A Rose in the Desert – Chi Emerole

Art - Ryan Durney

Publisher:  CreateSpace

Pages:  32

Source:  Review copy from author

Genre:  Children’s Picture Book

This is one of those stories that teaches as well as tells a great story.  Rose is a young girl getting ready to celebrate her seventh birthday in a refugee camp in Chad.  The book shows how difficult life is for her.  She and her mother must walk to a hot geyser to get their water for camp.  Then they must carry the jugs of water back on their head.  To get to school she and her friend walk a rocky trail to their outdoor school.  They sit on small stools under a thatched roof.  After school she and her friends go to the cave of dreams where they play music and dance.  Later her family bring her a chocolate cake and a surprise.  Her uncle and new cousin arrive.  He has brought her a gift.  The gift is a stuffed animal she had to leave behind.  As she prepares for bed that night she is inspired to write a poem called, “A Rose in the Desert”.  This is a wonderful book full of hope in the face of terrible odds.

About the Author:

Chi Emerole is the last of six children, born to two Nigerian teachers in a small village she and her siblings fondly call "Ogele City".  She came to the United States of America at the age of nineteen.  She is a pediatrician and a member of the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.  She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and adorable son.  She is passionate about poetry, creative writing, traveling, and improving the lives of children.

I Remember Mommy’s Smile – Diana Wolfman Baker

Publisher:  Baker’s Dozen Press

Pages:  45

Source:  Review copy from author

Genre:  Children’s Picture Book

My Review:

This is a child’s story about a parent’s illness and death.  Diane Wolfman has created a story to help children of all ages deal with grief and loss.  Based on her own experiences as a child.  Dina has found it important to write this book to reach out to those who are young and must deal with such a great loss.  The story touches the heart.  You feel the fear and pain the character feels.  It explains the steps an illness can take and how to deal with it.  The story is open and honest.  It is great for parents, grandparents, teachers and counselors who need a resource to help young children deal with the tough subject of death.  This should be on every parents shelf.

About the Author:

Dina Baker lost her mother to cancer after a long illness.  She wrote this book with the hope of helping other children who are coping with similar situations.  In addition to authoring books and essays and running Baker’s Dozen Press, Baker is an accomplished public speaker who has been engaged to address numerous audiences regarding I Remember Mommy’s Smile – PhD psych candidates studying school psychology, children in child bereavement camp and  with general audiences.  She also has a nearly 30-year career in marketing and communications.  She and her husband, Brad, are empty-nesters living in the suburbs of Philadelphia.  For more information on I Remember Mommy’s Smile and excerpts from the video, go to www.MommysSmile.com.

Student Saturday: 13 Treasures - Michelle Harrison

Publisher:  Little Brown & Co.
Pages:  355
Genre:  Middle Grade, Fantasy
Student Reviewer:  Kiarra

Tanya's mom is tired of Tanya's make-believe fantasies, so she sends her to stay with her grandma.  Tanya is mad because she is being sent to live with her grandma.  Especially because she really does see stuff.  She sees fairies.  While with her grandma Tanya faces old family secrets.  Some of the fairies are mean and some are nice.  IN her grandma's mansion lives Fabian her know-it-all cousin, Florence her granma, and Amos, and that's all.  She and Fabian discover secrets and passages in the house.  A pact Morweena Bloom and Florence made might cause Tanya to be stuck in the fairy realm forever.  I love this book.  I would recommend this to my friends.  I made a connection with Tanya because I don't like when my mom doubts me or thinks I'm making something up.