The Magic Volcano: Molly’s Magical Adventures: BookOne
Written by V. K. May
Although this book is targeted at a middle-grade reading audience with short chapters, it contains all the elements that will please young adult and adult audiences.
Molly Marsh possesses an insatiable curiosity and strong determination to get to the bottom of things. As the book opens, she has departed Australia for Papua, New Guinea. Upon landing, a blue butterfly lands on her nose assuring her things will be okay. Let the adventures begin.
Molly teams up with Michael to explore the island. The characters are well-defined, and the action is continuous. Readers discover all types of useful information. I won’t spoil the plot but will say once you start reading, you will not be able to put the book down.
A delightful chapter book for readers eight through eighty.
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Scaredy Bat Books 1-3 Series Collection: Illustrated Vampire Detective Stories for Kids (Scaredy Bat Collection)
Written by Marina J. Bowman
I previously reviewed the first book in this series and enjoyed it so I jumped at the chance to obtain the boxed series.
Ellie is a vampire detective who is very smart, but she is limited by some very real fears. She has a crew of friends who supplement her weaknesses and team up with her to get to the bottom of each mystery.
This is a wonderful detective series for beginning or intermediate chapter book readers. There are lots of supplementary illustrations to keep the story interesting, along with a few puzzles and bonus pages to make the books interactive. Most children enjoy becoming involved with characters in a series as they are well-developed and interesting.
Highly recommended for budding detectives who love a good mystery with interesting characters and questions to answer.
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While this book is written to inspire children, anyone of any age who wants to write will find it useful.
It gives prompts to jumpstart the writing process. First, simple ideas to create a story. Then, scenarios for creating compelling characters. Can’t think of a plot? Plaja provides ideas to weave details into a finished plot. She even includes suggestions for creating the dialogue between characters and finding an appropriate title. Before closing, the author tackles organization with suggestions for keeping track of your progress.
The book provides a quick reminder of writing tasks and a good reference checklist for the newbie or established writers.
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In the Kingdom of the Thirteen, youth are required to enter their names in a lottery system to choose a future ruler. Gordon does not give a thought about being chosen. When his name is drawn, he has no idea of how to deal with his fate.
This middle-grade series features the conflict between good and evil, family intrigue, peer struggles, fantasy, and a few elements of steampunk.
Will Gordon survive the turmoil and what will be the fate of his kingdom? Read Book One in the series to begin the journey.
Publisher’s Synopsis: Set in Kenya, Oi is a naughty kitten who lives with his Mummy and siblings in an outdoor shed. Despite Mummy’s warnings, Oi has a tendency of wandering off and exploring. But one day, after nearly being attacked by a dog, Oi ends up in an unfamiliar neighborhood. And this time, he’s not sure he’ll be able to find his way back home…
Oi’s adventure is sure to delight children and cat-lovers alike.
‘A brave and vivid adventure’ —Ijeoma Isichei
‘A sheer delight for all kids, a gem of a story’ —Okenna Nzelu
Lorna Likiza is a Kenyan writer, tutor of French, and Founder of the Heroe Book Fair. Oi Gets Lost is her first published book. She considers Literature as one of her passions and lives in Mombasa.
MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:
LOST AND FOUND
Oi Gets Lost
Written by Lorna Likiza
Illustrated by YevheniaMelnyk
An adorable chapter book with beautiful color illustrations. Oi, an adorable kitten, who lives in an outdoor shed near a shopping center in Kenya, narrates this story.
Oi possesses an insatiable curiosity that befuddles his mother and fellow siblings. He particularly enjoys wandering off to the shopping center where he encounters wondrous sights and smells. One day he gets too ambitious and finds himself in a shop where he causes damage and gets into trouble. A patron decides to bring Oi home to kill outdoor rats. Oi wonders if he will ever find his way home.
After befriending his new owner’s housecat, they become friends and allies. But these two cats have lived in different worlds. Can either of them be happy in different circumstances?
