Review: "Goodbye my dear binky, I'm a happy big boy and I'll see you again."
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 24, 2014
Author Maya Shanie describes herself as a `Passionate Author of Children's Books', and though this is the first book of hers this reviewer has read it sets a fine precedent for a successful career for Maya. She is obviously a children's champion, as she believes that children's boos touch a young delicate hearts, and therefore she consults with child psychologists over each book she publishes. She writes with a uniquely charming rhyme style that is beguiling and one that children will hear as music.Danny is a young happy boy who is able to dress himself, eat on his own, but his best friend is his binky. On the night of his birthday his loving mother expresses her feeling for Danny and tells him it is time to say goodbye to his binky. But Danny confesses he really loves his binky and he doesn't know how he will get along without it. But after falling asleep Danny he awakens and his binky is alive! His binky has a plan for helping Danny grow up: he asks Danny to send him via a heart shaped balloon into the sky to meet friendly birds and be happy. But Danny is afraid he will not see his binky again, so his binky asks to be planted with seeds so come spring he will blossom into flowers. Danny is still reticent, so binky comes up with a great idea - give he binky to a new baby girl, but Danny feels the baby girl will have her own binky and he will never see his binky again.  His binky is frustrated and instructs Danny to look in his heart to find a way to see his binky once a day, so on his own Danny decides to place his binky in a flowering tree so every day Danny can see his binky in his very own tree - a decision that makes his parent proud of their young growing boy.Not only is the story entertaining for children (the wise use of magic succeeds well), but is also is a helpful guide for parents who are coping with the universal problem of weaning children off pacifiers. AND the book is beautifully illustrated. Maya Shanie seems to have found a special niche in children's books. Grady Harp, March 14