Little Red Reads

Children’s Book Review- Cougar Cub Tales: The Sneezy Wheezy Day

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Cougar Cub Tales: The Sneezy Wheezy Day
by Jean Cramer

Kindle Edition, 37 pages
Published December 2011
by B & F Publishing, 1st Edition
ASIN: B006T5JLK0
Book Source: Bought
4 stars

Book Overview:  Brother Cougar Cub isn’t feeling well. The siblings decide to head to the forest to ask their well-intentioned friends for help with treatments. Although their friend’s ideas are wonderful and brilliant, it is a sister’s love that is the final remedy for the ailing cub! Written in rhyme and illustrated with brilliant watercolor, it is the third book in the award winnings series, Cougar Cub Tales.

Mary’s Review:  Poor Brother cougar suddenly doesn’t feel well.  Sister cougar is worried about her brother so she begins to try and find ways to help him feel better.  She takes him to see White Owl, Royal King Stag, The Canadian Goose, Red Fox just to name a few and each with their own remedy or cure.  Poor Brother cougar only gets worse.  Suddenly Sister cougar knows what will really help her brother.  She takes him home, wraps him in his favorite blanky and makes him a cup of tea.
She gives him a big hug and sits with him while he rests.  When he wakes, he is better.  He realizes it is because of his sister’s love and care.

Sister cougar gives her brother unconditional love and caring service to help her brother.

Beautiful illustrations help to tell this rhyming story.

I recommend this book for ages 4-8.

About The Author:  Sharon Jean Cramer was born in Jamestown, New York in 1960. Sharon’s education includes a Master’s in Anesthesia Education from Gonzaga, with her minor area of study in fine arts at the University of Houston. She pulls heavily from her experiences in healthcare to consider subject material for her children’s books.
She also pulls from very personal experience for The Sneezy Wheezy Day. Her twin sister struggled with childhood illness for many years. Sharon observed that the treatments, though helpful and therapeutic were not what was ultimately most significant. What mattered most to Vonnie was the family and friends around her, who supported and loved her.

Sharon is surrounded by her own cubs. Her three sons all live in Spokane, and though grown, have opinions about the cougar cubs. Lost and Alone was actually written for her youngest son, Chase, when he was born. It is about his two older brothers, who were eight and ten years old at the time! Cole and Shad tangled on occasion so it was easy for Sharon to write about sibling rivalry and conflict resolution!

Sage is Sharon’s granddaughter, loves the Cougar Cub Tales, and is a tough critic! She pits the cubs against Dora, Spongebob and of course the Disney princesses, but so far, the Cougar Cubs hold their own (and dad doesn’t bore so quickly over reading them over, and over, and over!)

Sharon’s husband, Daryl, is a nurse anesthetist, and ‘personal organizer’ for Sharon. He is also chef, karaoke partner, best friend, and inspiration to the author. He is a good voice of reason, sometimes editor, and unlikely audience during studio recordings. (More than one take has occurred due to his enthusiastic presence!). If you see Sharon at a big event, say hello to Daryl as well. He is usually close by.

Children’s Book Review- Speak Up

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Speak Up
Morgan Love Series #2
by Stephanie Perry Moore
Paperback, 144 pages
Published April 1st 2011
by Moody Publishers
ISBN0802422640
Book Source: BEA
4 stars
Book Summary Form Goodreads: The Morgan Love Series is a chapter book series written for girls, 7-9 years old. The series provides moral lessons that will aid in character development. It will also help young girls develop their vocabulary, english and math skills as they read through the stories and complete the entertaining and educational exercises provided at the end of each chapter and in the back of the book.When Morgan discovers that Antoine and Alec, the new kids on her block are big bullies she doesn’t know what to do. She thinks about telling her parents when her cousin becomes their latest victim but he tells her not to because he doesn’t want to look like a wimp.When Morgan goes back to school, she finds out that Alec is the also the new kid in her class. She becomes worried about her friend Trey when he decides to stop hanging out with her and the others and start hanging with Alec instead. As Trey and Alec become good friends, Morgan sees nothing but trouble ahead. She doesn’t want to get hurt or have the other kids think she’s a tattletale but she also does not want her friend Trey to get in trouble. Morgan is having a hard time knowing what she should do. Should she continue to keep quiet or is it time to speak up’
Tina’s Review: This book is excellent to help elementary students with situations they may encounter at school.  This book addresses when to “speak up” versus keeping quiet.  In this book Morgan learns the importance of telling the truth even though it is not a popular decision among her classmates.  She helps her classmates learn how to handle bullies and help everyone to get along.  This book also reflects on how Jesus Christ is an example of how to love everyone.   This is a great book for 7-10 year olds.  I love how the author also has included worksheets, word searches, and a definition page to explain some of the big words.
About the Author: Stephanie Perry Moore is a Christian fiction novelist that is truly from the South. She was born in South Carolina, raised in Virginia, educated in Alabama, and now resides in Georgia. She has penned over 35 inspirational titles set in this part of the country.
She is the trailblazing author of the Payton Skky series, the first African-American Christian teen series. Her other young adult titles are the Laurel Shadrach series, the Carmen Browne series, the Perry Skky Jr. series and Faith Thomas ‘NovelZine’ series. The sassy, urban collegiate Beta Gamma Pi series and the hip, teen Yasmin Peace series were released in 2009-10. Her newest series is the adorable Morgan Love series. She and her husband will release the Alec London series for kids in the fall of 2011.
Her heart beats for adults as well. For this market she has penned Flame, an Essence best seller-A Lova’ Like No Otha’, Chasing Faith, and her newest release, Wearing My Halo Tilted.
She also was the General Editor for Nia Publishing. She produced the Women of Color Cookbook, the Men of Color Study Bible, the Wisdom and Grace Bible for Young Women of Color, the Strength and Honor Bible for Young Men of Color, the Women of Color Devotional Bible and the African-American Family Bible. She was the Co-Editor for the BibleZine, REAL, published by Thomas Nelson and is currently working on a new African-American women’s bible project.
She is a motivational speaker and community activist. She is working on several film projects. Among them she has a development deal with Turner Entertainment Networks and she is the Executive Producer/Creator for a web show called Locker Jam.
She lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, a former NFL player and current sports chaplain for Georgia Tech Athletics. They have three children; Dustyn (16), Sydni (14) and Sheldyn (12).
She considers it an honor and a calling to write for the Lord.

Middle Grade Book Review- The Frog Princess

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The Frog Princess
by E D Baker
Paperback, 224 pages
Published Oct 7, 2004
by Bloomsbury USA
ISBN 1582349231
Book Source: Bought
4 stars


Summary from Goodreads: Princess Emeralda a.ka. Emma isn’t exactly an ideal princess. Her laugh is more like a donkey’s bray than tinkling bells, she trips over her own feet and she does not like Prince Jorge, whom her mother hopes she will marry. But if Emma ever thought to escape her troubles, she never expected it to happen by turning into a frog! When convinced to kiss a frog so he might return to being a prince, somehow the spell is reversed and Emma turns into a frog herself! Thus begins their adventure–a quest to return to human form.

Fascinating and hilarious characters ranging from a self-conscious but friendly bat to a surprisingly loyal snake and a wise green witch confirm that readers won’t soon forget this madcap story. A fantastic debut from the talented E.D. Baker.


Cathy’s Review: Princess Emeralda (Emma) is getting pretty tired of castle-life. She is always less ladylike than her mother would have her be. Not to mention that her mother wants to marry her off to the horrible Prince Jorge. One day as she’s walking in her favorite place, the swamp, she comes across a talking frog. The frog tells her that he’s Prince Eadric and asks that she kiss him to reverse the spell that was cast on him by a witch.  She’s not quite sure that she believes him, after all, who’s ever heard of talking frogs! Emma goes to her aunt, Grassina the Green Witch, to see if it’s even a possibility that the frog could be a prince. Grassina seems preoccupied, but does confirm to Emma that people get turned into frogs, and Grassina herself has turned several people into frogs. Emma goes back to the swamp to find the frog, and decides that she will kiss him, but when she does something crazy happens. Emma turns into a frog as well. Unsure just what to do as a frog, Emma follows Eadric’s lead and learns all about being a frog, things like eating bugs, jumping, swimming and most importantly staying out of the way of animals that like to eat frogs! But just how will Emma be able to become human again, is it even possible?? This was a fun fairy-tale like book. I loved Emma, she was flawed enough that you could tell she wasn’t an everyday type of princess. I liked her aunt Grassina and I loved the way the book ended with a happy ending for both Emma and Grassina. I will make sure to look for the other books in this series!

Content: Nothing offensive

About the author: E.D. Baker made her international debut with The Frog Princess, which was a Book Sense Children’s Pick and has been optioned for an animated movie. Dragon’s Breath and Once Upon a Curse continue the Frog Princess series.

A mother of three, Ms Baker has had many interesting jobs: teacher, parrot caretaker at a garden centre, and currently, as a member of the Red Cross disaster Team, but her true love is writing. She lives in Maryland, USA, where she provides a home for two horses, one dog, three cats, one cockatiel and a bunny. 

Find out more about author E D Baker Goodreads/ Website