Storybook Corner Review & Giveaway: Don't Drink the Pink (Children's Picture Book)

Don't Drink the Pink

by

B.C.R. Fegan

Illustrated by Lenny Wen

Publisher: TaleBlade Press 
Publication date: 1st August 2019
Pages: 40
Format Read: eBook
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Madeline adores her Grandpa Gilderberry – she always has. To everyone else he might seem a bit strange – an eccentric inventor – perhaps even a little mad. Yet Madeline knows that these are his very best qualities.

One of Grandpa Gilderberry’s most secret inventions is his box of potions which he delights in giving to Madeline each year on her birthday. Each potion conveys an unexpected and magical experience for Madeline. Year after year, Madeline selects a new potion with exciting results, however each time she reaches for her enchanted birthday present, her grandfather reminds her of only one rule – ‘don’t drink the pink’.

Follow the special relationship between Madeline and her Grandfather as they both grow and share in the most magical birthday experiences. Filled with secrets to uncover and brimming with imagination, Don't Drink the Pink explores a number of basic concepts including colors, numbers and the reality of growing older.

 

Madeline loves her Grandfather Gilderberry. They have a close relationship.

Dad thinks he’s crazy

Mom thinks he’s just old

But I think he’s amazing

And worth his weight in gold.

Every birthday since her very first birthday Madeline’s Grandfather has arrived with a box of potions. Madeline gets to choose a colour, but always with the rule ‘just don’t drink the pink.’

As each year passes wonderful magical things happen when Madeline drinks each potion.

This is an absolutely enjoyable and magical book. The story is told in rhyming verse with a fun repetition that the children quickly learn to join in with.

“Happy Birthday Madeline.”

He said with a wink

“Take a potion, take a brew

Just don’t drink the pink.”

We loved Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 and BCR Fegan has given his audience another delightful picture book that builds on the anticipation of what will be revealed at the end.

As each birthday came around Dot and I tried to guess what colour potion Madeline would pick and what magical quality she would receive. Flying, strength, invisibility, controlling the weather and super speed are just a few of the magical elements in this story.

Don’t Drink the Pink develops a child’s imagination and colour recognition. It has a major, but subtle, theme of ageing. As Madeline gets older so does her beloved Grandpa. Until one birthday Grandpa is no longer there. Madeline has one potion left. What will the magical pink potion do?

Lenny Wen’s whimsical illustrations add spots of humour that need no words. Madeline’s cute little white cat makes an appearance on each page and the expressions on Madeline’s mother’s and father’s faces as each potion is consumed are not to be missed.

Don’t Drink the Pink is another addition to Dot’s all-time favourite books. Her favourite parts were when Madeline turned into a mermaid and when she built a theme park with her mind.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 rated by Dot 5/5

 

About the author

B.C.R. Fegan is an award-winning author who has written a number of fairy tales and fantasies for children and young adults.

Raised on a small hobby farm only minutes from some of Australia’s greatest beaches, Fegan grew up inspired by the power of natures ambience. His ravenous appetite for both reading and writing soon saw him drawing on the transformational influence of the world around him to craft short stories, poems and picture books.

As time wore on, Fegan also found inspiration in the magic and depth of authors and compositors like Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault. He was mesmerised by the potency of small but beautiful phrases that were carefully carved from the minds of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Frost. He grew to appreciate the worlds meticulously created by David Eddings, JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis.

Eventually, he began to forge his own complete works. Weaving his own magic, piecing together his own phrases and crafting his own worlds. Agonising over plots that would inspire, characters that would be loved and circumstances that would delight. In time, his efforts saw a number of children’s books and young adult fiction produced. 
  

About the illustrator

Lenny Wen is a freelance illustrator from Jakarta, Indonesia. She started her professional illustration career in 2013. Most of her illustrations possess a mixture of storytelling and emotions. Her works can be found in  children’s books, mobile games, and advertisements. She is very passionate about illustration and storytelling. When she is not illustrating, she might be found watching movies, reading books or watching the online cooking channel.  

 

Thanks to TaleBlade Press you can win a paperback copy of Don’t Drink the Pink. Entry is open internationally via the form below and closes on 14^th August 2019.

This giveaway is now closed and the winner was - Katiria.

Book Bingo - Round 16 #BookBingo

Book Bingo is a reading challenge hosted by Theresa Smith Writes , Mrs B’s Book Reviews and The Book Muse. Every second Saturday, book bingo participants reveal which bingo category they have read and what book they chose. 

This week I have chosen the category 'Memoir about a non-famous person '.

Memoir about a non-famous person.

For this category I have chosen 'Wish You Were Here' by Sheridan Jobbins

After the devastating end to her marriage Sheridan decides to drive across America in a shiny red sports car. Heartbroken and unprepared she is determined to find herself.
I enjoyed Sheridan's story of love, loss and finding herself. It was fun to be on the journey with her and such a joy to know she found her happy ending.  

You can read my full review of Wish You Were Here HERE 

 #BookBingo2019

 

Storybook Corner Review & Giveaway: I Love My Dad Because (Children's Picture Activity Book) + related children's craft

I Love My Dad Because

by

Petra James

Illustrated by Allisa Dinallo

Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Publication date: 23rd July 2019
Pages: 32
RRP: $14.99
Format Read: Hardback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 
This book is for you and your dad.

