Biography, book review, fantasy, Fiction, Horror, paranormal

Norman 2 – REVIEW

May 27, 2020 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Norman 2: The True Story of a Possessed Doll’s Revenge
Author	Steven Lancaster
Publisher	Llewellyn Publications (September 8, 2020)
Format	Kindle, Paperback
Pages	264
Language	English
ASIN#	B0841637W9

AUTHOR

Stephen Lancaster is a self-proclaimed phenomenologist and has been involved in the field of paranormal research since 1997. In 2010 he became an author; chronicling his experiences investigating the paranormal.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

The target audience for this publication is all those who have an interest in the paranormal and horror stories.

SYNOPSIS

Norman 2 is the sequel to Norman: The Doll That Needed to Be Locked Away. The earlier publication introduced Norman, a doll that the author and his wife discovered in a store. An ominous comment from the store owner piqued Lancaster’s interest, and he bought the doll and took it home. All too quickly, Stephen Lancaster claims, Norman began performing for his new audience. Almost immediately, sinister occurrences began to take place that forced him to utilize cameras to capture footage of the paranormal happenings. The author claims to have extensive footage relating to the possessed doll. The Lancaster’s lives become a nightmare that escalated exponentially over time. Eventually provoking the author to place the doll in a vacant room in an attempt to assuage the temper of Norman the doll.

It is now two years later and Norman 2 continues the haunting tale. As the saying goes, sensational claims require sensational proof and that seems to be where the wheels come of this project. I am only too aware that paranormal investigators claim that their methods are based in science but that just isn’t so. The scientific method requires a number of things: for example, the experiment is repeatable producing the same result. In addition, it must be possible for your peers to replicate the same experiment and attempt to prove your theory wrong. In the paranormal world it is impossible to find irrefutable proof derived from the scientific method.

In Norman 2 Lancaster attempts to prove with visual evidence the voracity of his claims. I remain skeptical as I felt the events described fell short of proof of paranormal occurrences.

Lancaster recounts various disturbing situations including a seemingly spontaneous fire claimed to have been created by Norman in its room. There are instances of exaggerations or sensational claims that reduce, rather than increase the probity of the claims. The telling of the story reminded me of the over elaboration of a bad liar. I came to the uncomfortable conclusion that I was being lied to.

CONCLUSION

Throughout the book there were examples of repetition, misspellings and an amateurish writing style. This devalued the trope almost as much as the outlandish claims themselves. The work could have been far more concise and measured. I found myself being less subjective in part due to the lack of skilled writing, language, grammar, and vocabulary.

If the family are so afraid of the doll it seems odd that they should wish to continue to house it in their home. Is the doll inhabited by a restless spirit, a demon, or the soul of a dead child? That question I leave for you to decide.

I am aware the force of my review may indicate I do not enjoy the entertainment value of paranormal entertainment shows and literature. I am intrigued with the subject and have been since I read The Amityville Horror as a child. I consumed the book in less than 24 hours, not stopping to sleep until I finished it.

Incidentally, I do enjoy reading publications on the paranormal, especially when they are well written, balanced, and subjective. I enjoy paranormal literature that present the claims and evidence that leave it for me to decide if the claims carry any weight or not.

This is simply my opinion and you have your own and that is why I recommend you read the first book and then decide if you would like reading Norman 2.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Steven Lancaster, NetGalley and Llewellyn Publications for affording me the opportunity to review Norman 2: The True Story of a Possessed Doll’s Revenge.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

SPOOKS AND KNOCKERS UNCENSORED IS CURRENTLY FREE TO READ on KindleUnlimited

book review, History, Non-Fiction, World War 2

THE CODEBREAKERS OF BLETCHLEY PARK – REVIEW

May 26, 2020 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park: The Secret Intelligence Station that Helped Defeat the Nazis
Author	John Dermot Turing
Publisher	Arcturus (March 15, 2020)
Format	Kindle, Paperback
Pages	251 pages
Language:	English
ASIN	B082XHJWCW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sir John Dermot Turing is the 12th Baronet of the Turing baronetcy. He is the nephew of Alan Turing the infamous English mathematician that worked on the enigma machine. He did a D.Phil in genetics at New College, Oxford before moving into the legal profession. He specialized in financial law and is currently an author.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

This book is for everyone. Wether you are a historian, student, WWII enthusiast or just someone who interested in secret intelligence code breaking, you will find this book interesting.

