The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery by Beverly Lewis

The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery
By
Beverly Lewis
Illustrated By: Barbara Birch
Series: The Cul-de-sac Kids #3
Publisher: Star Song Publishing Group
Copyrighted: 1993
Number of Pages: 61
Age Group: 7-10 years old
Type of Book: Christian Fiction
Physical Nature: Paperback and 5x7 inches
Extras: Map of the neighborhood, synopsis of book four and extra information from the author
About the Book: It is Christmastime and Eric Hagel (8) is very curious about his new neighbor, Mr. Tressler. Eric thinks Mr. Tressler is scary. Eric decides to spy on Mr. Tressler when he sees angels flying around Mr. Tressler’s living room. Eric along with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood decides to make a friend of Mr. Tressler. They take a couple of days to learn songs, make cookies, and cards. The kids find out Mr. Tressler is very friendly and the angels are really doves. Eric learned that everything is not always as it seems. If something is scary it really might not be.
About Author and Illustrator: Beverly Lewis lives in Colorado with her family and has written many books and short stories. The Cul-de-sac Kids remind her of her friends when she was younger. Barbara Birch illustrated the book realistically, which goes well with the clear plot line and characters.
What I liked: I liked how Eric was brave enough to make friends with Mr. Tressler. We need to always remember that our friends may be those we least expect.
What I disliked: There was nothing to dislike.
Would I recommend: Yes I would. We need to remember new friends come when we least expect them.

The Chicken Pox Panic

The Chicken Pox Panic
By
Beverly Lewis
Illustrations By: Barbara Birch
Published By: Bethany House Publishers
Copyrighted: 1993
Series: Cul-de-sac Kids #2
Number of Pages: 60 pages
Age Group: 7-10 year-old
Type of Book: Christian Fiction
Physical Description: Paperback, 5x7 inches
About the Book: Abby Hunter (third grade) has the chicken pox and wants to make a special cake for her adopted brother, Shawn’s birthday. She keeps the plans for her cake a secret from everybody, even her best friend, Stacy Hunter. Stacy has a secret of her own. Her mother is not telling her where her birth certificate is, so Stacy thinks she is adopted. Abby helps Stacy look for her birth certificate or old pictures. They don’t have any luck. They just have problems when Stacy’s dog eats the roast and ice cream. Abby uses her own money to buy another roast and then has no money for the birthday surprise. Stacy asks the rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids to loan Abby money. Abby is able to get enough money for Shawn’s birthday surprise and she invites everybody to the party. Stacy calls her dad, who agrees to come see her and send her a copy of her birth certificate. Stacy helps Abby with Shawn’s cake and the birthday party is a success. Abby and Stacy learn it is good to not have secrets and it is good to help others.
Extras: Map of Blossom Hill Lane, synopsis of book #3, extra information from the author about when her children had the chicken pox.
About the Author and Illustrator: Beverly Lewis lives in Colorado with her family and has written many books and short stories. The Cul-de-sac Kids remind her of her friends when she was younger. Barbara Birch illustrated the book realistically, which goes well with the clear plot line and characters.
What I liked: I liked everything about this book. I thought it was important that Stacy and Abby learned that keeping secrets does not help anybody. It shows the readers they shouldn’t keep secrets either.
What I disliked: There was nothing I disliked.
Would I recommend: Yes.

The Chicken Pox Panic

The Chicken Pox Panic
By
Beverly Lewis
Illustrations By: Barbara Birch
Published By: Bethany House Publishers
Copyrighted: 1993
Series: Cul-de-sac Kids #2
Number of Pages: 60 pages
Age Group: 7-10 year-old
Type of Book: Christian Fiction
Physical Description: Paperback, 5x7 inches
About the Book: Abby Hunter (third grade) wants to make a special cake for her adopted brother, Shawn’s birthday. She keeps the plans for her cake a secret from everybody, even her best friend, Stacy Hunter. Stacy has a secret of her own. Her mother is not telling her where her birth certificate is, so Stacy thinks she is adopted. Abby helps Stacy look for her birth certificate or old pictures. They don’t have any luck. They just have problems when Stacy’s dog eats the roast and ice cream. Abby uses her own money to buy another roast and then has no money for the birthday surprise. Stacy asks the rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids to loan Abby money. Abby is able to get enough money for Shawn’s birthday surprise and she invites everybody to the party. Stacy calls her dad, who agrees to come see her and send her a copy of her birth certificate. Stacy helps Abby with Shawn’s cake and the birthday party is a success. Abby and Stacy learn it is good to not have secrets and it is good to help others.
Extras: Map of Blossom Hill Lane, synopsis of book #3, extra information from the author about when her children had the chicken pox.
About the Author and Illustrator: Beverly Lewis lives in Colorado with her family and has written many books and short stories. The Cul-de-sac Kids remind her of her friends when she was younger. Barbara Birch illustrated the book realistically, which goes well with the clear plot line and characters.
What I liked: I liked everything about this book. I thought it was important that Stacy and Abby learned that keeping secrets does not help anybody. It shows the readers they shouldn’t keep secrets either.
What I disliked: There was nothing I disliked.
Would I recommend: Yes.

The Double Dabble Surprise by Beverly Lewis

The Double Dabble Surprise, was written by Beverly Lewis and copyrighted in 1993. This 65 page book of the Cul-de-sac Kids series was published by Bethany House and is for girls and boys ages 7-10. The point-of-view for this Christian fiction book is a girl’s.

Abby and Carly Hunter were all set to get two Korean sisters and instead two boys arrived. The Hunter family then had to decide if they wanted to adopt Sung Jin and Choon Koo or to file adoption papers again to get the girls. Abby and Carly were both very disappointed when Sung Jin and Choon Koo arrived. Abby knew she had to pray to God to help her decide what to do about the boys. She decided to introduce the boys to her friends, teach them about God and Thanksgiving. In the week the boys are there Abby learns to enjoy their company. Her last great idea is to get a dog for Sung Jin, similar to the one he used to have, when the family tells the boys they are going to be adopted. For Abby to agree to adopt the boys she needed to learn about boys being just as good as girls and that God was providing them with who they needed.

Beverly Lewis lives in Colorado with her family and has written many books and short stories. The Cul-de-sac Kids remind her of her friends when she was younger. Barbara Birch illustrated the book realistically, which goes well with the clear plot line and characters.

The issue that readers deal with in The Double Dabble Surprise is acceptance. The experience may not be what we want it to be, but it might be what God wants to help us become stronger.

I liked how Abby prays when she needs to decide what she thinks about the boys living there. She is depending on God to help her. I also liked it when she got the dog for Sung Jin.

This paperback book is a nice size for holding and was printed in a large dark font. I would recommend this book if someone would like to learn about acceptance and a fun book to read.