Category: Children's - GRANT LEISHMAN

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling (Orville Wellington Mouse #5) by tom hoffman

1/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Tom Hoffman takes the reader into his wonderful fantasy world of Orville Mouse in his series of Orville Wellington Mouse Adventures, the latest of which is Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling. Orville Mouse, his best friend (and maybe girlfriend?) Sophia Mouse embark on another adventure through space and time, on this occasion, with his faithful companion Proto and the assistance of a rather unusual tree, we come to know as the Sagacious Sapling. There is trouble afoot in Muridaan Falls, when Orville and Sophie begin to experience some time flips, which they soon discover are the precursor to a massive time shift about to hit them resulting from an enormous explosion some hundreds of thousands of years ago. Somehow, the intrepid band of metaphysical adventurers must travel back in time to the prehistoric, jungle world of Ferus and prevent the explosion from ever occurring and releasing the Great Thaumatarian Time Wave, before it reaches their world and plunges them back into the past, some five thousand years.

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Sagacious Sapling is my first foray into the work of Tom Hoffman and indeed his fantasy world of Orville Mouse. This book is the fifth adventure involving these characters and although it is not necessary to have read the previous books, it is always an advantage, I feel, to read a series in order. As a reader, once you get your head around the idea that this story is a fantasy adventure and indeed the two main characters are actually mice, the characters, their foibles and traits very definitely do grow on you. Orville and Sophia are truly sweet and adorable characters, but much of the humour and enjoyment I derived from the story came from the two offbeat characters, Proto (a robot of sorts) and of course, Leaf, the sagacious sapling. I loved the way they analysed Orville’s jokes and tried to replicate the humour themselves. The idea of logical thinking, programmed, machines beginning to adapt and understand humour while not novel was definitely intriguing. Hoffman has probably targeted the Orville Wellington Mouse sagas at the Young Adult market, but to be perfectly honest, I would suggest there is nothing in this book that would preclude it from being read at a younger age and also by older readers. It is a good, old-fashioned, swashbuckling adventure tale, whose two protagonists just happen to be a couple of mice. It was an excellent read and I would definitely recommend it.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check this very good book out, plus take a look at Tom Hoffman's full collection:

survivaL ON mystery mesa (eagle mountain adventures book 1) by george goldthwaite

21/3/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

When thirteen-year-old friends, Alex and Josh are stranded on a desolate mountain mesa, with Josh’s eight-year-old brother Mickey and Alex’s seriously injured pilot father, following a plane crash, the young people’s survival skills and maturity is severely put to the test. Where they have crashed, in the middle of winter, just one day prior to Christmas, is a lonely, desolate, freezing cold and dangerous place. Not only do the young ones have to figure out how to find food and water, they also have to build a fire to keep warm and to care for Alex’s veterinarian father, who is slipping in and out of consciousness. To add to their travails, throw in a hungry puma and a mysterious, ghost-like remnant of the past inhabitants of this corner of New Mexico, the long disappeared, indigenous Anasazi tribe, and you have the makings of an excellent adventure, full of danger and excitement. This is what author George Goldthwaite has presented his readers with, in Survival on Mystery Mesa: Eagle Mountain Adventures (Book 1).

The number one thing I loved about this story was that although it was written with the target audience of middle-school children, the writing and the story are just as enjoyable for a reader, like me, who is about as far away from middle-school age as one can get. The three youngsters who are the heroes of this story are compelling, believable and totally normal kids that one would meet every day. They possess nothing particularly special, but George Goldthwaite shows through them, that when placed under extreme pressure, even the most average of us is able to rise to the occasion and perform above and beyond what we may have expected of ourselves. As I said, I thoroughly enjoyed the read and the perils the young people faced and attempted to overcome. Especially poignant for me was the way they handled the aftermath of their adventure, when faced somewhat with scepticism and condescension. Survival on Mystery Mesa: Eagle Mountain Adventures (Book 1) is a wonderful story for middle-school children to read, but applicable to all ages and readers who enjoy a good, clean adventure. As the first book in a series, I say, bring on the next one.

