Weathernose by Maram Taibah


Weathernose by Maram Taibah
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Length: Short Story (120 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Why in the world do kids have to go and invent things these days? Welcome to this steampunk universe! If you like inventions, power games, strawberry tarts, and hot air balloons then this is the book for you!

In the Cerulean Universe, the world is only just awakening to scientific discovery and invention. And Tart Morning hates change. He’s had the same old quilt since he was twelve, if you know what I mean. And now, thanks to a ground-breaking invention called “the weathernose” – a machine that calculates weather predictions, Tart’s career is on the line. His only choice is to destroy the weathernose, but the machine’s smug ten-year-old inventress, Cypress Korkul, is far too clever for him. Also, she has no sense of humor.
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In his scrambling efforts to keep up with the times, Tart finds himself willing to go to ever more dastardly lengths. How far is he willing to go to get his job and his old life back? What will he find out about Cypress – and himself – along the way?

The fastest way to get out of a rut can also be the hardest one.

What an interesting main character Tart was! He was the sort of person who had plenty of flaws that he wasn’t aware of in the slightest. I honestly didn’t like him very much in the beginning because of that, but I soon changed my mind as he began his journey of personal growth. He had a long way to go, and it was marvellous to see how he changed as a result of meeting Cyprus and losing his job.

There were pacing issues. The plot started off slowly and then became uneven. Adjusting to how quickly things were moving over and over again made it tricky for me to lose myself in the storyline. No sooner would I get used to one of the speeds than the next scene would switch things up again.

This story was filled with whimsical moments. It was set in a hazy portion of the past that only added to its charm, especially once I got to know the characters better and realized that weathernoses were the only option for anyone who wanted to know whether or not a thunderstorm might interrupt the picnic they had planned for tomorrow. Their world was a wonderfully quaint one where time passed leisurely and just about any interaction with the neighbors carried with it the possibility of something magical happening.

Weathernose should be read by anyone who has ever wished they could predict the weather.

Sophie Washington: My BFF by Tonya Duncan Ellis


Sophie Washington: My BFF by Tonya Duncan Ellis
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Middle Grade
Length: Short (116 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Rose
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Sophie and Chloe have been best friends since they met in kindergarten. They get along like chips and salsa and do everything together from playing tennis to cheering on the school cheer squad. Lately, Chloe’s been leaving Sophie out, and she doesn’t know why. Sophie does everything she can to make her best friend happy, but it’s not working. Then Chloe asks Sophie to fib to a teacher to help her out and she learns the true meaning of friendship.

Ms. Ellis has done it again with a new look into Sophie and her friends’ adventures in life. This time, Sophie learns just how hurtful it can be when your best friend suddenly seems to turn against you for no reason.

I can remember back to those days and those feelings. Ms. Ellis perfectly catches the emotions, and children in this age group will certainly be able to relate. The writing is smooth and easy, clear and descriptive, and I felt more like I was watching a show instead of reading a book. The characters are three-dimensional. Sophie definitely has her faults, which is refreshing, but I love that she and her friends learn from their experiences.

Highly recommended for elementary school students, boys and girls.

Brandon Goes to Beijing by Eugenia Chu


Brandon Goes to Beijing by Eugenia Chu
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Childrens, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (64 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Brandon and his cousins are on a trip to visit their grandparents in Beijing, China! While bonding with family, practicing Chinese, touring historic sites and feasting on local dishes, Brandon thinks he sees a tiny panda. However, every time he gets close, the panda disappears! Is Brandon imagining this small creature, or is it real? Will Brandon find out before he has to fly back home?Brandon Goes to Beijing (北京) is a multicultural, multigenerational chapter book which includes some Mandarin Chinese (Simplified) with Pinyin pronunciation, adding layers for those learning or interested in the Chinese language and culture.

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Brandon and his family visited so many well-known parts of China during their trip. It was fun to see what he and his cousins thought of all of the famous places they saw as well as the delicious meals they got to eat. There was a nice balance between learning a little bit of Chinese history, visiting memorable spots, and eating tasty food. It sounded like the sort of vacation any kid or adult would appreciate!

I would have liked to see more foreshadowing included in this book. There were a couple of plot twists that came up out of nowhere in my opinion. Since they were connected to the mystery subplot, it would have been helpful to have a hint or two about what was happening there so that I could have had better luck figuring out if my guesses about how everything would turn out were actually close to the truth.

With that being said, I did enjoy the mystery elements of the plot quite a bit. Was it really a small panda that Brandon saw at the beginning of his trip? I smiled at his answer to that question and waited patiently to see if his guess was the correct one. This was a nice way to add a little friendly tension to a vacation that was otherwise going exactly the way everyone thought it would.

