Read for Fun
Book reviews, reading tips, and lots of fun
Review: The Great Gratitude Surprise
Author: Rod Soper
Illustrator: Daniela Camacho
Category: Picture Book
Publisher: King Street Press
Publication date: 2018
Blurb: Sammy and her family find an amazing surprise at the beach and together they go on a wonderful gratitude journey.
The Playing with Gratitude Project is a mental wellness program developed to help children and their families thrive and flourish across their life span.
Review: Gratitude seems to be the buzz word of the day. Everyone is talking about it, and how it can change your life. This often results in lists of things people are grateful for, and come sometimes appear as though someone is putting together a list just because they’ve been tagged on social media, or just to join in with everyone else.
The Great Gratitude Surprise is a lovely story about a family who are able to share stories of gratitude with each other as well as for a family who will discover the surprise they have left on the beach.
It is a book that will be a great introduction to gratitude to kids as a family, or even in the classroom.
Website: Rod Soper – Playing With Gratitude Project – www.playingwithgratitude.com
Review: The Strongest Boy
Author: Renee Irving Lee
Illustrator: Goce Ilievski
Category: Picture Book
Publisher: Lilly Pilly Publishing
Publication date: 15 February 2019
Blurb: Max believes he is the strongest boy in the world! He can do all sorts of tough tricks, like showing off his strong muscles, jumping off furniture, pushing people over and even breaking things. His cheeky pet bird, Bruce, tells him just how strong he is too. One day, they both go to a birthday part and Max thinks he is the strongest, mightiest, coolest kid there. But why was everyone mad at him?
Review: There is a lot of discussion about what it means to be strong, and The Strongest Boy does a fantastic job at explaining that strength is more than just strong muscles, pushing people over, and breaking things. It also looks at how easy it is for boys to have a little voice encouraging them to act this way.
I also like the way Max’s Dad takes him aside to teach him about what it means to be strong.
This is a book that should be in schools and libraries to illustrate what it means to be strong.
Website: reneeirvinglee.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReneeIrvingLee/
Review: Blood Crystal
Author: Jeanette O’Hagan
Category: Young Adult
Publisher: By the Light Books
Publication date: 30 June 2017
Blurb: The underground realm is under attack from mad Overseer Uzza and the Crystal Heart is failing. As things become desperate, twins Delvina and Retza brave a treacherous journey to seek help from Zadeki and his people.
Will they find the answers they seek before it’s too late? What are the twins prepared to do to save their realm and those they love from certain destruction?
Blood Crystal is the sequel to Heart of the Mountain.
Review: When I finished reading Heart of the Mountain, I was looking forward to reading Blood Crystal, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Blood Crystal starts not long after the point where Heart of the Mountain ends. Life under the mountain is desperate when Retza and Delvina to to find Zadeki and his people for help solving a riddle.
Once again, Jeanette drew me into the world of Delvina, Retza, and Zadeki. I found myself travelling the journey with them and trying to solve the riddle as they went. The answer to the riddle was surprising and satisfying.
Even if you haven’t read the first book, you will still enjoy this book, however it;s a good idea to read the first one.
I’m now looking forward to reading book 3.
Website: jeanetteohagan.com
Review: The Crocodile Who Found His Smile
Author: HancyPancy
Illustrator: Ann Snell
Category: Picture Book
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Publication date: 2018
Blurb: Crosby is a lively croc but lonely for some friends
He has luck in making mates; he always meets dead-ends
He thinks that living all alone will be his only fate
‘Til Mum and Dad step in with a surprise he thinks is great!
Review: Having a teenager who loves lizards, and reptiles in general, any book that features a crocodile catches our eye. The bright colours and artwork that isn’t the style you normally see on picture books also caught our eye.
Crosby really wants friends, but his dad explains it’s not in the nature of a crocodile to have friends. In some ways, this brought to mind introverted parents having an extroverted child. It also reminded me a bit of myself as a child, not quite fitting in with the rest of my family (at times).
As well as a story about a little crocodile looking for friends, there is also some fantastic information about salt water crocodiles at the end, including facts we didn’t know before reading this story.
The illustrations by Ann Snell are bright and fun, and we had a good time trying to find the frog in each picture.
This book would be a great addition to the bookshelves of kids who love animals, especially reptiles, kids expecting a new baby in the house, and kids who are trying to find their place in the World.
Website: HancyPancy – hancypancy.com
Ann Snell – www.annsnellart.com
Review: Carry Me Home
Author: Dorothy Ademek
Category: Novel
Publisher: Crabapple House Publishing
Publication date: 1 December 2015
Blurb: Finella Mayfield hates two things: liars and thieves. And she’s determined to marry a man who’s neither. Chasing her dead father’s dreams, the twenty-year-old English bride arrives in Australia in 1875 for an arranged marriage. Anticipating her future as a village preacher’s wife, she records her thoughts in her Everlasting journal.
But instead of her fiance, Finella is met by Shadrach Jone, a poor farmer sent to collect her from the busy Melbourne pier.
This is not what her father planned. And it’s only the beginning of the unraveling of Finella Mayfield – the bride with no groom.
All Shadrach longs for is rows of mustard and chicory. He’s busy growing a farm near the Phillip Island fishing village of Cowes, and caring for Molly, his simple sister. Far from the brutal life they remember with their ex-convict father, Shadrach’s building something new.
But he’s also made a promise to a dying friend. To collect and marry the English girl destined to never be a preacher’s wife.
Can Shadrach convince Finella she has a future with a farmer? Can he convince himself, knowing his family secrets will haunt their future?
Review: When we were growing up, we would go to Phillip Island for holidays, and recently, my brother and his family have moved there. Finding a book set on Phillip Island during the late 1800s was pretty exciting.
I really enjoyed getting to know Shadrach and Finella as well as getting a snapshot of life in Australia in the late 1800s. Dorothy has done a brilliant job of sharing what life was like for the people living in Cowes.
This book has strong themes of love and forgiveness. While this is a Christian book, it’s not ‘preachy’ and non-Christians will also enjoy the story. There are a lot of twists and turns that will keep even the most avid romance readers guessing to the very end.
The second book in the series is due out soon, so be sure to get a copy of Carry Me Home before the next book is released.
Website: www.dorothyadamek.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dorothyadamekauthor/
All about a good story
A few weeks ago, my son was telling me that one of his teachers was determined to give her nephew books that featured a female main character, after she had given him one that he hated…
This led to an interesting discussion about books and the sorts of books I gave the boys to read when they were younger. We discussed various stories and it came down to one thing – the story is the key, not whether or not the main character is male or female.
Regardless of the gender of main characters, it comes down to having a good story.
A good story is key to engaging readers and keeping them reading past the first page or the first chapter. It doesn’t matter if the main character is male, female, or an alien of some description, if the story doesn’t grab the reader, they won’t keep reading.
They key to getting boys to read stories with strong female characters is to find books with stories the boys will enjoy. That’s not necessarily books where there is a lot of fighting or a big adventure, just a story that will engage them and take them on a journey.
If you want to get boys to read more books with a female main character, choose stories that will engage them rather than picking up a random book because the main character is female. Once they are hooked, they will keep reading and search out other books with a female lead, rather than saying they don’t like books with a female main character.
When you’re choosing books, then remember the story is the key.
Review: Heart of the Mountain
Author: Jeanette O’Hagan
Category: Young Adult
Publisher: By the Light Books
Publication date: 1 August 2016
Blurb: Twins Delvina and Retza’s greatest desire is to be accepted as prentices by their parents’ old crew when they stumble across a stranger.
Trapped under the mountain, young Zadeki’s only thought is to escape home to his kin.
Peril awaits all three youngsters. Will they pull apart or work together to save the underground realm?
Review: When I was growing up, I loved reading books like The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein and The Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis. I don’t know what happened, but somehow fantasy stories fell by the wayside to make way for more ‘realistic’ stories like crime and romance.
Recently, I’ve been reading more fantasy stories, like The Heart of the Mountain, and really enjoying them.
This book tells the story of three youngsters – twins Delvina and Retza, and stranger Zadeki. Delvina and Retza live under the mountain, and Zadeki is from another tribe who lives above the ground.
The Heart of the Mountain is a novella, or long short story, aimed at teens. It’s a great adventure, showing kids that they can make a difference. I also enjoyed that there was a great mix of male and female characters, including leaders of the various clans and tribes.
The world under the mountain is fascinating and believable, and there is plenty of adventure that will appeal to readers of all ages. It would be a great book for teens who are looking for a shorter book to read in between everything else they have on their plates.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Website: jeanetteohagan.com
Review: Escape from the Forbidden Planet
Author: Julie Anne Grasso
Category: Middle Grade
Publisher: Julie Anne Grasso
Publication date: 23 September 2012
Blurb: Caramel Cinnamon thought the worst day of her life was the day her grandparents the King and Queen of the Elves of Cardamom went missing.
