PPBF: A Review of The Kite That Bridged Two Nations by Alexis O'Neill, Illustrated by Terry Widener

TITLE: The Kite that Bridged Two Nations 
AUTHOR:  Alexis O'Neill
ILLUSTRATOR: Terry Widener
PUBLISHER: Calkins Creek, and Imprint of Boyds Mills Press, a Highlights Company
PUBLICATION DATE: 2013

SNIPPET: Whenever wind lifted off the river and sent the trees to dancing, I'd itch to fly a kite. I'd race to the great Niagara, plumes of mist rising from plunging waters, wind licking at my face. A boy like me knew, just knew, which day would be perfect for flying kites.

Based upon actual events, this book tells the story of a dreamer named Homan Walsh, who studied the wind and found a way to make his dreams soar. 


When young Homan discovered a kite-flying contest offering a $10 prize to the boy whose kite could span from America to Canada, he knew just how to put his scientific formula for kite flying to the test. 

Despite his father's assertion that he put his kite away and tend to his studies, Homan constructed a new kite, which he named Union. Side by side with other boys, he braved the elements. Despite failure and the loss of his beloved kite, he returned home to recalculate and try again! 

The Kite that Bridged Two Nations is an inspiring true story based upon Alexis O'Neill's tireless research and historical documents. It is beautifully written, with strong lyrical language and intriguing back matter. Historically accurate art by Terry Widener brings this story of a young boy's role in bridging two nations to life. It's a wonderful example of the part a child can play in changing the world. 

4 out of 5 Stars
REVIEWED by Lynne Marie. The opinions offered herein are my own. 

PLEASE check out this fun Holiday Contest and Vote for Your Favorite

https://susannahill.com/2016/12/16/the-6th-annual-holiday-contest-finalists-vote-for-your-favorite/

Thanks from the Finalists!

2016 CYBILS PICTURE BOOK NOMINEE REVIEW: Introducing Teddy: A Gentle Story About Gender and Friendship

TITLE: Introducing Teddy
AUTHOR: Jessica Walton

ILLUSTRATOR: Dougal MacPherson

PUBLISHER:  Bloomsbury

PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016

FLAP COPY: Teddy knows in hear heart that she is a girl, not a boy. Will her friends understand? And will they call her Tilly instead of Thomas? 

The thing about being a boy or a girl is that it doesn't matter what other people say -- it's what you say that counts. But it's better when your friends understand. 

Starring a teddy bear who is defined by what's inside instead of what's outside, and with a heartwarming story about being true to yourself, Introducing Teddy is a sweet, accessible book to help the youngest readers understand gender identity and transition. 

SNIPPET: Errol and Thomas the Teddy play together every day. They ride their bike in the backyard. They plant vegetables in the garden. They have sandwiches for lunch in the treehouse. And they even have tea parties in the house when it's raining. 

REVIEW: While dealing with an extremely important and timely issue, this reads entirely like a picture book about friendship and acceptance. Notable is the absence of adult intervention, in my heartfelt opinion, that children are generally accepting and often learn to exclude based upon what they are taught or see adults do.

So sweet, with absolutely tender and careful art, I am extremely thankful to have met Teddy -- an important person to meet, to say the least! 4 out of 5 Stars

NOTE: The reviews stated herein are my own, despite receiving a copy of this book as a 2016 Cybils Panelist. 

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2016 CYBILS PICTURE BOOK NOMINEE REVIEW: Explorers of the Wild by Cale Atkinson

TITLE: Explorers of the Wild
AUTHOR: Cale Atkinson
PUBLISHER:  Disney/Hyperion
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016
FLAP COPY: No mountain is too tall if you have a friend by your side to climb it.

REVIEW: From the onset of this picture book journey, I was captivated by the cover, and wanted to explore the wild with these charming characters. I opened the book to a wonderful flap copy which shares a profound and inspiring truth, and something to keep focus on all your life, from young to old.

As I traveled on in this book and got to know these characters, I appreciated that they were so different but came together through their common love of exploration. It's great that unbeknownst to each other, they carried the same wants and same fears, but were open to considering the facts, and then very quickly moved past the fears to focus on their similarities. So many good subtle messages woven into this story!


Vancouver native Cale Atkinson's art is absolutely adorable and plush with details. And who would want to turn the page to see what other situations these friends encountered?

This book truly celebrates friendship and all the ways in can enhance your experiences and life. The ending is particularly satisfying and demonstrates how a little one might hold on to memories and cherish them.


A fantastic journey! 4 out of 5 Stars.

NOTE: The reviews stated herein are my own, despite receiving a copy of this book as a 2016 Cybils Panelist.


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2016 CYBILS PICTURE BOOK NOMINEE REVIEW: The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk by K. Sehgal and S. Sehgal

TITLE: The Wheels on the Tuk Tuk
AUTHORS: Kabir Sehgal &  Surishtha Sehgal
ILLUSTRATOR: Jess Golden
PUBLISHER: Beach Lane Books
/Simon & Schuster
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016

FLAP COPY: Take a ride through an India town as the tuk tuk wheels go round and round!

