Penny, The Review Group's reviewer Penny for Your ThoughtsThe Review Group
Children's ✦ Penny’s Take

Ring Around the Moon

Mike Norris · 2019
76/100
👍 Worth It

A genuinely distinctive children's poetry collection — Minnie Adkins's hand-painted wood carvings are unlike anything else in the picture-book market and the Appalachian voice is authentic rather than performed. Addressing bullying and kindness through traditional rhyme form is a smart move, and the included sheet music gives it extra life as a read-aloud. Regional focus narrows its natural audience, but within that niche and for parents seeking something handcrafted and culturally grounded, this is a real find.

✦ Penny’s Take — this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read — not a page-by-page personal one. The gold ✓ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
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Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
safety95
substance75
craft80
originality85
accuracy82
hype74
age-fit78
human-eye80
Penny’s verdict76
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