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Master Oradea (Masters of the Consulate Book 10) by Sylvia Black – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Master Oradea (Masters of the Consulate #10)Master Oradea by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Master Oradea is the 10th book in the Masters of the Consulate series, but you don’t have to read them all. I have only read book 9 and this one, so far. This book does pickup where book 9 leaves off, and has the same characters for the most part. However, I jumped right into the story and caught on quick. There is about to be a big war between the underworld …factions? Not sure that’s the right word- The vampires, witches, shifters and humans. The vampires don’t know who they can trust and its weighing on everyone. Natalia is human (or so we think…..), the only daughter of a powerful family. She is strongly protected by her 4 brothers, but they enter in to business with the vampires and quickly learn they may not be able to keep her safe. So, she is sent off with Master Ordea to be her guard until the Rogue vampires are captured. But, like any good vampire story, there is a quick attraction between the 2. I think this book is much like the previous, and it is a perfect balance of steamy and suspense. I look forward to back reading in the series, I love the characters and their strength and connections.

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Murder on West Main (A South Shore Mystery) by I.M. Foster – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Murder on West Main: A South Shore MysteryMurder on West Main: A South Shore Mystery by I.M. Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder on West Main is the 2nd book in the South Shore Mystery series, but it can be read as a stand alone. The book takes place in the early 1900s, following Daniel O’Halleran as he tries to solve a murder. Things are much different in that day and age- there was no DNA, cameras, limited knowledge on finger prints, limited police. Daniel is a doctor, and a coroner assistant, and is one of the main investigators for the crime. Kathleen Brissedon is a close friend of Daniel, as well as the sister of the first suspect. She helps him investigate to help clear her brother’s name, spend time with Daniel, and because she is pretty good at it. It is unheard of for women to investigate, so she cannot help in any official capacity. The book was a pretty good mystery and maintained my interest throughout. I did not figure out who the murderer was until right before it was revealed, and I thought the author did a good job of building up the story and characters. I would be interested to read more in the series.

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Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Unicorn, Don't Do That!: It's okay if a Unicorn poops on your doorstepUnicorn, Don’t Do That!: It’s okay if a Unicorn poops on your doorstep by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m not sure if it was meant to be funny, but Unicorn, Don’t Do That! had me laughing out loud. It is a very colorfully illustrated, rhyming book about Stega. She is half unicorn and half stegosaurs, and has been invited to a party. She is stuck on what gift she should bring to the party, worried that her gift won’t be good enough.. Many of the other attendees make their own gifts, but Stega has no weaving or carving skills. She instead decides to bring food, but that leads to be a struggle as well, as she accidently eats all the snacks she’s gathered. She arrives at the party, and just the wrong time…. or maybe the right time…. either way, her gift is a surprise!
I love that even though Ada tries to shame and make fun of Stega, Benny is a true friend and stands up for her.

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Loris Opens Up His Heart (Courage Tales Series) by Dagmara Sitek – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Loris Opens Up His Heart: An Emotional Story For Kids (Courage Tales)Loris Opens Up His Heart: An Emotional Story For Kids by Dagmara Sitek
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loris Opens Up His Heart is a picture book for children, to give a gentle, but emotional, introduction to Foster Care- as well as sensitive situations surrounding it. I read it to my 8 year old and he didn’t have any negative reactions. He did first interpret Loris’s attitude and behavior as many others might- as “mean” or “grumpy.” But, by the end, he understood, which I think is the purpose of this book. It helps kids understand that emotions and behaviors might have an underlying cause. You don’t know what someone has been through, so you shouldn’t judge them based off first impressions. Loris is placed with a new family, and is quiet and reserved. His new “siblings” continue to be by his side and offer their help, repeatedly. Eventually, Loris warms up to them and shares a bit about his past. Once he gets that off his chest, and is not judged harshly, he opens up to the family. I love the discussion this book sparked between my son and I after completion.

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Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens (Oscar and Emmy Series) by Terri Sabol – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Oscar and Emmy Foster KittensOscar and Emmy Foster Kittens by Terri Sabol
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Parent Readers Beware- Your kiddo will likely ask to foster kitten by the end of Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens. I read this book with my 8 year old, and that was his first question, followed by disappointment when mom said no. We have read a couple of books in the series, and always love them. They are great learning tools, but perhaps I should not have chosen this particular topic lol. The illustrations are great- colorful and assist the story. Oscar and Emmy are the cats belonging to twins Abby and Charlie. Their family volunteers at the cat shelter, then decide to step it up a notch and foster a litter of newborn kittens. We are taken through the adventure, learning a little about the process and the growth and development of the kittens. I love that the book addresses the topic of “foster fails” and their mother had an excellent response when asked about keeping them.

