Month: March 2018
BIO – C.D. Nichols is a retired high school teacher’s aide. She grew up in Guildford, New South Wales, Australia, and after marriage settled in South Penrith, New South Wales, located at the base of the Blue Mountains. This story was inspired by a drive one early autumn day to Mount Wilson, a small hamlet in the Blue Mountains. This is her fourth book.
THE AGE OF MYTHS & LEGENDS
BOOK ONE: MONSTERS
Written and Illustrated by T. D. HILL
SUMMARY
Drawn from the myths and legends of the first inhabitants of North America, the delightful tales, collected for this book series, not only offer insights into tribal character and beliefs, but they also celebrate the diverse tribal traditions of rich and powerful cultures that are still relevant today.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, this book holds an amazing collection of tales concerning the many evil creatures that once haunted the dreams and nightmares of the Indigenous tribes of North America. Told in an enchanting, yet unencumbered style, this collection seeks to shed light upon the richness, wisdom, grace, and depth of the North American tribal cultures and their timeless myths and legends.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
There’s nothing more thrilling than sitting with family and/or friends around a campfire, in front of a fireplace, on a couch or simply lying the floor with bent knees crossed and elbows supporting your wide-eyed face as you listen to an ancestral story of your family’s past. What makes the story even more intriguing is when you get to share someone else’s past. This time, I had the privilege of reading and learning about the myths and legends of the American Natives populating the United States of America.
The Age of Myths & Legends – Book One: Monsters presents stories about giants, ogres, wolves, mermaids, witches, sea creatures, and little people just to name a few. Did I say little people you ask? Yes, I did. Little people can be quite vicious, I have so many stories about them, but alas, I’m not talking about my history—I’m talking about The Age of Myths & Legends- Book One: Monsters. Of course there was that group of little people who weren’t vicious. In fact, they were quite interesting as they—oh, I can’t tell you about that one. I’m going to have to let you read it yourself, because I want to tell you about Skunny Wundy who encountered a Stone Giant in my favorite legend of the book.
Skunny Wundy was a master storyteller. You see, he liked to embellish his stories. However, instead of elaborating the story’s details, he liked putting himself in it. Yes, he was better known as a braggart. Now, for some reason, this only bothered the Hoya’nê (the most powerful man in the village.) You see one day, he questioned him. “Skunny Wundy! What would you do if you saw a Stone Giant?” Without hesitation, Skunny Wundy smiled and replied, “Why I would break every bone in the giant’s body! I would tear off his arms and legs!… The Stone Giants fear me. Just one mention of my name would cause them to flee in terror!”
I am so sorry, I can’t tell you the rest of this story other than the fact that it is very hilarious and it alone is worth the price of the book. Naturally, The Age of Myths and Legends – Book One: Monsters is an ETHNIC read because of its diverse characters.
RECOMMENDATION
The Age of Myths & Legends – Book One: Monsters is recommended for All Ages. Now, there are some stories that may be a little scary and/or mature for younger audiences, so parental discretion is advised. However, there are some great bedtime stories, so snuggle up and enjoy.
BUY IT HERE: AMAZON KINDLE EBOOK
BIO – Author/Illustrator: T.D.Hill (Wichita, Kiowa, Pawnee) is a Native American writer, artist, and motivational speaker. Much of his writing draws upon his experiences as an Indigenous American with ancestry from several tribes. He grew up in Southwestern Oklahoma and now lives in Austin, Texas.
He can be reached at: NATIVE TALES
THE LIFE OF NUZZELS
NUZZELS THE NOSEY SKUNK
FINIS T. JONES
Illustrations by KALPART
SUMMARY
This charming book follows a young skunk that loves adventure. Nuzzels goes against his mother’s wishes, as well as the advice of his siblings, when he leaves the safety of home to visit the forest. He meets several new animal friends.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
Nuzzels did something that he wasn’t supposed to do. We’ve all done that at least once in our short lives. You know when Mom or Dad tells you not to touch this, or do that, and definitely, absolutely, positively do not go outside. Come on Mom, we’d all do that if it led to a great adventure, and for Nuzzels the Nosey Skunk it did just that.
