I Am Teddy Roosevelt -- Ordinary People Change the World Series for the United States 250th Birthday

 

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

This year the United States is celebrating its 250th anniversary/birthday! To get ready for the BIG celebration, we are sharing various books about the United States and some famous Americans. Today we are sharing a new book from the Ordinary People Change the World Series that was one of Hazel's favorites when she was younger. The book is I Am Teddy Roosevelt by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos. It is recommended for ages 5 to 9. After our review of this book, we will be sharing links to our past reviews of these books about some amazing Americans!

Books to Celebrate the USA and Learn More About It

 

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

Independence Day is quickly approaching! It is a special year for the BIG celebration of 250 years!! We have been sharing nonfiction books for different ages to help celebrate the big anniversary. Today we are sharing another group of books to help celebrate and learn more about the country and states. Several were released last week! The first book is 250 Facts About America by J. D. Forester and illustrated by Risa Rodil. This book is recommended for ages 8 to 12.  

Picture Books Perfect for Flag Day, Independence Day & More!

 

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

June 14th is Flag Day in the United States. It is a day to remember the adoption of the red, white, and blue flag on June 14, 1777 by the Second Continental Congress. I liked to celebrate Flag Day with Hazel by reading books about the flag and doing flag crafts. Today we are going to share two picture books themed around the flag. One relates the flag to our country with colors and words. The book is Blue Sky White Stars by Sarvinder Naberhaus and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Emilia Wishing -- Picture Book Review

 

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

It has been said that we should appreciate what we have instead of wishing for more. There are many versions of this. Sometimes we spend time wishing for something instead of realizing how great what we have is. Today we are sharing a picture book about a young girl wishing for things but realizing how special her life is with what she has. The book is Emilia Wishing by Belen Medina and illustrated by Magdalena Mora. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

Books for World Cup Fever with Soccer Craft Roundup

 

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

Have you caught World Cup Fever? I feel like every time I turn around, I am hearing about it or seeing merchandise for it. It is on the news almost daily and of course with some of the games being in the Boston area, it is all anyone is talking about. The first game in Boston is about a week away and people are getting excited for it, or they are dreading it because of the crowds that will be coming this week. However, I am looking at it like the Olympics. It is a positive time where countries gather and compete in a friendly way. Our world needs more friendly. The first book is a picture book. It is The World's Game by Yamile Saied Méndez and illustrated by Andrés Landazábal. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Thank You for Being a Friend -- Picture Book Review

 

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

What does friendship mean to you? What would you do for a friend? We all know the words to the song and it probably brings back memories of The Golden Girls. Today we are sharing a book based on the words of the song by Andrew Gold. The book (and song) is Thank You for Being a Friend illustrated by Sanne Dufft. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Alice Piper Speaks Up -- New Middle Grade Book About the Fight for Equal Education

 

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

Just about everyone knows about Brown vs. the Board of Education, but there were people who fought for equal education before this case. They just didn't make it to the Supreme Court. Today we are sharing a new book, released today June 2, 2026. It is the story about a Native American, Alice Piper, and her fight for equal education. The book is Alice Piper Speaks Up by Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey and illustrated by Morgan Thompson. June 2nd is Alice Piper Day! This book is recommended for ages 8 to 12. 

Two Picture Books That Teach U.S. History & More!

 

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

With the United States celebrating its 250th anniversary on July 4th this year, I was sent a roundup of books about the United States. As I read them, I realized I didn't want to do just one huge roundup. The books are for different ages and teach about specific Americans, country history, states as well as about why we celebrate 4th of July. They are for different ages and a variety of types of books - from board books to middle grade books and even a graphic novel. Today we are sharing two books by the same team that give information about people. places and more. The first book is America's Dreaming by Ben McKinnon and illustrated by Thai My Phuong. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

I'm An American -- Picture Book Review

 

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

What makes a person an American? Is it their citizenship? Is it where they call home? Is it their beliefs? Today we are sharing a picture book that asks and answers this question. The book is I'm An American by Darshana Khiani and illustrated by Laura Freeman. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

A Flame Burns On: Lighting the Yahrzeit Candle

 

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

How do you remember a loved one who has passed? This is a question I have been focusing on lately. My father passed in January, and we are planning his celebration of life. Today we are sharing a book about the Jewish tradition of the yahrzeit candle. It is a tradition I had not heard of. The book is A Flame Burns On by Richard Ho and illustrated by Carmel Ben Ami. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

What Was the Turning Point in the Civil War? Alfred Waud Goes to Gettysburg

 

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

Happy Memorial Day!! To honor our fallen soldiers, we thought we would share a book about them. We are focusing on the Civil War and the middle grade graphic novel we are sharing is more about how the Civil War was reported to the citizens of the United States and in particular by Alfred Waud. The book is What Was the Turning Point in the Civil War? Alfred Waud Goes to Gettysburg by Ellen T. Crenshaw. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12. It is not only great for Memorial Day but also helps teach some of the history of the USA just in time for the big 250th celebration in July!

