In Between by Jenny B. Jones #YA #bookreview #kidlit

I must say that I truly enjoyed this book. I instantly felt connected to the storyline.

In Between by Jenny B, Jones is the story of one girl's journey in learning to trust in adults when all she has known in the past is disappointment. With a mom in prison, Katie Parker is shipped off from her group home to her new foster parents. Not only is she thrust into a new household, but when she finds out that her "foster father" is a preacher, she all but goes off the rails. She pushes the boundaries continually in an effort to test their limits and expects to be shipped back to Sunny Haven Home for Girls at any moment.

Katie's wit and reactions are full of realism. More than a time or two did I find myself outright laughing, chuckling, or smiling. I truly found myself connecting with the character as I watched her progress through the book and the life changes that helped her accept her position, and importance, in her new home.

Although religion and God were brought up many times throughout the book, I never felt it became heavy handed or presented in such a way as to turn off young adult readers. In truth, I found just the opposite to be true. I think it will open up, or strengthen, young minds to the concept of God. Religion can be such a touchy subject, and I love when an author can present it in a responsible manner.

Ultimately, I think I felt such a connection to this book because over the years I have volunteered hundreds of hours working with children in my community. Not all of them have been fortunate in their circumstances in life and this book reminded me of those special moments working with some of the children that had a natural distrust of adults. These children were always the ones to capture my heart, and make me work even harder to insure they had a fantastic summer. The only thing a child truly needs in life is to know someone cares about their well-being. In my opinion, In Between reinforces this statement.

I would definitely give this book 5 stars. I look forward to reading more in the Katie Parker Production series, and to many more laughs ahead. Very well done, Jenny B. Jones!

Wishing you all an amazing adventure, and reminding you to never pass up the opportunity to help a child,

K. Lamb

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A Ghost went Trick or Treating #kidlit #bookreview #free

I picked up A Ghost Went Trick or Treating by A.J. Cosmo (written under the penname Gene Wilikers) on Amazon.com. As of the date of this blog, it is available for a free download. My best recommendation is to grab a copy while it is still available―otherwise, it will run you $1.99, which is still a bargain!

At only 22 pages and 12 illustrations, it is a short read, but one your child will delight in. It is the perfect tale to get young ones excited about the upcoming holiday, read after a long night of trick-or-treating or as a classroom read aloud on Halloween day. 

What I enjoyed about this story is that I thought I had it all figured out, until nearly the end, when the author threw in a twist that made me smile. How many times can you say that as an adult, a child's book throws you a curve? It goes to prove that a well-written children's book can surprise us all.

The best part is that I love stories that have a message or lesson within them. This one is presented so perfectly, your child will not recognize it for what it is, but will find themselves engaged and immersed in the unfolding events. 

This book teaches children about:

• friendship
• bullying
• not to judge a "book" by its cover
• helping others

This is a book that I look forward to sharing with my young nieces. I have no doubt it will win their seal of approval as well.

Wishing you all a safe and hauntingly good time,

K. Lamb

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The Giver by Lois Lowry #kidlit #book #review

I first had the opportunity to read, The Giver, when my daughter was in grammar school. I always made it a practice to read the same books as my daughter so that we could discuss them in detail. I loved getting her perspective on the material she read and the keen insight she always seemed to gain from the pages of a book.

This story by Lois Lowry has always been one of my favorites. It very much reminds me of the old cliche of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. 

The setting is a "perfect" community. All the citizens have jobs that are chosen for them by the Elders of the community that are best suited to their abilities. Just as their positions are chosen so are their families. Husband and wives are matched up--think back to the days of arranged marriages--and children are assigned. Birth mothers are not allowed to raise their children, but are merely the equivalent of brood mares.

To the citizens, all seems idyllic. This is their way of life, which seems normal and comforting. It isn't until a young boy, Jonas, comes of age and prepares to take on his role in the community does the rose-colored facade strip away and he sees the community for what it truly is: lost within their own complacency. He knows there has to be something better out there and with the help of The Giver, who is his mentor, and whom he is meant to replace, does he  start to challenge the ideas of the Elders. 

