Out of the Blue - a book review

                           

                             Quote of the day:  "Books are embalmed minds."  ~ Bovee

Title: Out of the Blue
Author:  Vanita Oelschlager
Illustrator:  Robin Hegan


What are idioms?  They are words separately having one meaning, but together take on something entirely different.  Children love words and language and especially wordplays.  Most idioms will tickle your funny bone and that's why kids think they are great.

Some examples of idioms are:

* Cat's got your tongue                                      * a bee in your bonnet
* dead meat                                                        * a doggy bag
* a barrel of laughs                                             * a bull in a china shop
* a feather in your cap                                        * a little birdy told me
* a sad sack                                                        * a piece of cake
* a sitting duck                                                   * all eggs in one basket
* blind date                                                         * cash cow
* caught red handed                                           * the proof is in the pudding


For many, many more examples go to : www.idiomsbykids.com

This fun book will get your kids learning and laughing at the same time.  The author uses such idioms and "tickled pink,"  "green with envy" and  "red tape" (all idioms are associated with colours) to explain the meanings.  The colourful illustrations depict what the words mean literally and should generate a good laugh or two from the reader.  The "real" meaning of the phrase is featured upside down in the corner of each spread for your understanding and information.  The last page gives further explanations about idioms.  This would be a great addition to a classroom or for home schooling.

Oelschlager's first book ,  "Birds of a Feather" (2009), dealt with birds, insects or animals.  Her second book, "Life is in a Bowl Full of Cherries (2011) uses food idioms.

I "had a blast" reviewing this book.  It's always good to look at idioms through a "fresh pair of eyes." Although the book was not "rocket science" it was a "barrel of laughs" to read and share aloud.

About the author:  

VanitaBooks publishes books for children ages 4-8 that are short tales teaching a moral or value. Each book presents a dilemma or fear that a child may have, and resolves those issues through the loving and reassuring guidance of a parent, or through the plot of the story itself. VanitaBooks donates all net profits to charities where "people help people help themselves."

About Vanita

Vanita Oelschlager is a wife, mother, grandmother, former teacher, current caregiver and, for almost ten years, author and poet.

She was born and raised near Pittsburgh. She is a graduate of Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where she currently serves as a Trustee.

She has also supported and helped Jim as he built Oak Associates, ltd. into a successful investment management firm.

Today, as an accomplished author, Vanita shares openly the experiences that she, Jim and their families have had with multiple sclerosis. She has likened MS to living with an elephant, one that won't go away or be ignored. Together, she and Jim have found ways to live with this "elephant", and to share some of the larger lessons about life they've learned through the disease.

                                                   Book Review Rating:  6  (Interesting!)

Read on and read always!  Have a great day!

This book was compliments of NetGalley and I am able to give an honest review of the content.