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Babies on Board Part 1 (a Grumpy the Iguana and Green Parrot Adventure)
Babies on Board Part 1 is a gentle adventure about friendship, family, curiosity, and looking out for others. The story begins with Little Mouse choosing a wish for a family beach day, which brings Grumpy the Iguana, Green Parrot, and the reluctant Mr. Squirrel along for the outing. That simple setup works well because each character brings a different personality to the group. Little Mouse is enthusiastic, Grumpy is supportive, Green Parrot is knowledgeable, and Mr. Squirrel provides some light comedy with his complaints about the beach and especially the sand.
The beach trip soon becomes more than a day of swimming and relaxing. The friends discover a protected sea turtle nest, and Green Parrot explains that the baby turtles will soon hatch and make their way toward the ocean. The story then adds a bit of suspense when Little Mouse falls off a paddleboard and disappears beneath the water. His rescue by a giant sea turtle gives the adventure an exciting turn while also connecting the book’s themes of kindness and friendship. The turtle remembers that Grumpy and Green Parrot once rescued him, so his help feels like a meaningful return of that earlier kindness.
Illustrator Natalia Loseva uses bright, soft colors and expressive animal characters that make the story easy to follow for young readers. Some of the funniest images come from the characters’ reactions, such as Grumpy’s enormous worried eyes after Little Mouse falls into the ocean and Mr. Squirrel examining his sandy paws with obvious disgust. The ocean pages also shift the mood nicely, moving from sunny beach scenes to large stretches of deep blue water that make Little Mouse’s disappearance feel more dramatic. The pictures often carry the emotion of a scene before the text fully explains it, which should make the book especially enjoyable to read aloud with children.
What I enjoyed most is how naturally the story mixes an adventure with ideas about family, helping others, and caring for wildlife. The sea turtle storyline gives children something real to be curious about, while the characters keep the picture book playful and warm. By the end, the friends are preparing to return that night to help protect the baby turtles as they make their journey to the sea, leaving the story on a clear cliffhanger. Since the final page promises “To Be Continued,” this first part feels like the beginning of a larger adventure, and the combination of humor, mild suspense, colorful artwork, and affectionate friendships gives young readers plenty of reason to want to see what happens next.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B09B5CKMNK
Wish Box: A Grumpy Iguana and Green Parrot Adventure
The Wish Box by Susan Marie Chapman is a warm children’s story about friendship, belonging, kindness, and the meaning of family. The story follows Little Mouse, who begins the book frightened and alone as he tries to avoid the Big Black Cat. His loneliness quickly becomes the heart of the story when he admits that he wishes he had a family. Grumpy the Iguana, Green Parrot, and Mr. Squirrel respond by welcoming him into theirs, and Little Mouse’s joy at realizing that he’s loved gives the book an emotional center that young readers can easily understand.
The Wish Box itself gives the story a fun structure. Mr. Squirrel gives Little Mouse a box that’s been in his family for generations, and inside are wishes centered on spending time together, sharing meals, making art, singing, learning something new, and helping someone in need. These wishes turn the idea of family into something active. Family isn’t just a group of characters saying they care about one another. They show it by making plans, sharing experiences, and helping each other. That makes the book’s message feel practical and accessible, especially for children who may enjoy imagining what wishes they’d put in a box of their own.
The story becomes especially engaging when Little Mouse has to face the Big Black Cat, the character he’s feared from the beginning. When the group decides that helping someone in need could mean reaching out to the cat, Little Mouse is understandably terrified, but he trusts his new family enough to go along. The surprise that the intimidating cat is a toothless vegetarian adds some humor, but the scene also develops the book’s larger idea that kindness can change the way people see one another. Little Mouse ends up being the brave one who reaches out, and the cat admits that no one has ever invited him to dinner before. It’s a satisfying turn because Little Mouse moves from feeling small and helpless to making someone else feel included.
Natalia Loseva’s illustrations give the book a lot of personality. The artwork has a soft, hand-drawn look, with bright colors, large expressive eyes, and simple backgrounds that keep the focus on the characters. Little Mouse’s expressions are especially effective, from the tears running down his face when he feels alone to the heart shapes reflected in his eyes after realizing he has a family. The pictures also bring out the humor, such as Little Mouse imagining himself riding a bicycle or the reveal of the Big Black Cat’s dentures in a glass.
