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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Deb Robinson

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really good book. The illustrations are very bright and vivid. My grandson loved Lucas. He asked so many questions wondering what Lucas did at night time when he was outside. All the different animals Lucas met made the story intriguing to a 3 year old. He was able to follow along. He loved that the girls used a spy camera like superheroes.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Shannen Kern

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very quick read and not one I would usually pick up, but I am glad that I did. I hadn’t heard of this author before, but I do enjoy the flow of this fictional story. I feel this was a great short read about the tearing of the veil and made easy to understand for anyone on any level of their religious journey. Samuel is a 13-year-old boy becoming a man and starting his training with a Jewish priest. They both witness an incredibly sacred moment of the veil ripping. It won’t take you long to get immersed and absorb this story, so pick it up and enjoy!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Angela Plate, November 2022

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My son says 50 out of 5 stars, it was that good! He really enjoyed the reading but also the interactions at the end. He wants more. It’s an easy read that strikes the imagination.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Allyson Ware

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This novel was not what I expected. Firstly, it took me an hour, maybe less, to read. It would probably take you longer to read the actual biblical version of the veil ripping than this novel will take you to read. Besides it being short, it was well written. With it being so short, I do not want to say too much because it is easy enough for you to pick up and read. It is also difficult to say anything without giving up the whole story.

The story is an interesting take on the story compared to the story in the Bible. If you believe you would enjoy something like that, this is the book for you. It really is short enough for anyone to read and enjoy.

Review by @aware

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Jamie Truex

Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children's Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities (Jake the Growling Dog)Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children’s Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cute little story about a family cat and his adventures at night. I like when children’s books have life lessons in them. My 4 year old granddaughter thought this book was funny and she enjoyed trying to find all the animals at the end. I really liked the extra stuff after the story that I can do with her another time.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Kerry Carr

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short Christian- fiction story based around the story of the tearing of the veil when Jesus died on the Cross. It is also a story of a young boy who becomes a man and then gets to witness God’s power and love first hand.

I personally haven’t read many bible stories so I wasn’t aware of the veil or meaning. I did however enjoy this story. It was easy to read and understand and there is a great sense of warmth and spiritual love that you feel by reading it.

It’s not something I would normally pick up but I did enjoy it.

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Stephanie Robb

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the perfect story for a 5-7 year old with a wonderful narrative and a happy rhyme. This story is accompanied by immersive illustrations.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Julie McComas

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love a good biblical fiction story, but this one just wasn’t what I expected. Not in a bad way though. It is well-written, inspirational, and an interesting take on this Bible story. If you are looking for a quick and easy read, then you will surely like this one. It made me want to go to my Bible and read Isaiah 53, and I did.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Desiree Ottinger

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Samuel completed his Jewish ceremony to become a man. As he reads from the scroll of Isaiah his is prayerful that Yahweh will use him. A Priest picks him to accompany him home and to learn about serving in the Temple. As he starts to learn the pattern of his days, it quickly changes when the man named Jesus is crucified. Could the prophecy that he read at his ceremony possibly be coming true?

I enjoyed this fictional writing as to what might have taken place the day of Christ’s crucifixion. This is a quick read that is appropriate for families. It could be used for good conversation starters with kids about what they think might have happened and how they would have responded if they were the ones in Samuel’s place. Highly recommend this book.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Kristin Boutelle

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Veil is a very quick and easy read. The story was written in a way that everyone can see how this miraculous event affected those who believe in Christ. There is always something new to learn about this story. I really enjoyed this story, it gave me some more insight about what went on in the story.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Tausha Treadway

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Veil by Wanda Luthman. I will admit I was hesitant to read this story because I’m very into my faith but it was such a unusual, good telling of a bible story I’m so glad I read it. Its a quick read that centers around the tearing of the veil in the bible that no one witnessed. In this story it begins with Samuel who is turning 13 and they are celebrating with a Bar Mitzvah. After he turns 13 he goes and studies under the Priest and while doing so they both witness the tearing of the veil. This read will inspire you, amaze you and cause you to not put this book down until its finished. I loved the fact that at the end of the book there is a prayer where you can accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. Very different read and I’m so glad I took the time to read it.

