Disclaimer: reviewing eARC galley via NetGalley.

Very few words and strong storytelling through the images makes it perfect for very young audiences, as well as beginning readers. The images are sparse, simple and whimsical, surrounded by plenty of white space. The story is amusing and meaningful; an accessible exploration of identity. I loved the emphasis on adjusting expectations, adapting to new, unexpected situations, and knowing and accepting yourself as the world shifts around you. The main character is a stone with a big imagination, and rather than falling into despair when its surroundings make its dreams crumble, it just keeps adapting and enjoying where it's at. A good message of resilience and stability for kids rendered in a minimalist, non-preachy style.

Books For Kids : Charlie The Smart Elephant by Jeff Harris is a delightful children's book for ages two to ten.

The illustrations are charming, it has some good life's lessons and it's an easy book to read, even though some of the words seem for older children.

"Charlie the elephant's great smell sense and trace analysis were still at an excellent level so now, all he needed was a good old mystery to solve."

I gave it five stars because my favorite little boy wanted me to read it over and over again.

Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DJJ11B0/

Books for Kids: Should I Share My Toys?...

Books for Kids: Should I Share My Toys?: (Children's book about a Little Boy Who Learns How To be Generous) by Michael Gordon is a children's book for ages three to five. Finn was a little boy who had a pet bear called Chad.

"There was a problem with Finn's pet bear:
He really didn't like to share.
After days of trying, Finn said aloud,
'You're not a pet who makes me proud.'"

It has some good lessons. The illustrations were delightful and my favorite little boy loved it. I gave it five stars.

Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Kids-Childrens-Generous-Preschool-ebook/dp/B01N5KOEQ0

"Coraline" continues my love affair with Neil Gaiman's books on audio. I love his voice so much. It's soothing but also keeps my mind focused on the story. I think that he endows his words with all the emphasis, power and creative energy they should have. He's really great with different voices as well. "Coraline" might be a short book on audio, but it's so rich and fulfilling.

I freely admit I had ghoulish tastes in books when I was a girl. I read every scary or dark fantasy novel in the children's section, and some multiple times (The Gruesome Green Witch I'm looking at you!). I would have loved this book if it had been written when I was a young girl. It's nicely scary and intense, but also suitable for a child (and adults like me). The "Other Mother" seethes with menace, and the use of subtle details (like her button eyes, penchant for eating beetles, and hair that waves as though a breeze is blowing although it isn't.) There are even gruesome touches, such as the fact that some of the inhabitants of the world the "Other Mother" created are barely formed, gelatinous blobs. I agree with another reviewer who said that they admired how brave Coraline was (and she's brave in the real sense, doing something in spite of her fears). She's really an awesome young girl (but also realistic in her flaws).

I think that Gaiman has a sense of childhood that has not faded with his age. He understands the joy and the disappointments of it. Coraline is a young girl surrounded by adults, and that's a tough situation. She seethes with physical and mental energy, and while appropriate in development for her age, she's also mature and capable of taking care of herself to a degree. But like any other child, she yearns for the love and attention of parents who care about her. Luckily, she is able to see through the "Other Mother" and realizes that her parents are exactly what she needs and not a figment of her imagination with a menace beneath the wish fulfillment.

I would have to give this one 4.5 stars because it doesn't quite meet the high standards of The Graveyard Book in comparison. But it really is an outstanding book. The movie is pretty good, if you get a chance to watch it. I saw it first, and I plan to re-watch it and compare it since I watched it years ago and I'm just now reading the book.

If you can get this on audio, I highly recommend it.

I love snark, furry snark, old snark, fiery snark, sparkly snark, nothing beats a good laugh. If you add a good story, with some heartbreak, back stabbing and kick arse action you have a winning combination for this reader. This book hit that happy spot, I enjoyed it, had fun with these characters and chuckled loudly in public while reading it. I can't believe I almost passed up on this and it was (is still) am Amazon freebie. Hey, the majority of them have been lacking for me. Give it a try, the price is right. 

The story. Young woman who is recovering from broken heart is signed to work in her old town where ex-heartbreaker lives as Alpha. This is her home town, where everyone knows her business and where she can't avoid the scandal/drama of her past. She travels with her BFF a flamboyant gay super sexy vamp, who had some of the best lines and wore the best shoes. Granny, her old loving sweet granny who happens to be an ex-stripper lives life to the fullest and offers her granddaughter her nipple-less bras. Yes, wild she is and that little example isn't the most crazy. The heartbreaker jerk Alpha she is recovering from, just happens to be the sherif and the single hottie every warm blooded female in town drools for.  She of course earned her lesson.There is danger, romance, arse kicking, back stabbing, fighting, fire, karma, and fun.

I plan on reading the rest of this series  and more from this author