Books for Father's Day

 

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

Can you believe Father's Day is just a month away? Are you ready for it? I expect this year to be difficult for me, but my goal is to celebrate Steve. My Dad's Celebration of Life will be just over a week before Father's Day. I know he is in a better place and in many ways, we said goodbye to him years ago as his memory and brain went away, but I still miss him. Today we are sharing four picture books that are perfect for Father's Day and just for showing father figures in the life of kids. So many picture books share the mother-child relationship, but these share a father-child or male adult-child relationship. We will start with Dear Dad by Flamingo Books and illustrated by Natalie Lundeen. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Board Books to Teach Our Youngest About the USA

 

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

It is hard to believe that the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday this year! With this weekend being Memorial Day weekend and the patriotic decor coming out we thought it was a great time to share some of the many books around for learning about the United States and celebrations. Today we are sharing three board books so the youngest ones can learn a bit about our great nation. Our first book involves a favorite children's book character from Eric Carle, the Very Hungry Caterpillar!! It is a tabbed board book called Across the USA with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by the World of Eric Carle. It is recommended for ages 1 to 3.

Board Books That Teach

 

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

Boston is one of the host cities for the World Cup this year. We have been hearing about it for months. It is a perfect time to introduce young ones to soccer, and we are sharing a book that is perfect for that! Plus, another board book that is about counting and has airplanes! Starting with the soccer book, it is Hello, World! Soccer by Jill McDonald. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3. It is part of the Hello, World! series.  

Alli the Alligator -- Book Review & Giveaway with Alligator Craft Roundup

 

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 Cindy Miller to bring you this post.

There are many sayings about kindness. "Sprinkle kindness like confetti." "In a world where you can be anything, be kind." We teach our kids to be kind. What does it really mean to be kind? When someone is teasing you should you be kind? Today we are sharing a beautiful story about an alligator who shows us what it is to be kind. The book is Alli the Alligator by Cindy Miller and illustrated by Joan Coleman. There is a giveaway at the end of the post and an alligator craft roundup to go with the book! The book does mention being created by God a few times but this is really the only religious reference.

Books About Kindness, Culture, School, Family, & Friends

 

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

As spring goes on and the school year gets closer to its end, there are some fun new books that are great for teacher gifts, story time at home and so much more! Today we are sharing three books -- a board book and two picture books -- that share kindness, culture, family, friends and school. We will start with the board book. It is ABCs of Kindness at School by Patricia Hegarty and illustrated by Summer Macon. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3 and is part of the Books of Kindness Collection. 

The Genie Game -- Middle Grades Novel Review

 

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

In this day and age, there seems to be a lot to talk about. There are the environmental issues around the world. There are rights and protections that seem to be in the possibility of being lost. Today we are sharing a magical middle grade novel that could lead to discussions about some of these issues. The book is The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko. It is recommended for ages 10 to 14. 

Asian Folktales for Children

 

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, she loved having me read folktales from different countries. She also loved fairy tales (and somewhat still does). These tales allowed us to travel with our imaginations and learn about different cultures and countries. May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and today's book is perfect for it and coming out just in time! It is Asian Folktales for Children retold by David Conger, Liana Romulo, Joan Suyenaga, and Marian Davies Toth and illustrated by Patrick Yee. It is recommended for ages 5 to 14. 

Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation -- Picture Book Review

 

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

On the Fourth of July, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. We've already reviewed a fun picture book perfect for little ones getting ready for the festivities and have many more piled up and waiting for a roundup. However today we are going to share a book that isn't just for this big birthday but is a piece of history many people do not think about, forget or do not want to think about. And to me this is a book that should be included in everyone's celebration as it is important to remember the people who helped build our great country but often do not get the credit for their work. There are many groups that can be included but today's book focuses on Black people. The book is Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Earth Day Book Extravaganza for Ages 2 to 12

 

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

Happy Earth Day 2026! There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day! One is learning about the Earth and the life on it. Another is doing something to help our world. Today we are going to share a roundup of books from board books to a middle grade book on topics including animals, plants, gardens, and being eco-friendly. We will start with the two board books from the same series. They are You Are a Garter Snake! and You Are a Robin! by Laurie Ann Thompson and illustrated by Jay Fleck. They are part of the Meet Your World Series. The series is recommended for ages 2 to 5.