Blog Archives
Visual Variety
Alex the Circus Clown: Learning Colors is Fun! invites young readers into a vibrant circus where Alex and his clown friends turn learning colors into a playful, rhyming celebration. What inspired you to use a circus setting to teach children about colors?
I chose the circus setting because it naturally brings color, energy, and excitement to the page. When children think of the circus, they usually picture bright balloons, costumes, laughter, and fun, so it felt like the perfect place to introduce colors in a way that would immediately capture their attention. I wanted learning to feel playful, not forced.
Alex the Circus Clown gave me the opportunity to create a world that feels joyful and inviting for young children. The circus is full of movement, imagination, and visual variety, which made it a great fit for teaching something as basic but important as color recognition. It also allowed me to use rhythm and rhyme in a way that feels lighthearted and entertaining.
More than anything, I wanted children to connect learning with happiness. If a child can smile, laugh, and enjoy the experience while also learning their colors, then the book has done what I hoped it would do.
How did you decide which colors to include, especially more specific shades like maroon, copper, aqua, and olive?
I wanted the book to go beyond just the basic colors children usually learn first. Of course, those foundation colors matter, but I also wanted to introduce them to a wider range of shades in a fun and natural way. Children notice more than we sometimes give them credit for, and books can be a simple way to expand their vocabulary early.
Colors like maroon, copper, aqua, and olive were included because they add variety and make the book feel richer and more interesting. The circus gave me the freedom to do that. It is such a colorful world that it did not feel out of place to include shades that are a little more unique. Balloons, costumes, props, and decorations all gave me room to bring in those colors in a playful way.
I also liked the idea of giving parents and teachers something extra to work with. A child may not remember every shade right away, but hearing those words early helps build familiarity. It opens the door for conversation, repetition, and curiosity, which are a big part of learning at that age.
For me, it was really about making the book more engaging while also giving children a broader and more colorful learning experience.
The illustrations are full of motion, pattern, and personality; how did you envision the visual style of Alex and his clown friends?
I wanted the visual style to feel lively, warm, and full of joy. Since this book is for young children, I pictured Alex and his clown friends as friendly, playful, and inviting rather than exaggerated or overwhelming. I did not want anything harsh or distracting. I wanted children to look at the characters and immediately feel comfortable, curious, and ready to turn the page.
The movement was important to me because the circus is never still. In my mind, everything in that world has energyâballoons floating, costumes bouncing, clowns performing, and color everywhere. I wanted the illustrations to reflect that sense of motion and excitement so the book would feel alive from page to page.
The patterns and bright details were also intentional. Since the book is about colors, I wanted the artwork to do more than just support the words. I wanted it to help carry the learning. The costumes, props, and backgrounds gave me the chance to fill the pages with visual variety in a way that keeps children engaged while reinforcing the colors they are seeing and hearing.
As for Alex and his friends, I envisioned them each having their own personality while still fitting together as part of the same cheerful circus world. I wanted them to feel expressive, fun, and memorable. My goal was for children to connect with them, not just as characters in a lesson, but as friends leading them through a colorful adventure.
What do you hope parents, teachers, and caregivers take away from reading this book with children?
I hope they take away that learning can be simple, joyful, and shared. For me, this book is not just about teaching colors. It is about creating a moment where a child can learn, smile, and feel encouraged at the same time.
I hope parents, teachers, and caregivers see that early learning does not have to feel like pressure. It can be fun, lighthearted, and full of imagination. Sometimes the best learning happens when a child is relaxed, engaged, and enjoying the experience.
I also hope the book gives adults a chance to interact with children in a meaningful way. Whether they are reading aloud, pointing out colors, or talking about their favorite pages, those small moments matter. They help build vocabulary, attention, confidence, and connection.
More than anything, I hope this book leaves them with the reminder that children learn best when learning feels like joy.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Chef Quiche’s Shapes and Colors
Chef Quicheâs Shapes and Colors follows Quiche Junior and his parents on a rainy Saturday trip to the Giggle and Grow Museum, where a cheerful treasure hunt turns into a playful lesson in shapes and colors. Guided by Mr. Orange and an ancient-looking parchment, Quiche Junior searches the museum for circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, ovals, rhombuses, stars, and hearts hidden inside colorful artwork. By the end, the real treasure isnât gold or jewels, but a rainbow outside the window, a sweet reminder that beauty and hope can appear after even the grayest afternoon.
I found the book charming in a very earnest and homemade-feeling way. The writing has a lively read-aloud rhythm, especially when the shape clues slip into rhyme, and I could easily imagine a preschooler joining in with the repeated pattern of âcheckedâ after each discovery. Thereâs something endearing about how much the book wants to give children: vocabulary, observation skills, color recognition, shape facts, and a soft emotional message all at once.
