Stay safe tonight, trick or treaters!
Learn more about the history of Halloween at bedtimehistorystories.com
Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1-2.
For more info, visit kids.nationalgeographic
or dayofthedead.holiday/history
Monthly Archives: October 2025
Polly, Stubby & Al by Donahue B. Silvis (Book Review)
BEN and SARA DONOVAN live in a small community called Wolfe Lake with their two daughters, six year old MEGAN and eight year old KATIE. They have two pets, Polly a multi-colored talking parrot and Stubby a tan colored, bowlegged bulldog. Ben owns a small landscaping business. Sara is a housewife and animal lover. One day Sara, Megan, Katie and Stubby are walking in the woods. They see an injured black crow lying on the ground. Sara picks up the crow, takes him home and nurse’s him back to health. When healed and turned loose the crow does not return to the wild. He chooses to remain with the family. They name him Al and he becomes one of their pets.
The family had become used to Polly’s chatter but a week later they’re amazed when Al speaks. Their everyday life, as they know it, is about to take an abrupt and hilarious change. From that day forward nothing is the same, in the Donovan household, as Al becomes a funny and mischievous character.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Polly, Stubby & Al will make you laugh, make you cry, and might prompt your children to ask for a pet crow and not just any ordinary crow, one with a split tongue. Why this particular kind of crow, you may ask. We quickly learn that a crow’s split tongue enables them to speak. This ability generated many humorous scenes with Al, the talking crow, as the main star. Al wasn’t the only chatterbox in the Donovan household; Polly, the parrot, also entertained the family with their words. The real, unexpected jaw-dropping moment was when the parrot altered their voice to sound like Mama Sara and AL. They used this talent to prank the crow and Stubby, the bowlegged bulldog. Too funny.
Many families have dogs as pets. Some homes might even have a parrot, but a crow isn’t your typical idea of a family pet. So, how did Al, the crow, find his way into their family? It was a chance encounter. Sara saw the bird injured and nursed it back to health. She intended for him to live out in the wild; however, Al had other plans, and the family soon discovered he was indeed a very special bird. Al enjoyed joining Megan and Katie at the lake as the young sisters fished. He came when Mama Sara called his name. The crow’s word choices and his mischievous antics were very entertaining to watch.
Al’s naughtiness will have you laughing. If the text doesn’t make you giggle, some of the colorful illustrations will. As I said in the introduction, this story will make you laugh, but it’ll also make some cry. The storm scene was very moving. I cried when Al cried out for “Mama.” I figured he would be saved, but the journey to their reunion and then the reunion itself had me reaching for tissues again and again. Maybe they will for you, as well. Even though I adored every funny and sad scene, there were unfortunately several editing mistakes. That said, I recommend another editing pass.
Though the story needed more TLC, it is still a remarkable chapter book. I recommend sharing with your children, ages 5-10.
Author’s note: “Polly, Stubby & Al is a true story. It’s about my grandparents and their two young daughters, who are my mother and aunt. It took place in the 1920s.”
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤
Meet the Author
I’m an alumnus of the renowned Pasadena Playhouse Drama School; then, I graduated from Florida Atlantic University. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, I worked in movies as an actor and screenwriter. I’ve also written seven novels, eight screenplays, and one illustrated children’s book.
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The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta R Garg (Book Spotlight)
Have you ever wondered why Jack and Jill needed that pail of water in the first place? Or how Sleeping Beauty managed to prick her finger despite a royal order to destroy every spindle in the kingdom?
Fairy tales and nursery rhymes have given us some of the most iconic characters and images in storytelling; think Cinderella’s glass slipper or Jack’s oversized beanstalk. But what about the in-between moments? The ones that never made it to the page?
In this enchanting micro-collection of short stories, award-winning author Ekta R. Garg explores the untold scenes between the lines of some of our most loved tales. Find out what the Wicked Witch of the East was doing in the road before Dorothy’s house fell on her. Learn where Goldilocks came from. Meet the conmen who convinced the emperor he had new clothes and more.
Rediscover the wit, heart, and magic of the classics, and see them as you’ve never seen them before in The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.
Read My Review on Reedsy Discovery!
Meet the Author
Working in niche publishing since 2005, Ekta has written and edited about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films. A writing contest judge for the Florida Writers Association and the Saturday Writers chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, Ekta conducts writing workshops and also hosts Biblio Breakdown where she examines books and offers writing exercises. She blogs original writing, book reviews, and all things writing and editing at The Write Edge. Her award-winning holiday novella, _The Truth About Elves_, and her fairy tale for grownups, _In the Heart of the Linden Wood_, are available from Atmosphere Press.
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Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story by Peggy Dudarchik (Book Review)
A young girl from Nazareth named Miriam and her best friend, a goat named Naomi, become traveling companions to the village carpenter, Joseph, and his pregnant wife, Mary, as they travel to Bethlehem. The daughter of the soon-to-be parents’ neighbors, Miriam is a kind and generous girl who takes great care of her beloved goat and is always thinking of others, and she is excited for the adventure of helping Mary.
On the long and difficult journey, Miriam shows many kindnesses to Mary, often sacrificing her own comfort to make sure the expectant woman is cared for. Her benevolence does not go unnoticed when, on the day Mary gives birth, the girl is praised by an angel who arrives to welcome Jesus, the baby who will grow up to share his love and compassion with the world.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Each year, during Christmastime, people celebrate and retell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Mary, a virgin and soon-to-be mother, and her husband Joseph leave Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem, where they take shelter in a stable because the inn is full. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus and was soon afterward visited by three wise men. Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story is a lovely story that has some elements from the famed traditional tale, but adds unique elements such as the inclusion of a young girl, Miriam, and her goat, Naomi. In this rendition, Joseph and Mary take Miriam and Naomi with them to Bethlehem to be “counted.” They were to be Mary’s aides. Miriam’s mom worried for her young child taking this trip, but the child’s father had a dream that their child should go. Many religious individuals make life choices based on dreams or visions, so Miriam’s father foreseeing his daughter’s trip was religiously plausible. She might be young, but she and her goat proved very helpful on the journey, especially when they reached their destination: Bethlehem.
No wise men followed a bright star, leading them to the manager. However, the stars led Joseph, Mary, and Miriam to the outskirts of the city. In this story, the travelers also found no available rooms, so, like the famous religious tale, the innkeeper said they could stay in the stables. In this story, the innkeeper offered to send his sister to assist with the delivery. A beautiful baby was born and placed in a manager, where a biblical visitor visited them. Again, not a wiseman.
The illustrations in Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story are truly captivating. Each scene is a visual masterpiece, making readers feel like they are walking alongside the characters through the Jordan River Valley and across the rocky terrain or staring down at the city lights. The city lights were a lovely touch, bringing so much life to the scene. The newborn baby and its visitor, bathed in glowing light, were also quite lovely.
Amazon’s suggested reading age for Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story is 3-8 years. While some words (ex., Micah’s prophecy, Ephrathah, and roused) might need explaining to preschoolers, kids of all ages can love the illustrations. Naomi, the helpful goat, was adorable and quite the show stealer!
Share the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ with your family or class this holiday season! Show how one small child and her beloved goat took great care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Encourage your kids and class to lend a helping hand to others.
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score: ❤❤❤❤
Meet the Author
Children’s author Peggy Dudarchik has always loved to write but it was a spiritual retreat that inspired her to write her debut picture book. Miriam and Naomi: A Christmas Story is a unique telling of the well-known journey of Mary and Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
On the spiritual retreat Peggy was asked to visualize Mary and Joseph on the ninety-mile journey to Bethlehem. This was the spark that led Peggy to research what that ten-day trip would have looked like for the parents of Jesus based on the geography and archaeology of Israel at that time, how families lived, and the architecture and clothing. These accuracies are integrated into Peggy’s story about a young girl, Miriam, and her beloved goat, Naomi, who assisted the parents-to-be during their trek.
Peggy believes a great book is one about good people who are faced with a challenge and overcome obstacles to achieve a goal. She hopes her young readers come away from her story with an appreciation for this difficult historical journey and a love of the characters and reading that stays with them long after the book is closed.
When she isn’t writing, Peggy enjoys reading, cooking, and entertaining friends and family. Her love of children’s books was stoked after her now adult son was born, with countless trips to the library and a bedtime reading ritual bringing them both a joy that she later carried into her own writing. Peggy’s picture book experience has been a family affair, with valuable input coming from her husband, son, and daughter-in-law. She lives in Manlius, New York, with her husband and their crazy Cairn Terrier, Izzy.
Amazon Purchase Link
Reedsy Author Link
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Peek-a-Boo Missy Moo | Lift-the-Flap Board Book by Kelsey Marshalsey (Book Spotlight)
Peek-a-Boo Missy Moo is a delightful lift-the-flap board book perfect for curious little hands and growing imaginations. Aimed at ages 0–5, this interactive story invites young readers to play a cheerful game of peek-a-boo with everyone’s favourite Highland Coo!
With sturdy flaps and rhythmic, rhyming text, children will love searching for Missy Moo as she hides on every page. Whether you’re reading together at playtime or bedtime, this joyful book is sure to become a family favourite.
Buy now at Brown Paper Fox store!
Read my REVIEW on Reedsy Discovery!
Meet the Author
A Canadian illustrator and author who specializes in picture books.
Lover of all things whimsical and books that evoke emotion and nostalgia.
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