It’s Raining Bats & Frogs by Rebecca Colby

December 16, 2019 By Leave a Comment


It’s Raining Bats & Frogs by Rebecca Colby
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A little witch named Delia has been looking forward all year to flying in the annual Witch Parade. When the rumors of rain come true and the other witches start complaining, Delia takes action. Using her best magic, Delia changes the rain to cats and dogs. At first this goes over quite well, but she quickly realizes the animals cause a few issues. She must change the rain again! This time to hats and clogs. And finally, she tries bats and frogs. But each new type of rain brings its own set of problems. How will Delia save the day?

Life doesn’t always go as planned, but who says that has to be a negative thing?

The spells in this story were absolutely adorable. Delia had the best of intentions when she first changed the rainstorm into cats and dogs, but she couldn’t have predicted how her interference would make things worse. Her attempts to fix things only grew funnier over time, and I looked forward to every new spell she came up with to solve the problems that the last one caused. She had such a creative way of weaving words together every single time she cast a new one.

One of the most delightful things about this story was how all of the witches interacted with each other while they were having their parade. They really seemed to care about each other, and this was shown in all sorts of little ways as the main character kept trying new ways to change the weather. I had such a good time reading their comments as they adjusted to the various animals and items that were falling from the sky. There was a lot of room for humor here, and they took advantage of that fully.

The twist at the end made me giggle. It was the perfect way to wrap up a memorable Witch Day parade, and it left me wanting more while also making me feel like I knew exactly enough about what happened on this particular day. Although I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this if the author ever decides to write one!

It’s Raining Bats & Frogs was a heartwarming tale that I’d recommend to Halloween lovers of all ages.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Talon, Come Fly With Me by Gigi Sedlmayer

December 16, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Talon, Come Fly With Me by Gigi Sedlmayer
Publisher: Aurora House, Australia
Genre: Contemporary, Children’s Fiction
Length: Full length (238 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

Inspiring story of a girl whose disability is her greatest strength and brings the important message of never losing hope in hard situations and using misfortune to look for an opportunity to be kind.

The story takes you into the Andean Mountains of Peru to a remote village where you meet a young girl, named Matica, who worries about being shunned by the tribal people because of her growth disability that makes her different from everyone else.

One day she befriends two Condors she names Tamo and Tima. The village natives watch from a distance as her friendship and trust grow with the Condors. It only takes a short time before the entire village accepts the little girl for who she is when they find she can also communicate with them.

And then the adventures begin, changing her life in marvellous way. Matica is delightful, caring, and undaunted by these giant birds and their offspring, she and her father rescue from poachers.

A young child with a disability, finds her place in a South American village.

Matica — is a 9 year-old stuck in a toddler’s body, unable to grow. The people in the Peruvian village where her Australian missionary father lived with the natives, tease Matica cruelly for her differences. That’s part of what I struggled with. Matica’s character, even because her disability, was…odd, and the villagers’ mistreatment, would have easily been a reason for her father to leave, or find her a safe home where she could grow up and learn better behavior. I felt that the author also tried to be logical, but ended up losing that threat soon on and parts of the story lacked the focus and quality of others.

As mentioned, there was good, I did like that the author tried to highlight disabilities in a positive light, or rather more accepting one as Matica’s disability has little effect on her personality and quick mind. In fact, she might possibly have been the only character I liked throughout the story. I also enjoyed the condor/wildlife part, and seeing Matica again showing her strengths, despite her unfortunate growth defect, proving that her size does not define her.

The good and bad are about even in this one, but Matica’s enjoyable nature bumps my rating up a bit, and makes it easier to praise this story. I’d enjoy more of her story, but wish the book was a smoother read, and that it had more focus on plot, avoiding the choppy transitions. Still, this story is an interesting middle-grade read, that can be enjoyed by all ages, and has some good messages of hope and finding your place and purpose in life that are universal.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Women in Space by Karen Bush Gibson

December 11, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Women in Space by Karen Bush Gibson
23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking Adventures
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction, YA
Length: Full Length (240 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When Valentina Tereshkova blasted off aboard Vostok 6 on June 16, 1963, she became the first woman to rocket into space. It would be 19 years before another woman got a chance—cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya in 1982—followed by American astronaut Sally Ride a year later. By breaking the stratospheric ceiling, these women forged a path for many female astronauts, cosmonauts, and mission specialists to follow.

