The Wishkeeper's Daughter Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

After the sudden loss of her mother, twelve-year-old Philippa “Pippa” Rowe feels completely alone—until a mysterious mirror calls her name and pulls her into a hidden magical realm.

At Wishmoor Academy, a school where fairy godmothers are trained to guide—not grant—wishes, Pippa discovers her mother once walked the same halls. Surrounded by new friends—warm, loyal Freya and whimsical, music-loving Lilou—Pippa begins to uncover the truth about her family, her powers, and the strange pull she feels toward magic.

But something dark is watching.

As Pippa struggles to find her place, she realizes her past is tied to a dangerous force that threatens not just Wishmoor, but every realm beyond it. To survive, she must learn to trust herself, embrace her gift, and discover who she was always meant to become—before her story is rewritten forever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michele Ashman Bell grew up in St. George, Utah. In fourth grade her teacher wrote on her report card that she had a tendency to daydream and would probably do well with creative writing. Her love for books and learning about people and places has helped her make her teacher's prediction come true. Michele is the author of many books and Christmas stories. She is married and is the mother of four children, and a grandma of ten. Aside from supporting her children in all of their many activities, she loves to travel, do research for her books and eat chocolate.

REVIEW
The Wishkeeper's Daughter starts off with the main character dealing with grief, but over time Pippa discovers peace and learns more about herself. Fantasy readers will enjoy the world-building, the new characters, and the fairy-tale elements to this story. There's a balance of heart and courage in this story as Pippa has to face darkness to keep the light in this new world. Young readers will enjoy the adventurous elements. The story is fast-paced and plot-driven. This book is something I could see my daughter enjoying. To learn more, click here.

Please note that I was given this book to review by the author, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate links that help support this blog.

Hear Me Roar! I’m a HANUKKAHsaur Virtual Book Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hear Me Roar! I’m a HANUKKAHsaur
Written by Naomi Gruer
Illustrated by Mel Zohar
Ages: 4-8 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Kalaniot (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1-962011-19-8

Publisher's Book Summary: Miles is a dinosaur expert with a colossal imagination. When Hanukkah begins, he stomps into action as a whole herd of helpful dinosaurs. Each night, Miles becomes a new Dino—flipping latkes, spinning dreidels, and lighting the menorah—learning that even when things go wrong, he can help make them right. Packed with clever wordplay, Jewish traditions, and irresistible dinosaur energy, HANUKKAHsaur celebrates family, perseverance, and the belief that Dinos can do it!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Naomi Gruer is a freelance writer who has published articles, essays, a column, and a blog. As a Microsoft Guest Educator, she’s participated in World Read Aloud Day by Skyping with schools in Spain, Canada, and the U.S. She’s a preschool teacher in New Jersey, where she’s raised triplets and a younger daughter. This is her first picture book.

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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR 

Mel Zohar is an illustrator and visual storyteller based in Rome, Italy. She is passionate about projects featuring expressive characters, inclusive stories, and lots of humor—because she believes there’s nothing better than making kids laugh!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this story?

Naomi Gruer - I’m a preschool teacher, and I had a class of kids who pretended to be dinosaurs. When one of the preschoolers wore a sweatshirt with a “Menorah-saur,” a dinosaur with Hanukkah candles instead of spikes, the seed was planted.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you think readers will like most about this story?

Naomi Gruer - I think kids will appreciate Miles’ big, dino energy and how he wants to participate in Hanukkah festivities. I hope kids and their families enjoy the book’s search-and-find, flipping back through the pages to look for the dino figurines sprinkled throughout.

Life Is What It's Called - What lessons will readers learn from this story?

Naomi Gruer - Kids love to help and even if messes are made, it’s okay.

Life Is What It's Called - What have you learned from writing this story?

Naomi Gruer - As a writer, I’ve learned how rewarding it is to collaborate with an editor and illustrator. As an author, I’ve learned that excitement over the book’s debut is contagious.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you want readers to know about you?

Naomi Gruer - Just like Miles, I have big, dino energy and make mistakes and messes, too. But once I fix mistakes and clean up, I move on. Big energy is fun energy!



GIVEAWAY

Celebrate all eight nights of Hanukkah with a roaring good giveaway! Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of eight prize packs, each including a signed hardcover copy of Hear Me Roar! I’m a HANUKKAHsaur by Naomi Gruer and a bookmark featuring a fun Dino Hunt game. Each winner will also receive a goodie bag filled with a small toy dinosaur, wooden dreidel, and gelt, plus a handmade plush pillow featuring soft turquoise fleece and custom fabric decorated with dinosaurs from the book’s endpapers.

