5 Stars The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom
The Amanda Mini- Mysteries is a wonderful collection of science based mysteries that Amanda and Elaine set out to try and solve. My son and I loved reading this book and learning different things. He went and put his mystery solving hat on and was acting out as I read aloud. We never hesitate to pickup this author books. We’re huge fans. This is aimed at children ages 5-8 but I honestly think anyone can enjoy this book. We highly recommend reading this book and look forward to reading more from this Author
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Dawn Daughenbaughhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDawn Daughenbaugh2024-07-11 20:29:592024-09-26 13:52:32The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh
Rocky the Raccoon is scared because his family is going on a trip to a family reunion hosted by his family outside of the city he lives in. He’s nervous because he’s never been out of his hometown, and because he’s the only family member that’s never met the rest of the family. At first, Rocky feels left out and uncertain, but eventually, he is able to help his family and bonds with them. By the end of the trip, he almost doesn’t want to leave. This is a great book for young kids, especially those who are about to go on their first trip, or have a big change coming. The illustrations are cute and engaging, and the story is easy to follow.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Candice Esteshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCandice Estes2024-07-11 19:47:492024-09-26 13:52:13Raccoon Reunion by Terri Sabol – Review by Candice Estes
I love this book! It’s a series of 12 very short stories (1-2 pages each) about a particular problem that Amanda is facing. These problems are pretty common amongst people. At the end of each story, there is an explanation of why or why not the problem worked out the way Amanda was wanting it to. There are some pretty cool things explained!
I highly recommend this read, especially for those who are very curious about science and the body and the way everything works.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Julie Johnsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJulie Johnson2024-07-11 19:25:192024-09-26 13:52:05The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson
In this book we follow Gregory, his wife Jennifer and their puppy Robes Pierre on 3 mystery adventures. This chapter book is a good YA book for older grade school children and even middle schoolers. The adventures that happen are well written and detailed that you can use your imagination to make the story come “alive” in your mind. Each of the mysteries are well thought out and detailed to further the storyline from the first mystery. Even though there is no pictures in this book, it’s definitely one that can read to little ones or even helping out reading skills.
I think a lot of young people would enjoy this book. I really enjoyed how for each mini mystery was followed by an explanation as to why it didn’t work. I think many girls who love science and experimentation will have a blast trying to understand the different mysteries and finding out why they didn’t work. This author writes children books that are enjoyable to read and also have some opportunities to learn something new. I recommend this book to parents for their child who likes science.
This really is a fantastic series. This author bases her books on a special country with each one. This one is based on Greece with it’s traditions, mythology and fascinating history. Geared to tweens, the story is a fantasy journey full of adventure, drama and fantasy. I love the fact that she has an angel with her for her adventures. I absolutely enjoyed Theo and Artemis. I found the characters were perfect. I was intrigued with the topic around the ocean and diving. The story was so good that I finished it in one sitting. This really is a great book. It really opens up the country and makes you want to dive in and learn more. This is a series that you can read alone or in order. I do recommend that it is read in order so you know what she is referencing in past stories.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shelly Kittellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShelly Kittell2024-07-11 18:38:012024-09-01 06:35:03Tally and the Angel, The Sands of Time (Tally and the Angel Series) by Eleanor Dixon – Review by Shelly Kittell
Explore the wonders of science and mystery with this engaging children’s book series, designed for ages 7-10. Each story is crafted to encourage discussion and curiosity, offering answers to thought-provoking questions in a fun and captivating way. My young child always enjoys this author’s work.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angelahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela2024-07-11 18:29:532024-09-26 13:51:30The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Plate, July 2024
This is the fourth book in this series. It happened to be the first book I picked up. I love Greek Mythology and this book came across to read so I figure I would give it a shot. I do think that for the most part, there is enough retelling of the back story so that you are not lost while reading. You can understand what is going on. I do believe it would be better to have read the previous books in my opinion. With that being said, I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect middle grade story. I liked it enough to want to read the first three in the series. This time, reading with my 7 year old. I think he would really enjoy this series. If your child is a fan of Greek Mythology, I suggest getting it for them. From what I have read about the other books, they deal with other mythologies. I love Tally, the main character. I think she was very well written. I love the adventure and drama included in this story. As well as the decisions that Tally has to make and how she handles them. While the story is based in mythology, the feelings are very real and I think kids will relate to them in a way.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Crystal Brehanthttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCrystal Brehant2024-07-11 17:31:512024-09-26 13:51:17Tally and the Angel, The Sands of Time (Tally and the Angel Series) by Eleanor Dixon – Review by Crystal Brehant
I have read several books by Lois Wickstrom and she never seems to disappoint. She truly amazes me with each book. I love how all her books educate kids with the storyline. They may not know they are learning something in her books. My daughter said Amanda Mini Mysteries was her favorite so far. The world building and character building was good. This was a page turner for me.
