Tag: Bedtime Story
Illustrated by D. FRONGIA
SUMMARY
The Grumpface is a poetic fairy-tale that tells the story of Dan, an inventor who ventures into a forest looking for a rose. Instead he is finds the mysterious Grumpface who threatens to hold him captive unless he passes some difficult challenges. What follows is a humorous adventure that neither Dan nor the Grumpface could have anticipated.
It is a tale in the spirit of any grand adventure. It is about a clumsy young inventor’s quest for love, and the challenges he must face to find it. But it is also a tale of bravery, absurdity and happiness, and the power of these qualities over negativity and sheer grumpiness.Every parent will be acquainted with their own little ‘grumpface’ now and then. This story stands as a small piece of hope – that no matter how ingrained the grump, there will always remain in every one of us a smile or a laugh just waiting to come out.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
The Grumpface is a remarkably ilustrated romantic fantasy picture book for kids. It takes you on a—. Ewww, what do you mean ewww? What? You don’t like kissy stuff? Yes you do, remember, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog, not to mention Lilo and Stitch…. Okay, that last one was a little stretch, but as I was saying, The Grumpface takes you on a wild adventure. You see Dan falls in love with—. Hmmm… Well, he goes to the forest and that’s where he meets The Grumpface, he’s a grumpy old creature (actually, he reminds me of a troll) who lives in these woods. Let me tell you about the things he does. Oh, I can’t. As always, I won’t spoil your enjoyment of reading this hilarious (funny) book.
The UNIQUE thing about The Grumpface is that the evil wicked witch isn’t a witch.
RECOMMENDATION
The Grumpface is recommended for Children ages 1 – 9. It is a great First Time Reader as well as a Bedtime Story. But, let’s not forget those Middle Grade Readers age 9 who love to have fun.
BUY IT HERE: AMAZON BARNES AND NOBLE KOBO
BIO
BCR Fegan is a multi-award-winning author who has written a number of fairy tales and fantasies for children and young adults.
Raised on a small hobby farm only minutes from some of Australia’s greatest beaches, Fegan grew up inspired by the power of natures ambience. From the intensity of the frequent summer storms, to the overwhelming serenity of a lonely beach in the early hours of the morning. His ravenous appetite for both reading and writing soon saw him drawing on the transformational influence of the world around him to craft short stories, poems and picture books
As time wore on, Fegan also found inspiration in the magic and depth of authors and compositors like Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault. He was mesmerised by the potency of small but beautiful phrases that were carefully carved from the minds of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Frost. He grew to appreciate the worlds meticulously created by David Eddings, JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis.
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.
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!”
ILLUSTRATED BY PETER BELLINGHAM
SUMMARY
Many children today believe that fame and fortune are the only pathways to happiness. This book shows that even if every desire is achieved in life, happiness can still be elusive. Many adults who know this important life lesson struggle to easily articulate the concept with their children. Sumi’s story of transformation into a joyful, awakened butterfly will resonate deeply within young children who strain to find meaning and fulfillment in a profit-driven, egocentric world.
This is the story of a baby caterpillar named Sumi and her life’s journey to find everlasting happiness. The story unfolds in a gentle, loving way that reveals age-old wisdom about the search for happiness to modern kids.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
Have you ever wondered: Who Am I? Where Did I Come From? Why Can’t I Be Like…? Well that’s how Sumi felt when she was first born. She wanted to get to know the other caterpillars around her, but they seemed set in their ways. They didn’t like any of her suggestions, and when she tried to get them to go with her up the tree trunk for more food, they never would. But, Sumi soon realized that sometimes you have to do things on your own. One day, she started out on a solo adventure up that tree trunk. And what did she find. I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you that isn’t what made her enlightened. You have to read The Caterpillar that Became Enlightened to find out.
The UNIQUE thing about The Caterpillar that Became Enlightened is the plot. Who ever knew that a caterpillar could do that?
RECOMMENDATION
The Caterpillar that Became Enlightened is primarily for First Time Readers (1-8). But I think some Middle Grade Readers (9 – 12) dealing with self-esteem issues will find this book helpful.
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
BIO – DARRYL D. DIPTEE is an active duty US naval officer who has spent over twenty years collecting wisdom from various parts of the globe. He attributes much of his success to the valuable experiences gained while supporting those in need, such as helping Tibetan refugees integrate into society in India and teaching Iraqi children valuable life skills in Baghdad, Iraq. Messy, “unsolvable” problems are his favorite challenges, as he applies his worldly knowledge to convert complex concepts into easy-to-digest, inspirational lessons that people use to achieve fulfilling lives. Deeply spiritual at his core, Darryl’s aim in life is to enjoy every moment of the human experience while inspiring others to do the same.
