Tag Archives: book review

June 6, 2025 · 7:00 am

Pete and Suzie by Samantha Ahearne (Book Review)

Pelicans and Seagulls are diving rivals and have been enemies for as long as anyone can remember. Pelicans and Seagulls are not alike. That is until Pete the Pelican and Suzie Seagull meet at morning yoga. Can these two very different birds become friends or will Suzie Seagull be eaten by a Pelican?

A heartwarming story about friendship and kindness.

Don’t judge a bird by it’s feathers!

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

 

Pete and Suzie is a fun read, showing how feathered enemies overcame differences and put aside a long-standing feud to become friends. 

 

The Pelicans and Seagulls have been enemies for as long as any feathered animal can remember. How or when the rivalry started is unknown; however, one incident cemented the dislike between the diving rivals: the fish nab at the (bird) Olympics. Oh, how I wish the pages dedicated to the “incident” were animated. I can’t be the only one who wants to watch various birds compete in synchronized swimming. I’d also like to see Sully the Seagull swoop down and relieve the Pelican of their fish. I can practically hear the gasps of horror from the Pelicans. The big-beaked birds never saw him (aka Sully) coming! 

The transition from this swimming scene to the present situation was not smooth. It almost felt like two different stories. As readers focus on the here and now, they quickly learn the birds may have similar physical characteristics but are not alike in many ways. Pelicans are quiet and love practicing in a neat line. Why? I have no idea. Seagulls are loud birds, which many young readers know from the animated film Nemo. The illustrator did a marvelous job showing readers how energic and “loud” seagulls can be. The up-close, squawking bird images deserve two thumbs up! 

The two water birds distanced themselves from one another until one sunny Saturday when Suzie Seagull’s brother double-dared her to talk to the Pelicans. Suzie didn’t bat an eye; she accepted his dare. If Suzie was scared, she never showed it. Her bravery was inspiring! As an introvert, I am not sure I could’ve spoken with the strangers without my anxiety levels rising. It’s good that she’s a brave bird because she (and we) learned so much from them. For example, we discovered what chakras are and what the seven colored chakras represent. Suzie’s visit also taught readers how to do a couple of yoga poses and breathing techniques that anyone can use to calm and center their mind. 

Of course, a tale of feuding birds wouldn’t be complete without a good old-fashioned misunderstanding. Without spoiling the fun, let’s just say that feathers were ruffled for no good reason. And the illustrations that bring this chaotic scene to life? They’re downright hilarious, especially when it comes to Suzie’s brother. What a drama king! 

Did the bird foes become friends? They sure did. I loved the scenes showcasing how they were not so different after all and the author’s adorable name choice for who made the birds’ beverages. Read the story for more details! 

Pete and Suzie is more than just a story about birds. It’s a lesson in empathy and understanding. It teaches us not to judge people without getting to know them, to be open to new friendships and experiences, and to put aside grudges and misunderstandings. It’s a call to kindness and unity, a reminder that we should build friendships, not walls.

Recommended reading age is 3-8 years.

 

Side note: “Seagulls” and Pelicans” were capitalized in the review to mimic how it was presented in the story.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Samantha Ahearne is an eternal optimist, who hopes to inspire kindness and acceptance through her story writing. She was born and raised in London, England and now lives in Houston, Texas.
 

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May 26, 2025 · 7:00 am

Breaking from Dogma: A Story of You by Alexandra Collin de l’Hortet (Book Review)

A science-inspired children’s book about DNA, epigenetics, and the amazing power of being you!

Ever wondered how your body knows what to do, or why you’re different from everyone else, even though we all start with the same recipe book inside?
Breaking from Dogma takes young readers on a beautifully illustrated journey inside the human cell to explore the big ideas of DNA, genes, and epigenetics, all explained in a warm, playful, and empowering way.
From cooking book metaphors to magical sticky notes, this story helps kids (and grown-ups too!) understand that who we are is shaped not just by our genes, but also by our environment, experiences, and choices.

  • Perfect for curious kids ages 4–8
  • Introduces biology, genetics, and epigenetics
  • Encourages growth mindset and self-discovery
  • Great for classrooms, family who love science, STEM, or storytime

Because nature and nurture don’t compete, they dance together to help you shine!


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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.

 

Breaking from Dogma takes readers on an enlightening journey inside the human cell to explore DNA, genes, and epigenetic, all brought to life through engaging and captivating illustrations.

Have you ever wondered how your body knows what to do or why you’re different from everyone else? You can thank your cells for that! Breaking from Dogma informs readers that their body is comprised of trillions of cells, which make up everything, including your skin! Thanks to the artist, the audience will get a magnified look at muscle, fat, and skin cells. And, as the character looks through a microscope, we get an even closer look at a cell. In the enhanced photo, we learn what is and where you’ll find a cell’s nucleus and cytoplasm. Don’t worry if kids can’t recall their meaning; there is a glossary in the end credits for every scientific word in the story, plus several more that weren’t.

