#NetGalley Book Review: The Quokkas, the Snails, and the Land of Happiness by Eric Geiger and Evie Geiger

This has a wonderful message of unconditional love!
The Quokkas, the Snails, and the Land of Happiness
Eric Geiger, Evie Geiger

Publisher : B&H Kids (March 16, 2021)
Hardcover : 64 pages
ISBN-10 : 1087713110
Reading age : 6 - 10 years
Grade level : 1 - 5
Genre: Children, Christian Values, Emotions
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Two quokkas, two snails, one strawberry patch . . .
Suzy and Sam Snail live in the Land of Sadness, constantly working hard to feel loved. But their gloomy lives just might change when they meet two friendly quokkas who tell them all about the Creator and what life is like in the Land of Happiness. Will the Snails remain sad and empty? Or will they eagerly journey to a new land where grace, joy, and contentment grow instead?
Join these four quirky friends in the strawberry patch, and let this parable-style story offer your family a powerful conversation starter and a celebration of God’s gift of grace.

Review:
Kenton and Kailey are two happy Quokka children who live in the Land of Happiness. Their life isn’t always perfect, but they are grateful for all they have. They have a life perspective that gives them joy.

Across a meadow, in the Land of Sadness, lives the Snail family. Suzy and Sam struggle each day to earn approval from their parents and at school.

One day the four children meet in the strawberry patch between the lands. Kenton and Kailey share about the Creator and the ‘secret’ to their happy life. They invite Suzy and Sam to tell their parents and move to the Land of Happiness.

What is the secret to the Quokkas’ happiness? Will the Snails chose to change their view of life? This is a very sweet story that shares a message of God’s unconditional grace and love. I had never heard of Quokkas so that interested me by itself. The four children are cute and the message really warms my heart. The illustrations are adorable and the story is suitable, and I recommend it, for young readers.

Source: NetGalley 2020. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley and 2021 Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: LOVE by Corrinne Averiss

This has a very good message that is sweetly delivered.

LOVE
by Corrinne Averiss

ASIN : B08NCN6LJD
Publisher : words & pictures; Illustrated edition (January 19, 2021)
File size : 10598 KB
Print Length : 32 pages
Children Age : 4-6 Years
Genre: Children, Educational, Emotions
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0.

Funny, emotional, and uplifting picture book about separation and love, to help children understand their emotions.
Everyone loves everyone in Tess’s house, but when Tess has to leave for school for the very first time, she is worried that her family’s love might not stretch that far. Mom explains that love is like a string, it connects people together even when they are far away. At school Tess notices that all the children have strings! Some are new, some are old, some stretch a long way, and some even stretch right up into the sky. But what happens when a string breaks?
Love is the third in a trio of feel-good picture books from author Corrinne Averiss (Joy (2018), Hope (2019)) - a pure delight from start to finish. A wonderful story that subtly tackles difficult topics of death, grief, separation, and overcoming anxiety.

Review:
Tess is blessed to have a warm and lovely family consisting of mother, father, daughter and son. The time comes for Tess to go to school and she is concerned about leaving her family. Her mother explains that love is a string, connecting people even when they are far away. Tess’s teacher encourages her and reinforces the message. Tess sees other children with strings and one has a string that connects even an absent parent. But how will Tess react at the end of the day when the other children leave and her parents haven’t yet arrived?

This is a lovely picture book and an easy read for young children. The message is beautiful and perfect to share with children who will be experiencing time away from their parents whether for school or perhaps for deployment or medical reasons. The illustrations are clear and charming. I highly recommend this, and I would like to see Ms. Averiss’ previous books too.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley and 2021Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Leo's Monster by Marcus Pfister

This is fun for children.
Leo's Monster
by Marcus Pfister

Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: NorthSouth Books (May 5, 2020)
ISBN-13: 978-0735844179
Genre: Children, Emotions, Preschools
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

When Leo, the city mouse, visits his friend Zoe in the countryside for the first time, he meets a huge and horrible monster.
It’s gigantic, has lots of horns, an enormous tail, and when it roars, the earth shakes. At least that’s what Leo saw. Or did he? Zoe thinks his description sounds just like Berta, the sweet-tempered cow in the meadow . . .
Bestselling author Marcus Pfister skillfully weaves a hilarious story of mystery, suspense and just a hint of scariness.

Review:
I totally enjoyed Leo, the city mouse, as he tries to describe the country “monster” to his country friend, Zoe. Leo describes the tail, the vicious-looking horns, the loud roar and the tongue that snatches the grass. I could hear the smile and amusement in Zoe’s response as he knows what and who the ‘monster’ is.

I have to admit that I didn’t fully read the description nor the back jacket and I am very glad that I didn’t. I suspected what animal the monster was and enjoyed getting to the reveal

The illustrations are bright and clear and the text is easy to read. I do think this is a fun, descriptive story to share with children. I can see the chance for parents to have fun with this and to use it for teaching to explain to a child the difference between city and country experiences. I recommend this to parents for use with children.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020NetGalley and 2020Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: A Flicker of Hope by Julia Cook, MacKenzie Haley (Illustrator)

This is an encouraging book to share with children.

A Flicker of Hope
by Julia Cook (Author), MacKenzie Haley (Illustrator)

Age Range: 5 - 8 years
Grade Level: 3 - 4
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: National Center for Youth Issues (December 4, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1937870522
Genre: Children, Emotions, Self-Esteem and Self-Respect
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

HOPE is our children's window for a better tomorrow. In terms of resilience and well-being, hope is a critically important predictor of success. This creative story from the best-selling author of My Mouth is a Volcano!, and Bubble Gum Brain, reminds children that dark clouds can be temporary and asking for help is always okay. We all have times when we need to borrow a little hope from someone else.
When your clouds get too dark,
and too heavy to push away,
Reach out and ask, Can I borrow some light?
I'm having a really bad day.
It's always okay to admit to yourself,
I just can't do it today.
Everyone needs somebody sometimes,
to help them find their way.
Sometimes the dark clouds overhead seem too heavy and you feel like giving up. Little candle knows all about this. Bad grades, blasted on social media, worried about making the team, and wondering who her real friends are so many hard things to deal with! All she can see is darkness. But her story begins to change when someone notices she needs a boost of hope. As little candle is reminded she has purpose and her own unique gifts, and that she isn't the only one with dark clouds, her dim light begins to shine brighter.

This hopeful story emphasizes for children (and adults) the many different ways to ask for help, and their ability to be a hope builder for others, too.

Review:
Little candle is going through a time of stress and depression. She has many worries and thoughts of inadequacies. Another candle sees that Little candle’s light is dim. This older candle steps up to encourage Little candle, telling her of her own uniqueness and the fact that she can ask for help. The older candle shares her light to brighten Little candle. Having been encouraged, Little candle turns and shares encouragement with another candle who is struggling with low flickering.

I enjoyed the encouraging message in this children’s book. The message is repeated but I think that is okay because it reinforces that everyone goes through times when they could use a little help or boost from others.

The illustrations are bright, colorful and engaging. I like the different shapes of the candles which is consistent with all of us being different. I think this is a lovely book for parents to share with children and then I can imagine a child going back to the story to look through the images on their own. Even if they can't read, they can remember the lesson they were taught. I recommend this to all parents but especially those who may have a sensitive child who needs to know that it is okay to reach out for encouragement from others.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019TBR, 2019NetGalley and 2019Alphabet Goals.