Source: I own a copy
Genre: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Mystery
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Genre: Children's Book
This author has once again given us five wonderful little
stories to share with our young loved ones.
A Little Girl and Her Doll
Scarlett received a stuffed elephant as a Christmas gift one
year. Now she and Twinkle play together every day. One day while climbing the
ladder to their treehouse Twinkle slips. Scarlet rushes down to help her
friend. They discover Twinkle’s skirt has gotten dirty. Scarlett knows what to
do, it is mom to the rescue.
Scarlet Loses Twinkle
Sometimes making a choice can be difficult. Scarlet and
Twinkle get permission to go to the park one day. Twinkle reminds Scarlet that
the next day is mom’s birthday. They decide to pick some berries for mom and surprise
her with them the next day. After picking berries Scarlet has to leave Twinkles
in the park so she can carry the berries and hide them. Unfortunately she has
to go to bed without Twinkles. When she wakes up the next morning Twinkles is
in the kitchen with mom. Mom knew that Twinkles had been left in the park and
went to get her and bring her safely back home. Leaving Twinkles behind had
been the hardest choice Scarlet had ever made.
Feeling Scared
School is the one place Scarlet can’t take Twinkles. When
her teacher announces they all must participate in the school play Scarlet is
scared. She explains her fear to her mother, who promises to help her memorize
her lines. She tells Twinkles who explains how speaking in front of others is
just like one of the adventures they have. She learns it is okay to be afraid
and that sometimes you have to face your fears.
Helping a Friend Out
Scarlet was play with Twinkle when she noticed a rip in her
shoulder. She took Twinkle to the house where her dad quickly fixed Twinkle
right up. As she went outside she saw her best friend from school crying. She
sat Twinkle down and went to Jennifer. Jennifer had secretly taken her doll to
school and forgot her. The school was closed and she would have to wait until
the next day to get her. Scarlet helped her out by letting Twinkle spend the
night with Jennifer so she wouldn’t be sad and lonely. This is a story that
teaches children about sharing and caring.
A Very Important Lesson
Scarlet and Twinkle get permission to explore their neighborhood
one day. They decide to go a different direction. At the end of their street
they see a forest and decide to enter it. The deeper they go the darker it gets.
When they decide they should go back they realize they don’t recognize the way
because it all looks the same. That is when they notice a ball of stuffing and
realize a hole in Twinkle’s foot has actually saved them. All they need to do
is follow the stuffing to get back out. Scarlett tells her parents about the
forest and the lesson she has learned about not going to unfamiliar places
without an adult.
The thing I love about Janice Ford’s books is that they are
simple stories for the youngest child with simple lessons.
As always Kandi Wyatt has created a series you have to read.
Once I started the book I could not put it down. As I have said before, her
world building is so realistic you find yourself along for the ride with the
characters. She has created a world
where some lands are in almost total darkness, while some lands have too much
light. This creates a unique problem
that kids who have taken science will understand. Without light you can’t grow
products to help you life. On the other hand if you have too much light you
have the same issue. She has created these worlds and the people who inhabit them
with such skill.
Hest, the main character lives in a land where very little
grows. He has never seen a tree. Any wood they have must be imported so it is
limited. His parents are dead so he works
for a woman who runs the tavern. He has feelings for her daughter and her son
is like a little brother to him. He is in charge of the stables and beyond good with horses. One day a man shows up with
a magnificent horse. Hest doesn’t get off to a very good start with him. The
next day as the man prepares to leave he finds Hest working his horse. It is
through this activity a life changing decision is made for Hest. He sees the
man hand a bag of money to the woman who has been like a mother to him since
his own died. He believes he has been sold.
He goes with the man. It is along
this trip he learns he is not a slave but something more.
Hest grew as a character and a man throughout this
story. However, knowing this is a new
series I know there is so much more to learn about this character. He proves
his loyalty not only to the people of the new land he now belongs to but also
to a dragon. Yes! I knew the master storyteller of dragons
would have to place one somewhere. At least I hoped she would. I can not wait to read the next book and
learn more about this new world she has built. I do hope I left enough teasers
here to make you order your copy today. You won’t regret it.