Rice to the Rescue: (Rumbly Tumbly Adventures)

Written and illustrated by Etaine Raphael and others

What a fun, rhyming picture book? This is part of the Rumbly Tummy Adventures series. It is written by a group of authors and illustrators. Included in this edition are six simple recipes.

The plot involves children who are being visited in class by a chef. She encourages the children to use their imaginations as she reveals each recipe. The children spin a tale of a princess locked in a tower who meets a bunch of interesting characters while the chef teaches each recipe.

At the end of the tale, young readers find the details for each nutritious dish included so they may join in the fun and eat healthy all at the same time.

Recommended for elementary and middle school readers who want to have fun and eat well.

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Bembe’s Heart: An old as Earth…this is a story about a boy born without a heart but full of his mother’s love

Written and Illustrated by Marin Darmonkow

This book is a beautifully illustrated folk tale that delivers a message of hope, resilience, dedication, and love.

Readers meet Bembe, a boy born with no heart. That does not deter him from working harder than most, laboring in the fields with his mother by day, and helping her at night while she knits ponchos to make ends meet. All the villagers believe Bembe will not survive.

On the eve of Bembe reaching maturity, the shaman comes to visit their home to see what will happen. The story builds to a climax as the shaman and Bembe’s mother wait. Readers have no idea what to expect.

This book is suggested for elementary age readers, but I feel its message will be better understood by readers in the eight to twelve age range.

Highly recommended reading for parents and teachers to include on their bookshelf.

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A Period

Written and Illustrated by David Ross

A very clever book written with lots of subtle humor.

A period is born and begins its journey by rolling forward. As it continues, the period encounters the other punctuation marks in the English language. At first, the period seems to try to figure out how it fits in and what is its purpose. The journey continues as the reader finds out about the other punctuation marks and what they do.

The end of the book provides an excellent guide for students of grammar identifying the punctuation marks and how they function in language. While the book is recommended for children ages six and older, I believe middle grade and high school students will gain the most value from reading it.

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Escaping the Blaze: The Real Life Adventures of Dolph and Gwen

Written and Illustrated by Darcy Guyant

This is my first time reading a book from this series about Coast Guard rescues, and it certainly did not disappoint. Guyant bases his children’s books on real life rescue missions that he has flown. Children learn about courage, teamwork, and cooperation.

This is book two in the series. The main characters are Gwen, a female pilot, Mike and Sam, her crew, and Dolph, her helicopter. Dolph is personified and a truly wonderful character role model. Children learn about aviation and witness Gwen as a wonderful example of a strong female role model. The plot of this book involves the crew rescuing four adults and four children from a wildfire threatening the lighthouse on the peninsula on which they live and work.

The beautiful illustrations and text unfold naturally and build up to the climax. Can Dolph, Gwen, and another helicopter accomplish the dangerous mission? I also enjoyed the surprise included at the end of the tale.

A perfect book to teach and inspire young minds. Recommended especially for ages six through ten, but adults will enjoy it just as much!

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My Superhero Mom

Written by FA Khan

Illustrated by Noor Alshalabi

Soha is excited when her teacher announces an essay competition. She is confident that she can win. Her enthusiasm is dampened when the topic is announced. The students must write about why their mom is a superhero. Soha’s classmates share with her that each of their mothers have important positions in the community like teachers, doctors, and pharmacists. Soha’s mom is a stay- at- home mom.

Soha soon realizes that she is wrong. Her mom volunteers at soup kitchens, bake sales, and the food bank. She is a valuable member of the community. Soha learns that not all heroes are paid for their work. The value lies in the results that they produce for others.

This picture book is a valuable teaching tool. Children realize that a community needs responsible citizens who know the value of teamwork, empathy, kindness, and respect.

I highly recommend this beautifully illustrated multicultural book for readers in elementary and middle school. A worthwhile addition to both home and classroom libraries.

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Around the World: Bilingual Weather Wonders

Written and Illustrated by Anna Blankenship

This picture book presents a bilingual overview of weather and seasons in Spanish and English for young readers. The publisher targets the audience as preschoolers but there are parts of the book that contain a lot of text on one page that might be difficult for a child that young to digest.

There are several things that I like about the book. On the pages where English and Spanish are placed side by side, it is easy to translate from one language to the other. Many pages contain pictures to explain the text within the sentence. Illustrations are AI generated but they do correlate well with the text. The author covers different types of weather common in various parts of the world. There is an interactive component which encourages readers to search and find for certain images which keeps the child engaged in the story.

I do believe the book is a valuable tool for bilingual Spanish/English children and especially for ESL students. However, I feel it most effective for children in elementary grades.

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A Budget for Bingo: (Penny Power)

Written by Tori Filas

Illustrated by Ethan Roffler

Fizzy and Lou are two siblings who want to adopt a dog as a new member of their family. They have a conversation with their mother.

She quickly points out that adopting an animal is like assuming responsibility for a new member of the family. Mom points out there will be new expenses, responsibilities, and job- sharing. The children learn about preparing a budget to pay for the expenses, and the work entailed in having a pet. They even discover new ways to earn that money and practice responsible leadership skills.

This book is the first in a series that will teach children about finance and money. Using animals as an important part of the story line is a clever idea. The vocabulary reinforcement section at the end of the book can be used to review the concepts taught. It is a wonderful introduction to economics for elementary school-age children. Highly recommended to parents and teachers of children to learn about budgeting.

Cassie Pup Takes the Cake?? Cassie Pup Books

Written by Sheri Poe-Pape

Illustrated by Dasguptarts

A wonderful early chapter book that contains beautiful colorful and expressive illustrations. This book centers about a baking competition.

Cassie, a pup, and Cordelia, a cat both work as apprentices at Bindi’s Bakery. Bindi provides them both with aprons and chef’s hats. As they begin baking, Cassie and Cordelia allow their competitive spirit to create a disaster in the kitchen.

The adorable cat and pup need to learn that teamwork and friendship would be better choices in achieving their goals. Elementary school readers will enjoy reading the lovely, multicultural book with its crisp, colorful language and amusing illustrations.

Highly recommended for ages three through eight.

Starfish Super Squad 1 – A Mystery Map

Written and Illustrated by Tama M.

Shelly and Spike are two starfish playing hide and seek in the ocean when Spike gets trapped under a seashell. They will need a new friend and teamwork to set him free.

When the two friends discover a treasure map, they are eager to set forth on an adventure. As they bring readers on the journey, they will learn about ocean currents, sea turtles, and stingrays. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The text vocabulary includes analogies and onomatopoeia that make it fun to read out loud.

This book is part of a series. While I enjoyed the tale, readers will need to purchase the second book to find out its conclusion. Recommended especially for primary grade readers.