Twinkle the Shooting Star by Chioma Allen-Nwachukwu

 

TWINKLE THE SHOOTING STAR

by Chioma Allen-Nwachukwu

Illustrated by Robby Fimansyah

33 pages

ages 4 to 8

Twinkle the Shooting A Magical Bedtime AdventureDiscover the enchanting world of " Twinkle the Shooting Star," a beautifully illustrated rhyming picture book by Chioma Allen-Nwachukwu. This captivating bedtime story will delight children and parents alike with its gentle rhyme and magical journey.

Judy Johnson is trying to fall asleep when a shooting star named Twinkle suddenly crashes into her backyard. Twinkle, lost and alone, asks for Judy's help to return to her family of stars in space. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure filled with friendship, determination, and the quiet poetry of childhood dreams.

Chioma Allen-Nwachukwu, a London native with a computer science and test engineering background, found inspiration in her child's eyes to create this debut book. " Twinkle the Shooting Star " captures the magic of childhood and the power of following one's passions.

Perfect for bedtime or anytime, this sweet, gentle rhyme is ideal for sharing with a special little one. Let the soothing words and enchanting illustrations transport your child to a world of wonder and imagination.

GOODREADS   /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

This magical tale invites to sweet, bedtime dreams and will have listeners gazing at the stars a little differently than before.

It's time to go to sleep, and Judy is snuggled up in her soft bed, but before she can drift away into dreamland, a star crashes down in her backyard. The star isn't only injured but has strayed way off course. Unfortunately, it has no idea how to return to the sky. But maybe Judy can come up with a helpful idea.

Written in flowing rhyme, this is read takes listeners on a gentle adventure. While the first scenes set the bedtime atmosphere with parental warmth as Judy prepares to sleep, the sudden appearance of the injured star adds just enough excitement and imagination to invite to the wonder of dreams. Judy's care for the injured star is sweet, and her desire to help the cute star will have listeners wishing they could find a star, too. 

The illustrations are bright and bold, and allow each scene to come across understandably and with positive emotions. While it does make a nice read-aloud, the scenes also invite listeners to flip through it on their own. 

It's a nice addition to a night-time routine and is sure to bring pleasant dreams.

Mister Moonfeld's Colors of Wonder by Mister Moonfeld

MISTER MOONFELD'S

COLORS OF WONDER

by Mister Moonfeld

Illustrated by Natalya Efremova

Empowered on Books

Children's Fiction

ages 6 to 12

What if an elementary school principal had to return to the age of her students to regain her sense of wonder?

Principal Grace Sensible wakes up to a world drained of its color. But when a sprinkle of magic from the mystical groundskeeper, Mister Moonfeld, transforms Grace back into a 10-year-old, she begins to see the world in a way she had long forgotten.

Guided by Mister Moonfeld's ageless puppy, Sunny, young Grace embarks on a quest to rediscover her true self before sundown.

This heartwarming tale celebrates the power of wonder and the importance of staying true to oneself, at any age.

GOODREADS    /      AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

A touch of whimsical magic steers this into an enjoyable read about the value of staying true to ones self at every age.

Principal Grace Sensible arrives at the school to find it drained of color. Only greys and whites remain...and she has a pretty good hunch who is to blame. When she finds the groundskeeper, Mister Moonfeld, he's intent on driving a point home and transforms her back into her 10-year-old self. Grace isn't thrilled, but she's left with not choice and follows Mister Moonfeld's puppy on a path of rediscovering who she truly is.

Mr. Moonfeld is a lovely character with that wonderful hint of magic and quirkiness to make him shine. His lack of evil intentions comes across from the very first page, although Grace's frustration is also very understandable. Add the clever puppy and there's a lot to enjoy on every page.

The text fits very well to those readers, who have a good grip on their words but aren't necessarily ready for sheer middle grade quite yet. The book is sold for ages up to twelve but this will connect better with the younger end up to age nine. The tale flows smoothly, and it keeps the reader in the pages the entire way through. And the colorful and playful illustrations, and it is a fun read. 

There is an obvious message but the magical fantasy keeps it from coming across with preachiness. I would have enjoyed more children characters involved, since Grace, despite being a kid for much of the read, doesn't really leave the adult zone completely, which made her a little difficult to fully connect with. Still, it was a fun tale and I'm eager to see what Mr. Moonfeld will be up to next.

Mr. Lepron's Mystery Soup by Giovanna Zoboli

Today's read gives 'story time' vibes and promises to draw in with beautiful illustrations. And who doesn't love a good soup? This one has already been a favorite since 2022 in Italy (and other countries) and comes from a popular, Italian kidlit author, but  it will be appearing for the first time in English the beginning of October.

MR. LEPRON'S MYSTERY SOUP

by Giovanna Zoboli

Illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio

Candlewick Studio

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING OCTOBER 1st!!!

Stunning artwork from the acclaimed illustrator of The Midnight Fair illuminates a sweet cautionary tale about a rabbit whose fabled soup-making gets away from him.

Mr. Lepron is a rabbit who lives in a cozy burrow with many offspring. Every year on the first day of autumn, he reaps vegetables from the farmer’s garden—carrots, onions, celery, beans, aromatic herbs, and much more—and makes the best soup on earth, adored by his family. As it simmers, he dozes and dreams of being a famous cook, hosted by kings. And sure enough, his soup is so good that it starts drawing creatures from all over—until one day a factory springs up in the woods, with Mr. Lepron presiding day and night and soup cans for sale in all the most renowned shops. But as demand rises, Mr. Lepron’s dreams become fretful, and soon he starts hearing complaints: his soup is not as good as it was. Has his recipe changed—or has Mr. Lepron? How can he recapture the joy he once shared with his family? Mariachiara Di Giorgio’s exquisitely detailed artwork appears lit from within as it captures the pastoral setting, a range of expressive forest animals, Mr. Lepron’s fitful dreamscapes, and the palpable sense of peace as he rediscovers what truly matters.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With gorgeous illustrations, this is a meaningful tale with characters to adore.

Every year, Mr. Lepron cooks a soup with the many vegetables he's harvested from his garden. Then, he invites every neighbor and friend he knows to enjoy it with him. Everyone looks forward to the day, especially since Mr. Lepron's soup is the most delicious one around. Everyone always wants to know his secret, although he claims there isn't one. When others start coming from near and far to enjoy a bowl of his delicious soup, he decides to start up a factory to keep up with the demand. He even needs to start charging for each can to pay for everything. His soup is soon found on every store shelf and enjoyed by many...or maybe not. As his business grows, the soup no longer carries the same delicious flavor, and Mr. Lepron isn't sure why.

This is a read to snuggle down with for a story time. The text is a longer than usual picture books, although it still works great for the intended age group as a read-aloud. For those, who are sure of their words, it can be read alone. It carries a more traditional story flow, beginning with the wonders of Mr. Lepron's garden and it's lush vegetables before heading into the ever-growing crowd, who enjoys his soup. The plot moves along steadily as Mr. Lepron's success and then problems build one step at a time. The ending message brings a sense of family and community, and feels like a happy sigh.

The illustrations are gorgeous and make the book worth picking up just to flip through them and enjoy. The details draw in and offer something new to be discovered with each read. The mix of both animal characters and humans adds a nice touch, adding to the imaginative atmosphere. 

It's a delightful read with traditional charm, and carries a message which never loses its importance.

Greenhouse of Horror by Liv Livingston

 I'm starting the week with a little fun...and a few spooks? Today's read is the third in a graphic novel series for chapter book readers. Nope, I haven't read the first two, but when has that stopped me from diving into an interesting read? I really don't know what to expect with this one, so let's just find out what it holds!

GREENHOUSE OF HORROR

Spirited, Book #3

by Liv Livingston

Illustrated by Glass House Graphics

Little Simon

Chapter Book Paranormal  /

Graphic Novel

144 pages

ages 6 to 9

Liv’s class visits the greenhouse and encounters some strange plants in book three of the Spirited graphic novel chapter book series.

Liv’s science class has a new botany finding the plant that best represents them. Mrs. Arber, the ghost caring for (and haunting) the Gloomsdale Botanical Gardens, comes in to give a helping hand. In a town full of ghosts, Liv isn’t even sure she knows who she is, but when she meets a new ghost friend, she discovers that maybe she’s not the only one feeling like the odd-ghoul-out.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON     /      B&N

MY TIDBITS

Ghosts and gloomy plants pack tons of surprises, which are sure to delight more than just paranormal fans.

Liv is the only 100% human girl in Gloomsdale, a town of ghosts and a few other paranormal creatures. To say she doesn't really fit in is an understatement, and it gets to her sometimes. Since she's still somewhat new to the town, she hasn't really found her place and wonders if she ever will. The ghosts, while fairly friendly, still enjoy poking fun at her inability to do anything ghostly. And having them 'accidentally' float through her is just plain awful! When the teacher announces the annual gardening class project, she's sure things will end with a new disaster.

This is such a sweet read! There's a lovely balance between spooky creepiness, school drama, and enjoyable humor, which draws in. The nod towards darker gothic adds a hint of creepy possibilities, but instead of heading into spookiness, the setting creates unexpected and unique situations to bring more than a few smiles. Still, this read addresses problems many readers face in their own lives and will have them rooting for Liv the entire way through.

There are messages surrounding friendship and embracing your own uniqueness mixed into the ghostly surroundings. These are clear but drift right along into the story as Liv discovers more about the interesting town and its residents. It stays very much at the level of the intended age group and brings across enough familiar aspects to let readers settle right in. 

Bright and bold graphics carry the tale, while the text offers just enough difficulty to push readers' skills a teeny-tiny bit while letting the enjoyable atmosphere of the story still capture with every scene. It's an enjoyable story which promises tons more fun to come.

And here she is...

Liv Livingston likes cats, hot drinks, and walking through the woods with her friends that may or may not be ghosts. Unfortunately, she cannot walk through walls. She lives in New York.

Jesus Made A Way by Filip Radichevski

 Happy Sunday! Today, I actually have a fitting read...I really need to get more of these to highlight every week. Anyway, I loved the cover (so joyful!) and decided to give it a go. After all, we could definitely use more encouragement and reminders of who is really in control in our lives.

So, without further babbling, let's jump in!

JESUS MADE A WAY

by Filip Radichevski

Illustrated by Karina Kulikova

Picture Book Religious

30 pages

ages 4 to 8

Discover a delightful and heartwarming journey that introduces children to the wonders of faith in a way that is both fun and easy to understand. "Jesus Made a Way" captivates young minds with engaging stories and colorful illustrations, bringing the message of God's love and goodness into their everyday lives.

Through relatable subjects and interests, children will see how the ultimate source of goodness is always near, and present in their daily activities and interactions. From sharing toys to being productive and helpful, this book encourages positive behaviors and nurtures a spirit of gratitude and kindness.

"Jesus Made a Way" provides comfort and encouragement, helping children feel safe, loved, and connected to a higher purpose. The spontaneous and joyful narrative fosters a deep sense of faith, making spiritual lessons accessible and enjoyable for young readers.

Join the adventure today and let your child discover the beauty of God's love in their own lives. Perfect for bedtime stories or family reading time, "Jesus Made a Way" is a treasured addition to any child's bookshelf. Share the joy of faith and goodness—order your copy now and inspire your little one to contribute towards a world of love and kindness.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Joyful and full of hope, these pages radiate good vibes while diving into a wonderful sense of secureness.

The message of this book is pretty clear from the title—Jesus guides and watches our paths through life. Flowing with rhyming verse, much of the read takes a more general swing to build atmosphere and ring with emotions as it guides readers through various moments, which many can easily identify with. For the most part, this read steers away from specifics to stay in a more general direction. The illustrations are the same way. Packed with color and artistic flair, they invite with a sense of imagination and fun. These also change into more distinct scenes as the book continues and settles into the main message surrounding the care and watchful eyes we enjoy from our Savior. 

The text fits the age group nicely. The book makes a lovely read-aloud or can be explored by those readers, who have a good grip on their words, alone. The cheerful atmosphere is more than enjoyable and molds well with the message. It does work well to open up to discussions or as part of a theme. While reluctant readers might loose a little interest thanks to the more general flow, others will enjoy the calming atmosphere and reassurance it provides.