The Grateful Green Dinosaur Book Review

Author: Larissa Pemberton

Illustrator: Jupiters Muse

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

Released: June 30, 2025

Format: Hard Cover, Paperback

Price: Hard Cover $22.00, Paperback $19.00

Genre: Children’s Picture Books

Age Range: Author recommends Baby-12 years

ISBN: 978-0228829805

Page Count: 26 pages

Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn

Rating:   3 1/2 Lemon Drops

Available on Amazon

A little positivity goes a long way!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author and agreed to give an honest review.

Favorite quote from the book:

“See, thinking of things you are grateful for and love makes you feel good.” 

Review:

Book Summary: 

Percy the dinosaur is having a bad day!

The story starts as Percy stubs his toe. This jarring event sets his grumpy mood for the day and causes a negative mindset that attracts more bad luck.

Percy’s friend, the cheerful unicorn Custard, helps him to see things differently. After validating Percy’s feelings, Custard shows the little dinosaur how to express gratitude for the good things in his life rather than dwelling on the negative.

Percy is much happier in the end because he accepts this belief system.

Opinion:

The Grateful Green Dinosaur teaches children to express and reflect on their feelings in a productive way that leads to a healthy mindset full of gratitude.

The story follows the main character as he navigates through a bad morning that gets worse with his sour mood. From a stubbed toe, to burnt toast and a rainy playdate, Percy shows that sometimes things don’t always go the way we planned.

Through Custard’s example, children will learn to empathize with Percy’s plight and understand that his grumpy reaction doesn’t have to be permanent. People can choose to be happy by changing their attitude and focusing on the positive things in their life.

I appreciated the story’s upbeat theme and the expressions of gratitude the characters shared. Percy and Custard model the virtues of true friendship and empathy.

The illustrations by Jupiter’s Muse are warm and perfectly capture the characters’ feelings.

My one small issue: some parts of the text could be more concise. Example: “exclaims Percy to Custard.” This voice tag is cumbersome, and it’s unnecessary, because Percy and Custard are the only two prominent characters in the story. Some of Custard’s dialogue also came across as very adult. The message was on point but lacked a kid-friendly vibe.

I give it 3 1/2 Lemon Drops!

Classroom Connection:

The Grateful Green Dragon is ideal for teaching gratitude, mindfulness, and feelings. After a read aloud children could make a list of things they’re grateful for.

Age Range: 3-7 years

Targeted Vocabulary:

Grateful, determine, circumstance, frustrated, mood, dwelling, stomps, unhappy, complain, valid, negative, grateful, encourage, sad, angry

Resources: Click the image to access the Pinterest Board with the resources.

About The Author:

Larissa is a devoted mother to three young boys. Her path of self-discovery, shaped by the challenges and joys of motherhood—led her to discovering and embracing the life changing practice of gratitude.

By incorporating it into her daily routine, she experienced a profound shift in her mental health and overall happiness. Now, Larissa is passionate in sharing this practice with her sons and other children, believing that learning gratitude at a young age can set the foundation for a life guided by joy and emotional resilience.

Website: https://thegratefulgreendinosaur.com/ 

Instagram: @thegratefulgreendinosaur

Amazon listing: https://amazon.com/dp/0228829798

About the Illustrator:

JuMu Creative is an established, award winning studio, offering expert level branding, graphic design, logos, children's book illustrations and more.

The Tales Of Storma: The Magic Of Friendship Review

 

Author: Gina Bayar

Illustrator: Gina Bayar

Publisher: Gina Bayar

Released: June 13, 2025

Format: Paperback

Price:  $7.99

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Age Range: 4-8 years

ISBN: 979-8998793431

Page Count: 34

Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn

Rating:  3 Lemon Drops

Available on Amazon

An inclusive story about the magic of friendship!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Reedsy Discovery and agreed to give an honest review.

Favorite quote from the book:

“When we work as a team,” Storma said, “the real magic happens!”

