Tag Archives: party

March 10, 2025 · 7:00 am

Time Telling Ted by Julian Hilton (Book Review)


This teddy bear is no ordinary bear, he is Time Telling Ted!

 

Ted lives his life by his watch and loves to tell the time.
With his own birthday party today, will he realize it’s time to get things ready, before it’s too late?

A timely story with teddies.
Can you find all the clocks and tell the time with Ted?

From the Reader’s Favorite award finalist, author of the popular Jumbo Giant Sausages and The Button and the Bean, comes a third ‘read-and-learn’ story that spans a whole day told on clocks and watches.

Read and learn stories tell a great tale, while giving you the chance to learn something too!

Perfect for those practicing how to tell the time, although you don’t need to learn in order to love this story.

With a great resource section on telling the time at the back of the book, plus clocks and other fun things to find, this book is a great addition to any library or classroom.

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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.

 

Time Telling Ted is an outstanding interactive children’s book that teaches young viewers the concept of time.

Ted is an adorable bear that loves to tell time. He sleeps next to an old-fashioned twin-bell alarm clock on his nightstand—a vintage device kids might not recognize, but their parents will. As the hands on the analog clock reach eight o’clock, it loudly rings for Ted to wake up and start his day. Readers will notice that every mention of a time, such as a quarter till nine, will be presented in enlarged yellow text. The hands on the clocks will always match the stated time, too. Breakfast at nine, shopping at 10:30, nap at five to one, every point of Ted’s busy day is referenced to a particular time, making this a perfect book for children learning to tell time.

Today is a very special day for our adorable bear, Ted; it’s his birthday! With so much to do, he relies on his wristwatch and other clocks to keep him on track. There are party supplies to gather, a room to decorate, food to purchase, music to select, lunch to prepare, and (of course) a not-so-quick nap to recharge Ted’s (figurative) battery. Will Ted be mindful of the time and complete each item on his birthday party to-do list? Read the creative story where Ted’s most valuable asset is the timepieces and discover the answer for yourself!

Speaking of timepieces, Julian Hilton (the author) has crafted multiple fun and engaging activities requiring kids to seek out hidden items and characters in the various scenes. They ask you to find every clock or watch and see if kids can recognize the time. Children will also hunt for the “two naughty sausages” while seeking out Button and the Bean. Kids are encouraged to find Ted’s birthday cards, too. But wait! That’s not all! The author has included more time-based games and activities: “What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?” and “Do you know what time it is?” In the last one, the writer does a magnificent job teaching kids what time it is when the “long hand” points to a number on or in between two numbers. There are more helpful time tips, so I recommend picking up a copy today and sharing it with your family or class! See if they can recognize the timepieces and their featured time! Encourage young listeners to share what time device they or their family use.

I agree with Amazon’s recommended reading age of 3-8 years for Time Telling Ted. This book is a great resource for kids learning or mastering their time-telling skills. The sweet artwork revolving around a toy bear, a toy most kids have, was adorable. I’m sure children within this age range will love Ted bear-y much!

(Review submitted to Reedsy on January 26, 2025.)

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Julian Hilton lives beside the seaside in the magical county of Devon, England. Born in Liverpool in 1969, England, the same week Get Back was in the charts, Doesn’t write songs. Likes writing children’s stories, draws a bit. Loves possibilities.

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Singing Frog Publishing

 

 

 

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September 23, 2024 · 7:00 am

Ivy’s Dinosaur Tea Party by Carrie A. Buck (Book Review)

Ivy is very excited! Today her dinosaur friends will be coming over for tea. She has lots to do from setting the table with teacups and plates, to preparing delicious scones and pastries. When Susan Stegosaurus, Tina T-rex and Tammie Triceratops all arrive, they roar in delight as they greet each other. But they soon run into some unforeseen obstacles. Tina T-rex is unable to reach the pastries with her tiny arms, the others don’t have hands to hold the teacups, and each feels self-conscious about themselves in some way, whether it’s a squeaky voice, slow moving feet, or the eyeglasses they wear. With kindness and compassion, the friends reassure each other that they are special in their own way. The tea party is a huge success!

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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.

 

Kids love dinosaurs. They also love tea parties. Put them together, and you get— one sensational, rhyming children’s book! 

Ivy’s Dinosaur Tea Party begins with Ivy waking up in a fabulous mood. Today, all her dinosaur friends are coming over for a tea party! Readers get a first glimpse at the party’s invitees as Ivy prepares the yummy cookies and pies. Tina T-rex, Susan Stegosaurus, and Tammie Triceratops looked very adorable! I loved the artist’s choice of color combinations for the three dinos. I also liked that the artist gave Susan glasses. Very cute! Tina looked stylish in her exercise accessories: a headband and matching wristbands! So retro! 

