ABC of Japanese Manga

Every kid knows about Manga comics. Why are they so popular and what are the coolest Manga comics or characters. Manga, also known as Komikku in Japan are comics that are based on a special artistic style developed in 1870.

There are lots of cool Manga that you can consider. Nartuo, for example is an interesting one that tells the story of a young ninja warrior who in course of time transforms into his nation's leader. His strength comes in the nine-tailed fox that lies within him, for which he is ostracized and which also gives him extraordinary strengths and abilities that drive him to his future destiny.

If you want something that's a little bit funny, check out One Piece. This Manga comic revolves around a boy named Luffy, who by chance eats a dangerous fruit that turns him into a rubber man. You can find lots of action from this series, as the boy faces battles and contends with different opponents, to get his goal.

Another interesting Manga is the Fairy Idol Kanon, which revolves around the character Kanon, whose music has the power to save a fairy kingdom. Help comes from the fairy kingdom and she together with her friends Kodama and Marika churn out songs that become highly popular, but as they rise to the top they have to deal with viscous rivals who use black magic to overpower them. Yotsuba is another girl's Manga storyline that revolves around a green-haired girl who have just come into a particular neighborhood and as she mingles with the people there, she lands up in different adventures.

Maximum Ride is another popular Manga, where the protagonist is a teenage girl who is part of a group of mutant orphans. Having escaped from the lab where they were created, she and other try to be part of the outside world, but they have to face the challenge of their creators trying to get them back.

http://www.blogofasia.com/
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ASIA

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All This Because of a Dog! A Book Review of Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

India Opal Buloni went to the store to buy a box of macaroni and cheese, rice, and two tomatoes. But she never expected to come back with a new dog that would change her life. Find out what things happened to her in Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.

Because of Winn-Dixie, there was a big ruckus in the store. Employees were running around, waving their arms. The store manager was screaming mad. And then a big, ugly, scraggly dog came running around the corner.

"He skidded to a stop and smiled right at me. I had never before in my life seen a dog smile, but that is what he did. He pulled back his lips and showed me all his teeth."

Before you know it, India said it was her dog. She couldn't help herself. She didn't want it to go to the pound.

She named him Winn-Dixie, after the store they were in. Then the two of them walked home.

India and her father, the preacher, had just moved to town, so she had no friends. Because of Winn-Dixie, she met Miss Franny Block at the library and got to listen to her story about the bear.

Because of Winn-Dixie, she ended up working in the pet shop, where she met Otis. He had a knack for playing the guitar real pretty, and all the animals would stop to listen.

Because of that dog, she ended up in the yard of the neighborhood witch, Gloria Dump. She told her everything about her life and how she was feeling, and Gloria Dump had a special way to make her feel all better.

Because of Winn-Dixie, she ended up next to pinch-faced Amanda Wilkinson. Both of them found out about an old candy that tasted sweet and sad at the same time.

And because of that dog, the party that India planned with Gloria Dump, which they decorated for, and made egg salad sandwiches for, and invited everyone to, was almost ruined. But it wasn't Winn-Dixie's fault. Not really, anyway. Because can it be your fault if what you did was just part of your character, and not something you were trying to do?

Kids will enjoy the way India and her dog make friends and enemies in the town, and the way things come together to make surprises all around. Children who love animals, or dogs especially, will be able to relate to the special bond you have with a pet, especially when you are feeling lonely and friendless.

Kate DiCamillo won a Newberry Honor Medal for this charming tale of simple values and the kinds of things that kids think about. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo is a book that will make you and your dog smile.

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Book Review of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco

A stuffed toy rabbit (with real thread whiskers) comes to life in this timeless tale of the transformative power of love. Given as a Christmas gift to a young boy, the Velveteen Rabbit lives in the nursery with all of the other toys, waiting for the day when the Boy (as he is called) will choose him as a playmate. In time, the shy Rabbit befriends the tattered Skin Horse, the wisest resident of the nursery, who reveals the goal of all nursery toys: to be made "real" through the love of a human.

This is the one of the December group read of The Filipinos Group in Goodreads, and after seeing that a PDF is available for free in the web, I immediately downloaded a copy. It is a short read, a fast reader can finish it for 10-15 minutes.

First published in 1922, The Velveteen Rabbit has been republished many times since and several film adaptations were made. Margery Williams Bianco, the author, lost her father to a sudden death while she was 7 years old and she coped with this tragedy by transforming pain and loss into literature.

The Velveteen Rabbit is short but charming, a timeless classic which pinches the heart of every reader, young and old. It tells of the transforming power of love and, as in most children's stories, the desire of every toy to become real.

Here is my favorite portion in the book, my favorite lines underscored:

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive. But the Skin Horse only smiled. "The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always."

The excerpt above, for me, is the whole point of the story. I must confess I had a difficult time grasping the concept of "becoming real", since the story is told from the viewpoint of a toy, an inanimate object, which obviously I am not. I wonder how a child who reads the book could understand it more than I do, since for me being real is a philosophical concept, beyond the grasp of a little child. But who am I to underestimate the wisdom of a child?

Allow me to equate the concept of "real" to being "significant". This is the closest synonym of the word I could ever come up with in this story. The toy rabbit felt, and became, real because it has served its purpose. As a toy, it has brought joy and comfort to its owner, which, for me, is its primary purpose. If you want to get more of life, or in the case of a toy rabbit, to be alive and real, you must learn to live for and with others. Life is not meant to be spent alone. It should be lived not only for oneself, but more particularly for others. To be able to give and share one's life with others. For it is by sharing and giving that man feels unparalleled joy. Indeed, one who feels significant, important, needed, feels real for he/she has found meaning and purpose for living.

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Book Review - The Snail and the Whale

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler, is a kids' picture book about a tiny snail with itchy feet who travels the world with a mighty whale, eventually saving the whale from a sorry fate. This beautifully illustrated book is a great read-aloud story that both children and adults will find appealing, even after reading it for the hundredth time.

The Snail with Itchy Feet

The story is divided into two parts. In the first part readers meet the tiny snail who gazes outward at the big world and longs to explore it. The other snails in the flock are quite happy with their limited existence and deride her dream. That doesn't stop the snail. Undeterred, she advertises: "Lift wanted around the world", (all that slime comes in handy when writing) and soon gets an invitation from a humpback whale. She climbs aboard his tail and together the pair explore the world. The sights she sees soon give the snail an inferiority complex:

"And she gazed at the sky, the sea, the land

The waves and the caves and the golden sand,

She gazed and gazed, amazed by it all,

And she said to the whale, "I feel so small."

The Snail Saves The Whale

In the second part of the story the whale gets lost and is beached. Unable to move, the whale moans, but the brave snail comes to the rescue, crawling to a school and getting the children to save the whale by keeping it wet till the tide comes back in. This shows the snail that even small creatures can make a difference, a message which young readers and listeners will certainly enjoy and agree with. The snail returns home to share her adventures with the flock, who all climb aboard the whale's tail for a new adventure.

Alex Scheffler's Pictures

Alex Scheffler brings Julia Donaldson's words to life in his illustrations for The Snail and the Whale. They are rich and colourful, with lots of detail for young readers to explore. Children will enjoy spotting and counting the different animal species as the whale and the snail travel around the world, making The Snail and the Whale educational as well as fun.

Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler, the team behind bestseller The Gruffalo, have created another winner with The Snail and the Whale. It's a book made to be read aloud, with unusual rhymes and distinct voices for the characters. This beautifully illustrated picture book will be a welcome addition to any kid's bookshelf.

(The Snail and the Whale, Macmillan Children's Books, 2004, ISBN 978-0333982242)

Sharon Hurley Hall is a professional web content writer, ghostwriter and blogger.  She originally published this review on Suite101.

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Book Review on "Boy" by Roald Dahl

As another Roald Dahl book explains, a boy's imagination seems to prevail over many who read it. "Boy" is one of the many popular novels written by Roald Dahl. It tells the story of Roald Dahl's childhood, with his friend's Thwaites, and Daniel. It was a very eventful period of his life. He centers on his education, where he voices his anger at the use of cruel punishments like caning in the UK at the time. He tells many amusing stories of his childhood and teenage years, but there are some sad and dramatic ones as well. "Some are funny. Some are painful. Some are unpleasant." he says.

Roald Dahl writes about his childhood adventures, from his parents' first engagement, to his first dentist's appointment. He talks about the events that he remembered, not just by style, but by greatness, unjustness, and difficult situations. His mom was a very enthusiastic and courageous woman. Roald Dahl begins with his parents' histories, then his own birth, and through the time he graduated from high school and got a job with Shell Oil. Roald Dahl was a very mischievous child. He seemed to be different from the others as he explains. Even though he never seemed to get things the way he wanted, his screw-ups were extremely entertaining.

Even at age 13 Roald was far from being right-minded. He was always impenetrable when it came to things he hated, he was essential, and often his stubbornness resulted in punishment and indifference. During his early years, he decided it wasn't really him, and as his awareness grew, so did his self esteem. Seeing how much he did to the world, he grew, and started to do good deeds, he became athletic, and he acquired an acute sense of humor. The author of "boy" explains his childhood in a funny, yet serious way. Roald Dahl also tries to summarize his stories with events the reader might have experienced in his or her life. This makes this book a very touching novel.