SYNOPSIS

Before James Bond, there was Alister Denniston, Dilly Knox, Alan Turing, Mavis Batley (née Lever), Peter Twinn and Frank Birch.

The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park is a unique take on an old subject and has managed to breathe new life into those who worked on the Enigma machine. It is the true-life account of the people, places and techniques employed for decrypting the machine that the Axis powers used during WWII to secretly encrypt their commercial, diplomatic and military communications. Unlike many books of its kind, The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park paints an intimate observation of the participants that is lacking in other publications. The reader gets a look back in time and at the characters behind the crack. The vital importance of the work at Bletchley Park contributed to the war as a whole and in particular, the Battle of Cape Matapan from 27-29 March, 1941.

The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park is a character driven dive into the ultra-secret world of the codebreakers. Turing’s chronology primarily focuses on the years immediately preceding WWII through the evolution of the Government Code & Cypher School (GC & CS) and its evolution into the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The early codebreakers were, as Alister Denniston dubbed them, ‘the professor type.’ Most of these were ‘Kingsmen,’ alumni of King’s College, Cambridge; although not exclusively. They came from varying disciplines that included mathematics, academia, arts, humanities, classics languages, and history. Once ‘The Hunting Party’ had arrived at Bletchley Park work that began with a hand full of academics quickly grew in size and scope. Those with other skills and talents including: Intelligence Staff, Translators, Linguists, Managers, Machine Operators, Typists, Secretaries, and Stenographers were swiftly recruited.

The author avoids focusing upon Alan Truing, but instead introduces the reader to the arguably equally important contributors to the cracking of the Enigma. My favorite character was Dilly Knox a brilliant scholar of the Classics, specifically Greek. He was humorous and poetic. He constantly threatened to resign his position, was a man full of contradictions, a less than skillful driver and tragically gone too soon.

Those interested in women’s studies will find this publication to be a breath of fresh air. It includes details of the women who worked at Bletchley Park and heralds the significant contributions made by those women. Most of whom were never awarded any recognition or accolade.

CONCLUSION

The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park is anything but a dry retelling of history. I found it intriguing, enlightening and humors in equal amounts. Since I read it a week or two ago, I’ve thought of it fondly and often mentioned it repeatedly to friends and family. This, for me, is the seal of a truly great work and because of this I am rating this book highly.

If you want to find out: who ‘Dilly’s Fillies’ were, why there was a bath in the office of Room 40 at the Admiralty, how QWERTZU has anything to do with the Enigma, how the Bomba became the Bombe or what really went on in Hut 6; you will have to read The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park for yourself. Be prepared for a compelling and extraordinary true-life tale.

Highly recommended for everyone.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Sir John Dermot Turing, Netgalley and Arcturus for affording me the opertunity to review The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park: The Secret Intelligence Station that Helped Defeat the Nazis.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

book review, Fiction

STELLA ENDICOTT AND THE ANYTHING-IS-POSSIBLE POEM – REVIEW

May 21, 2020 Kado Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem
Author/Illustrator	Kate DiCamillo / Chris Van Dusen
Publisher	Candlewick Press (June 2020)
Format	Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover
Pages	96
Language	English
ASIN	B07ZRCKGC6

AUTHOR

Katrina Elizabeth DiCamillo is an accomplished author and is known for her fictional children’s books. She is one of six people to win the Newberry Medal twice. She was appointed the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress for the term 2014 and 2015. She writes novels, chapter books, picture books and short stories. Several of her stories have been made into motion pictures. You can visit Kate’s website here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem is written for children 5-10 years old.

SYNOPSIS

Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem is the story of a young second grader and her antagonist Horace. Stella is an imaginative young girl who likes to fantasize about wizards and castles. Horace is the obnoxious know-it-all that every class has. The two are at ends on most things, but everything unravels when they start arguing in class.

The two get sent to the Principles office but Horace runs off. Stella gives chase and then things go really bad. They have to bind together and provide each other comfort to escape their ordeal.

CONCLUSION

Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem is a very good book. It provides education and storytelling all in one. The characters are well crafted and believable. The plot is suspenseful and intellectual. The prose is age appropriate and easily to follow. There is the heroine and the antagonist and circumstance forces them to work together. The end of story lesson is relevant and educational.

