Tag Archives: animals

Leslie’s Magic Rainboots by Laurie Perreault (Book Review)

Leslie never expected a pair of rainboots to change her life. But when she slips them on during a stormy morning, the world begins to shimmer with possibility. Raindrops whisper secrets, puddles ripple with memory, and every step leads her into a hidden realm where kindness mends forgotten places, and wild spaces, where nature still hums with memory waiting for someone to listen.

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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.

 

Leslie loved rainy days, and she loved the bright blue polka-dotted rain boots that her grandma gifted her. They had been passed down from mother to daughter over several generations. Even though the boots were very old, they looked brand new. How is this possible? Well, these weren’t your ordinary rain boots. They were magical!

Leslie loved jumping in puddles, but today, the puddle sparkled and transported her into a world where a frog greeted Leslie and called her the new “Guardian of the Magic Rainboots.” The talking frog informed Leslie that the boots can take her to faraway places, but the magic can only be activated with kindness and a pure heart. What a sweet idea! I love that the story promotes kindness. Leslie asked to visit the Land of the Talking Animals first. Ask young listeners where they would visit first if their footwear were magical?

The Land of the Talking Animals faces a real-life problem: the river has stopped flowing. No water leads to more issues, like a lack of clean drinking water and habitat loss. The story shows how kindness and teamwork can solve problems, inspiring children to think about helping others in their own communities and around the world.

What was causing the flow of water to cease? How did the child fix the problem? You’ll have to read the story to find out, and I highly recommend you do. Leslie’s Magic Rainboots takes readers on a magical journey where adventures await, and kindness reigns supreme. The illustrations were adorable, and the story’s plot was sweet. I did notice the author wrote the footwear with and without a space, but that inconsistency didn’t diminish the story’s overall uplifting theme: be kind and help others.

Kids and adults will love the magical and heartwarming story. It promotes kindness, kind hearts, helping others, and having fun in the rain. I recommend jumping in puddles and reading this story, just not at the same time. My recommended reading age is 3-9 years.

(Special note: Rain boots was written as presented in the story’s title and in the script.)

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

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Meet the Author 

Rooted in New England, first time writer/author with a lifelong love of the natural world.

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Little Monkey’s Big Moment by Christopher Esteban (Book Spotlight)

An adorable story about a small monkey who desperately wants to eat bananas, but he’s too small to reach them.

Can a vine-swinging contest change that? This story is a great lesson in self-confidence.

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Meet the Author

I am an Adelphi University graduate in Communications and graphic design. I am passionate about cartooning, art and gaming. Little Monkey’s Big Moment is my 2nd children’s book.

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NORTH: A Magical Friendship Story by J.R. Buchta (Book Spotlight)

With a swirl of snowflakes, a shimmer of starlight, and a dazzling dance of color, the North Wind, the North Star, and the Northern Lights unite their magical powers to create something truly delightful—a host of vibrant, whimsical new friends!

At first, chaos whirls through the arctic skies and nothing goes quite right. But these Three Old Friends don’t give up. Through teamwork and a little northern magic, they finally pull off a heartwarming success.

Join the celebration as an unforgettable gathering of playful arctic animals and cheerful newcomers come together.

Can you guess who the merry, toy-making friends might be?

Here’s a hint: they are full of holiday cheer and love spreading joy!


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Meet the Author

JR Buchta was born and raised in Philadelphia PA. As a youngster, he expressed an interest in music and spent most of his early life in the performing arts as a singer-songwriter. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he entered the business world and made a career in marketing.


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The Great Canadian Beaver Tales Series (featuring Bruno!): Tale 1. The Newfoundland Dam by Lizzy McNeilly (Book Spotlight)

Bruno has a big idea — maybe too big!

He’s going to build the greatest dam in history — one that connects Newfoundland to Labrador! With his cousin Netty and a team of hardworking beavers, Bruno’s plan seems unstoppable. But when Premier Gilberti shows up and chaos rolls in (literally!), Bruno’s dream turns into a hilarious disaster.

Can Bruno fix the mess he’s made, or will his big idea wash away for good?

Full of laughter, friendship, and East Coast spirit, The Newfoundland Dam! kicks off Bruno’s journey across Canada — where every big dream begins with a splash!

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Meet the Author

Elizabeth McNeilly, PhD, lived in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta as a child and teen. Although she has always loved Canada, it was when she moved away that she truly grew to appreciate her home. This was when the idea of Bruno was born! Lizzy taught elementary and secondary English language arts for 14 years in the Baltimore, Maryland region before moving back home to Canada again. She now spends her time writing, teaching at the universities in Calgary, and hanging out with family, her partner Jan, her cat, Muriel, and two dogs, Yogi and Kaya.

 
 
 
 
 

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Let’s Look, Not Touch by Kateryna Dronova (Book Review)

Wherever Mom and her boy go—beach, park, or brook—the curious child loves to stop and look. From frogs that leap to turtles that clutch, Mom always smiles and says, “Let’s Look, Not Touch.”

But when a birthday surprise pops up just right, will Mom’s rule change on this special night?

Let’s Look, Not Touch is a rhythmic read-aloud picture book for kids that celebrates a child’s curiosity, teaches respect for wildlife, and shares the gentle lessons of patience and care. With its repetitive refrain and heartwarming message, this book makes learning about nature and animals an adventure—and builds a love of wildlife that lasts a lifetime.

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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.

 

Kids are inquisitive, and how they learn about the world changes over time. Babies and toddlers explore through touch. Their brain sends a signal instructing them to touch and feel everything. While some objects are safe to touch, others are not. Let’s Look, Not Touch is a rhythmic story that follows a mom and her little boy as they explore different locations, discovering new friends in nature, and learning to observe without touching. The beautiful story teaches young kids to respect nature and be kind to all living things, important lessons to begin learning at a young age.

Join the mom and son as they observe a starfish that has washed up on the beach. Teach kids to be mindful of snakes and spiders, especially when you don’t know whether they are poisonous. Take this engaging book to the park and feed the birds like the characters do in the story. Reminding kids to follow the book’s mantra: “Let’s look, not touch.” Listen to the frogs’ croak and watch as fireflies light up the night sky. Again, helping kids remember these four words: “Let’s look, not touch.” There is so much more to see and explore in this wonderful tale. The mom prompts the child to keep their hands away from certain animals and bugs, but there’s one animal the mom says yes they can touch. Read the story to find out what it is!

Kids do learn by touching objects, but they also learn through repetition. Repeating “Let’s look, not touch” in daily routines reinforces understanding of what is safe to touch and what should only be observed. I recommend sharing Let’s Look, Not Touch with your baby and/or toddler, especially before heading outside, to help instill respectful exploration habits early on. It’s beautifully written and illustrated. I even found the spider cute, and that is an amazing, artistic feat! My only small change, in the overall great story, would be the presentation of text. Placing the text on a solid color or less busy section of each page would make the words pop more. It was still a great read, though, and deserves four stars!

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

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Meet the Author

Kateryna Dronova is a children’s writer who loves turning imagination into playful and heartfelt stories. Growing up surrounded by rich traditions and storytelling, she draws inspiration for her tales that nurture curiosity, courage, and kindness in young readers. Kateryna believes books can spark magic in every child—and she writes to share that wonder.


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