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. Malcolm Finney Medical Detective – The Case of… Itch and Rash by Erika Kimble illustrated by Laurel Winters Bandages & Boo-Boos Press 4 Stars Back Cover:  Malcolm Finney, Medical Detective Series: The Case of Itch and Rash, is an adventurous story that explores the skin disease called eczema.  It is a book that teaches …

. The Adventures of Max, Book 1: Little Dude by Michelle Hennessy illustrations by Luke Harland 3 Stars . . From Press Release:  Max always dreamed of surfing.  Every day he’d go down to the beach and watch all of the other surfers riding the waves and having tons of fun.  The sun was going …

I Couldn’t Love You More by Jason Ingram & Matt Hammitt illustrated by Polona Lovsin 4 stars ……….. Back Cover:  I couldn’t love you more is the message of a parent to a child. While it depicts the immense love a parent has or a child, it highlights on an even deeper level the unconditional [...]

Kid Lit Reviews would like to welcome Katherine L. Holmes, author of The House in Windward Leaves, which will be reviewed here tomorrow and can be read HERE! The House in Windward Leaves is a middle grade novel full of, according to the back cover, “madcap fantasy.”  Is this your first book?   Please give us a short synopsis of …

. The House in Windward Leaves by Katherine L. Holmes Couchgrass Books 6 Stars Interview with Ms. Holmes is HERE! From Back Cover:  Halloween night, the wayward Sadie leads her friends past cardboard cut-outs of the painter Mistral and a lady at the leaf-covered house on Windward Road. A wall mural transports them to a …

4 Stars We're All Different But We're All Kitty Cats Peter Goodman Nicholas Milano No. Pages: 4 Ages: 4+ ................... Inside Jacket: “My name is Carlos and I have no fur.” A kitty with no fur? How strange, thought the other cat, laughing and giggling at Carlos. Hurt and embarrassed in front of the class, [...]

4 Stars My "What if?" Book Tonya and Chad Walker Troy Palmer-Hughes CreateSpace No. Pages: 32 Ages: 4+ ......................... .......................... From the Forward:  Child safety experts and non-profit groups dedicated to the prevention of child abduction encourage parents to take a proactive approach in protecting their children against the threat of abduction. One of the [...]

4 Stars Seymour's Christmas Wish Jane Matyger Javier Duarte Mirror Publishing 28 Pages    Ages: 3 + ..................... ...................... Back Cover: Seymour, a tiny, tiny mouse, lives at the North Pole. Each Christmas Eve, he shines Rudolph’s red nose before Santa’s big trip. This year Seymour has a special wish . . . a wish that [...]

4 Stars Animal Andy Kathy Sattem Rygg 144 Pages    Ages: 8 to 12 .................... .................. Back Cover:  Ten-year-old Andy Ohman is spending his summer working at the Aksarben City Zoo where his dad is the curator. There are rumors the city might close the zoo due to budget cuts. An anonymous donor has given the [...]

4 Star The Templar Chronicles, Book 1: Jack Templar Monster Hunter Jeff Gunhus 184 Pages    Ages 8 to 12 …………………….. Back Cover: If you have this book in your hands, I assume you are already a monster hunter or in training to become one. I hope my story helps you in the many fights ahead. However, [...]

CHRISTMAS BOOKS FOR 2012 Today we have a sampling of seven Christmas Books. The first five are new to Kid Lit Reviews. Next to each small cover is the beginning of the review. Click on the link “HERE” and you will see the full review. At the bottom of each review will be a link [...]

4 Stars Pobble’s Way Simon Van Booy Wendy Edelson 32 Pages   Ages: 4 to 8 Inside Jacket: Pobble’s evening walk with Daddy is a magical adventure in which branches wear sleeves of snow and mushrooms become frog umbrellas. When Pobble’s mitten—small and pink and as soft as a bunny’s chin—is lost on the path, woodland animals gather to discuss [...]

3 Stars Autobiography of a Duck John Arnold 36 Pages    Ages:  7 and  up …………. Autobiography of a Duck is just that, the life of one Pekin Duck, not a chick, as told by the duck. Duck hatched and then lived with his siblings and his mother on a farm. Then one day, some humans [...]

4.5 Stars
My Daddy Loves Me, How Do I Know?
James Zachary
978-0-615-64620-6
No. Pages:  32      Ages:  2 to 5
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Summary: A sweet little girl recalls how her father shows his love for her as they adventure through the beautiful and historic landscapes of the San Francisco Bay Area.

A little girl knows her daddy loves her and wants to tell you how she knows this is true.  Told in rhyming verse, My Daddy Loves Me, How Do I Know? is devoted to the love a father has for his daughter.  This picture book is unusual simply because fathers are rarely represented in children’s books.

So, how does this little girl know her daddy loves her?  He shows his love in the things he does for and with his daughter each day.  Simple things like brushing her hair, playing dress-up with her dolls, making a fort in the middle of the room on rainy days, and bringing her tea when she is in bed, ill.

My Daddy Loves Me, How Do I Know? will make a great gift on father’s day.  For whatever reason, the male species has difficulty expressing themselves, especially when the subject is love.  Daddy Loves Me, How Do I Know? can help any father who possesses the non-express-yourself gene.  A new dad would love this book.  It can guide him in the things a daughter likes to do with her daddy.

The illustrations are  different, which is apropos since this is a very different picture book.  Photographs were taken using the author’s twin daughters as stand-ins.  Then the illustrations of dad and his daughter were magically switched for the real person.

I like the illustrations and the use of two mediums.  I would have also liked the entire book illustrated, simply because I like the author’s illustrative work.  He disagrees, and you can read why in a short Q&A with the author, James Zachary HERE.  Either way, the illustrations are wonderful.

The text does not have a consistent sing-song pattern.  The lack of this makes a few lines awkward to read aloud.  They do not roll off the tongue, as I prefer picture books to do. That aside, the text is down-to-earth and just what a father would do with a daughter.

Instead of playing catch with a ball, they play dress-up with her dolls.  Dad comforts her when she hurts and kisses the boo-boos away.  This little girl understands that love is more than a four letter word.  Love is also, and most often, said in the things we do for and with each other.

My Daddy Loves Me, How Do I Know? Is James Zachary’s first foray into children’s books. This is an intriguing first start.  I like that he thinks outside of the box. Writing for dads and daughters is a good choice and a needed area in children’s books.  Maybe the next book will be a dad and son picture book to compliment his dad and daughter debut.

If you would like to know more about Mr. Zachary or more about his illustrative process for My Daddy Loves Me, How Do I Know?, check out the interview HERE or his blog at WritingMyFirst.com

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My Daddy Loves Me, How Do I Know?

Author: James Zachary   website
Release Date:
ISBN: 978-0-615-64620-6
Number of Pages: 32
Ages: 2 to 5
Formats: Kindle, iBook

Daddy Loves Me,  How Do I Know? is available as an eBook or an iBook

Here are the links:
Ibooks : http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-daddy-loves-me-how-do-i-know/id532931876?mt=11
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008A7W8HI

(supplied by  James Zachary, KLR does not benefit from any sales through these links.)

Blog Tour Stop for My Name is Jake by Jennifer Turner

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2 stars
My Name Is Jake
Jennifer Turner
No. Pgs: 17   Ages: 2+
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Author Website:  ‘My Name is Jake‘ is a colorfully illustrated, rhyming book for kids centered around a boy named Jake. Each page leads the reader through an activity that rhymes with Jake. Rhyming books for kids are perfect for young children, or early readers just beginning to put letters into words and rhyming them together.

My Name is Jake is an easy reader for toddlers.  A pre-story page states A Book About Jake and that is exactly what this is.  The reader will learn all sorts of things about Jake that he likes or dislikes.  One word in each sentence rhymes with Jake.

My Name is Jake.

I live on Drake Street.

The sun is shining in the morning when I wake.

I like to eat pancakes for breakfast.

The above is the opening sentences of My Name is Jake. There are twelve sentences, one per page, each with a word that rhymes with Jake. The rhyming word is in bold print to make it stand out. It would have made more sense to have the rhyming word consistently in the same place, preferable at the end of each sentence. Highlighting these words may look great and might give the book a little character, but it should not be necessary.

I enjoy reviewing books and lean toward the positive, still, the negatives need to be mentioned.  Potential readers deserve a fair and balanced review of a book before they decide to purchase or read.

There is no story in these pages. It looks like rhyming software kicked out every word that rhymes with Jake, and then sentences were written around those words. First Jake tells us where he lives, he gets up, and he eats his breakfast. This is linear and makes sense. Jake begins in the fall, moves to winter, then summer. It seems the author had a plan, but the sentences are all over the place.   Simply a hodgepodge of non-related sentences.

