Hubble Bubble:  The Super-Spooky Fright Night! by Tracey Corderoy is the first installment in the Hubble Bubble series and includes three stories.  Pandora is a young witch who spends a lot of time with Granny Crow.  Granny is also a witch and loves to use her magic to help.  However, her spells do not always go as planned.

In The Super-Spooky Fright Night, Granny Crow and Granny Podmore are helping Pandora create a Halloween party to remember.  Granny Podmore is prime and proper while Granny Crow is more free-spirited.  Neither granny can agree on how the party should be run.  Could Granny Crow's magic be just what the party needs?

In Teddy Trouble, Granny Crow accompanies Pandora to her friend Nellie's birthday party at Fluffy Friends.  Everyone is having a wonderful time creating their own stuffed bears.  But when it's Pandora's turn to get her bear stuffed, the machine stops working.  Will she ever get to make her own fluffy friend?

In Granny Makes a Splash, Granny Crow assists Pandora's class with their swimming lessons.  While on their way to the pool, the bus gets a flat tire.  Granny knows just what to do!  A little magic is surly the answer, right?  The shenanigans continue when the children reach the pool and discover that Granny's magic may be running amok.  Can Granny reign in the spells before it's too late?

I absolutely love this book!  I was surprised to see three wonderful stories in one amazing collection.  Granny Crow's character is reminiscent of the classic Amelia Bedelia.  She also reminds me of bumbling Aunt Clara from one of my favorite television shows, Bewitched.  Granny means well, but she has not yet mastered the art of magic.   

I also love the names of the characters:  Pandora, Granny Crow, Moonbeam (Pandora's mother).  Each name evokes a sense of magic and definitely makes me think of Halloween.  The layout of the book is stunning and makes heavy use of the color orange (my favorite!).  The words literally pop off of the page.  Additionally, I love the intricate details that can be seen throughout the book, such as the tiny spider that hides on every other page corner.  This would be a great opportunity for a counting game to see how many spiders the reader can find.

Joe Berger's illustrations are outstanding.  From the spiders on Pandora's dress to the orange flower earrings that Granny Crow wears, these subtle details make all the difference.  Some pages are even illustrated with a black background and white text that add to the spookiness of the illustrations and story.

This is a fantastic read for magic lovers of all ages.  Children will laugh at Granny Crow and all of her magical mishaps.  I cannot wait to read more from this wonderful series.

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Ella and Owen The Evil Pumpkin Pie Fight by Jaden Kent follows twin dragons Ella and Owen on an adventure of spooky proportions.  The dragons tricked two sneaky trolls out of treasure and are now stuck in Terror Swamp.  Running for their lives, the pair unknowingly enter the home of the great Pumpkin King.

The king captures the twins and refuses to release them unless they defeat the evil witch who has stolen his body.  Accepting the challenge, Ella and Owen head deeper into Terror Swamp.  Ghosts, ghouls and goblins await at every turn.

Will Ella and Owen be able to conquer the clever witch and maintain their freedom?  Will they ever get back to Dragon Patch?

While I love Halloween stories, this book didn't quite deliver.  I felt that Ella and Owen's characters were poorly developed.  Neither one had his/her own characteristics that made him/her unique.  The content of the story mostly consisted of the twins arguing.  I would have liked to have seen more character development in addition to the twins actually working together to regain their freedom.

I also found the other characters to be a bit flat.  I would have loved for the characters to have more original names than "Pumpkin King" and "Rainbow Sparkles."  It appears that Kent was attempting to be humorous, but I feel that the story doesn't hit the mark.

The plot was not very gripping nor spooky.  I feel that the story comes to a conclusion quickly with very haphazard resolutions to all of the characters' issues.  What I like the least about this book is the fact that it ends on a cliffhanger.  I purchased the book because I love Halloween stories, however, this is apparently the fourth book in the series and you cannot read them out of order.
 
Since I have not read any of the other books, I have no idea how the twins came to leave Dragon Patch and become stuck in Terror Swamp.  The ending of this story forces the reader to buy subsequent books to find the true conclusion to the story.  I feel that this is a poor way to write a series.  If the books need to be read in chronological order, the book cover or the introductory page should state this so that new readers to the series are not caught off guard.