By the end, Little Mouse is sitting with the Wish Box and thinking about his family, his new friend, and everything he has to look forward to, which gives the story a cheerful sense of gratitude and possibility. The Wish Box is an affectionate and easy-to-follow children’s book that encourages children to think about family as love, shared experiences, courage, and kindness.
Pages: 38 | ASIN : B093DQYFBX
Grief and Loss
Pablo follows a beloved dog who is separated from his family and embarks on an unexpected journey home, forming an unlikely friendship and discovering the meaning of love, courage, and belonging along the way. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of Pablo’s story was one that just hit me all at once in a flash! A good friend of mine challenged me to write something, and I had long pondered that conversation – even debating with myself on what I wanted to write. Then the idea for Pablo hit me like a lightning bolt. I literally had the entire story laid out in my head in a flash of creative sorcery. It was remarkable! As I started flushing the idea out further, and being that PABLO is a Mexican dog, I had the idea to write PABLO in English with Spanish words and phrases. So children can learn some Spanish while reading the book. Then, when my mother suddenly passed away, I was grieving and had the idea to incorporate the Five Stages of Grief into the book to help parents and educators openly discuss grief and loss with children. I thought to myself, “If I can help one child deal with what I’m dealing with right now, it will all be worth it”. The response has been amazing. The grief component is really resonating with librarians and parents alike, and I’m very thankful for that.
The story combines comedy, adventure, and moments of grief. How did you balance those very different emotional tones for young readers?
The comedic and adventure components of PABLO can naturally flow while flushing out the story. The grief component was far more challenging. I wanted to subtly weave the Five Stages of grief into the book without forcing the Five Stages down readers’ throats. I wanted to make sure I handled all the stages of grief properly, but subtly, to make sure each stage was easily accessible to children and parents/educators. The lesson plan at the back of the book encourages open discussion about grief and loss with children, and the work Missy did with us on that is invaluable. There are also further lesson plan materials on our website at www.kidstori.com
How did you and illustrator Irvin Walkes work together to develop the visual world of Pablo?
Irvin did a remarkable job with the art on PABLO. It took almost three years to complete, as every page was hand-drawn and painted. Our process was not unlike Disney films of old, with the art. I always wanted to create a 1070’s throwback feel with a modern twist, and Irvin accomplished all that and more! There was Irvin the artist, Jason (Publisher), Rob (designer), and I getting together weekly to review and work on all the art. Some panels magically worked right away, while others took years of revisions. Irvin would board the panel, and we would tweak the art tirelessly to make sure it was perfect before we advanced to color or texture. If we did not like something, even the smallest little detail, Irvin went back to the drawing board, starting the panel from scratch until we all felt it was just right. We have thousands of iterations of the different panels of art in the book.
Do you see more adventures ahead for Pablo and his family?
Well… There may just be an easter egg in PABLO setting up a sequel… See if you can find it. 🙂
OH! – And when you finish reading PABLO, don’t forget to play PABLO: The Video Game! We spent three years working on that as well, and we feel it is a wonderful complement to the book!
PABLO
Pablo, written by Mar Andersons and illustrated by Irvin Walkes, is a lively children’s adventure about a beach-town dog in Mexico whose life suddenly takes an unexpected turn. Pablo is excited about becoming a father, but a trip to a resort leads to him being mistaken for a stray, taken away, and eventually transported all the way to Seattle. From there, the story becomes a cross-country journey as Pablo tries to get back to Arianna and their new puppies. Along the way, he meets Grandma Joan, a lonely widow traveling in an RV, and their separate stories gradually come together in a way that gives the book more emotional weight than its wild opening might suggest.
The story moves quickly and has a playful sense of humor. Pablo is dramatic, expressive, and constantly reacting to whatever bizarre situation he lands in next, whether he’s wearing a pink dress, escaping through a backyard, flying toward a highway, or helping Joan change a flat tire. The rhyming text keeps the pace energetic, and the Spanish words scattered throughout the story give Pablo a distinctive voice while also introducing young readers to simple vocabulary. A Spanish-to-English glossary near the end helps readers understand words such as amor, familia, gracias, and corazón. The humor and action make the book fun to read aloud, while Pablo’s determination to get home gives all that chaos a clear purpose.