A very enjoyable book, although the beginning seems to talk only about his family, he later tells of very entertaining stories he and his friends have. An interesting story like this would impress anyone, even those who never read autobiographies. This book is 160 pages long, packed with influencing stories. "Boy" is truly an excellent story for young adults. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading.

(c)Copyrighted: You may freely republish this article as long as author bio and active hyperlinks are included.

Jacklyn Chen - Webmaster of Gift Ideas and Magazine Subscriptions

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Celtic Fairy Tales - A Victorian Children's Classic

CELTIC FOLKLORE overflows with vivid stories that fire the imagination. This book was compiled, longhand, in the field, by Joseph Jacobs in the 1890's. While these stories were originally published in the 19th. C. they probably date back to the middle ages or even further into the mists of time, back to the dawn of the Celtic race. After being passed orally from grandparents to parents to children before being recorded in the vernacular by Joseph Jacobs, one can only wonder how many evolutions and changes the stories have gone through before being cemented into print.

While some of the themes are similar to those of contemporary fairy tales, other stories in this collection are infused with a flavour that is uniquely Celtic. In Jacobs' own words,"The Celts went forth to battle, but they always fell. Yet the captive Celt has enslaved his captor in the realm of imagination." Here you will find 26 uniquely Celtic tales of horned women, breweries of eggshells, sprightly tailors, gold and silver trees, King o' Toole's goose, sea maidens, and more. Of particular interest could be the 13th century legend of Beth Gellert, wherein the dog of Llewelyn (I) the Great, Prince of Wales, protected the prince's infant son from a wolf attack. When Llewelyn arrived at the house he saw the bloodied dog and an equally bloody cot and assumed the worst and killed the dog. It was only after he slew the dog he found his son alive, under a mattress with a dead wolf alongside him. So wrought with grief was he, that he erected a memorial to the dog which still stands today in the village of Beddgelert, near Snowdon, Wales. Next time you're in Wales, be sure to pay it a visit.

In an attempt to give a library of the Celts' wealthy imagination to his readers, Jacobs has attempted to begin the readers' captivity with the earliest recordings of these tales. And captivate he does - Celtic Fairy Tales not only preserves a cultural history, but also is richly entertaining. In addition some, nay, indeed most of these stories, will not have been read nor heard by most children of today, and dare I say their parents as well. As such it will, and does, make for an interesting and captivating read. Even though the content of this book is centuries old, after reading, it will only be the dullest imagination that hasl not be ignited and set aflame.

For more info, a table of contents or to view a sample of the interior go to http://www.abelapublishing.com/Celtic.html

33% of the Publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to the Prince's Trust charity.

John Halsted is CEO of Abela Publishing and an out-and-out fan of fairytales.

He founded Abela Publishing as a Social Enterprise and specialises in publishing new and old Children's stories, fairytales, folklore, myths and legends.33% of Abela Publishing's profit is donated to charities around the world. To see which charities are currently supported, go to http://www.abelapublishing.com/charity.html

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"Rose Sees Red" By Cecil Castellucci: A Review

Rose doesn't want to be a loner; the trouble is she hasn't figured out how to fit in. Daisy, her best friend since childhood, dropped her the minute Rose decided to pursue her dream of becoming a dancer. The loss of the friendship has left Rose feeling confused, lonely and disconnected with life.

"I was black inside and so I took everything black. Toast. Coffee. Clothes. Heart."

Cecil Castellucci's opening lines in the book Rose Sees Red paint the picture quite clearly.

Rose is looking for a fresh start at the High School of Performing Art. For her, there are only two states of being: on pointe, in a heightened world where she could be herself, and in sneakers, where she is nothing. She's hoping that by pursuing her passion she'll meet new friends. After all, she sees plenty of interesting people from school on the subway every morning, but admires them from a distance. But so far friendship hasn't happened, and even though she's trying as hard as she can, she's pretty sure her dancing isn't where it needs to be, either.

Things begin to shift with a random invitation from two of the three triplets, Caitlin and Callisto, to a party at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Actually attending the party seems way too farfetched to Rose until her neighbor, a Russian ballerina named Yrena, climbs into her bedroom window, looking to escape from the suffocating confines of home and establish friendship with a real American girl and do real American things, like go to a "big American party" and see what "teenage American decadence" is really like. Rose doesn't want to be a mouse forever, so she takes the plunge into adventure with Yrena, sneaking back out the window with her, past the KGB guards that monitor Yrena's every move, out into the big city.

The party at the museum begins with a confrontation with Daisy, but Rose holds her ground because she's finally got backup. The arrival of all three triplets and other friends from school, including superstar Maurice Tibbets, and Free, the long-haired peace-loving activist, creates a group that is swept up in roaming the city by night, only to later find themselves desperately trying to rediscover Yrena's whereabouts when she disappears with Free.

As the hours tick by, the hunt to find Yrena ends, and she discloses that this is her final chance to experience all that New York City has to offer before she moves back to Russia for good. The group of dancers throws caution to the wind, staying out all night to show her everything they can in the few hours they have left. Rose discovers friendship, romance, and just how lucky she is to live in a free country while she finds the true color of her heart and how to let it blossom in her life and her dancing.

Grier Cooper is a California-based writer/photographer and dancer who has performed worldwide with San Francisco Ballet and Miami City Ballet, among others. She draws on over twenty years of experience as a dancer, teacher and performer to create inspirational fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. For more information about dance, visit her online and sign up for her free newsletter http://www.griercooper.com/

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A Child's Need for a Beloved Companion

Helen VanEck Holub, now a great-grandmother, has been telling stories for many years. After all, she had to entertain children then grandchildren and now great-grandchildren. She has also been writing them down. She writes on a variety of subjects including murder mysteries, spiritual and any other type of poetry you can imagine. You never really know what to expect when Helen sets her mind to create a story or a poem.

VanEck Holub has two books of poetry that have been published, "Guided by the Spirit" and "Echoes of Love." She is a most talented lady. She has a book published for young children entitled "The Peanut Butter Caper." Oh what a caper that one is! All of the subjects she chooses to write on are done to perfection. Her gift to write seems to be never-ending. Her fans love her penmanship and the wonderful loving character of this amazing woman.

Writing for children seems to bring out qualities in Helen VanEck Holub's work that could compare her writing and story-telling to the classics. Helen has just put into publication another book for the older child. This one is entitled "Beloved Companion."

The book cover and graphic art designs that enhance the story were created by the very talented Helen McManus and her ability shines just as it did in "The Peanut Butter Caper."

This book brings into light the birth of a baby boy, Jaimie Alan Anderson, in the Introduction of the story. As the actual tale begins Jaimie is just under two years old. His parents, Jim, a young lawyer at a large law firm and Rachel, a school teacher, want to go on a vacation for their third anniversary. Both the parents are only children and Rachel has lost her parents at the tender age of sixteen. They would like to leave Jaimie and spend some time together. Who better to ask than Jim's parents Ed and Ellie? It is agreed and a most dramatic and interesting story begins to unfold.

Beloved Companion is a book that older children will enjoy reading as they meet the characters, including two very special dogs. The story has a mystery to the details and everything comes to light at the end of the book.

If you love stories about animals, especially dogs, then this is the book for you or a child you love. The story is literally captivating. Find out, how a boy, who went through some terrible experiences, found out what his real problem was through a loving and caring family and the love of a dog.

Daveda Gruber, owner of Publishing with Passion and Poetry with Passion as well as, author of fifteen books including: "My Blonde World," "Magical Moments," "Bruised but Not Beaten," "Death of a Daughter," "Steelers Cheers," "Red Barn and Other Short Stories," "Cling to the Magic Mere Mortals," "The Blonde Who Found Jesus," "A Blonde View of Life," "Tales of a Tiny Dog," "More Tales of a Tiny Dog," "Castle of Ice," "More Snapshots from my Family Album" and "Snapshots a Blonde View." I am a professional graphic art designer and I produce professional video productions.

http://publishingwithpassion.com/

publishingwithpassion@gmail.com

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Book Review: Snakehead (An Alex Rider Adventure) by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider, 14-year-old spy for MIA, the British Intelligence Agency, is back in action. He sort of fell into the middle of it--literally, after his last mission. If you're not familiar with this best-selling series of children's spy adventures, don't worry. You can read this one first and catch up later. Here's what happens in Snakehead (An Alex Rider Adventure) by Anthony Horowitz.

Alex falls into his next adventure, literally. He splashes down from outer space into the ocean just off Australia. He still can't believe he was really in space, but he's happy to be back on solid ground (so to speak) and alive.

The USS Kitty Hawk is diverted from a training mission to pick him up, and the crew is sworn to secrecy. After all, who would believe that a teenager, and a spy at that, just fell from outer space?

Meanwhile, in an unobtrusive building, seven people were having an important meeting. They were the members of Scorpia, which stood for "sabotage, corruption, intelligence, and assassination." There had originally been twelve of them, all spies, who decided to go into business for themselves. However, several of them had died, or been killed, and they were all that remained.

Their targets are the members of an upcoming conference, which will be attended by various billionaires and celebrities, whose mission is to end poverty. But poverty keeps a nice balance in the world, Scorpia thinks, so these people must be eliminated.

Killing them off would be too easy. Instead, they must make their deaths appear to be accidents. To accomplish this, they plan to use a bomb deep in the ocean. The detonation should create a shockwave which will decimate the island where the conference is being held, as well as thousands of people around the world, who will fall victim to the resultant tsunami, just like the one that occurred in 2004.

