A fun, rhyming Christmas story with an unusual character.
Steve and his family are excited to watch the community Christmas parade. Suddenly, the skies are filled with something strange. A dragon appears, hovering above the parade, sending the spectators into a panic.
While Steve’s family flees, he tries to stand up to the dragon with his sword, then notices something strange. Could it be that the dragon just wants to participate in the Christmas festivities?
Read the book to find out. Recommended for elementary school age readers who love books about Christmas and dragons.
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The Epic Activity Book for Genius Girls: A Multiverse Adventure with Fun Brain Games, Logic puzzles, and creative challenges for smart young explorers … kids 8-12) (Doc’s Activity Books for Kids)
Written and Illustrated by Doc Enigma
I loved how this book was put together. Rather than a random collection of activities, the author weaves them into an adventure that engages the mind and stimulates the imagination. Each of the twelve missions is linked so that when they are completed, the final quest is achieved.
There is a wide assortment of activities that challenge different skills and learning styles. These include coloring, mazes, word searches, cryptograms, riddles, find the culprit, spot the differences, and blueprints.
While the book is advertised for girls ages 6-12, the complexity of many of the activities, suggests that it is better suited for ages eight and older.
I highly recommend it for classroom challenges, travel, and homeschool activities.
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Willy the Dinosaur & the Father’s Day Project: A Heartwarming Gift Picture Book About Dad, Love, Laughter, and Growing Up
Written and illustrated by Robert B. Grand
A very cute book for Father’s Day or any time you want to reflect on the important role that fathers play in a child’s life.
It combines the message with a character that appeals to most children: the dinosaur. Willy is a young dinosaur who loves his dad deeply, but when Willy’s teacher asks him to design a project for Father’s Day, he cannot think of anything special to draw.
Willy spends some time reflecting, and then he concludes that the ordinary things his dad does every day to show his love are what make his dad special.
A great gift for elementary school-age children to read for themselves or present to their own dad.
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Bees Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about the magic of the bees for children, kids (World Full of Wonder 3)
Written by Anna Smithers
Illustrated by Nino Aptsiauri
Smithers manages to pack a lot of information plus a wealth of problem-solving resources in this illustrated picture book.
Even though the language is not colloquial, the rhymes are fun to read out loud, and important vocabulary words are highlighted in color for emphasis. Children learn about the different types of bees and their work in the hive. I especially liked the interactive challenge for the reader to locate twelve different types of bees in the story. Young readers also discover the problems bees face today due to urban expansion.
The illustrations are multicultural, and they include children with disabilities. This book will appeal to children who enjoy nonfiction for information about the life of bees, but also to young community activists who will appreciate the seven practical solutions they can use to help the rapidly declining bee population.
I would highly recommend the book for parents, teachers, and librarians of elementary school readers.
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12 Sleeps ’til Christmas (The Countdown Collection)
Illustrated by I. Bunet
An adorable rhyming book that celebrates the joys of counting down to Christmas.
The author employs a novel approach to the countdown, using the word sleeps instead of days. Siblings begin twelve days before Christmas and count down time by reflecting in rhyme about the activities that families perform during the preparation for Christmas Day.
The rhymes are crisp and simple to read, and the multicultural illustrations are a delight for the eyes. This book is a good choice for an addition to family library read-alouds. It is appropriate for preschool and elementary-age readers.
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The heartwarming tale of a family exhibiting true Christmas spirit.
Doodle lives with her grandparents on a farm. Her grandfather is creative and inventive, spending much of his time creating toys and inventions for his granddaughter and her friends. When Doodle and her friends discover an old tractor on the farm, they plead with their grandfather to allow them to fix it up. Soon the entire family is involved in transforming the old tractor into a beautiful Christmas float for the town’s Christmas parade. Doodle and her friends plan to ride on it and distribute candy and Christmas cheer to their community.
This warm, holiday tale exemplifies families who work together and share love and kindness throughout the community.
I highly recommend it for parents and teachers of school-age children.
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A book that celebrates a tradition that many families share: visiting a Christmas tree farm to find and cut the perfect Christmas tree.
One unusual Christmas tree has been passed over by visitors for many years, but when a boy and his family enter the farm this year, the ugly tree finally gets a chance to shine. This particular boy is attracted to the misshapen tree because he has also experienced gossip and mistreatment due to a scar on his face. When the boy spies the tree, he is immediately drawn to it. He convinces his family that this is the perfect tree for them. After bringing it home and decorating it, the ugly tree becomes a thing of beauty.
This book is perfect for families and teaches children that beauty comes from the goodness within, not physical, outward appearances.
An appropriate choice for children of any age.
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Bacon’s Very Important Christmas Job! (It’s Bacon’s World! Book 2)
Written and Illustrated by Tina Neely
Bacon, a pot-bellied pig, loves his family. He wants to be helpful. When his mom, dad, and grandma begin preparing for the Christmas holidays, Bacon tries his best to get involved. Unfortunately, he only gets in the way and gets rebuffed for his efforts.
This book series is based on the exploits of the author’s pet pig. Children get a preview with a genuine photo included at the end of the tale. I like the interactive feature, which requests readers to count the number of hearts on each page.
This book is a perfect holiday choice for families of primary grade readers.
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Back-to-school season is exciting—but it can also put a serious dent in your budget. Whether you’re sending a child to kindergarten, high school, or college, the costs of clothing, supplies, electronics, and other essentials can add up quickly.
The good news? With a little planning, you can save money without sacrificing quality. Here are a few smart strategies to help stretch your back-to-school dollars.
Take Inventory First
Before heading to the store, check what you already have at home. You may discover unused notebooks, pencils, folders, backpacks, or art supplies tucked away in a closet. Creating an inventory helps you avoid buying duplicates and makes it easier to create a shopping list based on what you truly need.
Watch for Sales and Coupons
Many retailers offer excellent back-to-school discounts during the summer. Compare prices, browse weekly store ads, and look for digital coupons or cashback offers before making your purchases. A few minutes of planning can lead to significant savings.
Shop Online and Compare Prices
Online shopping makes it easy to compare prices across multiple retailers. Be sure to check shipping costs, read customer reviews, and watch for free-shipping promotions. Don’t overlook gently used or refurbished items—especially for electronics, calculators, and textbooks.
Buy in Bulk
Frequently used school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, tissues, and glue sticks are often less expensive when purchased in larger quantities. If you don’t need a full package, consider splitting the cost with another family or stocking up for later in the school year.
Stick to Your List
Impulse purchases are one of the quickest ways to exceed your budget. Before you shop, create a list of necessities—and do your best to stick to it. Staying focused on your list helps keep spending under control.
Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. With a little preparation and smart shopping, you can send your student back to school with everything they need—while keeping your budget on track.
Skelly the GIANT Skeleton: A Hilarious Modern Day Halloween Book Parody Tribute to the GIANT Halloween Community!
Written by Hailee Oman
Illustrated by William Velasco
The illustrations in this book are creative and original. Rhymes hit the mark.
The author uses parody to illustrate the limits some people will go to in celebrating and decorating holidays like Halloween. Skelly is the physical manifestation of overindulgence.
Children and adults will laugh at the ridiculous scenario. The book is appropriate for all ages.
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September 2, 2026
bamauthor
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