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Milo Savage and the Gargoyle Hunters
Milo Savage is a happy-go-lucky kid who loves a good prank. Unfortunately for Milo, his troubles are only beginning as he finds more than he bargained for at the sixth-grade field trip to the museum. Untold horrors lurk in the shadows, keen on discovering a secret that may spell disaster for all mankind. Drawn suddenly into a world of magic and mayhem, Milo must overcome the obstacles within himself to save the day. Working alongside bookworm Suzy, technician Sammy, and martial artist Kat, Milo plummets into danger as he struggles to navigate a world he barely comprehends. Together, Milo and his team of unlikely adventurers must fight to protect humanity from a devastating threat that seeks to undo the balance of the world once and for all.
Milo Savage and the Gargoyle Hunters: Secret of the Moonstone by D.S. Quinton is a fast-paced adventure with a lot to love. There are numerous colorful characters, but the narrative avoids becoming cluttered. Written in a highly engaging first-person style, the reader is immediately drawn into Milo’s optimistically sarcastic world, which strikes the perfect balance of playful storytelling and serious plot. There is plenty of comic relief, and although Milo and his friends face numerous threats and dangers, the story retains its bright tone throughout the journey. With action-packed battles, an immersive setting, and the promise of more to come, this first entry in the series is an outstanding middle-grade adventure.
While this children’s fantasy adventure novel is gripping and filled with action, there is one detraction to the story, the character development. While the characters learn and grow throughout the journey, this team of heroes comprises people who met that day. I feel that the characters needed more time to develop and establish themselves before embarking on a dangerous quest to save the world. The ending of this novel will leave readers excited for more from author D.S. Quinton. This first book sets up the plot for the next in the series, leaving many questions and room for more adventures.
Milo’s quest to protect the world in Milo Savage and the Gargoyle Hunters: Secret of the Moonstone is a stand-out escapade full of surprises. This children’s fantasy novel contains minor violence and crude humor, making it ideal for middle-grade readers. A tale of magic, mystery, and fun, this lighthearted journey into a perilous world is a beautiful beginning to what promises to be an incredible series.
Pages: 250 | ASIN : B0BMQR8PHG
Wonderful, Marvelous, Magnificent You
Children need to know that they are special, and loved, and that they can rely on Jesus. Author Abbey Feldkamp has written a dazzling children’s book that will warm children’s hearts. This vibrant picture book is a love letter to young ones. I can imagine me saying this quote from the book to my child, “I love you so much, in all of your ways, in all of our moments, all of our days.” Every rhyme contains wonderfully emotive, loving and empowering words just like this.
Every page of this inspiring picture book contains a wonderfully hand-drawn illustration that depicts different children in a variety of joyous situations. I loved the diversity in this book. There are so many different people from different cultures and races represented in this heartfelt kid’s book. There is even a beautiful child with vitiligo on one of the pages, which I think is underrepresented in children’s literature. Children will love how bright the artwork is and how expressive each character is. The stunning artwork will surely keep the attention of little ones as their parents read them this magnificent story at bedtime. And what a sweet message this book sends them off to bed with.
Wonderful, Marvelous, Magnificent is a short but impactful children’s book that will inspire faith in kids and motivate them to think about what makes them special, and to embrace it because God made them that way. This is a picture book that exudes love and is filled with cute illustrations. I highly recommend this to parents or to anyone who wants to give a beautiful gift to a young child.
Pages: 20 | ASIN: B0BKR6T4YC
The Witch’s Family
In this illustrated children’s book, The Witch’s Family, written by JJ Page, we follow a young Witch with a large family of pets that she cares for dearly and works hard studying every day. However, it soon all becomes too overwhelming for her, and she ends up getting sick. She is then taken care of in turn by her chosen family and friends. This is a magically fantastical story about friendship and family.
I absolutely loved this story; I didn’t want the story to end. Having friends and family, you can rely on is so important in life. We all need help from time to time, and it’s good to know someone has your back in times of need.
The book’s message was well thought out, and I could feel that there is so much world-building that isn’t even mentioned directly but is just given through the poetic prose of the text and the beauty of the illustrations. It reminded me immensely of ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ in all the best ways. The Witch’s pets, whom she called her family, were all so varied in species and size that they brought feelings of acceptance, which I feel is also an important lesson for young readers to understand.
The Witch’s Family is an inspirational picture book filled with the message of kindness, compassion, and caring for those in need. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone of any age because it is just such a beautiful story that is delivered masterfully. It would make an excellent addition to a home or school library to help young elementary children understand acceptance and compassion.
Pages: 44 | ASIN : B0BGW61M4B
When Mommy is in Heaven
In, When Mommy is in Heaven by Wendy L. Hackey, we follow a young boy named Micah who has been given an invitation to a Mother’s Day Tea Party at school to honor the mothers and grandmothers of the students. With so much excitement, he tells his grandmother, who agrees to attend with him. He even prays every night that his mommy, who is in Heaven, can come to the party too. Will his mother be at the tea party when the day finally arrives?
This is a book about loss and God’s blessings. For young Micah, he lost his mother at a very young age, and it is extremely difficult for children to grasp the idea behind people passing and not being able to see or talk to them. I think this is a fantastically written children’s book to have these challenging discussions with kids. It is such a sweet story about life and was easy to read and follow the message clearly. The illustrations by Dan Drewes made the content engaging and added charm throughout, even when moments of sadness appeared.