His delegated position as the new Giver demands that he take on both the pleasure and pain of the communities' memories. For the first time in his life he understands the beauty of color and the pain of war, the searing heat of the sun's rays to the delicacy of a fragile snowflake. It is the task of a mere child to bear the weight of both so that the citizens of this "utopia" can live in their dream-like world, carefree in their naivete. 

I highly recommend this book for young readers. There are true lessons to be found within its pages about taking life as it is meant to be and how one must learn to accept both the highs and lows if they are to live a true full life, and in the grand scheme of things, what is more beautiful than that?

Share this book with a child you know today. It is worth the read for both the young and old.

Wishing you all a little adventure,

K. Lamb

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There's a Monster in the Dark #kidlit #imagination #bookreview

I recently had the pleasure of meeting A.J. Cosmo, the author of today's selection, There's a Monster in the Dark. We met over the internet when he asked me to guest blog on his website. I was so impressed by what I learned about him, I not only wanted to review one of his books that I had read in preparation of appearing on his site, but I also requested to interview him because I thought you would find his personal story of interest. 

There's a Monster in the Dark is 18 pages, contains 10 wonderfully, bright & vivid illustrations, and is recommended for second graders and up. It is available on Kindle.

Synopsis:

What starts out as friendly child's play telling monster stories in the dark soon becomes quite a fright as three young boys discover they are not alone.

The Book:

Right from the opening line, the story will grab young readers. After all, how can they ignore such an opening line as this?

• "What if I told you that right now there's a big scary monster hiding in the dark?" Jacob asked as he shone a flashlight under his chin. 

In case you haven't yet caught on through my blog, I'm a huge kid at heart. I was instantly transported into a dark room with a blanket covering my head; hanging on to Jacob's every word. From the very first illustration of a snot, slobbering monster—I was hooked. After all, as Jacob tells us, whether we know it or not, we've all been visited by this scary, slobbering, winged monster.

• "At night it flies around the town, dancing on people's rooftops with its big hooves. I bet you've heard it before on your roof, Mason."

Of course, as I read it, he wasn't talking to Mason. He was talking to me. Had I heard those sounds before? I was still fine, until the dire warning came...

• "It can find you, wherever you hide, because its many eyes can see through walls. And once it gets ahold of you, it never, ever, lets go..."

As the story continues to unfold, children will be delighted with this playful spooky tale, which is written in a fun, imaginative way; the illustrations will further strengthen the author's words by strong visualization. 

I can easily imagine a child returning time and again to their virtual bookshelf to read this adventure. Had this book been available when my daughter was young, I would have easily made a fun night of providing blankets and flashlights to her and her friends as I read aloud in my most chilling voice—even if that meant I might lose a bit of sleep that night! 

The author is careful not to leave a scary image in the minds of young children and twists the tale in a surprising turn that I do not want to reveal. Ultimately, we learn that we all have monsters in the dark. Amongst all the childhood antics, AJ Cosmo manages to insert a message into his words in such a sagacious manner that the reader will not be the wiser for it, but it will be absorbed nonetheless. 

Conclusion:

A.J. Cosmo has created a children's book that will engage young transitioning readers from the first line until the last. Kids will be left asking for more—and as parents—what is a better recommendation than that?

I would like to invite you to return next week as A.J. joins me for an insightful interview. How do I know it is insightful? Because it has already occurred and it is merely waiting for me to write up! You will enjoy his thoughtful answers to the questions I posed to him. I know I did immensely.

Thank you for joining me this week on my Book Review segment! 

Wishing you all a little mystery and adventure,

K. Lamb

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Els Oot and the Lost City #kidlit #childrensbook

My first professional review under this platform is a book that I chose. I was not asked to do a review by the author. It comes from the Tilley Pond Mouse series of books that can be read independently of one another and they are for established readers with a grade recommendation of third through sixth.  

The book is entitled, Els Oot and the Lost City by Nelson Suit. 

