Bookworm for Kids presents books for toddlers to teens and everything in between: board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade reads, tween reads, and young adult literature.
Nina's a girl who takes charge. She uses her brain and her muscles to complete rescue missions. She doesn't mind getting dirty and climbing trees. It's all part of the life of the everyday girl superhero. Young readers are encouraged to recognize that the traits of being smart, strong, and speedy exist within themselves. Young girls will find this book to be a positive affirmation that they too can be superheroes.
MY TIDBITS
This sweet, little book not only holds adorable illustrations but also promotes diversity while offering an empowering message great for young, want-to-be ninjas.
Nina is a girl but not just any ordinary girl. She's the neighborhood ninja! And as such, it's her duty to protect and help those in need. She's accompanied by a true and dependable firefly, who backs her up in every sticky situation.
Nina is a cute little ninja with a very warm heart. She may not have any 'super powers' and, in fact, is actually just a normal girl. But that doesn't mean she can't be a super hero when needed. It's this message which warms the heart and inspires. Any kid can be a super ninja and protect others...even without a fantastic firefly at their side.
The illustrations are adorable and invite for kids to come back time and again. The tell a story all on their own and add cute moments to put that extra smile on the face. There's a bit of text on every page, making that end more for ages 3+. The vocabulary is great for the age group, although the sentences are sometimes a bit short and choppy, which breaks the flow every now and then.
Summed up, this is a great book with tons of goodness packed inside.
All about. . .
Author Sonia Panigrahy is a public health professional, world traveler, adventure seeker, and fitness enthusiast. She believes that life is too short to be bored! Nina the Neighborhood Ninja was created out of Sonia's lifelong love of reading. As her family and friends begin to have children, she looked forward to sharing this love with them. She believes that books are a powerful way to empower impressionable young minds. Sonia was surprised that she could not find books for girls ages 3-6 years that realistically identified females as intelligent, physically tough, brave, and adventurous. She was disappointed that girls continue to be excluded from the heart of the superhero story. After unsuccessful attempts to find a young girl superhero protagonist on the pages of a book, especially one of color, she gave up. Then she created her own.
My dreams were simple. College, a career, and let’s see what happens from there. But things don’t always go according to plan.
My name is Ari Worthington and I’ve had a very eventful week. A life-changing week. The kind of week that would make the average person whimper.
It started when my ex-boyfriend Luke accosted me in the woods.
How badly was I injured? Not a scratch. And Luke? Not so lucky. Nope, I whupped him good. It surprised the heck out of me. And it probably surprised him, too—once he woke up.
And then I met Davin. Handsome, witty, amazing Davin. Perfect in every way, unless you think being an alien, from a planet called Olympus, might be a liability.
I don’t want to be alone in the guest suite. It’s not that I’m afraid. I just want Davin close to me. I need the comfort only he can provide.
“I’d rather not sleep alone tonight.”
“Ari, your mother—I promised her.”
“I don’t intend for us to do anything that would cause that promise to be broken. Please?”
He moves to my side and places his hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure?”
I stand up and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m very sure,” I whisper, speaking directly to his heart. “I want you near me.”
“I know you do. But…”
“No buts,” I say softly. “I’m an angel. And I happen to be in love with you.”
He looks startled. He looks as if he wants to speak, but he can’t find his voice.
“Do you not want me to love you, Davin?”
He arches his brow and stares.
I’m getting worried. Did I just make a complete fool of myself? “Davin?”
His poise seems to return and he smiles. “It happened the night we slept on your sofa—”
“What? What happened?” Did I miss something? Something important?
His smile widens and lights up his eyes. They’re sparkling like jewels.
“I fell in love with you that night.”
My heart flutters and I feel warm all over. “You did?”
He nods slowly. “I did.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I wasn’t sure how you felt. Love between two angels is a very powerful force. It is...”
“Forever,” I say, completing his thought. “Are you afraid I don’t understand that? Do you think my human side makes me prone to frivolous fits of infatuation? Because if you do, please allow me to set you straight.” I take a long breath and gaze into his eyes. “I am in love with you, there will never be anyone else, and that’s all there is to it.”
He shakes his head and chuckles.
“What?”
“This is why I love you.”
“It is? What is?”
“I believe the term is moxie. You are bold and fearless. You are spunky.”
“You love me because I’m spunky?”
“Well, that…and because you are kind, and selfless, and brilliant, and very beautiful?”
“You think I’m all that?”
He loses his voice again and just stares.
“Davin?”
“Come here, my Padawan.”
Before I can respond, he laces his fingers through my hair and pulls me tight to his chest. “You are the most extraordinary angel ever born and I…I am the most fortunate.”
He kisses the top of my head, as he whispers, “Forever and never ending.”
His words and his touch make me shudder with ecstasy. “Kiss me, Davin. Kiss me like your life depends on it.”
“It does,” he says, as he captures my upper lip softly between his teeth.
Our kiss deepens and I smile inside, because I realize that each kiss we share seems to be better than the ones before, and we have eons of time and kisses to look forward to.
When Marjorie went to live with her frosty maiden aunt, she couldn’t imagine the adventures she would have with dragons — good and bad — and all the strange creatures that live in a mysterious land beneath the Tarn. The spunky 9-year-old redhead forges an unlikely friendship with an insecure young boy named Rufus who lives with his crusty grandfather next door. When Jorie — for that is what she prefers to be called — finds a dusty ancient book about dragons, she learns four strange words that will send the two of them into a mysterious land beneath the Tarn, riddled with enchantment and danger. Hungry for adventure, the children take the plunge, quite literally, and find themselves in the magic land of Cabrynthius.
Upon meeting the good dragon, the Great Grootmonya, Jorie and Rufus are given a quest to find the three Stones of Maalog — stones of enormous power — and return them to their rightful place in Cabrynthius. Their mission is neither easy nor safe, and is peppered with perils in the form of the evil black half-dragon who rules the shadowy side of the land. They have to deal with a wicked and greedy professor, the tragic daughter of the bad dragon, caves of fire, rocky mountainous climbs, and a deadly poisonous butterfly.
Jorie must rely on her wits and courage to win the day? Can she do this? Can she find all three Stones? Can she save Rufus when disaster befalls him? Can she emerge victorious? She and Rufus have some hair-raising challenges, in which they learn valuable lessons about loyalty, bravery, and friendship.
MY TIDBITS
This is a lovely world where magic and adventure come to life, letting enchanting dreams unfold in the boundless realm of imagination.
Jorie is off to live with her Aunt, a woman she's never met before and knows little about. When Jorie discovers that the Manor where she is to live once belonged to a powerful wizard, her curiosity is sparked. Together with her new friend, Rufus, she embarks on an amazing journey.
Lovely. This word describes the tale well. Jorie is a wonderful nine-year-old girl. She's polite, loves to show how smart she is, levels headed, curious, extremely imaginative and ready to head off into an adventure. She's simply so pure, kind and playful that it's impossible not to like her from the start. Rufus, her ever true friend, has a tad bit more rascal in him, something which makes him a perfect match for Jorie. And even the side characters each come to life with different personalities, oddities, and enjoyable accents. It's hard not to like every single one.
The world building is spectacular. There's never any long, drawn out descriptions with only enough given to make everything come to life. It's easy to get lost in the dragons, magic and other fantastical elements. The author does a great job of keeping a childlike fantasy about it, letting the magic do its thing and let the imagination flow.
There's adventure and tension as the kids go up against tremendous obstacles and dangers. Still, everything stays fitting for the age group.
Summed up, this is a story of magic and dragons young fans of fantasy aren't going to want to miss. The writing is perfect for the age group, allowing the reader to get lost in the world. The characters are easy to sympathize with and are sure to inspire the imagination long after the last page is read.
BOOK BUZZ!
Jorie and the Magic Stones is the first book in a new chapter book series by A. H.
Richardson. Children everywhere will love this adventurous fantasy of
Jorie and Rufus, two orphans from very different walks of life, who meet by
chance, find a mystic book with four magical Druidic words that provide the key
to an astonishing adventure that will plunge them, quite (literally) into
another world beneath the dark waters of the Tarn.
“Jorie and the Magic Stones is an enchanting tale of
adventure and childhood friendship that captures the attention and imagination
of children and adults alike.” - 5
Stars, Amazon Review
“If ever there was a children's book that was meant for
children of all ages, this would be that book. From page 1, you instantly fall
in love with the Jorie, the heroine. The storyline flows wonderfully. It makes
you feel as if you're there with the characters feeling the excitement, fears,
and joy that they feel as they go on an incredible adventure.” - 5 Stars, Matthew and Alicia Lucy
“I absolutely love this story! It just carried me away and
I couldn't put the book down!! I loved all the different characters... The
author did a wonderful job describing all of them and my imagination kept on
going!” – 5 Stars, Amazon Review
And here she is. . .
A. H. Richardson
was born in London England and is the daughter of famous pianist and composer
Clive Richardson. She studied drama and acting at the London Academy of Music
and Dramatic Art. She was an actress, a musician, a painter and sculptor, and
now an Author.
She published
her first book, Jorie and the Magic Stones, in December 2014, and has written a sequel to it titled Jorie and the Gold Key at the request of those who loved the first ‘Jorie’ story. She
is currently working on the third book in the series.
She is also
the author of Murder in Little Shendon, a thriller murder mystery which takes place in a quaint little
village in England after World War Two, and introduces two sleuths, Sir Victor
Hazlitt and his sidekick, Beresford Brandon, a noted Shakespearian actor.
She has more ‘who-dun-its’ planned for this clever and interesting duo… watch
for them!
A. H.
Richardson lives happily in East Tennessee, her adopted state, and has
three sons, three grandchildren, and two pugs. She speaks four languages
and loves to do voiceovers. She plans on writing many more books and hopes
to delight her readers further with her British twist, which all her books
have.
What older child hasn’t felt left out when a new baby arrives? Philip certainly does. His new sister Phoebe can barely say “ga-ga” yet everyone goes ga-ga over her. Philip, despite his superhero cape, feels alone. Finally, he devises a plan. Using a bit of magic and a lot of determination, he sneaks into her bedroom at night with the intention of changing her into something more manageable, more exciting, more fun. Except things don’t go exactly as planned.
This is a sweet story, which takes a problem siblings will be able to understand and in a playful, gentle way, leads to a possible way to handle it.
Being the older brother, Philip is considered as being the more grown-up one of the two siblings. Too bad, he's just a little kid himself and feels that sometimes he's treated unjustly in comparison to his younger sister.
The message is crystal clear for young readers/ listeners ages 3+ who have younger siblings. Philip is an average boy, and it's easy to step into his shoes and feel what he's going through. The message is obvious, but it doesn't feel preachy. Rather the creative world lures readers in and makes for a fun tale.
The illustrations are a real treat, offering not only a lovely accompaniment to the tale, but also offering little details for kids to follow. At the very end of the book, there's a search and find picture--something my kids always love.
Summed up, this is a lovely book for pre-schoolers and above.
And here she is. . .
Anne Brandt has been in love with creative writing since second grade when her four-line poem Philip & Phoebe is her first published children's book. On the surface, the story appears to present a siple tale of sibling rivalry, yet a closer look reveals Philip & Phoebe is truly a tale of magic.
about cats appeared in a school journal. Today, her writing includes personal essays, short stories, and novellas.
This way this story came to find publication is also one of magic. While Anne Brandt spent twenty-five years as a ghostwriter for clients in the corporate and nonprofit worlds, she worked nights in the basement of her home writing essays, stories and poems.
Over time, her personal work began to appear in a a variety of publications. Her essay about metting her biological father for the first time after 45 years was a cover story for the Chicago Tribune Magazine. Her essay about getting a tattoo in honor of her fiftieth birthday appeared in Seniors magazine. Other work has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, The Daily Herald, and the Denver Post. A collection of her most popular essays was published under the title The Square Root of Someone. Philip & Phoebe, a long forgotten story she wrote inspired by her own children, lay at the bottom of a cardboard box.
Anne's current work has been anthologized in Write Michigan, performed on stage in St. Joseph, MI, and won awards online in a flash fiction contest. Her reorganizing of archives led to the rediscovery of this tiny tale, one that reminded her of the pleasure of gentle reads and the power of creativity and wish making. She knew this work would resonate with others and is pleased to bring it to life. Essentially, Philip & Phoebe is a children's book forty years in the making.
Currently, Anne makes her home in Benton Harbor, Michigan. When she's not on her computer, she takes piano lessons, swims and mall walks. For more info visit annebrandt.com
This Christmas…it’s war. Grab your weapon and join the fight in this modern Santa Claus retelling with a dark twist. Fans of Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar will be riveted by The Elf‘s action, humor and romance!
Elves are dying in the North Pole, and none of their scientists can find a cure. They believe it’s a virus, unleashed by a powerful enemy. All signs point to Jack Frost, who’s been biding his time from afar. Watching. Waiting. Plotting. One brave elf, to save his kind, will venture out to meet evil in the eye. But he uncovers a mystery more dangerous than he could have ever imagined. Now Lucian must join a group of warriors and fight. Fuego; a flame-wielding pyro. Tiktok; a brilliant bomb expert, Yuriko; a deadly ninja assassin. And Bullets; a hot-headed gun aficionado. These unlikely heroes must learn to work together and defeat the rising evil. Or Christmas will soon be lost…forever.
