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.  

                

    

    

        

    



                                











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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.

 

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Pigeon P.I. by Meg McLaren

Pigeon P.I. by Meg McLaren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

Published: 2017 Clarion Books
Ages: 4 - 7
Pages: 28

 

Synopsis:

Case No. 621

Feathered  friends are going missing all over town, but private investigator Murry MacMurry likes the quiet life ... Until a little bird tells a story the famous Pigeon P.I. cannot ignore

ACT 1 INTRODUCTIONS 

P1

Business was slow, just the way I liked it.

P2

My partner, Stanley, had skipped town a while back, so I’d decided to take things easy.  

Ill note: Missing bird flyers are all over the place. PT

P3

But then the kid showed up.   

Author Meg McLaren

“Excuse me . . . “

*Points to closed sign*

“But”

*Continues pointing*

“Maybe you . . . “ 

*Ignores*

She’d been here for a while

*It’s raining*

It was time to find out why PT

P4

The kid and her friends had come to the city ready for adventure, but they’d found danger instead . . . 

P5

She had escaped, but her friends hadn’t been so lucky.  No one had seen them since.  PT

P6

I told her I didn’t take cases anymore.

But she was pretty convincing.  

“Please?”

P7

“I just knew you’d come around.  My name is Vee.”

“Nice name, kid, but I can’t promise anything”

“Maybe I could help out.  I’ve always wanted to be a detective.”

“Sorry, kid.  I work alone now.”

“Come back tomorrow and we’ll talk,” I said.  But she didn’t.  PT

    The first act is  longer than the other two mystery books we've talked about.  Here we take our time getting to know Murry MacMurry's lazy personalty.  He's very reluctant to do anything without his partner Stanley, who left for unknown reasons.  In comes Vee with a mystery that Murry has been ignoring, and probably would continue to ignore if not for Vee's personality.  She's stubborn and she's determined to find her friends.  So when she doesn't show up the next day to discuss the case, Murry's curiosity is finally peaked.  This is what they mean by character driven plot.  Set up a protagonist and a plot that is antithetical to his personality, then find a way to drag him through to the end thus changing him on the way.  

ACT 2  INVESTIGATION

“I didn’t see her again for weeks.  When I finally did, it was too late.

“Have you seen this canary?  We suspect she had been bird-napped by a cream ring.” 

“A crime ring, Sarge.”

“Got any leads, Chief?”

“Beat it, birdbrain.  Can’t you see we’ve got our wings full?”

The police were busy on a big case.  I’d have to do this alone.  PT

P8

“News travels fast in this town, especially the bad kind.  

Word on the wire was that birds had been going missing all over.

P9

Rumor had it that a feather thief had snatched them.

"You didn’t it from me . . . "

I was just about to head downtown when I spotted my first feathery clue. PT

P10

Ill note: feathers falling from a birdhouse labeled “The Red Herring”

All the evidence pointed to the Red Herring Bar and Grill as the thief’s hideout.  It was time to take a closer look.  PT

P11

I was trying my best to blend in . . . When something caught my eye.

P12

“And stay out!” Something feathery that someone didn’t want me to see.  

I knew I was in the right place.  I just needed to find another way inside.  PT

P13 -14

”We better close up.” 

It didn’t take me long. 

“You’re all here!”  

“I knew you’d find us!”

“This little canary already had a plan.  She just needed the pin from my hat.  PT

    There is only one real clue in this one - a yellow feather where only red feathers are allowed.   It's a fun visual clue that may be easily missed, and thus trains young readers to be observant of background information.   Training their eyes to find such clues will make the book even more fun on a second, third, ect retelling as they spot more and more fun tricks in the background illustrations.  

ACT 3  FIGHT 

P15

The kid turned out to be a genius at picking locks.  Everything was going well until…

P15

“BRING ME MORE FEATHERS!” 

“Come on! We’ve got to go!”

“But that voice sounds so familiar. . . “

The villainous feather thief was shouting orders. I couldn’t leave now - I was so close to the truth.PT

P16

As usual, my curiosity got the better of me.  The missing birds made it out safely, but it looked like my wings were clipped for good.” 

“YOU?”

“GO!”

P17

“Look what we found. Boys.

“HELLO, MURRY.  HOW’S BUSINESS?” PT

P18

The fiendish feather thief was my old partner, Stanley!

“You’ve changed, Stanley.  You used to be honest.”

P19

I USED TO BE GRAY! DRAB AND GRAY BUT LOOK AT ME NOW….” PT

P20-P21

I’M GLOOOOORIOUS!!!

PT

P22-P23

“No.  You’re not.  You’re just a no-good THIEF, and you’re under arrest!”PT

Says who?

P24

“SAYS US!!”

 I knew the kid would back me up.

“Take them away, team.”

P25

She’s my partner, after all.  PT

P26

With another jailbird behind bars, the streets were safe again.

P27

And we planned to keep them that way.  PT

End

    This part was funny to me.  Murry's big reveal made me laugh.  

My Take 

McLaren's use of voice here really nails not only the atmosphere of this story, but also the humor and drama.  This story follows the beats of a hard-boiled noir detective story like Dick Tracy or the Maltese Falcon.  Even reading it silenty we can hear the differences between when Murry MacMurry speaks and when Vee or Stanley take over even though the story is very visual.  This makes it a very fun read-aloud story for parents.

     

As for MacMurry as a detective he fits our check-list.  His superpower in this case would be his honing knowledge of where to look for information on his beat, and who to talk to for a lead, where the criminals hang out.  It's not the kind of who'dun'it I'm currently working on, so it doesn't need the three clues deductions, but in true noir style there is a hunt, a betrayal, and fight in the third act.  Yet, despite the genera, the story is cute, funny, and age appropriate.  This is a  really fun mystery for young readers. 

Bed Time Breakdown 

My husband had lots of fun reading it to my little girl, but I think it's aimed more towards kids learning to read independently.  Still a very fun, cute, mystery to introduce the wacky noir style atmosphere to children - though I think there are several jokes that go right over some kid's heads, those are likely just to entertain parents, of course.   

            If you found this story as charming as we did please give the author some love.  Meg McLaren can be found on Twitter and Instagram.   Pigeon P.I. is about $15.00 on Amazon but if you can try please support your local library or book store.  

    I'm Porsche.  Learn more about me and what I write at pbyeary.com Follow me on Twitter at PB&JellyPhish for more updates and reviews.  

Thanks for stopping by I'll see you on the next page!   

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