Dwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was the perfect story to explain fairness and how to be fair in everyday dilemmas. I do love the way the author addresses real issues with a wonderful story and perfect accompanying illustrations.
Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another gem from Lois, a wonderful story to warm your heart. This tale is so timely and perfectly explains thanksgiving turkeys. Its also full of beautiful vivid illustrations.
Lucas 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.
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dream Shifter is the perfect chapter book for young adults. The main character is Gwendolyn who is 12. She can become any animal in her dreams. Very entertaining story, easy to read and quite a fun book. I can’t wait to share it with my grandchildren.
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a middle grades chapter book. I enjoyed it!
Gwendolyn, the main character is a dreamshifter. While in her journalism, she is assigned to interview a funeral director. After she meets Marjorie a fire erupts in her home and Gwendolyn finds herself waking up as an elk. Now Gwendolyn is having to live life with her family as an elk. She has to learn to adapt to her new form (those growing antlers!) and finds that everyone accepts her as an elk.
Lucas 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.
Reviewed by @way2gosmartguy
Lucas 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
Oliver: 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
Dwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a fun an engaging version of Snow White that myself and my kids really enjoyed reading. It was easy to read but still put across an important message. As with all this authors’ book it was well illustrated, which really helped to capture my kids attention.
For an author that we hadn’t read until this year she has certainly become a firm favourite in a short space of time. We are already looking forward to the next book.
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a nice story that give a good message. I enjoyed the idea of this one. It is an area of paranormal I have not ran across before. It is an interesting idea and really could go far. This one is intended for a younger audience as if follows a teen girl. She is looking toward her future and being stuck in a elk’s body isn’t not her ideal. But until she can figure out how to go back to being a little girl she is going to still push forward with her human agenda.
This story has ha nice flow to it. I just struggled a bit with what happened while she was an elk. The things she did and her focus was what bothered me. Otherwise its a cute book. That cover is just adorable and one of the reasons I picked this up.
Pardon Me, Please by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is another fun and entertaining story by an author that has become one of our families favourites. We loved the premise of this book and the perspective it was told from. As usual the book was illustrated so well. The pictures really bring the story and the characters to life and make it even better to read.
This author has become one that I won’t hesitate to read as her books really do bring joy to the whole family. I can’t wait for the next book.
Lois Wickstrom has a wonderful knack for creating stories that jump off the pages of the book to transport readers into the world she has created. Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom is a wonderful fantasy book that takes the reader on a journey with Gwendolyn and her parents as they navigate life with her ability to shift into animals when she dreams. Unfortunately, there is always the possibility of becoming stuck as an animal if she is woken suddenly for example by a loud sound. Gwen is tragically stuck as an elk a few weeks before the elk hunting season begins. She has many things that she was looking forward to as a human- an article she was supposed to write for her journalism class, a race she wanted to compete in, and her biggest dream a summer journalism camp. How will she do any of it if she is an elk?
Gwen and her parents are told about the Birthday Party Magician, Taran who might be able to help her, but when he tries to it does not work. According to Taran, she only has until November 25th to become human again. Lois takes the reader through Gwen’s quest to become human again with many twists and turns. Find out if Gwendolyn must spend the rest of her days as an elk by reading Dream-Shifter. This is one adventure you will not regret!
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.
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
In a kingdom where fairness is cherished, live a queen and her daughter Snow White who have help from a magic mirror to solve the dilemmas of the kingdoms inhabitants by showing the “Sparkle of Fairness” in their eyes. All is going well until a group of dwarves come in with a dilemma where neither party has the “Sparkle of Fairness”, so Snow asks if she can investigate and find out the fairest answer, but it is not the one which anyone was expecting, so in this case, who is the fairest of them all?
This is a lovely book with a brilliant way of showing how to deal with moral dilemmas in the fairest way and explains what fairness means to different people in an engaging way which is educational as well as entertaining in the best possible way.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gwendolyn is a young girl of twelve years old who lives with her parents and spends time with her best friend, but unbeknownst to the outside world, Gwendolyn is a dream shifter and this means that every night when she goes to sleep, she changes into whatever animal form she is dreaming in. Normally this doesn’t cause a problem, as long as she wakes up slowly and naturally, she will become a human again, however, if she is woken up suddenly, she can become stuck as that animal.
One night, Gwendolyn is dreaming of being an elk and is woken suddenly by a fire alarm blaring into the night, but as an elk, she can’t escape until her parents come and open her door, but there is a problem, it is elk hunting season and she is an elk, albeit an elk who can think and speak like a human girl! As a couple of days pass by, Gwendolyn tries to return to her human self, mainly because she has plans of going to journalism camp, but they will only accept humans, this makes her desperate to turn back, but the book she needs isn’t at home, but her parents have managed to find out who has it, a magician who lives nearby.
When Gwendolyn and her parent approach the magician for help, he agrees, as long as she stays with him and earns her keep doing magic shows, but with all the distractions around her, will Gwendolyn be able to find a way to turn back into a human, or will she be stuck as an elk forever? This is a charming story which is full of magic and mayhem, as life lessons are learned and expectations are created, all while avoiding external dangers which keep you reading until you find out what happens to Gwendolyn in the end.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
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
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a unique story which centers around Gwendolyn a 12-year-old girl who can become an animal in her dreams. When she wakes up naturally, she is a girl again. However, one evening when she is dreaming of being an elk frolicking around with other elk a fire alarm jars her awake. Gwendolyn, stays an elk-and it is elk hunting season!
Gwendolyn has to learn to adapt to this new change will still having her own voice and mind. There were a few things she needed to accomplish as a girl, can she still finish these tasks as an elk?
This book is a great read for all ages, but geared toward middle school readers. There’s plenty of action and adventure, along with a lesson to be learned. Will Gwendolyn remain an elk? You will have to read to find out!
Lucas 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.
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
Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Twelve year old Gwendolyn has inherited the ability to become whatever animals she dreams about. For the most part, by morning she is back to herself.
When a house fire wakes her up suddenly, she awakes as an elk.
She only has a few months to revert back to her human self. Will she be back to find a way?
The more and more I read it, the more I start to love middle grade books.
This was a short read but it was really engaging. The book focuses are acceptance and love which are important.
I will have to start reading more in this genre.
Lucas 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.
Super 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.
Super 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!
Super 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
View all my reviews
Super 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
Lucas 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.
Super 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.
Dwarves’ Dilemma, The by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Dwarves’ Dilemma: A Science Folktale By Lois Wickstrom is the perfect book to teach young children about being fair. There are many examples of how the queen uses the mirror to determine if she is ruling in a way that is fair to all involved. This book explores how sometimes treating others fairly needs to be investigated because something might seem fair on the surface, but it really is not. The book teaches children about how mirrors work- reflections the mirror turns items upside down or backward. As a teacher, this book is a great resource to walk through with students and explain your thinking behind how you treat students fairly in class. Overall, Lois Wickstrom created an amazing story with a great moral.
It is amazing how the back matter of the book includes scientific information about how mirrors work. This information could be brought down to a level where younger students understand the meaning behind the information provided.
Lucas 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.
