Land of OR is absolutely brilliant! As parents, we know how important it is to teach our children how to make good decision and this "unique cocktail of Dr. Seuss and Dr. Phil" offers a fun way to help them learn.

Thousands of new children's books are released each year, but few are written with the direct intention of helping young readers identify and embrace life's good choices. But Utah's Katie Mullaly has done an amazing a job at creating such a book, and Toby Allen did a phenomenal job at bringing it to life. The minute my boys laid eye on the cover they were ready to read to the book. Once I opened up Land of Or and they noticed the map, then they became intrigued. Curious with what all it all meant, we began a story that quickly became a favorite.

We have read this book many, many times and they love following the characters through the book, and are always on the looking for the Yabbut. What is a Yabbut you say? Ahh..you must read the book to find out, but let's just say that he can whenever there are decisions to be made, the Yabbut will always try to make an appearance.

The true test of whether a new children’s book hits the mark is the kids’ call for repeat reads. Using this standard, and I might add with two bilingual (English/French) grandchildren aged 5 and 7, the author and illustrator of both Land of AND and Land of OR have themselves two winners by enthusiastic acclaim.

The unprompted requests to have these handsomely large volumes read to them over and over again, announces a list of compelling reasons why these gorgeous tomes will become classics with a wide age range of tiny citizens.

Youngsters are so alive in their sensory life, so that any book placed in front of them, particularly at this point in time with the plethora of media devices competing for their eyes, must have a certain magic to attract them, and added value mystique to do it a second time, then repeat curtain calls thereafter.

The illustrations by Toby Allen in both books, are at once powerful, playful, original, and likeable, quite a recipe for succeeding with a progressively hipper and more discerning audience. My grandson and granddaughter both love the illustrations, so this is a remarkable feat in and of itself.

Much as in a dramatic feature film or memorable documentary, the most successful offerings place unforgettable characters in front of us, and we simply must return to them over and over.

In Land of AND, we meet alluring characters such as “The Guide”, “The Kid”, “Yabbut”, “Handi”, and so many more, then in Land of OR, a very different cast arrives in the forms of “Happy”, Patience”, “Timid”, “Playful”, “Grateful”, “Strong”, and my personal favourite “Skittish”.

Author Katie Mullaly is a self‐confessed lover of rhyme, rhythm, and reason, and if I could make copies of her to place in every school under the sun, we would have a much kinder, more serendipitous populace.

These are powerfully affirmative books on a vast range of qualities, and just like the very best entertainers in the world; if they make it look easy on stage, you know a ton of work has gone into their performance.

So it is with Katie Mullaly and Toby Allen, I feel the love and professionalism these two artists invest in these important works, and all I can say in the end is: encore, encore, encore.

A very unique and enjoyable read for the whole family.

Making a good decision is hard, but, in the Land of OR, one can embark on a journey to find the right choice. Led by the Guide, children follow mythical creatures rendered in beautiful, southwest-style illustrations. The scenery resembles canyons and the desert, and the creatures are vibrant shades of blue, turquoise, pink and purple. Children will be instantly drawn to the colorful characters and the snappy, rhyming story.

Children begin with the Guide who has them gather their Options, curious little creatures who represent the answer to the questions we are asking. The obvious ones—sneaky guys who stand big and tall—aren’t always the best option. Tiny other Options flit into the illustrations, ready to join the party. Next, head to the canyon for decision-making time before being headed off by the Yabbut. As his name implies, the great and mysterious Yabbut whispers in children’s ears and says that there is always an excuse to not journey through the canyon to find a good decision. Adults will chuckle at the name and nod along, since we are all familiar with the sneaking, clever Yabbut.

After a long course through the Canyon of WHY and crossing the stream of IF THEN, we enter the Gully of Others, where final options are selected and decisions can then easily be made.

The cute storyline will keep the attention of grade-school readers. The clever directions spelled out throughout about this important life skill will make it a valuable teaching tool for parents. And it’s so much easier to talk about big decisions when following such adorable little characters. The illustrations are especially charming, bringing the wide-open desert and canyons to life. A very unique and enjoyable read for the whole family, and a valuable reminder to all of us to make good decisions and avoid the dreaded Yabbut.

A very unique and enjoyable read for the whole family.

Making a good decision is hard, but, in the Land of OR, one can embark on a journey to find the right choice. Led by the Guide, children follow mythical creatures rendered in beautiful, southwest-style illustrations. The scenery resembles canyons and the desert, and the creatures are vibrant shades of blue, turquoise, pink and purple. Children will be instantly drawn to the colorful characters and the snappy, rhyming story.

Children begin with the Guide who has them gather their Options, curious little creatures who represent the answer to the questions we are asking. The obvious ones—sneaky guys who stand big and tall—aren’t always the best option. Tiny other Options flit into the illustrations, ready to join the party. Next, head to the canyon for decision-making time before being headed off by the Yabbut. As his name implies, the great and mysterious Yabbut whispers in children’s ears and says that there is always an excuse to not journey through the canyon to find a good decision. Adults will chuckle at the name and nod along, since we are all familiar with the sneaking, clever Yabbut.

After a long course through the Canyon of WHY and crossing the stream of IF THEN, we enter the Gully of Others, where final options are selected and decisions can then easily be made.

The cute storyline will keep the attention of grade-school readers. The clever directions spelled out throughout about this important life skill will make it a valuable teaching tool for parents. And it’s so much easier to talk about big decisions when following such adorable little characters. The illustrations are especially charming, bringing the wide-open desert and canyons to life. A very unique and enjoyable read for the whole family, and a valuable reminder to all of us to make good decisions and avoid the dreaded Yabbut.