HEATHER PIERCE STIGALL
  • Books
    • Paisley's Big Birthday
  • About
    • Meet Heather
    • Press Kit
  • Appearances
  • Resources
    • For Writers
    • For Educators & Readers
  • Ramblings & Reviews
  • Contact

REVIEW: IT’S WORLD TURTLE DAY!

5/23/2021

0 Comments

 
​And have I got the turtle for you: Truman! He’s peaceful and pensive and sweet and very, very brave. I LOVE this book! Here’s my review:
Picture
​

​TITLE: TRUMAN
AUTHOR: Jean Reidy
ILLUSTRATOR: Lucy Ruth Cummins
PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers/2019
OPENING LINES: 
 Truman was small, the size of a donut—a small donut—and every bit as sweet.
He lived with his Sarah, high above honking taxis and growling trash trucks and shrieking cars—and the number 11 bus, which traveled south.
​Jean Reidy sets the stage with a description of who Truman is (and make no mistake—he is every bit as sweet as a donut!), where he lives, and with whom. Right away you know that Truman and Sarah have a very close relationship. So, one day, when Sarah gives Truman extra green beans, tells him to “be brave,” and leaves on the number 11 bus, it’s no surprise Truman chooses this day to break from his peaceful, pensive way of life and do something that seems impossible! This book takes on the first day of school with a whole new twist, and Lucy Ruth Cummins’ illustrations of Sarah, Truman, and Truman’s big adventure (from the perspective of someone the size of a donut), are the perfect complement to Jean Reidy’s text. If you want to read about turtles, donuts, green beans, city busses, being brave and big adventures, this book is for you!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
0 Comments

REVIEW: IT’S WATER SAFETY MONTH!

5/14/2021

0 Comments

 
​I remember loving swim lessons, but my sister hated them! Here’s a story about a little girl who is more like my sister: 

​TITLE: LOTTIE & WALTER

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Anna Walker

PUBLISHER: Clarion Books/2019

OPENING LINES: 

​Lottie had a secret.
Her mom didn’t know the secret, and neither did her baby brother.
Her swimming teacher definitely didn’t know the secret.
Only Lottie knew a shark was hiding in the swimming pool.
Picture
​Every Saturday Lottie goes to swim lessons, but she has a problem: There’s a shark hiding in the swimming pool waiting to eat her! She’s not getting into that pool. But when a special Saturday is approaching—one with a pool party—Walter the walrus appears. He & Lottie become fast friends and he helps Lottie to find her courage. The illustrations in this book are oh, so sweet—soft, watercolors that are perfect for a pool-setting, and subtly expressive characters. This story is heart-warming and relatable, whether or not you’ve ever feared swim lessons. Everyone has had to face a fear, and Lottie does just that, with help from her imagination and a friend. I fell in love with Lottie & Walter, and I think you will too!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
0 Comments

REVIEW: IT’S NATIONAL SPACE DAY!

5/7/2021

0 Comments

 
Do you ever feel like running away from home? How about hopping into a spaceship and going to the moon? That’s what Sophia does in this clever, touching epistolary story:
Picture
​
​TITLE: LOVE, SOPHIA ON THE MOON
AUTHOR: Anica Mrose Rissi
ILLUSTRATOR: Mika Song
​PUBLISHER: Disney-Hyperion/2020
OPENING LINES: 
 Dear Mom,
I’m running away and won’t ever come back. From now on I live on the moon. Don’t stop me.
Love,
Sophia
​Sophia is unhappy. So unhappy, she decides to run away. To the moon. Don’t worry—she stays in touch with her mom by writing letters home. Luckily, there’s mail on the moon, so her mom can write back (and even send cookies). Anica Mrose Rissi’s story is brilliantly told in letters that begin with Sophia living happily on the moon with no time-outs and no bedtimes. But, eventually (spoiler alert) Sophie’s letters change to show that she might be missing a few things from home like bedtime stories and hugs from Mom. This sweet story includes kid-relatable situations and emotions, letter writing, Mika Song’s beautiful illustrations (including a surprise under the book jacket and cute end papers), rocket ships, cows jumping over the moon, and even cookies and milk. I’m over the moon about this book!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
0 Comments

    About Heather

    Heather is a busy wife and mom of five rambunctious children and one lovable pup They all provide lots of distractions, but oodles of inspiration.  Sometimes the pictures and ideas in her head turn into her own children's stories, but she always makes time to read other people's books. Sometimes she reviews them here.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    January 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Books
    • Paisley's Big Birthday
  • About
    • Meet Heather
    • Press Kit
  • Appearances
  • Resources
    • For Writers
    • For Educators & Readers
  • Ramblings & Reviews
  • Contact