The artwork is bright, quirky, and full of visual activity, which suits the museum treasure hunt nicely. I liked the mix of cartoon characters with childlike framed âartworks,â because it gives the book a handmade classroom energy that feels warm rather than polished to perfection. The quiche characters are silly in a memorable way, and the rainy-to-rainbow arc gives the illustrations a satisfying emotional lift. My favorite idea in the book is that learning comes through noticing, not lecturing. Children are invited to look closely, search the pictures, and feel the pleasure of finding something for themselves.
I thought this was a sweet and good-hearted picture book with a clear sense of purpose and a lot of affection behind it. Itâs an interactive learning adventure, the kind Iâd pull out when my child was alert, curious, and ready to point at the page. Iâd recommend it for preschool and early kindergarten readers who enjoy scavenger hunts, bright colors, playful food characters, and books that turn basic concepts into a shared little game.
Pages: 56 | ASIN â : â B0GPXF7NX3
In Search of the Optimal Human Diet: A Layperson’s Guide to Nutritional Science
Jonathan Spitzâs In Search of the Optimal Human Diet is an ambitious and deeply researched laypersonâs guide to nutritional science, built around one central conviction: that a whole-food, plant-based diet is not a fringe preference but the clearest answer emerging from centuries of nutritional inquiry. Spitz begins with a personal wound, his fatherâs fatal heart attack at fifty-one, then widens the lens into a sweeping history of discovery, from James Lindâs citrus experiment with scurvy-stricken sailors to the work of Lavoisier, Liebig, Krebs, Ornish, Esselstyn, and Greger. The book moves from deficiency diseases to diseases of excess, from vitamins and macronutrients to the microbiome, ending with a firm argument for fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and a conscious avoidance of animal and heavily processed foods.
What I found most compelling is the bookâs insistence that nutrition is a story of hard-won knowledge, not casual advice. Spitz has a gift for making scientific history feel alive, especially when he slows down over moments of intellectual trial and error. Lindâs oranges and lemons, Lavoisierâs calorimeter, Magendieâs unsettling dog experiments, and Krebsâs painstaking mapping of metabolic cycles all become part of a larger human drama: the body gradually yielding its secrets to measurement, curiosity, and revision. I admired the humility embedded in that structure. Even when the author writes with absolute confidence about plant-based eating, the historical chapters remind us that science advances by correcting itself. That gives the book a sturdy moral rhythm, as if every mistaken theory still carries value because it helped clear the path.
Spitzâs passion is unmistakable and often moving. The sections on observational and interventional studies, especially the discussions of wartime Norway, The China Study, Ornish, Esselstyn, and plant-based diabetes interventions, make a persuasive cumulative case. Phrases that cast opposing voices as unserious or contaminated by industry influence may satisfy readers already inclined to agree. I appreciated the authorâs practical honesty in places like the appendix on vitamin B12, where he acknowledges that a plant-based diet requires supplementation in the modern world. That kind of candor strengthens the argument because it admits that an ideal diet still has real-world obligations.
The book is at its best when it braids biography, chemistry, and public health into one flowing narrative. It can be dense, sometimes almost encyclopedic. Yet I rarely felt that the detail was merely decorative. Spitz writes like someone who has lived with these ideas for decades, and his conviction gives the material warmth. The conclusion returns to that personal beginning with satisfying emotional force: the son who lost his father to heart disease becomes the older man who sees food as empowerment rather than deprivation. Iâd recommend In Search of the Optimal Human Diet to thoughtful general readers, plant-curious eaters, health professionals open to nutrition-centered prevention, and anyone who wants a serious, historically grounded case for whole-food, plant-based living.
Pages: 337 | ISBN : 9781662973574
Robbie, The Grumpy Bumpy Rooster: Part 1 of the Rooster Series
In Robbie, the Grumpy Bumpy Rooster, little Lucy, a delicate blue pysanka chicken with a painful foot and a gentle spirit, is learning how to find her voice in a busy Ukrainian chookyard when Robbie, a vain and angry rooster, storms in and frightens the smallest chickens. The flock rallies around her, especially Sofia, Hapka, Boris, and the Babas, and the story becomes less about one roosterâs tantrum than about safety, courage, and the deep comfort of being protected by your people.
I found the heart of this children’s book tender and surprisingly intense. As a parent, I really responded to the way Lucyâs vulnerability is handled. She isnât written as fragile in a way that evokes pity, but as a childlike creature who needs extra care, gets tired, plays tricks, struggles, and still belongs completely. The writing has a slightly old-fashioned storytelling feel, with repetition, big sounds, and emotional directness that would work well read aloud. It feels like the author is making room for a childâs fear to be taken seriously.
