The Crumbling Brick: The Land of Neo Book 1

Written by JoHannah Reardon

This approximately one hundred page book might be likened to a Christian fairy tale. Some reviewers have noted similarities to The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. Targeted for readers age seven and up, I feel that it will appeal most to tweens and young teens. The characters are charming, appealing, and fairly well developed for the length of the story.

Plot involves a twelve year old girl named Ella, who lives in her grandmother’s urban house. One rainy day, she is asked to clean the basement. Ella reluctantly agrees; she finds a loose brick behind an old trunk. When she removes it, Ella finds a beautiful fantasy world on the other side. She steps into it and embarks on an adventure that involves a princess, her suitors, a unicorn, some mischievous monkeys, and a bear mentor named Sequor. Ella learns that the wise and all-knowing Kosmeo has chosen her to save the land of Neo. Ward, her unicorn friend, will assist her in warning the princess Onyma that one of her suitors is involved in a plot to overthrow her kingdom. While the story is somewhat predictable, there are enough twists and turns with delightful characters and moral lessons to give the fairy tale a wide appeal to boys and girls alike.

This book is the first of a series. It can be used as bedtime story, an independent chapter book or a classroom read aloud that combines many interesting elements for classroom discussion. If you enjoy fairy tales, give this one a look.

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Have a Fairy Christmas (The Magic Library Book Series2)

Written by Kymberlee Miller

This is my first time reading a book in this series of early chapter books targeted for seven to ten year old readers but a delightful read for any age. The Book of Wishes of Wishes only reveals its contents to those to wish to leave their normal world. Magic is unlocked by reading the wish aloud three times and then opening up the book This book travels from library to library seeking a child who needs it.

Holly is a nine year old fourth grader who has recently moved from Texas to Montana. On Christmas Eve, she is thinking about how much she misses her friends and former life. Her only comfort is her fairy doll named Cora. In an attempt to cheer her up, Holly’s mom takes her to visit Santa. Holly confides that she wants a baby sister, a horse, and her friends back. Knowing that this is a tall order, Santa tells her about a magic book in the library. He warns her that not everyone gets what they wish for and that there is a price to pay. Holly races to the library, and to her surprise, the Book of Wishes finds her.

Holly will take an unforgettable journey to Fairy Land, but she learns that once she goes back home she can never return. Will Holly leave her family to live in a Fairy wonderland? What will happen if she decides to return to her unhappy life in Montana. Tomorrow is Christmas Day……perhaps magic will happen.

I did not expect to love this book as fantasy is not my favorite genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to lovers of fantasy, Christmas stories, and those who like to see the glass half-full.

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Book and Soundtrack Review: Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk

About Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk

Darkness. Utter blackness. Was this why his mother had refused to let Jack unlock his father’s old trunk? It had been two years since his dad had died, and all Jack could think about was examining whatever treasures were stored inside the beloved trunk. But when he finally lifted the lid, he didn’t just fall in—he fell through it into a pit of rattlesnakes!

Trying to recall his mother’s stories about “the Breath of All Good Things”—anything to shed light on his current situation—Jack wishes he’d paid better attention rather than mock the tales as childish myths…and that he’d waited to enter the trunk with his sister, Lilly, so they could at least face this together.

Like L. Frank Baum’s Oz and C. S. Lewis’s Narnia, M. M. Allen brings to life the fantastical world of Wishapick—a land of courageous animals ruled by a cruel rattlesnake king who has condemned the villagers to live without light. Chosen as the reluctant hero to save the villagers, Jack must face terrifying creatures and overwhelming odds if he wants to help his new friends—and return home himself.

“… a breathy and fantastical storytelling style, imaginations will flourish and the tale will be enjoyed by kids ages 8-12 who enjoy the genre of fantasy.”—The Children’s Book Review

Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk is available on Amazon.

Fun Stuff

Wishapick Soundtrack

Be sure to check out the companion music CD, Wishapick, for purchase or download from DeborahWynne.com

Book Club Questions

Get to the heart of Wishapick by downloading this set of book club questions: Wishapick by M. M. Allen: Book Club Questions

About M. M. Allen

M. M. Allen, author of the acclaimed children’s picture book Let’s Play Ball, is the mother of two adult children and aunt to twenty-three nieces and nephews, including ten great-nieces and great-nephews. MM is a former teacher and university lecturer. She has also worked extensively in marketing and communications with varied businesses and non-profits. MM lives in a picturesque northern California town where she enjoys writing, tending to her rose garden, and caring for her West Highland terrier, Pip.

www.Wishapick.com | Facebook

About Deborah Wynne

Composer and lyricist Deborah Wynne created a companion CD of songs to accompany Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk. Wynne’s primary talents lie in choral singing, stage musicals, and composing. Her musical projects include the 2013 album Strands of Gold and 2007 musical Moment of Truth. She is an active singer and composer in Santa Barbara, California, where she lives with her husband and their two shelties, Sparkle and Gracie.

DeborahWynne.com

Wishapick and iPod Nano Giveaway

Enter to win an autographed copy of Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk written by acclaimed author M. M. Allen; plus an Apple iPod Nano to listen to your downloaded copy of the Wishapick: Tickety Boo and the Black Trunk soundtrack composed by the talented Deborah Wynne!

Giveaway begins November 5, 2015, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends December 31, 2015, at 11:59 P.M. PST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2015/11/win-an-ipod-nano-and-wishapick-tickety-boo-and-the-black-trunk-m-m-allen-giveaway.html/
 

Wishapick Tour Dates

Thursday November 5 2015
The Children’s Book Review

Tour Kick-Off & Giveaway

Friday November 6 2015
The Review Wire

Book Excerpt & Soundtrack Clip

Tuesday November 17 2015
Suz Reviews

Creating Mood in a Story with Music

Monday November 23 2015
On Starships & Dragonwings

5 Things About the World of Wishapick

Tuesday November 24 2015
Valerie’s Reviews

Book Excerpt & Soundtrack Clip

Tuesday November 27 2015
Batch of Books

Author Interview with M. M. Allen

Saturday December 5 2015
The Fairview Review

Wishapick Book Review

Thursday December 10 2015
Inspired by Savannah

Wishapick Book Review

Wednesday December 23 2015
Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Author Interview with M. M. Allen

Sunday December 27 2015
Little Miss History

Author Interview with M. M. Allen

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Children’s Books: Frosty the Snowman: Bedtime stories & Christmas Jokes

Written by Arnie Lightning

Charming book including five short stories or chapters featuring the Frosty the Snowman character. Frosty lands on the lawn of siblings, Jessica, Lauren and Eric. When Santa leaves him a magic hat for Christmas, he comes to life to interact with his human friends. They want Frosty to be happy, so in the following tales, they create for him a family, a home, and wonderful community experiences. Every year Frosty and his human friends grow closer.

This well written book might be considered an early chapter book or a series of short stories. There is a charming illustration at the beginning of each. As a bonus, the author includes a list of Christmas jokes for the reader to enjoy and a free download, It’s Okay To Be Different. Targeted for ages three to nine, I think it serves as a great early chapter book or read aloud for adults and siblings to share. Get into the holiday spirit with this one!

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Title: Mike and the Dog-Gone Labradoodle: The Pet Shop Society, Book 1

Written by Emlyn Chand

First in a series of mystery detective chapter books for young readers in the seven to eleven age group. The eight chapters are only five or six pages each, and they are content referenced in The Table of Contents. Book is perfect for a teacher read aloud or an independent reluctant reader as the text provides a good balance of humor, interesting characters, and an age appropriate story line.

Main characters, Maddie and Mike are sixth grade twins who could not be more opposite. Maddie loves reading and school: Mike loves sports and watching TV. When Nic Chang’s Labradoodle named Baxter goes missing, Baxter and his friend, Tyler, offer to help. But Maddie and her friend, Bree, overhear and come up with the suggestion that they need to go back and retrace Baxter’s steps. They piece together clues to solve the mystery. At the same time, Nic reveals a secret about herself. Solving the mystery leads to the five becoming friends and discovering a common bond. They decide to form The Pet Shop Society dedicated to solving more mysteries around their community. Their adventures will continue in the next two books of the series. Recommended for early readers who enjoy mysteries.

Also a good choice for exploring family and peer relationships.

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About the Author: Emlyn Chand

From an early age, Emlyn Chand has counted books among her best friends. She loves to hear and tell stories and emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). Her affinity for the written word extends to absolutely every area of her life: she has published fiction across multiple genres, oversees and contributes as both an editor and an author to the Novel Publicity Guides for Writing & Marketing Fiction series, and loves the written word so much, she even married author Falcon Storm! Don’t forget that she is the founder and president of Novel Publicity too.

Website * Facebook * Goodreads

The Secret Path of Ned the Ninja: Reluctant Hero

Written by Kea Alwang and Melissa Mertz

Ned is a bright fifth grader who admits to being a nerd and a klutz. He is taunted in school by Jared Beck, appropriately named Beck the Bonebreaker. When his parents can take no longer take the bullying and taunting, they enroll Ned in karate class. Ned paints a pathetic but humorous scene of his first day in class. The only saving grace is finding that he has a crush on one of the students, Adrianna. Ned is thrown into the fray with no leniency for being a new student. At first Ned is tempted to quit, but he changes his mind when the Tora Khan appears in his bedroom to give him a one to one training lesson. Is it a dream?

The next morning, Ned awakes and is still not sure when strange things begin to happen. When Ned gets to school, he discovers that he is no longer the person everyone knows. Ned learns that fears limit our capabilities. If one can take away fear by redirecting thoughts, limitations can be overcome. Our minds can be made to re-channel our fears and weaknesses.

Ned is such a likable character. He is funny, vulnerable, sincere and honest. Middle grade readers will empathize and grow with this character. The details of karate class keep the story line novel and interesting. Both sexes will enjoy the read. Recommended for all ages eight and up. I read the fifty five page book in one sitting.

