Heroes of Havensong:Dragonboy

 

This series "Heroes of Havensong" has a grand introduction in "Dragonboy.' This books brings four unlikely friends together to help save a world that some have grown up with. It is filled with adventure and friendship. The four main characters were so well written that I would catch myself cheering for them and encouraging them through all the trials they faced.

This is a terrific book.

I highly recommend it.

I was given this book by Random House Children Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Children's Book Review: Legs

Legs is about a baby meerkat named Miki. He and his mother live in a zoo where he is happy. Eventually, though, Miki begins wondering about the world outside of his home. One day he gets lost when he goes a little farther out than normal. Then he sees legs all around him and he begins to wonder who all these legs go with. Animal legs turn to people legs and then he see his friendly keeper's feet. When the keeper picks him up he sees how all the scary legs belong with happy, friendly faces.

Such a cute book, with fun illustrations. I loved this book and I can see it becoming a favorite in a family's story time.

I highly recommend it for all families.
I was given this book my NetGalley and Lion Hudson Plc, in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Foster Learns a Law

Foster is a young man who wants to know the why behind everything. This includes the making of a law. After being told that nobody can do certain things, he begins to form his question. When Nobody visits him he begins to receive his answers.

This bright, easily read book is a great way to introduce children to the ins and outs of law in a fun way. I believe that this book could be appreciated by children of almost any age. The pictures are fun and bright to keep young readers' attention.

I feel this could be a great addition to any home or school library.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Charwood Publications in exchange for my honest review

Children's Book Review: Last Day Blues

different.The last day of school is full of lots of excitement. In Mrs. Harwell's class it is especially fun. There are fun thoughts of the summer going through everyone's minds however, they are concerned their teacher will miss them.

The story is so much fun and the illustrations are perfect. Even though I was a former teacher, I am kind of glad that my last days were not quite like this. This is a fun book for classrooms, teachers and students alide.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Charlesbridge in exchange for my honest review.

Children's Book Review:

Such a cute book. It has great illustrations and introduces children to caring for a dog. Ben has a dog named Buster, who is not trained. When the family decide they will go on vacation, they leave him with grandpa. This causes concern for Ben. He is not sure Grandpa will know how to take care of Buster. His dad writes notes for Ben to the grandpa. These notes are filled with some of the adventures and the not-so-great traits of Buster. While gone, Grandpa trains Buster and shows Ben how to make Buster listen. This way Buster can go on the next vacation.

The book shows why dogs should be trained and how once they are trained, the dog will be so much happier.

The colors of the illustrations are bright and filled with the details needed to gain children's attention.

I received this book from NetGalley and Peachtree Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Children's book Review: Oliver and the Seawigs

Oliver and the Seawigs is a fun adventurous book for young children. Oliver Crisp's parents have always been explorers, until they decide to settle down. This does not last very long as their home, which is surrounded by water, become surrounded by islands also. While exploring, they go missing along with the islands.

This book is so creative. There is a wig which is made out of the sea, a mermaid who is nearsighted, rude seaweed and monkeys galore.

This book will easily become a favorite for parents and children. Just be prepared for read-a-thons involving this story.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review. 

Children's Book review: the King's Wish

The King's Wish, by L.K. Reyes, is a beautifully illustrated story about a kingdom who had lost its happiness. That is, until the King calls on his adviser for some words of wisdom.

The story tells about happiness from a couple of different views. First, our own happiness can be found by the thoughts we are thinking and the actions we take can affect others.

The illustrations were a good reflection of the story on each page and I can see myself reading this book to my granddaughter when I see her again.

I loved this book and its message.

I was given this book by bookfun.org and the author in exchange for my honest review.

Child's book review: The Mixed-Up Chameleon

Eric Carle has such a gift for creating books which reach children's imagination. The Mixed-Up Chameleon is just such a book. In this book a little chameleon is not happy with his life, so he wishes for different traits of different animals. In the end though this did not make him happy. To be happy, he just needed to see what was the best things about himself.

My granddaughter and I read this book over and over again on a visit. At 2 1/2 she was practically reading the book with me.

I cannot recommend this book any higher to all readers with young ones. I loved this book.

Book Review: The Woman Who Flummoxed the Fairies

The Woman Who Flummoxed The Fairies, retold by Heather Forest, is from a seanachie tale from the Scottish Highlands.

The illustrations, by Susan Graber, are so rich in color and relate to the tale beautifully.

In the story, there are fairies who work to help the Fairy King's wish come true. This wish is to taste the wares of the bakerwoman. They bring the woman to the king and through a series of events, she is able to trick the Fairy King into letting her go, letting him know that he will receive his cake and any others he may want, if he only asks. She makes good on her promise and, in return, receives fairy gold to share with others.

The story is filled with the rich language of other tales from Scotland and Ireland. This makes it a wonderful way to share traditional stories with the next generation, so they can continue on and on...

I was given this book by August House publishing in exchange for my honest review. I would like to thank them, sincerely, for the privilege of reviewing this book.

Children's Book Review: Melvin Invents Music

It's 3200 B.C. and Melvin creates "music." Others don't seem to enjoy it nearly as much as Melvin so they send him to a home for wayward children. The children here have similar "problems." All the children here decide to make Melvin's music even more special by creating different instruments they have created.

I love this book and I cannot wait to share it with my granddaughter. She is little Miss Music and I know that she will love it as much as I did.

I was given Melvin Invents Music

by NetGalley and CBay Books in exchange for my honest review.

children's book review: Magnus

Magnus is such a big dog that it is difficult for him to live at home or play with other. When danger comes near, however, he show that this big dog can be a big hero.

So cute. I love the story and the illustrations. I look forward to sharing this with my grandchildren soon.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Lion Children's Books in exchange for my honest review.

Children's book review: The Magical Animal Adoption Agency, Book 2 The enchanted Egg

Mr. Jams brought an enchanted egg to the magical Animal Adoption Agency. The egg has polka dots on it which make Clover excited to see what hatches from it. When the egg does hatch, Clover cannot find the new creature anywhere. She doesn't have time to look anymore as people are visiting to find animals of their own.

This is such an adorable book and the illustrations by Alexandra Boiger make the book, by Kallie George, that much better.

Children will love to either read it or have it read to them, over and over.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Disney Book Group in exchange for my honest opinion.

Children's Book Review: Chickadees, Bumbelbeez, Pussy Willow Trees and Two-And-A-Half

The cover of this book gives a good idea of the illustrations that are waiting the readers inside. They are bright and beautifully done.

The story begins with a monkey that wants to explore the world beyond where he lives. So he saves his money and heads off on an adventure. On the trip he comes across a little cat and a pelican. Each has the desire to explore. Once they reach their designation they make friends with a dog.

The animals learn how each friend has some skill that is useful to the others. The cat is able to talk the local language, the pelican brings fish, monkey is able to find bananas and coconuts, and the dog teaches them about their surrounding and how to ride horses.

There are so many easy to learn lessons in this book such as the importance of explorations, culture, friends, skills, respect for new surroundings and languages.

From the first page, I could see how my own granddaughter is going to enjoy this book. She already loves books, but when she finds the animals that this book is about and the illustrations she is going to be enthralled. Any one that knows someone that enjoys being read to, or even independent readers, should look for this book for them.

I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Children's book review: Felicity the Dragon

Felicity is a small dragon who is different from other dragons. She does not blow smoke, have spikes and she has very small wings. Because of her differences she is lonely until she saves a boy who fell into the moat. This allowed her to experience friendship and belonging.

Ruthie Briggs-Greenberg is a painter and illustrator. The artwork throughout this book shows how talented she is. The illustrations fit in with the story line so well that children are entranced as they are read the story. At least my two-year-old granddaughter was.

I am going to go out and purchase the hard copy of this book, as soon as possible, so my granddaughter can enjoy it whenever she wants and not just when I visit.

I was given this book by NetGalley and SmithyPublicity in exchange for my honest review.

Children's Book Review: Nickerbacher: The funniest dragon

Nickerbacher thought he was stuck in the traditional role of dragons: protecting princesses. He wanted to be a stand-up comic but he was afraid to tell his father. When a prince comes along he encourages Nickerbacher to tell his family. When he does, it changes Nickerbacher and the prince's lives.

Such a great story about not giving up dreams and the illustrations, by Kim Sponaugle, are so colorful and attention-grabbing.

This is the second book by Terry John Barto. He has a name in the entertainment world, so he knows about helping others with their dreams.

I was given this book by bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

Children's book review: Gollywood, Here I Come!

Gollywood, Here I Come is a wonderful story about following your dreams. Anamazie has a dream of becoming a movie star. Right now she competes at talent competitions in her home town, and she wins. This is not enough. Until she discovers a talent scout saw her performance and her life changes.

The author, Terry J. Barto, is a familiar face with those in entertainment. Now he has branched out into children's books and I believe that he has done a great job.

This is a wonderful read for any youngster. It is about not giving up and looking for the "talent scout" in all we do.

I was given this book by bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

Children's Book Review: Milo Speck, Accidental Agent

Milo Speck looks for a lost sock in the dryer and then his life changes. Milo finds himself an ogre snack in Ogregon. He also discovers that his father, a salesman for Tuckerman Fencing, is the focus of a search by the ogres. Milo begins looking for his father and comes across many adventures along the way.

This is such a fun book. In my mind I could imagine reading this book with my children when they were younger. Then when I read that Linda Urban finds inspiration in Roald Dahl, I understood why. He wrote some of our favorite books. Now I can add this one to the shelf to read to my grandchildren someday.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Middle of Somewhere

This is a very good book by an excellent writer. I have read other works by this writer and have enjoyed everyone.

In this book she tells about the adventures of a family that includes an ADHD little brother and a grumpy Grandpa all traveling in an RV through Kansas.

Children will love to read this book and parents, and teachers, can tell what they are reading by the smiles on their faces.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Children's book review: The Magic Straw Hat

The Magic Straw Hat, by Karen Jonice Bricker, is an enchanting children's book about a special hat that seems to bring magic wherever it travels.

The hat belonged to Catie's great-grandmother from Ireland. Along the miles and miles that it traveled the hat helped many, including Catie's neighbor.

This would make a wonderful story to tell to any youngster to help fill them with wonder and joy. It came from memories of the author, Karen Jonice Bricker, and generations of storytellers.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Children's book review: A Pink Boat Adventure by Kathleen Ivan

This book was disturbing to me. When two friends, Kathlean and Crustina, set off on a sailboat trip a rather unusually event takes place that transforms one of the friends into bread and the other friend is left alone.

As I read children's books, I think if it is a book that I would like to read to my granddaughter. In this case I would not. It traumatized me and I am afraid it would do the same to her. Usually when an unexpected twist comes in a book the reader expects it to right itself if the end and this story did not come to that conclusion.

Because of these things I would not recommend this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.