Alex ends up being recruited by not one, but two international agencies this time, MIA and ASIS, the Australian counterpart. In yet another action-packed thriller, he finds himself roaming the streets of Bangkok in disguise, with another older agent.

There are returning villains from previous books in this one, the seventh book of the popular series. But this time, when Alex gets caught, his fate is an especially gruesome one.

Kids who are already fans of the series will find another heart-pounding one. Alex is certainly clever; he has a way of getting out of the most seemingly impossible situations, and certainly, luck is always on his side. Snakehead (An Alex Rider Adventure) by Anthony Horowitz is worth getting your heart racing for.

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Educational School Supplies: Classic Children's Books

Every one has that book that loved the most when they were a child. Most of the ones we come across tend to be in our elementary school libraries, or sitting in the bookshelves in the back of the classroom. Reading is important no matter what age and these stories and characters have lasted for years. There are quite a few classic children books that should be part of every school's educational school supplies.

For simple books for the younger set, there are plenty of classics that are light on words but big on beautiful pictures. Goodnight Moon, while a bed time classic, is also great in the classroom to read to kindergarten kids before nap time. Published in 1947, it's been going strong decades later. It's large illustrations are a favorite for the little ones.

Harold and the Purple Crayon is a great book to encourage creativity, though Harold does take his artistic journey onto walls, so make sure you provide plenty of paper for your students inspiration so they don't do the same! If you have kids who are less artists but love words, Tiki Tiki Tembo is a great read-aloud book with tongue twisters and a very fun Chinese folktale at the heart of it.

As kids get older and can start to read books with a bit more depth to them, you'll want to look for more wordy and intricate stories to add to your educational school supplies. A great one to get them into is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Beyond his other poetry anthologies that work well to teach structure and rhyme, The Giving Tree is a deeper story about what it means to have someone take care of you and the consequences of taking them for granted.

You can also move into classics that even adults love, like The Wizard of Oz or Mr. Popper's Penguins. These books are longer, with full chapters and multiple characters. Once kids are in the later elementary years, these are a great way to get them introduced to story basics like plot, characters, conflict, and resolution.

It's important to consider various picture books and novels when stocking educational school supplies. Building classes around these classic stories and using them as a way to entertain as well as educate is going to make all the difference in your students' learning. These stories are the kind that will stick with them forever, ones they will pass down to their children in the future.

UnitedSupplyCorp.com boasts a 150,000-item warehouse featuring discount office supply products, as well as educational school supplies.

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Classic Kid's Books - Roald Dahl's The Witches

If ever there was an author who could capture the wonder of a child's imagination, mix it with the bizarre, and add some scary, to create stories that children adore, it was Roald Dahl. In the classic kids' book, The Witches, by Roald Dahl, he mixes all those elements into a story that will have youngsters looking for the signs.

What signs? The signs to recognize a witch, of course. The young boy in the story lives with his grandmother, who warns him to watch for several telltale signs.

The first sign is that witches will be wearing gloves, always.

"Surely not always," he says. "What about in the summer when it's hot?"

Yes, even in the summer, because witches do not have fingernails. They have curvy claws, like a cat, so they wear the gloves to hide them. But there are many women who wear gloves, who aren't witches, so that didn't help very much.

The second sign to watch for is baldness. A real witch is always bald. So of course, she would be easy to spot. That's why they all wear wigs.

Real witches also have telltale nostrils. They are extra large, for smelling out children.

If you look into a real witch's eyes, you will see, in the dot in the center, not black, like ordinary people. Instead, it will keep changing color. You will see fire and ice dancing. It will send shivers all over your skin.

They also have feet but no toes. The ends of their feet are squared off, but they smash them into normal-looking, pointy-toed shoes.

Finally, they have blue spit. So you could spot them easily if they spat. And of course, that means they never spit, so they can't get caught.

Armed with this knowledge, the boy thinks he has found an entire convention of witches when they go to a seaside hotel for a vacation. Things start to get very creepy when the witches catch him, and he is forever changed...into a mouse!

Then he must risk getting killed by the witches, the hotel staff, and of course, a cat, in order to get back to Grandma for help. But they do better than that. Together, he and Grandma hatch a plan to destroy every witch.

Kids love this book because of the magical terror involved. It's just real enough to be believable, and scary. The fact that this book has been made into a movie attests to its popularity.

If you like other magically strange and scary books, you will also enjoy this classic kids' book: Roahl Dahl's The Witches. And watch out for women who are scratching their heads with gloved hands!

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Children's Books for Sale

If you're a parent, then you will know how hard it is to find the best things for your children. Everyone has an opinion on what that best thing is, whether they think you should give them structure or let them work it out for themselves, if you should force them to eat their vegetables or be happy that they're eating anything, when you should toilet train them, when they should go to school, if you should give them everything that they want or explain to them why they cannot have it.

But one thing every child care person agrees upon is reading to your child. There are many positives to reading to your child, more that can be listed here. You will want to read to your child and give them the best leg up in life, but how do you do this when books nowadays are so expensive?

Yes, even children's books are taking a hit at the checkout, and book sellers are just increasing the price. Another option, though, is to beat them at their own game, and go where there are used books for sale. Used book stores often have a wide variety of children's books for sale. When children grow out of a book, their parents will give them to these stores so other children will know the same joy that their children did.

Used books for sale doesn't mean that they're bad books, or that they're broken or ripped, it means pre-loved, and pre-read, and it also means a great bargain for you. You can find some of these books for new at 'normal' book stores, and they will be double, sometimes triple the cost of the same book second hand.

Second hand children's books also means that you can get the books that are out of print now, so your child can read the same books that you did growing up.

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Cat Pals at Center of Charming Children's Book

Gretchen Preston's "Valley Cats" is the fun and adventurous story of Boonie and River, two cats who first meet during a parade and quickly become close friends. Boonie is a bit more daring than River, who is not allowed to leave his yard, but soon Boonie convinces River he can get the trust of his mistress so they can have adventures.

Those adventures happen in the Valley where Boonie and River live, as well as the surrounding areas of their Upper Michigan home. Author Gretchen Preston based the story upon people and cats she knows in her Michigan home, but readers from any location will enjoy reading these stories. Boonie and River are characters children will love-especially cat lovers. They are reminiscent of characters in earlier friend books for children like the "Frog and Toad" series by Arnold Lobel, but the book is more in-depth, with full length chapters, each being in itself a separate story about one of the Valley Cats' adventures.

The adventures include exploring the outdoors during the winter, visiting a cave at Broken Indian Rock along Lake Superior, and a rainy day picnic, as well as some bathroom antics when the Valley Cats are cooped inside the house in winter. The stories are visual and the reader will follow the action without any trouble, yet the gorgeous illustrations by Karin Neumann provide an added dimension to the stories. These watercolor pencil drawings are brightly colored to attract children, but adults will also be stunned by how perfectly Neumann captures not just the charm of the cats and the story, but the shadows of trees on the snow, the evening sunset, and the humor and sadness-all the emotions and tone-of the story.

Besides simply being a fun read, "Valley Cats" is an educational experience for children. One story encompasses the death of a family pet which may help children relate to and understand death. Other stories highlight the outdoors and read almost like educational field trips. Preston includes a glossary of terms at the book's end for young readers, with such words as "fire circle," "Ojibwa," and "zucchini." Children from about 2nd to 4th grade will most enjoy this book, but even older readers will enjoy the humor and the gentle tone of the stories.

Although I'm an adult, and I have no children, "Valley Cats" was a true pleasure for me to read. It not only made me laugh and smile and marvel over the stunning illustrations, but it brought back feelings of my own childhood and fond memories of my own favorite illustrated stories like "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak, and the "George and Martha" stories of James Marshall-the books that first made me love to read and ultimately led to my becoming an author. I have no doubt young children will find that "Valley Cats" will have a similar magical effect upon them.

Tyler R. Tichelaar holds a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Northern Michigan University and a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University. His family's long relationship with Upper Michigan and his avid interest in genealogy inspired Dr. Tichelaar to write his Marquette Trilogy: Iron Pioneers, The Queen City, and Superior Heritage. Dr. Tichelaar is also a professional book reviewer and editor. For more information about Tyler R. Tichelaar, his writing, and his author services, visit:

http://www.marquettefiction.com/

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A Book Review of Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part One

Recommended for ages 7-10

Warning: this book contains lots of disgusting snot, booger, mucus, and drippy, sticky gunk. The title should tip you off: Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part One, by Dav Pilkey. This is the sixth in the Captain Underpants series of graphic novels.

Even if you're a fan of Captain Underpants already, you might not like this if you don't like stories about snot blowing and dripping and flinging and flying. Because that's basically all that happens this time.

You might already know that Harold Hutchins and George Beard are two friends at school who have a knack for getting into trouble. They are budding comic book artists. They write and illustrate their own series of comics featuring a superhero named Captain Underpants.

In reality, they have hypnotized their school principal, Mr. Krupp, to turn into this superhero whenever he hears a finger snap. He strips down to his underwear and a cape and flies off to fight evil, villains, and silly made-up monsters, like the one in this book.

The humor here is mostly based on the grossness of a robot who was crossed with a classmate who sneezed, producing a snot-dripping robotic kid monster thingie. At any rate, if you think kids sneezing and spewing mucous everywhere is funny, you'll love this book.