Elementary and middle-grade readers will learn a bit about Kenyan culture and customs as well as animals in this beautifully illustrated and well-written multicultural tale. Recommended for beginning readers, reluctant readers, and cat lovers everywhere.
Publisher’s Synopsis: Elijah is in Cleveland visiting his grandparents when he finds out that his favorite music band will be performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The tickets are free, but there is a catch: You have to do a scavenger hunt to find band members at various landmarks throughout Cleveland. With the help of his grandparents, will Elijah be able to secure tickets to see his favorite band perform? Pick up a copy of Elijah Goes to Cleveland to find out.
Mark Darden is an author, sports travel blogger, and Chief Content Creator for Buckeye Muscle Media, LLC. Since 2017, Mark has documented his sports travel adventures on his blog, buckeyemuscle.com. Originally from Cleveland, Mark’s first book is IT’S GAME TIME FOLKS!: Quest for 30, a travelogue of his journey visiting all 30 MLB ballparks during the 2017 season. He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA).
Elijah is so excited to be visiting his grandparents in Cleveland, Ohio. After he arrives, he views a commercial for a concert at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Elijah notes his favorite band will be performing and there is a contest to win free tickets. He immediately asks his grandparents to help.
They will have to scour the city because to win the prize the contestant must follow the clues to a scavenger hunt. During their mission, the family visits the town square, a museum, the zoo, a theater, a park, and the Hall of Fame. Will Elijah win the prize? What does he learn about Cleveland?
I enjoyed the beautiful multicultural illustrations, the map, and the warm family relationships portrayed in the story. Recommended for young children as a picture book, a travel guide for Cleveland, and a beginning reader.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win one of ten autographed copies of Elijah Goes to Cleveland—5 books will have a gift card to one of the following places: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art, West Side Market, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Karamu House!
Five (5) winners receive:
A signed copy of Elijah Goes to Cleveland
A gift card to one of the following places: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art, West Side Market, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, or Karamu House!
The author has written a short story based on the characters of his science fiction and fantasy Nsibidi scripts series.
The book series features friends Sasha and Sunny who live in Nigeria. They have special powers that allow them to see lots more than the average person. In this short story, the two friends land at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. They go on a short jaunt to visit the highlights of Chicago. Readers are treated to a tour of familiar sights seen through their unfamiliar eyes.
The book can be enjoyed by those who have not read books in the series but will probably whet their appetite to learn more about life in Nigeria and the mysterious powers they possess.
The series is recommended for ages twelve and older but this book is appropriate for younger children as well.
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This novel is an interesting work of historical fiction. It is carefully researched and well-written, though it probably goes a tad too long. Readers are presented with a Blackbeard who may not have been a cutthroat pirate but an early proponent of democracy. Did Blackbeard espouse the cause of the Revolution? Was this the reason the Crown was so desperate to get rid of him? How much of an influence did the pirates’ system of democracy influence the times?
Perhaps Blackbeard’s image as a cruel, inhumane character can be attributed to colorful imagination and oral storytelling passed down through the generations. In any case, Marquis presents an argument that must be considered. Historians spend countless hours sifting through research to form conclusions and these conclusions are often open to multiple possibilities and answers.
I would recommend the book as a thoughtful and interesting perspective on The Golden Age of Piracy and Blackbeard in particular.
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Extraordinary Women in History, 70 Remarkable Women Who Made a Difference
Written by Leah Gail
This book is packed with information. The author explores the lives of 70 women, some of whom are well-known and others left forgotten in the annals of history.
Familiar faces include Florence Nightingale, Amelia Earhart, Dian Fossey, and Joan of Arc. Their field of endeavor ranges from military heroes, activists, athletes, inventors, and creative thinkers. The book harkens back to ancient and medieval times as well as contemporary examples. These women are representative of many races and many countries.
There is a bibliography for additional research. This book would be a good starting point for research on women representatives to be used in the study of woman’s history. My reason for a lower rating is that the writing is choppy in sections which can make it difficult to read. I would still recommend it as a reference book, particularly for middle-grade students.
May 8, 2022
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