Tag Archives: Books

The Day I Fell into a Fairy Tale: a Book Review

The Day I Fell into a Fairy Tale by Ben Miller is fit for kids grades fourth through seventh. It’s both an original story and a retelling of five fairy tales: Sleeping Beauty, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, Swan Lake, and Brother and Sister.

Lana and her mother visit a supermarket that seemed to come out of nowhere. She meets a strange little man who knows a thing or two about selling stuff, and she and her mother buy a book of fairy tales. Readers will revisit the timeless Sleeping Beauty tale, only this version has twists (e.g. Sleeping Beauty’s mother takes up swimming.).

Lana returns to the supermarket, and she meets the funny little man again. Only this time, he shoves her into a candy bucket, and she finds herself in the Sleeping Beauty story.

Animal Books for World Animal Month?

You’ve probably gotten a clue that I love animals. Well, October is World Animal Month, as well as a plethora of other days dedicated to God’s creatures. I wrote reviews for Story Warren on the three animal-themed books.

In the reviews, I take a look at the treatment of the animal characters and content that parents need to be aware of.

A Book Review of The Blue Bird of Happiness

Hi, all. I have another book review published on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog. It’s on The Blue Bird of Happiness by S.M. Shigemitsu, a retelling of Maurice Maeterlinck’s play “The Blue Bird.” I share the differences and similarities between the play and Shigemitsu’s version. Fun fact: Shigemitsu is part of the Fairy Tale Frenzy series, justContinue reading “A Book Review of The Blue Bird of Happiness”

More Fairy Tales Coming!

As you may know already, I’m writing a Little Red Riding Hood retelling that’s fit for middle grade and teens. It’s going to be featured in an anthology that’ll be published by Beyond the Bookery. In fact, the anthology is part of a series of anthologies called Fairy Tale Frenzy.

Speaking of Fairy Tale Frenzy, the first four anthologies will be published soon. Some are fantasy retellings, and others are historical retellings.

A Book Theme . . . And a Movie

As I continue sharing with you my Red Riding Hood retelling, I’ll ask a question: What is the theme of my story? Or a theme, anyway?

Let me stall in answering by talking about a movie I’ve just seen.

I watched the movie version of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s Shiloh.

An Update on Writing, Plus a YA Author

Today, I edited two hours’ worth of my Little Red Riding Hood story, and I’m happy with my progress so far.

Also, check out M Liz Boyle interviewing YA author Christina Shaw.

Reminiscing on Children’s Stories

What was your favorite picture book?

When I was little, I loved the book Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban. To this day, I have fond memories of my dad reading it to me. Another one I liked was In the Forest by Marie Hall Ets. See? Even as a little kid I loved adventures with animals.

Happy 4th…and Christmas in July!

Happy Independence Day to all you Americans! Just be sure to stay safe around fireworks.

If you also observe Christmas in July, I wrote a book review on an adorable holiday picture book. It’s posted on Jennifer Hallmark’s blog, and if you love sled dogs, it’s the book for you.

Stories of Rescue and Survival

Do you crave the excitement that comes from a search-and-rescue story? Is your teen or pre-teen looking for peer role models who would help them handle risky wilderness situations? Try M. Liz Boyle’s Off the Itinerary: The Search and Rescue Files. The author herself shares more of her book in the following link. Thank youContinue reading “Stories of Rescue and Survival”

Book Review—The Bobtails Go to France by Arthur Yeomans

Do you want to tour Europe with characters you’ve read about and bonded with? Or maybe you’d like to meet new characters while you travel? Look no further than The Bobtails Go to France, a historical novel by Arthur Yeomans for fifth and sixth graders. This is Book 3 of Bobtails Adventures, a series ofContinue reading “Book Review—The Bobtails Go to France by Arthur Yeomans”