Karen A. Wyle

Calmness and family love comes across strong in this lovely, bedtime read.

Molly sits with her father on the porch, waiting for the fireflies to appear. When they do, she's not only excited but has tons of questions...most her father isn't sure how to answer. But he does his best as Molly gets ready for bed.

This is a gentle tale, which shows the excitement of spotting fireflies. There's a nice time of waiting to allow anticipation to build until the little wonders appear. The questions that follow will have adults smiling due to the familiarity, and the awkwardness of the situation as the father struggles also draws a grin. But this is so nicely woven in that young listeners won't notice it and, instead, will wonder right along with Molly as she asks her questions. It builds an enjoyable atmosphere as she prepares for bed, and these are all moments readers can easily connect to. It does make a lovely bedtime read.

The text flows along with poetic style and is smooth. It makes a nice read-aloud and is age appropriate. The illustrations have a personal touch and stick to lighter colors to keep a gentle atmosphere, which invites to relaxation. I, personally, would have enjoyed a few firefly facts thrown in, but that's just my two-cents. It's a sweet read and well-done for those sleepy moments. I received a complimentary, digital copy and enjoyed the calming atmosphere.… (mais)

It's been a while since I've reviewed a children's picture book and I was excited to receive a copy of You Can't Kiss a Bubble from Karen A. Wyle.

I love bubbles! In this adorable children's picture book, geared for ages 1- 8 years, we learn what you can and can't do with bubbles.

This is a feel-good read with a whimsical flair. The story and illustrations provide many giggles and recognize the value of life is finding the joy in it.

I received a copy of You Can't Kiss A Bubble from the author.… (mais)

Beautifully illustrated and poetically written, this read embraces nature and blows along with the atmosphere of an ancient tale.

The wind speaks to the grass, and soon, the comparison to the ocean begins. The wind tells of its observations, comparing one to the other with the similarities and differences. The entire text takes on a poetic tone, which snuggles in with the painting styled illustrations. The two harmonize together to create an inviting, artistic atmosphere, which will even grab older readers.

The text is well down and flows wonderfully. While the vocabulary is well set for the age group, the metaphors and meanings do need a bit more maturity than most younger readers/listeners will have. Slightly older ones will pick-up on this end better, and it's a lovely way to introduce the audience to this more insightful way of thought. It can be used to lead into discussions and questions as to the meanings and thoughts behind some of the phrases in a classroom, group, or homeschooled setting as well.

But ignoring the learning possibilities, this book is beautifully created. Each illustration is a piece of art, and while some will grab the attention of younger readers better than others, the scenes do a wonderful job at portraying various aspects of grass and water in nature. Adults will appreciate this aspect as well.

It's a gentle read with the flow of an ancient tale as the wind takes on the narration. The phrases calm and the scenes do invite for a deeper glance, making it a lovely read for the right listener.
I received an ARC, am giving it 4.5 and rounding up.… (mais)