Review of: Jasmine's Starry Night

Author: Kay Woodward
ISBN: 9780723259220
Pages: 69
Published by: Warne (March 2008)
Genre(s): Children's, Chapter Book, Fiction
Grade: A
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09 - Read Together 2009 - Spring Reading Thing 2009

Jasmine the Flower Fairy is in charge of a night blooming flower. She sleeps during the day and loves watching the stars at night. Since Jasmine is alone so often, she is incredibly shy.

When she meets Dandelion, he asks what her hobby is. Jasmine thinks she doesn't have one. Not being very adventurous, like some Flower Fairies, she despairs of ever finding a hobby.

When some of the baby fairies cause a ruckus, thinking the stars are trying to fall out of the sky, only Jasmine knows that they are just shooting stars, comets. Will Jasmine be able to over come her shyness long enough to let them all know?


Reaghan liked this Flower Fairy book, too. (The first one we read was Wild Cherry Makes a Wish.) There were no 'nervous' moments for Reaghan in Jasmine's Starry Night, but she did feel bad for poor Jasmine.

Our current 'read together' book is Poppy's Perfect Home which is another from this same series. Be on the look out for that review in the next few weeks.

Buy Jasmine's Starry Night by Kay Woodward:
IndieBound {} Powell's {} Amazon

Review of: Wild Cherry Makes a Wish

Author: Pippa le Quesne
ISBN: 9780723258261
Pages: 80
Published by: Warne (October 2006)
Genre(s): Fiction, Chapter Book
Grade: A
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09 - Read Together 2009 - Spring Reading Thing 2009


Wild Cherry Makes a Wish is one of several Flower Fairies Friends books. I picked up six of them when hubs and I went to an overstock book store (all books are 75% off!).

From the back: Wild Cherry is feeling very sad. She wishes that she could dance but is too shy to ask for help. Then she has a misunderstanding with Pansy, the on fairy who could teach her.

So, when Pansy is in danger and it is up to Wild Cherry to help, will she be brave enough to save her? And will her wish ever be granted?

Each book appears to have 6 chapters. Reaghan and I are on our 3rd book of the 6 that we bought and she really likes them. They each have a life lesson (I wouldn't call it a moral) that a particular fairie learns. Reaghan is only 3, so I doubt she's learning any life lesson's from the books, but I expect that over the next few years, as she learns to read on her own and rereads these book, she will learn those life lessons.

Reaghan got a little nervous when Pansy was in danger of being seen by *gasp* human children, but with some quick thinking by Wild Cherry, the children are distracted and chase some fairy dust and Cherry blossoms swirling and dancing in the opposite direction. When Pansy learns of this brave act, she asks Wild Cherry what if anything she can do to repay her. Will Wild Cherry overcome her shyness enough to tell Pansy the ONE thing that she really wants from Pansy?

Buy Wild Cherry Makes a Wish by Pippa le Quesne:
IndieBound {} Powell's {} Amazon

Review of: Baron Thinks Dogs are People Too!

Author: Laurie Dean
Illustrator: KevinCollier
ISBN: 9781601310354
Pages: 24
Published by: Big Tent Books (November 2008)
Genre(s): Children's
Grade: A
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09



My 3 year old, Reaghan, was hooked from the cover! Bold colors, a dog, what more could a preschooler ask for? The illustrations inside the book are just as exciting and vibrant as the cover.

Reaghan has asked to 'read' Baron at least 4 times a week for the last month; not just once either, we have to read it 3 or 4 times before she's ready to move onto another book or activity. She laughs, pouts, cheers. I love the first page of the book: "Baron was a young dog who loved people. Squished between two people, like jam in a sandwich was Baron's favorite place to sleep." That's one of Reaghan's favorite places to be, too!

Baron is an excited, young puppy who like to run, jump and get dirty. After a dangerous situation, Baron is sent to doggie school to learn manners and the proper way to behave. Once he's home though he still has one problem, no best friend. I'll leave you in suspense as to whether or not he gets a best friend by the end of the book.

From the author's site:
Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too! is an illustrated children's story about a family dog who wants nothing more than to have a best friend. When Baron's frisky antics get him sent to obedience school, he learns how to behave himself. Read along to find out if he can find a best friend with his new good behavior!

Purchase BARON THINKS... @ Big Tent Books (publisher).

(Full disclosure: Author Laurie Dean sent me this book as a free review copy. If you have any questions/concerns about how this may have affected how I feel about the book, please go here and read the last paragraph.)

Review of: A Wrinkle in Time (sort of)

Author: Madeleine L'Engle
ISBN: 9780440498056
Pages: 256
Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy Fiction
Grade: A
Start date: 11-20-08
End date: 11-24-08
Challenge(s): (Genre Challenge) Fantasy



I don't feel like I need to review A Wrinkle in Time. So many have already read it, so many will read (and reread) it. I will say that I enjoyed it more now than when I was 9 or 10 when I first read it. I have the next 3 in the series and will read them at some point. =) I will also continue to look for An Acceptable Time, which is the 5th book.

Buy A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle:
IndieBound {} Amazon