Reading this aloud is difficult.  Children’s books that have a working rhythm and meter flow naturally. The best rhyming books for young kids are almost musical when read aloud. At this level, I start to expect a very short story that kids can understand and most often remember.  Sentences are put together in a way that sticks, similar to the way a song sticks in your brain.

Do you like green eggs and ham?

I do not like them, Sam-I-am.

I do not like green eggs and ham.¹

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You won’t see any tinsel, not even one light.

It only has photos—they’re all black and white.

That’s Edgar the Elder with my Father Frank.

Next to Grandmother Gail and my Husband Hank.²

 Children’s rhyming books are difficult to write. The easier it looks, the harder it most likely was to write. My Name is Jake is amateurish, does not rhyme or flow, and has no story.  Each sentence may have a word that rhymes with Jake, yet some are plural and others not, throwing off the connection.

Rhyming picture books have a musical meter to them. A rhythm that rolls off the tongue when read aloud. One sentence leads to the next and a story unfolds, albeit a short one. My Name is Jake has none of those things.

I like to shake, shake, shake a tambourine.

When we go to the zoo, I don’t like to visit the snakes.

If you drop something it can break.

We bake cupcakes for my birthday.

The End.

 Those are the last five sentences in the book. No rhyme. No reason. No story.

My Name is Jake, A Book About Jake has great illustrations.  They are the bright spot of the book.  Each illustration is bright, happy, and fun. Most are rendered in primary colors, which toddlers can identify. The colors run edge to edge. Kids will enjoy looking at these and might like naming objects found on each page.  A game can be made of finding the object that rhymes with Jake.

If you buy picture books for the illustrations, do not hesitate to get this one. If you want rhyming picture books to rhyme, contain a story your child will love, and written with professional editing and guidance, this is not the book to buy. My Name is Jake would be a wonderful story from a sixth grader, not an adult trying her hand as an author.

1 Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

2 A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel

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My Name is Jake

Author: Jennifer Turner   website
Illustrator: Susan Bell   website
SP Publisher: Peaks Press   website
ISBN: 978-1-938032-06-6
Number of Pages: 17
Ages: 2+

5 Stars

Mark Simon Smith

Sir Nathan and the Quest for Queen Gobbledeegook: A Somewhat Silly Story

Queen Gobbledeegook has gone missing and it is up to Sir Nathan, the Hero of Mariskatania, to find her. Along the way he meets all sorts of odd folks, including pixies and wizards and a hulking creature named Mazy that likes to knit. The land of Mariskatania is a colorful one, filled with bright Jubb Jubb Trees and fuzzy, blue Hobnobber Squirrels who spend all their time looking for a snack guaranteed to poison them.

The sub-heading, A Somewhat Silly Story, is by no means false advertising  Mark Simon Smith has crafted a clever tale that produces laughter, groans, and everything in between.  Silly it is. The creatures he has invented include Tinker Toads, MechaMonkeys, Licorice Lambs, and Hobnobber Squirrels, to name a few. Each has interesting and sometimes hilarious traits.

Silly does not stop with the weird, strange, and often nice creatures he comes into contact with while on his quest to find the missing queen. Sir Nathan takes off riding his trusty steed Tupolev, a talking horse.

“You want me to climb a tree?” asked Tupolev in a shocked voice.

“Why would you think I am any good at . . . oh, right.

I forgot I’m a squirrel now. Sorry.”

I enjoy silly movies with slapstick in them . I equally enjoy clever, creative, and silly books like Sir Nathan and the Quest for Queen Gobbledeegook: A Somewhat Silly Story.  I think this is a good book for reluctant readers.  The story is easy to follow, fun to read, and will brighten the spirits of anyone who reads it.

There are illustrations scattered throughout the book. These black and white line drawings are a great compliment to the story. If you have never seen a MechaMonkey, Pixie Sisters, or a giant Warlock’s Assistant, Derek Gebler’s art will help you imagine the unimaginable. His illustrations are clean, clear representations of the author’s unique brain.

Unfortunately, there are not enough of these wonderful illustrations in the book. I would have liked to see one at the beginning of each chapter, if only to help me visualize what is going on his the author’s brain when creating his characters.

Sir Nathan is one of those books that sparks the imagination. Many books are clever, others are creative, and some are fun. Sir Nathan and the Quest for Queen Gobbledeegook is all three.

