No Books For Benjamin? by R.G. de Rouen (Book Spotlight)

Benjamin the worm loves his job at the Library of Congress—reading, organizing, and receiving letters from kids who share their favorite books. But everything changes when a strange illness sweeps across the world. Schools close. Libraries shut their doors. And suddenly… no more letters. No more books.
 
Kids everywhere are cut off from their favorite stories—and Benjamin knows he has to do something.
 
With the help of his clever and determined friends, Benjamin sets out on a mission to bring books back into children’s hands. Whether it’s finding new ways to distribute stories or helping build on each other’s strengths, this little team proves that determination—and a love of reading—can go a long way.
 
Because stories matter. And heroes come in all shapes… even squiggly ones.

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Meet the Author

R.G. de Rouen is from Carmel, California and has been working the past 30 plus years as an elementary school teacher throughout the world. He is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and enjoys teaching creative writing skills to his students.

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I Am My Daddy’s Eyes by James Ferry (Book Spotlight)

Discover a Heartwarming Tale of Courage and Unconditional Love: A Child’s Journey Guiding Their Visually Impaired Parent Through Life’s Challenges. A Story of Resilience, Empathy, and Endearing Bond.

In the beautifully crafted book I am my Daddy’s eyes, we follow the journey of a small child with a big responsibility. This young child steps into the role of their father’s eyes, guiding him through life’s various hurdles with a maturity far beyond their years. This uplifting tale is not only about a child’s courage and resilience but also about the deep bond of love and trust between a parent and a child.

This enchanting story teaches us that love knows no bounds and that everyone has a unique role to play in the world, no matter their age or circumstance. It’s filled with gentle life lessons, making it a perfect read-aloud for bedtime, a valuable tool for classroom discussions, and a must-have for every family’s bookshelf.

The narrative is further enhanced by the captivating illustrations that beautifully capture the essence of the story, making it a visually delightful read for young children. I am my Daddy’s eyes is a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the human spirit. Let this touching story inspire your child and help them understand the beauty in diversity and the true meaning of empathy.

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Meet the Author

James Ferry crafted I am my Daddy’s Eyes with his daughters in mind. As a father grappling with a worsening condition, Ferry finds his true joy in teaching, playing, and cooking with his family. His book serves as a testament to his enduring spirit and a loving guide for his two daughters.

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Lou Lou’s Pet Dragon Goes to School by Brenden Bott (Book Review)

In Lou Lou’s Pet Dragon Goes to School, we meet Lou Lou—an unusual girl with a most unusual pet. On her first day at a new school, Lou Lou tries to convince her classmates and teacher that her favourite pet is a real dragon—a difficult task indeed. Filled with humour and surprises, it’s a story children will want to read again and again.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

You’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover was so dang cute that I knew the story inside would be just as adorable. And guess what? I was right!

It’s Lou Lou’s first day at a new school, and the little girl enters the classroom to find her teacher, Ms. Quigleybottom, holding a black-and-white cat. All the kids loved watching Penelope the cat reach for the toy fish on a string. I can understand why; the illustration was very cute. Plus, cats are pretty awesome. Lou Lou mentioned Ms. Quigleybottom talked at length about how great her cat was, and that is no surprise; pet owners love talking about their pets. Me included!

When the teacher asked the kids to share what pet they had, we had a variety of common and (possibly) not-so-common responses, but none were so unthinkable as Lou Lou’s. She proudly announced she had a pet dragon. Dragons are make-believe, right?! The class laughed at her absurd response, but Lou Lou would be the one getting the last laugh. Bring your pet to school day turned into chaos, and I loved every moment of it. The artwork was stupendous! You can practically hear the class erupt in a flurry of screams and the pounding of shoes as they took off running. Even Penelope was zooming away with a panicked look on their face. I found the dragon’s outfit adorable, and I loved the confused look on its face, obviously wondering what’s up with these people. And the ending to the hilarious scene was perfection. Lou Lou asks her pet dragon if she should bring another pet tomorrow. The small glimpse of it made me smile. I can sense a similar reaction happening if she follows through on her idea. (No spoilers. Read the story!)

Lou Lou’s Pet Dragon Goes to School is perfect for kids ages 3 to 9. It has humor…lots of humor. The illustrations were the best I’ve seen in a long time, definitely in the top five overall. Kids will be begging you to read it and then immediately asking you to read it again. It’s really that good and deserves more than five stars!

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤++

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Meet the Author

Brenden has worked in the field of education for over a decade, and he is more convinced than ever of the importance of telling stories to shape hearts and minds. Brenden is currently the Head of School at Westminster Classical Christian Academy in Toronto. He has a doctorate in theology from Wycliffe College, the University of Toronto, specializing in medieval and Reformation thought and theodicy.

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Meet the Illustrator

Dong Hoon began his career as a mechanical engineer but left this behind to become an artist. With over twenty years of experience, Dong Hoon has established himself as an unusually talented illustrator with a unique ability to add humour to his artistic creations.

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HOME COURT, A Basketballer’s Ditty by C. Behrens (Book Spotlight)

*The poem won an award in the 2023 Writer’s Digest 92nd Annual Writing Competition*


Experience the magic and excitement of basketball through the playful and poetic words of C. Behrens. This award-winning poem has been beautifully brought to life in a stunning picture book, perfect for children and adults alike. Join the game and learn fun facts about basketball, while admiring the vibrant and captivating illustrations by Bryan Werts.

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Meet the Author

I am an award-winning author of a children’s chapter book and a children’s picture book. Also, one of my poems earned an award in the 2023 Writer’s Digest Competition. A few of my short stories have been praised by Lorian Hemingway! I love to read, write, and create art!

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Pickle the Pig by Brenden Bott (Book Review)

Do you have a favourite food? Now imagine that your favourite food is also the most famous food in town—and your grandpa holds the secret of how it was invented. A secret that involves your great-great-grandmother … and a perilous pig.

In Pickle the Pig, we meet Emily—a girl who has a peculiar obsession with bacon-wrapped pickle bites. In this hilarious tale, we uncover the outrageous story of how these tasty treats came to be. It’s a delightful mix of disaster, suspense, and plenty of humour—perfect for the whole family!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Everyone has a favorite food, and for Emily, it was a giant pickle wrapped in bacon. A weird combo food choice, but in their young mind, it was a delicious invention. Emily was curious how the town’s famous delicacy came to be, and her grandfather had the inside scoop. Oh, what a wild, strange, and humorous tale the grandfather shares, and it starts with a pig who craves pickles all the time.

Pickle the Pig loves to gobble up pickles, day and night. His hearty appetite doesn’t sit well with the townspeople, though, but they have bigger problems at the moment. A drought had struck the small town, then a tornado. Thankfully, the townspeople took refuge, and no one perished. The pickle-loving pig came out unscathed, too, but his girth was his salvation. Yup, the very, very round pig was too heavy for even a tornado to pick up. That tidbit, and its corresponding illustrations, made me smile. What came after the twister is a mind-bender but a chuckle inducer: food rains down from the sky, but how? The answer was unexpected and hilarious. Kids and adults will find themselves scratching their heads and laughing out loud.

Pickle the Pig was an enormous porker that greatly irritated the town; however, the community’s annoyed looks turned to smiles for one reason only. That reason will be unveiled once you read the story, and this is a book you’ll want to share with your family or class. The illustrations were extremely amusing (credited artist: Dong Hoon Kim), and the plot’s resolution was wonderfully ridiculous. I can’t wait to read more comedic stories by the imaginative author, and after you read the story, you’ll become instant fans of Brenden Bott, like me.

Amazon recommends this Pickle the Pig for ages three and up. I agree with this recommendation.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤

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Meet the Author

Brenden has worked in the field of education for over a decade, and he is more convinced than ever of the importance of telling stories to shape hearts and minds. Brenden is currently the Head of School at Westminster Classical Christian Academy in Toronto. He has a doctorate in theology from Wycliffe College, the University of Toronto, specializing in medieval and Reformation thought and theodicy.

Amazon Author Page Link

Website Link

 

Meet the Illustrator

Dong Hoon began his career as a mechanical engineer but left this behind to become an artist. With over twenty years of experience, Dong Hoon has established himself as an unusually talented illustrator with a unique ability to add humour to his artistic creations.

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