The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly: Costa Rica (with CD)
Debbie Glade
Smart Poodle Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780980030792
Fiction, Children, Travel, Adventure, Early Reader
Reviewed by Matthew Feliciano (age 7) for Reader Views (3/08)

Synopsis: In Debbie Glade's new illustrated children's book, The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly: Costa Rica, a bright, curious young millipede named Lilly P. Badilly takes readers on the adventure of a lifetime when she and her grandparents spontaneously decide to sneak aboard a plane to Costa Rica.

The precocious young Lilly lives with her grandparents in a hole in the wall in Miami International Airport. The Badillys' spur-of-the moment trip takes readers up close and personal with the sights and sounds of Costa Rica's diverse wildlife and geography. In the fertile rainforests of this small Central American country, Lilly must summon all of her courage and knowledge to face her biggest fear, and save her family and friends.

The book-smart, musically inclined millipede was actually inspired by Glade's 15-year-old daughter, who wrote the entire musical score for the book's accompanying CD. Glade not only wrote and illustrated The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly: Costa Rica, but she also did each of the humorously cartoonish character voices on the CD. The CD brings the story to life for younger readers, who are not yet ready to read the entire book on their own, and adds silly entertainment that more advanced readers will enjoy as well.

The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly: Costa Rica carries important, age-appropriate messages about environmental conservation and overcoming one's fears. The book and CD are targeted toward the 5- to 10-year-old age range, but readers of any age will appreciate the fascinating lessons about Costa Rican culture and wildlife.
Read review of The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly
Read interview with Debbie Glade
Listen to interview on Inside Scoop Live
Visit author's website http://www.lillybadilly.com/

Rooke’s Island: The Prophesy of the Staring Eyes
S.K. Whalen
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 9780595445455
Fiction, Fantasy, Teen, Young Adult
Reviewed by Maya Landers (age 10) for Reader Views (3/08)


Synopsis: In Rooke's Island: The Prophecy of the Staring Eyes, an exciting new fantasy novel for children, Margery Mutters is a middle-aged school teacher caught up in a boring life. One day she receives a letter with magical popping eyes that changes her life forever. She has inherited an island from her long lost uncle, and upon arrival, she learns that Rooke's Island holds many secrets that pull Margery out of her boring life and show her talents she never knew she possessed.

Margery quickly learns that the island, which is divided into three levels known as the Upper, Lower and Inner Earth, is completely run by owls. On the island, Margery also meets her cousin, Mike, who follows along on this exciting adventure to uncover the prophecy of the wise, old owls.

S.K. Whalen came up with the idea of an island full of owls from her own Aunt Margery, who had an enormous collection of owl figurines that Whalen inherited. She says that each owl figurine seemed to tell a story with its eyes. "Rooke's Island shows anything can have a story, if the timings right. The story bridges generations, starting with my elderly 94 year old aunt. Yes, the main character is named after her. Without her owl collection there would be no story," says Whalen.

This book is filled with comical characters and a fast- paced plot that is perfect for children ages 8 to 12, but even older readers can really relate to the kind- hearted, but scatterbrained Margery and her band of crazy owls. All generations can recall a kooky old aunt or grandmother while reading about Margery, creating a timeless story that parents can enjoy and read along with their children.
Read review of Rooke's Island
Read interview with S.K. Whalen

Now For My Next Number!: Songs for Multiplying Fun (with CD)
Margaret Park; Pictures by Sophia Esterman
Great River Books (2007)
ISBN 9780915556380
Reviewed by Matthew Feliciano (age 7) for Reader Views (3/08)

Synopsis: Now for my Next Number! by Margaret Park presents a collection of colorful, easy-to-sing, easy-to-memorize songs that will help children practice and learn multiplication. Each song features a number and its multiples and tells a story in rhythm, rhyme, melody and pictures, making math a lively and multi-sensory activity.

Imaginative full color illustrations set the scenes and show coherent groupings of objects that show the number and the number of times it is multiplied. By counting the objects in the pictures children will understand how each multiplication product is derived.

Original music and vocals on the CD will have children singing along and effortlessly absorbing the products of the times tables. When it's time to know the times tables in school, children will already know the answers and have an easy way to practice while singing these songs.

Kathy Jardine, the creator of the Durples stories and characters, is the wife of Ron, the mother of three grown girls and the grandmother of a special little boy named Brayden. Kathy has spent many years selflessly working with special needs children and throughout those years was inspired by those same children to write and share her stories. Kathy's most significant message is to judge nobody by their appearance, as it is what is on the inside that really counts. It is quite clear that she values how special each and every child in the world is and spreading that message has become very important to her.

Ashley Jardine, the daughter of Kathy Jardine, is inspired by her mother's passion for children.  After reading Kathy's ideas for the Durples, and having such a deep appreciation for the importance of Kathy's message, she dedicated herself to ensuring the project was complete with writing, re-writing and eventually illustrating the story. 

Meet the Durples. Cindyloo, Mollyboo and Woodroo invite you to join them on their adventure in Elkton Forest where they meet many new and unique friends. One of their new friends, an outcast named Odalee, teaches them how to play his musical instrument; the mookaluke. 

When confronted with bullies, the Durples show their new friends a unique way of dealing with them. Children will learn the importance of acceptance and understand how 'cool' each and every character is despite any physical hindrances they may appear to have. The Durples: Get Lost in Elkton Forest is the first book of the Durples series. You don't want to miss out on any of these fun filled learning adventures!
Listen to interview with Ashley & Kathy Jardine