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Magic Islands
![Magic Islands by [Irene Edwards, Robert Brown, Tony Paultyn, Gareth Edwards]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51-XcLgBGNL.jpg)
Trevor is not known for being serious. In fact, he is best known for the tall tales he spins. He is new in Wales, living with his grandparents, and making friends has been easy. His personality is one that lends itself to laughter, jokes, and many a light-hearted moment between friends. When Trevor and his pals are exploring the beach one day, something happens that changes all of their lives, and Trevor’s love of a good joke is getting in the way of his ability to communicate with the adults around him. When no one believes what you say, how do you tell them your friends disappeared before your very eyes?
Magic Islands, by Irene Edwards, is a fantasy adventure centered around magic, wizardry, and adventure. The imagery painted by Edwards is absolutely stunning and contributes to the beauty of a well-crafted fantasy. Edwards’s young characters are relatable and full of life. The humor woven throughout this novel makes it not only more appealing but serves to create a fun read aloud for classrooms, as well.
As a fan of fantasy adventures and a teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed Edwards’s work. It is a light-hearted adventure based on the wonder of magic. There aren’t many young readers out there who don’t become enthralled in stories of the impossible, and Edwards has more than successfully tapped into that demographic. Her young characters are bold and just the right mix of the real world and fantasy.
The wizards and witches in Edwards’s work transport readers to a fabulously designed land of spells, castles, and absurdly fantastic beings. Page after page, the dragons and monsters continue to keep the story new and refreshing. Combined with the witty exchanges between characters, the wide array of character types makes this an all-around fantastic read for young readers.
From cover to cover, Edwards enchants young readers, pulls them into a fantasy like no other. In addition to the wonderfully engaging storyline and humor peppered throughout, Edwards includes famous names and well-known pop culture references that further serve to hook readers. I would be remiss if I did not mention the marvelous sketches by the team of illustrators, Robert Brown, Tony Paultyn, and Gareth Edwards. I highly recommend Magic Islands to anyone looking for an engaging story for young fans of fantasy and wizardry. Teachers in grades 3-6, this one’s definitely for you!
Pages: 211 | ASIN: B07ZRYY8LX
A Memoir of a Jewish Teacher in a Catholic School
Forgive Us Our Trespasses tells your personal story as the only Jewish person teaching in a Catholic school and shares memorable moments as well as your experiences with anti-Semitism. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Originally, I wasn’t going to try to have the book published. It was just going to be a documentation of my experiences to pass down to my children. I was encouraged by the publisher, the main student in the book, and my husband to share the story on a widespread basis. I believe that it is a story people from all walks of life can learn from. And it sends a positive message about diversity and inclusion in the world.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about teachers and teaching?
A common misconception I think people have about teachers and teaching is that they don’t realize the incredible amount of hours teachers put in to the job that they most likely aren’t even getting paid for. Most teachers teach because they love our children and want to make a difference in their lives. Instead, parents are often at odds with the teacher and don’t realize the teacher has the child’s best interest at heart. When I meet with any of my children’s teachers, I always say to them, “Thank you for teaching my child.”
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope one thing the reader takes away from the book is that we should not hold preconceived notions about any person or group of people. Instead, we should get to know them. And we should educate our children to do the same.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you first started teaching?
The one piece of advice someone could have given me when I first started teaching was to make sure that I carve out time for myself because it’s easy to work around the clock and become all-consumed with your work.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
Forgive Us Our Trespasses
![Forgive Us Our Trespasses by [Diane Gensler]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41OgXjkchjL.jpg)
Diane Gensler couldn’t be more out of her element. She is Jewish and teaching in a Catholic school. The two worlds colliding around her are just the beginning of her experience educating the students of the parochial Baltimore school. Gensler finds herself facing anti-Semitism in addition to what can already be a challenging career path. While she has looked forward to being a teacher in her own classroom, she can only begin to guess what this particular position has in store for her. What Gensler finds out in her first days at the Catholic school is that even creating a welcoming atmosphere and being an eager teacher might not be enough to battle the preconceived notions of others.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses, by Diane Gensler, is the story of the author’s time spent teaching in a Catholic school in Baltimore. As a Jewish woman, she experienced biases and treatment to which her coworkers were immune. Her first year as a teacher should have been filled with joy and rewarding firsts, but she was subjected to prejudices–some veiled, others not so much.
As a teacher, I found so many truths in Gensler’s story. There is a seemingly endless number of things you are not told when you enter your first year, and she reveals them all plus more. I felt every one of her frustrations over losing instructional time to extra and unexpected duties. Nothing prepares you for all of the additional tasks, and Gensler explicitly lays out each and every one of them with all of the brutal honesty of a teacher eager to educate but overwhelmed by the magnitude of her job.
Gensler handles herself with a finesse not always known to first-year teachers. From dealing with attending Catholic church services to coping with parents who seem out to prove her incompetent, she persists and does so with much success. I was amazed at how well she dealt with coworkers who snubbed her without reason and the coldness of her principal. It takes a strong person to do this job and handle that kind of treatment.
I am giving Forgive Us Our Trespasses, by Diane Gensler, 5 out of 5 stars. If it were possible to give it more stars, I would do so enthusiastically. Gensler has put into writing what every teacher feels and given voice to some of the most challenging aspects of our jobs. Her words are not only relatable; they are filled with all the raw emotion of a woman experiencing the sting of prejudice while facing some of the most important work that can be done.
Pages: 188 | ASIN: B08BNPNP3J
Educate In Fun And Exciting Ways
Captain Fantastic and the Chocolate Planet follows the Captain and his hound onto a planet filled with sweets, but they learn that filling up on treats has consequences. Why is the subject of healthy eating important to you?
As someone who fluctuates in weight, having tried most diets at some point (which in turn has created an unhealthy relationship with food), I know first hand the importance of creating good eating habits early on. From energy levels, weight and general health, it’s so important to have a good diet. After all, you are what you eat! I always aim to educate in fun and exciting ways, which hopefully this book does.
What is your process for creating the vivid art in your books?
Hire an illustrator… I’m only half-joking because Daniel does all the amazing drawings. From an author’s point of view, it’s about having a clear vision of what you want the pictures to look like.
How did the idea for Captain Fantastic begin? Did you play around with any other ideas or characters before settling on him for your series?
I trained as an actor and I stumbled across children’s entertainment whilst looking for a side hustle. After a few years of working for other people‘s companies, I decided to take the plunge and set up my own party business. I wanted the parties to be superhero themed, so I messed around with lots of alter ego names and it was my dad who suggested ‘Captain Fantastic’, thanks Gary! Fast forward 10 years and we have been voted the UK’s no.1 children’s entertainment company, which I’m extremely proud of!
What can readers expect in the next book in the Captain Fantastic series?
Captain Fantastic and the Undersea Monster is my next masterpiece (I hope)! Captain Fantastic wants to explore the depths of the ocean but gets a little too excited and forgets to listen to people’s warnings.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
They explore everywhere from Cookie Dough Cove to Mount Honeycomb, but it’s not long before they find out what happens when you eat too many treats. What will our space voyagers need to do before they can board spaceship Zippity-Zap for their next exciting adventure?
“Parents reading this to their children can use it to start a conversation about healthy eating in a non-judgemental, accessible way that children will respond to.” Dr Gummer, Good Play Guide
Second in the exciting series of intergalactic adventures, based on the awesome and educational Captain Fantastic parties.
Charlotte’s Snowman – Author Interview
Charlotte’s Snowman is a lovely children’s story about the beauty of winter and the magic of building a snowman. What was the inspiration for the idea behind this story?
I work as a children’s nanny. Charlotte and I built a snowman, when we had lots of snow. It lasted a few days and then it melted. After a few days, there was patches of snow on the ground. Charlotte looked out of the window and shouted ‘Lainey, Lainey, its still there’, When we ran outside, we found it was only a tissue!
What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Sarah-Leigh Willis?
I gave her free reign and really pleased how she made my story come alive.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
One thing I would like viewers to take away is sharing gives a nice feeling.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
And… sometimes snowmen do come alive!
Charlotte wakes up and sees that it’s snowing… it’s snowing and it’s snowing. She runs outside to build a snowman. She fixes a carrot for the snowman’s nose, a stick for his mouth, and two stones for his eyes.
But the snowman has many demands, so Charlotte has to part with her gloves, scarf and hat; so her snowman wouldn’t feel cold. But the sun comes up all of a sudden, and Charlotte cannot find her snowman anymore. She is sad. Then, she learns that her snowman hasn’t disappeared completely, but is hiding in the ground, waiting to emerge next winter.
A great book for those children who miss their much loved snowman when winter is over.
Captain Fantastic and the Chocolate Planet
Captain Fantastic and the Chocolate Planet by Tommy Balaam is an imaginative and educational children’s adventure story of a spaceship captain and his dog Winston. When Winston is hungry and they find that there’s no food in their fridge, Captain Fantastic gets an idea. They travel to a Chocolate Planet full of sweets and treats for them to devour. They roam around, eating nearly everything in sight. When they return to their ship they’re so stuffed that they can’t fit through the door and don’t feel well. How will they ever get home?
Tommy Balaam’s has fun story full of vivid imagery, and it’s use of onomatopoeia and rhymes just makes the book much more engaging an interesting. The art in the book reminds me of a comic book style, with bright colors, clear pictures with some depth to them along with floating text boxes. The detailed artwork is visually appealing and will easily capture any child’s attention. This book does a fantastic job of delivering a message on health, eating, and exercise. It is certainly one of the more creative ways that I’ve seen to educate children on these topics.
I am giving Captain Fantastic and the Chocolate Planet, by Tommy Balaam 5 out of 5 stars. Filled with incredible artwork, a sweet story, and fantastic characters, this a perfect gift for young readers.
Pages: 32 | ASIN: B08PJPWJ18
Whales and Magic Sinbad’s First Voyage: The other Odyssey
Sinbad the Sailor sets out over the sea to retrieve his fortune with all his remaining goods on board. They alight on a beautiful island – but no it is a huge whale who, awakened by their shouts, tosses Sinbad painfully into the sea. Magically rescued he is befriended by a great king, and his ship, with crew and full cargo wondrously returns. Sinbad returns to his beloved Baghdad, now a rich man – till the next voyage! A tale from the Arabian Nights, a collection of adventures parallel to Homer’s Odyssey. Like your grandmother told you.
LITERARY TITAN 