September 20, 2024 · 7:00 am

Milo and the Big Yawn by Milt Lowe (Book Review)

In Milo and the Big Yawn, Milo Crenshaw is a mischievous boy with the annoying ability to make everyone yawn.

In other words, Milo is a bit of a brat.

He loves tormenting his sisters, teachers, classmates, police officers, and everyone else he sees. That is, until one day when Milo discovers the joy of being a hero instead. He learns that using his talent to deal with bullies and scary lions and helping kids and parents is a lot more fun and rewarding. Impossible to read without yawning in appreciation of the story, this humorous book makes the perfect bedtime reading.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

Everyone is different to some degree. Your uniqueness might stem from a physical trait, talent, hobby, skill, life choices, etc. For Milo Crenshaw, nobody could yawn bigger than him.

Have you ever found yourself yawning just because someone near you did? I have, and the people occupying space near Milo couldn’t help but succumb to the need to stretch their faces and deliver one large yawn, too. Some individuals who witnessed Milo’s superpower didn’t just yawn once and go about their day. No, many people yawned and fell asleep like the principal and soccer players.  

You’ve heard the infamous line, “With great power comes great responsibility.” In the case of the two bullies, Milo used his superpower, aka his infectious yawns, to put the brother/bullies asleep. Nice move! His yawns also had a surprising effect on a zoo animal. (Identity withheld on purpose. Read the story to learn more.)

Milo became famous for his superpower. Parents called him, asking if he would use his power to get their kids to sleep at night.

If Milo’s power was present in the real world, he could’ve made a fortune working his sleepy time magic on all the world’s children!

Adult insomniacs would definitely utilize his power to get some much-needed zzzz’s.

I had mixed feelings regarding the illustrations. The zoo animal was cute. Bullies catching some zzz’s was funny. I didn’t care for the long and large round faces of the non-yawning people. Kids will likely find them humorous. On a separate note, I didn’t understand why Milo’s yawns didn’t affect every parent in the group yawn image (17). I would’ve also moved the text fully onto the purple background for easy visibility. Maybe even bump up font size on every page. (I am mentioning these suggestions because I had to enlarge the text on the PDF.)

Milo and the Big Yawn was a cute, funny, quick read that will induce yawns. The perfect time to read this book is at naptime or bedtime.

Amazon’s recommended reading age is 4-9 years.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Ingramspark.com

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

A former copywriter at top New York City advertising agencies, Milt Lowe has won over 60 major awards -including Gold and Silver Lions at the TV Cannes Film Festival – and has written humor pieces for The New York Daily News and Advertising Age. Milt has written four children’s books so far.

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September 16, 2024 · 7:00 am

The Ghastly Mr Denton and the Handsome Miss Jane by D.L Richards (Book Spotlight)

 

The town of Dolton, surely voted the country’s most mundane. The townsfolk herded about their days, lives cemented in tradition and a rigid social hierarchy – in which the top tier could be defined in a word: ostentatious. Their importance did not permit the acknowledgement of plebeians, who they generally agreed were more animal than civilised. Until the arrival of Mr Denton, that is. His barbaric display at the Dolton Women’s Club ignites Miss Jane’s long-dormant rebellious spirit – while utterly humiliating the avaricious widow Ms Greer.

Will his questionable behaviour lead to an uprising – or leave Dolton devastated.

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Her eyes settled on a newspaper left on a nearby side table. The headline had been the talk of the town.

‘Such an audacious plan,’ Miss Jane baited.

Raising an eyebrow, he paused his treatment.

‘Pardon, Miss?’

‘The two thieves caught with close to ten thousand pounds from the Dolton Bank,’ Miss Jane nodded at the newspaper.

‘Audacious?’ Mr Adams grinned. ‘In my opinion, a remarkably overcomplicated heist for so little a prize.’

‘A rather dubious response. Have you experience in theft, Mr Adams? You believe one can casually rob a bank by walking in and out?’

