HEATHER PIERCE STIGALL
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REVIEW: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

10/31/2024

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​Halloween is the perfect holiday to recommend a middle grade book about the day strange events occur at the home of a horror film director:
​TITLE: PERIL AT PRICE MANOR
AUTHOR: Laura Parnum
PUBLISHER: Harper Collins/2023
OPENING LINES:
 
A shrill scream pierced through the otherwise quiet morning in the sleepy town of Bedlamton. It was the kind of scream usually associated with axe murderers, vengeful spirits, or toxic-sludge monsters. The only monsters in sight, however, were the ones in the movie posters plastered all over the walls of the tiny bedroom where Halle Thompson stood alone, facing down her own reflection.
 
Her scream was followed by an equally alarming yell from the kitchen down the hall.
 
“Halle, cut that out! You’ll give the neighbors a heart attack!”
 
She sighed. If the neighbors were disturbed by her scream, her mother’s yelling was definitely not helping.
Picture
​Halle dreams of someday becoming a horror movie scream queen, so when she gets the chance to deliver flowers to horror film director Maximus Price, she jumps at it. What she doesn’t know is that her real life is about to turn into horror movie, complete with mysterious creatures lurking around every corner. If you’re looking for a middle grade with mystery, thrills, humor, and fun, this is the book for you. Quick pacing, tension building, engaging characters, and additional themes of friendship, cooperation, and heroism make this a super fun read. Loved it!
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY PLUSH ANIMAL LOVERS DAY!

10/29/2024

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​Whether or not you had a special plushy, stuffy, lovey, blanky, or whatever you chose to call it, you can probably relate to this book:
Picture
​

​TITLE: THE IMPOSTER
AUTHOR: Laura Bower
ILLUSTRATOR: Kerisa Greene
PUBLISHER: Gnome Road Publishing/2024
OPENING LINES:
There was one thing Olive loved more than anything else in the world.
No, not olives (although they shared a name),
not the Super Dooper Looper,
or even Grandma Rose’s costume box.
It was…
Mr. Snuggles.
Cuddly.
Reliable. Perfect.
Who doesn’t know a child (or was a child) who has a special stuffed animal, doll, blanket, or toy that they are SO attached to, they can’t live without it? That’s what Olive has in Mr. Snuggles, until one day he disappears! She’s devastated! But then, one day he miraculously reappears. Or so she thinks. Enter THE IMPOSTER! Children always know, don’t they? This book is so relatable and, without being preachy, shows themes of kindness, compromise, and acceptance. Overall, this is a really sweet story with engaging illustrations and characters and tons of kid-appeal.
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY IT’S MY PARTY DAY!

10/11/2024

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​“It’s my party and I’ll be quiet if I want to, quiet if I want to. You would be quiet too if  you were a snail too!” Read on and find out:
​
​TITLE: HOW TO PARTY LIKE A SNAIL
AUTHOR: Naseem Hrab
ILLUSTRATOR: Kelly Collier
PUBLISHER: Owl Kids/2022
OPENING LINES:
Snail is a party animal.
Well…kind of.
He especially loves the quiet things about parties.
Like confetti, using his indoor voice to make new friends, whispering meaningful wishes to cakes, and savoring those few silent seconds before everyone yells, “SURPRISE!”
Picture
This book is adorable! It’s got everything I love in a picture book—tongue-and-cheek humor, a heartfelt message that’s not too message-y, charming characters, art that tells a story beyond the text, illustrated end papers, and a bonus surprise under the dust jacket. This one is for anyone who likes a party. I enthusiastically (but quietly) recommend HOW TO PARTY LIKE A SNAIL.
 
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BOOK REVIEW: HAPPY NATIONAL BADGER DAY!

10/6/2024

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​Today’s book recommendation is about a party-going badger that is pure fun!
Picture
TITLE: PROPER BADGER WOULD NEVER!
AUTHOR: Lauren Glattly
ILLUSTRATOR: Rob Sayegh Jr.
PUBLISHER: Flamingo Books/2024
OPENING LINES:
Badger has been invited to a party.
He has always wanted to go to a party.
Badger doesn’t know Claire, but he’s sure she’ll be excited to meet him.
He is quite pleased.
A badger finds himself invited to Claire’s 5th birthday party, so he dresses in a “bow tie and his little jacket with the buttons down the front” and (spoiler) does NOT behave properly at the party! But the narrator would have you believe otherwise. Proper Badger would never claw at the birthday cake looking for delicious grubs, right? Lauren Glattly’s irreverent humor had me in stitches, and Rob Sayegh’s collage illustrations had me pouring over details like the clothing patterns and the characters’ reactions to the party mishaps, including the dog who appears on most every spread. PROPER BADGER WOULD NEVER! is properly hilarious!
 
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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
    • GILBERT & THE GHOST
  • About
    • Meet Heather
    • Press Kit
  • Events & News
  • Appearances
    • Author Visits
  • Resources
    • For Writers
    • For Educators & Readers
  • Ramblings & Reviews
  • Contact