You can take a look at Survival on Mystery Mesa, here on Amazon:

the railroad adventures of chen sing by george chiang

20/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing by George Chiang is a delightful children’s book that tells the adventures of Chiang’s grandfather when he first came to America in the 1880’s to work on the transcontinental railways on the West Coast. From a small farming village in Southern China’s Guangdong Province to the bustling metropolis of Guangzhou, where Sing and his companion Bo are kidnapped and shipped to Hong Kong, the pair eventually find themselves on the ship to North America, where their adventures begin. In the raw, untamed Canadian Pacific Rockies, the team of Chinese workmen face daily danger and death as they blast their way through the mountains to build the iron road on Gold Mountain. Despite the hardships and privations in the railroad camp Sing falls in love with this rugged country and decides ultimately to make his home there, among the indigenous population.

George Chiang has presented a beautiful children’s tale here in The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing. The book, with its simple, yet delightful illustrations, digitally drawn by Jessica Warner, would, I am sure, quickly become a favourite read for young people from about eight to twelve. It is just the type of book I could imagine reading to my grandchildren as they go to sleep. It is not too long to become boring and yet not too short to be rushed through in one sitting with a child. The personal connection that Chiang has with the principal character gives the whole story even more poignancy. The writing is perfectly suited to the target market age-group and the issues covered of immigration, race relations and the virtues of hard work are as topical and relevant today, as they were in the 1880’s. I can highly recommend this read for children of the age group. An excellent effort by George Chiang.

You can check out The Railroad Adventures of Chen Sing here on George Chiang's Amazon page:

flying upright by susan jean ricci

18/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Flying Upright is a short novella from Susan Jean Ricci that brings us the story of two young children, Monique and Dom who are captivated by the idea of representing their country one day at the Winter Olympics in the sport of pairs figure skating. When Monique, meets the three-year’s older Dom at the age of eight she falls in love with ice-skating and the dream of achieving it all. Years of dedication and hard work see the young prodigy’s progress to the point where they really are serious contenders for Olympic selection. When tragedy strikes and Dom is seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, the pair must reassess their lives, their single-minded commitment to achieving their dreams and indeed the relationship that has grown between the pair over the years. Can Monique and Dom, as individuals, survive this disaster and how will it affect their burgeoning romance?

Although a short, little novella, Flying Upright was sweet and somewhat captivating. With the Winter Olympics currently on television, the timing of the read couldn’t have been more perfect and watching the pairs skaters on television made me think of Monique and Dom and the incredible amount of practice and commitment they had to put in, just to raise their performance to the level where they could be considered for selection. Susan Jean Ricci has a clear, concise writing style that is realistic and believable. The character of Monique, as the precocious and sometimes rebellious teenager was well drawn. I found the story to be somewhat predictable, but that never lessened the pleasure of the read. We all need to read some feel-good stories from time to time and Flying Upright is definitely one of those. If the author’s intent with her novella’s is to entice the reader into accessing more of her work, then she can consider it a job well done, for this reader. It was a pleasant and rewarding journey with Monique and Dom.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Flying Upright, plus Susan Jean Ricci's entire and substantial portfolio.

kindness in a scary world by rebecca hubbard

13/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

As adults, we have difficulties dealing with the traumatic events we see every day on the news; wars, often horrific scenes of violence and devastation, and of course, the aftermath of terrorism. If we struggle to handle these images and react appropriately, imagine how much more difficult it is for our children to cope with this. Children can often be left confused, scared and misunderstanding what is happening, by either the adult’s reaction to the event (anger, fright and worry), as well as by the pictures of the event themselves that are screened live into our television screens or our computer monitors. This is the issue Rebecca J Hubbard seeks to address in her timely little book, Kindness in a Scary World: A Children’s Book about Terrorism. Hubbard seeks to give us no nonsense advice on how to explain to a child what has happened when a terrorist strikes.

Rebecca J Hubbard, specifically addresses terrorism in this particular book, Kindness in A Scary World: A Children’s Book about Terrorism, but what I did like about this was the advice she gives is equally applicable to many of the events occurring around the world on a daily basis, from natural disasters, to war/refugees, right through to the witnessing of an act of terrorism on live television. The book is not long and would be suitable to sit down and read to your child, regardless of age. Perhaps, most importantly, it stresses the need for the parents to ensure their child understands that nothing they did, or didn’t do, had anything to do with what was perpetrated. Children can often blame themselves for bad things they see happening around them. The book also provides a guide (at the end) for parents to prepare themselves for addressing this issue with their children. All-in-all this book is a useful addition to a parent’s arsenal on how to deal with questioning children. The illustrations were a bonus and very nice, but would definitely suit the paperback version better than the kindle version I read.

