Blog Archives
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
The Leading Role
The Leading Role, by Tuula Pere, is a heartwarming children’s book that really understands how big childhood projects can feel. Emma’s idea of turning her attic into a little theater is instantly charming, and the story does a nice job of showing how excitement, creativity, and teamwork can turn an ordinary space into something magical. I liked that the book doesn’t just focus on performing, but on all the different jobs that go into putting on a play. That gives the story an inclusive feel, as if every child reading it can imagine a place for themselves in the Attic Theater.
What makes the story especially engaging is the way it shifts from Emma’s confident leadership to Lily’s quieter journey. Lily begins as someone who would rather stay out of the spotlight, helping from the side as a prompter, and that makes her eventual moment of courage feel earned rather than forced. Anthony’s lost voice creates the perfect bit of drama before the premiere, and the resolution is both satisfying and encouraging. The message comes through clearly without feeling heavy-handed: sometimes the person least eager for the leading role is exactly the one who can rise to it.
The illustrations are a big part of the book’s appeal. Illustrator Dane D’Angeli gives the attic scenes a cozy, theatrical glow, especially in the spreads with the curtain, stage lights, and warm reds and golds. I liked how the artwork makes the attic feel both homemade and magical at the same time. The characters have expressive faces and simple, child-friendly designs that make their emotions easy to read, and the stage scenes in particular have a dramatic, storybook quality that fits the theme perfectly. The illustrations truly sell the excitement of rehearsal and performance.
Pere’s book is a lovely conversational read-aloud for kids who enjoy pretend play, theater, or stories about finding hidden confidence. It’s gentle, positive, and easy to follow, with a message about cooperation and bravery that feels genuine. I’d recommend it especially for younger readers who may see a bit of themselves in Emma’s enthusiasm or Lily’s shyness. The Leading Role feels like a celebration of creativity and the idea that every child has something important to bring to the stage.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 978-9528202523
Unquestioning Companionship
Whisper (Book One) follows a young girl who leaves the turmoil of her family’s home with the gentle guidance of a clever dog, the first creature in her life to ever put her at ease. Where did the idea for this story come from?
I wanted to challenge myself in writing about something quite different to what was contained within any of my earlier works, in the process tackling several reasonably serious or thought-provoking themes which are concerningly becoming far too common a problem in the real world, all while keeping its use of language, and descriptive tone regarding quite sensitive subjects, aptly suitable for a younger aged audience.
Is there anything from your own life included in Britney’s traits and dialogue?
Not that I am significantly aware of. Unless you include her general love for animals, whose unique bonds with humans I always enjoy exploring in my writing, especially that of ‘man’s best friend’ and the invaluable role dogs play in their undying loyalty and unquestioning companionship with humans. While some of the themes in this book may reflect what I’ve observed in the real world, I don’t think there is anything specific that stems from personal experience besides that.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I always enjoy writing about issues such as friendship, and these books are all about how unique individuals relate to those around them, whether they’re connected by blood or circumstantially joined together through the kindness of strangers. This series wonderfully illustrates the love that can flourish between different kinds of people, young and old, when their differences are clearly put aside, and only willing acceptance and open acts of kindness are freely offered in their place. Recovering from childhood trauma and abuse are key aspects of this book, but several reviewers have expressed appreciation for how these issues have been approached with gentle sensitivity and respect, without losing any of their weight in emotional depth and overall meaning.
Can you give us a peek inside Book 2 in this series? Where will it take readers?
With Lucas (Book Two), I really appreciated having the opportunity to give readers another chance to better get to know the man who eagerly took the vulnerable Britney under his wing. Understanding more about Lucas’ background lends credence to the idea that his own childhood years had also been extremely difficult for him to overcome, which is likely a huge part of the reason why he didn’t like seeing another distraught child being caught in a similar position and quickly jumped at the prospect of taking responsibility over her care. Despite being orphaned at a young age, Lucas finds his place with a caring older couple who model compassion and kindness every day of the week, which in turn consistently serves to teach him to always treat others with the same amount of endless love and unbridled respect that they do. By continuing the series, readers will have the chance to see things from another point of view, this time from Lucas’ perspective rather than Britney’s.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook | Amazon
Charli’s Dorsal Device: An Engineering Adventure
Charli’s Dorsal Device is about a girl named Charli who goes to Career Day and hears an engineer, Ms. Robin, talk about making mobile devices with GPS. Charli drifts into a big daydream where she is a grown engineer, teaming up with her friends Molly and Emma to design a tracking gadget called DUG that clips to a dolphin’s dorsal fin so Dr. Grace at the aquarium can follow the rescued dolphin after it is released back into the ocean. They brainstorm, design the case, write the code, test it on their dogs, fix mistakes, and finally help that dolphin swim free while its movements appear on a computer screen. Then Charli snaps back to the school assembly and realizes she might want to be an engineer for real.
I really loved how the writing makes engineering feel like play instead of homework. The scenes where Charli hides her shoe in the auditorium or chases the moving dots around the park felt fun and goofy and still showed how the tech works. The author keeps the language super clear. Words like GPS, CAD, and programming pop up, but the book explains them in such a simple way that I never felt lost. It felt like a friend saying, “Look, it is just a map, some satellites, and a little gadget that listens to them.” That mix of everyday stuff and science made me kind of giddy. I caught myself thinking, “Wait, kids could actually do things like this.”
The idea of helping a hurt animal heal and then using a tiny device to keep an eye on it after it swims will show readers that positive things can come from technology. The testing scenes at the dog park and the beach made me laugh, but they also showed that real projects mess up and need fixes. Water leaks in. Dots disappear. Dogs chase seagulls. The girls do not give up. They tweak the design, add waterproofing, try again, and celebrate when it finally works. It sends a powerful message that mistakes are normal and that girls belong in labs, offices, and workshops where big, world-changing ideas are born. The colorful art backs that up, with bright faces, messy splash pads, and that proud little moment when the seagull flies away, and everyone knows the device is ready.
The artwork throughout the book is clear and cute, with bright colors that pop off the page. The kids, the animals, even the little background details all have this fun, cartoonish energy that pulled me in. It reminds me of The Magic School Bus, with that same mix of science stuff and playful visuals.
I think this children’s book is a sweet and energizing pick for kids who like animals, gadgets, or just asking “How does that work?” It would be great for early elementary readers, classrooms doing STEM units, or any family that wants to nudge their kids, especially girls, toward science and engineering without it feeling like a lecture. If you want a story that mixes dolphins, friendship, problem-solving, and a big, hopeful line like “Anything is possible,” this one totally fits the bill.
Pages: 91
Everyone Deserves a Home
Baer Charlton’s historical fiction novel, Everyone Deserves a Home, traces the intertwined lives of Walter Humphrey, Leatha, Betsy Turner, and eventually Hannah Mariah Rose Humphrey. It begins in the American South of the mid-1800s, moves through New Orleans, crosses the ocean to England, and follows a family shaped by secrets of race, identity, and survival. From the first chapters, the story lays out a complicated inheritance: hidden parentage, passing as white, the legacy of enslavement, and the formation of a chosen family built not by blood but by loyalty. Even early on, you see how Hannah’s future as a surgeon grows out of this unconventional household where medicine, language, theater, and resilience are all part of daily life.
The writing moves with an intimate, memoir-like rhythm, especially in the prologue, where adult children recount their mother’s hidden Black heritage and how she “became white” at five years old. That moment alone sets the tone. It’s direct, a little painful, and strangely gentle. Scenes stretch out with detail you can almost smell or touch. Then, suddenly, a sentence snaps short and lands like a stone in the gut. I liked that mix. It mirrors the characters themselves. Walter’s voice, in particular, blends clinical precision with emotional restraint. Meanwhile, Leatha’s chapters feel grounded and visceral, as if she’s speaking while chopping vegetables or tying on an apron. And Betsy’s early chapters shimmer with that mix of bravado and fragility found in a teenager who has survived too much too young.
