Did You Hear What Happened in Salem?: The Witch Trials of 1692

 

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

Happy Halloween! Did you know that over 1 million people have already visited Salem, Massachusetts in October 2025? And they are expecting over 80,000 to visit today. Salem is known as the Witch City and even Salem High School's mascot is the witches. Now I live pretty close to Salem. People from around here know there is no parking in Salem for the month of October (and actually for most of September as well as into November) because of all of the tourists that flock to the Witch City. Salem has embraced its witch history and has become a huge tourist site for it. However, the witch trials and happenings in Salem were quite different. Today we are sharing a wonderful book about the Salem witch trials, and it is told in first person. The book is Did You Hear What Happened in Salem? The Witch Trials of 1692 by Katie Kennedy and illustrated by Nick Thornborrow. It is recommended for ages 8 and up.

Rock Star: How Ursula Marvin Mapped Moon Rocks and Meteorites

 

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

I always love learning about women who we may not have heard of but are famous in their own right. I really love learning about female mathematicians and scientists who have made a difference in our world. And although we always focus on women in March for Women's History Month I also feel it is important that we learn about them all year long. After all women do make up at least 50% of the world population. Today I am sharing a new book (released today) that is about a famous scientist. The book is Rock Star: How Ursula Marvin Mapped Moon Rocks and Meteorites by Sandra Neil Wallace and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. This book is recommended for ages four to eight.

The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to discover a shape -- Math Biography Review with Math Projects

 

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

The school year has started. I have read Ish to my classes and talked about math-ish numbers. It was a huge hit. Some of the kids recognized the book and some did not know it. It was the perfect introduction to needing number sense and math-ish numbers. I love incorporating story books into middle and high school math classes. Today I have another one to share with you. It tells the real-life tale of a woman with no mathematical background who solved a very old mathematical problem and not just once! The book is The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a Shape by Amy Alznauer and illustrated by Anna Bron. It is recommended for ages 7 to 9. I am going to share some related math activities to go with the book for different ages!

Hopeful Heroes: More poems about amazing Latinos

 

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

Yesterday I shared a wonderful new book about environmental activist Christiana Figueres which is perfect for the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month and today I am sharing another one also released this week! Today's book is a book of poems sharing some amazing Latinos' stories. The book is Hopeful Heroes: More poems about amazing Latinos by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Juliet Menéndez. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8. 

Back to School Season Books for Different Ages

 

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

School officially starts this week! Have your kids started yet? Each new school year brings different ideas, fears and excitement. There seem to be many books for the younger readers. There are the books like The Kissing Hand, Milk Goes to School, and Miss Mingo and the First Day of School and many more for younger kids starting school. Today we are going to share one picture book and two middle grade books. We will start with the picture book which is Proper Badger Would Never Trash the Classroom! by Lauren Glattly and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

New Middle Grades Historical Fiction Series about World War II

 

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

Today I get to share a series of books about World War II. It is historical fiction and the series is really interesting and fun. It is written by Adam Gidwitz. The series is called Operation Kinderspion. The series is for middle grades or ages 8 to 12. The first book is Max in the House of Spies. 

Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars -- All Sorts of Outdoor Activities Summer Theme

 

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

Do you have an explorer on your hands? You know the child who wants to be outside exploring everything. The kid who wants to check out nature, hike, fish, and more? Getting outdoors and trying some of these activities is an amazing summer theme, and I have an amazing book to share with you to help them try some of these activities with an adult or on his/her own. The book is Catch a Crayfish, Count the Stars by Steven Rinella. This book is recommended for ages 8 to 12. At the end of the post I will share even more resources for this summer theme!

Read and Play Rocket -- Book Review

 

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

A few weeks ago I shared a middle grades book about the first trip to the moon and the amazing photograph of Earth. In that post I shared some pictures from our recent visit to Kennedy Space Center. Today I am sharing a fun book about a rocket, Artemis III to be exact and that turns into a toy rocket. The book is Read-and-Play Rocket by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Sona Avedikian. Even though it is a board book, it is recommended for ages 4 to 8. I would say the story itself if for the older side of this group.

The Constitution Kids -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

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 Amplify Publishing Group to bring you this post.

These days knowing what the Constitution says seems more important than ever. In our current situation it seems like many people are pushing the limits of the Constitution. Some are even wondering who is protecting it as our law. But who among us has actually read the Constitution? It is an old document written in English from another time. It is a boring read however today I get to share with you a book that kids will enjoy reading that has them reading and understanding the Constitution. It is The Constitution Kids by Gary Gabel. 

Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama's First Presidential Seder -- Book Review

 

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

We all know about the Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House and the pardon of the turkey for Thanksgiving, but what other holidays are celebrated at the White House? When did the celebrations start? According to a Classroom Resource Packet from the White House, there was a New Year's Day reception from 1801 until 1932. President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, were the first to celebrate Christmas in the White House. The Christmas celebrations were usually private. President Calvin Coolidge was the first President to preside over the public celebration that included a tree lighting ceremony in 1923. It wasn't until 1979 when the National Menorah was lit. It was lit by President Jimmy Carter. The first public Easter Egg Roll happened in 1878 and was hosted by President Rutherford B. Hayes. You may notice that Passover or the Seder dinner of Passover is not mentioned in these holidays. Now Passover is a more important holiday to Jewish people than Hanukkah. Today I get to share a book that shares about the first Seder Dinner at the White House. It is called Next Year in the White House: Barack Obama's First Presidential Seder by Richard Michelson and illustrated by E.B. Lewis. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! -- Civil Rights Movement Hero Book Review

 

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

Happy MLK Day!! Do you have the day off? Your kids probably do. Do you do anything special to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? It is a day of service for many. I admit I don't usually do a day of service but I do like to review the work so many participated in for the Civil Rights Movement. And today I think we need to remember it more than ever and perhaps what it was like before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today I am sharing a picture book that was coauthored by the subject of the book--a mostly unknown hero of the Civil Rights Movement. The book is Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! by Claudette Colvin and Phillip Hoose and illustrated by Bea Jackson. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People -- a #ReadYourWorld Review

 

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

Our January reviews for the Read Your World (aka Multicultural Children's Book Day) continue. Today I get to share a nonfiction picture book that will be released in February. It shares a bit of the history of a Hawaiian island and the military. It is Kaho'olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley and illustrated by Harinani Orme. It is recommended for ages 7 to 11.

Picture Books Sharing the Lives of Historical Figures

 

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

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. 

Witch-Themed Books

 

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

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.

Diverse New Picture Books Sharing Fun and Lessons

 

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

Once again life and school have gotten in the way of my posts. As a result, I am going to share three new picture books with you today. Each is unique and has its own purpose. The first is I Want to Read All the Books by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Books Sharing the History of Mexican Americans and Life in Border Towns

 

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

Schools are starting back which means September is almost here. Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15th and today I am sharing two books that are perfect for it. One is for middle grades (10-14-year-olds) about the history of Mexican Americans (released last week), and the other is an autobiography for young adults. Obviously, both are nonfiction. We will start with the book for the middle grades. It is a book from the Race to the Truth Series. It is Borderlands and the Mexican American Story by David Dorado Romo. 

The Shape of Things: How Mapmakers Picture Our World -- New Picture Book Review

 

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

Do you use maps? Perhaps you use your GPS but it gives us a map to follow. Today I get to share with you a new picture book that shares a bit of the history of maps and how they have been made over time. The book is The Shape of Things: How Mapmakers Picture Our World by Dean Robbins and illustrated by Matt Tavares. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Swinging Into History -- Review of Picture Book About Toni Stone

 

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

The Summer Olympics are still going on this week, so my focus is on sports! Today I get to share a new picture book (released this week) about Toni Stone. She was the first female to play big-league baseball! The book is Swinging into History by Karen L. Swanson and illustrated by Laura Freeman. It is recommended for ages 7 to 10.

Books About or By Female US Gold Medal Olympians

 

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

Have you been watching the Olympics? Hazel and I have been watching the Women's Gymnastics. We are loving seeing these beautiful women make their dreams come true. What is your favorite sport to watch? I always feel like the Olympics brings positivity to the world. It gives us a sense of pride and love for our country, and I am guessing it does for other people around the world. It is a piece of history that is made every four years but doesn't often make it into the history books. However, did you know there are books written by former Gold Medal Olympians and even some about amazing Olympians and teams? Today I am going to share three such books. The ages of recommendations for these books range from 4 to 14. Only one of the books is really a history book about the gold medal Olympian team and the other two are books written by them sharing a piece of their advice off the field. The first book is From My Head to My Toes by Aly Raisman and illustrated by Bea Jackson. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

When Beavers Flew -- Book Review with Beaver Craft Round-Up

 

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

We all know the expression, "When pigs fly," meaning never, but how about when beavers fly? We know beavers don't naturally fly. However back in 1948, 76 of them did fly. Today I get to share a newly released picture book that shares this piece of history. The book is When Beavers Flew by Kristen Tracy and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.