⭐⭐⭐⭐ I read What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts with my grandchildren, ages 3 to 11, and this review reflects their opinions as much as mine. The message is wonderful—kids learning they can control their thoughts instead of letting worries or mean ideas take over—and Jennie Allen presents it in a faith-based, encouraging way. But my grandkids struggled with the nonlinear layout. Bits of text scattered around the pages made it hard for them to follow, and the lack of smooth flow caused their attention to drift. That said, the illustrations by Nadia Gunawan were a hit—bright, whimsical, and full of heart. Despite the confusing structure, we had […]
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A Noble Message Wrapped in a Forgettable Story
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Former Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Tebow’s debut picture book, Princess Paris Finds Her Purpose, aims to teach kids about kindness and purpose through a royal Dalmatian on an African safari. The idea is sweet—Paris loses her crown and learns that true royalty comes from serving others—but the execution falls flat. I read it with my grandchildren (ages 4–11), and they all agreed: the story felt too basic and not very original. The illustrations didn’t impress them either; they were fine but nothing special. Overall, it’s a nice concept with a good Christian message, but the storytelling and art don’t quite rise to the level of the lesson. It might work […]
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Stepping into the Spotlight: A Review of Emily Was So Embarrassed
While she was staying with us over the weekend, my granddaughter and I dove into Michelle Olson’s charming tale about Emily, a little girl with a secret talent for ribbon dancing. However, Emily’s biggest challenge isn’t her dance moves; it’s her fear of performing in front of others. She worries about making mistakes and being laughed at, preferring the safety of her room where no eyes are on her. The illustrations in this book are just as engaging as the story, filled with cute and expressive drawings that perfectly capture Emily’s emotions—from her joyful twirls in solitude to her anxious expressions at the thought of public performance. My granddaughter adored […]
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