Blog Archives
Light Fright
Light Fright is a whimsical journey into the nighttime world of Marley, a lovable little monster with a big imagination. As darkness falls, Marley’s mind is racing with fears. Unlike typical bedtime stories that calm children’s fears, this one flips the script by exploring the notion that even monsters can be afraid of children hiding in the shadows. Marley’s family tries everything to help him sleep, from magical nightlights to cozy blankets, but it’s Marley’s own bravery and a touch of humor that finally calm his fears.
I enjoyed this book so much! First off, the writing is absolutely charming. Judy De Young has a knack for blending light-hearted humor with gentle reassurance, making this book a delightful read for kids and adults. The way she depicts Marley’s fear of children hiding under the bed or in the closet flips the usual monster-under-the-bed trope on its head. Such a clever twist brings a fresh perspective to common bedtime anxieties.
What really stands out is the relationship between Marley and his family. The various attempts by Marley’s family to help him fall asleep are both fun and heartwarming. Plus, the amusing names of all the family members add a fun dynamic to the story, making it engaging from start to finish.
This picture book is filled with stunning illustrations by Nathalie Kranich. The vibrant and cute artwork captures the essence of Marley’s world perfectly. Each page is filled with intricate details that bring the monster family to life in a way that’s endearing rather than frightening. I especially loved the page where Marley is reminded that there is a child “staring straight into our picture book!” The illustrations do a fantastic job of balancing the eerie with the adorable, making it a visual treat.
Light Fright is a fantastic read for children who might be dealing with their own bedtime fears or even young readers who love a good monster tale with a twist. It’s perfect for bedtime reading with a comforting, funny message that even monsters have fears, but with a little courage and support, those fears can be overcome. If you’re looking for a children’s book that mixes humor, heart, and a dash of the spooky, Light Fright is definitely one to add to your bedtime story collection.
Pages: 64 | ASIN : B0CLSZ47T3
The Trouble With Bubble Gum
In The Trouble with Bubble Gum, author Shari Schwert crafts a charming tale that playfully addresses the timeless theme of a child’s adventurous disobedience. This story centers around a young boy, fixated on his delightful but excessive bubble gum chewing habit, despite his mother’s repeated warnings about its potential consequences.
Schwert’s narrative style is engaging and builds a subtle sense of anticipation. As the boy continues to disregard his mother’s advice, readers, led by the author’s hints, sense the looming trouble. This effective storytelling approach resonates particularly well in a children’s book, as it gently instills the value of heeding parental guidance. The boy’s journey to an inevitable sticky predicament serves as a light-hearted yet meaningful lesson about the importance of listening to one’s parents.
The visual appeal of the book is significantly enhanced by Mari Sebastian’s vivid illustrations. These colorful and lively images complement Schwert’s storytelling, bringing the narrative to life in a manner that is both entertaining and immersive. The artwork not only supports the story but enriches it, providing a visual delight that aligns seamlessly with the unfolding events.
My experience of reading The Trouble with Bubble Gum was one of amusement and delight. Schwert debuts in children’s literature with a tale that strikes a balance between fun and educational content. The book, with its engaging storyline and vibrant illustrations, is likely to captivate young readers and leave a lasting impression about the value of parental advice. This story comes highly recommended for its enjoyable narrative and the important message it conveys in an accessible and entertaining way.
Pages: 38 | ISBN : 978-1637556948
The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur
Lori Schneider’s The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur is a captivating collection of poetry designed to inspire children. The author takes us on a journey through the life of Ella Rose, describing her world in a beautiful and engaging way. Divided into distinct parts, the poems provide insight into Ella Rose’s family life, her relationships with her pets, friends, and teachers, her interests, and her travels. The touching book concludes on a happy note, promising a bright future for our beloved protagonist.
The writing style of the book is simple yet effective, with rhyming quatrains and tercets that create a pleasing rhythm. The chapters are filled with the innocence and simplicity of childhood, but the author also addresses real-world issues with a sense of understanding and morality that adds depth to the work. This book provides children with numerous opportunities to learn about the importance of pets, happiness, friends, and family. In addition, the book teaches valuable lessons about compassion, sympathy, love, and care for both loved ones and strangers. The relatable nature of Ella Rose’s daily routine and activities make her character endearing and relatable, which allows young readers to connect with her and learn from her experiences. This book will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on its readers.
The Inspiring World of Ella Rose La Fleur is an excellent choice for young readers who want to explore a relatable character with a heartwarming story. In addition, the book’s simple language and powerful messages make it an ideal read for budding readers who want to learn more about themselves and the world around them.
Pages: 115 | ASIN : B0BTRRJWX7
Santa Fe Tom
Tom is a desert box turtle who is shy and quiet. But the thing is, Tom has an amazing singing voice that he has never shared with his friends. He dreams of being able to sing and share his talent with others, but he is just too afraid. One day while practicing a surprise birthday song for their friend, all the animals hear his amazing voice and tell him how talented he is. With the help of his friends, Tom tries out for the opera and learns about self-confidence and working through his fears. Can he make his dreams of singing for all the animals come true?
Santa Fe Tom, written by Rachel Bate and illustrated by Rebecca McGuire Jacob, is a heartwarming story written in verse about overcoming fears and learning to have self-confidence. This is also a story about friendship, supporting friends, and encouraging one another to be their best possible selves.
In addition to this wonderful story, there are reference facts about the desert box turtle that teachers and families can talk to children about. The artwork is magnificent and inspirational for children. Rebecca really captured Tom’s emotions in the illustrations, and children will be able to relate to his feelings.
Santa Fe Tom is a captivating picture book that children will enjoy reading and looking through. The important message about believing in yourself and supporting your friends shines through each page and makes for wonderful discussion openers with younger kids. Readers will want to keep this children’s book on their shelves to share for generations.
Pages: 38 | ISBN: 1645432696
Shrieks and Sounds and Things Abound
Young Julien is excited for the end of the school day; he has finished all his work and is now ready to settle in and read the latest comic starring his favorite superhero, Bluebullet! Just as he gets to the book’s exciting parts, a dapper crow hops up and starts squawking. Julien tries to shush him unsuccessfully. Returning to his story, he is interrupted again, this time by sneezing bees! Alas, this is not the end of the distractions. At one point, Julien losses his temper with the creatures around him, and suddenly out of the sky, appears none other than his hero, Bluebullet. Can his hero help him sort out his mess and finish reading his comic?
Shrieks and Sounds and Things Abound: The Quiet Wants of Julien J. is a fantastically well-written children’s book about dealing with tough emotions. Author Dr. Drew Palacio has written a story that many children will relate to. The frustrations of trying to concentrate on something, be it reading, building a lego set, or doing school work, sounds, and other activities, can be extremely distracting. This especially reminded me of my son, who is on the spectrum, and all distractions can trigger reactions like Julien has in this book. The advice that Bluebullet gives Julien is perfect and written in a way that elementary-level children can comprehend and put into practice.
Shrieks and Sounds and Things Abound is a wonderful children’s book on dealing with strong emotions and learning an appropriate way to respond to things. This imaginative story is perfect for teachers and families to help children learn how to control their feelings without lashing out and teach them skills that will last them a lifetime.
Pages: 32 | ISBN : 1953021506
LITERARY TITAN 