John J. Hammerlink

“John J. Hammerlink And The Really Big Think” is Bette Slater Seres debut children's book. It's about a young boy who is constantly getting into trouble because he does not think. He decides to learn about this thing called 'thinking' by seeking help from his family members. When an elderly neighbor is robbed, he puts his family's advice into action. He not only saves his neighbor, but he becomes a hero.

The concepts are simple and children ages 5-7 can easily associate with the main character's problems. This kid-friendly book is an introduction to the thinking process. It covers learning objectives knowledge, analysis, and evaluation which reinforce important life skills. The book promotes classroom and home discussion on problem-solving as well as decision-making. Due to the length of the text, it's more suitable as a read-aloud. Opportunities exist within the story for readers to learn new vocabulary. 

I enjoyed John J Hammerlink's spunk and friendliness, a very relatable character.  As the storyline develops while on his problem-solving mission so increases John J's confidence level. Being a hero in the neighborhood spills over to the classroom as John J shows his classmates some easy ways to do a big think which ultimately leads to making good choices.

Bold, colorful, and cheerful illustrations punctuate the story keeping young readers engaged.

There is something about when you say the name John J. Hammerlink, one can't help but smile as the word just simply rolls right off the tongue. 

All About The Author

Bette Slater Seres is retired from a 30-year career as an educator. She had the opportunity to work with both students and teachers in the areas of creative and critical thinking. Her children's book John J. Hammerlink was a creative pursuit as it came from her deep belief in the power of critical thinking and love of working with children. She hopes her book will show young children how important thinking is while making parents aware that children need to be problem solvers and decision-makers. A sequel is planned for John J. Hammerlink. Seres spends her summers on Gilmore Lake in Park Rapids, Minnesota and in Davenport, Iowa in the winter.