“Al Dente: The story of the perfect pasta” is an amazing Children’s Book written by the author Stephanie Baruffi and illustrated by Michela Cardelli. One morning, a baby boy pasta was born prematurely. Since the baby boy was born prematurely, he didn’t got much time to be cooked in his mom’s belly. As a result, baby boy pasta was born stiff. He wasn’t flexible like his siblings or other kids.
Grab a copy of this adorable book. It teaches a beautiful lesson to kids that if you are different from others then you are special too with special skills. Cover photo of the book is nice and I loved the way author has narrated this story with pasta family as the main characters. It’s a unique book and kids will definitely enjoy reading this story.
Trigger Point written by the author Douglas Misquita is a Luc Fortesque adventure thriller. It is the third installment in the Luc Fortesque adventure thriller series. Story features Luc Fortesque who is under an Interpol Red Notice. He knows about the terrorist plot that has the power to put the world under huge threat and it can incriminates the Holy See also. Isn’t it strange how knowledge of something could put you in danger and sometimes can also cost you your life. One of the oldest espionage agencies in the world were closing on him.
On the other hand, Raymond Garrett has taken a difficult job in his hand i.e. to bring down El Fantasma. But El Fantasma desired to unite the fragmented drug operations run by paramilitary groups. Grab a copy of this book and get to know whether Luc and Raymond get successful in achieving anything?
The story is full of action all the time with a fast pace. I couldn’t put this book aside once I began to read it.
Even though it’s a part of series but can be read as a standalone also. If you are a fan of adventure thrillers then this one you couldn’t miss at all. Language of the book is medium. Cover photo is nice. Writing style of author is professional and I enjoyed reading this.
“Blubeari’s Very Different Summer in 2020” is an interesting Children’s Book written by the author Steph Sullivan and illustrated by Kris Lillyman.
This is a story of BluBeari, a hand knitted bear who noticed a change at home. The hoomans didn’t leave the house as the pandemic had arrived like a tornado and all have to stay at home. All the major decisions are being taken by the President now.
Read the story to know how hoomans stay in touch with their family members and work friends during pandemic and how they have to cover their nose and mouth when they go outside?
Visuals used in the book are eye catchy. The story is fast paced and exciting. The best thing that I loved about this book is that it is short yet delivering an important message that we all should be thankful to hospital staff and we support the NHS. Strongly recommend this book to little readers. Great addition to any children’s bookshelf. Interested to read more books by the author.
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I’m Victoria Day-Joel, 42 from Gloucestershire, England. A published Poet and Author through Olympia Publishers London. Poetry Inspired by Oliver 2018 and New Beginnings 2020.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘ Poetry Inspired by Oliver ’ book?
My challenges came after the writing of Poetry Inspired by Oliver. The writing was very secretive as I wrote poems to share my innermost feelings to Oliver, my friend and muse. I didn’t set out to write a book, but it became one! Nobody knew I could write including myself so it was all about following the moment, a hidden talent discovered in my late 30’s brought about by the situation I was in.It felt like I was sharing my private journals to the world, it felt so powerful I felt compelled to send off my manuscript.But also I wanted to give a book as a gesture of love to my friend.Olympia Publishers were the only publishers I sent it to and It was accepted.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I write from the heart and only started reading poetry after I had written my first book. I’ve had no training or study, so I’m not technical in any way. I’ve discovered Anais Nin as my writing was compared to hers, but I love discovering new poets too. So many talented people who are unknown
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I live near Lakes and Parks. In Cirencester my hometown we are privileged to have ancient parkland which continually inspires me, I’ve written in New Beginnings, the poem ‘Corinium’ in Cirencester Park and ‘Lake Story’ by the Cotswold Lake whilst drinking coffee. Cirencester will always hold a special place in my heart wherever I am.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
With Poetry it’s all about capturing the moment, the mood, the inspiration, the thought, the desire before it leaves. I will write lines on the go on my mobile phone and come back to them and piece together later. So far, It is pretty much chronological.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘ New Beginnings ’ book?
New Beginnings was written over a two year period. Life has to happen to record it! It all came together in that time span. Early 2018 to early 2020 before the pandemic.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find your books to buy?
Worldwide; Amazon. Olympia Publishers. Hive. Blackwell. Wordery. Book Depository. Books etc. Waterstones. World of Books. Booktopia. WHSmith. Bokus. Foyles.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the cover and the title of your books?
Book Covers; it’s a collaboration between the design team and I, My vision for Poetry Inspired by Oliver was a male and female silhouette, Olympia came up with the rest. I didn’t have any colour ideas but as soon as I saw the hot pink it fit perfectly with the passion and romance. For New Beginnings, I wanted the continuity as it follows on chronologically even though they can read in a separate order. I knew I wanted the blue colour, a female silhouette and sunshine to fit perfectly with the narrative. I’m perhaps half way through writing my next book but can already visualise the front cover! Book Names; They both fit perfectlyto describe the narrative.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
As life evolves I write my personal experiences, since New Beginnings, we’ve entered a pandemic and the whole world has suffered sadness, fear and a shake up. This is documented in my next book but balanced with stories of happy memories so it is not too macabre, it is more political and provides other views I’m not expressed in my first two books.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Both books have a Whitesnake song mentioned within a poems. It wasn’t intentional. Rock is my favourite genre of music. Poetry inspired by Oliver in the poem ‘Our Harmony’ the original line was ‘If Saturday was my only memory, I could hold forever in your company’, the addition has double meaning as it was a song I chose to play on an evening with Oliver where the poem was inspired from. So the line became ‘Forevermore’ in your company to incorporate the song.Then ‘Mother Moon’ poem from New Beginnings mentions ‘In the still of the night’ it is now customary to add a new song title in each book. I have written the next one already in book three. Maybe my readers can find it!
“Searching For Sarah” written by the author Phillip Vega is a great fiction/LGBTQ novel. Tom was in the middle of a conference call when he received a phone call from Detective Skaryd informing him that his sister Nina Ruiz is dead. Tom’s world turned upside down immediately. He reached to his sister’s condo in Clearwater. Soon, Tom’s wife Gabi also joined him.
When Tom and Gabi went to meet Nina’s attorney for the will, Tom found out that Nina wanted her funeral to be out of the box. She wanted Tom to execute her funeral with a woman named Sarah. By reading Nina’s journal entries, Tom realized that he didn’t know his sister that much even though he was under the impression that they share everything.
Grab a copy of this novel and find out who Sarah is? Will Tom be able to find her? Language of the book is simple and I enjoyed reading it. Since the novel has some journal entries, I enjoyed it even more. This is a great story for light reading. After a long time I have got hands on an amazing story.
Book: The Adventures of Sara Beara and Selena Bombeelina: Book 1:Who We Are
Author: Jennifer N Senjanin
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“Who We Are” is the first Children’s Book in “The Adventures of Sara Beara and Selena Bombeelina” series written by the author Jennifer N Senjanin. Story features two sisters: Sara Beara and Selena Bombeelina. Sara is a bear but Selena is a bee. Inspite of being sisters, they look and act different. Grab a copy of this book to know will Sara and Selena be able to find out why they are so different?
This is an amazing story that teaches to kids that as a family only love matters. It doesn’t matter how we look or act. Beautiful illustrations made the book eye catchy. Storyline is interesting and kids will have great time reading this book. It is a short and quick read but this story gonna stay with me for lifelong.
Book: The Best Doctor In Town: A Tall Tale From The Hills
Author: Amelia Townsend
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 4/5
“The Best Doctor in Town: A Tall Tale from the Hills” written by the author Amelia Townsend is a story that is inspired by actual events. Story is set in Southwest Virginia. Dr. Nicholas “Briggs” Oxenbriggs is the most renowned doctor at the Lone Mountain Medical Center in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. One day when he saw his mother dying, he wished to be a doctor so that he could free patients from their pain and they could be in peace forever.
Recently, Ira, father of Eliot West has been admitted to the hospital. Eliot is a police officer. Dr Briggs is handling his father’s case with his chief resident Dr Ash McKay. After a light stroke, McKay observed the reports of Ira but he just agreed with what Dr Briggs suggested. After few days, Eliot’s father was admitted again to the hospital. Dr Ash and Dr Briggs are suggesting different things to West family. Read this story to dig deeper why the patients are dying?
Cover photo of the book showing police officer’s badge, reporter’s notebook, doctor’s syringe, etc looks amazing. Title of the book is appropriate. Language used in the book is simple to understand. My interest in the story developed after few pages. Some descriptions could have been shorter. Character of Dr Briggs is interesting and unexpected. Storyline is intriguing and I was curious to know what gonna happen next until I reached the last page.
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hi there, my name is Olivia and I live in Yorkshire with my husband Jamie, our dog Ronnie and Pearl, our three-legged cat aka Tripod. I moved back home to Yorkshire about 5 years ago. Prior to that, I lived in New York City for 16 years and Los Angeles for 7 years where I’ve had careers in both the animation and film industry. My time spent in the USA was amazing and I loved every minute in both NYC and LA, even the rough times, and there were definitely a few of those! However, my move home was a long time coming as I missed England and my parents so much. I tried to visit as much as I could but there came a time when I just couldn’t take the goodbyes anymore. I will never forget the customs officer at Manchester airport who stamped my passport when I returned to England. He looked at me and said, “Welcome home.” It brought tears to my eyes. “Tessa Tidies Up!” is a true story. As a little girl I used to collect litter on my walks to and from school. It might sound strange but in my mind If litter was in a bin it was safely home but if it was on the ground it needed help to get home and join all the other pieces at the “party” in the bin. It was a story I’d always hoped to share. I now own a little gift shop in my local Halifax Borough Market. I’ve labelled my shop, “The smallest most beautiful gift shop in England,” and I’m so proud of it. It’s a mixture of Vintage, handmade, and quirky gifts for any occasion.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Tessa Tidies Up! ’ book?
