KID'S REVIEWS
By Lyda Whiting

Where Peace Lives
Written by Debbie Robins
Illustrated by Victor Robert
The angel Peace has been locked in an unbreakable glass box and can’t escape. One child sets out on a journey to find the three keys to set Peace free. Along the way the child meets Luther the Bear and discovers others who teach the lessons of peace. An old Siamese cat called Mister Buddha sells a potion called acceptance. Mahma the Ferret does unto others as he would like them to do unto him. Orangutans operate a ferry across the Sea of Forgiveness. A being from the Land of La respects all living things. Along the way, we discover that the keys to Peace are not physical things, and discover the power of holding peace in our hearts.

In the style of The Little Prince, this is a magical fable to delight and inspire young and old alike. The lessons taught by the book’s characters are drawn from the wisdom of some of the world’s greatest peace leaders: Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad. Each person who reads this book will come to believe they can make a difference in the world.
The charming story never reveals any details about the narrating child, which encourages the reader to become the protagonist. The black-and-white illustrations give the pages movement and quirky charm without detracting from the lyrical words.

This lovely book is highly recommended for children and adults of all ages, and is on its way to becoming a modern classic.
Published by Cambridge House Press, this book is available at your local bookstore.



The Little Elephant with the Big Earache
Written by Charlotte Cowan, M.D.
Illustrated by Elaine Garvin
Eddie the Elephant is excited about his birthday party. Eddie and his cousin Sam come up with an exciting entry for the mud-castle contest, and everyone has a fun day by the river. But Eddie wakes up with a nasty earache. Luckily, his mom knows just what to do. Eddie is nervous about going to the doctor, but Dr. Hippo helps Eddie feel better. Dr Hippo tells Eddie’s mother how she can help Eddie at home. After a day of rest and loving care from his mom, Eddie is feeling much better, and enjoys his birthday party. Eddie and Sam even win the mud castle contest with their elephant sculpture!

This is a delightful story with engaging characters, which will entertain children as they learn. The illustrations are appealing and fun, and will encourage children to identify with Eddie and his friends. Children will feel more comfortable about their own visits to the doctor after getting to know kindly Dr. Hippo.

Written by a pediatrician and parent, this book will comfort and educate children and their parents. There is a laminated parent guide in a pocket in the back of the book, which answers questions about ear infections and treatment options. Originally released only to the medical community, this book is the first of a series about common childhood illnesses now being offered to the general public.

Highly recommended for children ages 2 to 7 and their parents, teachers, and doctors.
Published by The Hippocratic Press, this book is available at your local bookstore.



The Sun and the Moon
Written by Brian D. McClure
Illustrated by Buddy Plumlee
One day the Sun tells the Moon that he’s too tired to shine any more. The Moon tells him it would be the end of everything, which makes the Sun angry. Soon the Sun and the Moon are arguing and calling each other names. They get so wrapped up in their fight that they forget to do their jobs, and the whole planet suffers. The plants and water freeze, and everything is in danger. But the Sun and the Moon still don’t notice what is happening to the earth because they are so angry with each other.

When the Sun and Moon stop arguing long enough, they realize that they feel terrible. Each is sad about hurting his friend, and realizes that he has been hurting himself at the same time. They remember that they are connected to each other, and apologize. Suddenly they realize what is happening on the planet below, and they get back to their work just in time to save the life on earth.

The book talks about the anger of the Sun and Moon as a metaphor for the anger within humans. The author writes about the fear that lies underneath anger, and the importance of focusing on our connection to everyone and everything in the universe.

The illustrations have a watercolor quality that is appealing and a bit abstract, pulling the reader into the mythical story.
For children ages 3 to 6.
Published by Universal Flag Publishing, this book is available at your local bookstore or at www.universalflag.com



My Body My House
Written by Lisa Beres
Illustrated by Julia Woolf
An old house lives happily surrounded by beautiful trees in a small town. But the owner wants to impress his neighbors, and be-gins to make changes. The remodeling is fast and looks good, but the house complains that the new products make the air in the house toxic. When the person poisons the house and garden with bug spray, the house protests again. The human gets sick, and finally listens to what the house has been saying. He cleans up his act, and learns an important lesson about living in harmony with the earth.

This lively story explains the connection between our home and our health, and teaches the importance of creating a healthy living place to children and adults in a fun way. The brightly colored drawings are delightfully childlike and appealing. They cheerfully illustrate the story while showing the beauty of the natural world.

The author is a Baubiologist, a specialist in how buildings impact life and the living environment. She learned first-hand how products and chemicals in a home can affect health, and discovered her own health problems disappeared when she made changes in her home. Now she and her husband offer advice and information on reducing toxins to creating healthier homes and offices through their website and company, Green Nest.

This book is the first in The Body Series: Big Lessons for Little People. For children ages 3 to 5.
Published by Green Nest LLC, this book is available at your local bookstore.