Happy 3rd Birthday Avi! This gift is an important one - Love Makes a Family! By Sophie Beer AND Dragon: Sibling Rivalry!

Avi's Mom, Dad, and Great Aunt

Avi's Mother and Grandmother and Grandfather below

Can you believe that Avi is three already?! Wow, time does indeed go by fast. And, of course, there were celebrations all around the families and we even went out to have lunch...  And of course I had books but waited to share when we came back... 

 

Love is baking a special cake.

Love is lending a helping hand.

Love is watching from the front row.

Love is playing on the weekend.

This eye-catching picture book is on thick cardboard which is endurable, but also eas for little hands to carry with them from room to bed... The theme is one to which we can all relate--family members who surround the little child loved by all!

Pointing out that families can be made up of different people of all shapes and sizes, it enhances the natural curiosity of a child to get to know who and how they are loved--each page presents a picnic or baking cookies or just making the child laugh to be enjoying a happy time!

Little boys especially love to growl like a monster, maybe a dragon... But what if a dragon is just a little girl and doesn't like to be "growled" at?

Dragon - Sibling Rivalry helps children learn about having a new or ongoing sibling, or friend, with whom they need to get along. The little boy is named Drew and has a pet dragon named Diggeory Doo!

But Diggory's cousin came to stay for a short visit. A little dragon named Lolly Lou... And, for Diggery Doo? You see, Doo thought it would be fun... But things didn't go as he thought!

Hi, I'm Drew, and I have a dragon pet. His name is Diggory Doo. But for a while last summer, we had not one, but TWO!

Dragons are not common pets and raising them is tough. One dragon living in your house is really quite enough!

Diggory's cousin came to stay. Uncle Bill was out of town. It was like we had a sister; Diggery's world turned upside down!

But Diggery learned some lessons from his cousin Lolly Lou. If I tell you all about it, then you can learn them too! Because Diggery cried out it was going to be fun!

At first Diggory was excited, for Digg0ry Doo had never had a baby sister--This was the first time ever. He welcomed her with open arms. But it seemed the fun was over before it had begun

When Lolly Lou saw Diggory's toys, she dove right in to play. And that made Diggory mad at her on the very first day. He snatched his toys from Lolly Lou which made her cry and then Mother scolded, "Diggory Doo, Don't Do That Again! (in a loud voice!)

Then Diggory filled his water gun and soaked poor Lolly Lou; Daddy took his gun away to punish Diggory Doo. Then Diggory found a frog and chased Lorry 'round the yard. We warned him to be good, but I guess it was too hard!

"Diggory," I suggested, "you should find a book to read to your cousin...

~~~

This book is about the size of a comic book and has a shiny cover and back. All pages have colored pictures with small paragraphs on each page to explain what is happening...This picture book's characters are all able to talk, so can be considered for a young child who already has a sibling, or when somebody visits.

This book is part of a large series, so if your child enjoys dragons like most children do, it may be just what you are needing.

I started early with getting books for Avi who is not yet reading, of course. It's my belief that putting books in a child's hands as early as possible provides a way to teach children for the rest of their lives!

God Bless

Gabby

Note: there are quite a selection of Dragon Books by Steve Herman for your consideration on YouTube...

Douglas Jaffe Presents Fantastic Fantasy - Chinese Culture, Fables, Folk Religion, Dragons, Oh My!

Chinese dragon, symbol of Chinese culture and Chinese folk religion. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chinese dragon, symbol of Chinese culture and Chinese folk religion. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"Chi Wen focused on the largest of the structures
where the local magistrate had lived with his
extended family. He had been a thoughtful,
intelligent man and genuinely cared about the farming
province over which he had been sent to govern. He
had died some years ago from an infection and Chi
Wen missed him. They had shared a meal together once
when Chi Wen had taken the form of a traveling
scholar visiting from the capital. It was a memorable
evening and the first time Chi Wen had appeared as a
human being. He grinned as he thought back to his
initial awkwardness. Language, dress and customs
were easily mimicked, but the art of being human
was the more difficult skill to master.
~~~

Chasing Dragons

By Douglas A. Jaffe


There is much to learn from Douglas Jaffe if you take the time to  consider the choices of the two main characters, Sebastian and Chloe, a couple who fall in love at first sight...

