What a Wonderful World! by Suzanne Chiew

June 20, 2013 at 1:35 am | Posted in Animal lovers books, Books about nature, Books for preschoolers, children's books, Children's picture books, Christian children's books, Rhyming books, tiger tales | Leave a comment
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world

What a Wonderful World! by Suzanne Chiew is a lovely rhyming story that thanks God for the wonderful world in which we live. As little bear and his mommy travel the world through the four seasons, standing in awe of its many natural wonders, they take time to praise the Lord for his creations and for all the joy they bring.

This was a pleasant surprise. I don’t think I’ve ever read a faith-based story from tiger tales before. I wonder if they are starting a new subgenre in their Classic Concepts line. It’s never too early to teach children to appreciate God’s creations. This large hardcover is filled with stunning artwork by Tina Macnaughton. These pictures are the perfect complement to Chiew’s lyrical prose. There are so many tiny details for young readers to explore within the book’s pages.

I look forward to more of Chiew’s work and hope she will pair up with Macnaughton again soon.

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Publisher Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language English
ISBN-10 1589251296
ISBN-13 978-1589251298

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Hugless Douglas and the Big Sleepover by David Melling

June 19, 2013 at 12:14 am | Posted in Animal lovers books, Books for preschoolers, children's books, Children's picture books, Humor, tiger tales | Leave a comment
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douglas

Get ready for another zany Hugless Douglas book by author/illustrator David Melling. Douglas is all excited to be sleeping over at rabbit’s house. He packs plenty, because there is so much room at rabbit’s. On the way, he invites Little Sheep along, too. When Douglas arrives with a ton of guests for rabbit’s sleepover, there’s not enough space for everyone. How will they ever get to sleep?

This book is a riot. I’ve loved all three Hugless Douglas books, but this is my favorite. Silly antics and crazy pictures fill this book with tons of fun. Melling has such a wacky style that he creates wonderful characters that offer loads of comedic entertainment. I also love the hidden details you catch here and there along the way. The last two pages of this book have illustrations that match answers to the question, “What would you pack for a sleepover?” The sheep, rabbit, and some screwy birds help illustrate the answers.

Hugless Douglas and the Big Sleepover is a great book for bed time or anytime. I can’t wait to see what future adventures lay in store for Douglas and his friends.

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Publisher Tiger Tales; Reprint edition (March 1, 2013)
Language English
ISBN-10 1589251164
ISBN-13 978-1589251168

I received this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I Want My Mommy! by Tracey Corderoy

June 14, 2013 at 12:50 am | Posted in Books for preschoolers, children's books, Children's picture books, tiger tales | Leave a comment
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mommy

I Want My Mommy! by Tracey Corderoy is the perfect book to help children cope with separation anxiety. It’s the first day Arthur is apart from his mommy and he misses her. Even his favorite dragon suit and dragon toy don’t help. It seems like Mommy is never coming back. Luckily, Grandma knows how to make the time pass quickly.

This book captured me right from the front cover. How can you not love this sweet, sad looking boy clutching his dragon toy? Corderoy has created a tender story that lets children know they aren’t alone in missing their parents when they are separated. Whether it’s the first day of day care, the first day of preschool, or the first time Mommy and Daddy are leaving the kids home with a babysitter for an evening, I Want My Mommy! is a great way to calm their fears.

Alison Edgson provides some of the most adorable illustrations for this book. The cover alone is enough to make you want to pick it up, but as soon as you begin flipping pages, the soft, warm colors and the multitude of emotions depicted on the characters’ faces captivates you. Beautiful pink roses, the furry carpet in front of Grandma’s door, and the fuzzy feather Grandma uses as a sword are some of my favorite details.

I loved this book from beginning to end. Highly recommended.

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Publisher Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language English
ISBN-10 158925130X
ISBN-13 978-1589251304

I received this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Farmer’s Market Day by Shanda Trent

June 13, 2013 at 12:33 am | Posted in Books for preschoolers, children's books, Children's picture books, Rhyming books, tiger tales | Leave a comment
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farmer

Farmer’s Market Day helps you celebrate good food, fun, and shopping. One little girl searches for the perfect treat one Saturday while strolling through all the great food, flowers, kittens, and other treats at the Farmer’s Market.

This is a cute book. Farmer’s markets are popular around here. In this story, Shana Trent captures the excitement and joy shopping at the farmer’s market brings to children. With so much to see and do, this slightly clumsy girl flies from one thing to another in search of her perfect treat. Kids will love this zany, rhyming storyline along with the beautiful artwork by Jane Dippold. Lyrical prose and pretty pictures combine to make for a sweet story your child will enjoy.

