Review sponsored* by Lee Ann Mancini
The Children’s Book Review | June 25, 2015
By Lee Ann Mancini, Illustrated by Dan Sharp
Ages: 4 to 8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: GLM Publishing LLC (2015)
ISBN: 978-0986360428
What to Expect: Bragging, Empathy, Friendship, Gratitude, Religion
There are many reasons that kids choose to brag but one doesn’t always understand why. In Lee Ann Mancini’s moralistic picture book, What a Bragger!, young readers are introduced to a character, Melissa Blowfish, who brags in order to cover up that she is poor.
In a playground setting, at Beneath the Sea Play Park, Melissa is playing with the “sea kids” in the sandbox. She is bragging about the abundance of toys she has and her amazing physical abilities such as being able to blow the biggest air bubble. All of the bragging makes her fish friend Corey feel angry. When Corey shares his playground woes with his parents, his mother asks him, “Why do you think she said those things?” With this simple question, Corey is gently steered onto the path of guided discovery and soon finds that a kind and supportive friend may be all that Melissa needs. After all, friendships are more important than material objects.
Lee Ann Mancini delivers a relatable playground story and communicates clear and important lessons on empathy, gratitude and the importance of friendship. Readers are also reminded to say their prayers and keep Jesus in their hearts. The Ichthys symbol, also known as the Jesus fish, can be found hidden on each page, which provides an additional element of eye-spy fun and will keep kids pouring over the bright and vibrantly cheery digital illustrations.
This book is a good choice for kids in a preschool or elementary school setting.
Available Here: glmpublishing.net
About the Author
Lee Ann Mancini is an award-winning author who is passionate about instilling Christian values in children, while encouraging them to pray to Jesus and to love others. She is an adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary. She has taught Bible studies for 10+ years, is an active community volunteer leader, is involved in Women’s Ministry at Spanish River Church, and is a board member of Alexandrian Forum.
She is a member of Evangelical Theological Society and Society for Pentecostal Studies. Lee Ann loves to read, write, jog, and teach the Word of God. She is married and is the mother of two children.
For more information, visit: glmpublishing.net
About the Illustrator
Dan Sharp is an illustrator extraordinaire with over 25 years of experience in a range of artistic fields. His clients include Disney, Warner Brothers, Hanna-Barbara, McGraw-Hill, Oxford University Press, Scott Foresman, Scholastic, Holt Rinehart Winston, Harcourt Press, Key Education Publishing, Wolverine Worldwide, Review and Herald Publishing, and Carson-Dellosa Publishing.
When not in his studio, he can be found biking, cross country skiing, playing recreational sports, or in his wood shop building furniture and acoustic instruments. He attends Calvary Undenominational Church and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.
For more information, visit: glmpublishing.net
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The author of “What a Bragger!,” Lee Ann Mancini, sponsored* this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …