Every child is special and unique. Some appear to be perfect, to have everything, to be popular, to be intelligent and good looking. And then there are others who are like most children. They try to fit in and do their best to achieve the praise of their parents, teachers and peers. Sometimes we need to take a step back and understand that our children have special talents and characteristics that make them wonderful. That makes them different.

A celebration of music and beat. This rhythmic verse introduces the steel band and the types of pans that make a band. Colourful illustrations of children playing steel pans have real child appeal. The brief and beautifully illustrated historical section that follows tells how steel pans were originally made. Ping Pong is an exciting way to introduce the steel pan to children. Recommended reading level: Read Together: Ages 5 - 10; Read Alone: Ages 7 - 10.

. A family adventure story. Roger accepts his grandfather's invitation to sail to the neighbouring island of Bequia. It is Roger's first inter-island crossing. He is both excited and scared. The trip turns into a voyage of discovery and wonder when his grandfather sets a course towards the setting sun. Grandma, Auntie Jan, Uncle Rohan, cousins Abdul and Roxanne and pesky sister, Kathy are all members of the crew. The Caribbean is frequently described as a melting pot and a Caribbean family is often a mixture of the many different races who live there. Although fiction, Stoute has packed the books with interesting facts. Silva-Freimane's illustrations are detailed and authentically depict the marine life and seascapes of the Caribbean. Together: Ages 4 - 6; Read Alone: Ages 6 - 9. Review: There have been many great storybooks written from yesteryear to this present day. Of the many I have read, I must say that this one isn't just great - it's amazing. From its beautifully written words to its vibrant pictures, everything blends uniquely to form a vast image of the whole adventure in the reader's mind. You can see, feel, hear and even smell all the exotic textures in the story. The eccentric flow of rhythm and rhyme cultivates a cascade of poetic Caribbean flavor, when every word is read. The most amazing thing about the story, though, is that it is a family adventure and though today such a thing is dwindling rapidly, this writer depicts its beauty as though it happens every day. As a true Bequian, I salute June Stoute for basing this adventure as a family expedition to my blessed home and I would recommend that it be read by all children. Cherian Gordon - Caribbean Compass Feb 2008

Anansi, the spider, is sharing a tree with Herald, the fowl-cock (cockerel). Herald's early morning crowing makes Anansi angry and he asks Herald to move to another tree. Herald refuses to do this and thereafter misfortune follows him. This is an illustrated story of 3,000 words. It is divided into four chapters of equal length. Set on the fictional Isle of Spice the illustrations are colorful and detailed and capture the essence of an island in the Caribbean and the emotions of the protagonist in this battle of wills. Stoute explodes the myth that fowl-cocks crow just before dawn and offers an intriguing explanation for their crowing at all hours of the night and foreday morning. Silva-Freimane's illustrations depicting the animals and landscapes of the Caribbean go beyond a physical rendition. They are funny and emotionally expressive.Recommended reading level. Read Together: Ages 5 - 10; Read Alone: Ages 7 - 10.