Category: All Ages
Eventually, he began to forge his own complete works. Weaving his own magic, piecing together his own phrases and crafting his own worlds. Agonising over plots that would inspire, characters that would be loved and circumstances that would delight. In time, his efforts saw a number of children’s books and young adult fiction produced. Through the efforts of TaleBlade Press, these works are now being published with that same careful dedication.
SUMMARY
Kids on Trump: America’s Children on President Trump explores the question “Who is President Donald Trump?” through a collection of children’s views on Trump along with exercises parents and kids can do together to get involved and create change in their communities. It is a unique publication that is not only an insightful look at how kids really feel about President Trump, but also a humorous read for adults (kids or no kids). The mission of “Kids on Trump” is to empower kids everywhere by aiding them in learning how to have their voices heard. Kids can do anything! You are NEVER too young to make a difference! Whether it is writing a book (Gordon Korman’s 8th grade English Project), winning the Nobel Peace Prize (Malala Yousafzai) or influencing the President of the United States, Kids of all ages CAN make a difference!
So regardless of how you feel about Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton or anyone else who ran in the 2016 presidential race, fasten your seat belt and enjoy the roller coaster ride, as you discover if kids think Donald Trump is “Tremendous” or a “Total Disaster”!
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
In Kids on Trump, ten kids ranging in age from seven to sixteen were asked a series of questions regarding their impression of the newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump. What was discovered was that kids do say the darndest things, and their comments were funny, wise, and on point!
The UNIQUE thing about Kids on Trump was the exercise at the end of each chapter which gave children a step-by-step guide in how they could make their voices heard. The ETHNIC thing about Kids on Trump was the diversity of the children who participated. Their drawings that were included in the book were downright darling.
RECOMMENDATION
Kids on Trump is recommended for readers between the ages of 5 – 16. But I think it will be an interesting read for all ages.
BUY IT HERE: at Amazon or at Kids on Trump Website
BIO
Marie Korman has an undergraduate degree in Humanities/Film and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence (J.D.). In her early years she worked as a journalist writing entertainment articles for local newspapers. She is a mother of two and devoted sister to four younger brothers.
Freida Raj holds a degree in Computer Science. She is a wife and mother and very active in her community.
SUMMARY
Little Bear struggles to understand what it means when he is told he would no longer be able to see his Papa. He questions those around him as he tries to bring meaning to why his Papa is gone. Through his memories and dreams, Little Bear goes on a journey to realize his Papa will always be with him.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
A little bear wants to see his father, but he doesn’t know where he is. His mother gently reminds him, that they can’t visit papa any longer because he’s in a place where none of them can be. This beautiful rhyming/illustrated story brought tears to my eyes. And answered all the questions In a good and gentle way. It is the most remarkable presentation of loss that I have every seen.
The telling of the little bear’s story makes I Want to See My Papa a UNIQUE read. The subject makes it a SPECIAL NEEDS for any person going through this life altering experience.
RECOMMENDATION
I Want to See My Papa is recommended by the author for children. I disagree, I Want to See My Papa is recommended for All Ages.
BUY IT HERE: I Want to See My Papa Website Amazon
BIO – At a young age Angela relocated to Windsor, Nova Scotia from her birth place in Brampton, Ontario. Currently she lives in Halifax with her husband and three daughters – Mackenzie, Alexis, and Skylar, and two adorable but mischievous Yorkshire Terriers.