You can find the paperback version of Kindness in a Scary World, by Rebecca Hubbard, here on Amazon.

the year they stole mama's turkeys by gerry lites watkins

11/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Wesley was just a young farming boy in rural Texas, during the Great Depression, when an event happened that would change his life and bring excitement to his ordered existence. In The Year They Stole Mama’s Turkeys by Gerry Lites Watkins, we find the farming community of Cedar Creek, changed by the arrival of the Morans, an Oklahoma family who like so many other “Okies” had lost their farm when the rains never came and the Oklahoma fields turned into the notorious dustbowl. When the Moran’s car breaks down just outside Wesley’s family farm, a new chapter begins in his life. Watkins takes us back to those desperate days of the Depression, when half the country, it seemed, was looking for work and gives us tales of simple happenings in this rural backwater that allowed the inhabitants to keep their spirits up and to keep their humanity when everything in the Country seemed to be going from bad to worse.

The Year They Stole Mama’s Turkeys is a delightful, children’s book, simply full of sweet and lovely anecdotes that help to explain what is right and wrong, plus gives today’s young people a taste of what was a simpler, a quieter, but nonetheless, in many ways a happy life, despite the turmoil that raged around the family. Gerry Lites Watkins has written characters that are typical of children everywhere and simple to identify with. There’s the archetypal bully, who the author beautifully shows how to put in his place with some sage advice from Wesley’s father. All through this book you feel the love, the warmth and the sanctity of family and what it means to “stick together”, through thick and thin. This book shows us the best side of human nature and the innate kindness that is in everyone, if only we can find it. As an adventure, there is plenty to keep the young reader’s mind excited and occupied. I would really recommend this book as an excellent read for children, especially for those who have never ventured outside of their city neighbourhoods. I thoroughly enjoyed the read, although it is many years since I felt the thrill of childhood excitement.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out The Year They Stole Mama's Turkeys and other work by Gerry Lites Watkins

the other side of freedom by cynthia t. toney

10/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Other Side if Freedom by Cynthia T Toney takes us back to 1925, pre-depression Louisiana and the small town of Freedom. Salvatore is just thirteen, but this son of Italian immigrants is a hard-working farm boy, whose parents and Uncle have struggled to make a good life for themselves in this rural area. Prohibition is in full swing in America and when Italian mobsters come to town and demand Sal’s father’s help in their plans to rob the Freedom bank, or they will hurt his family, Sal’s family finds themselves in a moral quandary. When the bank robbery goes awry, Sal is left with a secret that could destroy their entire lives and set their family on the run. This young man must weigh up the rights and wrongs of the situation and make a decision that he and the rest of his family can live with. Sal is just discovering his feelings and attraction to his best friend, Antonina and whatever decisions he and the family make are almost certain to affect the relationship. This is indeed a dilemma of morals.

I found The Other Side of Freedom to be a truly compelling coming-of-age story. The setting was beautifully described by Cynthia T Toney and one felt oneself being drawn back to the era of gangsters, the G-Men, and bootlegging across the south. The feel of the story was authentic and action fast and furious. I particularly found it interesting to compare the experience faced by the Italian and Sicilian immigrants of the 19th and early 20th Centuries to those of the immigrants of today. They faced discrimination and generalisation – they are Sicilians, therefore they must be gangsters and criminals where today we see, they are Arabs, therefore they must be terrorists. I also found interesting that Sal found some sympathy and empathy with his black friend Hiram in that the prejudices they both faced were somewhat similar. I particularly liked the fact that Toney offered some questions at the end of the book for younger readers to consider and reflect on the story. This is an excellent children’s story that poses some interesting moral dilemmas for the young readers to ponder.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon to check out The Other Side of Freedom, plus all of Cynthia T. Toney's offerings.

