Kallie George

I fell in love with I AM A MEADOW MERMAID by Kallie George (writer) and Elly MacKay (illustrator). A nameless prairie girl lives her mermaid life in a landscape of grasses, wildflowers, and winds. She finds adventure in the everyday until she hears the shout of a shipwrecked sailor. What does a mermaid need to make her days richer? Read this delightful story to find out!

This adorable picture book is an excellent selection for classroom and school libraries, as there are numerous potential show more cross-curricular ties (key themes include girls, friendship, and imagination). The very gentle gender bending at the climax of the story is also valuable.

If you are building a girl-positive collection, this gorgeously illustrated book is a MUST. I wish it had existed when I was a young reader — but at least I get to enjoy it now. show less

I am so in love with these books. Nobody does cozy and a little magical like Kallie George and these are just delightful.

In the first story, A true home, little Mona Mouse is lost and alone in the woods, having been flooded out of her latest temporary home. All she owns is a little walnut suitcase with a heart carved into it. When she washes up on the doorstep of the Heartwood Hotel, she can hardly believe it's true when she's invited into the grand hotel and allowed to stay for a night - show more and then for the season as a maid. She makes many mistakes, but also does a great deal of good and is determined to keep trying and make a home at the hotel. But cranky Tilly the squirrel, the other maid, clearly doesn't want her there and there's something dangerous in the forest. Will Mona find a new home or will she have to leave once again?

In the second story, The greatest gift, it's the coldest part of the year and the Heartwood Hotel has settled down to hibernate and rest. But there's still lots of work for Mona and Tilly, the maids, and Mona just can't seem to keep out of trouble. First, she accidentally offends an important guest, then she finds out that there are a lot of things her orphaned childhood left her ignorant about. When she tries to make a gift for her new friends, she finds herself suspected of being a thief! Where is all the food disappearing to? What will they do when the guests unexpectedly wake up early from hibernation? And who is stealing all the food? It's up to Mona to solve the mystery and discover what friendship and home are truly all about.

Stephanie Graegin has proved her ability to create exquisite miniature drawings in the lovely picture book Little fox in the forest and fellow miniature lovers will coo over her detailed drawings of tiny creatures and their accessories. Readers looking for a cozy story of family, home, and woodland celebrations will fall in love with this delightful new series.

Verdict: This might well be my favorite new beginning chapter book of the year. Full of heart and hope, Mona learns about home, friendship, and reminds the other creatures of the Heartwood Hotel what their tree home is all about as she welcomes guests, learns new skills, and experiences the joys and adventures of life in the woods. Highly recommended.

A true home
ISBN: 9781484731611

The greatest gift
ISBN: 9781484732342

Published July 2017 by Disney; ARC provided by publisher; Purchased for the library show less

For kiddos that love Greek mythology, this is such a fun book! Mortals from Athens are chosen by the gods to race on winged horses. Pippa is a foundling who loves horses and is thrilled to be given this chance. Great character development, tough choices, and an ending that surprised me. We’ve loved other books by this author, and were excited to discover this series.

Stuffed with buttons, fluff and mounds of concern, this tale radiates the joy of helping others.

Dr. Pegs is up with the sun, ready to help any toy in need. What starts as a calm day, quickly fills with all sorts of small emergencies. Even though she's trying her best, there are simply too many patients for Dr. Pegs to handle on her own. Luckily, she has some amazing helpers who can assist her to save the day.

Everything about this book is sweet and warming. Dr. Pegs is a nurse full of duty, show more joy and readiness to help anyone she can. She's good at what she does too. Her attitude is inspirational as adorable and cuddly patients come in, each with a problem perfectly fitting for dolls and stuffed animals/friends. Fans of playing nurse or hospital are going to love this read as each patient is taken seriously and with sympathy, but still matching to a doll house world.

This story isn't about an all-saving nurse but shows how important having friends can be too. Even wonderful characters like Dr. Pegs reach their limit on what they can do. And that's what I really love about this tale. She knows when to ask for help and has no trouble admitting it. Team work is just as important as helping others, and it's a great message.

The illustrations are bright without being overly brilliant. The comfortable color tones and style slides right into place with dolls and stuffed animals, allowing the world to come to life. There's a nice mixture of materials and cloth in the pictures, giving it a cozy feel. The text plays right into the illustrations, making it fun to read-a-loud with lots of possibilities of expression and fun. There's simply so much to enjoy and cuddle into with this read.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed this one so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts. show less