Susan Marie Chapman

Sweet Potato is a screech owlet with a mom, dad, and three brothers. Like many brothers anywhere, they like to do "gross" things. Sweet Potato wants to eat vegetables instead of bugs and play during the day instead of at night. She goes to play with her "Uncle Grumpy" the iguana who loves her, too but goes home on his advice when mama screech owl comes for her.
Simple yet colorful, fun illustrations are done by Natalia Loseva.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from The Gourmet Dog LLC, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley.… (altro)

This book reeks of vanity publishing and not in the good way. Cookie is one of a set of twin dogs who are white and fluffy. When it comes to walking they are as different as can be. Cookie goes off exploring on her own. The story is okay but very long winded. Real photos are used instead of illustrations, and it’s these real photos that make the book seem like a vanity project. They all seem like bad photos taken with a camera phone by a novice. Some are not in focus, many have no composition value, many are shadowed and dark. Then add the layout with words on most pages fully underlined like they are being made to stand out. This book just does not work for me in any way. It is something I would never add to my collection unless the author was local and donating it to my library.… (altro)

I'm not sure if it's the books intentions but this is very much an allegory for homelessness. Grumpy the Iguana didn't used to be grumpy until his home was taken away. But it'll take a friend to help him find his place again and find a happier mood. The story isn't bad and reads more like a spoken word story than a picture book. The illustrations are not up to standard big five publishing. The book looks and feels very self-published or vanity published. That's not a bad thing. The story is nice and it works. I think this book would be better in Florida libraries where there are iguanas rather than Illinois where I'm at.… (altro)