Codley and the Big Storm: Together We Can!, by Lisl Fair and Michaela Grace (illustrations by Ismedy Prasetya)

Buy Now on Amazon.com

Lisl Fair is back with another Codley adventure (my daughter is still hoping for a followup to her Lexi Fairheart story). This time Codley the octopus and his friends must rebuild Codley's home in a shipwreck when a storm on the ocean surface causes havoc on the ocean floor (not sure how realistic that is--does that actually happen?). Each of the various sea creatures helps with the cleanup in their own way. The manta rays, for instance, are very good at sweeping up debris. The book is cute and has a clear message about cooperation. Plus it shows a number of sea creatures exercising their unique talents which young children are sure to enjoy.

It's far too wordy to be a toddler book, however, and some of the dialogue is awkward to read aloud (particularly that of Pokie, the stammering blowfish). It's more likely a book for early readers aged 6-8. It's very cute and I liked it better than the previous Codley book, Codley and the Sea Cave Adventure.

Hit the jump for Magda's take!

Codly and the Sea Cave Adventure, by Lisl Fair and Michaela Grace (illustrated by

Buy Now on Amazon.com

The following review originally appeared on my other blog, Cozy Little Book Journal, on June 8, 2012. Since that time the author has let me know that she will be re-editing the book before publishing it in wide release. So the following review may be out of date:

This book is beautifully illustrated and, if the text were to be rewritten a little, it might make a lovely picture book. When I read that the author is a Speech and Language Therapist who is interested in writing children's books that are educational, I assumed that the character in the book who has a stammer (Pokie the pufferfish) would have some resolution. Maybe the book is about stuttering, I assumed. I was wrong. Pokie's stammer just seems to be a way to distinguish when he is the one speaking (though just adding words like "Pokie said" would have been much more effective for young readers). And, like Lisl Fair's other book (Lexi Fairheart and the Forbidden Door), it might be easier for her to get it published in print if she makes it the standard 32 pages instead of the hard-to-print 23 pages of the e-book edition. Still, my two-year-old really liked the beautiful pictures and I think the book has potential.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing a review, though the review did not necessarily need to be favourable, just honest. I frequently read and review books for this reason, but I am always very truthful (and, I hope, fair) in my reviews. Therefore any opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I look forward to the re-release of this book. I think with a little editing, it could be marvellous! 

Hit the jump for Magda's take: