I Have Feelings, Too: Understanding Dog Communication
Written by Anissa Svoboda
Illustrated by Aneta Knoppova
A wonderful teaching tool for children. It explains how dogs communicate with their bodies, unlike humans, who generally communicate with spoken words.
Readers learn that different breeds of dogs use different parts of their bodies to express different emotions. I enjoyed the parent paws section, which provides an easy-to-understand teaching point. Children learn empathy and respect for our four-legged friends, and how to better communicate with them.
The comprehension questions are useful for parents and teachers to review and reinforce the lessons taught.
I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children ages three through ten.
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This very short picture book of twenty pages is ideal for young children and reluctant readers.
It relates the tale of a rescue dog who finds herself in an animal shelter. Before her life in a shelter, she learns to survive on her own. Her other animal friends teach her their habits and lifestyle.
One day, the dog is adopted. Her new mom and dad find the dog’s strange habits unnerving, but, in the end, decide to accept her exactly the way her lifestyle has shaped her.
The author teaches young readers lessons of acceptance, love, and the value of being true to oneself.
Recommended for preschoolers and early elementary school-age readers.
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Molly Morningstar, Music Show Surprise: A Fun Story About Courage and Kindness (Molly Morningstar Series)
Written by Andrea Coke
Illustrated by M. Fernanda Orozco
Molly is proud of her father. He is entering a singing contest. When her dad decides to write an acceptance speech in case he wins, Molly is eager to assist him.
Molly thinks of questions her dad can use in developing his speech. When the big night arrives, she proudly accompanies her mom and dad. Will he perform flawlessly? Does Dad get the opportunity to deliver his speech?
Read the charming story to get the answer. A lesson of bravery and courage with a surprise ending.
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A delightful picture book or early reader. It emphasizes the values of hard work and anticipating when things do not go according to plan.
The simple plot involves an elderly farmer who needs help managing his farm. Only one applicant applies. Jim is a seventeen-year-old who is willing to work hard. His statement, “I can sleep when the wind blows,” baffles the farmer.
One night during a storm, the meaning becomes clear.
Recommended for early primary readers as an inspiration to work hard and be prepared.
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Observing natural leadership qualities in children early can help parents, teachers, and caregivers encourage and develop those important life skills.
If you want to identify and support your child’s leadership qualities, here are some signs to consider:
Talkative
Does it sometimes drive you crazy that your child talks so much? Actually, being talkative may be a sign of things to come. A chatty nature indicates a child with excellent verbal skills, which are important for good leaders. Did your child talk early and proficiently? This may be a sign that he or she will be a good leader.
Treats Others with Respect
If you notice that your child seems to end up in responsible positions – team captain, for instance – and you know he didn’t get that position because of “muscling” his way to the top or bullying others, then this may be a sign of leadership ability. Notice if your child seems to have others “gravitate” toward her and wish to emulate her. Take note as to whether or not this is due to respectful treatment. If it is, you may have a strong leader on your hands.
Sees Both Sides
Some kids exhibit an ability to understand both sides of an issue, rather than being overly committed to one point of view. These children often act as peacekeepers who help their peers find an agreeable middle ground.
In the Know
Does your child always know what’s going on? Is he or she always aware of the latest happening at school or in the family? This is not the same as being a gossip (that’s not a good leadership quality), but it does mean that he or she is paying attention and interested in what’s going on with others.
Inquisitive
A good leader is not afraid to ask questions, but he/she is not afraid to go looking for answers on his own, either. Too much questioning may indicate self-doubt – your child is always trying to make sure about things – but healthy questions that spring from a true desire to know more about something may be a sign of leadership ability.
An excellent book for parents introducing a nanny to the family.
In this tale, Mimi and her sister react differently to the information that a nanny will soon become a part of their busy family. Mimi does not want someone who is not their mommy living and working within the family. She quickly learns that a nanny is not trying to replace her mother. This nanny can bring a new dimension of fun and open up new horizons.
I would especially recommend the book to parents of preschoolers who do not understand the role of a nanny with the family. This book is fun to read and uses humor to get the message across clearly.