SUMMARY
Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus is not an ordinary bus taking you on a journey. He is a Playbus. Find out what happens when he is invited to an island where the children have never seen a double-decker bus – and certainly not one full of toys!
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
Last time, when we visited Jay-Jay, he had just become a play bus (Click here to see that review). This time he is going on a different kind of adventure to an island across the channel. While, he is eager to get there, he’s a little frightened, but he trusts his driver to keep him safe. “Oh my, the water’s a little choppy!” he notices and again, he isn’t so sure. that he should get on the ferry. Hmm, he can’t turn back now, the only thing left to do is to quickly get on the ferry.
Oh, oh, he got on a little too quickly and hurt his bottom. What? How does bus hurt his bottom? What do you mean a bus doesn’t have a bottom? Patience, let me answer. It’s that part underneath. What does underneath mean? You know that part… Wait, I have to let mommy explain that to you as she reads Jay-Jay and His Island Adventure. Together, you’ll also find out if a bus can get seasick, and let me know what you think about those pirates.
Jay-Jay and His Island Adventure is a UNIQUE read because of the adventure he takes you on. And, it’s an ETHNIC read because of the diverse characters appearing throughout the book.
RECOMMENDATION
Jay-Jay and his Island Adventure is recommended for First Time Readers (1-8) and Middle Grade Readers to age 10.
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
BIO – Sue Wickstead is a Supply teacher working across Sussex and Surrey.
For over 20 years, alongside her teaching career, she worked with a Children’s Charity, a Playbus, which led her to write a photographic history book about its journey.
She soon found that many children had never been on a bus let alone a ‘Playbus’ and they wanted to know more, so she decided to write a fictional tale about a ‘Playbus’.
Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus came out in print in 2014. From fact to fiction the bus’ journey continues with more stories written and on their way. 
Illustrated by KALPART
SUMMARY
All Cats Go to Heaven is a touching children’s book that deals with difficult yet important topics, such as death, friendship, and accepting others for who they. The story is told through the eyes of Minka the cat, who has just become an angel and returns to earth to protect her friends.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF REVIEW READ
After many years, Minka the cat finds herself in Cat Heaven. She is kind of surprised because she thought that cats had nine lives. Is it because she’s lived a long life? Or, is it a myth? Who cares, she’s now in Cat Heaven and she is given one last earthly wish. What does she do? Hmmm, on the premise (that means pretending) that she wants to help her living friends, she makes a request to return to earth. To her surprise, her request is granted provided she follow the rules. Rules! They have rules in Heaven? There are always rules. They just want you to be safe. Especially if you are going on a great adventure like this. And, that what All Cats Go to Heaven is…a spectacular adventure. There are so many things I would like to tell you about the adventure, but I won’t spoil it for you. Just be ready to sing, dance, and laugh. Plus the pictures are awesome.
The UNIQUE thing about All Cats Go to Heaven is its ETHNIC diversity.
Who would have known that about cats?
RECOMMENDATION
All Cats Go to Heaven is recommended for First Time Readers (6 – 8) Certain Middle Grade Readers (9 – 12), specifically those that tend to shy away from reading and those who love animals, will also like this book. It will also make a great Bedtime Story for those younger than 6.
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
BIO – Valda V. Upenieks received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington and has worked in various nursing leadership and consulting roles throughout the country. “Minka was my first cat and she lived for 17 years,” she says. The author has two daughters, Laura and Lasma, who live i the greater Seattle area with their two dogs and two cats.
BEAUTY
C. D. NICHOLS
Illustrations by KALPART
SUMMARY
When Beauty, the liquid amber tree, pushes her head out of the warm earth, her mother is filled with pride when she sees her young sapling. As Beauty grows, she experiences the changing seasons, watches her leaves change colour, and loses her leaves to face the cold winter. When spring arrives and new leaves sprout on her now long branches, the birds nest and lay their eggs amongst her leaves.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
Babies are so precious, human babies, animals babies and now a liquid amber tree baby or sapling. Beauty is a fascinating bedtime story. It tells the story of a young amber tree from sapling to full growth with adventure and excitement. The world is full of wonder for this young tree, and we watch as she changes during each and every season. Just as she had become full grown, something happens in the forest. Something very, very terrible, and Beauty— Please read it and let me know what happens. The graphics are astounding. Beauty is a UNIQUE read because of its inanimate characters.
RECOMMENDATION
Beauty is recommended for First Time Readers (1-8).
BUY IT HERE: AMAZON
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
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.