Monday, September 29, 2014

Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf (Santa's Izzy Elves #4) Book Review

I was given an e-copy of this children's book for my honest review, which I've shared below.

Title: Frizzy the S.A.D. Elf (Santa’s Izzy Elves #4) |  Author: Dorothea Jensen  |  Illustrator: Shayne Hood  |Publication Date: August 2, 2014 | Publisher: Independent | Pages: 34 | Recommended Ages: 4 to 10


My Book Review:

The author did a wonderful job with creating such an entertaining holiday rhyming story for children to enjoy! The illustrations are simple and compliment the story. 

I'm not a hundred percent sure what lesson the author was trying to teach. At first, I thought it was how easy it is for people to get attached to their creations. I know I do! I have the hardest time selling my hand painted wine glasses. But once I do, it brings so much joy to me to see someone else really appreciating my creative art piece. In this story, the solution in the end, didn't reflect that. Instead, Frizzy got to keep one of her dolls.


Even though there wasn't a clear learning lesson, it still is such a cute rhyming story that brings a different spin to one of Santa's elves lives. Kids love Christmas stories! Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf is a great Christmas gift!


Santa’s Izzy Elves have won a number of literary awards.  Dizzy, the Stowaway Elf received Honorable Mention in the 2014 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards and has been Story Book Approved.  Plus, the e-book editions of Tizzy, the Christmas Shelf Elf and Blizzy, the Worrywart Elf both received the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award, honoring “the best in family-friendly media”.

Frizzy, the S.A.D. Elf is available for purchase

Amazon (Paperback)  | Amazon (Kindle) |  Barnes & Noble


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Sing-Along Construction Song Book Review

I was given a copy of this children's book for my honest review, which I've shared below.

Author: Louise Lintvel

Illustrator: Julie Sneeden
Publication Date: August 11, 2014
Publisher: Independent
Page Count: 32
Recommended Age: 1 to 5 years old

Free audio download of the construction song available at www.louiselintvelt.com






My Book Review:
This children's book is colorfully illustrated and fun to read! And the audio song that accompanies it is such a wonderful compliment. 

I read the book first, and then listened to the audio song that came with it. Right after, I shared it with my two year old daughter. It kept her fully entertained. In fact, within seconds of the audio song playing, she got up and started to dance (smiling from ear to ear). Once it was finished, I had her sit by my side, listening to me read the story to her and allowing her to look at the pictures on each page.  Both kept her attention.

The song reminds me of Thomas the Train. It's fun and simple, with a catchy beat. The illustrations were perfect for this age. They were colorful and kid-like.


There was one part of the book which I wasn't a huge fan of and that was the way the text was shown (mom view versus a kid view). On every page, the text was placed within a box that was supposed to look like it was underground. However, it actually made me think of ancient scroll paper, giving it an ancient time feel. That being said I don't feel it has any affect on any boy and girl construction enthusiasts enjoyment of the story and illustrations. 

As such, I give this book a 5 Star! 



About Author Louise Lintvelt  

Louise Lintvelt
I am from South Africa and I live in a city called Pretoria. I am a Chemical Engineer by day and a children’s book writer by night. I am married to a wonderful man and we have a beautiful two year old daughter called Allegra. I love writing stories for my daughter, who is a constant inspiration. 
I have always loved reading. My childhood was filled with books and you would often find me crouched the corner of my room devouring the pages of my favourite book. I lived for Tuesday mornings as this would bring with it the excitement of a trip to the local library for story hour and the opportunity to take home a new book. I was the local librarian’s worst nightmare. I would arrive a few minutes early to check that she had not mistakenly chosen a book that had already been read in story hour.
  
I was a very bossy three year old with an insatiable appetite for books! This has not really changed much in the last twenty seven years. Dr. Seuss was my absolute favourite and to say that my copy of One, Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish was well read would be an understatement.

When it comes to writing, my daughter is my biggest inspiration. I love seeing her face light up with excitement when we sit down to read a book before bedtime. My daughter was fascinated by giraffes after we went on a safari trip in late 2012. This planted the seed for my picture book called How Andrew Got His Spots which is a rhyming adaptation of a story I originally wrote in the third grade. My daughter has since grown into a healthy two year old with a passion for aircraft which was the inspiration for writing Goodnight, Sleep Tight, What a Wonderful Flight.

I am sure that there are many parents in the world (myself included), who are quite decidedly sick and tired of reading the same favourite picture book night after night. I believe that the words of Oscar Wilde best describe how children should feel about picture books when he said, If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.
Happy Reading!



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