The Donkeys Jesus Chose: A Catholic Chapter Storybook
Written by Christine Calabrese
A beautiful early reader for Christian families to describe the events leading up to Palm Sunday and the profound affect it had on one family.
Joshua, his wife, Miriam, and their disabled daughter, Mara lived a humble life in a small village. They have a stubborn, donkey named Sapphire who is about to give birth. Sapphire refuses to allow anyone to ride her. Mara must face the bullying of the village children who taunt her as a cripple. In those times, a handicap was often seen as a sign of sin. Mara has one true friend, Hannah, who tells her about Jesus, the Messiah.
As the village prepares for Passover, the family hears that Jesus will enter Jerusalem in a procession. Mara pleads to go. Then an unexpected request comes from a stranger to use the family donkeys for the Messiah in the procession. How will this request and the miracle that follows change the life of this humble family?
Along with the touching tale containing lessons of empathy, compassion, resilience, and hope, children are treated to the beautiful, colored pencil drawings of a budding young artist, Anna Williams who illustrates the chapters. As a bonus for young readers, the author includes a link to learn all about donkeys.
This book is especially recommended to Christian families and beginning chapter book readers.
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Saint Valentine the Kindhearted: The History and Legends of God’s Brave and Loving Servant
Written and Illustrated by Ned Bustard
This picture book presents an interesting review of what is known about Saint Valentine.
Bustard is both the author and illustrator. I particularly enjoyed the illustrations done in woodcut style and then embellished with bright colors.
The story is presented in rhyme. Each part is a kind of vignette about different aspects of Valentine’s life. They include his experiences with individuals as well as soldiers and the Emperor Claudius. Despite imprisonment, Valentine continued to write his poetry about the four types of love and sent some of them as lettters. Hence, the origin of sending Valentine’s on the date of his martyrdom, February 14th.
I believe this book will have wide appeal with Christian schools and parents
Reviewed by Barbara Mojica for Net Galley.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: Bubba and Squirt are back for another rousing quest as they travel through the mysterious vortex to Paris, France. It’s another wild adventure as they track down art thieves, encounter terrifying monsters, and discover the whereabouts of their missing father.
Will they make it out alive or join the rest of the skeletons in the City of Bones?
Coming Soon: The fourth book in the series, Bubba and Squirt’s Shield of Athena, will be released on May 7, 2024, and the final book, Bubba and Squirt’s Legend of the Lost Pearl, will be released in September 2024.
Sherry Ellis is an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. When she is not writing or engaged in musical activities, she can be found doing household chores, hiking, or exploring the world. Ellis has previously published Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China; Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure;Don’t Feed the Elephant; Ten Zany Birds; That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN; and That Mama is a Grouch. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information about her work, she invites you to visit her website at www.sherryellis.org.
MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:
NO BONES ABOUT IT
Bubba and Squirt City of Bones (Book 3 in the series)
Written by Sherry Ellis
This is the third book in a series featuring siblings, Bubba, and his younger sister, Squirt. In their first adventure, they travel through time back to Xian, China and the second hurls them back to the Mayan Empire. Each journey leads to a mystery they must solve and the possibility of never returning to the present.
This third adventure finds the pair falling through a vortex to ancient catacombs in Paris where they will encounter lots of creepy skeletons and nefarious characters in their attempt to rescue their father. The author relates the story with each sibling taking turns narrating the tale chapter by chapter. Combining history, fantasy, and a mystery adventure with lots of twists and turns creates a winning combination for middle grade readers, though I must admit it holds the interest of adults as well. Ellis supplies a glossary of information and a recipe as bonus items.
I highly recommend this educational and entertaining read for anyone age eight and older.
GIVEAWAY
Enter the giveaway for the chance to win an autographed copy of Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones and a $50 Amazon gift card!
Priya has moved nine thousand miles from her old home in India. It’s time for the festival of lights, but here in America nothing is decorated, and the streets are quiet. Priya experiences mixed emotions.
When Priya returns home from school, she finds her mother preparing dishes of cardamom and ghee. Priya prepares flowers to make a rangoli and her father strings lights along the outside of the house. This draws the attention of neighbors who are invited to celebrate Diwali with the family.
Readers learn about the religious customs, dress, food, and fireworks of this festival. Kaushik includes illustrations of members of diverse communities and those with disabilities. Children receive a glossary of multicultural terms and a summary explanation of the Diwali festival.
This is a well-written and illustrated picture book that encourages empathy, compassion, and friendship among members of diverse communities. Highly recommended for parents and teachers of elementary school children as a read aloud book to discuss customs and traditions.
I received a copy of this book to read and review from the author. I voluntarily chose to read and review with my honest opinions for no monetary compensation.
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Born in a Treacherous Time (Dawn of Humanity Book 1)
Written by Jacqui Murray
I read Jean Auel’s series and as other reviewers have mentioned, this series has a similar flavor.
The reader meets Lucy, a Homo Habilis creature, living in Africa 1.8 million years ago. She struggles each day to live to the next one. The author introduces a slew of characters. At the beginning of the book, it is difficult to sort them out, but they add depth to a plot that includes descriptions of ancient peoples struggles to communicate, to hunt and be hunted, and compete with an environment they did not know how to control.
This book is, of course, historical fiction. The amount of historical evidence is scant and much is left to our imagination. In my opinion, Murray does an excellent job of fitting the pieces together while adding compassion and empathy to soften the rough edges.
Recommended for readers ages ten and older who enjoy historical fiction, especially in the prehistory genre.