A graduate from Dalhousie University, former Fashion Designer, and Executive Director of Atlantic Fashion Week, Angela was the 2016 Winner of the Women of Spirit Award, and was listed in Canadian Living Magazine as a Top 40 Change Maker. “I wrote this story as a way to self-heal after losing my father at a young age. I hope it will help children going through similar devastating loses,”
ILLUSTRATED BY TJAART & DANIEL LEHMACHER
SUMMARY
A Moonling longing for the earth, and a ten-year-old Earthling, named Karl, wanting nothing more than to explore the moon and the stars… By a happy chance these two kindred beings find each other, as well as a sense of awe for life around them. But the more The Moonling sees of this green and blue planet the more homesick he gets. To him it is clear that the earth is far more beautiful from far away… As their friendship grows, so do the questions. And as Karl figures out a plan to get The Moonling back to the moon, one has to wonder: Is it possible for a little creature of stone, to awaken in hearts of flesh, a love for this place we call home.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
The Moonling is a story about a creature who lives on Earth’s Moon. In this science-fiction, fantasy adventure, a moon creature made of stone hitches a ride to Earth with the first astronauts who have collected moon rocks. Get it, the stone creature hitches a ride with a bunch of rocks. No? Oh well it seemed funny at the time. You see, Mond as he later becomes known is the only living creature on the Moon. For years he has looked upon and wanted to visit the blue and green planet below him. What? Oh, you’re excited about life on the Moon. Yes, there is life on the Moon, and he wanted to come and see all of the Earth’s beauty and grandeur up close. It makes you proud, doesn’t it? Now the most astonishing thing about The Mooling is…. Oh, here I go again. About to spoil everything. I won’t do that—it’s just too good to miss.
The UNIQUE thing about The Mooling is the plot and the main character’s point of view and the design of their illustrations. Hey, with Mond, there’s even a little ETHNIC flare. Ha ha.
RECOMMENDATION
The Moonling is recommended for First Time Readers (1 – 8) with Parental Assistance and Middle Grade Readers to age 10
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
BIO – To be quite honest, ‘The Moonling’ was a family effort in every sense of the word – to begin with; the story was our late grandmother’s idea, in addition to stumbling upon the story ‘The man from the moon’, the daughter furthermore shared it with her own child and grandchild who saw this simple but compelling story as an opportunity to save this place we call home. ‘The Moonling’ is the grandson and great-grandson’s rendering of a never forgotten Oma Mutti’s idea – A children’s picture storybook almost four generations in the making. themoonlingbook.com
Illustrated by PAVEL GOLDAEV
SUMMARY
Bedtime is here, it’s time for a game. Yousuf and his mom decide Adventures are waiting to be explored, as reality and dreamland collide.
Come join them on this journey to a land where dreams come true. From musical birds to a wacky pirate take our hand and join the crew.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
It’s bedtime for Yousuf, but he’s not feeling very sleepy yet. So, Mommy comes up with a new game for them to play. It is called Imagination Time Travel. Doesn’t that sound exciting? Imagine all the places we could go, and the things we could do. What? Oh, I didn’t tell you how to play this marvelous game. Of course not! You’re going to discover the most wonderful things when you read Yousuf’s Everyday Adventures – Dreamland with Mommy. Hmmm, maybe I can tell you a little bit about Yousuf’s travels. I mean after all they are really dynamic. First, there’s—no, I’ve got stop this right here. If I don’t, I’ll spoil all your fun in reading Yousuf’s Everyday Adventures – Dreamland with Mommy with your parent(s).
I can tell you that the UNIQUE thing about Yousuf’s Everyday Adventures – Dreamland with Mommy is the Imagination Time Travel Game and the ETHNIC thing about this book is it’s main character–Yousuf.
RECOMMENDATION
Yousuf’s Everyday Adventures – Dreamland with Mommy is recommended for First Time Readers (1 – 8) and Middle Grade Readers to age 10. It is also recommend for any child that likes to play games of using their imagination.
BUY IT HERE: Paperback on Amazon E-book on Amazon
BIO – Dana Salim loves singing silly songs, standing in the breeze and eating chocolate cake. But most of all she loves spending time with her son, Yousuf, and her husband. From kayaking and hiking to caves and waterfalls, to reading new books and learning new things; everyday holds an exciting adventure for the family! And now she has made her dream of being an author a reality by publishing her children’s book series “Yousuf’s Everyday Adventures” which includes two titles “Dreamland with Mommy” and “Beautifully Different. Dana’s childhood adventures were split between Amman, Jordan and Vancouver, Canada. She finished Industrial Engineering at the University of Jordan before moving to Ohio, which was home for four awesome years. And now she resides in McAllen, Texas where she is always on the lookout for new adventures with her family.
Dana founded DS Publishing, LLC with her husband in August, 2016. Their mission is to provide products that instill and encourage diversity, acceptance and confidence in one’s self and dreams.
And if there’s one thing she would want to tell you right now it would be “Believe in yourself and go after your dreams, it’s never too early or too late. Right now is the best time to do it!”
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
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.
