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.
Growing up is hard. It is even harder when you have to do it quickly and take on an adult job. Today we are sharing a magical book about an orphaned boy who grows up in a night. It takes a look at what growing up means and about becoming more self-aware. The book is Al's Journey by Marin. At the end of the post there is a giveaway.
Has your child ever read to an animal? Or maybe to a stuffed toy? What would the world be like if animals could read and loved books as much as we do? Today I get to share the newest (released this week) book in the If Animals Loved Series. It is If Animals Loved Books by Ann Whitford Paul and illustrated by David Walker. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6. We reviewed one of the other books in this series previously.
August seems to be the month of children's books with animal themes. We have been sharing books about all sorts of animals: zebras, coyotes, hippopotamus, snails, dogs, and more! Today we are sharing two new books about various animals that were released this week. One is a board book and one is a lift, look and find picture book. We will start with the board book which is Hoot Hoot by Georgette. It is recommended for ages 0 to 3.
Today I am sharing a new picture book (released last week) that is pure fun. Imagine if animals wore shoes. What kind of shoes would each animal choose? That it is the premise of the book. The book is What Kind of Shoes Does a Hippopotamus Choose? by Kat Maconie and illustrated by Sebastien Braun. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.
When Hazel was young, we did a lot of exploring the world and different cultures from home. We participated in blog group series like Around the World in 12 Dishes and Global Learning for Kids as well as the various cultural heritage months series with Multicultural Kid Blogs. But one of Hazel's favorite things to do was read a collection of folk tales and fables from other countries. She would have loved today's book when she was younger. The book is Children's Favorite Arabic Stories: Fables and Folk Tales from Across the Arabic Speaking World by Jehanne Moharran and illustrated by Chaymaa Sobhy. It is recommended for ages 5 to 13 and it is part of the Children's Favorite Stories series.
Happy First Day of Summer!! To kick off this season I get to share a fun book about sea creatures. Every summer Hazel and I always studied something about the ocean/beach. We always have a beach trip since we get the Cape house for a week. Plus, there are always great crafts to do with the treasures you find on a beach. So, to go with today's book I am sharing a roundup of sea star themed crafts! The book today is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Sea Star by Kathleen Welton and illustrated by Chau Pham.
When Hazel was young, she loved when we read books about other places and cultures. She would have loved The Tales of Charlie Wags Series. And guess what? Charlie Wags is back and this time he visits Paris!! The book we are sharing today is The Tales of Charlie Wags: Paris by Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay with pictures by Sanna Sjöström. After my review there is a roundup of Paris-themed crafts as well as other books to learn and explore Paris from home! Plus, there is a giveaway!!
It is hard to believe it is almost the end of May and thus almost the end of the school year! When are your kids out of school? I only have a week and half left of work with kids in my room. Today I am going to share three new books that have different school themes to them. The first book is Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature's Diversity and Our Own by Roz MacLean. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.
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.
When I was young, I loved playing make believe. Hazel played in her own way. I always love books that encourage such play and today I get to share one with you. It is the sweetest book. It is I Am NOT Sophie! by Robyn Hodess and illustrated by Terry Kole. At the end of this post is a giveaway!!
I cannot let March pass without sharing some books that teach women's history. In this time where our current administration is trying to erase all history besides white man's history these types of books are even more important as are the various history/heritage months. March is Women's History Month, but I truly feel women's history should be taught all year round. It is part of the history of the world and let's face it there cannot be humans without women. Today's books are going to introduce you to two American women who I honestly never heard of prior to reading these books. There are so many women who did things for the world but that we never hear about because of how our history is taught. The first book is A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa by Caroline McAlister and illustrated by Jamie Green. It is recommended for ages 5 to 8.
We are having one of the coldest winters in many years here in New England at least. It makes me want to think about spring and with spring comes cute animals! I am sharing two board books and one small picture book that are animal themed and for our younger kids. All are recommended for baby to three-years-old. The first book is the picture book. It is from the World of Eric Carle. It is Baby Bear's Time to Grow with Brown Bear and Friends by Eric Carle and OddDot and illustrated by Eric Carle.
Happy February!! February has many amazing things about it: Valentine's Day, Presidents Day, Black History Month, etc. I always love finding new books about Black people to share in February. Today I get to share a new one about a hero of mine--Katherine Johnson. I love that she was a mathematician. I love that she was Black and fought for her right to be heard and share her knowledge. She changed history and not so faraway history. History about our space travel. We are talking the 1960s not the 1800s. I always feel like most female mathematicians had a love for math but didn't really get much credit for the work they did. Katherine did not get much credit for her work until recently, but she made a huge difference in the space race. Today I am sharing the book Katherine Johnson by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and illustrated by Jemma Skidmore. It is part of the Little People BIG DREAMS series. It is recommended for ages 6 to 8.
The end of January is coming near. Lunar new year and the Read Your World Celebration are getting closer but so is Valentine's Day. Today we are going to focus on Valentine's Day and love. I am sharing two books for younger children that are perfect to get ready for Valentine's Day or in a loving mood and at the end of the post is a roundup of ideas for kids to make valentines and children's love songs to sing. One is a musical board book. It has buttons to push to hear the songs. It is Little Love Songs by Sandra Boynton. It is recommended for babies through age 5.
Are you ready for a sweet, magical book? I get to share one with you today and guess what? There is a giveaway at the end of this post! In this magical book a sweet dog visits New York City, so I am also sharing a small New York City craft round-up. Let's get into the book--it is The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City by Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay with pictures by Sanna Sjöström.
We are continuing our book roundups as the holidays get closer and closer. Today we are sharing some multicultural books with an Asian theme. The books include a picture book, a book of folk tales and a picture dictionary. These are perfect for classrooms, libraries as well as families. We will start with the picture book. It is We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen and illustrated by Victor Bizar Gomez. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
Last week I shared a round-up of books for animal lovers. Today I am sharing books for dinosaur lovers and some of them are perfect for Spanish learners or bilingual kids. If you like to give a gift to read and have a dinosaur lover in your life this post is for you! We will start with the stand-alone book (the others are in a series together). It is A Dinosaur a Day by Miranda Smith. This book is recommended for ages 6 to 9.
How was your Thanksgiving? Ours was quiet and relaxing, but the day before we spent at least five hours in the emergency department of Boston Children's Hospital. It has been a long two weeks. First Covid and then pneumonia and an asthma flare up (both caused by Covid). Luckily, she seems to be on the mend, and I can focus again on my blog and life. That means getting ready for Christmas and the other upcoming holidays. Today I am sharing a collection of holiday books that I have been waiting to share as well as some easy Christmas ornaments made from things like cupcake liners and pipe cleaners. My round-up of books include three board books and three picture books. The first book we will share is the board book about Kwanzaa. It is called Kwanzaa and is by Hannah Eliot and illustrated by Andrea Pippins. It is part of the Celebrate the World Series and is recommended for ages 2 to 4.
Have you ever heard about a creature in a local lake? Is it real or is it a myth? Have you gone to summer camp? What about the lake there? Today I get to share a fun story about a summer camp and the mysterious creature of the lake there. It is Adventures at Lake Omigosh by Scott Sollers and illustrated by Bryan Janky.
Can you believe Thanksgiving is almost here? Time is flying by as usual. It is time to think about gift buying and the holidays. Today I am doing a round-up of picture books that are perfect gifts for animal lovers!! Do you know any young animal lovers? Perhaps kids who love the Wild Kratts like Hazel did? To begin we will start with one with a thankful theme. It is from the World of Eric Carle. It is Little Book of Thanks from Brown Bear and Friends by Eric Carle and Odd Dot. It is recommended for babies through 3-year-olds.