The ideas in the book are what stayed with me most. Robbieâs anger is frightening, but the story doesnât pretend children can simply out-brave a bully on their own. Instead, it shows help arriving from all sides: a mother, an elder, a protector, and trusted adults. I appreciated that. The artwork adds a lot of personality, especially Robbieâs colors and expressions, Lucyâs soft yellow-blue sweetness, and the warm domestic details of the Babas, the lemon tree, the tea, and the poppyseed cake.
This is a heartfelt and emotionally honest picture book with a strong protective instinct at its center. It’s an educational story, and Robbieâs bullying has real bite. The story opens the door to meaningful conversations about fear, anger, difference, and asking for help. Iâd recommend it for families with young children who are learning how to name big feelings, especially kids whoâve felt picked on, overwhelmed, or in need of reassurance that someone will come when they call.
Pages: 31 | ASIN â : â B0FL7KH4DG
So You Want To Be An Astronomer & Exoplanet Hunter
So You Want To Be An Astronomer & Exoplanet Hunter is a fascinating and beautifully presented nonfiction book for young readers who are curious about space, science, and what it really means to study the universe. Written for ages 10 to 14, this book goes beyond simple stargazing facts and gives readers an honest, exciting look at the real work astronomers do, especially those who search for planets beyond our solar system.
One of the bookâs greatest strengths (as it is in the entire So You Want To Be… series) is the way it explains complex science in a clear and engaging way. Readers learn how astronomers detect exoplanets by studying tiny dips in starlight, measuring the wobble of distant stars, and using spectroscopy to understand the chemical makeup of alien atmospheres. These are big scientific ideas, but Soules presents them in a way that feels approachable without talking down to kids. The book trusts young readers with real vocabulary and real science, which makes the subject even more exciting.
The career-focused sections are especially strong. The book does an excellent job of showing that astronomy is not just about looking through telescopes. It involves math, physics, coding, patience, careful observation, data analysis, and problem-solving. And above all, it takes patience, as Linda puts it, “the timescales are humbling. An exoplanet… is found only by observing its star for at least one full orbit – which means years of patiently waiting.” The day-in-the-life section gives readers a realistic look at an astronomerâs work, from opening an observatory dome at sunset to dealing with weather problems and reviewing data the next morning. This realistic approach makes the career feel both challenging and inspiring.
The illustrations are another highlight. They are colorful and detailed, adding visual interest while also helping explain the science. The book also includes fun facts, a helpful glossary, historical profiles of important astronomers, and practical suggestions for kids who want to start learning more right away. Tips such as learning constellations, visiting a planetarium, trying a small telescope, exploring real datasets, and participating in citizen-science projects make the book feel empowering.
I also appreciated the strong representation of women in science. By highlighting female astronomers who made major contributions despite facing barriers, the book shows young readers, especially girls, that they belong in science too. This adds an important and inspiring layer to an already excellent educational book.
So You Want To Be An Astronomer & Exoplanet Hunter is an informative, engaging, and visually appealing guide for children interested in space or science careers. It’s short and accessible, but still packed with meaningful information. Young readers who dream of studying stars, galaxies, telescopes, or distant planets will find this book both exciting and useful. It’s a wonderful choice for upper elementary and middle-grade readers, classrooms, libraries, and families with kids who look up at the night sky and wonder what else might be out there.
Pages: 38 | ISBN : 978-1972766408
Alphabet Albcell!
Alphabet Albcell!, by Gazmend Ceno, is a childrenâs activity book built around the Albcell system, a puzzle format that blends letter recognition, number patterns, and coloring into one routine. The opening section walks young readers through the rules with a large sample puzzle, showing how even numbers appear in circles, odd numbers appear in diamonds, and each zone follows a one-time-only number rule. That setup gives the book a clear identity right away: itâs not just a workbook page here and there, but a full method for solving and coloring alphabet-themed puzzles.
Once the instructions are over, the pages move into a steady rhythm of puzzle spreads that alternate between simpler even-number pages, odd-number pages, and fuller mixed-number designs. The shapes inside the squares shift from page to page to form large block letters and other bold paths, so the child is always working inside a strong visual structure. That repetition feels intentional. It gives children a pattern they can settle into while still keeping the pages visually fresh.
The book also has a nice classroom-to-kitchen-table feel. It explains the puzzle logic in a friendly voice thatâs easy to follow. I liked that the coloring isnât treated as an extra decoration tossed on top. Itâs part of how the activity unfolds, first around the circles, then around the diamonds, then across the full finished shape.
Visually, the book is straightforward and easy to read. The pages are clean, the number placement is large enough for young children, and the black and white layouts leave plenty of room for coloring and marking with a pencil.
