I'm snow dreaming with today's read, although our current temperatures aren't really supporting these thoughts. Our cold days don't usually get going until January...well, I don't think they get going much at all in our area. Growing up in Denver has given me a slightly different attitude about Winter than the Ozarks have to offer. But I can dream!
This read hits the shelves right before Halloween and should be great for the upcoming months. Let's see if it's as enjoyable as I hope it will be.
PEPPY AND THE GIANT SNOWBALL
by M.D. Jones
Illustrated by Jonathan Taylor
Empire Publishing
Picture Book
ages 4 to 8
COMING...
OCTOBER 30th!!!
Peppy races against a giant, ever growing snowball hoping to rescue his younger brother Bellybutton from danger. Will Peppy get to his brother in time? Peppy and the Giant Snowball tells the story of a brother's courageous act of love, encouraging young readers and listeners in the values of family and faith.
MY TIDBITS
Outdoor fun meets family goodness and a snowy adventure with heart...and that with super, cute penguins, too.
Peppy can't wait to head outdoors with his siblings and play in the snow. They throw snowballs and have all sorts of fun. As the idea to form a huge snowball hits them, all jump in to do their part...until the ball begins to roll downhill. It's fun to watch, and the youngest of them, Bellybutton, decides to race the ball down the hill. But the snowball grows and grows and grows. If Peppy doesn't do something quick, Bellybutton's fun might turn into disaster.
This is a cute read, which is well suited for a bedtime adventure. While the penguins are adorable, and playing in the snow is inviting, it's the family warmth and goodness which makes these pages shine. The siblings get along very well, and it's hard not to want to head outdoors with them. The wholesome enjoyment of being together comes across clearly with natural flow and doesn't near preachiness. This goodness sets the stage for the later tension and allows listeners to worry about Bellybutton when the snowball situation gets out of hand. There's just enough danger to grab young readers' attentions and put them at the edge of their seat, while still never leaving what's appropriate for the age group or over-exciting them to make bedtime difficult. Instead, everything rounds off with the atmosphere of a warm hug and invites to pleasant dreams.
At the end, there are several short questions for those interested in opening up discussions or heading into a little, deeper thought.
And here he is...
M. D. Jones lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife Andrea, and has four amazing kids. M. D. has been helping families for over thirty years, serving in churches and schools throughout the United States and around the globe. His hope in writing the Peppy adventures is to encourage children and families in the values of family and faith.
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