Latest Review of Ti Ana and The Giant

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Distant Rain.
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Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by: Wayne Walker

What would you feel like if it rained, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, for years and years and years?  The Village of Mush used to be called the Village of Lush when it had lush green fields, rolling hills, abundant food, and gorgeous flowers year round.  But then, it started to rain.  And it rained and it rained and it rained.  Now the village is nothing but muck and mud, and that is why it is known as the Village of Mush.

Ti Ana is a young girl living in the Village of Mush who remembers when things were better and wonders why it is raining all the time.  The people usually answer, “It’s just the way it is.”  But Ti Ana is not satisfied and determines to find out why, so she leaves the village, falls through the muck into a huge lake, is saved by a giant frog, and finally meets a giant named Aspiron.  Will they be able to determine what is causing the rain?  And if so, will they be able to do anything about it?

I reviewed another “Modern Day Fairy Tale” by Ilia, The Bouncing Boy, back in May.  Like it and fairy tales in general, Ti Ana and the Giant has an important moral or lesson.  Ti Ana is a girl who will not accept the status quo without knowing why.  And as she seeks to find answers to her questions, she perseveres, saying, “Yes I can, Yes I can, I can do it, I know I can.”  Also, the reader will be impressed with the need to take care of the land in which we live.  Children will undoubtedly enjoy reading this book, and they will also learn something from it.

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New Review for A Christmas Fairy Tale

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When I wrote A Christmas Fairy Tale, my intention was to create a brand new Christmas story that truly communicated the spirit of the season.

It is one thing to think that you have accomplished this feat and totally a different thing to receive comments, and now a fabulous review, that have others saying the same thing.

Here’s a quote from the book review from Wayne Walker who gave the book a five star rating:

“A Christmas Fairy Tale, another of the “Modern Day Fairy Tales” by Ilia, is a welcome addition to the cache of stories about the real meaning of the Christmas holiday. For many people, it could well become an annual tradition for their Yuletime family read aloud.  Fairy tales always have an underlying message, and this one is no different. In addition to the good example of the citizens’ willingness to assist the fairy in her time of need, there is the important lesson of the need for folks to have hope in their hearts, as illustrated by what the fairy did for them. It is a charming book that children should thoroughly enjoy.”


Lastest Review for The Bouncing Boy

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BOOK REVIEW

STORIES FOR CHILDREN

BOOK: The Bouncing Boy

AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR: Ilia (aka Leigh-Ann Lemire)

PUBLISHER: CreateSpace (2008)

ISBN-13: 978-1440475603

READING LEVEL: 5th-6th grade

RATING: 5 stars

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker, reviewer with Stories for Children Magazine

What would you think if you saw a boy who was so big that he would actually bounce if he fell? Jack is a big bouncing boy. That’s what his mother called him when he was born, and that’s what he has become. He was a big baby, a big toddler, a big child, and now a big pre-teen. As a result, the other children, and even many of the adults, in the small town where he lives have teased him unmercifully. Unfortunately, Jack’s resentment only leads to behavior that continues to make him more unpopular. Then his old, frail parents pass on, and his life goes from bad to worse until Jack is finally chased out of town to live in the nearby woods.

Then one day, a “Sad Situation” arises in the town. The people’s heads start growing flowers instead of hair, and the flowers smell very, very bad. The townsfolk begin ridiculing each other rather than trying to work out a solution. Only one old rickety frail man realizes that something needs to be done, and he needs Jack’s aid to cross the land and the desert so that they can get help from the healer in the next village. At first Jack doesn’t want to help the very people who have been so mean to him, but “the elder” appeals to the memory of Jack’s parents, and Jack agrees to go with him. Will they make it? Will they find a cure? Will Jack and the townspeople learn any important lessons?

The Bouncing Boy is the third in a series of modern day fairy tales written by Leigh-Ann Lemire, who goes by the penname of Ilia. It is designed to appeal to both adults and children from one to a hundred years old. Any child, or adult for that matter, who has ever been teased or ridiculed should be able to identify with Jack. Some of the important values depicted in the story include respecting parents and elders, being persistent in achieving one’s goals in spite of seemingly insurmountable odds, and the necessity of forgiveness. Youngsters will have fun reading about some of the “gross” and “yucky” things that Jack does, but they will be learning some vital life lessons at the same time.

Related websites: www.winsometales.com (book), www.art-of-ilia.com (author), www.createspace.com/3361028 (publisher)

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New Reviews

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Two new reviews were written this week, here’s excerpts from the reviews:

“The ultimate lesson of the story, that of doing something good to help others even though they haven’t been nice to you, is a good one.”

“There are a lot of good points to be said about The Bouncing Boy. There were at least five “messages” I picked up on in the story: (1) Nobody likes a slob, (2) Nobody likes unkind people, (3) There’s good in everyone, (4) It’s good to have worthy goals and achieve them, and (5) Forgive and be forgiven. And the story turned out to be quite a creative adventure.  As I read the last page and closed the book I said to myself – this book is a piece of artwork. It is something original and full of creativity.”

A Nice Review About The Bouncing Boy

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The word is getting out about my fairy tales and a very nice review was written about The Bouncing Boy.   It was said to be “An amazing tale in which a boy overcomes the obstacles thrown at him, such as obeseity, the constant ridicule of being rude and smelly, and the growing up of a young man who doubted himself.  This story gives new meaning to the phrase anything is possible as long as you set your mind to it.”