Review:

Book Summary: 

Storma is a magical unicorn with the power of teleportation. She loves contributing to the thriving forest where she lives and forging new friendships. One day, a new unicorn named Nara arrives in the forest. She has the power of sunshine. While befriending Nara, Storma hurts her best friend Mira’s feelings by accident. Mira has the power of calling rain and feels left out of the friend group.

Storma brings her friends together after realizing her mistake. When the power of the sun and rain mingle, a wonderful surprise shows up in the sky.

Opinion:

The Tales of Storma: The Magic of Friendship tells a heartwarming story emphasizing the importance of friendship and being inclusive. The protagonist, Storma, possesses many positive characteristics, including empathy and compassion. She serves as a wonderful role model for young children.

The story is advanced by the simple, colorful illustrations. Children are sure to love the rainbow at the end.

The book includes a page at the end filled with facts about rainbows that enhances the reading experience.

One small suggestion for improvement: The story could be improved by properly centering the text in the bubbles.

I give it 3 Lemon Drops!

Educational Influence:

I review books through an educational lens. Things I consider: Would I read this to my Pre-K/Kindergarten class? Is there value in the story that will teach my kiddos something new or reinforce a concept or skill?

I analyze the story by focusing on some of the key elements I taught my students during a read aloud: characters, plot, language, setting and illustrations. Other characteristics I look for are text quality and theme.

Characters:

When analyzing a story with students, the characters should be genuine, relatable and elicit emotion. The story centers on a Storma and how she juggles making new friends while including those she already has. 

Young learners will readily connect with Storma’s experiences and the relatable, age-appropriate emotional responses of all the characters.

Storma teaches children self-reflection, empathy for others’ sadness, and accountability for their role in it. When she sees that she unintentionally hurt Mira, her selflessness shines through as she immediately invites Mira to the play date with Nara.

Plot:

In a Pre-K/Kindergarten classroom, we describe the plot as the Beginning-Middle-End. Some stories present better examples of this concept, but many offer rich opportunities to explore various story elements.

The story begins with Storma spending time with her best friend Mira. In the middle, Storma interacts with Nara and realizes Mira is upset. The story concludes with Storma and Mira resolving their conflict and the trio becoming fast friends.

Storma’s conflict with Mira presents a relatable problem for her to solve.

Setting:

The primary setting is the magical forest where Storma and the other unicorns live.

Language:

Vocabulary is key in children’s books. It’s one of the critical elements I taught my kiddos before each reading. My approach would be to select five keywords and help my students gain a deeper understanding through a read aloud and doing related activities.

Appropriately, this story’s focus on emotional language reflects the emotional aspects of friendship.

Example:

Nara came over with a smile. She looked a little nervous.

“Hi, Mira… I was a bit scared to make new friends.”

Mira blinked in surprise.

Text:

The word choices and grammar suit the story; however, the text’s centering is inconsistent.

Theme:

The main topic is friendship through inclusion.

In short, a sweet story with a positive message.

About The Author/Illustrator:

Gina Bayar is a children’s author and illustrator who finds joy in telling stories about nature, friendship, and a little bit of magic. Her picture books, often inspired by unicorns, ancient legends, and whimsical adventures, explore themes of courage, empathy, and wonder in a way that’s gentle and accessible for young readers.

Gina creates both the words and artwork for her stories, blending playful illustrations with heartfelt storytelling. She enjoys weaving in educational elements that spark curiosity and help children learn as they read and dream. Enchanted forests, the Gobi Desert, and other magical settings often find their way into her pages — along with characters who lead with kindness and courage.

New to the world of children’s literature, Gina is grateful to share her stories and illustrations, and hopes they offer young readers a moment of warmth, reflection, and a touch of magic along the way.

Best Chef In Town Review

Author: Lori Rotter

Illustrator: Vaughn Duck

Publisher: LFR Creative, LLC

Released: June 29, 2025

Format: Hard Cover, Paperback, ebook

Price: ebook $2.99

Genre: Children’s Picture Books

ISBN: 979-8-988752967

Page Count: 20 pages

Reviewer: Ellwyn Autumn

Rating: 5 Lemon Drops

Available on Amazon

A great recipe for teamwork, fair play and humility!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Reedsy and agreed to give an honest review.

