The Green Green Pear is a story that teaches why we should love the skin we are in. It also incorporates colors, shapes and animals. This is a great way for kids aged 6-9 to interact and learn about themselves.

Green green pear wants to know why he isn’t red like an apple, yellow like a banana or orange like an orange. He wants to make sounds like cows, pigs, sheep and dogs. He wants to smell like flowers, taste like candy and fly like butterflies. He wants to be anything other than green.
One night when a wishing star sails through the night sky Green Pear makes a wish. But, he learns after 3 wishes that he doesn’t want to be a red apple, a meowing cat or a circle. He just wanted to be a green green pear.

Reviewer Kristi Bernard

Brigitta longs to find her place in the White Forest. Always one to daydream and to question authority her progress to achieve changes to her wings to mark her destiny does not come easy for Brigitta. Coupled with her endless responsibility to look out for her younger sister, Himalette, Brigitta struggles to break free.

Until the day while on an errand with Himalette on the outskirts of the White Forest an eerie hush blankets the White Forest turning all fairies and creatures to stone. Except for Brigitta and Himalette and the Hourglass, which protects the White Forest. With the sands of time slipping away, Brigitta wishes she could just turn the Hourglass over to continue the protection to the White Forest. Alas, this was not to be for the Ancients long ago set the law in place that only the Elder’s had the knowledge and power to do so.

Forced to seek help outside the White Forest, Brigitta and Himalette embark on their journey to save all within the White Forest. Will Brigitta and Himalette be able to decipher the legends and folklore as they come to life with good versus evil intertwined? For all is not as it appears. Who is friend? Who is foe? One does not know until decisions are made and actions are set in place.

Come along on this magical journey of discovering ones true destiny in most unusual circumstances.

To learn more about author, Danika Dinsmore visit: The White Forest

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine

Donna McDine

Title: The Guardian of Kelmar – Book I of the Kelmar Trilogy
Written by: Laura Sepesi
Paperback: 613 pages
Publisher: Infinity Publishing / May 2009
ISBN: 0-7414-5336-3
Price: $26.95

Come away where anything goes in the fight over good versus evil. Unbeknownst to Baby Carmen her destiny was slated even before she was born. The evil Desorkhan will stop at nothing, destroying all who get in his way to reach Carmen. Death if necessary.

Hidden away from the clutches of the dark forces, Carmen lives a solitary life with her grandfather, since being orphaned as a baby. Her true destiny is kept secret from her, until her fifteenth birthday. When on this coming of age milestone birthday her grandfather presents her with an unusual gift. A golden skeleton key engraved with the initials BSGAD. Her grandfather’s aloofness baffles Carmen as to what this unusual key could unlock.

Quite unexpectedly Carmen comes across an old locked book engraved with “The Book of Kelmar” on the book cover. With the skeleton key in hand, Carmen unlocks the “Book of Kelmar” and unleashes her true destiny and is transported to the city of Kelmar.

Will Carmen find true understanding and courage she so desperately needs to overcome the dark forces once and for all? Come along for this fascinating journey into a magical world of self discovery.

Learn more about the mind tinkling world of Laura Sepesi at: Laura Sepesi

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine –

Owen and the Dragon by Carla Mooney

Title: Owen and the Dragon
Written by: Carla Mooney
Illustrated by: Colin Thomson
Paperback: 72 pages
Publisher: Soto Publishing Company / May 2010
ISBN: 978-0-9821711-7-2
Price: $6.99
Ages: 8 and up

Determined not to accept his new home in a new town, 10-year-old Owen refuses to unpack his belongings, a typical response for many young children who leave their familiar surroundings and friends behind. Some may though enjoy the new adventure presented to them. To top it off his new neighbor is a girl of all things and Owen dismisses Izzy from the onset.

The lure of the massive woods behind his new home creates just the right diversion. Packing a lunch Owen sets off. What he thinks will be a typical hike in the woods becomes so much more as he continues his trek deeper into the woods. Taking a much needed rest at the top of the hillside, Owen hears the unmistakable sound of someone or something snoring. Curiosity gets the best of him and Owen finds himself at the entrance of a cave. What he finds in there is unbelievable to him, even though he is seeing it with his own eyes.

“Curled up in the darkest corner of the cave, an animal he’d never seen before snored. Owen slowly shone his flashlight back and forth across the creature. It was covered in green and gold scales. Two enormous wings were folded across its body and a long tail lay curled on the ground. A dragon!”

Shocked beyond belief, Owens gains the trust of the dragon Phineas through their conversations and learns Phineas has lost his ability to fly, which can only be restored through a lost magic locket. Can Owen find the locket in time to help Phineas get back to his family? For time is running out for Phineas with the approaching of the fortieth sun cycle. To accomplish his task at hand, Owen needs to look deep within and become more accepting of others. Can he and will he do so in time?

The magical adventures of Owen and Phineas in the quest to reunite Phineas with his family will leave the reading feeling anything is possible.

Reviewed by Donna M. McDine – Donna McDine

Donna McDine