Review: Fungus Is Among Us! by Joy Keller

Fungus is Among us

Written by Joy Keller

Illustrated by Erica Salcedo

Published:  Innovation Press

Year: 

Ages: 5-10

Pages: 40

Awards:

  

 

   I promise, it is only a coincidence that I checked out "Fungus is Among Us" from the library the day before starting "The Last of Us"!  However, I must say that having both going through my head once really tickles my dark humor bones.  

The Illustrations

     Erica Salcedo's illustrations work wonderfully with this story.  The fear of the main character was communicated well. 

    My two year old, who's learning body language right now, really got since of fear and drama from the main character's reactions, but not so badly that she didn't enjoy the book.  

 In contrast, the various fungus, which are just going about their cute little lives, are illustrated with bright eyes and pleasant expressions showing that there really is nothing to be afraid of.  It's clear they don't want to harm her, nor do they really care that she's afraid of them.  I enjoyed the drama of it.  

The Story

    A girl is walking through the woods when she spots a mushroom.  Then, thanks to the voice of an unseen narrator, she gradually begins to notice that there are mushrooms everywhere.  Not only that but there is fungus everywhere - the trees, her yard, her fridge, bathroom even her skin.  Everything is being fed on by fungus!  She panics until she is reminded that her lunch is also made of tasty fungus, and that her compost wouldn't compost without fungus - nor would anything else.  

Author Joy Keller

Now she goes for her walk with confidence that fungus is among us and that is ok!
   In addition to the lyrical meta-story above there are also fun fungus facts that supplement the story. These facts teach the reader what fungi are, how they spreads, and why they are important. 
   

 What I Liked!  

 As a horror enthusiast, I enjoyed this thrilling approach to an educational book. I went into "The Last of Us" with no idea what the plot was, so I was double trilled with the dramatic irony of having just read "Fungus Among Us".   The truth is many kids, and adults, are afraid of fungus.  So using that fear to teach about them was brilliant, in my opinion. 

     This story is well written and so are the facts.  The lyrical paragraphs made the story easy to read.  The bright and dramatic illustrations held my attention til the end.  

What I Loved

I'm a nature nerd so I actually loved the fungi facts.  I'd never had it explained so plainly just why fungi are not plants, or how compost works. Fungi are really so complicated that it's hard for educated professionals to beak them down to simple, factual, teachable bites.  Joy Keller did this brilliantly.  For example, how the fungi in the tree are two things once (algae and fungi).  I've heard this before as a debate, as though nature is so black and white that they had to be one thing or the other. But the idea that they is  a possible symbiotic relation makes much more since.  Scientists are discovering just how symbiotic fungi are with every living thing on Earth and that's amazing!  Also, I didn't know that dandruff was caused by an imbalance of fungi on or in the human body until reading this picture book!  

Disliked

I didn't enjoy how much the fungus facts interrupted the flow of the story.  Even the above YouTube clips of the read-aloud were broken into two videos to avoid ruining the flow of the story bits.  

    However, I don't know the solution for this because I liked the fungus facts and I wouldn't want to cut them out.  I'm also not so naive as to suggest that Joy "just make the facts rhyme too" as was suggested on Goodreads a few times.  

   As a writer of a lyrical picture book, I understand that it's not so simple.  I believe the writer/editor, whoever made the choice to put them together, did the best they could with it.  I'm happy the facts were not cut out al together, but it is the only thing I can say I disliked about the experience of reading the book.

      If I were to purchase this book to read to my daughter, I'd end up skipping the fungus facts  often just because they disrupt the flow of the story.

Bedtime Breakdown

My daughter was not the target audience for Fungus is Among Us.  She's only two, and became actually afraid as the MC in the story presented fear so clearly.    If you have a sensitive two year old, maybe wait a year or two on this one.  My husband skipped the fungus facts after the first one choosing, as I've said, to not disrupt the flow of the story.

    That being said, even though she deemed it 'The Scary Book' my daughter still said she liked the book but didn't want to read it anymore.  Despite being afraid of it, she enjoyed the pictures of the cute little mushrooms.   

I liked the true facts about nature, and enjoyed learning something new. I was later able to point out some of these fungi in real life as a fun activity we could do together - just to be sure that she didn't become afraid of real fungus.     

Recommendations

If you have an older child who enjoys the outdoors or likes bringing up fun trivia facts to friends and family, this would be a fun gift.  Also for teachers or librarians looking for fun PG scary books that they can read as a Halloween treat, consider "Fungus is Among Us" for a educational, but thrilling, story.  

