Little Tim and the Magic Apples by Hillie Jeffery is the story of a little boy who feels too small to play with his friends, too small to run as fast as them or catch a ball. Instead, Tim sits by himself and decides to wait until he is bigger and stronger. When Tim leaves his friends behind, he finds a gleaming apple and spots a big apple tree. The apple tree told him that the apples are magic and that if he needed to be big and strong to play, he should eat one of the apples. Tim returns to his friends to play, but each time something is amiss. The first time, he was too tough; when he became kinder and all his friends surrounded him, he became shy and didn’t know how to respond. When he started sharing his apples and waited for more magic and nothing came, Tim learned that the magic was inside him all along; he just needed to believe.

Little Tim and the Magic Apples by Hillie Jeffery is a compelling and creative storybook about a common issue that children face - making friends, being social, and playing with other children. It is probably one of the first challenges a child faces, and this book guides them on the simple steps they can take to get involved on the playground. Little Tim didn’t know where to start, but it became easier once he knew that he just needed to be willing to play, be kind, friendly, and share. He already had all those qualities and only had to show them to others. I loved reading this colorful, heartwarming, and insightful storybook for children.

Little Tim and the Magic Apples by Hillie Jeffery empowers children to believe in themselves and the special power that lies within each of them. As his friends play, Little Tim wishes he could join them. He sits alone, wishing he was strong enough to handle a ball. Feeling sad and lonely, he walks away, wishing that one day he will be big enough to play. As he walks along, he stumbles upon a talking tree. Little Tim is excited to learn that the tree is a magical tree with special powers. The friendly tree is also eager to learn about Little Tim’s problems and help him play and connect with his friends. As Little Tim talks to the tree, he discovers the special gifts that he already has.

In this fun children’s book, Hillie Jeffery creatively explores useful lessons about friendship, thoughtfulness, kindness, and self-confidence. The rhyme scheme employed in the book will help children comprehend and recall the story and its impactful lessons. I found the illustrations easy for children to understand. They are also humorous and help tell the story. The magical tree in the plot will inspire and expand children’s imagination. Little Tim’s friends' group is also diverse and any child reading the story will be able to identify with the characters. They will love and relate to the main character and his experiences. Little Tim and the Magic Apples by Hillie Jeffery is a lovely children’s book with powerful lessons that will be helpful to every child. It features a relatable main character and is told through easy-to-understand illustrations.