Fall & Halloween/Thriller Mysteries for Different Ages

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

It is after Labor Day, so that means fall is about to begin. I can feel it in the air even though the leaves haven't really started to change yet. We have three new fall/Halloween/thriller mysteries for different ages perfect for the upcoming season! Two are for the younger to middle grades and the third is a young adult book. We will start with the second book in the Squirrel Lock Holmes series. It is a graphic novel style book for early readers. We reviewed the first one here. The second one is Squirrel Lock Holmes: Mystery at the Corn-y Maze by Ashley Belote. It is recommended for ages 6 to 9.

Diverse Picture Books with Important Messages and Lessons

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

I love a good picture book, and it is even better when it has diverse characters and important messages and/or lessons. Today we are sharing three new diverse picture books, and each has a wonderful message and lesson. Honestly, I wish I had time to give each of these books their own post because each one is so special, but alas, the beginning of September brings lots of new books to share and this week is full and next week is worse! The first one is part of the STEAMWORKS series. We have been loving this series. They have a nice story and STEAM lessons and more added to them. They are also available in both English and Spanish. The book is Sisters All the Time by Angela Quezada Padron. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Fun & Educational Board Books

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Do you have a little one who loves board books and interactive books? Today we are sharing four new ones! Three of which are being released today!! One of them is about a Netflix movie that came out this summer, Swapped. We will start with that one. It is Ollie's Big Adventure by Maggie Testa. It is recommended for ages 2 to 5.

Wish You Well -- Middle School Novel Review

 

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

If you could wish for something for yourself, what would it be? Would it be to meet someone famous? Or go somewhere you've never been? Or do something you always wanted to but never would get the chance to? Today we are sharing a middle school novel about three kids who have different illnesses and decide that even though they are "too old" for wishes they will make them but only if all three of them can be at each other's. Then they each struggle with their choices, family, friendships and dealing with their illness. The book is Wish You Well by Jamie Sumner. It is recommended for ages 10+.

How to Catch Challenge & Book Reviews

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Have you discovered the How to Catch Series? Sourcebooks has been publishing the series for 10 years and have announced a How to Catch Challenge! It is for classrooms and families to enter!! There are many prizes including a child being a character in a future book in the series to the entire series for a school library. Be sure to check how to enter and all the details and prizes! Now to be honest, I had not read any of the series, so they sent me some books to check out and share with you. Two of them are perfect for Halloween. We will start with the Halloween themed books. The first one is called How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead and illustrated by Megan Joyce. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

The Mystery of the Missing Falls -- Middle Grade Novel Review & Giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review, Jen Weaver, and Gayle Veiterheimer. 

I love a good mystery. It is my favorite genre of books to read. Today we are sharing a middle grade mystery that is well written and does so much more than just entertain. The kid detectives in the book use prayer as their secret weapon. It is a very Christian book with some scripture in the story as well. The book is the first in the Kingswell Kid Detective Series. It is The Mystery of the Missing Falls by Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer. After my review there is a giveaway!

Picture Books About Trying to Communicate with Someone Who Speaks a Different Language

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own. 

Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who doesn't speak the same language as you? It can be very difficult, however if you both try you can usually get the general thoughts across. Today we are sharing two new picture books about communicating with someone who only speaks a different language, and they are very different situations. We will start with
Love in Every Language by Anoosha Syed. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Golden Boy -- Young Adult Novel Review

 

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

It has been a while since I shared a young adult novel. Today we are sharing one that deals with grief, science, pets, family, ethics, morals, and so much more! It is also perfect for the start of school as high school football is a huge part of this book. The book is Golden Boy by A. J. Symon. It is recommended for ages 12 and higher. 

A Day with the Dragons -- Picture Book Review & Giveaway

 

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

Have you ever noticed that siblings can be very different from one another? They tend to have different likes and dislikes. It can be hard to decide what to do together and their differences can cause the sibling squabbling. Today we are sharing a fun picture book about dragon brothers who are having this problem. The book is A Day with the Dragons by Raven Howell and illustrated by Alexander Santos. After my review is a giveaway!