When the dinos arrived at Ivy’s house, they all flashed smiles; however, smiles quickly turned to frowns because Ivy didn’t anticipate the dinos’ dilemmas that would arise. How could T-rex reach for the food with their little arms? How could Tammie pick up the teacup when she had no hands to hold it? Readers won’t witness Susan having trouble drinking or eating; instead, the stegosaurus problem surfaces during the dance portion of the party. As Ivy addresses Susan’s sadness over their slipping glasses, the other dinosaurs mention the hardships they face. Being a good friend and kind person, Ivy reassures her chums that they are all perfect just the way they are. And when Ivy mentions she’s extremely shy and is often afraid to speak higher than a whisper, Tina is right by her side, parroting the words Ivy said to them moments ago. 

Insecurities can grow in children and adults. They can affect our daily lives and dampen our spirits. So when you are feeling blue, please remember the writer’s beautiful message and smile: we are all special in our own way. 

My recommended reading age is one to seven years.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

I’m a later in life author that took inspiration from my granddaughter to write my first book. It’s something I always dreamed of doing, but thought I’d write an adult novel. After a few unsuccessful attempts I found my true calling with children’s picture book.

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February 15, 2024 · 7:00 am

Kris & The Pirates: The Adventures of Kris by Art Blegen (Book Review)

It was supposed to be a fun day at the beach.

In the middle of the ocean, Kris finds an island with beautiful, sandy beaches. The ideal place to go swimming! Once she can teach the biggest, strongest sailor not to be afraid of the water, that is.
The perfect day is interrupted when a bunch of pirates appear out of the jungle. They capture the crew and chase Kris through the jungle. Now the pirates are trying to steal the ship and leave Kris and the crew stranded on the island.

Can Kris escape the Pirates?
Can she rescue the crew?
Can they steal their own ship back and get home?

Kris & The Pirates is the next installment of The Adventures of Kris, where imagination and friendship can overcome any obstacle.

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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.

 

Have you been so engrossed in a book that you felt like living it? Could you picture the characters and the locations or even hear a foreign accent as dialogue is exchanged? Kris, the heroine, gave new meaning to being immersed in a good book! In the real world, she was a typical kid, complaining about not wanting to do something a parent, her dad, asked her to do. In this case, that would be attending a costume party in March. She understood dressing up for Halloween, but a costume party in March was stupid, according to her. Kris would rather get lost in a good book. Me too! 

When Kris cracked open her current read, she found herself smack dab in the thick of things. She felt the breeze on her face, watched in amazement as dolphins played, and moved around the ship as easily as she did her bedroom in the real world. Kris’s biggest problem was the captain’s annoying son, James. That soon quickly changed when they went ashore, and they were given an unfriendly welcome by several stranded pirates who were ready to leave.

As Kris searched for food, her path crossed with several talking animals. Stevie, the sloth, spoke as slowly as he moved. Sam, the snake, stretched out every “s” and gave kisses. Kris met Michael, king of monkeys, who was always in the mood to play a game. Other animals were present on the island—some who aided Kris and one particular animal that was just plain mean, like those awful pirates. 

Kris and The Pirates was two stories in one. In the pirate world, Kris seeks help from the multiple talking jungle animals she met while searching for food and a hiding spot! The real world was not as exciting as the island, but one encounter did cause her to scream in fright. How and why will only be unveiled if you read the book, and I highly recommend you read the book!

After I finished the story, I wondered if Kris’s time as a sailor was real or if it was just a person’s imagination gone wild. Whatever the answer is, I (again) recommend you read the book. Why? Because it’s that good! It has action, suspense, humor, and (let’s not forget) talking animals! 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Art Blegen is the author of imaginative chapter books for readers from 6 to 10 years old. He is an advocate for children to ensure they have a balance of positive examples in their lives. Wholesome stories and a healthy imagination can lay the foundation they will use for the rest of their lives.

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March 20, 2023 · 7:00 am

As Red as a Munka Bean by Kristin T. Dethlefsen (Book Review)

Beings from all over the universe have gathered on Kamim for the yearly Interstellar Beauty Contest. Fifteen-year-old Liam and his best (and only) friend Absalom are there to represent Earth, although they never actually agreed to come. Now Absalom must put his reservations aside and convince the judges of something he doesn’t quite believe himself: that his short, fat, brown body is beautiful.

Liam only has to announce Absalom and translate the other beings’ sign language for him, a simple enough task for a deaf boy. But when he meets pretty Sadie right before the announcement, his mind goes blank and his hands can’t find the right words.

And then there is Topher, the boy who bullies Liam and Absalom on Earth and was accidentally brought to Kamim with them. He is sullen and mean, but he knows how to be cool and confident, two traits which would help Absalom immensely in the contest…

This contemporary fantasy for young adults and tweens is an adventure story about the power of friendship and believing in yourself.

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

Beings from around the universe gather together in an interstellar beauty contest. Liam, Absalom (Sal), and Topher were swept up in a green cloud and transported to Kamim, the host planet, for the extraordinary event. The three boys took everything in stride. They didn’t freak out about the situation. Topher, the class bully, was actually more upset about being mistaken for a girl than being abducted by a little green alien. 

