Crafty Moms Share: 2024

Mama's Love Language

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 Elisa Stad to bring you this post and giveaway.

Mother's Day is approaching, and I have a question for you. How do you show your love to your kids? Is it the same way your mother did? Is it the same way your friends do? Or your children's friends' parents do? Today I get to share with you a wonderful book about a Chinese American girl realizing there are different ways to show love and one is not better than others. The book is Mama's Love Language: Sometimes Love Tastes Like Hainan Chicken Rice by Elisa Stad and illustrated by Ry Menson. There is a giveaway at the end of this post.

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

Looking for a way to add some more culture to your child's reading? Today I get to share a great new middle grades novel that introduces Mexican mythology. The book is the first in the Legendarios series. The book is Wrath of the Rain God by Karla Arenas Valenti and illustrated by Vanessa Morales. It is recommended for ages 7 to 10.

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Spring has sprung! That means weddings, baby showers and more! Today I get to share with you three fun new board books that each will teach as well as inspire and one is perfect for the good night story! So if you have a baby shower coming up or know someone who is having a baby or has young children and wants great books to read them, check these books out!! The first one is Hey Now, Little Man by Dori Elys and illustrated by Chris Park.

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

Yesterday was Earth Day, and we shared some beautiful puzzles with pictures from an Asian rainforest and a tropical coral reef. We also shared some facts about both places and how they need to be protected. The Asian elephants were pictured on the rainforest puzzle, and I mentioned that they are critically endangered. Today I get to share a brand new picture book (released today) about one Asian elephant and World War II. The book is The Secret Elephant by Ellan Rankin. It is based on a true story and is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Disclosure: I was sent each of these puzzles in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is hard to believe that it is Earth Day again. Sadly, even with Earth Day celebrations I feel like our planet is getting worse. We hear that we should recycle, but then we find out our recycling has ended up in the ocean still or is treated the same as regular trash. We know we should conserve gas, but people keep buying large vehicles. Electric vehicles are hot right now, but their production is not great for the Earth and to be honest we produce electricity using fossil fuels, so it is not changing things that much. My electrical engineer husband says that wind and solar will not be enough to fix our energy problems. No matter what we still have a lot of work to do to save our planet. Today I thought I would share two puzzles that are made me think of Earth Day. They each share a different ecosystem that is endangered. We will begin with Asian Rainforest Wildlife 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle by Hue Huynh.

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

As a math teacher I know that being able to see and recognize patterns is important. When kids are young, we teach them simple pattern finding. When they are older, we teach harder pattern finding that goes into things like equations of lines and other graphs. I know because I just taught patterns to my algebra class. I also teach patterns in geometry. Patterns are important in life and in developing our brains! Patterns are also a huge part of our lives. We see them all around us. We create them in our daily lives. Patterns can be dances, songs, daily routines, fabric prints, bead colors or shapes, spirals, branches, etc. Even our bodies are made with some patterns. They are truly everywhere. Today I get to share a new book about looking for patterns both to learn patterns and to help give you a break when needed. The book is Look by Gabi Snyder and illustrated by Samantha Cotterill. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

As you know, I love fairy tales. We have done many posts sharing different fairy tales as well as a series of fairy tales in different cultures. Today I get to share with you a middle grades novel that is a mix of modern life and classic fairy tales. It is The Day I Fell Into a Fairy Tale by Ben Miller. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

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 Expound Publicity to bring you this post and giveaway.

Our house has loved fairies for a long time. One of our favorite photos of Hazel when she was younger was with her fairy wings on.

Hazel loved fairies when she was younger. We read just about every book with fairies in them. Today I get to share a new one that has a young girl dreaming of going to the fairy party that welcomes everyone in the forest and belonging. The book is Fairy Day Games by Mari Sherkin and illustrated by David Gnass. With this review there is a giveaway as well as a fairy craft round-up.