Every child’s capacity to learn, understand, and retain information varies. The book’s suggested reading age is 4-8. It’s evident the author put a lot of thought into explaining genes and the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: DNA, RNA, and proteins for this age range. The inclusion of silly, fun, and age-appropriate artwork, such as three smiling organs reading recipe books, was a nice touch. It was just what was needed to keep readers engaged.

The term “epigenetic inheritance” might sound complex, but Breaking from Dogma simplifies it beautifully. “It’s a kind of memory from our ancestors experiences. A whisper from the past, living in your cells.” While the term might be challenging for young minds to retain, they should be able to remember its meaning. Especially if shown the lovely image of the little girl holding onto an illuminated DNA as she stares in awe at her three ancestors above her head. So sweet.

Breaking from Dogma is a beautifully designed book that does a good job of breaking down how DNA and life experiences work hand in hand to shape who we are. While the illustrations are catered to 4-8-year-olds, kids in this age bracket might struggle to recall or pronounce some science terms. Therefore, I recommend reading the book more than once!

Breaking from Dogma is a must-have for elementary school classrooms, homeschoolers, and families who love science. Add the book to your curriculum. Read it for fun. Increase your science knowledge or use it to refresh your brain. (Yeah, adults, I am talkin’ to you!). Learn together that our genes do not just shape us, but so do our environment, experiences, and choices.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Alex Collin (Alexandra Collin de l’Hortet) is a biotech executive with over a decade of experience leading the development of innovative therapies in gene therapy. Raised in France and now based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she brings a unique blend of international perspective, scientific expertise, and creative curiosity to everything she writes.

As a parent of two curious young children, Alex has experienced firsthand the power of storytelling to make sense of the world. She is passionate about transforming complex scientific ideas into playful, empowering stories that children can connect with and understand.

Drawing on both a deep love of storytelling and a career at the forefront of science, Alex writes to spark wonder, build confidence, and inspire the next generation of curious thinkers.

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May 19, 2025 · 7:00 am

There’s a Snore-a-saurus in My Adenoids: Surgery Books for Kids by Nat Gibson (Book Review)

Is your little one getting ready for adenoid surgery? Do they also have a dinosaur-sized imagination?

When Ollie’s snoring interrupts his (and his brother’s) sleep, he discovers that a mischievous dinosaur might be to blame! Join him as he experiences the surgery process in a special way at the Dinosaur Catchers’ Camp (hospital)—where he’ll:

  • Receive a unique bracelet (hospital wristband)

  • Go to the weigh station (weight measurement)

  • Get an arm hug (blood pressure reading)

  • Wear special pajamas (hospital gown)

  • Put on a magic mask (anesthesia)

  • And finally, meet the Dinosaur Catchers (doctors) who will remove his adenoids and capture that silly little dinosaur!

 

Created to help ease worries by turning a real medical procedure into an exciting dinosaur-catching adventure, this book uses a mix of information and fantasy to help parents guide young children and toddlers through adenoid removal surgery and recovery—in a way that feels magical rather than scary.

For extra fun, have a small dinosaur ready for your child after surgery.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

Nat Gibson is back with another fabulous picture book; this time, they are tackling the annoying snore-a-saurus!

Do you have someone in your life that snores? Whose snores cause you to lose out on precious hours of rest? As There’s a Snore-a-saurus in My Adenoids: An Adenoid Surgery Book for Kids begins, we find James feeling frustrated over his brother’s loud honkfewww, a common situation in many shared bedrooms. James tries to gently wake his slumbering brother before finally shouting, “I can’t sleep.” Sweet Ollie expresses his apologies, but he can’t help it. He said it felt like something was blocking his nose. It’s time for Ollie to visit a doctor to find out the cause of his noisy nose and how to fix it. During the doctor’s visit, it’s revealed that a dinosaur is the culprit behind Ollie’s woes. It’s hiding behind the adenoids, blocking the airflow. The author understands that adenoids will probably be a new term for many children; therefore, they have included an easy-to-understand explanation and a funny illustration showing the dino giving a one-arm hug to a tiny, squishy blob (adenoid). Kids might assume, like Ollie, that if the problem is inside their nose, they should be able to dislodge it themselves. A nice thought that is expressed through four cute drawings.

Unfortunately, Ollie’s loud schnoz can only be fixed by removing the dinosaur from its hiding spot. In other words, he needs an operation. Hospitals can be a scary place for kids. The enormous size, bright lights, and mounting fear of what’s to come can make youngsters panic, especially when they hear the word surgery or operating room. They often fear going to sleep and never waking back up. That’s where There’s a Snore-a-saurus in My Adenoids comes in handy! In this adorable story, Ollie didn’t go to a big, scary, intimidating hospital. No, they went to Dinosaur Catcher’s Camp, where a dino helper gave him a special bracelet (hospital wristband) that instructed the Dino Catchers on where to look for the troublesome dino.