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Rosco the Rascal Visits the Pumpkin Patch

Written by Shana Gorian

Illustrated by Ros Webb

James and Mandy McKendrick live on a farm. They look forward to their annual adventure in late September to the pumpkin patch where they will walk the corn maze, go for a hayride, visit the petting zoo, ride a pony, and of course, find the perfect pumpkin. This year they are bringing their German shepherd pup named Rosco Their mischievous pup promptly finds himself in trouble by stealing another family’s pumpkin. In quick sequence Rosco  gets into more mischief by opening the door and releasing baby sheep. He finds trouble on the hayride, but manages to redeem himself as a hero when James and Mandy get lost in the corn maze. Dad has a reputation to maintain; will he manage to find the children and still have the time to find the perfect pumpkin to carve? After all, every year James has managed to carve the best jack-o-lantern in the neighborhood. When all is said and done, the McKendrick family have an exciting day at the pumpkin patch, while learning valuable lessons in the process.

This chapter book is targeted for children in the six to eight age range. Illustrations add charm to the story, but they are quite small in the kindle version The tale could be broken up into a classroom read aloud or independent reader for second or third graders. Nice change of pace from the more common Halloween spooky story for kids.

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Title: Kool Kid Kruncha And The High Trapeze

Written by Emma Calin

Interesting early chapter book features protagonist ten year old Charlie. The author calls it an interactive bedtime story adventure. This book touches on many of the issues facing today’s children like bullying, moving, and living in a divorced family. Charlie has carrot red hair; children love to pick on him. To make matters worse, his mom tells him that she has been offered a better job in London. He will have to leave his friends and home in Suffolk and move to the city.

On the first day in his new school, the “popular kids” make fun of Charlie’s physical appearance and athletic abilities. His Aunt Kate suggests that things will be better after he makes a friend. Charlie is puzzled when she takes him to the circus. What does Charlie discover? How can this possibly be a solution to his problem?

This book contains seven short chapters whose length is perfect for children who are learning to read content independently. I would recommend it particularly for seven to ten year old readers. The simple black and white drawings enhance interest. Free downloads, video clips, and competitions included in the book will sustain interest and extend reading.

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Title: Magelica’s Voyage: Book  One

Author: Louise Courey Nadeau

At the beginning of the story we meet Magelica who has supposedly been hatched from a sapphire egg. She wants to know where she really came from. Tris, her pet dragon, and she go on a journey through the woods when darkness falls. Magelica calls on her guardian angel to guide them home. A strange creature named Odin retrieves her feather necklace and takes her on a journey in a flying bathtub to an island inhabited by a wizard. Odin teaches her to fly to the Isle of Dreams where she will meet Queen Raya and learn about the lost prince. Magelica realizes that wonderful things happen when you open your heart, use your imagination and trust in love. She no longer worries about where she came from, but now understands that it is more important to know where you are going. Young children will enjoy this book as a read aloud. Older children will find it a challenging independent reader.

Magelica’s Rescue

The Second Book is the series written by Louise Courey Nadeau

In her second adventure, Magelica has a dream shortly after being tucked into bed by her guardian, Gri. Magelica dreams that Prince Will is in trouble; she sees him washed ashore on The Island of Darkness. Together with her pet dragon, Tris, she embarks in her magical bathtub on a voyage back to the island where she met Queen Raya and discovered her power to make effective changes once she believed in herself. Magelica does indeed find that the prince is stranded. The people of the kingdom learn how to stay positive and use the power of laughter to achieve their goals. Magelica teaches the prince a song of inspiration. By the time Prince Will is returned home and Magelica is tucked back into her bed, they discover a very special connection that not only will help them to protect each other, but one that might help Magelica discover her true origin and birth family. Future books hold the promise of many new adventures and the seeds of inspiration for Magelica’s readers to achieve great things.

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The Math Inspectors: Story One-The Case of the Claymore Diamond

Written by Daniel Kenny and Emily Boever

Clever, humorous and well-written detective mystery targeted for late elementary and middle school readers. I must admit the plot kept me guessing and entertained. Chapters are short and easy to read. Pencil sketches are an added bonus. I particularly enjoyed the way that the authors found a way to integrate those dreaded hard to solve math word problems right into the story line. As a bonus, the reader is presented with a few more problems to solve at the conclusion of the mystery. They can check their answers on the authors’ website.

Felix, Gertie, Stanley and Charlotte are a bright group of sixth graders who become interested in forming a detective agency. Using Felix’s tree house as a base of operations, Felix attempts to find out who is stealing his food from the kitchen by using his binoculars. When Charlotte brings a police scanner up to the house, they hear about an armed robbery at the local jewelry store. The budding detectives rush to the scene. They discover the owner Mr. Franklin has been hit on the head and his most valuable possession, the Claymore diamond, has been stolen. Police apprehend a suspect quickly, and the case appears closed. Our four young detectives believe otherwise; they refuse to quit until what had appeared obvious is revealed as erroneous.

Lots of twists and turns in the plot. The characters are believable and authentic middle grade students. Readers will find themselves enjoying the math challenges that come along with the case. Great way to get students involved with math while reading. Look forward to reading new books in the series as they are released.

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