#BookReview - The Stone of Integrity @mjevansauthor

The Stone of Integrity: Book 3 of the Centaur Chronicles

By: M.J. Evans
Publisher: Dancing Horse Press
Publication Date: January 2018
ISBN: 978-0-9966617-8-2
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: August 2018

For those who are unaware, a mighty realm exists called Crystonia, with a throne that has been vacant for some time. A young Duende (a descendant of the fairies), by the name of Carling, was first told by the mighty Wizard of Crystonia, Vidente, that she was the one…the future ruler of it all. At their first meeting Vidente brought forward the royal Silver Breastplate—an artifact that the chosen one would wear once they proved themselves by finding gemstones across the kingdom that set into the Breastplate. Once all the gems were found, Carling would be hailed as Queen.

However, there is pure evil waiting to stop her. Zarius is the Commander of a rebel faction of Centaurs whose only mission is to capture the throne. Carling has met Zarius before. This ego-driven Centaur has actually been bested in battle by the young Duende, which caused a wound to both his pride and his body.

Carling has returned from finding the Stone of Courage (after also discovering the Stone of Mercy in Book 1). She is summoned to the home of the historian of the mighty Centaurs, so that he may give her an old map of Crystonia which he tells her to keep safe. Teaming up with her best friends, another Duende named Higson and their two Centaur friends, Tibbals and Tandum, Carling heads home to rest before the next step has to be taken. Quickly discovering that Zarius and his crew are on their tails, they barely make it through the gates. It is there that Vidente returns in a swirl of dust to let Carling know she must now head to an island where she will find the Stone of Integrity.

The quest commences and characters come out of the blue; from an old fisherman named Fyzzle who will help Carling and her friends find this island that many do not believe even exists; to a witch named Hilgalda; to a young, handsome character by the name of Kelfy. Readers are taken on another brilliant ride filled with dazzling locations and a plot that continues to thrill, as Carling must not only locate the stone but also figure out who, exactly, are the liars in her midst.

The Swirling Sea. The Forest of Rumors. The cool scenery abounds in this series. Author M.J. Evans continues to put together a series that entices all readers. In fact, you secretly find yourself hoping that when all the stones have been collected, there will somehow be a second side to the Breastplate with even more “holes” to fill in. That way, this incredible journey will never have to end.

Quill says: Another perfect addition to The Centaur Chronicles that entertains from beginning to end.

For more information on The Stone of Integrity, please visit the publisher's website at: www.dancinghorsepress.com.

#BookReview - Hannah's Tall Order

Hannah's Tall Order: An A to Z Sandwich

By: Linda Vander Heyden
Illustrated by: Kayla Harren
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: August 2018
ISBN: 978-1585363827
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: August 28, 2018

Hannah has quite an appetite and in Hannah's Tall Order her taste buds are about to get the better of her - and have readers in stitches too.

How do you make a sandwich using every letter of the alphabet? And more importantly, perhaps, how do you eat that sandwich? Hannah is about to find out as she strolls into Mr. McDougal's cafe and orders her idea of a perfect meal.

"Avocados and bean sprouts - fresh carrots galore.
Dill pickles, egg salad - those figs I adore!"
McDougal got busy and started to chop.
He peeled and he minced. He grated nonstop!

But Hannah is just getting started. She continues to add all sorts of toppings to her lunch and poor Mr. McDougal struggles to keep up. Finally the sandwich is complete, but wow, it's rather tall and floppy. Will Hannah be able to eat that whole thing...

Kudos to author Linda Vander Heyden who somehow was able to take ingredients from each letter of the alphabet and fold them seamlessly into a sandwich poem that flowed perfectly. Red-headed and very freckled Hannah is adorable and the expressions on Mr. McDougal's face as Hannah picks out ingredients are priceless. In other words, the illustrations are a perfect match for the very funny story. With the abundance of alphabet books to choose from, this one is truly unique and should be at the top of the list to add to your collection.

Quill says: I LOVED this book! With a perfect rhyme, and lots of fun too, it's just what the deli owner ordered to help kids learn their ABCs!

