The Hellandback Kids: Be Careful What You Wish For, by LL Helland, is an award-winning middle-grade novel which holds great appeal for young readers.  When siblings: Jon, Brittany, Trisha and Chris, embark upon a journey to their great-grandmother's home in Scotland, they quickly learn that things are not as they may first appear in the unusual home where they are staying as first-time guests.  As each of the four brothers and sisters finds themselves in a magical world where they are living the lives they have always wished for, they come to learn that sometimes what one wishes for is not always what is best.

As this story unfolds it gains momentum and eventually becomes quite a page-turner.  Despite young Chris' propensity for sarcasm and insolence, we found this book to have considerable merit in the areas of life skills and character building messages as well as in its entertainment value. A more thorough edit may have helped with the flow of this book, but overall we found The Hellandback Kids to be an entertaining read and we look forward to seeing future works from this budding author.  This book is recommended for middle-school children who enjoy such books as Narnia, Harry Potter, and other fantasy fiction works.

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Caves, Cannons and Crinolines, by Beverly Stowe McClure, Earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Children's Literary Classics is pleased to announce that the young adult book, Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines, written by Beverly Stowe McClure, has been selected to receive the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

This historical work of fiction is a literary treasure, and a must-read for young history buffs.  - When fourteen year old Elizabeth's older brothers go off to fight for the Confederate Army during the Civil War, she decides she can no longer sit by and wait for the men to fix everything.  Determined to make a difference, she disguises herself as a boy and sets out to enlist as a soldier.  Guided by a naive, but genuine heart, and armed with the best of intentions, Elizabeth embarks upon an enlightening journey that will educate and inspire young readers.  Ms. McClure portrays the story of Elizabeth and her loving family with historical accuracy and honest emotions as one family struggles to stay together while their nation is being torn apart.

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The Penguin Lady provides educational opportunities to compare and contrast, count, and learn about geographical regions of the world

The Penguin Lady is the whimsical tale of Penelope Parker, a woman who lives in a little white house with black trim, located on Penguin Place.  She always dresses in her favorite colors: black and white . . . and just happens to walk with a waddle.

One year on her birthday,  her brother sends her a penguin from the Galapagos Islands.  Then her sister sends her two penguins from Argentina.  The newspaper prints a story about her, and soon people begin sending her orphaned penguins from all over the southern hemisphere of the world.  Eventually, more and more penguins begin to appear at her doorstep as the numbers increase progressively up to ten. 

This amusing book, with fanciful illustrations, will allure and entertain, while offering educational opportunities to compare and contrast, count, and learn about geographical regions of the world. 

The Penguin Lady  comes highly recommended and earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval, a designation reserved for those books which uphold the rigorous criteria set forth by the Children's Literary Classics review committee, a team comprised of individuals with backgrounds in publishing, editing, writing, illustration and graphic design.

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Gopher to the Rescue - Recommended as an Educational Aid

Gopher to the Rescue  A Volcano Recovery Story, written by Terry Catasus Jennings and illustrated by Laurie O'Keefe, is a picture-book depicting the story of wildlife creatures on a mountain range which are affected by a volcano that destroys their habitat.  Gopher, protected by his underground tunnels, is unharmed from the blast of the volcanic explosion.  Meanwhile other animals run to save themselves from the fall-out while others are injured or killed.  Afterward most of the animals stay away because there is no longer enough food available for them to survive.

But gopher still finds tasty bulbs and roots to eat.  As he burrows through his tunnels, he transports seeds and churns the soil, making the ground fertile and helping to propagate new life.  The few remaining creatures . . . mice, ants, beetles and pollywogs are joined by other creatures who are able to return and survive in the desolate conditions.  Months and then years pass before many of the wildlife animals are able to fully return.

Gopher to the Rescue is an educational book full of interesting details about habitat revitalization in the aftermath of traumatic volcanic activity.  Scientists spent years studying life as it slowly returned to a liveable state following the affects of the volcano eruption at Mt. St. Helens in 1980.  This fictionalized story is based upon their research of the recovery of a volcanic region.

Gopher to the Rescue is a valuable teaching tool for children.  Readers may visit the publisher's website for further educational opportunities related to the topic of volcano recovery.  We recommend this book as a learning guide and as an aide in classroom settings.  Gopher to the rescue has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

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Sea Turtle Summer, by Nancy Stewart, earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval

Sea Turtle Summer is the story of two brave young girls who simply won't take 'no' for an answer when it comes to saving a clutch of young turtle eggs.  --After witnessing a turtle laying eggs on the beach, they rush to tell the ranger so no harm will come to the eggs.  Upon discovering that the ranger is out sick for the day, the girls take matters into their own hands.  Despite numerous obstacles, the girls insist upon helping ensure the safety of the eggs.  In the end, they are rewarded for their efforts when, months later, they have the opportunity to help guide the hatchlings safely to sea.

Sea Turtle Summer offers an inspiring message of empowerment while fostering a love for nature and wildlife.  Nancy Stewart, bestselling author of the Bella and Britt Beach Series children's books, has created another heartwarming tale of hope and determination which is sure to instill positive values in the minds of young readers.

Sea Turtle Summer earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval, a designation reserved for those books which uphold the rigorous criteria set forth by the Children's Literary Classics review committee, a team comprised of individuals with backgrounds in publishing, editing, writing, illustration and graphic design.



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