        If you like this book please show Joy Keller, and her talented illustrator Erica Solcedo some love by checking this book out from your local library or purchase it your favorite bookstore.

    Or help my page out by purchasing through my Amazon Associates Link here "Fungus is Among Us!" 

          

If you enjoyed this review please subscribe to leave a comment here, or leave a comment on Twitter!  I'm @PB&JellyPhish and I'd love to hear from you.  

    I'm Porsche B. Yeary and 

I'll see you on the next page!

            

View all my reviews

Picture Book Breakdown: Little Skink's Tail by Janet Halfmann

Published: 2007 by Arbordale
Ages: 3-7
Pages: 32

    Spring is near, so I'm kicking this season off with books about nature.  In my search for agents, publishers, and comp books, I've run across a few really good books that explain nature in really fun ways for kids.  

First up, Little Blue Skink, tells the fictional story of an adorable little lizard with a big imagination.  The character may be a product of Janet Halfmann's imagination, but the facts are all true.  It's an excellent example of how to take true facts about nature and make them fun and easy for small children to enjoy.  

    

Synopsis:

 

While Little Skink hunts yummy ants for her breakfast, she is suddenly attacked by a crow!  But she has a trick to escape - she snaps off her tail and it keeps on waggling!  Little Skink is happy to be alive but she misses her bright blue tail.  Readers will enjoy pretending with her, trying on tail after tail.  The first is too puffy-fluffy and another too stinky!  Then one day Little Skink gets a big surprise . . . And she doesn’t have to dream of tails anymore. 

P1: Title page

P2: Copyright

P3 Little Skink basked on a big yellow rock in the rays of the morning sun.  Her chilly body soon turned snugly warm.  She twitched her bright blue tail.  The little lizard was ready to start her day.

P4: Leaping to the forest floor, she poked her pointy nose into a crack in a rotting log and looked for breakfast.  Sniff, sniff! She smelled ants.  She loved ants.  

P5: Gobble, gobble, gobble. She swollowed down one ant after another.  

P6: Her tummy was almost full when she felt a peck on her tail.  It was a large, hungry crow! 

P7: Little Skink was trapped.  There was no way to run.  But she had to a trick . . . 

P8 - P9

 Quicker than the crow could blink, Little Skink snapped off her bright blue tail!

Wiggle, waggle, waggle,  went the tail, wriggling wildly through the fallen leaves.  

The crow forgot all about Little Skink.  It wanted that wiggling, waggling tail!

As the crow bounced this way and that, Little Skink slinked under a log.  She was safe.  Her wiggling, waggling tailed saved her. 

  This is an excellent way to show predation without being too scary.  As a parent, I appreciate that the author doesn't shy away from predation yet still manages to show it without it being too scary.  It's a fact of life that some animals eat other animals, this is the reason so many cool creatures have evolved such unique and diverse ways of escaping danger. 

P10 - P11

The next morning, as Little Skink basked on her rock, she felt a little sad.  She missed her bright blue tail, even though she was happy to be alive.

P12

As she lay basking and thinking, a cottontail rabbit hopped in front of her rock.

Hhhhmm, I wonder how I’d look with a tail like that?  Little Skink thought.  

P13

She pictured her new look.  Very cute,” she thought to herself, “but too puffy-fluffy.”

P14 - P15

Next, she tried a squirrel’s tail: “It’s fun to flick and fluff,” she said, “but much too bushy.” 

Day after day, Little Skink imagined herself wearing the tail of every animal she met.

P16 - P17

A deer’s tail: “Look! I can wave it like a little flag,” she said.  “But it’s so short and stubby.” 

P18 - P19

A skunk’s tail: “Peeeeuuw!” Said Little Skin.  “”Stinky, stinky, stinky!” 

P20 - P21

A porcupine’s tail:  “Too sticky-prickly,” she said.  

P22 - P23

An owl’s tail: “A lizard with feathers?” She exclaimed.  “I don’t think so!” 

P24 - P25

A turtle’s tail: “Too pointy,” said Little Skink.  

This was a very imaginative second act to the the story, one that delighted my daughter and amused me.  The writing was easy to make entertaining.  The language was simple but not so dumbed down as to make it tedious.  And the use of the different tails gave us a chance to talk about different animals we'd seen, and what they looked like.   

P26 

While all were fine tails, not one was quiet right for her.  

P27

Then one day as she scampered onto her sunny rock, her shadow caught her eye. Her shadow had a tail!

P28-P29

She whipped around. Sure enough, her tail had grown back.  “A skink needs a skink’s tail,” she said, and her tail-dreaming days were over.  

End  

    And it's all tied together with a sweet message about body positivity.  What a lovely story, and great illustrations along with it.  At the end of the book are little games for older kids that explain how different animals in the story use their various tails.  

BEDTIME BREAKDOWN

    My little girl was very upset that I'd returned this book to the library.  She's in the wiggling, squiggly, squirming  phase of bedtime now, but this is one of the books that got her to calm down and listen.  

    She gasped at the crow, and delighted at the wiggly tail.  She laughed at the skink wearing some of the other tails - possibly because her father is such a goofball while reading this one.  

    And that's what I really wanted to point out.  This book was easy to read as a parent.  Some of the other pictures books that my daughter likes are hard to get through as a parent reading a-loud.  Either because the plot is chunky, or facts are being bent to make the story more child friendly. Or their are words or concepts too hard to explain.  

    Not here!  This one was a breeze, even though it didn't rhyme.  It was imaginative and educational at the same time.  It was exciting without being too scary and it was fun to read out-loud.  A story like this can be read in a goofy manner, or as a calming bedtime story read slow and soft.  

    If you like this book as much as I did, consider passing on the love to the author Janet Halfmann.     

Also, the illustrator Laurie Klein   who's done a great job on this and other picture books.  

    You can help my page out by purchasing through my Amazon Associates Link here  "Little Skink's Tail" 

Thanks for stopping by, I'm P. B. Yeary.  I'll see you on the next page.  

View all my reviews

Review: Itty Bitty Biography Series

  

In honor of black history month I want to promote these little board books I found in my local Target.  They are Itty Bitty Biography series - Lift-A-Flap Board Books published by Piggy Toes Press and distributed by Bendon, Inc (ISBN: 9781690242901)  

    I'm talking specifically about these three dollar board books I found at Target.  The Itty-Bitty Biography series seems to be a pretty popular non-fiction series of books for young readers, but these Lift-A-Flap books specifically were aimed at toddler aged listeners and really entertained my two year old.  

Illustrations

Neither the author nor the illustrator is credited on these these little treasures, but I love the illustrations.  They are fitting to the story, and the opening flaps are engaging for my restless toddler.   Unlike the illustrations of the other Itty-Bitty Biography books that I have found online, these illustrations show characters  - not caricatures.  Also, the cover art shows the famous historical figures as a children which is what drew my interest in the first place.  

The Story

Both books start with the iconic historical figures as children.  They explain that Harriet and George Washington Carver were born slaves, but does not go into detail about what slavery is.

     Harriet's story goes on to explain how she was inspired by Bible stories of Moses, and songs of freedom. It moves her into adulthood on the night she ran away.  She followed the North Star to freedom, and despite the danger went back again and again to rescue others. 

    George Washington Carver's story explains how when he was set free was set free he continued living with the Carvers where he had access to education.   His story mentions that he had to go to a black's only school then presistent on to a college that would allow black students to study science.  As he grew he taught others.

     These stories are fast paced, about ten pages long. They follow the characters from being curious kids, to studious adults, and eventually brave icons that changed the world for the better and helped those around them.    

What I liked.

These stories are simple, easy to read and well worded.  The fact that both these characters were born into slavery is not omitted; the horrors of slavery is not dwelled upon.    The obstacles each faced as a result of their birth and their time in history are handled very well.   Harriet was sold away from her family.  George had to find an "all black school" to attend in order to continue his education.  These struggles are there for parents to elaborate on and explain further as they see fit, but are not dwelled on as the books are clearly aimed to educate and inspire very young children.

What I loved

And educate them it does.  The names of both characters are repeated several times throughout their books promoting name recognition.   When Harriet Tubman's name was mentioned on the radio, in relation to the still not realized twenty dollar bills, my daughter looked up and repeated her name because she recognized it from the story book. The brevity of the stories as well as the engaging illustrations held my daughters attention each time I read them.  She enjoys lifting the flaps and revealing the changing illustrations on the other side. 

I also love that at end of the books the story is summarized in a way that brings the person's life full circle.  For example the end of Harriet Tubman's book reads as follows

    "Pretty soon, people started telling stories about Harriet Tubman.  They called her "Moses" because she led her people to freedom, just like her favorite Bible story.  A very little girl had very big dreams of being free.  She grew up to be a very brave woman who made her dream come true for herself and for many others."

    The accompanying illustration shows Harriet as an older woman - lift the flap and she turns back into a young girl.  I love this because it feels like the story is about the little girl - a character the listener can relate to and be inspired by.  Older Harriet may feel unreachable, and therefore boring.  But all great people were children once.  

 My Dislikes

My only dislike is that I can't seem to buy more of these books by the same creative team.  I wish I'd paid more attention to who the other characters were in this limited series. When I went back to the Target where I found them, there were only a few more "Harriet Tubman" books left. I'm pretty sure there was at least one other woman and one other man I could have chosen from.  

As I've mentioned neither author nor illustrator is credited.  A search of Google, and even the Piggy Toe

website only shows these other itty-bitty biographies. In my opinion those covers are fare less attractive. 

I'm hoping that promoting these books on this tiny blog will give a boost to whomever put them together.  Perhaps they will create more like them. 

In My Opinion 

 This limited series is a great way to introduce the names of these iconic historical heroes to the very youngest learners. These stories are guilt free and accessible to white children as well as kids of non-African decent.  I believe it is possibly, nay! Necessary to find inspiration in the past, and boost the self-esteem of next generation of black creators.  In only ten pages these books manage to be informative, and also very respectful to the memories of the people they talk about.  

    If you know more about these books, and where I might find more of them please subscribe and leave a comment, or message me on Twitter.  

   Until next time, I'm Porsche B. Yeary.  

 I'll see you on the next page.  

My Super Mom and Her Sidekick Crew by Tameka Mitchell

Illustrated by Barbara Dokic

Published: 2022 by Maternity motivation publishing, LLC

The Art

      Barbara Dokic's art has the perfect balance of detail and whimsy.  The textures of the characters brings out their personalities even though only the little narrator speaks.  Dokic does a great job using the hair and clothes to distinguish each character.  For example: Mom's hair style and work clothes tell us right away that she is a girl boss.  Auntie's long hair and various outfits tell us that she is fashion conscious. 

    The visuals are just as fun as the writing.  The characters motions make since, and the use of of different colors and affects shows how each family members powers work in a way that is easy to understand.  

     I hope to have similar art to this in my future books.   

    The Story

Summery

      A very observant little girl realizes that her Mom has super powers. and she has the evidence to prove it. Soon she realizes that the other members of her family are also super special.  Does this mean that maybe she's super too? 

    

LOVES:  THE MESSAGE

     At first I was skeptical of any little girl picking up on such observations.  After seeing mom do it all the time, wouldn't this be normal? But that's the point!  This story points out to young readers that, wow, my Mom really does do a lot doesn't she?  And that's the magic of this book.  Once a young reader between four or eight digests this story they become aware their mom's super powers too.  

author Tameka Mitchell

    The narrator goes on to point out that Mom doesn't do this all alone.  She has help from her small but close family.   Each member has a super power of their own.  These super powers may or may not be the same in the reader's families but it will get the gears rolling in observing them.  

    

 

 LIKES: THE STORY

    I love mysteries, so the opening with the little girl as a detective caught my attention right away.  I enjoy how the little girl has spotted clues to prove her theory and how she's certain she's come up with the solution.  

    The powers her mom possesses are pretty cool too.  No only does she have the ability to get them ready in the morning, but her powers of positive thinking linger with the narrator throughout her day.  That is something I strive for, as a mom, to try and leave my daughter with confidence that she can pull on even when I'm not around.  

    I also liked that Mom's positivity isn't just for her daughter.  The narrator has witnessed her Mom using this power on others as well.  This is  very moving.  It makes the message double powerful.  It tells the young reader/listener how awesome the Mom character is, and also points out to the adult reader that their little one is watching how you interact with other adults.  A story that can speak to both parents and kids is impressive and more difficult to pull off than many might think.  

    There is no real conflict in a story like this.  It's more of  a love letter to a little girl's family.  But the turn happens when the girl points out that the rest of her family has powers too.  Each power is something that  helps her feel better when she's low or re-enforces her confidence.  In the end she realizes that if her whole family is amazing, then she must be too.  Baby-girl hugs really are the best things ever made.

DISLIKES: How I might have done it differently.

    Really the only thing I could say I disliked about this story is a matter of personal taste.  As a fan of mysteries, and someone trying to write a mystery myself, I liked the premise presented in the synopses. I expected the story to take a slightly different approach and was a little disappointed when it didn't.  

    I expected for the main character to suspect that there is something strange about her mother.  I'd have written it where the mom's powers are ordinary, as shown in the story, but the daughter is collecting and writing them down as though they are extra-ordinary.  Then at the end she reveals that there is only no other way to explain how her mother can do all these things; She must be a real life super-hero.  

    Since that is what I was expecting/hoping for the story came off corny to me the first time I read it.  Then I chewed on it, and read it again with clearer thoughts.  Finally, I had my husband read it to our daughter.  It felt a bit weird reading it to her myself - like i was bragging or something - but you really can't review a picture book unless you've read it to child (or at least listened to it being read to a child).

     Witnessing them talk about how great this mom was, and then equating that to me changed my whole perspective on the book.  

    So this is still a five star story in my opinion and really good read.   Give is a try.

                This story would be a great story for Valentines Day, Mother's Day, or a Mom's birthday bedtime treat.  Or Anytime you want to make you stressed out mom feel special.  And moms really do deserve to feel special sometimes.

    Also, whoever animated the trailer for this book in the YouTube vid above is amazing.  

   You can find "My Super Mom and her Sidekick Crew" at your local library!  At time of recording it's selling on Amazon for about $20.  

        Learn more about Tameka Mitchell and Maternity Motivational Publishing here.  

        Also, you can find out more about the illustrator Barbara Dokic on her Goodreads page here.

        Until next time, I'm Porsche B. Yeary.   Follow me on Twitter @PBandJellyPhish for more updates.  

     I'll see you on the next page.  

                

    

    

        

    



                                











View all my reviews

7 ate 9 by Tara Lazar

7 Ate 9: The Untold Story by Tara Lazar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published: 2017 by Scholastic Inc.

Ages: 4- 8

Pages: 28

Synopsis: 
6 has a problem
Everyone knows that Seven is always after him.  Word on the street is that 7 ate 9.  If that’s true, 6’s days are numbered.  Lucky for him Private I is on the case.  But the facts just don’t add up.
It’s odd.
Will Private I put two and two together and solve the problem . . . . Or is 6 next in line to be subtracted?

         P1: Title Page

         P2: Copyright

         Ac1: Introductions

         P3

    I was dozing in my chair when an urgent banging on my office door bolted me awake.  It was 6.  Something had scared the pants off him.
“7 is coming to get me,” said 6.

          P4:

 

As a Private I, I’m used to his type - numbers.  They’re always stuck in a problem.  But I knew about this 7 fella.  He was odd.  

    Introduction of the detective.  Since the story is i first-person the writing style show's Private I's personality, ergo his dry whit and humor.  Private I's super power knowing a lot about potential suspects before the case starts.

P5: “Take it easy, 6,” I said “What’s 7 up to?” 

 

P6: 
“Word on the street is that 7 ate 9!”  And now he’s after me,” said 6.
“Well technically, he’s always after you,” I said.  “There’s 5, then 6, then 7.”  
“See, that proves it!”

 

P7: I told 6 not to panic. “Stay here.  I’ll get to the root of this,” 
“I hope so!” said 6.  “I fear my days are numbered.  

 ACT 1 ends with detective stating clearly that he will take the case.  He doesn't state how, but his experience working with numbers, and the fact that he's a P.I. certainly helps.  He mentions twice that numbers are always dealing with odd problems.  

ACT2

P8: First I went looking for 8.  She’s usually caught between 7 and 9.  

 

P8:  I found her at the corner of Second Avenue and Fourth Street.  But 8 knew nothing.  Nada. Zilch.  

 

P9 - P10 “If it’s true,” Eight said “then I’m next in line!” In a flash, she took off her belt.  Now 8 looked just like O.” Good disguise

    Here we have a first clue, and it's the best kind of clue, one where the detective, doesn't recognize it's usefulness until the end of the story.  It isn't a clue to the cracking the case, but it does give the reader and the protagonist insight into something can be used later.  

P11
I needed a solid lead.  I strolled into Cafe Uno, leaned on the counter, and ordered a slice of pi.  B, the waitress, had the scoop.  

         P12: 

“Yeah, I heard 7 ate 9” she said.
“So you haven’t seen 9 around?” I asked.
“Negative, said B.  “He just disappeared.”  

    Another clue that doesn't seem like a clue until the end.  Of course, nine must be gone if seven ate him. But, as I pointed out in the Mystery __ he second clue is always misleading.  It's still a good clue but it causes the detective to take the wrong path.  That is what build's conflict even in these picture book stories.  

