Loris Opens Up His Heart starts out sad, but it has a happy ending! The pictures were beautiful. I love the message the story had. My 10 year old enjoyed this book. If you havent read a Lois Wickstrom book to your kids, I recommend this one.
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 Fink2024-05-01 20:03:582024-05-16 06:39:06Loris Opens Up His Heart (Courage Tales Series) by Dagmara Sitek – Review by Melissa Fink
Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom. This is my favorite children’s author so I was excited to read this story to my nephews and they loved it! This is the story of Stega who is part dino part unicorn and she has been invited to her friend Benny’s housewarming party. When she worries about a gift to take she gets a bowl full of berries and heads that way. Chaos ensues on the way to Benny’s housewarming party. Written in rhymes and fun colorful pictures makes this such a fun read for kids. You can’t go wrong with this author.
Lois Wickstrom never disappoints me in her books. This one was beautifully written. The world building and characters was well thought of. The pictures was colorful. I recommend this book to 6-8 year olds.
This story has beautifully rendered colorful illustrations that go along well with a funny story of a part unicorn/ part dinosaur named Stega. Stega tries to find a nice present for her friend’s party. Along her journey, she gathers fruit and nuts for her friend, but by the time she gets to his place, she has eaten them all, and she needs to poop. This is where the funny part comes in! It turns out she poops rainbows as she is part unicorn! Her friends then react to her rainbow poop. Definitely an interesting way to show how friends can and should accept all of you.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Donyahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDonya2024-05-01 19:34:152024-05-16 06:38:27Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Donya Pedigo
We absolutely adore every book we get by this author, and this one was no different! I loved the beautiful illustrations as they added so much more to the story. Rhyming always gets my kiddos into the groove and makes them pay attention, so we enjoyed the rhythmic adventure with Stega. Pooping is a knee-slapping topic in our house and makes everyone giggle their heads off. I would highly recommend having this in your home for your young ones or even in your classroom as a fun, lighthearted book to liven up the school days.
All Kris wants to be is a knight, not a princess. She is determined to prove that she can do anything a boy can do. Kris stays at her grandmother’s farm while her dad is away for work. While there she ends up meeting all sorts of characters and finds herself on a journey to rescue a nearby kingdoms prince. She and her group of newfound friends learn what it is like to work as a team and show kindness to everyone they come across. This was a cute story for kids who love to read and have great imaginations.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Krista Mhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKrista M2024-05-01 16:34:392024-05-16 06:31:24Kris & The Missing Prince (The Adventures of Kris) by Art Blegen – Review by Krista Moulthrop
Wow different take in some ways to another famous candy maker. Lois Wickstrom shows that even a master thief that loves candy can always outwit Mr. Bonbon to get her favorite candy. Annabelle loves candy and uses her frilly dresses and socks to steal little pieces until one day a trap ends in her favor. A fun read watching Mr. Bonbon try to outwit her and the old ladies along for the show of what she will do next.
Such a fun and silly little read. Lois Wickstrom has become my husband and I’s favorite children’s book author. Her books are always beautifully illustrated and have a great little story. This one was more on the silly side considering the “don’t do that” situation that made me and the hubs giggle. I always read him the books first before reading them to our boys. But this one was a big hit with all. Giggles all around with conversation around not eating too many different things. As we know it can give you a tummy ache.
Unicorn Don’t Do That is a children’s book told in rhymes about a half unicorn named Stega that gets invited to her friend Benny’s housewarming party. She is worried that she does not have a gift for him, so she fills a bowl full of berries. Stega gets hungry on the way to the party and eats the berries. Now she is feeling bad, but matters get worse when she gets close to Benny’s house and gets a tummy ache. A whimsical story full of bright, colorful illustrations that will certainly make both adults and children alike giggle out loud. The overall moral of the story is about friendship and acceptance.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Tara Johnson Barneshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngTara Johnson Barnes2024-05-01 10:26:112024-05-16 06:34:59Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes
Stega is a half unicorn, she lives with her Mum and Dad and she has been invited to a housewarming party by her friend Ben, so on the way she decides to get him a present, so she gets a coconut and fills it with berries, but unfortunately, she is hungry, so she eats them all on the way to Benny’s.
When she arrives with the empty coconut bowl, she unfortunately feels her tummy rumbling and she cannot hold it! What will she do now and what will Benny think of her when she turns up without a present?
