Tag Archives: colorful illustrations

Gator Gray Gets Away by Heidi Brooks (Book Review)

Join Gator Gray on a whimsical adventure in
Gator Gray Gets Away!

 

This delightful tale follows the mischievous Gator Gray, who loves to crawl and explore, much to the amusement (and occasional exasperation) of his family. With a knack for getting into all sorts of playful trouble—from sneaking under beds to nibbling on bugs—Gray’s antics keep everyone on their toes!

As his family searches for solutions, Gator Gray’s journey takes a surprising turn. Will he ever trade in his crawling for walking? With heartwarming moments and plenty of giggles, this charming story captures the essence of childhood curiosity and the joy of growing up.

Perfect for children aged 3 to 9, Gator Gray Gets Away celebrates the playful spirit of little ones while reminding readers that every step of growth is worth cheering for. With whimsical rhymes and engaging illustrations, this book is sure to become a bedtime favorite for families everywhere!

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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.

 

In the first several months, parents and babies will share many firsts: first smile, first laugh, the first time they roll over, plus many more. Around the 5th month mark, some babies start rocking, and soon after, they begin exploring their environment on all fours. They go from moving at a snail’s pace to zooming around the house, touching everything at eye level, and putting anything in their path into their mouth. They are constantly on the go, and parents reach a new level of tiredness. 

Gator Gray, a lively baby, was always on the move. He could be found under the table, under the bed, or in one location and then mysteriously gone the next. The dad’s exasperated call to his other two sons, “Go and find some glue,” had me chuckling. The text and accompanying illustrations of Gator Gray with his finger up his nose and his toes in his mouth were equally amusing. Parents, if you thought only your child behaved this way, rest assured you are not alone. Gator Gray’s adventures are a mirror image of every energetic child!

When the day came when Gator Gray pushed himself upright, I knew the parents’ days of rest were not quite upon them. Yes, it’s a monumental day when our child takes their first step. However, a child on their feet is quicker and more apt to get into mischief, which spells the end of relaxing while the child is awake. Like the parents in this humous children’s book, we quickly learn the importance of baby-proofing every door cause if a child reaches a doorknob, they will escape. 

I adored reading Gator Gray Gets Away. It read like any day from my children’s first couple of years. I highly recommend sharing this with your children, especially if a new baby is coming. There were a few grammar errors, but the laughs this adorable picture book brought me far outweighed any shortcomings. It’s a must-read for parents! 

Sit back, relax, and read Gator Gray Gets Away. Read fast, though, because if your youngster is like Gator Gary, they won’t sit still long! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  ❤1/2
(rounded to five on Amazon and Goodreads)

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Meet the Author

Heidi Brooks is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose delightful experiences with her grandchildren fuel her passion for writing. With a lifelong love for children’s literature, Heidi is particularly inspired by the whimsical worlds of Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss, and Roald Dahl.

Her keen sense of humor allows her to find joy in the everyday antics of her grandchildren, often turning their adventures into tales featuring brave heroes and heroines.

When she’s not writing, Heidi cherishes spending quality time with her family, embarking on countless adventures that spark laughter and inspire her next story. Through her writing, she hopes to capture the magic of childhood and share it with young readers everywhere.

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Punctuation Retreat: Adventures in Language by G. L. Sinclair (Book Review)

Brimming with wit & whimsy, this sweet picture book is a creative & stress-free introduction to basic punctuation. In this delightful children’s book, each punctuation mark comes to life with its own personality, helping readers understand their important roles in writing. Join the overworked punctuation marks as they embark on a whimiscal retreat to four Caribbean Islands! Hitchhiking on a tourist book to board the airplane, these lively characters take young readers on a colorful adventure. With vibrant illustrations and playful rhymes, discover how commas help you take a breath, periods end a sentence, question marks make you wonder, exclamation points show excitement and much more. This enchanting journey makes learning punctuation fun and memorable.

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

 

Learning how to punctuate a sentence properly can be tiresome. Most kids would rather be doing anything else than editing a sentence or paragraph. Teachers and (homeschooling) parents continually search for new ways to excite their students or children about learning. Well, look no further… Punctuation Retreat makes learning fun! 

In chapter one, the writer uses alliteration (words that start with the same letter) when presenting most of the punctuation marks: Penelope Period, Cedric Comma, Eloise Exclamation, Quincy Question, Lenny and Ricky (left and right quotation marks), Clara Colon, Sammy Semicolon, Amelia Apostrophe, Harry Hyphen, Peter and Pippa (open and close parenthesis), and Spencer Space. Swirly McWhirlpool (@ used in emails and to tag), Señor Wiggleworth (~ aka the tilde), Dottie Ellipsis (…) didn’t follow the alliteration route, but their names were catchy and cute, nonetheless. During the first few pages, readers will notice that each character’s name is assigned a specific color with their corresponding mark in the same hue. For example, Quincy Question was in dark green, and so was their punctuation mark. A creative touch that extensively feeds into visual stimuli, which is how most of the information is transmitted to the brain.  

