The author is an educator and parent of six. She shares the hopes that most parents have for their children. Courage, resilience, empathy, and kindness are a few of these. The short rhymes are easy for young children to remember. Illustrations are multicultural and include references to the author’s own family as revealed in the fun facts at the end of the story. Adults and children will enjoy learning about the symbolism of nature and the themes included in this book.
A delightful read-aloud or bedtime story for elementary age readers.
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Where’s My Joey?: A Heartwarming Bedtime Story For Children of All Ages
Written by Wendy Monica
Illustrated by Roxana Antochi
This tale tells the story of a mama kangaroo who is in search of her child at dinnertime. She introduces the readers to different native Australian animals like the kookaburra and the quokka.
The soft, gentle colors of the illustrations portray the mood of the plot perfectly. There is a surprise ending that will leave readers smiling.
I enjoyed the map of Australia and the bonus maze that will continue to engage the young reader. Recommended especially for readers in the five to eight age range.
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JULIA JONES – My Worst Day Ever! – Book 1: Diary Book for Girls aged 9 – 12 (Julia Jones’ Diary)
Written by Katrina Kahler
Julia and Millie are best friends in seventh grade. Their very cool teacher, Mrs. Sheldon, is supervising the school musical. Millie and Julia have landed lead roles and Julia’s dancing experience gives her a prominent role in the choreography.
Enter Sara, a brand new classmate. While pretending to be friendly to everyone, including Julia, she is soon bullying her way into control. Whether it’s wearing the best clothes, buying the most expensive gifts, or flirting with Blake, Julia’s secret crush, Sara appears determined to show Julia in a bad light. Things go from bad to worse as a series of “coincidences” lead up to embarrassment and failure for Julia.
This book contains little more than 100 pages and moves quickly. It will appeal to reluctant readers and middle-school students as well as early teens. It’s the first book of the series and ends in a cliff-hanger.
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One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike Than Different
Written by Linsey Davis
Illustrated by Lucy Fleming
This is a very short interactive book that parents or teachers may use to discuss diversity with preschool and primary grade children. The author presents the material from a Christian viewpoint. Some families who reject that concept will need to explain or eliminate those parts of the story.
Children are asked to study the pictures and relate how we are all alike, make friendship bracelets, draw faces with different skin tones, and share their favorite foods. The heart activity demonstrates the love we feel within for all.
The book is a good starting point on the topic of multiculturalism.
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This beautifully written picture book is a wonderful addition to the library of late elementary and middle-school students. It relates the story of an African princess who became queen of two African kingdoms of the 1600s.
Njinga survived a difficult birth. After her father breathed life into her, he realized she was a survivor. Despite the jealousy of her older brother, Njinga succeeded in school and observed carefully. When her brother became king, she had to flee, but she returned when the country needed her.
This story is told simply yet eloquently. The illustrations are exquisite. There are beautiful maps, a timeline and historical facts that provide a plethora of information on African and Portuguese history.
I highly recommend the book to parents, teachers and librarians as a valuable reference book on medieval African history. It also provides a strong role model for young women who seek to be the future leaders of tomorrow.
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In partnership with The Children’s Book Review and David Horn
ABOUT THE BOOK
Eudora Space Kid
Written by David Horn
Ages 6-10 | 97 Pages
Publisher: David Horn | ISBN-13: 9781736677407
Publisher’s Synopsis: Eudora is a typical 3rd grader. A typical 3rd grader who lives on a 36 deck AstroLiner. In space. A normal girl adopted by what you might call… aliens. Her mom is a dog-like species named a Pox and runs the onboard jail (brig). Her dad is an octopus-like species from the planet Pow. She is a girl who has normal ambitions, like being the chief engineer on an AstroLiner.
Eudora is a girl who comes up with a plan to prove her worth by improving her AstroLiner’s engines and breaking all known speed records. Will she succeed and earn a promotion? Or will she end up in the brig? Again…
Brilliant for engaging emergent and early chapter book readers.
David Horn is a huge science fiction fan. While his wife sometimes feels like they live in outer space, they really live in New Jersey with their two human daughters and one doggy daughter named Trixie.
David loves reading science fiction books from both the old and new greats like Asimov, McDevitt, Scalzi, Howey, and more. He also loves reading his kids’ books like My Weird School, Just Grace, The Baby-Sitters Club, Ramona, and the list goes on.
