Tag: Chris Stead

Posted in Children Books

Christmas Chimney Challenge

Posted on by Little Bee

Christmas Chimney Challenge: A Wild Imagination of Willy Nilly book by Chris Stead

Rating: 5 Stars

 

I was provided a copy of Christmas Chimney Challenge by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

In this 4th book on Willy Nilly’s adventures, Willy is writing a Christmas list for Santa along with his sister, Suzie.  After a trip to town to see all the lights, Willy becomes upset that he does not have a chimney and fears Santa will not be able to get to them and give them their gifts. Suzie tells him that Santa would use the back door, but this is not good enough for Willy. While in town, an elf had given Willy a satchel of magic glitter. The next day, Willy decides he is going to make a chimney for his house, only he made several chimneys with a bunch of rubbish from the junkyard. Willy felt that if he made several chimneys then they would get MORE presents. After the chimneys were built, Willy dumped the magic glitter into the chimneys. On Christmas Eve, Willy checked on the chimneys and noticed they were glowing. Him and his dog were sucked into the chimneys and landed in a cold, snowy area. Willy and his dog ended up rolling down the mountain in the North Pole as a giant snowball and landing next to a toy factory where he found a very sad elf. Willy couldn’t believe why the elf was so sad when he got to work with toys all day, but he learned that it is because suddenly a bunch of chimneys popped up and the elves would have to make even more toys and may not be done in time for Christmas. Willy felt very bad and indicated he could take them down. In order to get home in time to do so, the elf had a reindeer fly Willy and his dog back home. Once he got home, he noticed that the storm they flew through had knocked down all the chimneys. Though Willy was happy to have helped the elves, he was still sad that he may not get any gifts from Santa because he did not have a chimney. He learned Christmas morning that this was not the case and went into the living room and found many presents under the tree.

As always, this story was really cute, well written, and wonderfully illustrated. This is the 3rd Willy Nilly book I have had the opportunity to review. I am looking forward to purchasing paperback copies to go into my son’s library so we can read them together. I like that Willy goes on adventures but that he always learns something in the process. The illustrations marry the story perfectly and it is easy to see how any child would love it.  I look forward to reading more of Willy Nilly’s adventures and sharing them with my son! As always, Chris Stead has delivered another wonderful adventure.

I always enjoy reviewing for Old Mate Media, I am happy they reached out. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I love Christmas stories very much.

Posted in Children Books, Uncategorized

Follow the Bread Crumbs

Posted on by Little Bee

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Follow the Breadcrumbs by Chris Stead

Rating: 5 stars

 

Follow the Bread Crumbs is another cute story where Willy Nilly has a big idea that does not go according to plan. Willy Nilly is one day at the lake feeding the ducks and other birds and he has the idea of building a pond in his back yard for the birds to stay so he no longer had to clean his room in order to be permitted to the go to the pond. He went to the local baker and got some of his stale bread. He went home and dug a big hole in the back yard and filled it with water. He left bread crumbs from the pond to his back yard. When he went to bed, he hoped that a couple of ducks and geese would follow the bread crumbs. The next morning he finds out all the animals at the pond, and even an alligator, followed the crumbs to his house! Willy Nilly had to go get more bread to feed them because the animals were getting antsy and hungry. As he rode by the pond, he saw people crying because there were no ducks to feed anymore. When he got back to his house he decided to leave bread crumbs from his home back to the pond. The next morning when he woke up, he saw that all of the animals left the yard. When Willy Nilly rode his bike to the pond, he saw all the animals were back and everyone was happy again.

This is another story following Willy Nilly’s adventures. It was a cute story and once again, the graphics were amazing. I think young children will enjoy Willy Nilly’s Adventures. Chris Stead is a great children’s writers, and I hope to one day share them with my own children (once I have them!).

To find out more about the author and see the rest of the series, visit Old Mate Media

Posted in Children Books, Uncategorized

My Birthday Cake Needs a New Home

Posted on by Little Bee

28462926My Birthday Cake Needs a New Home by Chris Stead

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars

 

My Birthday Cake Needs a New Home is about a little girl who had a great birthday, but had too much leftover birthday cake. She searches high and low for a new place to put her cake. She tries her ears, her belly button, the refrigerator, her bookshelf, and even in her dad’s car! She finally settled on giving it to her brother.

I really enjoyed the art work for this book. I liked how it had smashed cake everywhere she tried to hide it. I feel it really helps connect the story together. It only takes a couple of minutes to read and is a great bedtime story, especially for those who love their birthday and want to keep all of their leftover cake forever 🙂

Posted in Children Books

The Little Green Boat

Posted on by Little Bee

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The Little Green Boat by Chris Stead

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

 

The Little Green Boat  is about a little boy named Willy Nilly who has a trip to the beach planned with his parents. When Willy Nilly gets to the beach, he goes exploring and finds a little green boat. This little green boat takes him out into sea. Willy Nilly becomes very hungry he becomes determined to find food. Two dolphins swim up to him in the boat and inquires about what is wrong with Willy Nilly. Willy Nilly tells him he was taken out to sea and he is hungry. The dolphins offer to bring him to land, however, the land they bring him to is not the same as from where Willy Nilly departed. In search of food, Willy Nilly begins to traverse the island and pass monkeys who throw things at him, bats in a cave, alligators that try to eat him, up a mountain to where he finds a chest full of food. At the bottom of the chest is a note with a number and a phone to call for help. Willy Nilly calls the number, and before you know it, a helicopter comes and picks him up and brings him back to the beach his parents are located. His parents are just sitting down to eat, but Willy Nilly is no longer hungry and wants to go play.

This story was very cute. I really enjoyed Willy Nilly and his adventure for food. A kid after my own heart! I think this story is very light and enjoyable for kids. I believe it will keep a child’s attention throughout the story. I think, in the future, Willy Nilly should have a female friend go on these adventures as well. I think it would be great for young female readers. Working with children, this will definitely be a book I let my clients read while sitting in my office. Willy Nilly’s adventures on The Little Green Boat are fun and require Willy Nilly to be smart and brave. These are great factors in stories for young readers.

 

To find out more about the author and see the rest of the series, visit Old Mate Media