Review: Claw & Order: Fairy Goose Unit: The Pignapping by Donna Boock

 

Claw & Order: Fairy Goose Unit: The Pignapping 

by Donna Boock

This time, the little piggy couldn’t go wee-wee-wee all the way home from school. Instead, a big, bad ransom note points to a pignapping! Fairy Goose Unit detectives Clawed McDiddle and Allie O' Dumpling search for clues to bring home the bacon. But can they solve this mystery so the Swine family can live hogfully ever after?

Nivya Kuriakose, illustrator, and Donna Boock, author, the duo who brought you Moo-La-La-Ti-Da! (2021), team up once again in this rollicking fun and funny chapter book series.

My Take:

In Claw & Order: Fairy Goose Unit: The Pignapping by Donna Boock, This Little Piggy has gone missing and didn’t go wee wee wee all the way home from school. Clawed McDiddle, the Missing Creatures Detective cat in Fairy Goose Land, is just settling down for a quick catnap at the station when he gets the call.  He and his friend Allie O’Dumpling team up and are on the case! They interview the family, the teacher, and the bus driver, uncovering clues, identifying suspects, and clearing them one by one. Charming artwork on each page contains hidden clues you might miss, so it’s important to keep your eyes and ears open and look for evidence! In true mystery fashion, these two examine the clues and follow them in hopes of bringing the pignapper to justice and bringing home the bacon!

 Content:
Drug Content:
G – none.
 
Violence:
G – There is discussion of turning This Little Piggy into bacon. And there’s a kidnapping. This is an early reader book. I mean, come on. It’s soft edges.
 
Language:
G – Squeaky clean
 
Adult Content:
G – Not a bit.
 
Christian content:
This is on the level of Mother Goose, but there’s nothing Christian in it. Just a kid-friendly mystery.
 
Final analysis:
Claw & Order: Fairy Goose Unit: The Pignapping by Donna Boock is a well-written, engaging mystery story for early readers, and left me hungry for more books in the series. This charming mystery is not scary and is a cozy mystery for the younger set, concerning a safe space that the younger kids can feel comfortable in. Entertaining illustrations on every page add depth to the story, and it’s a quick read. It’s loaded with many baffling clues, and you encounter many well-loved nursery rhyme characters, like Jack and the Beanstalk, the Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf, Simple Simon, Wee Willie Winkie, Little Boy Blue, and Little Miss Muffet. Some of them help find clues, and some might just be suspects! This clean, delightful, illustrated mystery book is a sure winner for early readers and lovers of a cute mystery. Five Stars!
 

About the Author:

When Donna was eight years old, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Or maybe a news reporter. Or the person who names lipstick and nail polish those fun names like “Mauve-alous Darling.” But now she can’t imagine anything but writing books that allow her to be part of the very special moment when children are ready to take off and read. It’s pure magic! Donna is also the author of the very funny chapter book series Kinzie’s Kinventions and a picture book called Moo-La-La-Ti-Da!

Donna also loves sharing her passion for reading and writing by coming to play, oops- I mean, visit schools both in person & virtually. She also creates free materials like lesson plans, discussion guides, puzzles, and worksheets to support the incredibly special adults who support those incredibly important young readers. Stay in touch at www.DonnaBoock.com and also on her YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCri9... where you can find recorded readings, Kinzie’s “ViewTube” videos, and lots of upcoming fun!

Review - WHOO'S IN THE BOAT by Lisa Burch

WHOO'S IN THE BOAT

by Lisa Burch

Illustrated by Kristi Goldsmith

Whoo's In The Boat details the spiritual journey of Jody, his dog Salty, and Good owl. 

My Take:

Jody's life in a harbor town is filled with dreams of being a fisherman, and also one day of being a Fisher of Men, following Jesus' Great Commission to tell others about Him. When he finds a shipwrecked small sailboat while wandering the shore, he gets a clear call from God to use it to spread the word. So with the help of his dog Salty and his friend Good Owl, he repairs the boat and sails into the unknown with God as his captain, and a dolphin named Harmony as his guide.

