I am continuing my themed reviews. Today we are focusing on outer space, and I am sharing two books for younger readers (3-8 year olds). One is a pop-up and the other is graphic novel style. We will start with the pop-up. It is Into Starry Outer Space by Joel Stern and illustrated by Vivian Mineker. It is recommended for ages 3 to 5.
We are continuing our book roundups as the holidays get closer and closer. Today we are sharing some multicultural books with an Asian theme. The books include a picture book, a book of folk tales and a picture dictionary. These are perfect for classrooms, libraries as well as families. We will start with the picture book. It is We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen and illustrated by Victor Bizar Gomez. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
When Hazel was young, I loved telling her stories. Since we started at a Waldorf school, storytelling was very important. Stories could entertain, teach lessons and so much more. Today I am sharing book that has a grandmother telling a story to her granddaughter as she works the tangles out of the granddaughter's hair. The book is Lisbeth and the Littering Ladybugs by P.E. Shadrick and illustrated by Maya Penzlik.
Do you ever think about hands? We use them all the time, and life would be so hard without them. As I thought about hands and looked at my own handprint crafts, I thought about how we use them for sensory and let's face it there are so many great handprint crafts! I am sharing a large round-up of handprint crafts and hand sensations. Think about kids playing with play dough, slime and finger painting. Or the fact that we hold their hands all the time. Our hands are truly our sense of touch and something special to us. Today I get to share a beautiful book about hands. It is What Makes Hands Beautiful? by J.F. Bierlein and illustrated by Houda Zahid. There is a giveaway and the craft round-up at the end of the post.
How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was quiet and relaxing, but the day before we spent at least five hours in the emergency department of Boston Children's Hospital. It has been a long two weeks. First Covid and then pneumonia and an asthma flare up (both caused by Covid). Luckily, she seems to be on the mend, and I can focus again on my blog and life. That means getting ready for Christmas and the other upcoming holidays. Today I am sharing a collection of holiday books that I have been waiting to share as well as some easy Christmas ornaments made from things like cupcake liners and pipe cleaners. My round-up of books include three board books and three picture books. The first book we will share is the board book about Kwanzaa. It is called Kwanzaa and is by Hannah Eliot and illustrated by Andrea Pippins. It is part of the Celebrate the World Series and is recommended for ages 2 to 4.
Have you ever heard about a creature in a local lake? Is it real or is it a myth? Have you gone to summer camp? What about the lake there? Today I get to share a fun story about a summer camp and the mysterious creature of the lake there. It is Adventures at Lake Omigosh by Scott Sollers and illustrated by Bryan Janky.
Can you believe Thanksgiving is almost here? Time is flying by as usual. It is time to think about gift buying and the holidays. Today I am doing a round-up of picture books that are perfect gifts for animal lovers!! Do you know any young animal lovers? Perhaps kids who love the Wild Kratts like Hazel did? To begin we will start with one with a thankful theme. It is from the World of Eric Carle. It is Little Book of Thanks from Brown Bear and Friends by Eric Carle and Odd Dot. It is recommended for babies through 3-year-olds.
Where do you stand on banned books? It amazes me that some people think they have the right to tell families what books their kids should not be exposed to. As a parent I feel I have the right to control what my daughter reads, what television or movies she sees, etc., however I do not think a stranger has that right. It is shocking to see some of the books that are banned. I looked up what some the most banned books currently are and found Reader's Digest has a list of mostly young adult books. We Are Teachers share a list of 30 books that include books for younger children. You may be surprised by some of the books on these lists. They include the Harry Potter series, New Kid by Jerry Craft, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaolo, Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson, James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl (Hazel was just in a school
It has been a while since I have done a Christian review. Today I get to share a fun picture book that shows following God's Word (Scripture) can help you be a better person and win. The book is Trusting Timothy: A Story About Cheating by Bobby Bryant II, Bobby Bryant III, Ava Bryant, and Joseph Bryant and illustrated by Tim Crecelius. This is a post that is part of The Children's Book Review Virtual Book Tour so that means there is a giveaway! I also am including some free scripture coloring pages to go with the book.
Holiday season is fast approaching. It means we will be gathering with family and friends. We will possibly be seeing family we don't see all the time. We may even be asking our young ones to help others and help out with the holiday preparations. Today I am sharing a round-up of new picture books that are about all of these things--gathering, working together, helping others and family. The first book we will share is Together by Laura Manaresi and illustrated by Giovanni Manna. It is recommended for ages 7 to 9.