This delightful spin on "The Wheels on the Bus" brings a lively and colorful twist to a classic nursery rhyme.



SNIPPET:  People in the street jump on and off, on and off, on and off. People on the street jump
on and off, all through the town.


REVIEW: I will admit that I have always loved clever parodies, but let's be honest -- so do kids. They know the tune and some of the words so it is satisfying and familiar, and they learn others, so it is new, different and fun. And, it is not long before their vocabularies have expanded.

In this enjoyable book, two New York Times Best-selling authors offer text that sings and chings through the streets of India. The art is wonderfully engaging, with lots of flavor and unique cultural- specific details for little ones to discover and learn. They will become familiar with transportation (tuk tuk), foreign currency (rupees), language (namaste-ji), past-times (yoga and chanting), common animals (cows, elephants), popular beverage (chai), popular food (poppa-doppa-doms), holiday (diwali) and more.

What a treat for little ones to explore a land so far away, and yet so accessible in this picture book!

Such a fun ride -- one little ones will want to go on again and again.


When my daughter was a toddler to went to a Global Kids class in which she learned about other cultures. Here's a great way to broaden the horizons of little ones without even paying a hefty fee.

4 out of 5 Stars!

NOTE: The reviews stated herein are my own, despite receiving a copy of this book as a 2016 Cybils Panelist.

WEBSITE:  www.cybils.com 
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CybilsAwards/?fref=ts

SUSANNA HILL'S 6TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONTEST: The 12 Days of Fruitcake by Meriweather Kane and Lynne Marie

“The Twelve Days of Fruitcake”

A Parody Set in New York City

by: Merriweather Kane and Lynne Marie

255 words

            On the first day of Christmas,

Aunt Mary gave to me…

A fruitcake!

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” I lied.

On the second day of Christmas,

I gave that cake away…

To Sister.

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” she lied.

On the third day of Christmas,

She passed the cake along...

To Brother.

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” he lied.

On the fourth day of Christmas,

He passed the cake along...

To a bully.

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” she lied.

            On the fifth day of Christmas,

            She passed that cake along…

            To Teacher.

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” he lied.

On the sixth day of Christmas,

He passed that cake along…

To the star Student.

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” he lied.

On the seventh day of Christmas,

He passed that cake along…

To Bus Driver.

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” he lied.

            On the eighth day of Christmas,

            Hhe passed that cake along…

            To a ballerina.

            “Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” she lied.

            On the ninth day of Christmas,

            She passed that cake along…

            To a holiday shopper.

            “Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” she lied.

           

            On the tenth day of Christmas,

            She passed that cake along…

            To street Santa.

            “Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” he lied.

            On the eleventh day of Christmas,

            He passed that cake along…

            To me!

“Fruitcake, my favorite Christmas surprise,” I lied again.

            On the twelfth day of Christmas,

            I passed that cake along…

            To my dog,

            Who ate it and…

Thankfully, the fruitcake was gone!

Until, next Christmas.

SUSANNA HILL'S 6TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY CONTEST: Let Witchmas Begin by Lynne Marie

LET WITCHMAS BEGIN...

Word Count: 300

“Christmas is more snow than glow,” Octavia observed. “It needs a makeover. Santa’s

lucky I traded holidays with him!”

With a flick of her wand, Christmas became “Witchmas”

Elves turned from merry to scary,  

Colors from bright to just right and

                        Carols to scare-alls!

            A tear ran down Octavia’s nose as she sang along…

On the twelfth day of Witchmas
my Crypt-mate sent to me:
12 Demons Dribbling
11 Pookas Primping
10 Mummies Mumming
9 Vampires Vamping

8 Monsters Mashing
7 Souls a-Swirling
6 Toads a-Croaking
5 Black Batwings
4 Carrion Birds
3 Ravens
2 Cawing Crows
and a Vulture in a dead tree.

“It’s a nightmare come true,” she murmured. And it was, until…

Octavia knocked at house #1.

“Scary Christmas!”

A door slammed in her face.

She’d forgotten to use the chimney.

After bandaging her nose, she entered house #2 from the roof.

“Ouch!”

She’d forgotten about the Yule Log.

After applying burn cream, she entered house #3 through the window.

            “Crash!”

            She’d forgotten about the Christmas tree.

            She picked ornaments and pine needles from her hair.

            “This holiday is more unbearable than scareable. I’m exhausted.”  She threw up her hands. “I should be moon-tanning right now…”

With a flick of her wand, she brought back Christmas AND Santa. 

“Glad you’re here,” said Octavia. “I quit!”

“Not until you’ve visited EVERY home on my list. A deal’s a deal,” Santa reminded her. “Besides, I have ideas for cheering up Halloween.”

“But Halloween’s a perfectly frightful holiday,” Octavia protested.

“Not for long.” Santa grabbed Octavia’s wand.  “Ho Ho Ho, Merry Witchmas to all and to all a good night. See you on Holly-ween!”He pointed the wand at himself. “POOF!”

“I should be careful what I wish for,” said Octavia. “Where’s the cocoa? It’s going to be a long night.”