The Trees Have Hearts~ A Modern Day Fairytale With A Lesson

Review of The Trees Have Hearts

Originally published in Classic Children's Books

by Tina Peterson, otherwise known as 'The Book Lady.' 

How many of you had imaginary friends growing up? You were lonely and maybe you did not have many kids in your neighborhood or perhaps this little girl like you found yourself unable to communicate with other kids and therefore alone and needing friends. This little girl easily captures your heart and sympathies as she makes friends with the only "beings" around. 3 trees each with own their personalities are in the garden and she makes friends each one of them. The story takes place over a year and as the season changes so does the little girl - she grows in confidence and by the end of the book she has friends and needs to rely on the trees less and less.

The Trees Have Hearts is a wonderful story for kids who love to sink into a good book. Perhaps like our heroine they are lonely and need friends or perhaps they love a good book to read on a rainy afternoon. The pictures are beautiful and fun to explore and the details in them are wonderful. The suggested reading level is 5-8 but I would say it's for kids who are able to read / listen to a lot of detail. It's a bit long and the dialogue is very detailed for most 5 year olds so I would suggest parents read it first before giving it to their kids to read or trying to read it.

You can purchase "The Trees Have Hearts" as a paperback or on Kindle and you can learn more about the author right here. Mrs D has also written other books including "Carlo The Mouse on Vacation" and you might also be interested in that one too. = D

- See more by visiting this website

The Trees Have Hearts

by Mrs. D. (Olga D'Agostino)

ISBN: 978-1469134796

$ 19.79 ( paperback )

$ 3.03 ( Kindle )

From Tina: I am passionate about children learning to read and families sharing good books - namely the classics!  

10 Ways to Improve Your Mind by Reading the Classics 

My Valentine

My Valentine

by Mrs.D.

The winter was slowly fading away. The glowing sun, full of energy and warmth, pulsated in the blue sky, promising a sunny day. Melting snow by my window, it woke up the first flowers, who bravely poked their tiny heads through the thin icy covering. The crystal drops beamed on the white petals, as the flowers gracefully stretched toward the sun. Full of hope and poise, the young snowdrops waved with gentle leaves, greeting the returning spring. Filled with love and peace, their smiling faces brought back memories of my first love.

I had known him since birth. I lived by the river. He lived by the hill. His house was old and crowded; mine was quiet and new. He was shy and calm; I was jolly and noisy. We shared one crib and ate from one bowl. We were neighbors and non-separated friends. We were children of the postwar generation.

We grew up in a small village lost in the Carpathian Mountains. His one-bedroom house, with a cold dirt floor and a huge wood-burning stove, which took up half the kitchen, was my home too. His grandma took care of us while our parents slaved in the fields owned by the communist party. Sitting in his old crib, made from a solid piece of wood, we learned to talk and read. On cold days, we cuddled under the woolen blanket and listened to the stories his dad told our neighbors about the labor camp where the Germans took him when he was a young man. We ate warm bread, baked by his mother. It was dark, like the soil. Made from mixed grains, ground between two stones placed on the bottom of a wooden barrel, it tasted better than any white bread I ever ate. Swinging from wall to wall in the suspended crib, we pretended we were flying to space. With its squeaking rusty chains, the crib threatened to throw us out on the dirt floor. Giggling, we held tight to the metal chains secured to the wooden ceiling and watched his forgetful grandma placing a pan filled with pig grease on the wooden bench instead of the stove.

We shared many secrets, we did things we shouldn’t, we fought and we cried, we hugged and we kissed. Then we grew up. We were five years old. He told me we should get married as soon as the snow melts.

“Why not now?” I asked.

“You will see,” he said.

The winter departed and the snow was slowly disappearing. The earth was warming up under the shimmering sun. Spring arrived. One day he tiptoed to my window.

“Come with me.” He impatiently waved his hands, switching from one foot to the other.

“I can’t leave the house; my mom is not home,” I said through the glass. He sighed and turned around. I saw him walking toward the narrow bridge, and then he crossed the river and disappeared between two hills.

“Wait!” I yelled through the open window, and ran toward the hills. He was climbing the hill, covered in pure white snowdrops, which peered at me with their smiling eyes.

