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Suzy & Roxy Go Camping
Suzy & Roxy Go Camping follows two best friends as they head out for a camping trip with a cheerful plan and very different personalities. Suzy is organized, practical, and eager to make the day special, while Roxy is more impulsive, overpacked, and charmingly scattered. When rain and lightning threaten to ruin their outing, the story turns into a gentle little celebration of flexibility, friendship, and the unexpected usefulness of all the extra things Roxy dragged along. It’s a simple arc that lands cleanly, and the book never loses sight of the warmth between its two leads.
What I liked most was how kindly the book understands the push and pull between planning and spontaneity. It doesn’t turn Suzy into the sensible hero and Roxy into the comic problem. Instead, it lets both of them be right in their own way, and that gives the story a sweetness that feels earned. The writing is straightforward, as you’d expect for a children’s book, but it has a nice emotional clarity to it. I especially liked that the conflict stays child-sized. A rainy camping trip is disappointing, but not devastating, and that scale makes the book feel reassuring. It says, in effect, that a spoiled plan doesn’t have to become a spoiled day.
I also found the artwork a huge part of the book’s appeal. The illustrations are bright, cute, and full of personality, with an almost storybook-cartoon softness that suits the tone beautifully. Roxy’s flair, Suzy’s earnestness, the rain gear, the umbrellas, the rubber duck boots, the bubble-filled indoor fun, all of it gives the book a buoyant visual rhythm. I was especially taken with how the stormy scenes never become overly gloomy. Even when the weather turns, the pages still feel playful and inviting, and that matters in a story built around disappointment giving way to delight. The visual world is cozy, colorful, and emotionally legible in exactly the way a good children’s picture book should be.
This is a genuinely tender little book about adaptability, companionship, and the way different personalities can balance each other out. I’d recommend this picture book to young children who enjoy animal characters, camping themes, and stories about friendship that feel comforting without becoming bland. This one would be a lovely read for kids who need a soft reminder that sometimes the day you planned isn’t the day you get, and that can still turn out beautifully.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 978-1952199356
Jack Mathias and the Boonetown Bandits
Seventh-grader Jack Mathias is an adventurer at heart. Mercilessly pranking all those around him and always eager to find the next mountain to climb, life is full of endless possibilities. But when a harsh reality check enters Jack’s carefree world, he and his best friend Gene seek to find a way to enjoy the last few days of freedom before the dreaded Summer School begins. After discovering a mysterious message from the olden days of Boonetown, the two boys and their friend Edgar embark on a dangerous journey. With high hopes of finding a life-changing secret, the Boonetown Bandits begin an adventure like no other, with endless twists and turns along the way.
Jack Mathias and the Boonetown Bandits by G.M. Savage is a high-stakes adventure story with plenty of action to go around. Each step of the boys’ journey is fraught with peril, as unexpected dangers lurk around every corner. The characters are real and memorable, growing and developing their friendship as the quest continues. Jack, the lovable rogue; Gene, the scholar; and Edgar, the gentle giant, all learn more about each other and themselves as they travel into the wilds near the raging Gauley River.
This action story is engaging and has a lot of positive energy. The author perfectly portrays the mind and behavior of middle school kids making this a relatable read for young readers. This thrilling read about Jack’s journey involves many adventures, from camping in the wild to whitewater rafting on rapids allowing young readers to dare to be adventurous. I found myself daydreaming of these adventures as I was reading.
A good romp about friendship and the joy of the journey, Jack Mathias and the Boonetown Bandits is a middle-grade action adventure novel that will entertain preteens and teens alike. This is an exciting story about three friends and their quest for hidden secrets; this captivating narrative is perfect for a lazy afternoon of reading fun.
Pages: 203 | ASIN : B0BCM56KBV
A Trail of Honesty – Trailer
Summertime is vacation time for the Angelino family, and the two Angelino boys are excited about their upcoming camping trip. They’re going to the local state park, where they can swim, go fishing, and look for wildlife!
Being on vacation doesn’t mean the boys have to be careful. An encounter with a sneezing deer provides their father with an opportunity to teach the boys about respecting wildlife and staying alert for danger. Knowing more about the park’s wildlife helps the boys have more fun while staying safe. They discover staying quiet and moving slowly makes it easier to see the animals and birds that call the park home.
At the camp, the boys have responsibilities like the rest of the family. When they neglect one of these responsibilities and lie about it, they wind up in trouble—and learn an important lesson.
Beautifully illustrated, A Trail of Honesty teaches children about honesty while explaining actions have consequences. J. A. Angelo’s delightful story is an ideal way for parents to use consequences to teach children how to be better people—not simply to punish them.
A Warrior’s Nightmare
Jessica is excited about starting college in the fall, already enrolled at the University of Oregon. Every year for as long as she can remember, she has enjoyed spending a week camping with her father before school started, but this year is special because her best friends are coming with them. She has no way to know they will all be walking into a nightmare straight out of a horror movie.
Eighteen years before, Jessica’s mother died under mysterious circumstances right after giving birth to her. Her dad refuses to speak about it, though his eyes grow haunted every time the subject comes up. All Jessica knows is that it was a violent death. Her answers will come from a stranger, one who knows far more than he should.
Nethaniel is a Lycaeonian from the planet Laizahlia, a wolf shapeshifter. He is taking his first trip off world with his father when he runs across Jessica fly fishing at the lake. Though it shouldn’t be possible, he recognizes her immediately as his fated mate. Unfortunately, Nethaniel’s father has enemies, and three have followed them to Earth, vengeance on their minds. Jessica and her friends are considered little more than collateral damage.
