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The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
8th December 2020
TITLE: A Cheer for the Year
AUTHOR: Raven Howell
ILLUSTRATED BY: Meredith Messinger
Star Rating: 5

‘Punchy, superbly illustrated and packed full of fun.’ The Wishing Shelf

REVIEW
I have enjoyed a number of picture books written by Raven Howell including So You Want a Puppy and Chuckles and Smiles and, you know what, I always award her books a 5 star. Sorry, but I can’t help it. But I will tell you why.
The thing is, being a school teacher, I see so many rhyming books. And in so many of them, the rhyming and rhythm is terrible. The problem is, so many authors think writing a 600 word picture book is simple. It’s only 600 words! But, the thing is, in a picture book, every word is important. And Raven Howell gets this.
She also understands how to delight a young child with fun, exciting, over the top, crazy words. She’s like a modern day Roald Dahl; she knows how to play with language; how to have fun with language – and it’s wonderful!
Okay, I’ll shut up now. I’m like a Raven Howell stalker. So, to the story. Well, it’s not a story, it’s a ‘celebration’ of American (although not only American) holidays. For example, President’s Day, St Patrick’s Day (or St. Patty’s!) and even Halloween. And, for each holiday, there’s a short verse for the reader to enjoy.
The best way to describe the writing is ‘Yummy!’ Here’s my favorite verse; it’s for Halloween.
Ghostly, ghoulish
Carving, creeping, cackling
Doorbells ringing, black cats hackling
Haunting, hooting, howling,
Chilly, thrill-y
Boo!
I love the ‘boo!’ at the end.
So, who do I recommend this book to? Well, most children aged 6 – 8 would, I think, enjoy it. Adults too would find it fun. Wonderfully illustrated with plenty happening to keep every member of a family amused, this might prove very, very popular on President’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and so on and so on…
Sum it up in a few words: Children will love it. Adults will too!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review

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