Blog Archives
The Emerald Lake
Join Jimmy Crikey in the fourth installment of The Adventures of Jimmy Crikey: The Emerald Lake. Readers follow Jimmy as he goes on an all-new adventure in this spellbinding world of magic. Jimmy, an alien orphan from another planet, now living on Earth alongside the four witch guardians, sets out to help the Aquamites. When fire-breathing serpents threaten the Aquamites, Jimmy and his friends must use their wits to protect the merfolk from utter destruction.
Author Wallace Briggs brings magic and the characters in the story to life in this magical adventure. Jimmy’s character is an enjoyable one to follow, as we’ve seen him struggle with finding his place on Earth and now we watch as he struggles with the awkwardness of being a teenager and falling in love for the first time. I enjoyed watching the characters progress through the series and seeing friendships blossom.
The author does a great job of giving the reader just enough information to be able to read this book and still understand what is going on without having read the first books in the series. Briggs provides a beautifully detailed world that you can clearly imagine the scenes in your mind. The plot moves at a smooth pace, and there are some tense scenes that will have you quickly flipping through the pages. This is the perfect book for young readers to immerse themselves in and let their imagination run wild.
Author Briggs provides a great balance of magic, fantasy, science, and friendship, making this a thrilling read that you won’t want to put down. I look forward to seeing what’s in store for Jimmy and his friends on their next adventure. I highly recommend this enticing book to teen and older elementary grade readers who are looking to go on a fantastical adventure.
Pages: 170 | ASIN : B09VDNTFB4
Mangrove Sands, the Enchanted Seaworld and Beyond
Mangrove Sands, The Enchanted Seaworld and Beyond, written by L. J. Nilsson, takes us on a magical adventure in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Following along as Tommy, Maria, Jake, and Wanjee receive tutoring from their Sea World friends during their school year and learn life lessons. Wanjee also teaches Tommy, Maria, and Jake about her aboriginal Muandik language, culture, symbolic art, bedtime stories, and more. The children enjoy learning about Wanjee’s culture, and she enjoys teaching them about her aboriginal roots. The school year goes by quickly, and the children start their transition to the next chapter in their lives.
Mangrove Sands, The Enchanted Seaworld, and Beyond is the sweetest book I have read in a long time! I love that it is inclusive of Wanjee’s character. Learning about her aboriginal tribe, the Muandik, was an absolute pleasure. Some of the words that were used in her language, such as didgeridoo, were words I had heard before. However, I did not know where they originated from. It was a wonderful surprise!
Maria’s character was so sweet. She seems to be very caring and eager to learn. Tommy seemed like he was clearheaded and thought problems through. He is mature for his age. Jake’s character seemed like quite a few boys I know. He was competitive but a good sportsman. He was also handy with tools and musically gifted. All of the Sea World friends sounded absolutely amazing! I really wish I had a friend named Parlow to talk to. Parlow is very wise.
Overall, I loved the book very much! I would recommend it to children and adults alike. In fact, more adults should read more books like this! Then they can learn to have more compassion and empathy for other living beings. The only part that confused me a little was when the children lay in bed and said their code of silence. They would then float onto Parlow’s back. I wondered if it was an out-of-body experience, but I wasn’t sure because of a couple of places in the book. One of them is when Jake gets hurt. That was the only part that confused me. I suppose it is a magical realm, so it may always remain a mystery.
I want to add that I loved the note L. J. Nilsson wrote at the very beginning. I think they nailed their intention and were very respectful. Also, I love that they included resources throughout the book for further research on the Muandik tribe.
Mangrove Sands, The Enchanted Seaworld and Beyond is a children’s fantasy novel that adults can enjoy and learn from as well. This heartfelt book teaches about friendship, empathy, and honor, among other things, and does so while taking readers on an exciting adventure they will not soon forget.
Pages: 108 | ASIN : B087N5QGDT
Marvin the Math Cat & the Mysterious Patio Garden
There is a quest waiting on Marvin and his best friend Dusty. It’s a mission unlike any the two cats could have ever pictured even in the wildest of their daydreams. When their math homework becomes more than the two can handle, they begin to notice math in the world around them. Determined to sit down and make a real go of it with the tough geometry assignment, Marvin soon finds himself lost in another world, and that world happens to be his math textbook!
Marvin the Math Cat and the Mysterious Patio Garden, by H & N Blackburn, is the mathematically-centered fantasy story of Marvin the Math Cat and his best friend Dusty. These two adorable characters have been tasked with math homework they would prefer to ignore. When their entire world turns upside down, the two friends find themselves solving riddles and following clues in order to complete a task which is actually the math the two have tried so hard to avoid.
The authors have done a truly amazing job of breaking down a math equation into a real life situation for their characters to solve. The immense amount of energy the main characters put into the quest is a great example for readers and drives home the usefulness and importance of a solid foundation in mathematics.
Included at the end of Marvin’s tale is an opportunity for readers to solve an equation of their own. Along with this incredibly detailed and in-depth problem is a list of math terms as well as illustrations to guide readers.
Marvin the Math Cat and the Mysterious Patio Garden, by H & N Blackburn, is a fantastic approach to building interest in math, especially geometry, the subject matter is appropriate for older students and the cast of characters likely appeals to a younger group of readers. The Blackburns’ work is thorough, well-written, and a great addition to a classroom library.
Pages: 41 | ASIN : B09SW7MNHW
Death at Dusbar College
Death at Dusbar College: A Story of Antyfas by Laura DiNovis Berry is set in the magical world of Antyfas, where 11-year-old Christiano visits Dusbar college with his aunt Laura. Anxious to solve the Grand Magician’s riddle, he sets out on an intriguing adventure. While on his way to solving this riddle, he runs into interesting situations, from talking frogs to floating hats and magicians. Will Christiano be the lucky one to solve the riddle? You’ll have to dive right in to find out.
Author Laura DiNovis Berry has created a magical world with much thought, care, and precision that will captivate young readers’ minds. The author’s quirky imagination is expertly displayed on each page, making this magical realm come to life in the reader’s mind. Many parts in the book carry a theatrical appeal allowing the reader to clearly visualize the scenes and characters, almost like watching a movie. This book reminded me of Harry Potter but for younger readers and with a less complicated plot.
The author has done a great job captivating the essence of young children down to how they speak and act. The author’s writing is easy to follow along, and she makes this a fun and engaging read with magic and adventure. The author has packed great detail in a short story and images to accompany the chapters. The reader will find themselves rooting for Christiano, who is determined to solve the riddle despite all odds. I truly enjoyed Christiano’s charisma and confidence.
For parents and young readers looking for a fascinating read to take them on an enchanting adventure, this is the book for you. I highly recommend this whimsical read for middle schoolers fascinated by magic and mystery. You will have a great time exploring the world of Antyfas and the characters it contains.
Pages: 82 | ISBN : 1644564173
I Want to Inspire and Encourage Children
We’re on a Dragon Quest follows two children as they go in search of a dragon in the snow, collecting clues from magical creatures along the way. What was the inspiration for your story?
When I was a young child, my mother told me that she’d seen a fairy hiding among the potted plants in our yard. I really wanted to believe her, so I went outside to look for this tiny creature. Although I didn’t see a fairy, I drew pictures about my search for her. More recently I came up with the idea for We’re on a Dragon Quest, because I wanted to write an exciting adventure set close to a child’s home. The story takes place in the winter, as snow has a magical quality.
Why did you choose to leave the children in this story unnamed?
I left them unnamed because I wanted the children reading the story to pretend that they are the characters in the adventure, and therefore to become more involved in the quest.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes of the story are friendship and co-operation. I was also hoping to inspire a sense of wonder and encourage children to write imaginative stories for themselves
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am working on a lower middle grade series of animal story books. I am currently editing the first one and I hope it will be available in 2023.
We’re on a Dragon Quest
One cold winter day, a girl looks out the window and sees a dragon flying down the street and landing by the fishpond in her backyard. She tells her brother, and together they decide to go on a dragon quest to find the bright red dragon. To find the dragon, they follow a pixie, talk to a goblin, and get directions from an elf. Finally, following the dragon’s footsteps in the snow, they find Frazzle, the dragon hiding in their shed, and she gives a playful roar.