As November hits I start thinking about calendars for the next year. We get many in the mail from various charities, but I really like ones that match our personalities, likes and mood for each year. My wall calendars from last year have added so much to my sewing room (Tea Pot Calendar) and classroom. My students and I talk about the different birds featured each month. My Page-A-Day calendars for 2024 were loved during the last school year but I am finding most of the kids ignore them this year although every once in a while, someone takes the Sudoku page to do the puzzle. This year I decided to only focus on wall calendars. I fell in love with A Calendar of Calm Wall Calendar 2025 with photographs by Ana Marques, and I knew Hazel would love Forever & Always: A Calendar Inspired by Taylor Swift Songs with images by Reese Faith Designs. These are the two I picked for us, but they have so many to choose from. Be sure to check out all the options at Workman Calendars. It is really great that they are not wrapped in plastic anymore! Workman has gone completely plastic free with their calendars!
Fall is such a fun time of the year. I love the colors of the leaves and the crunch when you walk on them. Thanksgiving is approaching quickly. Today I get to share a round-up of board books including ones that are fall and Thanksgiving themed. We will start with the very fall themed one. It is Jump in the Leaf Pile by Kelly Green and illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska. It has surprise slide out leaf piles. It is recommended for ages 3 and up.
Do you know anyone with Tourette Syndrome? I think my first experience really learning about it was watching Ally McBeal. One of the episodes had a client with Tourette Syndrome. But what really got me familiar with it was teaching a student with it. My class was the only time the individual aide assigned to the student could have a break and eat lunch. The student became to trust me pretty quickly and the rest of the class understood my expectations and treated the student with kindness. Many people do not know about Tourette Syndrome or understand it. It is definitely something that can get kids with it teased and bullied. Today I get to share a new book with you that introduces it to young readers and that it is not a reason to tease or bully a person with it but rather accept them and be his or her friend. The book is My Friend John by Arleen McCarthy. It is recommended for ages 6 to 8.
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 and Janet Fox to bring you this post and giveaway.
Middle school can be hard. New friends plus personal changes and add in fighting and possibly splitting up parents and you have a very hard time. Today I get to share a middle grades book full of a mystery, adventure, friendships, family relationships and more. The book is The Mystery of Mystic Mountain by Janet Fox.
Girls often go through a phase of loving rainbows and unicorns. Some never outgrow it. A couple of weeks ago Hazel and I were at the house on Cape Cod. We were trying to pack up and clean up as it was the day we were heading home. We heard thunder and a little bit later it started pouring. We kept going on with our chores. When the rain stopped the sun came out. It only rained for five to ten minutes. I happened to look out the window and quickly called Hazel downstairs and grabbed my phone. I was able to capture the full rainbow through the screen door and part of the rainbow without the screen.
I always love picture books that share a bit of actual life. Today I get to share three with you!! The books look at the lives and work of four different historical figures. The books have age ranges from 4 to 12 years old. We will start with the book for the younger children. It is A Fine Little Bad Boy by Barbara Lowell and illustrated by Antonio Marinoni. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. It is about the life of Quentin Roosevelt, President Teddy Roosevelt's youngest child.
Do you know someone with ADHD? Have you ever wondered what their thought process is? Today we are sharing a new book written by an author with ADHD who bases her character on her own experiences. The book is Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway by Ashley Hards. It is recommended for ages 9 to 12 and is the first book in a series of nine books.
Kids love books about animals or with animals in them. Today I am sharing three books that are animal themed. They include one board book and two picture books (both released today). We will start with the board book. It is Peekaboo Zoo by Rod Campbell. It is recommended for ages baby to 2.
It is hard to believe that Halloween is next week! October is flying by. Today I am going to share two witch-themed books for different ages. The first is a new picture book about the Salem witch trials. Did you know that the Salem witch trials were not the first witch trials and executions in North America. There were significant ones in Connecticut early in the 1600s. (Source) There were even accusations and a trial in Virginia before the Salem ones. (Source) However Salem had the hysteria that was not present in these other places. It Happened in Salem by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Brad Holland. It is recommended for ages 9 to 12, so a bit older than most picture books.
Have you ever seen a swan? They are so elegant and beautiful. We have some that swim at the reservoir near our home. I always love seeing them. Today we are sharing a beautiful picture book about a young girl who loves the swans near her home. She feeds them and they respect her. She has to defend them when there is a bully. The book is Sophie and the Swans by Holly Peppe and illustrated by Aeron Cargill.