For those that like to read chapter books, one chapter at a time, as the nightly bedtime story, this book will have your kids mesmerized, wanting to know more. Their dreams will be pleasant, not nightmarish, since even the evil creatures have a good side. Girls will like this book as equally as boys will.   When your child has devoured the book, and willing to part with it, sit down and read one of the better new children’s authors debuting in 2012.

Book 2: Sir Nathan and the Troublesome Task: Another Somewhat Silly Story is now available in paperback!

Sir Nathan and the Quest for Queen Gobbledeegook: A Somewhat Silly Story

Author/Illustrator: Mark Simon Smith  website   FB  blog
Illustrator: Derek K. Gebler   website
Publisher Platform: CreateSpace
Release Date: March 9, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4700-5906-4
Number of Pages:  223
Ages:  8 to 12
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Designing Belleville:

source

source

And that’s it! I hope you enjoyed this visual tour of the Cavendish aesthetic. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book!

At the Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls, you will definitely learn your lesson. A dark, timeless, and heartfelt novel for fans of Coraline and The Mysterious Benedict Society.Victoria hates nonsense. There is no need for it when your life is perfect. The only smudge on her pristine life is her best friend Lawrence. He is a disaster—lazy and dreamy, shirt always untucked, obsessed with his silly piano. Victoria often wonders why she ever bothered being his friend. (Lawrence does too.)

But then Lawrence goes missing. And he’s not the only one. Victoria soon discovers that The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is not what it appears to be. Kids go in but come out…different. Or they don’t’ come out at all.

If anyone can sort this out, it’s Victoria—even if it means getting a little messy.

Claire Legrand is a Texan living in New York City. She used to be a musician until she realized she couldn’t stop thinking about the stories in her head. Now a full-time writer, Claire can often be found typing with purpose on her keyboard or spontaneously embarking upon adventures to lands unknown. The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls is her first novel, due out August 28 from Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. Her second novel, The Year of Shadows, a ghost story for middle grade readers, comes out August 2013. Her third novel, Winterspell, a young adult re-telling of The Nutcracker, comes out Fall 2014.

Make sure to check out the rest of the Cavendish Blog Tour here!

And go say hi to Claire at her: blog | twitter | facebook | tumblr | goodreads

 3.5 Stars
Chase Danger, Super Spy: The Mystery of the Special Sauce
Chase & Lisa Olivera
Magic Fire
978-0-9836574-0-8
No. Pages: 32   Ages: 2 to 7
 

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From Back Cover: Chase Danger is the world’s youngest super spy, ready to fight villains wherever they appear! In his first adventure he battles a giant octopus and terrifying scorpion, builds a super flying car, and takes a quick trip to space. All before dinner!

Book

Chase Danger is a six-year-old super spy who really began his crime-fighting career at age two, when he rescued a friend’s pet canary from the villain Mr. Crocs, who vowed revenge. The story opens with Chase climbing a mountain, where he defeats a gang of thugs run by Igor Fimple. Fimple jumps off the mountain after giving Chase a cryptic message.

Often, we must suspend our beliefs to read and enjoy fiction and fantasy. Occasionally, the story expects us to suspend more than we are willing or can and still enjoy the story. Chase Danger is one of those occasions.  Chase, at six, has the ability to build super machines overnight, single-handedly defeat a gang of six large muscled men, pilot flying saucers, destroy odd objects, save himself and others, and lie to his parents without guilt.

This is not because Chase has all these abilities: to build things super quickly; fancy super spy equipment hidden where he needs it, when he needs it, “just in case”; or that he has clueless parents. The problem is the story lacks balance. If I counted correctly, Chase accomplishes 23 major actions within the 26 pages of actual story. Leaving out the two pages of his conquests at age two, and there is nearly one major action scene per page of story. There is no balance or any time to take a breather. Chase Danger is scene after scene of action—action, action, action . . .

Both villains get away. Shouldn’t super spies defeat the villains too? Are these two villains, Igor Fimple and Mr. Crocs, working together?  There needs to be less action and more story.

The illustrations draw out the hyper-spy story perfectly. The colors are bright and fill the page. Kids will love these. There is a feel of an action movie to the illustrations. Chase is a story with nothing but action and the illustrator did a great job capturing all of it. The illustrations will sell this book.

