Moctezuma's Zoo, by author Jackie Herman-O'Neal,is an educationally sound, written lesson plan entailing a vibrantly illustrated story about Emperor Moctezuma and his young daughter Ixtla, who lived on a beautiful island. Moctezuma very much liked to serenade the wildlife and they in return rather enjoyed...

Toni Wyatt Morrow’s book, Return to Rocky Gap, portrays one family’s hardships and triumphs during the Great Depression. Amelia Monroe’s personal story is one of joys and accomplishments in the backwoods of Arkansas, against seemingly impossible odds. In her later years, she experiences Alzheimer’s disease....

Anna Wolfe has spent her entire life feeling different from other people and, at the age of 29, finally learns why in this great read by Casey Keen. I’ll Be Damned introduces the reader to Anna, a Savannah coffee shop owner who has been plagued...

Simple and sweet, that is neat. A young girl looks out her window and what does she see? Flowers and rain and a bird in a tree. Outside Your Window, written by Terri Kelley and illustrated by Josefina Tecson, is a sweet treat. The story...

Almond Eyes by Terri Kelley is a lovely children’s concept book, which encourages acceptance of the differences that make each child unique. Sometimes, diversity is a confusing topic to children. They don’t understand it when adults comment on their “Almond Eyes” or any other...

Meet Ella Boudreaux, a self-confessed nag. By no means –- as Ella herself insisted –- is she a negative person. Persistent might be a better word; she is the kind of person you'd ask for directions if you were lost, or provides you with a...

Culloo by Murielle Cyr is a lovely story that conveys many details of Native Indian folklore. It is a good reading piece that will be enjoyed over and over. This very well told story will keep your attention to the end. Murielle relates an interesting...

Engine 24: Fire Stories by Joe Corso speaks about the experiences of firefighters of the New York City Fire Department. The book contains five short stories. It speaks about the sacrifices undergone by these men while in service. The book is also very appealing because...

What is a Friend is Terri Kelley’s attempt to expose children to the idea of friendship and community, which can be confusing to children when they are very young. I, for one, think that Terri hit another home run with this book. Kids may understand...

The story begins with a wish for a 'Happy Seventh Birthday.' Told like Terri Kelley’s other books in a beautiful and sing-song rhyme scheme, the stories are definitely something kids will recognize and sit still for. We get to see into the past of the...

The Zulu Wars - A Brief History by Andrew Knight is about the Anglo-Zulu clash which had its origin in the year 1874. Sir Henry Bartle Frere was appointed as the High Commissioner to South Africa in 1874. His main mission was to bring together...

Gingerly's Bad/Good Day (Volume 2) - Book 2 of the Gingerly Chapter Book Series by Terri Kelley deals with Gingerly and her bad days. She hopes she will find good days soon. Her friend Zoe coaxes her into joining a club but Gingerly does not...

Rough Drafts: Bumpy Writing is OK (Writing is a Process) (Volume 3) by Terri Kelley is the third part of the series on how to write a rough draft. A girl is watching a stormy night. She is putting down the words that come into...

Editing: It's Time for Corrections (Writing is a Process) (Volume 4) by Terri Kelley is the fourth book in the series Writing is a Process. In this book, the author speaks about editing and how to make corrections in your writing. The young girl in...

Conferencing: Let's Talk it Over (Writing is a Process) (Volume 5) by Terri Kelley is about the requirements of conferencing while writing stories. There are several volumes to this beautiful series which deals with the many aspects of writing. This series introduces and guides children...

Terri Kelley has a gift for creating children's books that are both realistic and fun at the same time. In Today, I'll Be Good, kids learn to tackle minor behavioral issues without realizing that they are learning at all. School-aged kids who are heading off...

Sinful Purity by K. A. Standen, is a coming-of-age story of a young girl, Mary Elizabeth (Liz), who was orphaned at the age of four and placed under the care of Mary Immaculate Queen Orphanage. Not having remembered anything of her life before the age...

Brainstorming: It's Raining Ideas! is the second book in author and educator, Terri Kelley's Writing Is a Process Series. She sets out easy and simple ways for kids to start building ideas and images before they start writing. The book is marvelously illustrated by Milena...

Grandpa Doesn't Know Me Anymore by Terri Kelley is a beautiful and heart rending story about a young boy who realizes that his grandfather's feelings for him are not the same anymore. The boy tries to connect with his grandfather and he is unable to...

At first it seems that the world, Eridu (Earth, as it is known by the Moirai), is at peace, in Once Humans by Massimo Marino. But things are not exactly as they appear. Humans are undergoing a transformation into becoming greater beings (transgenic beings that...