Content:
Well, this is a children's picture book, and is squeaky clean on every level. The main point of the book is to carry the Good News to others and share God's Love with them. At 32 beautifully watercolor illustrated pages, it's about a 15 minute read in a family or Kids' Ministry setting. Just right for a night when you want to share with children the desire God has for us to share His Good News. 

The Christian content of the book is pretty evident throughout, and the concepts are down on the bottom shelf, worded in language that a five year old can grasp. Between the covers here we find adventure, prayer for protection, diligence, perseverance, and obedience. Jody listens for God's voice and direction. God provides guidance and protection. Jody does what he can, and his efforts bear fruit. At the end of the book is a set of verses recorded, a Captain's Log that are key verses for sharing the Gospel. Five Stars!

About the Author

Lisa Brubaker Burch grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and currently resides in Mississippi. While pursuing a career in nursing, Lisa worked as a daycare instructor and kindergarten assistant teacher at St. Luke United Methodist. She also has taught in various children's programs including Sunday school, vacation bible school, and gymnastics. As a critical care nurse she served as a patient caregiver, educator, and team leader. Later she conducted cardiac research studies at Memphis Heart Clinic which led to her current occupation as a health and wellness instructor. She has a passion for assisting others to a better life mentally, physically, and most importantly, spiritually.

About the Illustrator

Kristi Goldsmith grew up in a family that always encouraged her to pursue her artistic passions. She studied fashion at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and fine art at the Art Academy of the University of Memphis. When her dear friend, Lisa Burch, wrote Whoo's In The Boat, Kristi knew she wanted to contribute to the project because it spoke to her artistic creativity and resonated with her religious upbringing. Kristi maintains a close relationship with God and is eager to help children establish their own relationships with Him.

Review: Bees in Loretta's Bonnet by Lois J Wickstrom

Bees in Loretta's Bonnet
by Lois J Wickstrom
Illustrated by Francie Mion

When Loretta dropped her armload of firewood on the hearth, a mysterious tube fell from between the logs. It was a leafcutter bee nest. Loretta took it back out to the woodpile and watched as holes appeared. But where were the bees?

She found more holes appearing in leaves on her rose bushes. And even some of the rose petals. But where were the bees?

Leafcutter bees are more efficient than honey bees for pollinating gardens. The book includes instructions for building a nest that may lure wild bees to your yard.

My Take:
Loretta's curiosity leads to discovery in this delightful illustrated children's book. Written on about a third grade level, this would be appropriate as either a read-aloud to your kids, or a relatively early reader for your young school age kids. There's also a science project for constructing a leaf cutter bee nest at the back, a great resource for a nature project for classroom or homeschool.

Content:
This is a children's book, and there's nothing offensive in it. Unless you don't like life on a farm, or bees. Personally, things that sting tend to be low on my list of friendly pets, but the leaf cutter bee is mild, and rarely stings unless handled. Also, their poison is milder than that of say the honey bee. They can damage prize rose bushes, so they are sometimes considered pests.

Final Analysis:
Bees in Loretta's Bonnet is an educational look into the life of the leafcutter bee and its contribution to life on a farm. There are clear instructions on how to create a nest for these relatively docile creatures, as a project for the kids. It's well illustrated, with watercolor pictures on every page.

Science projects are always a plus, and having one at the end of an entertaining illustrated children's book is a great combination. The instructions for building a leaf cutter bee nest are clear, and make for a great family project, whether your kids are homeschooled (like mine) or whether you are teaching a classroom. I've seen the inquisitive nature of kids in my four, and it's refreshing to see a girl who enjoys learning about bugs and their contribution to life. Five Stars!

About the Author:

Lois is the author of Oliver, A Story about Adoption, winner of the Read America award. She and Francie Mion (artist) have created the Loretta's Insect series: Ladybugs for Loretta, Bees in Loretta's Bonnet, and soon Loretta's Pet Caterpillar.  She is co-author of the Nessie’s Grotto series with Jean Lorrah, which won the IEBA award. Her Amanda Mini-Mysteries were published in Child Life, and voted “most popular series.”  She has also been published in The Friend and Highlights.  She is the author of the American Chemical Society video “Starting With Safety” and the HRM videos “It’s Chemical” series.  She was head science teacher at Science in the City in Philadelphia.  Her Imagenie science videos are on YouTube.  She is an avid gardener, experimental cook, exercise junky, and all-around silly person.

