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.

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+.

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. 

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. 

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.

Last Kiss of Summer -- YA Novel Review

 

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

Summer is here and that means various things to different people. But many include days sitting on the beach or by the pool and reading! Do you have a good summer read for this year? How about your teens? Today we are sharing a heartwarming and heartbreaking young adult novel perfect for the summer. For me the fact that it takes place on Cape Cod mostly pulled me right in. The book is Last Kiss of Summer by Jessica M. Felleman. It is recommended for ages 16+.

Centerpieces for a Celebration of Life or Other Type of Celebration -- Crafty Sunday Post

 

My father passed away in January. He had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease for over ten years. It was hard to watch his decline all those years. When he died, I truly felt he was finally in a better place. However, the Friday he died was right before one of the big snowstorms we had this past winter. My mother had just gotten out of rehab for her latest hospitalization and was still struggling. We decided to put off any services for our dad. We wanted our mother to be healthier and thought the springtime would be better as Dad loved flowers. We talked about where we wanted to have a celebration of life for him. I came up with the idea of a park, Elizabeth Park, in Hartford/West Hartford because it was a special place for our family growing up. We would ride our bikes there and my father loved the rose garden. In fact, my sisters and I wonder if this is where his love of roses came from. It is the oldest municipal rose garden in the United States and the third largest. Everyone loved the idea. Then came the question of having it at the restaurant/facility center there or outside. We decided to have it at the Pond House Cafe there. It was a beautiful setting and close to the rose garden in case anyone wanted to visit. In fact, I took Hazel and Steve to the rose garden before we began setting up for the celebration.

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. 

Kestrel Takes Flight -- Novel in Verse

 

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

Sometimes life is difficult. Sometimes family is difficult. And sometimes the hardest thing is escaping and standing up for yourself. Today we get to share a new book written in verse about a young girl and her mother who escape a tough situation. They escape to a ranch that raises dogs to help with bears. The book is called Kestrel Takes Flight and is by Joy McCullouogh. It is recommended for ages 10+.

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.

Tall as the Sun -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

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 Stephanie Henson and The Children's Book Review to bring you this post.

Little kids always want to be taller. Think about it. When they are surrounded by adults or older kids, they cannot see above the people. It must be a bit frustrating. I think this is why so many of them want to be picked up or carried on someone's shoulders. Imagine the change in view when they are on someone's shoulders. It would be like climbing a ladder or perhaps even like being on the balcony of the penthouse of a high rise. Today I am sharing a fun book about a young girl and her imagination when her father puts her on his shoulders at the beach. The book is Tall as the Sun by Stephanie Henson and illustrated by Yasmin Akhtar. This review has a giveaway at the end of it!

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. 

Fun Easy Reader Chapter Books

 

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

Do you have an emerging reader who wants to try chapter books? Today we are sharing two new easy reader chapter books that will entertain the new readers. The first is Penelope Positano Sees It All by Katie Cotugno and illustrated by Amy Jindra Hodgson. It is recommended for ages 6 to 9. 

Newly Released Picture Books About Family and Friendship

 

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

Spring time seems to mean gatherings with family and friends. There is Mother's Day, Father's Day, graduations, showers and weddings. Today we are sharing three new picture books about special ties with family and friends. The first book is about friendship. It is Sheep & Goat Climb the World by A. C. Paolini and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Mom-Themed Picture Books with a Flower Craft Roundup

 

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

April showers bring May flowers. May flowers are perfect for Mom for Mother's Day! Today we are sharing two newly released mom-themed picture books and one of them is about flowers, so we are including a flower craft roundup! Each book is a wonderful reminder of how important mom is to kids. The first book is When We Were Snails by Nan Cao. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Inbetweens -- Tween Graphic Novel Review

 

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

Ever wonder what it is like to be a twin? What happens when you and your twin follow your shared dream and it isn't what either of you expected? Today we are sharing a new tween graphic novel that explores this. The book is Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks. It is recommended for ages 10 to 14.

Sister to Sister -- Book Review

 

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

Sisters have a special relationship. Sometimes they drive each other crazy. There can be yelling, fighting, crying. Then the next day they are there when you need them even when no one else shows up. It is a special bond that reminds you of who you are and where you come from. Today we are sharing a book that honors sisterhood including ones from another mister. The book is Sister to Sister by Molly Reade. It is a perfect gift for the sisters in your life!

Mama Won't Mind -- 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 is special to a mother on her birthday? If a gift from a child is not what she expected, does she mind? Today we are sharing a sweet book about the special bond between mother and child. The book is Mama Won't Mind by Kathleen Bahr and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.