I’d recommend Brandon Goes to Beijing to anyone who enjoys traveling or learning about other countries.

Talon, Come Fly With Me by Gigi Sedlmayer


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.
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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.

Nilay’s Wish by Riya Aarini


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.
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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!

Moonwalk: The Story of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing by David Jenkins


Moonwalk: The Story of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing by David Jenkins
Publisher: Circa Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, Middle Grade
Length: Short Story (48 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Written for children, but with parents very much in mind, this book tells the Apollo 11 story through the medium of artist Adrian Buckley’s atmospheric imagery. From President Kennedy’s call to put a man on the moon to the celebratory ticker tape parade in Manhattan, this is a story of three extraordinary men and their incredible achievement: Mission Commander Neil Armstrong, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Buzz Aldrin and Command Module Pilot Michael Collins. On 21 July 1969, when Neil Armstrong opened the hatch in the Lunar Module and descended the ladder to set foot on the surface of the Moon, he became in an instant the greatest traveler in human history. Full of period detail and fascinating insights, this is a book to be explored and enjoyed.

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I’m not usually one for reading books for children, but that didn’t stop me from picking up this picture book. There are tidbits on each page that flow well and nicely explain the images. I learned more than a few things while reading this book. It’s explained and put in language a kid can understand, but doesn’t talk down to the younger reader.

One thing that is a tiny bit distracting–it was to me, but might not be for other readers–is the photos. Some are more like drawings and others actual photos. I didn’t mind the hybrid, but the thing that was odd was how the photos were edited, like editing Neil Armstrong out of the reflection on Buzz Aldrin’s helmet. Or the hyper realism on the Saturn V rocket, but the surrounding area is drawn. It’s a quibble that bothered me, but might be perfectly fine for other readers and isn’t something that should make you pass this book by.

I really enjoyed the snippets on the last couple of pages. The author included interesting facts about the mission, about the astronauts and NASA. The little tidbits are great points for discussion, even with smaller children.

If you’re looking for a book to introduce your younger reader to the space mission, Apollo 11, then this might be the book you’re looking for. Give it a try.

Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Sagebrush and the Warm Springs Discovery by Joni Franks


Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Sagebrush and the Warm Springs Discovery by Joni Franks
Publisher: Xlibris
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (54 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Sagebrush felt as if the world had gone to sleep and that she was the only one awake as she peered out the window of the little mountain cabin she called home. The sound of the wet falling snow was as quiet as feathers landing on the ground as the magical landscape of the Rocky Mountains and the cattle ranch became enveloped in a blanket of white snow. Follow Sagebrush and the Young Miss as they discover the secret warm springs hidden deep within the mountains and teach the moral lesson of sharing Mother Earth’s precious resources with a homeless man and the tiny people known as the Shuns, who are seeking a forever home. The fifth book in a multi-award-winning collection, Sagebrush and the Warm Springs Discovery is a memorable and extraordinary fairy tale.

Even adults have trouble sharing sometimes.
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One of the Shuns had a medical condition that isn’t generally talked about in children’s books. I appreciated the fact that the author introduced someone who was dealing with that problem. While I won’t say what it was to avoid giving away any spoilers, it’s always nice to see representations of characters who are dealing with health issues.

I would have liked to see a little more conflict in the plot. The one problem the characters faced was solved pretty quickly. As happy as I was to see how they resolved it, there is also something to be said for encouraging characters to work a bit harder to reach their goals. Seeing how they struggle through things that don’t come easily to them can make all sorts of plot twists possible. With that being said, this was a minor criticism of something I enjoyed reading.

Once again, I was impressed with the kindness woven into this story. It was something I noticed the first time I read about this world, so I was pleased to see that theme pop up again. All of the main characters looked out for each other, especially the friends of their who were smaller or weaker than most folks. That’s always a lovely thing to read about, and it’s making me hope for more sequels soon.

This is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone work.

Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Sagebrush and the Warm Springs Discovery should be read by anyone who enjoys spending time out in nature.

Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Sagebrush and the Butterfly Creek Flood by Joni Franks


Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Sagebrush and the Butterfly Creek Flood by Joni Franks
Publisher: Xlibris
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (54 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Fat black thunderclouds billowed high in the Rocky Mountain sky, foreshadowing that a stormy weather day was already brewing on the cattle ranch where Sagebrush, the tailless puppy, and her parents, Maverick and Ginger, slept in their warm, cozy doggy beds. Follow Sagebrush and the young miss in this search-and-rescue adventure as they endeavor to save a lost hiker and the tiny people known as Shuns from the rising waters of Butterfly Creek. This charming tale teaches the life lesson of having faith in yourself and faith in others and is paired with the message that all lives matter equally. The fourth book in the multiple award-winning collection, Sagebrush and the Butterfly Creek Flood is a delightful tale, one that is not to be forgotten.

