This book is one of those rare things, a book I had to read for work that was worth every minute I invested in it. I can read crime fiction till the cows come home, but I never go near true crime, and I'd have steered clear of a book obviously about Myra Hindley (clue's on the cover, though she's never named); but I had to pick something to read from the World Book Day top ten, and they were all about death anyway, so I thought what the hell. Better than the book about the teenager dying of cancer, which made me cry on the train when I tried to read it.

The story centres on the policeman given the unenviable job of guarding Myra Hindley's body the night before her funeral, and the thought processes he goes through during the hours he spends there. He has plenty of time to think about his relationship with his wife, his struggles with being a dad to a downs syndrome daughter, and his own past. He is even visited by Hindley's ghost, and has conversations with her.

I don't remember much of what I learned during my English degree, but I do remember being told that detective novels give comfort to people, because they take evil and embody it in one person; then they catch that person, lock them up, and the reader feels safer. Evil has been explained, contained. None of this happens on a conscious level, but it makes perfect sense to me, and gives me an answer when I'm asked on occasion, how can you read books about murder for relaxation? I bring this up, because this book does the opposite. The author bravely takes on a figure that so many of us, for generations, have associated with the nature of evil, not wanting to think that there's anything remotely human about her, or that she might have anything in common with us. Rupert Thomson does not for a moment lessen the horror of what Hindley did, or dodge any difficult questions, so I don't believe anyone should be offended by his treatment of the subject. He will make you think, but as any good writer should, does not impose his views on you.

"The Cedar Valley Kids” are back in the second installment of this nationally recognized children’s series, with a new teacher, Mrs. Best, in Let’s Get Ready for First Grade. This is an absolute must have for parents with children preparing for elementary school. Age appropriate, thorough, colorful and entertaining, Mrs. Best guides the ‘reader’ through a myriad of activities which are all taken from the standard first grade curriculum. From vowels and consonants, proper pronunciation of short and long sounds, to the always tricky ’silent e’, children will laugh while they learn. Lessons build upon themselves, utilizing that which was mastered yesterday as the base to build something new today. For example the lessons dealing with numbers begin with counting, differentiate between odds and evens, skip counting, and finally addition and subtraction of small sets. (1+2 or 7-3)

The Let’s Get Ready series demonstrates that learning can be fun and exciting. And with parents being the single most influential person in any child’s life, it only makes sense that establishing a positive attitude towards learning, education and books in general starts at home. It’s now easier than ever for busy parents to spend quality time with their children, building the basic skills necessary to succeed, while at the same time reinforcing the family bond. I have heard many parents say “I would do anything for my child”… all the work has been done, organizing the information that meets the standard guidelines, presenting it in an informative, exciting and entertaining way, via a reusable format (high gloss, non-stick, dry erase compatible pages) at an affordable price — what more could parents and educators ask for? Of course…. Let’s Get Ready for… Second….Third…

Happy Reading!RJ xx3Rs-Real Reader ReviewsNote: Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Mrs. Best’s assistant, “Yodie Coyote”, hiding throughout the book!

There are plans to expand the series to include all elementary grades.Parents should get involved with their local schools and contact their representatives, to make the Let’s Get Ready for First Grade available to children preparing to enter elementary school, regardless of socio-economic status.

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If you want to be sure your child has the best start possible on the first day of school - pick up a copy of this book. "Be Sure... Get Ready"Let’s Get Ready gives parents, a step by step guide that makes it not only easy, but fun to prepare your little one for their first day of kindergarten. No longer will parents wonder if they have covered all the necessary skills. No more trying to guess what will be expected of your child… because it’s all here in this quality children’s book. Beyond the mastery of basic skills, utilizing Let’s Get Ready strengthens the bond between parent and child, establishes at an early age that learning is fun, resulting in positive self-esteem and the desire to accept new learning challenges.Children will be immersed in an educational environment filled with bright colors, shapes, rhymes, number and alphabet sequences, and so much more. Important lessons of equality and acceptance are embedded in the very fabric of this series and quietly presented through the cultural diversity of Mrs. Good’s students, “the cedar valley kids.” The actual design takes the no-stick, high gloss concept a step further, by utilizing dry erase compatibility, these books will be used again and again.From the ‘early skills checklist’ at the beginning, to the parent tips at the end, Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten is well organized, highly entertaining, easy to use, and packed with information that will give children a strong foundation on which to build their future. Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten has been recognized by Parent to Parent, winning the Adding Wisdom Award, Silver Addy Award for the illustrations and was selected by Orca Communications Best Guide as a top new product. However, I feel confident saying… the smiles, giggles, and excitement witnessed by parents as their children learn and have fun doing so, is by far the best reward of all.3Rs-Real Reader ReviewsNote:  Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Mrs. Good’s assistant, “peek-a-blue”, hiding throughout the book!Let’s Get Ready for First Grade is now available and there are plans to expand the series to include all the elementary grades.Parents should get involved with their local school and contact their representatives to make the Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten available to all pre-k age children, regardless of socio-economic status. 

Happy Reading!RJ xx

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The first thing that I noticed was the oversized, imprinted, hardcover, reminiscent of the Golden Books I loved so much as a child. What’s On The Other Side of The Rainbow has everything a parent or educator could ask for in a children’s book. Making it a rare find that will leave children pleading…. “ read it just one more time, please,” and parents happily obliging.Carla Jo Masterson has created a literary work that will leave children smiling and parents feeling good about their choice of reading material. To deliver messages of such importance in fun, enjoyable ways is a testament to the talent of the author. Together, with the illustrations by Omra Jo Fochtman, this book should be read in daycare centers, schools, and homes everywhere.What’s On The Other Side of The Rainbow is much more than a bedtime story. Carla introduces us to Mr. Positively, who leads the reader not only through the book, but through a door to understanding and accepting ourselves and our feelings, as well as, those of others. .With the number of broken homes increasing, school violence and bullying on the rise, and the general decline of moral values, the need for a book such as this has never been greater. Carla Jo Masterson has answered that call with What’s On The Other Side of The Rainbow. To create a morally sound, entertaining book for children is no easy feat. However, Masterson has delivered all this, with a genuine sincerity that is both heart warming and refreshing!

Happy Reading!RJ xxAs with all children's books (or any outside media introduced to your children), as the parent you must decide what is age appropriate for your children.