The illustrations in this pre-release are not the final press release pictures. That said, they are splendid. Chris is an excellent artist and his characters are beautifully rendered. If the final release is anything like the cover, then this will be a delightfully colored picturesque book. I do love the pig and “balloon head Horace.”

Overall, Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem is an excellent book. Children will absolutely love this story and its characters. When the final release is complete, I have no doubt that the illustrations will only add to the appeal of this little gem.

SPECIAL MENTION – ILLISTRATOR

Chris Van Dusen is an accomplished author and illustrator. He started drawing when he was a child living in Portland, Maine. Back then he loved drawing aliens, monsters and robots. He attended the University of Massachusetts where he earned a BFA in 1982. He did a few odd jobs after graduation but finally started freelance drawing cartoons and illustrations for magazines. He published his first book in 2000. If you would like to learn more about Chris, you can find his website here, and you can watch his drawing tutorials here or catch him on Facebook here.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Kate DiCamillo and Candlewick Press for affording me the opportunity to review Stella Endicott and the Anything-Is-Possible Poem.

LITERCURIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY JOKE

Q. Do you know why Humpty Dumpty likes Autumn so much?

A. He had a great fall.

OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

Biography, book review, Non-Fiction, Science

The Story of Jane Goodall – Review

May 20, 2020 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious book Review

Title	The Story of Jane Goodall: A Biography Book for New Readers
Author/Illustrator	Susan B. Katz / Lindsay Dale-Scott
Publisher	Rockridge Press (May 5, 2020)
Format	Kindle, Paperback
Page	67
Language	English
ASIN	B0875MRZ6C

AUTHOR

Susan B. Katz is a Board Certified Educator with a quarter century of experience, an award winning bilingual author, and a popular speaker. When not writing, she can be found working as the executive director of ConnectingAuthors.org, a national nonprofit organization that brings authors and illustrators into schools. Susan also enjoys an active social life. You can read more about her here: http://susankatzbooks.com

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Children 6 to 8 years old will enjoy reading this publication.

SYNOPSIS

The Story of Jane Goodall is a child orientated biography. It’s an attractive and informative revelation about the leading light in conservation. The Story of Jane Goodall describes her life, passions, studies and her meteoric rise professionally, socially and educationally. Her name is synonymous with the study of chimpanzees and the conservation of their habitat. Inspirational throughout, The Story of Jane Goodall is a must read for any child whose parent wants to impress upon them the importance of a life long commitment and conservation.

Dame Jane Morris Goodall DBE., formerly Baroness Jane van Lawick-Goodall, is world renowned for her study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees. Over 60 years of studying primates have established her as the worlds leading authority on chimpanzees. She also founded the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots programme. She was named a UN Messenger of Peace in April 2002.

As the title makes clear, The Story of Jane Goodall describes the life of Dame Jane Goodall. It takes us through the evolution of Jane. From her formative years as a young girl in England through her life experiences and the fortunate accident that ushered her to become a woman of letters. Katz’s relates the ups and the downs of Jane Goodall’s life and experiences. Through her skilled writing Katz relates Jane’s enthusiasm for her subject.

Katz does a great job describing Janes’s life. She goes into detail such as: the type of books that Jane loved to read as a child, her ambitions to travel to Africa and her love of animals. She describes how Jane got her job in Gombe, Kenya with Dr. Louis Leakey Ph.D., an archaeologist and paleontologist. Katz relates how working with the notable Leakey led Jane to earn her Ph.D., in ethology. She went to Newman College, Cambridge and became the eighth person to be allowed to read for her doctoral thesis before having been awarded either a graduate or post graduate degree.

CONCLUSION

The Story of Jane Goodall is a refreshing new take on an old genre; that of the biography. Katz’s years spent as a teacher are obvious from the outset. Her prose is written with children in mind, and yet speaking as an adult, I enjoyed the simplicity and the clarity of her writing style. It is fun and enjoyable throughout.

The illustrations contained within the pages are delightful. They are age appropriate, colorful and fun. Lindsay Dale-Scott did an excellent job telling the story through pictures. I especially liked the way she put faces with the names of Jane’s chimpanzees. I thoroughly enjoyed her art work.

The Story of Jane Goodall is a tiny gem; enlightening, informative, compelling and concise. Large enough to satisfy and short enough to read in an hour or two. The timeline is interspersed through the chapters and easy to follow. Included are many memory retention tools and quizzes. I loved this book, and you will too.

SPECIAL MENTION – ILLUSTRATOR

Lindsay Dale-Scott is an accomplished illustrator and designer. She studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Columbus College of Art and Design. An animal lover herself, she she earned an award for her advertising campaign for the sloth sanctuary of Costa Rica. She says, “I have always been an artist ever since I could hold a crayon, drawing on walls and just creating.” Her works are not just on books, she also creates greeting cards for American Greetings. If you would like to learn more about Lindsay Dale-Scott, her web site is here and you can follow her on Instagram here.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Susan B. Katz, NetGalley and Rockridge Press for affording me the opportunity to review The Story of Jane Goodall: A Biography Book for New Readers.

LITERCURIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY JOKE

Q. Why isn’t a Koala bear a real bear?

A. Because he isn’t Koalafied.

SIMILAR BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR

These books are currently free to read on KindleUnlimited

book review, Fiction

HERBIE AND THE T. REX – REVIEW

May 14, 2020 Kado Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Herbie and the T. Rex
Author/Illustrator	Charlotte Sebag-Montefiore / Anita Schmidt
Publisher	Olympia Publishers (26 Mar. 2020)
Format	Kindle, Paperback
Pages	30
Language:	English
ISBN 10/13	1788304977 / 978-1788304979

AUTHOR

This is the third book in Charlotte Sebag-Montefiore’s repertoire.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Herbie and the T. Rex is written for children 2-6 years old.

SYNOPSIS

Herbie and the T. Rex is a short children’s story about “Herbie the Herbivore” and his friends. They go out together to get some nice leaves to eat when they are set upon by a T. Rex. Herbie and his friends have to think fast to get out of this situation.

CONCLUSION

This book is very nicely illustrated. Anita Schmidt did a wonderful job depicting the dinosaurs and the scenes. The drawings are age appropriate, colorful and delightful.

Herbie and the T. Rex starts off slowly but the plot develops rapidly. As the T. Rex approaches Herbie and his friends, Sebag-Montefiore includes an element of suspense into the story. However, the story line is disjointed and doesn’t flow well.

I wish Herbie had made friends with the T. Rex because I don’t want to teach a 2-6 year old child that violence is the first answer to a bully. Furthermore, some of the vocabulary used is not age appropriate.

SPECIAL MENTION – ILLUSTRATOR

Anita Schmidt is a mother of two and lives near the Baltic Sea in northern Germany. She studied graphic design and now works with Bright Children’s Authors and Illustrators.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Charlotte Sebag-Montefioreand Olympia Publishers for affording me the opportunity to review Herbie and the T. Rex.

LITERCURIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY JOKE

Q. Why couldn’t the teddy bear finish his dinner?

A. Because he was already stuffed.

book review, fantasy, Fiction

THE TOOTH QUEEN – REVIEW

May 13, 2020 Kado 3 Comments

Litercurious Book Review

Title	The Tooth Queen
Author	Neil A. Ewart
Publisher	Olympia Publishers (26 Mar. 2020)
Format	Kindle, Paperback
Pages	23
Language	English
ISBN 10/13	1788304055 / 978-1788304054

AUTHOR

Find out about Neil A. Ewart on his publishers web-site here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

The Tooth Queen is written for children 5-7 years old.

SYNOPSIS

The Tooth Queen is a very short children’s story. It relates the trials and tribulations of the Tooth Fairy and her work for the “evil tooth queen.”

It explains in a magical way, why it’s important not to have tooth decay.

CONCLUSION

This book is very well scripted and flows nicely. It is written in a rhyming prose, and the illustrations are both colorful and vibrant. Neil uses his story telling not merely to entertain but to educate. In this case he is advocating proper tooth care in a way that young children will easily understand.

I especially liked the picture puzzle. I had to go back through the book to find all of the pictures, which was very entertaining. Children will absolutely love this book.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Neil A. Ewart and Olympia Publishers for affording me the opportunity to review The Tooth Queen.

LITERCURIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY JOKE

Q. What does the Tooth Fairy use to fix a broken wand?

A. Why tooth paste, of course.

Art & Design, book review, Non-Fiction

ESSENTIAL ART THERAPY EXERCISES – REVIEW

May 12, 2020 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Essential Art Therapy Exercises: Effective Techniques to Manage Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD
Author	Leah Guzman
Publisher	Rockridge Press (March 17, 2020)
Format	Kindle, Paperback
Pages	247
Language	English
ASIN #	B08589QCTM

AUTHOR

Learn all about Leah Guzman on her website here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

This work is directed towards every artist, student, parents of children or adults with mental or physical challenges and anyone wanting to reduce stress through creativity.

SYNOPSIS

The author begins by describing the many uses of art based therapy from a psychotherapeutic approach to psychological or emotional conflicted individuals. Leah Guzman clarifies the art therapist’s qualifications and the training that goes into making a professional clinician. In addition, she posits the wide ranging and varied benefits arriving from the application of art therapy exercises under the tutelage of a competent therapist. She further explains the historic beginnings of Art Therapy as a treatment for people with Tuberculosis in sanatoria during the 1930s to improve mental health and reduce stress.

She describes both the short and long-term goals that drive the path of art as a therapy. One example is the method of visual documentation of thoughts and feelings through art therapy. The therapeutic goal of the art work is to provide an insight into the inner angst of the patient. The art makes visible the cause of pain, stress or discomfort; be it emotional, physical or subconscious.

Leah Guzman argues that research conducted by Marcia Rosal, in her book Cognitive Behavioral Art Therapy (CBAT), provides data that supports the positive effects of CBAT. She further postulates that CBAT provides the most effective treatment for several psychological based conditions by: alleviating stress, increasing coping skills and the adaption of the environment to increase self-esteem and self-control, thereby building emotional resilience and promoting healing. She further theorizes that one of the benefits of CBAT identified by Rosal, is the increased ability of the patient to enhance and organize thought processes.

Essential Art Therapy Exercises covers all aspects of self-guided art based therapy and expounds the many benefits of employing a professional art therapist. It includes a chapter on useful materials for art therapy and the important need for an “art safe place.” A place where you can come and go and not worry about someone tampering with your art work.

Throughout the guide there are numerous examples of art exercises to try. One example that particularly conforms to the goal orientated approach is the feeling wheel (see Loc 511). Each exercise breaks down into individual components. The kind of exercise depends on the type of trauma or condition. For each one there are benefits and steps required to complete the exercise; whether it is pastels, paintings, sculpture or any other art form. Every exercise is accompanied by a brilliant full color photograph.

Essential Art Therapy Exercises concludes with a list of useful online resources which includes helplines for a range of emergencies. This is followed by a compendium of references, acknowledgements, and section about the author.

CONCLUSION

I found Essential Art Therapy to be a revelation in more ways than one. Everyone could benefit from some CBAT to ease the stress and tensions of these challenging times.

It would have been nice to see digital art included now that the price of the equipment more accessible. Digital art has additional benefits to traditional art methods in that the image can be modified relatively easy, duplicated and shared with ease. The inclusion of digital art could provide an additional dimension to a CBAT class, group or exercise.

I would like to extend my personal thanks to Leah Guzman for gifting me a new perspective on a familiar subject. This author deserves your support.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Leah Guzman, NetGalley, and Rockridge Press for affording me the opportunity to review Essential Art Therapy Exercises: Effective Techniques to Manage Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD.

book review

Pen and Ink — The Renaissance

May 10, 2020 Nemo 2 Comments

BY JUDITH OF ARTISTCOVERIES

I have just read Pen and Ink: The Renaissance, By Judith of artistcoveries.

Judith makes a forceful argument in defense of the Renaissance period in art. As I am also passionate about this period and because I very much enjoyed her work I wanted to share it here with you. Why not head on over to Judith’s site and enjoy a skillfully written and informed account of that period in art history. The Renaissance was so very important and those artisans fundamentally, changed the art landscape and influenced many artists who came later.

I have a feeling that this is not the last artistcoveries article I will be reading.

Judith’s article well researched and and captivating. I enclose a link so you can enjoy it also.