Women in Space profiles 23 pioneers, including Eileen Collins, the first woman to command the space shuttle; Peggy Whitson, who logged more than a year in orbit aboard the International Space Station; and Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space; as well as astronauts from Japan, Canada, Italy, South Korea, France, and more. Readers will also learn about the Mercury 13, American women selected by NASA in the late 1950s to train for spaceflight. Though they matched and sometimes surpassed their male counterparts in performance, they were ultimately denied the opportunity to head out to the launching pad. Their story, and the stories of the pilots, physicists, and doctors who followed them, demonstrate the vital role women have played in the quest for scientific understanding.

Everything I thought I knew about the space program went out the window when I read this book.

This is a YA book, but it’s easily enjoyable by readers of all ages. The writing flows well and hooked me right away. I learned a lot about the women who’ve been to space. Not just that the US sent women, but the first women in Russia and across the globe. Sure, there is a large portion on US astronauts, but it’s balanced by plenty of stories about other female astronauts.

Each chapter is easily understood and well-written. I liked how the author made the women interesting and understandable. It’s not just a story where there is information and it’s presented blandly. Instead, it’s told in a bouncy way that drew me in.

I’m glad I read this book. I’ve wanted to know more about female astronauts and the space program, so this was a perfect piece to add to that puzzle. If you’re interested in the full story of space, this is one book you won’t want to miss.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Killing Spell by Shane Ulrrein

December 5, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Killing Spell by Shane Ulrrein
Publisher: Deep Desires Press
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (234 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Edward Peach is a fourteen-year-old wizard who receives a letter that he has been accepted into the prestigious Prymoutekhny Wizards Academy for Boys, in the faraway land of Aradia. His parents are overjoyed, but he feels reluctant to leave his family, friends, and his comfy cottage in the English coastal village of Manley.

As term begins, Edward adjusts to life in his new school, dealing with bullies, strict teachers, and challenging wizardry classes. He is almost ready to give up when he falls in love with a charismatic, privileged boy—and talented wizard—named Mr. Andreas. Prymoutekhny is a school that has still not opened up to same-sex attraction, so he must keep his feelings secret.

Soon, Edward and the impressive boy realize their deep attraction for each other. This causes immediate controversy in the school, as they are the first two boys from feuding houses to come together—especially in a school where house rivalry can end in murder.

He is then put to the ultimate test as he must risk being with the boy he loves even at the cost of his own life!

Every boarding school has its own set of rules. This school might have some of the most unique rules of them all!

Not all of Edward’s experiences at his new school were positive ones. Some of the best passages were the ones that talked about the bullying he went through and the different techniques he tried to deal with that. I appreciated the fact that this wasn’t something that he solved in the first chapter. It was an ongoing problem that the author took seriously and obviously worked hard to explore in a very realistic fashion.

This book spent a great deal of time telling the audience what was happening instead of showing it to us. Everything from the personalities of the characters to the descriptions of life at the Prymoutekhny Wizards Academy for Boys was affected by this issue. I adored the premise, but I had a lot of trouble getting into the storyline because of how hard it was to imagine what it would be like to experience that world for myself.

The romantic subplot was nicely written. I liked both of the characters who were involved in it, and thought they’d make great boyfriends for each other. It was also nice to see them get to know each other for a while before any hint of flirtation happened. Based on what the narrator told me about their personalities, this seemed like it would be the most logical thing for them to do.

I’d recommend The Killing Spell to anyone who likes the idea of attending a magical boarding school.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear

December 2, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Wish Tree by Kyo Maclear
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Holiday, Action/Adventure, Historical
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Charles wants to find a wish tree. His brother and sister don’t believe there is such a thing, but his trusty companion Boggan is ready to join Charles on a journey to find out. And along the way, they discover that wishes can come true in the most unexpected ways.

The poetic text and heartwarming illustrations evoke the true essence of the holiday season and will inspire wishers everywhere. This gem of a book deserves center stage year round.

There’s something about all winter holidays that sprinkles a little magic into the air.

Charles was such a kind boy. He wandered into the woods with his toboggan in order to find a wish tree. When none of the trees matched that description, he put his energy into doing nice things for the animals who lived in the forest instead. I thought it was wonderful to read about him spending his time helping others with no expectation of getting anything back in return. It really captured the meaning of the holiday season nicely.

I would have liked to see just a little more world building when it came to the wish tree and how Charles knew about it if everyone around him was convinced it didn’t exist. This is a very minor criticism of something I loved reading, but I did find it a little unusual for a kid his age to come up with such an idea without anyone mentioning how he’d heard of it or why he was convinced it really existed.

One of my favorite things about this book was that it never specified which holiday Charles was celebrating. There are any number of winter celebrations his family might have called their own. The specific festive occasion wasn’t important to the plot. What mattered was that the main character was having the time of his life and wanted to make sure he shared those happy feelings with everyone he met. Leaving things open like this was the perfect way to include every reader in his good will towards all living things.

