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Readers Choice Book Awards, book reviews and awards voted by readers in three categories, with cash prizes for gold award winners: Best Childrens Book 3-6; Best Childrens Book 7-10; Best Childrens Book Illustrations; Best Childrens Book Cover Design. Winners and finalists of the Autumn 2022 Readers' Choice Book Awards announced! We are pleased to announce the winners of the Autumn 2022 Readers’ Choice Book Awards. Best Children’s Book 3-7 **GOLD** Christine Copeland, Autumn in the Forest - A Seasons in the Forest Book **SILVER** Phyllis Harris, The Gift Shop Bear **BRONZE** Charly Froh, The Dragon and the Unicorn: The Magic of Friendship **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Renee Hayes, The Gingerbread Twins Charissa Bates, The Traveling Book Vassi Rombis, Story Swapping A Family Tradition Jessica Dailey, My Tiny Pet Elephant Ruthie Godfrey, Grandpa's Lessons on Fishing and Life Julie Stephens, Mountain Mutts - Joy's Tale Teddy Biron, The Lighthouse Keeper Saves the Bay Brenda Do, It's Okay Not to Know Dawn McLucas, Why Am I So Quiet? Todd Angilly and Rachel Goguen. The Adventures of Owen and the Anthem Singer Clara Donis-Girma, Clara and Mr. Milo's Adventures Episode 1 Clara Wanting a Pet Joe Caruso, In the Image of God - A Story of Identity and Value Kate Giles, Camp Cattitude Once Upon a Dance, Frankie's Wish: A Wander in the Wonder Best Children’s Book 8-12 **GOLD** J.T. Tenera, Erift's Journeys: Secrets of The Sealed Forest **SILVER** Heather Mateus Sappenfield, The River Between Hearts **BRONZE** Elizabeth M Grieco, Paws in Paris: The Adventures of Tenny and Bella **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Laurel Guillen, A Bellwether Christmas: A Novel Inspired by True Events Sara V Robinson, Walter Bilingual Edition English/Spanish I.K. Silver, Little Wanderers: The Everlasting Seasons Cynthia Hughes, Can I Be President of the United States at 8? Julie Stephens, Mountain Mutts - Joy's Tale Christine Copeland, Have You Seen the Ghost of John E.M. Schorb, FIVE AND TEN, A Fairy Tale, a Few Poems, and a Fable Cat Fan, Mika's Quest for the Lost Artifact Nicole Encarnacion, My ABC'S to Positivity Olunosen Louisa Ibhaze, Crowning Glory: A history of African hair tradition Sarah Lloyd, Emma Murphy and the Ultimate Power Melanie Joy Mezzancello, Love Snaggs - A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey Best Teen Book **GOLD** Stacy Padula, Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told **SILVER** Tyler Beauchamp, Freeze Frame **BRONZE** Judy Liu, The Vending Portal **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Tony M. Quintana, Doizemaster: Phantasm Creed Scott Swisher, Ring Fold Cassandra Crull, Tied to You Mark Bryan, The Asgardian Exchange: The Touch of the Valkyrie Best Adult Book (fiction) **GOLD** Regan Walker, Bound by Honor **SILVER** Paula Dail, Fearless **BRONZE** George R. Hopkins, When Secrets Come to Light **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Juliet Rose, Do Over Tobin Marks, Ark of the Apocalypse KJ, The Forever and The Now G.S. Carline, Blood Dragon Rising: Dragon Shadows Book 1 C.J. Hudson, Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street Juliet Rose, Prick the Needle Carol Amorosi, Death on the Line Brian R Estvander, Stilled: The Story of Inklebrawt Winklehank Jerry Gundersheimer, Reach: A Nexus of Life and Love John Bartell, The Pilgrim's Progress Desert Experience S. Graham, Vacant Juliet Rose, We Don’t Matter Paula Welch, Cloud Piercer DF Kennedy, The Truth Lukman Clark, The Alexandria Scrolls: Book Two - The Transfiguration of Brandon Blake B.V. Glants, Half Notes from Berlin Angela White, Stopping Time Jennifer Ivy Walker, The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven S. C. Eston, Deficiency Juliet Rose, Through the Surface Katie Jay, A Murder Most Vegan Best Adult Book (non-fiction) **GOLD** Mark Roeder, What We Do Next Really Matters **SILVER** Rick Soshensky, The Music Therapy Studio: Empowering the Soul's Truth **BRONZE** Leon Conrad, Story and Structure: A complete guide **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Kyli Santiago, Healing Yesterday's Tears: An Inspiring Poetry Book about Overcoming Emotion and Discovering Love of Self Cynthia Hughes, Live...But LIVE! Jamie Anderson, Drive All Day (Because I'm Too Old to Drive All Night) Ralph L. Bayrer, Liberty, Science and Wealth: The Evolution to Modern Society Felicia Taylor E., Southern Spiced: A Brown Girl’s Tale Madeline Pasimio, Contrary to Conception: Stories and Lessons about Successful Birth Control and Contraceptive Methods Ashley Porsche Bugge, The Ocean is Calling Jim Lichtman, Trust and Confidence: The 1998 Battle between the Secret Service and Ken Starr Frederick Douglass Reynolds, Black, White, and Gray All Over: A Black Man's Odyssey in Life and Law Enforcement

< Back Elisa Stad Mama's Love Language: Sometimes Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice Jade lives in two worlds. Her mom is Chinese, and her dad is American. Jade notices that her mom is different to the other parents. She doesn’t give hugs like the other parents, and she asks Jade lots of questions about school. Sometimes, other people do not understand Jade’s mom because of her accent, and she is embarrassed by her. Jade wants to be like all the other kids in her class, and she doesn’t like what she sees when she looks in the mirror. Jade is upset when her mom tells her she is Chinese. Jade does not want to be Chinese, she wants to be American like all the other kids. Jade’s dad explains that she is made up of both her mom and her dad, and she is both Chinese and American. As Jade learns more about her mom’s family and her childhood, she soon understands why her mom is the way she is. While her mom may not give hugs like the other parents, she shows her love in different ways. Mama's Love Language: Sometimes Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice is a touching, thoughtful and beautifully illustrated children’s book that explores the challenges and joys of growing up with mixed heritage. The book follows Jade, a little girl who is half Chinese and half American, as she begins to notice how different she is from other children. As Jade learns more about her mom’s life and culture, she learns to accept and embrace her Chinese heritage. The book is particularly valuable for children who come from mixed cultural backgrounds, but is also an excellent resource for all children, helping them to understand and appreciate different cultures. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A touching, thoughtful and beautifully illustrated children’s book, celebrating diversity and multi-culturalism. Purchase here

< Back Alan Claycomb Maisley's Moon A sweet picture book for curious children, with curious minds, from author A Joseph Claycomb One night, just before bedtime, five-year-old Maisley notices a big, bright full moon right outside her bedroom window. She asks her mom, Why is it there and where does it come from? Maisley’s mom explains that it is there to keep her company and to light up the night sky. Every evening, Maisley watches the pretty moon in the dark sky, but as the days and nights pass, Maisley notices changes in the moon – as a dark shadow casts over the moon’s surface, it appears to get smaller and smaller. Then, one day, Maisley can no longer see the moon and questions whether it is really there at all. Maisley’s Moon is a children’s picture book that explores complex topics of philosophy, faith, and Christianity, in a simple and accessible way that young children will understand and relate to. Just because one cannot see the moon sometimes, it does not mean that the moon does not exist. The book reaffirms Jesus and Faith and will encourage children to think about their own faith and the world around them. A lovely, read together, bedtime book for parents and children to learn about faith and the world around them. A great introductory book for those interested in religion and philosophy, or for anyone with a curious mind. Star Rating: 5 Stars Summary ‘A lovely, read together, bedtime book for parents and children to learn about faith and the world around them. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ Purchase here