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Brandy Vaughn

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story starts out with a bar mitzvah celebration for Samuel who is turning 13. He then goes to study under a priest at the temple where he witnesses the tearing of the veil. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the story other than I thought it would be a longer read. I was intrigued by the part in the story when the veil is torn and Samuel experiences something supernatural! I would have liked the author to expand more on this part since it was a life changing event for Samuel. This is an enjoyable quick read for a younger audience who enjoys inspirational stories!
Review by @bilberrysweet

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucas the Spy Cat is a really cute imaginative children’s book. I read it to my 7 year old, and he loved it. The illustrations are beautiful and colorful. Lucas is a pet who goes outside at night, and his owners are suspecting what he might do. They have put a camera on his collar, to capture his night time adventures. There are several fun ideas, parties in the woods, taking on cases of escaping pets, and more. Then at the end, the owners review the video and are shocked by what they see!
I wish the owners were drawn a bit younger. We did love the creative rhyming the book is written in. My son loved the activities at the end, looking for Lucas’s friends, and completing the word search. He loved that the last page included a picture of the real Lucas.

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Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy

Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Codi Parham

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story reminds readers of all ages to believe in themselves and never stop dreaming. Every child has wondered what their pets get into when they roam. The story follows the adventures of Lucas on his evening excursions. Along with games, activities, and fun ideas for fostering creativity, this book leads to unlimited learning opportunities. What are you waiting for?

Lucas the Spy Cat, Jake the Growling Dog, Samantha Shannon, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Kids, Family, Educational

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Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Brandy Vaughn

Oliver: A Story about AdoptionOliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A story about adoption from a child’s view point. Nice illustrations. I like how in the book there’s a sentence taking about being related by “love and law,” which is an interesting way to describe adoption. The description isn’t one I would have thought to use! It would be nice to have some kind of phrase like the to describe birth parents. The book reads like poetry and the text is the right amount to keep kids engaged with the story. Oliver thinks about his birth parents the way a young child might fantasize in real life. I think this is a strong point of the plot. The explanation of why he was adopted from Oliver’s point of view show a health acceptance and is age appropriate. I would recommend this book for kids who have questions about adoption but not able to fully understand the situation in an adult way.
Review by: @bilberrysweet

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The Veil by Wanda Luthman – Review by Chrissy Spulak

The VeilThe Veil by Wanda Luthman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having grown up reading the Bible and being familiar with all the stories, I very much appreciated reading this book. It is a touching fiction story about the veil being ripped upon the death of Jesus. It is a fast read and could have been longer. It is well-written and immersive. I would love it if this author would do an entire series like this and tell a story of each event in the Bible. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good story from a different perspective.

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Oliver A Story About Adoption by Lois Wickstrom, Review by Torey Foster

Oliver: A Story about AdoptionOliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oliver is the story of a young boy who was adopted. After getting in trouble, he is angry at his parents which leads him to wonder about his birth parents and why they did’t keep him. He thinks about his life and what it could have been like had he not been adopted.
I think this is a wonderful story that helps validate feelings and work through emotions that kids might have in this situation. I have two children that are not mine biologically and I am glad to have a book to read to them that they can relate to and that might help them work through some of these feelings. My 7 year old is already starting to question why she doesn’t just have a normal family and is starting to feel a sense of rejection from her bio mom. It is important to validate those feelings while also making sure they know they are loved and help them work through it. This book is a great resource to help us do just that. While adopted children are the target audience, I think this book is beneficial for everyone, just to help us understand each other better, and help us be more empathetic to people in different situations. I definitely recommend this book.

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Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jamie Burns

Lois Wickstrom crafted a unique story about adoption and the anger children may face in its wake. While the children might be mad about other situations, this book could help them open up and talk to their parents about what is bothering them. Many children wonder about their birth family- what they are doing, why they had to be given up if they have siblings, and many more questions. Oliver ventures into what his life would be like if he was with his birth parents, but is reminded why he was adopted. This book would be a great way to speak to a child or children about what they are going through.

Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children’s Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children's Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities (Jake the Growling Dog)Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children’s Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities by Samantha Shannon

Lucas is a black cat who lives with his family in a cosy home with his sister, but his family suspect that Lucas is no ordinary cat, they think that he is a spy cat! He leaves at dusk with a goodbye meow and doesn’t come back home until morning breaks and he can snuggle down in his bed, so one night, the family decide to put a camera on his collar and find out just what he gets up to.

When Lucas come home the next day, his family are expecting him and his woodland friends to go on some wild adventures, solving neighbourhood mysteries, but what exactly will they find on Lucas’s spy cam? This is a wonderful children’s story which will spark the imagination of anyone who reads it, with an engaging story and fabulous illustrations, as well as fun surprises for the whole family inside, it is a great read which I one I would go back to again.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Kerry Baker

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a fun and cute story that I really enjoyed sharing with my children. It was really interesting to see how my youngest engaged with the pictures while my oldest engaged with the story. I loved the idea of the story. We all found it such an exciting idea and we ended up reading it multiple times.
This author clearly has a skill for creating fun and entertaining children’s stories. If all of her books are like this then I she will have a new set of fans with my family.