‘Does this look like the face of a felon?’ he teased with a smile. ‘I’m afraid my life rather dull for such adventures. Though I believe it would make for an exhilarating career.’

‘Career? I fail to see how felony could be classed as an occupation or considered exhilarating, Mr Adams. Though were it your chosen career, I have no doubt it would be rather fleeting.’

‘You offend me, Miss Jane. The most straightforward ideas are often the best. And do not tell me you have never been tempted to pocket an item secretly while perusing a store or market.’

‘Perhaps as a child, Mr Adams. As an adult and a law-abiding citizen, I am perfectly able to obtain items through legal means. Might I add, I believe one finds greater happiness from the satisfaction of exercising self-control than succumbing to temptation.’

‘Must one not first taste temptation in order to induce self-control?’

 ‘A fool’s reply.’

‘Then a fool stands before you.’

 

Click HERE to read the review on Kam’s Place! (Date shared: 9/11/23)

Check out my review on Reedsy. 

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Meet the Author

When not deftly dodging venomous spiders or outwitting the cunning drop bear, D.L. Richards can be found escaping reality through short story crafting. Residing in the mythical land of Australia, where kangaroos casually hop down the streets, D.L draws endless inspiration from the whimsical world that surrounds him. His debut novelette, The Ghastly Mr Denton and the Handsome Miss Jane, was published in 2023.

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September 13, 2024 · 7:00 am

The Grumpy Growly Tree (Stories With Heart Book 3) by Debi K Fraser (Book Review)

The animals in the forest are scared of the Grumpy, Growly Tree. The other trees are growing as far away as be. But is there more to Grumpy than what they see?

Join the forest animals in their daily adventures and follow along as they learn that sometimes things are not always as they seem. In a story that reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness can sometimes make the biggest difference.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The Grumpy Growly Tree, the third book in the “Stories with Heart” series, is a heartfelt story about the power of love, kindness, and acceptance. 

Grumpy was a sad and lonely tree whose face reflected these feelings. Other trees and many animals reacted unfavorably when they saw Grumpy’s droopy facial features. His forest companions either kept their distance from him or fled in fright. Grumpy’s fellow trees and nine animal visitors never stopped to ask if he was okay. Why did he look so sad? Thankfully, one adorable forest animal didn’t dash away in fright. Instead, this sweet animal stopped and talked to Grumpy, and in doing so, they discovered Grumpy was not grumpy at all; the tree was sad and lonely, and they only wanted someone to love them. (I kept the animal’s name a secret on purpose.) 

In real life, people are judged for looking, acting, or speaking differently from what their peers consider “normal.” Often, it is for the color of their skin. Sometimes, we look at someone’s facial expression and decide to keep a safe distance from them. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of such judgments, you’ll empathize with the sad tree in this story.

The Grumpy Growly Tree beautifully demonstrates the power of kindness. It proves that one act, big or small, can profoundly affect a person’s life. It can lift spirits, give hope, and give a person a reason to smile. The cute animal in the story caused all three effects on the initially grouchy-looking tree. I must say, the artist made the cutest sad tree ever! I loved his big nose and expressive eyes. The illustrated “a light of love so bright” page and all the glowing drawings after that made my face light up, much like the tree.

I adored the children’s book’s positive underlying messages: We all deserve love and should treat others how we want to be treated: with kindness and acceptance!

I recommend this wonderful story to children 3- 7 years.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  ❤❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Author 

Debi K Fraser is the author of the Stories With Heart series of children’s picture books.

Her love of stories and the characters that inhabit them has been with her since she was old enough to hold a book. As a child she could often be found with a pile of cucumber sandwiches and any number of books containing dragons, witches and magical adventures. Her passion for creating her own naturally followed.

Although Debi is from New Zealand, she currently lives in Quebec, Canada with her two sons and her two dogs. She loves being out in nature and can often be found walking her dogs through the forest, where for her, magic and inspiration live. Stories dance their way into Debi’s imagination morning, noon and night.