becoming animals by olga and christopher werby

5/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Becoming Animals by Olga and Christopher Werby explores an idea that probably few of us have ever thought about. What would it be like to inhabit and share an animal's brain? Would the humanity overtake the animal, would the animal display dominance or would it be possible to co-exist and to share their experiences, understanding and view of the world. When eight-year-old Toby Crowe is left alone in her father Will's lab to play with the lab rat, it soon becomes obvious to all those involved in the BRATS project that Toby has an affinity with not only the animals, but the idea of joining minds and "riding" the animals. Dr Will Crowe heads up the BRATS programme, which is funded by the Army. The plan, initially, was to use rats or other animals to assist the Army in searching for survivors in the rubble of buildings as part of their disaster relief programmes. Other member of the Armed Forces, though, have ulterior motives for trying to meld human minds with animal minds. For Toby, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and whose mother is terminally ill with the illness, the idea of becoming part of another animal seems one way of leaving something of herself behind, when her illness eventually claims her young life.

As a concept for a novel I found the idea of melding with an animal's mind, in Becoming Animals, to be utterly fascinating and was excited to see how this would develop for young Toby. I became very invested in the characters created by Olga and Christopher Werby and consequently enjoyed this children's/young adult book even more than I thought I would have. The amount of honest research that had clearly gone on before penning this novel lent real authenticity to the tale. Much of what was discussed, I had heard in broad details in various places, but had perhaps not realised the possible implications - this was especially true of the idea of neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to reset and remake neural connections, at will, or as required. The book was an incredibly easy read and although the science might be above the understanding of some of the authors' intended audience, it in no way detracted from the understanding of the story. This story was unique, in my opinion, a rare quality in today's book market. I commend the two authors for their ingenuity and creativity and can highly recommend this read. A great job!

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon and check out this amazing story plus the full selection of books available from Olga and Christopher Werby.

faviAN'S lAW (tRUTH TELLER SERIES - BOOK 3) BY k CHAMBERS

5/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Charlotte is a normal nine-year-old girl, excited by the start of the Christmas break from school and three week's of fun and leisure. When her Dad announces to the family that they are off to visit the local Christmas pantomime, the following evening, Charlotte and her little sister Beth are besides themselves with excitement. Charlotte, however, has a secret - a pendant that allows her to travel between her earthly realm and the magic world of Elves, Trolls, Dwarves and Fairies. Reading Favian's Law by K. Lawrence it soon becomes apparent Charlotte has visited this world before, in earlier stories. When the family do visit the pantomime, Charlotte is accosted by the man from the next show on the evening's bill, a mind-reader, psychic, named Favian. Recognising the pendant Charlotte is wearing, Favian steals it and travels to the other realm, where Charlotte later discovers her has created havoc and set the various inhabitant races of the realm, one against the other. Somehow Charlotte must make this all okay again - somehow she must must fix it and undo Favian's Law.

This was a delightful read as we travelled, through the author's imagination, to the world of elves and the like. I particularly liked the little twists, with time-travel, that the author threw into the story. Charlotte was believable, both as a scared child who just wanted to make things right, as well as the feisty and famed Truth Teller from an earlier story. It is always a good measure in a series such as this if a reader can say, "you don't have to have read the earlier adventures, to understand and enjoy this one." That was certainly the case with Favian's Law. K Lawrence had done an excellent job in filling in the gaps in a reader's understanding of what had preceded this tale. Some of the interactions with the elderly lady later in the story were just a little too understanding and accepting of what was clearly an extraordinary happening to have been dumped on her lap. That having been said, it didn't detract from the excitement of the story and the pace and action of the read. I think this book would be extremely suitable a read for any children from ten upwards. Charlotte was a very modern, with-it young lady, who I'm sure all young readers would identify well with. A very good read.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out Favian's Law plus all of K Chamers' portfolio

the children of when (florisia #1) by Jennifer Redmile

29/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Children of When by Jennifer Redmile is a delightful children's coming-of-age story that takes us into the fantasy world of Florisia. When three disparate children, all growing up in different versions of the village of Naissence, turn fourteen, it is time for them to cross-over. On their fourteenth birthday they must leave their village and go to "The Circle" where they are transported to a new world that will shape their future. Three children, Leah, Raff and Belle all have different backgrounds and mixed emotions about the upcoming journey. Their friendship and camaraderie will develop and mature as they discover they are part of a thousand-year prophecy that will pit them against all manner of evil and dangerous creatures.

The Children of When is a spell-binding tale that even someone well past their childhood can enjoy and relate to. Described by one as a cross between Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the Adventures of Narnia, I could certainly see elements of that in Redmile's story. The three characters are from such differing backgrounds and their mindsets about the journey they have undertaken make for a fascinating and interesting clash of motivations. The author does well to meld them together into a cohesive team. I especially liked some of the interplay between the three main characters. Although not a terribly long book, it is certainly one that is impossible to put down and can be easily read in one sitting. It is suitable for children of pre-teen age, although some of the situations described by Redmile could be seen as frightening, there is always the feeling that Belle, Leah and Raff will succeed. As a non-child, I enjoyed this read and can highly recommend it to stimulate young, enquiring minds.

Be sure to pop on over to Amazon to check out The Children of When, plus Jennifer Redmile's other works, here on Amazon:

maisie by julie elizabeth powell

3/8/2017

Like all of Julie Elizabeth Powell's books that I've read to date, Maisie is something straight from the author's fertile mind and imagination. It is a delightful fantasy adventure about a young, blind, seven-year-old, orphan by the name of Maisie.
Maisie always wondered about her past, as she tries to cope with the difficulties of living in a foster home and attending sch0ol where she is mercilessly tormented and bullied by her peers. It is only at night, in her dreams, where Maisie feels free, where she is able to see and where she discovers that there may be more to her world than she first thought.
Finally, thrown into one of her dreams, she discovers herself in the magical world of Mageia, where it seems she is vitally important to the future of the world. Required to grow up and take responsibility very early, Maisie discovers she is so much more than she thought she was.
Powell's descriptive abilities are well displayed here as she gives the reader an incredibly vivid word picture of this new world, Maisie has found herself on. The collection of characters Maisie runs into and befriends are as weird as they are wonderful. Powell's imagination can never be faulted in the books of hers I've read thus far.
Maisie is a delightful coming of age story in a world of magic, where nothing is quite what it seems. This book has the ability to appeal to children, young adults, and adults alike. If you love magic and a cast of amazing characters, I know you'll enjoy Maisie.

You can check out the full Julie Elizabeth Powell portfolio here on Amazon:

children of the future by jane suen

9/5/2017

Children of the Future by Jane Suen is a pleasant, little read that is most suitable for readers at senior elementary level or middle-school.
The story follows a school bus driver, Telly and his young friend Billy, who discover that all the children and teachers of their small elementary school have disappeared. When Billy heard the commotion, he hid in a cupboard and was saved from the fate of the others.
Who took the children? Where did they go? and What will happen to them? Telly and Billy set out to find out, as the entire town turns out to search for the missing children.
Ther book is well written, the wording and sentence structure appropriate for the age group and there is plenty of mystery and action to keep a young mind engaged.
A little twist at the end will reveal the true nature of the story and I found that to be interesting and thought-provoking.
All in all, Children of the Future is a good, solid, young person's book that would appeal to a wide age range. Four, solid stars from this reviewer.

You can check out Jane Suen's work here on Amazon:

dog of the ancients: Book 1, 5-Ever series by tammy berg

20/2/2017

Possibly the best thing about being a reviewer of Indie fiction is the immense diversity of material that crosses my desk and my Kindle. Before becoming an author and a reviewer, there is little doubt I would never, in a million years, picked up a children's/young adult's book like Dog of the Ancients and read it. I would have been poorer for having missed the experience.
Dog of the Ancients is an absolutely charming little tale of animals, magic, and the underworld. In Dog of the Ancients, the animals have been put on Earth to guard and protect humans against evil. Josie has always had a special connection with the animals on her farm, but it is only when she reaches the point of believing they can communicate with her, that she actually realises she can talk to the animals and they can talk back to her.
The author takes us on a journey meeting all the animals on the farm, each with their own unique identities and quirks from the plethora of cats right down to the field mice in the barn, every animal has a place in the grand scheme of things and every animal has purpose and dignity.
Most special, to Josie, of all the animals, is her dog, Brodie. The connection she has with Brodie supersedes that of a normal human/pet bond and it is Brodie that first makes communication with Josie.
With fairies, magical animals, and evil worms, this book has every element one looks for in a children's or young adult's fantasy novel. It is magical enough to be exciting and awe-inspiring. It is scary enough to make the young one's take notice, but not frightening enough to scare them off.
I loved the use of the "five-ever" tag in both the story and the blurb. Because it is so much longer than "four-ever"!
This book is magical and if you have young one's who like fantasy, rest assured they can read Dog of the Ancients, without getting terrified. There are plenty of life lessons to be imparted by these animals, fairies, and humans. A great story - want to read book 2 now.