On the other hand, if you think that's disgusting, stay away. Because that's basically what happens. Sure, the robot kid drippy snotty monster thingie goes on to make even more trouble, but you'll have to read the book to find out what happens, and how Captain Underpants gets involved.

Once again, like in the other books in the Captain Underpants series, there are a few pages of Flip-O-Rama action. This is where you turn one page back and forth rapidly, so you see that page and the page after it. When you do it fast enough, it makes it look like a cartoon.

These are really fun to do. They usually involve some hitting, screaming, pained expressions on faces...that sort of thing. And you are encouraged to add your own crazy sound effects, which is great fun if you are an imaginative, dramatic kind of kid who likes that sort of thing.

Because it's a graphic novel, it has lots of pictures--one on every page, at least. This is great to attract reluctant readers, who will then want to read more to find out what happens.

One of my students said, about the book, "It's not even funny." But there are tons of kids out there who love it. So you have to be the type who finds silly, disgusting humor funny. If not, you might want to stay clear of Captain Underpants and the Big, Bad Battle of the Bionic Booger Boy, Part One, by Dav Pilkey.

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Children's Book Sets Keep The Child's Imagination Open and Vibrant

Reading children's book sets will keep your imagination going on forever; literally I mean books are the gateway to a brand new world. Your imagination can transport you to wherever you want to. As you begin your reading journey, you tend to lose track of where you are, the time and even who you are! Books have the magic to let the reader's mind run away on on a magical journey. Any one can be anyone that you want to be for the moment.

In America it is a sad fact that millions of people suffer with illiteracy; this is simply inexcusable. Right from the beginning of a child's education there is access to a fully stocked library with plenty of kid's educational books, not to mention that even the smallest of towns has a library that is free to the public. "Everything you need to learn you can get in kindergarten". Only in part is this true; every day is a learning adventure! Isn't it just great that no matter what topic you want to learn about you can go and borrow a book out from the library to read?

It is known that before his birth you can begin teaching your baby. Reading to your baby while still in the womb is a great bonding tool, plus, they are beginning to learn, believe it or not. In time this will build up your child's reading comprehension, and their vocabulary can be strengthened. It is also said to make your baby calmer- who doesn't want a calmer child?

Just about every little girl fantasizes about being Cinderella. This is because when we hear or read the story we put ourselves in the story itself. Every little girl has her dream of being a princess and having the happy fairy tale ending. No matter how she interprets the story, you have the ability to make it your own and the imagination to make it come true.

We don't always have the desire to read on a particular night. If you find yourself not wanting to, that is okay because you can go to the library and rent a book on tape; this way your child will not be left without a daily story you can have them listen to it even if they are still in the belly or just a newborn. There are many children's book sets that would make wonderful kids birthday gifts. Books are the most important gift that you can give a child of any age. So much can be learned and let's face it, don't parents adore seeing their imagination come to life? The look on a child's face when reading a book or listening to it is beyond belief.

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Children's Book Review - Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney

Recommended for ages 9-12

Graphic novels have become all the rage these days. Their multiple pictures and drawings help to interest readers, especially reluctant ones, and get them reading. Is it any wonder then, that the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series of books, by Jeff Kinney, are so popular?

The series started with Diary of a Wimpy Kid. We are introduced to middle schooler Greg Huffley, who sets the tone for the entire series immediately by insisting that this is a journal, not a diary. But when Mom bought it for him, she got one that said "diary" on it, even though he specifically told her not to. Great.

This first book follows Greg as he gets into trouble with his easy-going best friend, Rowley. Rowley takes the rap for a stunt Greg pulled and didn't fess up to.

The second book, Rodrick Rules, starts with giving Greg a taste of his own medicine. When he and his older brother are left home alone overnight, he misses out on all the fun but ends up having to clean up the mess and hiding Rodrick's secret for him.

We meet more funny characters at Thanksgiving, when Aunt Loretta, Uncle Joe, and the kids come over. Watch what a smart thing Dad does to get them all to leave early.

Book 3, The Last Straw, finds Greg and his family making New Year's resolutions. Greg decides his will be to help other people improve.

When Mom decided Greg is old enough to start doing his own laundry, he reacts in a typical wimpy kid way. He starts wearing things more than once. Gross.

The latest in the series, Book 5, The Ugly Truth, finds Greg growing up and out of the cute kid phase. He enters puberty and has to go to a dentist for adults, where he has the fear of gingivitis scared into him.

Kids absolutely love this series of graphic novels. Each book has numerous stick figure drawings to illustrate the action. Reluctant readers are drawn in by the humor and trouble Greg gets into, and the mischief he creates.

Parents, however, may take offense at the fact that Greg is basically a lazy kid, the type whose influence is not appreciated on his peers. He's pretty self centered and has no trouble passing blame off onto others, like his friend Rowley, or little brother Manny.

But if you want your child to get reading, this one is an almost guaranteed hook. Adults enjoy the series also, although they may shake their heads at his irresponsible ways. If you haven't read any of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, by Jeff Kinney, I suggest you do. You'll see why it is still the most popular series of books with kids.

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A Tale For Kids Who Like Creepy: Coraline (A Book Review)

Recommended for ages 9-12

If you are the type who likes creepy, bizarre, and mysterious tales with a bit of black magic thrown in, you will enjoy Coraline, by Neil Gaiman. If nightmares give you the heebie-jeebies, you'd best leave this book to other kids.

Coraline lives in a house with some very other strange inhabitants. On the floor above her and her parents, there is a crazy old man with a big mustache. He says he is training a mouse circus, but he won't let anyone see it. He says they are not yet ready and rehearsed.

Downstairs, Miss Spink and Miss Forcible live with a number of aging Highland terriers. They say they used to be famous actresses.

There are a few weeks left before school starts again, and Coraline is bored. So she sets out to explore their new house. She explores the garden and ponds and finds an old well.

But when a rainy day keeps her inside, there is nothing else to do. Her father is working on the computer and has no time for her. Neither does her mother.

She goes into the drawing room, where there is a locked door that her mother says goes nowhere. Her mother gets the key, opens the door, and sure enough, there stands a brick wall. It was build to separate their side of the house from the empty side next door.

One day Coraline is again bored and opens that same door. This time it opens onto a corridor. She enters and discovers a mirror image of her own side of the house. But here her "other mother" has cooked delicious roasted chicken and potatoes. Her real mother hardly cooks at all. Here her father is happy to see her, whereas at home, he doesn't even look at her when he says hello.

In this "other house," her room is full of wonderful toys. At home she has almost nothing and is always bored. What could be better than this other house?

But slowly Coraline realizes all is not well. Her other mother says she loves her and wants her to stay. When she captures Coraline's real parents, she knows she must free them.

This is an eerie, mysterious story that is full of things that go bump in the night, drams that scare you, ghosts, and other oddities. Children who like a bit of a scare will enjoy this.

If you're prone to getting nightmares after you read something, this is not the book for you. But if you are a fan of movies like Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, you'll appreciate the creepy and twisted atmosphere and characters in this book, Coraline, by Neil Gaiman.

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African American Children's Books That Inspire and Empower

You don't have to wait until African American history month to learn about and celebrate the lives of powerful men and women who contributed greatly to the well-being of all Americans. Not sure where to start? Here are some really amazing books that demonstrate the power of leadership and courage in the face of tremendous obstacles. We've often heard the names Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, and these amazing women led complex, challenging lives and rose above hardship.

Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride
By: Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrated By Brian Pinkney

Her story is layered, and you may be reluctant to share a book on slavery with a young child. However, this book does a great job of engaging young minds through a vibrant retelling of Sojourner's life. She was a towering figure with an electrifying voice, and when she spoke, people paid attention. Sojourner knew that no one would hand out equal rights, and she traveled across the country fighting for equality.

We're inspired by her bravery and courage in the face of death threats and other indignities. Acclaimed children's author Andrea Davis Pinkney takes her story and makes it accessible for young children in the 4-6 age range. By doing so, she ensures that Sojourner's rich history will be carried forward to future generations.

Who Is Harriet Tubman?
By: Yona Zeldis McDonough
Illustrated by Nancy Harrison

This lively and engaging story takes us on a journey through the life of Harriet Tubman. She was a leader, freedom fighter, and courageous African American woman who stood for something larger than herself. As she found her way to freedom, she personified the notion that "we are our brother's keeper" and risked her life countless times to bring others to freedom as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Ms. Tubman's bravery saved lives and kept families intact. She is a remarkable example of fortitude and fearlessness.

A Picture Book of Sojourner Truth
By: David Adler
Illustrated By: Gershom Griffith

This easy-to-read picture book can be enjoyed by young children from 4-6 who read independently. The book focuses on Sojourner's childhood and how she grew up to make such a huge difference for African Americans, women and all Americans. Children will put this book down feeling proud and inspired to prepare themselves for leadership.

The Story of Martin Luther King, Jr.
By: Johnny Ray Moore

We've heard the story of Dr. King before, but this book makes his story accessible to the youngest of readers in a easy-to-hold board book. He touched so many lives with his bravery, courage and unbreakable spirit, and this book ensures that his legacy lives on. It's never too early for kids to begin to learn about hard work, integrity and leadership--all hallmarks of Dr. King's life.

