Tag Archives: review

March 12, 2023 · 7:00 am

TAG YOU’RE IT! by Jonathan Barnett (Book Review)

Tag for this father and daughter is definitely more than just a game. An exciting story for children and adults alike, Tag, You’re It explores life’s ups and downs through a simple game that’s been enjoyed through the ages. As father and daughter enjoy their nightly routine of playing tag, the conflict caused by ending the game each night, and the insight that can be gained, is celebrated in something as simple as a game of tag.

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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.

 

When I was younger, I recall playing two variations of tag every day on the playground: original and freeze. I had all the energy in the world and never wanted recess to end. Fast forward to adulthood, and I’m playing the game with my children, like the father in the story Tag You’re It! by Jonathan Tyler Barnett. 

Children grow up too fast; before you know it, they’ll want to hang out with their friends instead of their parents. Or, they’ll be off to work or college. Or they are starting a family of their own. Tag You’re It! shows how a father makes the most of his child’s younger years. It also shows how exhausting it is to keep up with a child who seems to have a tank full of gas 24-7. Kids are always on the move indoors and outdoors once they take their first step. I can empathize with the dad’s need to sit down and request a change in games. I was tired just watching them run around their home.

I adored the illustrations by Penny Weber. They truly brought the story to life. I could practically hear Sadie’s infectious giggle as her father chased after her. The father and daughter love each other very much, which shows in the adorable drawings. It’s also apparent in the images that the mom loves watching these two play together. As a mom, I also love watching my children play with their dad. 

Tag You’re It! was a true delight to read. The story’s core was only twenty-two pages short, making it the perfect size read for toddlers through four years of age. This story would also be an ideal choice for beginning readers. 

Your child will love the story and acting it out, too. In other words, get ready to read and run! 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Jonathan Tyler Barnett, self-published author of IngramSparks currently sells rank #1 in JUVENILE NONFICTION / Family / Multigenerational children/picture book titled “Tag You’re It!” Emergency RN, Father, Author, and Player of Tag!

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March 9, 2023 · 7:00 am

Baby Zebu’s Ears by Alana Zimmerman (Book Review)

 

What makes us different makes us important.

Baby Zebu is a little different from the other cows on the farm. Some would say it’s a pity, but to Zebu, it’s just part of his happy life!
And, as all the animals will soon find out, Zebu’s flaw is much more special than it seems.

Read a book and DO GOOD: A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Iowa Farm Sanctuary which is devoted to giving neglected and abused farm animals a second chance at a happy life. Help us do more good by reading the next books in the series!

 

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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.

 

Baby Zebu entered this world looking slightly different than the other calves; his ears were pinned back. For weeks, his mother unsuccessfully tried to free them. Zebu tried with all their might too. The other animals soon realized even though Zebu looked different, that didn’t make Zebu any less lovable, friendly, or playful. Zebu came to accept who they were and how they looked. We should teach our children this lesson while they are young and reinforce it as they grow! 

Zebu explored the meadow, taking in all the colorful sights, sounds, and smells. In his exploration, he noticed something strange but extraordinary; his pinned ears amplified his hearing. He could now hear sounds miles away and far below the ground. 

His newly discovered superpower alerted him when a nasty storm was brewing, unlike any he’d seen before. Zebu tried to warn his friends and family, but no one would listen. Children will empathize with Zebu’s plight of not being heard. Sometimes small voices get overshadowed by louder ones, or the person they are talking to is too busy to listen. 

Many children, especially in certain parts of the U.S., are very familiar with tornados, their destructive powers, their roar, their imposing size, and the importance of seeking shelter when one has touched down. Whether you read this book at school, the library, or at home, I encourage you to review and practice your tornado preparedness plan with your young listeners. Tornados are scary, and a solid plan in motion will create less chaos during an overwhelming and frightening experience. 

Luckily, every animal in the meadow survived the turbulent winds and thanked Zebu for saving them. This story reinforces that it’s okay to be different. It doesn’t make you any less helpful or important. Your difference might give you an advantage over others, like a superpower.

Baby Zebu’s Ears by Alana Zimmerman had words and phrases that might be too complex for toddlers and preschoolers: mottled, basked, billowing, and tentative steps firmer. However, the illustrations were bright and eye-catching, and they explained precisely what was happening in the story. 

I think all elementary school children will enjoy listening to the story. I would encourage those living in tornado prone areas to share Baby Zebu’s Ears with their children and remember to go over your tornado emergency plan.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

I loved reading as a child, so much so that the giant box of books that was loaned to my family I would repeatedly try to sleep in hoping to be closer to the books I loved. That love of reading grew into a full fledged adult passion and writing a children’s book was something I dreamed of doing.