Readers Choice Book Awards, book reviews and awards voted by readers in three categories, with cash prizes for gold award winners: Best Childrens Book 3-6; Best Childrens Book 7-10; Best Childrens Book Illustrations; Best Childrens Book Cover Design. Winners and finalists of the Autumn 2023 Readers' Choice Book Awards announced! We are pleased to announce the winners of the Autumn 2023 Readers’ Choice Book Awards. Best Children’s Book 3-7 **GOLD** AC Bradburn, Dancing with Cara: The Rainbow Stories **SILVER** Betty Cetas, Oscar and the Awful, Horrible Smell **BRONZE** Ginger Smith, The Magic Blanket **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Deanna Hart, Blue is the Only Color in the Rainbow Katherine Lockwood, Why Me, Mama A Childrens Book About The Disability Experience Ashley Wall, The Day I Had a Bulldozer Jeffrey Morgan, Bungo the Funky Monkey, Adventures in Kindness Kimberly A Perry, Finley the Fairy Samantha Reynolds, Help Me Be Me Donald Smith, Quoth the Raven Lynne Harley, What If You Could? Christine Tussing, Detective Stan the Crayon Man and the Missing Birthday Cake Nicole Frankel , What are bees good for, anyway? Donna Wyland, Psalms in Rhyme for Little Hearts Donna Wyland, 'Twas the Night Before Jesus Lauren Brownrigg, You Are...Volume One Stacy Gabel, At the Zoo-oo-oo Adalgisa and David Nico, Fish in the Desert: The Untold Story of the Death Valley Pupfish Michael Michie, Pablo Avocado FA Khan, My Superhero Mom C. James Sweeney, Sadie Sasquatch has Big Feet Michael Dow, Nurse Florence for Beginning Readers: Help, Im Bleeding! Betty Cetas, Oscar and Otto Sarah Sparks, The Messiest Monster on Mill Street Sarah Sparks, The Bounciest Monster on Mill Street Sarah Sparks, The Angriest Monster on Mill Street Cheryl Johnson, Today I Learned About Birds Cheryl Johnson, Creatures of the Rainforest Cheryl Johnson, Backyard Critters & Creatures Margaret Grote, A Farmer I'll Be and more poems for the young and young-at-heart Gabriella Fiorletta , What I See is Love Carmella Alexander, Fearless the Amazing Boy with Special Abilities goes to Brazil Susan Marie Chapman, Grumpy And Green Parrot Find A New Home In Naples Katie Musleh, It's Okay Not to Be Okay: Addressing the Concept of Toxic Positivity Annie and Gilly DeCosta, Maizy and Charlie's GERM BOOK Lindsey Coker Harris, Our Cleaner, Greener Planet Ross Alan Hahn , The Adventures of Angel: A Kitten's Story Miki Taylor, Bentley's Fantabulous Idea T.B Stacy, Know When to Grow Wendy Alyson Jordan, Miracle: A Birthday Story Donna MacLeod, Chili Chinchilla Candy O'Terry and Colleen Esposito, Nelson's Garden Ruthie Godfrey, Grumpy Grump Joshua Swank, Barry the Brave: A Flowerageous Journey to Courage Marissa Bader, The Only Me Rose O'Donoghue, Katie and her Brain Jon Seymour, A Morning with Blueburry Best Children’s Book 8-12 **GOLD** Amanda M Cetas, Thrown to the Wind **SILVER** Jennifer R Sommer, Her Eyes Were on the Stars: Nancy Grace Roman, "Mother of Hubble" Space Telescope **BRONZE** Tricia Copeland Azreya, Aztec Priestess **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Claudine C Wargel, Hattie and Dirks Great Garden Surprise Stephanie Scott , Tools to Cool Finding Ways to Cope D, Burton Smith, Quoth the Raven Laurie Anne Zaleski, Travels with Ariel - What's up in Baker Lake? Kathe Hudson and Melanie Moyer, The Magic Peach Tree, A Yoga Storytelling Adventure Barbara Mishkin, TIP's Magical Journey Dr. Tamara Lazic Strugar, THE SUNSCREAMING SUMMER Kat Farrow, Bobbin and the Magic Thief Hans Ness, Rolo the Pet Earthling Kirja Ilijah, Alijah XII Rick Poplinger, Adventure in the Land of Changes CHRISTINA LIM, Through It All Michael D. Malone, Mousetree: The Beginning Book One Grace Wolf, May I Sit At Your Table? Paki Perkins, Mahalo Does Not Mean Trash Marsha Tufft, Project S.A.M.: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures Prequel Dawn Renee Darnell and Jim H Darnell, Jr, Schoolhouse Dogs: Face Life Jim H Darnell and Dawn Renee Darnell, Lightning Butterflies Best Teen Book **GOLD** Stacy A. Padula, Montgomery Lake High #2: When Darkness Tries to Hide **SILVER** Rande Goodwin, The Witchfinder's Serpent **BRONZE** Marsha Tufft, The Sea Turtle Spy Project: Putney Hicks Inventor Adventures Book 4 **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Renee Hayes, The girl who broke the world Terry Overton, The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society Dawn Renee Darnell and Jim H Darnell Jr, Schoolhouse Dogs: Face Life Nancy Lelewer, Something's Not Right: 2nd Edition One Family's struggle with learning disabilities Andrea Vanryken, The Red Texts Club Jim H Darnell and Dawn Renee Darnell, Lightning Butterflies Neha Saini, SQL Quest: A Journey Through Data Dr. Juan Phillip Chisholm, Mission Possible: How to Graduate From College Debt-Free Jim H Darnell and Dawn Renee Darnell, Because of You, I Lost Everything! Best Adult Book **GOLD** DF Kennedy, Nothing But The Truth **SILVER** Ben Merrick, Where the Valley Meets the Sky **BRONZE** Jennifer Ivy Walker, The Emerald Fairy and the Dragon Knight **FINALISTS (5 Stars)** Marlayne Jan Giron, Second Chance Inn Jamie Andrea Garzot, Unconventional, A Memoir of Entrepreneurism, Politics, and Pot Carter Fielding, Murder in the Marshes: Book 4 in the Blake Sisters Travel Mystery Series J Paul Rieger Jr, Clonk! Aimee Hill, All The Gray In Between Jeremiah Gilbert, On to Plan C: A Return to Travel Marianne Hartley, ALIGN and SHINE Joe Alo, The Street Between the Pines Kathleeen Janz Anderson, September Wind Book II Glendall C Jackson III, Naked Came the Detective Margaret Tran, The ACTIONS Rozsa Gaston, Margaret of Austria Roni Robbins, Hands of Gold Anthony J. Mohr, Every Other Weekend: Coming of Age With Two Different Dads Dr. NIZAR M. Benazzouz, The innovative Animal Pietro Emanuele Garbelli, The Doctor's Voice - Empowering Solutions to Physicians' Frustrations, Burnout and Healthcare Inefficiencies Geoff Spellberg, Escape From Hawaii Gail Grant Park, We Are Shadows: An Irish Ghost Story Matthew Binder, Pure Cosmos Club SHERMAN EDWARD ROSS, Code Name: Juggernaut David Zelman, PhD, What's Next? Get Clear & Get Going Angel A, Holy Parrot Jonnie Ramsey Brown, You Promised To Do No Harm: A True Story of Love, Loss, and the Horror of Healthcare Disparity for One African-American Family Allison Hong Merrill, Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops Tabor Millien, What Came After Michael Caissie, Between Heaven 42nd and Broadway Marylee Martin , Unsuspecting Child: Coming to Grips with Covert Childhood Abuse Dawn Pretorius, The Shepherds of InEquality: And the Futility of Our Efforts to Stop Them Anne Angelo, Forbidden Zone 1940 Susan Kennard, Awaken the Light Within Your Heart: A Guide to Self-Healing Deborah B. McDermet, Walk on Water: A Daily Devotional for Believers and Educators Nathan Roberts, Who Do You Think You Are? Steeg Taylor, Rosette Resolve Tina Lear, Partial Views: A Collection of Poetry Marlene Morgan, Sleeping With A Wall Street Banker: Jake Logan #1 Omara Williams, The Space Traveller's Lover Lem Moye, Catching Cold Vol 3 - Judgment David Tomen, Head First: The Complete Guide to Healing and Optimizing Your Brain with Nootropic Supplements – 2nd Edition Rajan Jetley, Blinding Glimpses of the Obvious: Revealing Insights, Lol Humour and Good Old Common Sense Steven Dhondt, London Bridge: A Fictional Memoir Jack Kaminskie, EPIC: THE GAME Joseph Cruz, The Red Frontier: Book 1 of The Red Tomorrow Series Jess Sinclair, WHAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN Debra Fredette, Persevering Through Seasons of Despair Ray Catania, You Are Still Alive, Now Act Like It: Empower, Elevate, and Enlighten Your Consciousness Teri M Brown, An Enemy Like Me Alexandru Czimbor, The Soul Machines Datta Groover, The Reluctant Visionary Daniel L Pinion, Chop that Sh*t Up! Leadership and Life Lessons Learned While in the Military

< Back Margaret Grote A Farmer I'll Be and more poems for the young and young-at-heart Another stunning collection of poetry, by the late Margaret Grote. A Farmer I'll Be and more poems for the young and young-at-heart, is a collection of twelve poems, by the late Margaret Grote. The poems capture the countryside and rural life, and include a range of themes, including farming, the seasons, festivities, animals and nature, and a whole variety of other things. The poems capture the essence of childhood, and of a more simple, innocent time. My favourite is Six, about a little girl celebrating her birthday. The poem beautifully captures her lisp as a result of her missing front teeth. I also enjoyed the ice man, which you don’t see very often these days and reflects the time these poems were written. This is a stunning collection of poems, written by Margaret Grote for her children, over thirty years ago. The poems have been curated and published by Margarets son and niece, eighteen years after her death. The book showcases and celebrates the work of this extraordinary poet. This book is the second collection of poems published posthumously, following the publication of the critically acclaimed, I Like Mud. The whimsical illustrations by Marcia Wheelan Coles, capture life in the countryside beautifully. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A timeless collection of poems for the young and young-at-heart, by a much-loved poet. Purchase here