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India – The Land of Festivals: A Monthly Guidebook to Diverse Celebrations (Indian Festival Series 1)
Written by Anuja Mohla
Illustrated by Gowthami Maruthapandiyan
This book contains a wealth of information with colorful illustrations about the diversity of life in India. The author covers each of the six major religions practiced in India. This book is organized by month.
Many of these celebrations, however, are based on the lunar calendar. Each page describes which religion is celebrated in that month and discusses the foods, rituals, customs, and types of celebrations. The reader learns native vocabulary and the significance associated with each.
This book is an excellent choice for teachers who want to explain Indian customs and culture and share multicultural traditions. Indian families can use it as a springboard to explain the rich culture of their homeland.
As a teacher, I appreciated the section at the end of the book that includes matching and recalling information about the festivals.
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This is not a potty humor book. It does introduce bathroom manners and etiquette for the young reader.
It contains lively rhymes and vibrant multicultural images. The author includes links to historic sites, horse racing, football, and living downtown. While these facts are interesting, the fact that they are not related is a bit distracting.
This book would be an excellent choice for parents who are potty training. Elementary school children will appreciate the humor of the read-aloud.
Recommended for ages three through eight.
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Paromita emigrated from India many years ago, but she is now entering third grade in a new school.
Her teacher has difficulty pronouncing her name. All her classmates laugh. Paromita runs off to the bathroom to hide. She is proud of her Indian culture and the name her grandma bestowed upon her.
Paromita dances the traditional kathak dance. She takes advantage of the school talent show to wear traditional Indian clothing and perform her dance. Then Paromita goes further when she takes the stage and delivers an important message to her classmates.
The author delivers the message that we need to respect different cultures and the traditions they represent.
Recommended for elementary and middle school readers.
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Publisher’s Book Summary: Tall as the Sun is a heartfelt story that takes readers on a lyrical journey through the eyes of a child as they discover the magic of perspective during a day at the beach with Dad. As our little hero rises higher and higher on Dad’s shoulders, the world transforms into a playground of endless possibilities. From soaring with seagulls to reaching the top of sandcastles, each page brings a new adventure.
Praise: “It’s easy to picture grandparents or parents reading this book to a child before bed as they drift off to dream of sunny beaches, lulled by the rhythmic sound of ocean waves.” —Readers’ Favorite (5 Stars)
Stephanie Henson lives with her family in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with roots in Central New Jersey. She holds a degree in Communications and a Publishing and Professional Writing Certificate from Rider University, and spends her summers in Ocean City, NJ. An active member of SCBWI (Eastern PA Chapter), Stephanie was a 2024 SCBWI Virtual Conference Scholarship winner, and her work has been featured in both print and online publications.
She is the author of the children’s poetry collection In the Right Lane (a #1 New Release in Children’s Poetry) and the picture book No School, My Rules! (a #1 New Release in Children’s School & Education Books and a Tielmour Press best-seller). Tall as the Sun is her newest picture book, releasing with Watchful Wizard Publishing in May 2026.
Beyond her literary pursuits, Stephanie is a passionate advocate for underrepresented creators living with chronic illness, drawing on her own experience with autoimmune conditions. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, catching a show, watching Netflix, admiring sunflowers, cheering on sports, or sipping coffee.
A young girl shares her adventure sitting atop her father’s shoulders on a summer day at the beach. The world of the seashore transforms into multiple adventures as she spies sandcastles, seagulls, and crashing waves. She observes children playing on the beach, boats in the distance, fluffy clouds, and lifeguards standing watch. As daylight dwindles and settles into nighttime, she fondly recalls all the adventures that she shared with the father she loves.
The story uses magical language, including alliteration and repetitive rhymes. Soft colors complement the mood. The author invites elementary school-age readers to imagine themselves sitting tall upon a loved one’s shoulders.
Highly recommended as a bedtime story or fun read-aloud for eager young imaginations.
Readers who join us on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of four prizes. One grand prize winner will take home a special bundle featuring signed copies of No School, My Rules!, In the Right Lane, and Tall as the Sun, plus a curated book basket filled with fun, bookish goodies. Three additional readers will each win a signed copy of Tall as the Sun.
July 5, 2026
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