BEDTIME FOR BUZZY
T. J. HACKWORTH
Illustrated by SEAN BAPTIST
SUMMARY
A young boy is playing with his toys and doesn’t want to go to bed at bedtime. One by one his toys come to life in his imagination and convince him that going to sleep is the best way to continue his adventures.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
There’s no doubt about it. Bedtime for Buzzy is a bedtime story. No more and no less. It starts off very, very good, but towards the middle end of the story, an unexpected twist turns everything upside down. Even with this twist, the book is a good read. However, I caution parents to read the story themselves before reading it to their children so that they can make the proper adjustments. The UNIQUE thing about Bedtime for Buzzy is it’s storyline. It’s storyline? Yes, you’ll see.
RECOMMENDATION
Bedtime for Buzzy is recommended for First Time Readers (0 – 8).
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
AUTHOR BIO:
T. J. Hackworth is a writer of short stories and children’s fiction. His work has appeared recently in the Wisconsin Review. He lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife and daughter. And he never has trouble going to bed.
ILLUSTRATOR BIO:
Sean Baptist is a freelance illustrator with numerous publications featuring his art, design, and illustration over the last decade. He studied illustration at Northern Michigan University. He lives in Brooklyn, New York. And he sometimes has trouble going to bed when he should.
DEAR SUN
DEAR MOON
DEBORAH PAGGI
Illustrated by GAYLE COLE
SUMMARY
What do love letters between the sun and moon sound like? Dear Sun, Dear Moon expresses the beauty of the sun and the moon in nature through expressive letters describing the wonder all around us all.
The sun and moon share what they love most about each other in this endearing book that encourages children to enjoy the beauty of nature that is often overlooked. As the sun and moon share what they love most about each other, they find a way to blend their beauty through the magic of an eclipse.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
Dear Sun, Dear Moon is an unusual story where the Sun and the Moon as they compliment each other in passing. That means as one is setting and the other is rising. For example the Moon tells the sun, “You are bright and shiny.” Not wanting the moon to feel bad, the Sun tells the Moon, “You are also bright and shiny—“ Oh, I have to stop talking. Otherwise I’ll give—. I know, I know, but then I’d feel bad for spoiling a wonderful story for you. By the way, the UNIQUE thing about Dear Sun, Dear Moon is that it’s edu—. Oh, there I go again. You’ll find out when you read it.
RECOMMENDATION
Dear Sun, Dear Moon is recommended for First Time Readers (0 – 8).
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
AUTHOR BIO
Deborah Paggi is a writer who spent several years working in the children’s publishing field. After working with libraries, parents, and children’s book authors, she was inspired to set out on her own author’s journey. Her passion for storytelling focuses on a deep curiosity about the wonder and beauty of the world around her. Dear Sun, Dear Moon is her first picture book, which captures the power and brilliance of the magical things occurring in the sky above. She has been an avid reader her whole life and is thrilled to be writing books for children. Deborah has a Master of Arts in English and is an active member of the California Writers Club (Redwood Writers) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. After raising three active and energetic sons, she now lives a quieter life with her husband, chocolate lab, and ragdoll cat in northern California.
ILLUSTRATOR BIO
Gayle Cole currently resides in the small town of Sebastopol, California, on a blueberry farm where she has lived for the past 33 years raising four children with her husband, Jim. She graduated from the Art Department at San Francisco State University in 1978 with a BA degree in printmaking. Gayle considers herself an illustrator and designer, inspired first and foremost by the art in classic children’s books from such illustrators who simply went by Lucille W., H.C. Holling, Walt Disney Studio, and M. Sasek. Gayle has illustrated for Horticultural Publishing, worked in a local silk screening studio, and taken her artist’s eye in to landscaping and home designing. Portraiture of people and pets is Gayle’s muse of the moment and this is her first children’s book.
Author Bio: With work for children and adults, M. Earl Smith is a writer who seeks to stretch the boundaries of genre and style. A native of southeast Tennessee, Smith moved to Ohio at nineteen and, with success, reinvented himself as a writer. After graduating from Chatfield College in 2015, Smith enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to study creative writing and history. He is the proud father of two wonderful children and, when he’s not studying, splits his time between Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Chattanooga, with road trips to New York City, Wichita, Kansas, and Northampton, Massachusetts.