Sebastian is originally from the States but moves to Hong Kong, led by his feelings for that land, its people. He now owns a bookstore with a lovely woman who manages it for him. I enjoyed their interaction and dialogue!

Sebastian also does something very interesting--he talks and listens to people...but there is no mention that he is a trained counselor... Still people come and they pay...
So, if you take the time to ponder over what people are talking to him about, you may find the session covering a topic for which you need advice! LOL... I especially enjoyed the father who had just found a new love after being divorced a number of years and thinking how his son, with whom he already had problems, would react...


The drama starts when two friends of his, documentary film makers, come to visit and seek his help during the development of a film on how dragons are part of the Chinese Culture.

Although I had never thought about it, there is indeed, as is discovered during that activity, that there is much the western and eastern feelings and opinions about dragons! While the West writes stories about slaying the dragon to save our princess, there is a reverence, a concept for good that surrounds them in the east.

Hence, the year of the dragon is celebrated and many hope to have their children born during that time so that good luck will be with them. Jaffe takes readers on a journey of those dragons as his shifting narrative moves to the lives of Chi Wen and Zhao Chen, two dragons who were at war in the distant past...

"Many Chinese families hope to have a child born
in the year of the dragon so as to acquire some of
the creature's more favorable traits. Famous
dragons in history includes Bruce Lee, Dr. Seuss,
Friedrich Nietzsche, Florence Nightingale, Deng
Xiaoping, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Helen Keller
and Salvador Dali.
As I read the various myths and stories about these
fantastic creatures, it occurred to me that Jim and
Lydia were probably looking at these creatures in
a symbolic or historical context. Their projects
tended to be grounded examples of the real world.
in all its grit and grime. They have produced films
on the homeless, landmine victims, migrant workers,
massacre reconciliation tribunals and other topics
sufficiently capable with a healthy dose of guilt.
An X-files worthy expose on a secret cable of
omnipotent dragons ruling Asia was unlikely
to be there theme of choice..."
~~~

Indeed it is during the documentary activity, readers will meet individuals and hear folk tales about how dragons affect the lives of the Chinese people and their fears, but hopes, that their children will not allow these stories to fade away...

At one particular interview, Sebastian is caught off guard as an older woman takes a close look at him, and then gives him a card to call her. When they meet, she talks of how she "adopts" favorite or unique people and she sees in him someone she would like to know better. Later, she sends him a very valuable green dragon pendant...

But it had been before that time that it had started. It had also been before they had started working on the documentary... Sebastian had been dreaming--dreaming of dragons, of scenarios where he watched as dragons  lived. Was he becoming insane? And then an event occurred--was it a dream--where he had seen a number of youth beating much younger children. He watched and later saw all of the teens dead, lying on the ground with their throats torn...

When he saw the news in the paper, he had to realize, to admit to himself, that he had somehow killed them, although he could not remember doing so...

Fear for his mind led him to continue going through his recent past, trying to determine when all this had started. And then he knew--it had started when he met Chloe...

Jaffe could have ended his novel in at least two ways. I believe he chose the right way and did so to guide readers in what the moral in the story of Chinese culture might teach us... Are you game to read and choose what you would do? Highly recommended...


GABixlerReviews

Douglas Jaffe


CEO at Solution Access Ltd Hong Kong

Review: New Children's Book, Share from the Heart, Great for Easter Baskets!

Share from The Heart

Share from the Heart


Story and Illustrations
By Marilyn Randall
Xlibris Corporation
ISBN: 9781450041928
21 Pages







Have you met Peter? He’s an adorable dragon—without any friends! While he breathes fire and can make you afraid, he really won’t hurt you! He’s just a little different...

Meet Peter in Share from the Heart, the children’s story written and illustrated by Marilyn Randall. And even more delightful is that the story is in poetic form that will be fun reading by both children and their parents!

Two brothers, who lived all alone, were out one day when they came upon Peter. Of course, they didn’t know his name—all they knew was that he was a big monster who growled and smelled bad, especially his breath. But, really, he couldn’t help that since he breathed fire through his snout and his teeth were all red!