< Back Ashley Wall The Day I Had a Bulldozer Luke and Bobo’s amazing construction adventure. One day, a bulldozer turns up at Luke’s house, with his name on it. Luke and his dog, Bobo, hop into the bulldozer and drive to his friends, Noah’s house. When he arrives, Noah is driving a dump trunk. With their new machines, Luke and Noah build a gigantic hill of dirt and Bobo plays in the muck pile. When their friend Mikey drives by in a steamroller, he flattens everything in his path. Before Mikey can do anymore damage, the boys cruise to the park in their vehicles and meet their friend Emma, who is driving an excavator. The four friends dig a new path to the ice cream shop. Luke cleared the path, Emma filled the dumper, Noah made a huge pile of rubble, and Mikey (after lots of practice) flattened the road to the ice cream shop. When they have finished, the friends enjoyed a well-deserved ice cream from Mr Popsicle’s shop. After a full day of construction adventures, will Luke make it home in time for dinner? The Day I Had a Bulldozer is a fun, illustrated children’s picture book by author Ashley Wall about a young boy who had a fun-filled day with his friends, building a new road in his new bulldozer. The book will help young children learn more about construction, the types of vehicles used in construction, and the types of jobs involved in the construction industry. Many youngsters love to play with toy construction vehicles, and this book will help them understand what they are used for in the real world. The book will help develop knowledge and vocabulary of the construction industry and might inspire younger children to get involved in construction, science, and engineering. I liked the diverse representation of characters in this book, and the charming, colourful illustrations by Vaughan Duck. Luke is a sweet character, and young children will love to follow his adventures with his friends. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fun picture book about Luke and his dog Bobo, and their fun-filled day of construction adventures. Purchase here

< Back Lynsey Martin How to Get an Alligator Out of the Bathtub It is nearly bedtime and brothers Peyton and Bennett race to get into the bathtub. But much to their surprise they find an unexpected guest in the tub – a very green and very scary alligator! They discover that Alistair is not so scary after all, and in fact is quite a sophisticated alligator. Alistair is fed up with the filthy swamp and has decided to make his home in Peyton and Bennett’s clean tub. Peyton and Bennett try to think of ways to get the alligator out of the bathtub, but nothing works. When they learn that Alistair has lost his family and friends, the brothers decide to search for them. They search the dock, the swamp, and the beach, but they are nowhere to be found. Peyton and Bennett give up and head back home, wondering whether they will ever be able to have a bath again. But, when they arrive home, they find another surprise waiting for them on their doorstep. How to Get an Alligator Out of the Bathtub is a fun picture book by author Lynsey Martin. The book follows two brothers who desperately try to get an alligator out of their bathtub, after he takes up residence in their home. However, there is one big problem, he refuses to leave. The illustrations by Colleen Coggins are funny, bright and engaging, and young children will enjoy seeing the alligator in lots of silly scenarios. Young readers will enjoy the fun story and the amusing twists as the brothers find different ways to get the alligator out of the tub. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A fun and imaginative read, perfect for children who love silly stories and a little bit of mischief. https://mamabearbooks.com/ Purchase here

< Back Scott Smallwood Monkey and Bug's Night at The Corn Stand Jam A little dog realises he is not alone, and receives much needed support from his friends, by author Scott Smallwood Monkey the dog, and Bug the cat, are best friends from a small town in Ohio. Monkey was adopted into a loving family home, but sometimes felt sad and lonely. He missed his friends from the kennels, and his older sister didn’t want to play with him. Bug knew Monkey was unhappy, and he suggested they go for a walk together to the park to meet his friends and family. At the park, Monkey met Bugs friends and tried out lots of new activities, like yoga, skateboarding, and painting, which made Monkey feel happy inside and less sad. When Monkey meets a woman in a wheelchair, he is happy when he learns that she is proud of her abilities, and that she