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

Have you ever wondered about what life was like in ancient Egypt? We hear stories of the royalty like Cleopatra. We hear stories about the slaves in the Bible. But what was life like for the average person? What were the better jobs? How were people treated? Today I get to share a book that is about a father taking his son up the Nile to a school far away from home in hopes that his son will have a better life. The original story was written in ancient Egyptian language but has been translated to English. The book is Be a Scribe! Working for a Better Life in Ancient Egypt by Michael Hoffen, Christian Casey and Jen Thum. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am working with The Children's Book Review and P.J. Davis to bring you this review and giveaway.

What is time? It has been called the fourth dimension. It is also said to be made up by man to help explain life. The calendar has changed over the years and some places still change the clock twice a year for Daylight Savings Time and Standard Time. So what is time? For that matter, what is life? What would life be without time? Today we are sharing a middle school fantasy about an underworld force who is stealing time to overcome our world as well as other dimensions. The book is Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time by P.J. Davis and illustrated by Thomas Peacock. It is recommended for ages 8+.

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 and Stacey Rayz to bring you this post and giveaway.

I always love sharing new versions of fairy tales. It has been a long time since I shared a Fairy Tale from a Different Culture. Although Little Red Riding Hood was not one of the fairy tales we shared from different cultures, we have shared some various versions of it previously. Today we are sharing a modern multicultural version of it. It is Little Red Driving Hood and the Three Repairs by Stacey Rayz and illustrated by Nenad Taskov. There is a giveaway at the end of this post!

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 and Charlotte Cheng to bring you this review and giveaway.

Have you ever felt like you were getting sick but needed to keep getting things done? Or perhaps you have a child who doesn't slow down even though he/she is obviously getting sick? Today's book is perfect for this situation. It is a fun picture book about a dragon who is getting sick but doesn't want to quit. The book is Roar-Choo! by Charlotte Cheng and illustrated by Dan Santat.

This week I started thinking about paper beads with something different. I had an Oriental Catalog sitting around and decided to try making beads from it. I was thinking this would be a fun Earth Day craft for tweens and teens. I tried different shapes and methods which I will share with you here. Most of the paper beads I have made have been recycling paper, but most of them were with special paper that I had. I wanted to find something that people would have in their homes to recycle. I came up with catalogs. I started with the Oriental Trading catalog that came in the mail recently. I still have pages of it even with all the beads I made.

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

This week there are some great picture books coming out. I am sharing three of them today. Each has its own message/lesson. We will start with The Boy Who Said Wow by Todd Boss and illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh. It is recommended for ages 3 to 8.

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

What do you know about the history of Chinese Americans? I am guessing you know about them building the railroad across the country. But there is more to their history that is not usually taught in school history books. Today I get to share a new middle grades book with you that teaches the real Chinese American history in full details. The book is part of the Race to the Truth series. It is Exclusion and the Chinese American Story by Sarah-Soonling Blackbush. It is recommended for ages 10-12.

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 and Alysson Foti Bourque to bring you this post and giveaway.

Do you ever get worried on Sunday about the week ahead? I know as a teacher I often have trouble sleeping Sunday nights. I'm also known to have my teacher nightmares on Sunday nights. Today I am sharing a book about the Sunday scaries as well as other fears and a group of friends who help each other overcome fears. The book is Alycat and the Sunday Scaries by Alysson Foti Bourque and illustrated by Chiiara Civati. This is part of the Alycat series, which I have reviewed a couple of books from previously.

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

Remember when you were little and friendship was a HUGE deal. Perhaps you had a bestie that you played with everyday. Today I get to share a brand-new picture book (released today) about friendship and promises made forever. The book is Sourgrass by Hope Lim and illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani. It is recommended for ages 0 to 8.

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am going to share some multicultural books for younger children. They include a prayer book for babies, a board book and a picture book. The board book and picture book are new ideas on some classic songs. We will start with the book that has babies in the title. It is a religious book. It is Pray with Your Baby Every Day edited by Claire Grace and Rachel Robinson and embroidered by Chloe Giordano. It is recommended for ages 0 to 4.

