Book Review: Mamá Graciela’s Secret by Mayra Calvani

Mamá Graciela’s Secret

Publication date: October 10, 2017

Written by Mayra Calvani

Illustrated by Sheila Fein


MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing

www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

36 pages, 3-7 year olds

Reading guide at: www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

Description:

Mamá Graciela’s TENDER, CRUNCHY, SPICY bacalaítos fritos are the best in town...

Local customers (including stray cats!) come from all over the island to enjoy her secret recipe. But when the Inspector discovers that Mamá secretly caters to so many cats and he threatens to close her tiny restaurant, Mamá must come up with a plan to save it—and all of the animals she loves.

About the author:

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her children's picture book, Frederico the Mouse Violinist was a finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards; her anthology Latina Authors and Their Muses was a First Place winner at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards; her nonfiction book, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, was a Foreword Best Book of the Year winner. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer's Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others.

She lives in Belgium with her husband of 30+ years, two wonderful kids, and her three beloved pets. When she's not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

About the illustrator:

Born in Queens, New York and living in Los Angeles since 1987, Sheila Fein has always been inspired by the changing world around her. Earning her BA in Design from Buffalo State College of New York, her concentration was on drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography. Sheila's education as an artist has taken her everywhere from Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia to Bath University in England. Today, Sheila Fein runs two figurative workshops, Imaginings Sketch in LA and People Sketchers in Thousand Oaks. She has been featured in numerous collections, magazines, books, solo and group exhibitions. Her paintings and drawings reside in public and private collections. Sheila loves to make the imagination of others a reality and has done so through her commissioned Fein Fantasy Portraits and Interactive Paintings. In addition to being a fine artist Sheila works as an illustrator. She just completed the book "Mama Graciela's Secret" for Maclaren-Cochrane Publishing.

My Review:

"A children's book where everything makes sense: the illustrations, the story and the message!"

I have always maintained that I look for two elements in a children's book. One, how well the book endears itself to the little readers, and two, the message that it puts across. 

It is indeed interesting when the two blend together nearer to the climax of the book. And admittedly, children's books have the most heart-warming of them. This book faired well on both the aspects. It follows the story of a restaurant owner who has to choose between her livelihood and her love for pets. The great part of the story was its uniform tempo and tone. This ensures that each time the book is read, the reader gets to choose what s/he wants to focus on: whether it is the dilemma that she faces, whether it is the solution, whether it is the message of love...as a young reader, you get to choose what you want to focus on. This is what an open-ended, but morally rich book would look like. Yes, I'd call it an epitome. 

The illustrations were a treat to the eyes as well. They complimented the story well, and in fact, at ties, even stole the limelight. Illustrations in a children's book should exhibit clarity and capture the plot with all its minor details. The book passes this litmus test also. 

All in all, I'd recommend this book to be on the shelf of a young one. (Hope all the parents are listening)

Book info:

ISBN:
HC 978-1-365-86153-6

SC 978-1-365-86155-0

ISBN Dyslexic Font Version:

DY HC 978-1-365-86154-3 DY SC 978-1-365-86156-7

**This book also has version printed in the Dyslexic font, the typeface for people with dyslexia. Go to www.dyslexiefont.com to find out more about the typeface.

Suggested Retail Price - 17.99 Hardcover & 13.99 Softcover 40 % Discounted Price – 10.80 Hardcover & 8.40 Softcover

Available through - Ingram - Discount 40% Returnable – Yes

MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing – Discount 40% - Orders@maclaren-cochranepublishing.com Returnable – Yes

Publishing company Contact Info: MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing 1024 Iron Point Rd 100-1478 Folsom CA 95630

916-897-1670

Tannya@Maclaren-cochranepublishing.com www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing 620 Buchanan Way, Folsom, CA 95630 916-897-1670 www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

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Book Review: Sayni and the Windowjet Brothers

About the book:

(Sourced from Goodreads)
Sayni and the Windowjet Brothers is about the importance of finding your own individual path regardless of the pressures to conform to a straightforward, mainstream route through life. Follow young Sayni as she seeks to find her passion in life by searching for pieces to build her life's compass. Every child's compass must be made very precisely, and each one is unique. As each compass develops, its child can follow theirs and find their way to a life of fulfilment and purpose. Sayni faces confusion when the opportunity arises to settle for a ready-made compass from a factory. Will she grasp the opportunity to own a completed compass, or continue in her struggle to build her very own? One thing's certain: the Windowjet people will have something to say!

Paperback: 44 pages

Publisher: FriesenPress (April 19, 2016)

Language: English

About the Author:

(Sourced from Goodreads)
I grew up in a small city called Guelph, and have loved drawing, writing, and above both, making stories my whole life.
Check out my children's book Sayni and the Windowjet Brothers that I self-published in 2016. 
I also update a webcomic weekly on Mondays, check it out here: http://www.paperlesscomic.com/

Born

in Guelph, Canada 

Website

http://www.garthlaidlaw.com/

Twitter

GarthLaidlaw 

My Review

The reason I love reading Children's books is that the words they contain are the ones that kids acquaint themselves with, at a formative stage. So it is immensely intriguing to me to see what the books are talking to them about. This book is a greatly satisfying read from that perspective. It takes a fundamental lesson of life, simplifies it to its very core, breaks it down into a fragment of fiction and presents it in a very understandable form: you need to get lost to find yourself. 

Getting lost is so underrated in the literary narrative, and to bring it to the fore in a piece of children's literature is especially a feat. 

Another very pleasing part of the story is the metaphor that the compass becomes by the end of it: it is your life. You build it from your own memories, friendships and love for each other. These things together, in a concoction guide you through the ups and downs of your life. So profound, yet so simple. 

What helps the story of the book is the illustrations. The author is a talented illustrator- there is absolutely no doubt about that: the colors lend an aura to the story, which is in tandem with the theme and the ambiance created hence. Again, the hues and illustrations are comforting. 

A great piece of children's literature that should definitely occupy more shelves! 

I would definitely yearn for a sequel to this. 

Here is a short clip on the making of Sayni and the Windowjet Brothers. 

Book Review: Hellie The Hovercraft Elephant by Carrie Mortleman

About the book:

Title: Hellie The Hovercraft Elephant

Published by: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published on: 15th April 2016

Pages: 38

Genre: Children's Book

Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
"I'm Hellie the Hovercraft Elephant and I'm ever so tall, I'm Hellie the Hovercraft Elephant and I never fall. I have fur that is fairy floss pink, and it's wonderfully fluffy and light. For although I am an elephant, I'm an elephant in flight!" Hellie the elephant has a very special skill - she can fly! But when she meets Queek the mouse, she learns that the power of friendship is the strongest superpower of all. Children will love flying with Hellie on this magical journey that blasts through fear and zooms into fun and friendship.

About the author

Ever since I started communicating with Carrie, she has been absolutely adorable and patient. Her chirpiness and gusto for life needs no explanation once you read her goodreads bio:
I am Carrie Mortleman and I know I can fly - I just haven't figured out how to do it while I am awake... yet.
As a published children’s book author & illustrator I have the most wonderful job of writing and illustrating rhyming children's stories. I adore the cadence and meter of a well written rhyming children's books and I grew up on Dr Seuss & Roald Dahl.
My current children's books feature the unlikely friendship of a candy floss elephant named Hellie (who can fly) and a sugar mouse named Queek (whose magic power is his fascinating mind and wonderful ideas for zany adventures with his best friend Hellie). My illustrations are composed of yummy foods that I make with the overenthusiastic help of my young daughters including jelly aliens, toffee space houses and a chocolate painted planet Mars. My books are delicious!
I am a proud Australian who is lucky to have lived in England, France & Spain. My 2 English daughters, my adorable fuzzy labradoodle and my mad Brazilian husband fill the house with music, raw passion and abstract creativity.
My home is now a sleepy little seaside town called Calafell which is South of Barcelona in Spain and I love soaking up the art and inspiration this country thrives on. 

Social media:

      

My Review:

Carrie calls her books 'edible literature' because all the creatures and characters are appetizing. There's not an iota of doubt that the characters she has woven and mothered are adorable.
What do you look for in a children's book? It should first and foremost have the ability to glue your kid to it, second, it should leave scope for less interpretation considering as kids can hardly dig deep to that, and finally, to put across a point by the end of the book that passes the litmus test on the moral barometer.
This book contains all these three qualities, the first one being fulfilled partially by the impeccable and consistent rhyming scheme produced.

A slight quirk of the book which might raise some eyebrows is the fact that the illustrations aren't pure in that they are animated illustrations put across on backdrops of actual, real photographs.

So, you can't eat the book. Or, can you?
On the imagination scale, this book scores high too! All in all, it is a definite recommendation from my side to all you parents of little ones out there.

A side note: I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. I usually assess a book apart from the writer, but make an exception when it comes to this particular genre of children's books. It makes sense to see the writer and the words as a single entity. Carrie is a very warm person and the warmth and positivity rubs off in her work too!

Links to the book: Amazon | Goodreads |

Source of the review copy: Author

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