I always enjoy reviewing children’s books as the holidays approach. Books were such a part of my growing up, I don’t remember ever having been without them. Although it has been argued that my mom taught me to read in self-defense, I don’t ever remember learning how to read, I just did. Nothing made me happier than picking up a book and escaping into the world the author created. So I enjoy talking up books I would have been thrilled to unwrap. The stories by PJ Cowan definitely fit into that category.

First of all, who could resist such cute dragons? Part of a good children’s book, is in the names of the characters. Well, in this case, the main character is actually three characters because it is a hydra dragon. The parents of the hydra baby is a hydra itself… Gertrude-Geraldine-Germaine. And this is how they came to name the baby:

The proud new Mom named the head on the left Giggle after the sound he made when she tickled him. She named the head on the right Gurgle because he gurgled when he ate his food and he gurgled when he drank his milk and he gurgled when he laughed. Gertrude-Geraldine-Germaine named the head in the middle Grump because he was grumpy. He did not giggle and he did not gurgle. He did not like being tickled, and he frowned all of the time.

As soon as I started reading this story, I could hear my mom’s voice in my head reading with gusto. It lends itself to reading out loud, with much dramatic affect. Even the title is cause for delight. Ms. Cowan not only named her dragon’s well, but she gave us sounds to have fun with, with the giggles and the gurgles. And we find out why Grump was so Grumpy, and how he came to be the dreaded Thunder Hydra.

The illustrations for the book are delightful throughout. Mike Motz always does a superb job in his illustrative work. Giggle Grump Gurgle will make a welcome addition to any child’s bookshelf, whether for the holidays, a birthday, or just because. And while you’re looking, Ms. Cowan has several other delightful children’s books available, so be sure to check them out. We have previously reviewed Michael O’Brien and the Magic Hat (review 66) and Tilbee Toadlet’s Trip to Town (review 85)

Preview Giggle Grump Gurgle

Originally reviewed for the LL Book Review

This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books held at UCLA. This particular event is awesome as an author to see the number of people all excited about books. It helps give me faith in the path I am pursuing in continuing to write and produce stories for readers. I love having the chance to talk with my target readers and find out some of their interests. One of the additional joys of participating in book festivals is the opportunity to meet other authors face to face and talk with them. I was delighted to meet Natalie Tinti in person at the festival. Ms. Tinti is a poised, professional, 10-year old, who has written and illustrated a book about friendship. She not only had books, but also had colorful illustrated posters from her book to help promote her product.

Sewing a Friendship starts with a picture of each of the characters in the book and character profile of each, answering the questions of birth date, age, family, eye color, hair color, favorite food, favorite color, and specialty. For the target age group Natalie is writing for, I found this to be a nice way to start the story. The reader then knows who the characters are that they will meet and have a visual they can refer to if they need to during the course of reading the book. As a young reader, I always loved character profiles, just a little snippet about the character outside of the actual text. Then I would compare throughout my reading experience to see if the author kept true to the profile, or whether I could spot any discrepancies.

The story starts with the wind blowing through town and checking on each of the main characters at each house along the way. Ms. Tinti has very unique character names. Along with the wind, you meet the four friends, Sokron Blossom, Nina Key, Meeka Venya, Jonsy Jipsy, and the outcast Kiki Shaver. In addition to the friends and Kiki, there is Sokron’s grandma, Babushka and her dog, Dogon.

The four friends get together to have a beginning of summer sleep over. Then they find out about a fashion show and are excited to participate. However, Kiki Shaver threatens to stop their participation. The girls find because of the rules, they need Kiki and Kiki needs them and through working together they are able to become friends by seeing the value in each other. My favorite character is Dogon, as he snoops on the girls and helps to ensure the friendship is knit together.

The illustrations are delightful and highly colorful, and each chapter has a different border, which makes it a happy read. I look for a bright future for this young author and illustrator.

Originally reviewed for the LL Book Review

Copyright © 2008
Lulu.com
$13.15 Paperback
$ 6.25 E-Book
12 pages

I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t Dan Marvin one of the reviewers for the LL Book Review? Of course his book is going to be reviewed. It’s an obligation isn’t it? To answer those unasked questions: Yes, Dan is one of my fellow reviewers and No, there is no obligation. We review the books which interest us based on where we are at the time. That being said because we’ve built up a relationship as reviewers we are interested in each others work. I’ve been waiting all year for Dan to finally post his review request for Bogo’s Revenge. Late last year, when I knew Dan was going to join the LL Book Review team as a reviewer, I took the opportunity to check out his writing and noticed Bogo’s Revenge right off the bat.

