Review: A Strage Sound from the Attic by Nancy S. Rippy

A Strange Sound from the Attic is a lovely short tale of friendship and imagination. Young Amy hears a sound coming from her attic. Eager to catch what or who is making that sound, she places her cell phone by the attic door...the next morning, her cell phone is gone! And not only that, but it appears in her next door neighbor's attic!
The title might sound spooky to some young children, but the story really isn't. On the contrary, it's sweet and encourages the use of imagination.

Although the description recommends the book for readers five and up, I would recommend it for kids seven and above, who may be able to understand the story better.

What I'd really like to rave about though, are the illustrations. They are adorable and have a pleasant,  ethereal quality in them. I'm sure children are going to be fascinated, specially with the girls' pictures. Mrs. Rippy is, without doubt, a talented illustrator.

I look forward to more stories from this author. Hopefully we'll hear more from this fantastic world she's created.

Author Nancy S. Rippy is originally from Taiwan.  When she was a young girl she started writing down her dreams, that's when she realized she was a writer. She now lives in California with her husband.
*I received a FREE PDF copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
*This blog is an Amazon Affiliate Program's associate.

Review: Just Say Hi! by Margaret Bucklew

“Just Say HI!” is the story of two mushroom friends that come up to the surface and discover a whole new world. But making new friends in that new world is not an easy task, since the mushrooms feel different and shy. Little by little they learn that saying “hi” can open the door to new adventures.

It is told in dialogue and rhyme in a tone that at moments feels like a lesson about making friends, reminding me of Veggie Tales (without the reference to religion), and I guess that’s good if that’s what you are looking for. Maybe your child is in a situation when he or she will be facing a new environment and needs to be reassured that she’ll be alright. This book could be a guide or a conversation starter.

I think the illustrations will appeal to children. They are cute and simple, and show a new character in every page. My young daughter had fun pointing at them and looking at what was coming next.

Overall, “Just Say Hi!” is a book I can recommend for young readers to be read to, or early readers to read on their own (perhaps with some assistance), but most importantly it is a book that could help a child overcome the loneliness and shyness of trying to make new friends… and that’s priceless.

Mariana Llanos

 

Author Margaret Bucklew is the author of eight children's books

listed on Amazon.com. She has received several award in her teaching career.

*I received a free PDF copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Kellie and the Come-alive Cottage by Wendy Unsworth

I just loved this book by Wendy Unsworth! Kellie at Come-alive Cottage tells the story of Kellie, a curious girl who probably has the coolest family in the world. Her parents are explorers, and are set to fly off to Africa to discover a new river...but Kellie has no one to stay with while her parents are gone....well, she'll have to stay with aunt Kitty, an aunt she didn't even know she had! And, there is a good reason for that...

This is a fun, smart book that I'm sure will delight young readers. It's full of oddities, silly illustrations and fun fonts. It plays with the absurd but in a way that doesn't feel forced. I would recommend this book for second and third graders, even fourth graders. It is equally enjoyable for older readers, that, like me, still believe in magic.

This is Mrs. Unsworth's first book for children but I have a feeling that we'll be hearing a lot more of Kellie and her fantastic adventures.
Mariana Llanos

Wendy Unsworth lives in England. She has spent many years in Africa,

and a great deal of her inspiration comes from her experiences there. She has written a grown-up novel called The Palaver Tree. "Kellie..." will be out on October 1st, available in paperback an eBook.