Rating:  :):) :) :) :)

Publisher Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language English
ISBN-10 1589251156
ISBN-13 978-1589251151

I received this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Guest Book Review: Millicent Marie Is Not My Name by Karen Pokras Toz

May 28, 2013 at 2:27 pm | Posted in Chapbook for Tweens, Chapter books, Humor, Tween fiction | Leave a comment
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millie

Book Review: Millicent Marie Is Not My Name by Karen Pokras Toz
Paperback: 162 pages
Publisher: Grand Daisy Press (September 7, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0984860851
ISBN-13: 978-0984860852
Age group: Preteen and Tween

Five stars


Not content with saddling their daughter with a mouthful of a name like Millicent Marie (after a grumpy family member), Millicent Marie’s parents insist on calling her by that very same huge mouthful. Known to her school friends as Millie, Millicent Marie is grateful that she did not end up with a cool, arty, celebrity kid name like Organza. However, Millie decides that if she’d had a choice, her name would have been Amanda. Amanda has such a nice ring to it. After all, Amandas are beautiful, wildly popular, and talented. When Millie begins a diary in which she signs her name as Amanda, little does she realize what a ten-year-old annoying little brother (Douglas aka Doogle) can do to wreak even more havoc in her life. Doogle finds Millie’s diary on her computer and publishes it as a blog for the entire world to see. Amanda’s soul is suddenly laid bare and, amazingly, people love her. She becomes Springside Elementary’s most sought after sixth-grade mystery gossip and advice columnist. Can Millie keep up the pretence? And for how long before her cover is blown?

This is a lovely read for tweens (and their parents!). Millie has the usual slightly disparaging attitude towards her prehistoric-age, totally embarrassing parents who (in the nature of all parents) seem to be incapable of treating her as the almost-adult she considers herself. Millie was given the choice of a computer or a cell phone when she turned twelve. Everyone knows that any self-respecting teenager needs both. Author Karen Pokras Toz captures Millie’s life angst—from disillusionment with sixth grade, to decisions about doing soccer or drama, to denying she has a crush on the utterly handsome Jordan Cowell—with humor and inside knowledge. I also enjoyed Millie’s coming of age and gradual maturing. As Amanda, Millie learns huge life lessons about friendship, respect, and the fact that other people have feelings and problems. As Millie, Millie learns about her identity, who she really is, and decides if she is happy being herself. Highly recommended.

Reviewer’s bio: Fiona Ingram is an award-winning middle grade author who is passionate about getting kids interested in reading. Find out more about Fiona and her books on www.FionaIngram.com. She reviews books for the Jozikids Blog.

Soo’s Boo-Boos She’s Got 10! by Tilda Balsley

May 25, 2013 at 12:08 am | Posted in Books for preschoolers, children's books, Children's picture books, Contemporary fiction, Rhyming books, tiger tales | 1 Comment
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soo

A unique and adorable new way to learn counting from 1 to 10 and then backwards from 10 to 1. Soo comes into the kitchen complaining to her mother about her numerous boo-boos. Thankfully, mom has a way to take care of each one.

Soo’s Boo-Boos She’s Got 10! by Tilda Balsley is better than your average counting book. It’s clever. It’s creative. From a stiff elbow to crunched toes, from chapped lips to a dripping nose, and from a burned tongue to a nagging mosquito bite and more, Soo goes through her list of ailments. Her sympathetic mom then goes about tackling them one by one, finding the perfect cure for them all.

Kids will relate to this sweet and funny rhyming story. Kids see their moms as fixers of problems and Soo is no different. More than a simple counting book, readers will delight in witnessing Soo’s play for sympathy and learning how her mother solves each problem. The melodic prose is complemented by beautiful artwork from Shelagh McNicholas.

An all-around winner.

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Hardcover: 28 pages
Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589251180
ISBN-13: 978-1589251182

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Red Riding Hood and the Sweet Little Wolf by Rachel Mortimer

May 24, 2013 at 12:47 am | Posted in children's books, Children's picture books, Fairy Tales and Fables, Fantasy, Humor | Leave a comment
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red riding hood

Lovers of fractured fairy tales are bound to eat up this one. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are angry that Little Wolf isn’t big and bad like they are. They send her out to gather ingredients for dinner and she stumbles upon Red Riding Hood in the forest. Little Wolf doesn’t know what to do. Perhaps the unlikely duo can find a solution to Little Wolf’s problem.

This is a fabulous book! It’s a neat twist having the wolf parents being the bad ones, while Little Wolf has no desire to eat little girls. Instead, she likes fairy tales and playing dress up. It’s also funny and unique how Red Riding Hood is reading some familiar fairy tales as she makes her way to grandma’s house.  You simply can’t help but love this story. It’s so clever.

I knew Liz Pichon provided the artwork for this story without even looking. In addition to being the author of her own fractured fairy tale, her distinctive style adds beauty and humor to Red Riding Hood and the Sweet Little Wolf.

Children will love this one. Highly recommended.