#BookReview - With Love, Grandma

With Love, Grandma

By: Helen Foster James
Illustrated by: Petra Brown
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: July 2018
ISBN: 978-1585369423
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: August 27, 2018

There's nothing like the special love a grandmother has for her grandchildren, and in With Love, Grandma, author Helen Foster James brings that love to the page through the use of an adorable pair of hedgehogs.

With Love, Grandma begins with Grandmother Hedgehog in her car, with a cute little camper attached to the back, waving good-bye to her grandchild who has come outside to wish his/her (we never learn if the grandchild is a boy or girl - which allows parents reading the book to their children to decide) grandmother a fun trip. Then off Grandmother goes on a mighty adventure.

It isn't long before Grandma has had some adventures that she'd like to share so she gets busy with pen and paper and writes her grandchild a letter. She begins with:

Dear Sweet Pea,
I've always loved letters and hope you will too.
I'm writing this letter in a meadow full of flowers.

She then goes on to suggest that "April Showers" brought a lot of May flowers and so she's sending her little "Sweet Pea" a packet of wildflower seeds.

Every letter that the grandmother writes addresses the grandchild with a different pet name - Sunshine, Little June Bug, etc. and they all end the same - With Love, Grandma XOXO. In between are brief letters about camping, taking a painting class and even kayaking. Grandmother is definitely having a busy and fun time! She also makes numerous references to "Camp Grandma" where she says her little one will have lots of fun when she returns home.

With Love, Grandma is another book where author Helen Foster James and illustrator Petra Brown have paired up. They previously worked together on the best-selling "Loves You" series and their success with those books definitely comes through in this one. The hedgehog centered illustrations are quite lovely and the story, which shows just how strong the love of a grandparent for a grandchild is, no matter the distance, is one that will give children a warm, cozy feeling - and that's a perfect feeling as one falls asleep at night!

Quill says: How can you not enjoy a book about a grandmother's love for her grandchild? With sweet letters and adorable drawings, this book will charm all those little sweet peas who look forward to visits from their grandparents.

#BookReview - Sports & Fitness

Sports & Fitness: How to Use Your Body and Mind to Play and Feel Your Best

By: Therese Kauchak Maring
Illustrated by: Brenna Hansen
Publisher: American Girl
Publication Date: February 2018
ISBN: 978-1683370628
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: August 29, 2018

Young girls today are under tremendous pressure and things like what to wear, what to eat, what group or sport to join, are just a few of the decisions that add stress to their lives every day. With Sports & Fitness, a new addition to the "Smart Girl's Guide" series published by American Girl, youngsters gain an excellent resource to help them make the right choices.

This book speaks directly to young girls and aims to show them "...how to be the best athlete you can be, in both body and mind." As adults know, but young girls may not yet realize, to be good at sports, you must take care of your body. Thus, Sports & Fitness focuses many of its pages on taking care of one's body.

Six chapters divide the book into very readable sections - play power (discusses various benefits of sports participation), your body, power drills, your mind, brainpower skills and you & the team (team or solo sports, dealing with coaches, how to be a leader). The text is accompanied by an abundance of colorful illustrations, making this a very easy book to read. It also invites a reader to jump around to various topics to get the most benefit from the book. Important topics such as staying hydrated, how to warm up properly as well as dealing with bad behavior are covered, some lighthearted ideas are included (crafts to show school spirit), in addition to many more things that are needed to enjoy success both during sports participation as well as life in general. Without getting preachy, Sports & Fitness covers an array of topics that will help girls have the best experience possible in the world of sports.

Quill says: An excellent book for girls to help guide them through decisions related to not just sports but to all aspects of their lives.

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#BookReview - Panning for Gold in Our Golden Years @judy_watters

Panning for Gold in Our Golden Years: A Journal for Positive Aging

By: Judy Sheer Watters
Publisher: Franklin Scribes Publishers
Publication Date: November 2017
ISBN: 978-1941516331
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: August 2018

Those of us who have reached "a certain age" all know the signs - our bones creak, it's hard to get out of bed in the morning, and we find ourselves wishing to be young again. However, since we all know that we can't turn back the clock, author Judy Sheer Watters advises that if we adopt a positive attitude, people will be drawn to us and we all will benefit as we transition to old age.

