Book Review: All the Ice Cream in the Land by Emmy Kastner

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All the Ice Cream in the Land  by Emmy Kastner  is about a princess, the kingdom she lives in, and her loyal subjects. Full of twists and turns, children will surely delight in this story about ice cream. When I saw the title and cover art of this kid's book, it made me instantly think of my childhood and how I would've loved a book like this one. A huge shout out and thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for approving my request to read this book. I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. The storyline is very easy to follow, making it especially suitable for toddlers, preschoolers, and early readers, particularly children between the ages of two and six. Its straightforward narrative and clear structure make it an excellent choice for read-aloud sessions at home, bedtime stories, or classroom story time. While there is limited character development, which is typical for a picture book format, the princess is still an intere...
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Book Review: Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin

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Children's Book Review of Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin
Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin follows Maggie and her older brother when their father and stepmother leave on a long-delayed honeymoon, trusting the siblings to care for their four-year-old half sister, Courtenay. When Courtenay fails to come home from daycare one Monday afternoon, Maggie and her brother are thrust into a frightening mystery. With no adults around to help, they must piece together what happened and find a way to alert their parents before it’s too late.

This standalone novel for readers ages eight to twelve was one I completely missed as a kid, but as an adult and a longtime fan of Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club series, I couldn’t resist picking it up. The first chapter or two felt a bit choppy to me at first, but once the story found its footing, everything began to come together nicely.

Because this is a short children’s book, the characters aren’t deeply developed, which is to be expected. That said, Martin does an excellent job conveying Maggie’s emotional turmoil following Courtenay’s disappearance. The sense of unease created by the creepy phone calls, along with the tension in Maggie’s relationship with her stepmother, adds depth and weight to the story despite its brief length.

Additionally, the author does a phenomenal job portraying Maggie’s experience with unwanted attention from an older character. The situation is handled in an age-appropriate way and serves as an effective teaching moment for young readers. Martin also includes another strong lesson when Maggie realizes she’s being followed by an unknown person in a car, showing how calmly and responsibly the character responds to a potentially dangerous situation.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Missing Since Monday by Ann M. Martin and would give it four out of five stars. While it has a slightly slow start, the story quickly builds tension and delivers an engaging mystery that is both age-appropriate and emotionally impactful. Fans of Martin’s work—or anyone looking for a thoughtful, suspenseful middle-grade read—will likely find this book well worth their time.

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