Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
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Samina Moiyadi
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Review of Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
[Following is a volunteer review of "Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures" by Catherine A. Pepe.]
Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventures by Catherine Anna Pepe is the first book in the Grandma Gang series. Donny is a five-year-old boy with Down syndrome. Mary Grace is his elder sister. They live in Kansas with their parents. The parents need to shift to Africa for work commitments. So, the kids move to California to stay with their grandparents. In California, Mary Grace has a tough time adjusting to her new school. She faces bullying. The story mainly focuses on how she finds out the identity of the bully.
Donny’s character is adorable. It is based on the author’s youngest brother. Donny is a very positive boy, so much so that every morning he reminds himself that this is his best day ever. His smile takes away the worry lines from Mary Grace’s face. Mary Grace is a strong child. She takes Donny's responsibility very seriously and lives up to it. She loves a mystery, and that is what keeps her going in California. The siblings’ relationship is beautiful. While Mary Grace is the elder one and is in charge of Donny, he acts as her sunshine and keeps her happy in any situation.
At the start of each chapter, there is an illustration that gives a glimpse of the content of the chapter. While the pictures are minimal, they are effective and beautiful. I revisited the cover page after finishing the book, and it was a joy to fully comprehend it. The book is exceptionally well-edited. I did not find even a single error in it.
I read somewhere that a good children’s book should have a message. This book is full of learning. The best part is that the author has done it so subtly that I never felt like I was being lectured. First, bullying is covered, and a mystery element is added to it to make the reading more enjoyable. Second, the idea of treating differently-abled people with love is beautifully put together with Donny’s help. The third is the importance of proper punishment for children when they are wrong. Usually, punishments tend to aggravate hatred in children, but not here. The last is the effect on a child’s development in the presence of grandparents. The Grandma Gang is so excited about every little thing to do with the kids. It makes them feel special and loved. Gigi, the great-grandma, is the icing on the cake.
This book is easily worth 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to children aged 10 and above, as well as their parents and grandparents. It would surely help them bond better with the kids.
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Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Donny and Mary Grace’s California Adventures by Catherine Anna Pepe is the first book in the Grandma Gang series. Donny is a five-year-old boy with Down syndrome. Mary Grace is his elder sister. They live in Kansas with their parents. The parents need to shift to Africa for work commitments. So, the kids move to California to stay with their grandparents. In California, Mary Grace has a tough time adjusting to her new school. She faces bullying. The story mainly focuses on how she finds out the identity of the bully.
Donny’s character is adorable. It is based on the author’s youngest brother. Donny is a very positive boy, so much so that every morning he reminds himself that this is his best day ever. His smile takes away the worry lines from Mary Grace’s face. Mary Grace is a strong child. She takes Donny's responsibility very seriously and lives up to it. She loves a mystery, and that is what keeps her going in California. The siblings’ relationship is beautiful. While Mary Grace is the elder one and is in charge of Donny, he acts as her sunshine and keeps her happy in any situation.
At the start of each chapter, there is an illustration that gives a glimpse of the content of the chapter. While the pictures are minimal, they are effective and beautiful. I revisited the cover page after finishing the book, and it was a joy to fully comprehend it. The book is exceptionally well-edited. I did not find even a single error in it.
I read somewhere that a good children’s book should have a message. This book is full of learning. The best part is that the author has done it so subtly that I never felt like I was being lectured. First, bullying is covered, and a mystery element is added to it to make the reading more enjoyable. Second, the idea of treating differently-abled people with love is beautifully put together with Donny’s help. The third is the importance of proper punishment for children when they are wrong. Usually, punishments tend to aggravate hatred in children, but not here. The last is the effect on a child’s development in the presence of grandparents. The Grandma Gang is so excited about every little thing to do with the kids. It makes them feel special and loved. Gigi, the great-grandma, is the icing on the cake.
This book is easily worth 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to children aged 10 and above, as well as their parents and grandparents. It would surely help them bond better with the kids.
******
Donny and Mary Grace's California Adventures
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Unspoken Truths by Richard O Hanson
