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The Three Royal Children and the Batty Aunt
Join three royal children as they embark on an adventure of a lifetime! Chapter book for ages 6 and up, second grade reading level.
Princess Celeste is bored to tears, and her brothers, Prince Jude and Prince Torrin, aren't doing much better.
In a palace where all they have to look forward to are endless games of croquet and barley-water soup for supper, they don't have much by way of excitement.
Until the one night, when Torrin sees a light in a forgotten tower of the palace, and they meet a wonderful and mysterious aunt and her talking bat. Together they explore a brand-new world of adventure they will never forget.
"This book was a wonderful read, so much fun, and the story included good lessons like manners and helping others." –Amazon Reviewer
"I recommend it to anyone who loved The Borrowers, Darby O'Gill and the Little People or The Secret World of Arrietty."–Amazon Reviewer
Princess Celeste is bored to tears, and her brothers, Prince Jude and Prince Torrin, aren't doing much better.
In a palace where all they have to look forward to are endless games of croquet and barley-water soup for supper, they don't have much by way of excitement.
Until the one night, when Torrin sees a light in a forgotten tower of the palace, and they meet a wonderful and mysterious aunt and her talking bat. Together they explore a brand-new world of adventure they will never forget.
"This book was a wonderful read, so much fun, and the story included good lessons like manners and helping others." –Amazon Reviewer
"I recommend it to anyone who loved The Borrowers, Darby O'Gill and the Little People or The Secret World of Arrietty."–Amazon Reviewer
- GenresChildrens
131 pages, Paperback
Published October 27, 2018
About the author
Angela C. Castillo
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Angela Castillo is a writer mom with four small children. She lives in the small town of Bastrop, the city she grew up in. She studied Practical Theology and music at Christ for the Nations in Dallas. She has had many small works published in periodicals and one self-published volume of short stories and poems. She and her sister, Cherie Haines own several online stores featuring Cherie's photographs and Angela's prose. Angela is currently working on her latest novel, a children's book.
Angela Castillo is a writer mom with four small children. She lives in the small town of Bastrop, the city she grew up in. She studied Practical Theology and music at Christ for the Nations in Dallas. She has had many small works published in periodicals and one self-published volume of short stories and poems. She and her sister, Cherie Haines own several online stores featuring Cherie's photographs and Angela's prose. Angela is currently working on her latest novel, a children's book.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 26, 2020
Format: Audio
First off, I recently put down a different middle grade book because the character pretty much acted like a 30-year-old who happened to be short, so it was refreshing to read a book where kids behaved believably like kids. I think that was the strongest aspect, the dialogue and interaction between the kids.
Overall, this is a sweet adventure. Not what I would call particularly harrowing, which probably puts it on the younger end of middle grade. I'd say it would be ideal as a family read aloud (or listen to if, like me, you snag the audiobook) or for kids first through third grade, though there are enough fun aspects that older children might sneak in during story time but pretend not to listen.
The narration was good, clear and engaging. My one nitpick was that the children all had scratchy voices. It wasn't a terrible choice, but there were places it made especially older boy sound like a little old man and could've been toned down a bit.
The only other minor quibble I had was a tonal dissonance between some of the themes and the rest of the story. Overall things are played very cute-fairy tale with not a lot of real world consequences, but then the major conflict becomes about stopping a war which is at the same time treated with some of the cartoonish, "not so serious" handling (the way those who speak of it talk about it, it's more like a spat between playground rivals than something I'd associate with real war) but at the same time you get hints of very serious consequences that make it clear this is a real war where a whole nations might get wiped out--over essentially name calling. Not that war isn't a serious message that shouldn't be handled seriously, but the darkness of implied consequences meshed awkwardly with the playful handling of other aspects in one or two spots.
Over all a fun and playful book with a great take on siblings and realistic young characters.
First off, I recently put down a different middle grade book because the character pretty much acted like a 30-year-old who happened to be short, so it was refreshing to read a book where kids behaved believably like kids. I think that was the strongest aspect, the dialogue and interaction between the kids.
Overall, this is a sweet adventure. Not what I would call particularly harrowing, which probably puts it on the younger end of middle grade. I'd say it would be ideal as a family read aloud (or listen to if, like me, you snag the audiobook) or for kids first through third grade, though there are enough fun aspects that older children might sneak in during story time but pretend not to listen.
The narration was good, clear and engaging. My one nitpick was that the children all had scratchy voices. It wasn't a terrible choice, but there were places it made especially older boy sound like a little old man and could've been toned down a bit.
