The Friend Exchange
Gavin Black Author
Steve Gaddis Illustrator
Global Book Publishing
www.globalpublishing.com
9781956193763, $6.00 HC / $2.99 Kindle
Every so often there is a title that is a quiet one, that finds an audience in different ways. Such is the case with “The Friend Exchange” James Bartholomew Jones age ten, has a major blowout with his best friend Adi Amand, so bad in fact that he tells his parents he never wants to see him again. Enter James or Jim’s dad, who says he has a solution that he will reveal the next day. So Jim and his dad take a trip to a company where you can trade in a person for another one. Jim figures what does he have to lose. From then on the novel is a fun excursion into a fun filled story that concludes with a satisfying ending. YA and kids’ books often have hidden messages as do certain science fiction works that add so much to the enjoyment for readers to pick up on. “The Friend Exchange” is a wonderful character driven narrative, what if tale, that makes people think, about a lot of things. Its well written prose is for any age to appreciate.
Threat Of The Spider
Michael P. Spradlin
Margaret K. McElderry Books
c/o Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665947244, $7.99 pbk / $7.99 Kindle
“Threat Of The Spider” is the second of The Web Of The Spider series, as the Nazi regime rises to power in Germany in the 1930s. Ansel has resisted bullies, of the youth group, geared to the Nazi party. He realizes his journalist father is one of the few individuals, to challenge the party by writing stories exposing them. Later his dad goes missing. No one has any idea of why he has disappeared. Ansel and his friends do what they can to stay away from the oppressor gang while searching for his papa. “Threat Of The Spider” and the series come at a perfect time to warn people to realize the frightening similarities, what happened in Germany can occur in our country today, if we do not change the course we are on
Oliver Possum’s Bicycle The bicycle Life of Oliver Possum 1
Chip Haynes
4 Horsemen Publications
https://www.4horsemenpublications.com
9781644505067, $14.99 pbk / $3.99 Kindle
Oliver Possum is like so many people when they get a brand-new bicycle in “Oliver Possum’s Bicycle” Oliver gets frustrated because its tough to learn how to get on and ride away when he continues to fall. Despite his aggravation he listens to his cheerleader dad who tells him to keep on going, it will get better. Finally he has a breakthrough, then is able to ride around as he later tests his stamina in many different ways. Anyone who has ever struggled with a bicycle can relate to Oliver as he tackles the tasks to master them. Oliver Possum’s Bicycle” is delightful reading that is the first of a series with charming characters.
A Gathering Of Voices Stories From The Longwood Writers Workshop
Foreword by Phylicia Rashad
BookBaby
www.bookbaby.com
979-8350971828, $24.95 pbk / $8.99Kindle
Denise Nicholas a well-known woman in the entertainment industry, had a concept. Pull together five other people from different professions to write different stories that became “A Gathering Of Voices Stories From The Longwood Writers Workshop.” Some of the issues covered are racism, three forms of abuse marital, sexual and drug, double standards at the workplace for men and women and a slew of others that are well crafted exposures of many unpleasant things. Some of the titles to look for are “Crack Monster” a memoir by Deise Billings about a problem her husband was having that she believed would over time get better. Hattie Winston’s “Battlefield” is a punch in the gut rendering of the sickening way black people were treated in many places in the south by white people. She and her dad go to a department store in Downtown Memphis to be treated so bad you just want to cry for how rude the clerk is telling a young Hattie Winston do not touch the clothes and the hidden meaning is crystal clear. All the pieces are excellent reading by talented people who have so much to say of a darker period as well as interesting not very well-known aspects of different things. Denise Nicholas has done a remarkable job with “A Gathering Of Voices Stories From The Longwood Writers Workshop” that hopefully will continue with other authors and volumes.
Above the Clouds
Kris Nulf Author
Corrie Knox Illustrator
BookBaby
www.bookbaby.com
9798350923575, $14.99 pbk / No Kindle
A little girl searches for answers after the death of her mom in “Above the Clouds.” The thoughts of the child in the story are many of the stages of grief, anytime there is a death of a loved one. As depicted stages may be out of an order, iso often the case. It is harder for children because they are so young and there is much they will deal with later. “Above the Clouds” shows a side of the demise of a cherished family member, that is very normal but often misunderstood. “Above the Clouds” beautifully tackles a subject with stunning artwork and reassuring prose to ease peoples pain in their time of need
Frecleface Strawberry
Julianne Moore Author,
LeUyen Pham Illustrator
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
c/o Bloomsbury Publishing Ple
9781599901077, $18.99 HC / $8.49 Kindle
For some kids growing up is very hard for so many reasons. For the main character in “Freckleface Strawberry” she has a situation she believes is a real problem because of the way many others treat her. The difficulty is the many spots all over her body that draw laughter and taunts of unkind comments from other kids wherever she goes. She does so many things to hide them that are interesting until one day something happens that changes everything that begins to be a nicer environment. “Freckleface Strawberry” takes a perceived negative that after a time turns into a positive that is fun reading.
Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully
Julianne Moore Author,
LeUyen Pham Illustrator
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
c/o Bloomsbury Publishing Ple
978-1599903163, $18.99 HC / No Kindle
Freckleface Strawberry is back in a new adventure in “Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully.” The story begins, with a sport where nasty Windy Pants Patrick makes it his mission to throw the ball at every kid in the game harder than he should. He enjoys taunting others because he is bigger and stronger than anyone else. Freckleface Strawberry devises a plan to take him down. Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully is fun entertainment.
Freckleface Strawberry lunch or What’s That?
Julianne Moore Author,
LeUyen Pham Illustrator
Random House Books for Young Readers
c/o Penguin Random House
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
9780385391917, $3.99 pbk / $3.99
“Freckleface Strawberry lunch or What’s That? Opens with former bully Windy Pants Patrick and Freckleface Strawberry sitting together at lunch. Enjoying it the food careful of an item on her plate The two are stumped friends plan a strategy to determine what the mystery cuisine is. “Freckleface Strawberry Lunch, or What’s That?” is an enticing way to approach a new item to eat.
The Glass Pyramid A Story of the Louvre Museum and Architect I. M.
Jeanne Walker Harvey Author
Khoa Le Illustrator
Antheneum Books For Young Readers
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
c/o Simon & Schuster
9781665953337, $19.99 HC / $10.99 Kindle
To so many of us we are not very familiar with the name of I.M Pei but aware of many of the architectural accomplishments around the world. “The Glass Pyramid” tells the story of the history of a museum in France he worked on. At first the French people did not like the idea of a foreigner involved in anyway. As they saw the progress and his plans they mellowed and finally accepted his work. “The Glass Pyramid” is beautifully told as readers learn about a man who has influenced so many skylines all over the world from China to the United States and anything in between for so many decades.
Living Bridges The Hidden World of Indi’s Woven Trees
Sandhya Acharya Author
Avani Dwivedi Illustrator
A Paula Wiseman Book
An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
c/o Simon & Schuster
https://www.simonandschuster.com/kids
9781665950299, $19.99 HC / $10.99 Kindle
Today we see everyday bridges being built all around us. “Living Bridges The Hidden World of Indie’s Woven Trees’ reveals a totally different way, that has been around for centuries. The uniqueness is there are no concrete or metal portions. Instead portions of trees are used to make very strong connections that keep the balance of nature in tact as well as a safe way not harmful to the environment. “Living Bridges The Hidden World of India’s Woven Trees” opens people’s eyes, to many different ways to make things that are not harmful to our planet’s eco system
Gary Roen
Senior Reviewer
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
- Kevin Seraaj
