Donna Shepherd

This is a fun "book" to review since it is actually two books in one! Guardian Angel Publishing has come out with their Double Doozie line of books and now has a Health & Hygiene Line.

In NO MORE GUNK, author Donna Shepherd has written a very humorous yet factual storyline on taking good care of your teeth and how to do so, in rhyming prose. Combined with the awesome and very funny artwork of Kevin Scott Collier, this book is quite the attention-getter for your child and will help you to teach him/her good health habits in a really fun way. I particularly enjoyed the "No More Gunk Tooth Tips" at the end of the story – even the tips rhymed! Good job, Donna! My favorite tip: "They're your teeth, so be the boss. Always take the time to floss." This was like reading a terrific poem full of FUNNY illustrations that your child will want you to read to them over and over and over! This is a keeper and gets a high five, especially when coupled with a SECOND free book!

OUCH! SUNBURN is also a terrific learning experience for your child, and one that hit home hard to me personally. Back in the age of the dinosaur, aka - when I was a small child, we didn't know much about the dangers of the sun and how it damages your skin, and nobody knew what sunscreen was. I grew up by the ocean, so I was either always at the beach, or at our local pool where I swam competitively. I am blonde and fair-skinned, and I had some whopper sunburns as I grew up. I've been "out of the sun" for 40 years now, but it doesn't matter – I still ended up getting skin cancer from those early exposures as a child. So, I can tell you firsthand, that everything Donna says in this book is absolutely positively the truth, and I hope its message really hits home to young readers.

The charming rhyming prose Donna uses along with Kevin's fun, colorful illustrations, make this book lots of fun for children to learn how to protect their skin from sunburns. At the end, Donna again gives Ouch! Sunburn Extra Tips, of course, in rhyme. My favorite: "When you're out from ten to two. Play in Shade. Smart Kids do." WHERE WAS THIS BOOK WHEN I WAS GROWING UP? This is a must-have to teach your child safety in the sun at an early age. - Gayle Jacobson-Huset, Assistant Editor, Stories for Children Magazine

Lots of Fun and Two for One!

Donna J. Shepherd's back and she's packing a punch with this Double Doozie!

When I was a little girl, almost every product had a jingle, which was a musical commercial with catchy rhymes. Jingles provided a pleasant and effective way to remember a product; the best jingles are still in my memory today.

What better way to teach good dental hygiene to kids? From plaque and morning breath to clean fresh teeth and tongue, Shepherd's fresh rhymes will help kids remember what they've learned in No More Gunk. Kevin Scott Collier's illustrations provide a burst of color and whimsy to spark the imagination.

At the end of No More Gunk, I was delighted to see that even Shepherd's Tooth Tips rhyme: "Brush with toothpaste twice each day/ for healthy teeth that won't decay!"

This book would make a great gift---but wait, there's more!

OUCH! Sunburn, Shepherd's sunny reminder, is included as a Double Doozie! Her rhyme perfectly captures the careless abandon kids feel when they play outside: "No sunscreen./Can't sit still./Skin will tan./Yes, it will." Kids and grownups alike will chuckle at Collier`s illustration of a boy coated with cool green aloe, but it's a subtle reminder to protect your skin before you go outside.

Parents and grandparents, this Double Doozie will make a wonderful gift for any child you know. Two great books for the price of one! -  Stephanie Reed, Author, Light Across the River (Kregel Publications)

 

A Valuable Mixture of FUN and Practical

Some books for children from ages 4 to 8 are just fun to read--over and over. NO MORE GUNK combines fun with practical. Parents are able to help their children understand the value of consistently brushing their teeth and removing gunk. The snappy rhymes combine with vivid illustrations from Kevin Collier and the combination is irresistible.

While not evident on the front cover, you get two books for the price of one with this title. OUCH SUNBURN! teaches the danger from the sun and how small children can protect themselves. Simple thoughtful words combine with terrific artwork. If you have small children, this book could become a read aloud favorite. - W. Terry Whalin "Agent / Editor / Writer" (Scottsdale, Arizona)