Tag Archives: diverse cast

Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy by Tannia Ortiz-Lopes (Book Review)

Hi! My name is Joey. I am eight years old and have a secret: I’m a late-toothed. (shhh). One day, my secret was revealed, and all my friends made fun of me. I was hurt! When I got home, I was upset and complained to Mom. So that night, while tucking me in bed, my dad told me the story of the Tooth Fairy. I was fascinated and wished I could travel to the castle to meet her. Do you want to know if I visited the Tooth Fairy?

To learn more about Joey and the Tooth Fairy, visit his website.

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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 love it when they get a visit from the Tooth Fairy because it typically means the magical person will leave money in place of their lost tooth. That’s why, when a child’s baby tooth starts to wiggle, they push and pull on it, ready for it to pop out. Even though every child’s baby teeth will eventually fall out, not every child will lose them at the same time. This is the case of eight-year-old Joey. Unlike his friends, Joey had not lost a single tooth yet. Instead of his friends reassuring him that he’ll probably lose one soon, they laughed at him. This situation provides a valuable opportunity for your young listeners to discuss appropriate responses to teasing and how mocking laughter can hurt as much as harsh words.

Are your kids at an age where they are questioning how the Tooth Fairy has time to gather up all the teeth every night? Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy takes readers on a magical journey through the fairy’s enchanting castle, where each floor is more wondrous than the last. We meet the Tooth Fairy, whose legs don’t work, so they built a Praconama (Pra-con-ama) flying-hovering wheelchair to help them get around. At first glance, I thought the Tooth Fairy was sitting on an oversized toilet with pointy legs. After a good chuckle, I appreciated the creativity in the chair design. I also admired the artist’s beautiful color choices for the fairy’s hair and all the detail they put in every scene. Above all else, I applaud the creative team for developing a character that looks like many viewers. So many kids are brown, black and/or spend their days in a wheelchair, so I was thrilled to see them represented.

The author’s imagination amazed me as well. The story answered common questions kids have about the magical visitor: how do they find the teeth, how do they grab the tooth without waking the child, how do they reach the numerous homes each night, and a couple of other questions the book raises. Their storytelling will mesmerize young listeners. Kids will love the surprises found in the castle. One floor might even activate their sweet tooth, while another floor hosts a character with a unique and very cool ability.

Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy is a captivating storybook that takes readers inside the magical world of the Tooth Fairy. It is intended for children ages 5-8.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
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Meet the Dynamic Duo

Joey Paco:  I am an adventurous and curious eight-year-old boy. I can speak English, German, and Spanish. That makes me trilingual. I enjoy riding my bike, doing sports, reading, and playing with my friends. Mom says I am very persistent.

I keep a journal about my unusual adventures and family traveling. I think of me like a explorer. All famous explorers kept a journal about their adventures and discoveries.  

The idea for my first book,  “Joey trifft die Zahnfee.”  came from my journal, “Joey Paco’s Travels.”

 

Mom:  I was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico. I am a trilingual, multi-genre author, public speaker, freelance book reviewer, songwriter, bag designer, and hobby photographer. I speak Spanish, English, and German. To know more about my creative world, visit my Christian site: https://timewithtannia.com/

“Joey” is the main character of my first picture book: “Joey trifft die Zahnfee” (“Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy.”). I created Joey Paco’s Travels to allow Joey to promote his book. Likewise, he will share information about our “Book Reading Tours” and other adventures. After the publication of his book, he is starting to feel like a bestseller author. He refers to his site as “The Digital Journal of Young Author, Joey Paco.” (wink)

Psst: Please don’t tell him, he’s just a fictional character. Like Pinocchio, he thinks of himself as a real boy.  


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What Would You Do? by CK Willie (Book Review)

This beautifully illustrated book with easy-to-read whimsical rhyme reaches out to children, or anyone of any age, to show them how to make their dreams come true. Whether they want to be an astronaut, a dragon tamer, build robots or ride in a hot air balloon, anything is possible if you believe in you!

No matter who you are or where you live, everyone has the same thing in common…dreams, dreams that may seem impossible. “What Would You Do?” shows that they are possible as long as you’re willing to believe in yourself. Our fears hold us back but one thing is true, our happiness lies just outside our comfort zone. So keep dreaming, believe in you and make those dreams come true!

So many things
in the world to try.
If you’re afraid
they may pass you by.
The pages of this book
will show you the way
to overcome your fears
so start reading today!

 

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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.

 

Neophobia (fear of new things) can limit us from embracing new experiences and adventures. Yet, when we conquer our fears, the world becomes our playground. In this captivating children’s picture book, beautifully brought to life with vibrant illustrations, readers are prompted to ponder, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” Imagine the possibilities. Where would you venture? What would you accomplish?

The children in this adventurous tale, spoken in rhyme, demonstrate incredible bravery as they climb the highest mountain and travel across the blue seas. They explore outer space, become robotic, and go toe-to-toe with a massive multi-colored dragon. We watch as a stylishly dressed Luchadores (Spanish for wrestler) gets the upper hand against their crocodile opponent. Great wrestling attire, especially the máscaras (Spanish for masks)! So pretty! Superhero kiddos make an appearance, too, while another child couldn’t resist monkeying around. I laughed at the kitten peeking out the shuttle door as a block of cheese and a kid astronaut floated close to the moon. The feline’s expression screamed, no amount of cheese in this galaxy will get me to step a paw outside this shuttle.

There’s so much more to explore in What Would You Do?, transforming the impossible into possible. Kids will love and laugh at the silly illustrations, such as the lion who loves to sing or the zebra who’s not thrilled to give out rides. They’ll cheer for the brave knight who rode to face the dragon in a wheelchair instead of a mighty stead. Readers will say, aw, as the boy reads his new pet dragon a bedtime story. No matter where the journey takes these kids, the writer’s mission is to encourage kids to believe in themselves and not allow fear to hold them back. So, take the author’s advice and repeat these four powerful words, “I believe in me,” and then go out and slay dragons!

While Amazon’s target audience for this book is 3-8-year-olds, the charming illustrations and diverse characters will captivate readers of all ages.

 

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

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Meet the Author

CK Willie lives in sunny Arizona and originally wanted to be a writer, though not necessarily a poet. However, her writing naturally rhymed, leading her to embrace poetry. She found delight in expressing feelings of doubt, insecurity and self-belief in playful and relatable ways for children. As a mother of four, a grandmother of nine and a great grandmother of two, she feels the greatest gift we can give children is confidence, believing in who they are and what they can do. The world is waiting for them! When she’s not writing, she is on the court playing pickleball and is learning to play Mahjongg.

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Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf by MJ Murray (Book Review)

Dylan and Emily are back in book #3 of this series. This time, someone took the Camp Leaf trophy. Can they track down the prize in time for the camp games?

Dylan and his little sister, Emily, don’t go anywhere without Dylan’s detective kit. Their trusty dog, Theodore, is always by their sides, ready to lend a helping paw. While the kids are away at camp, the Camp Leaf games trophy goes missing. Together with some old friends and a few new ones, Dylan and Emily set off to track down the trophy.

 

Parents & Educators:

For reluctant readers or newly independent readers, books in this series can be read in any order and are packed full of reading-level appropriate text, interesting content, and fast moving plots. This story includes 20+ illustrations to keep readers engaged.

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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.

 

Every summer, parents send their kids to camp or take their family camping. Whether you pitch a tent, camp out in an RV, or hunker down in a cabin, fun is the object of any camping adventure. Dylan was having none of it. The rain was not letting up for the first three days of his vacation, and the only fun activity he participated in (so far) was roasting marshmallows. Okay, bugs and no Wi-Fi would be terrible, but s’mores for lunch? Count me in! 

Dylan was bummed he hadn’t gone swimming yet, and the camp games hadn’t started yet either. What he needed to scare away his boredom was a mystery, and you don’t have to be Sherlock to deduce that is precisely what occurred. When the rain clouds parted, the campground owner (Mrs. Fan) was ready to get the show on the road. In other words, let the camp games begin! However, the campers would have to put their fun on hold for a little longer because someone nabbed the prize. Mrs. Fan said the games would commence once the trophy was found or returned to the winner’s stand.

With his The Young Sleuths detective kit, Dylan volunteered to lead the investigation. His sister, Emily, offered her services as his helper. And Theodore, the family pet, was along for the ride as a cute distraction. Besides his two sidekicks, Mrs. Fan said her granddaughter Paige would join Dylan to ensure he didn’t upset any campers. As the investigation unfolded, Dylan’s sleuthing team gained another member, making them a team of 4 kids and one adorable dog. They weren’t chasing ghosts like a famous detective team, but they did focus their attention on illuminating objects. It’s a good thing Dylan’s detective kit came with a UV flashlight.

As the mystery plays out, Dylan’s suspect list continues to grow. Can you solve the mystery of who swapped the trophy for a moss-covered rock before Dylan and his helpers? Can you figure out the thief’s motive? Encourage your kids to create their own suspect list and see if they can solve the crime before the culprit confesses.

Detective Dylan and the Thief of Camp Leaf is a 10-chapter storybook that will hook your young reader until the thief is unveiled. And everyone will say. “Aw,” when the reason behind the theft is disclosed. 

With its diverse cast and sweet resolution, this is a mystery book you’ll want to share with your family or class! 

Bonus Material: There are TWO QR codes. The first redirects you to a newsletter sign-up form where fans get advance notice of free educational resources, subscriber-exclusive print giveaways, and new releases. The second code offers free downloadable ELA/Math book companion resources. 

 

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

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Meet the Author

MJ Murray is a California-based writer whose first book, Detective Dylan and the Case of the Missing Mail, is available online wherever books are sold. She is often found with a dog in her lap, even though she tells people she isn’t an animal person.

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