Category: book reviews

Posted on by Cynthia Reeg

FANTASTIC BOOKS & WHERE TO FIND THEM!

Emmie Enchanted featured FROM THE GRAVE on her book review blog this week.

I am pleased to share the link to this well-read nine-year-old reviewer’s look at Book 1 of MONSTER OR DIE. It was thrilling to see that Emmie was swept up into the monsters’ world and greatly enjoyed her time there. In fact, she’s informed me that she is busy reading Book 2, INTO THE SHADOWLANDS, right now!

These are the type of reviews I truly love–from my target audience. It pleases me beyond words to know that my story has entertained this reader and encouraged her to want more with the second book.

Miss Enchanted has a wide range of books reviewed on her site, Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them. I am thrilled to see my book on the same page as such greats like Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo and Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. I hope you’ll check them out and show these and other book recommendations found on the site to middle grade readers you know. A good review from a student reviewer means so much more to a young reader since it comes from one of their own.

Here’s what Emmie had to say about FROM THE GRAVE:

https://www.fantasticbooksandwheretofindthem.org/blog/2018/5/7/from-the-grave

Reading & WRITING

Emmie has also written a book of her own–THE MAGIC MYSTERY! This also thrills me. I love sharing writing tips with students–getting them excited not only about reading but about writing their own stories. For it is in sharing our words, our thoughts, and our ideas that we draw closer to each other. Reading and writing are the keys to success on so many levels.

Summer is almost ready to start. Check out Emmie’s list for some great books for your summer reading!

 

 

Posted on by cindyindigo

Take Root and Write–Great Review


Thanks so much to Meredith Curtis at her blog, TAKE ROOT AND WRITE, for the wonderful review of both HAMSTER HOLIDAYS: NOUN AND ADJECTIVE ADVENTURES and GIFTS FROM GOD. Read what Ms. Curtis thought of these books:

HAMSTER HOLIDAYS–With adorable illustrations by Kit Grady, this book is kid friendly….After the enchanting story is finished, there are 8 pages of noun and adjective activities and teaching helps! What a fun way to teach or reinforce grammar!
(Be sure to check out the new adorable HAMSTER HOLIDAYS book trailer by Kim McDougall.)

GIFTS FROM GOD–The photographs that fill each page are absolutely gorgeous. GIFTS FROM GOD by Cynthia Reeg is an inspiration book about God’s goodness to us, His beloved children. Photographs are the work of Mary Sue Roberts and they are truly works of art…The first page of each pair of pages has a Scripture verse and the second page has personal exclamation of joyous praise! This book is so beautiful–I have read it through over and over, enjoying the beauty of the lovely pictures and meditating on the verses.

Wow! Thanks so much, Ms. Curtis. It is truly wonderful to know how much readers enjoy our books–which are a tightly-knit collaboration between these two great illustrators, Kit Grady & Mary Sue Roberts, and myself in conjunction with Lynda Burch, publisher at Guardian Angel Publishing.
What great books have you read lately?

Posted on by cindyindigo

Grammar Fun for Everyone and a Great Review from STORIES FOR CHILDREN MAGAZINE


Gayle Jacobson-Huset, Fiction & Poetry Editor for STORIES FOR CHILDREN MAGAZINE, said, “I give this book [HAMSTER HOLIDAYS] a high five for the excellent learning tools Author Cynthia Reeg has included to make learning so much fun, and for the colorful, kid-friendly illustrations by Kit Grady. This book is definitely a keeper!”

Hey, find out for yourself how fun grammar can be with these ONLINE GRAMMAR GAMES:

FUN BRAIN.COM–One of my favorites with the Grammar Gorilla. Don’t let the grammar or the gorilla scare you. Just like in my Pet Grammar Parade Series, it’s all fun!
GRAMMAR BLAST–These games are geared to grade levels. Select your grade and take the challenge.
NOUN DUNK–Dribble, shoot, and score with this fun interactive game with common and proper nouns.
PLANETSPASM.COM–This parts of speech game was created by kids for a classroom assignment. Help save the planet when you correctly select a noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, verb, or conjunction.

Now you just can’t wait to see what grammar adventures the hamsters are up to, can you?
Visit Amazon.com or Guardian Angel Publishing to purchase your copy.
Posted on by cindyindigo

HAMSTER HOLIDAYS Earns a Great Armchair Review


I wanted to share the lovely interview HAMSTER HOLIDAYS received at Armchair Interviews.com.

Reviewer, Laura V. Hilton, said, “Has your child been struggling with learning about nouns and adjectives and what their jobs are in a sentence? Then this cute little book about hamsters and holidays will be just the right thing to help your child identify these important parts of a sentence.”
And Ms. Hilton adds, “This book will help grammar become fun.” To read the complete review, click on the link above.
Thanks for the great review, Ms. Hilton.
Now, what are you waiting for? Celebrate the holidays hamster style. Visit Guardian Angel Publishing to find out how you can order your own copy of the book.

Posted on by cindyindigo

DOGGIE DAY CAMP = Grammar Fun

Another 2 paws up review!
Wayne S. Walker, a reviewer at Stories for Children Magazine, gave DOGGIE DAY CAMP: VERB AND ADVERB ADVENTURES a wonderful evaluation:
Bubba the dog is attending his first day at doggie day camp, but he is shy. However, he slowly becomes interested and makes new friends as he engages in the various activities. In addition, he helps to teach readers (or listeners) about verbs and adverbs as well. This book is one of the pet grammar parade series. What a unique idea! As a book reviewer who has had to wade through some really bad grammar because many authors (and apparently some editors) do not know the ins and outs of the English language, I firmly believe that children need to be taught proper English grammar.

Studies show that beginning formal grammar studies for students under third or fourth grade can be counterproductive, but grammar concepts can still be gradually introduced to younger children if done gently. Story books such as this are a wonderful way to do so. There is an introduction that explains what verbs and adverbs are. At the end, there is a study guide that gives further information about verbs and adverbs and contains several fun activities for children that will help to reinforce what they have learned. I would hope that books like this will find a ready audience. They are sorely needed! I really like this idea.

Thank you, Mr. Walker! Bubba and I greatly appreciate your kind words in praise of DOGGIE DAY CAMP. To read more reviews, click here.

And remember, this Saturday morning (August 23) Bubba and I will be at the Leawood, Kansas Barnes and Noble store at 11:00 for storytime. I hope to see some of you there.
Posted on by cindyindigo

Introducing GENNA, a Tell-It-Like-It-Is Reviewer

Latest News Flash

2nd grade book reviewer, Genna, has just read KITTY KERPLUNKING: PREPOSITION FUN. Genna loves to read, and with the help of her mom–author & illustrator, Kim Chatel–Genna is now posting reviews of the books she is reading. Genna, according to her mom, gives “the straight scoop” on the books she reviews—no sugar-coating if Genna doesn’t like them.

So I was extremely pleased when Genna posted the following review of KITTY:

This book is about prepositions. Prepositions show where, when or how. I really like the drawings. They are so cute! The main character is Preppy the kitty. He reminds me of my cat, Casey. My favorite picture is the one where Preppy the kitty and his friend are sleeping together on the chair. I like this book because of the drawings and the word games at the end. Preppy made learning about prepositions fun. I think this book would be good for young children.

Read more reviews by Genna at her mom’s website…and while you’re there, you’ll also want to check out Kim’s new book from Guardian Angel Publishing, RAINBOW SHEEP. This colorful story involves a shepherdess, some sheep, and a sad rainbow. The book includes 12 Fiber art illustrations and four full pages of Felting for Fun for kids activities, glossary & fiber art activities.