But mostly in the forest.

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September 9, 2024 · 7:00 am

Felicity’s First Flight by Megan Moneypenny (Book Review)

 
Felicity the butterfly didn’t have the easiest start in life. But when she discovers an egg, she takes on the challenge of giving it the best chance to thrive. Along the journey, Felicity learns to care for herself too, finding strength in getting fit, meditating, eating well, and spending time with friends. Through vibrant illustrations and a heartwarming story, Felicity’s First Flight shows that no matter where we come from, we all have the power to grow and the potential to soar.

Join Felicity as she takes her first flight and discover the magic of believing in yourself!

 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 

Our environment impacts how we grow physically, mentally, and academically. Depending on a child’s home life, they might struggle to concentrate on school work, not get adequate nutrition, or feel alone, scared, or hopeless. 

Felicity’s start in life was not easy. Instead of being nestled on a leaf with her sibling, the egg slipped through the metaphoric crack, and the future butterfly was left alone on a mound of rocks. Despite these challenges, Felicity’s resilience shone through. While Felicity’s sibling and many other caterpillars have the fortune to be hatched around luscious food, Felicity does not. Her physical appearance reflected her abysmal surroundings. She was weaker and smaller than a typical caterpillar should be. 

Felicity’s weakened state and malnourished body continue to affect her growth. Many people struggle to change their living situation and ask for help in real life. It’s important to remember that it’s okay to ask for help. I was proud to see Felicity acknowledge she could not go on alone anymore and find the courage to seek the help she needed. 

Art imitates real life when Felicity met and asked a beetle for assistance. It’s an excellent reminder to be cautious with strangers—not everyone you meet will have good intentions. On the other hand, some people might have good intentions but make matters worse, as in the dragonfly case. I loved the dragonfly’s eyes. They most definitely gave him a “wonky” vibe.

As hard as life was for Felicity, she never let it defeat her. She found the strength and determination to push forward. She began taking better care of herself and also took responsibility for another egg. She gave her new baby everything she didn’t have as a newborn: food, love, protection, and, most importantly, a home.

Felicity is a butterfly, but her journey inspires us all. Her journey proves that with courage and determination, we can all achieve greatness and thrive even in the harshest of times. I recommend every parent read this inspirational story to their children, three years and older. As a side project, have your child or class use the information in the story to illustrate the life cycle of a butterfly. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2

New Release: Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Megan Moneypenny is a children’s author, educator, and mental health counselor originally from Sugar Land, Texas. She brings a unique perspective to her storytelling, emphasizing resilience and personal growth. Megan is dedicated to inspiring young readers to believe in themselves and their dreams.

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September 6, 2024 · 7:00 am

Sylvia Locke’s Cinderella and the Evil Fairy Godmother (Tairy Fails Book 2) by David Horn (Book Review)

Fairytale Land’s baddest girl is about to head to a prince’s ball. A modern, twisted retelling of Cinderella.

Once upon a time in Fairytale Land, there lived Sylvia Locke—the baddest girl around. So bad that her grandparents have shipped her off to live with her uptight Aunt Marjorie and two goody-two-shoes step-cousins. When an invitation to the prince’s ball arrives, Sylvia is determined to attend at any cost, even if it means enlisting the help of an evil fairy godmother (against Fairytale Land laws, but has that ever stopped her?).

Along this chaotic quest, Sylvia stumbles into some unexpectedly imperfect friends. But will she also learn to appreciate those who truly care for her? The second book in the Tairy Fails series of modern, twisted retelling that puts a hilarious, rebellious, new spin on the classic fairy tales. Perfect for elementary school kids and early chapter book readers.

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Sylvia is back in another comical tale that has her embracing her dark side. This time, the story follows Sylvia as her grandparents force her to spend some time with her Aunt Majorie and step-cousins, Macey and Lacey, in Buttzville. Funny name, right?! Wait until you hear what the residents call themselves. It’s Buttonians! No joke! 