What surprised me most was how the novel lets relationships carry the ideas. Topics like passing, racial identity, gender, sexuality, and bodily autonomy are present, but they arrive wrapped inside the everyday details of meals, births, surgeries, and whispered conversations over kitchen tables. The story never lectures. It just unfolds. Sometimes I found myself pausing, not because something dramatic had happened, but because a small detail shifted my understanding of a character. A hand on a shoulder. A joke in sign language. A quiet refusal to leave someone behind. These moments gave the book a warm undercurrent even when the history it leans on is harsh. And although the novel spans continents and decades, its emotional center always comes back to the home this unconventional family creates together.
By the end, I felt like the title wasn’t just a claim but a philosophy that the book keeps proving. The story champions people who carve out belonging in a world determined to deny it to them. It’s historical fiction, yes, but it reads with the intimacy of family lore and the clarity of someone finally ready to tell the whole truth. I would recommend Everyone Deserves a Home to readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction, stories about identity and chosen family, and novels that blend emotional honesty with rich, lived-in detail.
Pages: 263 | ASIN : B0FL13PG6X
New Dreams and Career Possibilities
Charli’s Pawsome Park follows a curious girl who meets a landscape architect and wonders if she could design her own dog park, so with the help of her friends, she does, but not without some challenges. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I taught 2nd and 3rd Grade, and I well remember the perpetual question of “WHY do we need to learn this?” With this series, I’m showing kids the why behind STEM activities and education. I want them to see that STEM can be fun and practically applied. Hopefully, this will open their eyes to new dreams and career possibilities.
Is there anything about Charli that came from yourself or your life experiences?
Like Charli, I’ve always loved school and learning new things. But when I was a child, girls were not really encouraged to pursue STEM fields. I want to help change that narrative so that my own granddaughters and their peers know that they can choose any educational and career paths they desire.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
Chapter 3 shows Charli and Molly brainstorming ideas for the dorsal device. This scene introduces the themes that are more deeply explored in the rest of the book: leadership, teamwork, overcoming adversity, empathy, and female empowerment.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Charli and the direction of the next book?
Charli’s Dorsal Device: An Engineering Adventure is Book #3 in this series. In it, Charli owns her engineering company and designs a GPS tracking device for a dolphin.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Trade-Offs
Crossfire follows a high-powered executive who is struggling to juggle corporate pressure, family expectations, and the uneasy beginnings of an environmental partnership that pushes her boundaries. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I am fascinated by the impact of each choice we make in life, and each benefit requires a sacrifice, no matter how small. I wanted to use the green energy debate to show how small decisions really add up over time. For the series inspiration, I think we have so many books focused on coming-of-age stories, decisions that define the original trajectory of a life in early adulthood, but few dealing with middle age, which is where I wanted to focus. This first book series looks at a woman in the middle of her life, reflecting back on all those trade-offs she’s made—like choosing career over family, or balancing what she believes about the environment with what’s actually practical. I was most inspired by the idea that all these choices we think are separate actually connect and end up shaping where we land in life, but one or two different decisions can change everything at any point.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
It was important that Moirin, the main character, remained deeply committed to her convictions while being unyieldingly tough and independent in the workplace, yet vulnerable and yearning in her personal life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This series explores the experiences of women in midlife, and a common theme is the impact of life choices, such as prioritizing work over having a family or vice versa. I wanted to explore this with the extra layer of the moral, ethical, and financial choices made on behalf of a corporation. Every choice each of us makes impacts not only what we expect, but often has implications we could have never imagined. The results end up being our legacy in life, and the ultimate choices Moirin made.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
The next book in the series follows Jo Sanderson, Moirin’s best friend, who is dealing with the midlife financial challenges of a widow who loses her job, but a deeper struggle is at play with overcoming decades of loss and grief. As a result of her history, she developed a people-pleasing personality, constantly seeking to support the dreams of others, even those deceased, at the sacrifice of her own. It’s another story of growth that has a lot of cowboy and Wyoming outdoor influences. It will be available by mid-year 2026.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Everyone around her marked the passage of time through celebrations of weddings, anniversaries and graduations, measuring life success through joy in family portraits. Everyone else had a life with husbands and wives, children, grandchildren. Moirin has a cat named Orson.