Chase is a one-boy wrecking crew. He is a super-spy for the younger set, defeating adult villains, yet the villains always escape. Perhaps to cause serial crimes? Young boys seven and under are the obvious audience who will like this book, and its hero, Chase Danger. They are young enough to see themselves as Chase, the super-spy. Older boys, older than age eight, may be reluctant to suspend their belief and accept a six-year-old as a super spy, even one like Chase, with all his super abilities.

Read-Along CD

Chase Danger also comes with a “Read-Along CD.” Chase Danger on CD is the exact story, word for word, as the book version. Listening to the story was leaps and bounds ahead of reading it. The special effects heard on the CD are superb. Fighting, bombs exploding, and lasers shots, are some of the effects kids will love.

The background music is loud, so keep the volume at a lower setting. The many performers did a good job. The best, with superb inflections, variations in tone, and well characterized is the villain Igor Fimple. He also has the longest speech when he tells everyone what he is trying to do. In Chase Danger, in any story, it is better to SHOW the reader, rather than simply TELLING us.  That is basic creative writing 101

If your child likes action and lots of it, I suggest he listen to the CD and follow along. The interactive CD brings the story to life, and though it sounds like a cartoon (a wonderful sounding cartoon), the large amount of action is not as distracting and any holes in the story go unnoticed.

Boys, and some girls, will love the well-done, studio quality Read-Along CD.  Don’t simply listen to the CD. Read the book too, else you will miss the wonderful illustrations in Chase Danger, Super Spy: The Mystery of the Special Sauce.

Chase Danger, Super Spy: Mystery of the Special Sauce

Authors: Chase & Lisa Olivera   website  coloring book
Illustrator: Adam Goodman   website
Publisher: Magic Fire Music  Facebook   soundtrack
ISBN: 978-0-9836574-0-8
Release Date: 2011
Number of Pages: 32
Ages: 2 to 7
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I fell asleep earlier and dreamt about my first book signing for THE MONSTORE. It was so glitzy and glamorous, I wanted to reenact it for you. Unfortunately, my makeup smeared onto my pillow and my hair got all matted, plus I lost my Jane Jetson mask, so these cartoon characters offered to be my cast.

But I don’t think they got it quite right. Especially that dude with the camera.

Today, Kid Lit Reviews is thrilled to have award-winning author V.S. Grenier here to discuss her book Babysitting SugarPaw.  This book won the pretigious Mom’s Choice Silver Honoree for Excellence, and the 2011 League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award

V.S. Grenier 

Babysitting SugarPaw

website: vsgrenier.com

1.  Is Babysitting SugarPaw your first book, or first children’s book?

Babysitting SugarPaw is my first children’s book and my first book as a standalone author. I have a few short stories, articles and crafts published in anthologies such as The Best of Stories for Children Magazine Volume 1, but there is something very different and exciting about having your name on the cover of a book. I would say writing and seeing this book published is the next best thing to bring my own children into this world and finding the man of my dreams.

However, this won’t be the last book by me or about SugarPaw. I have a couple of manuscripts I’m currently working on and fine tuning for publication, which SugarPaw will create mischief in along the way.

2. Tell us a little about your book, Babysitting SugarPaw.

Well I won’t quote what the book blurb says already about the book as readers can go to Amazon or read your review to learn that. So I will share a few facts readers wouldn’t know unless they decided to shrink in size and climb into my head.

Babysitting SugarPaw actually started as a writing assignment back in 2005 when I was taking an online writing course through the Institute of Children’s Literature. The illustrator for the short story is also the same illustrator for the book, Kevin Scott Collier. He really liked the story and we started talking about how it could be trimmed down and turned into a picture book. It took a couple of years for that to happen. Almost three years from revision to publication to be truthful, but a great learning experience nonetheless.

The idea of the assignment turned short story to picture book came from a picture of little bears making a mess of a bathroom. From there I started thinking about the crazy things I used to do when I was left with babysitters. I also love watching the Max and Ruby cartoon on Nick Jr. with my kids and from there we discovered the wonderful books the cartoon is based on by author/illustrator Rosemary Wells. I took all that inspiration and crated the picture book. SugarPaw is little like me (from when I was kid) and Rosemary’s Max character. Bonnie Whiskers (the babysitter) is mirrored from Max’s big sister Ruby and my younger sister Alexandra.

The storyline is a combination from things I did as a kid and my kids. However, the lesson I hope children take away is honesty and learning to make new friends. This wasn’t planned but seems to shine as the words appeared on the page as I wrote.