Feeling overworked and underappreciated, the punctuation pals set off to a Punctuation Island Retreat for much-needed rest, relaxation, and fun. The first stop is Havana, where kids learn about Cuba’s capital and gain insight into the unique way the Spanish language uses question marks and exclamation points. Readers will also get the inside scoop on the “squiggly line over the N”: its name in English and Spanish and its function. 

Next, the punctuation marks jet off to the Cayman Islands, my dream vacation spot. There is much to do there, and the weather and sights are beautiful! In this chapter (#3), readers discover fun activities the island holds while understanding which grammar mark goes where. Readers will learn interesting facts, too. For instance, I had no idea of Blackbeard’s real name. Do you? If you answered no, I encourage you to pick up this wonderful book and discover the answer. Attend the Pirate Week Festival, too!  

After the friend group hopped out of the tourist book and into a magazine, they flew to Martinique, a French-speaking island many readers might have yet to hear of. During this section, I noticed the most missed opportunities to shade and bold punctuation marks used by their namesakes, like Amelia and her apostrophes. On the plus side, this chapter (#4) taught me a thing or two. I discovered how important ONE grammar mark was to the French people (to all of us, really) and what the French used in place of quotation marks. The most significant language difference came when the punctuation marks team visited Jamaica. (Read the sign written in Jamaican Patois and ask your class to note the differences and similarities between it and American English.)

Punctuation Retreat takes readers on an amazing adventure from Cuba to the Grand Cayman, onward to Martinique, and then to Jamaica before returning home. Kids learn to punctuate sentences correctly, are introduced to foreign languages, and gather wonderful information about each tourist spot. Young or old, we will all discover something new during our journey. Though I applaud the writer’s innovative way of teaching kids how, where, and why each punctuation mark is used, the writer missed moments when punctuation was not highlighted when their character spoke. But again, I must commend the long hours spent crafting this book; it had to be no easy feat! 

Punctuation Retreat presents information in a whimsical and fun way that’ll entertain kids instead of their typical reaction to grammar lessons — yawns. This book hits the mark from text to images, and I recommend including it in your grammar lessons. BTW: my favorite was the tilde. I loved the artist’s play on the grammar mark, using it as a mustache for Señor Wiggleworth.

 

Amazon’s recommended age group is 5-11 years.

 

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

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Meet the Author

I am an accountant by profession and have retired after many years of service. I always wanted to write a book. I developed a series of 6 books on punctuation/grammar for kids. This is a completely new experience for me, and I hope you like what I have written.


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The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe: Burnie Takes the Plunge by Andrea McLean (Book Spotlight)

Embark on a heartwarming journey of courage and friendship in “The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe, Burnie Takes the Plunge.” When Ava’s family moves to a new house with a sparkling swimming pool, excitement fills the air. But Burnie, skeptical of the water’s vast expanse, refuses to join the fun. Despite Ava and Chloe’s encouraging words, Burnie remains steadfast in his fear.

As days pass and temperatures rise, Burnie becomes more curious. With gentle coaxing from Ava, he tentatively enters the pool, only to retreat just as quickly. But as the heat intensifies, Burnie’s adventurous spirit awakens, leading to an unexpected discovery: he can swim! Filled with joy and newfound confidence, Burnie surprises everyone, especially Chloe, during a playful pool party. Through laughter and splashes, Burnie learns that trying new things can lead to unexpected joys and friendships.

“The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe, Burnie Takes the Plunge” is a charming story of overcoming fears, embracing new experiences, and the enduring bond between friends, both furry and human. Join Burnie and Chloe on their journey of discovery and dive into a world of fun and friendship.

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Take a peek inside…

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Meet the Author

Andrea C. McLean is a board-certified life, career, and executive coach. She is a global leadership coach and mentor focused on developing women leaders in corporate and university settings. Andrea has a spirit of encouragement and a passion for inspiring others on their journey toward achieving personal transformations. She can be reached at andrea@acmcoachinggroup.com and you can follow @andreacmclean on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn for more inspiration.
 
 
 

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Dingo Toad Helps a Friend by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

Join Dingo Toad on an inspiring adventure in Dingo Toad Helps a Friend. In this heartwarming tale, Dingo Toad discovers the true meaning of friendship and bravery when his friend Penny faces bullies. With a big heart and a courageous spirit, Dingo Toad stands up to the bullies and teaches us all valuable lessons about kindness, resilience, and standing up for what’s right.

Perfect for young readers, this beautifully illustrated book not only entertains but also provides important life lessons on dealing with bullies and being a good friend. Share this wonderful story with your children and help them understand that everyone has the power to make a difference.

Dingo Toad Helps a Friend is a must-read for any child who has ever faced a bully or wanted to help someone in need. Let Dingo Toad inspire your little ones to be brave and compassionate in the face of adversity.


