Book Review: New Friendships: The Adventures of Lily & Ava by Gordon Briley

The first of what will be a series, New Friendships, The Adventures of Lily & Ava begins with Lily watching her soon-to-be-new- best- friend's parents moving into the "creepy" old house next door.

Cover courtesy of
 The Adventures of Lily & Ava on Facebook

Lily is sure that nothing good will come to pass because she has heard that the house is haunted.

When Lily's parents want her to accompany them to greet and welcome the new neighbors Lily's fear of the haunted house takes over and she says "No way! How about good-bye!"

Lily ends up joining her parents, and soon meets her soon-to-be-new-best-friend, Ava and her 6-toed cat, Tink.  Tink's grand escape from Ava's arms is the catalyst that creates fun, laughs and a new friendship.

The story ends with an unexpected surprise, and a positive lesson is learned.

Children will fall in love with the fact that this book rhymes. As a child, books that rhymed were my favorites!

Author Gordon Briley, who just happens to be a fellow Michigander, takes his love of rhyme and adventure and creates laugh-out-loud fun that is perfect for the toddler and younger-grade elementary school set. Gordon's  own daughters Lily and Ryan are the inspiration behind his writing.

The book is hardcover, 32 pages, and is the perfect size and length for a read-aloud-bedtime-story. It would make a great gift for a special little one for the holidays!

The colorful and fun illustrations, created by Jim Dombrowski, are sure to delight the the tiny tots,  who can see the REAL Lily and Ava by visiting

http://www.facebook.com/TheAdventuresOfLilyAndAva

ISBN-978-0-98602 14-0-4

Book Review: Rainbow Forest Fables By Pamela June Kimmell, AND You Can MEET Pamela!

Today I am taking literary license and veering from my rule of only featuring books on Cat Chat that are about cats. I have chosen to feature Rainbow Forest Fables, which isn't about cats, but it is about animals, lessons, enchantment, wonder, magic and is written by an author with a personal connection to...you got it! CATS!

Rainbow Forest Fables is a book "dedicated to the young and the young at  heart" whose message is "if we keep our hearts open, we can learn so much from each other and our surroundings." This delightful book was written and illustrated by Pamela June Kimmel who is the "co-author" of the popular and adorable blog One Spoiled Cat featuring her adorable orange kitty (and writing partner), Sammy. (Sammy and Pamela were featured on Cat Chat, January 19, 2012, if you missed that post, you may read it here)

"At the end of every rainbow is a magical forest where creatures of all kinds live in harmony with nature."

I am featuring this book for a number of reasons, one of them being that Pamela is an incredibly talented woman who just happens to have a heart of gold. She hasn't lost her child-like ability to wonder, imagine, pretend and she shares this with us by using  lusciously descriptive language and whimsical illustrations (that I wish there had been MORE of!) which are featured on the first page of each new chapter of Rainbow Forest Fables.

Another reason I am featuring this delightful book is because true to the usage of the word "fable" "a fable is a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are given human qualities and that illustrates a moral lesson" (from Wikipedia)

"Felicia" the "Guardian"
of the Rainbow Forest

 Each character in Rainbow Forest Fables has it's own brief chapter making it well-suited for use as a bedtime read, (a parent could devote one night to each character) and the chapters are short enough to hold a child's attention. It would also lend itself well to story hour at a public library or in the classroom for the lessons that are conveyed through each character offer numerous possibilities to engage in a lively discussion.


All of the characters in Pamela's book possess admirable  traits that should exist or be instilled in all of us, in childhood and well beyond. Rainbow Forest Fables not only provides a world of wonder and imagination for children, it releases our inner child through characters such as Gordon Grasshopper, Seymour Squirrel, Fairy Felicia and more. "The stories and illustrations provide simple lessons about getting along with one another in our wide, wonderful, magic world."


When I was a child of 4 or 5, I remember throwing a blanket over the picnic table in the backyard, sitting under it and imagining that every blade of grass was a jungle in the eyes of the assorted insects that lived among them. I envisioned bird's nests as being delightful, lush beds, holes in trees functioned as  entryways to the cozy cottages of squirrels; replete with acorn bowls and chairs made of tree branches. I remember making tiny boats out of rocks or wood and releasing them into the unknown enticing eddies of a backyard stream. I delighted in those moments then as I do today. I have never lost my child-like wonder and am thankful for the serendipitous way of life that has put like-minded people in my path. Pamela is one of those people and Rainbow Forest Fables is an extension of the lessons and wonder of childhood that should never be lost.




You may get a "taste" of Rainbow Forest Fables by visiting Pamela's other blog: The Magic Forest Chronicle which was designed around this precious book.

WANT TO MEET PAMELA?

Pamela will be attending Book 'Em TOMORROW in Lumberton, North Carolina.

" Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair brings together more than 75 authors,including two New York Times bestselling authors, Carla Neggers and Michael Palmer, more than 24 award-winning authors, and authors of almost every genre for all ages under one roof to sell and sign their books, participate in panel discussions and talks, network and interact with fans one-on-one."


You can read more about Book 'Em here


Pamela will be bringing these books with her to sell at Book 'Em ; her mystery novel "The Mystery Of  David's Bridge", "Pink Jasper" (which was written in conjunction with 5 other ladies) and her current children's book "Rainbow Forest Fables".


CAN'T MAKE IT TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR BOOK 'EM?


HOW TO PURCHASE PAMELA'S RAINBOW FOREST FABLES:


ISBN:978-1-257-77749-5


Visit Amazon (just click on it and it will take you there!)







I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are mine.