Sal, the chosen contestant for Earth, wasn’t comfortable showing off his body. Fairies forcibly removed his shirt. Topher asks him to jiggle his fat. And he was repeatedly in a state of embarrassment. The aliens thought he was beautiful; he did not. I didn’t particularly appreciate how “fat” was constantly used to describe Sal’s physique. Words hurt. 

Luckily, as the story progressed, Sal became more confident with his body. However, it was a long road to this moment. I was saddened to see Sal body-shamed. I was upset to see how the cops manhandled him. They grossly abused their power. Unfortunately, that display of injustice happens far too frequently in real life. 

They were comedic moments in the story and had spectacular galactical beings with unique and fascinating skills. The aliens came in all shapes and sizes; some nice and some not so much. 

Whether you are on Earth, Kamim, Windshippers, or another planet, we are all different, and those differences shouldn’t divide us; however, they often do. 

Being comfortable in your own skin is hard for many people. 

Standing up to bullies is a challenging feat too. 

Both issues are addressed in As Red as a Munka Bean.

While I am thrilled Sal gained confidence, I would like another outcome for Topher. (Staying vague to avoid spoilers.) In a nutshell, I wanted him to do the right thing. 

This story did have a marvelous blend of hearing and deaf characters. It taught Sal to embrace his size and not let other people’s opinions weigh him down. For that, I recommend this story to teens. 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Kristin has always been an avid reader of many kinds of books: young adult, adventure, fantasy, travel, the classics. As with her reading tastes, her novels don’t adhere to just one genre. You’ll find elements of fantasy and contemporary, books for young adults and those for middle grade readers. Travel often figures into her stories as well.

Kristin grew up in a small town in Connecticut and began writing after her daughter was born. She lives in Germany with her family, where she teaches English as a foreign language to adults. To find out more about Kristin and her current projects, take a look at her website: www.dethlefsenbooks.com or follow her on Twitter @dethlefsenbooks

 

 

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January 2, 2023 · 7:00 am

The Mayor of Mardi Gras: A Memoir by Gregory L Fischer (Book Review)

New Orleans Mardi Gras parades date back to 1857. Many people attend Mardi Gras. Fewer people participate as members of a krewe, and still fewer work year-round as artists and float builders. My cousin McKinley “Mackie” J. Cantrell, III was one of the artists and builders who worked full-time to bring Mardi Gras to life. A third-generation float builder, Mackie’s grandfather began building floats during the Great Depression. By the mid-70s, “Big Mac” Cantrell had his own company, called McKinley J. Cantrell and Son and was captain of his own parade, the Krewe of Mardi Gras. Cantrell Floats lives on today, but Mackie died suddenly two days after Christmas in 2021. He was forty-seven. He was more of a brother to me, a mentor, who took me on to work with him for an entire year of Carnival preparation in 2011-12. This book is a telling of all my great memories of Mackie. It is a rare glimpse into New Orleans life from an artist’s perspective. As Mackie would say, “It’s a true story, stab-ah.”

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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 Cantrell family has a long history with Madris Gras, dating back to the Great Depression. Their legacy is quite impressive. In The Mayor of Mardi Gras: A Memoir, Gregory Fischer shares fond memories and photos of Mackie Cantrell, his cousin – best friend – and honorary brother.

Every page is a tribute to the man Gregory lost just two short days after Christmas 2021. If you ever have lost someone, you know the pain Mackie’s friends and family have experienced and probably are still experiencing. I didn’t know Mackie, but I felt like I did through Gregory’s storytelling. 

Mackie was a Renaissance man, a person with many talents or areas of knowledge. He was an athlete in high school (football and wrestling), an artist, a musician, a singer, a songwriter, and loved books. His favorite was The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. He could snowboard, rode a wakeboard like a pro, and welds. His artistic ability amazed me. I was blown away by the Flintstone vehicle. I could not fathom how in the world he created it. Just WOW! 

I’ve been to New Orleans, but I have not enjoyed the thrill of the Carnival Ball. I have seen photographs and news reports on the celebration but never really thought about the time it takes to bring a design to life or the toll it takes on a person’s body to create these elaborate floats and props. At Mackie’s passing, he made hundreds of floats and props. From the photos, he loved every moment he spent sweating over constructing and final touch-ups. 

Unfortunately, all parades were canceled in 2021 due to covid. Gregory stated Mackie worried about what 2022 would look like. Would they come back? Mackie’s work will be cherished and admired for years to come. His presence will be felt every year during Mardi Gras. And Mackie will be close to those in spirit—never far from Gregory’s thoughts. 

Besides learning much about Mackie, I learned a few things about Mardi Gras floats. One, the first float rolled out in 1857. And two, the floats have a port-a-potty on them. Fascinating! 

This book is a joy for anyone to read!

I want to end my review with parting words…

“I’m here for you. Come around anytime. You know where to find me.”

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Author Gregory L Fischer is a former Editor-In-Chief of the Weekly Citizen, The Chief, and the Post-South newspapers in Louisiana. He is currently the owner of Make It Write, a publishing services company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he lives with his wife and stepchildren.

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