Picture Books About Community

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

What does community mean to you? Many early childhood/elementary classes talk about community helpers in class, but how do kids really understand community? Today we are sharing three new picture books that have different themes on community. We will start with Luisa, at Your Service! by Sara Amini and illustrated by Juana Medina. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Diverse Picture Books About Spending Time with Your Kids

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

The most important thing we can do for our kids is spend quality time with them. Today we are sharing three new picture books about parents spending time with their children. Two of them work on building kids' imagination and two are about bringing children to work. The first book is Indigo Hands by Sita Singh and illustrated by Maithili Joshi. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

The Boy and His Higher Self -- Picture Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Ricardo Santa Cruz to bring you this post. 

As the school year begins, many teachers try to work mindfulness into the classroom. Many parents struggle to find ways to help kids quiet their minds as well. In our society there is so much noise and action. Kids are losing their attention spans because of all the constant input provided with screens. Today we get to share a wonderful picture book that introduces a bit of mindfulness and meditation and the importance of taking time to quiet one's mind. It is one of two books on this Virtual Book Tour. Both books are perfect for back to school! This one is The Boy and His Higher Self by Ricardo Santa Cruz and illustrated by Yuko Kondo. There is a giveaway at the end of this post for both books!

New Books Featuring Animals

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

I have so many fun books to review this week that I am starting to share them on Sunday!! Today we are sharing three books all featuring animals in different ways. Each book is done very differently and there is a huge variety on the focus. We will start with a unique type of book called Babies: A Phototicular Book created by Dan Kainen and written by Mara Grunbaum. This book will be enjoyed by all ages!

Go, Crow -- Picture Book Review

 

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

When Hazel was young, we started her at a Waldorf School, and they believed in having kids look at wordless or nearly wordless books. Today we are sharing a book that does not have many words, but all the words it does have rhyme. The book is Go, Crow by Tjitske Kamphuis. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

Here's to the Silly Ones -- Picture Book Review

 

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

There are times when it is so fun to just be silly. I remember a visit to my sister's place when Hazel was young. We had the best time taking silly selfies and just being silly with one another. We came up with a term, "funny up." It totally meant just be silly and make everyone laugh. As adults, my sister and I don't always get to be silly, but there are people who seem to live in a silly state of mind. They are the dreamers who add so much to our world. Today we are sharing a book that celebrates them and encourages the readers to embrace their silliness. The book is Here's to the Silly Ones by Seth Standley and illustrated by Valerie Hamill. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

New Resources Perfect for National Hispanic Heritage Month or to Learn About Different Latinx Cultures

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

This weekend marks one month until the beginning of the National Hispanic Heritage Month for this year. Today we are sharing two new picture books released by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Latino. The first book is Please Pass the Tamales! by Silvia López and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

A Hug for Punch -- Review of a Sweet Picture Book

 

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

Did you follow the story of Punch the Japanese macaque last summer? Everyone fell in love with the sweet baby snow monkey who needed a stuffie to survive. Today we get to share a sweet picture book that immortalizes the story. The book is A Hug for Punch by Caroline L. Perry and illustrated by Anoosha Syed. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Picture Books That Celebrate Extended Family with Different Lessons

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Family matters. In this day and age, our society sometimes forgets that. Relationships with grandparents can make huge differences in children's lives. Today we are sharing two new picture books that celebrate relationships with grandfathers. Each book has different lessons--one teaches Spanish words and the other is about cooking. We will start with the Spanish one. It is Hola, Lola! To the Bodega: A Bilingual First Words Book/¡Hola, Lola! A la bodega: Un libro bilingüe de primeras palabras by Sandra Equihua. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7.

Wonder: A Song of the Seasons

 

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

We are in the dog days of summer, but back to school is quickly approaching. That means the change of seasons. Have you ever noticed each season has its own special wonders? Today we are sharing a beautiful picture book sharing some of the curiosities of each season and more. The book is Wonder: A Song of the Seasons by Julia Key and illustrated by Helen Cann. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

Sounds of Trash -- Picture Book Review with a DIY Musical Instrument Craft Roundup

 

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

Music is so important to our lives. The beat can help with movement. Music can affect mood and so much more. Today we are sharing a diverse picture book about a group of kids who know the importance of music for their special community festival and find a way to bring music to their festival's new location. The book is Sounds of Trash by Tina Athaide and illustrated by Neha Rawat. It is recommended for ages 4 to 7 and is part of the Steamworks Books Collection.