Tag Archives: review

November 4, 2024 · 7:00 am

Fulami Wins The Race by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

A sweet and inspirational story about a space girl who overcomes her weakness to achieve her goal.

This book will motivate your child to strive hard in all they do. Once you pick it up you will not want to put it down.

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

 

Fulami, an elf with horns protruding from the top of her head, lives on Venesha, the largest planet in their universe. Fulami’s home planet somewhat resembled Earth. The illustrations showed lush greenery, colorful wildflowers, various creatures, and beautiful mountain ranges. Fulami’s town was much like many others; it had multiple stores, such as the cake shop, florist, bookstore, and grocery store. On one trip to the local grocery store, she saw a piece of paper floating by. It announced that there would be a “Young Creatures Relay Race” happening on Saturday. How exciting!

Fulami was overjoyed that her parents had signed her up for the race. Her excitement bubbled over when all her friends also agreed to participate in the race. Fulami and her friends practiced hard for the event, but the outcome differed from what Fulami expected. She could’ve sulked and vowed never to race again. She could have, BUT she didn’t. Fulami’s story shows readers that practice, patience, a positive attitude, and hard work can help them achieve their goals. Fulami also demonstrated how one should act if a person doesn’t win or perform as well as they hoped. Follow Fulami’s example—congratulate the winners because they worked hard to earn the trophy. Smile knowing that you did your best and should be proud of yourself for giving it your all.

Fulami did not hang up her sneakers and refused to try again. No, she got back out there and practiced even more, this time with her parents. Fulami is a great role model!

I loved the story’s vibrant colors. I also liked the alien animals peeking around plants, between leaves, and over flowers. It was like they were playing hide-and-seek with the reader. I also liked the trail of gold twinkling lights that floated around the characters on every page. I even like the panda-themed trash can!

I recommend sharing this story with kids aged 2-9.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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November 1, 2024 · 7:00 am

Nortis Goes Swimming by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

Everybody needs a new friend – even in other worlds!

Dive into the enchanting world of “Nortis Goes Swimming,” where science fiction meets fantasy in this delightful children’s story book about making friends!

Join Nortis, a young explorer from the distant planet Venessa, as he embarks on a thrilling school field trip to a sparkling swimming pool.

In this captivating tale, young readers aged 2-6 will be transported to the far reaches of outer space, where lovable creatures much like our world on earth are faced with making new friends. As Nortis and his friends splash and play, they’ll discover the true meaning of friendship and cooperation, making this sci-fi adventure a heartwarming journey for both children and parents alike.

With charming illustrations and a whimsical storyline, Parents will love sharing this imaginative tale with their little ones, using Nortis’ adventures to teach valuable lessons about inclusivity and the importance of making new friends.

So pack your bags and join Nortis on this unforgettable school field trip to the stars!

With “Nortis Goes Swimming,” the magic of friendship shines brighter than ever before.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

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

 

Far, far away in outer space lies the largest planet of the universe – Venesha. This alien planet has rivers, oceans, mountains, swamps, and forests like Earth; however, the inhabitants are not Earth-like in appearance, and they possess special powers too. 

Up in the high glacier region of Venesha lived Nortis. He was orange, with three large eyes, four fingers, and pointy ears. His day began like a typical child’s day: eat, dress, brush teeth, and head off to school. His day differed from ours via the mode of transportation and how the students looked. Kids will love the vast collection of aliens at the bus stop and on the flying yellow bus. Classmates varied in shape and coloring. One eye, Eight eyes. Each alien was unique and beautifully drawn!

Today was an exciting day for Nortis and his friends. Instead of the bus dropping them off at school, it was flying them to the local swimming pool for a field trip. Field trip days are usually the highlight of a school year, so if your child has been on one, they will probably voice which one was their favorite. 

While everyone was frolicking in the water, Nortis saw a classmate sitting alone. He did the right thing and asked Jun, who resembled a blue, one-eyed rabbit, to play with him. Nortis’s kindness brightened Jun’s face for the rest of their day. 

Nortis Goes Swimming teaches children to be kind to one another, be accepting, and be open to new friendships. Remember, one small act of kindness might seem insignificant to you, but it could be life-changing to the recipient! 

I adored the artwork by Patrick Girouard. I also loved the message and the overall creativeness of Nortis Goes Swimming by co-authors Lamar Golden and Liana Golden. I wish there were some elaboration on Nortis’s “magical powers.” 

Nortis Goes Swimming is a short read, perfect for children with short attention spans. It is also a prime choice for kids learning to read independently. I recommend this book for children 2 to 10 years of age. 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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Reedsy Author Link

 

 

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October 21, 2024 · 7:00 am

Mordokai Plants a Garden by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

This beautifully illustrated book introduces Planet Venesha and it’s inhabitants, most importantly, Mordokai

Mordokai and his friends capture the imaginations of readers young and old. Join them as they wander a colorful, thriving landscape inhabited by all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures.

“Believe in yourself and do not let anybody tell you that you cannot be great. Your life is an individual journey that will take you anywhere in the world or in outer space if you believe. Try hard and never give up and do not be afraid to challenge yourself.”

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

Mordokai lives on Venesha, the largest planet in the universe. Even though the planet’s terrain does not resemble Earth’s color scheme, Venesha still has mountains, rivers, oceans, swamps, deserts, and plains. This planet also contains wildlife, but again, the alien animals do not resemble ours. They have two-headed snakes, with each head sporting one eye. Birds possess three eyes. Then there are cute but odd-looking bunny-like creatures. Most fascinating was the black and pink animal with the features of a dragon and two tails. 

The wildlife wasn’t the only peculiar-looking being calling Venesha home. Mordokai had tiny wings on his head and a long tail. Even though his appearance was only something you see at cosplay or comic con events, he did have one thing in common with Earthlings: he needed substance. Instead of pizza or a juicy burger, Mordokai craved a carrot for not just today’s meal but every meal. Without the funds to buy the root vegetable, he decided to plant a garden. Planting a garden is an excellent outdoor activity for children. It teaches children responsibility, encourages them to eat more nutritious foods, and getting fresh air’s always a great idea. 

Mordokai gives young readers a brief overview of what they could plant, but there are many more options. I recommend you share Mordokai Plants A Garden with your child and start your own garden. Big. Small. Fruits. Vegetables. Herbs. Work together to build a garden that fits your family’s tastes and introduces new foods and spices into your child’s life. 

I recommend Mordokai Plants A Garden by Lamar Golden for children two years and older. It houses bright, beautiful illustrations (artist: Izzy Eban) and prompts children to put down their electronics, go outside, and get back to nature. 

Be sure to check out Mordokia Searches for Strawberries! 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

 

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October 14, 2024 · 7:00 am

World’s Coolest Grandpa by Lamar Golden (Book Review)

A fun and enjoyable book celebrating the life of Masao Sawada, a grandpa enjoying a typical day in Japan. Watch as Masao goes through his day and interacts with lots of people everywhere he goes.

This book is for parents and small children aged 2 and older who enjoy reading together during the day or at night before bed.

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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.

 

Masao Sawada is 78 years old and is busting at the seams with energy. 

Masao wakes up early every morning and strolls to the convenience store, where he purchases his morning cup of coffee. 

Masao loves playing sudoku, driving around Tokyo City (Japan) in his yellow convertible, and talking to his granddaughter Liana on the telephone. It was adorable that the two chit-chatted for an hour as Liana ate her breakfast. I hope their interaction prompts more kids to take time out of their busy days to check in with their grandparents. 

World’s Coolest Grandpa walks readers through a day with Masao. It’s a typical day for many people: grocery shopping, talking with friends, playing golf, and dining at a favorite restaurant. I don’t know how many young readers from the States have eaten an eel before like Masao. Young readers will likely have an opinion on whether they would or would not eat one. 

World’s Coolest Grandpa did have positive attributes. It showed young readers that grandparents can live full and active lives. The short story allowed readers to step into a culture that might be foreign to them. 

World’s Coolest Grandpa did stumble in the presentation, though. Instead of having the duplicate images on two pages with new text under each, I would’ve combined the text under one picture. There were also issues with formatting and text placement. In general, this book could benefit from some fine-tuning. 

