Four Children's Books

Cassi Da Conch by Laurel Handfield

From Goodreads:

Cassi wants to enter the Caribbean Conch Contest but she's not sure she has what it takes. She's a little conch who wants to win, but needs something to help her stand out from a sea of contestants. This colorful book encourages children to celebrate the things that make them unique and to cheer each other on.

My Thoughts:

One thing I really liked about this book was the information at the end about the different types of conchs.  I enjoy books that are entertaining, teach a lesson, such as we are all special in our own way, and has more information at the end. This book has all that, plus wonderful illustrations.

Three Books by Dustin Ross

Billy the Goat Helps His Father

Billy was always asking questions. He wanted to know what grownups did when they went to work. Billy's mom told hi that he should ask his father to take hi to work to see what his father does. He wakes up early to go to work with his father. Billy's father took them to an empty house. He learned his father was an electrician. he also learned it was important to never play around with electricity.

Billy the Goat Meets a Hero

Billy and his friends spend the day playing fireman, each taking turns rescuing the others. When he tells his father how he spent the day his father discovers Billy doesn't really know what a fireman does. Billy's father sets him up  with Charlie the Chimp. Billy learns that being a firefighter does't mean they only fight fires. He learns that everyone has a fear of something and that is okay. He learns a hero does what they need to do even when they are scared.

Billy the Goat Bakes

Billy wants to see what a baker does so he spends the day at the bakery. Billy wakes up early and goes to the bakery. Billy's first job is to help mix the ingredients for Zebra's special bread. He is told he must follow the instructions. Billy begins to mix the ingredients and can't remember the recipe and he doesn't ask for help. The bread was ruined. Billy learned it was okay to ask questions when he didn't know or understand something.

Mister Spunky and His Friends Book Tour

Book Synopsis:

Mister Spunky and His Friends is the creation of award winning author, Kelly Preston. She has taken the story line from her book, Real Dogs Don't Whisper, placing it in a picture book format for children to enjoy. Mister Spunky and His Friends is about the importance of love, friendship; and, helping those with special needs. Follow Mister Spunky along his journey to the beach, where he meets three new friends; teaching him important life lessons along the way. Parents, if you enjoyed Real Dogs Don't Whisper, your children will enjoy this book for them. There are several pages at the end of the story for coloring activities. Ages: 5+

Website

Amazon

About Kelly Preston

Kelly Preston is, first and foremost, an animal lover. Raised on a ten-acre property in a small town in Pennsylvania, she grew up with horses, rabbits, and – of course – dogs. When she left home after college, she acquired Gizmo, an irresistible Lhasa Apso that started her on a journey full of joys and sorrows, hopes and tribulations, frustrations, endless lessons in patience, and above all else, love. All of this has come at the hands (more precisely the paws) of Gizmo, Betty Boop, Buffy, Carla Mae, and the inimitable Mr. MaGoo.

Mr. MaGoois a nine-year-old Lhasa Apso and the book’s co-creator and co-writer. He is, in his own words, “the alpha and omega of all dogs – in the cutest and sparkiest, most fun-loving package ever.” Ignoring Kelly’s persistent eye-rolling, Mr. MaGoo has forged ahead with this project in an attempt to, as he puts it, “present the facts from a dog’s perspective. In other words, the correct, most accurate, most interesting, only-one-that-matters perspective,” to which he adds, simply, “Woof!”

The School of Ministry: The Windgate by Braxton Cosby

Publisher: Keith Publications

Pages: 405

Genre: Young Adult/Adult, Supernatural Thriller

Source: I received a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

From Goodreads:

A young man named Ziv struggles to find his place in life after both of his parents are murdered. Orphaned and alone by the age of six, he bounces in and out of foster homes hopeless and afraid, wondering if he will ever find a path to happiness. He resolves to accept a life of depravity, until one day he discovers he possesses the gift of sight: to see creatures from the afterlife, but not angels...demons! Ziv is recruited by The School of Ministry, a secret society that promises to help him find his best friend Stephanie, who has gone missing. But there is one catch: he must agree to join them in their quest to eradicate evil and protect the weak. Ziv learns that he is a "Conduit," which allow him to cross over into the spirit world and transcend time itself. When he is partnered with two other young men who have similar gifts, the unlikely trio is trained in the mastery of weapons and the art of Shouting, during treacherous challenges of the tortuous Quad in preparation for their mission: to secure the Windgate. Ziv becomes entrenched in a quest of identity, love, and will, until comes face to face with pure evil itself--Akabod, the spiritual prodigal son to the School of Ministry and a master of talents.

My Thoughts:

I know of very few people who don't love a story that pits good against evil, has a romantic side to it and then throws some wickedly great challenges in.  Braxton Cosby seems to have the recipe for creating fascinating stories that the reader can't put down.  I started reading this on my commute to and from school. I was not making much progress. My evenings were tied up preventing me from reading.  All it took was one glorious day with no school, no writing and the book was mine.  I finished it in a little under four hours.  I love the world Cosby has built inside "The School of Ministry". For every test and trial that Ziv went through I looked at my own life.  They are life lessons that we can apply to our own life.  Ziv has an issue with holding onto anger. The lessons he learned by looking within himself and the way it affected his walk with God made me to the same thing. I took these lessons he learned and learned from them myself.  I don't think this was necessarily what the author was going for when he wrote the book.  I believe this is just an added bonus. The Christian aspect was a plus for me.  The non-believer as well as the believer will enjoy this story. The action in this book is told in such a way that for a visual person like me I was carried into each battle and training.  I felt my heart pounding whenever Ziv's heart would pound.  As far as the two possible love interests in the story, I haven't made up my mind about them.  Cosby has left so many neatly tied up loose ends that the next book in the series can take many twists and turns.  All of them will be absolutely delightful. The only thing I absolutely hate, is that I will need to wait for the next book in the series to come out. To that I say, "Write faster Braxton Cosby".

About the Author:

Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a vision of continuously evolving and maximizing the untapped potential of the human spirit. Braxton received a lot of his inspiration from watching the accomplishments and exploits of his famous uncle, comedic legend Bill Cosby. Braxton lives in Georgia with his wife and three children. He writes stories aimed at both entertaining and encouraging people to think and act. 

You can find out more about him:

www.braxtoncosby.com

www.theschoolofministry.com