What made this book so appealing to me? The illustrator. I enjoy children’s books, especially because of the illustrations. When I saw Bogo’s Revenge was a joint father/daughter project where Dan wrote the book and had his nine year old daughter, Cassie, illustrate it, I loved it. What a wonderful dad!

Dan Marvin is well suited to writing childrens books because he’s had plenty of practice with brevity through his love of flash fiction, which brought us the growing in popularity, Briefs for the Reading Room which was featured in Review 52 for LLBR. Marvin’s ability to get to the crux of the story without leaving the reader wanting more works well in this tale.

In Bogo’s Revenge, Bogo is a chipmunk who is continually harrassed by two racoons, the Rascal brothers. All Bogo wants to do is get to his favorite sunny spot so he could eat his fill of seeds in peace, but the Rascal brothers thwarted him at every turn. So, Bogo decided he needed a plan.

Bogo wished he had a big dog for a friend. Raccoons didn’t like dogs, and dogs didn’t like raccoons, always it had been this way. But Bogo didn’t have a dog for a friend, or any large animal that would make the Rascal brothers leave him alone.

Bogo ultimately comes up with a plan to lead the Rascal brothers away from his precious seeds on a merry chase through the brambles. The Rascal brothers get into trouble and its up to Bogo to help them out.

Bogo’s Revenge is a good old-fashioned story which teaches us that the best revenge against bullies is to do them a kindness. The delightful illustrations help bring the characters to life and it is a story which can be enjoyed by children and parents together.

Preview Bogo’s Revenge at Lulu

Originally reviewed for the LL Book Review

Othello was my first writing teacher, and I was in her class at the time the Firffels were being made. I recently posted an article about Othello and the influence she had on my writing, and was very pleased that she stopped by my blog today and commented and let me know about this blast from the past.

5 Minute Fird Video

Copyright © 2008

$ 11.92 Paperback
$ 5.00 Download

ISBN: 978-0-9822542-3-3

What more fitting way for the LL Book Review to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a review of a book about leprechauns. I was delighted to run across P.J. Cowan’s Michael O’Brien and the Magic Hat. Michael is a young leprechaun who, unlike other leprechaun children, was born without magic. So, when Michael turned seven, the Leprechaun council had a tailor make him a magic green hat that when he wore gave him as much magic as any other leprechaun child. Michael would put the hat on his head the moment he woke up in the morning and take it off only to go to bed at night.

One morning Michael decides to skip school so that he can engage in his favorite activity, fishing.

Michael didn’t catch fish because Michael didn’t use a hook. He tied a worm to the string and watched as the fish chased after it. When he was done fishing, Michael would untie the worm, thank it for it’s help and let it go. That was fishing to Michael O’Brien.

On the day he skipped school, while he was watching the fish, a playful breeze came by and stole Michael’s hat. While chasing his hat, Michael is captured by a woodsman because he is unable to become invisible to humans without his hat. Suddenly Michael learns that there are consequences to skipping school.

Michael O’Brien and the Magic Hat provides a fun and adventurous way for children to learn, though Michael’s mistake, the value of going to school. P.J. Cowan provides a wonderful tale for small children that will make a good bedtime story to share with your children or grandchildren. Cowan started telling stories to her own children many years ago to teach and entertain, and finally started putting the stories down on paper for her great-grandchildren. While the tale of Michael and his magic hat is delightful to read, what makes this book stand out from the crowd are the illustrations. Cowan used the illustrative talents of MikeMotz.com and the results speak for themselves. Cowan’s story comes to life in bright colorful illustrations that will captivate the young audience they are meant to entertain. Just look at the example of the picture showing Michael receiving his magic green hat from the Leprechaun council. The picture is bright and happy with lots of color and kindly expressions on the faces of the older leprechauns.

P.J. Cowan has several other stories already published, and I for one am hoping that she has several more in her arsenal to keep us entertained for years.

Originally reviewed for the LL Book Review.