Book Review of Boo Bear’s Light: An ABC Rhyming Picture Book for Children
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The Children’s Book Review
Boo Bear’s Light: An ABC Rhyming Picture Book for Children
Written by Catherine Ann Russell
Illustrated by Jessica Robin Harkey
Ages: 4-6 | 42 Pages
Publisher: Basketful Relief Project (2024) | ISBN: 9781956693225
What to Expect: Kindness, helping others, ABCs, and interactive.
In this engaging, interactive picture book, readers will learn about kindness and helping others and strengthen their literacy skills, making it a valuable educational resource for young learners.
Boo Bear was reading up in his favorite tree when Mama Bear called him—it was time to eat! Boo Bear was just on his way down when he met someone unexpected—an injured firefly who was feeling very sorry for himself. Jack the Firefly had hurt his wing, and without the help of a friend, he might never get back to his family. Risking a scolding from Mama for dawdling, Boo helped Jack down and then appealed to Mama and Papa – could they think of a way to help Jack get home? Guzzling tea while checking the map, Papa assures the two friends they can manage a rescue. Soon, Jack is back with his family safe and sound—and now it’s time to eat!
Boo and his family are caring, helpful, and empathetic to those smaller than themselves, making them engaging characters to get to know. Richly detailed artwork invites readers to explore the forest world they live in—especially to find the hidden letters on each page. The snappy rhyming text takes readers on a journey through the alphabet, helping them commit the shapes and sounds of each letter to memory as they follow the rescue of Jack the Firefly. A key at the end helps readers find any hidden letters they missed as they went along.
Boo Bear’s Light is not just instructive but also fun and engaging, making it a delightful learning experience for young readers as they build important literacy skills.
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About the Author
Catherine (Cat) Ann Russell is a multiple-award-winning children’s book author, entrepreneur, and the founder of the Basketful Relief Project (BRP).
She has published four children’s picture books: Get to Bed!, The Little Book of Why, award-winning Picco and Wren Three, and Boo Bear’s Light: An A B C Rhyming Picture Book for Children. She also writes fantasy-adventure for tweens called The Pearls of Wisdom Series. Books 1-4 of this series are published and include Award-winning and Amazon #1 Best Seller: The Pond of Reflection, award-winning The Hyrax Song, The Zoe-Chai Seed, and award-winning The Last Storyteller.
Catherine founded the Basketful Relief Project in 2019 to help address infant and child famine crises. At least 10% of proceeds from the sale of each book directly support reputable organizations established to distribute food and medicine to children experiencing war, food scarcity, or catastrophe displacement. She is in the process of registering the BRP Books Foundation (private 501c3) to manage these funds.
A multifaceted talent, Catherine started her own digital multimedia company, Spike Productions, after a successful career as a research scientist at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Catherine lives in Lyons, Colorado, with her husband, Ed, and several farm animals, including two burros named Nikki and Norman.
Achievements: In 2022, The Pond of Reflection received a Readers’ Favorite gold medal in the Children’s Adventure Genre and The Hyrax Song an honorable mention. In 2023, The Pond of Reflection received a Readers’ Favorite gold medal in Children’s Audiobook and a silver medal for Picco and Wren Three in the Children’s Fable Genre. In 2024, The Pond of Reflection was a Book Excellence Award Winner in the Pre-Teen Category, and The Last Storyteller received a Readers’ Favorite silver medal in children’s audiobook.
For more information on the Basket Relief Project, visit basketfulreliefproject.com.
Read our exclusive interview with Catherine Ann Russell, Author of ‘Boo Bear’s Light: An ABC Rhyming Picture Book for Children’
About the Illustrator
Jessica Robin Harkey is a children’s book illustrator living in North Carolina who loves to create whimsical and engaging illustrations for children. She is a devoted enthusiast of the wonderful and the mythical, from which she draws inspiration for her illustrations. Her favorite subjects are endlessly curious kids, charismatic animals, and all things nature. When she is not busy illustrating in her studio, Jessica loves spending time outdoors, reading, and with her dogs.
For more information, visit jessicaharkey.com.
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