins.
What I loved about this book is the likable characters of JJ and Maggie and the fast paced plot. There was not a lot of descriptive prose, which is a good thing; because in this case I feel excessive prose would turn off the target audience. I could never see an 8 or 12 year old reading a book for its prose! They want action and characters they can relate to.
Speaking entirely as a parent here, I appreciate that the author was sensitive to the audience she was writing for. The book did not contain any language or scenes that where inappropriate for a young audience, not even any hidden innuendos. In addition, there were no violent scenes that might be upsetting to younger readers.
The only negative comment I have is with the plot. JJ just seemed to be too quick to figure things out. I always thought this of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books too. I must admit, I think me age colors my thinking a little on this one.
Overall I found this book has a good story that was written with a young audience in mind. Therefore, I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers.
I have rated the book four stars and I feel this is the correct rating. However, upon reflecting I wonder how much my age is influencing my rating. I am passing the book on to my grandson, currently 10, who is also a big reader and I hope to update this review sometime in the future with his rating. In the spirit of fairness, I believe the target audience should have their opinion heard and have more weight because ultimately they are the consumer.
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion. For more of my reviews, and author interviews, see my blog at www.thespineview.com
Title: The Life of Nuzzels: Nuzzels the Nosey Skunk Author: Finis T. Jones Pub Date: 23-Mar-2016 Rating: 5 Stars
Nuzzles is a young skunk. Like most youngsters he is sometimes way too curious for his own good. He wants to explore outside of the family den despite his mother’s warning of danger. One day he decides to ignore the warnings of his mother and go venture out of the den. He tries to persuade his siblings to join him but to no avail. He meets other creatures of the forest and makes some friends along the way. Unfortunately, he becomes lost and ends up fleeing from danger. What ensues is way more adventure than he expected. We all know he should have listened to his mother!
This is a very entertaining story and is appropriate for ages 3 to 7 years old. For the younger ages it will be necessary for an adult to read. Older children should be able to read themselves with little to no assistance. There are several pages (35 total) with a lot of text; therefore, readers under age 3 may not have the attention span necessary to make it through the whole story. In addition, the illustrations are well done and fit the story and age of reader nicely.
I liked that the story can be used to teach. Not only will children learn a couple of lessons from the story, the story is a great opportunity to discuss nature and how the different animals live. For example, I wanted to know what you called a young skunk. It is a kit! I find my grandkids love to learn and by using a good story like this you can make it fun. I am sure this is a story they will want to read again and again.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy to review.