In this journal, the author begins with an introduction that describes a show that she and her husband enjoy. This show, about digging for gold in Alaska, she argues, is much like life. In the show, people hope to get rich by finding a lot of gold, but that's rarely what happens. In life, too, we start out with high hopes, but with the unexpected "bumps" that every person encounters, we find ourselves, at the tail-end of our lives, typically in a very different place than what we originally imagined. How we handle that transition to old age will profoundly affect how we deal with, and enjoy, our later years.

Watters main premise throughout the book is that "...by aging with a positive outlook, we can be outward focused, not inward focused. When we are outward focused, people are drawn to us. This gives us the opportunity to be a light in their lives. Being a light in the lives of others, causes us to have a joyful outlook. It's a win-win for all." Simple, right? But how do we stay positive when our bodies hurt, our family moves away, and other aspects of aging make it difficult to stay happy? Watters uses stories of her mother to show the reader that there are ways to keep a positive spin on all aspects of our lives, regardless of how we may initially think of those events.

Meet Judy Sheer Watters' mother - a spunky, funny woman who, at the time the author wrote the book, was a spry ninety-six. In fourteen short chapters, we follow along with Watters as she recounts events in her mother's life, events primarily from her later years. These events, most of which we have, or will, experience ourselves, are things that Watters' mother faced with a positive attitude. Things such as an "empty nest," memory loss, and giving up the home where she raised her family, are all events chronicled in the book. But rather than mourn the loss of these things, Watters' mother would see the positives and thus was better able to manage the changes that occurred. The empty nest allowed her to downsize and enjoy living with a family member, the fear of moving into a nursing home was turned into enjoying new friendships with the other residents, and giving up her driver's license removed the stress and fear of driving in traffic. By always seeing the plus side of the equation, Watters' mother made it easier for herself as well as those around her.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first opened Panning for Gold in Our Golden Years - I didn't want to read another depressing book about aging. But within a few pages, I was smiling, and soon laughing, at the antics of Watters' mother. Included are several conversations that will definitely have you giggling and wishing to meet Watters' mother. Even better, the advice given through the author's experiences with her mother are ones that can easily be incorporated into our daily lives. Every chapter begins with a quote from an author, politician, actor, etc., that is relevant to the chapter, followed by the story from her mother, another quote, then "Your Time for Reflection" with notes about what to think about along with a few lined pages so you can write directly into this journal. I didn't expect to smile and laugh while reading a book on aging, but with the positive changes that author Judy Sheer Watters espouses, you too will find yourself enjoying this book and thinking of how you can change your life for the better.

Quill says: A quick reading book that is also a very uplifting book. Author Judy Sheer Watters, with her lessons on aging, will have you almost looking forward to your golden years.

For more information on Panning for Gold in Our Golden Years: A Journal for Positive Aging, please visit the author's website at www.judywatters.com

#BookReview - Mother Ghost

Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters

By: Rachel Kolar
Illustrated by: Roland Garrigue
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: July 2018
ISBN: 978-1585363926
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: August 27, 2018

Get the candy corn ready for all the little ghouls who are headed your way, and while you're at it, grab a copy of Mother Ghost to help get your little monsters in the mood for a heck of a lot of fun!

For those who love Halloween (and how can you not love Halloween???), author Rachel Kolar's new book, Mother Ghost, is a wonderful addition to the bookshelf.  In this book, children will be delighted with the new spin she has put on several well-known nursery rhymes.  Not just clever, these re-imagined rhymes are downright funny.  Did you know that "Mary Had a Little Ghost" and can you guess "What Are Little Bats Made of?"  Your little ones will delight in learning just what "Wee Willie Werewolf" does when he "runs down the street."

We all know "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," but what about "Mary, Mary, Tall and Scary"?

Mary, Mary, tall and scary,
How does your graveyard grow?
With buried bones and carved gray stones
And little ghosts all in a row.

A big part of what makes this book so much fun are the great illustrations. Roland Garrigue is a prolific illustrator of children's books who, according to his website, loves drawing monsters, vampires and witches, and it definitely shows up in his work. A bit surreal, the characters are goofy, non-threatening, and funny. Combine that with the clever rhymes and you have a definite winner. Enjoy!

Quill says: Your "little monsters" will love this new, spooky twist on their favorite nursery rhymes.