P13:
So 9 was gone. I couldn’t let 7 be the one who got away.
But I needed more data.  I went to see 11.   She and 7 are like two peas in a pod.
“7 couldn’t have done it,” said 11.  “He’s on vacation.”

         P14

“Are you sure?”  I prodded.  

Author Tara Lazar

“I’m positive!
 I saw him leave.”

 Gasp!  The plot thickens!  All the clues are true but now seven has an alibi!  

    P15

But if 7 is gone, then where was 9?  It didn’t add up.  Frustrated, I headed back uptown.  That’s when I saw him crossing the street.
Finally, I put two and two together.  

     As I is pondering this dilemma he sees the third and final clue.  This clue that leads I back in the right direction.  If Clue 1: numbers can disguise them-selves as other numbers. Clue 2: nine is missing.  Then Clue 3: Six is crossing the street.   There can be only one explanation.

P16 - P17
I had to get back to the office.  “On the double,” I told the driver.  

ACT 3 The 

P18
I busted through my office door and found 6 taking forty winks.  
“I have solved this numerical nonsense,” I cried.  “I grabbed 6 and turned him . . . upside down.  His true color was revealed.  

         P19: Just as I suspected - my Clint 6, was really 9!

P20
“You had everyone worried, 9” I said “Why did you say that 7 ate 9?”
“Because 7 gets all the attention!  ‘Lucky seven’! ‘Seven Wonders of the world’!  ’Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’!”
Figures.  9 felt like he didn’t measure up.  

     Surprise ending, perfect for kids just learning their numbers.  

P21:
“Seven! Seven!! SEVEN!!  It’s like I don’t exist.  Folks hurry right past me on their way to 10. Don’t even get me started on 10.  Everyone thinks he’s perfect!”  

         P22:

I zeroed in on 9.  “Are you kidding?”  You should be on cloud nine right now.  Happy as can be, the whole nine yards!”

         P23:

“How come?” Asked 9
“Because you’ve got NINE lives!”  

         P24

That’s when 11 showed up.  “Looks who’s back!” She said

     As far as motives go, jealousy is the oldest in the world.  The biggest one even.  It's also great that the solution was non-violent.  9 just needed some therapy.   

P25: It was 7.  ‘Umm,” stammered 9.  “No hard feelings, 7, old pal?”  
“Sure.  Let’s not be divided,” 7 said.  

         P26 - 27

7 seemed awfully pleased for a number who had been framed.    “Why so happy, 7?”  I asked.  
At last, everyone was back in order.  And now I could take letter cases again, their 

A-Ok in my book. 

         P28

The next day, while dozing in my chair, my phone bolted me awake.  I’d recognize her voice anywhere.  It was 2 . . . With another problem to solve.   I’ve really got to change my number.”  

The last few pages of puns were not needed in my opinion, but I'm an adult reader, not a writer trying to meet the page count.  The pressure to make it to 28-32 pages must be pretty strong in the publishing industry.  

MY TAKE 

    I was surprised that such a silly story still fit the Mystery Writer's of America formula for a good mystery plot very well.  The detective and the case were introduced, there were up to three clues, a misdirect, and finally a surprise ending! All the steps, and with a number related puns every few sentences that never veered from the mathematic theme.  Pretty awesome.

BEDTIME BREAKDOWN

    I assumed this story would go over my daughter's head.  She's only two and just beginning to recognize numbers and letters.  Once again I was surprised by how invested she was in the story.  Once she understood that the imposter 6 was afraid of seven she was really interested in what was coming next.  

    She gasped when eight became the number 0, ( she thought it was the letter O).  She shouted out "Five." when the number appeared driving a bus.  She shouted out and "Six" when she saw them walking across the street, and gasped at the big reveal.   I realized that even though she's under the recommended age for the book, she still benefits from the number recognition.   Reading this and "The Deductive Detective" will give her some mathematic vocabulary years before she starts formal math training, not to mention an interest in mysteries. 

    This is a fun book for young or preschool aged kiddos who just enjoy looking for lost numbers.  Please check it out at your local library or patron the author,Tara Lazar, with a purchase. At time of recording "7 Ate 9" by Tara Lazar is only $11.29 -  a great price for giving your favorite young mind a head-start in math class.     

     If you found this breakdown at all useful please let me know in the comments.

    I'm pbyear.com; PB&Jellyphish on Twitter, or better known as Porsche B. Yeary

    And I'll see on the next page.

 

View all my reviews