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

This week I am sharing a young adult novel instead of a Crafty Sunday post. I am still making my paper beads but haven't made anything different yet. Plus, I did a small craft with this novel and am including a craft round-up for teens to go with the book. The book is If I Promise You Wings by A. K. Small.

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 to bring you this post and giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Just like people animals have their own personalities. People often say cats are aloof and want to be the boss of the house. As the owner of three cats currently, I can honestly say every cat has a different personality. I have and have had cats that love to be with people and others that are shy when we have "strangers" in the house. Today we are sharing a book about a cat and her attitude. The book is Cattitude written by Bianca Schulze and illustrated by Samara Hard. Besides my review I am sharing a round-up of cat crafts and there is a giveaway as well!

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

Spring begins today here! With spring we usually see a lot of ants. Today I get to share a brand new book (released today) about ants. The book is The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants by Philip Bunting. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. I am also including an ant craft round-up to go with the book.

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

Spring is upon us. Easter is early this year. It is hard to believe next week is Holy Week. Now that Hazel is older, I don't do as much for Easter. When she was younger she loved hunting for Easter Eggs. We did a word hunt for an activity with a book and she made me hide those eggs over and over again! Well today I am sharing a book about another kind of egg hunt although there is a part that can be tied into Easter if you want. It is Bear Finds Eggs by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman. Now we have shared books by Karma Wilson before since she was one of the authors in our Virtual Book Club years ago. We even have shared a Bear book before. This book is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Now for the third week I have been experimenting with paper beads. This week I experimented with using brown paper as in paper bags and brown paper wrap. It began when I was at the Cape house and my sister had covered a counter with brown paper to protect it while contractors were there doing work. I was in charge of removing it. I went to throw it away and realized it might work for beads that I could paint. To start though let me share some finished products from beads I made last week. Here is the bracelet I made from the map beads.

March is Women's History Month. Over the years I have shared many books about women throughout each year. This year I decided to do round-ups of the books that are still in print so you can find resources to share with kids and new women to check out. Last week I shared a round-up of picture books. Today I am sharing our middle grades and a few young adult books that feature women's history. I hope these round-ups help you find resources to help teach kids about women that have changed the world! The books shared are ones I received for the reviews and the links will take you to my review which has a link to purchase the book. These books range from 8 and up.

On March 14, mathematicians and much of the world celebrate Pi Day. Since the approximation of the number pi is 3.14, March 14th was picked for the day. It was first celebrated in 1988 in San Francisco. As a math teacher I get excited for Pi Day, however our school is always on spring break on March 14th so I don't get to celebrate it with my students. This year I thought I would do a round-up of Pi Day activities and try to share ones for different age groups since much of what I see are for younger kids and I teach high school. Be sure to start your celebration with some pi jokes and riddles like these. Some of the Best Things in Life Are Mistakes shares a round-up of free Pi Day decorations! By the way Pi Day is also Albert Einstein's birthday. You can also have a birthday celebration for Albert!

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

As spring approaches, I begin to think about my garden. I also am noticing some life at the farm stores and nurseries. I am lucky to have a local farm that grows all year long in greenhouses that I frequent. (It helps that I'm friends with the owners so sometimes I'm there to visit.) Today I am sharing a book recommended for ages 5 and up about farms. It is Do You Know? Farm: Animals, Work, and Life by Camille Babeau and illustrated by Charlotte Ameling, Helene Convert, Ilaria Falorsi, and Camille Roy. It is being released tomorrow.

It is Sunday again and time to share some of the crafts I have been doing. I am still focusing on paper beads like last week. This week I made some necklaces and experimented with the shape of beads as well as paper I am using. First I will share the necklaces from the beads I made last week.

