Customer Reviews

Charlie and Mama Kyna

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've loved books all of my life. My mom and dad still remind me that at 18 months I would bring them a stack of books and they would have to read all of them to me. Guests would come over and ask if they could read me a book. Little did they know that to me reading a book was reading ten books. One of the reasons I am who I am today is because of what I have learned from a book. This is one of the many things that my nephew and I have in common. He isn't satisfied with just one book either. I'm always trying to find books that I think he will enjoy because reading can take you so many places that you would otherwise never even know about. To see his smile when I bring him a book is worth all the money in the world to me.

Anyway, about this book... Charlie the frog breaks his mothers vase and decides to run away. He meets Leo the lion and Joe the giraffe and they become instant friends. Eventually, Charlie becomes homesick and the three pals set off to find Charlie's mom.

This is an adorable story that teaches children about friendship and how to make decisions for themselves. I was very impressed with both the story and the pictures. I had to read this book five times before Damien started playing with legos.

Charlie And Mama Kyna is the best picture book for easy reading alone or together. This lively tale of adventure with the most adorable friends is colorfully illustrated and woven with a valuable educational lesson that the author, Diana Rumjahn so beautifully shares with her warm style of writing. From a children's and adult perspective, this exciting page turner has a successful plot unfolding with Charlie, the main character, resolving his dilemma and learning an eye opening, heart changing message... there's no place like home!

The children's book begins with "Once upon a time"... and we find runaway Charlie, the cutest green frog, now mind you not just any green frog but one adorned with a smashing red tie, sitting by his two friends, Leo Lion and Giraffe Joe. Their bright orange tent is happily set up in front of Mrs. Cupcakes Bakery. I can almost smell the aroma of delightful goodies displayed in her store!

Well, it seems Charlie accidentally broke his Mom's favorite vase and because he was so afraid and embarrassed, he ran away from home. Have you ever felt like that before? It doesn't take long and soon Charlie really misses his mommy and Charlie sets forth on a journey back home and invites his friends to come, too. After hiking for sometime, Charlie gets so tired that Leo decides to carry him on his back as they continue along together. It is here that I am reminded of the song, "He's not heavy, he's my brother".

Similar to the story of the prodigal son, our hearts leap with joy upon reading of Charlie's safe return and hearing Kyna, Charlie's mother's warm response and the moral of the story I might add, that people matter more than things. Kyna decides to throw a party for Charlie's best friends and family. After wards, we find all the characters of the book having a part to do in this wonderful safe family... awh, to be loved, there is nothing finer.

I rate this book 5+ stars and highly recommend it to you. I look forward to reading more from this author. I have been reading Charlie and Mama Kyna over and over to my Grandson and I trust that you will, too!

"Once upon a time, a sweet green frog with a red bow tie with white polka dots named Charlie accidentally broke his mom's favorite vase. Afraid and embarrassed, Charlie ran far away from home."
- Charlie and Mama Kyna by Diana Rumjahn

So begins the this bright and engaging picture book by Diana Rumjahn. We join Charlie as he makes friends with a lion and giraffe and continues on his adventure until its happy resolution. Full of bright images and catchy sounds, Charlie and Mama Kyna is fun to read aloud. It's sure to entertain young kids while it teaches lessons of forgiveness, love, friendship, and even subliminally encourages kids to help out around the house!

Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (January 30, 2009), 38 pages.
Review copy provided by Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours and the author.

This cute story starts when Charlie, an adorable frog, breaks his mom's favorite vase. Instead of telling his mom, he runs away. He meets Leo, a lion, and Joe, a giraffe, and the three of them live in a tent outside a bakery. Eventually Charlie decides that he wants to go back home and his new friends accompany him on the journey. When they get back to Charlie's house, his mom, Mama Kyna, is thrilled to see them and invites the two friends to live with them, too. Of course, they all celebrate and in the end Charlie promises never to run away again.

This delightful book is geared for kids ages 3-8. Amber, my daughter who is 9, said it would be good for younger kids even though she found it a little boring. The book itself is a sweet story, but it felt disjointed at times. It touches on some good lessons, like forgiveness, true friendship and the importance of home. Little ones will love the bright, colorful pictures, too.

Hi! I'm Esmé, and I am reviewing my very own book! I don't know how old I am ANY more! (Mommy's note: that would be 30 months...)

This book, Charlie and Mama Kyna, by Diana Rumjahn, is about three adorable stuffed animals who learn about friendship and a mother's love. It has lots of colorful pictures and is lots of fun to look at! It is based on Rumjahn's original motion picture, "Going Home," which has won several international film awards.

Here's what I got to say about it:

Do you like the book? Yeah!
What is the story about? Yellow flowers! For Joe the frog's mommy!
Isn't it about Charlie the frog? Yeah. And Joe the lion and Leo the giraffe. Maybe it's Joe the giraffe and Leo the lion.
Is Charlie unhappy or happy? He's sad...
Why? He broke the vase.
And he misses his mommy? Yeah.
Would you be sad if you broke a vase? Yeah.
But you wouldn't have to run away from home, right? Because your mommy loves you more than any vase. You NEVER have to run away from home. OK!
Several pages later... Look, there's his mommy! Now he's HAPPY!
We read about the homecoming party... Wait, let me look. Look, there's cake! And balloons! And the bear! And the pig! And the elephant!
We read about the trio helping out with chores and all friends that visit. Look, they are washing clothes! And bubbles! Now there's the monkey! And the cat! And the dog!
Finally we read about Mama Kyna's valentine picnic. I want a cookie! I want a cookie!
And so the story ends...

Mommy's Notes
This is a sweet story that teaches several valuable lessons. It's full of fun sound effects: drizzle, drop, snap, crackle, and burr... And the brightly-colored illustrations are endearing. Who doesn't love stuffed animals and cupcakes? I would love to see the movie! Of course, empathetic Esmé loved the sad/happy/emotion-evoking factors of the story.

Esmé has a pretty good attention span, so we would read through the story once, and then she would want to "read it again" by checking out the pictures. In my opinion, the story would work best for about ages 4-8.

Written by Diana Rumjahn, "Charlie And Mama Kyna" is an entertaining children's picture book that is based on the story of her internationally acclaimed and award-winning film 'Going Home'. The illustrations are also drawn from the film as well. Three friends, Charlie (a frog), along with his two friends Leo (a lion) and Joe (a giraffe), are traveling together on a journey to Charlie's mother's home, a little white cottage with big red brick steps. But having to go through the big city, it's turning out to be quite an adventure for our intrepid trio! "Charlie And Mama Kyna" is charming and colorful entertainment, as well as a welcome and highly recommended addition to family, school, and community library picture book collections.

This very delightful book about Charlie, Mama Kyna, and friends will appeal to both children and adults alike. I highly recommend this book not only for its enchanting and educational story, but also, for its pictorial presentation which is very artistically done.

I like the premise that a gigantic adventure begins in a minor accident: young Charlie breaks him mom's vase, gets scared and runs away. It's a very childlike interpretation of an adult world filled with guilt, justice and punishment. The happy ending, however, belongs to the adults and children alike: the mother gets her runaway child back and the child, plus all the friends he's amassed during his adventure, find a loving home, pleasant neighborhood, new playmates and lots of sweets. I'm not normally someone who reads and reviews children's books, but I think Rumjahn has done a credible job translating her movie into a colorful book.

A wonderfully warm tale of three friends and the journeys that bring them closer. Very absorbing writing style and beautiful illustrations. Lines suches as "chocolates, shamrocks, roses, tulips, hugs and kisses" and "with handpicked flowers ... little white cottage with big red brick steps," create a very pleasant, uplifting tale for all readers to experience. Lovely book.

Diana Rumjahn's short film GOING HOME is a delightful story of three
stuffed animals in a big-city park trying to find their way home. Rumjahn
has adapted the story into a charming children's book with illustrations
by Rachel Mahffrey. Kids will enjoy the heartwarming message
and cute characters in this colorful and amusing book.