His Name was Ben by Paulette Mahurin

Ben, a forty year old man, loses his battle with cancer. During the last year of life, he meets Sara, a cancer patient and woman of his dreams. Uncertainty of time drives their appreciation of every precious minute.

The author accomplishes two major tasks: describing the ugliness of cancer, while writing a beautiful story of human emotion. Ben and Sara fight their disease with extraordinary courage. Friends and family issues come to the surface, resembling real life.

His Name was Ben by Paulette Mahurin is a book for all ages. Covering the hard knocks of life and the importance of compassionate relations create for a satisfying read about an unpleasant topic.

Noah: A Wordless Picture Book by Mark Ludy

Outstanding illustrations presented throughout this wordless picture book. Because of the incredible artwork, children will be able to understand the story of Noah throughout their childhood. This book offers young readers the opportunity to recognize fresh elements of the story each time he/she studies the sophisticated images.

Each page remained creative with Mark Ludy’s choice of animals for the ark. There’s no doubt the intensity of the story will take many readings for the young reader to experience the full impact.

While the author’s interpretation of Noah and his wife’s age differed from mine, it nevertheless told Noah’s story.

Jojo's Stinky Day: A story about an elephant who doesn't want to bathe by Sujatha Lalgudi

Jojo's Stinky Day is a helpful story to motivate young children for bath time. Written in a practical, yet playful way for the targeted age group, the message that Jojo ‘stinks’ is one a child does not want to experience.

The fun characters get the point across with ease, explaining the reason to keep clean.

Less is more regarding the length. While the author did a fantastic job with illustrations, children would also enjoy a colorful book version of Jojo's Stinky Day.

When the Shoe Fits...: Essays of Love, Life and Second Chances by Mary T Wagner

Intrigued by the synopsis of When the Shoe Fits, I anticipated reading Mary T Wagner’s essays. Relating to Mary’s life in so many of her stories, having experienced similar second chances of my own, I found the narratives entertaining.

Regardless of subject matter, each essay kept me engaged with the author’s comedic skill, while presenting real life scenarios that embraced a variety of emotions.

Mary T Wagner sprinkled wisdom throughout her essays, leaving pearls to ponder. I enjoyed reflecting on my life only to discover new avenues still available to test.

Barney and Barry, The Hitchhikers by Sharon Powers

Barney and Barry, is an educational, yet a fun way for young readers to learn about sea creatures and the ocean where they live. It’s a story full of unexpected adventures and problems, much resembling real life. No one lives their life without both good and bad occurrences, but it’s how you handle the situations that matters.

Sharon Powers, includes environmental issues along with many life lessons for her readers to ponder. Every child, along with their parents, can always benefit from a dose of compassion.

The illustrations match the details of the sea creatures. A delightful addition to a child’s growing library.

Defending the Line by Alex Carpenter

This is an inspirational story for children about a role model soccer player. The star’s name is David Luiz. This young man, turned away from playing on teams for being too scrawny, never gave up on his dream to play international soccer. His faith in God and his determination is what kept him driven.

Eventually he made a team in Portugal, which led to playing his defender position for his homeland of Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.

The story will appeal to young soccer players, as it uses soccer terminology for the inquisitive mind. The Christian theme, while spread throughout his story, emphasizes David Luiz’s faith in God.

David Luiz is an excellent example to his young readers. He doesn’t forget to help the poor from where he grew up. He proves you can be rich, famous, and humble, at the same time.

The Albino Redwoods (The Redwoods series) by Heather Nelson

Bullying and Discrimination

In a post-apocalyptic word of albinos, a mature seventeen year old girl, Joanne, bullied and discriminated against because of her pigmented skin, tries to make the best out of her life.

In high school, Joanne mistakenly falls for a cruel and deceitful albino, Grey, who tricks her for his own devious pleasure. The situation forces Joanne to remember what her father taught her before he died – to be proud and demand justice.

While taking care of her dying mother, Joanne tries to pull herself together, finish school, and keep her job. In the meantime, Grey is relentless. However, a silver lining appears when she unexpectedly meets Grey’s brother, Jem. Joanne’s life takes a surprise turn for the better.

Twists and turns throughout The Albino Redwoods by Heather Nelson create an enjoyable and unpredictable read for all ages. It may generate discussions about bullying and discrimination.