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Storma’s Unexpected Adventure: The Tales of Storma by Gina Bayar (Book Review)

A magical journey through a desert of wonders, wildlife, and unexpected friendship.

 

When a dreamy young unicorn sets out in search of the sparkling ocean, she accidentally arrives in the vast, sun-drenched Gobi Desert instead. But what begins as a mistake quickly turns into an unforgettable adventure.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book, readers journey with the unicorn as she meets the rare and wise Mazaalai (the critically endangered Gobi bear) and a kind Bactrian camel who becomes her gentle guide. Together, they explore golden dunes, singing sands, ancient dinosaur footprints, and hidden oases—discovering the wonders of one of the world’s most unique and underrepresented ecosystems.

Blending enchanting fantasy with rich, real-world educational content, The Unicorn and the Gobi Adventure introduces children to the beauty and biodiversity of the Gobi Desert, while nurturing curiosity, compassion, and the joy of discovery.

Perfect for readers aged 4–8, this story celebrates friendship, environmental awareness, and the magic of life’s unexpected paths.

 

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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.

 

Does your child love unicorns? Do they love stories involving magic or magical powers? Do they enjoy exploring new places and learning facts to share with friends or family? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your child will want to read Storma’s Unexpected Adventure.

Storma loves living in the Enchanted Forest with her family, but she wants to see more of the world and visit the places from her parents’ stories. Storma didn’t have wings like Pegasus, but she did have a magical power that made traveling a breeze: She could travel to any location just by closing her eyes and picturing the destination. Now, that’s a magical trick I’d like to have, and I’m sure other readers will want it to!

Storma used her unique magical powers to whisk themselves to a “grand ocean.” Unfortunately, her destination didn’t have an ocean in sight. Did her powers fail her? Not exactly. Her timing was a little off, like a few million years. Storma’s Unexpected Adventure takes readers across the desert, where we meet interesting characters and discover facts about the desert and those who call it home, then and now. Kids are not the only ones who might learn a thing or two about the Gobi Desert. For instance, thanks to this beautifully told story, I found out the desert is home to the rarest bear in the world, and the wind makes music there too! How fascinating!

These are not the only two interesting tidbits you’ll learn as Storma and Polka (camel guide) go in search of the “ocean.” Read the story and discover the hidden gems of the Gobi Desert. Also, check out Did You Know? to learn more about the fascinating Gobi bear, the Mazaalai! It’s a great bonus feature of the book. It’s too bad the author didn’t include fun fact pages dedicated to the desert and camels. A glossary would also be a helper tool for young readers.

This children’s book beautifully captures the Gobi Desert’s unique wildlife. The sunset scene, in particular, is lovely. The vibrant colors against the different shades of sand create a mesmerizing visual. Each scene is reminiscent of the magnetic story activity play sets, with the sticker-quality plant and animal drawings looking like they could be plucked off the page and moved to different locations. It’s a testament to the illustrator’s skill and will captivate children and parents alike. (Special note: Gina Bayar is the book’s writer and illustrator.)

Storma’s Unexpected Adventure takes readers on an extraordinary journey through the Gobi Desert, where they learn there’s more to the landscape than initially seen. Share this story with kids aged eight and under. Ask them to share where they’d visit if they had Storma’s unique magical power. Expand your knowledge and look up what else calls the desert home, past and present. Also, be on the lookout for Storma’s next story, Storma’s Gift! (Release date TBD.)

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

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Meet the Author

Gina Bayar is an author and illustrator of imaginative picture books that celebrate kindness, nature, and the magic of unexpected journeys. A lifelong dreamer and mom of two, she inspires young readers to explore, care for the planet, and believe in themselves.
 

 

 

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Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future With Bonds by Craig A Robinson (Book Review)

Bull and Bear are back with another exciting adventure that teaches young readers about the power of investing in bonds! At the advice of their trusted advisor and friend Piggy Banks, Bull & Bear visit Eagle, who manages the Moneyland Treasury, to learn about how bonds work to build new schools, parks, and roads and why they’re essential for making communities better. They also discover how bonds can help protect their savings while helping others. Through fun and engaging illustrations, this story shows kids how they can be part of building a brighter future by diversifying their investments. Perfect for young readers curious about money and how it helps create the world around them!

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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.

 

Bull and Bear return with another captivating adventure, this time delving into the educational world of investing in bonds.

Are you interested in teaching your kids or students about bonds, assets, diversifying, and other money-related terms but don’t know where to start or how to simplify the information? I recommend reading Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds, starting with its dictionary. Understanding key terms like municipal (mun) bond, diversify, bear and bull market, stocks, and maturity will assist readers in understanding the story more. Yes, the writer did a fabulous job weaving money terms, such as principal and yield, into the story; however, reviewing the words in the glossary might clear up any confusion for younger audiences going forth in this creative and informative story.

After familiarizing yourself with the glossary, it’s time to embark on a journey with Bull, Bear, and their friends in Moneyland. Adding a city map with creatively named streets and landmarks, such as Shareholder Square and Bond, Risk and Reward River, provides a unique opportunity to expand your financial knowledge. These names can serve as talking points for families and classrooms, inspiring readers to delve deeper into the world of finance. Plus, the map was just plain cute. Especially seeing the two friends ride down Wall Street on their bikes. Nice red helmet, Bear!

As we follow Bull and Bear to Moneyland Treasury, Eagle breaks down how bonds help our community and are a stable investment in this topsy-turvy economy. Help your city while earning interest… it was a no-brainer for Bear and Bull. It was, in their words, the best thing to do.

While Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds is designed for children aged 5-10, it offers a fun and engaging learning experience for readers of all ages. The delightful characters and rhyming sentences, courtesy of the talented Craig Robinson, make learning about bonds an enjoyable experience. Share this book with your family or students and consider adding bonds to your portfolio.

Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds did have an extensive glossary; however, kids might be puzzled by the financial sphere, which was not listed in the book’s dictionary. Also, while fans should recall the Golden Rule, this term might be foreign to new readers; therefore, I suggest adding it to the dictionary. All in all, Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds does what the other books in the series do: it educates through creative storytelling and likable characters!

Check out every Bull and Bear money-themed book; they are educational and fun!

 

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

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Meet the Author

Author Craig A. Robinson has worked in the investment management industry for over twenty years, Craig has firsthand knowledge of our country’s lack of financial literacy and what it costs the average American. He wrote a children’s book to introduce the topic of financial literacy to children.

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Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest: Bobby the Bear, book 2 by Ryan O’Connor (Book Review)

Some things are hard, and they take time to do right. In the second book in the series by Ryan O’Connor, Bobby the Bear teaches his friend Ollie the Owl an important lesson on perseverance using the skills of patience and cooperation. Bobby the Bear books focus on the themes of kindness, respect, positivity, and helping your neighbors. In each story, Bobby guides his forest friends through life’s trials while learning some lessons of his own along the way.

Teachers will appreciate the available free activities and exercises that satisfy basic common core curriculum requirements in math, science, and English language arts.

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

 

We first met Bobby and his forest friends in Bobby the Bear and His Big Surprise, book one in the adorable series. We watched animal friends band together to throw a surprise birthday party for their dear friend, Bobby. In Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest, book 2 in the series, Bobby returns the nice gesture and lends a helping paw to his crying friend – Ollie the owlet.

Ollie is in tears because he desperately wants to make a special nest for his sister, but his structions keep breaking. Bobby, being a good friend, offers his assistance. He has never built a nest before but is willing to learn. He understands how important the nest is to Ollie; it’s a thank-you gift to Olive for all the times she’d helped her sibling. Ah, what a sweet, loving gesture!

Bobby and Ollie’s first nest was not a success, which caused Ollie to break down in tears again. Bobby’s comforting words were perfect: “Never give up on something. Some things are hard to do and take many tries to get right.” He also mentioned how it took him five attempts to make it his first bed. Bobby’s correct; we should learn from our mistakes and try again. In the case of the nest, Bobby problem-solved on how to make the nest’s base sturdier. Of course, the two friends continued efforts led them to a secure nest that could hold Ollie and his sister. Success at last!

Happy smiles were all around after the big unveil, and Ollie realized the importance of never giving up. Kids will also learn the value of hard work and the feeling of accomplishment. Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest shows the power of kind gestures with its sweet storyline and illustrations. It’s also a powerful reminder of the value of perseverance and the rewards it can bring.

The synopsis states there are free activities and exercises. I didn’t have an opportunity to examine them (I received a free reviewer copy), but I still suggest taking advantage of the free resource material!

Extended activities: Nests are made of different materials. Have your family or class explore birds and the material each uses for their nests. Gather material and build a nest; see which nest can hold the most weight before its base collapses.

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Award-winning author and teacher Ryan O’Connor hails from Kansas, where his passion for writing and education developed. Ryan has spent the past fifteen years teaching English to students of all ages in the United States and China. After spending a decade living abroad, Ryan calls Kansas City home.

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Bobby the Bear and the Great Race by Ryan O’Connor (Book Review)

“We all want to win, but we must never cheat.” In a world growing ever more competitive, people sometimes will do anything to win, even if it means sacrificing a friendship. In the third book in the Bobby the Bear series, Bobby the Bear and the Great Race explores the important themes of sportsmanship and integrity. Bobby and his forest friends decide to hold a community-wide race to find out who is the fastest animal in the forest, and the event turns dramatic. Tanya the Tiger learns in a showdown with Rachel Rabbit that winning is not always the most important thing. The results of the race will prove that playing fairly and honestly is the way to preserve trust in a friendship.
 
 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 

It’s human nature to want to win. We strive to be the best and bask in the euphoric high of being crowned champion. While many people train or follow the rules, there are those whose need to prevail victorious can lead them to cheat. The third book in the Bobby the Bear series, Bobby the Bear and the Great Race, focuses on one animal who veered off the path and took a shortcut to victory and how their friends reacted when they discovered the truth. The picture book explores sportsmanship, integrity, and doing what’s right. Three qualities that shape how we handle ourselves in various situations.

Bobby the Bear and his friends are enjoying a sunny day in the forest when the topic comes up about who their group’s fastest animal is. Not every animal claimed to be the fastest, but only Tanya the Tiger was laughed at for proclaiming she was the quickest. The snickering could affect someone’s mood or actions; in Tanya’s case, the laughter caused them to make a wrong decision in the race. The smiling tiger took a shortcut to ensure they crossed the finish line first, needing to win so badly after the animals laughed at her.

Ready. Set. Go. Bobby the Bear and the Great Race is a remarkable story for blossoming independent readers. Through easy-to-read text, young kids learn that everyone would like to win, but no one can win every time. The lovely book informs kids that cheating is wrong and can affect friendships; the deceitful act might end a friendship permanently. Though losing can be hard, it can and will happen to us all. It’s important to be a good sport and try again next time.

Tanya the Tiger’s initial actions were wrong, but, in the end, she made the right decision and apologized for cheating. Tanya’s tale teaches kids to play fair, be a good sport, and try their best. It also shows the effects laughing at someone can have. Remember, be kind and supportive of one another!

I strongly recommend adding Bobby the Bear and the Great Race to your library. It teaches invaluable lessons for kids three and up. It’s also a visual delight for babies and toddlers, making it a must-have for any young reader’s collection.

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Award-winning author and teacher Ryan O’Connor hails from Kansas, where his passion for writing and education developed. Ryan has spent the past fifteen years teaching English to students of all ages in the United States and China. After spending a decade living abroad, Ryan calls Kansas City home.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

 

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Bear’s Sick Day: A Story of Caring and Friendship by Hong Lee (Book Spotlight)

Winner of the 2024 Golden Wizard Book Prize

 

In Bear’s Sick Day, we explore the comforting power of friendship through Bunny’s visit to her friend Bear, who isn’t feeling well. Despite Bear’s reluctance, fearing Bunny might also fall ill, the day unfolds with gentle care and shared joy:

  • Bunny makes warm tea to soothe Bear’s aches.
  • Together, they read a story, listen to uplifting music, and play Bear’s favorite game of Jenga.
  • Laughter and fun ensue, proving that a little compassion goes a long way.

A simple yet touching story, this book illuminates the importance of caring for others and the positive impact it can have.

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Praise for Bear’s Sick Day

“This charming narrative encourages children to understand the importance of empathy and kindness, reminding them that sometimes simply being there for someone in need can make all the difference. Hong Lee perfectly presents this message in a way that children will understand, with adorable animal characters and an engaging story. The colorful illustrations will grab children’s attention and draw them into the story. The words are enclosed in text boxes, making them easy to read and accessible to youngsters with reading difficulties.”

– Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review

 

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Meet the Author

Hong Lee’s passion for writing children’s books began when she started reading to her son. She is captivated by children’s picture books’ whimsical and imaginative nature. Beyond writing, Hong enjoys watching movies and spending quality time with her family. Her debut book, “Bob and Fluffy’s First Adventure: A Tale of Kindness and Friendship,” reflects her dedication to storytelling and her commitment to fostering strong morals in young readers. Hong currently resides in Oklahoma with her husband and son.

 

 

 

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