Hey! Hey! Whaddya say, friends?
If you’re saying “three-fer,” then you’re in luck. Cuz today we’re featuring a children’s “three-fer.” Two are fiction. One is non. One is a creative and clever story about friends and family. And sneezing. Yep, sneezing. The other is the story of a real-life heroine. The third is The Kimster’s new favorite. It’ll become readily apparent once you read the title.
So, are ya ready? Great! Let’s dive in with The Sneeze Collector, Yaa Asantewaa: The Warrior Queen, and Emma and Lily, Dog-Talk Detectives:
The Sneeze Collector
By: Dominic Smith (Indie author, 2024)
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Pages: 99
Note: We received complimentary copies of these books in exchange for an honest review.
Finish the case, complete the mission. Do whatever it takes.
When young Summer recalls these words from his late father, a police officer killed in the line of duty, he has no idea that his life is about to be turned upside down in this entertaining and eminently enjoyable children’s fantasy by Dominic Smith.
Along the way, Summer must find out: Why is a strange man collecting sneezes? How does he make himself invisible? Where does he get his amazing hot chocolate from? Summer has no ideashow to answer any of these questions. But he has an idea of how he might find out. After all, Summer is a pretty ingenious boy. He’s figured out bubblegum glasses, pepper-filled water pistols, and a flour trap. Now if Summer can just figure out who Funderbunk is and why he’s intent on collecting sneezes.
Woah, mega!
Yes, Summer is a young fella. A determined fella. Summer is one half of “The Fruit Salad.” It’s what Summer and his BFF Tommy call themselves because Summer lives on Apple Tree Lane and tommy lives on Strawberry avenue. The two friends are inseparable and mutually supportive. Especially when it comes to defeating school bully and all-around jerk Ben Spoonfield in a school bubblegum-blowing contest. When it comes down to Ben vs. Summer, a large man suddenly appears next to Tommy. The man has strange glow about him and carries a type of tube. As Tommy starts to sneeze, the mysterious man puts the tube right up Tommy’s nose and… Distracted, Summer’s gum slips out of his mouth. The man dashes away. Turns out no one saw the man expect Summer. Woah, mega!
A Desperate Race
Can Summer find a way to prove what he saw, broski? Summer tries to solve the mystery. He soon finds that bubble gum isn’t just for chewing as he joins the mysterious man, Funderbunk, on a wild chase that includes crazy inventions, performing pigeons and terrifying tigers whilst dodging burdensome bullies, jumping janitors and a frizzy-haired scientist. It’s not long before Summer is plunged into a desperate race against time to solve the mystery and save… oh, wait. You’ll have to read the book to find out more.
There’s also a hay fever convention (I’m not making this up). “Detective mode.” Bambidextrous. Voila! Miles (and I don’t mean distance). Holy guacamole. Two pathways. Susie the elephant. Rap. Correctamundo. Thunder and Lightning. Mumzy-wumzy. Friendship. Loyalty. Forgiveness.
Surprising
Indeed, there’s more to this clever story than a mere stroll down fantasy lane. Moments of pathos sneak up on you and burst onto the page when least expected. A surprising amount of emotion tiptoes in and out of select pages. In fact, it turns out that Summer and Funder have something in common. Something that’s not apparent at first glance. So you might want to bring some tissue.
Wit and Warmth
Purling with perspicacity, the prose is plucky and pert. Rimmed with wit and warmth, the story is supple and spirited. Characters are artfully drawn, especially Funderbunk. (Think Willy Wonka before Warner Bros. got ahold of him.) The pacing is lithe and limber. It will keep the target audience of children ages nine to fourteen years engaged from page one until the very end.
The door is left open for a sequel. Yes, please!
Our Rating: 4.0
***
Yaa Asantewaa: The Warrior Queen
Cover art not available
By: Margaret Asante
Genre: Children’s Non-fiction
Pages: 37
Anchored in the historical record, this engaging and informative story introduces young readers to the intrepid Ashanti Warrior Queen who fought against the British in the early 1900s.