I think when anyone embarks on a creative project the biggest challenge is discipline and any artist will tell you (if they’re honest) that self doubt is a constant battle. At times, the amount of work and organisation to get a project done can be overwhelming and setting time aside to focus is key. But it’s not just setting the time aside. Belief in your vision, confidence to keep going and the support from friends and family is for me priceless.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Roger Hargreaves wrote the ”Mr Men,” book series and as a child I loved them. My favourite children’s book author has always been Roald Dahl. I’ve also read all of his adult books. He has a wonderful way of telling a fantastical story yet relating to the human condition.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
I was born in London and grew up in Yorkshire. Having lived away for 23 years in two big, crazy cities, I adore being home in Yorkshire and I see and appreciate the beauty in the surroundings everyday both in the architecture and the landscape. I’m so happy surrounded by our Yorkshire Moors and throw in a dry stone wall and some sheep or cows grazing…that’s the cherry on the cake. I also love to visit my parents home, just over the hill, for a lamb supper.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
Yes, there is so much to do, but I’m lucky in that I worked in animation for years so I’m familiar with the script/storyboard process which really helped me. It allows you to rough out and plan each illustration in the book whilst telling the story. Using this technique helps to streamline and map out the flow of a story.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Tessa Tidies Up!’ book?
I think it was about 9 months to put it on paper but Tessa has been in my head for years.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Tessa Tidies Up!’ book to buy?
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Tessa Tidies Up!’?
I wanted the cover design to be simple, bold and eye catching for children. It definitely has a shout out to Roger Hargreaves’, “Mr Men” series. I had two versions of the cover so I sent both options to some friends to get their children’s opinion. They all voted unanimously for the option that ultimately made the cover. As far as the title, I wanted something catchy and memorable and I’ve always loved the name Tessa. It brings back memories of my father reading to me as a child and one of my favourites he read was titled, “Tilly and Tessa.”
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I think it’s important that the audience care and relate to both the characters and the story and it’s important to me that the illustrations be visually rich. I mixed old and new techniques when I illustrated my book. I think the different design techniques compliment each other and add a touch of magic.
Tessa’s character design and the village of Patchworth, where she lives, were the first sketches I drew for the project. Tessa’s design was based on my own struggle to dress myself as a little girl. Tessa is a bit messy and she struggles with buttons and keeping her socks up. I think every child can relate to that. She has a humble quality and she’s very caring. She has more important things on her mind than her outward appearance. The village of Patchworth is based on where I walked to and from school as a child picking up litter. The idea of having the surrounding hills made up of various floral quilt patch designs just came to me one day. I happen to love vintage quilts and I have a small collection of them. I hope the village of Patchworth feels like a place the readers would like to visit.
Tessa’s story happens to be very relevant regarding our environment, however that wasn’t the intention when I started the project. It was just a little tale I wanted to tell about myself as a child but on completion it happened to have a relevant message that hopefully all of us, children and adults alike, can care about.
Book: I Am Me: A Journal of Positive Affirmations for Kids
Author: Angelica Clark
Available On: Amazon
Language: English
Rating: 5/5
“I Am Me: A Journal of Positive Affirmations for Kids” is a thought provoking book written by Angelica Clark. It is a book that will help children to search answers from within with the help of some Positive Affirmations and Mindfulness Exercise instead of looking outward. The book emphasis on be who you want to be and never apologize for being your true self.
Grab a copy of this adorable book to know what are the mindfulness exercises and how to apply them to nourish your mind, body and spirit.
The way author has presented these mindfulness exercises are quite impressive. Illustrations are mind blowing and has won my heart. This book will help your kid to become the best version of themselves. A good read and highly recommended. Lovely addition to any children’s bookshelf. It’s an educational read. Parents could gift this book to their little ones.
“The Terrible Duckodile” is a children’s book written by Darren Blunden and illustrated by Adam Brown.
This is a story of Duck who was mocked by some geese. But he feels so small and alone. He made a plan to turn their laughter to fear. Grab a copy of this adorable book to know what Duck has done to overcome his fear?
The lesson that we learn from this story is that self faith is very important. Children will surely have a great learning experience from this story.
The story is fast paced and exciting. A good read and highly recommended. The way author has presented this story is quite impressive. Illustrations are mind blowing and has won my heart. This book could be included in school moral values classes to teach kids about friendship and believing in themselves.
Sassy Reviews 