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The Better Man (A Silver Buckle Romance Series) by Laurie Lewis – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Better Man (Silver Buckle Brides, #2)The Better Man by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Better Man is another case of don’t judge a book by it’s cover. I debated for a while on whether I wanted to read this book. The description sounded good, but the cover reminds me of western romance books- which I am not a fan of. Overall, I really liked the book. There is a chapter in the second half that got a little too “God-ly” for me, but I enjoyed it. It is a little unclear if its book 1 or 2, because A has it listed as both…. but either way, I would read the other in the series. The story focuses on Laramee and Jamie as they work on Laramee’s family ranch for a week. Her parents are debating selling or keeping it, and have hired Jamie’s firm to do the evaluation and estimate. The story has some ups and downs, and both main characters have some high emotion pasts. We slowly learn more about them, as they are getting to know each other. I love their characters and enjoyed the ended (even though I saw it coming from a mile away).

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Stop that Lion (Kingdom of Mir Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace (Kingdom of Mir)Stop That Lion: A Tale of Friendship Love and Peace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stop That Lion is a good story for little kids. I read it with my 8 year old, and he enjoyed it, but i would say his age is the limit. My favorite was when I read the last page and looked over at him, and he was smiling and said she’s smart! The book is a take on the Lion and the Lamb story. There are two kingdoms side by side. One kingdom has sheep and the other has a lion. The lion keeps crossing over, and eating the sheep. The king asks for solutions to the problem, with the stipulation the solution must be fair. Several people fail, and then Winnie approaches the king with her solution. Initially, she is disregarded because she is a little girl, but she presents her case, and the king allows her to try. This teaches us that you sometimes need to rely on others when you’re in need, and should listen to all, without judgment. The illustrations are bright and colorful and aided the story along.

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Stars in the City (Stars in the City Series) by Krysten Lindsay Hager – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Stars in the CityStars in the City by Krysten Lindsay Hager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stars in the City is the first book of the series, by the same name. The book is definitely geared toward a teen audience. It is full of teen drama- jealousy, self doubt, back stabbing, social media trolling, etc. While it did contain immature characters, it was nice to see them evolve over the course of the book. Valeria is an actress, on a soap opera. She has some friends on the show, as well as frenemies. I really loved her relationship with Gloria, who is a bit of a role model for her. She is struggling with self doubt on the show, while having to navigate working alongside a co-star ex boyfriend. She is reconnecting with her high school boyfriend, who is a bit of a celebrity himself. He is a college basketball up and coming. They have a lot of unresolved feelings, and must learn to communicate effectively and trust each other, if they want to have another go at their relationship. The ending was a little abrupt, but the author stated their story will continue in book 2. This book wasn’t one of my favorites, but I did enjoy it, and would read the 2nd book to see how it all wraps up. I think teen girl readers would love the book.

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Fay’s Kindness Parade (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Fay's Kindness Parade (The Adventures of Cray)Fay’s Kindness Parade by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fay’s Kindness Parade is another great book in the Adventures of Cray series. Each character headlines their own book, but the characters/friends overlap. This is the story of Fay the sea turtle migrating, but first, she needs to help get her friends We get to meet so many animals and learn about troubles they may have. I love that the book teaches kids in a fun way. The characters are adorable, and the illustrations are spot on.. They are super fun and colorful. The story rhymes which always adds an extra touch.

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Queen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Queen of the FairiesQueen of the Fairies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Queen of the Fairies is a fun, magical book for young readers. It would be a good beginner reader for those just learning to read. The illustrations are colorful and bright and assist the story. My son and I read a lot of this author’s books, and we are big fans. After the twist at the end, we had to go back and re-read it with a new mindset. My son thought of ways the “bad” fairies might behave, and what the queen might do next. It kept him engaged and talking after, which I love.

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Mermaid Tails by Suzanna Lynn – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Mermaid TailsMermaid Tails by Suzanna Lynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mermaid Tails is a unique book with wonderful illustrations. They are colorful and creative. My 8 year old read this book to me, and we both enjoyed it. It is weirdly written… with the story in large font, and the bottom of each page has fun facts about marine life that are illustrated on that page. This made the book somewhat awkward to read… but we did learn a lot from it. I really love that each mermaid is drawn to resemble the animal on that page.

