Brenda Ponnay

Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

*** 4.5 Stars ***

Get ready to visit Paris through pictures. This was a fun adventurous spy picture book set in Paris.

Josephine was quirky, fun-loving, and smart main character. Her adorable daughter was nice little spy who also helped her mother in her work.The duo together did sightseeing in Paris and also worked on their mission.

I liked the famous places in Paris pictured in the book. Museums, famous show more church, garden and monuments. I never visited Paris before and never knew the places mentioned in this book, so I just googled everything and checked it out. There were also basic French greeting phrases in the book that could be taught to children. So I feel, this book was fun way to teach children about places in Paris and little basic French.

All the crafty tricks of Josephine can inspire children. The book also give a message about never give up, stay cool in difficult situation and always double check your list whenever you are going out or planning a trip.

Fabulous illustrations. All pictures of places, and street, outfits of characters were very colorful and beautifully illustrated.

There were fun things in the book like spy gears, Super-expanding spy bag, disguising outfits of secret agents, Top Secret file about thief, that will catch children’s eyes. I loved her red scooter that is on the cover.

One thing only, I knew this basic greeting phrases in French but some children might not know about them, so I think little info and meaning about them at the end of the book, as an exercise or learning tip would have make it great.

Overall, it was entertaining and crafty picture book with bit of education that children especially girls interested in spy books would love to read. show less

Colors by Brenda Ponnay
Colorful children's book about colors and the many things they could stand for.
Reminds me so much of Dr. Seuss, not a rhyming book but a very silly one. My favorite is the color blue because of blueberry bubbles.

Young kids love knock, knock jokes and the ones they tell often don't make sense but they will laugh their heads off anyway. When I started reading this book to my grandson, he didn't get it (he is only three) but when I told the jokes to my grand-nephew who is five, he thought they were hilarious. He actually started telling some of them over and over to his parents. The illustrations are simple and colourful and that is what got the attention of my grandson. This is a great book to read to show more young children and a teacher could use it to get her students thinking up their own jokes. This will be a hit in primary classrooms. I can see many teachers pretending they lost this book as kids will want to read it over and over as well as tell the jokes over and over or try to change them and make up their own, which probably won't make sense. A cute idea. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. show less

This is a cute little book for the young children who are about to start school for the first time. As Little Hoo prepares for the first day, his Mom explains that there is nothing to fear, in fact, the day ahead can be fun! It’s a great way to teach children why they shouldn’t be worried about starting school. It seems to cover some of the major issues that young children worry about when starting school. I love the illustrations in this book, they are fun and show emotions very well. I show more read this book to my grandson who will be going back to school in a week to begin SK. As he does have a lot of anxiety issues, he picked up on several things in the story and wanted to know, "Why is his teacher angry?" He was relieved to see the next page with a smiling teacher. A good book to read to youngsters, but there may be some explanation needed as the fist page shows the negative or what might upset Hoo, then the next one shows that won't happen. The publisher, Xist Publishing, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions stated are my own. show less