Reviews from Amazon.com

5.0 out of 5 stars - (The Barn Light) This book is full of excitement and wonder!
by Dalton (11 years old)

This book is full of excitement and wonder. This story shows a lot of character in all the animals. And to see the return of old friends really gives this book a lot of excitement. This book was very well written. Great job!

5.0 out of 5 stars - (The Barn Light) A touching story.
By Yosef Brusherd

The story is perfect for children especially those who have lost a pet. It will give them hope. And the drawings give beautiful meaning to the story. Well done.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Teaches young girls to appreciate people in their life.
By Yosef Brusherd

The story is so inspirational for children I had to get two copies, one for each of my two sets of grand and great granddaughters. Really brings out the revelation of family and who are true friends and what is really important. Can't wait for more insightful stories like this from this author -- New or serialized! Worthwhile gifts to encourage young girls especially.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Beautifully illustrated story!
By P. David

The Popcorn Tree is wonderful story about little girl named Claire and a friendly squirrel named Old Whiskers. It is beautifully illustrated by Mrs. Seale! Your kids will absolutely love the tale and the artwork inside!

5.0 out of 5 stars - Wonderful Read-aloud!
By Nancy

So much fun to read aloud with expression. It was fun to watch my 4- and 5-year old granddaughters respond with each new adventure in a very vivid dream. An excellent gift to be served with popcorn in various flavors. My granddaughters like theirs cheesy.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Fun Book with Important Lessons for Children
By Stephen

We bought "The Popcorn Tree" as a book to read with our Grandchildren. It has been a big hit with the three we have read it with- ages 4, 7, and 9. While being a fun book with excellent illustrations, it contains some important lessons for children about facing fears, dreams, and our imaginations. Easy to read, credible characters, definitely enjoyable, and a surprise ending.

5.0 out of 5 stars - Five Stars
By Amanda F.

Cathy beautifully crafts stories. This will be a great read for my kiddos.

Readers Favorite

Reader's Favorite

Reviewed by Kristy Vee for Readers' Favorite

The Popcorn Tree: An Adventurous Tale by Catherine Green is a tender and imaginative story that begins with five-year-old Claire waking up to find herself all alone. With the sudden disappearance of her beloved family, she is frantic with worry. Where could they have gone? Did they go to Nan and Papa’s house without her? She’s never been alone like this before and is full of anxiety and despair. As young Claire does her best to soothe herself and figure a way out of this dilemma, her imagination and hunger run wild! As her adventure continues, she meets a few friends and distractions along the way that help her navigate through the anxiety of feeling left alone.

I thought the author did a remarkable job of capturing the innermost thoughts of a five-year-old child and how they process naturally occurring fears. The writing, grammar, and proofreading are flawless, and the story grabs your attention right from the very first line. The colorful illustrations depict the story quite perfectly and are detailed enough so that kids who are too young to read the words would still love the book and understand what’s happening. I think children will love it, as they can surely understand the anxieties of being left alone by themselves and the uncertainty of what to do if that should occur. The book is a nice length, imaginative, engaging, and I was quite hungry for caramel popcorn after reading it. A sweet read!

Children - Grade K-3rd

82 Pages

Reviewed on 07/11/2018

Judge, 26th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards

Below is a brief commentary for this entry in the 26th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.

Entry Title: The Popcorn Tree
Author: Catherine Green
Judge Number: 6
Entry Category: Early Readers/Children’s Picture Books

Structure, Organization, and Pacing: 5

Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar: 5

Production Quality and Cover Design: 5

Plot and Story Appeal: 5

Character Appeal and Development: 5

Voice and Writing Style: 5

The Barn Light - Review

"You will never know how timely this book is for me. God is good, even when our heart is breaking. I will remain positive until I cannot. Belle, my service dog of ten years, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She has been by my side 24/7 for ten years and is a part of me. I'm losing more than just my pet. I'm losing a friend who helps me live a better life. I just hope her transitioning will be easy as we come to the end of her journey. Then I have hope that Mr. Jake will be there at the gate to welcome her into the garden." ~Susan

Readers Favorite - The Barn Light

Reader's Favorite

Book Review Mini-Critique

Below you will ﬁnd ratings (scale of 1-5) with descriptions for the major parts of your book followed by your Readers' Favorite review. Although these are general ratings we hope they will give you an insight into how others may view the diﬀerent components of your book.
These are the opinions of your reviewer, and although your reviewer is not an expert literary critic or professional editor, they are at the very least, an avid reader of books just like yours.

Title: The Barn Light

Subtitle: A Questful Tale

Author: Catherine Green

Genre: Children - Adventure

Appearance 5	The appearance of a book can make a signiﬁcant impact on the experience of a reader, whose enjoyment is often enhanced by an enticing cover, an intriguing table of contents, interesting chapter headings, and when possible, eye-catching illustrations.
Plot 5	The characters of a book should be well deﬁned with strengths and ﬂaws, and while they do not have to be likable, the reader does have to be able to form a connection with them. The tone should be consistent, the theme should be clear, and the plot should be original or told from a unique perspective. For informative books --those without plot and characters--this rating refers primarily to your concept and how well you presented it.
Development 5	Development refers to how eﬀectively you told your story or discussed your topic. The dialogue should be realistic, the descriptions should be vivid, and the material should be concise and coherent. Organization is also a key factor, especially for informative books -- those without plot and characters. The order in which you tell your story or explain your topic and how smoothly it ﬂows can have a huge impact on the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the material.
Formatting 5	Formatting is the single most overlooked area by authors. The way in which you describe scenes, display dialogue, and shift point of view can make or break your story. In addition, excessive grammatical errors and typos can give your book an amateurish feel and even put oﬀ readers completely.
Marketability 5	Marketability refers to how eﬀectively you wrote your book for your target audience. Authors may include content that is above or below the understanding of their target reader, or include concepts, opinions or language that can accidentally confuse or alienate some readers. Although by its nature this rating is very subjective, a very low rating here and poor reviews may indicate an issue with your book in this area.
Overall Opinion 5	The overall starred rating takes into account all these elements and describes the overall reading experience of your reviewer. This is the oﬃcial Readers' Favorite review rating for your book.
Review:	Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite Our special pets leave a mark on our hearts. We love them dearly when they’re with us, but when they pass to the other side, we’re very sad. Where do they go? Have you wondered? Are you worried?What if you found a special place where all your beloved pets went after they passed away? What if you could visit this place whenever you wanted, to reassure yourself that your pets are well cared for?To ensure they haven’t forgotten you? That’s what Nate and Claire discover in an old abandoned barn: a pet sanctuary. An oasis tended with love and care by someone they thought was mean and spiteful but really was just a lonely old man. A hike in the woods at winter’s end becomes an enchanted look at what lies beyond for two siblings, Nate and Claire. Catherine Green’s picture book story, The Barn Light: A Questful Tale, is a tender look at fantastical possibilities to explain to young children what happens to their beloved pets when they die. The story is written in simple language to appeal to an early reader and the vibrant illustrations are a bonus in helping move the story along. The author has woven an enchanting tale that reminds one of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s popular children’s story, The Secret Garden. You just never know what magic and beauty you might unveil in a special garden or even in an old abandoned barn. First impressions can be deceiving as the siblings discover when they walk into the old barn and ﬁnd a paradise of animals who have passed over and a man they believed to be scary greets them with kindness and compassion. A wonderful ‘questful’ story to warm the hearts.