Category Archives: Book

I love to read.

Book, Photo-A-Day, Review

Review: Patrick Barney’s A Journey Into the Hinterland Coloring Safari Book

Coloring Book

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We received a copy of Patrick Barney’s Journey Into the Hinterland to use and review. Opinions are our own.

There are kids coloring books and adult coloring books but what about coloring books for teens and tweens? Coloring is a fun way to relax and chill out. I definitely believe that our teens and tweens need that chill out time more than most. With all the screens and things coming at them it is nice to get some time to unplug and just be creative. So, when I was asked if I wanted to review a new coloring book series from High school teacher-turned-author, Patrick Barney, I said yes.

Patrick has not only made straight up coloring books but also books that are both coloring books and mazes. He’s interwoven his mazes into the narrative of the coloring book adventure. We went with the coloring book A Journey Into the Hinterland. The book has 50 pages for coloring. The style is interesting, it seems like doodles that you would find a tween or teen making. Bug eyed animals that look vaguely like the animals but have a charm to them. There are tons of things to color, too. lots of designs and details and humor. the book has some very humorous pages found within.

Patrick also has a set of books around a couple of characters called Wally & Sidny and Juniper & Sally. His books Wally & Sidny – Travels ($10) and Juniper & Sally – Travels ($10) are sci-fi in theme. They are 71 pages and are both coloring books and elaborate maze books.

amazing travels

“Each page of the maze is pictorial,” explains Barney in one of the newest of his 16 books in Barnes & Noble’s online library, “involving places and creatures shown by Wally & Sidny and Juniper & Sally in their previous ‘Travels’ books. I’m not aware of any other previous maze books done in this style and manner.”

One advantage mazes like Barney’s can provide is that the ultimate goal is basic – just find the way out. And while kids are having fun, they experience a boost in their problem solving, visual motor and fine motor skills. Both hemispheres of the brain get a workout and kids have a marvelous story to tell their friends when done.

In addition to the aMAZEing book, now online at Barnes & Noble are three more of Barney’s coloring books: Caravan of Creatures, A Journey into the Hinterland and The Floppy Eared Bipedal Pachyderm & Other Oddities. Each paperback retails for $10.

You can learn more about Patrick Barney and his books at www.patrickbarney.com. There you can order his books through Barnes and Noble.com.

Book, Photo-A-Day, Read To Me Dad

Read To Me, Dad! Review – What About Worms!? An Elephant and Piggie Like Reading Book

Reading Time

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The other day we received an advanced copy of a new book from Ryan T. Higgins called What About Worms!? This adorable book is perfect for younger kids to read on their own. Andrew is actually a bit old for this book but he enjoyed reading it nonetheless. The book is actually part of the An elephant and Piggie Like Reading Book series that is put out in conjunction with Mo Willems the creator of Elephant and Piggie. Mo selects different books and they have intros by Elephant and Piggie as well as wrap ups at the end. I like how these characters bookend the story.

Ryan T. Higgins has created one of my favorite characters, Bruce who is a very grumpy bear. The Bruce series of books are fantastic. Ryan really captures the look and feel of characters showing great emotion and also lots of humor.

In What About Worms!? we have a tiger who is afraid of worms. Despite being big and strong and a tiger he is still afraid of the little guys. So he goes through a series of events that cause him to lose it and run away being afraid of worms. When the worms show up the tables turn for some very funny moments. I think kids will get a kick out of this fun book. It comes out on May 19, 2020 from Hyperion Books for Children and will be about $10. Be on the lookout for this book.