Ellie’s First Plane Ride

Book Review
Avatar of Fran LewisBy Fran Lewis
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How exciting is it to take your first plane ride? Join Ellie and her best friend Pudgy the Penguin, as they travel a long way to visit Ellie’s family.

Check out the airport and learning how to find their flight and the time was both scary and frightening. Nervous about flying Ellie has lucky that Pudgy was coming along because she loved flying and told her they would have tons of fun together. (I wish I had Pudgy along with me on my last flight.)

baby-elephantChecking in and making sure the flight was on time and watching the planes take off, and land is quite an experience.

Riding an escalator or disappearing staircase for the first time concerned and worried Elle, but Pudgy helped her overcome her fear. Security machines and security procedures can frighten even adults, but they breezed through it. Find out how and why!

With the help of the great photos, even non-readers and younger children can enjoy the story just by looking at the pictures. Finding the gate took a while and then using the tram to get to the plane. Resting and using the neck pillows on the tram, (Wish I had those too on my last flight) made them comfortable and able to rest. Boarding the flight, finding their seats and dealing with their luggage and then lift off!

Resourceful, smart and able to fend for themselves and find their way they were smart to rent a cart to help carry their suitcases and flag down a taxi to go to their hotel.

Ellie-the-Elephant
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Ellie was worried at first but with her dear friend with her they were ready for bed and their next day’s fun. Many of the words are in black and others in Red emphasizing important parts of the story and bringing certain events and places in focus for the reader.

For example by writing the word ZOO in red readers are ready for their visit. By writing relatives in red we know that they are going to see family. Highlighting nouns and verbs and making it easier for children to read the more difficult words or for parents to focus in on them and help them when needed.

Their journey to the zoo would not only teach them about many other animals but those reading the book will meet The Eastern Giant Eland that they asked to help them find the Elephants. They also met tropical birds, giraffe, and the other animals, but none was her relative. As you take the journey and tour of the zoo you, the reader will find that the animals are friendly, and try to be helpful. Meet the antelopes and then Andean Bear and others too. But, where were the elephants and how would they react when Ellie shows up?

Not all of the animals wanted to stop and help some were tired, and others like the Llamas just wanted to run. Two young animals all alone in a strange zoo are hoping to find Ellie’s relatives. Check out page 35 and meet her Aunt and her baby cousin. How did they feel when they met Ellie? What about Pudgy? Did they like each other? After all, not all elephants look the same or are the same?

Ellie shared her experiences on the plane with her cousins, and you won’t believe what they thought! Just look at the pictures on pages 38- 41 to get to know her family yourself and see what you think about them.

This is a great way to show children that people, as well as animals, have differences that we all embrace and that even though Pudgy is not an elephant she and Ellie are best friends. So, what happens when they have to leave?

Will they ever see each other again? Learn how they managed to get to the airport, check in, board the plane and talk about their wonderful day with some great and special animals. The picture on page 49 says friendship in a perfect way. Where did they go when the plane landed? What happens when Pudgy falls? How do you know they will be friends forever? What happens when they get home?

Check out the picture on page 54 and see all of Ellie’s new friends. Friendships are special and differences should be embraced, and maybe their next adventure will take them somewhere far away. They might even bring one of their other friends along. I vote for the Panda Bear.

Great pictures and an excellent way to teach children that flying is safe and fun. Friendships are special and once again that comes through in this book. Read the back cover and find out where Ellie and Pudgy went with our young author and understood just how special they are to her and why she created this wonderful book with her mother.

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Avatar of Fran Lewis
Fran Lewis

Born in the South Bronx, I grew up with people from many ethnic backgrounds. I learned to play and work with children in my school that came from other countries and different places.
I was always over weight as a child and got picked on a lot by the other children in my class and even my teachers. I found it hard to do many of the sporting activities that my sister and cousins could do. I learned at an early age that kids can be mean and I promised myself that I would never retaliate or do mean things to other kids in return.

When I decided to write my short stories I realized that I had a lot to say about my youth and in both of my books I tell about a ten year old girl named Bertha who learns to deal with real life issues kids face today at home and in school.

As an educator I the New York City Public Schools for over 36 years, I realized just how unique and precious our children are. I was the reading and writing staff developer in my school and the dean. I loved the children and had the respect of my fellow teachers and parents. Teaching children to read was really very rewarding and introducing them to writing and creating their own stories was exciting for the students. I love reading different kinds of books in many different genres. I have started reviewing books of new authors and those that are more established. I love giving them great reviews and saying wonderful things about their writing. I have three Masters Degrees and PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently I am a member of Who’s Who is America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children’s books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's Disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a Cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s story. My second Alzheimer’s Book is called Sharp As A Tack or Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain. This book should be out in June 2010. I was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the School’s newspaper. I write reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina.

Other accomplishments:
Book reviewer
Radio show talk host: book discussion with Fran Lewis and authors all over the US and the world- how cool is that I get authors that even request a review.
Would love to become an interviewer.
Caregiver and expert on Medicaid and medicare Author of five books and writing number six
The sixth book is based on a true story but will be written as a fictional memoir.
Worked in the same school for 36 years as the reading and writing staff developer I was the dean of discipline and assisted the Principal and AP when needed I was the test coordinator for the school and instructed teachers in testing procedures –administrated the tests and oversaw the reading, math and other tests to make sure that everything ran smoothly.

I am an expert in the ELA or any test prep for reading and writing
I can take an author’s book and even if it is not five stars write a five star review for them by looking for the soul of the book and for something positive. I am a member of Who’s Who of America’s executives, teachers and professionals and belong the Cambridge’s Connect and Pen with Sword
I would like to take my three children’s book plus the fourth one and put them together in one book. I played the piano as a kid and the violin.
I was in the Bronx Borough Orchestra. I played the piano in Carnegie Hall –that was scary. I do consulting for some of the teachers in my school when they need help with lesson plans. I love writing for Robins Falls Magazine.

I love writing reviews in my own style. I even find time to help my nieces and nephews with their homework over the phone.
Email: riffyone@optonline.net

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