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An interesting choice for young adults and adults who enjoy medieval history. Narrated from the perspective of a nine year old boy, Archibald Douglas, who is orphaned in fourteenth century Scotland and exiled with the Scottish king to France.
It follows the career of Douglas as he passes through the stages of knighthood and eventually returns to Scotland to revenge the king. The author has a lot of experience with nonfiction so there is much attention to historical detail. The language with Scottish inflection is sometimes difficult to follow. Tomlin attempts to remedy that with an extensive glossary.
This book is part of a series. Readers who seek a satisfying ending may be disappointed. For readers who enjoy history with interesting characters and battle scenes, this series will fit the bill nicely.
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Publisher: Union Square Kids (2023) | ISBN-13: 9781454934578
Publisher’s Book Summary: Jasmine A. Stirling, author of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice, delivers a powerful, poetic picture book biography about suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, perfect for fans of I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark and the Rebel Girls series.
As a child, Carrie Chapman Catt asked a lot of questions: How many stars are in the sky? Do germs have personalities? And why can’t Mama vote? Catt’s curiosity led her to college, to a career in journalism, and finally to becoming the president of The National American Woman Suffrage Association. Catt knew the movement needed a change—and she set to work mobilizing women (and men) across the nation to dare to question a woman’s right to vote.
On August 18, 1920, Catt pinned a yellow rose to her dress and waited while lawmakers in Tennessee cast their deciding votes to ratify the 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. After a seventy-year campaign, had women finally won the right to vote?
Stirling’s suspenseful retelling of the dramatic final “yea” that changed the history of women’s rights brings the past to life for young readers.
Jasmine A. Stirling is the author of A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021), named a Best Book of the Year by A Mighty Girl and Book Riot, and winner of the IPNE Book Award. It is currently being translated to Mandarin.
Her new book, Dare to Question, Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote (Union Square & Co, 2023, Booklist starred review), tells the story of the queer power couple who transformed the suffrage movement. Her third book, about Jeanne Barret, the botanist who disguised herself as a man and became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, comes out in 2025.
Udayana Lugo is a self-taught illustrator of mixed heritage. Having worked as a designer of many varied things, from jewelry to auto-parts and from furniture to whole interiors, she still does that but in children’s books which are her true passion. She and her husband have lived in Mexico, Italy, and England, but they call British Columbia their home, along with their two kids. When not working on a book, you can find her walking her dog or baking something with her children.
MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
DARE TO QUESTION: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote
Written by Jasmine Stirling
Illustrated by Udayana Lugo
This picture book portrays in images and words one of the most significant events in American history, the enactment of women’s suffrage. The struggle before Carrie Chapman entered the battle had been limited to a small group of educated women.
Carrie was born to question. Her curiosity moved her to investigate the why behind anything that excited her imagination. She aroused and incited women from every part of society to enter the cause. Why not me? When Carrie joined Susan B. Anthony, the fire spread across the country. Then World War I broke out, even though Carrie did not believe in the war, she mobilized women to replace male soldiers in the factories, garnering the support and appreciation of President Wilson who formerly opposed women’s suffrage.
Once passed, the final hurdle of state approval needed to be overcome. Carrie feared failure once more, but an unexpected development turned the tide.
This book encourages children to believe hard work, dedication, empathy, and fairness can succeed if one is determined to persevere in the cause of equality and justice.
A picture book that will inspire and educate children and adults alike.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for the chance to win a personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote, a set of 5 Girl Power Enamel pins, and a $100 Amazon gift card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
-A personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote
-A set of 5 Girl Power Enamel pins
-A $100 Amazon gift card!
Four (4) winners receive:
-A personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote
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Books for Benjamin: A Fun Picture Book Valuing Reading and Libraries!
Written by R. G. deRouen
Illustrated by Ulianna Barabash
This book is the most creative picture fiction book that I’ve seen in a long time.
The protagonist is a worm named Benjamin who has no desire to fit in with his family and worm friends. He loves books and wants to spend all his time reading. He fashions a plan to escape his life in a grocery store by hiding in a newspaper but when the purchaser discovers him she tries to kill him. Benjamin narrowly escapes but finds a dragonfly, ant, and ladybug to bring him to a safe place. Can you guess where that might be? Soon Benjamin finds himself in trouble again until he finds a sympathethic librarian who succeeds in making him famous.
Elementary school readers will turn each page as they follow this adventure, delight in the fanciful illustrations, and learn about the value of reading and safeguarding our literature. A bonus section features the history of the library.
Highly recommend the book and hope to see more creativity from this author.
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The World is Our Playground Series Book 3: Nanak and Tara’s PhilippineAdventure
Written by Jamal Kaur Singh
Illustrated by Ronald Santos
This is my first time reading a book in this series which encourages elementary students to learn about the history, customs, beliefs, traditions, and languages of countries around the world.
The picture book is richly illustrated in vibrant colors and the bold font of the text makes it easy to read. I particularly enjoyed the mini language lessons which encourage readers to communicate in an unfamiliar language while enjoying the adventure. Readers explore the islands while experiencing its history, foods, celebrations, and family ties.
There are questions at the end included to test comprehension of the story. The author presents a lesson plan before the story begins. Background about the series and its characters as well as a summary of the author’s mission comes at the very end.
The book is packed with useful information that children will enjoy. I would suggest putting that background at the beginning to familiarize new readers upfront and then including the lesson plan toward the end.
Highly recommended for parents and teachers to teach about other cultures in an entertaining format.
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March 3, 2024
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