The only other minor quibble I had was a tonal dissonance between some of the themes and the rest of the story. Overall things are played very cute-fairy tale with not a lot of real world consequences, but then the major conflict becomes about stopping a war which is at the same time treated with some of the cartoonish, "not so serious" handling (the way those who speak of it talk about it, it's more like a spat between playground rivals than something I'd associate with real war) but at the same time you get hints of very serious consequences that make it clear this is a real war where a whole nations might get wiped out--over essentially name calling. Not that war isn't a serious message that shouldn't be handled seriously, but the darkness of implied consequences meshed awkwardly with the playful handling of other aspects in one or two spots.
Over all a fun and playful book with a great take on siblings and realistic young characters.
January 11, 2020
We just finished listening to this book. I didn't know my 3 boys (4, 6, 8) could even sit this still and quiet! they have loved every second of it as we have listened at bedtime for 6 days, each time begging for just a little bit more until I finally had to say time to sleep. They are already joking about barley water soup and imagining what could happen on the next adventure.
From a parent's perspective I enjoyed listening to the book too. I usually struggle with audio books that I have read the physical book before but I had no troubles with this story. It was narrated well. I also appreciated that it had many good lessons intertwined with the story so well that I don't think my kids even noticed they were learning how to behave and be kind to others as they listened to this adventure. 5 stars from us!
From a parent's perspective I enjoyed listening to the book too. I usually struggle with audio books that I have read the physical book before but I had no troubles with this story. It was narrated well. I also appreciated that it had many good lessons intertwined with the story so well that I don't think my kids even noticed they were learning how to behave and be kind to others as they listened to this adventure. 5 stars from us!
January 10, 2019
This was a fun adventure for a trio of royal children stuck in a boring life... or so they think. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it for children - I think I would have loved it when I was into Half Magic and similar books.
The audiobook narration was sub-par; the narrator spoke far too slowly and Enunciated. Everything. Far. Too. Much. It was a bit painful to listen to at first. She also used very odd voices for some of the children, and southern accents for some of the Eep adults, which felt jarring in a fantasy story.
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The audiobook narration was sub-par; the narrator spoke far too slowly and Enunciated. Everything. Far. Too. Much. It was a bit painful to listen to at first. She also used very odd voices for some of the children, and southern accents for some of the Eep adults, which felt jarring in a fantasy story.
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
November 16, 2018
I was a beta reader for this one, which means that I had a chance to read the story before it had its final touches; however, honestly very few things needed fixing. I found this fantasy enchanting, the three children endearing, and the batty aunt quite entertaining. Angela Castillo creates a fun fantasy world that parents and children alike can quickly get caught up in with a plot that teaches how violence isn't always the answer and sometimes two opposing forces must find common ground for the good of all. It's a great start to what promises to be a wonderful series!
May 8, 2019
I had help reviewing this book... my 13, 11, and 9 year old kids read this one with me. They all thought is was a cute and fun short story. We agreed that the narrator did a great job with this book. It is geared toward the younger readers but I do believe that my 13 year old enjoyed it more then he would like to admit. It a great clean read for elementary age kids.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
January 25, 2020
I received this in audiobook format from the author. I was not excited at all about listening to it. My only grandson is 22, so it has been a long time since children’s books have been a part of my life.
With all of that being said, I was immediately pulled into the story! What a wonderful narrator and a wonderful story. I loved the characters, adventure and “magic”.
Even though this book was a gift from the author, a review was not solicited.
With all of that being said, I was immediately pulled into the story! What a wonderful narrator and a wonderful story. I loved the characters, adventure and “magic”.
Even though this book was a gift from the author, a review was not solicited.
November 17, 2018
Three children are bored and they are royal children. They go exploring and they find a tower where they find an unknown aunt. Soon they are having so much fun. What will they get up.to? How will the aunt help them? Read and enjoy
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2019
This book was a wonderful read, so much fun, and the story included good lessons like manners and helping others. A perfect middle school read that thee kids will really get into! I am very impressed by this author who has written several books targeted for this age group - all that I loved!
I received this book from the author and am voluntarily providing my honest review.
I received this book from the author and am voluntarily providing my honest review.
January 29, 2019
Tree Royal Children and Batty Aunt, is a fun little children story. I liked it and think young children will like it as well.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
November 10, 2020
The first adventure was finding their aunt in a tower no one used,somehow she knew they would,she knew their names and ages too.Many more adventures await.Lisa Hicks was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews