Mary's Voice -- Review of an Advent Devotional

 

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

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time to start thinking about Christmas. I always like to find a way to focus myself on the true meaning of the season. I want something to focus my thoughts on the coming of Christ and God. This year I get to share a new Advent devotional that focuses on Mary. I love learning about Mary!! If you have read Crafty Moms Share for a while you may remember some of my previous posts about Mary. I have reflected on Mary's life many times around Advent. Today I am sharing Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ by Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing. 

The Bees of Notre-Dame -- Book Review with Bee Craft Round-Up

 

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

Did you know that Paris has many beekeepers who keep bees on roofs and other public and private spaces? Paris seems to have realized the necessity of bees for our planet and having them makes us all better. One place they had hives is the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Today I get to share a book with you that shares the story of the bees and the fire at Notre Dame. The book is The Bees of Notre-Dame by Meghan P. Browne and illustrated by E. B. Goodale. It is recommended for ages 4 to 9. I am also sharing a round-up of bee crafts, fun facts, and more!

The Big Fat High School Algebra 1 Workbook -- Product Review

 

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

As a teacher and a mother, I fell in love with the Big Fat Notebook Series. We have shared many of them here and I have the math ones in my classroom. My small Algebra 1 class is a mix of different learners. Most have some sort of special need and work on the slower side. I am always looking for ideas for them and have pulled out Everything You Need to Know About Pre-Algebra and Algebra 1 in One Big Fat Notebook for inspiration. Today I get to share with you a companion to this book. It is The Big Fat High School Algebra 1 Workbook by Workman Publishing. 

Books with Scientific Facts about Space & the Moon for Younger Kids

 

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

A favorite topic in our house is space. Steve loves talking about space with Hazel and from a young age she was learning about the stars, planets and moon. Today I am sharing two new books about space and the moon. One is a picture book, and the other is a board book. The picture book is Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature's Nightlight by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Jessica Lanan. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7. The board book is Tell Me About Space by Lisa Varchol Perron and illustrated by Jennifer Falkner. It is recommended for P+. We will start with Thank You, Moon. 

Coretta's Journey: The Life and Times of Coretta Scott King -- Book Review

 

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

Do you get Martin Luther King, Jr. Day off? I am guessing your kids do. Do you know it is the first national holiday for a person that is not a president or Christopher Columbus? We celebrate it in thanks to the work Coretta Scott King did to make it a holiday to honor her husband. Come learn about the life and times of Coretta in today's book. It is Coretta's Journey: The Life and Times of Coretta Scott King by Alice Faye Duncan and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. This beautiful picture book biography is recommended for ages 7 to 10.

Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior -- Book Review & Fun Facts About Water

 

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

Water is essential to life for humans and all living things. Yet the water on Earth is mostly salt water and otherwise undrinkable. Humans have been using the water at record levels as well as polluting the clean water to make it undrinkable. A group of indigenous people are working to protect the water. We shared a book about them a few years ago for Earth Day. Today we are sharing a book about one (well kind of two) of these amazing women. The book is Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Bridget George. It is recommended for ages 4 to 9. To go with this book, I am sharing some fun facts about water to show why we all need to be water warriors as well as some ideas for activities to go with the book.

Coloring the Rainbow - 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 Catherine Rose to bring you this post and giveaway.

Today we are sharing a fun new picture book that is about the power of connection, diversity, and inclusion which is shown through musical instruments. The book is Coloring the Rainbow: A Story about the Power of Connection by Catherine Rose and illustrated by Jeffrey Dale. There is a giveaway at the end of this post!

The Monsters of Marymount Mansion --Book Review, Giveaway and Craft Round-Up

 

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 Gregory C. Allen to bring you this post and giveaway.

Today I am continuing my Halloween themed books with one about monsters. It is part of The Children's Book Review Virtual Book Tour of The Monsters of Marymount Mansion by Gregory C. Allen and illustrated by Shelby Goodwin. This book is an early reader chapter book that has wonderful themes about new experiences, accepting differences and so much more. There is a giveaway at the end of the post and I am including a fun monster craft round-up to go with the book!

A Cloud in a Jar -- Book Review & Giveaway with Whale Craft Round-Up

 

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 Page Street Kids and The Children's Book Review to bring you this post and giveaway.

Ready for a modern rhyming classic tale? Today I am joining in The Children's Book Review's Virtual Book Tour of A Cloud in a Jar by Aaron Lewis Krol and illustrated by Carlos Velez Aguilera. This fun book is sure to become a classic loved by young children and their adults. It is recommended for ages 4+.There is also a giveaway to win your own copy and to go with the story a round-up of whale crafts!

The Bellwoods Game -- New Middle Grades Thriller for Halloween

 

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

It is hard to believe that Halloween is next week! Halloween is not a favorite holiday in my house. However, Hazel is getting back into dressing up for the holiday although her costume choices are getting more adult as well. This week I am mostly going to focus on some books for Halloween including today's. This middle grades novel is a thriller that takes place on Halloween. It is definitely a page turner and had me staying up late to read it. The book is The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.

The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria -- Middle Grades Book Review

 

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 with you a humorous book that has some lessons built in about self-worth, friendships and so much more! The book is The Bravest Warrior in Nefaria by Adi Alsaid. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12 and will have readers laughing and enjoying the story!

Bringing Origami to Geometry Class -- Product Reviews

 

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

One thing I love to do is bring origami into my classroom. Whether using the old patty paper methods to discover theorems and such or doing origami and perhaps an origami project to demonstrate using geometric terms or just to have cool geometric shapes around the room, I love adding origami. I actually have a box of origami paper in my room-- a boot box covered with Asian wrapping paper. Students come in all the time to have a piece or two just to create something for a relaxed moment. Today I am sharing a book full of geometry and geometric shapes all created by origami and two different packs of origami paper (which all will be added to my classroom supply). I have a shelf full of origami books and kits as well. The book is The Art & Science of Geometric Origami by Jun Maekawa. The packs of paper are Origami Paper 300 Sheets Vibrant Colors 4" (10 cm) and Origami Paper in a Box Japanese Washi Patterns. 

Troubles and Doubles and Reflections Askew and Shrieks and Sounds and Things Abound -- Double Book Review and Giveaway

 

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

Today I get to share with you two great picture books that have lessons of self-control and self-love. Both books are by Dr. Drew Palacio and illustrated by Apolline Etienne and are recommended for ages 4+. The newest of the books is Troubles and Doubles and Reflections Askew. The other book is Shrieks and Sounds and Things Abound. Both are offered as prizes in the giveaway at the end!

Look Inside Your Body -- A Lift-the-Flap Book Review

 

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

Looking to add some STEM to your collection of children's books? Or do you have a child who is always asking about parts of the body? Today I am sharing with you the latest version of Look Inside Your Body by Louie Stowell and illustrated by Kate Leake. It is a lift the flap board book and recommended for ages five and older. 

Saving the Sun -- Book Review with Craft Round-Up and Giveaway

 

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

As fall is upon us, the days are getting shorter which means that the sun is shining for less each day. Today we are sharing a sweet book about the sun deciding to take a dip in the ocean, and it needing saving to light the world again. The book is Saving the Sun by Emma Pearl and illustrated by Sara Ugolotti. Along with my review there is a craft round-up to go with the book and a giveaway!

Math Mysteries: The Triple Threat -- Math Monday Book Review

 

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

It is very rare to find a good math novel. I was once gifted The Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzenberger by a student's family. It is a middle grade novel, so I thought it was a bit strange (to receive as a high school teacher), but then I read it. I loved it. Unfortunately, it is out of print, and I loaned my copy to someone and never got it back. That is my biggest experience with a math novel. However today I am sharing a new math novel with you. It is not a fantasy as The Number Devil, but it has some great math in it and it is explained in ways that kids will be able to understand. The book is volume 1 of the Math Mysteries series. It is Math Mysteries: The Triple Threat by Aaron Starmer and illustrated by Marta Kissi. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12. 

The Snail and the Butterfly -- Book Review and Giveaway with Craft Round-Up

 

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

Today we are sharing a fun, new book with an important message--dream big and have courage and determination to reach for those dreams. The book is The Snail and the Butterfly by Dougie Coop and illustrated by CJ the Kid.  I am including a craft round-up to go with the book, and there is a giveaway!!

The Welcome Home -- 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 picture book of the week and all of them were released yesterday! Today's book is a fun story about interesting pets and trying to find the right animal for you. It is The Welcome Home by Amy June Bates. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8 and one the Editor's Pick on Amazon in Best Books for ages 3 to 5.

Spectacular: Miracles of Nature -- Book Review

 

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

Our planet is full of beauty. Often we take it for granted but when on vacation or in a moment of peace we notice how amazing it is. Today I am sharing a new book (released today) that shares some of the amazing places from around the world that show nature's beauty. Plus, there are even some notes about the science behind it. The book is Spectacular: Miracles of Nature by Philippe Nessmann and illustrated by Alex Asfour. It is recommended for ages 5 and up.

Potatoes for Pirate Pearl -- Picture Book Review for Hunger 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 September is Hunger Awareness Month? About ten years ago I joined with other mom bloggers to bring more awareness to the month. We shared different activities to help kids understand the need for food and how people across our country are food insecure. According to Feeding America 34 million Americans are food insecure and 9 million children in America are as well. (Source) Today I am sharing a new picture book that spreads information in a fun way about nutrition, hunger and even a bit about growing food. The book is Potatoes for Pirate Pearl by Jennifer Concepcion and illustrated by Chloe Burgett. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.