Book Review: The Saint Bernards Decorate for Christmas (children's book)

The Saint Bernards Decorate for Christmas, by Elaina Firman (independently published, 2025, $15 PB, up to age 18, 25pp)

This series of little kid books (or, little series of kid books), five so far, appeals to grown-ups just as much as the little ones. Maybe that is why author Elaina Firman believes they should be owned by 'kids' up to age 18 - but we disagree. We think these books are written for adults, too! 

Saint Bernards are big dogs who turn out to be a big help decorating for the magic of the holidays. Everyone has their job to do, even the sheep who spin yarn and knit the stockings to hang by the fireplace. 

This is just the book to put you in the mood for Christmas because now that it's June, The Saint Bernards Decorate for Christmas is a lovely little experience, full of detailed pictures that we love to gaze over slowly - they are so busy! The story is easy and the words even flow and rhyme (so hard for an author to accomplish).

We also cherish the sleepy slow calm ending, with the close of the day - every decoration made and hung, thanks to all the animals who so graciously helped out. The ambient light is low, now that the sun has set, and the scenes are lit by only the glow of the Christmas tree lights and the cozy fireplaces. 

Note: Another title in the series is reviewed here (yesterday).

Book Review: The Saint Bernards Grow a Garden (children's book)

The Saint Bernards Grow a Garden, by Elaina Firman (independently published, 2026, $15 PB, up to age 10, 25pp)

Ah, the saints are at it again with their busy fun lives. This time it is spring and they take us through the growing season. Again, all the different farm animals help out, all season long.

These saints (and Saints) are the two best known Saint Bernards in the world, Koko and Jacey, but who is who is not important since they and the rest of the animals work together. However, child-readers will be able to tell the dogs apart. Adults, not so easily.

Immensely colorful and busy (detailed), Garden shows what can be accomplished with a little help from your friends in turning mistakes into successes - spilt water is soon soaked into the ground, helping the crops grow. Lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, green peppers and more delicious veggies grow to take the family through the cold New Hampshire winter on the Firman Family Farm.

Garden joins the other Saint Bernard books: one I'd personally love to read - The Saint Bernards' Summer Night, along with The Saint Bernards Explore the Farm, The Saint Bernards' Easter Egg Hunt and The Saint Bernards Decorate for Christmas, reviewed here tomorrow. 

Book Review: Here Comes Bella! (another dog. . . .)

 Here Comes Bella! by Seth Karnes (Wellness Writers Press, $12.99 PB, 2026, 25pp, 4 years and up)(read a sample here) When a child's dog passes away. . . .

                                                     

A boy and his dog, a girl growing up with her dog-best-friend. Every child needs a dog growing up but the only thing wrong with his picture is that too often the dog dies before the child is ready for it to happen. Like we have had our parents our whole lives, some of us have had our dogs our whole lives so it is additionally heart-breaking to lose them.

Books can help (and so can stuffies!) but nothing really takes the place of a childhood dog.

Liam grew up with Lola in Here Comes Bella! and they became best friends - for years. As Liam grew up, Lola grew older and started to slow down. The time came when they had to say goodbye.

The hole in Liam's heart never went away but suddenly he "was all alone. His heart felt like an empty box, hollow and aching." His life changed. His world changed. His family changed.

Then one day, a dog peeked at Liam through a hole in the backyard fence and the healing began.

Based on a true story (https://www.facebook.com/herecomesbella), author Seth Karnes writes with his heart about both dogs - the one who came to visit and stay, and the one who stayed in Liam's heart every day forever.

Book Review: Problems with Pooski (family loves a bad dog)

Problems with Pooski, by Sharon O'Flaherty (Archway Publishing, 2026, $14.99PB, 32pp, children's book) 

Puppy Pooski arrives in a box! And grows up to be her own boss: she doesn't fetch or come when called, she chews everything except her own bones (homework, socks, post-its, Mom's shoes). What's a family to do? Can the kids help take care of this mischievous pupster?

Should they put an ad in the paper to give her away? What if nobody responds? What if too many people respond so the family can't make a decision as to who gets their Pooski?

Should they take Pooski to dog school to learn how to behave? Or is she incorrigible?

Or, perhaps, is she perfect just the way she is, to a family that loves her?

Written in big book size, Pooski is just right for the littlest kid to hold and make his own as Mom and Dad read the story and then discuss responsibility and caring as the household changes with a new family member.

And perhaps your family has had a dog like Pooski. What did you do?

