Sunday, December 28, 2014

Review for Behold! The Dinosaurs by Dustin Harbin

Behold, the Dinosaurs!: Leporello
Behold, The Dinosaurs! (Leporello) by Dustin Harbin
Nobrow Press
November 11th, 2014
ISBN-10: 1907704949
ISBN-13: 978-1907704949
Ages 6-12 years old
20 Pages

 Leporello Comic   Animals    Fossils

Can you name 101 dinosaurs off the top of your head? How about the longest? Dustin Harbin revisits some of the most awe-inspiring dinosaurs to roam the earth in the Leporello format, a simple but beautifully illustrated infographic book that unravels 6.5 feet long. Dinosaurs who lived in the Paleozoic to the Mesozoic eras are shown. The dinosaur’s names, length, period, order or group it lived in, and location around the globe is listed in boxes by the dinosaurs. The illustrations also show some of the dinosaurs who were around first and how they evolved over time.

Though this isn’t a story filled with text, it is a visual story that children who love dinosaurs are going to enjoy as they scour each illustration for dinosaurs they know, and learn about dinosaurs they don’t. The author didn’t cover every single dinosaur that existed in the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras, but he did cover a healthy portion of well known and unknown dinosaurs to delight the reader. The only quibble is the description boxes for each dinosaur. At times there were a little cluster of both dinosaurs and boxes and it was hard to tell which description belonged to which dinosaur, a line from the box to the dinosaur would have clarified that, otherwise this infographic book is a true treat for children and adults who love to learn about dinosaurs.

Dustin Harbin is a cartoonist who lives in North Carolina. He is well known in the alternative comics scene for his Diary Comics published by Koyama Press. His favorite dinosaur is—of course—the Stegosaurus.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Review for Woof by Dakota Douglas





Book Description

October 29, 2013
WOOF is a magical tale for ages 7 plus about a friendship between an unusual dog and a boy struggling to fit in. Jeremy Turner is the new boy at school. He’s shy and struggles to make friends. When he follows his classmates to the park, the last thing he expects is to be off on a freaky adventure. But when he meets a stray dog, weird things start to happen. The pair share an unusual secret that will put Jeremy in danger if it leaks out. An ambitious scientist is determined to use Jeremy to get 15 minutes of fame and nasty crooks will go to any lengths to keep their own secret. Can Jeremy stop them? If not, will he ever see his family and friends again? Kids & dog lovers of all ages will enjoy this action-packed fantasy tale filled with humour and suspense. A great middle grade read for adults and children to get their teeth into and enjoy together.



  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 29, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 149354196X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1493541966


Review:

“Woof” by Dakota Douglas is a delightful book to spark a child’s imagination. Jeremy and his family just moved to Castlebridge. His parents are lawyers and work long hours. Jeremy often feels alone, as most children who move do until they make friends. One day at the park he passes by some children from his school. They are going to play soccer. Jeremy loves to play soccer but one of the children thinks he is stuck up so doesn't give him a chance. Jeremy feels more alone then ever, until a dog comes up to him. Always wanting a dog, Jeremy and him became fast friends. But the dog is a special dog and after hearing Jeremy's wish that he would rather be a dog than a human, the dog makes the wish come true. They change bodies, like in the movie Freaky Friday, and experience the others life. When Jeremy realizes that the grass is not greener on the other side, and in fact much worse, he wishes to be human again. But can he help save them both and discover some inner purpose when he helps catch some nasty crooks?  

This 192 page chapter book is a story with a great message. Children who have moved will be able to relate to the character's plight. They will also enjoy the twists and turns in the story that are woven in a fantasy way. The chapters are only a few pages long so is appropriate for young readers 7-11 years of age. There are also a few pictures. These are simple and sweet, though at times the kindness of the character pictures doesn't always match up with the characters true ambitions but they do give a good representation. 

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Interview with Jimmy Olsen for Things in Ditches-A Murder Mystery Novel

Come and join me as I talk with author Jimmy Olsen about his novel Things in Ditches -A Murder Mystery Novel on Stories From Unknown Authors http://blogtalkradio.com/storiesfromunknownauthors at 1pm EST today.





