Review of Bella

[Sarah Schmidt]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Bella" by IB Gumnut.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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I.B. Gumnut tells the story of a small but capable sugar glider in this endearing children’s storybook, Bella, brought to life with illustrations by René Hunter. After catching a gumleaf broadcasting a gathering for animals to showcase their skills, Bella leaves to go join them. Despite being a small sugar glider, she partakes in the long jump competition, ignoring the jeers of naysayers. Does Bella have what it takes to beat Big Red?

Lessons that can be gained from reading the story include having confidence in oneself, not allowing the mockery of others to sway you from your goal, and being persistent and clever in your endeavours. These are all seen in how Bella ignored the laughter of the spectators and went after her aim without a hitch, thinking up the best way to get ahead.

I appreciated Gumnut’s addition of his ‘why’ for writing the book. He spiced up the story by giving simple but catchy names to the characters, like Kenny Crocodile and Percy the Platypus. I enjoyed the little spot of silly humour regarding the other animals’ wariness when interacting with another animal above them on the food chain. As these children’s books are focused on the wildlife in Australia, I know there’s a whole menagerie to look forward to in the upcoming instalments.

A significant flaw lay in the editing quality. I spotted numerous errors—more than ten—which is an excessive number relative to the brevity of the book. These mostly had to do with punctuation, but it was the inconsistency with the punctuation that made it that much more of a negative. The flow of the rhyming was sometimes off, but not enough to jar one out of the reading experience.

Considering the above, I rate Bella four out of five stars. The illustrations were top-notch, Bella exuded likeability in the limited timeframe she had, and the narrative poem was catchy. Children who enjoy fables with anthropomorphic characters will be sure to love this book.

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Bella
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[Ayush_Patel]

In the children's storybook "Bella" by I.B. Gumnut, readers are introduced to a small but determined sugar glider who, despite her size, takes part in a long jump competition alongside larger animals. The story imparts valuable lessons about self-confidence, resilience, and determination. Bella's unwavering pursuit of her goal, despite being mocked by onlookers, serves as an inspiring example.

[Kelvinna]

The reviewer's critique stands out for me, appreciating both the well-written review, the rating given, and the recommendation provided. I must emphasize the quality of this piece, thoroughly enjoying the content while reading it.

[Upphilan Paul]

This is a captivating book and I appreciate your compelling and well detailed review. Children books always have a special lesson, apart from entertainment, it also helps gives children right knowledge. Good review.