March is Women's History Month. Over the years I have shared many books about amazing women. Some are biographies and some are books based on their lives. There are even some that feature more than one woman. I share these books all year long and not just in March. Today I thought I would do a round-up of books about women that I have reviewed in the past. I also have checked to see that the books are still available for the older ones. Some books are about famous women and others may be a woman you haven't heard of. Each has a story that is worth learning about and I hope you will consider checking out the book and sharing it with someone this month! Full disclosure: I was sent copies of these books at some point in time to review. The links provided will take you to my review of the book. These books are recommended for ages between 4 and 10. Next week I will share a round-up of books for older kids.

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

Today I get to share a fun new middle grades novel. It features Asian-American middle school girls that are creative, intelligent and trying to figure out life and how to get their dreams to come true. The book is Gigi Shin Is Not a Nerd by Lyla Lee. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12 and was released this week.

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

What do you get when a stray cat who loves books discovers a library? A fun new picture book!! Today we are sharing with you a new book (released today) based on this story. The book is No Cats in the Library written and illustrated by Lauren Emmons. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Spring is basically upon us and as everything awakens, I am noticing I know several people who just had babies or about to have babies. It is the perfect time to look at board books to read to little ones or gift!! Today I have four new board books (one being released tomorrow) to share with you. The first is Hey, Little Night Owl by Jeffrey Burton and illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz.

This weekend begins my spring break. I finally get to rest for a couple of weeks. We really don't have much planned as Hazel still has dance classes and her college classes this week. I just know I need down time desperately. As I have been trying to give myself time to craft more since it relaxes me, I have been doing a bit of paper quilling. Paper beads have a similar technique as paper quilling. I made paper beads a few years ago out of wrapping paper.

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

Middle school can be so hard. There are so many changes happening during this time. Barbara Dee captures so much of it and in her novels gives advice and ideas. I have shared many of her middle school novels over the years. My favorite being Maybe He Just Likes You which I honestly think every middle school student, teacher and parent should read! Today's novel is my close second favorite of Barbara Dee's works. The book is Unstuck. It is recommended for ages 9 to 13.

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

We have been experiencing a warm streak in New England and I am thinking spring! When I think of spring, I love to think of the world turning green again which of course means the plants coming back to life. Today I am sharing a book about some of the amazing plants in our world. The book is Incredible Stars of the Plant World by Benjamin Flouw. It is recommended for ages 5 and up.

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

Kids are always so interested in construction. The big trucks and bulldozers are exciting. It is fun to watch as a building goes up. Kids also love books with flaps, pull-tabs and more. Today I am sharing a book that combines these two. The book is Ultimate Spotlight: Home Construction by Anne Blanchard and illustrated by Didier Balicevic. It is coming out today and is recommended for ages 5+.

Easter is early this year. I have started pulling out the Easter decorations as well as some spring. Spring is my favorite season. I love watching the world come back alive. Lately I have been trying paper quilling again. I bought myself a quilling comb kit. The book that comes with the kit explains some different techniques and has some projects. One I tried was a cross. I used a old frame I got at a discount store off season. It was a St. Patrick's Day decoration. I covered the print with cardstock and nicer paper.

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 Maya Nurtures to bring you this post and giveaway.

Today I get to share with you a picture book that explores feelings. It is perfect for the younger child. At the end of the post is a giveaway and there is also a round-up of emotion activities to go with the book. The book is Guess How Marion Feels by Miss Kaye and illustrated by Miss Waitthk.

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 and Jill Rosen to bring you this post and giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Do you have a pet? Are there times your pet drives you crazy and others when you love them so much? Today's book is for you if you answered yes! The book is Ode to a Pug by Jill Rosen and illustrated by Stephane Rohr. To go with this fun rhyming picture book, I am sharing some fun facts about pugs and a small pug craft round up! Plus, there is a giveaway at the end of the post!

