Review of A Long Ago place

[Alex Reeves]

[Following is a volunteer review of "A Long Ago place" by Donna Betten.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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A book that begets a high level of nostalgia, A Long Ago place by Donna Betten, tells the story of an unnamed woman who immerses herself in the joys of motherhood. Even though she is childless, she creates imaginary children for herself; Porky, Jemoo, Serena, Lindy Loo, Semolina, Wendy, Suzanna, Pinky, and the one-eyed teddy, Teddy, attending to them as if they were real. However, the message of this book is clear; the joy of motherhood is unrivaled. Today's women do not take motherhood seriously, instead, they tend to be independent career women, putting family at the bottom of their list. With this book, Donna Betten tries to open the eyes of those who do not see the happiness accompanying motherhood. Cooing pigeons, rays of sunshine, gardenia blooms, and big puffy clouds set the picture for many cherished moments of maternal affection. What could bring more happiness?

All the illustrations in this book were hand-drawn with colored pencils and soft pastels, making the story more realistic. Furthermore, blank pages were included at the end for little readers to scribble on. I believe that such generosity should be appreciated.

There was nothing negative about this book. It presented a message that, if addressed to the right crowd, could bring positive changes in society. It is a good read not only for children but also for people willing to reminisce on their childhood days.

This book was highly positive. Although I see myself as a tough kind of guy, the contents of this book brought tears to my eyes. After reading it, I realized that the feeling of nostalgia isn't suppressible. I felt good after reading it, and I attribute that feeling to the author's creative writing.

Overall, the book was great. I found no errors in it; hence, I believe it was exceptionally well-edited. The illustrations got me, so I'll extend my gratitude to Julie Westmaas, the illustrator, for her creativity. Moreover, I see no reason why I shouldn't rate this book a 4 out of 4 stars. It is a good read, and I hope it gets to the right audience.

I recommend this book not only to children but also to people willing to travel through time to the good old days. It is short and precise, and I believe everyone would enjoy reading it.

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A Long Ago place
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