Everyone is valuable.
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The world building was well done. No sooner did I finish the first paragraph then I felt like I’d been magically transported to another time and place. I had exactly the right amount of detail about the setting and the characters’ cultures to help me imagine what everything was like. This isn’t an easy thing to accomplish in a short story, so I will be on the lookout for more stories from Ms. Franks in the future.

My only criticism has to do with the number of characters. I liked all of them, but there simply wasn’t quite enough room in a fifty-four page story to give everyone a chance to shine. It would have been nice to get to know two or three of the characters better instead of jumping around between multiple perspectives. With that being said, this is still something I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to kids and people who enjoy reading children’s fiction in general.

I was delighted by the compassion and kindness in this book. The main characters were all genuinely good individuals who didn’t expect any sort of praise or reward for the nice things they did for others. There was no sermonizing to be found on this topic. They simply helped others for the sheer joy of it. That’s the sort of character I always enjoy reading about.

This is part of a series, but it can easily be read as a standalone work.

Corky Tails Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush, Sagebrush and the Butterfly Creek Flood was heartwarming. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves animals or nature.

The Magical Meniscus by GranRan


The Magical Meniscus by GranRan
Publisher: NuSaga Press
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (150 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In Fairytale Land, there lives a gentle-hearted cyclops known as Cleo who wears bells on his large toes. Headaches plague the one-eyed giant, causing Cleo problems at work, at home, and with his girlfriend, Nellie. The migraines force Cleo to seek help from a powerful wizard. He must battle witches, ogres, and a bog creature. Will perseverance and determination be enough for Cleo to fix his headaches and win true love from Nellie? This tale includes sixteen illustrations.

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As someone who dealt with many stubborn headaches when I was growing up, it was so cool to read a story about a character who had the same problem. This isn’t something that’s talked about much in children’s fiction, but I would have loved to read about it when I was a kid. It was nice to see some representation for this health issue, especially since Cleo’s headaches kept coming back and resisted so many of the different cures he tried for them.

This is a minor criticism, but it would have been helpful to have more descriptions in this story. The plot itself was a great deal of fun to read. What it was missing were more detailed descriptions of the characters and setting. I knew what the personalities of the characters were like and what it might feel like to visit the places they saw, but I wasn’t so clear on what they all physically looked like. If not for this, I would have easily gone for a five-star rating as everything else about it was quite well done.

One of my favorite things about this tale was how self-aware it was. There were a few times when certain characters made comments that let the reader know that these individuals knew they were in a fantasy setting and had some idea of what generally happens in those worlds. This is something I always enjoy reading about, so it was a real treat to realize that I’d stumbled across yet another book that managed to both remain true to its genre and poke gentle fun at itself at the same time.

I’d recommend The Magical Meniscus to anyone who enjoys fantasy that includes a slightly modern twist to it.

The Rubies by Rêve Fox


The Rubies by Rêve Fox
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (86 pages)
Age Recommendation: 8+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Have you ever wondered if all fairies live in peace? ‘The Rubies’ beautifully leads the reader down an enchanted pathway of war, betrayal, friendship, love, and loyalty. Follow Princess Amira’s journey as she tries to bind together a nation divided by hate and fear, and build a new, stronger society from the scattered ashes of her family’s Kingdom. Friendships will be put to the test, and our heroes and heroines will have to learn to deal with grief, loss and sorrow, while putting the needs of others first.

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Not every conflict is going to be one that’s easy to solve.

Just like any other creature, magical or otherwise, there are certain things that fairies find harmful to their health or well being. While I can’t go into detail about what those things might be, I did enjoy getting to know the weaknesses of fairies in this universe. Knowing that they weren’t all-powerful being made them feel more relatable and likable to me. It also helped to make certain scenes feel more meaningful once I realized the very real danger they were in.

I had trouble keeping track of the many characters in this story. There wasn’t enough time to get to know all of them well, so it was tricky to remember how they all knew each other and which one of the four fairy tribes everyone was from. It would have been nice to have a smaller cast of characters to focus on so that I could get to know all of them in greater depth.

The world building was nicely written. Princess Amira and her friends lived in a complex society where everyone knew their place. The descriptions of the many different types of fairies in this world made me smile. I liked the fact that the author spent so much time not only describing them but explaining why certain factions did or did not get along well with others. It made for quite the interesting read.

The Rubies should be read by anyone who loves fairies or the fantasy genre.