Review: Mixed Impressions
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 01 28, 2013
One day last week Jeff Rivera, an award-winning author of Young Adult fiction, wrote to ask if I would take a look atUm ... Mommy, I Think I Flushed My Brother Down The Toilet,  his first foray into the world of books for a younger audience.  Though I don't often review children's books these days, the "child" in my life now being old enough to acquire a Provisional Scooter License in the UK, I do have a love of children's literature so I was happy to have a look.  I have mixed impressions.Unlike books for the Young Adult market, where one's audience can read, there really are two kinds of children's books, books to be read together and books to read "all by yourself."  As a Read Together,Um ... Mommy, I Think I Flushed My Brother Down The Toiletis engaging and funny in a way that boys both small and tall adore, a great book for Dads or Uncles to read with the young people in their lives.  As a bonus, the book displays nicely on Grandma's beloved iPad - something that not all children's Kindle books do by a very long shot.  As a Read Together, this is a solid 4-star read.Sadly,Um ... Mommy, I Think I Flushed My Brother Down The Toiletis not as successful as an "All By Myself."  Children in general do not care to read about children younger than they are themselves as they consider it "babyish."  By giving his main character, big sister  Faleesha, an age - 7 - Jeff pegged his book for Ages 6-7.  Throughout most of the US, 6 and 7 year olds are in first or second grade and often just learning to read.  Most won't yet have acquired the vocabulary and decoding skills to read this on their own - even with substantial help from an adult. As an All-By-Myself, this simply doesn't work.Accordingly, I've split the difference in the stars I've awarded.  If your intent is to purchase a book to enjoy together with the children in your lives, this may be a great choice.  If you're looking for something for youngsters to read alone, this wouldn't make the top of my list.Nevertheless, I applaud Jeff for his courage in tackling a sometimes difficult group to write for and hope to see more from him.