She was wrong!
The day she spills sticky toffee syrup onto her father’s computer, that’s when her worst nightmare begins. She finds herself marooned on a forbidden planet sent there by an evil clone with a very sticky secret.
Caramel is desperate to escape. If she doesn’t she will lose her dreams of returning to Cardamom to become a healer like her Mum.
Luckily, she has a secret of her own and the lives of her family and friends depend on it!
Review: I often raid my kids bookshelves for something to read. Escape from the Forbidden Planet had been sitting on my son’s shelf for a while and I finally read it as part of the 2016 Reading Challenge. After reading it, I wished I hadn’t waited so long!
This is the story of a young elf called Caramel, who, at the start of the book, has an accident that introduces us both to her leg injury and her mother’s healing ability. Through the course of the book, she goes on a number of adventures, each introducing us to part of Caramel’s character and the planet, Cardamom, where she lives.
She is helped on her adventures by a number of friends and her family, helping get out of some very sticky situations.
This book should really come with a warning – don’t read it if you’re hungry! As well as a companion cookbook. The chocolate cake with caramel cardamom syrup sounds delicious!
I enjoyed this story, there was a lot to keep me guessing the whole way through. I also like the main character wasn’t perfect physically. There aren’t a lot of books with a main character with a long term injury who doesn’t let it get in the way of saving her planet.
This is a great story for kids to show them that they can achieve whatever they set their mind to, even if they have a wonky leg. A bit of determination and a good dose of friendship can help you get there.
Website: www.julieannegrassobooks.com
Facebook: Click Here
Review: Saying Goodbye to Barkley
Author: Devon Sillett
Illustrator: Nicky Johnston
Category: Picture Book
Publisher: EK Books
Publication date: 2019
Blurb: Olivia and her dog Barkley are inseparable.
He’s her sidekick, her partner in crime-fighting – they’re the perfect pair.
But then, one day, Barkley isn’t there anymore.
Can Olivia find a way to get her happiness back?
Review: My parents go me my first dog when I was about 2 years old. It was a dopey golden cocker spaniel nicknamed ‘Superdog’. We had him for most of my childhood until I turned 16. He was so old, he needed to be put down. It was a sad day.
Since then, my parents had a number of dogs, including, most recently, Norgie, a dog who looked a lot like Barkley. Norgie was a great dog, and very special. My older son learned to walk by standing up on him and holding on while Norgie took a few steps. A couple of years ago, he was put down as he had a number of health issues. My kids and nephews all took it hard, he was a very special dog. A book like Saying Goodbye to Barkley would have been a useful addition to our bookshelf back then.
Saying Goodbye to Barkley captures the love kids have for their dogs and how close their relationship is. It also handles the issue of grief in a sensitive way, as well as the fact that all dogs are different, and they are all special.
The story is also illustrated with care by Nicky Johnston, showing the fun Olivia has with Barkley as well as grief and joy.
As pets are often a child’s first experience with death and grief, this book handles this issue with sensitivity and care. It’s a book that children will love.
Website: Devon Sillett – www.devonsillett.com
Nicky Johnston – www.nickyjohnston.com.au
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, EK Books
Read before bedtime
When you become a parent, you are given piles of information, including information about bedtime routines. Usually this involves reading stories to your baby/toddler/child as a way to help kids wind down and help them to sleep.
As you grow up, reading before bed as part of a bedtime routine ceases. This happened to me and I know I’m not the only one.
As well as studies showing that reading to kids at bedtime helps them sleep, there are benefits for adults reading before bed. This is just one such article that outlines the benefits.
Last year, as part of my efforts to read more, I started reading before bed. I carefully choose the books that I read – books that require a lot of thinking as they don’t help me to sleep.
I started going to bed a bit earlier so I could read a chapter or two before turning out the lights. Almost right away, I found that I would get to sleep faster and generally have a better sleep.
This was a huge surprise to me. I used to sleep in front of a DVD as the noise would help to quieten my mind and help me sleep. Reading has a similar effect, but without the light and the noise, and the bookmark keeps the spot where I fall asleep much better than the DVD player ever did.
I read a variety of books, middle grade books are great, as well as romances and other books that have a great story. Books I’m reading for information rather than entertainment, don’t work quite so well.
As well as helping me sleep, I’m finally tackling the huge To Be Read pile that has long since out-grown my bedside table!
Starting to read before bed has been one of the best things I’ve started to lately that is just for me.
Do you read before bed? What sort of books do you read?
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