This Lois Wickstrom book is super perfect if your little ones are Some curious little bumblebees. If they are always asking, why does this happen?What happens if you do this? I would highly recommend you get and read this book with them. This has several different fun facts/ what happens when short stories. It’ll also be fun to ask your little one what they thought like I did. I’d say it was a hit in our house. Always a great time reading this author. Can’t wait for more 🥰
The Orange Forest Rabbit Mysteries is a fun book with 3 little mysteries that can is for around ages 7-12 but can be enjoyed for the young at heart as well. Mysteries to solve and using sleuth skills come along with Gregory and his trusted pup companion, Robes Pierre.
Story 1 – The Mystery of the Missing Meteor Fields Carrots — Gregory, his wife along with pup Robes Pierre see a blue fireball that comes down onto the field. What comes out of this since it hits his fields of carrots….extra yummy carrots…. Story 2 – The Mystery of the Haunted Amusement Park — In Carrot World, the amusement park, there is something funny is going on with Gregory’s business and only he and his pup Robes Pierre can solve.. Story 3 – The Clue in the Airwhale Art – Gregory builds his own Orange Carrot Ship but there can be spies in the ship with Gregory…..is Gregory alone on his quest…or is there other beings too….
These are fun mystery stories. I really enjoyed them and highly recommend for anyone to give this book a whirl!
This book was adorable. Rocky the raccoon is nervous about going to the family reunion. He’s afraid he’s not going to be able to find something in common with them.
Love that this book teaches kids to face their fears because sometimes things end up better than we ever think they could be.
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom is a book that teaches children in an age-appropriate way about different scientific processes. The lessons are tried out and pondered upon by Amanda and her friend Elaine. Children then get an explanation of what went wrong and what would help. There are a variety of lessons and kids can try them out or learn why they would not be able to do them. The illustrations are fun, they remind me of illustrations from older books and newspapers. This is a good way to get children excited about science.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00La Toya Lewishttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLa Toya Lewis2024-07-10 15:34:322024-09-26 13:53:36The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by La Toya Lewis
The Amanda Mini-Mysteries is a good idea, but not well delivered in my opinion. There are two girls, Amanda and Elaine, who discuss various “mysteries” and try to understand the science behind them. The situations are each too short and abrupt to really be stories at all. Then after each story is laid out, there is a page that explains the science behind it. I think the stories needed to be each their own book within a collection, or written in more of a non-fiction type way. With the situations being Did you every wonder why …..? Well, this is why….. As is, its a little choppy and doesn’t flow well. It also seems to be geared toward young children, but has a lot of words the readers likely wouldn’t understand- tincture, iodine, magnetic field, molecules, etc. The stories need to be spread out, and with more pictures to appeal to younger audiences. My 8 year old had very little interest- some of the experiments/mysteries he liked more than others.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Elizabeth Sanchezhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngElizabeth Sanchez2024-07-10 13:19:022024-09-26 13:53:21The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez
This is a great chapter book for 8-11 year olds. It is a collectionof short stories that give you everything from humor, suspense, and adventure. It will keep your childs attention with all the plot twists an turns.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Dawn Mitchellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDawn Mitchell2024-07-10 04:56:202024-09-26 12:02:01Orange Forest Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom and Lucrecia Darling – Review by Dawn Mitchell
Once again this author has impressed me. In this story Amanda and Elaine take us on a different type of mystery. Not who did it? But why is it? Such a fun unexpected story from a child’s perspective. I love that this story answers questions like Why does my blood look blue through my skin, but red when it comes out? So many other questions will be answered in this fast paced informative story. This author and her characters will be fun to read and learn from. Everytime this author brings out a new story, I know it will be another five star read. I look forward to reading her next story. As I know it will be a must have for my child’s library.
Raccoon Reunion is a cute story about a Racoon learning about helping each other, challenges and utilizing everyone’s unique skills. The illustrations were adorable and the story was so cute. The message was easy to understand and didn’t drag on. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with young children.
I am a huge fan of Lois Wickstrom, as most probably already know if you’ve read any of my recent reviews. This book is a collection of 3 stories featuring the Orange Forest Rabbit and his dog, Robes Pierre. There is adventure, some sci-fi characteristics, fantasy and mystery spread over these three stories. This book is geared more towards older readers (ages 7-12) but younger ones would appreciate the stories being read to them. The first story is my favorite of them all!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Julie Johnsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJulie Johnson2024-07-08 19:18:152024-09-26 12:03:46Orange Forest Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom and Lucrecia Darling – Review by Julie Johnson
These stories are not what I expected at all. They are very entertaining and imaginative to make the stories more engaging to read. The characters are all very well put together. I love how there are moral values integrated into the story. Don’t just follow the crowd, do the right thing. Each one of the stories flows well and is easy to understand.
This is a fantastic chapter book for your mid to upper elementary kiddos. I really love how Wickstrom creates a whimsical world filled with mystery that kept me turning the pages! My youngest (8F) and I took turns reading this to each other and we couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen! We were definitely kept on our toes with these mysteries! I really liked the fact that we got 3 short stories in this book and that, as always, Wickstrom is able to weave learning and life lessons together seamlessly.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Megan Kimleyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMegan Kimley2024-07-08 15:49:482024-09-26 11:56:22Orange Forest Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom and Lucrecia Darling – Review by Megan Rea
As a family, we picked up this book expecting to be entertained and, as usual, the author did not disappoint! For us, this book was definitely all about the characters. They were so vivid and full of life, they pulled us into the story with ease. Their adventure was fun to read about. Both my kids found it funny that the carrots had gone missing and enjoyed watching as the Orange Forest Rabbit tried to solve his problem. This was a great story and another hit from this author.
This book is filled with little mini stories that are a mystery. From blue blood to rainbows, science has a way of tricking us into not always seeing what is really happening behind the scenes of unusual events. Amanda takes us on this journey while she figures the mystery out.
I really enjoyed this one. For me this had some nostalgia in the illustrations for this book. I liked that it made you think and try to solve the problem and then gave you a brief rundown of the science behind it. I think kids and adults will really enjoy this one.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Emily Heislerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngEmily Heisler2024-07-08 13:10:022024-09-26 11:52:52The Amanda Mini-Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Emily H
Raccoon Reunion was the bedtime book of choice and I will admit, it did not disappoint. It was the perfect length for bedtime routine. My daughter’s favorite part of the book was when the raccoons enjoyed a game of Marco Polo as she enjoyed reading “Marco, Polo, Polo” she explained to me. I thought the story and illustrations were really cute. I am someone that makes plans or dreads social settings only to realize it was exactly what I needed… I think that Rocky learned this as well. Raccoon Reunion was a really fun children’s book.
What a cute book! I the MC. He’s out to solve 3 mysteries. It’s a quick chapter read suited for mid-age children. It was a giggle fest when I read it with my grandson. We were eager to see what came next. We would love to see more.
While this is the fourth book in a series, it also can be read as a standalone. For fans of the Percy Jackson books, this one is similar and you’ll find yourself drawn into it and enjoying the storyline like I did. I’ll definitely be reading the other books in this series. It’s a great YA read for middle schoolers. Tally and her dad are vacationing in Greece. Tally makes a couple new friends and has an interesting adventure. There were some surprising twists I never thought to imagine! Definitely recommend this book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Karrie Searshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKarrie Sears2024-07-07 10:28:172024-09-26 11:53:32Tally and the Angel, The Sands of Time (Tally and the Angel Series) by Eleanor Dixon – Review by Karrie Sears
This book was such a great read. I read this with my 10 year old. She really enjoyed it. The pictures was colorful. The detailing was great. The world building and character was well thought of.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Melissa Finkhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMelissa Fink2024-07-07 06:04:252024-09-26 11:46:41The Puppy Adventures of Porter and Midge: Out and About (Porter and Midge Children’s Book Series) by Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada – Review by Melissa Fink
The Orange Forest Rabbit Mysteries by Lois Wickstrom is a great little children’s chapter book with 3 intriguing mysteries to unravel. Although aimed at 7- to 12-year-olds, the story isn’t accompanied by any illustrations at all, not even as chapter headers…. which may impact your child’s enjoyment of the story. It is a mystery adventure story with an animal cast, drama, humour, fun, spies, family, agendas, fantasy, and more. The book is broken into 3 mysteries, which make for pretty quick and easy reading. The mysteries are: -The Mystery of the Missing Meteor Field Carrots -The Mystery of the Haunted Amusement Park -The Clue in the Airwhale Art
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2024-07-06 23:19:282024-09-24 19:30:49The Orange Forest Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom and Lucrecia Darling – Review by Angela Hayes
Orange Forest Rabbit Mysteries contains three fun mysteries in one book. This adventure book is aimed for ages 7-12 years old. The intriguing stories are a mixture of mystery, sci fi and fantasy. Read along as Gregory tries to solve the mystery of missing carrots, people and tries to stop spies, secrets being revealed and intergalactic problems. The Mystery of the Missing Meteor Field Carrots, An Orange Forest Rabbit tale – Gregory and his wife Jennifer are rabbits and big business carrot farmers, it is the carrots that he got his name from. Along with Robes Pierre their dog and his trusty sniffer nose, Gregory turns super sleuths in this fun whodunnit mystery. What is different after mysterious blue fireball and black stones fell to earth? The Mystery of the Haunted Amusement Park – Gregory and Robes Pierre are on the case to find out what is going on at Carrot World. With spies and secrets everywhere, Gregory doesn’t know who to trust. Someone is trying to sabotage his business and that he will not allolw. Mystery of the Airwhale Art – Gregory loves his business and money has his name on it so selling his product to far away galaxies can only be good for him. However, he soon discovers they are not alone on the rocket ship. Not only that but he inadvertently causes problems with the ones he is meant to sell them too.
“The Carrots are Missing! The Customers are Missing, too!” by Lois June Wickstrom and Lucrecia Darling is a charming and entertaining mystery that will delight readers of all ages.
The story begins with a bang – literally – as a blue fireball crashes into the Orange Forest Rabbit’s beloved carrot field, setting off a chain reaction of events that will keep readers engaged until the very end. The protagonist, Orange Forest Rabbit, is a lovable and resourceful character who is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding his missing carrots and customers.
The book does an excellent job of creating a whimsical world that is full of colorful characters, from the mischievous family members to the enigmatic spy from Lucky Dog Carrots. The writing is engaging, with a perfect balance of humor, suspense, and adventure. The plot is cleverly woven, with twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end.
One of the standout features of this book is its ability to appeal to readers of all ages. The themes of entrepreneurship, family, and community are woven throughout the story, making it relatable and accessible to children. At the same time, the humor and wit will appeal to adults, making it a great read-aloud option for families.
The characters are well-developed and memorable, with Robes Pierre, the loyal puppy, being a particular standout. His keen sense of smell and loyalty to Orange Forest Rabbit make him a valuable ally in solving the mystery.
The only area for improvement is the pacing, which can be a bit slow in some sections. However, this is easily forgiven given the book’s overall charm and entertainment value.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Crainhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Crain2024-07-06 13:00:122024-09-26 11:49:20Orange Forest Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom and Lucrecia Darling – Review by Jennifer Crain
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