Here's a list of her works:
"Coal for Christmas" co-authored with Jean Lorrah won the Gold Remi at Worldfest for family filmscripts.
"Nessie and the Living Stone" co-authored with Jean Lorrah won the IEBA award for family ebooks
"Order of the Virgin Mothers" was performed by Trust Us Theater in South Carolina. It was also published in a play collection by Wildside / Borgo.
"Medea in Athens" was performed by Delaware Community College.
"Oliver, A Story about Adoption" won the Read America Award.
"The Amanda Mini-Mysteries" won the Reader's Favorite award at Child Life Magazine.
"Pop-Up Kids" co-authored with Jean Lorrah is currently a quarter-finalist at ScreenCraft Family Film Fest
"Starting With Safety" is the best-selling video at American Chemical Society
"It's Chemical" series was funded by NSF and distributed by Human Relations Media.  It won the Educational Video award from Video Maker Magazine.

About the Illustrator:
Francie Mion got a degree in fine art, then included fine art again into her life after a long career in therapeutic massage. She has illustrated multiple books for Lois Wickam. Francie also makes greeting cards and pet portraits. Her website is www.franciemion.com 

Review: Hattie the Hummingbird - Where is Heaven, Anyway? by Dunnett Albert

Where is Heaven Anyway?: A Hattie the Hummingbird Story 
by Dunnett Albert
Illustrated by Catherine Wilder


After the loss of her friend Auggie the Frog, our sweet Hattie the Hummingbird sets out to answer the question "Where is Heaven Anyway?" Through this beautiful poem and stunning watercolor images, Hattie's question is answered through a story, dreams, and her just "knowing." A story for all ages, young and old, who want to understand how the ones who love us the most never truly leave us.

My Take:
This beautifully illustrated picture book is a poignant poetic story of coming to terms with death and heaven, for children of all ages who have experienced a loss.

The pictures in this book are just gorgeous. The poetry is poignant and written on a 2-5 year old level, quite appropriate for the target audience. The sentiments in the book are heart-felt; apparently the author has experienced a similar loss, as many of us have. The questions of why does death occur, where do people go when they die, and where is heaven, are dealt with tenderly.

While younger children need a simplistic concept answer to these questions, I'll put in the caveat here that this story relates, as the blurb above mentions, that heaven is around us, and that our loved ones visit us in our dreams, and are always with us. This concept is comforting for younger children but is from a non-denominational perspective, so be prepared to answer questions from older kids.

Final Analysis:
In closing, I'll say that this picture book was clean, kid-friendly, and perfectly appropriate for preschool kids dealing with grief and in need of healing, and it's artwork is just stunning. Five stars.

Review: Dash's Busy Day by Terrance Perrin

Dash's Busy Day
by Terrance Perrin

Learn basic direction concepts and counting as Dash the dragonfly flies left, then right, and all around the pond seeing several other pond inhabitants along the way. Simple, brightly colored, engaging character checking out the environment in which it lives, counting as it goes. The original illustrations were done in ink and watercolor and scanned into computer for final touch up and addition of text. 24 page picture book.

My Take:
Dash the dragonfly has a busy day flying up, down, backwards, forwards, and every direction conceivable as he spends the day counting the creatures and objects he sees in his colorful world.

Children will enjoy counting along with Dash as they learn directions and numbers along the way. I have read picture books with my children and this would make a great addition to that collection.

The art style is soft pastel watercolors in the same style as the cover, and all of the characters in the book have friendly smiles, even the mushrooms.

One of the things I noted is that the author used the number combined with the name of the number, as in (3) and (three) to help children who are early readers to learn the words for their numbers.

Written and illustrated in a simple, kid-friendly watercolor fashion, Dash's Busy Day is a fun fact-filled frolic. Five Stars.