This post is sponsored by Naomi Gruer. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views. Or: Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to share my opinion.

Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape Virtual Book Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

About the Book

Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape
Written by Mark C. Fava
Illustrated by Agus Prajogo and Yohanes Bastia
Ages: 3+ | 32 Pages | Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot Kids (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8-89138-803-1

Publisher's Book Summary: Climb aboard the Navy aircraft carrier USS Shipshape with Andy the Admiral and his crew! This ocean adventure is packed full of fun and valuable lessons. Readers will discover that the best Shipmates — and the best friends — show kindness, good manners, honesty, and teamwork. Welcome aboard, Shipmates!

Why Readers Love It: A standout choice for families with connections to the military, educators looking for character-education read-alouds, and any child drawn to ships, planes, and adventure on the open sea. Written by a retired U.S. Navy Captain and Naval Flight Officer, the story is inspired by real naval life and traditions — feel free to lean into that angle in your post or caption.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org


About the Author

Mark C. Fava is a career aviation lawyer and retired naval flight officer. He retired from the U.S. Navy as a captain, having commanded three units, including an aviation squadron, and spent years flying the Navy's P-3 Orion. He was the chief operations attorney at Delta Air Lines on 9/11 and has practiced law for more than thirty years; he is currently a vice president at the world's largest aerospace company. Mark is the creator of the Shipshape Shipmates children's book series and the author of Lessons from the Admiral: Naval Wisdom and Sea Stories for Leaders, an award-winning leadership book. He lives in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and three daughters.

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Author Interview

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this book?

Mark C. Fava - I spent 30 years in the Navy, and many of the lessons I learned about teamwork, preparation, integrity, kindness, and service stayed with me. After writing my first leadership book for adults, Lessons from the Admiral, I wanted to share some of those same timeless values with children in a fun and memorable way. That idea became Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape.

Life Is What It's Called - What lessons do you hope readers will learn from this book?

Mark C. Fava - First, I hope children simply have fun reading it. But beneath the adventure are lessons about teamwork, preparation, respect, kindness, integrity, honesty, and helping others. My hope is that children enjoy the sea story and the illustrations while picking up a few important life lessons along the way.
 
Life Is What It's Called - How have your experiences helped you in writing this book?

Mark C. Fava - My 30 years in the Navy gave me a lifetime of experiences to draw upon. I was a Naval Flight Officer and Mission Commander in the P-3 Orion, accumulating more than 3,000 flight hours, and commanded three Navy units. Those experiences taught me firsthand about teamwork, preparation, integrity, leadership, and service—all themes that found their way into Andy the Admiral. I’m also the father of three daughters, which helped shape my goal of creating a story children would enjoy while sharing values that parents and teachers can reinforce.

Life Is What It's Called - What is your favorite line in the book and why?

Mark C. Fava - My favorite line is the closing sentence: “Well done, Shipmates!” It captures the spirit of the entire book—and the series. To me, “Well done, Shipmate” is simple but meaningful praise for a job done right. I love the idea of children learning that doing your best, helping your teammates, and treating others well are things worth celebrating.

Life Is What It's Called - How does this book stand out compared to other books on the market?

Mark C. Fava - Andy the Admiral is an original children’s picture book series that introduces young readers to the people, missions, and values of the U.S. Navy through a continuing cast of characters with different specialties. It combines a colorful children’s adventure with an authentic introduction to the Navy and timeless character lessons. It has ships, aircraft, sailors, hidden details, seagulls, a black cat, porpoises, and plenty of fun. Underneath the adventure is a values-based message. I think it gives parents, grandparents, teachers, and military families an entertaining story that can also start meaningful conversations with children.

Life Is What It's Called - What would you like readers to know about you?

Mark C. Fava - I’ve been fortunate to have several careers—as a Navy officer, lawyer, business executive, author, and speaker—but being the father of three daughters is the most important role I’ve had. I love aviation, the Navy, leadership, the law, and storytelling. With The Shipshape Shipmates series, I’m bringing those worlds together to create stories children will enjoy and, hopefully, remember. These are stories that I hope will create a meaningful legacy in the next generation of leaders.


Giveaway

One winner will receive a hardcover copy of Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape. Open to legal residents of the USA — see full giveaway rules and terms on the landing page.

This post is sponsored by Mark C. Fava. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.