I believe this to be an exceptional book to be added to anyone’s library and would absolutely recommend this to any families dealing with loss. When Mommy is in Heaven is a well-written picture book that will help families talk about death and grief and the blessings that God provides, even when it is not in the way you expect.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 1504980166
The Visitors
The Visitors by Andrew Cahill-Lloyd is the charming story of two aliens from the planet Aeon, Bjorn, and Zorn, who are tasked to observe Earth. The pair watches as the religious wars on the planet lead it to destroy itself. They are soon charged with the task of going back in time to try to save Earth from itself by revealing proof of alien existence to humans to prove there are bigger things out there. Teaming up with animals from around the world, they set their plan in motion to save man. Will their endeavors be fruitful in enlightening mankind, or have they caused bigger problems?
This was a sweet read that was out of this world. It was fun seeing the misadventures these aliens and animals get themselves into, and I feel kids would enjoy its wacky cast of characters. I love a good romp through time and space, and this filled that niche perfectly. This piece had good heartwarming messages I think a lot of people need to hear in this day and age. The humor in this book balanced out the heavier topics and made this an enjoyable rescue mission that didn’t take itself too seriously. I mean, who doesn’t love a well-placed fart joke when you’re trying to save the world.
I did feel the flow of the book needed some work. I felt it was too fast-paced, and you really didn’t have time to marinate on each revelation before you raced off to the next one. I wished the descriptions had been fleshed out a little bit more in some areas; I couldn’t get a good image in my head at times. The character’s personalities, however, shone through and kept me smiling and laughing.
The Visitors is a gripping children’s science fiction novel filled with aliens and animals. I highly recommend this book if you love a good adventure through time and space. Its fun characters, heartwarming messages, and humor make this an entertaining story.
Pages: 206 | ISBN : 1398490334
Beatific
Jada and Lilly are playing outside when they find a little kitten. They want to take it home, but Jada’s mom tells them that they must first call the animal shelter to ensure the cat doesn’t already belong to someone. Jada’s mom says that they can adopt the kitten if no one claims it, but warns that owning a cat takes a lot of time and love. Jada does her best to learn everything she can about owning a kitten and hopes the day will come for her to adopt that happy little kitten.
This is a wonderful children’s book that will educate young readers and show them what it takes to be a pet owner. There is a lot of things to consider and this book does a great job of showing the various things that kids will need to think about before adopting a kitten. I enjoyed seeing how Jada was so determined to learn about caring for kittens. This will inspire young readers to do their own research and find out what it takes.
If you are a parent that wants to teach your child about adopting a pet then this picture book will be a great start as it will inspire lots of conversations about the subject. Beatific is a fun and educational book that will be a wonderful resource at animal shelters or for any parent or teacher that wants to educate their children.
Pages: 26 | ASIN: B085G83G77
The News According to Mr. Freels
The News According to Mr. Freels is a feel-good read that will have you smiling from beginning to end. Readers are introduced to an old man named Mr. Freels, who lives alone and spends his days sitting on his porch listening to the news. Mr. Freels likes to share the news with anyone who would listen, but unfortunately, he cannot hear so well, so the news he relays to others is not always accurate.
Author Sheri Lynn Buckner has written a story that takes young readers to a time when life was simple, and people would enjoy time outside and even enjoy having conversations with one another. Mr. Freels’s character is charming, and he reminded me of hearing a story about my grandfather. The images in the story are so beautiful and transport the reader into Mr. Freels’ world. I appreciated that the author not only told a story but she also aimed to challenge the reader by asking questions at the end of the book. This is the perfect way to involve the reader and to test their comprehension. There is also a section at the end of the book where the reader can write down the definition of words that they did not understand.
This book is the perfect read for parents to share with their young ones, and the activities at the end will certainly be a great project to work on together. I highly recommend this charming and captivating read to those who want to learn a little about history and simpler times.
Pages: 46 | ASIN : B093LKCSBF
Christmas Land
A young girl wakes up to the sweetest of dreams. She is in a forest with talking animals and smells like peppermint sticks. There is a gingerbread woman decorating cupcakes nearby that is waving her over to join them. Davina realizes she is not in a dream and this magical world she is exploring is real. She has arrived in the magical Christmas Land that her mother has told her stories about all her life. What her mother hasn’t told her, though, was Christmas Land is currently ruled by an evil knight. Can Davina remember the things her mom told her and use that information to save Christmas Land?
Authors Amber and Davina Bernardi-Kim have written a magical children’s story. Christmas Land takes children on an adventure to save the kingdom from evil and does so in a surprising way. The settings are well written, and readers can imagine themself in each new scene even without the amazing illustrations of Eleonora Cali. The characters have depth, which was surprising to find in a children’s book. It is not so deep that smaller children will miss the message; rather, it is presented in a way that accentuates their personality traits.
Christmas Land is a magical children’s book that teaches children about honesty, perseverance, and standing up for what is right. This storybook would make a great holiday addition to read with families or classes to prepare for the holiday season.
Pages: 46 | ASIN : B0BLTJ7M9D
LITERARY TITAN 