The Life of Nuzzels – Nuzzels the Nosey Skunk is a little animal mystery for kids. What makes it UNIQUE is the interesting twist that is given towards the end of the story. Let’s start with the mystery part first. As Nuzzels leaves his home he comes across a family of animals who were small and had bushy tails. As he got closer to them, they stood up on their rear legs, sniffed the air, and then ran off. Ran off, from this handsome little guy. Oooooh, ha ha ha, that’s right, he’s a skunk, a smelly skunk. That’s why they ran away, but what were those animals? How about this group, they had short tails, furry coats round ears and long noses. They seem a lot like the others but they’re completely different. Alas, they too could smell Nuzzels, so he left without trying to talk to them.
Now for that little twist—what? I can’t tell them about the twist? Whyyyyy? I really want to tell them about it. Okay, okaaaay. You’re right I don’t want to spoil this delightful book for them.
RECOMMENDATION
The Life of Nuzzels – Nuzzels the Nosey Skunk is for FIRST TIME READERS (1-8). It would also make a great bedtime story.
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
BIO – Finis T. Jones was born on a farm in Honey Grove, Texas in 1929. His childhood was difficult, to say the least. At a very early age he developed a wild imagination, partly to escape his many tribulations. He lived and worked on his parents’ farm until, at the age of twelve, he said goodbye and hitched a ride to Dallas, where after bending the truth about his age, he got a job with Sears & Roebuck. He had been there for a couple years when he decided to move to Houston. Here he met and married the love of his life. Many years after leaving the farm, he returned to Honey Grove to visit his parents for the first time. He took along his beautiful wife and two of their three children. Through the good times and the bad, he has never lost that incredible imagination, which shows in the stories he tells.
MYSTERY ANIMAL SOLUTIONS Squirrels, Bears
BUZZY AND THOMAS MOVE INTO THE PRESIDENT’S HOUSE
VICKI TASHMAN
Illustrated by FATIMA STAMATO
SUMMARY
It’s 1801 and life is good for Buzzy the dog. She lives with Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, but her life turns upside down when Thomas tells her that they’re moving to the President’s House. Buzzy doesn’t want to move. She’s afraid to leave the comfort of Monticello. What will she do? This enjoyable children’s book teaches kids about President Jefferson, the new breed of dog he brought home from France and confronting issues about moving. If your child loves books by Robert Dawson like “Ben and Me,” then he’ll love Buzzy! Historical fiction at its best: learning from the pets of famous people in history.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
Have you ever had a chance to talk to a dog? I mean really sit down, just you and the dog and have a conversation? Why are you laughing? Okay, maybe it is a little funny because you say dogs can’t talk. Yes, I do know that it is common knowledge that dogs don’t know what you are saying either—or do they? I know my dog understood every word I ever said to her, and showed her understanding and responses through head tilts, whimpers, and quiet barks.
So I wasn’t surprised at how Buzzy expressed her feelings when she heard about Thomas moving from Monticello to the President’s House and that he planned to take her with him. She wasn’t…, You see none of the other animals were… I expected her to—well she didn’t do that. Then, I expected her to—oh, that didn’t happen either. What? What did I expect would happen? What? What did she do? You’ll solve that mystery when you read Buzzy and Thomas Move Into The President’s House. What is it that makes Buzzy and Thomas Move into the President’s House a UNIQUE read? It’s what Buzzy did just before they left Monticello. You know, I could have never gotten my dog to do that. Do what? Are you kidding? You’ll find out when you read it.
RECOMMENDATION
Buzzy and Thomas Move Into The President’s House is recommended for First Time Readers between the ages of 4 – 8.
BUY IT HERE: AMAZON
BIO – Vicki Tashman has always loved historical fiction. Inspiration struck four years ago when her daughter graduated from college and moved back home with two cats in tow. She imagined the cats belonging to Cleopatra and, wow, the stories they could tell! After researching many people in history, she settled on writing her first children’s historical fiction book about Thomas Jefferson and his dog, Buzzy. Other books in the works are about Queen Victoria and her dog, Dash, the Wright Brothers and their dog. Vicki has a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Colorado. She is a breast cancer survivor and has been an advocate for ten years. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Children’s Book Writers of Los Angeles (CBW-LA), the Publisher’s Association of Los Angeles (PALA) and The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two golden retrievers, Ricky and Georgia.