Fear was not something that the boys had known before they met Peter and they didn’t want him to know that they lived all alone. In fact, all they wanted to do was run, but the dragon was coming closer and he realized they were afraid:

“Boys, I’m not going to hurt you, I wouldn’t do that.
I want to get to know you and that’s the only fact.
I want to help you find more joy in your life,
And I know all the secrets that might make it right.”

But the boys weren’t so easily over their fright! Would you be, if you met a dragon tonight?

How about it, boys and girls—are you afraid to meet kids different from you? Do you shy away from somebody who is bigger and strange? Then, Marilyn Randall has written this book for you! She wants you to know that if you share from your heart—that is, that if you open up and talk or smile at others you don’t know, you just might find that that “dragon” will become one of your best friends!

The fully illustrated book is 8 ½ by 11 with over 12 half or full-page pictures of Peter, the brothers and their home. When Peter is not breathing fire, you will see that he is as cute as can be and that he carries his heart right out front, looking for new friends! The story is simply told and the rhyming will be fun, so read to the younger kids until they are old enough to read the story to you! And don’t be surprised if they ask to read about Peter the Dragon over and over. In fact, he sure would make a nice addition to your Easter baskets or birthday package! 

This teaching book will help kids learn about sharing with other kids they will meet during their school years. I applaud Share from the Heart by Marilyn Randall and recommend you introduce your children to Peter very soon! Click above to link over to Amazon or click on the article title to visit Marilyn Randall's site!

G. A. Bixler

Review: Second in Choices Trilogy - Wow!

Choices Meant For Gods
Book II of the Choices Trilogy
By Sandy Lender
ArcheBooks Publishing
ISBN: 9781595072191
558 Pages


Being born with an amethyst near the corner of your right eye is fascinating--at least it was to me! Of course, being especially marked, the child, Amanda Chariss, was also given the responsibility to be the future Protector of The Master, Rothahn, who is the highest active god from Mahriket.

Where is Mahriket? Well, it's in the northeast part of Onweald...

Which is the world created by Sandy Lender for her Choices Trilogy. In Choices Meant for Gods, a royal wedding has just taken place between Jake Taiman and Tiatha Wold, daughter of the emperor, and, already, Tiatha has been kidnapped! It had all been foretold, but as blood flowed within the castle, she had been taken. Chariss was near but she was forced to hide Kaylin, Jake's little sister, when she fainted, hearing what the men were doing to hurt Tiatha. Chariss could not take the chance that they would do the same to Kaylin!

And then Chariss had a vision from The Ultimate One and learned that the marriage between Jake and Tiatha had to be denounced. Doing the right thing and informing Jake of this only led him to escape the guards that had been his and run away to find Tiatha. Chariss knew that he would not return for the needed denouncement!

Only, then, the same thing happened to Chariss on the supposed day of her wedding! It was stopped, however, before it could take place!

So, what is happening in Onweald? You might have guessed already, especially if you read the first book in the trilogy. Julette happened! Julette is an ancient sorceror and goddess who is out to take over the realm of The Master Rothahn. She has been successful in casting a spell that has taken most of the magical abilities away from those in Onweald; however, the Ultimate One is with Chariss and has named her as Goddess of War, in addition to her responsibility for protecting The Master.

Because of the loss of geasa, Chariss and The Master are forced to seek assistance from neighboring countries and embark on a trip to discover which armies can be acquired. However, on that trip, Julette attacks the small group. The Master is sent off alone to seek safety while the others fight...and Chariss is captured by Drake...a sorcerer who is interested in her for a more personal reason!

Sandy Lender has created an outstanding trilogy that will grab you hard and take you back in time when the honor of a maiden is a high priority while at the same time, she is called upon to lead an army in defense of her country. The relationship between Chariss and Nigel, her intended, is fun and teasing, especially after you learn his secret!

Only problem? Sandy gets readers turning page after page in the highest point of the book, and then forces us to wait for the final book, Choices Made For All! Ahhhhh well, surely she knows that anybody that is caught, is going to be begging and demanding the final!

So....where is it Sandy?! I've read Choices Meant for Kings by you, Sandy Lender...And I need to find out what happens! NOW please...

Readers...don't start reading unless you want to get caught in Onweald too!

G. A. Bixler

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