David and his daughters also love watching sci-fi shows like Star Trek, Babylon 5, Stargate, and Star Wars.
Eudora Space Kid started as stories he told his daughters at dinner. They loved Eudora’s antics in space. So now The Great Engine Room Takeover is his first book in the Eudora Space Kid early reader chapter book series. He can’t wait for you to love Eudora’s stories too.
Eudora the Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover
Written by David Horn
Illustrated by Talitha Shipman
This is the first book in a chapter book series sure to delight beginning readers, especially those interested in space travel.
Eudora is a third grader who has been adopted by animal creatures from another planet. She and her older sister, Molly are earth orphans. They live on a spaceship named the Athena, where they travel through the galaxies maintaining peace among the federation. Eudora loves science and experimentation. She constantly gets in trouble for “inventing” things. As the tale opens, she is on a class trip to the flight deck when she decides to fire the plasma cannons. Eudora is put in the brig, but her mother is soon willing to forgive her. On another occasion, Eudora is determined to break the record for traveling past the speed of light. Eudora is determined to become a member of the Astro Fleet command. Do you think she will succeed?
Lots of black and white illustrations enhance the large easy-to-read font for new readers. The dialogue is fun to read, and the plot moves along quickly. Quirky characters and humorous antics create a winning combination for the six to ten age group.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a copy of Eudora Space Kid and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives: A signed copy of Eudora Space Kid and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card.
Three (3) winners receive: A signed copy of Eudora Space Kid.
Curly Jones is eleven years old. He is bullied by his fifth-grade classmates and a mean teacher. Nothing seems to be going right until he meets a new neighbor, Belle. He is happy to learn she will be in his class.
Belle introduces him to a secret world. She shows him a magic tree house that transports her to a fantasy world. Curly cannot believe that Belle accepts him as her best friend. Together, they enter a secret world with magical creatures and fascinating adventures.
Curly discovers that Belle has magical powers, but that is just the beginning. After a few trips through the tree house portal, Curtly discovers a long-lost heritage that affords him the power to change his life and that of others.
This is the beginning of an adventure/fantasy series that will appeal to the eight to twelve year old reader. The book is an easy read with short chapters that are perfect for reluctant readers.
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The sparkly little red shoes sit on the shelf in the shoe store. They cannot believe no one has chosen them because they feel themselves superior to all the other kinds of shoes.
One day, Lisa and her mother visit the shop seeking a pair of shoes to wear on her birthday. Lisa chooses the red shoes, but after her birthday they are put away in the closet. The little red shoes need to learn there is a place and time for everything.
This is a short picture book with color illustrations. There is quite a bit of text in this short story which makes it suitable for a beginning reader. Recommended for ages four through seven.
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Thomas Templeton and the Whispers of Branson Manor
Written by Emily A. Stewart
Illustrated by Chad Stewart
Sarah, Thomas, and Evie are three orphans who have been taken in by their Aunt Gertrude. Gertrude never wanted them in her life.
When the siblings overhear that she is planning to get rid of Sarah and Thomas but keep Evie around to do her bidding, they decide to run away. How will they survive with limited resources and no one to watch out for them?
The resilient trio go on an adventure, adopt a lost pup, and meet a bunch of friendly and unfriendly characters. As Gertrude attempts to get them back for punishment, the three children find themselves in the house where their parents died. Strange things befall them. They learn about witches and curses. Will they escape their aunt and find a way to stay together? Is the house cursed? What happened to their parents?
Interesting characters, a nice blend of humor, mystery, with just enough scariness, combine to make this a middle-grade page turner.
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Poor giraffe tries so hard to make friends with the other mammals. He approaches rhinos, hyenas, ostriches, monkeys, and many others trying to imitate what they do. They all seem to ignore him. Finally, he gets some good advice. Why not try to be yourself? Don’t change your spots. Rejoice in them. After a while, the giraffe discovers his value to himself and others teaching young readers to be themselves.
Large colorful illustrations of familiar animals plus large font make the book a good choice for a child learning to read. Most pages contain only one sentence so it lends itself to being a bedtime story short enough for toddlers and preschoolers.
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September 22, 2021
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