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

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.