Weldon Owen

This was my first children's informational picture book and I didn't enjoy it that much. The big idea of this book was to inform readers about the different animals on a farm and what their life was like living on that farm. I did not enjoy this book because it did not have a story to go along with it. All this book did was provide information about farm animals with nothing to pull-in the reader. For example, it talks about "these little bunnies" on one page and then switches to how donkeys "hee-haw" when they are calling to other animals, on the next page. I also didn't like it because the text and pictures were very dry. On every page there is a picture or pictures of an animal and then the text says a fact about that animal. For example, on one page there is a picture of an alpaca. The text on that page says "Alpacas are mostly friendly, but when they get mad, they spit at each other! They are farmed for their very soft wool." This book does provide valid information about farm animals, it just does it in a poor manner.… (mer)

I really enjoyed this short story from Michael K. Rose. This one was a bit different from the other stories I’ve read of his, being that it’s not a science fiction short.

I found the character well developed, as well as the “other” character involved in the situation. The way Rose created the conflict and let the story unfold was enjoyable to read and thought-provoking to those who are interested in just how much the human body is capable of.

I was surprised to find such a well written story, of this type, in the short length that is it. There was no words wasted to get the story out, and that’s a good sign of quality writing.

I might have to take a look at Rose’s other non-science fiction writing now.… (mer)