These great books for children would be a perfect addition to any bookshelf as these pages are filled with heart, courage and leadership--an example for African American children and all children.

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Book Review of Peter Pan by JM Barrie

Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up, was originally created as a play which premiered in London on December 27, 1904. The story was later on published as a novel with the title "Peter and Wendy" and through the following years several adaptations had been made including a Broadway musical, ballet, and animated film.

I have to confess that this is the first time I have read the story although Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell and Hook are fairly familiar to me, due to the movie, Hook (1991), which I got to watch with my siblings back in high school. It was one wonderful family bonding moment the reason why the movie stayed in my memory until now.

Peter Pan and his adventures at Neverland is a fascinating read. The original story in print was more absorbing, extra interesting, than the movie because I was able to learn more about each of the characters - the seemingly unlikeable Mr. Darling, the very affectionate Mrs. Darling, the ever so watchful Nana, the motherly Wendy, the always arguing brothers John and Michael, the forgetful Peter, the insecure Captain Hook, the jealous Tinkerbell, and the predatory crocodile. That is why in my hierarchy of interests, reading always goes first from watching movies.

Written as a children's story, Peter Pan the novel tells of the beauty of youth and the wonders of childhood. The mermaids, fairies, and magic indeed play a great part in a child's life and imagination. As a child, dreams were a big deal to me. Some were pleasant and some were recurring nightmares. And I had also dreamt of flying, like the flying that Wendy and her brothers did, though I had not dreamt of Neverland. Were it not that all children, at some time or another, wish they could fly? In fact, as an adult, I still dream of flying over treetops and oceans and mountains.

More than a story about being a child, Peter Pan is also a story about growing up. It tells the difference between what is real and what is a fantasy. More than ever, it tells of the virtue of choice. Wendy chose to grow up, Peter chose to live as a carefree boy.

I especially love the last chapter, "When Wendy Grew Up". Life in its normal cycle went on for Wendy, who chose to live in reality where she grew up and had a little girl of her own, whom Peter from time to time (if he doesn't forget!) visited and took with him to Neverland for spring cleaning. And I like how Wendy, all grown up and motherly, still has those moments where she could look back and think, with satisfaction, of what a wonderful childhood she had back then. Didn't we all wanted to do just like that? To grow up and then look back with fondness at how we had firmly believed in fairies and magic and flying?

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Find Out Who Done It in the Peanut Butter Caper

A new children's book has just been released. The book, that will enchant animal lovers and children, is a 'Who done it?' for young ones. Peanut butter is a most delicious treat for children, could animals think so too? You bet you'll find out in this delightful book for young ones and the young at heart.

Helen VanEck Holub is not a new comer to writing books. She was already a published author with two books, when she decided that she had many tales that children were in awe over. Her best critics, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have always enjoyed her stories to the fullest.This fact made her come to the realization that all children from all over the world would love to read or be read your stories. The Peanut Butter Caper was a wonderful way of starting this new relationship with all sorts of children.

The Peanut Butter caper is an enchanting book that is in full interior color. Graphic artist Helen McManus, helps bring this remarkable story to life with pictures sure to keep children wanting to turn the pages. McManus has designed the cover for this colorful and exciting book sure to catch any child's eyes. The big yellow pail of peanut butter surrounded by animals will certainly get attention.

This very entertaining book is one that children will adore. Animals and the big pail of peanut butter will keep any child turning the pages to find out what happens next. This is a delightful story to read to very young children and older ones will read it themselves with a desire to know the answer to the question, 'Who done it?' See little faces light up with joy at the sight of this book!

Young ones and lovers of the animal kingdom will be thrilled with this true story. Give the gift of reading to a child and the child will learn to read to you with this charming 'Caper.'

Daveda Gruber, owner of Publishing with Passion and Poetry with Passion as well as, author of fourteen books including: "Magical Moments," "Bruised but Not Beaten," "Death of a Daughter," "Steelers Cheers," "Red Barn and Other Short Stories," "Cling to the Magic Mere Mortals," "The Blonde Who Found Jesus," "A Blonde View of Life," "Tales of a Tiny Dog," "More Tales of a Tiny Dog," "Castle of Ice," "More Snapshots from my Family Album" and "Snapshots a Blonde View." I am a professional graphic art designer and I produce professional video productions.

Daveda@Roadrunner.com

publishingwithpassion@gmail.com

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Book Review on "The Bar Code Tattoo," By Suzanne Weyn

**Basic Information about the Book**

Title: The Bar Code Tattoo
Author: Suzanne Weyn
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.,
Copyright Date: September, 2004
Number of Pages: 250

Geared towards...

Who should read this?
The average age group is anywhere from advanced 6th graders to about a highschool junior or senior (as a no-stress, easy read)
Language: No obscenities, slang, etc.
Violence Level: Little to none

**Characters, Setting, and Theme**

1) Kayla Reed - A 17 year old girl who refuses to receive the bar code tattoo. Kayla is a member of DECODE, a tattoo resistance group.

Mfumbe - A 17 year old boy, also a member of DECODE.
Zeakeal - A 18 year old boy. He lives on his own, without parental guidance. The creator and head of DECODE.

2) The main setting of the story is in the United States. The year is 2025. You can draw many connections between Kayla's world and our current world. Despite advanced technology, a slight differ in government, and an over powering company presumably controlling all of America's goods, the world Kayla resides in is very similar to ours.

3) The main theme of this novel, in my opinion, is conformity V.s individuality.

**The Plot**

Don`t worry, I didn't give the ending away!

It's 2025 and Kayla Reed is just on the verge of turning 17. Most teens can`t wait to turn 17, because that`s the age to get THE best thing on earth; The bar code tattoo! Yet, Kayla is not so sure. After her father commits suicide, though, she decides against the tattoo. Citizens are committing suicide and doing outrageous things to remove the tattoo, and Kayla begins to suspect that there is more to the tattoo than meets the eye of the consumer. A name, age, and blood type couldn't possibly be a motive to kill yourself!

When Kayla`s best, let alone only friend, Amber, gets the tattoo, Amber`s family is thrown into turmoil and are forced to leave town. After Amber leaves, Kayla is befriended by a resister group, called DECODE. Kayla starts to deeply emerge herself into their missions, and continues to search for answers.

Global-1 is gaining control over society, and has passed a law that makes the bar code tattoo a law. Kayla is finding it increasingly hard to survive. If you try and pay with a card, everyone throws a fit, and since cash has been obsolete since 2013, it`s the card or the code. No exceptions!

The code has seemingly gotten to her mother, and when her mother is finally driven over the edge; It`s time for Kayla to flee, for her life. Kayla packs up, and heads out on her journey to the Adirondack Mountains, where the code isn't law, yet. Kayla also wants to meet up with Eutonah, who is an avid code resister. Eutonah also teaches embrace of the earth and your own self power, and Kayla is eager to learn. During Kayla`s long journey to the mountains and Eutonah, she is actively being hunted down by Global-1 and Tattoo Gen. While making her way to the mountains, she discovers Mfumbee, a previous friend and member of DECODE. She discovers that she isn't the only one running away, and isn't the only one who has lost all hope of abolishing the tattoo.

Question to think about...

Would you get the bar code, knowing what they contain?

**Reviewer Opinions**

My opinion, Best & Worst, and who to recommend it to

1) My opinion of the book, personally, was a favorable one. I really liked the book. It`s theme was very powerful, and was a problem a majority of us face at one point in our lives or another. Even though the conformity issue was magnified in the book, all of us experience an issue like this. The author's style of writing was third-person limited. I personally liked the way the author wrote the story. It was nice to know Kayla`s story, and had it not been written knowing Kayla's point of view, you would not have gotten her story, or at least not as in-depth, as well as her thoughts and reactions.

2) I think the best part of the book is when Kayla finally finds Eutonah. I think this was uplifting. I suppose that the thought of finding your savior when you have lost all of your hope is a uplifting thought, which is why I think I chose this as the best part of the book. The worst part of the book, emotionally, was when Kayla goes through the tragic death of her mother. Kayla attempts to stop it and in the interim of this, she burns off her hair and suffers from a slew of burns.

3) Another literary work that reminds me of this novel is Frank Hubert's "Dune" series, a science fiction book packed with political themes and messages, just like The Bar Code Tattoo.

4) I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in political science fiction. The author has a very interesting concept that she has wrapped the book around, and it really reels you in! You just don`t want to put it down! Anyone looking for an intriguing read should read The Bar Code Tattoo!

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American Indian Fairytales - A Forgotten Native American Children's Classic

Initially published in 1895 and again in 1907, American Indian Fairytales is a collection of Native American folklore especially compiled for children and young adults.

The author, Margaret Compton, drew on authentic lore and anthropological research from a wide variety of sources of the day, including the Smithsonian Institute and US government reports. Considering the difficulty and duration of trans-continental travel in the day (the Trans-Continental railroad was only completed in 1869) and the relatively young age of the United States, it's a wonder she managed to collate so much material in such a short space of time. Markedly, she retains some of the most colourful story elements, such as grotesque monsters and cross-dressing characters, which some other authors and publishers of her day (and possibly ours) might have omitted under the banner of Political Correctness.

