I used to review children’s books when Kaden was younger and now Remi and Natalie are getting to that fun age where they love to read with me. Kaden is into chapter books and learning new words everyday. So I have decided to say “yes” when a children’s book crosses my path that I think they would enjoy.
Chickadees, Bumbelbeez, Pussy-Willow Trees and Two-And-A-Half, by Jeffrey Politsky, is a children’s book of adventure. It is recommended for ages 4-9.
“Kids who still have their parents read to them really like the book, as do kids who are independent readers,” says Dr. Politsky. “The reviews of parents and children who have read the book are very favorable: adults really like the message and the children just love the story. I hope many more children will get to read it.”
Synopsis:
Children love to explore; it’s intuitive. And they tend to struggle when asked to confine their activities and behaviors to our adult-imposed rules and paths. Chickadees, Bumbelbeez, Pussy-Willow Trees and Two-And-A-Half is a vibrantly and exceptionally well-illustrated adventure book meant to inspire children to follow their urges to explore and to appreciate diversity. The book starts off when “One day a little brown monkey with dazzling olive green eyes, a friendly smile, and a long curly tail asked his father if there was more to the life than just hanging around with other monkeys and eating bananas.” Before long he meets a lovely grey cat and a majestic blue pelican each on their own quests. Together, they explore a foreign island and when their journey takes them into a private swath of land, they befriend a local dog who takes them further than they ever imagined.
Chickadees, Bumbelbeez, Pussy-Willow Trees and Two-And-A-Half emphasizes several significant values, which help us subsist and ultimately thrive: learning through independent exploration, the need for friendship, the importance of respect and tolerance for other cultures, languages, and lifestyle diversity, along with a healthy understanding of the powers of mother nature.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The first thing I noticed about this book it that it is a good sized hardcover, about 8″ x 11″ and the cover is fun and bright. The title was a little confusing at first. Kaden wanted to know “Two-And-A-Half what” and I told him we had better read it and find out. They animals travel on a bus with the number 2 1/2. Kaden was happy to know that 🙂
This is a long book for young readers but our adventure with the monkey, the kitten, the pelican and more is broken down into sections so when the little one’s attention span wonders we can stop and pick the book up later. I have to say this book is so beautifully illustrated children can enjoy it without the words or even make up their own stories as my granddaughter did. But there are messages throughout the book. Friendship, respect, diversity. These messages will continue to evolve and sink in more and more with each reading and as the child grows.
Chickadees, Bumbelbeez, Pussy-Willow Trees and Two-And-A-Half is an absolutely delightful story. Adults will see and understand this book was written as a labor of love. Children will ask to read it or have it read to them over and over again. The target age level is 4-9 but my 3 year old grandchildren loved it. Kaden is almost 8 and was able to read most words himself.
I am very happy I was asked to review this colorful book and that it now resides on the kid’s bookshelf. I am also happy that fifty percent of the proceeds of the sale of each book will be donated equally to research programs dedicated to the study of dementia and memory dysfunction, and to the study of breast cancer. I do wish it was available in more outlets.
About the Author:
Dr. Jeffrey Politsky grew up in Toronto, Canada. He obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Toronto and his medical degree at the University of Western Ontario before moving to Vancouver for his residency training in Neurology. He moved to Boston in the late 1990’s to complete his epilepsy fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and has lived in the United States ever since. Today, Dr. and Mrs. Politsky live in New Jersey with their two children and two giant schnauzers. While he has written numerous articles and chapters related to the neurologic sciences, Chickadees, Bumbelbeez, Pussy-Willow Trees and Two-And-A-Half is Dr. Politsky’s first serious non-academic venture.
Dr. Politsky began writing Chickadees, Bumbelbeez, Pussy-Willow Trees and Two-And-A-Half on Formantera, one of the Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean Sea off of the east coast of Spain.
“As I began pondering what makes free-form travel so interesting, I decided to try and create a story that would be appealing to youngsters. All of my back-packing adventures, like so many other travelers, had common themes: selecting a location, landing in a foreign place and feeling very foreign, attempting to understand the culture and fit in, survival, discovery, problem solving, raw happiness. I incorporated several of my own experiences in the text,” says Dr. Politsky. “I decided to weave into the story the linguistic nuances that my grandfather used when he would joke with my brother and me when we were youngsters – in essence we would ask him a question and he would answer using neologisms and in a manner that made absolutely no sense at all and then start laughing in a jolly fashion, quite amused with himself. I cherish my memory of my grandfather. His good nature and terminology stuck, much of it is incorporated in the book. In fact, some of his favorite expressions make up the book’s title.”
Dr. Politsky’s grandfather died in 1989 of complications related to multi-infarct dementia.
Tony Santiago illustrated the book with Dr. Politsky’s children and grandfather individually represented in the characters.
In 2011, Dr. Politsky’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is fine now; but the process was quite an ordeal. Anyone who has been through this or a similar experience understands this. Dr. Politsky sees and treats patients every day with epilepsy and related neurologic & medical conditions – in many cases illnesses appear like an unexpected storm and can turn people’s lives upside down and inside out like a tornado. By the end of 2012, Kim had been diagnosed, treated, and had achieved full physical recovery.
Readers can connect with Dr. Politsky on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.
To purchase a copy of the book, go to http://jumpservicesllc.com/projects.html
Thanks to the author I am giving away 1 copy!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
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Contest Will End October 10, 2015 at 11:59 PM CST
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The book sounds delightful! Thank you for the giveaway.
Thanks for your review on this book I like that I have a resource for material for my grandchildren. I have a 5 yo that is voracious reader & I think this book will be a hit!
This book sounds terrific. I have 2 Grandsons & when ever I spend 5 or 6 days with them, every night they want me to read them a story & this would be a perfect one for them. My Grandson are 2 & 6 years old, thanks for this awesome chance.
Cute story! I’m a children’s librarian and I think the kids would enjoy reading this at my library.
I loved reading this wonderful story to our grandson Jack. He was so filled with giggles and excitement. I hope that he finds reading a wonderful book like this a new and exciting adventure. Dr Politsky and his wife and children are very special people to us.