Children under 12

Books for young children.

Haysoos the Honu

Title: Haysoos the Honu
Author: Kristin Barnes
Genre: Children
ISBN 1937406342

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): 1937406342

Synopsis: Haysoos the Honu is a Hawaiian sea turtle . He loves the company of other creatures, but he feels different from the fish, eels, and manta rays. His bulky shell slows him down, and his lungs mean he has to interrupt playtime to surface for air. Haysoos believes that being different is a bad thing, until he meets a special friend who shows him just how special it is to be different!

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Barnes, Kristin

Miss You To Pieces

Title: Miss You To Pieces
Author: Donna M. Purkey
Genre: Childrens
Reviewer: Jim Greenwald

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): 1470158035

Riley’s dad is in the Navy and deploys for 6 months. To help Riley count the days, his mom introduces a unique puzzle project in which he also finds comfort, strength, and encouragement. Children experiencing a temporary separation from a loved one will identify with Riley’s story and will learn that while we are challenged, we also grow and become stronger. We build ourselves as Riley builds his puzzle, and we stay connected to our loved ones as Riley’s family, and his puzzle pieces, stay connected. The puzzle project can be easily adapted for any family experiencing a temporary separation. The book includes tips for creating your own puzzle project!

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Purkey, Donna M.

Lion's Pride: A Tail of Deployment

Title: Lion's Pride: A Tail of Deployment
Author: Grace Anne Remey
Genre: Childrens'
Reviewer: Jim Greenwald

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): 0985544503

Lion's Pride: A Tail of Deployment is written and illustrated by Grace Anne Remey who is eight years old. She has experienced 7 deployments in her young life. In her book, Grace Anne tells her story from the perspective of an 8 year old lion cub who shares her experiences and feelings through all the stages of the deployment cycle. The book also includes a 'How To' section where Momma Lion describes ideas families can use at home during a deployment.

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Remey, Grace Anne

Jack and the Dragon

Title: Jack and the Dragon
Author: Lynn Salsi
Genre: Children's
Reviewer: Sandra Linhart

ISBN (links go to the MWSA Amazon store): 0982087322

This is a 32-page picture book (less than 2,000 words). This is an adaptation of an ancient traditional story. Jack, the youngest brother of three, learns how to over-come the bullying ways of his older brothers. At the same time, with the help of magic gifts, he is able to best the Dragon who steals from the brothers. This is a lesson in learning how to overcome life's little (and big) problems.

Author(s) Mentioned: 
Salsi, Lynn

Reading Buddies: Investing in the Future

By the time I was eight years old I had hunted bear with bow and arrow, ridden across the open plains upon magnificent horses, and hacked my way through lion infested jungles. By the time I was ten years old, distant lands were no longer foreign and the world had become my playground.  All this and more I accomplished solely through reading without ever leaving my home. As a kid, books were my escape from a quarreling family and chaotic life. It wasn’t until later that I realized how my early love of reading had paved the way for my achievements in adulthood.

Pages