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The Heart and Craft of Writing Compelling Description by Sharon M. Lippincott

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Before I get started, I met this author through the review of another blogger, the outstandingly generous and sweet Sherrey Meyer. You can find her thoughts about this book by going here:

http://healingbywriting.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/writing-compelling-description-selected-blog-posts-from-the-heart-and-craft-of-life-writing-by-sharon-m-lippincott-a-review/

 

I have read A LOT of books about the craft of writing over the years, trying to gain knowledge on my chosen craft and hone it to perfection. I have found some really useful guides and have learned a lot from these books, but never fallen in love with a book about one specific aspect of writing as fast as I did with this. Sharon Lippincott has written “The Heart and Craft of Writing Compelling Description” which is available for sale right now. You can find it

Here

It is available in both digital and paperback formats:) I HIGHLY recommend it.

Not only was this an excellent book about writing fabulous description, but it covers other factors of writing as well, and I felt more confident after finishing it. I needed that boost of confidence as NaNoWriMo blues had set in.

Description from Goodreads:

Turn Blah into Brilliant with this Jam-Packed Volume On Description
Turn Blah into Brilliant with this Jam-Packed Volume On Description

Sharon Lippincott’s delectable writing gives you the spoonful of sugar to help the description medicine go down. In this slim volume– forty-eight short lessons—you will be so busy learning to hang on to inspiration, color up your words, and breathe life into your writing, you won’t even realize you’ve also learned to ditch dummy subjects, clear out dead would, and apply tips for using dozens of other description power tools.

In reading this book, writers in any genre will discover

* An expanded perspective on the nature of description
* The difference between active and passive description
*How nouns and verbs impact description
*How to gain inspiration by reading like a writer
*How to capture inspiring phrases for later reference
*Tips for taming your inner critic
*The importance of using sensory description
*The value of tuning into life around you

This book will change the way you think about description. Order your copy now and transform your stories into magic carpets that carry readers into your world.

Kindle Edition, 152 pages
Expected publication: April 16th 2013 by Kindle Direct Publishing
ASIN
B00C7VGYXM
My Thoughts:
I think it is pretty safe to say that it is not often that I find myself without words, but after reading this, that is exactly what happened. Have you ever seen someone doing their daily job and thought “this person was meant to do this?” This is now how I feel about Sharon Lippincott. There is no question in my mind that she was meant to do this. Her writing is insightful, balanced and beautifully arranged so that there is no struggling to understand her meaning or benefit from the advice.

I was immediately absorbed in this book. I am lifelong lover of words and phrases and I felt this book struck a chord with me from the very first chapter. As far as books on the craft of writing, this is profound–flawless in fact. Description is one of the hardest things for an author to master, and Sharon elaborates on the topic in such a friendly, entertaining manner.

There is one passage that I could not wait to share in particular. It struck me like a lightening bolt. “One of the best workshops a writer can take is found between the covers of books, and if you have a library card the admission is absolutely free.” How many hours have I sat and wondered if I attended this or that seminar if I would be able to improve my craft? Countless. But this made me stop and think, other than writing, reading is my favorite pastime–why did I not realise how much my writing benefits from it?

Throughout this book, Sharon enables the reader to stop and consider what she has said in each chapter by putting it into action with a “write now” prompt. These were all excellent and not only made me want to stop right then and there and write, but gave me much to consider later on, long after I finished the book.

I also loved that she showed examples throughout this guide of how one can improve their writing by choosing to make the sentence structure better, I have a problem with using adverbs too often and not using the most bare bones version I can in my own writing, so the tips and tricks on how to build more beautiful passages were both exciting for me and useful. My writing will undoubtedly benefit.

Whether you are a fiction writer or a non-fiction writer, this book will be a very useful tool in your writer’s library. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who is just starting out and to those who are veterans looking to improve their craft. It was, in a word–amazing.

 

Rise of a Queen by J.S. Riddle

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When her human life became engulfed in darkness, despair, and pain Tessa decided to leave that world behind. She followed her heart to stand beside her love, Greco, ruler of one of the more prominent vampire clans, the Levé’s, ultimately becoming their Queen. She becomes an intricate part in the domination of all mankind, overseen by the Vampire Nation.
She is torn by both sides of a spectrum. Her love for Greco came with a new devotion to all things vampire, yet she cannot seem to shake humanity aside and ultimately vows to unite the two worlds some day.
By unforeseeable circumstances she is left to rule her clan alone, with only the assistance and guidance of her loyal counselors Drake, Bade, Vala, and Andreas. With gearing wars with an equally dominant rival clan, the Krones, and human rebels at her doorstep, she has no choice but to become a strong, cunning, and pragmatic ruler. Instead of looking at it sitting from her throne she get’s down in the dirt and does everything she can to fix, and many times eradicate, the situation.
Greco’s past and the human life she thought she left behind mesh into a whirlwind of deceit and betrayal, interweaving constantly with one another making every step taken much harder than the last. It is up to her to overcome every obstacle that stands in her way and rise to the role of the true Queen she was destined to become.–Description from Goodreads

 

 

ebook, 300 pages
Published February 14th 2013 (first published February 13th 2013)
ASIN
B00BG9KW6G
edition language
English
You can find this book HERE
You can visit J.S. Riddle HERE
Here are my thoughts on this novel:
When you begin reading this novel, you are immediately taken to another place. J.S. Riddle’s new vampire series is not what I expected, and this is a good thing. I enjoyed vampire novels long before the advent of Twilight the other similar books that have come along since, and this book reminded me why. One of my all time favorite authors is Anne Rice, and this book, although original and clearly not modeled after Anne’s books, had somewhat the same feel. The characters are a bit mysterious, the different groups of vampires fighting to establish power and the strong female main character reminded me in some ways of her work.

Here’s what I liked:

One of the things that impressed me about this novel, was the way the author chose to tell the back story of her main character. Rather than making the reader feel like she was checking things off a list when it came to the description and development of Tessa, she used a well placed prologue to the beginning of Tessa’s creation as a member of the vampire community to tell her story. I enjoyed reading the portions of the book that dealt with Tessa’s early human life. In some ways, this was like reading multiple books without the inconvenience of changing one out for the other. The switching from present to past and back to present again was handled very well, never leaving me confused about which part of Tessa’s life the author was dealing with.

Here’s what I loved:

Although this is obviously intended to be fictional, I felt like the areas of the book that dealt with Tessa’s life before her transformation were written from the heart. She was a character that struggled, learned a lot of hard lessons and became a strong person, which I felt never left her even after her “transformation.” I personally found it refreshing to find a vampire character that was more than just a mindless killer. I enjoyed the multidimensional aspect of her character all the way around. She was good as a human and even better as a vampire queen.

I also loved the way J.S. Riddle showed the human struggle against the vampire uprising through Melinda. She is a secondary character that I think may play a much larger and more important role in future books. I am looking forward to seeing how that plays out.

Here are the things I would like to see improved or further elaborated on:

The technology. In this book, there is a couple of mentions of the emerging technology that allow the vampire clans to function during normal human operating hours, but I didn’t feel it was given enough credit nor explanation. This is an interesting idea that I would like to see explored in more detail, as it was one of the things that made this book feel so unique.

The time period. I read this entire book, knowing that it must be close to the age we live in now, but I am not absolutely certain when this is taking place. This could have been shown through actual dates, or it could have been displayed through politics or world events, and I feel it would have made the entire book feel a bit more grounded.

Lastly, although I enjoyed the romance between Greco and Tessa, in the beginning I didn’t feel the intensity that I would have expected from a woman who was so devoted to one man. The devotion and intense feeling seemed to come much later in the story and this made it hard for me to really get a sense of what Tessa was experiencing and why she felt the way she did.

Overall, I thought this was an interesting, exciting and stellar way to start off a new series in a genre that has a lot of competition. The author has written a unique novel with new ideas that didn’t come out of a cookie cutter. Her voice is strong and she is certainly an emerging talent. I am curious enough to read the next book and would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the genre. Even if vampire books aren’t your thing, you might want to give this one a try. It will most likely surprise you.

Twisted By Christa Simpson

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Can a man and woman be just friends? Abigail Jenkins is wondering just that.

Now that Edwin Santora has graduated from law school with honours, he could get a job anywhere he wanted. Of all the places to land, why did he have to take a position with Abigail’s small firm? As if sharing a house with her irresistible ex wasn’t bad enough, now it was the least of her concerns. When Edwin’s macho arrogance begins to seriously affect her dating life, Abigail starts to seriously reconsider their friendship; not that Edwin believes a man and woman can be just friends anyway.

After yet another date gone wrong and Edwin’s fierce persistence, Abigail finds herself catching feelings. When Edwin makes a friendly proposal, no-strings-attached, Abigail can’t resist. After some sexy role playing, she finds herself dangerously in love and wrapped back up in his powerful grip. Little does he know that Abigail has a strict life plan for herself and has set out to see if Edwin is up for the challenge. When Abigail finally puts their relationship to the test, will it pass with flying colours or will they give in to the mysterious forces trying to drive them apart?–Description From Goodreads

Kindle Edition, 1st Edition, 429 pages
Published February 26th 2013 by Christa Simpson
ASIN
B00BLP8TJM
edition language
English
series
You can visit Christa Here
My thoughts on this book (My Review from Goodreads/Amazon)
Honestly, I wish there were half stars available, because I would give this book four and a half stars. I was actually surprised by how enjoyable this book turned out to be. There are so many romance novels on the market with sexy hunks on the cover and I generally try to avoid most of them, for fear that the contents won’t have any depth. This book does actually give you many good reasons to keep reading.

Christa Simpson has designed characters that work with each other well. Nothing is simple and the relationships are not only complicated, but filled with the type of sexual tension that you want to see in an adult romance. You aren’t sure from the beginning why Abigail feels the way she does, and exploring her relationship with Edwin and his competition makes for an interesting plot that keeps the reader moving forward.

I thought the secondary relationships were handled very well, the friendship between Abby and Aliah was believable and made the characters seem more realistic and the story more grounded. I love it when you get involved in a book and feel like you have known the characters forever. The hate/hate relationship between Maddie and the other women in the book made for interesting dialogue and some tension that I wasn’t expecting, making it that much more interesting.

The sex scenes were handled very well and none of them were quite as over the top as I would have expected by the cover. Christa Simpson has a way of alluding to what is happening without having to give the reader every single detail of the act itself, which I appreciated, not particularly being a fan of explicit sex scenes. Some of the scenes seemed a little difficult to believe, but they were fun and made me smile in the end.

There is a bit of a paranormal something going on in this novel, that I am thinking will be explored more in the following books. It was a good start to making the rest of the series even more compelling, and added a bit of an unexpected twist to the book.

Now for the part I didn’t love so much. There really is no end to this book. While I do understand that this is a series and all of the loose ends could not be tied up, I did feel the ending was abrupt. It sort of dropped off mid-conversation and I wasn’t really expecting that. I would have liked to have seen the book end with hope for the future of the characters you grow to love over this story, rather than the unexpected end it had.

Overall, this is a book that I would feel comfortable recommending to other readers. This author clearly has a good imagination and a talent for her chosen craft. If you like books where there is tension, romance, steam, great character building and more than one book to look forward to, you might give “Twisted” a chance. I enjoyed it very much.

Even More Stuff (Too lazy to think up a better headline)

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Dragon

So, more stuff. I recently did an interview with Jim Gibson about his children’s book series featuring Perdita the loveable Dog, which you can find here: http://wp.me/p2SbOP-cL

Jim’s book, The World According to Perdita Whacknoodle: The Thanksgiving Pageant of Doom will be free this Saturday and Sunday. Pick up a copy for the Little one in your life! (Trust me even the parents have fun with it!) You can find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/World-According-Perdita-Whacknoodle-ebook/dp/B00A571W9Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364603655&sr=8-2&keywords=jim+GIBSON

I am going to make another fabulous attempt at the Scarlet Letter this evening, and since the common idea seems to be that I should just skip the first chapter, that is what I intend to do, along with no comfortable furniture and a proper meal that does not consist of sugar and more sugar. Maybe a little sugar. I will report progress tomorrow:)

So now let us have a bit of fun before I go and make that proper dinner I spoke of. I love one sentence reviews because they are rather pointless but also a lot of fun. So, I thought it would be fun to write a one sentence synopsis of your favorite Book, Movie or game. It can only be one sentence but must tell about the plot. There is no prize other than my uproarious giggles. Sorry that.

Because I am a good sport, here is mine: The Scarlet Letter –

ZZZZZZZzzzZZZZZ.  See, there you have it. One sentence.

The Look of Love by Bella Andre

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Sometimes one look is all it takes Chloe Peterson has vowed never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Her reasons are as vivid as the bruises on her cheek. So when her car skids off a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced the gorgeous guy who rescues her must be too good to be true.

As a successful international photographer, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women. He’s satisfied with his life-until he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley.

With every loving look-and every sinfully sweet caress-the attraction between them sizzles, and Chloe can’t help but wonder if she’s met the man who may be the exception to her rule…Description from Goodreads

Paperback, 384 pages
Expected publication: May 28th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA (first published January 1st 2011)
ISBN
0778315568 (ISBN13: 9780778315568)
original title
The Look of Love (The Sullivans, #1)
series
My Thoughts:
I wasn’t sure what to think when I started reading this novel. Hmmm. The story begins with the male lead attending the birthday party of his mother and there are A LOT of character introductions all at the same time. Although I was able to sort them out and the author kept the main focus on one character, I did feel it was a bit much for a reader to handle, trying to keep them all straight. There was also a little question of how old someone would have been in so many years before and how they would have done the things the author claimed they did if you do the math. I’m not nitpicking, but I have math brain so I can’t help but notice this stuff.

Here’s what I did like:

The characters are part of a dynamic family and this will guarantee plenty of material for future books. There are 8 kids (6 males 2 females) and they are all pretty interesting characters that the author can work with.

The author has an excellent sense of what language to use in contemporary romance and the writing and dialogue never felt the slightest bit dated. Bella Andre will no doubt be a force in her genre.

There were some decidedly sweet and romantic moments in this novel and I thought the author was really original when she wrote these scenes. She didn’t do the same thing I have seen a hundred times before and that made me pretty happy to keep reading. There is also a bit of humor that I thought was well placed and made it more fun.

Here is where the warning comes in. If you didn’t already know, this book comes with a BIG, RED, FLASHING “SEX SCENES AHEAD” sign. If you like mild romance and innocent sexual tension you may want to detour and choose another route so you don’t inadvertently run over any naked people. I was a bit surprised that for a character who claims to be avoiding men that the main female character reacted the way she did. I think I just need more than “Hi, you’re hot hey we should check out that bed.” and this book is full of stranger sex…and some just downright strange sex…anyway, overall it was pretty good and it broke away from the norms of the genre.

I would recommend this to those who really like their steamy scenes to resemble a jalapeno–hot and spicy.

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.

A Review of A Very Special Book

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Today, I am proud to showcase a very special book, written for a good cause. This book is by a young author, and when I say young, I don’t mean like as in early twenties. Mr. Ryan Moralevitz has recently turned Six years old. His dedication to saving marine animals from the dangers of pollution and keeping the world’s oceans clean has prompted him to write a book, entitled “Puffy the Pufferfish Saves the Ocean.” He also makes and sells ornaments and magnets and donates the profits to various charities that work to save the ocean he loves so dearly. You can visit Ryan at www.thefisheswishes.com  where you can find out more about his efforts and see the incredible things he makes, or pick up a copy of his book.

Making a name for himself in the world of  conservation, Ryan has recently been featured in piece by the Ocean Conservancy, Which you can find at: http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/2012/08/22/a-small-boys-example-anyone-can-make-a-difference-for-the-ocean/

 

 

 

 

 

Image from rear book cover copy

 

 

 

 

 

 

My thoughts:

Admittedly when I first heard about this I expected it to be little more than crayon drawings that some parent decided to market. I don’t love admitting when I am wrong, but in this case I have to admit defeat. I received this book in the mail the other day from my good friend Harry Steinman.

I read the back cover, instantly impressed by the little boy who seemed to have been born to make a difference in this world. Later in the evening, I had the opportunity to sit down and read the book with my children. Here are their comments:

Elijah-who is eight, said “Wow. I didn’t draw that good when I was his age.”

Avery-who is seven, said “He is right, we should get everyone to help us clean up the beach when we go this summer.” –This coming from a kid who hasn’t cleaned his room for so long he isn’t sure he has a floor.

I was really amazed at this. It seems that my kids are always watching Discovery or Animal Planet, but this is the first time I have actually seen the light of understanding the core concept of pollution and the damage it does flip on in their heads. Perhaps it is because the information is from a trusted source–another child. (Heaven knows us adults don’t always make sense to kids.) Or, it might be because his book has such cute illustrations and such a nice story that they didn’t know they were learning a lesson in the first place. Either way, the kids and I give this book five sea stars. I never doubt the creativity of children, but this book was better than many of the other books written by adults and intended for kids. If you want to teach your children about how to make a difference and the effects of trash on the ocean’s creatures, this is a great book to introduce the topics.