Do check out what else Tammy Berg has to offer, here on Amazon:

Teddy & lily: true friendship is unconditional loyalty by lily amis

8/2/2017

What can you say about this simply, yet beautifully, illustrated book for children, that is really for each and every one of us. Yes, I can truly picture reading Teddy and Lily to any of my eleven grandchildren, at bedtime, but the message contained within the pages of this book is not restricted to age. The love of a stuffed toy (especially a favourite teddy bear) transcends gender, culture, age and education. A Teddy Bear is the universal symbol of love and cuddles and that is exactly what it feels like to read Lily Amis' fantastic story (based on her own experiences). It feels like you are being wrapped up in the loving arms of your Teddy.
Teddy & Lily is fundamentally a book about the values of love, friendship, respect, equality, and trust. It manages to convey these strong human emotions in a sweet, simple, and beautiful story.
One of the many great things about this book is the perspective from which the tale is told. The story is related through the eyes of Teddy.
From a souvenir shop in Singapore's Changi Airport, where Teddy waits on the shelves for that someone special to choose him, through to still being Lily's best friend twenty years later, we can follow the life of young Lily, a refugee from war-torn Iran and her mother as they seek out a new life on the other side of the world, in Switzerland.
Teddy is privy to and shares in all their moments of happiness and many moments of sadness and despair.
Look, this is a fabulous story to read to, or to have your children read, but it is equally wonderful for adults to read and remind themselves why they should still strive, every single day, to be happy and to do good for others.
As you may have guessed by now, I fell in love with Teddy & Lily and can't wait to read more on their adventures. A wonderful effort by Ms Amis.

You can check out all of Lily Amis' work here on Amazon:

princess matilda's miracle by suzie jay

28/7/2016

What an absolutely delightful little children's book Princess Matilda's Miracle by Suzie Jay is. I left my childhood behind many, many moons ago, but I really enjoyed this enchanting story about Princess Matilda, who fell ill and went out to seek her Fairy Godmother for help.
Suzie Jay's writing is straightforward, easy to read and the story flows along quickly and easily. The small, but wonderful illustrations just add to this book's immense appeal to children. I could certainly envisage sitting by my grandchildren's bed and reading this story to them.
I suspect the writer had an extra motive in writing this book. There is a clear parallel between the "black cloud" illness that affects so many of Princess Matilda's village and cancer, and I guess more especially childhood cancer. This would be a lovely book to read to a poor child with cancer (or any illness really) in the hospital or at home undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
The simple, straightforward message one can take from Princess Matilda's tale is to keep being positive, never give up hope, look for the best in every situation no matter how bad it seems and always, always believe in miracles.
It is few books that can leave me with a smile on my face when I put them down, but Princess Matilda's Miracle was one of those. For this reason and just because I enjoyed the change of pace from my usual darker reading fare, I am delighted to give this book the full five stars.
Well done to the author and more power to your writing.

Suzie Jay has written a number of books, some children's and some not. You can check out all her offerings here at Amazon:

blossom and kitsume: a brief tale of earthquakes and nine tailed foxes (terrene empire book 1) by kira morgana

27/6/2016

Blossom and Kitsune is a wonderful, little children's book that delves into Japanese folklore to try to explain the natural phenomenon of earthquakes, which of course plague Japan as they do most countries surrounding the Pacific Rim of Fire.
I always enjoy dipping into another culture's folklore as it is always instructive and educational. There is so much to be learnt about culture, life and respect by examining the legends handed down through the generations through their folklore. The Japanese, especially have a wonderful history and tradition that still flows through into their society today and helps to explain their cultural makeup and their societal structures. Morgana does a marvellous job of conveying the sense of history and the beautiful settings in which the action takes place.
I found the writing to be incredibly compelling; the descriptions were vivid and alive allowing me, as a reader, to transplant myself right into the middle of the fable. It's a great story and my only gripe is it was way too short. To make up for that, the author has included an additional bonus; a sneak-peek into her new work Wind and Magic. That did allow me to enjoy more of this writer's work and I liked what I saw.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to explore other cultures, through their fables and legends. A very good read and well worth the four stars I'm giving it.

