Jeanetta Brancaccio

Do you ever wonder what might happen to a favorite toy when it's lost? A little doll named Ann can tell you exactly what happened to her. And, what's even better is, it's based off of a true story. All of the events that took place are very interesting. You the reader, will here first hand, Ann telling her story.

Young readers are introduced to Ann, her home and all the love she feels there. The little girl that loves and treasures Ann is named Nancy. The family knows how much Nancy loves Ann too. When the family decides to move to another city is when the adventure begins. You see, Nancy and her brother were sitting in the back seat and the family stopped for a little break.

“As usual, the family was in a very happy mood. And in spite of the discomfort, I was happy too. There was a feeling of excitement in the car. A new stage of life was about to begin and my family wanted me to be a part of it and that meant more to me than anything in the world. I felt so happy that I even forgot about my twisted leg. When you love and are loved, nothing else matters. I was about to fall asleep when the car stopped at a rest area. The entire family got out. They weren't gone long, but when they returned and the children climbed into the back seat, I accidentally fell out of the car!”

This heartfelt story recounts all of the emotion a child would expect a doll to feel. Ann does not miss a detail involving her adventures in her new home. Children of all ages and their parents too, will love reading about Ann over and over. Young readers will also learn about family, friendship and love.

Brancaccio does a great job of bringing a personal story to life. Children will happily read about Ann and may even experience the emotion presented by Brancaccio. Delightful and brightly colored pictures make this story a fun read. Readers will also enjoy actual photos of Brancaccio's family as well as the true story behind the book.… (mehr)

I really enjoyed this book. In the back the author states that this book came about because of an event in their life. Their daughter had a doll that was lost and twenty some years later they found the doll at an antique sale and purchased it for the granddaughter. The story is about the adventures the doll had while she was lost. Ann was the property of a little girl named Nancy. Nancy loved Ann very much. While on a trip they family stopped at a rest area and Ann fell out of the car. The family didn't know this and kept driving. Ann waited until dark and wished on a star. A car stopped and she suddenly found herself in the mouth of a dog. The dog's owner was a little girl named Julia. Ann was taken home with Julia, cleaned and placed on a shelf. She was taken care of but never felt the same love she'd felt from Ann. By chance when Julia grew up, Ann found herself in a flea market where she an Julia were reunited. I loved this book. First because even at age 53 I still have a soft spot in my heart for dolls. I make clothes for my granddaughter's dolls now. I play dolls with her. One of my favorite parts of the book was when the dolls were being packed away to go to the flea market. Ann helped all of the other dolls with their fears. Such great lessons in such a simple, yet wonderful book. I can't wait to read it to my granddaughter after she unwraps it. It came with a bookmark and I will be able to give that to my granddaughter. It will be her first bookmark.… (mehr)

Description:

Nancy's beloved doll, Ann, is lost in a family move and is found by another family. For many years she is a companion of a little girl, Julia, and her special toy collection, but never gives up on finding Nancy and her real family. When Julia grows too old for toys, Ann and the rest of the toys are packed away and loaded onto a truck. They try to stay positive, but after awhile they all decide to sleep. When the box is opened, (years later), Ann is surprised to see that they are being sold at a flea market, but is even more surprised to see a grown up Nancy standing before her.

Review:

Ann's Amazing Adventure is a heart-warming and beautifully illustrated children's book that teaches kids to be patient, make the best of bad situations, and never lose hope! Sara Petrous' illustrations are vivid, cute, and fun, coupled with Jeanetta Brancaccio's well-worded and child-friendly story. I loved how the author based this story on her daughter's lost doll experience; writing from experience always makes a book so much more genuine. The family photo album and acknowledgements were a nice touch too! Recommended for children ages 8 to 12 and the people who read to them.

Rating: Clean Getaway (5/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Bostick Communications) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.… (mehr)

Ann's Amazing Adventure
By: Jeanetta Brancaccio
Illustrated by: Sara Petrous
ISBN: 9780692006
Published 2010 by Tretina Printing
Available Format: Paperback

My Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads' Synopsis: This delightful, heartwarming story shows us that it’s what we do on the journey that counts. Change happens in an instant. Ann looks on the bright side of life and never gives up! She learns that something good is always right around the corner. Join Ann and carry her in your heart on your own adventure.

Ann’s Amazing Adventure is best suited for children ages 8-12, all the way up to age 99! This special book is perfect for children’s reading groups, makes a great gift, and should be a mainstay on any bookshelf to be read over and over.

This is a beautifully illustrated, charmingly told little story about a doll that finds her home once again. The story is told from Ann's point of view as she is lost, moved, donated, and found once again. It portrays an amazing message of perseverance and positive thought. Ann is able to adapt to the changes of her life with an optimistic outlook and is rewarded with a happy ending.

One thing I really loved about this book is how it was based loosely on a true story. The author includes lots of photos from her own life, plus the story of the doll that had been given to her daughter one Christmas, which inspired this heartwarming little tale.

I definitely recommend this one, especially for young girls.

Learn more about Ann's adventure: http://www.annsamazingadventure.com… (mehr)