Reviewer Conny Withay:Operating her own business in office management since 1991, Conny is an avid reader and volunteers with the elderly playing her designed The Write Word Game. A cum laude graduate with a degree in art living in the Pacific Northwest, she is married with two sons, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren.
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Author & Illustrator: Roe De Pinto
Publisher:
Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-104787-5460-2
“What a wonderful
beginning to Zealy’s new life – a fabulous world full of special
surprises!” Roe De Pinto ends her children’s book, The
Adventures of Zealy and Whubba: A New Life
Begins!
The
first book in the series, this unnumbered twenty-four-page paperback
targets children ages three to seven years old. With no profanity or
scary scenes, it is a story about finding a friend. Due to some two-
and three-syllable words, it would be best read out loud to beginner
readers. Full-color, full-page illustrations are usually on one side
of the page with black writing against white backgrounds on blue are
on the opposite side.
After a dedication, this short tale is
about a white seal pup that is born in 2010 named Zealy. Every
morning she opens her big eyes and sees her loving mother and father.
One morning when she wakes up, she sees a big baby orca in the water,
and her father tells her not to be afraid. The orca is named Whubba
and splashes a lot since she is so happy to see Zealy. The two become
fast friends as Whubba watches over Zealy day and night.
This
is an innocuous read for children as it shows how friendship develops
through care and consideration of others. Although dark in some
scenes, the drawings do not have much detail but are colorful. I like
the depictions of the animals having big, bright eyes.
If you
do not like pretend stories about sea animals, this may not be a book
for you or your child. With the complicated wording, it may frustrate
beginner readers due to containing some hard-to-understand words such
as excited, wonderful, and fabulous. Since it is the first in the
series, the story is somewhat vague, so the reader has to wait for
the sequel to see what happens next.
Mother and grandmother,
De Pinto spent three years studying children’s literature. This is
her first book in the series. Since it is not stated, it is assumed
she is the illustrator also.
It would be helpful for beginner
readers if the book contained shorter words and sentences so it could
be used as a teaching tool for young readers.
If you are
looking for a series about friendship between a seal and orca, this
one may be a good beginning story.
Thanks to Outskirts Press, Bookpleasures, and the author for furnishing this complimentary book in exchange for a review based on the reader’s honest opinion.