Katherine Johnson (Little People BIG DREAMS) -- Book Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Happy February!! February has many amazing things about it: Valentine's Day, Presidents Day, Black History Month, etc. I always love finding new books about Black people to share in February. Today I get to share a new one about a hero of mine--Katherine Johnson. I love that she was a mathematician. I love that she was Black and fought for her right to be heard and share her knowledge. She changed history and not so faraway history. History about our space travel. We are talking the 1960s not the 1800s. I always feel like most female mathematicians had a love for math but didn't really get much credit for the work they did. Katherine did not get much credit for her work until recently, but she made a huge difference in the space race. Today I am sharing the book Katherine Johnson by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Jemma Skidmore. It is part of the Little People BIG DREAMS series. It is recommended for ages 6 to 8.

The Three Stones of Ebon -- Middle Grades Novel Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book to use for my review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review & David and Keiko Mello to bring you this post.

Are you looking for a fun and magical book for your middle grade kids to read? I have an amazing one to share with you today! It is a book that makes you want to keep reading and makes you feel good. It is The Three Stones of Ebon by David and Keiko Mello and illustrated by Keiko Mello. After my review there is a giveaway as well!

Books for Valentine's Day

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of these books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

The end of January is coming near. Lunar new year and the Read Your World Celebration are getting closer but so is Valentine's Day. Today we are going to focus on Valentine's Day and love. I am sharing two books for younger children that are perfect to get ready for Valentine's Day or in a loving mood and at the end of the post is a roundup of ideas for kids to make valentines and children's love songs to sing. One is a musical board book. It has buttons to push to hear the songs. It is Little Love Songs by Sandra Boynton. It is recommended for babies through age 5.

Óg go Deo: Forever Young -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post is sponsored by The Children's Book Review and Chainy Blue.

Have you ever lost a pet? It is devastating. I have shared about losing two of our cats: Simba and Pumpkin. It is so hard on us as adults, but it can be even harder on our children. I remember explaining to Hazel that Simba was going to heaven since he was so sick, and our vet was helping him. Hazel was two and a half at the time. She referred to our vet's office as heaven for a short time. When we got our next cat and it came time to take her to the vet, Hazel was scared the cat might not come back home and might go to heaven as well. It is hard to know what to tell kids when it comes to death and especially the death of a loved one including pets. Today I get to share with you a book to help kids with the death of a pet. It is Óg go Deo: Forever Young by Chainy Blue. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post. 

Sharing Is Caring, Dragon! -- Picture Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review to bring you this post and giveaway. 

This week seems to be dragon week with the young adult book I shared yesterday and today's picture book. Plus, lunar new year begins next week. It will be the year of the snake, but let's face it dragons are always part of the lunar new year. Today I get to share with you a wonderful book with so many great themes for young kids to learn, and there is a giveaway at the end of the post! The book is Sharing Is Caring, Dragon! by Bianca Schulze and illustrated by Samara Hardy. I have had the pleasure of sharing another of the dragon series books previously.

Dragon Surf -- a #ReadYourWorld Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Read Your World Celebration Day is fast approaching. Today I am going to share the final of my books for this year's celebration. It is a young adult fantasy novel combining California surfing life with ancient China. The book is Dragon Surf by D. G. Driver with Jeni Bautista Richard. 

Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! -- Civil Rights Movement Hero Book Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Happy MLK Day!! Do you have the day off? Your kids probably do. Do you do anything special to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? It is a day of service for many. I admit I don't usually do a day of service but I do like to review the work so many participated in for the Civil Rights Movement. And today I think we need to remember it more than ever and perhaps what it was like before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today I am sharing a picture book that was coauthored by the subject of the book--a mostly unknown hero of the Civil Rights Movement. The book is Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! by Claudette Colvin and Phillip Hoose and illustrated by Bea Jackson. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City -- Book Review & Giveaway with a NYC Craft Round-Up

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am working with The Children's Book Review, Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay to bring you this post and giveaway.

Are you ready for a sweet, magical book? I get to share one with you today and guess what? There is a giveaway at the end of this post! In this magical book a sweet dog visits New York City, so I am also sharing a small New York City craft round-up. Let's get into the book--it is The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City by Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay with pictures by Sanna Sjöström.

Ady and Me -- #ReadYourWorld Book Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January is flying by!! We only have a couple more weeks until the big day--the Read Your World Celebration!! We are sharing another book for the big event. This one shares about a neurodivergent young girl and how her ADHD affects her life especially at school. The book is not released yet but will be coming out in April 2025. The book is Ady and Me by Richard Pink and Roxanne Pink and illustrated by Sara Rhys. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7. 

Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls -- a #ReadYourWorld Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January continues and so do my Read Your World (previously Multicultural Children's Book Day) reviews. Today I get to share a fun picture book about a new stepfamily that is combining their religious spring celebrations. The book is Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls by Janie Emaus and illustrated by Bryan Langdo. It is recommended for ages 4 to 6. 

Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People -- a #ReadYourWorld Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Our January reviews for the Read Your World (aka Multicultural Children's Book Day) continue. Today I get to share a nonfiction picture book that will be released in February. It shares a bit of the history of a Hawaiian island and the military. It is Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley and illustrated by Harinani Orme. It is recommended for ages 7 to 11.

Lily's Dream -- a Diverse Fairy Picture Book Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

When Hazel was young, she loved fairies. She had a fairy tea party birthday party. It had diverse friends at it. I discovered that fairies seemed to only come in one race, white. I was sent some wool roving that had diverse skin tones, and I made some needle felted fairies in different races so the girls at the party would see their own race as fairies. This is part of why I am so excited to share this book today. It is Lily's Dream: A Fairy Friendship by Bea Jackson. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Geometry in Origami Tutorial with Origami Paper Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent this pack of origami paper in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Let's start 2025 with a fun craft!! I went to a craft fair and fell in love with an origami flower ball ornament. I bought one. I knew I could make one for myself, but didn't want to take the time before Christmas, so I bought one.

Worry Won't Win! Moe & Liza Explore Anxiety -- a MCBD Review

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

January has begun! That means it is time to review books for Multicultural Children's Book Day which is on January 30th this year! I always love reviewing the books for MCBD. It introduces me to new authors and publishers!! It is always so much fun! Today I get to share with you a wonderful picture book about having anxiety. It is Worry Won't Win! Moe & Liza Explore Anxiety by Christine Reynebeau and illustrated by Rachael Hawkes. I don't see an age recommendation for this book but would say 6 to 10 year-olds would enjoy reading it on their own and probably 4+ to have it read to and discussed with. 

Reflections on 2024 and Thoughts about 2025

 

Each year I like to take time to reflect on the past year and think about the upcoming new year. I pick a word of the year to help me stay focused on one goal. This past year my word was self. Starting to teach again while having a family was hard. I found there wasn't enough time for everything I needed or wanted to do. Some of my past words include transform, positivity, connect, inspire, and flourish. This year I am struggling to pick one.