Favorite quote from the book:

“Sam accepted the crown, and he wore it with pride,

And walked with Chef Romi, a peer by her side.

Sam, I saw you as help, not an equal to me.

From now on we’re partners, just wait and you’ll see.”

Review:

Book Summary: 

Celebrated, Chef Romi Rabbit is the best chef in town and loves to boast about it. Upon learning of a cooking show competition, she leaps at the chance to enter, confident she’ll win the crown.

Romi makes certain her sous chef, Sam, knows that she’s the star chef, and he is just her assistant. She chooses to entertain her fans rather than cook, leaving Sam to rush and prepare spaghetti and meatballs before time is up.

Finally Romi arrives in the kitchen, joining Sam and taking charge. Amidst the commotion, a sugar mishap threatens the meal. Thanks to Sam’s quick thinking the dish is saved and it serves up an award-winning surprise.

Opinion:

Using playful rhymes, Best Chef In Town emphasizes the value of teamwork and acknowledging a job well done. Romi’s journey from self-centeredness to selfless appreciation was refreshing. Sometimes stepping from the spotlight out of appreciation for another’s contribution is the best choice.

Vaughn’s illustrations are colorful, exciting, and hilarious—perfect for children!

There’s also a Sweet Chocolate Pasta Recipe at the end of the book for readers to recreate Sam’s special dish!

Educational Influence:

I review books through an educational lens. Things I consider: Would I read this to my Pre-K/Kindergarten class? Is there value in the story that will teach my kiddos something new or reinforce a concept or skill?

I analyze the story by focusing on some of the key elements I taught my students during a read aloud: characters, plot, language, setting and illustrations. Other characteristics I look for are text quality and theme.

Characters:

When analyzing a story with students, the characters should be genuine, relatable and elicit emotion. Romi is a dynamic character. She bcomes an admirable role model for children once she stops bossing Sam around and recognizes his valubale contributions.

Plot:

In a Pre-K/Kindergarten classroom, we describe the plot as the Beginning-Middle-End. Some stories present better examples of this concept, but many offer rich opportunities to explore various story elements.

There is a definite break down of Romi’s personal growth shown through the plot. In the beginning, she’s prideful and shows little regard for others. Throughout the middle her vanity peaks as she perfomrs for her fans ignoring the rules of the contest, and dismisses Sam so she can take credit for the dish he cooked. By the end, she humbles herself and acknowledges Sam’s shrewd performance deserves the award.

Setting:

The story takes place in two locations pertinent to the story: Cafe Romi and the TV studio where the cooking competition occurs.

Language:

Vocabulary is key in children’s books. It’s one of the critical elements I taught my kiddos before each reading. I’d focus on five key words and develop an understanding of the words through the read aloud and related activities.

Fun, character driven dialogue pushes the story forward and encapsulates their personalities.

Text:

This story’s punchy rhyme is fun and easy to follow.

Theme:

Illustrations and text combine to show the value of teamwork, fair play and a big plate of humble pie!

In short, this story encapsulates the moral lesson that everyone has value and should be appreciated for their contributions. Teamwork is the dreamwork!

I give it 5 Lemon Drops!

Classroom Connection:

Best Chef In Town is perfect for a lesson on friendship or a discussion on teamwork, fair play and possibly a cooking lesson.

Age Range: The author recommends 4-8 years.

Targeted Vocabulary:

Bragged, renowned, sous chef, smirked, panic, scurried, prepped, lacks, stomping, hurting, flurry, tour de force, divine, beamed, clever, pride

Resources: Click the image to access the Pinterest Board with the resources.

About The Author:

Lori is an award-winning toy designer and picture book author. Her large extended family keeps her laughing and inspires her story and toy ideas. Like her toys, Lori loves adding small details for kids to discover. Lori lives in New York with her husband, Steve, lots of fish, and two silly dogs.

About the Illustrator:

Vaughan loves drawing pictures that make kids giggle. He lives downunder in Australia where it’s always sunny.

You can visit Vaughan at vaughanduck.com.