This is a funny tale with an unusual storyline which will give anyone who reads it a smile, no matter how old they are.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2024-05-01 05:54:432024-05-16 06:33:33Unicorn, Don’t Do That!: It’s okay if a Unicorn poops on your doorstep by Lois Wickstrom, Ada Konewki – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.
The second book I have gotten for my kids by Lois Wickstrom and I LOVE it! Always the cutest stories and the illustrations on them are beautiful! My oldest (5yrs) loves unicorns so I had to get this one for her and it ended up being such a big hit with both of my girls. It is such an easy read and perfect for kids. This is definitely a silly book that will get your kiddos giggling.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Debshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDebs2024-05-01 05:40:462024-05-16 06:33:11Unicorn, Don’t Do That! by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Deborah Joseph
Marshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom is an illustrated children’s story aimed at children ages 4 to 8years. This story gave me some “Tar Baby/Br’er Rabbit” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/Willy Wonka” vibes, which I liked. The illustrations are cute, colourful, interesting, and engaging, and helped to bring everything to life. Annabelle has been stealing candy from Mr. Bonbon’s candy factory. Every time there is a factory tour, Annabelle is there taking whatever she sets her mind on, becoming bolder with each visit. Mr. Bonbon is determined to teach her a lesson, and so creates a giant, sticky, marshmallow rabbit that he hopes Annabelle will not be able to resist. What happens when Annabelle grabs the sticky rabbit to take home with her? Well, you can probably guess- but no spoilers from me- so you’ll just have to read the story to find out what happens here. I really wanted to ‘enjoy’ this story- and would have liked to have read it to my grandchildren- BUT, I hated the way the story ended and really feel that the ‘message’ in this book is wrong, and would be misconstrued. I feel like Annabelle got away with very bad behaviour— rewarded even— and that’s not a message I want any child to learn. Stealing is NOT ok, and shouldn’t be rewarded. Especially since this is not a ‘one-off’ occurrence, or out of necessity (due to homelessness/starving etc), or even that Annabelle learned her lesson and turned over a ‘new leaf’— nope— instead, this was just an entitled child thinking they could do whatever they liked, and get away with it, and the got rewarded on top of it all—- plus thinking she ‘got-one-over’ on Mr. Bonbon, too. Well, that’s how I say it anyway. But maybe you might view it differently… Happy Reading…
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 Hayes2024-04-30 23:35:522024-05-16 06:29:02Marshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Angela Hayes
Kris and the Missing Prince is the first book in The Adventures of Kris series by Art Blegen. This is a fun and intriguing child’s (beginner) chapter book- first instalment in this great little series… It was quite a fun read, with a wonderfully vivid adventure that draws you in and sweeps you up in all the developments… Well written, with plenty of imagination, there are some small (B + W) illustrations which head up each chapter, which also help to bring the story to life in the reader’s mind…. Kris’s love of reading, along with her very vivid imagination means that she finds an ‘adventure’ wherever she goes. Here, her father takes her to stay with Grandma Mable on her farm, where there’s lots of exploring to be done. She and Ralphie, Grandma Mable’s huge furry St. Bernard dog, have a wonderful time frolicking around the farm. But when she finally enters the woods to explore, where she not only meets some new friends, but also finds herself on a quest to rescue a missing prince. She’s a knight, not a princess- though. Facing obstacles, a bully, the threat from the evil gnome Gnalath, and more…. Her quick thinking and bravery help her face and overcome challenging situations- while also drawing us further into the story and her ‘world’. With action, fantasy, drama, high stakes, friendship, overcoming obstacles, mystery, and intrigue- made for an engaging read- and there are also some ‘lessons’ imparted along the way…. Each instalment to the series could be read as a standalone, as each has its own fully contained adventure, starring Kris. But, having said that, Kris finds herself in lots of interesting situations that result in fun adventures- which you will definitely want to be part of…. The series consists of (so far): -Kris & The Missing Prince (Book #1) -Kris & The Pirates (Book #2) -Kris and The Cowboys (Book #3 – releasing soon) -Kris & The Astronauts (Book #4 – coming later this year) Happy Reading…
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 Hayes2024-04-30 23:19:592024-05-16 06:28:56Kris & The Missing Prince (The Adventures of Kris Book #1) by Art Blegen – Review by Angela Hayes
This was a nice illustrated book about a tough subject. I like how Loris was able to share with his new foster family his feelings. The tale was tough but ended in a happily ever after for all the characters!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Brandy Vaughnhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBrandy Vaughn2024-04-30 22:52:162024-05-16 06:28:42Loris Opens Up His Heart (Courage Tales Series) by Dagmara Sitek – Review by Brandy Vaughn
Very cute rhyming structure. Sure to get the kids listening and following along. The bright colorful illustrations are going to be a wonderful hit to children of all ages. Great theme about peanut butter sandwiches.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kelli Harperhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKelli Harper2024-04-30 21:51:412024-05-16 06:28:22Meal Time at the Zoo: PB&J Café by James Williamson – Review by Kelli Harper
I love the illustrations and the rhyming, I am just not sure about the content. Kids all think poop is funny but to me it’s not. Love that the main character is mixed race, love that there is a bully but the other kids stand up to the bully and include Stega anyway. Very colorful and I am sure kids will love it.
