DVD Review - 20 Holiday Adventures – Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Classic Collection

About the DVD
Scholastic Classics, a new value line, continues with a Holiday Adventures release packed with 20 tales perfect for kids and families who love to watch classic storybooks come to life! The full list of stories includes: The Night Before Christmas, Max’s Christmas, Merry Christmas, Splat, Morris’s Disappearing Bag, Merry Christmas, Space Case, Bear Snores On, Noah’s Ark, Too Many Tamales, Lemonade in Winter, The Snowy Day, Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas, In the Month of Kislev, Little Drummer Boy, Seven Candles for Kwanzaa, Great Joy!, Antarctic Antics, Giving Thanks, Bear Has a Story to Tell, The Clown of God, and Brave Irene



My Take on the DVD
Another great collection of holiday stories all in one place. My kids were particularly enamored by Merry Christmas, Splat, Brave Irene and Antarctic Antics, but all of the episodes were a ton of fun too!


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DVD Review - 20 Fairy Tales – Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Classic Collection

About the DVD
Scholastic Classics, a new value line, continues with 20 FAIRY TALES release packed with 20 tales perfect for kids and families who love to watch classic storybooks come to life! The full list of stories includes: Cinderella, Doctor De Soto, Each Peach Pear Plum, Extra Yarn, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, Harold’s Fairy Tale, Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China, Princess Furball, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Three Billy Goats Gruff, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Elves and the Shoemaker, The Little Match Girl, The Red Shoes, The Three Little Pigs, The True Story of The Three Little Pigs!, The Ugly Duckling, and The Emperor’s New Clothes.



My Take on the DVD
This was a great collection of fairy tale books brought to life on the television within your own home. The cartoons within this series were a ton of fun and my girls particularly enjoyed watching Rapunzel and the Little Match Girl.

All of these were well made though and we were thoroughly impressed with the breadth and depth within the entire DVD!


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DVD Review - My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (Three Movie Gift Set)

About the DVD
Join Twilight Sparkle and her Canterlot High friends in three animated adventures! My Little Pony: Equestria Girls (Three Movie Gift Set), which includes the new full-length feature film, My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games, will be released on October 13 in the U.S. and Canada from Shout! Kids, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. With a special lenticular cover that features a transforming Twilight Sparkle, the box set houses all three films released from the My Little Pony: EquestriaGirls canon, Equestria Girls, Rainbow Rocks and Friendship Games. Complete with bonus features including audio commentaries, animated shorts and deleted scenes fromFriendship Games, this gift set is perfect for giving this holiday season.

Equestria Girls
When a crown is stolen from the Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle pursues the thief into an alternate world where she transforms into a teenage girl who must survive her biggest challenge yet…high school. With help from her new friends who remind her of Ponyville’s Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy, she embarks upon a quest to find the crown and change the destiny of these two parallel worlds.

Rainbow Rocks
Canterlot High is hosting a musical showcase and Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy are going to be performing with their new band, The Rainbooms. A newgirl group, The Dazzlings, arrive at CHS and convince everyone to turn the friendly showcase into a Battle of the Bands. Tensions mount and a reformed Sunset Shimmer realizes that the Dazzlings may not be ordinary girls and are after something far more sinister. The Rainbooms call on Princess Twilight to return to their world to help them perform a musical counter-spell so that they can win a battle that now determines the fate of the entire school.

Friendship Games
Canterlot High meets its rival school, Crystal Prep Academy, in a competition that’s a long-standing tradition — the Friendship Games. Sunset Shimmer is tasked with keeping magic out of the games to avoid the appearance of impropriety while she and her friends compete against Crystal Prep’s top students led by someone with an equal amount of interest in Equestrian magic — this world’s Twilight Sparkle.

Bonus Features:

• Through The Looking Glass of Equestria Girls
• Deleted Scenes from My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Friendship Games
• Audio Commentaries
• Animated Shorts
• Sing-Alongs

In stores everywhere October 13, the 3-DVD set is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.




My Take on the DVD
What a great set of great shows. My girls are BIG fans of everything My Little Pony so they were ecstatic to have a 3-pack DVD to bring them even more great episodes. What I like as a dad is that the shows have a wonderful message of friendship, caring and more that I want my girls to learn, and this message seems to move through all of the episodes in the series.