We’re on a Dragon Quest is an enchanting picture book written by Kathryn Hollingworth and illustrated by Felipe Calv. Young readers will be mesmerized by the colorful and whimsical drawings. The colors used to highlight key story elements make reading this more entertaining as children will be drawn to the words as much as the pictures. I really loved the rendering of Frazzle; she is funny and playful, a combination that will draw children right into this book.
The wonderful rhyming lines tell this imaginative story in a way that children will be excited to see what characters the brother and sister encounter next. The flow of the story keeps the action moving while also allowing children to imagine and guess what could happen next. It really does feel like going on a quest in the traditional sense as each new scene brings them new information, a new friend, and closer to the goal, finding the dragon! Each new character shows a unique personality and a friendly and helpful attitude. Bringing in classic fantasy character types is a great way to introduce this genre to children and entertain adults who love fantasy novels.
We’re on a Dragon Quest is a magical picture book that preschoolers and kindergarten children will love to read. With meaningful messages of helping others, friendship, and encouraging imaginative play, this children’s book would be a welcome addition to a home or classroom library.
Pages: 34 | ASIN : B09XKDKWZ2
James’ Ragtag Adventure in Questworld
James’ Ragtag Adventure in Questworld follows a group of five pals who find themselves stuck in a magical realm. They awaken the Goblin Queen and her army of goblins during an adventure gone wrong! Now they’ll need to find backup to battle her wicked majesty. Along the journey, they’ll come across fascinating and mystical creatures. Some good, some bad… Are they going to be able to defeat the queen? What is the origin of this mysterious land, and how did they get there? This adventure will have you on the edge of your seat. Follow James and his group of friends as they navigate the exciting world of Questland!
This adventurous book will have readers hooked from the very first sentence. One of the highlights of this story is the solid character development. This novel has a prototypical group of friends. M. Doyle has included the sassy one, the strong one, the brainy one, the shy one, and the leader. These familiar character types and themes will appeal to middle-grade readers as they can relate to the characters’ personalities and feel comfortable with the storyline.
M. Doyle has done an excellent job with pacing in this novel. There are pauses throughout, and it gives readers the feeling that they are sitting alongside the gang, resting and getting to know them better. The moments of rest come as a welcome break from the captivating and suspenseful action that the characters encounter in Questland. It seems like they discover new creatures and monsters at every corner and are constantly in danger.
James’s Ragtag Adventures in Questworld: Return of the Goblin Queen is a thrilling fantasy adventure novel for middle-grade children. This exciting novel takes place in a video game and is a great way to introduce reluctant readers to the fantasy genre and help them become avid readers.
Pages: 103 | ASIN : B093Z64K41
Sailing the Milky Way
It is time for bed; the young child asks his parents to tell him the story of Yuri the dragonfly once more before he goes to sleep. Yuri is a dragonfly born of light and love, with a magical destiny ahead of him. This dragonfly goes on exciting adventures and explores the universe. Yuri is limited only by his own imagination and dreams, and these things take him all over; from sailing the oceans, playing in the wind, and even into space and exploring the Milky Way. This is a story of curiosity, courage, imagination, and love.
Sailing the Milky Way: A Passport to the Unimagined is written and illustrated by Eileen Ferriter. This whimsical and magical picture book is a delight for readers of all ages, with brilliantly colored images that pop off the page. Ferriter’s artistic style creates a world where children will aspire to use their imagination and create the visions they see in their minds. I especially loved the use of spirals in all the images; they represent a continuous flow of all things and tie into the title of the Milky Way.
This imaginative children’s book is written to inspire children to dream and create. Yuri shows extraordinary courage as he explores the seas and sky, venturing off into space to see what the Milky Way holds. The way Yuri explores his world is akin to the innocence of a child exploring their new environments, finding all the good and amazing things before them.
Sailing the Milky Way: A Passport to the Unimagined is a remarkable picture book that will mesmerize children with phenomenal artwork and a highly original storyline. Written for young children in preschool to kindergarten, this feel-good story will appeal to adults as much as it does to kids. This would make a great book for classrooms when introducing an art or creative thought lessons.
Pages: 24 | ISBN : 1977247016
LITERARY TITAN 