I’m not a children’s book writer. And I’m a loooong way from being a child.

So, I wasn’t sure how I would review Rebecca Benston’s latest offerimg, That Bird Needs Glasses. Luckily I have grandchildren and I’m a firm believer children should review children’s books. It doesn’t matter whether I like it or not. The question is, was it able to keep their interest and keep them engaged.

Admittedly, I have a small sample. My granddaughter, 5, listened intently and looked forward to the illustrations by Hubert Neal Jr. My almost seven year old grandson wanted me to read a dinosaur book and retreated under a blanket next to mom.

That Bird Needs Glasses is short — 27 scant pages including cover plates and dedication. It starts with a bird flying into a tree. With rhythmic dialogue, our little bird interacts with a bee, a big blue butterfly caught in a spider’s web, and a spider. He also flew into a pinecone. All ends well when we finally spot our confused little birdie talking to Dr. Brown — the local eye doctor.

My granddaughter gave it a thumbs up. Her favorite part was when the bird got glasses. While my grandson was sulking, he did keep peeking out to try and see the pictures. Mom interjected she was a lot like the bird. “Flying into a tree is something I would do,” she quipped.

So, based on my research, I would rate the book a success — a five star success. I think the optimal audience is pre-school … especially kids who may be facing the prospects of glasses for the first time.

The book is currently offered on Kindle on pre-release . The paperback will be available soon.

Benston is the author of The Rona Shively mystery series as well as a number of inspirational works including Wise Up to Rise Up. She is also the owner of Higher Ground Books & Media, an independent publisher located in Springfield, OH.

That Bird Needs Glasses by Rebecca Bentson, Illustrated by Hubert Neal Jr.

Kindle File Size: 23425 KB

Publisher: Higher Ground Books & Media (Jan. 13, 2020)

Publication Date: Jan. 13, 2020

Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC

Language: English

ASIN: B083VWFN1X

Text-to-Speech, Word Wise, Lending — Enabled

Paperback: 27 pages

ISBN-10: 194979850X

ISBN-13: 978-1949798500

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. — Dalai Lama