All-in-all this is a great DVD set for a great price. I highly recommend that if you too are a fan of the series to pick up a copy of this for yourself!

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Book Review - Guinness World Records 2016 Gamer's Edition

About the Book
The bestselling video games annual is back! Bursting with mind-blowing records and tantalizing trivia, the Guinness World Records 2016: Gamer's Edition is a must-have for any gaming fan. Whether you're all about the latest first-person shooter, an app aficionado, an MMO master, or a die-hard retro gamer, you'll find show-stopping records, top 10 roundups, quick-fire facts and stats, and hundreds of amazing new images from all your favorite games. What's more, brand new for this year's book is a dedicated section just for Minecraft fans, with a mega-showcase of the greatest construction records, in-game tips and lots more blocky goodness.

Plus, discover which tech milestones have been smashed in the last year - in both software and hardware, get all the insider secrets from industry experts, and marvel at the players who have leveled up to the very top of the leaderboards. Think you can challenge the current champions? Look inside to see how to break your very own record!

Guinness World Records: Gamer's Editions have sold a whopping 3+ million copies. Find out for yourself why it's a game-changer!




My Take on the Book
I love being a gamer and now my girls also love doing this too! This book is basically the go to reference for anyone who loves video games. They even have included a great section on Minecraft that my daughter simply loved!

Whether you know everything about what came out last year or not, this book sets the record straight and gives you great insight into amazing games.

While I have tried to play many of the games included there are some that were new to me. However, now that I have learned more about them, they are on my radar and on my list of games to play!


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Book Review - Guinness World Records 2016

About the Book


The world's best-selling annual is back and bursting with thousands of amazing new records, never-before-seen images and mind-boggling trivia. And as always, we have a few more surprises in store for you...

As well as all your favorite records for talented pets, superhuman achievements, big stuff and extreme vehicles, you'll find show-stopping superlatives from brand-new categories. Topics making their GWRdebut include waterfalls, twins, ballooning, apps, lightning, manga, archaeology, drones, and pirates - and that's just for starters!

So, get ready for your yearly dose of mind-blowing feats and wonders in Guinness World Records 2016 - the global authority on record-breaking.

My Take on the Book
This is a great book that has so many great records listed in it. On top of that you get an amazing array of records in so many different areas. Filled with larger than life pictures, you will get lost in reading this with your family.

I have loved being a fan of Guinness World Records for years and every year I am always interested in seeing whether the people who held the awards continue to do so or not. I have got my daughters now hooked on this too.

This was a well made book with great images and amazing information!


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Living Vicariously & Visiting Hawaii Though A Great New Book!

About the Book
Children will be inspired by the inventiveness, beauty and diversity of the United States in this lavishly-illustrated collect of fact-filled maps. There are thousands of wondrous locations to be explored, hundreds of historical moments to discover, and the book also includes information on hundreds of people who helped make America what it is today.

For me, one of the fun things about this book is that you get to explore new States and locations and see some of the wonderful sights from a birdseye view. The book was beautifully made and for me, I spent a lot of time on Hawaii, as it is a State that we had wanted to explore ourselves someday. 

While the picture above is small, the amount of information shared about this State was extensive and to be honest, all of the State pages were like this.

One the Hawaii page you learn about:

Well Known People

• BETHANY HAMILTON b.1990 At age 13, Hamilton lost her left arm in a shark attack. She went on to become a winning pro surfer.
• DUKE KAHANAMOKU 1890–1968 A five-time Olympic swimming medalist, Honolulu-born Kahanamoku is known as the “Father of Modern Surfing
• KAMEHAMEHA I c.1758–1819 “Kamehameha the Great” unified the islands of Hawaii as king after he conquered each in turn.
• LILI’UOKALANI 1838–1917 The last queen of Hawaii reigned during a turbulent time and was forced to give up her throne to avoid violence.
• PATSY MINK 1927–2002 Maui-born Mink was the first Asian American woman elected to Congress.
• PHILIP KUNIA “GABBY” PAHINUI 1921–1980 A master slack key and steel guitarist, Pahinui earned his nickname when he wore gabardine pants to his gigs.

Famous Dates

• MAY 10, 1873: Father Damien arrives and spends 16 years caring for those in in the Kalaupapa leper colony until his death (from the same disease).
• OCTOBER 8, 1840: Hawaii rids itself of the name Sandwich Islands, which it was called by Captain James Cook in 1778.
• DECEMBER 7, 1941: Japanese forces attack the U.S. naval fleet at Pearl Harbor.
• 1966: Big-wave surfer Eddie Aikau becomes the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay, sometimes braving 20-foot waves to rescue people; he saves hundreds during his career.
• NOVEMBER 7, 1978: Hawaiian is recognized as an official language of the state, after its use was banned when Hawaii became a U.S. territory.
• JANUARY 3, 1983: The volcano Kilauea begins a long-lasting eruption, which continues over 30 years, destroying more than 200 buildings
• JANUARY 24, 1985: Ellison Shoji Onizuka, an astronaut born in Kealakekua, orbits the earth 48 times as a NASA mission specialist.
• NOVEMBER 1, 1993: Ukulele star Israel Kamakawiwo’ole releases Facing Future, which becomes Hawaii’s first platinum album
• JUNE 26, 2005: At age 15, shark-attack survivor and amputee Bethany Hamilton shreds the waves and wins her first national surf title.
• JANUARY 20, 2009: Honolulu-born Barack Obama becomes the first president from Hawaii and the nation’s first black president.

Famous Places

• AMAZING MAZE The Dole pineapple plantation is home to an almost 2-mile-long maze: the largest in the world!
• CAPTAIN COOK The British explorer Captain James Cook was killed in 1779 in Kealakekua Bay.
• COLORFUL SANDS Volcanoes, not crayons, created the black and green sands of Hawaii Island.
• CRESCENT-SHAPED CRATER Molokini, a partially submerged volcanic crater, is a snorkeling wonderland.
• DRIP, DROP Mount Waialeale gets 460 inches of rain a year, making it the rainiest spot in the U.S.!
• FLOWER POWER Made with flowers, leaves, and shells, Hawaii’s traditional garlands—called lei—show respect, congratulations, welcome, or appreciation.
• GREEN SEA TURTLES were once endangered in Hawaiian waters, but their numbers are slowly increasing again.

And many other facts can be found on this and all of the other pages in this book. The book was so filled with great information, it makes me want to drop everything and just go!




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Persil helps make clothes brighter, cleaner and more vibrant

About Persil

Persil is a popular and much beloved laundry detergent brand which originated in Europe and is finally in the US! It is simply amazing and your clothes will thank you; its powerful stain-fighting, exceptional whitening and amazing freshness are unbeatable.

ConsumerReports.org just rated Persil ProClean Power-Liquid 2in1 “the best detergent they have ever tested”, ranking it 1st in their recently released results, and relegating Tide, which has held the top spot for years, to 2nd place.

Visit www.PersilProClean.com for more information on all their products


Persil ProClean Power-Liquid 2in1 (Walmart; rolling out to other retailers nationwide starting now)
40oz/20 loads/$5.24 ● 100oz/50 loads/ $11.97 ● 150oz/75 loads/ $17.97


With the power-packed combination of Persil detergent plus Pro-Lift Technology™, 2in1 is the most powerful stain-fighting Persil detergent available. Persil 2in1 laundry detergent is great for everyday laundry and has a power-boosted formula to help fight tough stains.

• Pro-Lift Technology™ for the most powerful Persil stain-fighting detergent
• Optimized for use in all washing machine types, including high efficiency (HE) washers
• Use with white and colored laundry

Consumer Report Details

• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/persil-tops-tide-in-laundry-detergent-tests/index.htm
• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/07/persil-takes-down-tide-in-consumer-reports-tests/index.htm
• http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/06/persil-laundry-detergent-winning-the-war-on-stains/index.htm

My Take on Persil
I recently came across Persil ProClean and while I had never tried it before, I saw so many people giving it 5 star reviews online I new I had to try it. I had used other name-brand detergents in the past and had been happy with what I had been getting, but as I started to use this I noticed a marked difference in the smell of the clothes as well as the vibrant nature of the colors too.

I found that in using this only a few times I started to notice that whites seemed to be brighter and the colored clothes seemed less dingy and more vibrant than they had been in the past. I guess I am saying that even though I had been happy with the other detergents that I had been using, I did not know what I was missing until I started using Persil!

I encourage you to try this for yourself, picking up some at your local Walmart or on Amazon. You will definitely be impressed!


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Book Review - Train Your Brain: Mind-Melting Conundrums

About the Books
Designed by three puzzle-book pros and Mensa members, Mind-Melting Conundrums is brimming with almost 100 pages of number stumpers, logic problems, and verbal tests. Split into three levels of difficulty--called Super Brain, Mega Mind, and Ultra Genius--it gets more challenging as the pages progress. Kids, adults, and anyone else who enjoys a good dose of mental calisthenics will find themselves hooked by each marvelous, mind-melting puzzle.

About the Book
This holiday season, throw down the gauntlet to kids and send them on a series of exciting problem-solving quests that will get their brains buzzing. Designed by three puzzle-book pros and Mensa members, Brain-Scrambling Challenges is packed with questions that test kids' brains to the limit...and show them that problem solving = a lot of fun!

• Endlessly engaging (and shhh…ultimately educational), this book is packed with hours of stimulating entertainment. It includes:
• Almost 100 pages of challenging riddles, conundrums, and problems such as anagrams, diagrams, word problems, number searches, and more that will put puzzle lovers right in their element
• Three levels of difficulty--called Super Brain, Mega Mind, and Ultra Genius--so the book gets more challenging as it progresses
• Loads of quirky, fun illustrations of spaceships, big cats, wooly mammoths, and more
• Winning text that encourages and challenges puzzle fanatics to keep going

Kids, adults, and anyone else who enjoys a good dose of mental calisthenics will find themselves hooked by each puzzle-solving challenge. It's really a "no-brainer" for parents, grandparents, and friends everywhere who want to give a gift that children will love now--and remember fondly for years to come.


  

My Take on the Book
These books were written for older children, but as I read the book and began to solve many of the brain puzzles, I found some were quite challenging. The puzzles made you focus and think often outside of the normal "math box" or the way you may solve a math problem.. You had to look at patterns, use numerical reasoning, and think logically. The reader must persevere because some puzzles take considerable time. There are some puzzles that are easier to finish, but many will make you concentrate. 

I thought these books would be fun to work on with another person. You could discuss your strategy for solving the puzzles and learn from the other person.
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Book Review - I Can Play It: Music games and activities to help your child learn

About the Book
Let the music play and watch the fun begin! Written by a college music professor and an author/teacher with over 18 years of experience teaching the Montessori Method, I Can Play It helps children explore their natural ability to interact with their environments as they make sweet musical sounds. Current scientific research has proven the importance of the musical experience in children's neuromuscular growth, cognitive-intellectual grasp, and social-emotional development. Plus, it's just so much fun! Each of the activities in this book are designed to inspire expressiveness, curiosity, imagination, and musicality. Based on sound principles of early childhood development and focused on preschoolers and kindergarteners, I Can Play It will help:

• Introduce three- to five-year-olds to music in a joyful, hands-on way
• Encourage children and parents to have fun together
• Reveal the musical potential in each of us through voice and body percussion
• Explore the rhythm of speech and song accompanied by instruments as well as easy-to-find objects at home
• Make suggestions for integrating music in everyday activities

This enjoyable guide to musical exploration is packed with kid-pleasing, skill-building activities that will keep them laughing, singing, and moving all day long. Open up the world of music to children and watch them learn how to express themselves in entertaining, educational, and enriching ways.



My Take on the Book
The introduction to this book is worth reading. The author helps the reader to see how music fits into the lives of civilization. Music is part of the world of expression along with drawing, painting, poetry and stories.

To allow our children to develop an appreciation of music from the earliest ages will bring them joy and new learning opportunities.

The author(s) , I feel do an excellent job taking the reader through the stages of introducing music to the reader. From the child of young age with clapping to using a spoon on a bowl, to making instruments like a rubber band guitar. There are sections to help the adult teach rhythm. Each page of instruction or an activity includes an extension activity. 