Anyone who looks forward to this time of the year should give The Wish Tree a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Nilay’s Wish by Riya Aarini

November 29, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Nilay’s Wish by Riya Aarini
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short Story (104 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Eleven-year-old Nilay unexpectedly releases a novice genie named Jai on the beaches of Lake Ontario, Canada. Nilay makes his wish for the perfect red silk saree to present to his mom on her birthday; but as a newbie genie, Jai has his own spin on wish granting.

The new friends travel back in time to ancient India so that Jai may fulfill the boy’s wish in an authentic manner. Nilay and Jai experience countless adventures in India from 300 CE through 1565 CE as they follow the trail of India’s Saurashtrian silk weavers.

Lighthearted, comical and chock full of excitement and magic, Nilay’s Wish will grip the hearts and minds of young readers. The story is thoroughly entertaining, while giving children a glimpse into historic India, especially Indian silk weaving. A handful of incredible and engaging illustrations offer a peek into the life and times of ancient India.

Creating the perfect silk saree isn’t as easy as it may seem.

Nilay was such a cheerful and enthusiastic main character. He found the good in everything he experienced while he was on this adventure. That’s not always easy to do, especially for a kid who has just been thrown into a world that is so unlike modern Canada. I got a kick out of seeing his responses to situations that honestly would have made me a little nervous at times. His positive attitude was truly delightful.

One of the questions I had when I first started reading this book had to do with why Jai decided to show Nilay so many different parts of Indian history before fulfilling his wish. Going back in time made sense, but it seemed to me like it would have been simpler to pick one historical era to visit before giving Nilay what he wanted. The explanation for why this didn’t happen felt a little weak to me. As interesting as it was to see how the main character reacted to all of the places and people he saw, I would have preferred for those scenes to happen after the purpose for them was explained better.

There was a lot of adventure packed into this tale. I enjoyed seeing how the characters reacted to all of the things that happened to them. They were surprised by so many twists and turns on their journey. Some of their experiences were funny while others were a little hair-raising at times. All of them were worth reading about, however.

I’d recommend Nilay’s Wish to readers who enjoy history, adventures, or, better yet, both!

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Booger Hunter’s Apprentice by Benoit Chartier

November 21, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Booger Hunter’s Apprentice by Benoit Chartier
Publisher: Trode Publications
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (37 pages)
Age Recommendation: 3+
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Flintebetty Flonagan finds an odd wanted ad in her town, requesting a booger hunter’s apprentice. What could that be? The answer to that question will lead her through an amazing adventure that will change her life forever!

Some problems need very specific types of heroes to solve them.

This was one of the most creative children’s stories I’ve read in a long time. The thought of that there could be a special type of hero that fights boogers never occurred to me. I was as amused by this idea as I was by how Flin Flon reacted to the idea of becoming a brave booger hunter herself. While I can’t go into detail about that part of the plot without stepping into spoiler territory, it was filled with twists and turns that made me smile.

There was only one small thing I would have liked to see changed about the storyline, and it had to do with what booger hunters do with their catch after they’ve gathered everything they could for the night. Everything else in the story was described in such great detail that I was a little surprised to see this part overlooked. It would have been nice to have at least one line describing what happened there.

One of my favorite things about this book was that none of the monsters in it were at all scary. Their relationships with Mrs. Bird were surprisingly warm and friendly. This was a major reason why I set the age recommendation so low. Flin Flon and Mrs. Bird covered a lot of ground on the first night of her apprenticeship, but all of it was rather wholesome stuff that I thought preschoolers would appreciate just as much as older kids would.

The Booger Hunter’s Apprentice was a delightful adventure that I’d recommend to anyone who has ever had their nose wiped or needed to wipe a little nose clean.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace

November 20, 2019 By Leave a Comment


How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Genre: Childrens, Action/Adventure, Holiday, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (40 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Can YOU help catch it? Follow along as students turn their school upside down trying to catch the turkey, ending with a twist that ensures no turkeys are harmed (or eaten!).

Thanksgiving time is here again,
but there’s a turkey on the run!
Can you catch this tricky bird
before the school play has begun?

Who would have guessed that a turkey would be so good at running away?

The turkey in this tale had one major problem: stage fright! He was so frightened at the thought of being taken onstage that he had to figure out a way to avoid that fate. As someone who shares that fear, I totally understood why he wanted to avoid the spotlight. The fact that he worked so hard to avoid being brought onstage only made me like him even more.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the ending. The beginning and middle really didn’t give any hints about why the turkey was going to be paraded in front of the entire school. My theory about what was happening there turned out not to be correct at all. While the author’s version did make sense, it would have been more meaningful if the audience had some idea of what to expect from the beginning. The final scene as it was written sort of came out of nowhere, and it made me enjoy the plot less than I had been before I reached that portion.

