Book Review: James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach
by  Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

James lives his two horrible aunts, wishing that he could get away. A mysterious stranger gives him a bag of magic, but James accidentally drops the bag near an old peach tree, and the tree absorbs all the magic creating a giant fruit. The giant peach propels James into a new adventure that will take him farther than he ever dreamed and get rid of his awful aunts once and for all.

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Picture Book Reviews: The Magic House, and The Lonely Cloud

The Magic House by Alan Matkovic

The Magic House: The Amazing Adventures of Alexander and Sophia
by  Alan Matkovic

3 out of 5 stars

Sophia and Alexander are two children looking for adventure. They discover a secret entrance to a magic house with mysterious rooms filled with every imaginable delight. As they explore the rooms, they find all their favorite things. But the mystery behind the last door will surprise them with magic they never imagined to be possible.

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Board Book Review: I Can Be Creative like Leonardo da Vinci

I Can Be Creative Like Leonardo da Vinci by Christopher Robbins

I Can Be Creative Like Leonardo da Vinci
by Christopher Robbins, Susanna Covelli (Illustrations)

5 out of 5 stars

This board book has a little finger puppet of Leonardo da Vinci sticking out of the book! It’s so cute and fun to play with! The story inspires little readers to be imaginative like da Vinci was. He invented new things, studied nature, and drew beautiful paintings and sketches.

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Book Review: Tales of Fearless Girls

Forgotten Fairy Tales by Isabel Otter

Forgotten Fairy Tales: Fearless Girls Around the World
by Isabel Otter, Ana Sender (Illustrations)

This collection of fairy tales features stories from all over the globe. Each story has a fearless woman or girl who dives into adventure with courage and resourcefulness. The stories have a wide range of settings in different cultures, including Germany, Mexico, Siberia, Japan, Fiji, Nigeria, and India. Some of the tales include magical beings like elves and sorcerers, and some have magic gods and giants.

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Book Review: Knock Three Times!

Knock Three Times! by Marion St. John Webb

Knock Three Times!
by Marion St. John Webb
5 out of 5 stars
Molly and her brother Jack encounter a strange magical Grey Pumpkin, and they follow it into another realm. They embark on a quest to find the elusive Black Leaf and defeat the evil Grey Pumpkin. There are many dangers along the way. Molly and Jack are not sure who to trust, but the kindly Old Nancy gives them some enchanted matches to help guide them.

I always love rereading this favorite children’s classic. The story is so exciting, and full of twists and turns. The world building is full of magic and enchantment. I love all the crazy characters that Molly and Jack meet on their travels. Every person is so memorable and different.
The writing style is excellent, and there is such a great balance of funny and serious scenes. The adventure is full of suspense, but there are some really hilarious parts too.
I always enjoy rereading this book over and over again! It’s such a delight!

Holiday Gift Guide

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Every book and product in this video was sent to me from a publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Activity Book Review: Paint by Sticker Kids Mermaids & Magic

Paint by Sticker Kids by Workman Publishing

Paint by Sticker Kids: Mermaids Magic!: Create 10 Pictures One Sticker at a Time! Includes Glitter Stickers
by Workman Publishing
5 out of 5 stars

This activity book has 10 beautiful designs, and hundreds of stickers in little mosaic shapes! It’s so easy to put the stickers into place, and the finished product looks wonderful. It’s very relaxing and helped me to get creative. You really feel a sense of accomplishment when you finish!

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Book Review: Be the Dragon

Be the Dragon by Catherine J. Manning

Be the Dragon: 9 Keys to Unlocking Your Inner Magic: Roar with Confidence and Slay Your Fears with Quizzes, Quests, and More!
by Catherine J. Manning
5 out of 5 stars

Go on a journey of discovery to find out what kind of dragon you are! This book has short stories about dragons who demonstrate some character trait of bravery, kindness, patience, or friendship to teach the reader how to be a real dragon in your own life.

There are several quizzes throughout the book so that you can find out what type of dragon you are, what type of roar you have, what dragon power is your biggest strength, and what problem-solving style you use best. You can do activities and crafts to complete a quest and build your creativity.

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Classic Review: Wind in the Willows

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth GrahameGrahame Baker-Smith (Illustrations)
5 out of 5 stars
I adore this book! It is one of my favorite classics to reread. There is something so enchanting about Mole and Rat, Toad and Badger, and all the animal folk. Every time I read it, I am swept away into the exciting world of the River.

When I received this beautiful Templar edition in the mail, I literally started crying because the book is so beautiful. The cloth-bound green cover perfectly captures the peaceful mood of a breezy day boating on the River. I love the gorgeous gold foiling on the cover. It’s so tactile! I want to run my fingers over it, feeling the embossed edges of the ripples in the water, but I don’t want to mess it up by handling it too much.

And the inside is just as gorgeous! The endpapers are a pretty green with patterns of willow branches. Every couple of pages throughout the story, there is another delightful illustration bringing the story to life.

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