Book reviews by author Eric B. Thomasma

We were recently provided with a delightful set of books from author, Eric B. Thomasma; we read these nightly as a part of our bedtime routine over the course of the week and found them all really wonderful.

Sam and the Dragon 

Author: Eric B. Thomasma

Illustrated by Lanin D. Thomasma

Pages: 26

Release date: May 2010

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Sam told his mother, “It really doesn't get cold. That’s just a myth, like dragons and unicorns.” But he soon learns the truth about winter... and dragons. Sam and the Dragon - You’ll never see your furnace the same way again

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Sam & the Dragon is a wonderful story about a young boy named Sam who believes Dragons are a myth until he meets one named Freness.

This book is for the younger child, it is imaginative with simplistic illustrations and a heartfelt underlying message about acceptance and friendship. We all really enjoyed this book, DS was especially keen because of his fascination with dragons.

Billy's Family 

Author: Eric B. Thomasma

Illustrated by Lanin D. Thomasma

Pages: 26

Release date: May 2011

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

An only child, Billy wishes for a bigger family. But spending a day at his great-grandfather's family reunion shows him that 'family' includes far more than just Mommy and Daddy. Billy's Family is an introduction to some of the terms and concepts of family relationships. Billy’s Family – It’s bigger than he thinks.

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

Billy's Family  is a book about a young boy named Billy who is an only child and longs for a bigger family, it isn’t until he spends some time with his grandfather that he learns that it’s not just immediate but extended as well that are a part of his family.

My children often ask about friends and family and who is who and how they are related so it was nice to be able to show them this book, it was educational for them but the beginning explanations were a little confusing. Miss 7 read it aloud to us and enjoyed doing so. The wording was easy to read and the illustrations were delightful, this was a quick read.

The Wizards of the Body Shop 

Author: Eric B. Thomasma

Illustrated by Lanin D. Thomasma

Pages: 26

Release date: March 2012

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Repairing a crumpled fender is pure magic. So when Cindy’s Daddy’s car gets damaged, she goes along as Daddy takes it to The Wizards of the Body Shop.

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Cindy’s dad’s car has been in a bit of a bingle so it’s off to the body shop to get repaired.

The Wizards of the Body Shop was fun and imaginative, the kids were excited about the wizard and who would be fixing the car so the mystery kept them flipping through the pages.

Mr. Thomasma’s detailed writing flows well and the simple illustrations keep things entertaining and the kids curious.

Yeti In The Freezer 

Author: Eric B. Thomasma

Illustrated by Lanin D. Thomasma

Pages: 26

Release date: November 2013

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Do you have a freezer that growls when ice is being made? Brady and Dot do, and it’s a little scary. But they’re no longer afraid, now that they’ve made friends with the Yeti In The Freezer.
 

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Yeti In The Freezer is a book about Brady and Dot’s new freezer that makes an unusual growling sound when ice is produced, they come to find they have a yeti named Frasier living in there.

This was an enjoyable little book with fun images and details that get the kid's minds thinking. It also showed how to work as a team and of acceptance, both important messages.

Master 9 and Miss 7 enjoyed this book immensely.

About the author:

Born and raised in West Mitten, USA (Grand Rapids, MI), He still lives in the area in a house he built, (literally), with the help of his wife, Therese, and two sons, Eric Jr. and Nicholas, (and various other friends and relatives). The boys are grown and gone now, although they both live in the area. Eric and Therese have managed to get past the empty nest syndrome and currently only share their home with their dog, Tucker. 

For more information, visit Eric's website at http://rtycati.webs.com

Review: Goodnight, You by Geneviève Côté

Goodnight, You

Author: Geneviève Côté

Series: -

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Pages: 32

Amazon – TBD

Release date: 1^st September 2014

Synopsis: Piggy and Bunny are having their first campout. As the shadows loom larger, Piggy and Bunny playfully imagine scary scenarios and how they might deal with them. It's all good fun, until Piggy reveals a secret fear. This sweetly humorous story shines a light on ways young friends can acknowledge each other's worries and enjoy new experiences. Goodnight, You is the fourth book in the Piggy and Bunny series, which features endearing tales that celebrate friendship and encourage individuality and self-acceptance.

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Goodnight, You was an easy to read simple book with beautiful illustrations and a sweet story within.

We meet Piggy and Bunny, two good friends who are sharing their first exciting camping experience together and the worries and fears that they both have.

This part of the synopsis describes the book beautifully ‘This sweetly humorous story shines a light on ways young friends can acknowledge each other's worries and enjoy new experiences.’ The real fears were realistically written as was the outcome which was appropriate for the young target audience.

This was a lovely book to read to my daughter. I didn’t realise it was the fourth book in the series but it can most definitely be read as a stand-alone, we’ll definitely be on the lookout for the other books though.

Thank you to Kids Can Press via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Goodnight, You.

Giveaway! A book of your choice to $10aud from TBD + delicious toddler muffin recipe.

Hi there & welcome to Little Ones Read! my new blog where I will share the books my little ones love, like and don’t enjoy so much. Here we will share with you not only children's books but also middle grade up to 12 years.

I have two children, my reluctant reader Master 9 and little Miss 7 who is obsessed (just like her mum) so it’s great to also get their input on books and series they enjoy.

As an introduction and a welcome I am offering a chance to win a book of your choice from The Book Depository up to the value of $10aud, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a children’s book – any book is a good book in my opinion!

The giveaway is open internationally as long as TBD ships to you, not all options on the Rafflecopter form are mandatory.

Thanks for stopping by & goodluck!

Before I leave we have another great toddler snack to share! Enjoy.

My Young adult + reviews can be found atwww.obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

Oat date and honey muffins recipe

Preheat oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Lightly grease and base line with non stick baking paper a 12 hole (1/3 cup capacity) muffin

Serving Size:

12

Ingredients:

·         1 1/2 cups self-raising flour

·         1 teaspoon baking powder

·         1 1/4 cups Oats (I used Uncle Toby’s)

·         1/3 cup castor sugar

·         1 cup dried dates, roughly chopped

·         150ml vegetable oil

·         1 egg, lightly beaten

·         1/2 cup milk

·         3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

Directions:

Preheat oven to 180ºC (350ºF).

Lightly grease and base line with non stick baking paper a 12 hole (1/3 cup capacity) muffin tin.

Sift together flour and baking powder, add sugar, oats and dates.

In a medium bowl whisk together oil, egg, milk and honey/syrup.

Fold flour into the liquid, mix until combined.

Spoon into the prepared tin.

Sprinkle evenly with the reserved oats.

Bake 15-18 mins or until golden and firm to touch.

(This is a recipe we found on http://www.kidspot.com.au - a fabulous website for amazing toddler snacks)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book spotlight: The Banana Bunch by Dawn Carroll

Title: The Banana Bunch

Author: Dawn Carroll

Publisher: Amolibros

Pages: 120

Genre: Children’s Book

Format: Ebook/Paperback

Purchase at AMAZON

The monkeys have a human friend called Sheila.

Sheila is in hospital – and she hates the hospital food.

The monkeys decide that something simply has to be done…

When their first attempt at delivering bananas to Sheila is thwarted the monkeys decide to form The Banana Bunch, a secret society dedicated to the delivery of delicious, health-giving bananas to Sheila and all the other unwell people at the hospital. Banana delivery proves, however, a little trickier than they had expected…

About the author: Dawn Carroll was born in London, to a family who loved to read – and who also moved house with great regularity. One of the first tasks on arrival at each new home would be to find the nearest lending library, with the result that Dawn grew up with a great love of books. Encouraged by family and teachers, Dawn also started to write short stories.

In adulthood, Dawn’s busy life as a hospital doctor left little time for leisure writing. Indeed, The Banana Bunch stories would probably never have been written had Dawn not, one fateful day, discovered that falling from even a very small tightrope can have devastating consequences… but that’s another story!

Unable to return to her chosen profession, things seemed very black for a while. And then The Banana Bunch monkeys bounced into Dawn’s world….

Since then the monkeys (and Dawn) have been having a great time – telling the stories of their adventures in print and online, and also travelling far and wide to source new story ideas and to meet new friends. Find out more about Dawn and the Banana Bunch at www.thebananabunchbook.com

Review: Izzy the Ice-cream Fairy by Tim Bugbird

Izzy the Ice-cream Fairy

Author: Tim Bugbird

Series: -

Publisher: Make Believe Ideas

Pages: 32

Amazon – TBD

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

"Izzy the Ice-Cream Fairy" is an amazing story book from Tim Bugbird with fantastic illustrations by Lara Ede. Izzy and her friends run a magical ice-cream stall on the beach, until one day they discover that their ice-cream well has run dry. Join the fairy friends as they travel to a new land in search of more delicious ice cream, and find out if they will make it home in time to enter their favorite carnival.

Beautiful illustrations and funny, rhyming text makes this story a delight to read with one child or with a group.

Features & Benefits: Brilliant new fairy storybook that will delight children and adultsCharming illustrations and wonderful, rhyming text combine to make this super cute storyAnother adorable story from the creators of the popular "Camilla the Cupcake Fairy"

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Izzy the Ice-cream Fairy is a delightful story that Miss 7 absolutely loved, with its beautiful illustrations and a wonderful story she was entertained from the very first page.

Izzy is a fairy who runs an ice-cream stall but realises one day that their ice-cream has run out so they take a journey to new lands to search for more yummy ice-cream.

With easy to read and comprehend rhyming text, this book was a lot of fun to hear read aloud.

The characters were delightful, the overall story vibrant with detail and the problem the fairies had to solve and the resolution was done very well.

We will definitely be reading more books written by Tim Bugbird.