Alphabet Albcell! is a structured alphabet and number puzzle book with a specific game at its center. Itâs made for children who like patterns, filling things in, and turning a page of shapes and numbers into something theyâve completed with both logic and color. If you want a book that gives readers a repeatable puzzle routine with an educational slant and plenty of room for coloring, this book is easily recommended.
Pages: 109 | ASIN â : â B0F281BZTD
A Touch of Fantasy
Bugs That Bug You is a rhyming story centered around a young boy frustrated by the numerous bugs that inconvenience him at every turn. Where did the idea for this story come from?
Yes, I experienced bugs who bugged me at the time. A very annoying fly would buzz around my head every morning and wake me up. Then a cockroach flew directly towards me. This is what inspired me to write the book.
What is it that draws you to write children’s literature?
I love the fun of it all. Usually, children’s literature has a positive tone to it, and you can add a bit of fantasy to it. This is why I love childrens literature, you can almost come up with anything you like đ
Is there anything from your own childhood included in Fred’s character or his experiences?
Yes, we had weasels in our oats when I was a child; that’s why I added the weasels to Fred’s breakfast.
Can young readers look forward to seeing more from Fred? What are you currently working on?
â
At the moment, there’s nothing more from Fred. But you never know I might come up with in the future. I’m currently working on “Oh Dear, There’s Gum in My Hair,” a series of “Oh No, There’s Poo on My Shoe.”
Thank you, I hope you enjoy my books. Thanks Again
Author Website
It all begins when a fly buzzes around his head first thing in the morning. Then come the weevils in his breakfast, a moth that munches a hole in his favourite jacket, and an ant that crawls up his pants!
As the day goes on, more and more bugs appear, and Fred is getting fed up. But Mum has some wise words: don’t let the bugs bug you â enjoy the rest of the day!
A fun, rhyming story full of pesky pests, giggles, and a gentle reminder to shake off the small stuff and keep smiling.
Everyone Has Something To Offer
No Books For Benjamin? introduces young readers to a lovable little worm who lives and works at the Library of Congress and finds himself heartbroken when a mysterious illness forces libraries across the country to close. Where did the idea for this story come from?
I originally did not plan a sequel to Books For Benjamin. Â However, in visiting schools and talking to kids, many asked if there would be another Benjamin book, as they liked the character. Â The idea for this second book came during the pandemic, when so many libraries had to close their doors. I remember feeling how strange and sad it was not to have that space open, and I thought about what it would mean for someone who lived and breathed books every day. The book is my nod to librarians who personally witnessed as a teacher come up with creative ways to get real books into the hands of children. They are the real-life heroes! I thought it would be fun to have Benjamin and friends take on this role.Â
Do you have a favorite scene in this book? One that was especially fun to write?
It’s actually not one scene, but starts with Ginger, the ant, offering to help deliver books by flexing her muscles and declaring how strong ants are.  This is followed by scenes of Whizby, the dragonfly delivering books by air, as dragonflies are super-fast fliers, and Dotty, the ladybug, contributing by landing up and down on a spray disinfectant can.  I imagined writing funny scenes where there are a few hiccups with this (For example, the ant group falls like dominoes when one ant ignores “halt” because he is reading a book, one dragonfly accidentally drops his parachute of books on a dog’s head).  But ultimately, the plan works. The message I hoped to impart to kids is that everyone has something to offer, no matter how small.
The artwork in your book is wonderful. Can you share with us a little about your collaboration with illustrator Uliana Barabash?
Uliana was incredible to work with. From the very beginning, she just got Benjaminâhis warmth, his curiosity, and that spark of determination. We talked through ideas, but honestly, she always surprised me with details that made the illustrations feel alive. Seeing her bring Benjaminâs world to life was one of the most rewarding parts of this whole process.  I just get a big smile every time I look at this purple worm she illustrated with his crazy hair and funny expressions.  Kids have often thanked me for writing a story about a not-so-often-loved character, but I really know it is Uliana’s magical illustration and choice to make him purple that turned this character into a lovable one.
Can you give us a glimpse inside the next book in the Benjamin and Friends series?
Yes! In the next book, Benjamin ventures outside the library and starts to discover that stories arenât only found in booksâtheyâre in people, places, and even in the adventures we have. He meets some new friends who help him see the world in new ways. Itâs really about friendship, resilience, and finding stories everywhere you look. Â I am also trying to imagine a story where Benjamin helps reluctant readers find the magic in books!
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Benjamin the worm loves his job at his favorite library – reading, organizing, and receiving letters from kids who share their favorite books. Yet, everything changes when a strange illness sweeps across the world. Schools close. Libraries shut their doors. And suddenly … no more books!
With the help of his clever and determined friends, Benjamin sets out on a mission to bring books back into children’s hands.
Because stories matter. And heroes come in all shapes … even squiggly ones.