Amese of Animalis by MJ Murray is the first book in The Borosa Legacy Series. This book is written with readers 10-14 in mind, but can be read by anyone who enjoys a good story with lots of magic and adventure. We are following 13-year-old Amese. She is training to rule, and trying to convince others she is worthy of the task. It seems like not everyone wants her to succeed in this quest. The story is fun and magical. She has to turn into animals for her training which is really cool. The story ends on a cliff hanger and I am looking forward to the next book 4 out of 5 stars.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Victoria McQuigghttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngVictoria McQuigg2024-04-30 21:04:332024-05-14 15:11:34Amese of Animalis by M.J. Murray-Review by Victoria McQuigg
Marshmallow Rabbit by Lois Wickstrom is a fun and imaginative story with colorful illustrations that bring the story to life. This is one of my favorites from this author and I know my great nieces and great nephew enjoy this story as well….full of fun.
Mr. Bonbon, the local candy maker, is trying to prevent Annabelle from stealing any more candy from his factory tours…and comes up with a plan. Mr. Bonbon is trying to teach Annabelle from lesson of not to steal and take things. His plan comes to light….but does it work….or will Annabelle continue her ways…
This is a very fun read….for the young and the young at heart.
Unicorn, Don’t Do That is a cute and colourful fantasy friendship story told in rhyme. As with most of Lios Wickstrom’s stories, there is a moral about friendship and acceptance. Stega is a unicorn/stegosaurus hybrid who has been invited to her friend’s party. Unfortunately, she isn’t very crafty, so she decides to bring along a bowl full of food from the forest. The food smells so good and tastes even better, which leads to an empty bowl and unfortunate consequences at an inopportune time! How embarrassing! I think 4-8 year olds would love this story – what kid doesn’t love a poop story?! I found that some of the sentences were awkward to read as they were made to rhyme, but overall it was an easy read.
This story is the interesting journey of Amese, a young teenager learning how she must rule her part of the universe. Amese must discover secrets, secrets her family is hiding and secrets of magic. Amese must learn how to use this information to keep peace for all creatures everywhere and the six guardians of the ancient magic. This is a fun story for pre teens. I loved all the animals involved. Amese’s family and friends are entertaining as well.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Shannon Fowlerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngShannon Fowler2024-04-30 17:10:452024-05-14 15:08:12Amese of Animalis (The Borosa Legacy Book 1) by MJ Murray – Review by Shannon Fowler
Oscar and Emmy’s family have started to volunteer at their local animal shelter where they read to the residents there who are waiting to be adopted.
One day, they bring some tiny kittens’ home with them, and Oscar and Emmy immediately lend a hand by helping them to settle into home life and treat these temporary residents like family, or at least until they are adopted by another family.
This is a lovely book about how to start looking at fostering young kittens, what goes into looking after them and the responsibilities involved, and it is done in an easy-to-understand way which everyone can learn from.
I really enjoyed this book. I am always looking for new storybooks for my grandchildren, this one hit all the must haves for a good childrens book. The illustrations are beautiful and the story moved right along. Liked the interesting facts about animals eating habits! Will be passing this book around to parents and grandparents that are looking for a good wholesome read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Karole Pettyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKarole Petty2024-04-30 13:28:502024-05-14 15:07:03Loris Opens Up His Heart (Courage Tales Series) by Dagmara Sitek – Review by Karole Petty
I really enjoyed this book. I am always looking for new storybooks for my grandchildren, this one hit all the must haves for a good childrens book. The illustrations are beautiful and the story moved right along. Liked the interesting facts about animals eating habits! Will be passing this book around to parents and grandparents that are looking for a good wholesome read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Karole Pettyhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKarole Petty2024-04-30 12:46:592024-05-14 15:06:58Meal Time at the Zoo: PB&J Café by James Williamson – Review by Karole Petty
In the summer of 1976, Scoob, a twelve-year-old musical prodigy, dreams of becoming a jazz legend like the great Louis Armstrong. But first, she needs to get off the streets. When Scoob lands a paying gig, she thinks her luck is about to change—she now has the chance to play in front of a famous band leader with his own TV show. This could be her big break! But Scoob’s older brother, RC, drags his little sister along on an unwelcome road trip. Broke and unable to afford food, Scoob and RC “borrow” gas along the way until they find themselves stuck in the small town of Rexburg, Idaho. The idyllic farming community is buzzing with controversy over a newly built dam, with residents divided over the safety of the structure.
Stranded in the tiny town and pestered by a growing group of well-meaning locals, Scoob tries her best to get back home to California and her audition, struggling to understand why her brother doesn’t seem to want to leave. RC is hiding something, and Scoob soon discovers he isn’t being honest with her. On a warm summer morning, a heartbroken Scoob decides to head home on her own, but that very day, Rexburg’s new dam springs a leak. Within a few short hours, a wall of water is rushing toward the tiny town, destroying everything in its path. Scoob must fight for her life and face mounting odds as she tries to decide what really matters.
I enjoyed this story. The story of how Amese finds not only her purpose but also herself was very interesting and held my interest. The journey for Amese had a few twists and turns but everything thing turned out okay in the end. There was a bit of a twist at the end, so I am thinking that Amese’s story is not over and I look forward to reading the next book.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Cindy Rushinhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCindy Rushin2024-04-29 21:41:462024-05-14 15:12:21Amese of Animalis (The Borosa Legacy Book 1) by MJ Murray – Review by Cindy Rushin
This is a very emotional read! This is a book that I would STRONGLY recommend reading with your youngster, at least the first time they read it. It’s a story that really needs to be told but is highly emotional as previously mentioned.
Loris is in foster care and this books focuses on the emotions that he goes through with each move he has to make. It takes a lot of courage to be Loris but there are so many of them out there! It’s important to have conversations with kids reading this story to explore their emotions and feelings after hearing Loris’s plight.
The illustrations in this story are very colorful and really add to the story more. To see Loris’s transformation is pretty cool.
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 Johnson2024-04-29 21:22:582024-05-14 15:12:15Loris Opens Up His Heart (Courage Tales Series) by Dagmara Sitek – Review by Julie Johnson
This book right here was short and sweet. It was a great laugh but also a good lesson learned. My daughter loved it. This author has yet to disappoint on a book. Great book to read to your kid at bedtime.
Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens by Terri Sabol is part of the Oscar and Emmy Series. This was the first book I have ever read in this series. It is so cute and educational. We follow Charlie and Abby twin siblings who love their cats Oscar and Emmy. The family decides to foster baby kittens. The story is so cute and heartwarming. It also helps explains to kids in an easy-to-understand way the responsibilities that go into fostering an animal. While also showing how rewarding it can be. This is a great read for young children. Especially to help them understand the concept of fostering. The illustrations were also really cute. This is a 5 out of 5 stars for me!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Victoria McQuigghttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngVictoria McQuigg2024-04-29 21:12:352024-05-14 15:11:56Oscar and Emmy Foster Kittens by Terri Sabol-Review by Victoria McQuigg
This is a really cute children’s book that follows a monkey maître d’ as they serve different types of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the animals in the zoo. It’s a rhyming book so it is very catchy and sing-songy. The illustrations are amazing and go along so well with the words on the page. The colors are nice and bright and will catch the eye of any kiddo. It’s funny and will have kids laughing at how the different animals like their PB&J’s and it may even have them saying “EWWW!” a few times too. This is a great children’s book to add to your rotation.
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 Kimley2024-04-29 20:02:142024-05-14 15:11:49Meal Time at the Zoo: PB&J Café by James Williamson – Review by Megan Conley
I have loved all of the books in this series, but this one may just be my favorite! I read it with my 8-year-old and 12-year-old kiddos who also loved it. I feel like the author does an amazing job explaining the process of fostering animals and not just including only the fun parts. We always love the illustrations and these beautiful pictures fit in well with the rest of the series. It promotes reducing the crowds in animal shelters and explains how much fostering benefits everyone involved! I highly recommend picking up this lighthearted but incredibly educational book on fostering kitties. It would be a wonderful fit for your home or your classroom!
We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
Essential Website Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Google Analytics Cookies
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.
If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Other cookies
The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Loris Opens Up His Heart: An Emotional Story For Kids by Dagmara Sitek