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589251172
ISBN-13: 978-1589251175

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Look Out, Ladybug! by Jack Tickle

May 23, 2013 at 12:58 am | Posted in Books for preschoolers, children's books, Children's picture books, tiger tales | Leave a comment
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ladybug

A new Lazy Ladybug Adventure has arrived! Author/illustrator Jack Tickle brings back our Ladybug friend as she desperately tries to learn how to fly. She keeps zigzagging, tumbling, and wobbling into the other animals, but monkey encourages her to give it another try.

As with What Goes Up by Paula Bowles, we see another book from tiger tales that spreads the word: practice makes perfect. Vibrant colors, zany antics, engaging words, and a silly story will encourage youngsters ages 3 – 7 to read this book often. What Tickle does very well with this book is provide a teaching point that is hidden by the zaniness of all the crazy things that happen as Ladybug learns to fly. I also love Tickle’s big and bold artwork.

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589251288
ISBN-13: 978-1589251281

I received a free hardcover of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

What Goes Up by Paula Bowles

May 21, 2013 at 12:44 am | Posted in Books for preschoolers, children's books, Children's picture books, Fantasy, tiger tales | 1 Comment
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dragon

Put a dragon in a story and it’s an instant hit. This holds true in What Goes Up by author/illustrator Paula Bowles.

Martin the dragon is sad because he longs to fly but his wings are too small. He tries all sorts of ways to fly, but always comes down with a CRASH!   It takes the village children to show Martin the importance of believing in yourself.

Bowles has created a charming book of a sad dragon who wishes to fly. His friendship with the village children plays a big role, so young children witness the importance of friends in helping a person–or in this case a dragon–reach his goals. What I like the most about What Goes Up is that there isn’t an easy resolution to the problem. It takes Martin many days of practice and exercise before his wings grow big enough to carry him.

The artwork you see on the front cover is similar to what is inside. Soft colors add comfort and sweetness to a delightful story. I’ll be looking for more of Bowles’ work.

Rating: :) :) :) :) :)

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589251199
ISBN-13: 978-1589251199

I received a free hardcover of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Guest Book Review: A Boy and His Dragon by Michael J. Bowler

May 20, 2013 at 12:24 am | Posted in adventure stories, Fantasy, Teen fiction, Young Adult, Young Adult fiction | Leave a comment
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cover

Book Review: A Boy and His Dragon by Michael J. Bowler
Print Length: 613 pages
Publisher: Michael Bowler (September 23, 2011)
ASIN: B005P9G0UA
Rating: 4 Stars
Age group: YA 13+

Bradley Wallace Murphy just turned thirteen, and life sucks. He doesn’t fit in at school, he’s no good at sports, a bully torments him, he’s a disappointment to his parents, and his only “friends” are fictional characters on a TV show called “Dark Shadows.” He’s growing up but wants to stay a boy, like Peter Pan. Then he finds the egg and everything changes. From this egg hatches Whilly, a supposedly mythological dragon that bonds with him physically, emotionally and spiritually. The sudden responsibility of hiding a rapidly growing dragon in a small California city in 1970 forces Bradley Wallace to grow up whether he wants to or not. Feeding a hungry dragon involves lots of raw meat, and the horrible reality of death sickens Bradley, turning him vegetarian, and upsetting his mother. Through their adventures together, boy and dragon learn the true nature of their symbiosis, and Bradley Wallace comes to understand that he is not just a misfit kid who happened to find a misfit creature from some other time. He is something far more dangerous, a ‘super-hero’ with powers he didn’t know he had. He could be killed if the truth comes out. When the attacks begin, Bradley Wallace realizes he is up against overwhelming evil forces. Can he and Whilly survive?

What an amazing, magical adventure. Everyone who has ever imagined having a dragon, flying with it, and befriending this wonderful mythological creature will jump right into this book. Author Michael J. Bowler has such a gift for recreating the experiences and muddled logic of a 13-year-old self-confessed misfit. He also brings the Seventies to life in wonderful detail, a time of Drive-ins, Eskimo Pie, Star Trek, and long summer holidays. I loved this story and the delicately flowering relationship between Whilly and Bradley Wallace is peppered with humour, misunderstanding, forgiveness, and a lot of acceptance (after Bradley discovers what happened to the neighbourhood cats…). The author cements the bonds that must survive the terrible tests facing the boy and the dragon. The story sucks the reader right into Bradley’s life, along with his slightly dysfunctional family, his bossy older sister, and the school bullies. Kids will love this adventure and adults will relish remembering being 13 again. The book is long but all the elements merge into a satisfying whole to perfectly capture the boy-dragon symbiosis. This book is intended as the first in a trilogy and I am sure young fans will eagerly await more from Bradley Wallace and Whilly. Highly Recommended.

(The book mentions definite adolescent physiological changes so I advise parents to stick to the age recommendation)

First reviewed for Readers Favorite

Reviewer’s bio: Fiona Ingram is an award-winning middle grade author who is passionate about getting kids interested in reading. Find out more about Fiona and her books on www.FionaIngram.com. She reviews books for the Jozikids Blog.

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