R.C. Hammond’s Bill’s Magic Box II is the second book in a series of short stories for grades four through six. Told in rhythmic and rhyming verse, this collection recounts the mischief, mayhem, and musings of children of the same age. Twenty stories tell of adventures that can only happen when kids are as far from the voices of their mothers and fathers as possible – stories about neglectful babysitters, abandoned properties, irresistible ponds and lemonade stands, glorious snowy days and clear nights of falling stars, even dreams of Bigfoot and virtual universes where avatars are taught a lesson or two. All the stories are told from the perspectives of children who have not yet lost the ability to blend the real and the fantastic, creating a kind of magic realism for kids.

Bill’s Magic Box II is wildly imaginative. R.C. Hammond’s ability to enter the world of a child in such an evocative way illustrates the talent of the author. One of my favorite stories is called Where the Stars Fall from the Sky in which a young girl “finds a path where only she can travel” to see stars that “land with a quiet poof.” Another called P-I-G about a certain pig’s insatiable and completely indiscriminate appetite is a tour-de-force of nauseating wordplay. The last story, A Thought, is a fitting one in that it explains how creativity begins with a thought and reveals the author’s mission to convince his young (and not-so-young) reader that “if thoughts create things and things come from thoughts just think . . . of how powerful you are.”

R.C. Hammond offers twenty family-friendly stories in Bill's Magic Box II. The author, a mysterious "Bill" who left a magic box of stories in the editor's garage, narrates the stories in verse as if reliving memories. From a child who can make parents and babysitters crazy to a youth who has to survive lava as he gets ready for school, readers get a glimpse into the author's mischievous deeds and imagination. Certain pieces have enlightening information, like the names of groups of animals. The work covers many childhood experiences, and adventures as the author seeks to improve birthday parties and relive a childhood connection to Bigfoot.

R.C. Hammond has delivered an upbeat book that will grab a young reader's attention from the first line. The verses will make you feel like you're experiencing the stories, swimming through the stars "like a mermaid through the heavens" and seeing the "thick white flakes" during a snowy day. Full of creativity and rhyming verses, the stories will delight young readers and beg to be shared and read aloud. Young readers will relate to the poems as "Bill" describes prune-like skin and building a formidable avatar. The multi-genre stories will have you laughing, deep in thought, and experiencing an eerie chill. Many of the poems had a similar tone and delivery to certain Shel Silverstein pieces. Each story provides another layer of fun and entertainment, making me wonder if the author ever ran out of ideas! Readers who enjoy stories that are told with a humorous flair will love Bill's Magic Box II.