The human characters came up with so many creative attempts to get the turkey to slow down and hopefully return to his cage. Some of their methods made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed seeing how they tried to capture him and what happened when even their most clever traps and tricks didn’t seem to be working at all. I wasn’t expecting to laugh when I first started reading it, but I sure had a lot of opportunities to do just that.

This is part of a series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone story.

How to Catch a Turkey is the funniest Thanksgiving picture book I’ve read in years. This is something I’d recommend to anyone who is in the mood for something lighthearted.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Gerald Morris Illustrated by Aaron Renier

November 20, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great by Gerald Morris Illustrated by Aaron Renier
Knight’s Tales #1
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical
Length: Short story (92 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Many years ago, the storytellers say, the great King Arthur brought justice to England with the help of his gallant Knights of the Round Table. Of these worthy knights, there was never one so fearless, so chivalrous, so honorable, so…shiny as the dashing Sir Lancelot, who was quite good at defending the helpless and protecting the weak, just as long as he’d had his afternoon nap. Behold the very exciting and very funny adventures of Lancelot the Great, as only acclaimed Arthurian author Gerald Morris can tell them.

Prepare to meet Lancelot, the greatest (and shiniest) knight of them all!

Lancelot is a flawed, but very lovable character. He is vain, and his motivation for becoming a knight has more to do with fame and shiny armor rather than helping others. However, Lancelot is also brave, courageous, and always willing to rescue a damsel in distress. Unfortunately, being the greatest knight in Camelot comes with some serious drawbacks. Lancelot becomes disillusioned with being a knight and walks away from King Arthur and Camelot. However, about a year after Lancelot leaves, King Arthur finds himself in desperate need of his greatest knight. I’m pleased to say Lancelot is more than up to the challenge. In this moment, Lancelot realizes what it truly means to be a knight.

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great is such an entertaining tale! Mr. Morris brings out themes of loyalty, chivalry, and helping others in a fun and easy way for children to understand. The book is filled with clean, goofy humor sure to bring on the giggles, but the humor is never overdone. I particularly enjoyed reading Lancelot’s encounter with a “recreant” knight named Sir Phelot. This story is perfect for reading aloud to younger children, and the short, fast paced chapters make it a good stepping stone toward longer chapter books for readers. The illustrations add to the fun as well. Mr. Morris does take some liberties with Lancelot’s story. For example, Lancelot’s affair with Guinevere is not mentioned. While this might upset some, I was not bothered. In fact, I feel this omission serves to make the tale more accessible to a younger audience.

I had so much fun reading The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great! I highly recommend this adventure to young fans of Arthur and his knights.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Little Kids’ Table by Mary Ann McCabe Riehle

November 19, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Little Kids’ Table by Mary Ann McCabe Riehle
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Genre: Childrens, Holiday, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (32 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Everyone knows that the little kids table is the place to be for any holiday or family gathering. They just know how to have fun! This silly, rhyming story follows a group of rambunctious cousins from table setting to dessert. A universal theme, The Little Kids Table will have kids–and parents!–howling with laughter.

Fancy holiday meals and children don’t always mix well together.

The rhymes in this picture book were so much fun to read. Not only did they make me chuckle, they captured the feeling of sitting at the kids’ table perfectly. While the characters enjoyed having their own separate table from the grownups, I think their descriptions of what it was like to eat a holiday meal with their siblings and cousins just out of earshot of the grown-ups can be appreciated by people who didn’t like that experience so much. Their enthusiasm was contagious, but they were also honest about the drawbacks of separating kids from adults as well.

There was only one scene I wished had been written differently, and it had to do with the young characters purposefully messing around with the food on the plates of other children who left their table. Due to how many kids have food allergies or are on strict diets for other medical reasons these days, I’m not personally comfortable spreading the message that it’s acceptable to pull this kind of prank. While I definitely do see the humor in that from a storytellers point of view, I’d want to make it clear to the children I love that actually adding spoonfuls of other dishes to someone else’s plate can make some people very sick.

The ending of this tale was heartwarming. All of the characters came from a huge, boisterous family, so getting everyone to sit down and eat together was no easy task. After being reminded over and over again to mind their manners and at least try some of the stinky vegetables on the menu, it was nice to see how the adults reacted once the meal was more or less finished and everyone gathered together again.

The Little Kids’ Table is the perfect thing to read right before heading off for a big holiday meal no matter which table you might end up sitting at.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »