Illustrations: 5 Stars (simple and dainty water color illustrations)
Cover: 4.0 stars (it doesn't do the story justice, just read it anyway!)
Storyline: 5 Stars (unusual and mysterious rhyming story)
Total: 5 stars
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Storyline: 5 Stars (unusual and mysterious rhyming story)
Total: 5 stars
I won't spoil the surprises in this imaginative book, so I'll just quote the beginning, "There once was a girl named Umbrella. You can't name a girl Umbrella! There once was a girl named Isabella."
This adorable book is about a girl named Isabella who is on a quest to make a special wish. On the way she walks and climbs up and down...things. You see, things are not what they seem in the book. At first it's something silly, and then it's corrected to something more practical that rhymes. I've not read a book like it and it is not only well-illustrated, but it's fun to read aloud.
My 8 year old liked to predict what the practical rhyme was, although she didn't always guess it right, which made her giggle. I enjoyed the fun rhymes and element of mystery (what is Isabella really doing?).
I enjoyed this book tremendously. So I interviewed the author, Deborah Belica.
VALERIE HARMON: What inspires your writing?
DEBORAH BELICA: My grandchildren who are 6, 5 and 3. I find it so easy to slip into their way of
thinking when I am around them. We play rhyming games which is really how the book began. We would
look out of the window of the car and see a tree then say: “tree, bee” or see a house and say: “house,
mouse”. Each taking turns to find something and make a rhyme with it.
VALERIE HARMON: What is your favorite thing about being an author?
DEBORAH BELICA: There is no doubt that the most wonderful thing about being a children’s author is
the children and their response to the book. When I hear a giggle or see a hug and think that my words may
have made that happen, well I feel very special indeed. A great deal of my readers have sent in photos of
the children reading the book or the parent reading to the children and I feel wonderful.
VALERIE HARMON: What is the toughest part of being an author?
DEBORAH BELICA: I have owned my own business but still this has been big learning curve for me. From authors pages, facebook pages, QR codes, ISBN numbers, Library of Congress Control Numbers, layout and design, book signings to public speaking all new to me. I would like to say here that finding the right publisher is key. My publisher has been awesome and we have a great working relationship.
This adorable book is about a girl named Isabella who is on a quest to make a special wish. On the way she walks and climbs up and down...things. You see, things are not what they seem in the book. At first it's something silly, and then it's corrected to something more practical that rhymes. I've not read a book like it and it is not only well-illustrated, but it's fun to read aloud.
My 8 year old liked to predict what the practical rhyme was, although she didn't always guess it right, which made her giggle. I enjoyed the fun rhymes and element of mystery (what is Isabella really doing?).
I enjoyed this book tremendously. So I interviewed the author, Deborah Belica.
VALERIE HARMON: What inspires your writing?
DEBORAH BELICA: My grandchildren who are 6, 5 and 3. I find it so easy to slip into their way of
thinking when I am around them. We play rhyming games which is really how the book began. We would
look out of the window of the car and see a tree then say: “tree, bee” or see a house and say: “house,
mouse”. Each taking turns to find something and make a rhyme with it.
VALERIE HARMON: What is your favorite thing about being an author?
DEBORAH BELICA: There is no doubt that the most wonderful thing about being a children’s author is
the children and their response to the book. When I hear a giggle or see a hug and think that my words may
have made that happen, well I feel very special indeed. A great deal of my readers have sent in photos of
the children reading the book or the parent reading to the children and I feel wonderful.
VALERIE HARMON: What is the toughest part of being an author?
DEBORAH BELICA: I have owned my own business but still this has been big learning curve for me. From authors pages, facebook pages, QR codes, ISBN numbers, Library of Congress Control Numbers, layout and design, book signings to public speaking all new to me. I would like to say here that finding the right publisher is key. My publisher has been awesome and we have a great working relationship.
VALERIE HARMON: What is your favorite book of all time?
DEBORAH BELICA: Illusions by Richard Bach, I have read this many times in my life and each time it
taught me something different. A quick and wonderful read.
VALERIE HARMON: Which character from ANY book are you most like?
DEBORAH BELICA: Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Curious and trying to make sense of it all.
VALERIE HARMON: Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting
your book.
DEBORAH BELICA: Well I had mentioned earlier that I do receive picture of children reading Isabella’s
Special Wish, I got this picture from a reader:
VALERIE HARMON: That is hilarious! I LOVE that picture! Are you working on something new?
DEBORAH BELICA: Yes, Isabella’s newest adventure will be out in 2014.
VALERIE HARMON: Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping
by?
DEBORAH BELICA: Hi and welcome to the world of Isabella. Hope you enjoyed your visit. If you are a
reader I think you will enjoy her adventures and if you are an author keep on writing!
To connect with Deborah Belica and hear about more Isabella, click here for her website and Facebook page.
~Valerie Harmon
This review was interesting and the book sounds charming.
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