The Three Lost Kids & The Death of the Sugar Fairy by Kimberly Kinrade

Title: The Three Lost Kids & The Death of the Sugar Fairy
Author/Editor: Kimberly Kinrade
Publisher: Evolved Publishing

Rating: WORTHY!

This is a delightful and perfect story for young children for Halloween. It’s sugary, just like the candy all the kids are hoping for, but it carries an important message about how badly that candy can harm your teeth and upset your stomach. The story features the author's own kids - at least in name: Maddie, the oldest, and Lexie and Bella, the two younger ones.

When they go out on Halloween, they discover, to their dismay, that very few people are getting into the, er, spirit of the celebration. When they arrive at a strange and deserted house, they’re rather intrigued by the open door and Bella rushes inside. There's a skeleton there which seems way more animated than is healthy for a set of bones!

Maddie and Lexie are rather scared, but Bella has disappeared and they have to find her. Besides, the front door seems to have disappeared, so they're pretty much stuck. Upstairs they find a fairy which is dying. It’s the Sugar Fairy and in order to save her, they must once again venture into fairy-tale land, recover her child, and bring her a petal from the birthing flower to restore her health and energy.

The three girls have to brave the cave of cavities, the giant gummy bear guards, the nipping sugar bugs, and the mystery of where in the world is that magic flower with the baby fairy inside. I don’t think it's much of a spoiler to relate that they succeed and learn some valuable lessons on the way. Well-written, and beautifully-worded, this is a very short and totally charming story with lots of action and adventure, and a sound moral root. I recommend it whole-heartedly, and healthily teethily!

KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece by Shannon Jones

Title: KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece
Author: Shannon Jones
Publisher: Calithumpian
Rating: WORTHY!

DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review. The chance to read a new novel is reward aplenty!

Wonderfully illustrated by Casey Uhelski.

Don’t tell my wife, but KeeKee had me at the cover, which is why I requested to review this. I was inordinately thrilled to receive this young children's adventure book because I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. How could I be with a cute kitten like this on the front? Her only competition was Athena, but for me it was always KeeKee, a can-do cat who doesn’t let half a world get in the way of travel, adventure, fun, and education (and in that order, too!).

She's already been to Roma and Paris in previous books, so this time, it's Athens! Off she romps in her hot-air balloon, and soon she's traveling over Europe and touching down in one of the oldest cities in the world. I've been to Athens more than once, and I love it just as much each time. She visits the Parthenon, and the oldest neighborhood in Athens (the Parthenon isn't?!), the Plaka, which frankly I don’t personally remember from my trips, but that's Ouzo for you….

You know what I think they should do with old monuments like the Parhtenon? Of course not, so I'll tell you! They should move such priceless antiquities bodily into a protected area, and build a brand new one in the original location to represent it at the height of its glory. What a sight the Parhtenon would be then!

But I digress! With her owl friend who is showing her around the lively and thriving city, they get to sample moussaka and tzatziki. Now if you say those words as you eat the food, you can be sure you've chewed it properly…(mouth closed, of course!). KeeKee ends-up as stuffed as an olive. Her words, not mine, but they made me laugh out loud. I guess that's a LolCat, huh? When I was in Greece, they had this spaghetti at my hotel which is the best I've ever tasted anywhere. And I fell in love with stuffed grape leaves there, too. I still eat those whenever I can get 'em! I don't really miss the retsina....

Anyway, KeeKee has a lot of fun, and after confusing 'dork columns' with 'Doric columns' she learns a lot, too. And on that subject major kudos to author Shannon Jones for avoiding the absurd mythology of Atlantis, and instead putting in a realistic interpretation featuring the fascinating island of Santorini. Casey Uhelski deserves a mention too for the artwork, which really is quite captivating. It’s due to her that I'm in love with KeeKee!

There's even a glossary in the back to teach you a little more about the places KeeKee visited, and where you can learn a little Greek - and no, it wasn't all Greek to me. Many of the phrases were familiar even though it's been a while since I was there. This story made me want to visit again, but I won’t hold that against it!

This story had nothing wrong with it at all. It was perfect, and an ideal way to introduce young children to exotic places. Enticingly written, gorgeously and colorfully illustrated, and very educational, I highly recommend this for those of appropriate age - and children, too!

An Armadillo in Paris by Julie Kraulis

Title: An Armadillo in Paris
Author/Illustrator: Julie Kraulis
Publisher: Tundra
Rating: WORTHY!

DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review.

OK, I wanna say right up front that this is all Kraulis's fault. I had nothing to do with it. She made me laugh. It's all on her. Seriously. How can you not want to read a book with a title like this one?

The best thing about it is that it proved to be hilarious and completely up to its promise. The line drawings are splashed with color, beautifully done (quite the artist is our Ms. K), and the story is a real tease.

Frankly I had initially thought that the 'Iron Lady' was - no, not Margaret Thatcher, silly - but Lady Liberty. Of course there are two immediate problems with that: Lady Liberty is made from copper (although the framework was iron and designed by someone who played a crucial role in this story!), and she's not in Paris, she's in New York City; however, as Nicholas Cage's character pointed out in National Treasure 2, Lady Liberty originated in France, and there are copies of her there which might have been made from iron. Maybe.

But my initial idea was WRONG, and I'm armadillo enough to admit it! Shame on me since I've actually been to Paris and visited the Iron Lady without realizing it was known by that title! The novel also has a little info page listing some interesting trivia about its subject, so one must be sure to stop by there whilst one consumes one's stuffed croissant.

So anyway, you have to figure it out for yourself, just as Arlo the nine-banded armadillo did. I loved this story. I loved the depiction of Arlo which I found endlessly entertaining. Like I said, it's Kraulis's fault, so I'm really, really sorry if she didn't intend that...the hell with it. No I'm not sorry. I laughed my derriere off and I'm proud to admit it! There! Stuff that in your Place de la Concorde n'est-ce pas?!

For some reason this children's story just hit my os du coude. No, not that one, the one on the other side. No, a bit further over. Aw, you've gone too far; c'mon back and start again. Frankly I'm convinced that I got way more out of this than ever the author intended, especially given how far out of the target age group I am, but the fact is that you have to really get into this and do a stereotypical French accent and ham it up for maximal effect. It was a blast and I completely recommend it.

Furmaid by Julia Dweck

Title: Furmaid
Author: Julia Dweck
Publisher: Kite Readers
Rating: WORTHY!

Beautifully Illustrated by Aida Sofia Barba Flores.

Sorry there are no inside images here. I read this on my phone! Yes, olde fashionede print book me! But how convenient is it that you can entertain your kids with reading material on your phone?

So, this is a really short bed-time or kids are feeling down kinda story about a mermaid who happens to have been born with fur instead of scales. Hmmm! Naturally she feels like a freak, and other mermaids make fun of her until it turns suddenly very cold in the neighborhood. I wonder who the most popular mer-person is then, huh?

I love that this story celebrates being different not as a handicap or a problem, but as a positive thing - even an essential thing that others will come to appreciate you for if you give them half a chance. Don't back down. Don't get down on yourself. Think positively and you're halfway there. I recommend this one.

If by David J Smith

Title: If
Author: David J Smith
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Rating: WORTHY!

DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review.

Illustrated by Steve Adams

This book is exactly as advertised: A mind-bending new way of looking at big ideas and numbers. Well - apart form the 'new' bit. This kind of thing has been done before, for example in the Cosmos TV series, but not quite so extensively. It is a remarkable and amazing book which not only reminded me of things I'd all-but-forgotten (to my shame!), it also educated me about some things of which everyone ought really to be aware, so this isn't just a really attention-grabbing and educational book for children (written by a teacher). Everyone can benefit from its successful effort to tame out-sized numbers and bring facts down to a level where we can really see and appreciate them for what they are.

The chapter headers (the chapters are really short and copiously illustrated) are quite arresting enough as it is:

• If
  
• Our Galaxy



• The Planets


• History of Earth


• Life on Earth



• Events of the last 3000 Years


• Inventions Through Time


• Inventions of the Last 1000 Years


• The Continents


• Water


• Species of Living things


• Money


• Energy



• Life Expectancy


• Population


• Food


• Your Life


• A Note for Parents and Teachers


• Sources

Some of this book's content might seem fantastical or counter-intuitive at first glance, but as far as I could tell (without trying to run down every single thing that was in the book!), the author is right on the money. When it comes to information like this, it's not the facts that are in error. What's in error is our inability to appreciate them for what they mean, and for what they can teach us about this world upon which we're so completely dependent. The fossil fuel reliance fact alone is shocking.

I recommend this book for children - that way you can buy it for them, but sneak a quick read without having to feel embarrassed. Better yet, volunteer to read through it with them and thereby misdirect everyone from your ulterior motive! And I won't even charge you for sending that sneaky scheme your way...!

Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales by Dan Dugi & Bli Marston Dugi

Title: Don't Judge a Lizard by His Scales
Author: Dan Dugi & Bli Marston Dugi
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Rating: worthy!

DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review.

Note that I had a minor problem with this in that the story doesn't work too well on an antique Kindle! If you're going to buy this one, then you'll need the print book or you'll need to view it on a color medium such as an iPad, a Kindle Fire, or a Nook (which is actually cheaper than the same-sized Kindle). I could see the images on my Kindle, but they were gray-scale (not the best way to appeal to a young child!) and the text was too small too read.