Check out more work from the talented author, Kira Morgana, here:

bedtime storybook: a book of stories for children by may j panayi

5/2/2016

Bedtime Storybook is a delightful, little book that would be absolutely perfect to read to those little ones as they are tucked up in bed. Each story is short enough to ensure that you will get through it at one sitting.

The stories themselves are simple but sweet and each one has a little, not so hidden message for our kids, such as; being happy with who you are, fitting in and not being boastful. The language Panayi uses is perfect for the age group this book is aimed at.

My only criticism and really it is not one is that the book is not long enough. I was left hankering for more of the author's homespun wisdom.

This is a little gem of a book and I would recommend it to all parents and grandparents who have their grandchildren staying over from time to time. Panayi has shown time and time again that she is capable of writing to any genre and any age group. I can honestly say that May J Panayi is now one of my favorite authors and I will always be on the lookout for her next offering. Five stars all the way for this wonderful, little book.

You can check out all of May J Panayi's work here: http://amzn.to/1KSHAqg

muddy face by rachel mcgrath

4/1/2016

Having read McGrath's earlier version of this book, Mud on Your Face, aimed at I guess the eight to twelve-year-old market and being enthralled by the simple tale and the messages it contained for our young folk, I was keen to check out the bedtime story version of the book for the younger set.

I was not disappointed. McGrath has trimmed the story down to a version that is more readable for that purpose and increased the illustrations dramatically. The illustrations match the story in that they are simple, but beautifully drawn, much like the characters in her story.

This is a fun, enjoyable book for bedtime reading that imparts some very good life lessons about love, family, and teasing or bullying. I enjoyed this read as much as the original and commend McGrath on her idea to produce similar books suitable for different audiences. I can definitely picture grandparents and parents all over the world sitting at the bedside and sharing this beautiful work with their grandchildren and children.

Another winner from McGrath. Great job and fully deserving the five stars I'm giving it.

You can check out Muddy Face here: http://amzn.to/1P6qlmo

Mud on your Face by Rachel McGrath

15/12/2015

Mud on your Face is a delightful, little story, suitable for children's reading at, I guess, eight and above. It is a beautifully written and lovingly illustrated book that is neither too long to wear at a child's patience, nor too short to be boring and predictable.

Like all good children's books, it imparts an important message that children can take away as a moral or a lesson on life. There are two morals to this story I suppose; value what you have and be careful what you wish for, both of which can resonate with adults as well as children. I have no doubt parents reading this book to their children can gain something from it, as well as the child.

Gus is an eight-year-old boy growing up in a family of eight other siblings, who sometimes feels ignored, overlooked and undervalued in such a large family. Often teased by his older brothers and even his sisters, Gus wonders what it would be like to experience life as a single child, the sole focus of his parent's attention.

When he meets Milly, in the forest, on a family, camping trip, she takes him on an adventure that explores the possibilities of living a different life, for Gus.

McGrath is a talented author and makes her two principal characters Gus and Milly very believable and likable. This is a warm and gentle story that imparts her message with simplicity and love. The simple illustrations add to the appeal of the book, especially for children. The illustrations are not lavish, but they are sweet and simple, very much like the prose and characters in this book.

I really enjoyed this simple break away from the serious novels that I would normally read. As a book that could be read either as a bedtime read for a child, or a bedtime story in conjunction with an adult, I feel Mud on your Face fits the bill perfectly. I would recommend it to parents and grandparents everywhere as a gift for their children or grandchildren.

This book thoroughly deserves the five stars I have given it. I understand the author is producing a version of this book for the even younger set. An excellent idea, the sentiments expressed in this book are applicable to all age levels. A great, little story.

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