For the love of books. And Ice cream.
For the love of books. And Ice cream.
Hello! This is Joy Lena speaking. I love to read. At school I have a 40 book challenge with different genres. So far I have read 19 of the 40 books. I've been to Narnia, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew, rode on a wagon through a prairie, discovered an invisible island, and flown in a plane with Amelia Earhart. I would love to recommend my top 3 favorite books any ten year old would like.
But first let me introduce you to my personalized rating system. Ice cream. We will start with the top favorite flavor - Cake Batter. Think of it like a five star rating. Mid rating is the flavor Mint Chocolate Chip. And books I do not recommend would be the flavor Maple Nut. BLEH. Stay away. Don’t even bother to open this book. Or Lick this ice cream.
Anyway, the book with a Cake Batter Rating would be the book ISLE OF EVER. Adventure. Secret islands. Family mysteries. The only bad part is I didn’t have ice cream while I was reading this book. Okay, for the Mint Chocolate Chip rating I will give it to Little House on the Prairie. It was good but not as good as Cake Batter Ice cream, oops, I mean Isle of Ever. For a book I would give the Maple Nut rating to.....just teasing, I love ice cream, no matter the flavor. So the third book I recommend is Chronicles of Narnia.
See you in my next adventure. Comment below and let me know what your Cake Batter Book is.
Thank you for reading!
With an ice cream in hand,
-Joy Lena
January 13, 2026
Dear Precious Joy…
This was an absolute scoop of happiness! Your ice cream book ratings are brilliant, and your storytelling whisked me straight into secret islands, prairie wagons, and Narnia. You have such a magical way with words, Honey..
It feels like reading the start of a future author’s journal. Please keep reading, imagining, and writing… I’ll be waiting for your next adventure with a cone in hand!
With My Love..
Paula
Good morning, Joy! When I saw your journal entry I just knew I wanted to read it. Books and Ice Cream— what’s not to like! I agree 1000% percent with your rating system. We all can understand this criteria. And that’s what’s best about reading and writing: meeting each other on the same bridge called life. And sharing ice cream, well that’s just the cherry on top! I would probably also add a puff of whipped cream!! But only to the best book, you know.
Keep writing! Your audience can even just be yourself at first. Sometimes I don’t even know what I think until I write it.
Thanks for sharing!! Your friend, Ms Jerianne.
Joy this is amazing writing! Creative, clever, helpful to others! My oldest grandson turns 9 this month and I def will refer to you as my top book critic! Keep writing and using the gifts God has entrusted to you!
Joy Lean, this is Nana speaking! You are as creative and funny in person as you are thru writing. I’m impressed with your cleverness and love the ratings for your books. I read so much when I was your age and it truly is a way to experience so much without leaving your comfy chair or couch.
Good thing there’s not an ice cream called “Stinky Toes”! 🤣
I love you much! Good job!
Those books and the ice cream sound wonderful! I will recommend them to my little girl, Gracie! She is currently reading the Trixie Belden series of mystery books, and if you ever get the chance to read them, I think you’d agree they belong in the cake batter category! Keep up the good work!