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

Now over the years we have loved fairy tales and princesses. We have explored fairy tales in different cultures as well as real life princesses and fictional princesses. When Hazel was young, she loved fairy tales. Now that she is older, she discusses the inappropriateness of some of them. These discussions remind me of today's book. The book is The Princess Protection Program by Alex London. It was released last week and is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

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

The lunar new year began last week. In the Chinese zodiac it is the year of the dragon. With the celebration of the lunar new year there are many different superstitions that people of different cultures hold. I shared some fun facts a few years ago about it in particular in the Chinese culture. Today I am sharing a book about a Chinese American girl who is dealing with the loss of her very superstitious father as well as being in middle school. The book is Maybe It's a Sign by E.L. Shen. Lunar new year seems like the perfect time to share this book. It is recommended for ages 10 to 14.

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

Do you teach your children about different religions? When Hazel was young, we learned a bit about various religions. I feel like she should know about them for two reasons. First, she may meet someone who is that religion and I want her to be respectful. Second, I feel like when she is old enough to choose her religion, she should know about all of them. Today I am going to share a book written for Muslim children and children who want to learn a bit about Islam. The book was released this week. It is Dear Muslim Child by Rahma Rodaah and illustrated by Aya Ghanameh. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

February is Black History Month. It is a month where everyone focuses on Black history as part of the United States history since our society tends to focus on white male history most of the time. It saddens me that we need these cultural history months as every day we should be focusing on history of different cultures that have helped build our country, but alas that is not the case. Having the cultural months ensures that schools focus on the history that is not always focused on during the entire year. Today I am sharing a new book that is perfect for celebrating Black History Month with lower elementary aged students. It is Coretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King and the Reverend Dr. Barbara Reynolds and illustrated by Ekua Holmes. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

I have had a couple of tough weeks at work and home. My fear of teaching while being a mom is coming true. When I get completely frustrated, depressed and overwhelmed the best thing for me to do is to craft. That is what I did this weekend and I finished my latest project. A couple of weeks ago I shared on my Instagram account a beaded heart project similar to my beaded snowflake. In case you missed it, here is a picture.

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

Do you know a young child who struggles with anxiety? My daughter has anxiety and has struggled with it from a very young age. I remember her separation anxiety as well as her getting nervous if she watched someone break a rule. I sometimes had to turn Curious George off because she got nervous when he broke a rule. There were so many conversations about how her anxiety caused her to feel sick. I wish today's book was available when she was young, but the author is only a few years older than Hazel and was experiencing her own anxiety. The author of today's book is in high school and wrote this book from her own experiences. The book is Frankie's Fishy Feelings by Quincy Kadin. Since the main character is getting ready for the first day of school, I recommend it for the preschool through early elementary age kids.

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

Today I get to share with you a new picture book about a Native American family and it is written and illustrated by Native Americans. The book was released this week!! The book is Too Much: My Great Big Native Family by Laurel Goodluck and illustrated by Bridget George. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

Today I am sharing my final review for Multicultural Children's Book Day 2024. It is hard to believe the day is almost here!! Today we are sharing a young adult sci-fi novel that will have you questioning morals and ethics. The book is Orbit by Leigh Hellman.

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

Today I get to share a fun short mystery book for the early middle grades. It is the third book in a series of books and to be honest I want to read the fourth book now because it ends on a cliff hanger!! The book is Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones by Sherry Ellis. It is recommended for ages 8+ and since this post is part of The Children's Book Review Book Tour for it there is a giveaway at the end!

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

Today I am sharing with you a fun growth mindset activity book. The book is part of the Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess series. It is Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess Activity Book by Deedee Cummings and illustrated by Charlene Mosley. The series is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

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

Today I am sharing another great book for Multicultural Children's Book Day!! Today we are looking at a book about a Puerto Rican parrot which shares some information about the parrots and Puerto Rico as well as a message about how amazing bilingual people are. The book is Coco the Puerto Rican Parrot by Frances Diaz Evans and illustrated by Alejandra Lopez. I am also including a round-up of parrot crafts to go with the book.

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