Next, Ollie headed to the weighing station (the scale), where the unexpected happened. (No spoilers.) This leads readers to remember one should not eat before surgery. Every step in the pre-op procedure was simplified using kid-friendly terms, such as instead of saying blood pressure reading, the writer said, “arm hug.” The writer and illustrator never strayed away from the dino theme, not in text or design. Kids will love Ollie’s special pajamas: blue clothing, red cape, and yellow hat. Parents, educators, and medical personnel will love how the creators of this wonderful book took a potentially overwhelming and frightening situation and made it look not so scary. The dino catchers (surgeon) and their helpers (nurses) reassured Ollie and kids facing similar situations that they would never be alone during the whole process. The nurse continues to explain the nice aroma in the “magic mask” allows the team to safely capture the dino as Ollie catches some zzzz. The staff member’s comforting words put Ollie at ease and hopefully their words will do the same for readers of this delightful storybook.

While children might initially feel trepidation about the surgical process, the book’s humorous illustrations quickly turn fear into laughter and smiles. The dino’s antics and the final image are sure to bring a smile to their faces. If the dino images don’t do the trick, the thought of the popsicle room (AKA recovery room) certainly will!

Is your child feeling apprehensive about an upcoming nasal surgery? Do they have a family or friend who’s about to undergo a dino (adenoid) removal procedure? If you answered yes, I’d recommend sharing There’s a Snore-a-saurus in My Adenoids with your child. It’s a silly but informative story that eases fears regarding what will happen before, during, and after the surgery.

I adored the illustrations, the dino theme, the simple dialogue, and how keywords stood out, thanks to brightly colored shading. I highly suggest sharing this stupendous story with your family and counting down the days to a peaceful night’s sleep!

The recommended reading age is 2-7 years.

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Nat Gibson lives in California with her husband and two children, both of whom had surgery before turning 4 years old. Her books are designed to help parents engage their child’s imagination as they go through new or difficult experiences.
 

 

 

 

 

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May 2, 2025 · 7:00 am

What’s in That Song?: 200 Music Trivia Questions Where the Answers Are in the Lyrics by John Nicholas (Book Review)

What’s in That Song?, 200 Music Trivia Questions Where the Answers Are in the Lyrics is, of course, a music trivia book. But instead of the typical “who sings this song” or “name the artist,” the answers to these trivia questions can be found in the lyrics. You know these songs; you’ve no doubt sung along to most, if not all of them. Some answers you’ll know right off, others you’ll need to replay the song in your head to get the correct answer. Use this book to test your knowledge, or have a trivia contest with your friends.

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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.

 

Music fans will have a blast playing What’s in That Song? The trivia book does not ask you to name the singer. It doesnot ask you to sing along and fill in the missing word(s). This book does not ask you to name that tune in a certain amount of notes. The writer and music enthusiast created questions to gauge who really knows the lyrics to top hits in the pop and rock genres. Two hundred questions, some easy and some hard, each one that will test your memory and skill to understand what these pop culture icons were singing about.

In the introduction, John Nicholas mentioned that he verified the lyrics once he settled on a song to add. It’s a good thing, too, because he discovered he’d been singing the wrong lyrics to “Bad Moon Rising” by Credence Clearwater Revival and David Bowe’s “Modern Love.” Oh, we’ve all been there: singing songs for months or years and finally realizing we have been misunderstanding the singer all along. Embarrassing but also wildly humorous.

What’s in That Song? covers a wide range of well-known artists and bands, starting with Prince with “Raspberry Beret” in question 1 and ending with “Rocket Man” by Elton John in the 200th slot. Participants will face questions testing their musical knowledge in this carefully crafted quiz book, where the answers lie somewhere in the lyrics! Example:

In “Yesterday” by The Beatles,

what does Paul McCartney need now

after realizing love is no longer an

easy game to play?

True Beatles fans will answer with ease. I was stumped, and no amount of time would make the answer magically pop into my head. I needed a partner to help me with songs before my time or ones that were not my cup of tea. The more questions I read, the more I thought about how fun it would be to play this in a pub or game night with friends and/or family.

For those who enjoy liquor, you can make this a shot game. If you miss a question, take a shot. The more liquor you consume, well, the harder it will be to recall or speak the proper answer, so pace yourself and don’t buzz in unless you genuinely believe you know the answer. For instance, in Q 89: Who are the lucky seven women that Lou Bega wants a little bit of in “Mambo No. 5”?

Those who abstain from liquor can also have fun with the trivia book. Cheers will erupt when someone buzzes in before the other team. Laughter will rain out when someone believes they know the answer but realizes they have been singing the wrong words for a long time. Let’s take “Royals” by Lorde in Q 38: What does Lorde say you can call her? Hint: It’s not green bean.

Train, Barry Manilow, Jewel, Cyndi Lauper, Grateful Dead, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Buffet, Journey, AC/DC, and many more recording artists will make you stop and think: Do I really know the lyrics? Put your musical knowledge to the test and have a blast with friends and family, grab a copy of What’s in That Song? today.

(The answer key can be found after the last question, along with the songs’ credit citations.)

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

John Nicholas has been a copy editor and technical writer for over 20 years. He’s worked for several Fortune 500 companies, and enjoyed being a spelling bee judge and pronouncer for 15 years. One of his hobbies is listening to music, and this is his first book publication. He currently lives in the south suburbs of Chicago with his wife.

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April 11, 2025 · 7:00 am

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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