Book Description from Publisher's Website “Padraig, my friend, it is time for us to be courageous.”
Padraig the dragon and his best friend, Roger the turtle are determined to spend the whole night outside. As brave explorers at the base of Mount Sillymanborrow, the boys use their imaginations to have fun while munching on crunchy baked bugs and toasting s’mores over their campfire. But when the sky gets dark and the sounds of strange animals fill the forest outside their tent, their safari gets scary. This adventure is just what the boys need to discover that the dark might be frightening, but their friendship is stronger than fear.
My Thoughts This is a children's picture book about two young friends, a dragon and a turtle. These young tikes decide it will be very brave of them to stay the WHOLE night outside in a tent all by themselves. I remember doing that as a kid. All the nighttime noises create images in your head about what is really out beyond the walls of your tent. Roger, the turtle, and Padraig, the dragon, imagined all kinds of exaggerated creatures outside their little circle of fire and tent. I think a turtle and a dragon are a cute combination for two friends. They are very different from each other as creatures go and so make a great duo.
This is a very simple story to read and understand making it enjoyable for your younger children. It encourages children to be brave and to be a true friend. I especially loved the bonus story, The Legend of Mount Sillymanborrow. Now that was cute! And the authors provide a few conversation starters at the end of the story to help you delve a little deeper into the valuable lessons written into the story with your children.
I also enjoyed the illustrations by Vincent Nguyen. The "nighttime" colors were perfect to set the tone of the story.
Contest The publisher, Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group is hosting a "Go On Safari" with your child contest. Details of the contest can be found here. Prize includes a child-size tent, two sleeping bags and much more.
**“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”.
Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas? In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball. Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together. This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?
From the very first sentences, this book caught my attention! It's a really fun, magical, Christmas-y book! The whole time I was reading it, the word sparkly came to mind. I had never heard of Donita K. Paul prior to receiving this book to review. She has a new fan!
I knew there was a mystical, magical element to this novella prior to reading the book. I don't typically read books with that element. But it was totally believable even though I know the things that occurred in the book would never happen in the real world. I actually found myself wishing the real life were more like the magical world found on Sage Street. I want to walk down an old-fashioned, yet modern street where life seems to slow down and what you are thinking about appears right before your eyes. I would love to go into quaint bookstores and fun costume shops with sweet old ladies that already know what you need and visit colorful candy shops. Seems like the perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon.
If you are one of those people who automatically cringes because of the words "mystical" and "magical", I suggest you venture outside the box a bit and read this book. I think Donita has a very interesting perspective on the magical element.
Book Description from Publisher's Website