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March 6, 2023 · 7:00 am

Ganesha’s Cramped Statue (Stories about Indian Festivals Book 3 by Mayuri Amarnath (Book Review)

With its bold and colorful illustrations, Ganesha’s Cramped Statue is a delightful way for children of all ages to learn about Indian culture and appreciate its grand festivals.

It is Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesha, the elephant-headed Indian God, is so excited. It is his birthday and believers from all around the world will celebrate him for 10 whole days. There will be prayers, delicious food, and special yummy laddus made just for him. It is a huge festival and every year he parties with his devotees by going down to earth and living in one of his biggest, most lavish statues.

This year is no different. Ganesha is all set to go down to earth to bask in the glory of people’s admiration. He jumps into the river Sarasvati. But wait. What just happened? He is stuck. This is not the best statue on earth. He is stuck in a dingy, cramped statue. How is he going to get out?

In this fresh take on Ganesha Chaturthi, Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles, has to overcome his own obstacles with the help of his new friends Khalid and Kabir.

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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.

 

Did you know Ganesha is an elephant-headed Indian God? I didn’t, and I know this will be new information for many children and adults (like myself) too. The image of the Indian God will amaze young readers because Ganesh not only has the head of an elephant, but he also stands upright and has 12 arms (page 3).

In Ganesha’s Cramped Statue by Mayuri Amarnath, it’s festival season, and millions of people travel and pray to the Indian God while eagerly awaiting his appearance. They are optimistic that the god’s spirit will land in the 50-foot statue that honors him yearly. Ganesha was looking forward to the week-long festival, powering up from his worshippers because, without their prayers, he won’t have the strength to rejoin his body. However, things didn’t go as planned. Poor Ganesha’s spirit didn’t get inside the enormous statue of the temple. 

Some text on pages 15 and 16 was difficult to read due to its placement and color compared to the background color. Some words were written on the window trim, making them nearly impossible to read on the file. There were also words used in the story that I was unfamiliar with and weren’t clearly illustrated: laddu and biryani. I had to look up those two words and mandap. I’m assuming the author wants all children worldwide to read this, so they need to explain and illustrate sections, so those not in that culture understand what the foreign words mean. 

The illustrations showed Ganesha with twelve arms and later on four. This confused me, so I did a bit of research. I discovered that the god is typically seen with four but can have many more. While the information after the story about Ganesha Chaturthi was informative, I wanted to know more about the festival. I discovered that the festival date varies. This year it happened in August, and next year it’s projected to occur in September. 

Learning about other cultures is important, so parents and educators should share this book with their children and class. 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Mayuri Amarnath is an Aerospace Engineer by education, a teacher by profession, and an author at heart. She grew up in a traditional South Indian family and now writes stories about Hindu Gods and their festivals. Her stories bring a new perspective to these ancient celebrations.

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February 27, 2023 · 7:00 am

Through Calvin Arthur’s 4th Grade Eyes by R.A. Stone (Book Review)

Back in 1976, fourth grader, Calvin Arthur and his classmates are learning jealousy, humiliation, teasing, anger, and more from each other. These topics were not taught in public schools by the teachers so students were left to figure them out on their own. Calvin’s school year is full of emotional trials, internal challenges, social defeats and victories among his classmates. Chapters such as First Day Pressure, Humiliation Strikes Again, Integrity Versus Cheating, and Last Pick will describe what kids are going through as they learn the hard way. Additional chapters will make you laugh, be sad, and leave you relating to what Calvin and his classmates experience.

This book is the first in a series. In Calvin Arthur’s 5th Grade Shoes will be coming soon.

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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.

 

It’s 1976, and Calvin Arthur is starting his fourth year at Washington Elementary in Kingston, Delaware. He, like most children, has first-day jitters. He wants to be accepted while avoiding all school drama.

After the students have found their place cards, Mr. Jones (homeroom teacher) starts class with a speech full of wise words: “We are not alike on the outside, but we are a lot alike on the inside. You cannot walk in everyone’s shoes, but you should understand each other. We don’t have to be best friends, but we do need to respect one another.” 

Mr. Jones’s advice was directed toward children, but its advice that adults should follow as well.

As the school year progressed, chapters reminded me of the Afterschool Specials I watched as a child. There’d be situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers, and at the end of the episodes, the viewer learned a life lesson. When Calvin decided to skim-read to move his story reading ranking from the middle of the pack to the top 3 readers, his classmates called him out for cheating. Calvin mentally acknowledged they were right. He realized that “integrity is better than cheating.”

