Today I get to share a very special picture book with you. It is so important for us to teach the children to take care of the animals on our planet. In a season that is all about giving and being thankful, it is important to remember our stewardship to Earth. Today's book shares a special story about a young boy facing his own fears to help an injured baby rabbit. It is Into the Thicket by Gail Kuhnlein and illustrated by John Megahan. There is a giveaway after my review!
Last week we shared some fun Christmas books. Today we are adding to our collection of new holiday picture books with our third roundup. Some of these books will be familiar and others are new! We will start with one of the ones that will sound familiar. It is The War Is Over! by Brad Booker, Dave Mullins and Sean Ono Lennon and illustrated by Max Narciso. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
Today is Fibonacci Day or Fibonacci Sequence Day. The date is 11/23 which gives us the first four digits of the Fibonacci Sequence. I have posted about Fibonacci and his sequence previously. His sequence starts with double ones and then every number after is the sum of the two previous numbers: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ... One place sequences and series are often taught is Algebra 2, though sometimes it is in pre-calculus as well. In honor of Fibonacci Day, it seems like the perfect time to share two resources for students taking or teachers or tutors teaching Algebra 2. The first is Everything You Need to Ace Algebra 2 in One Big Fat Notebook by Workman Publishing. (Note: It is currently on sale as part of Amazon's Black Friday Sale.) It is the latest in The Big Fat Notebook Series.
Yesterday I shared a grouping of new Christmas books for younger children (babies through 7). Today we have another grouping of new Christmas books. Today's will probably become classics, and each story has a rescue theme going in it. Our first book is a new Mr. Willowby Christmas book. A long lost transcript was found to create this book! The book is Mr. Willoby's Head Over Heels Christmas by Robert Barry. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7 but I can see older kids loving this one too!
It is hard to believe it is holiday season. Christmas is right around the corner so that means that it is time to share some of the new holiday books!! Today's grouping are books for younger kids. The first is a board book. It is Crocodile Christmas by J.D. Forester and illustrated by Reshu Lakra. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3.
It has been a while since I have shared a fairy tale book. Our Fairy Tales in Different Cultures is one of our most popular series and has our popular posts. Today I am sharing a modern version of Little Red Riding Hood with much humor and definitely some twists. The book is Little Red and Big, Bad Fred by Ashley Belote. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7 and Little Red is a Black boy.
Before we were married Steve and I took a trip to Phoenix, Arizona. We stayed at a wonderful resort, Wild Horse Pass, that at the time was run by a Native American tribe. We went in February, and they had fire pits with storytelling around the fire some nights. As you can imagine I loved it! We also visited the Heard Museum and I believe we went to the Phoenix Indian School. It was Steve's first time hearing about the Indian Boarding Schools and the horrible piece of history that white men did to our Tribal Nation residents. I was surprised he hadn't heard of it, but I guess my love of Native American cultures is the reason I knew. Beginning in the 1800s and into the 1900s the United States and Canadian governments were horrible to Native Americans. The children were forced into boarding or residential schools where they tried to get the tribal culture out of them. Or the children were adopted by white families and basically kidnapped from their homes for this to happen. Again, the reason was to colonialize the children and get the native out of them. Today I get to share a wonderful new picture book that shares Na'kusset's story of childhood and dealing with the loss of culture and family. The book is I Am My Name by Na'kusset and Judith Henderson and illustrated by Onedove. It is recommended for ages 6 to 9.
I haven't shared my origami lately, however this semester I have been running a lunch club for kids to create origami. Recently I brought in a new book and new packs of solid papers for them to try. The club has very different levels of origami creators. Some work on their own and others need help with every step. I handed my origami expert in the club Action Origami: Paper Toys that Fly, Hop, Twirl, Shake and Surprise! by Isamu Sasagawa. It is recommended for ages 9 and up. I would say it is more of an intermediate origami book and not great for beginners.
Yesterday I shared a new picture book about getting ready for Christmas. Today I thought I would share some Advent calendars. Now Advent is one of my favorite times of the year. The first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of a new church year. I love the preparation time that is Advent. It is time for each of us to prepare for Christmas and as a Christian that means preparing myself for Jesus. I use it as a time to reflect on my life and what I can do differently to be a better person -- more like Jesus. Over the years I have shared quite a few posts about Advent including ones specifically about Advent calendars including fun facts and a roundup of them including ones you can make. Today I am going to share two secular Advent calendars for different ages that are books. This will get your kids reading while they prepare for Christmas. The first features the popular Bluey. It is Bluey: The Most Amazing Advent Book Bundle by Penguin Young Readers License. The suggested age range for this one is 4- to 8-year-olds.
Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book to provide an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Tanya Harvey to bring you this post.
The holiday season is upon us. Or should I say the holiday prep season is upon us. Between the baking, cooking, decorating, and shopping I would say there is a lot of preparation for the holidays. Today we get to share a fun new holiday book that is a spin-off of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." In fact, the lyrics can be sung to the tune and there is a YouTube video teaser to begin to share the book. The book is 12 Days of Getting Ready for Christmas by Tanya Harvey and illustrated by Chelsea Peters. And there is a giveaway at the end of this post!! Perfect to help you get ready for Christmas!
Here is a review a long time coming. I am still working on my pile of chapter books from this summer. This one actually finishes the books I shared back in June but the pile has grown with some new ones. I'll share them at the end of this post in case any will interest you or a reader in your life for the holidays. Today I am sharing a fun fantasy middle grade novel that is full of magic and adventure. The book is Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
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.
Cats can do amazing things. I know I have three of them. I love my cuddle times. In fact, I have one on my lap as I write this post. Today I get to share a fun middle grade/early chapter book with you about a curious cat who gets lost in Africa and has many adventures to find her way home. The book is The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Gets Lost in Africa: Book 1-The Pangolins by Jennifer Ussi and illustrated by Lekshmi Bose. And there is a giveaway at the end of this post!
Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book to share an honest review. All opinions are my own. I am working with The Children's Book Review and Jill Rosen to bring you this post.
Ode to a Pug is back!! This time he is off to the veterinarian and has all sorts of fears and adventures. Get ready for a humorous story of everyone's favorite pug! The book is Ode to a Pug: Not the Vet! by Jill Rosen and illustrated by Stephanie Rohr. There is a giveaway after my review.
Disclosure: I was sent a 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 Dalisse Siqueiros to bring you this post.
All kids can feel big emotions but imagine what it is like for a child or person with autism. I teach many students with autism, and it has honestly been eye-opening to talk with some of them and get a peek inside their brains. They are truly wired differently. It is not worse or better but different. And as much as people fear having children with autism, if we didn't have autistic people, we would be living in a very different world without a lot of the things we depend on every day. Today we are sharing book from a series meant to help autistic kids and their parents deal with living in a world for people who think differently. The book is Autism: My Invisible Backpack: Discovering Emotions, Masking and the Joy of Being Seen by Dalisse Sequeiros and Luis Barros. After my review there is a giveaway!
Have you ever noticed some books are just about stories and some are about teaching a lesson? We have needs and wants for both types. Today I am sharing a book with a story that has kids doing a lesson in it. The book is the first in a series. It is Adventures with Allie and Friends: Chef Cherie's Cafe by Melanie Moore and illustrated by Juan Diaz. There is a giveaway after my review!
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 Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor to bring you this post.
Do you have a reader who loves fantasy and mystery? I have a wonderful book trilogy for you. It is The Magic Maze Trilogy by Samuel Warren Joseph and Phil Proctor. The book is full of mystery and adventure in a magical realm with two siblings just trying find their way home. There is a giveaway after my review!
My pile of picture books is growing fast (almost like my chapter books). Today I am sharing a roundup of books that have come out recently (including this week). Some teach lessons and some are just fun and there is definitely something for everyone here! We will start with Gray Squirrel Loses It! by Cassandra Federman. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
What are your feelings about math? I feel like so many people do not like math and they have a stigma around it. In fact, our society tends to portray high school math as something that is torturous and not used. However, mindset plays a HUGE role in this success. If you tell your children, watch television shows that tell your children, etc. that math is hard and bad, then they will not have success in math. Mathematicians and especially math teachers are fighting this battle and today's book actually shares how parents can help in the Author's Note. Start them young with math. Today's book is I Love You 100: A Counting Book Full of Love by Danica McKellar and illustrated by Josée Masse. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8 and I would say it would be great to read to even younger children!
Something I find missing in many people today is connections. People need connections with one another as well as nature. We also need to stop and just be. Today I am sharing two picture books that emphasize these messages. The first is My First Book of Zen: Simple Wisdom for Children by Tracy Gallup. It is recommended for ages 5 to 9.
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.
