Review | Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: Baby’s First Book of Extraordinary Women

This board book adaptation of the New York Times bestselling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls introduces your little reader to the lives of extraordinary Rebel women, past and present, from around the world.

Welcoming new Rebels into the fold, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: Baby’s First Book of Extraordinary Women features artists and inventors, athletes and activists in its colorful, inviting pages. Readers will meet dancer Misty Copeland, pilot Amelia Earhart, swimmer Yusra Mardini, and many other inspiring icons.

Sparkling, easy-to-read text and beautiful portraits capture each trailblazing woman’s Rebel spirit and make this adaptation of a classic a sure bedtime favorite.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

When I saw this one pop up as another installment in this series of books, I thought it was a great idea for even younger readers. The snippets about each individual is short, easy to understand in most cases and digestible for a much younger reader. The colors and artwork are vibrant and will easily draw the attention of their intended audience. I think for even younger readers this is a great introduction to the entire Rebel Girls series and may pique their interest to check out other installments as they get older, or learn specifically about some of the individuals in the book.

Happy reading!

Review | Greek Myths: Meet the Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of Ancient Greece by Jean Menzies

Journey into a world of gods, goddesses, heroes, extraordinary creatures, and fantastic monsters with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Ancient Greek mythology for kids.

Perfect for children aged 7 to 9, this collection contains enthralling new retellings of favorite myths as well as some you might not have heard before.

Including the saga of Theseus and the Minotaur, the 12 labors of Herakles, and the escapades of Jason and the Argonauts, each myth is told in engaging modern language, making them easy for children to understand while still retaining the humor and intrigue of the original tales. Each one is brought to life with stunning illustrations by multi-award-winning artist Katie Ponder, which breathe new life into these classic stories.

Additional feature pages and maps delve deeper into the mythical world, including profiles of the gods and a map detailing Odysseus’ long, monster-filled voyage home from the Trojan War. The reference section provides key background information to the stories, such as Ancient Greek storytelling and the incredible beasts of the myths, including centaurs and unicorns.

Greek Myths is the perfect gift for children to explore by themselves or as bedtime stories and will be treasured forever.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I’ve been excited to pick this one up ever since it came out, so I’m glad I was able to get to it. I’ve always enjoyed Greek myths and myths in general, so while I knew a lot of these myths, it was great to read them in a modern language and somewhat simplified. I loved the way that important details were included in these versions. Though it is written for younger readers I feel like it is something that readers of all ages can enjoy. The writing style combined with the artwork was a perfect fit and I loved how bold the artwork was. I’m excited to see what else Jean Menzies publishes as this was such a perfect volume not only sharing famous Greek figures (such as Gods, Goddesses and Heroes) but also talking about the culture of Ancient Greece and what shaped their beliefs and culture.

Happy reading!

Review | Dalya and the Magic Ink Bottle

When twelve-year-old Dalya is dragged to Istanbul to help sell her family’s ancestral home, the visit begins unpromisingly. Most of the aged mansion is off-limits because it’s falling apart, her father is ignoring her, and her great aunt keeps prattling on about a family curse. Despite warnings against it, Dalya tiptoes upstairs, where she finds an old bottle of magic ink hidden under a floorboard. She asks the bottle’s jinn (aka genie) to grant her a simple wish…to send her home. Except the jinn interprets go home to mean send me back in time and turn me into a cat. Then Dalya must set off on a wild adventure through Istanbul’s animal underworld to find the jinn with the power to set things right. 

I picked this one up purely based on the description and am so glad I did! I loved this story and the ragtag group of characters that came together as Dalya journeyed to find her way back home, and learned what home really was.

The writing style was easy and flowed wonderfully and the descriptions of Istanbul were just enough to paint a picture of the place. It’s a great adventure and though Dalya sometimes acts impulsive or rashly, it suits her age and the audience it is aimed at. All in all it was a fun story with lots of heart.

Happy reading!

Review: Lost Beast, Found Friend

Keelee is a brave, young girl who discovers a purple, fuzzy, funny beast! Together the two must make their way across this fantastic land to return Beast to his home. This is a touching tale of friendship and fun that children will want to revisit again and again. The children’s book is the debut of painter Nick Kennedy and comics writer Josh Trujillo (Dodge City). Lost Beast, Found Friend transports readers to a lush, tropical world, and Kennedy’s unique style gives Keelee and her new friend a vivid fantasy world to play in. This book will stick with readers of all ages long after story-time is over. Lost Beast, Found Friend is a charming and vibrant adventure story for the explorer in all of us!

This is an adorable little children’s book that is a quick and colorful story about friendship. I absolutely loved it even though it is short and sweet. Not only is it a story about friendship, but has a touch about not judging based on appearances and found friends/family. The artwork is fun, colorful and dynamic.

This is a great story for children, especially those that may feel different or want to understand about making friends. It has a very sweet message as well as some humor.

Lost Beast, Found Friend comes out June 9th from Oni Press, so be sure to pick up a copy for your little ones!