I did enjoy Iryna Bodnaruk's comical illustrations.  Ella and Owen and their ghastly new friends are humerously drawn with fine detail.  I also loved the comic book style vignettes featured on several pages.

Overall, this is a lighthearted read that is suitable for children ages 6-9.  

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Rolf (Dog Diaries #10) by Kate Klimo tells the tale of a charming Dachshund name Rolf.  He loves living the spoiled life with Mama Agatha.  One day, Mama takes a terrible tumble and must go to the hospital.

Rolf's world is turned upside down when he must stay with Mama's nephew, Young Ricky.  The worst part?  Ricky has a cat named Smokey.  The frigid feline wants nothing to do with Rolf and cannot wait until he leaves.

Through a series of unfortunate events, Rolf finds himself missing a leg causing him to potentially be homeless.  Will Rolf be able to find a forever home?  Can he adjust to life as a tripawd? 

I could not put this book down!  I fell in love with Rolf from page one.  Having adopted  a differently-abled Dachshund, I can definitely relate to Rolf's strong doxie spirit and endless energy.  I also love that the story is laced with facts about Dachshunds that are presented from Rolf's point of view.  It is wonderful to see a book not only showcase the Dachshund breed but also teach proper holding techniques while addressing issues that doxies often face with their long spines.

Additionally, I love that Rolf becomes a spokes dog for tripawd pooches.  Several years ago, I adopted a tripawd Chiweenie that was born with a deformed front paw.  The paw is much shorter than her other legs, which forces her to hop like a bunny.  Klimo's depiction of tripawd dogs is spot on.  Nothing holds them back or slows them down.

Finally, I love that this story introduces young readers to therapy dogs and their various functions.  My Chihuahua, Adriel, has been a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International (mentioned in the book) for seven years.  Providing touch therapy to students, hospice patients, nursing home residents, etc. is truly a rewarding experience for both dog and handler.  Many people often confuse therapy dogs with service dogs.  Klimo does an outstanding job of explaining the difference between the two while showcasing the importance of each.

Tim Jessell's illustrations are simply captivating.  Rolf's character practically leaps of off the page.  His facial expressions are very similar to my own doxie's.  While done in black and white, the illustrations will still capture the hearts of young and old readers alike.

This is a wonderful read for animal lovers of all ages.  The book would also make a great gift to anyone who has recently adopted a tripawd dog or has had a dog become a tripawd due to medical issues.  Rolf's resilience and plucky spirit are sure to leave readers wanting more.   

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Here's Hank:  A Short Tale About a Long Dog by Henry Winkler sets Hank on his most important mission yet:  to get a dog of his own.  He knows that his grades are not the best, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to make his dog dreams a reality.

Entering into a deal with his dad, Hank must improve all of his grades in order to earn a trip to the animal shelter.  He is definitely up for the challenge!  From studying to creating interactive book reports, Hank is determined to make his grades soar.

When his latest report card falls short, Hank fears that he will never be able to adopt a furry friend.  Can he prove to his father that he is responsible enough to handle the challenges of owning a pet?  Will he be able to raise his grades and sharpen his focus?

I love this story!  I was surprised to discover that the book is written in a font called Dyslexie.  This font was created specifically for dyslexic readers by a Dutch graphic designer, Christian Boer, who himself is dyslexic.  I found the font very easy to read.  I feel that it compliments the story well and looks like a font that a child would have created.  This discrete font change will also help dyslexic children read with confidence.

I also found the character of Hank to be charming and hilarious.  He mentions to the reader numerous times that he has trouble focusing.  I feel like many children (as well as adults) will be able to relate to Hank and his focusing issues.  I especially feel that children with ADD and ADHD will gravitate toward Hank and cheer him on in his quest for good grades.

This story also touches my heart because it sheds light on the importance of adopting animals from local shelters.  All of my dogs and cats are rescues that have come from various rescue groups and animal shelters.  One of my dogs is also Dachshund, so I can definitely relate to Hank's heart-melting moment the day he met Cheerio.

Overall, this is a wonderful read for animal lovers of all ages.  I would highly recommend gifting this book to any child who is in the process of adopting a dog.


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White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan, introduces the reader to a young girl named Zoe.  Zoe's family loves to rescue dogs.  Great Pyrenees dogs to be exact.  It seems that Mama always has new dogs coming in to be fostered.