“This is for you.” He gently stretched out a shaking hand, full of delicate flowers. “I love you,” he whispered in my ear.

Thank you!

© All Rights Reserved by Mrs.D.Books.

Can You Howl Ho Ho Ho? Children's Books by C.L. Murphy

Take a trip to the North Pole with your little ones!

Lobo's Howliday 

The Adventures of Lovable Lobo # 4

by  C. L. Murphy

It's almost Christmas and Santa finds himself in quite the predicament due to unintended consequences as a result of trying something new. Lobo, and his raven sidekick, Roxy, travel to the North Pole to help the jolly ol' one and are guided by the Arctic animals. The colors of the season delight along the way and make for a howling good holiday. Can you howl Ho Ho Ho?

Reviewed by Mrs.D.

What could be more exciting than celebrating Christmas with an adorable wolf pup (Lobo) and his friends? Who can resist the rainbow sky, trees, and houses? I could not!

What an adorable book for little children! The vivid illustrations, filled with snow and happy images, burst from every page. They take readers far away into a snowy land full of magic and fun. Traveling with Lobo and his friends to the magical world of Santa and his helpers, children will learn about animals that live at the North Pole. In this story, the author cleverly adds a good message about sharing, giving, and helping others.

CL Murphy has constructed a sweet story for teaching young children who like reading lighthearted books. I just wish this book could be available in print. It would make a beautiful Christmas stocking stuffer.

 VIDEO ON YOUTUBE:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHhOIzd7iAk # t = 28

MORE BOOKS FROM  CL Murphy

As a right of passage, Lobo, a wolf pup is expected to bring back dinner for his pack on his very first solo hunt. He has a real problem with this, but with the help of Popo, his opossum friend, they come up with a plan in hopes of fooling the pack.

Silly is what Lobo does best in this adventure where he visits the barnyard. Who knew he could have so much fun slopping and plopping with the farm animals? Lobo soon realizes that he is better off being true to his lovable wolf self.

There's something in the forest that smells very different to Lobo in his third adventure. What could it be? He discovers Squatch, a little Bigfoot! Squatch leads Lobo and Roxy, to a clearing in the forest where they witness the Squatch Stomp. Stomp along to the beat just like the Bigfoots do! Find Squatch when he hides in the trees and learn the secret Bigfoot signal! BELIEVE!

YOUTUBE:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHRZS7BcxtI

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

FROM CATHY

I've been doodling my way through life ever since I won a school wide poster contest in the third grade. Creating is my passion! I've had the pleasure of working as an artist in residence, creating cartoons and painting murals with children at the local elementary schools. I just adore the wonder and the curiosity of young children. For years, I filed my picture book ideas away, until the reality of the empty nest syndrome sunk in and I decided to bring my favorite one to fruition.

I based the character, Lovable Lobo, on something very dear to my heart, a real wolf that I've raised for the last 13 years. Raising a wolf has been an interesting journey. I've felt the need to protect him his entire life, primarily due to the preconceived notions that wolves are to be feared.

I live amongst the wildlife in one of Oregon's beautiful forests. I have always appreciated nature and animals have always played a major role in my life. I was little girl who brought home the strays asking, "Can we please keep it?" At an early age I realized my connection with animals by training a wild Bluejay to appear on command and take food from my hand.

I hope you enjoy Lobo's adventures and you, too, will find Lobo lovable!

PLEASE VISIT CATHY'S ​​SITES:

WEBSITE 

BLOG

GOODREADS 

The Mystic Princesses and the Whirlpool by P.J. LaRue

Princess Harmony, the daughter of Aphrodite, makes people feel peaceful. Her life in New York is disrupted when the war-god, Ares, demands that his five children capture her so they can fight and cause wars. Princess Harmonie must give up all that she loves, including her beloved brother, Eros, move to Hawaii, and live with her new protectors, whom she does not even know. Together, the five girls are The Mystic Princesses, and they learn they have inherited powers from their mythological parents. Along the way, the Mystic Princesses learn life-lessons in personal safety, trust, keeping secrets that could cause harm and stop bullies. But will the princesses learn how to use their powers in time to protect Princess Harmonie from the Children of Ares, when their hiding place is discovered? Book includes a picture with each chapter for children who are not yet ready to give up vivid colors.

