HEATHER PIERCE STIGALL
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REVIEW: HAPPY MAGIC DAY!

10/31/2022

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It makes sense that Magic Day is celebrated the same day as Halloween. Halloween is a magical holiday, after all. So today, I’m excited to share a review of a book features a magical witch, Hazel, and her granddaughter, Hilda, that’s a perfect read for this holiday or any day:  
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​TITLE: WITCH HAZEL

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Molly Idle

PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company/2022

OPENING LINES: 
 
In the spring, Hilda helped Hazel sweep the front porch.
“I’ve always loved this time of year,” said Hazel. “Everything old feels new again.”
She brushed the hair from her forehead…
and the dust from the steps…
and smiled.
Molly Idle does it again. This story features Hazel, who not only shares her memories with her granddaughter, Hilda, but brings them to life in the way only a witch could—with magic! The book spans the seasons with a gentle story arc that celebrates family, intergenerational connection, memory, and imagination. Idle’s gorgeous illustrations, done in shades of black, gray, and white on a sepia background, are a departure from her brightly colored books, but her art is no less exquisite. The text and art are striking, but subtly hint at what the story is about, leaving room for the reader’s interpretation and imagination to fill in the rest. I can’t say enough about this sweet, heart-warming tale, which is purely magical! 
 
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REVIEW: HAPPY DIWALI!

10/24/2022

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​Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated in either October or November, and this year (2022) it falls on October 24th. Whether or not you celebrate this holiday, I hope you’ll join me in reading about how one Indian girl celebrates Diwali in her new American home in: 
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​TITLE: DIWALI IN MY NEW HOME
AUTHOR: Shachi Kaushik
ILLUSTRATOR: Aishwarya Tandon
PUBLISHER: Beaming Books/2022
OPENING LINES: 

Today is Diwali, the festival of lights.
It’s Priya’s favorite holiday.
The colorful decorations, shimmering fireworks, and gathering of family and friends always fill her heart with joy.

But this Diwali is quiet.
Priya is almost nine thousand miles away from India.
Here, the streets are empty, and nothing is decorated. Everything looks dull.
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Priya is new to the United States and misses her Indian traditions, especially when it’s time for her favorite holiday, Diwali. No one around her seems to know about The Festival of Lights. So, at home, she joins her parents to prepare for the festivities. Soon it begins to look, smell, and taste more like the holiday she loves. When her neighbors take notice, they all share in the celebration. Shachi Kaushik’s story relatable and informative and includes back matter with an author’s explanation about Diwali and a glossary of terms used in the book. Aishwarya Tandon’s illustrations are expressive, colorful, and inclusive. This heartwarming story is about cultural and family traditions, overcoming homesickness, community and family connection, and Diwali, of course. 
 
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Did you read and like this book? 
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!
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REVIEW: IT’S LEIF ERIKSON (AKA VIKING) DAY!

10/9/2022

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​Leif Erikson was a famous Norse explorer, so some who celebrate this day do so by embarking on a new adventure. Today I recommend a picture book about a Viking who does just that, despite a crippling fear: 
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​TITLE: VIKING IN LOVE
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Doug Cenko
PUBLISHER: Viking Children’s Books/2021

​OPENING LINES: 
 Stig was like most Vikings.
He loved fresh air, hearty stew, and, of course, adorable kittens.
But unlike most Vikings, there was one thing Stig did not like…
THE SEA.
It’s not like he was scared of it or anything…
(Okay, maybe just a little bit.)
A Viking with a fear of the sea? That’s unusual, and a bit of a problem. For Stig it becomes even more of a problem when he meets Ingrid, the most fearless Viking he’s ever seen. He wants to tell her how he feels, but how can he when she spends her life at sea? This heart-warming tale had all the things I love and more: humor with heart, a main character you want to cheer for, a love story, a sea adventure, laugh-out-loud page turns, illustrated end papers (check out the difference between the front and back pages), a surprise under the book jacket, adorable illustrations, and even kittens. I urge you to join Viking Stig on his adventure to love!
 
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Did you read and like this book? 
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!
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REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL FIRE PUP DAY!

10/1/2022

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This holiday honors fire department dogs. What do dogs and fire departments have in common? Fire hydrants! That’s why today’s book review is on:
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​TITLE: LOU

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Breanna Carzoo

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins/2022

OPENING LINES: 
 
Hello!
Can you see me down here?
My name is Lou, and I’m…
A toilet.
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Lou thinks he’s a toilet because all day, every day, dogs use him to…well, you know. He knows he’s useful, but deep down he feels like he has something more inside him. Spoiler alert—Lou does figure out his true purpose as a fire hydrant, but you’ll have to read (and look at the illustrations) to find out how. Breanna Carzoo cleverly and humorously uses a fire hydrant to tell a story about self-worth, living up to your potential, and finding your true purpose. Her bold, colorful illustrations are expressive, cheerful, and essential to telling the story that is not shown in the text. She depicts a diverse cast of humans and canines, as well as a rascal cat (be sure to look carefully to see the cat’s crucial role in the story). Really fun read!
 
Read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Did you read and like this book? 
One of the best ways to support authors and illustrators is to post reviews for their books. Support an author/illustrator today by leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon!
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    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.

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