The Secret Mountain Books

Team Mom sent me three books to review from The Secret Mountain . Of course, I was happy to review the books, since we love books in our family.   The Secret Mountain creates fun and engaging children’s books.  Each book is accompanied by a music CD featuring original songs. The best part is that the book also includes lyrics to these songs so that everyone can sing-along. A Duck in New York City is an original work by well-known singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor that tells the story of a little prairie duck with a big idea – making it on Broadway. It’s a long shot, and New York’s very far away. Luckily, a truck-driver named Big Betty comes along, offers him a ride, and gives him that extra little boost he needs to fulfill his dream!  This is a wonderful story with a great lesson for children and the music is catchy.

Dream Songs Night Songs is the third release from the award-winning critically-acclaimed collection of lullabies from around the world, sung in the language of origin, plus an illustrated bedtime story – in French, English, and Spanish – about an imaginary journey to unknown lands.  And Down At The Sea Hotel is a story and songs about dreams by legends including Neil Young, Tom Waits, Nanci Griffith, Don Henley, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Billy Joel as performed by roots music artists Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, Guy Davis, Lucy Kaplansky, Lynn Miles and The Wailin’ Jennys.  Each of the books have colorful vivid pictures and my son really enjoyed the fun music.  You can listen to an excerpt from each story and Cd on their website.  What story or music are your children’s favorites to listen to or read right now?

Childrens Book Reviews

Bookroom Reviews is pleased to announce our latest book reviewer!  I think he’s pretty handsome myself!

I will be posting every once in a while about children’s books because well,  I have a delightful four year old and we love to read together!  We received a couple of books for review and we wanted to share them with you!  Any publishers and authors reading this post we would love to review more,  feel free to send us an e-mail!

The Rabbit and the Snowman is the story of a friendship between the two.  It follows their story through the course of the four seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.  Of course The Rabbit finds out his friend is no longer there when he comes to visit him one day as winter is ending.  He finds himself missing him and then magically one day The Snowman returns in the Winter and they rekindle their loving friendship.  The author,  Sally O Lee has impressively written and illustrated this book.  The watercolor drawings are lovely and catch the reader’s eye, especially my four year olds.  Here is his review:

Mom:   What was your favorite part?  Answer:  The Snowman  I like this book mommy,  the Snowman was gone   Mom:  Then what happened?  Answer:  It was snowing and there he is,  he’s in that picture  The rabbit found him

Then he ran off, so there you go, I think it was a positive review myself!  Thank you Sally for sending your lovely book!  You can find out more about all of her books here

Fiscal Pear and Shimmer in the Call of River Whale is a book meant for a bit older children.  Fiscal Pear and Shimmer embark on their annual adventure only to find themselves running for their lives! A diabolical bakery and her villainous henchmen have hatched an evil plan to catch the walking talking pear in a last ditch effort to save the bakery from ruin. SOL realizes the power needed to help the little pear and lightning bug lies with the Council of the Wise. In a flash, SOL flies through the air with them on his back in an attempt to get them safely to the Council. When SOL disappears in mid-flight, Fiscal Pear and Shimmer plummet into the dark vastness beneath them and unexpectedly come face to face with the worst of the bakery’s agents…Cutter! Cornered in the dead of night, how will they ever escape Cutter and his gang in the thick forest?

Fiscal Pear is written for older children.  I enjoyed the characters but found the story a bit disjointed as an adult, so I’m not so sure children would be willing to follow along.   A pear as the main character though a unique idea,  I’m not so sure children would find all that appealing.   But there is some bathroom humor that I know they would enjoy.  This book just didn’t appeal to me.  Here is the author, Olivia Brooks Scrivanich website for more information.