 Cover


Summary:
"Vicky Johnson's killer rolled onto his right side, drew his knees up under the warm covers and cautiously peeked through the darkness at the crisp digits of the clock-radio counting his last moments on earth, death waiting patiently for him to shower and dress. The secret he thought, is not to open your eyes and let the world in.
"So begins the story of Dutch Cleland, a man with a hidden past and a future about to explode in his face. A seemingly average man whose love for two women drives him to such extremes that deception, even murder and suicide are no longer unthinkable."

 
 
  • File Size: 672 KB
  • Print Length: 312 pages
  • Publisher: Hoffman House Press (October 2, 2010)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B0045OUHSM



  • Other Books:

    Cover1          poison makers


     

    Wednesday, December 3, 2014

    #RRBC Member of the Month for Milele Safari: An Eternal Journey


    MEMBER OF THE MONTH
    DECEMBER, 2014
    JAN HAWKE
    I was born in 1958 in Plymouth, Devon to the best parents in the world who are still thankfully with us…(in spirit, in my father’s case) who went on to present me with three more sisters.  We weren’t too well off to start with, but my father was a talented sign-writer and maker and ended up with his own successful business.  We grew up surrounded by paint and paper and so we all loved to draw and make things.  We were all pretty good at it.  I used to draw for my younger sisters:  characters from games we used to play and cowboys and horses were popular themes, as well (we inherited Dad’s Wild West fixation).  Our childhood was pretty stable and though we all got into the usual childhood scrapes, the error of our ways were gently pointed out to us.  We were taught that treating others as you would like to be treated yourself was the sensible way to be happy in life.  It still works, too, Mum and Dad, so thank you more than I can express.
    Jan is the author of Milele Safari:  An Eternal Journey and she also loves writing poetry.
    She’d love to have you visit her on her blog;  Follow her on Twitter @JanHawke , as well asFacebook.


    Jan  is one of those uber-supportive members here at Rave Reviews Book Club!  You will find her tweets all over the place for everrrrryyyybody!   She is very deserving of this award and she will also receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card!  Please support our MEMBER OF THE MONTH by picking up a copy of either of her books listed below, if you can, supporting her on Social Media and by all means, tweet, re-tweet and share this page thru the month of December in honor of her! @JanHawke

    Monday, December 1, 2014

    Review for Fairy Dust by WJ Scott


    http://www.wendyjscott.com/fairy-dust-1st-para.html



    Book Description

     August 2, 2014  6 - 12
    Mischief and magic. Tinkers and fairies. Do you believe in magic?

    Farran Sherwin cupped a hand to his ear and said, “I can’t hear you. Do you believe in fairies?”
    The hall erupted into chaos as children sprang out of their seats, spilling popcorn under their feet as they yelled, “Yes!”
    The tinker staggered as if he had been struck by a sound-wave and the children giggled.
    Farran cocked his head. “Listen. Can you hear someone?”
    A hush settled over the children. They perched on the edge of their seats, palms gripping the armrests. Their faces were pinched tight as they gazed up at the stage.
    He widened his eyes and whispered, “She’s coming.”

    Evelyn, an orphan, doesn’t believe in magic anymore, but then the meddlesome tinkers arrive in her village and change her world forever.

    A bedtime tale to delight younger readers or those still young at heart.

    A heart-lifting tale suitable for junior readers or a perfect bedtime read by parents and grandparents for younger children.

    “Do you believe in fairies?” 


    • File Size: 960 KB
    • Print Length: 16 pages
    • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
    • Publisher: Wendy Scott; 1 edition (August 2, 2014)
    • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
    • Language: English
    • ASIN: B00MDACIG4
    • Text-to-Speech: Enabled 

    Review:

    Fairy Dust is a short story about a child who lost her parents and lives with her aunt and uncle. She is introverted, hurt from her loss. At a magic show a man named Farran tries to get her to speak and enjoy the fun like the other children, but she says she doesn't believe in magic. It is then that Farran finds a way to help her. Fairies have always been known to attract children and adults alike. The mysteries of their very existence fascinates the world, but to a child with a great imagination anything is possible. That is what Farran shows and in so doing helps the girl believe in something in which she thought she had lost by a tragedy.

    This story is whimsical and light hearted. Children of all ages who love fairies will adore the message the author provides and even though the ending is a mystery all in itself, it is easy to imagine what the girl might have saw on her fairy adventure into the unknown.