The illustrations are fantastic. Walkes uses bold colors, exaggerated expressions, dramatic perspectives, and almost cinematic scenes to make Pablo’s journey feel big. Some pages are bright and cartoonish, such as the resort scenes with the mischievous twins, while others become darker and more atmospheric when Pablo is frightened or lost. The scene with the enormous cat Buttons feels almost like a suspense movie, while later pages showing Pablo and Joan traveling down the coast become warmer and calmer. The final beach scenes are especially striking, with soft sunset colors and the whole family gathered together by the water. The pictures don’t simply repeat what the text says. They add jokes, emotion, movement, and small visual details that give readers more to notice each time through the book.
What gives Pablo its heart is the way the adventure becomes a story about family, grief, companionship, and finding your way home. Pablo spends most of the book trying to return to Arianna, while Joan is quietly trying to cope with losing her husband. Their friendship helps both of them move forward. By the time they reach Mexico, Pablo is reunited with his family, and Joan finds a new sense of connection with them as well. The book even includes a section for adults about talking to children about grief, connecting Joan’s experiences to the stages of grief shown throughout the story. Pablo packs comedy, action, Spanish vocabulary, and some tender moments into one energetic story, making it a colorful read that can entertain kids while also opening the door to conversations about love, loss, responsibility, and belonging.
Pages: 53 | ISBN : 978-1-7381704-0-1
Congaree: The Little Black Mustang From Arapaho Creek
Congaree follows a young wild Mustang as he moves from the open range of Wyoming’s Red Desert Complex into the confusing, frightening world of capture, training, trust, and adoption. At first, he’s simply “the little horse,” safe with his herd and unsure of people, but over time, he learns that gentleness can exist on the other side of fear. His journey becomes one of belonging, especially when he receives his name, Congaree, and finally understands adoption not as loss, but as love finding a place to land.
I liked the emotional patience of the story. I appreciated that it doesn’t rush the hard parts or pretend the little horse isn’t scared. The helicopter, the trailer, the pen, the new people, all of it feels big and bewildering through his eyes. The writing is plainspoken and tender, sometimes a little explanatory, but that actually fits the purpose of the book. It gives children room to understand what’s happening without being overwhelmed. I especially liked how the book connects the horse’s adoption to human adoption in a gentle, thoughtful way.
The artwork is one of the book’s strongest gifts. The watercolor textures, soft washes, ink-like lines, and splattered backgrounds give the pages a dreamlike quality. The desert scenes feel wide and sunlit, while the corral and training pages feel closer and more uncertain, which mirrors Congaree’s inner world beautifully. The ideas in this picture book are meaningful. Things like trust take time, fear can soften, animals can help people heal, and a “wild” spirit doesn’t have to be broken to be loved.
By the end, I felt genuinely fond of Congaree, not because the book asks me to admire him, but because it lets me watch him become brave in small, believable steps. This is a heartfelt, educational, and quietly moving children’s book with a deep respect for Mustangs and the people who care for them. I’d recommend it for horse-loving children, families interested in adoption stories, and parents who want a gentle way to talk about trust, change, healing, and finding your forever home.
Pages: 106 | ASIN : B0F21FKJ2T
Where is Robbie?: That Grumpy Bumpy Rooster (Part 2)
Where Is Robbie? Part 2, by Lesa Melnyczuk, follows the mystery of Robbie, the grumpy, bumpy rooster who has disappeared after terrifying the younger chickens with his bullying. When he returns, he’s nearly unrecognizable: glittery, musical, and leading a rowdy rooster rock band called The Bubbie Rooster Rockers. The story reveals that Robbie was taken to a patient farmer who helped him redirect his anger into music, but it’s careful not to pretend that a costume change and a guitar can erase the hurt he caused. Lucy and Tekla are still afraid, and Robbie has to begin the slower work of earning trust back.
The book’s emotional center is surprisingly thoughtful. I appreciated that the book doesn’t flatten bullying into a neat “bad rooster becomes good rooster” lesson. Robbie changes, yes, but the book lets the frightened little ones keep their fear. That mattered to me. Children are often asked to forgive too quickly, especially in stories that want a tidy ending, and this one has a gentler, wiser instinct. It says change is possible, but safety still comes first. I liked that balance.
The writing is energetic and playful, which suits a story full of crowing, guitars, dancing chooks, and big feelings. Some of the language has a funny, breathless rhythm, and the repeated sounds give it a lively read-aloud quality. The artwork has the same bold personality. Veronica Rooke’s illustrations are bright, quirky, and full of motion, from the Ukrainian village setting to Robbie’s outrageous rock-star transformation. I especially enjoyed the contrast between the worried, watchful chickens and Robbie’s flamboyant return. The pages feel busy at times, but that busyness also mirrors the chaos of the story, so it mostly works in the book’s favor.
