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Tagged as 2 point of views, adopt, anger, cancer, cancer diagnosis, canine, canine friend, children's book, conflicting emotions, disease, emotions and feelings book, fear, friend, God, happiness, healing, hospitals, kindness, love, medical, pet adoption, picture book, pup, sadness, therapy dogs, young kids

August 8, 2025 · 7:00 am

Will’s Dream World: a children’s guide to having fun dreams and mastering nightmares by Will Nel (Book Review)

In this beautifully illustrated rhyming adventure, young Will discovers the secret to taking control of his dreams.

From scary spiders to teasing bullies, each nighttime challenge becomes an opportunity for courage, creativity, and self-mastery.

Perfect for children aged 3–7, Will’s Dream World empowers kids to face their fears and shape their own dreamscapes with confidence and imagination.

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

Nightmares can disrupt our peaceful sleep, causing us to wake in fright, with our hearts racing and bodies shaking. Children, especially, can have a strong reaction to these unsettling dreams. They might seek comfort in their parents’ beds or delay bedtime, fearing what might come in their dreams. In Will’s Dream World, a young boy grapples with similar fears that many children can relate to. A spider lurks, and a uni-lion monster roars and gives chase. The suspenseful and frightening dream shifts, showing the child screaming in terror as an animal is chomping at the bit to grab it. The dream takes an unexpected turn, mirroring the emotional turmoil many children face with school bullies.

Will faced many “monsters” in Will’s Dream World, but through the fear, he found his inner strength. He recalled his father’s wise words, reminding the sweet boy that these were his dreams, just silly thoughts that filled his head, which meant Will did have the power to change his thoughts. Kids will watch in amazement as Will defeats the villains one by one, becoming the hero of the story!

Introduce Will’s Dream World, a captivating rhyming story, into your child’s bedtime routine. Show them that, like Will, there’s nothing to fear in dreamland, and remind them that they have the power to change their story! Overcoming the fear of nightmares may take time, but reading Will’s Dream World every night might just speed up the process!

Although I appreciated the muted colors that indicated negative emotions in many of the dream sequences, unfortunately, one image had a significant flaw: a fleeing bully had his head facing the wrong direction, which could potentially confuse the child and disrupt the flow of the story. Other than that, this was a delightful story that will (hopefully) generate more pleasant dreams for all kids who battle the bedtime woes.

This book is designed to entertain and comfort children, providing a gentle way to address their fears and empower them to manage their nightmares. It’s a perfect book for children learning the difference between reality and fantasy, dealing with nightmares, or fans of stories where kids are the heroes!

Recommended reading age is 3-7 years.

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

Meet the Author

Will Nel grew up on a sheep farm in remote South Africa, far from neighbours and more than 100 km from the nearest town. With only a handful of people in his early world, he developed a vivid inner life shaped by solitude, dreams, and the wide, open land.

Sent to boarding school at age six, Will learned early how to navigate loneliness, unfamiliar faces, and the need to stand his ground. Though his professional path took him far from storytelling — earning a PhD in energy studies and building a career as an engineer — the stories from his early years never left him.

Those long-held memories — of conquering dreams, building contraptions, and backyard expeditions — have found new life in the imaginative stories Will now enjoys sharing with children. Will’s Dream World is his first published book, drawing on the quiet resilience and emotional adventures of a childhood lived far off the beaten path.

Amazon Author Page Link

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Tagged as bad dreams, beating the monsters, bedtime story, book review, bullies, children's book, control your dreams, dream monsters, dreams, empowerment, fears, first-grade, kindergarten, monsters, nightmares, picture book, preschool, restful sleep, scary dreams, spider, uni-lio

July 31, 2025 · 7:00 am

What Would You Do? by CK Willie (Book Review)

This beautifully illustrated book with easy-to-read whimsical rhyme reaches out to children, or anyone of any age, to show them how to make their dreams come true. Whether they want to be an astronaut, a dragon tamer, build robots or ride in a hot air balloon, anything is possible if you believe in you!

No matter who you are or where you live, everyone has the same thing in common…dreams, dreams that may seem impossible. “What Would You Do?” shows that they are possible as long as you’re willing to believe in yourself. Our fears hold us back but one thing is true, our happiness lies just outside our comfort zone. So keep dreaming, believe in you and make those dreams come true!

So many things
in the world to try.
If you’re afraid
they may pass you by.
The pages of this book
will show you the way
to overcome your fears
so start reading today!

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

Neophobia (fear of new things) can limit us from embracing new experiences and adventures. Yet, when we conquer our fears, the world becomes our playground. In this captivating children’s picture book, beautifully brought to life with vibrant illustrations, readers are prompted to ponder, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” Imagine the possibilities. Where would you venture? What would you accomplish?

The children in this adventurous tale, spoken in rhyme, demonstrate incredible bravery as they climb the highest mountain and travel across the blue seas. They explore outer space, become robotic, and go toe-to-toe with a massive multi-colored dragon. We watch as a stylishly dressed Luchadores (Spanish for wrestler) gets the upper hand against their crocodile opponent. Great wrestling attire, especially the máscaras (Spanish for masks)! So pretty! Superhero kiddos make an appearance, too, while another child couldn’t resist monkeying around. I laughed at the kitten peeking out the shuttle door as a block of cheese and a kid astronaut floated close to the moon. The feline’s expression screamed, no amount of cheese in this galaxy will get me to step a paw outside this shuttle.

There’s so much more to explore in What Would You Do?, transforming the impossible into possible. Kids will love and laugh at the silly illustrations, such as the lion who loves to sing or the zebra who’s not thrilled to give out rides. They’ll cheer for the brave knight who rode to face the dragon in a wheelchair instead of a mighty stead. Readers will say, aw, as the boy reads his new pet dragon a bedtime story. No matter where the journey takes these kids, the writer’s mission is to encourage kids to believe in themselves and not allow fear to hold them back. So, take the author’s advice and repeat these four powerful words, “I believe in me,” and then go out and slay dragons!

While Amazon’s target audience for this book is 3-8-year-olds, the charming illustrations and diverse characters will captivate readers of all ages.

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

Meet the Author

CK Willie lives in sunny Arizona and originally wanted to be a writer, though not necessarily a poet. However, her writing naturally rhymed, leading her to embrace poetry. She found delight in expressing feelings of doubt, insecurity and self-belief in playful and relatable ways for children. As a mother of four, a grandmother of nine and a great grandmother of two, she feels the greatest gift we can give children is confidence, believing in who they are and what they can do. The world is waiting for them! When she’s not writing, she is on the court playing pickleball and is learning to play Mahjongg.

Amazon Author Page Link

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July 25, 2025 · 7:00 am

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak (Book Review)

Introducing Dallas Dingo, the quintessential “jack of all trades” at the Ragtag Hotel.

On a sweltering, sticky afternoon, Dallas cheerfully navigates the hotel’s elevator, zipping residents up and down with a bright smile.

In this lively community, you’ll meet a diverse array of captivating residents: a cheerful capybara flashing a toothy grin, a poised ostrich strutting with grace, a faint-prone quokka, a diminutive tarsier with large, soulful eyes, a whimsical armadillo rolling around playfully, and a worried okapi anxious about fitting into the elevator.

The atmosphere brims with anticipation as more animals squeeze in. Will they all manage to fit into the crowded, bustling elevator, or will someone be left behind? And what adventures await on the mysterious fourteenth floor?

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

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride is Freya Novak’s first children’s book, and I suspect readers like me hope there’s more to come soon. Here’s why…

Back in the day, elevator operators were a standard fixture in hotels. They added a level of sophistication to the building. While the job is becoming obsolete, you can still find operators in historic establishments. As the doors to the Ragtag Hotel open, we meet Dallas Dingo, their elevator operator extraordinaire. Kids might wonder why riders needed a special person to push their floor number. That question could lead to a discussion of the evolution of the elevator and those who maintained it. For this story, the author kept it simple. Listen for the ping and wait for which animal is set to board the container next. No previous knowledge of elevator attendants is needed. Just sit back and enjoy the comedic ride.

On a scorching day, the animals in the storybook are all heading to the same floor, 14. Colin Capybara is the first to join Dallas Dingo on the elevator, greeting him with a ‘Hola,’ which is ‘Hello’ in Spanish. This greeting and others in the story are translated for readers, enhancing their understanding of different languages without distracting them from the main dialogue or scenery. The consistent use of dark blue for the greetings and their translations is a fantastic feature that allows readers to learn simple greetings in multiple languages, adding an educational element to the story.

This particular contraption was the clown car of the elevators. When you think no more animals could possibly fit, the machine rings, signaling a new rider is about to board. I loved the variety of animal riders. The author chose animals rarely seen in many children’s picture books. Oona Ostrich, Queenie Quokka, Tiny Tarsier, Ami Armadillo, and Oma Okapi accompanied Colin Capybara and Dallas Dingo on the lift as they climbed to level 14. Why to level 14? What awaits the six passengers there? It has a lot to do with the sweltering heat outside. As temperatures rise for many of us, readers might guess what’s on every animal’s mind to beat this blistering heatwave. (Read the story to see if your guess is correct!)

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride was filled to the brim with positive qualities.It featured a variety of animals that readers, young and old, may not recognize. Yeah, that includes me with the okapi. What a delightful and unique-looking animal that shares characteristics with giraffes and zebras. This story also enlightened viewers on how other ethnicities greet one another, hopefully generating interest to learn more words from the languages presented: Spanish, Swahili, Lingala, and Filipino. And the icing on the cake was the comedic aspect. I didn’t think Oona Ostrich would fit on the elevator with their large body, but they did. I really didn’t believe Oma Okapi would squeeze their striped backside into the lift, but they proved me wrong, too. The hilarity hit the mark when the elevator finally began climbing to the 14th floor with all seven animals on board (six riders plus the operator). Their facial expressions spoke volumes! Would they make it, or would their combined weight break the box? READ the story and find out.

Looking to beat the heat this summer? Seeking a book that’ll have your kids LOL? Read At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride and then consider cooling off like the animals in this fantastic tale!

My recommended reading age is 6 years and up.

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

Meet the Author

Freya Novak’s passion for reading began at a young age when she discovered Enid Blyton’s “The Magic Faraway Tree.” This experience ignited her imagination and inspired her to become a writer. For her debut children’s book, Freya chose to use a pseudonym.

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Tagged as animal book, animals, beat the heat, book review, comedy, elevator, funny scenes, greetings, greetings in foreign languages, humor, learn new languages, picture book, summer fun, young readers

July 11, 2025 · 7:00 am

Sugar Bee the Fairy by Camie Putchaven (Book Review)

Sugar Bee the Fairy is a gentle and magical journey where kindness grows with every flower. Sugar Bee is no ordinary fairy with a mission to teach children the power of respect and kindness. Whether it’s showing love to buzzing bees, being gentle with forest friends, or caring for the Earth beneath their feet. Sugar Bee sprinkles lessons of compassion and harmony wherever she goes. Kindle includes two crafts to make at the end of the book!

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

Sugar Bee the Fairy is a heartwarming tale about a sweet fairy who spreads kindness wherever they go. Their home is a beautiful place, surrounded by lush woods, fragrant wildflowers, and cute wildlife. The artist, Moran Reudor, has done a remarkable job in bringing this world to life with their detailed illustrations. From the red mushroom’s gills to the squirrels’ bushy tails, and especially Sugar Bee, every page is a visual delight. Readers of all ages will be captivated by the beautiful illustrations and Sugar Bee’s stylish honey bee inspired outfit.

Have you heard this saying, “One’s man trash is another man’s treasure?” Sugar Bee embraces that phrase, exploring and collecting “lost treasures that no one wants anymore.” Besides spreading kindness around the neighborhood, she enjoys recycling old items into new creations. Nice use of the empty plastic bottles! Very creative! (Read the book to view how the fairy reused the recycled items.)

Besides showing the world love by reusing discarded items, Sugar Bee helps restore peace between two raccoons tussling over a sweet treat. Her quick thinking simmered tempers and left the raccoons happy. The forest animals learned a valuable lesson that day. Kids, too. Be kind to one another. Instead of fighting or arguing with someone, stop and think about what you can do to have a peaceful outcome. The solution might be easier than you think.

Sugar Bee the Fairy by Camie Putchaven is a beautiful children’s book that promotes peace, kindness, and recycling or reusing items. Share this lovely story with your children 3-8 years. Encourage your family or class to think of ways to reuse items around their homes instead of tossing them away. Teach kids the importance of respecting and caring for others and our planet. Give to others what you’d want in return: respect and kindness.

Special note: The book’s synopsis states the Kindle version possesses two craft projects, found at the end of the book. My ARC did not have them, but if your family loves crafting, you’ll want to check them out!

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

Meet the Author

Camie Putchaven is a registered veterinary technician, mobile pet care business owner, and now a children’s book author! Inspired by her love of animals, nature, writing, and nurturing young minds, she created Sugar Bee the Fairy.

Reedsy Author Link