Posts
What Loretta’s Katydid Did (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jamie Burns
What Loretta’s Katydid Did By Lois Wickstrom is a great book to spark an interest in trees and insects. Loretta’s grandmother comes into town to visit her and gives her an orange tree. Loretta notices various insects on the orange tree which might not be healthy for her tree. However, she leaves the insects on the trees and begins to witness the insect food chain as other insects are attracted to the tree. This is a great book to help children learn that not all insects are bad, most insects have a big job to help take care of the ecosystem. I know most kids do not like spiders, but this story includes one that eats insects that were on the tree. This can spark a great conversation about not always liking insects but knowing that they have an important job. This book would be a great introduction to food chains or to introduce the concept of a science fair. Wickstrom does a fantastic job of integrating science into her books.
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jamie Burns
The Empty Box is the first book in the Invisible Magic Wand series by Lois Wickstrom. It is February 14th, which is Caspian’s Un-Birthday. Each year like clockwork, his grandpa gives him a silly present. Only this year, there is NOTHING in the box… Or at least that is what he thinks at first until his grandpa tells him about his present- an invisible wand that allows him to control time. The wand can be used to speed up time or to slow time down. Wickstrom creates a fascinating magical power for the wand which I would not mind using myself. I can just see children using their imaginations to try to use their own invisible wand. I know that I would have taken the idea of a time-controlling wand and let my imagination run wild when I was little. If you know a child or adult who loves magic and using their imagination, they would love this book!
To find out how Caspin will use his wand, read The Empty Box today!
Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes
saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hansel and Gretel are on a picnic in the woods with their dad when they hear a tapping sound coming from nearby. Their dad tells them not to go far because there is a witch living in the woods nearby. He goes on to explain to Hansel and Gretel that the witch wants to enter the most beautiful house contest. Hansel and Gretel go off to explore where the sound is coming from and discover that it is only from a woodpecker. They try to return back to their picnic but now they are lost. As they wander through the woods, they stumble upon a gingerbread house with animals eating it. When they decide to start nibbling on the gingerbread house as well an old lady comes out and tells them to stop. Have the children ruined her chance to have the most beautiful house?
This was a cute, toned down version of Hansel and Gretel and I really enjoyed it. I loved that the children were on a picnic in the woods with their dad and exploring nature. It was definitely not as scary as the version I recall hearing as a child. The characters were wholesome and both Hansel and Gretel were typical, inquisitive children who needed to discover for themselves where a strange sound was coming from. The witch in this tale was only wanting to be rewarded for her hard work of making her house beautiful. Another fantastic story by this author with beautiful illustrations that really bring the story to life.
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tanya Wall, March 2023
Chicken Little Investigates: a science folktale by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We all remember the story of Chicken Little from our childhood. This is a story that follows the same pattern but has a bit of a different take. Chicken Little gets hit in the head by a fallen acorn. Once he investigates what hit him, he shares his news with several of his friends. They all test out the theory with something of thier own idea. Together they head to see the King to find a name for their theory. On they way, they meet up with a fiesty old fox who tricks them into coming to his house to be a bit to heat. Luckily for them, they are ingenious and use their clever brains to outsmart the fox and get to the King’s palace. This is a cute story, with great illustrations to make a good read aloud for small children!
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Sharon Funkhouser
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This sweet story of an un-birthday tradition between a little boy and his beloved Grandpa teaches little ones the importance of savoring time (and cake!). The whimsical illustrations contribute to the illusion of using what was initially a disappointing un-birthday present (a seemingly empty box) to learning how to wield the power of his “magic wand” (or, his imagination).
Very sweet story!
What Loretta’s Katydid Did ( Loretta’s Insects ) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Caralee Loonat
What Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well once again I have come across a great book for children. I have read a fair few of this author’s works and this was yet again a great one. I love how she is able to get the kids attention and create a world where they are not just reading but learning. The author does a great job of making a good environment and story for children. I just wish my children were younger. I truly highly recommend these books from this author.
Reviewed by @caraleeloonat
View all my reviews)
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Heather Goodman
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is such a cute book. It’s got a great meaning behind it too. You just have to believe in yourself. The graphics are wonderful and the story is inspiring.
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Shea Gilkerson 3/20/23
Chicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lois Wickstrom does it again! Imagine your typical “Chicken Little” story with a little investigation thrown in. Instead of running around yelling about the sky falling when an acorn lands on his head, Chicken Little decides to do an experiment.
Same old favorite with lots of fun improvements thrown in to help lead curious young minds. A new family favorite!
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Cindy Rushin
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a very cute book. This author writes really nice children’s books. This series about Caspian and his grandfather is full of fun and makes good use of a child’s imagination. I highly recommend this author and this series to anyone with young kids. I think they will enjoy this book and hopefully it will inspire them to continue reading.
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Trista Priest
Chicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love the original chicken little and this was a cute little version with a spin of science. Chicken Little and his friends investigate what different sounds different options make when they hit the ground. Entertaining children’s book with great illustrations.
Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dr. Anya Schultz
saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an interesting story. Saving the Gingerbread House is a weird play on the original story of Hansel and Gretel. In this story, Hansel and Gretel are out for a picnic with their dad. They are careful while having a picnic because there are rumors about a witch who has a cauldron, who might kidnap children, who might eat children, etc. The kids hear a sound and go running away from the picnic and get lost, but they come upon a gingerbread house. They start to eat the house, along with the forest animals, and the woman who lives there is mad because she is trying to win a beautiful house contest. She forces the kids to help fix the house. Gretel tells the woman her dad will worry and had to go find him, but she keeps going down the wrong path. Finally, she finds her dad, brings him back to the house, and the woman wins the contest. In the end, the question is “was the woman a witch?” I did not really understand the point of the book, especially the ending. Normally this author has a learning point of view and I am not really sure what the message was here. I am sure kids may like this book because there is a cool candy house, but as a parent wasn’t my favorite.
The Empty Box: Invisible Magic Wand by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
February 14th has rolled around again and Caspian is just waking up, he is as excited as always to see what this years Unbirthday present from his Grandpa is, but when he opens the box and finds that it is empty, he is more than a little disappointed. When he goes down to breakfast, he is still a little sad, but when his Grandpa asks if he liked his Invisible Magic Wand, Caspian is confused, that is until his Grandpa explains how to use it.
When he has done this, Caspian’s Grandpa tells him that he can use it to either speed up, or slow down time, so what adventures will Caspian go on with his invisible Magic wand today and can it grant his wish to win a basketball game? This is another lovely addition to this series of whimsical books, where magic is real and anything is possible on an Unbirthday!
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Saving the Gingerbread House: A Science Folktale by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hansel and Gretel are having a picnic in the woods, but when they hear a mysterious knocking sound, they hurry off to investigate it and when they find the source, Gretel is amazed to see a woodpecker and is determined to add a sketch of it to her book, but when she does, neither her of Hansel can remember how to get back to their picnic area.
As they search for their way back, they talk about the rumour they had heard about the witch who wants to enter the Beautiful House Contest, but they cannot believe it, so when they smell gingerbread in the air, they decide to go on another mini adventure to see where it is coming from, this is where they see a lot of animals and birds nibbling what looks like a gingerbread house.
As they are admiring the house and tasting it at the same time, they are confronted by the house’s owner who is annoyed at them and the animals for eating their handiwork, but is it the witch and what will happen to them all now, can she still win the contest? This is a charming retelling of a classic fairy-tale with a twist and a lesson in morality which all ages will enjoy.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Anantha Rusum
saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a very nice twist to the original fairy tale. I picked this book because my son’s friends did a retelling of the fairy tale in a competition, where the witch becomes a vegan. It was a delight to read this book, where the kids reach the witch’s house and realize that she is wanting to win the most beautiful house award in a competition but because of animals and kids nibbling pieces of the house, she is in trouble. She then puts the kids to work.
I have read many books from Lois Wickstrom and it is always a delight to read them and cherish them.
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Megan Conley
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s Caspian’s UnBirthday again and Grandpa has surprised him with another magical UnBirthday gift. But this time Caspian’s gift box is empty! Did Grandpa forget? Follow Caspian on this magical adventure as Grandpa teaches him how to use his UnBirthday gift.
I love the illustrations in Wickstrom’s books and she’s able to always teach the readers a lesson in her own unique way.
Reviewed by @meggs1717
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Rayne East
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Imaginative children’s book
This cute children’s picture story book is the first in the Invisible Magic Wand series. We meet Caspian on his unbirthday as his grandpa gives him his ‘silly’ present. This year is different. What follows is a fun, magical adventure. The book has brilliant illustrations which capture key moments and is easy to read. This would be a great addition to any home library.
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Nina Maes
Lovable stories! These books are fully of imagination and trust. I love how this book has family traditions, that are being shared. Full of dream and hopes and fun, characters and stories are equally great. I recommend this book to everyone who loves to read.
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lovable stories! These books are fully of imagination and trust. I love how this book has family traditions, that are being shared. Full of dream and hopes and fun, characters and stories are equally great. I recommend this book to everyone who loves to read.
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Nina Maes
This story was great full of teamwork and friendships. Investigation to the end, lots of meeting friends along the way. I am a big fan of this author and love sharing her books with family and friends. I recommend this to all readers, young and old alike.
Chicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This story was great full of teamwork and friendships. Investigation to the end, lots of meeting friends along the way. I am a big fan of this author and love sharing her books with family and friends. I recommend this to all readers, young and old alike.
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Every year on Caspian’s Unbirthday his Grandpa puts his present under his bed. This year Caspian finds an empty box as his present and is disappointed. Then Grandpa tells him that inside the box is an invisible magic wand that will only work when he names it. Once Caspian learns how to use his invisible magic wand he is able to control time. If he wants something to go quickly, he is able to speed time up. If he wants to enjoy something longer Caspian can slow time down and stretch it out. This comes in handy when Caspian wants to make the school day go by faster, or when he wants to really enjoy eating his favorite dessert.
This was another wonderful book by this author who has once again written a super cute and fun book for children. I loved the idea of an invisible magic wand and being able to speed up or slow down time. If I had an invisible magic wand when I was in school I would have done the same as Caspian and sped up the school day so that it went by faster. Caspian has a lot of great adventures with his invisible magic wand both at school and at home. The story was entertaining, and the illustrations really brought the story to life. A cute story for children of all ages.
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Kelli Harper
Chicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Lois Wickstrom is really good at writing children’s books, and this one is no different, the only thing I didn’t care for was that the first couple pages were from another story. Even the names of the animal characters was the same. This book however is cute and will be entertaining for children who may not be as familiar with the original Chicken Little story.
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Kerry Baker
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another family favourite in our household and I’m really not surprised that it is by the author. All of her books are so fun and engaging and this one is no exception. Both my kids enjoyed this book and, as usual, we have already read it multiple times. Another successful book and I look forward to the next.
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Amanda Gonzalez
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A cute adventure centering on a boy named Caspian and his grandfather. Every year, he gets a special gift from his grandfather on his Unbirthday that has special, magical properties. When Caspian gets what seems to be an empty box he soon discovers the gift within will not only change his special day but his life. I love how the book is easy to read and had such a fantastical aspect to it that leads the reader to expand their imagination! The illustrations are easy to follow and reflect the story as it takes place.
Saving the Gingerbread House by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Felicia Bates
saving the gingerbread house by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read Saving The Gingerbread House to my 6 year old daughter and she really enjoyed the story, declaring “it was the best book ever.”. My favorite part was all of the animals and illustrations, listing each of the birds by their actual type. My daughter liked that the animals nibbled at the gingerbread house. Overall, it was a sweet story that lightly illustrated accountability and helping others.
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Bobbi Wagner
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great children’s story by an author that makes her stories come to life with her writing skills. The pictures are interactive and help pull your children into the story. There is always a great meaning behind this author’s books. This book is no different. A story where a magic wand can control time. You don’t want to miss what happens with this wand. This is not my first book by this author but it is one of my favorites of this series. I highly recommend this children’s book.
Review by @bjwagner
The Empty Box (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Lorralei Hoerner
The Empty Box by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Cute story with our friend Caspian and his adventure of what present he will get on this Unbirthday from his grandfather.
When Caspian opens up his special box from his grandfather for his Unbirthday, he notices that his box is empty. What magic awaits for Caspian with his day and the time. Grandpa teaches Caspian all about time, does this magic help Caspian make a basket during his basketball game?
This is a good story, I love the magic of time…..and the story is enjoyable for any age. As an adult I wish I had a little magic of time :).
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Lorralei Hoerner
Chicken Little Investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love this author’s books and the story of Chicken Little and their friends was adorable and engaging with wonderful illustrations on each page.
The sky is falling!! Or at least that what Chicken Little feels when an acorn falls and causes a bump on their head. Chicken Little investigates with their friend Henny Penny other items when they fall what does happen. On the adventure and finding items to do their experiments, Chicken Little and Henny Penny also run into other friends to bring them into the investigations as well and the end result of them wanting to go to the King to find out what to call it?
Wonderful story, love the characters and this book can be enjoyed by all ages which is what I love. Just wonderful!
What Loretta’s Katydid Did (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Crain
What Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful watercolor illustrations support this cute story about a girl who completes her science fair project.
This book also serves as an introduction to garden pests, food webs, and basic scientific method. Loretta is a believable, realistic character that could easily be a real person. As an educator, I enjoyed how Loretta solves the scientific problem of what is happening to her orange tree.
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dawn Mitchell
Chicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great childrens book to show kids how to investigate what objects mke what sound when they are dropped. Also helps rhyming. The illustrations are beautiful an colorful. I do think the curved writing may be hard for some children an spelling errors shouldnt be in a childrens book.
Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tonya Merritt
Chicken Little investigates by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a fun little spin on the story of Chicken Little. Lois Wickstrom does not disappoint when writing children’s books. The text is written in a fun manner that engages the person reading and makes it exciting.
