Today we are sharing a beautiful picture book that shares a story of a young girl combining her family culture with her new society culture. It teaches about Kathak, a classical form of Indian dance. The book is Music of the Bells by Anitha Rao-Robinson and illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.
Last week I was on spring break and Steve and I headed to Kissimmee, Florida. We stayed at our timeshare there and had a wonderful time. It was our first vacation without Hazel. She is on spring break this week. Instead of heading to Disney or Universal, we decided to check out Wild Florida. I was interested in the Drive-Thru Safari with a Giraffe Feeding Platform, and Steve was interested in the airboats. I noticed they had an animal encounter experience of painting with a giraffe. I was in. We scheduled the drive-thru safari, painting with a giraffe and an hour airboat for Wednesday. It was amazing!! So, my craft for this week is painting with a giraffe.
Life can be hard. It is extra hard when your dog is gone. You are not sure where, but he is gone. Was he stolen? You best friend doesn't seem to care and is acting strange. Perhaps the friendship is over. Oh, and your father is on one of his disappearances again too. Yup, life can be hard in the middle grades. This is the middle grade novel we are sharing today. It is called Glory Be by Jamie Sumner. It is written in verse. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Calling all dinosaur lovers!! Young kids seem to go through a dinosaur phase. I know several who are in them. Their moms work at our school and during teacher workdays they often have a play date, and the hallway becomes what we lovingly call Jurassic Park. They can tell you all about the different dinosaurs! Today we are sharing a board book with sliding tabs to make the dinosaur move about the ever-popular T. rex. It is Ultimate Discovery: T. rex by Raphaële Glaux and illustrated by Amélie Falière. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3 but I would say probably through age 5 will enjoy it!
What is the most important gift for a child? Is it toys or new clothes? Today we are sharing a new picture book about Ramadan and what a young girl prays for and really wants for EID. The book is Ramadan Rain by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and illustrated by Aliaa Betawi. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Have you ever thought about what it might be like to be an immigrant? How about an immigrant child? Often the children of immigrants have to take on a role of translator, navigator, and advocate. Today we are sharing a new picture book (releasing tomorrow) that shares the special bond that is often formed by immigrant parent and child. The book is called Navigating Night by Julie Leung and illustrated by Angie Kang. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
What can you create from a cardboard box or two? This is what we asked our students for the last two weeks in February. Our school stops academics for two weeks and offers mini courses. One mini course is always for the theater department to prepare for the METG drama festival. For the non-theater kids, we change the course offerings each year, and they pick two classes--one for each week. This year I was offering Cardboard Creations with the physics/chemistry/math teacher. The first week is four days because of Presidents' Day and the second week was supposed to be five days, but we had a blizzard so it turned out to be only three days.
Do you love a good mystery? Did you know February 26th was National Tell a Fairy Tale Day? As a lover of fairy tales and mysteries today's book is perfect for me. I am describing it as a Little Red Riding Hood meets The Hunger Games mystery. It is recommended for ages 10-14 and I have to say older readers will enjoy it too. I know I did. The book is The Big Bad Wolf Murder by P.G. Bell.
Do you have a 6- to 9-year-old who is interested in graphic novels? Perhaps they are reluctant to read chapter books but need to shift away from picture books? Or perhaps you just know a mystery lover. Today we have the perfect newly released book for you. It is the first book in the Squirrel Lock Holmes Series. It is The Pet Rock Mystery by Ashley Belote. It is recommended for ages 6 to 9.
A lot can happen as you get older. Especially in the younger years. Today we are sharing two new picture books released this week about some of those moments of becoming a big kid and standing out. The first book is Bartleby by Matt Phelan. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
Board books are often thought of just for babies and toddlers. However, board books are also the books that have lift flaps, pop-up art, and more fun features that can be ruined pretty quickly by a young child, so they are better for older kids who understand how to be gentle. Today we are sharing two new board books with special features. One is recommended for ages 0 to 3 and the other is for ages 6+. We will start with the one for 0 to 3. It is Clickety Clack: Clack-Clack, Little Crab! by Amy Blay.
Friendship can be hard when growing up. People mature at different times and can grow apart, but each friend is not always aware. It is even worse when there is an age difference between the friends. Today we are sharing a book with the narrator being the younger friend when the friendship breaks. It is a middle grade graphic novel called Wrong Friend by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Rory Lucey. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Do you know anyone into the Manga and Kawaii Characters? I have students who love them and create their own in their artwork. Today I get to share a craft book with you that makes it pretty easy to sew your own plushie or mochi doll in this style. The book is Cute Plushies and Mochi Dolls: Sweet Manga-style Kawaii Characters to Sew by Eriko Teranishi. Don't know how to sew? Don't worry there are tutorials in the book! And how cute would these be in Easter baskets, May Day baskets and more!!
It has been a very long time since I have done a Relaxing Friday Review! I remember when I did them regularly. However, I have not been getting many adult coloring books to review recently, and I guess the adult coloring trend died down a bit. If you go back to my first Relaxing Friday Review, you will see some ways coloring as an adult can help with your thinking skills. There are advantages to it and I am happy to start doing it again. Today we are sharing a newly released coloring book. It is Pop Manga Paint and Ink Coloring Book by Camilla d'Ericco.
Last week was the beginning of Lent. That means Easter is coming! This year it is in April. Passover is also in April. But do you know about Qing Ming? It is another holiday in April. Today we are sharing new picture books about Easter and Qing Ming. We will start with the book about Easter. It is E Is for Easter Egg Hunt by Brittany J. Thurman and illustrated by Derick Brooks. It is an alphabet book and is based on the original podcast: Quentin and Alfie's ABC Adventures. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.
Board books are great for different ages. Babies can't harm them too much and as kids get older, they can handle the flaps and such. Today we are sharing a roundup of board books. They range in recommended ages from 0 to 7. A couple are being rereleased and the others are new this month. The first book is 123s of Kindness at Bedtime by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Summer Macon. It is part of the Books of Kindness Collection and is recommended for ages 0 to 3.
Everyone wants to have a place they feel like they belong and matter. Today we are going to share two new picture books (released today) that share messages of belonging and mattering. The first is You Matter, Luma by John R. Miles and illustrated by Nejla Shojaie. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Disclosure: I was sent a digital 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 Jennifer Ussi to bring you this post.
I love stories that are fun to read and teach about different places and animals. They are even better when they have life lessons in them as well. Today we get to share the sixth book in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: The Ostriches by Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose. We shared our review of the first book in this fun series previously. This post has an amazing giveaway at the end of it!
When your life feels like it is falling apart where do you turn? How do you pull it together? In today's book, our orphaned sixth grader turns to Greek philosophy. She tries to find wisdom to change so she can keep her dog and not get in trouble as much. The book is Calliope Callisto Clark and the Search for Wisdom by Claudia Mills. There is a giveaway after my review!
There have been so many amazing picture books released lately. Today we are sharing two new ones that focus on imagination and stepping out of one's comfort zone. The first book is Maya's World by Andrea Pippins. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