The Princesses and the Mystic Whirlpool  - reviewed by Mrs.D.

Power, mystery, peace, and love! Earth, wind, air, and water! Thrilling adventures of fearless magical princesses who have that power can help others.

What could be more exciting than going on great adventures beneath the ocean and meeting brave, powerful princesses: Harmony Princess, Coral Princess, Princess Catie, Princess Janna, and Princess Breanna. Reading The Princesses and the Mystic Whirlpool, children will easily connect to the mystical characters living in the ocean.

Written in a mysterious style, the story takes children on a fascinating trip from New York to Hawaii and inside the underwater kingdom. In this vibrant book, written by PJ LaRue, the magical princesses rule the ocean. They have power; they just must learn how to use it properly!

The author beautifully describes the life of mysterious characters and the nature around them. Traveling through the story, children will easily fall in love with loving Princess Harmony and her brother Eros, symbolizing peace and love. They will also meet the mystifying Children of Ares, who are after Princess Harmony and her brother Eros, and follow Coral Princess and her friends inside the ocean.

Each princess has different power, but the young girls must combine their powers to protect Princess Harmonie, who needs their help. Taking children to the underwater kingdom, the author gracefully connects them to nature and the ocean. Reading this exciting story, readers will feel as if they are riding on the playful Daring Dolphin or getting away from Scary Shark.

The story captured my attention from the beginning and kept it to the last page. I enjoyed knowing the daring princesses, who courageously protect their friend and each other. This is a lovely book about meaningful friendship, kindness, and caring. The illustrations are vivid and creative, and any child will love them. Also there are a few great lessons underlined in this book. This book is great for young readers who have a great imagination for the colorful tales of the princesses, and love, nature, and ocean.

PJ LaRue wrote poetry in high school, but she discovered writing children's books and short stories later in life. Her writing inspirations are hiking, photography and environmental consciousness, but these interests she links to much larger social issues. A person very close to PJ was molested as a child, making PJ passionate about providing child safety tips. And, PJ was bullied in the third grade by girls much larger than she, who demanded PJ  give them her lunch or her lunch money. As a result, PJ is committed to spreading the word that bullying must be stopped. One of PJ's goals is to help educate children, parents and care givers, in a fun way, in her children's book series, The Mystic Princesses.

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Twitter: @ PJ-LaRue
Goodreads

That Is How Things Are - A New Release from Mrs.D.

PUBLISHED!

That Is How Things Are  (two connected stories, "The Autumn Wind" and "The Kitten and the Sparrow" ) 

 Illustrated  by Chanoa 

"The Autumn Wind" - A moving story about the powerful wind and the peaceful garden, and how things change quickly when the autumn wind unleashes his power. 

Sketches of the characters

 "Whoooshhhhhh ... whooshhhhhh!" growled the wind from the sky, twirling like a white ghost with his long, silver hair.

Without asking him, the hasty Autumn had repainted the summer garden into one with many shades of golden orange.

Rustling in fear, the trees moved like a restless ocean, waving in the wind growing with their heavy branches

Frightened, the leaves trembled in the wind and clung to the branches. 

Just blooming yesterday, the autumn flowers which began shriveling up today, pressed to the ground by the powerful wind.

 "Cuuurlik ... cuuurrrrlikkk ..." cried the departing birds, shedding light their feathers in front of the foggy window. 

In no time, the golden autumn disappeared from the garden...

"The Kitten and the Sparrow " - A heartwarming story about friendship between a kitten and a sparrow, and how the little kitten learns about the power of nature.

Sketches of the characters

"What is winter?" asked the puzzled kitten, looking around the garden.

"You are a silly goose. The winter arrives just by itself. It appears after every autumn." The small sparrow laughed. 

The squirrel, feeling the ice-cold breeze blowing, grabbed the last acorns, which rolled under a yellow leaf. 

Autumn has left. Winter will be here soon ... 

A BEAUTIFUL BOOK TRAILER

© All Rights Reserved by Mrs.D.Books.

For updates, please visit: www.mrsdbooks.net

Exciting children's stories await you!