I liked the author's use of everyday objects too.

This book, I believe would be valuable to a parent or teacher who wants to develop a music program for the youngest child to a child in elementary school. It looks like a lesson plan for success, a lot of learning, and a great deal of fun.
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Book Review - My First Creativity Books: Nature

About the Book
Pick up your pens and get ready for pages and pages of all-out adventure with these stunning activity books.My First Creativity Books are designed with younger children in mind by educational experts that want to kick-start the imaginations of early learners. There are tons of clever coloring exercises, simple dot-to-dots, spot the differences, mazes, matching puzzles, make-and-do-activities, and more. In Nature, rich and colorful illustrations, engaging activities, fold-out scenes, and 200 stickers will captivate kids so much, they'll never even realize they're learning! Perfect for kids who love to learn about the great outdoors.



My Take on the Book
Your young child will enjoy hours of fun independently as well as with adult focused assistance with both of these books. So much to learn and do. Pencils , crayons, and scissors are about the only tools you need in order to complete the activities.

Each book has puzzles,mazes, dot to dots, visual discrimination, games, matching and counting activities. All the answers are provided at the back of the book.

The Nature book has facts for your child to learn about the animals and the environment.

This book would make a great gift or take it along on a road trip or when you visit someone.
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Book Review - Stegosaurus

About the Book
Our Mini Dinosaurs series features adorable books die-cut in the shape of the dinosaur depicted in that story. Each board book is jam-packed with interesting facts, and every page is complemented by full-color illustrations that are handsomely rendered in a naturalistic style that will captivate kids (Mom and Dad, too). In Stegasaurus, children meet a dinosaur that may have been slow, but its spiked tail helped it fend off predators. Perfectly sized for little hands, this book is a fun, exciting, and interesting way to introduce children to this perennially popular subject.



My Take on the Book
This book is colorful, sturdy and contains lots of facts about the dinosaur knows as Stegosaurus. The nonfiction story is perfect for a young child . The illustrations will entice them to discover all the little details and the sentence structure is concise.

I actually learned a new fact reading this book: did you know that the plates on the back of a Stegosaurus will change color if they are threatened by another animal? Your child will also learn why the tail is important, what they eat, and other ways they defend themselves.

I feel this book is a great introduction to dinosaurs.

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Book Review - My First Creativity Books: Pirates

About the Book
Pick up your pens and get ready for pages and pages of all-out adventure with these stunning activity books. My First Creativity Books are designed with younger children in mind by educational experts that want to kick-start the imaginations of early learners. There are tons of clever coloring exercises, simple dot-to-dots, spot the differences, mazes, matching puzzles, make-and-do-activities, and more. In Pirates, your favorite "mateys" can sail the seven seas on this pirate-themed activity book that's the mother lode of fun! Rich and colorful illustrations, engaging activities, fold-out scenes, and 200 stickers will captivate kids so much, they'll never even realize they're learning! Perfect for kids who love all things pirate!



My Take on the Book
Your young child will enjoy hours of fun independently as well as with adult focused assistance with both of these books. So much to learn and do. Pencils , crayons, and scissors are about the only tools you need in order to complete the activities.

Your child will enjoy making things, like a pirate hat and eye patch. 

The book has puzzles,mazes, dot to dots, visual discrimination, games, matching and counting activities. All the answers are provided at the back of the book.

This book would make a great gift or take it along on a road trip or when you visit someone.
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The Kitty Shack is a great 2 in 1 Tube Cat Mat and Bed!

About the Kitty Shack
The Kitty Shack 2-in-1 Cat Mat is the cozy and warm 2-in-1 cat bed that traps unwanted hair. The Kitty Shack 2-in-1 Cat Mat converts from a tube bed into a full size mat in a second - just unzip! It also features a Thermo-Reflective Core that reflects your cat's body heat to keep your feline warm. As a mat, it can be used on the couch, the floor, your bed, or virtually any other flat surface that your cat may want to recline on. Kitty Shack is machine washable so it won't be hard for you to clean whenever it gets covered with hair and dander.

My Take on the Kitty Shack
I have three cats, two of which are still considered kittens so they get into everything. That being said, all three love to also lounge around and simply get comfortable and the Kitty Shack gave them a great respit to get away and curl up alone or even together.

The bed itself is quite large. When I measured it, it came to about 35 x 22 inches when laid flat.

When I say flat, I mean it. One of the very unique features with this is not only can you have this set up like a shack as you see in the pictures I have included, but it can also be unzipped and laid flat to make a very soft mat for cats to sit or sleep on.

The material is soft and made of a microfiber material and you can easily see that this would hold in warmth when you lay on it which will be even better in the cold months to come during the winter!

When you zip the shack back up it holds its' shape well and allows for your pet to get inside and relax.

The Kitty Shack is well made and best of all for a busy house, the Kitty Shack is machine washable.

I am very impressed with this and I think you, and your cats will love this too!
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Book Review - 3D Origami Fun!: 25 Fantastic, Foldable Paper Projects

About the Book
Imaginative 3D origami projects that anyone can make!

Do you love the art of paper folding? Well, your favorite pastime goes 3D in this origami guide! Inspired by the kawaii style everyone loves, 3D Origami Fun! shows you how to up your paper-folding game with twenty-five spectacular projects. From cupcakes to butterflies to sea turtles, each page features detailed explanations and step-by-step photos for constructing eye-catching sculptures using basic folds and origami pieces. Whether you're new to paper crafts or a seasoned pro, this book will teach you how to build a variety of impressive 3D origami projects.

So take out your paper, flex your fingers, and get ready to create dozens of fun origami projects you won't find anywhere else!



My Take on the Book
I have never seen an origami book of projects like Stephanie Martyn's book. It has 25 very creative and in my opinion totally new formations to the origami folding art/craft.

When one thinks of origami, you may think about the crane, star, cup, lion, or other easier creations.
Stephanie has created totally 3 D bees, butterflies, cupcakes, crabs, owls, farm animals, zoo animals, flowers, fruits, and more. 

The author's directions are clear and the included photographs are extremely helpful in performing the project. She gives the reader specific directions on the weight of the paper to buy, how to cut the paper, and the basic fold used.

In my opinion even though there are projects that are labeled "easy", they are still challenging. Yes, you can finish a project but they are , to me, more difficult than the 2 dimensional origami I have done in the past.

The only addition the author could have made to this book, would have been to include some precut paper for one of the easy projects. I feel this would be an incentive to use the book right away without locating the paper needed.

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Book Review - Bella Donna: Coven Road

About the Book
Ever since she was a baby, Bella Donna has suspected she has magical powers, and she wants nothing more than to be a witch. Bella lives in an orphanage, waiting for her “Forever Family,” until one day she meets Lilith Sorciere and agrees to move in with Lilith and her niece Verity. Bella tries keeping her witchy tendencies a secret from her new foster family, and she stays on her best behavior—but when she comes home early one day from school, she stumbles upon something very surprising! Could Coven Road really be a road for witches?

This first installment of the sweet, spooky Bella Donna series will captivate young magic-loving readers. Bella Donna: Coven Road is an engaging and entertaining read with a subtle message to be yourself. Marion Lindsay’s adorably simple spot illustrations bring even more magic to author Ruth Symes’s delightful tale. Fall in love with Bella Donna and her road to witchdom! And be prepared for her next big adventure!





My Take on the Book
Ruth Symes has written a very nice chapter book for middle age children. It is the first in the series. I enjoyed the story line very much and look forward to the next book in the series.

Bella Donna was left at an orphanage as a baby with nothing but a witch mobile. She grew up and Sam became her best friend. Together they shared good times and challenging times. Both were waiting for just the right people to adopt them to become their Forever Family.

Bella Donna felt she was a witch. She wanted to be adopted by a witch and as luck would have it her wish was granted, but not without wanting to change herself to make her more likable for Lilith her adopting parent.

It is a story of learning to be happy with who you are. It is a story about adjustment, being a good friend, and allowing yourself to dream big. There is also jealousy in the story which gets one character into some big trouble. The reader will see problem solving , family love and acceptance.
I believe your middle age child will enjoy reading this chapter book.
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