Monster Problems (A Magic Pen Adventure Book Book 1)
Written by Jason R. Lady
Middle-school and young adult readers will relate to this book with its quirky humor, memorable characters, and innovative lessons in dealing with peers and siblings.
Brad is a sixth-grade student who loves to draw. Unfortunately, that gets him into trouble with his science teacher when caught drawing in class. Brad’s grades have taken a nosedive, so his parents punish him by forbidding him to draw. To make matters worse, Brad has an intelligent younger brother named Daley, who blackmails and torments Brad whenever he gets a chance.
A mysterious crow arrives outside Brad’s window with a magic pen. Brad decides to draw a creature he names Daley-Destroyer, an ugly green monster who leaves a trail of orange slime who will stalk his brother. As the story unfolds, readers meet Quentin, Brad’s only real friend, different teachers, the unusual principal, and a mysterious girl, Blue Hoodie. These characters combined with a fast-moving plot keep readers turning the page. When the monster proves to be uncontrollable, Brad needs to decide how to handle a situation his emotions cannot handle. A good way to get readers to think about innovative ways to solve their problems.
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The protagonist, Luna, is a young girl who is brave and compassionate. She lives at the edge of the Milky Way. Luna’s fondest desire is to venture into deep space and explore the universe.
When the opportunity arises, Luna’s mother pleads with her not to go. Drawn by her insatiable curiosity, Luna answers the call. Her adventure will lead to many dangers, but Luna’s determination, empathy for others, and spirit of teamwork allow her to overcome the most formidable obstacles.
The illustrations are marvelous and the rhymes spot on. While the book is targeted for ages five through eight, the longer page length and vocabulary suggest for me a middle-grade audience as well.
This book with its strong female role model and intriguing plot make it a top choice for your next book selection to a home or classroom bookshelf.
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KIDS and MONEY TEACHING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND VALUES TO CHILDREN
Written by Connie Ragen Green
I believe it’s never too early to teach children about financial responsibility. This book begins with a history of money from the earliest times. Green explains that our concepts about money shift during our lifetime. She demonstrates how to determine a child’s financial personality and disputes the traditional viewpoint of setting up an allowance. Her five-part plan assists in fostering independence. Green shows why alleviating financial stress makes a dramatic difference in lifestyle.
This book can be introduced in the elementary grades or during the middle grades. Recommended for parents who want to foster financial independence and accountability skills in their children.
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Written by Geraldine V. Oates-Sese, Ph.D Illustrated by Franchesca A. Guerrero
Children who are unfamiliar with birding may be inspired to become nature lovers after reading this book. Highly recommended for elementary and middle grade readers.
I loved this colorful picture book packed with so much knowledge.
The protagonist, Melusine, enjoys bird watching. One day she notices an unfamiliar sound outside her window. Melusine travels to her multicultural neighborhood to identify this bird. Along her journey, readers learn about the songs and calls of many birds. In addition, Melusine’s trip to the market with her parents exposes readers to the different languages spoken by members of her community.
The author provides a comprehensive summary of each bird call and a glossary of the terms expressed by humans in the various languages spoken in the market. This book portrays a beautiful message of the diversity and inclusive sounds emitted by human and feathered friends.
Children who are unfamiliar with birding may be inspired to become nature lovers after reading this book. Highly recommended for elementary and middle grade readers.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: Art is autistic and artistic.
Art has just one friend – his teddy bear.
Art does not speak, but he makes art. Art that dismisses gravity.
The publication crowns the artist and turns royalty into a mere audience. The sophisticated illustrations inspire readers to express their emotions, verbalize their feelings, and create their own stories.
Marin is proud to be a self-published children’s book creator. He writes his stories, illustrates the books, designs the covers, formats the pages, and publishes the volumes. He even creates new fonts for his publications to make them one-of-a-kind. To achieve a world-class status for his books, Marin “marinates” them in a special creative compound.
Marin lives with his family on the Canadian East Coast. He is very thankful that the weather there is often bad and gives him more chances to sit in front of a computer and create. His works are available in several different formats:
HARDCOVER: books are cataloged and can be ordered in any bookstore or library in North America. A book title, author’s name, or ISBN is needed for placing an order.
SOFTCOVER and EBOOK: available on Amazon, Kobo, Google Books, Barnes & Noble, and other big and small book retailers.
AUDIOBOOK: obtainable from Audible, iTunes, MagicBlox, and other vendors.
Art: A story about an autistic and artistic circus virtuoso and his teddy bear
Illustrated by Marin.
A compelling wordless picture book that is at once unsettling and unique. The protagonist is a young autistic man who possesses both artistic and musical talent. He is obsessed with the circus and magic. The whimsical illustrations are dramatic and dark, much like the world of an autistic soul. This man’s only friend is a teddy bear, which he uses to delight the circus audience and to escape the bonds of this world’s gravity as he soars high above the ground. In this way, Art creates a unique environment that provides joy and exhilaration, releasing him from the bonds of his autistic prison.
This picture book is a welcome resource for an autistic child, but certainly a wellspring of imaginative opportunities for any child to release his storytelling creativity. As a special educator who has worked with many children on the autism spectrum, I applaud Marin’s contribution as a bridge to understanding this disability as well as a unique opportunity for elementary and middle grade students to enhance their creative expression abilities.
GIVEAWAY
Enter the giveaway for the chance to win an autographed hardcover copy of Art and $50 sent via PayPal! A complimentary download of Marin’s book The Smileis also available to everyone right now on Amazon.
The Feather Chase: (The Crime-Solving Cousins Mysteries Book 1)
Written by Shannon L. Brown
The Feather Chase: (The Crime-Solving Cousins Mysteries Book 1)
Written by Shannon L. Brown
This is the first book in a new crime-fighting mystery series for middle-grade readers. Sophie is staying with her cousin, Jessica, for the summer. The twelve-year-old cousins share an affinity for adventures and mysteries.
While walking along a trail, the cousins discover a briefcase filled with feathers. They bring their prize to the local sheriff who immediately decides to assist them in their newest adventure.
The plot moves quickly, and the characters remind me of a Nancy Drew book. I believe it has the most appeal for readers in fifth or sixth grade. The characters are interesting and plot details sustain the mystery.
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This is a charming story that is targeted to a middle-grade audience, but one that raises moral issues pertinent to children and adults as well.
Ashley, a fifth grader, and her friend Mason live in a world where all dogs have been euthanized and no longer claim to be man’s best friend. When they discover a scientist has managed to save a pack of renegade dogs, they set out on an adventure to find them and discover the truth.
Issues like bullying, empathy, and animal science raise good meaningful topics for discussion.
A short read with interesting characters and plot lines.
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I got completely absorbed in this middle-grade adventure. At the outset, readers meet Lucy who is arguing with her brother Tom. Readers feel at home in an average American family. When Lucy’s teacher introduces the topic of oceans, Lucy decides she is all-in on pursuing an adventure to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a boat without engines or sails.
Her determination and persistence convince her family, friends, and teacher to support Lucy in her adventure. She solicits sponsors, learns about navigation, secures supplies, accesses communication equipment, and prepares for the big day.
Readers share the elation of stars, sunsets, and serenity of the seas. They also experience its dangers at every turn. For forty-five days, they read her diary and the writings of her classmates at home.
I love the lessons of sea-faring knowledge, and the strong character displayed by the protagonist. This book is a page-turner and an enjoyable read for the target audience of ages seven through twelve, but I promise a rewardable experience for any age reader.
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Every child is unique and special. One of the reasons I believe each child’s educational setting needs to be unique not formulated by a cookie-cutter curriculum.
Abigail, the eight-year-old protagonist in this book is intelligent and happy until she notices that her reading group moves slower than the others and fellow classmates make fun of her. When she is diagnosed with dyslexia, Abigail feels stupid and lonely until her family and reading specialist show the remarkable capabilities and achievements of dyslexics. Through their love and support, Abigail learns there are many ways to be “special.”
The illustrations are soft and sensitive, yet emotionally powerful and appealing to the eye.
I would strongly suggest this book be included in elementary and middle school classroom bookshelves as a read aloud discussion book. It provides a wonderful asset for parents of a child with any type of disability to raise self-esteem.
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I was elated to receive book five in this author’s stunning picture book series about groundhogs, chipmunks, and squirrels. In this edition, adorable Fiston reveals the secrets of life as a chipmunk.
I love watching these adorable creatures prance around my backyard in the northeastern U.S. Snellings taught me how they eat, move, hibernate, raise their young, and protect themselves.
It is fascinating that these creatures can weigh only two to four ounces yet manage to collect as many as 165 acorns a day when preparing for hibernation! As a history buff, I was delighted to learn about the Iroquois myth connected to them and the analogy of their coloring to the uniforms of the Swiss Guards at the Vatican. The photography is spectacular. Children can visually understand and relate to the fascinating facts that Fiston reveals to his new friends.
I highly recommend adding this beautiful book both to a home or classroom library as a gem of knowledge and a beautiful piece of photography.
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January 17, 2024
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