Chipper Sends Sunshine -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am working with Purple Butterfly Press and The Children's Book Review to be part of this Virtual Book Tour and will receive a small stipend for sharing this book with you. All opinions are my own.

As the end of the school year approaches, families start thinking about summer camp. Did you go away to summer camp or do your kids? The fun adventures in the woods away from home meeting new people, summer camp offers so much. Today I get to share with you a fun book about a group of animals who go to summer camp and make new friends and want to find a way to stay in touch with the new friends. The book is called Chipper Sends Sunshine by Kimber Fox Morgan and illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. 

Vivienne in Paris -- Review & Giveaway Plus Paris-Themed Crafts

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and will receive a small stipend as a participant in The Children's Book Review and Maria Castellucci Moore's Virtual book Tour. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever had a day "where you felt most alive, full of spirit, zestful, and sparkling with enthusiasm"? Today I get to share a book about enjoying one's daily activities by using their senses and truly observing their surroundings and interactions. The book is Vivienne in Paris by Maria Castellucci Moore and illustrated by Emanuela Mannello. I am also including a Paris-themed craft to go with the book and some other craft ideas for the book!

No Is All I Know! -- Learn the Power of Yes!

 

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

Is your child in the no stage? It is a normal stage for toddlers who are exploring their boundaries and discovering their own voices and world. To learn more about this stage and some coping strategies check out this article. If you want to show them the power of yes, read on. Today I get to share with you a new picture book from Chris Grabenstein called No Is All I Know! and illustrated by Leo Espinosa. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7, but it certainly could be read to a two-year-old. 

Priscilla Puppy Is Afraid of Everything -- May is National Mental Health Awareness Month

 

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

Do you know that May is National Mental Health Awareness Month? According to the CDC, more than 5.8 million American children, aged 13-17, were diagnosed with anxiety disorders between 2016-2019. (Source) What is even more scary is that the number is increasing. According to psychologist Robert Leahy, "The average high school student today has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950s." (Source) Hazel loves to tell me this all the time! Think of all the things that exist today in schools that did not exist previously. There is the fear of school shootings. According to Pew Research 57% of teens fear there will be a school shooting at their school. (Source) There is social media and cell phones. Now a humiliating mistake may be saved on-line forever! Plus there is cyber bullying and the stress it can cause. This year a student (or students) at Hazel's school took pictures from her Instagram account and created fake accounts trying to say she was dating a boy (who she barely tolerates) as well as other such things. It truly is scary what they can do. 

A Work in Progress -- New Middle Grades Book About Body Image and Self Confidence

 

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

Being a children's book reviewer, I read many different books. Every once in a while, I come across one that I feel every child should read and should be read in every class for a certain age. Today I am sharing one of those books with you. It is a book that delves into bullying, body image, and self-confidence and the main character is male!! The book is A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner. It is recommended for grades 3 to 7. 

Famous Seaweed Soup -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will receive a small stipend for participating in The Children's Book Review & Purple Butterfly Press's Virtual Book Tour with this post. All opinions are my own.

Spring is popping up all around me and that means summer is around the corner. Today I get to share with you a fun book that is perfect for those summer beach trips and more! It is Famous Seaweed Soup by Antoinette Truglio Martin and illustrated by Penny Weber. And there is a giveaway including the grand prize of an entire classroom set of this fun book!!

World's Worst Time Machine

 

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

Today I am sharing a new middle grades novel that is perfect for your reluctant readers and anyone who likes a bit of adventure. The book is a mix of sci fi and history and lots of humor. The book is World's Worst Time Machine by Dustin Brady. It is recommended for ages 7 through 11.

Odette's Alphabet -- Review & Giveaway

 

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 Sandrine Marlier to bring you this post and giveaway and I will receive a small stipend for writing the review. All opinions are my own. 

When you are feeling stressed out, what do you do? Do you meditate? Take a deep breath? What do you teach your child(ren) to do? According to the CDC, approximately 5.8 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 were diagnosed with anxiety between 2016 and 2019 and the numbers are going up. (Source) Our world and society is changing so quickly that we are not keeping up with helping our kids deal with it. We need to teach them methods to deal with their stress. Today's book is a perfect start for younger kids. It is Odette's Alphabet by Sandrine Marlier and illustrated by Leonardo Schiavina. 

Earth Day Around the World CD Featuring Daria

 

Disclosure: Daria sent me a digital copy of this CD in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As usual, I'm a day late and a dollar short. Earth Day was yesterday. Although I see the importance of Earth Day I do believe that we need to focus on the meaning of Earth Day every day of the year. I tend not to celebrate Earth Day as a holiday of sorts. Its use is to remind us that we need to take care of our world. As a whole the human race is destroying our planet with the fumes from vehicles, trash, and consumption of natural products. This is an important message to be reminded of but I hope we all realize that we need to stop thinking about it as a day and think about it every day! Today I get to share with you a new CD that features Daria and others from around the world. It is Earth Day Around the World. 