3.  What made writing a story about babysitting so compelling? (interesting, needed)

I really didn’t set out to write a story about babysitting exactly. The idea hit me after watching an episode of Max and Ruby with my kids. When watching the cartoon I realized their parents are never around and Ruby is always watching her brother Max. It made me wonder a bit about the relationship between Max and his sister Ruby. I didn’t want to write a story with the same type of characters so I decided SugarPaw would need someone other than a sister or brother to cause trouble for. This was when the idea of a babysitter hit me. Believe it or not, but I had a babysitter only a few years older than me growing up and she was later a bridesmaid in my wedding. We are still close friends today.

4. SugarPaw is a little stinker. He says, “I don’t want a babysitter!” Other than thinking he is too old, is there any other reason SugarPaw dislikes a babysitter that makes him act so mean?

This part of SugarPaw’s personality is exactly what I was like as a kid. I was around 10 or 11 when Sheri (age sixteen) became my babysitter. I was stocked (sic) my mom felt I wasn’t old enough to stay home by myself when she was working late, etc. I also resented the fact Sheri was close to my age and bossed me around. I would go out of my way to make things difficult for her. This is where the relationship between SugarPaw and Bonnie Whiskers comes from.

SugarPaw doesn’t just feel he is too old for a babysitter, but also feels he should be able to go with his parents. Another thing I used to think as a kid when my mom headed out for the night. When I think back on my childhood, I was when my mom a lot and went almost everywhere with her. Even places most kids wouldn’t think very fun to go and would opt to have a babysitter. SugarPaw is the same way in thinking he should always be able to go with his parents or stay home by himself, when the fact is this isn’t really true because he is a kid and needs to be left with someone once in awhile. I guess you could say SugarPaw and myself wanted to grow up a bit faster than we were really ready to do. Much like kids try to do today with how they dress and act in certain situations.

5.  What advice do you have for your readers on accepting and handling a babysitter?

Great question, as I wasn’t the best at doing this when I was younger. I’m happy to say my children are much better than I ever was. First, children (especially older ones) need to understand the babysitter is there to help and make sure they are safe. By letting your child know you trust them but want another person around that is there to help them take care of the house while you are gone will encourage positive behavior between them and the babysitter.

Second, if you can, let your child meet the babysitter a day or two before you plan to leave them alone with them. If you cannot arrange a meeting before hand, have the babysitter come an hour earlier only if this is the first time they will be watching your kids. Most kids act up or cry when parents have someone strange show up to watch them as the parents leave out the door just like in my story. If you think about it, this is very frightening to kids and causes anxiety.

Third, ask your child to show the babysitter around the house and share the house rules. This not only helps them get to know the babysitter but also has them helping in sharing information on what does and doesn’t happen in their home.

Lastly, listen to your child and watch how they react to the person watching them. Some babysitters seem nice when the parents around but are totally different once the door closes. I know as I have had some really nasty babysitters as a child. Some really bad things happened I still remember just as if it was yesterday. I was lucky to have a mom who listened and was good about finding someone else fast. This helped to build trust between us and helped me understand she needed me to let her know what happened when she wasn’t there so she could provide a safe environment for me at those times.

6. Your intended reader age is from three to nine, which covers two age groups. (2-5, 6-9). Can you give me your thoughts on why the intended reader age is so wide and is this why your main characters are cute animals instead of children?

The book covers a wider age arrange because this is the age arrange of most kids being left with babysitters or in daycare. Fewer kids 10 and up are with babysitters and in fact are helping to watch their own sisters and brothers or are latch key kids. (I have been both.)

I also would like to say this book is good for older kids, ages 10 and up to bring when babysitting others. It is a great way to open conversation with the children you are watching.

The reason why I used a bear and bunny is that age is less likely to be tied to the main characters. When you use people, their age shows. I wanted the book to cover a bigger age group and therefore animals seemed the better choice. I also loved the Max and Ruby characters and wanted my characters to have the same feel as Rosemary Well’s characters. I didn’t want both my characters to bunnies like Rosemary so SugarPaw and his family are bears and Bonnie Whiskers is a bunny. I will have other animal characters in future book SugarPaw books too.

7. How long have you been an author? Why are you an author?

I have been an author since 2006, so a little over six years now. I have been writing longer than that, but this is when I was first professionally published and decided to make this my new career/calling in life.

