Henry and the Hidden Treasure

Henry and the Hidden Treasure is an imaginative adventure a young child has in defending his pocket money against his little sister. Henry constructs elaborate defensive measures that he is sure will stand up to the clever ambitions of Lucy. Little does he know, Lucy has a few tricks of her own.

With a focus on introducing children to the use of ordinal numbers, Henry and the Hidden Treasure also draws out some important qualities of being a kid – such as creativity, the value of listening to parental advice, and of course, being nice to your sister.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Today is the release day of BCR Fegan's newest children's book, Henry and the Hidden Treasure. With pop-up text blocks on the kindle edition and adorable, imaginative illustrations, this book will be a treat for any young listener. 

Henry, the main character, has a treasure chest full of, what I assume to be, his allowance and he doesn't trust his little sister not to try to steal it, because she's obviously a super ninja. This fun set up makes the book interesting to little ones from the very start as Henry tries to discover how best to guard his treasure. 

While the story is creative and entertaining, with mentions of superheroes and monsters, I liked the lessons hidden within. They may be the true treasure of the book. The steps that Henry takes in the story are all numbered, giving order and introducing or reinforcing the number system to young listeners and readers. The story also introduces the idea that siblings may not all be secret ninjas who want to steal your treasure, but are instead caring younger people who want to spend time with you. This may help older siblings understand and better adapt to the introduction of a baby sister or brother. 

The amount of words on each page are very few, only a sentence or two. This puts the book in a beginning reader category. Though the little ones may need help with a few words, the vocabulary is basic enough for children to understand the story and sound out the words to read it themselves. Paired with the illustrations, I think a lot of young readers, especially boys and girls who are into superheroes, monsters, and secret treasures, will really enjoy this book! Plus, I think it's a good length for those beginning readers who tend to have shorter attention spans. 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups

Trina Bell's Humming Summer

Shooting ghost bears? Twelve-year-old Trina Bell has finally had enough. Why should she spend another dull summer watching Great-Aunt Roswinda play lawn bowling, while her father has all the fun? This year, she won't let him get away with the usual excuses. To her surprise, she succeeds. Her dad, the famous wildlife photographer, agrees to take her to the Canadian rainforest, on a quest for the elusive Kermode bear. Trina's triumph is short-lived, however; soon she finds herself in a city on Vancouver Island, dumped in a strange apartment building that may not be what it seems. But when she befriends Moss, the three-legged dog living across the street, and becomes involved in a mysterious case of vanishing hummingbirds, events take an astonishing turn...

*May Contain Spoilers*

 

When Trina Bell convinces her father to take her along on his next photographic adventure in Silke Stein's novel, Trina Bell's Humming Summer, she didn't expect to be chosen as the perfect detective by a group of hummingbirds whose friends are disappearing.

 

Trina Bell is a young girl who has always felt abandoned by her father. She's smart, imaginative, sweet, and in tune with nature. Readers will bond with her sympathetically through her loneliness and hope for the best when her father finally gives her a chance to join him on his expedition in Canada. Trina is an inspiring young girl who befriends a three-legged dog and a boy who is sensitive to light and smell. She's also a pretty good detective. Though it helps to be able to talk to animals. Her partner is Moss, the neighbor's dog who is the first to relieve Trina of her loneliness. He loves telling stories and eating junk food.

 

Trina's summer truly is a magical one. The story begins with Trina demanding her father take her along for his next trip. She's tired of being sentenced to a summer with her boring, but nice, Aunt. She's completely surprised when he agrees and her adventure begins. Though she hoped that her father would actually spend some time with her. Unfortunately, he leaves her to her own devices and imagination. This will connect Trina to readers on a deeper level. Trina feels like her father hates her because she reminds him of her deceased mother.

 

When the hummingbirds recruit Trina to be their detective, a mystery opens up around her. Certain hummingbirds have been reported missing and the ones left behind have no idea what's happening. They believe that Trina can help them before more disappear. Trina Bell's Humming Summer is the story of a young girl's first imaginative adventure laced with fantasy and strong emotions. The vocabulary is, at times, advanced, but I think the novel is aimed at tween/teen readers who enjoy a nice, easy mystery.

 

Rating: 3.5/5 Cups