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.
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 Crain2023-03-18 20:31:212023-03-20 09:50:53What Loretta’s Katydid Did (Loretta’s Insects) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Crain
A retelling of Cinderella that is intriguing with a surprise ending! The author, K.L. Small, does a fantastic job of deviating from the original fairy tale to captivate your interest, while still keeping enough elements of the original fairy tale (magic, bravery, saving people you love) to keep it fresh.
The best part of the book, in my opinion, is the characterization of the main characters. I grew to really like the growth the Cinderella character, Princess Zarina, exhibits as the story unfolds. She is not a stagnant character by any means!
Another aspect of the book I thoroughly enjoyed are the believable twists and turns to get the story from point A to point B. Nothing seemed “forced,” and a truly magical read.
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 Crain2023-03-17 14:22:302023-03-20 09:03:46A Dress To Remember: A Fairy Tale by K.L. Small – Review by Jennifer Crain
Really a darling retelling of the folk tale “Chicken Little.” Attractive illustrations, great use of onomatopoeia and clever twist to the original story.
Younger children will delight in “what happens next.” At the same time, older children could experiment with the gravity experiments and see, if they were king, what they would call the stuff falling from the sky.
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 Crain2023-03-15 19:48:542023-03-20 08:18:45Chicken Little Investigates (Science Folktales) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Jennifer Crain
This is an adorable story about a kid who receives a magical unbirthday present. The illustrations are engaging and the story line keeps you wondering what trick Caspian is going to try next with his gift.
I enjoyed how much the author left the gifts to the imagination- things that may be possible, but haven’t been invented yet, which stretches mine (and any young reader)’s imagination.
From a social emotional stand point, the book offers readers a chance to discuss delayed gratification and disappointment at an age-appropriate level. The story line is realistic with a touch of magic.
Even though this is #4 as a series, I read it as a standalone, and now I want to go back and read the first three. The story centers around multiple murdered bodies as an actors’ troupe is set to perform the cursed play, Macbeth.
As Macbeth himself says, “If it were done when ’tis done, then ’t were well It were done quickly”- I found the book a fast read, yet intriguing. The author, P.J. Mann, does an excellent job dropping enough hints to help you solve the mystery of the murder yourself, without hitting you over the head being obvious. Enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, and if I wasn’t such a well read mystery reader, I might have solved it before Inspector Scala.
I found the banter between Inspector Scala and his colleagues to be refreshing and highly realistic- I thought I was a fellow detective working along side him. The author also characterizes the suspects well- reminds me a lot of Donna Leon’s writing, which is a high compliment. I also enjoyed the inclusion of every day nuisances like traffic refreshing because even the police have similar irks as civilians!
As a side note, while reading this, I assumed the author was male, because PJ Mann illustrates the camaraderie and banter among the male police squad spot on.
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 Crain2023-03-12 12:53:472023-03-13 08:49:57A Stranger in Disguise (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Jennifer Crain
Even though this is #4 as a series, I read it as a standalone, and now I want to go back and read the first three. The story centers around multiple murdered bodies as an actors’ troupe is set to perform the cursed play, Macbeth.
As Macbeth himself says, “If it were done when ’tis done, then ’t were well It were done quickly”- I found the book a fast read, yet intriguing. The author, P.J. Mann, does an excellent job dropping enough hints to help you solve the mystery of the murder yourself, without hitting you over the head being obvious. Enough twists and turns to keep it interesting, and if I wasn’t such a well read mystery reader, I might have solved it before Inspector Scala.
I found the banter between Inspector Scala and his colleagues to be refreshing and highly realistic- I thought I was a fellow detective working along side him. The author also characterizes the suspects well- reminds me a lot of Donna Leon’s writing, which is a high compliment. I also enjoyed the inclusion of every day nuisances like traffic refreshing because even the police have similar irks as civilians!
As a side note, while reading this, I assumed the author was male, because PJ Mann illustrates the camaraderie and banter among the male police squad spot on.
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 Crain2023-03-12 12:42:482023-03-13 08:39:16A Stranger in Disguise (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Jennifer Crain
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What Loretta’s Katydid did by Lois Wickstrom
