MAGICAL MATTHEW and the BIG FIX!

Reviewed by Margot Finke: 

I am thrilled to introduce a book by 

new author,

Penelope Anne Cole

Penelope Anne Cole, after various positions in HR and Teaching, now writes and review children's books.  Her reviews and book news can be found HERE.  One of her special joys is reading to children, and encouraging them to read on their own and love literature.  Penelope lives in Silicon Valley, California, with her family and their rescued cats and dogs. She enjoys dog walking, reading, gardening, church activities, singing in choir, and watching select TV shows: drama, comedy, romance, crime solving, and happy-ending movies.

Although she has written throughout her life, "Magical Matthew" is her first published children's book. It celebrates the magic of childhood and the milestone of attaining "double digits."

MY REVIEW

Magical Matthew is a delightfully told story about  a young boy with a unique ability. When Matthew discovers he can magically fix what is broken, he sets out to fix things that need fixing.  Yet his magic can only fix things - sadly, not his best friend, Lily. With Grandma and Lily as allies, Matthew follows good family values. This makes even his trickiest problems come out right. The story also shows that confiding in a trusted adult is a good thing. Matthew is such a likeable little boy, that kids everywhere will root for him to succeed. A surprise at the end makes it very likely there will be an equally enjoyable sequel coming soon.

Kevin Collier's lively and colorful illustrations are the perfect compliment to Cole's magical theme.

I recommend this picture book for the fun read, but also for the gentle way it nudges children down the path of doing the right thing. 

I am sure YOUR copy of  Magical Matthew will soon
become dog-eared with many readings.

 http://www.margotfinke.com

Margot Finke's Blog:  http://hookkidsonreading.blogspot.com