I thought Where Is Robbie? Part 2 was a warm, offbeat, and emotionally grounded picture book about anger, accountability, and the long road back after hurting others. It has humor and flash, but underneath the feathers and guitars, it’s really about learning self-control and respecting someone else’s need to feel safe. I’d recommend it for families and classrooms talking about bullying, forgiveness, fear, and second chances, especially with children who are ready for a story that admits trust takes time, hard work, and care.
Pages: 18 | ASIN : B0GHZM32BK
The Junkyard
Bryan Reilly’s The Junkyard, illustrated by Rich Denver, is one of those middle-grade stories that quietly slips past your defenses. At first glance, it is a story set in a junkyard. Beneath that gritty surface, however, is something far more tender. This is a story about choosing peace in a world shaped by violence. It is about finding family in the most unexpected places.
Ninja is a pit bull trapped in the brutal world of dog fighting, a bloodthirsty and morbid sport that strips animals of dignity, safety, and trust. She would rather lose than harm another living creature. She would rather suffer than become what others demand. After she deliberately throws a fight, her cruel owner, Mr. Fergusen, abandons her at the edge of a forest and leaves her for dead. Yet what seems like an ending becomes a beginning. A tribe of scrappy junkyard strays discovers her, renames her Maytag, nurses her back to health, and offers her something she has never truly known: love.
As a dog lover, I found myself caught between heartbreak and joy with every turn of the page. The horror of the fighting ring left me enraged and gutted. Then came the warmth of Maytag settling into her ragtag new family, and the story opened into something gentle, hopeful, and deeply moving. That peace does not last. When the aggressive Rottweiler Saab and a vengeful forest wolf named Canis set their sights on the northern junkyard, Maytag must face the question she has been running from: can a dog who refuses to fight bring herself to protect the ones she loves? It is a question with real emotional weight, and Reilly handles it with care, restraint, and courage.
What impressed me most was the writing. Reilly does not talk down to his readers. His prose is vivid, thoughtful, and emotionally intelligent. Each scene is painted with enough texture that the junkyard seems to rise from the page. You can almost feel the rusted steel, the cold ground, and the shared warmth of the pack huddled together. Rich Denver’s illustrations are sparse, yet effective. They appear at just the right moments, giving shape to characters the prose has already made unforgettable.
The message woven through this story is powerful without ever feeling preachy. Maytag’s journey, from a life of forced violence to one of chosen love, reminds young readers that gentleness is not weakness. Kindness, in this story, becomes its own form of bravery. For anyone who has ever loved a dog, The Junkyard will feel deeply personal. Readers will root for Maytag with their whole hearts. Moving, heartfelt, and beautifully written, Reilly’s novel is a must-read for young readers ready to dive into emotionally rich fiction. It is also an absolute gift for dog lovers of any age.
Pages: 198 | ASIN : B0GXSW13R2
The Lonely Loon
The Lonely Loon follows a blue-eyed young loon in Maine who gets separated from his family, asks for help, and is rejected by other loons because he looks different. With kindness from a wise heron and courage of his own, he finds his way through fear, a storm, and a painful choice: whether to help the very loons who hurt him. In the end, he returns home steadier in himself, carrying the lesson that belonging doesn’t require sameness.
The writing is tender and direct, in the best picture-book way. The rhymes have a comforting bedtime rhythm, but the story doesn’t shy away from the sting of exclusion. As a parent, I appreciated that the message isn’t just “be nice.” It goes deeper than that. It shows how fear can make others unkind, and how a child can still choose compassion without pretending the hurt didn’t matter.
The artwork has a handmade softness that really suits the story. The art feels misty, quiet, and a little melancholy, especially in the lonely river scenes and storm pages. I liked that the blue-eyed loon is visually different but not exaggerated. He’s still simply a loon, which makes the book’s central idea land gently. The author’s note added real emotional weight for me, too. Knowing the story was inspired by Henry and by the ache of seeing a child misunderstood made the whole book feel more personal and grounded.
I thought The Lonely Loon is a sincere and compassionate picture book with a clear heart and a quietly moving sense of purpose. It’s especially good for young children who are beginning to notice differences, for families talking about inclusion, disability, empathy, or bullying, and for kids who need reassurance that being different doesn’t make them less worthy of love. Its loveliest gift is its reminder that kindness can be brave, and that a child’s truest self is something worth protecting.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B0GVLVPHD2