Why not head on over and read more articles like this one for yourself. You can find it here: https://artistcoveries.wordpress.com/2019/09/27/pen-and-ink-the-renaissance/

book review, History, Non-Fiction, Politics, Science, True Crime

The Organ Thieves – REVIEW

May 7, 2020 Nemo Leave a comment

Litercurious Book Review

IN MEMORIAM OF
BRUCE TUCKER
DECLARED DEAD ON SATURDAY MAY 25, 1968 AT 3:33 PM

Still waiting for an apology that will never come.
R.I.P.

Title	The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South
Author	Chip Jones
Publisher	Gallery/Jeter Publishing (August 18, 2020)
Format	Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Audio CD
Pages	400
Language:	English
ISBN 10/13	1982107529 / 978-1982107529

Imagine ‘House’ meets ‘A Few Good Men.’

AUTHOR

Chip Jones is a Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist. You can learn more about this author here or visit his Facebook page here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

The Organ Thieves has broad appeal. Everyone from medical students to senior professors and laymen alike will enjoy this work. Students of history, ethics, research fellows or anyone who wants to know more about the early history of heart transplants in the United States will find this book invaluable.

SYNOPSIS

The Organ Thieves is a compassionate retelling of events that introduced a new and highly anticipated advance in medical science. It’s a real-life drama of a radical new cutting-edge medical procedure, involving esteemed surgeons and a seemingly inebriated, impecunious victim of an accident. The apparent theft of the heart and two kidneys from a decent hardworking man, eventually resulting in a $1,000,000 lawsuit.

The subsequent trial spans the whole gamut of questions relating to ethics, motivations, incompetence and a questionable disregard for state law and patients care. The trial covered poor medical administrative practices, prejudice and ethical questions that still plague modern medical ethicists. All this set against the contextual history of medical research set in the segregated South. From the dark days of slavery and the Devil’s Half Acre, to the ‘demonstrators’ and the ‘resurrection-men’ of pre 1884, through to the mid 1990s.

CONCLUSION

The Organ Thieves is well-paced throughout, resplendent with historic detail, clear and concise prose that make for a work that is difficult to put down. I read the last 4 hours in one sitting and I was more enthusiastic in my praise and admiration with each passing chapter.

My only criticism is, I felt at times, there was an understandable bias exhibited by the author. Rather than simply presenting the facts, thus leaving the reader to make their own independent assessment, I sensed he was assessing the historic interactions by todays values.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Chip Jones, NetGalley, and Gallery/Jeter Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review The Organ Thieves: The Shocking Story of the First Heart Transplant in the Segregated South.

book review, Fiction

PETER AND THE DWARF PLANETS – REVIEW

May 7, 2020 Kado 1 Comment

Litercurious Book Review

Title	Peter and the Dwarf Planets
Author/Illustrator	Stephen J. Alexander / Laura Coppolaro
Publisher	Olympia Publishers (August 30, 2018)
Format	Kindle, Paperback
Pages	26
Language:	English
ISBN 10/13	1788301412 / 978-1788301411

AUTHOR

Stephen J. Alexander is an educator and author. You can learn more about this author here, visit his Facebook page here or see him on twitter @DwarfPlanets5.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Peter and the Dwarf Planets is written for children 5-11 years old.

SYNOPSIS

Peter and the Dwarf Planets is a bedtime story for children. It relates the adventures of a father and his son, Peter, exploring the solar system. The father, Daddy, is speaking with Peter about the different planets when the subject of dwarf planets comes up. As Peter starts to drift off to sleep, he imagines a great space adventure with Daddy. They travel together checking out all of the planets on their way out to Pluto.

CONCLUSION

Peter and the Dwarf Planets is a very short book. The story starts in a rhyming fashion, losses it for a couple of pages in the middle, and then rhymes to the end. The flow is easy and great for small children. It teaches kids about planets, dwarf planets, and our solar system while entertaining them.

The illustrations by Laura Coppolaro are very nice. They are colorful, fun, and appealing. They make the book a joy to look at while reading. A child can use their imagination while viewing the pictures and reading/hearing the story.

Overall, this book is a joy to read. Anyone will love sharing this story with their young children at bedtime. I only wish it were a little longer. I can’t wait to see what Peter and Daddy get up to next.

SPECIAL MENTION – ILLUSTRATOR

Laura Coppolaro is a professional illustrator. You can find her on Facebook here or if you have need of her skills, you can contact her here. Her LinkedIn page is located here.