Draw, decorate, colour in, count, play noughts and crosses, make a fish (or two) and then present the book to your dad for any special occasion: birthday, Xmas, Father's Day ... or just because.

An interactive picture book to personalise for your dad.

I Love My Dad Because will be out in bookstores in time for Father’s Day giving. A book to keep and cherish that is completed by your own child. There are activities to share; colour the fish, complete dad’s story, connect the stars, play noughts and crosses, decorate a castle, draw a picture of you and your dad. Thirty two pages of fun colouring and activities for you to share and keep as a lasting reminder of your little ones thoughts and dreams.

I Love My dad Because is a natural follow on from I Love My Mum Because, which we reviewed back in April. Dot loved this book! What child doesn’t love to draw colour and decorate, especially if it is a special gift to give to a parent. Completing the book and presenting it as their own work gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride and gives dad a lasting memento of their child’s formative years.

The book, designed and illustrated by Alissa Dinallo, features bright engaging colours and the illustrations have a childlike whimsy about them that is sure to appeal to young children.

I Love My Dad Because is an interactive picture book perfect for ages 3 – 7

Dot & Jay's rating 5/5  🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This review is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie author challenge

and book #27 in the Australian Women Writers challenge

 

Dot had a lot of fun picking her favourite parts of the book for a craft activity. We decided on the fireworks and the fish colouring-in. 

Create your own fireworks:

Colour a sheet of paper with crayons in a multitude of colours.

Paint over the crayon with two to three coats of black paint.

When the paint dries scratch fireworks patterns with a pen lid or a pencil.

Trace and colour a fish:  

 Trace over the fish picture in the book. You will also need one large patty case for the tail and different coloured mini patty cases for the scales.

Starting from the tail of the fish cut the mini patty cases in half and glue them onto the fish. You can do stripes like Dot or mix them all up for a colourful fish.

Now for the giveaway:

With thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia I have one copy to giveaway. Enter via the form below.

This giveaway is now closed and the winner was - Krystyna.

Book Club Book Review: A Lifetime of Impossible Days by Tabitha Bird

A Lifetime of Impossible Days

by

Tabitha Bird

Publisher: Penguin Books
Imprint: Viking
Publication date: 4th June 2019
Pages: 395
Format Read: Paperback
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Beauty & Lace book club

On one impossible day in 1965, eight-year-old Willa Waters receives a mysterious box containing a jar of water and the instruction: 'One ocean: plant in the backyard.' So she does - and somehow creates an extraordinary time-slip that allows her to visit her future selves.

On one impossible day in 1990, Willa is 33 and a mother-of-two when her childhood self magically appears in her backyard. But she's also a woman haunted by memories of her dark past - and is on the brink of a decision that will have tragic repercussions . . .

On one impossible day in 2050, Willa is a silver-haired, gumboot-loving 93-year-old whose memory is fading fast. Yet she knows there's something she has to remember, a warning she must give her past selves about a terrible event in 1990 . . . If only she could recall what it was.

Can the three Willas come together, to heal their past and save their future . . . before it's too late? 

Willa age 8 is a gumboot wearing, storytelling ball of energy. She is also the protector of her little sister Lottie

Willa age 33 is broken, a mother of two small boys, she scrubs and cleans until her home is spotless but still she feels worthless, a failure.

Willa age 93 is a gumboot wearing old lady full of sass and cheek. She is in the throes of dementia and keeps a notebook listing all the important things she must remember; like staying out of the nursing home.

A Lifetime of Impossible Days is the most heart-wrenching emotional read I have read in a long time. If you loved The Lost Girls (Review here) by Jennifer Spence or Before I Let You Go (Review here) by Kelly Rimmer this book will resonate with you.

Super Gumboots Willa is a young girl who has spent her life feeling responsible for her sister and all her mistakes. Silver Willa is an old lady who is starting to lose her memory but she knows that there are things in her past that must be mended and only Middle Willa can do that.

This book is filled with heart-breaking moments and magical realism as the three Willas meet via a time shifting garden that is planted in their backyard. They come together to try desperately to heal the past and mend what is irreparably damaged.

Willa is 93 she needs to go back in time and stop herself from doing something that will change her life forever the only problem is she has dementia and she can’t remember what that thing is.

The story isn’t all heavy there are lots of laugh out loud moments with Willa’s dementia causing funny situations, she has quite some sass and is very cheeky.

Willa’s husband, Sam, and grandmother, Grammy, are the most wonderful supporting characters giving Willa unconditional love and support.

Allusions to child abuse, domestic violence and drug use.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My rating   5/5

This review first appeared on the Beauty & Lace book club.

and is part of the Book Lover Book Review Aussie author challenge.

and book #26 in the Australian Women Writers challenge.

 

Photo credit: Goodreads

In a bayside suburb of Queensland, Australia, Tabitha Bird grew up in a garden. It wasn’t much of a garden, but she told stories to ferns and weeds alike and gave herself something to hope in that was bigger than she was. 

Eventually, she had to leave the garden and do responsible things like grow up. When her own children came along she read stories with gumption and wild joy and got to thinking that perhaps she had some of her own to tell. 

The first whispering of story she heard was from a forgotten child that lived in that long-ago garden. Together with her family she moved to Boonah, Australia, where her novel is set. 

Her Chihuahua, husband and three sons are all the reason she needs to believe there is still magic in this world. A LIFETIME OF IMPOSSIBLE DAYS is her first novel.