Sylvia is not thrilled to be vacationing with these “goody-goodies.” She is not like them; she has an aversion to being polite. She finds amusement in doing bad acts. For starters, Sylvia kicks the twins out of their room, forcing them to sleep in the basement with the biting spiders. The morning after she arrives, she’s all set to prank them with a fake tarantula when a messenger arrives from the royal family. Every 5th-grade girl with a B and higher average can attend the royal ball. The prince will select one girl to be his honorary princess until he reaches eighteen unless it is a leap year. The appointee will have to wave, smile, and do some schmoozing. Lacey and Macey think the idea is wonderful; Sylvia finds it lame. Cue another bad act courtesy of Silvia.

Since all attendees need proof of good grades to enter the ball, Sylvia alters her step-cousins’ report cards, giving each a C and D. Meanwhile, she is a solid B student thanks to a quick fix back in Farmington. (Read the story to discover why Sylvia needed to hide the actual contents of her report card from her grandparents.) Aunt Majorie tells Sylvia she can’t attend the ball despite her “good” grades. Sylvia has no desire to attend the ball, but being told she can’t do something only ignites her desire to defy her aunt. She’s known as Sylvia the bad for a reason. 

In the sweet Disney fairytale, Cinderella is the good girl, and her stepsisters are evil. In this version, the step-relatives are the good ones, and the third wheel, aka Sylvia, is the evil one. In both stories, a godmother appears in a mist of sparkles. But unlike Cinderella, Sylvia doesn’t get a sweet old lady wearing a hooded periwinkle cloak with giant sleeves and a big pink bow on the front. Oh no, Sylvia’s fairy godmother appears wearing all black, has spiky black hair and black lipstick, and carries wands that don’t always work as intended. Cinderella’s godmother has only good intentions, whereas Sylvia’s godmother only “helps” evildoers complete their evil tasks.  

I found the interactions between Pamela, the evil fairy godmother, and Sylvia amusing. Pamela complained about the used wand prices at the Fairy Farmer’s Market. When she waved it, it was a 50/50 chance the wand would work properly. You get what you pay for, right?! I laughed when Sylvia was confused about what cassette tapes and tracksuits were. She never grew to appreciate a cassette deck, but she did see the beauty of a tracksuit. She’s right; they feel great, are loose, and are easy to move in. 

There’s no pumpkin turning into a stunning coach. (Read the story to find out why!) There is a self-driving and talking car. It’s no KITT (from Knight Rider), but it does know how to move fast and handle itself in a car chase. Sylvia faces the same midnight deadline, which didn’t seem like a big deal to her at the start of the night, but her attitude changes as the night progresses, thanks to Prince Quinn. 

Read the story to discover what “souvenir” from the magical night reunites Prince Quinn with Sylvia.

Read the story to see if Sylvia and her grandparents leave Farmington to live with the royal family in Rainbow City. 

Read the story to discover if Sylvia becomes a “goody-goody” person like her aunt and cousins.

Read this story because it had many humorous moments, and the images are just as entertaining as the story. Love ROBO-MAID and their French maid outfit! 

Pick up the print edition for the bonus material: coloring sheets. 

As much as I did love the story, I wish the illustrations were in color. They were lovely as is, but I wanted to see the attendees’ outfits in something other than black, white, and gray tones. Kids will want to see Pamela’s drastic outfit change from goth to pink pajamas. There are two more items I want to note. For one, the story states the prince is wearing a red-and-gold tracksuit, but the image paired with the scene shows him wearing typical royal attire. It didn’t look like a tracksuit to me. And two, the writer mistakenly wrote Gram-Gram without a hyphen. The second is a quick editing change. 

I recommend reading both books in the Tairy Fails series. It will cause random outbursts of laughter and endless smiles. Its intended audience is elementary school kids and early chapter book readers.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

David Horn lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters, and a funny dog named Trixie. He is the author of the popular Eudora Space Kid early reader humorous sci-fi chapter book series. He enjoys making kids laugh.

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