Another afterschool special scene involved a heated and humiliating encounter between Calvin and Mr. Sampson, the math teacher. Yes, Calvin talked in class, but the teacher didn’t ask why. Instead, he hit Calvin with an eraser. Suppose the teacher had asked him why he might’ve learned that Calvin was having trouble understanding the new math concept. Calvin failed his math quiz because a teacher was a stickler for no talking in class. Calvin also messed up; he should’ve raised his hand and told the teacher he was having difficulty with the math lesson. As a parent or teacher, ask your listener(s) if this behavior by the teacher is acceptable and how they would have handled the situation. In my opinion, the teacher was out of line.

Readers will follow Calvin as he navigates through the bad and good times of fourth-grade life. We’ll follow the class as they meet a (roughly) 1000-pound giraffe who spat on a misbehaving student. We join the students on their field trips and sit side-by-side as Calvin takes the dreaded standardized test. While most scenes are relevant to the day’s school system, two stood out to me as not: teachers smoking in the lounge and paddling (disciplinary action.) But, as you recall in my opening line, this story takes place in 1976 when times were much different. 

This story is perfect for those children going into or leaving the fourth! 

Check it out and the others books in the Calvin Arthur series, too! 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

R. A. Stone has been teaching at various Elementary and Middle public schools in the USA for thirty two years, Writing and story telling has been a passion ever since he was a young student. Calvin Arthur has evolved from all of his countless student interactions and teaching experiences.   Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

 

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February 24, 2023 · 7:00 am

The Broken Darkness by Theresa A Braun (Book Review)


In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire-forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors, or else suffer the consequences.

Contents:
“Dead over Heels”
“Collecting Empties”
“The Celestial Assignment”
“Guilty As Cell”
“Lost Time”
“Heathen”
“Stillborn”
“Legend Trippers”
“Dying for an Invitation”
“Homecoming”
“Stay Tuned”
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps
“Heirloom”

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

 

Before I began the horror anthology, I noticed that I’d read and reviewed about half of them in the past. I will briefly summarize a few before pushing forward with the new reads. 

“Dead over Heels” – As a fan of science fiction/paranormal shows, I love storylines that tap into the unknown. In “Dead over Heels,” we watch as the past meets the present in the forms of spirits reliving traumatic moments, aka their deaths by the same murderer.

As you can imagine, the living playing unwilling bystanders to this horrific scene is one thing — the victims being someone near and dear to their heart is another matter entirely. It amplifies the experience 1000%. 

For fans of the ghosts/spirits, I assure you this ending was perfection. It wasn’t your typical ending to a ghostly tale, and I like my plot twists.

“Stillborn” combined science fiction, mystery, suspense, gore, and shock. I didn’t want the story to end! 

“Legend Trippers” had gore, blood, and moments where I was happy I wasn’t reading this short story after sundown.

 

There were six short stories in the horror collection that I hadn’t read in the past: “Collecting Empties,” “Guilty As Cell,” “Lost Time,” “Heathen,” “Stay Tunes,” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Half of those scored five stars because they each possessed unique qualities that had me cringing, contained a fascinating turn of events, or possessed a plot that stood out from other stories in the horror genre.

“Stay Tuned” had vigilante justice served that would make the most vial and evil psychopath stand up, clap, and say, “Well done.” 

“Guilty As Cell” had me giving my cell the side-eye. It had a vengeful spirit, a possessed cell phone, and an ending that might be a trigger scene for some readers. Not the ghost, but, heck, maybe that too. Who am I to know who believes in the supernatural world and who might’ve seen a less-than-friendly spirit? 

I thought I knew the path “Heathen” was taking, and then Theresa wrote an enlightening scene that changed everything. I love Theresa’s plot twists!

 

Theresa’s works have always impressed me. She thinks outside the horror box and always leaves me wanting more. 

I recommend you pick up this collection! 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Theresa Braun was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and has carried some of that hardiness with her to South Florida where she currently resides with her two fur babies, who are her creative sidekicks. She enjoys delving into creative writing, painting, photography and even bouts of ghost hunting. Traveling is one of her passions—in fact, her latest adventure took her to Romania for a horror writers’ workshop where she followed in the steps of Vlad the Impaler. She writes horror fiction and the occasional romance. Oh, and she likes to guest blog about writing, television shows, movies, and books, mostly in the horror genre.

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