Good Reads with Ronna, the book review blog where most of my reviews are posted, is now feeding through a variety of Parenthood websites! It started out on LA Parent and thanks to the blog’s founder and Editor, Ronna Mandel, it can now be found on three Bay Area Parenthood websites, one in Boston, one in San Antonio and one in Westchester. That means that it will be easier for millions of parents around the country to find and read our reviews!

We review only the books we love and would be happy to recommend. So please enjoy our reviews and spread the word!

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I have written many children’s book reviews for this blog and Good Reads with Ronna and am a Top Reviewer on Amazon. In the past few years, both professional and consumer-generated book reviews have exploded on the internet. More and more consumers consider reviews important when deciding whether or not to make a purchase. If you have ever written one for a children’s book or are thinking about writing one, you want to do a good job. Here are some tips to get you started:

http://www.book-clipart.com

• It is best to write reviews for books you would highly recommend to others.
• If you are inclined to post a negative review, first ask yourself what you wish to accomplish. A vicious, negative  review is simply unfair. If you post one on Amazon, the publisher or author can file a complaint and your review may be removed.
• Even if you love a book, be honest about it. If there is any aspect of that book you feel could be improved, mention that in a tactful, fair way. For example, “The story is charming and told with such clever, simple prose. The illustrations are lovely, however I do wish the colors were not so muted.”
• Do your homework and research the author and illustrator for interesting information you can add to the review. Have they won any awards? Have they published anything else or a series perhaps?
• Do not read other reviews of the book you are reviewing, because it is not good to be influenced in any way by what someone else thinks of the book.
• Be creative with the title of your review. Why use a mundane title? You want to draw attention to your review so others will read yours over others. Which review would you prefer to read? One entitled “Nice Book” or “Uniquely clever story with a Shocking Twist and Extraordinary Illustrations.”
• Do not simply give an outline of the book – that would be a summary rather than a review, and frankly that is boring.
• Give a short synopsis of the story without giving everything about the book away. You want readers to be really curious about the story after they read your review.
• Creatively state what you like or love about the book.
• Mention the overall quality of the book – printing, binding, paper, cover etc. Book quality is very important in the children’s market, because kids are hard on books!
• Don’t assume that a longer review is a better review. You can do a good job with a brief review, and that’s what people prefer to read.
• Come up with a clever way to end your review, whether that is with a play on words, a teaser or some other catchy sentence.
• Proofread your review carefully.
• Have someone else with writing experience proof it too.

The more you write reviews, the better you will get at writing them. Happy reviewing to you!

My readers know that I am a children’s book reviewer for Good Reads with Ronna. In addition to feeding into the LA Parnet Magazine website, the blog will now also be a part of the San Antonio Parenthood website!

Speaking of book reviews, check these out…

Seriously, Cinderella is so Annoying!

The Seals that Wouldn’t Swim

After interviewing the extraordinary illustrator, Eric Velasquez, last month on Good Reads with Ronna, I couldn’t wait to buy two books he wrote and illustrated.

Grandma’s Records (2004) is a heart warming book about a boy and the time he spent with his grandmother. The story is based upon the author’s real life and the love of music he shared with her every summer at her apartment in Spanish Harlem. Grandma plays records and dances and sings with her grandson; she even covers her hand over her heart when a certain song is played from her homeland of Puerto Rico. One day, Grandma’s nephew comes to the house with several members of his band from Puerto Rico to give Grandma and the boy tickets to their concert in New York. The story, as told through the eyes of the boy really gives the reader a sense of how much joy he felt being with his grandma that special summer. What I love about this book is that it shows young readers how special a relationship can be between a child and a grandparent. I particularly related to this story, because I too loved spending time at my grandmother’s house as a child. The story also introduces kids to the power of music and how it can bring people together. The oil painted illustrations in this book are truly incredible, as are all of Eric Velasquez’ illustrations. You simply must take the time to look at all the detail on every vibrant page. The book was published 8 years ago but is still available on Amazon.

Grandma’s Gift (2010) is a companion book to Grandma’s Records. It deservedly won the Pura Belpré Award, which is given to writers/illustrators whose work best portrays Latino culture. It is essentially another chapter in the author’s life as he spends his winter break with his grandma. When his grandma picks her grandson up from the last day of school before the break, his teacher tells Grandma that the boy needs to be taken to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see a new painting as part of a homework assignment. Grandma tells the boy that if he helps her shop for the ingredients to make pasteles, she will take him to the museum. The story takes the reader through the markets of Spanish Harlem, complete with all the sights, sounds and smells of fresh food. Grandma takes the boy home and makes this traditional Puerto Rican dish with so much love, the reader feels how much this tradition means to the boy and his family. When she takes him to the museum, they discover a unique painting that inspires both of them.  Later at home she gives him a gift that helps to shape his future destiny as an artist. I love this book as much as Grandma’s Records for all the same reasons and more. It is wonderful to learn about the cuisine of other cultures and observe the shared appreciation of art between the boy and his grandmother. Of course, the illustrations are above and beyond spectacular and really make this story come to life.

What an extra special gift these 2 books would be from a grandma to her grandchild!  I love these books, and so will you.

Celebrate National Reading Day with the children in your life, and read, read, read!

Here’s a great way to start! Check out this adorable and entertaining book!

Read the review here on Good Reads with Ronna.

25 years ago, when we got engaged, my husband was smart enough to buy me an engagement/wedding ring set from Freddy’s Jewelery. They are located in the Seybold Building in downtown Miami. This is the most amazing building to buy jewelry in the US. It’s the second largest to buy fine jewelry in the country (10 floors and 280 jewelers), and the prices and selection just can’t be beat. Plus it’s located in downtown Miami, a great place to visit. People fly in from other states and countries just to buy jewelry here, because they know they are getting great deals. I will never understand why anyone would buy overpriced jewelry at a retail chain, when they can buy it from here – and no retail shop can beat the quality here.

Freddy’s sell the finest diamonds to the public at wholesale prices. What I love is that the members of this family-owned business are the friendliest people, and they can be trusted to sell you the highest quality jewels at extremely fair prices. They’ve been around for 40+ years, so you know they are the best at what they do. How many small businesses in your community have been around for 40 years?

We recently stopped into Freddy’s and reminisced with the staff (2 generations) about our experience choosing a ring all those years ago. One of the owners, Howard Steinlauf was there, and he was the one who helped us design the ring 25 years ago. We were thrilled to learn that our purchase has more than tripled in value since then. He offered to buy it back from us. No thanks. This diamond ring still shines for me (and so does the husband)!

I know many people are afraid to go into a jewelry store to get their diamonds appraised, because they don’t know if the owners are going to switch out their stones for lesser valued ones, or just give them a dishonest appraisal. This is not a concern at Freddy’s. I’ve sent countless people there over the years, and I’ve never heard a complaint. They’d never have been able to stay in business for as long as they have if it were not for their honesty, quality and superior personalized service.

Caution: If you do go, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the selection. I am not a big jewelry shopper in general, but my husband had to yank me out of the store because I was hypnotized by all those sparkling diamonds! (He made an obnoxious comment about how he “wished he had a chloroform-soaked rag” to get me out of there without making a scene.)

Thank you Freddy’s Jewelery for always being there. I’ve got a 25th wedding anniversary coming up in about a year and a half, and I’ll sure be hinting about coming in with my husband for a “productive” visit! Those diamond anniversary bands are calling – actually screaming out – my name.

Please tell them at Freddy’s, Debbie Glade sent you. No, I do not get a finder’s fee. I just love this business.

Freddy’s Jewelry

First Floor of the Seybold® Building:

36 NE 1st St #131
Miami, Fl 33132-2432
Phone: (305) 371-8261

email: sales@freddysjewelry.com
Website: http://www.freddysjewelry.com/

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Friday: 10:30-5:30pm
Saturday: 10:30-5:00pm
Sunday: – Closed

On this special American holiday, we celebrate the vision and courage of American Civil Rights leader and Nobel Prize winner, Martin Luther King, Jr. Every year on this day, I read his “I Have a Dream” speech, which I have on the wall in my office. And every year I think about how there’s really nothing that could be done to improve that speech.

Today I was privileged to review an extraordinary picture book, My Uncle Martin’s Words for America. You’ve got to read it yourself. Both the story and the illustrations are wonderful.

Check out these fabulous children’s books I have recently reviewed:

Two books about the library: Max and Zoe at the Library and Homer the Library Cat.

The Prince’s New Pet

Pretend

Grandpa Green

Stuff

11 Experiments that Failed

Read my review on Good Reads with Ronna of The Littlest Evergreen by author/illustrator Henry Cole. It is a darling children’s book and is a perfect gift for the little person in your life!

Check out my latest reviews:

2 Halloween Books – The 13 Nights of Halloween and Hampire (Ages 4-8)

Survivor Kid (Middle Readers)

Women Heroes of Word War II (Young Adult)