children, self improvement, tween

The Skinny On Bullying


Author: Mike Cassidy
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Self-help / Children
ISBN: 978-0-9824390-1-2
Pages: 128
Price: $12.95

Publisher’s website
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Billy and Beth are best friends. They’ve just turned ten years old and have graduated from elementary school.  But attending Stickville Middle School is so much different. Now they also have to deal with bullies. And since Gretchen arrived at their school, their lives are becoming more and more difficult, as she bullies them and their classmates.

Bullying comes in many forms, as this stick-figure illustrated book reminds us. While we may only think of bullying as physical intimidation, it’s possible to find it as verbal, indirect and cyberbullying. But there are ways to minimize being bullied and stand up to someone if they’re bullying others. Sometimes even the person who feels bullied can be guilty of bullying, as Billy and Beth find out while dealing with Gretchen. They are also surprised to find out that even bullies sometimes have problems of their own, and a little understanding can go a long way toward everyone getting along better.

Bullying has always been a problem for kids. The Skinny On Bullying addresses this issue in a way they can easily understand. These simple stick figures have expressive mannerisms and sometimes go a bit over-the-top in making a point. And the text provides clear lists of bullying behavior as well as how to handle it, so kids can refer back to them easily.

Reading The Skinny On Bullying will take only a short while, and will feel more like spending time with a comic book. But the powerful anti-bullying message will stick with kids for a long time.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

What’s the Trouble In the Forest of Kerfubble?


Author & Illustrator: Roger & Jennifer Sulham
Publisher: Inkblot Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0982641491
Pages: 32
Price: $9.99

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A tree falls in the forest, scaring a burrow of hares. Fearful of the noise, they scurry away, wondering what could have caused such a ruckus. Before long, other animals join them in their headlong flight, each with a more monstrous idea. Panic in the forest of Kerfubble has the animals on a wild run to escape.

Finally the voice of reason is heard from a local farmer, who explains to the scared animals what caused such a crashing sound, and reminds them not to jump to conclusions.

Reminiscent of Chicken Little, What’s the Trouble in the Forest of Kerfubble? shows us how easily we can blow the smallest things out of proportion and drag others along in our fears. Told in rhyming verse, this cute story is uniquely illustrated with textured cutouts of the forest animals.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Snow White


Author & Illustrator:  Susan Meredith
Publisher: Rocking Chair Publications
Genre: Children / Fairy Tale
ISBN: 9780984286638
Pages: 42
Price $7.99

Author’s website
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When a beauty and talent contest is announced, the Amber Queen is sure she’ll win. After all, her magic mirror always tells her she’s the fairest in the land. The prize of a wish come true is too good to pass up. So when she realizes Snow White has a good chance of winning, she needs to take some action.

Sneaky and determined, the Amber Queen disguises herself and shows up at Snow White’s home, trying to sell her magic potions that will stop her from winning the contest. But the beautiful and domestically talented lady of the house never bothers with these things. Instead, her companion seven dwarfs suffer the consequences of using them.

Snow White’s wish is to share her home with a prince of a man who will truly appreciate her domestic skills. Is it possible her wish can come true without winning the contest?

Some of the old fairy tales were frightening for kids, but you won’t find any of that scary stuff in Gram’s Fairy Tales. Kid-friendly, cheery and fun, they’re safe for everyone.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Rudy and Cirrus of Karma


Author & Illustrator: R.M. Smith
Publisher: Clarence-Henry Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-578-05235-9
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

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Rudy isn’t a nice boy. He steals his sister’s things, makes his brother clean his room, and blames his siblings when he breaks a family heirloom. But just as Rudy thinks he’s gotten away with his scheme, he falls into a huge hole in the ground. And while Rudy is lying at the bottom of the hole, a cloud named Cirrus grants him three wishes. Cirrus shows Rudy the consequences of his actions, and soon Rudy decides to change his attitude.

Rudy and Cirrus of Karma is written in rhyme, which isn’t my favorite choice for most picture books. Some of the lines are forced and don’t have the right rhythm to make it an easy read. But the illustrations are nicely done, and the story sends a good message without being overly preachy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature

Oh Where, Oh Where Is My Swallowtail?


Author: Kaleela Thompson
Illustrator: Trevor Lucas
Publisher: Eggleston Services
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-0-9845694-0-3
Pages: 24
Price: $10.95

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Where is Kaleela’s swallowtail hiding? As she explores her garden she searches for the missing butterfly,trying to locate him. The reader is invited to come along, answering questions about where he might be. Once he is found, interesting facts about the swallowtail butterfly, along with other critters is provided.

Kaleela Thompson was born in 1999, and already she’s working to make a difference in the world. She’s founded My Home, My History, and Our World, which helps Virginia youth through interactive historical gardens. In her quest to educate children about the natural world around them, she created Oh Where, Oh Where Is My Swallowtail?

This unique book was printed by Eggleston Services, which helps people with physical and mental challenges perform work geared towards their needs. Illustrator Trevor Lucas is colorblind, and he was able to use his own disability to create drawings that could be easily read by those who have vision impairments. Others also helped in the assembly of the book, and will assist in distribution.