feels loved and supported by many people. Then he meets more of Bug’s friends, who play music on the Corn-Jam Stand, to help spread happiness for people when they are feeling a little sad. Monkey learns from his new friends that it is okay not to feel okay, which made him feel a little less alone. Monkey has a little boogie with all his new friends, and knows he has plenty of people to talk to, the next time he feels sad. Monkey and Bug's Night at The Corn Stand Jam is a wonderful picture book by author Scott Smallwood about inclusion, and mental health and wellbeing. Despite having a loving and supportive family, Monkey feels sad and alone sometimes. Through trying new activities, meeting new and different people, and talking to others, Monkey learns that everyone feels sad and lonely from time to time, and it is okay not to be okay. He learns the importance of talking to others, sharing problems, as well as the importance of letting go and having fun. This book will help to open up conversations with young readers and their parents or carers, and will encourage them to talk about their thoughts and feelings. The book deals with mental health issues in a simple, engaging and effective way, that young readers will relate to. Inspired by the real Christian’s Corn Stand Jam, proceeds of this book go to charity. This is an engaging and insightful book, with an important message that will benefit readers of all ages, and support a much deserved charity. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A wonderful picture book that deals with mental health issues in a simple, effective and engaging way. Purchase here

< Back Neera Badhwar Kali the Elephant Learns from Socrates the Philosopher Kali the Elephant by Neera K. Badhwar is a delightful and heartwarming children’s picture book that tackles the universal theme of self-acceptance and turning perceived flaws into strengths. The book follows the journey of Kali, a young elephant who is teased by her classmates about her appearance. Through her creative attempts to change her looks, Kali learns an invaluable lesson about embracing her unique traits. Kali tries to shrink her ears and trunk using water and sunlight, only to discover that these methods don’t work. Feeling disheartened, she stumbles upon a comic book about Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, who was also teased about his appearance. Inspired by Socrates’ witty response to his friends, Kali learns to see her features as strengths rather than flaws. She uses her big ears, long trunk, and large eyes to help her classmates, teaching them the importance of appreciating their own unique qualities. The book is illustrated by Ady Branzei, and the colorful artwork beautifully captures the emotions and humor of the story. Badhwar’s background in philosophy shines through as she introduces children to Socrates’ wisdom in an accessible and entertaining way. The story is not only enjoyable but educational too, subtly teaching children about genetics and the importance of self-confidence. Young readers will laugh, learn, and be inspired by Kali’s journey to self-acceptance. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A delightful picture book that encourages empathy and resilience, and celebrates individuality. A valuable addition to any child’s bookshelf. Purchase here

< Back Joe Ciccarelli When You Meet a Hangry Howard Meet a Hangry Howard, by author Joe Ciccarelli Have you ever felt angry and irritable as a result of hunger? Have you ever seen someone snap if they skip breakfast? Or, become bad tempered if they miss out on lunch? I’m sure you have, as it’s quite common for people to experience some irritability when they have not eaten in a while. That sudden, irrational rage when we are hungry is often referred to as "hangry" (a combination of "hunger" and "anger"). So, what do you do when you meet a Hangry Howard? How would you satisfy his hunger, and tame his temper? You could bake a delicious cake, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You could cook a three-course dinner, but I wouldn’t advise it. You could even provide a menu of scrumptious options, but that might not be the best solution. When it comes to Hangry Howards, only the fastest foods will do. Whether it’s beef stew, or cheese fondue; handmade strudel or homemade noodles; you better feed him, and feed him quick! When You Meet a Hangry Howard is a fun and entertaining picture book by Joe Ciccarelli, about the common phenomenon of feeling angry when you have not eaten. Written in verse, with lots of fabulous, tongue twisting rhymes, this is a fun book to read out aloud. Young children will laugh out loud at all the Hangry Howards, and may even recognise themselves too! There are some unusual foods listed that might not be familiar to younger readers, but there is a useful glossary at the end of the book to prompt further discussions. The cartoon like illustrations by Gary Ciccarelli are superb. Vibrant, eye catching and amusing, they capture the story and humour perfectly. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A fun, fast-food filled book, for foodies Purchase here

< Back Betty Cetas Oscar and the Awful Horrible Smell Can Oscar the troll find the source of the stinky smell? Oscar the troll lives deep in the forest. He loves the forest and knows it very well. He even knows all the forest smells, the good smells, and the not-so-good smells! But one day, while out picking blueberries, Oscar notices a very unusual and very stinky smell. He can’t quite put his finger (or nose, rather) on the smell, so he sets out into the forest to investigate. He travels throughout the forest, and the smell gets stronger and stronger. It isn’t his armpits, although they are pretty stinky. It isn’t the mushrooms, which smell pretty terrible. Nor the dead fish inside the wolverine’s cave, which smell vile. What could it be? Oscar continues to search high and low throughout the forest, but still cannot find the source of the stinky smell. He decides to return home, but the smell even follows him into his house. As he puts his feet up to rest for the evening, he suddenly discovers the source of the foul smell! Oscar and the Awful, Horrible Smell, is part of the Troll Tales and Other Stories from Grandma’s Cottage series, by Betty Cetas. The book follows the adventures of Oscar, a rather grotesque looking, but loveable troll. This is an entertaining and funny book, and children will laugh out loud at Oscar’s antics as he tries to find the source of the smell. Children will enjoy searching with Oscar as he trundles through the forest and they will enjoy guessing where the smell might be coming from. There is a very funny twist at the end of the book, that will delight younger readers. Young children love silly stories, and the funnier, dirtier, smellier, and more gruesome the better! They will love this story and fall in love with the adorable (but rather smelly) Oscar. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary: A stinky, fun-filled adventure with a very loveable troll. Purchase here

< Back Nicole Frankel What is math good for, anyway? Can Bennie learn to love math? Bennie hates math. He thinks math is dull and silly, and he doesn’t understand why he has to learn math at school, when he could be doing something much more interesting instead. He ponders, what is math good for anyway? As Bennie goes about his day, he soon learns that math is more useful than he realises. In the cafeteria at lunchtime, Bennie uses math to count his chips and trade cookies with his friend. In the playground at recess, Bennie uses math to count how far he can swing in a monkey bar competition. After school, he uses math to find out how much money he needs to buy his ice cream. At home, he uses math to measure how tall he is, to see if he can ride his favourite roller coaster. That evening, as Bennie thinks about how he used math throughout his day, he realises that math is Mathtastic after all! He feels excited to go to school the next day to continue his math journey. What is math good for, anyway? Is a picture book by author Nicole Frankel, illustrated by Firman Putra Irawan. The book follows a young boy named Bennie as he discovers that math doesn’t have to be dull and boring. It can be fun, cool and useful in any situation, from playing in the park, to buying treats. The book shows that math is an integral part of life, and is used anywhere and everywhere. The book is an excellent resource for parents, carers and educators to introduce young children to math and help explain its importance. Young children will be inspired by Bennie’s curiosity and will hopefully learn to love and appreciate math, both in the classroom and at home. The artwork is fun, vibrant and engaging. Star rating: 5 Stars Summary : A fun introduction to math and its usefulness in everyday life. Simply Mathtastic! Purchase here