After decades spent building her grandfather’s Denver-based energy company into an international corporation, she’s poised to be the next CEO, when the Board of Directors announced a rigorous vetting process, ostensibly to avoid nepotism. It should have been a formality, but the challenges of an environmental impact study, resolving a string of increasingly suspicious management issues, and a vindictive business associate aren’t helping her pass their scrutiny.
When she meets a state brand inspector and team roping cowboy, his pragmatic outlook and life philosophy challenge her ideas about environment, life, and legacy. On the verge of achieving everything she’d worked for, Moirin Garrett wonders – had she made the right choices in life? At this stage, was it too late to change her legacy?
Different Solutions
The Grubby Feather Gang follows a boy plagued by bullying and fear who finds himself part of a small circle of friends who together find adventure and hope in a village otherwise torn by war and chaos. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’m really not sure, to be honest. I am very interested in the experiences of those who lived through either or both of the world wars because both wars plunged otherwise peaceful, ordinary people into extraordinary and horrific situations. But I love the idea that different people can have different solutions to the same problems; most young men of fighting age during WW1 wanted – or felt the need – to go overseas and join the fighting whereas some, such as George’s father in the story, believed in a totally different, peaceful approach. The amount of courage needed for either approach must have been immense, and thankfully, most of us today can only imagine what it must have been like to face that dilemma. I’m fascinated by the fact that these experiences, that seem, to us today, to exist only in the realms of fiction, really happened to real people.
What do you find is the most challenging aspect of writing for middle-grade readers?
Other than the usual challenges of writing for any audience, I’m not sure I find anything especially challenging about writing for middle-grade readers. It can be a challenge when you’ve been hired by a publishing company – rather than writing just because you yourself have decided to do so – because if the project is for a young audience the publishers give you a tight word-count which creates restrictions and challenges, ones which, I have to say, I really enjoy working within. However, I wrote The Grubby Feather Gang off my own bat, so I didn’t have those restrictions, even though I did want to keep the book short. But middle-grade is a wonderful age range. I don’t hold back on the complexity of the language I use or the depth of the issues the story tackles. The only thing I do differently when writing for children as opposed to adults is to make the main characters children.
Is there anything from your own life included in the characters in The Grubby Feather Gang?
I’m happy to say that the experiences of the children in this story are very different from mine. I don’t think you have to have experienced something to write about it in a believable way though. I hope I’m right about that! But there often elements of the writer’s personality in the characters they create. George is prone to anger and sulking, and as a child, I was a little like that. (I’ve grown out of it now though!) I would add that I am always warmed by people – real or fictional – who turn out to be more impressive in some way than you originally realised, like Mr Haxby. And in a way, the same can be said of each of the three main characters.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on a novel for adults. Unlike most of what I’ve written before, this is a fantasy novel, with elements of horror. It features werewolves and witches. There is so much literature about such things, so the challenge is to present them in a new way, avoiding stereotypes and tropes, and I think I’ve achieved that…
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Worse still, the school bully hangs George upside-down from the hayloft, and the next day, George gets the cane! So, with a bit of help from Emma, a curious newcomer to the village, he decides to take daring and drastic revenge on both the bully and his teacher. But he could never have predicted what happens next…
The Grubby Feather Gang is the story of four friends helping each other cope with their parents’ problems.
The BigShorts books are short, stand-alone novels for strong Key Stage 2 readers. Each novel is around 100 pages long. The content is rich and detailed, tackling discussion-worthy themes. Being shorter than most novels, BigShorts books are a great length for teachers to read to their class, or for use as guided-reading texts.
