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.
Tuula Pere (b. 1958) holds a Ph.D. in Law and is an award-winning children’s author from Helsinki, Finland. Her doctoral dissertation, published in 2015, examines the limits of freedom of speech in the Finnish mass media amidst the social and cultural shifts of the 1960s and 1970s. Prior to her doctoral research, Tuula Pere had a career spanning over two decades as a lawyer and held various expert and executive positions in large industrial companies.
Since 2010, Tuula Pere has published over sixty children's books, many of which have been translated into multiple languages. She has also authored poetry and aphorisms for children, as well as short stories and non-fiction for adults. Tuula Pere is an avid music and sports enthusiast and a keen baker. She is married and the mother of three.
Reviewed by Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers' Favorite
Betty Birdington’s arrival at the village of Berry Bay attracted much attention. Not only was she a newcomer, but she was also replacing the pharmacist who had treated the villagers for twenty long years. The people scrutinized her every move, from children gawking at her odd collection of Christmas balls to customers flocking to the pharmacy on the pretense of buying bandages or cough drops. Yet, they couldn't figure out her unusually rude behavior or the mismatched wigs she routinely wore. Despite these oddities, when Stella’s pet hedgehog started feeling poorly, she realized Betty was probably her only hope. You can find out more about the duo in Stella and Her Spiky Friend, a children’s book written by Tuula Pere and illustrated by Emanuel Tamas.
The story is both engaging and entertaining. Emanuel Tamas' brightly colored illustrations are perfect for keeping young readers engrossed. I loved how Tamas made the characters come alive, capturing their thoughts and emotions in their facial expressions. I have come to expect Pere’s books to contain some valuable lessons for young and impressionable minds, and this one is no exception. In this slice-of-life story, Pere deftly shows kindness as one of the core values. Stella’s kindness shone through her unlikely friendship with Betty and her compassion for Niles, Stella's wounded pet. Pere demonstrates how important it is not to judge someone by their outward appearance but to accept them as they are. I wholeheartedly recommend Stella and Her Spiky Friend to readers aged 2-7 years.