This probable cocker spaniel will steal your heart away.

Author Sharon O'Flaherty has written a book in rhyme, an admirable feat, and in triplets to boot!

Book Review: The Adventures of Spuddy and Biscotti: Big Farm Adventure!

The Adventures of Spuddy and Biscotti: Big Farm Adventure! by Linda Collins (Linda Collins/Lightning Source, 2026, $13.99, ages 3-7, 40 pp PB)(Every grandmother should also be a children's book author, don't you agree?) (sneak peek here)

Spuddy and Biscotti* are the cutest little goat kids you have ever seen! 

One day they wander around their farm meeting all the animals and trying them out - do what they do, try to 'say' what they say. And is that ever funny! First they meet the chickens and the cows and the pigs and the ducks. Then they can't forget the sheep, a horse, an apple tree, and - look out for the sheepdog who returns them to home, all tuckered out and ready for bed.

Spud and Biscotti help youngsters learn their animals** and learn about their animals in a fun way but realistic. And for you pooped parents out there, reading to the littles, it may be possible to cut out an animal or two to make for a shorter good-night story, but don't tell the kids this!

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*One little goat is brown and the other is black. Which do you think is which?

**There are plenty of animals on each page for young readers to identify them several times, thus making learning quicker.

Book Review: Caught in the Snare (a Chautauqua murder mystery)

Caught in the Snare: A Chautauqua Murder Mystery, by Deb Pines (Independently published,  278pp PB, 2024, $21.99)

I haven't read a Deb Pines book for several months now so I thought I had best 'get on with it' before I head up north to the Chautauqua Institution in a couple of months. And Caught in the Snare put me in the mood for my three weeks of a Chautauqua summer.

And this coming year, with her new book out, Tossing Seas,

I am going to list the place names and search them out. Finally. Of course, I know several of them, having taught special studies classes there for several years but I'm not familiar with the house addresses or streets not in the center of the grounds.

Now, On to the Review!

An elderly woman dies after falling down a flight of stairs but was her death due to a slip or a push? The cranky but wealthy old woman has several un-friends that might have done it. 

To the rescue we have again, Mimi Goldman, who writes for a daily newspaper (yes, they still exist!) at Chautauqua, a summer camp for families in upstate New York, replete with lectures, worship services, opera, sports (golf, sailing, SUP and kayaks), dog training (that's me), symphonies, movies and more. With no vehicles allowed on the grounds, walkers can take the free small buses or rent a bike to get around, from hotel to the grassy mall, to the bookstore, post office, shops and eateries. Nine weeks of programming with some residents staying all summer while others are one-week wonders.

Yes, our Mimi is a reporter but she is more than that. She is a grandmother. She is likable. And a sleuth to boot. Caught is a bit different than her other 10 books for two reasons: 1. it is her favorite (and I am going to ask her why when I attend one of her book-signings in July) and 2. the final few chapters star a dog.

Throw in some hanky-panky, a few crisp (ironed?) hundred dollar bills out of a few million, some purple martins (birds), a chemistry teacher, a yoga teacher, a knife skills class, a garbage collector, and a 94-year-old sidekick, and you have a book that you simply can't put down. With a plot that keeps you reading on and on and on - don't start it at 9pm or you won't be able to get a good night's sleep - and my favorite - 52 short chapters - you will soon be hooked on the Mimi Goldman series.

Book Review: Tiny Pieces (growing up and talking to nature)(OT)

 Tiny Pieces, by Kelly Artieri (Crisp Water Publishing, 2025, 48pp PB, $12.99, children's book) 

A small girl with her mother are walking in a field full of flowers, both yellow and white. The girl, though little, is big enough to walk by herself as long as she doesn't veer too far away from her mother. She is picking white flowers for her when a gust of wind comes along and blows the flowers from her hands: poor Penny is devastated watching the floating feathers, helpless and no longer a happy little flower angel.

Turning Disaster into a Little Bit of Heaven

Mother explains nature's ways to Penny while the reader recognizes that they are dandelions full of seeds: the reader recognizes dandelions full of seeds that the wind is dispersing - the first step nature takes to spread them. Mother shows Penny how to feel the sun and hear the wind in the grass.

Written and illustrated by Kelly Artieri, Tiny Pieces is a work of art for explaining how nature works to the little girl, but also for the portrait-like pages that I simply want to frame!

Artieri is also an accomplished medical and scientific illustrator and book cover designer.