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Make Me Burn (North Fork Series) by Alicia Street – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Make Me Burn (North Fork Series Book 9)Make Me Burn by Alicia Street

Make Me Burn is the 9th book in the North Fork series, but the only one I have read. I didn’t even know it was part of a series, but now that I know, that kinda make sense… It had a good story line, with some hot and heavy scenes. Jinx had the biggest crush growing up, on her brother’s best friend Logan. He spent so much time at the house, he felt like part of the family, and they developed a special bond. The boys had a falling out and Logan disappeared from her life. But years later they ran into each other at a wedding. It was like no time passed at all. Jinx was hit with all those memories and feelings. The biggest problem, Jinx’s family hates Logan. So they need to try to navigate their relationship carefully, and figure out a way for Logan to be accepted into the family again, hopefully in a new way this time. I didn’t love the intensity of the steamy scenes (not my thing…), but enjoyed this book and would read more of the series.

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book) by MJ Murray – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate (A Youth Sleuths Chapter Book Series 2)Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate by M.J. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Detective Dylan and the Hunt for Home Plate is the 2nd book in the Youth Sleuths series, but the first one I ready. Dylan has recently gotten his junior detective kit, and is ready to solve another mystery. He shows up for baseball practice, and discovers someone stole the bases! He and his sister Emily, and their dog set out to solve the mystery of the missing bases!
Dylan is a really good big brother to Emily. Not sure the ages, but old enough to explore and go to the park on their own with their dog. The bullies of the book are 4th graders, so i imagine younger than that. The book has underlying lessons for the readers, when Emily learns she can do new things, as long as she doesn’t give up. It is a cute beginner chapter book. There are 10 short chapters, making it good for middle to late elementary school. My 2nd grader didn’t have enough attention span, but I enjoyed it. The accompanying illustrations are good and assist the story- helping new readers visualize the characters and the events.

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Finders Keepers, Cowboy (Match Made in Montana Series) by Rachelle Paige Campbell – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Finders Keepers, Cowboy (Match Made in Montana #1)Finders Keepers, Cowboy by Rachelle Paige Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finders Keepers Cowboy is a cute, clean romance. It was no surprise how it ended, but I still enjoyed the story along the way. Meg and Ryan have known each other practically their whole lives. Their family properties are next to each other, and Meg’s mom and Ryan’s grandfather are close friends. We get the feeling early on they dislike each other. However, we soon learn their irritations are masking deeper feelings. I like the characters, as each was strong and independent. Hank is a great addition and I love his character. The supporting characters were developed enough to feed into sequels, and I hope that is the direction the author is heading. We need to see what happens at Frontier Days and with the herd, decking and Hank’s big birthday bash. The last chapter was a little cheesy but wrapped things up nice enough.

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The Glow in Loretta’s Garden (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Glow in Loretta's Garden (Loretta's Insects)The Glow in Loretta’s Garden by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Glow in Loretta’s Garden was a cute and educational story. I have read a couple of the stories in the series, and this was my favorite. My son learned about fireflies in school recently, so he enjoyed reading more about them. I learned a lot, but some of the information he already knew. He got really excited that it was accurate- he told me about the male and females and where they hang out, and then right after, it was on the next page. We liked the lesson after the story concluded, educating us more on the bugs. This book is great for elementary aged and worked as a great supplement to the lesson. I plan to tell his teacher about it for next year!

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Charming Chapter (Boomer Babes Book Club Romances) by Lori Haas – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Charming Chapter : A Later-in-Life Just Kisses Romance (Boomer Babes Book Club Romances 1)Charming Chapter : A Later-in-Life Just Kisses Romance by Lori Haas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Charming Chapter was a cute story with a happy ending. I love that it wasn’t the typical young characters, but multi generational. Laura, the main character, has just turned 60 and has decided to travel to England to investigate her ancestors roots. She meets Hugh and they hit it off right away. The book is full of all kinds of important messages- Follow your dreams, listen to your heart, don’t be afraid to start over or fall in love again. The advice Laura gives her daughter is perfect and so spot on! I will look forward to reading more if this series continues.

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Shadowed Deception: A Psychological Suspense Thriller (Shadow Defense Security Series) by Mavery Ellscott – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Shadowed Deception: A Psychological Suspense Thriller (Shadow Defense Security Book 3)Shadowed Deception: A Psychological Suspense Thriller by Mavery Ellscott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shadowed Deception is the 3rd book in the Shadow Defense Security series, but the first I read. It was enjoyed without background knowledge but I could sense Drake and Finlay had a bit of a past that played into their behavior and attitude toward each other. The author did a good job providing enough information so I wasn’t frustrated or felt like I was missing anything.
The book has a good balance, being mostly mystery and investigative work, and a handful of romance scenes. I felt like there was quite a bit of a hanging to the ending. While it wrapped up the feelings between Drake and Finlay, the whole case they are investigating is still open and wasn’t all resolved. I hope it continues in another book, because if this is how the author planned to end things, I’m not thrilled.

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The Hidden Present (Invisible Magic Wand) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Hidden Present (Invisible Magic Wand)The Hidden Present by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Hidden Present is part of the Invisible Magic Wand collection/series. They are all independent stories about Caspian and his Grandpa. Caspian always gets special gifts for his un-birthday from his grandpa. But this year, it wasn’t just left out in the open, he had to go on a bit of a scavenger hunt to find it. My 7 year old son read it to me, and it is a fun story. We both enjoyed it, and look forward to more books from the author and illustrator.

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The Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Missing Red EnvelopesThe Missing Red Envelopes by Yobe Qiu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Missing Red Envelopes is a good starter chapter book for 10-12ish year olds. I got the book for my 8 year old, since it says 7-12 but it was too much for him to read solo. I read it to him, however, and he really enjoyed the book. He just finished a lesson on Chinese culture in school, so he knew all about the Lunar New Year and red envelopes. The story follows two sisters, Weina and Lorie through their new year. They receive lucky envelopes from friends and family, each filled with money, trinkets or chocolates. They have been saving their money up to buy a special gift, but they misplace them. They recount their day, retracing their steps, hoping to remember where it was left. We learn a bit about the culture, special meals, and traditions surrounding this Asian American holiday. My son was disappointed with the ending, and is hoping for a follow-up book to answer all his questions. Typical of starting chapter books, there is a illustration every chapter or so, to help the readers visualize the story.

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Murder At Music Hall (True North Murder Mystery Book 1) by A. J. Ullman – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Murder At Music Hall (A True North Murder Mystery Book 1)Murder At Music Hall by A. J. Ullman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Murder at Music Hall is a good start to a new series, which I intend to continue reading. It takes place in Ohio in the the 1960s, which I was kind of surprised by. It was well written and I was happy to not figure it out. We follow Trueman North, a retired homicide detective as he re-investigates a murder. There was someone convicted, but the victim’s father doesn’t believe he was the real killer. He hires True to investigate and we follow along as he digs up all the dirt. We expect the victim to be a high class upstanding citizen, since he is a member of the orchestra, and comes from a rich family. But as True investigates further, he uncovers a tainted history. There are a slew of people who may want him dead, but True is left to find the killer. The book had a good level of suspense that kept me engaged, and I look forward to more in the series.

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Fuller Sight by John Stone – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Fuller SightFuller Sight by John Stone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fuller Sight is not the type of book I would normally read, but I really enjoyed it. It starts as the story of Danny, a teenager with a rough life. A tragic day is a huge turning point in a downward spiral that results in his death. But that’s just the beginning of the book. Danny is greeted in the after life by his mother who acts as his guide through the rest of the story. We follow along as they review the events leading up to and through the end of his life. Then the story introduces the idea of previous lifetimes. That was well done and I love how the author connects all the characters throughout time. He even threw in a little real history which was nicely done. I was most happy that the book was easy to follow. Often these type of books get twisted with the timelines and become convoluted.

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Hay Goes Home (The Adventures of Cray)Hay Goes Home by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hay Goes Home is another cute story from the Adventures of Cray series. It’s Hay’s mom’s birthday and he is bringing Cray home for her party. They meet a lot of other animals in the forest along the way. The illustrations are adorable. My 8 year old easily read it to me, but had some questions on the big words on the last page (affirmations, imperfection). The book is filled with positive messages, such as asking for help is okay, and encourage kids to be brave. These books are great for preschool and young elementary kiddos.

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Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Beach Ball Blunder (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay)Beach Ball Blunder by G Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Beach Ball Blunder is a cute children’s story. My son enjoys the rhyming books and all the animal characters. He likes that each character in the collection has their own book, but reappear in the others from the author. The illustrations are amazing and so colorful. This story is probably my favorite, since the message is so important and one that every kiddo needs to learn how to handle- being honest with your friends and seeing how a lie can quickly get out of control.

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Treasure Hunt (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Treasure HuntTreasure Hunt by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Treasure hunt is another fun book on the Grandma’s Closet series. Carrie opened the Dowse box from Grandma’s Closet. These boxes are always filled with fun and magical things, however, these just look like sticks. But, turns out they are magical sticks called dowsing rods, which Carrie takes around her house and yard. We had fun looking for the white cat in many of the pictures. My son says he needs the next book to find out what’s in the box from Grandma. These books are very colorful and magical.