She further maintained the authenticity of the works by sprinkling throughout stereotypical language references of the time, like "squaw," "papoose," and "wigwam". The late Sir George Webbe Dasent, the famous translator and editor of mainly Norse and Viking sagas and tales, once wrote "the person who, in such a work, wilfully changes or softens, is as guilty as they "who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." Therefore we can thank Margaret Compton for her perseverance in retaining the stories and tales as she saw them. Something that could not have been easy for a female author in her day.

Originally published under the title Snow Bird and the Water Tiger and other American Indian Tales, this volume includes 17 stories of Magical Feathers, Fighting Hares, Islands of Skeletons, Great Wizards, Bended Rocks, Snow bird and Water Tiger, Star Maidens, Living Statues and more. In addition, and interestingly, a description of the Iagoo, the narator of the stories in this book, also waits within. Each story is embellished with a decorative capital and there are at least 10 exquisite illustrations.

American Indian Fairytales also provides an interesting window into the attitudes of the past; as such we encourage readers to think upon how attitudes have changed in the century since this book was originally published. So join with us and journey back to a time when these stories were told around spitting and crackling campfires, to the delight of young and old alike.

This book is one of seven dedicated to raising funds for the American Indian Education Fund. 33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to this institution.

For more info, a table of contents or to view a sample of the interior, go to http://www.abelapublishing.com/IndianTales.html

John Halsted is CEO of Abela Publishing and an out-and-out fan of fairytales.

He founded Abela Publishing as a Social Enterprise and specialises in publishing new and old Children's stories, fairytales, folklore, myths and legends.

33% of Abela Publishing's profit is donated to charities around the world.
To see which charities are currently supported, go to http://www.abelapublishing.com/charity.html

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A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements (A Book Review)

Every spring at Hardy Elementary School, the fifth graders, for the last big event before they go to middle school, spend one week in the woods. This is the sixteenth year of the program, and Mr. Maxwell, the science teacher, directs it. But a new kid in town, with super-rich parents, looks like he's going to be trouble. They have to deal with each other in A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements.

Mark Chelmsley didn't want to move to a small town in New Hampshire. But his father knew that business was business, and a promise is a promise, and Mark would only be at this new school for less than half the school year anyway. So he might as well just get through it.

His parents bought the old Fawcett farm for more than two million dollars, then spent another couple million having it renovated in a huge way. And in this small town, big money was big news.

Mr. Maxwell knew a slacker when he saw one in his class. And Mark was definitely a slacker. He dressed nicely, sat at the back of the room, and didn't pay attention. He didn't even try to.

When Mr. Maxwell found out his parents were the rich people, he wasn't surprised. He can't stand "environmentally insensitive, buy-the-whole-world rich folks." But the only people he can't stand more are their lazy, spoiled kids.

But Mark isn't trying to have a bad attitude. He's bored. All his life, he's been sent to the best private schools, with few students, and he's learned a lot. In fact, most of what he hears in school is stuff he's learned already.

But when he realizes he's acting like a stuck-up jerk, he decides to try to make friends and be a better student in his classes.

Mr. Maxwell isn't buying it, though. Mark has already been a show-off, know-it-all who ruined one of his classroom activities. So Mr. Maxwell is going to show Mark that his life can be pretty miserable from now on.

By the time the week in the woods happens, Mark has made a few friends, but Mr. Maxwell is still not being nice to him. Soon after they arrive at the campsight, a mistake causes Mark to run away, into the woods. Things soon get out of hand, and Mark and Mr. Maxwell end up relating to each other in a very unexpected way.

Kids who like nature, hiking, camping, or feel like they don't fit in at school will enjoy this book. Andrew Clements does an excellent job of presenting both Mark's and Mr. Maxwell's points of view. A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements is an easy read that will keep you wanting to find out what happens.

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Dyslexia and Horatio Humble

Title: Horatio Humble Beats the Big "D"
Author: Margot Finke
Illustrator: Ellen Gurak
ISBN: 13: 978-1-61633-101-6
eBook ISBN: 13: 978-1-61633-102-3
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing

Horatio Humble Beats the Big "D" is a children's rhyming picture book that tackles dyslexia. For those who are unfamiliar with the term dyslexia, according to the Mayo Clinic, it is a brain impairment that hinders the "brain's ability to translate written images received from your eyes into meaningful language." And, it is the most common learning disability in children.

Margot Finke, in her usual insightful and playful way, shows the academic and emotional affects that dyslexia carries with it. Horatio, like all children with dyslexia, wants to read like his peers, but just can't. "Something was wonky within his poor head, so words in his books stayed a mystery instead."

The author captures the emotional impact a child feels when he can't read like others, which leads to: the need for special resources, tutoring, low self-esteem, and even anxiety.

With vivid full page illustrations Finke brings Horatio through the process of 'special class' and shows the outcome that can be attained with proper instruction. "Words came unscrambled and flowed smooth and clear. "

I've mentioned it before, and I'll do so again, I'm a fan of Margot Finke's work. She has a unique talent for approaching topics that children can use help with, such as moving away from familiar surroundings and friends, as in her book Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind, and now with dyslexia. What's wonderful about Finke's books is she addresses these issues with lighthearted rhyming fun.

Horatio Humble Beats the Big "D" is a book every parent of a child who is struggling to read should get. It's important for children to know they're not alone in their struggles, and that dyslexia is a problem that CAN be overcome.

Included at the end of the story is a resource page that provides information on dyslexia and also offers links to pertinent articles, along with book suggestions. Listed in the information is the advice that encourages parents of children who have or are suspect of having dyslexia to let their children know it is not a sign of a lack of intelligence. These children should be told that actors/celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey and Magic Johnson overcame dyslexia, as did Bill Gates and Albert Einstein.

According to statistics, one in five students (around 20% of the population) has a language based learning disability. And, less than one-third of the children with reading disabilities receive school services to help with their disability.

Reading Horatio Humble Beats the Big "D" with your dyslexic child is a valuable strategy to help with your child's self-esteem and motivation.

For more on writing, ghostwriting, freelance writing, and promotion visit:
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Book Review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Middle schooler and middle child Greg Heffley is your typical underachieving, lazy, bad-influence kind of kid that the other parents want their kids to stay the heck away from. So that's exactly why his journal, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney, is such a hit with kids and adults alike. It's so much fun to read about all the trouble he gets himself into.

Straight off the bat, he tells you it's a journal, not a diary. When his mother went to buy him one, he specifically told her NOT to get one that said diary. So this is his journal, and don't expect to see him writing "Dear Diary" this or that any time soon.

He writes: "Thursday. I'm having a seriously hard time getting used to the fact that summer is over and I have to get out of bed every morning to go to school."

His older brother Rodrick tricked him one day by re-setting his alarm clock, dressing up in his school clothes, and waking him up in the middle of the night during the summer. He told him he had slept all the way through summer and it was time to go to school.

Greg fell for it, dragged himself downstairs to eat cereal, and only realized it was a joke when his father came down to scold him for making such a racket. When they went to chew out Rodrick, he was in bed, snoring. "I'm sure Dad thinks I've got a screw loose or something," Greg writes.

Once school starts, Greg is pretty disappointed to find he's been placed in the Gifted reading group, "because that just means a lot of extra work." He had tried to get put into the Easy group when they did the screening at the end of last year. He acted like he couldn't read the word, "book." But he figures his mother is real tight with the principal. So she probably stepped in to make sure he got into the Gifted group again.

For Halloween, he and best friend, Rowley (an easy-going boy) charge the little kids money to come into their Haunted House. It's really just the two of them screaming on either side of the kid under the bed. When one of the little kids curls up into a ball and refuses to come out, Rowley's father put an end to their Haunted House plans.

When Greg refused to fess up to some trouble he caused, and Rowley gets blamed instead, their friendship is in danger. And along the way, they have all sorts of adventures trying to make money, avoid work, and have fun.

The whole book is full of stick figure drawings that illustrate what's going on. Kids and adults alike enjoy the humor and crazy antics. This is perfect to get reluctant readers to actually read something for a change. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney is the first of a very successful children's graphic novel series, and it looks like Greg won't be stopping any time soon.

Find more great books for kids
For more books for reluctant readers plus book reviews and recommendations, go to http://greatbooksforkids.info/

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Book Review: Heidi, by Johanna Spyri

Heidi is such a perennial classic that it's easy to assume that it must be somewhat stale, tired and overly familiar. It's place in popular culture has become almost ubiquitous, with umpteen movie versions made, most notably starring the queen of cute, Shirley Temple. Yet books don't get to be classics for no reason, and Heidi proves to be as refreshing as the high mountain air that is the novel's restorative motif.

Plot Synopsis of Heidi

The plot of Heidi is pretty straight forward. A young orphan girl, Heidi, who has been looked after by her aunt Deta, is brought to live with her reclusive and somewhat grumpy grandfather. Deta must offload her niece as she must earn money by going to work for a family in Frankfurt, the Sesemanns.

Almost immediately Heidi manages to disarm her grandfather with her delightful innocence and simple joy of life. Heidi also meets and makes friends with Peter, a young goat-herd.

Three years later Deta returns, and it is decided to bring Heidi to Frankfurt to help 12-year-old Clara Sesemann, who is a cripple and cannot walk. While Heidi makes immediate friends with Clara, she finds herself at odds with the strict housekeeper, Miss Rottenmeier. Heidi uses her time productively, and learns to read, but is soon feeling homesick. This homesickness turns into a real physical degeneration, and Heidi becomes pale and thin. It is decided that it's now best to send Heidi back to live with her grandfather.

