Tag: Unique
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.
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!”
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. 
SUMMARY
Across the Realm: Life Always Finds a Way is a story of the clash of two advanced civilizations. In the North, Humans live under a defined system of segregation and rely strongly on science, while in the South, the physically evolved humans live communally and are under the guidance of a deity they call “Mother.”
Separating these two and their land masses is a boiling sea and an impenetrable Southern Force Field. The two sides have been at war for longer than a century and now their planet is facing a catastrophe neither one can handle without the other.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF READ REVIEW
There are several literary genres in Across the Realm: Life Always Finds a Way. Let’s start with Science Fiction, the book’s main genre. The year is 2077 and once again, the North and the South are at war. However, this time the whole world is involved. For decades? Centuries? Millenia? Well, at least yesterday, these two enemies have been trying to invade each other’s hemisphere. One to conquer and stop the war, the other to take over and control them. Even to the point of making them…I can’t say it. This, you will have to find out for yourself. Now, pan over to Greg, the commander of the Northern Hemisphere, as he sits in a room watching a video. In it, Naledi jumps three floors into the air and makes a perfect landing on a corridor up above. Fascinated, Greg watches the video over and over again. Not because of what she has done, but because he finds her beautiful. Thus begins the Romance. Wait, how and where did he get these pictures and who or what is a Nedge? More importantly, what is the catastrophe they are about to face? Ahhh! That is the Mystery of Across the Realm: Life Always Finds a Way. Let us not forget those boiling waters . . . what is it about them or should I say, what is in them? A little Fantasy perhaps! Now for the Adventure—hmmm, I’ll leave that for you to discover.
What makes Across the Realm, Life Always Finds a Way a UNIQUE read is that all of the Genres mentioned above are seamlessly tied together to make an astounding, amazing, mind-boggling, surprising, wondrous story. What makes it ETHNIC is the people of Earth.
RECOMENDATION
Across the Realm: Life Always Finds a Way is recommended for Young Adults 16 plus and Adults
BUY IT HERE: Amazon
BIO – Isobel Mitton is a Canadian writer born to an African American mother and an African father. She spent most of her life living in other people’s countries. An avid storyteller, she insists that is how she wants to be remembered when she dies. She is a proud nerd and wants people to know that beauty goes with brains! Isobel didn’t choose to be a writer. Writing chose her. In her novels, she seeks to entertain, excite, grip your attention for hours on end and give you food for thought. She wants desperately to take you out of the mundane and into the stars of scifi/fantasy where anything and everything is possible. She is an avid writer of scifi/fantasy novels, comics and screenplays.
She hopes one day to the able to write music and to that end, she is teaching herself how to play an acoustic guitar.
She really hates talking about herself and her past achievements and so she will stop boring the world right now. Besides, there is nothing in her past that beats the present or the future.
Her one wish is that many people read her work. They don’t have to buy it. They just have to read it, because she is a story teller. It is her one true purpose in life.
To find out more about her work and to connect with her personally, check out http://www.acrosstherealm.com
She can also be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IsobelMitton
And instagram: IsobelMitton
And Facebook: Isobel Mitton
See you there if you want to part of her crazy self.
Illustrated by KALPART
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.