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Lucas the Spy Cat ( Jake the Growling Dog ) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Caralee Loonat

Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children's Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities (Jake the Growling Dog)Lucas the Spy Cat: A Children’s Mystery Adventure with Creativity & Imagination Boosting Activities by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish my children were younger so that I could share this book with them. I have read many of this author’s books and this one was another amazing book. I love how the author is able to engage the reader’s imagination. The author really does a wonderful job of creating the story and brining the characters to life. I think this a great book to have a younger reader read and heighten their imagination. I highly recommend this book and author. I believe this book is suitable for children aged between 5 and 9. As I previously said I just wish my children were younger.

Review by @caraleeloonat

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Shea Gilkerson 11/10/22

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucas the Spy Cat is a fun book based on the ideas his owners have about what he does when he leaves at night. There are plenty of silly, funny ideas and great illustrations of the local wildlife and Lucas.

It was fun building the suspense while going over all the suggestions his owners make about his nighttime travels, and Lucas is a very smart cat.

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Rachel Moss

Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was an interesting read. The story is centered around two siblings who are at opposites with each other on play and other things. Almost like an opposites story. There is a lessen that can be taught to young children from this story but I don’t think the story itself serves as a teaching lesson. It was an enjoyable read nonetheless and I would read it to my child in the future.

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Nichole Chrisman

Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a kids story about sibling rivavlry. The author sets it up to show a long standing fight between the brother and sister. It culminates with a beach visit where the brother thinks being the hero is better and the sister says it’s better to be the villain. The story concludes with the siblings building and destroying multiple sand castles in an epic hero/villain battle. Cute story!

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Anna Hirsch

Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
4 Stars

This is a cute and funny story about sibling rivalry. I’m an only child so I couldn’t relate to the two characters in the book but I had friends who were exactly like these two. I found it hilarious. Anything that one wanted, the other didn’t. One liked something, the other liked the opposite. It was a good example of how different people can be in the same family. Not only was the story entertaining but it had some nice illustrations as well. I think children between the ages of four and eight would enjoy this book best.

Review by @Anna Hirsch
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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Hayes

Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom is an illustrated children’s story aimed at children aged 4 to 8. Bear with me while I get my thoughts in order here as I have really wrestled with my thoughts and how to write my review of this book ever since I finished reading it. And looking at some of the other reviews, I also seem to be the only one here with any concerns. So, let me start by saying that I have read quite a few of Ms. Wickstrom’s storybooks now, and generally, love to share them with my grandchildren as well as giving them quite positive reviews. But this one has left me feeling quite conflicted, and isn’t one I am prepared to share with my grandchildren.
Now, how do I voice my opinion in a way that will make sense? Well, I guess I will just wing it and hope my thoughts come across clearly. First of all, I kind of understand what Ms. Wickstrom was trying to achieve with this book- I’m sure she was aiming for a bit of a silly/fun story about sibling rivalry and bonding through play. But unfortunately, it really didn’t come across that way, for me.
The story introduces us to Mira and Carl, siblings who seem to constantly bicker and fight. They never see eye to eye at all, and this story would have made more sense to me if there was some show of or example of conflict resolution- showing young ones how we can have differing opinions, choices, likes/dislikes (you get the picture)- without having to resort to fighting. It was quite draining and a little confronting following Mira and Carl and watching them squabble constantly. I kept thinking why aren’t their parents stepping in and ‘positively parenting’ them. Instead, these two get rewarded for their bad behaviour by being taken to the beach for an outing- where their squabbling just seems to escalate to a whole new destructive level. And again, the parent/s did nothing! I could have accepted the whole thing and understood if the parent HAD stepped in and explained bullying, or even mediated some conflict resolution, or the characters had come to an understanding on their own…. As this would have totally changed my opinion of the story and cast it in a way better light. But that was not the case. I know the author thought it was probably inferred, but with little kids, sometimes these complicated things need to be spelled out. There was no agreement between Mira and Carl through the story to say that they would ‘battle’ for the day. There was no coming to an understanding of it all between them. Yes, earlier they had said she was a villain, and he was a superhero, but I don’t think a young child would have necessarily picked up on that. I really felt for Carl, because Mira was quite nasty in her actions. He was being so creative and diligently building his sandcastles- and she was being violent and destructive. It just came across that Mira was intentionally bullying her brother by destroying everything he built- and bullying is not ok. And it is not ok to even hint to young, impressionable minds that bullying is ok. But, again, I must stress that knowing Ms. Wickstrom’s previous work, I am absolutely certain that this was not her intent- and again, I seem to be the only one with any issues what-so-ever, so you need to take that into perspective here too- and that’s probably part of the reason I am writing this review with a bit of a heavy heart. However, I strongly feel that this story could be interpreted the wrong way and send the wrong message. The fact that the parent/s sat back basically while the children fought and didn’t intervene at all, even when things took a violent turn, and with the bullying/fighting occurring over a lengthy period of time, does give the impression that fighting is ok. And it is not ok. I feel it is a toxic message to be sending our young ones. Yes, we all know that siblings fight, even the closest of siblings can have disagreements- and for me, I would want to use such instances as a teaching/learning moment, especially in (this) a children’s story, by explaining conflict resolution, compromise, the idea of agreeing to disagree, and giving anti-bullying/bullying prevention messages etc. This story could have been a great anti-bully/conflict resolution tool with just a little more thought/development, and I am disappointed for the author that it isn’t. Even one of the pictures shows Mira with a slingshot and rocks ready to take aim at one of Carl’s sandcastles- on a CROWDED beach- and the parents did nothing! Someone could have been severely injured. A slingshot isn’t a ‘toy’- let alone to take to a crowded beach. Let alone to condone firing rocks with it???? Or am I being a little too protective. These things should be used under adult supervision, in a controlled environment- not by a little girl on a crowded beach, firing rocks willy-nilly. Just my opinion though.
I know that Mira and Carl seemed to be ok with it all in the end- but it has sat badly with me. This is not the review I would have wanted to give Ms. Wickstrom, as I said, she has some truly wonderful children’s stories to her name- but I really feel strongly about nurturing young minds in a more positive way and I feel the ‘messages’ in this book could be misconstrued. Yes, conflict is inevitable, but shouldn’t we be teaching our children the right way to handle conflict and disagreements?
I am not writing this review with the intent of insulting the author, as I know she puts her heart and soul into her work. I just felt that this book could send the wrong message… that’s all.
I hope this makes sense…
I have rated this book 3 stars, even though I had issues with it, as I know how much heart and soul this author puts into her work…
Sorry, Ms. Wickstrom, and please don’t hate me for this review- I really did want to love this book as much as your others 💕

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Candice Estes

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was very cute for kids to read. Lucas is a cat that wanders off every night, and wanders back every morning. One day, the children of his owners’ family decide to attach a camera to his collar to see where he goes at night. With much childlike speculation, the children go to sleep hoping to find out that their cat goes out and is a spy or does other interesting things. This book shows that sometimes imagination is better than reality. My girls, ages 8 and 9, found this book interesting to read, as well.

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Dawn Daughenbaugh

Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars
Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom

Super Enemies is a children’s book for ages four to eight. My son loves books and loves to read .This story made me think of my own childhood and having three older brothers who liked to torment me but don’t worry I tormented them just as much. Id say now as adults we have a pretty strong bond. Mira and Carl are not only “enemies” but siblings as well. These two fight and argue about everything like who’s going to sit where in the car , which activity they will do and so much more. What will happen when they spend some time at the beach? Can the sibling bond make them stronger or will they always be enemies? I highly recommend this book and my son and I look forward to reading more from this Author.

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Lucas the Spy Cat (Jake the Growling Dog) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Amanda Haller-Doris

Lucas the Spy CatLucas the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an adorable story from start to finish. I loved the creativity about the ideas of where Lucas might be going and what he might be doing. The story flowed and rhymed nicely. I loved all of the interactive activities at the end of the story as well. I thought it read well on a kindle and the pictures came across well too. It’s definitely a great story for parents with young children who enjoy interactive and creative stories.

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Super Enemies by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Julie Johnson

Super EnemiesSuper Enemies by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Mira and Carl are enemies. They are also brother and sister.”

This book focuses on the mutual love that is shared by siblings. By mutual love, I mean the torturous kind where one tries to outdo their sibling(s). Things like fighting over where to sit in the car, what book to read, what activity to participate in, etc. Mira and Carl find that they have so much fun that they want to do it again tomorrow!

This is a cute kids book and another one by a favorite author! Small children who have siblings will be able to identify with Mira and Carl and their daily antics. This book shows who a person can be individual but yet still participate in the activities and lives of others.

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