Book reviews provide a summary of the book’s content, evaluate its value, and recommend it to other readers. It enhances the likelihood of attracting new readers and amplifies the book’s visibility. The more the book has a positive review, the more it gathers attention. The US Review of Books is one of the forerunners in the book review industry. It is one of the US-based contemporary book review publications run by professional reviewers and editors that connects with authors to get their titles in front of thousands of subscribers. They analyze every qualifying book that is released without regard for the work’s author or publisher.
Joyce Jacobo from The US Review of Books (USRB) reviews “Alisa in Washerland” by Marian Flores. The reviewer commended the book, stating, “Further, the illustrations that go along with Alisa’s magical journey are beautifully done and help pull readers into her story.”
Author and illustrator, Marian Flores has spent her life living in small Connecticut towns. She is married and has a son and an elderly cat. She attended Paier School of Art, where she earned a certificate in Advertising and Commercial Art and later Central Connecticut State University, where she was inspired to write this book. Currently, she is an art teacher at a private special needs school. She greatly enjoys her students who are children on the autism spectrum with multiple disabilities.
In this children’s book, Marian, the author showcases a contemporary twist and plays on words with the classic book, Alice in Wonderland, influenced by the author dislikes doing the dishes as a child, and her nieces’ disdain for putting dishes into the dishwasher. The author’s sister had a dream of being inside the dishwasher, which became Marian’s idea to combine all these things in one story.
The main character of this fantasy is a ten-year-old girl named Alisa, who always tantrums about washing the dishes and wishes that she never has to. Her mother heard this and scolded her. Later, Alisa shrank in size and was sucked inside the dishwasher’s magical realm, where she saw strange creatures washing the dishes. She suddenly missed her friends and family and wanted to return to the real world. She made it back into the real world and swore to never again whine about having to do the dishes.
The book “Alisa in Washerland,” Marian Flores aims to teach children the importance of appreciating their family and home life, as well as the value of responsibility. Alisa’s experience in the magical realm serves as a reminder that avoiding chores can lead to unexpected consequences, and that embracing our duties can foster a greater sense of gratitude and connection to those we love. Ultimately, the story encourages children to approach their responsibilities with a positive attitude rather than resistance.
Here is an excerpt from the US Review of Books that highlights:
“There are a lot of creative twists about what might happen inside a dishwasher, and their dream-like quality only adds to the charm exuded by the idea of a child shrinking because of a wish made without thinking things through. As such, this story certainly achieves the goal of a fun, imaginative romp in a dishwashing wonderland.”