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

 

Dingo Toad lived in the southern swamp region of planet Venesha. This uniquely illustrative character’s fashion sense resembled what Earthlings wear daily: t-shirt, shorts, and open-toed shoes. Dingo was also sporting a white mohawk. Nice hairdo!

While the alien’s style was something you’d see here on our planet, Dingo had features that definitely screamed Alien! For one, Dingo had large yellow spots covering their teal skin. They also had a toad-shaped face with two oversized eyes and mouth, two holes for nostrils, a purple tongue, three large toes on each foot, and four fingers on each hand.

While Dingo Toad looked different than you or me, they enjoyed many of the same things as us. Dingo looked very adorable playing in the bubble bath. I found it cute that Dingo was listening to his mom read him Nortis Goes Swimming—another book by Lamar and Liana Golden. Dingo shared one important similarity with humans: their planet, like ours, had bullies. When Dingo saw his friend, Penny, being bullied by Sangu and Piman, he did not hurry away. Dingo didn’t throw punches, either. He, very sternly, demanded they apologize for being “meanies,” which they did immediately.

Unfortunately, kids will encounter bullies during their school years. Maybe they will be the target, or perhaps they’ll witness someone else being harassed. No matter the situation, kids should follow Dingo’s example —use your words, not your fists. Not every bully apologizes as quickly as they did in this story. That is where the extended lesson on how to deal with bullies should be addressed with your child or class. Ask kids what they would do if their friend is being bullied, and the “meanies” don’t stop when asked.

Dingo Toad Helps a Friend is a wonderful sci-fi children’s book that shows the importance of standing up to bullies and the power of our words. I loved every colorful and imaginative illustration. The wild and wacky zoo animals were my favorite! Even though I won’t be placing flies in my ice cream or other foods any time soon, I even thought the bug-infused desserts were cute, too.

Check out this and every book featured on the planet, Venesha!

Amazon’s recommended reading age is baby-12 years.


Heart Rating System:

1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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There’s a Dinosaur in My Ear: An Ear Tube Surgery Book for Kids by Nat Gibson (Book Review)


There’s a dinosaur splashing around in Olivia’s ears.
And the only way to get it out is with special drains called Ear Tubes.

Young children and toddlers about to get ear tubes or grommets will gently learn what to expect through the fun imagination of a little girl – with the focus on catching a dinosaur, rather than surgery.

When Olivia learns her earaches are caused by a dinosaur splashing around in her ear, her imagination runs wild. Join her on an adventure as she prepares to meet the Dinosaur Catchers, who will give her ear tubes and capture that silly little dinosaur.

With just the right mix of information and humor, colorful illustrations, and a unique, kid-friendly concept, this fantasy story is designed to help parents guide their little ones through ear tube surgery and recovery in a playful, imaginative way.

For a touch of magic, have a small dinosaur ready for your child after surgery.

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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.

 

Ear pain is no laughing matter for anyone, but more so for kids. In There’s a Dinosaur in My Ear, Nat Gibson found a creative and silly way to explain what is causing the little girl’s ear pain and what to expect before, during, and after surgery. 

Like many kids around the world, Olivia suffers from chronic ear pain. The doctor informs her she has A LOT of water in her ear. She questioned how water got in her ear. This is where the silliness begins. The doctor blames it on a little dinosaur, an EAR-O-SAURUS, who readers will see splashing around in an inflatable pool. Very cute drawing! Luckily for Olivia, the doctor will enlist the help of the Dinosaur Catchers, who will put tiny tubes in the child’s ears to drain the water and capture the dinosaur, so her ears will be pain-free. 

As Olivia slept, her world transformed into a wild, imaginative scene. Instead of a stuffy backdrop, Olivia is wadding through waters and peeking through bushes with wild animals nearby. Young readers will follow Olivia’s journey from admissions (getting a nature-inspired bracelet) to the comedic picture of her bending the “weigh station.” Dinosaurs in the ear add extra pounds! After vitals and a cute costume change, Olivia and the readers meet the Dinosaur Catchers. 

Anyone’s anxiety level will rise when they face surgery or a hospital stay, especially if it’s your first time. Like with Nat Gibson’s There’s a Stegosaurus in My Tonsils, the author takes the guesswork out of the procedure. Using simple text and highlighting keywords, the writer helps kids understand that they are in good hands with the Dino team (the doctors and nurses). And when Olivia woke up, the Ear-o-sarus was by her side, ready to have fun – outside Olivia’s ear, of course! 

While this story simplified the procedure and medical issue, it didn’t cover questions (I believe) readers will have. What do the tubes look like? How big are they? Can the tubes fall out? What the author presented was creative, funny, entertaining, and informative. I highly recommend sharing this book with your child before their procedure! 

Amazon has the story marked for children between 2-6 years of age.

That is an excellent age bracket! 


Heart Rating System:

1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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Meet the Author

Nat Gibson lives in California with her husband and two children, both of whom had surgery before turning 4 years old. Her books are designed to help parents engage their child’s imagination as they go through new or difficult experiences.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

 

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