World’s Coolest Grandpa was a cute read that children would enjoy listening to. Many will remark on Masao’s cool yellow car, and I don’t blame them. It would catch my eye if I saw it zooming down the road. 

Amazon has the children’s book listed for 3-18. I would narrow that field down to 3-9. 

With or without the tweaking, I recommend sharing this book with your child or class. 

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

 

 

 

Meet the Author

I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

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Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

 

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October 11, 2024 · 7:00 am

Space Elves Enjoy Politics by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

 

A must have book for parents, children and especially for teachers in the classroom setting! This book allows children to think independently about what they want and determine what is most important to them. What parents and teachers alike will love about this book is that it is interactive, allows children to think critically at a level they can understand, as well as participate in the story to determine the outcome.

The most amazing part of this book is that it teaches children at a basic level about cooperation, sharing, and solving problems that benefit all while they are still young enough to care. Our future leaders deserve a fun and interactive way to dive into the world of politics with topics that are appropriate for their age. I think you will be surprised with how your child responds and more importantly it sparks the conversations within each school and household on how to integrate problem solving and debate in a fun and safe manner for future generations.

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

 

Understanding how our government operates can be confusing for young kids. Heck, even some adults are confused about the extent of their “powers.” Space Elves Enjoy Politics takes readers to the far reaches of outer space to teach us how the Senate works on alien planets. While some aspects of their government differ from our planet, we share a common goal: to help their planet and its inhabitants.

The Space Federation of Elves consists of 2,000 planets and 200 senators, each responsible for ten planets. That vastly differs from the United States, where each state has only two senators. I wish our planet followed the elvish planets’ lead: each senator can ONLY serve six years. This rule ensures we have new people and ideas – not the same people holding positions for decades like those on our planet. 

Like ours (U.S.A.), the alien government is divided into political parties. America has several parties, whereas the alien nation has only 3: Repubies (Republicans), Demis (Democrats), and Indies (Independents.) Leaders of these parties each take to the Senate floor asking their co-leaders to vote for their side. They are offering a delicious treat to those who do. D- Senator Rumples vows to throw a BIG ice cream party if you vote for the Demis. R-Senator Dumples proclaims they’ll have a cake party if they win the vote. And I-Senator Mumples is sweetening the pot by offering a cake, ice cream, and cookies party! Decisions…decisions…

Depending on their chosen party, readers will be instructed to move to a specific page. Choose Demis – advance to page 9. Vote Repubies – flip to page 10. If you want all three dessert options, side with the Indies and turn to page 11. Each page asks readers another question, centering on the sweet treat party they chose to attend.

As Senators settle in on Capitol Hill, the Vice President (head of Congress) calls business to order. Fiction resembles reality as the writer notes that the session takes a long time because the parties cannot unite on an issue. Every day, in the real world, we watch as our representative spar verbally, getting little to nothing done on important issues. Without unification, our nation will be forever divided. The writer states that Demis and Repubies argue like babies and can’t play nice together. Spend five minutes with the bickering sides, and you’ll see the truth of the author’s claim. 

I applaud the writers’ final message: kids are the future leaders of the planet, so speak up because your opinions do matter!

I liked the premise behind Space Elves Enjoy Politics: teaching kids about the Senate, its role, and the importance of teamwork. I disagree with Amazon’s recommended reading age: baby-16 years. I would suggest this book to 5–10-year-olds. Also, if the buyer’s/reader’s intent was to educate themselves or others about the United States Senate, you won’t learn 100% accurate info with this kid’s book. I would’ve preferred the author used the same rules you’d see here in America but with an alien twist. Also, I would have moved the “count the number of treats” game to the after credits and not placed them directly in the story. 

This book is a work of fiction, so take the Senate’s info with a grain of salt. I recommend researching America’s Congress with your class and family. List the ways the space elves Congress resembles or differs from the U.S.A. For older kids, you can also get their feelings on current events. Again, reinforce the author’s message to let your voice be heard! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

Social Media Handles

 

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