Monthly Archives: October 2016

Hayden’s Halloween – Book Review

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haydens-halloweenHayden’s Halloween by Brenda M. Spalding

Illustrations by Jacqueline Paske Gill

Publisher: Create space (December 1,2013), 30 pages

 

 

 

 

About the Book

Join Hayden and his family on the family farm for the annual Halloween party. Friends come dressed in costumes to enjoy the haunted house and are treated to a surprise visit by some fascinating creatures of the night.

What I Thought

Hayden and his family are planning a Halloween party at the farm where they live. There will be a bonfire, decoration lights in the bushes, lots of food (Grandma’s Chess Pie recipe included in the book), guests in costumes, and a secret Mom, Dad, and Uncle Kevin are working on in the barn. And the whole family is excited that the bats showed up to live in the bat box they put up–just in time for Halloween too.

This is a delightful Halloween picture story book for children ages 4 – 8 years. The wonderful illustrations are colorful and inviting.

This is the 3rd book in the Hayden series.

About the Author

I was educated in Boston and now live in Florida. I came to writing late in life and find I really enjoy the people I meet.

My grandson is my inspiration for the Hayden books. He is a bright and creative companion. I write for my grandson that he might know how much his grandmother loved him. He is playing soccer and baseball now. He loves his ball games and being with his team mates. He looks so cute in his uniforms.

Read more about the author and her other children books and adult mystery books here.

Hayden’s Halloween Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Noble. Visit the author’s website: www.brendamspalding.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easy Grammar Lesson – A while vs. Awhile

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2012-12-30-10-30-12A while vs. awhile.

 

There really is a difference between a while and awhile.

 

Awhile is an adverb, which means it modifies a verb. The definition of awhile is “for a time”. It would be repeating to say “The dragon wishes you to stay for awhile”, which reads as “The dragon wishes you to stay for for a time.”

 

The dragon wishes to speak to you for a while if you are able to stay awhile.

 

The key is to watch for the word for. The dragon either wants you to stay for a while (a period of time) or he wants you to stay awhile (for a time).

 

“While” can be a noun, conjunction, adverb, verb, or a preposition.

 

While as a noun:

 

The dragon chatted for a while (a period of time) about how he hoped it was worth the king’s while (trouble) to listen.

 

The dragon drew a map, talking the while (at the same time; meanwhile).

 

While as a conjunction:

 

The dragon didn’t accomplish much while (during the time that) the princess was away.

 

The dragon wants to play, while (whereas) the magician wants to study.

 

While as an adverb:

 

The times while (during which) the dragon sleeps are the quietest times.

 

While as a verb:

 

The dragon can find all kinds of distractions to while (pass time in a leisurely manner) away the day when he should be studying grammar.

 

While as a preposition:

 

The dragon will be grouchy while (until) dinner time.  The preposition “while” is used to represent the length of time an action has been happening. “While” used this way is old-fashioned.

copyright 2016 The Dragon Grammar Book by Diane Mae Robinson, multi-award winning author of The Pen Pieyu Adventures series, dragon books for children. www.dragonsbook.com

Little Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon

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little-miss-history-mount-vernonLittle Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon

by Barbara Ann Mojica (Author), Victor Ramon Mojica (Illustrator)

Paperback: 46 pages

Publisher: eugenus® STUDIOS (September 21, 2016)

About the book

Who was George Washington? Washington is best known as America’s first president, but he was also a military hero. If you asked George Washington what he really wanted to be, he would reply, “a farmer.” Seeking to revolutionize antiquated 18th century farming methods, Washington experimented with crop rotation, fertilizers, plowing and plants. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association began restoring his estate to its former glory in 1853. Today the buildings, grounds and The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center reveal the real Father of the United States of America.

What I thought

Little Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon is the 7th book in this excellent series that visits historical landmarks in the United States. In Barbara Ann Mojica’s latest book, Little Miss History takes the reader on an intriguing journey to Mount Vernon to learn about the life of George Washington. The author presents interesting facts about the lifestyle at the time by visiting rooms in George Washington’s mansion, the gardens and grounds, and the slave quarters. Each page has a photograph that has the wonderful illustrations overlaid on it.

This book, as well as all the book in this series, are written and designed in such a way that readers will be hooked on history. Wonderful book and highly recommended.

About the author

barbara-ann-mojicaBarbara Ann Mojica is a historian and retired educator. She writes historical articles for the Columbia Insider under the banner “Passages.” Using the whimsical Little Miss History character, Barbara hopes to inspire children to learn about historical people and places. Little Miss History’s antics make reading nonfiction a fun-filled adventure for all ages.

Read More about Little Miss History Travels to Mount Vernon here, and read more about children’s book author Barbara Ann Mojica’s and her other wonderful kid’s books here.