This is a young children's story, part of a series titled 'The Principle Gang', designed to offer parents an opportunity to explore with their children such concepts as friendship, bullying, and prejudice. This is the only one of this series I've read, and it centers on Danny the Wizard Lizard's attempts to become friends with Bli the Fly. Given that these characters are named after the story's writers, some might have fun with the psychology underlying that idea, but the story itself is really quite charming and easily introduces the issue of how and even whether people who are ostensibly so different can become real friends.

Amusingly, Danny confines himself to a fly-free diet in an effort to convince Bli's mom that he's genuinely interested in being friends with Bli, and has no ulterior motive. He also wisely meets with Bli's mom beforehand, and they agree to all three of them going to a movie together, so they can hang out and get to know one another, and so Bli's mom can feel comfortable that her daughter is quite safe. There's an element of bullying explored as a lizard gang appears threateningly at the movie theater, but in the end everything works out. Why Danny deals with a mom and not a stereotypically more foreboding dad is a question which crossed my mind, but maybe avoiding a stereotype was precisely the reason for that choice.

Those who are familiar with the story of the frog and the scorpion (or some variation thereof) might find this story a really interesting approach to tackling the problem at hand, but this is a children's story, not a philosophical treatise. Clearly the first step in overcoming prejudice, misconception, and appropriate versus inappropriate friendships is that of opening a conversation. You can't get anywhere without that, and the best time to start such a conversation is when your child is young and has no such prejudice. Children are not born racist or bigoted; they learn this from those around them as they grow, and if these friendship-smothering concepts are not going to suffocate a child's psyche, they need to be aired out at an early date.

The only way to start a conversation is with the first words, and these first words are a really good way to go. I recommend this story.

Kobee Manatee: Heading Home to Florida by Robert Scott Thayer

Title: Kobee Manatee: Heading Home to Florida
Author: Robert Scott Thayer
Illustrator: Lauren Gallegos
Publisher: Thompson Mill Press
Rating: WORTHY!

DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review.

It’s been a while since I've reviewed anything aimed at really young children, so this one is long overdue. It's also unusual to have a guy write a story of this nature (at least in my experience!), so that's another good reason to dive in! My own kids are too old for a story like this, but when they were younger I would have loved to have read this to them, and they would have loved to hear it. This is exactly the kind of story which children need, and I'll tell you why: when those children grow up, they will be the ones who are making decisions about the fate of this planet and the life on it and if they're ignorant about what the problems and threats are, then how on Earth (quite literally) are they going to be able to make smart decisions about what to do for the best?

I'm not a big fan of anthropomorphizing animals, but there's no getting away from it since young children are swamped with this, and perhaps it isn’t such a bad thing to have them think of animals as "other kinds of people" if it helps them to grasp and appreciate how inextricably integrated the life on this planet is. This story isn’t an educational text book, it’s a story, but that's no reason why it can’t also be educational, and Thayer doesn’t let us down. Kobee spent his summer way north of where he ought to be hanging out, and when it starts turning cold, he almost has a cow - a sea-cow that is! He heads back home to Florida with all speed, and he picks up a couple of friends on the way. I really oughtn't to give out spoilers, so I won't outright say who they are, but one of them is rather crabby and the other is a little hoarse...!

The joy of this particular story is that it takes an endangered animal and imbues the whole story with the idea of helping each other, and then it goes one step further and adds a little info burst to each illustration giving just a snippet of real information about manatees, offering not only interesting, but useful and educational information.

If there's an issue I had with this, then it wasn't Kobee's jaunty cap and waistcoat or his amazingly appropriate name. Though far from accurate of course, the clothes were rather fun, and I was glad to see all the other manatees, at the end of the journey were illustrated accurately: "the way nature intended", as they say. Indeed, Gallegos's multi-color illustrations were excellent, and complemented Thayer's playful text neatly. I loved Tess's fiery red hair-do and Pablo the crab's klutziness. What bothered me was that all three of these guys had light colored eyes (Kobee and Tess blue, and Pablo green). There were no brown eyes to be found even though that color of eye (in all its shades) is the most common on the planet. As long as we’re anthropomorphizing (and as long as the animals themselves do not have those specific eye colors!), let’s try and be a bit more inclusive! I found this particularly odd given that Gallegos is herself brown of hue and eye; she seems so very youthful, too - obviously she has a long career ahead of her. At least I hope she does. Thayer too.

Other than that quibble, I recommend this story for the appropriate age children. It’s well-worth sharing with your young 'uns. And please do go visit the website the book recommends: Save the Manatee! It's a place you can share with your kids, learn more, and even donate.