The Unwelcome Surprise -- fun new picture book about welcoming a new baby to the house

 

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

Today we are sharing our final of four newly released picture books. They were all released on Tuesday. Today's book shares a dog's point of view to a new surprise in the house. The book is The Unwelcome Surprise by Olga Herrera. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Manolo and the Unicorn -- New Picture Book Review

 

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

Today we are sharing the third (of four) picture books that were released this week. It delves into the magic all around us and especially in the world of children. It also is about dreaming, believing in oneself and so much more! The book is Manolo and the Unicorn by Jackie Azua Kramer and Johnah Kramer and illustrated by Zach Manbeck. It is recommended for ages 5 to 7. To go along with the book there is a unicorn craft round-up as well!

Chef Edna -- New Biographical Picture Book

 

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

Today is day two of the new picture books released this week. I have four to share with you so make sure you check out yesterday's and the next couple of days' posts! Today we are going to look at Chef Edna by Melvina Noel and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. It is a book that shares the life of the Queen of Southern Cooking, Edna Lewis with 4- to 8-year-olds. 

Egyptian Lullaby -- New Multicultural Picture Book

 

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

This is an exciting week for picture books. I get to review four beautiful new ones that all are coming out today. You have to tune in each day to see all three. Today's is a multicultural book about visiting extending family and bringing the culture of your family's roots to you. The book is Egyptian Lullaby by Zeena M. Pliska and illustrated by Hatem Aly. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

The Book Bandit -- A Phoebe Chen Mystery -- Review & Giveaway

 

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 Caron Pescatore and will receive a small stipend for posting my review.

Do you have an emerging reader who is ready for easy chapter books? Does he or she love mysteries? I have a fun, new multicultural book (and eventually a series) for you to check out. It is The Book Bandit by Caron Pescatore and illustrated by Amanda Neves. It is part of the A Phoebe Chen Mystery series. 

The Three Little Guinea Pigs -- A Fun and Creative Twist on a Classic Tale

 

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

Now in my house we love fairy tales. We have done so much with them from our Fairy Tales in Different Cultures Series to crafts and more about different ones including The Three Little Pigs. We have "built" and crafted the pigs' houses several times. We used to also play a game of Three Little Pigs in bed in the morning when I needed some more rest and Hazel was up. We would put the covers over our heads, and I would voice the Big Bad Wolf and pretend one of the cats was the wolf. Hazel would say "Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin." We would basically tell the story under the covers. We would be in giggles by the end though. Today I get to share a new twist on The Three Little Pigs. The book is called The Three Little Guinea Pigs by Erica S. Perl and illustrated by Amy Young. The book is recommended for ages 4 to 8. Plus we have a craft round-up to go with this book!

The Bears Shared -- Fun Lyrical Picture Book Perfect for Spring

 

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

Spring has sprung! The weather is slowly starting to warm up here. I am seeing more seasonal birds in my yard. Today I am going to share with you a fun new picture book that teaches about birds and sharing. It is The Bears Shared by Kim Norman and illustrated by David Walker. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6. 

A Dupatta Is ... - a New Picture Book that Teaches about Culture

 

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 new multicultural picture book. It is actually being released tomorrow! This book shares about a cultural view of a dupatta. A dupatta is the long shawl like scarf Middle Eastern women wear often over their heads and/or shoulders. It is part of the national dress of Pakistan and is worn today by people of India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The book is A Dupatta Is ... by Marzieh Abbas and illustrated by Anu Chouhan. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Lovepop's Mother's Day Giveaway -- Make sure you enter!!

 

Disclosure: I will receive a small stipend for sharing this giveaway with you. All pictures of cards are from the Lovepop website.

Spring holidays are upon us. That means it is time to think about gifts and cards!! Do you look for the right card for each person? Are you looking for that special one that they will keep forever? Lovepop can help!! You may have heard of Lovepop on Shark Tank in 2015! 

Mrs. Spring's Garden -- Book Review & Giveaway

 

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 Carole P. Roman to be part of the Virtual Book Tour. All opinions are my own.

Today I get to share with you another great book from Carole P. Roman. It amazes me how she writes fun fictional books full of lessons and wisdom as well as interesting nonfiction books all for kids. I have reviewed several in the past. Today's book is perfect for Earth Day as well as spring. It is Mrs. Spring's Garden by Carole P. Roman and illustrated by Leen Rosian. 

Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy

 

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 the latest book from Katherine Applegate! I have had the pleasure of reviewing a few of her books in the past. Today's book is an early chapter book. It is recommended for ages 6 to 9. The book is part of the Doggo and Pupper series. It is Doggo and Pupper Search for Cozy by Katherine Applegate and illustrated by Charlie Alder.