8. Tell us about your educational background. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

Actually, before 2006, I had written a few poems (which may or may not see publication one day) and a monologue I also performed for my drama class in high school. I used to write songs when I was a young child and short stories too. However, I never really considered writing or publishing my work until 2004.

My educational background is in Marketing and Merchandising. I’m a Merchandise Marketing Major to be exact. Basically, I know how to advertise, display and package things in a way people will want to buy them. I also have training as a Fashion Buyer and used to be one of the people who helped set the clothing trends we see each year.

However, I did in 2005 go back to school and took online courses to hone my skills as a writer. I started down the road all authors take and where it ends…I have no idea, but I know I’m in good company and I’m always learning.

9. What advice do you have for your readers (kids 3 to 9), should they want to become an author?

Read books like the ones you want to write. Read interviews like this one to learn how authors became writers and what steps they took to see publication. Go to your local library and see if there is a writing group in your area. Go to workshops, conferences and book festivals to learn as much as you can about writing and the publishing industry.

But most important, take time each day to write down the ideas popping into your head. The rest can wait once that is done.

10. Is there anything else you would like to say to your Babysitting SugarPaw readers and future readers?

I invite you to learn more about me and my books at http://vsgrenier.com

Also, for those interested in writing, you can learn more at my company website The World of Ink Network at http://worldofinknetwork.com

We have radio shows with authors, tips with experts and much more on the site and sister sites.

Thank you Sue for having me and hope your readers will join me in The World of Ink for many more adventures by me and my fellow authors.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day.  A review of V.S. Grenier’s book Babysitting SugarPaw is what I am working on next.  You can see it after midnight tonight HERE!

Babysitting SugarPaw
V.S. Grenier
Kevin Scott Collier
Halo Publishing 
978-1-93526-806-2

No. Pages: 32   Ages: 3 to 9
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If you would like to learn more about Ms. V.S. Grenier, and her career, here are the links.

Website: http://www.vsgrenier.com/home.html

For Kids:  http://www.sfcmagazine.com/

The World of Ink: http://www.worldofinknetwork.com/

Halo Publishing:  http://www.halopublishing.com/

Kevin Scott Collier: http://kevinscottcollierhomepage.blogspot.com/

4 Stars
Babysitting SugarPaw
V.S. Grenier
Kevin Scott Collier
(SP) Halo Publishing
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In Babysitting SugarPaw, SugarPaw is a young bear who will be spending the evening with a babysitter, but is not happy about the situation.

“I don’t want a babysitter!”

Papa Bear assures SugarPaw everything will be okay, but SugarPaw is going to make sure that’s not true. First, he runs down and changes the rules chart.

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……….No TV after 7 P.M.

……….No TV after 10 P.M.

……….No playing with paints

……….Play with paints.

Every rule on SugarPaw’s rules chart now has a counter rule designed to get the babysitter in trouble.

The babysitter is indeed the best around. Bonnie Whiskers knows just how to handle sneaky little bears who think they are too old for a babysitter. She lets SugarPaw get away with his rules, cleans up after the messes he deliberately makes, and does it all kindly. SugarPaw starts to feel guilty.

This is a cute book appropriate for any child who thinks they are too old for a sitter, getting a new babysitter, or who usually acts up for the babysitter. Kids will love the characters and the mischief SugarPaw tries to create. The story can be an icebreaker for parents with a child adamantly against a babysitter, regardless of age.

The illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier of adorable, funny, and bright-eyed characters enhance the story and increase the laugh factor of SugarPaw’s antics. Such as the  one of SugarPaw sitting in an over-flowing bathtub, with the biggest smile on his face and looking like he is having the best time, while Bunny Whiskers looks on with a mop in her hand.

Babysitting SugarPaw is also a good bedtime story. It is a fast read, kids will love hearing the story night after night, and parents will not mind reading it repeatedly. I do wonder why Bunny Whiskers reads the rules chart—the correct rules chart—and then allows her charge to do a switch-a-roo on her. Maybe she felt SugarPaw needed some control over the situation, something kids usually do not have. Whatever the reason, the babysitter takes it all in stride giving us a wonderful time and a beautiful ending.

SugarPaw’s creator, V.S. Grenier, visited Kid Lit Reviews yesterday and sat down for a chat. To read more about SugarPaw and the author, click HERE!