“Where are you going?” I taunt. “There’s nowhere to hide.”
Jack Frost doesn’t answer. Under the canopy of winter-crystallized trees, he crawls across the snow. His tall, muscular body leaves a trail of berry-red blood behind him. He looks desperate to put distance between us.
I begin to whistle softly and draw closer to admire my handiwork. Broken nose. Swollen eye. An arrow buried deep in his leg. Ah, such a beautiful sight to behold. I turn to Blitzen, my most loyal of companions, and smile. “Thank you, friend. Without you, I wouldn’t have made it.”
Blitzen gives an affirmative snort, staying close to our sleigh and supplies. His strong legs and zesty spirit had kept me alive for the last two weeks. The Artic is a cold house for the unwary. Nothing in it ever stirs. Nothing moves. Nothing sings. Yet he had guided me through it, his hooves detonating like muffled grenades as they crunched the powdery snow. We’d traveled over timeworn mountains, through tomblike valleys and flash-frozen rivers. I plan on rewarding Blitzen with his favorite food once we’re back in Santa’s Village. It’ll be agaric mushrooms for life. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
First things first though: I cock my crossbow.
Clink.
Upon hearing that sound, Frost forces his knees and elbows to move faster. He fights for his life like a desperate wild animal at death’s door. The expression of terror on his face is absolutely priceless. I wonder if he’ll start begging soon. Even if he does, it won’t do him any good. I won’t hesitate to pull the trigger and send one final bolt into his black heart.
For my friends…for my parents…
“Mmm,” I utter, savoring the moment. “This is even better than I imagined.” As I loom over him, a sudden wave of fury grips me. I violently plant my boot in his shoulder, prompting a muffled groan from him. Through gritted teeth I hiss, “And I’ve imagined this a lot.”
I remove my foot. Frost rolls over onto his back and gazes up at me in defeat. “Don’t do this, Lucian. Please.”
Ah, finally.
“Do you think begging is going to help? It didn’t help my parents or the other elves. They died just the same, all shaking, bleeding, and crying…and all because of you.” I point the loaded crossbow at his chest. “Now it’s your turn to die.”
“Wait!” He lifts up a trembling hand. “I can grant you great powers, unimaginable abilities, even immortality! Y-you could be the most powerful elf who’s ever lived!”
“Power?” I scoff. “I don’t want power. This is all I want.”
“Revenge won’t bring your parents back.”
I consider his words for a moment and do see the truth in them, but the rage inside pushes me on. “No, but it’s going to feel pretty good.” My finger slides the safety off.
Frost’s eyes widen.
Bzzz-bzzz-bzzz…
Suddenly a deep, loud sound echoes all about us, seemingly coming from every direction. They disturb the serene beauty of this frozen, crystal paradise where Frost is meant to meet his doom. Puzzled, I lower my crossbow and search for the source. My eyes scan through the tall, gray trees, their skeletal wooden arms knocking against one another in the slight breeze, but I catch nothing in my gaze except the clear, blue skies beyond. What the heck’s going on? Confused, I dart my eyes in every direction. And why is that annoying buzzing getting louder?
Beep! Beep! Beep!
A sense of déjà vu hits me.
Wait! That sound… Isn’t that…?
The beeping continues to assault my ears for several more moments, muddling my senses.
“No!” I wail when I finally remember. “No! Not yet!”
My desperate cries prove futile, though, as my crossbow melts in my hands. Its liquefied remnants splash at my feet. It doesn’t take long for the surrounding trees to follow suit, forming charcoal-gray puddles on the ground. Blitzen, too, begins to disintegrate where he stands. His fur, flesh, and bones dissolves into a paste and seep into the ground
“No!” Without wasting time, I jump on Frost, wrap my hands around his cold neck, and begin to viciously choke him. “I’ll kill you with my bare hands!”
Rather than panicking or pleading for mercy, he only laughs in my face, knowing full well it’s too late. His flesh quickly melts like hot wax until my fingers are kneading the remaining mess.
I punch the ground with my fists again and again, even as they start melting away. “Come on! I just needed another minute!”
As I beg for more time, I feel my bones softening, becoming more pliable, like iron morphing into licorice. Soon I am unable to hold my weight, and I topple over, falling to the icy ground.
And here he is. . .
Max Dune is a Southern writer who spent most his childhood watching TV, devouring comic books and weaving magical worlds in his head. In his mid-twenties, he decided to follow his true passion. He has since created a number of short stories, novels, screenplays and TV pilots. To be alerted to future books and giveaways, please sign up for his newsletter at http://eepurl.com/b5Is91