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Magic Wanda (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Magic Wanda (Grandma's Closet Book 3)Magic Wanda by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Magic Wanda is another book in the Grandma’s Closet series, and I read it with my 8 year old. We are big dans of this author, but this book was not our favorite. It required the stretching of imagination a little further than my son has, so perhaps for younger readers. Carrie’s Grandma no longer lives with them, but has a closet full of goodies. Carrie often goes into the closet when she is missing her Grandma. This time she found a box of “Wandas” – magic wands. She takes these Wandas on magical adventures around her house and yard, having them transform into various things. The illustrations are always colorful and engaging.

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Vacation Flirtation…or More? (Winter Getaway Romance Series) by Stacey Komosinski – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Vacation Flirtation...or More? (Winter Getaway Romance Book 1)Vacation Flirtation…or More? by Stacey Komosinski
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vacation Flirtation…Or More? Was a fun quick read. I liked the storyline and how much we got to know each of the characters in such a short time (the book is less than 200 pages, and takes place across less than a week). I am happy to see there is a 2nd book coming, because it was fun to read. The characters are well written. Landon is filthy rich, but is down to earth. He spends money on Giuliana, but isn’t overly flashy or cocky with it. I like that Giuliana is a educated woman, with a great job. The steamy scenes are mild and not overly described which I prefer. I like when the book focuses more on the plot and development of the characters and their relationship.

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Delayed Redemption (The DAG Team Series) by Kel O’Connor – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Delayed Redemption: DAG Team Series: Book 3 of 4 Special Ops Romantic SuspenseDelayed Redemption: DAG Team Series: Book 3 of 4 Special Ops Romantic Suspense by Kel O’Connor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Delayed Redemption is the 3rd book in the DAG Team series, but the first one I read. While it mostly can be enjoyed as a stand alone, I was a little disappointed that “DAG” was not identified til almost 3/4 of the way through the book. I tried googling it so many ways, and still couldn’t figure out what it was. I clearly didn’t read the last line of the summary- “this is a steamy romance for readers 18+” That is a very true statement. I liked the plot of the book, but thought the romance was a little over done for my liking, and more than I expected based on the cover and the summary. The book has a good story line and good amount of suspense and danger. The friendships Mateo has with his DAG team is solid and a good family for him. I liked that Janey had moments of bravery and strength, not always being a timid girl of her youth. I want to go back and read book one of the series, since I really liked Kit.

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Curse of the Forbidden Island by C.A. King – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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Curse of Forbidden IslandCurse of Forbidden Island by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Curse of the Forbidden Island isn’t what I expected. The cover art is what drew me in, I didn’t really know what the story was about, but I’ve read others by this author that I liked. The author is great with words, painting a picture with them. This was a good book, with a unique story line. It is very short- I read it in one sitting, but it is satisfactory, and wraps up as a full story. We get to know the history of the island, it’s curse and the reason for the masks. It was a little more…. graphic, and steamy than I expected- but that warning is in the synopsis.

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The Other Side of Together by Emily Cox and Nicole Allen – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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The Other Side of TogetherThe Other Side of Together by Emily Cox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am so NOT okay with that ending. Seriously?! I was not prepared for a cliff hanger. There better be a followup book! I loved The Other Side of Together, and did not want to put it down. However, it did turn a little deeper than I expected. In the beginning I was talking it up to my 14 year old, saying how I thought she would love it. But now I’m second guessing because it was not the light-hearted teen love story I expected. Mei Li and Marcus develop a strong bond, very quickly. They are practically neighbors, but grew up totally different lives. Mei Li feels obligated to make choices, to keep her family safe. But perhaps her parents don’t even want the same things for her, we don’t know the whole story yet. I knew Nick was a bad guy, but it went beyond what I expected. And now I want to know how everyone else is involved. Not so patiently awaiting a continued story….

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A New Day for Cray (The Adventures of Cray Series) by G Pa Rhymes – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

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A New Day For Cray (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay)A New Day For Cray by G. Pa Rhymes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A New Day for Cray is the 2nd book I’ve read with my 7 year old in this series (The Adventures of Cray on the Bay). Cray is a mean little crab at the start of this book! He pinches all his friends, and they do not like it. I’m glad he had a transformation and learned his lesson- and taught a lesson to all the young readers regarding friendship and kindness. All his friends names rhyme, which my son thought was cool. We have Fay (turtle), Ray (seagull) and Hay (fox). The illustrations in this book are lovely; so fun and colorful. After reading this book, we had to do some research on crabs loosing their claws. Then went back to the other Cray book we read (Cray Saves the Day), to see if he had 2 claws in that story. I love this series and my son can’t wait to read the rest.

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