Yaa Asantewaa was a prominent queen of the Ashanti Kingdom of the Gold Coast in West Africa (present-day Ghana). Home to brave warriors and lot of gold, the kingdom was also the site of many battles between the British and the Ashanti. As the story details, the queen led the Ashanti war also known as the War of the Golden Stool, or the Yaa Asantewaa War of Independence, against the British Empire in 1900.
When Asantehene is captured, the British want a valuable artifact. Steadfast, the queen refuses to give it up. Unsure how to proceed, Yaa Asantewaa receives instructions about how to lead and defend her people in a dream. The queen travels to Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, and meets with the chiefs. She is determined to stand up for her people and protect the “Golden Stool.” When Yaa Asantewaa asks the Ashanti men to fight with her, they quail. She asks the women to fight with her. They respond in the affirmative. Thus, the British governor never finds the Golden Stool.
Brimming with action and intrigue, this is a highly readable story. It’s briskly paced and will not strain young attention spans. Sentences are short and easy to digest. Vibrant colors and age-appropriate vocabulary enhance the text.
Colorful, Clever
Ralph Yendaw’s eye-catching and colorful illustrations will also grab the attention of young readers and keep them turning pages as they learn about this fascinating and courageous woman. At less than forty pages, this clever and highly readable book will appeal to young readers. Additional clarity regarding Asantehene’s identity and why his capture was significant would be helpful. It’s not entirely clear in the narrative. This may leave some readers guessing. A map would also be helpful.
Yaa Asantewaa The Warrior Queen would make a worthwhile addition to a home or school library.
Our Rating: 3.5
***
Emma and Lilly Dog-Talk Detectives
By: Penny DiLoreto (Indie author, 2024)
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Pages: 61
Sisters Emma and Lily are two young detectives. But they aren’t just any detectives, mind you. Nopers. Along with their canine sidekick, Amigo, the girls are the Dog-Talk Detectives in this delightful and engaging children’s story.
On a Mission
The girls are on a mission to learn more about how dogs use their bodies to “talk” to humans. Their first mission is to secretly spy on their neighbor, Jimmy, and his dog, Max. The girls meet other humans and their furry friends as they study canine body language to figure out what and how a dog is trying to communicate to its human. This includes body language clues like tail wagging or rolling over for a belly rub to indicate happiness, or a wrinkled nose and downturned ears to communicate the desire to be left alone and undisturbed. The girls write down or illustrate their findings in their handy detective notebook.
At the dog park, Emma and Lily notice a new dog. This dog looks different. His ears are flat. His mouth is shut tight. He’s not looking their way like other dogs they meet at the park do. What is the dog telling them? The girls learn how to determine whether or not a dog is shy about meeting new people by reading the dog’s body language cues.
A Win- Win
This book is a win-win-win! It’s not only entertaining, with dynamic and colorful illustrations to accompany the lively text, it’s also informative and eminently engaging. The story is clever and resourceful, drawing young readers into Emma and Lily’s quest to better understand canine body language. It has a You Are There feel to it that makes readers feel as if they’re making discoveries and learning right alongside the two sisters and their buddy, Amigo. Sentences are brief and bite-sized, so as not to overwhelm or over-tax young attention spans. The pacing is brisk, the story nimble. It’s educational without feeling like school. In fact, it feels like fun!
Emma and Lily: Dog Detectives is quite an accomplishment, especially for a debut children’s book. It’s anchored in “a desire to share the magic of childhood curiosity and the enduring bond between children and their pets.” It succeeds. In spades. Or should I say, in doggie treats? Kimber: Where?
Emma and Lily Dog Detectives would make a welcome addition to any classroom or home library. It would make an excellent gift choice for a new dog owner or perhaps a dog owner who could use some gentle encouragement and advice about communicating with their dog effectively. Let’s hope we see more of this dynamic duo.
You know Mom’s a sucker for just about any “dog book.” But Emma and Lily is more than a good story. It’s also a chance to learn and apply some practical advice and insights that will benefit both human and canine. Kimber: About time.
We loved it! Four paws up!
Pages & Paws 