Babysitting SugarPaw

Author: V.S. Grenier   website   for kids
Illustrator: Kevin Scott Collier   website
Publisher: (SP) Halo Publishing   website
Release Date: June 30, 2009
Number of Pages: 32
Ages: 3 to 9
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5 Stars

Song for Papa Crow

Marit Menzin

Schiffer Publishing

No. Pages: 32      Ages: 4 to 8
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From  inside jacket:  Little Crow loves to sing, and Papa Crow loves his song. But when Little Crow shares his crow songs with the other birds at the big old tree, they laugh and scatter. Maybe the Amazing Mockingbird can teach him to sing songs with the finches, flycatchers, and cardinals—and help him make some friends. But Little Crow should be careful what he wishes for . . .

Using Mockingbird’s tip, Little Crow becomes the most popular bird on the block. But, in a moment of danger, he learns that singing someone else’s song can have terrible consequences and that his own voice—and his father’s love—is of the greatest value.

Little Crow so desperately wants a friend he will do most anything to get one, even if that means fitting in to the point of losing his own identity. When he begins to sing like the other birds, he is welcomed, becomes part of the group. What Little Crow does not realize is the cost one incurs when making a major change to fit in with the crowd.

For Little Crow, singing the other bird’s songs to fit in and have friends could cost him his life when a hawk appears overhead. Little Crow is in danger and sings out, Papa Crow does not understand it is his son singing out—he no longer recognizes Little Crow’s singing.

Little Crow said, “Per-CHIC-o-ree!”—Heelllllp!

“Poor Finch,” said Papa Crow.

Little Crow sings out, “Fee-beeee!”—Help me!

“Poor Phoebe Flycatcher!” said Papa Crow.

Like Little Crow, kids do not like being different, they want to fit in with the crowd and be accepted. Those that do not dress as the others dress, speak as the others speak, or act as the other act are often shunned and ridiculed by those that do meld into one. But the group looks, speech, and actions often do not have room for individuality, originality, or creativity. That can be hard for a kid to understand when all they want to do is fit in, have friends, and not be teased.

Little Crow had lost his identity.  His Papa no longer connected Little Crow’s singing to Little Crow. In a time of need, Papa Crow could not reach out. As a social worker, I love these types of books. Kids need to know it is okay to be themselves; to act, speak, dress like themselves and not anyone else. Fitting in with the crowd is not always the best idea. I have seen smart kids trade their intelligence to fit in and lose much more than they ever gained. Kids who are different for any reason will lose what may be the best part of themselves simply to fit in.

I like Song for Papa Crow because it can open up a dialogue between parent and kids. The story can help kids understand that fitting in may not always be the best thing to do.

The illustrations, also created by the author, are beautiful collages. There are many birds, depicted in their wonderfully layered shades of color, on every page. On Papa Crow’s head, the feathers are short and look soft. The feathers making up his tail are long and smooth. You can see the strength in the hawk and the sudden fear in Little Crow.

In addition to a good story about preserving one’s identity, there is a short primer on North American birds. I really like this book.  Song for Papa Crow is a beautiful book, with thick pages for the younger kids, interesting bird facts, and a good story that can teach kids to stay true to themselves.

Teachers, school social workers, and others who regularly work with kids will find this book immensely helpful. Parents can use the story to open a dialogue about fitting in and being true to one’s self. Kids will like the illustrations of the birds and can use the book as a guide to the birds in their neighborhood.

Song for Papa Crow is a good story for any time or reason. For collectors, the illustrations are beautiful and this is the first complete book by now author and illustrator Marit Menzin.

Song for Papa Crow

Author/Illustrator: Marit Menzin    website   
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing    website
Release Date: July 28, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4131-1
Number of Pages: 32
Ages: 4 to 8
Grades: Pre-K to 2
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4.5 Stars Beautiful Wild Rose Girl B. Magnolia Mystic World Press No. Pgs: 32  Ages: 4+ ................. From Back Cover: If everyone in the village calls her “Beautiful Wild Rose Girl,” why does this poor, sad girl live in a swamp? And why, when she goes to bed every night, does she hear bullfrogs sing to [...]

…………………………………….. Peter Goodman We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats website: kittycatsbook.com ……………. Today, Kid Lit Reviews is honored to have with us the author of a fascinating new picture book series called We’re All Different But We’re All Kitty Cats. Tomorrow, the first book in that series, titled First Day of School, will be reviewed [...]