REVIEW: Nikki and Deja: Substitute Trouble

Date:                                   8/11/13

Title:                                    Nikki and Deja: Substitute Trouble     

Author:                               Karen English 

ISBN 13:                              978-0547615653

Pages:                                 112

Publisher:                          HMH Books for Young Readers

Cover:                                  Paperback

Rating:                                2 Stars

I’ve read and reviewed several of the books in the Nikki and Deja Series and most of them were good. I’ve recommended many of them to ethnic children. However, this latest installment had me wondering if the author is tired of the series, because it was not as well written or interesting as the other books in the series. I’m not sure how far Karen English will carry on this series, but I sure hope the next book is better than this one but as good as her other Nikki and Deja books. 

BLOG TOUR: Young Chefs w/ Christina Dymock

About the Author

Christina Dymock graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Public Relations.

She has been published in Woman’s World Magazine and several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and she is the author of 101 Things to do With Popcorn. She resides in Central Utah with her husband and four children. You can follow their cooking adventures at teachingyoungchefs.blogspot.com.

About the Book

Kids in the kitchen don’t have to make a mess—as long as they know what they’re doing! Teaching your children how to cook can be daunting, especially when you don’t know where to start. Wipe away your worries with this cookbook made specifically for kids.

Inside you’ll find tips for a variety of cooking techniques, a glossary for common cooking terms, and a book boiling over with recipes written for children such as Peanut Butter Morning Cake, Bobby’s Pork Chops, Pirate Eggs, and Banana Tacos. Along with interesting trivia and a section for needed tools, each recipe outlines which stages require adult help, and each process is broken down into simple, easy-to-follow steps.

Author of 101 Things to Do with Popcorn, Christina Dymock knows the adventures kids can find in the kitchen. Spending cooking time together can only help family relationships. So teach your children the skills found in Young Chefs, and be amazed that your new favorite meals came from the smallest hands.

Look for the Literary Wonders! and The Author's Hideaway review of this fun filled cookbook for children, tomorrow on Review Wednesday!

REVIEW: Lone Bean by Chudney Ross

Date:                 3/20/13

Title:                  Lone Bean

Author:              Chudney Ross

ISBN 13:           978-0061660115

Pages:             208

Publisher:         Amistad

Cover:              Paperback

Rating:              4 Stars

Chrysanthemum "Lone" Bean is the youngest of three girls. Her father is a music teacher and her mother is a ob-gyn nurse. The summer is coming to an end. Lone Bean is excited about seeing her best friend, Carla and starting the third grade. The excitement is short lived. This year will be full of surprises.

Lone Bean is a quick read that illustrates some of the issues third graders experience. This would be an excellent book for a parent and child to read together.

REVIEW: Nikki and Deja Wedding Drama by Karen English

Date:                 3/20/13

Title:                  Nikki and Deja Wedding Drama

Author:              Karen English

ISBN 13:           978-0547615646

Pages:              12

Publisher:         Clarion Books

Cover:              Paperback

Rating:              3 Stars

Nikki and Deja are best friends. Their teacher is getting married has has two invitations to give out. She has a drawing the the girls won. They are excited and looking forward to attending but one experiences some hard times. Will they both be in attendance?

This is my first read by Karen English. It is part of series but can be read as a stand alone. This wouldn't necessarily appeal to little boys. It's a quick read I would recommend.

REVIEW - Where's Leopold? Your Pajamas Are Showing by Schmitt, Michel-yves

Date:                 12/12/12

Title:                  Where’s Leopold? Your Pajamas Are Showing

Author:               Michel-yves Schmitt

ISBN 13:            978-1467708715

Pages:                40

Publisher:           Graphic Universe

Cover:                Electronic Galley

Rating:               3 Stars

Leopold doesn’t want to go to school, and with the exception of his underwear, he wakes up invisible. His big sister, Celine, doesn’t believe it fully until she’s accused of eating her mother’s cake—that was actually eaten by the invisible Leopold.

Together, Leopold and Celine use his super power to play pranks on the kids at school. However, Celine is left looking silly and crazy. Leopold, then begins playing pranks on his family and having fun in the process.

I realize that this is book #1 in the Where’s Leopold series, but I was a bit confused at the way the book ended. The illustrations were okay and at 40 pages, this book is an easy read. I did like the activity at the end of the book that challenges its reader’s attention to detail, memory and concentration. And, even though this book ended abruptly, it is a good thing that the author introduces book #2 at the end.