I think this boy is a reminder to all of us of what a bit of spirit and drive can do and that each of us has the power to make a difference for the planet we call home. Please visit Ryan and offer your support to his worthy Cause.

Ryan also has a video you can watch here: http://streams.ning.com/video/my-wishes-for-the-fishes

You are one amazing little boy!

 

 

Too much A in YA?

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As a book reviewer, I try to be fair and honest about the books that I review. I won’t review things that I know very little or nothing about because I have no perspective on the subject, unless it is something that can be easily learned and I feel I can form a valid opinion. I love to read Young Adult novels and appreciate what they do for the younger generation. I would much rather see a book in a teen’s hand than a video game controller. Still, I am a little uncertain sometimes.

I was hoping that someone might be able to answer a couple of questions (I know I never stop) for me. What age group is the general category of YA intended for? When does it stop being children’s literature and become YA and what does that entail exactly? Is it over twelve or over fifteen, seventeen… or or or?

I have read some really fantastic YA novels in the last year both from traditional publishers and from indie authors, but my question is: When is there too much Adult in a Young Adult Novel. Swearing, sex, references to drugs or drinking…are these things appropriate for the YA market?

I don’t want to judge a book unfairly if these things are actually acceptable in a YA novel, but sometimes I feel they push the limit a little. Thoughts please!

 

The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs

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“Sometimes you stumble across a treasure when you’re looking for something else entirely.”

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs brings readers to the lush abundance of Sonoma county in a novel of sisters, friendship and how memories are woven like a spell around us.

Tess Delaney makes a living restoring stolen treasures to their rightful owners. People like Annelise Winther, who refuses to sell her long-gone mother’s beloved necklace-despite Tess’s advice. To Annelise, the jewel’s value is in its memories.

But Tess’s own history is filled with gaps: a father she never met, a mother who spent more time traveling than with her daughter. So Tess is shocked when she discovers the grandfather she never knew is in a coma. And that she has been named in his will to inherit half of Bella Vista, a hundred-acre apple orchard in the magical Sonoma town called Archangel.

The rest is willed to Isabel Johansen. A half sister she’s never heard of.

Against the rich landscape of Bella Vista, Tess begins to discover a world filled with the simple pleasures of food and family, of the warm earth beneath her bare feet. A world where family comes first and the roots of history run deep. A place where falling in love is not only possible, but inevitable.

And in a season filled with new experiences, Tess begins to see the truth in something Annelise once told her: if you don’t believe memories are worth more than money, then perhaps you’ve not made the right kind of memories.

From one of America’s most beloved writers, The Apple Orchard is a story of family ties-both old and new-and of the moments that connect our hearts.–Description from Goodreads

 

Hardcover, 432 pages
Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA (first published April 17th 2012)
ISBN
0778314936 (ISBN13: 9780778314936)
series
My thoughts on this novel:
OH IT WAS HEAVEN! I wanted to stay wrapped up in this book forever. This is the kind of novel that fills your heart and soul with warmth and makes you just feel good! The recipes are to die for as well.

This novel has one of the most beautiful opening chapters that I have ever seen. The descriptions of the landscape are so vivid and alive that you can almost smell the apples and hear the buzz of the honeybees. Immediately I was drawn in to this story and never lost interest throughout the entire book.

The cast of characters in this novel are the kind of people that you don’t want to forget. They are such an inviting family with so much rich history and compassion for one another that I almost felt, in some ways while I was reading this I had returned home to visit my own family.

Tess is a strong character with an interesting occupation. She is a sort of treasure hunter, sifting through the belongings of others looking for rare and fantastic items that can be auctioned. What she doesn’t realize, is that her life is about to completely change. After inheriting a share of an apple orchard and discovering a half sister she never knew she had, she must find out what living is really all about.

Suffering from an anxiety/panic disorder and trying to make sense of her life, she comes to Bella Vista with more fear and questions than she has ever had before. Through interactions with her family and learning of her history, she learns more about herself than she ever thought possible.

I completely loved the way this book unfolded. It was gentle and charming. Susan Wiggs has written a story where the past that lie beneath the surface of an ordinary life not only paints a vibrant picture of love and family, but makes for a much more fulfilling future for her characters.

This book is about learning to forgive, learning to love and finding who you are and who you were truly meant to be, but more importantly, it is about family and the bonds that make us who we are. I can’t say enough good things about this book.

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.

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The Last Girl by Jane Casey

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The teenage girl was the first victim.

Her throat cut to the bone, she didn’t stand a chance.

Her mother was the second.

She, at least, had time to fight back. Briefly.

Called to the South London crime scene, Maeve Kerrigan’s first thought is that this is a domestic dispute gone bad. But the husband – found bloody and unconscious in an upstairs room – insists he’s the third victim not the killer. However, the only witness is his young daughter. And she’s not talking…

 

  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: Minotaur Books (May 21, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312622015
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312622015

You can find this book HERE

Visit the Series Website: http://www.maevekerrigan.co.uk/#

My thoughts on this book:

To be honest, even as of writing this review I am still a bit divided on how I feel about this book. If you have read the other books in this series, then reading this will feel like a natural progression. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend reading this book as the starting point for you if you haven’t read the others. There is a lot of history that might be confusing if you have missed the previous books.

Some portions of this book were really thrilling. The opening chapter is a dynamo and I was hoping it was the setup for the pace of the rest of the book. I didn’t feel that way by half way through. While this is very well written and intelligent, there was a lot of lag in some spots, in my opinion. The characters didn’t develop the way I had hoped they would.

I am a big fan of series books and have grown to like this series throughout the other books. Still, I like it when I know that the past experiences of my favorite characters have made them grow and shape into the kind of character that is ever smarter and more experienced and I felt Maeve was stubborn and reticent through most of this book. I didn’t feel that she was getting anywhere, it was like she returned exactly the same from the last book.

The parts of this book that I thought were outstanding, were the portions that dealt with the subject pool. How could it be any better than a target who everyone who has ever come into contact with him professionally had a reason to dislike him? I also particularly enjoyed the stories of the suspects and why they might have had a motive.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book. I found by the end that I was at a loss for what to think. I loved about half of it, and thought the other half was merely okay. I wish it would have kept the pace of the beginning, but it was still worth reading. If you like highly psychological thrillers, this will fit the bill.

This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.

 

The Lollipop Monster Meets Clem the Klutz by Eric T Krackow

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The Lollipop Monster Meets Clem the Klutz

Hardcover, 64 pages
Expected publication: March 28th 2013 by Schiffer Publishing
ISBN
0764342878 (ISBN13: 9780764342875)
Larry the Lollipop Monster and his friend Zabby are on their way to a birthday party for their friend, Sanford. On their journey, they meet a monster stuck in a tree: his name is Clem! He is a spirited, lively character who gets a little “klutzy” when he’s excited. After helping to untangle Clem from the tree, Larry invites him to join them on their birthday party trek. At the party, Clem, in his whirling excitement, accidentally destroys one of Larry’s lollipop creationsthe one meant for Sanford’s birthday gift. Angry at Clem’s clumsy mistake, Sanford shames him away, calling him mean names. But Larry knows that being cruel to others and teasing them is not the right answer: we all make mistakes! Larry and his good friend Zabby help the Land of Monstoria learn the value of forgiveness, respecting each other’s differences, and celebrating the uniqueness of every monster. Early Reader; Ages 5-8–Description from Goodreads
My Review of  this title:
It just doesn’t get better than this. I had so much fun reading this book and I can’t wait to buy it for my kids!

Larry and Zabby are two adorably illustrated friends who have made special treats for their friend Sanford’s birthday, but when they are traveling to give him his gifts, they make a new friend who changes their plans a bit.

Not only are the illustrations in this book some of the best I have ever seen in a children’s title, but there is a valuable lesson in this book too. This teaches children in an exciting and fun way that it is okay to be upset, but it is not nice to call names and be mean to others.

For a children’s title, I was impressed by the length. Where so many kid’s books go wrong by only having a couple of pages worth of material, this book tells the story through imaginative illustrations and a longer story. The characters are very cute and I think any child would quickly grow to love them and find them easy to identify with.

Another nice quality of this story is that it reinforces the importance of friendship and sharing. This is definitely the kind of book I would love to have my children read.

If you have children or grandchildren and are looking for something special to read to them, this book would be an excellent choice.

This review is based on an ARC from the publisher.