It’s great to see our youth today take an interest in nature and helping others. I applaud Kaleela Thompson and Eggleston for putting together such a helpful and worthy production.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Enchanted Flounder


Author & Illustrator: Susan Meredith
Publisher: Rocking Chair Publications, Inc.
Genre: Children / Fairy tale
ISBN: 9780984286669
Pages: 26
Price: $7.99

Author’s website
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Is it possible to have too many wishes? The fisherman’s wife doesn’t think so, and she insists on her husband asking the enchanted flounder to grant them for her. She wishes and wishes and wishes some more. But she doesn’t realize that what she’s wishing for isn’t the best thing for her.

In this kinder and gentler retelling of the classic fairy tale, the fisherman’s wife learns this lesson about being too greedy the hard way. And the fisherman learns it’s good to be content with what we have. Sometimes even better things will come to us in our gratitude.

Some of the old fairy tales were frightening for kids, but you won’t find any of that scary stuff in Gram’s Fairy Tales. Kid-friendly, cheery and fun, they’re safe for everyone.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, history

Miles and Zoey: The Family Tree


Author: Kimberly Mayhoe
Publisher: Butterfly Ink Publishing
Genre: Children / History
ISBN: 978-0-9745423-3-1
Pages: 144
Price: $7.00

Author’s website
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Miles and Zoey have just moved to Texas after their parents’ separation. While Zoey is grateful for a fresh start, Miles misses his father and friends back in California. But the family tree book in the attic and the old oak tree outside will bring surprises to both.

Suddenly, they find themselves transported back to Virginia in 1857, helping a runaway slave reach freedom. As black children, they may also be mistaken for slaves, and they’re forced to run with him. Luckily, they know enough history to be a help rather than a hindrance to the man they’re assisting.

History books can’t capture what black fugitives faced in their daring escapes to freedom. In Miles and Zoey, kids get a first-hand look at the fear and the danger of being on the run, and the exhilaration upon reaching the Canadian border, a free man at last.

Kids will relate to the siblings bickering with each other, but pulling together when it really mattered. They’ll even learn some history along the way. My one small nitpick is the use of he/him and she/her interchangeably, not according to the proper rules of grammar. But overall, Miles and Zoey is an exciting, fast-paced book that really draws the reader into the story and historical setting.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Fabulous Franko and His Fabulous Toys


Author: Jane Matlock
Illustrator: Kate Seeley
Publisher: Think-a-lot Toys
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9780975671917
Pages: 32
Price: $17.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Think-a-lot Toys

Fabulous Franko loves his toys, and the bigger and more extravagant, the better. So when he crashes his little red sports car, it’s only natural that he goes out to make a plane. But every toy Franko has, he loses, and alas, one day his bank account runs dry.

This charming tale of the boy who always needs a new special toy of his own is told in well-flowing and easy to read rhyming verse. Kate Seeley’s beautiful pastel illustrations show us the intricate details of Franko’s world, bringing this boy’s fantasy to life. And since this book was published in Australia, a glossary translates the British English phrases to American English.

Fabulous Franko and His Fabulous Toys reminds us that we don’t always need to have the flashiest and most expensive toys, for once Franko runs out of money, he’s forced to turn to his imagination instead. Love, laughter, and friends will be our ultimate source of happiness in the end.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children

Cows Can’t Jump


Author: Dave Reisman
Illustrator: Jason A. Maas
Publisher: Jumping Cow Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9801433-0-0
Pages: 44
Price: $7.99

Author’s website
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“Cows can’t jump… but they can swim. Gorillas can’t swim… but they can swing.” Not every animal is designed for certain activities. Can you imaging a flying elephant or a tunneling giraffe? The thought that all animals could excel at everything is absurd. But many educators look at children and hold them to standards they could never meet.

Just as the animals are designed for certain purposes, children are also gifted at some things more than others. Cows Can’t Jump is a fun read with great illustrations that kids will want to read over and over again, but it also provides a wonderful message. Reading about the specific talents animals have, and how they also have limitations, frees kids to stop worrying so much about the things they’re not good at, and gives them permission to excel with their natural abilities.

I found myself reading this book aloud just for the sheer joy, and I’m sure kids will love it too. Cows Can’t Jump is already on my list of all-time favorite picture books, and I highly recommend this adorable book with a great message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Deadly Sweet Cupboard


Author & Illustrator: Hedley Griffin
Publisher: DangerSpot Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9546565-0-8
Pages: 32
Price: £5.99

Author’s website
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It’s Harey the rabbit’s birthday, so he and his friends decide to have a party. Harey doesn’t always think before he acts, and he nearly hurts himself and his friends with his carelessness. But when Harey finds the “sweets” in the medicine cabinet, he sends himself to the hospital in an ambulance, lucky to have survived.

Children have no idea of the dangers lurking around the home, and everything is fun and interesting. So they need to be reminded of the disastrous results of trying to eat things they shouldn’t. In The Deadly Sweet Cupboard, kids will read about Harey’s hare-brained behavior and the consequences of his actions. While giggling at the situations he finds himself in, they learn an important lesson without any preaching from parents.

All DangerSpot books include stickers to place on dangerous items as a reminder for kids to stay safe. These books also include practical tips at the end, so parents can be sure no one gets hurt.

Reviewer: Alice Berger