Of course the mountain air and daily dose of fresh goat's milk (which tastes of cinnamon and sugar, we are told), soon sets Heidi to rights. Her grandfather is also happier than ever with Heidi's return, and even descends down the mountain and makes friends with the villagers. On doctor's orders, Clara is told to visit Heidi, in the hope that this will help with her poor health.

All goes well, until Peter, the goad-herd, becomes jealous of the close intimacy between Clara and Heidi. In a fit of rage, he pushes Clara's wheelchair down the mountain. The good that results from this dark deed is that Clara finds the will and the means to walk.

Peter the goat-herd suffers all sorts of guilt, but when the truth finally outs he finds himself the beneficiary of Clara's grandmother's Christian values. She promises him a weekly stipend.

Main Themes of Heidi

Heidi's main theme is the restorative and healing power of nature. Up on the mountain peak where the grandfather lives, all is pure. The air is crisp and invigorating, and the discerning goats saunter about picking the finest herbs to eat, thereby ensuring they produce the choicest milk. The sun always shines and it never seems to rain. Every moment Heidi spends on the alp is a guarantee of mental and physical health, qualities that anyone who ascends can enjoy.

A subset to this benevolent nature is a Christian morality that runs right throughout the book. Heidi's first and most important moral lessons are about the inherent goodness of the Christian God. When Heidi learns to read, the first things she reads are Bible stories. She ends up almost an accidental preacher when she reads from her story book the tale of the Prodigal son to her grandfather. This has such a stirring effect that the old man is prompted to abandon his reclusive lifestyle and descend the mountain to make friends with the village people.

By the novel's end, the two themes - God and benevolent nature - have been virtually wound up into one. The healing powers of nature - sunshine, fresh herbs and sweet goat's milk - are really the sublime workings of God. The reader who can't accept these basic precepts, or can't at least appreciate their aesthetic sense, will struggle with Heidi.

Overall, the reason for the novel's ongoing appeal is its authenticity. Johanna Spyri in essence wrote Heidi as a hymn to her native Switzerland. A deep love of place is what most informs Heidi, with themes of religion and moral good built around an incorrputible nature. This is a Rousseauist view of nature, with all essentially benevolent and good, as opposed to a cruel, Sade-like nature, "red in tooth and claw" as the poet Tennyson characterised it.

Heidi, by Johanna Spyri. Published by Puffin Classics. ISBN-13: 978-0141322568

Chris Saliba is a book reviewer from Melbourne, Australia.

More of his book reviews can be read at: http://chrissalibabookreviews.blogspot.com/

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Book Review for The Runaway Dragon by Jimmy Mires

Have you ever gone on a quest to find a carnivorous reptile? Maybe a snake or an alligator? If that sounds strange, try looking for a dragon like Meg in "The Runaway Dragon", a book written by Jimmy Mires. In this story, a princess named Meg, has a pet dragon named Laddy. However, when Meg's dragon starts to grow up, he runs away for not being loved anymore. When Meg returns to find Laddy gone, she goes on a quest to find him with ten guards, and three friends named Dilly Cam and Lex, and they set off. But this is just the beginning of this enchanted story.

The Adventure
During Meg's adventure, she meets a huge stag who took her guards, a giant who took her friends, and an evil empress who is way too young to be an evil empress anyways. They take everything except for Meg, her magic scarf, and her magic carpet. Being trapped in a castle takes most of the stories events including drama, conflict and fighting. Meg loses track of his goal and stumbles into prison, where she is kept. She still remembers that she has to do tasks to get his friends back, and she remembers that she must find Laddy. Meg gains some experience of the outside world. But since she is young, she doesn't give up that easily. She eventually does find Laddy, though not in the way she had hoped.

What Does the Story Teach
This story teaches how to be trustful, forgiving, and acceptable. Before the adventure, Meg was stubborn, never thought a princess could be harmed, and always trying to get things right her own way. For example, when Dilly says," Don't drink the water!" Meg didn't listen and only to be later transformed into a squirrel. But later, when Dilly says," Those mushrooms are poisonous!" Meg did listen, and said, "Ok, let's try it your way; I'm sorry for not listening before". She stopped being an unreasonable person. The theme of this story is to trust others, and don't believe you are better than others because of your status, nor does Meg call Laddy her pet anymore. Meg also starts behaving and taking responsibilities.

This was my favorite book of all time. The mood changed from time to time, from happy to outraging. It was funny too. "Spinaches hair was like an ocean of noodles so large; Dilly had to swim through it". The author also includes parts from other well known fairy tales like "The Three Witches". This book is exciting, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys crazy, fairy tales.

(c)Copyrighted: You may freely republish this article as long as author bio and active hyperlinks are included.

Jacklyn Chen - Webmaster of Gift Ideas and Magazine Subscriptions

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Follifoot Farm Decodable Books - Blending Series Book 4 Review

Decodable phonic books are the main teaching resource used in schools throughout the UK when teaching children how to read. High quality phonic books should be written in line with UK Department of Education guidelines and should be published ideally with accompanying worksheets, CDs and other materials. Marlene Greenwood is the respected author and illustrator of the Jelly and Bean Series of phonic books. Hew new collections fall under her new brand "Follifoot Farm", where the Jelly and Bean characters feature with new friends in new surroundings.

There are five books in the Pig Family Blends series. Book 4 is entitled "Steps up the Hill". This series is aimed at children aged 5-6 depending upon ability. The story in this book follows immediately on from book 3 and the reader will, by now, be familiar with the family of pigs who form the main characters in this series. The pigs, Billy and Tom climb up some steps to the summit of a big hill. However, the grass is slippery and they fall down. They fall down the hill and their friends Milly and Tilly, who try to rescue them, also fall down. The story ends with the pigs upset at the bottom of the hill.

These phonic books are 100% decodable and use works up to phonic phase 4. The art of storytelling when constrained to certain words can be difficult, but it an art that Greenwood has truly mastered having published over 100 books in her career. The emotion and intrigue in each book encourages children to want to read on and far from reading being a chore, they will find it more of a pleasure.

The vocabulary used in this book includes: Phase 2: on, Tom, off, hill. Phase 3: them, that, bang. Phase 4: grip, skid, jump.

The vowel digraphs used include: "ee": see, "ow": down and "oo": look.

Overall, this is a charming collection of phonic books and it is easy to understand why both the Jelly and Bean and Follifoot Farm collections are used in schools throughout the UK and Japan.

To find out more about the full collection of Follifoot Farm Decodable Phonic Books or to place an order for your school, educational institution or home use please visit http://www.follifootfarm.co.uk/ today.

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Children Books That Are Great For Kids

There are many benefits to children books. A child that reads has a better shot or a higher chance at getting good grades in school than a child who doesn't. Children's books exposes our children to the world of books. A world where anything is possible. It is in this world that children learn to have fun while reading. When a child is having fun, it is highly likely that he will keep doing the thing that he is having fun with. Children books contain a lot of knowledge and facts. They are not just stories. They contain information about the world we live in. They contain facts about animals, information about musical instruments and information about the society we live in today.

One of the best children story books I've ever read was "D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths". This book is about various stories and various heroes in Greece. In is about myths and mythological creatures. You can learn a lot of things about Greeks, and the famous Greek mythologies through this book. It is a great source of adventure, fun and excitement for kids. Even adults can enjoy this particular book. If you haven't read it, it is never a bad time to start. I highly recommend people to read it.

The illustrations of "D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths" are amazing. They are very well done, and fit the stories very well. The stories are very easy to read and they feel very light that it doesn't feel too overwhelming. The adventure and excitement of the events that happens to the heroes will grip children and adults to keep reading this particular book until the end of the story. This children book is very fun, entertaining and very enjoyable. Most of the stories in this book made it to tv shows and motion pictures or movies to be exact. So the stories have been enjoyed by adults and children alike even after so many years have passed.

Children story books are a wonderful way to pass some time, and relax. Children books are also a valuable form of entertainment for adults and children. One of the things I think most parents should do is to read to a child a simple children story books. Children story books aren't complicated. They have many illustrations to help tell the story. So even if you can't read English, have a terrible English accent or if you can't read English very well, it is still ok since you can tell the story just by looking at the illustrations.

There are many more children books that are very fun to read. You can always come to my website to read more personalised children books.

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Aesop's Fables - A Great Book For Children

Books are just wonderful for children. Children also love to read books. They are a great source of entertainment, fun, and information about the world they live in. Kid's books can teach children various things about the world we live in. It can teach them the characteristics of animals, moral lessons, religious stories, read, write and even the sound of musical instruments. These are the many reasons why children love to read books. When I was a child, I really liked reading children's books. Stories meant for kids aren't heavy; they consist of illustrations and texts that tells the story. Even today, I still like to read children story books.

One of my most favorite books of all time is Aesop's fables. There are various children's books featuring Aesop's fables. The stories are very famous after all. Aesop's fables are all about animals with human characteristics. Sometimes they can even talk. Some animals or creatures are also make believe like dragons, wild beasts and etc. The stories are often very short and only contain 3 to 5 paragraphs of texts. However, this is enough to tell the story and to put emphasis on the point of the story.