Synopsis: 

The story is littered with woodland creatures, big and small, but mostly small, that are out to discover if the Lost City holds the key to finding their most desired wish: the recovery of their long-lost relatives. After being separated for many years after a great flood, a lone traveler arrives at the doorstep of the Mapmaker of Tilley Pond with the first clue to the whereabouts of the missing inhabitants of Meadowlark Falls. A search party is quickly formed as they prepare to embark on a grand adventure. 

The main character:

Although the story is full of interesting characters, our main character is Els Oot. He is the apprentice of the Mapmaker and the story centers around his journey. The bond Els has with his traveling companions, as well as the ones he forms along the way with each new friend he makes, shows us that this tiny little mouse has a caring, strong determination to help others—often times at his own peril. 

What makes this book special:

As an avid reader, when I pick up a children's book I often expect to breeze through a story in a light-heart manner with child-like wonderment; a quick little read before bed, an afternoon time out from my busy schedule. This story will appeal to children because they will get to trek across a marsh on the back of a turtle, ride a wild, snarling bat, climb trees with a squirrel, build a boat and ride in the Great Race, rescue a damsel, and ultimately, discover the Lost City. 

An adult will discover, almost immediately, the words of wisdom that can be found hidden among the pages:

• "Stay quiet inside. There is a place there that doesn't change wherever you are."
• "It is through the broken box that the light shines in."

There are many more passages I highlighted on my Kindle, which I have not included. I soon discovered this book was not designed only for children, but as inspiration for all of its readers, young or old, to gain knowledge of how we can lead richer lives. 

Conclusion:

This is not a story that belongs strictly in a children's library. It deserves a place in a family's library. It has something to offer to everyone. It is a classic for children and a reminder to adults that inspiration can strike anywhere—even on the pages of a children's book.

For all of you who are about to embark upon an adventure, bring a child with you. Show them the magic that can only be found in a far off land, where creatures speak, and heroism abounds. Read to your child today.

Safe journey,

K. Lamb

To learn more about Nelson Suit please visit his website at: wordcaper.com

Book Reviews #kidlit #childrensbook

I would like to welcome you all to a new section of my blog: Book Reviews! As an author, I am asked on a regular basis to review other author's work. Sometimes, it can be a little uncomfortable because I am put in the position of having to say, "no." It is not that I am unkind, it is that if I am going to review a book, my first loyalty and consideration will always be to you. It is with that in mind, that I implemented a new book review policy. You can read it here:  Review Policy. 

What I look for in a book:

I will admit that when it comes to grading a book, I am fairly easy. A story only has to capture me. I do not dissect a storybook into tiny bits in a negative sense, but will dissect it in a positive, uplifting way when it makes me laugh, catch my breath, cheer or cry. Yes, a simple child's book can make me do all these things. To earn a 5-star rating, a book just has to make me "feel." The only exception to this, even if it makes me feel all of these things, is when it is littered with formatting/grammatical issues—I do not mean the errant, misplaced comma—and wrong word usage. When I stumble over these too many times I cringe. I can, and do, accept a few throughout a story but too many will take even the best of books and drop it to a 4-star rating for me.

What you can expect:

I am working on a two-fold project. First, reviews will be placed here on my blog. Ultimately, I will be putting together, when I can find a moment to spare, a Recommended Reading List on my website. It will be in a handy printable .pdf format for your use. I encourage you to take it to the library, to a bookstore, or use it to find selections on Amazon or Barnes & Noble—where ever you acquire your books. These will all be books that I have read and that are, in my opinion, suitable for children. I will also list the recommended age/grade level of the book. 

Why am I doing this:

I am passionate about children's literacy. My own daughter was an infant when I first started putting books in front of her. She is now an avid, life-long reader and the comprehension she garnered from learning to read at a young age benefited her throughout her years of studies, and continues to do so into the present. I want this for your child. I want them to be successful. 

Along the way if I can help introduce my fellow authors' work to your children, I am happy to do that, also. 

I hope you find this new program helpful. It is my goal to assist parents and teachers in any manner within my means to foster a child's reading habits.

Wishing you all the best,

K. Lamb