Zoe's Daddy is a veterinarian.  He loves caring for animals.  Even if it means bringing an abandoned, talkative bird home, temporarily of course.  

One day, Zoe and her sister, Alice, notice new neighbors moving into the house down the road.  They soon discover that the woman's name is Mrs. Croft and that she is caring for her nephew, Phillip.  The girls are thrilled to have a new playmate for the summer but there is one problem.  Phillip doesn't talk.  An even bigger problem?  Mrs. Croft doesn't like dogs.

During a terrible storm several days later, both Phillip and Jack (Mama's newest foster dog) go missing.  Will Phillip break his silence to call for the help that he desperately needs?  Will Zoe be able to solve the mystery of their disappearance before it's too late?  Can Mrs. Croft learn to love the animal that she fears most?    

I absolutely love this book!  Being a former foster parent, I can totally relate to Mama's struggle to place her foster dogs in forever homes.  I too, wanted to keep every dog that we fostered.  I love that this story sheds light on the importance of fostering as well as volunteer animal transporters.  I am a volunteer transporter with All American Dachshund Rescue.  Without the help of these incredible volunteers, many of these amazing dogs would still be stuck in the pound or worse, killed due to lack of space.

The characters in this story are rich and vibrant.  I love Alice's no-holds-bar personality.  She says exactly what she feels and loves being the comedian.  Zoe is clever and very observant but is not as sure of herself as Alice.  The two make a fascinating pair.  Phillip's character is very complex and always keeps the reader guessing.

This story beautifully highlights the special bond that dogs have with their humans.  Dogs seem to sense the way that humans are feeling long before the tears fall from our eyes or the cries of joy emit from our lips.  They seek only to make us happy and love us unconditionally.  This bond is truly priceless and deserves to be celebrated.

Overall, this is a fantastic read for animal lovers of all ages.  This book would also make a wonderful gift for the shelter/rescue worker/volunteer in your life.

As an aspiring picture book author, I am always looking for writing conferences to attend.  Improving my craft is very important to me.  I hope to author books that will truly change the way that people view and think about the world around them.

I discovered WriteOnCon while checking my Twitter feed.  Intrigued, I went to their website to learn more.  WriteOnCon is a three-day online children's book conference for writers and illustrators of picture books, middle grade, young adult, as well as new adult.  

I absolutely love online conferences!  I don't have to worry about packing, travel arrangements or, (most importantly) leaving my fabulous fur babies.  I attended my first online conference, Picture Book Summit, in 2017 and was hooked.

As with all conferences,  there is a price for admission.  For all access to the conference, I paid $37.00.  That's right!  Just $37.00!  The best part?  This included a manuscript critique by Clarissa Wong, Editor at Harper Collins Children's Books.  

The conference started bright and early on Friday, February 9th.  I had a stack of empty notebooks waiting to be filled with knowledge.  Extra pencils and a large eraser were positioned for easy access.  The clock struck 7:30 a.m. and the conference was on!

The day consisted of live events, (including a query critique session with an actual literary agent), recorded podcast interviews with industry experts, panel discussions with some of today's best selling authors, and blog articles providing tips and tricks for honing the writing craft.  

By the end of day one, I thought that my brain was going to explode.  I was learning so much from some of the best in the business.  The presenters were extremely nice and carefully considered each question that was asked.
Saturday and Sunday were just as epic.  One of my favorite events was a live workshop on picture book beat sheets.  Another was a live panel discussion with picture book authors.  I was beyond thrilled to see Marcie Colleen in attendance.  I definitely had a fan girl moment!

I loved the enthusiasm that the presenters exuded, especially Alexa Donne.  Everyone was happy to share their knowledge and personal experiences.  The literary agents, editors, and authors were down to earth.  It almost felt like having a conversation with my girlfriends.

I have to admit, I was sad when the conference concluded on Sunday evening.  I was exhausted but I wanted to keep learning.  One of my notebooks is now completely full.  A single pencil spent beyond sharpening.

I would highly recommend this conference to anyone who is interested in writing for the kid lit community.  WriteOnCon has certainly gained a new attendee for life!  I cannot wait to see what the 2019 conference has to offer.

To learn more about WriteOnCon, visit their website at:  www.writeoncon.org.

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