Aesop's fables also feature a moral lesson in the end. The moral lesson makes sense and the story puts a lot of emphasis on the moral lesson. This is one of the reasons why kid's books featuring Aesop's fables are wonderful. The moral lessons can teach a child various things like living with integrity, being humble, lying is bad, and various other things. The stories are very good and very well done. It is hard to believe that these stories were told a long time ago and they were able to withstand the hand of time. The stories are still enjoyed today even after many generations have passed. Children from various countries and various ethnicity were able to enjoy these timeless and classic stories through children books.

I also like other kid's books although there are many books meant for kids in the world right now. There are just so many children book genres and different types of children's books that it is impossible to read them all. So it is really important to have recommendations from someone who knows a lot of good kid's books like me for example. There are many different children book genres like personalized children's books, myths, fairy tales, mysteries, legends, and etc. I know a couple of really good books from different popular genres.

There are many more children books that are very fun to read. You can always come to my website to read more books for children.

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Books You Can Read With Your Children

Thinking of a good bedtime storybook to read with your child? Tired of using the same old books to teach your child to read? How about looking up these popular titles that every child will enjoy reading!

The Story of Babar: The Little Elephant

This story has been passed down for 3 generations since it was published in 1931, and continues to capture the hearts of many young readers. The story tells about a little elephant, Babar, which becomes King after being educated by people in school. As children read about Babar, the kind and wise ruler who heads the other elephants, parents can encourage them to think about their future dreams and ambitions. To learn more about Babar, you can also read with your child other Babar books like Babar the King and Babar's Celesteville Games.

Happy Hippo, Angry Duck

Does your child love reading about animals? This board book written by bestselling author Sandra Boynton is certainly a hit with young readers. Questions like "Are you grumpy as a moose or excited as a dog?" allow young readers to learn about different animals, feelings and moods. Also, young readers will be attracted to the colorful illustrations throughout the book. Happy Hippo, Angry Duck is truly a delightful book that parents will enjoy reading alongside with their children.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Award-winning bestseller "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is also a great all-time favorite children's picture book that parents love reading to their children. This amusing story is about the growth and development cycle of a caterpillar and the food that the caterpillar eats. Besides being an interesting story, the book is also educational in teaching children the process of metamorphosis, where young caterpillars develop into adult beautiful butterflies. This great childhood book, published since 1969, will help to make bedtime reading sessions a lovely time for both you and your children.

Fox in Socks, Bricks and Blocks

For parents with adventurous young readers, this is one book that will bring about lots of laughter every reading session! Tongue twisters and rhymes in the bright and colorful Dr Seuss book create an exciting element for young readers as they pronounce rhyming words with speed. Children will also enjoy the interactive elements in the book with the feel tabs, where they can touch and feel items like "the scratchy brick" and "sticky blue goo". How about having a tongue-twister competition with your children while reading this fun book? Or letting your children to create their own rhymes? Come up with great ideas while reading this book with your children!

Revamp your bedtime storytelling sessions by reading with your children instead of reading to them! What better way to bond with your children by reading books and enjoying the beautiful illustrations in the books together? These books will certainly allow your reading sessions to be full of laughter and fun!

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Children's Books - The Giver by Lois Lowry

Recommended for ages 12 and older

Every now and then, a book comes along that makes you question what you consider to be normal in life. What if everything you considered normal - food, family, work, play - were all completely different, yet oddly familiar? Your imagination may start to work after reading the children's book, The Giver, by Lois Lowry.

Set in the future, the book takes place in a world where everything is perfect. There is no pain, no fear, and no war. There are no difficult choices to be made. Everything is decided for you. You are given clothes, assigned to a family unit, and follow rituals for telling of feelings and dreams.

When you are a One, you receive your name at the Naming Ceremony. Then your family unit can receive you. When you are a Nine, you receive a bicycle at the Ceremony.

Jonas is anxiously awaiting the Ceremony this year, when he will be a Twelve. At the Ceremony of Twelves, all of them will receive their assignments. The Committee of Elders has observed them over the past several years, determining what their strengths are.

What will they decide to assign to Jonas? He wonders as he waits for the fateful day.

He is assigned the most honored place in the community. He will receive the memories from the Giver. These are all the memories that have been taken so that the rest of the Community will not have to feel them. These are memories of joy, of the feeling of sunshine, of hunger, of agony, and of colors and cold.

Jonas is unsure he is suited for the job. He wonders why he was given that assignment, and begins to think it is unfair to have to shoulder the memories for everyone. But after he discovers the truth about the Release of a Newchild, he knows he cannot bear it any more. He and the Giver make plans that will change both of their lives forever.

This remarkable and thought-provoking novel by Lois Lowry won her a John Newberry Medal. It is awarded every year for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The world she has created in the book is one that is familiar enough to be believed, yet foreign enough to be discomforting. Kids will be drawn in by the unusual nature of Jonas's world, and their hearts will race as he sets out on his adventure. If you are feeling adventurous and bored, step into another world in this provocative children's book, The Giver, by Lois Lowry.

Want more childrens book reviews?
Find more great books for kids and childrens' book reviews at http://greatbooksforkids.info/

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Author Interview With Author, Nakesha Lowe

PBR: Today we are talking with Nakesha Lowe, author of Just Leave Me Alone, published by AuthorHouse and available on Amazon and other fine retailers. Thank you Nakesha for taking your time to speak with us.

NL: I should be thanking you. Pacific Book Review seems to have a fine reputation. I wish I would have known about you a long time ago.

PBR: Before we get into the message of your book, I would like to ask you about Irene Olds, the illustrator with such a fine talent for depicting your characters. How did you come about to work with Irene on this book?

NL: Irene olds is a professional illustrator that works with AuthorHouse. When she was the illustrator of my first book, I fell in love with her creativity. It's almost like she could feel the emotions of my manuscript. I knew then she was going to be my illustrator for my second book.

PBR: Whose idea was it to use the "mouse characters" as the theme for the illustrations?

NL: The idea to use mouse characters was mine. I know that children love animals. When I published my first book, "It's All About Me," I wasn't sure what kind of character would grab the eyes of children; but I think I made a good decision.

PBR: Now, concerning the theme of your book, you clearly make it known to parents that smothering your kids with overly controlling guidance can lead to hurt feelings and frustration. Tell us about how this has become your focus for writing this book.

NL: I rebelled against my mother also as a teen because I felt like she was too strict when it came to me and my sister. We couldn't ever go anywhere and do things like all the other kids. So, if I wanted to go somewhere or do something I would lie to her to get out the house, and hope she wouldn't find out the truth later.

PBR: Do you think when parents are overly protective of their children; it can have an adverse effect on the child's self-esteem and confidence?

NL: Definitely, my mother was very authoritative too. All she seemed to do was yell at me and my siblings. That in return destroyed my confidence and self expression. I'm doing that very same thing with my children. I realized that one day when I asked them, "Do you think I'm too hard on you guys?" They both said,"Sometimes." Not only did I feel like a terrible mother but I was so sad. As a child, I always said I would never treat my children the way my mother treated me, but the truth is I am just like her. That's when I realized my parenting attitude had to change or my relationship with my children would be in jeopardy in the future. Since then things have really changed.

PBR: I noticed in your book the disciplining parent was the mother, not the father. In one part you have the young boy ridiculed as a "Mamma's boy," and in another drawing, the father character was simply reading the newspaper on the couch, not interfering with the action of the mother sending the boy off to his room. Why have you chosen the maternal influence as being the overbearing parent?

NL: My children love to spend time with their dad, but when they come to me on the weekend they are so ready to go. Half of the time I don't get a goodbye or I love you, that hurts my feelings sometimes because their dad is more laid back and passive while I'm way more authoritative and a little too hard on them at times.

PBR: What are some are some of the ways you think parents can be less overprotective of their children?

NL: You can still be a parent and let your children have freedom to have their own space. Where they draw the line is totally up to them. I'm not an expert on parenting. I'm just speaking from my own experiences.

PBR: Obviously this is a problem with many families in our society. What would you like to see changed by people buying and reading your book?

NL: I want my books to bring parents closer with their children and have more open lines of communication with everything that's going on in their lives, even the bad things.

PBR: Now, in our post 9-1-1 society, with school shootings and kids carrying guns, gang influence and drug use by minors, do you feel the rules for parental protection are justified more than in past decades? Tell us more about your thoughts where the parents should draw the line with being too smothering?

NL: I don't condone violence in any situations. I am a single parent of two children. I have been very strict with them practically all of their lives. You have to let children have some kind of freedom at some point, but of course not enough to break rules of society and get into trouble. Lots of children have parents that are overbearing, and sooner or later that child will rebel; start hanging with the wrong crowds, lie to you, and get in trouble at school. I am speaking from experience on the giving and receiving end. My son is twelve years old and is turning thirteen this year. He will be officially a teenager. Wish me luck!

PBR: You do lovely work. Would you like to make any additional comments?

NL: Thank you very much. I know my books are a little unusual, but they are also innovative and humorous. Every writer has their own style.

PBR: Again, Just Leave Me Alone is beautifully illustrated and printed in a large format ideal for children's libraries. We wish you the most success with your new book and hope it changes the lives of many families for the better by having them learn the lessons you so artfully expressed.
NL: I hope to help a lot of people, especially children that have problems with self expression. Self expression is creativity from the heart and that's what my books are based on.

Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin

Gary Sorkin is the Senior Editor for Pacific Book Review. Please visit Pacific Book Review at:
http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

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