This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Katelyn Hensel for Readers' Favorite
A combination of a Cinderella story and a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer story, Great Gray by Beverly Davis is a very cute tale about a funny looking elephant and how his odd looks aren't so odd after all. When Gray is born, he doesn't quite look like he should. He's got one ear on the top of his head! His Dad is ashamed, and worries that the King won't want to ride on Gray so he banishes him to the forest to push trees and rocks instead of carrying royalty. But Santosh, Gray's handler, isn't going to let Gray's ear stop them. He trains Gray how to use the semaphore system and Gray's intelligence ends up being put to good use.
This was a unique and different kid's story. I felt like I learned a whole lot, and I'm an adult. From the semaphore system to the different Indian names used throughout the book and what they meant, this story was fun and smart at the same time. I really enjoyed the depictions of Gray and his handler Santosh, done by Linda Cowen. While I am not very used to black and white books, and am not sure how well kids will pay attention in a world full of electronics and bright colors, the illustrations were done with skill and creativity. Several of them could be bigger, though, because I had to squint quite a lot on some pages. Overall, Great Gray was a 'great' book. Beverly Davis succeeds on all levels.
