Book Review: Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas is a spin on Goldie Locks and the Three Bears with a Chinese New Year spin!  Goldy Luck doesn’t have all that much luck or weath, even though her parents thought she would when she was born. Her mom asks her to go to the neighbors to wish them a happy new year but they are not home.  She neds up dropping the turnip cakes that she brought over, tries all of the Chan’s congee, breaks a chair and ends up asleep in Little Chan’s bed.  When the Chans get home she runs off startled but once she gets home she realizes that she needs to go back over and apologize and make the mistakes that she made right.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

In this Chinese American retelling of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” a careless Goldy Luck wreaks havoc on the home of a family of panda bears. She eats up the littlest panda’s rice porridge, breaks his rocking chair, and rumples all the blankets on his futon. When Goldy takes responsibility for her actions, she makes a new friend (and a whole plate of turnip cakes!) just in time for Chinese New Year.

Book Review: Tales from Christmas Wood

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

Tales from Christmas Wood has several stories within it, all revolving around Christmas Wood and the animals that live there.  In the first tale – Badger finds a friend, badger is scaring everyone that lives in Christmas Wood. Not sure what to do, she finds an Owl to talk to and help her make friends.  The second tale – Tiny Mouse and the Gingerbread Mystery is about a mouse who makes some cookies – but ends up eating more of the dough than using it to make cookies. I can relate! The third tale is about the rabbits of Christmas Wood, A Burrow Full of Brothers – where Rosie Rabbit wants her Christmas cards to be perfect but her brothers are making things difficult! The fourth tale is about The Amazing Robin – a bird who loved to he a hero and help others. The fifth is a Christmas Eve Adventure with Fidgety Fox. In the final tale, all of the animals of Christmas Wood come together in A Very Busy Barn where they find a baby who was just born in a manger and learn the true meaning of Christmas.

I have to say that I was very much so distracted by the illustrations in this book. They are amazing.  all of the animals look like they have fur on them and I just wanted to reach out and pet them all! They are so beautifully done!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

It’s winter, the snow is deep, and in the woods there are cute and fluffy animals preparing for Christmas. Five different stories come together in the sixth tale, where they discover the real meaning of Christmas.

Book Review: The Christmas Coal Man

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

The Christmas Coal Man is the man who collects the coal in the mines to sell to Santa so that Santa has something to put in the naughty children’s stockings on Christmas.  The Coal Man dreams of making enough money to go to a nice island with his horse and canary.  Except when he goes to deliver this years coal to Santa, Santa tells him that the coal just isn’t working and the naughty children are still naughty all year – even after only getting coal!  The Coal Man is disappointed, but Santa gives him a bag of coal to remember the time they worked together.  Except – inside the bag was something wonderful!  Maybe he will end up moving to that island after all…

I thought this was a really cute book and while I’ve read a lot of stories about Santa, this was a different and cute approach to see where the coal for the naughty kids came from! Wonderful illustrations and a beautiful story – I think I have to be extra good this year because I want the special gift that Santa is giving to the really good children with the help of the Coal Man! Just what is the gift? Well, you’ll have to read The Christmas Coal Man to find out!

I received an e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

The Coal Man works hard all year, searching dark mines for the coal that Santa Claus drops into the stockings of naughty boys and girls. He’s saving up money to take himself, his mule, and his trusty canary to a sunny island.

This year, when the Coal Man makes his delivery to the North Pole, he gets a big surprise. Santa’s not using coal anymore! Will the Coal Man ever get his day in the sun? With a little Christmas magic, he just might.

Book Review: The Little Christmas Tree

Katie December 4, 2015 0 Comments

The Little Christmas Tree is about a fir tree in the forest. It was a cold night, even the stars were shivering, but the fir tree helped to keep all the animals in the forest warm.  The storm did not hurt the fir tree and the other trees knew that she was different.  On that same night, a baby was born in a manger.  The stars from the angels come through the forest and rest on the fir tree. It makes the tree beautiful because the tree showed love to the others in the forest.

This is a sweet book and the illustrations are gorgeous. A great Christmas story.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

‘Deep in the forest, one dark night, it was so cold the stars were shivering in the sky…’ A dark storm is brewing, and the woodland animals sense danger. The grand, proud trees, oak, sycamore and birch, are determined to fight the storm wind. But the little fir tree knows that it is more important to shelter the frightened birds and animals. When the storm wreaks destruction, she alone is unharmed. And far away, that very night, a baby is born in a manger. The angels who herald the baby’s birth scatter shimmering stars as they pass the forest. On which tree do the stars rest? The little fir tree, the one who had shown love. A beautiful picture book with a sparkly surprise on the last page!