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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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Dream Seed by D B Soel (Book Spotlight)

There once was a seed that vibrated with an exciting dream.

What is that dream, and what will it become?

As the seed is nurtured with equal parts love & joy,

The most special dream of all grows into life.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Click HERE to read the full review on Reedsy
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author 
D.B. Soel writes to inspire, to entertain, and to enlighten. He enjoys sports, literature, movies, and cooking. He has a beautiful wife and two wonderful children and lives on California’s Central Coast.
 

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Time Telling Ted by Julian Hilton (Book Review)


This teddy bear is no ordinary bear, he is Time Telling Ted!

 

Ted lives his life by his watch and loves to tell the time.
With his own birthday party today, will he realize it’s time to get things ready, before it’s too late?

A timely story with teddies.
Can you find all the clocks and tell the time with Ted?

From the Reader’s Favorite award finalist, author of the popular Jumbo Giant Sausages and The Button and the Bean, comes a third ‘read-and-learn’ story that spans a whole day told on clocks and watches.

Read and learn stories tell a great tale, while giving you the chance to learn something too!

Perfect for those practicing how to tell the time, although you don’t need to learn in order to love this story.

With a great resource section on telling the time at the back of the book, plus clocks and other fun things to find, this book is a great addition to any library or classroom.

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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.

 

Time Telling Ted is an outstanding interactive children’s book that teaches young viewers the concept of time.

Ted is an adorable bear that loves to tell time. He sleeps next to an old-fashioned twin-bell alarm clock on his nightstand—a vintage device kids might not recognize, but their parents will. As the hands on the analog clock reach eight o’clock, it loudly rings for Ted to wake up and start his day. Readers will notice that every mention of a time, such as a quarter till nine, will be presented in enlarged yellow text. The hands on the clocks will always match the stated time, too. Breakfast at nine, shopping at 10:30, nap at five to one, every point of Ted’s busy day is referenced to a particular time, making this a perfect book for children learning to tell time.

Today is a very special day for our adorable bear, Ted; it’s his birthday! With so much to do, he relies on his wristwatch and other clocks to keep him on track. There are party supplies to gather, a room to decorate, food to purchase, music to select, lunch to prepare, and (of course) a not-so-quick nap to recharge Ted’s (figurative) battery. Will Ted be mindful of the time and complete each item on his birthday party to-do list? Read the creative story where Ted’s most valuable asset is the timepieces and discover the answer for yourself!

Speaking of timepieces, Julian Hilton (the author) has crafted multiple fun and engaging activities requiring kids to seek out hidden items and characters in the various scenes. They ask you to find every clock or watch and see if kids can recognize the time. Children will also hunt for the “two naughty sausages” while seeking out Button and the Bean. Kids are encouraged to find Ted’s birthday cards, too. But wait! That’s not all! The author has included more time-based games and activities: “What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?” and “Do you know what time it is?” In the last one, the writer does a magnificent job teaching kids what time it is when the “long hand” points to a number on or in between two numbers. There are more helpful time tips, so I recommend picking up a copy today and sharing it with your family or class! See if they can recognize the timepieces and their featured time! Encourage young listeners to share what time device they or their family use.

I agree with Amazon’s recommended reading age of 3-8 years for Time Telling Ted. This book is a great resource for kids learning or mastering their time-telling skills. The sweet artwork revolving around a toy bear, a toy most kids have, was adorable. I’m sure children within this age range will love Ted bear-y much!

(Review submitted to Reedsy on January 26, 2025.)

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

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Meet the Author

Julian Hilton lives beside the seaside in the magical county of Devon, England. Born in Liverpool in 1969, England, the same week Get Back was in the charts, Doesn’t write songs. Likes writing children’s stories, draws a bit. Loves possibilities.

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Chloe Moves to a New City: The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe Series by Andrea McLean (Book Review)

When Burnie and Chloe hear a tiny voice in Chloe’s new house, they discover a little spider named Webster who’s lost and far from home! With big hearts and curious minds, Burnie and Chloe decide to help their new friend find a place to belong.

Their adventure takes them to the backyard, where they meet another friendly spider who just might have the perfect solution. Along the way, Burnie and Chloe learn what it means to help others, make new friends, and open their hearts to those in need.

Join Burnie and Chloe on this heartwarming journey of friendship, kindness, and finding a new home in unexpected places. Perfect for young readers, this story is sure to bring smiles, laughter, and a reminder that everyone can lend a helping hand.

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Burnie and Chloe are not just family; they are doggie best friends. They frequently get together at Burnie’s house for play dates. Whether they are taking a dip in the pool, exploring the outdoors, or partaking in an indoor adventure, the canine buddies always have each other’s back. They are so lucky to have each other. But things are about to change. Chloe’s owner/Ava’s brother swung by to inform the family that he got a new job and is moving to a new city. The news shocked Burnie, so he naturally had several questions. Even a human’s curiosity would cause us to question a friend or family member if they suddenly sprung news they were relocating.

A few weeks after the big move, Burnie and his family packed up and drove three hours to visit the brother and Chloe’s new home. Burnie and Chloe were super excited to see each other, and Chloe couldn’t wait to give Burnie the grand tour. Burnie was very curious about the space behind the stairwell. What he found would have me and many others running away, possibly screaming as we go. Why? Because Burnie found a spider! Okay, for a spider, it was rather cute when it smiled. Yes, you read that right. The itsy-bitsy spider smiles! Even though Webster (spider) looks friendly, I’m not sure if I would place it on my head (like Burnie did). I bet kids will have a strong opinion on this matter!

Like the other stories in The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe series, the doggie duo band together to fix a problem. In the case of Chloe Moves to a New City, their mission is to help find the lost spider (Webster) a new home, preferably outdoors. Did they succeed in their quest? I bet you know the answer to that. The final image featuring the friends posing with their tongues out is the perfect ending to the story.

Chloe Moves to a New City is a sweet story, capturing the strong bond between two canine friends. I liked the variety of body poses and facial expressions, which added depth and emotion to the characters. The backgrounds popped thanks to the vibrant wallpaper patterns and paint color choices. There were still some flat areas, but I applaud the artist’s attempt to spruce up certain rooms. The first staircase image, however, missed the mark. The left side of the staircase appears to be floating in the air towards the bottom. For the storyline, many of us can relate to a family member or friend moving away. This story may inspire children to share their experiences and feelings about a similar situation. I have one small request for the author; it may be time to give Ava’s brother a name. He’s been featured in more than one story, and I don’t recall the character being addressed by anything other than “Ava’s brother.”

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the latest story in The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe series—the heartwarming tale of friendship, coupled with the vibrant illustrations, made for a delightful read. I can’t wait to see what fun adventures await Burnie and Chloe in the next book!

Suggested reading age is 3-8 years.


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

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Meet the Author

Andrea C. McLean is a board-certified life, career, and executive coach. She is a global leadership coach and mentor focused on developing women leaders in corporate and university settings. Andrea has a spirit of encouragement and a passion for inspiring others on their journey toward achieving personal transformations. She can be reached at andrea@acmcoachinggroup.com and you can follow @andreacmclean on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn for more inspiration.
 

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Bo the Boat by Clare Short (Book Review)

Preorder Now: Releases March 18, 2025!

Join Bo and Mo on their adventure at sea in this sweet, interactive board book! Written by a pediatric speech-language pathologist and mother, this charming lift-the-flap book supports early speech and language goals, while engaging children with lyrical rhymes, beautiful illustrations, and adorable characters.

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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.

 

Bo the Boat is not just a sweet, interactive board book, but a powerful tool that supports speech, language, and literacy skills. The lift-the-flap feature, although not examined in the file, offers several opportunities for kids to interact with the characters. The file wasn’t without interactive opportunities. Kids can wave hi to Bo (the boat) and Captain Mo, honk their horns when they spot the ferry, name the colors of the fish and cars, and count them. Adults can extend the learning opportunity by asking children to color-match the car to the fish, fostering their cognitive development.

Bo the Boat also fosters a child’s emotional development. As we view each page, the reader should notice Bo and Mo’s feelings and facial expressions change as the scenes progress. Happy faces fade away when Bo and Mo encounter other ocean dwellers. Ask your child or class if they can name the characters’ emotions and their root causes.

The beautiful illustrations will catch the eye of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Even older children and adults reading this story to young kids will love the nautical theme, colors, and cute characters. The story’s rhyming lines comprised of common words and a limited word count make this book an ideal choice for first-time readers. This versatility makes Bo the Boat a perfect choice for families with children of different ages.

I recommend Bo the Boat for children up to 5 years. Encourage readers to interact with the story by waving hi and bye, saying good morning and good night to the sun and moon, naming objects and colors, counting the fish and stars, seeking out the starfishes on every page, and (when using the hardback) lifting the flap to unlock the hidden picture.

Bo the Boat is the perfect book to engage your child in the story’s happenings. Join Bo and Mo on their water adventure as they catch fish and an unexpected snapping guest, meet sea friends, and have fun from sunrise to sunset.

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

Preorder Link for Amazon

 

 

 

Meet the Author

 Clare Short, M.Ed., CCC-SLP & Author

Clare Short is a speech-language pathologist living in Atlanta, GA with her husband and three young children. She studied English and Human Development as an undergraduate at Boston College, then completed her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology at University of Virginia. When not working in pediatric acute care as an SLP or raising her children, she can be found searching for the best cookie in the city, savoring the perfect cup of tea, or traveling to the North Georgia mountains for a hike with her family and friends.

 

Clare’s debut children’s book is Bo the Boat! The lift-the-flap board book was created after countless hours of reading bedtime stories to her own children and over a decade as a speech-language pathologist. Clare is passionate about communication and empowering families to unlock new skills in their child’s speech toolbox. Her hope is that this book will be fun and engaging for babies, toddlers, and perhaps even older children who would like to cozy up with Bo and Mo.  Bo’s world is inspired by several of Clare’s family’s “happy places” including Ocracoke Island, NC and Glen Arbor, MI. We hope that you enjoy going on this heartwarming journey as much as we have!

 

Interested in learning more about your child’s speech and language milestones?

Click here to visit the American Speech-Language and Hearing developmental milestone list!

 

Instagram: @byclareshortspeech
 
 
 
 
 

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